Views #314 | Intermediate 4

The Galapagos

Jose talks about some special islands in his country.
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Todd: OK, Jose, you just said you went to the Galapagos Islands.

Jose: Yes

Todd: Can you talk about the Galapagos?

Jose: Yes, the Galapagos, as everybody knows is such a unique place and I went there and by chance I was in the same tour like with President Carter.

Todd: Really!

Jose: Yeah!

Todd: Wow! He's my favorite president.

Jose: Well, it's so interesting because you know the guy was, I mean when went there, all of a sudden I had this strange people looking at me. I say, "What happened? What's wrong?" There were 8 bodyguards with the guy.

Todd: No kidding!

Jose: Yes! He was with his wife and his daughter and the child. Yeah it was interesting. You know that's just one anecdote but still, I'm , the Galapagos Islands, what I can tell you is that, it's a unique place, but you have to go there, sooner than later is better because I think the whole ecosystem will collapse.

Todd: Oh, no!

Jose: Yeah! The situation is very complicated because lack of ---- of the government. The poor fisherman, and they don't have any kind of way to actually make a living by destroying the system. And all the money just goes to the big tourist companies that are taking tourists and you go to the capital, to Quito, but the people on the Islands, they don't have money, so they are, there's no control, for fishing, I mean, sharks and lobsters and tuna and so on, so everything is terrible. I was very very upset with the situation, and also you know, it's a kind of tourism for rich people and I was the only Ecuadorian in the group

Todd: Really! That's not good.

Jose: Yes, that's not good. You know we were just servers and waitresses and waiters and Ecuadorians so, for me it was, I was 5 days there. You know it's very beautiful to see the animals and birds but me being an Ecuadorian I had a completely different point of view. I was very disappointed frankly.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

as everybody knows

The Galapagos, as everybody knows is such a unique place.

You can use the phrase 'as everybody knows' to show that something is common knowledge.

Notice the following:

  1. As everybody knows, I got married last weekend.
  2. There are many turtles, as everybody knows, that live on the Galapagos.

bodyguard

There were 8 bodyguards with the guy.

A 'bodyguard' is somebody who is paid to keep somebody else safe. Usually a bodyguard is very big and b and the person he protects is famous.

Notice the following:

  1. The film star has a bodyguard with her at all times.
  2. I would like to be a bodyguard when I grow up.

anecdote

You know that's just one anecdote.

An 'anecdote' is a type of story that recalls a true and interesting event.

Notice the following:

  1. He is a great hit at dinner parties, he knows lots of anecdotes.
  2. We had a great time, it will make a great anecdote.

collapse

I think the whole ecosystem will collapse.

When something 'collapses' it falls down and becomes broken.

Notice the following:

  1. After the fire, the building collapsed.
  2. I am so tired I could just collapse on my bed and fall straight asleep.

upset

I was very very upset with the situation.

When you are 'upset' it means that you are sad or angry about something.

Notice the following:

  1. His pet just died and he is very upset.
  2. I don't want to upset you.

Vocabulary Quiz

as everybody • bodyguard • anecdotes
collapse • upset
  1. My grandfather always had the best for me when I was upset.
  2. That building will definitely in the next few years.
  3. knows, he isn't always the most honest person.
  4. She gets about things really easily.
  5. They had to go to court after her hit a photographer.
Answer the following questions about the interview.

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