38
IN THIS UNIT
GRAMMAR
• comparisons
• expressions of quantity
VOCABULARY
• landscapes: nouns and
adjectives
• nouns and verbs (1)
(
damage
n/vb)
SCENARIO
• discussing photo selections
• giving reasons and making
choices
STUDY SKILLS
• correcting your writing
WRITING SKILLS
• writing paragraphs
(comparative essay
organisation)
Natural world
5.1
ISLANDS
‘In all things of nature there is something of the marvellous.’
Aristotle, Greek philosopher
5
VOCABULARY
LANDSCAPES
1
a
How many of these things can you
see in the photos (A–C)?
beach cliff coast forest hill
island lagoon lake rock peak
mountain sand wave sea river
1
b
Which of these adjectives do you
often use with the words above?
cold deep high long sandy
steep tropical warm
a sandy beach
1
c
Discuss these questions with a partner.
1
What do you think of when you think
of an island?
I think of a tropical island with sandy
beaches and a warm blue sea …
2
Which islands have you visited
(in your own country or abroad)?
Describe them.
3
Which islands would you like to visit?
What do you know about them?
4
The places in the photos are all
islands. Where in the world do you
think they are?
On the main island there are green hills and two impressive peaks.
At 727m, Mount Otemanu is the highest point. The main island has
a large ring of smaller islands around it. In between is the calm
water of the lagoon.
The lagoon is the most important feature of Bora Bora and is
three times bigger than the main island. The water is shallow and
transparent, with an amazing number of different blues. You can go
on trips to feed the sharks and friendly rays.
The town of Vaitape is on the east coast of the main island. There is
an airport on a smaller island north of the main island. You can drive
round Bora Bora in about an hour (it’s only 6km long and 3.5kmwide),
but it’s better to travel by bike. When you’re thirsty, stop for a coconut
drink. A man cuts off the top of your coconut with a huge knife!
Many people have called it the most beautiful island
in the world – a paradise of clear blue water and
white sandy beaches in the Pacific Ocean.
READING
2
a
Read the text. Are these sentences true or false? If false, say why.
1
There is a single mountain.
2
The water in the lagoon isn’t very deep.
3
The colour of the water is the same everywhere.
4
You can drive round Bora Bora very quickly because it’s a small island.
2
b
Collaboration
Work with a partner. Read the text again and use
the information to draw a simple map of Bora Bora. Compare your
map with the one on page 134.
Bora Bora
TROPICAL
I SLANDS
A
