Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. magnate [MAG-neyt, -nit] (n.) – a person who is rich and powerful, often in industry or in business
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. magnate [MAG-neyt, -nit] (n.) – a person who is rich and powerful, often in industry or in business
Example: People consider the Hiltons as hotel magnates for owning several hotels and resorts in 78 countries.
2. ancient [EYN-shuh nt] (adj.) – very old or coming from or belonging to a distant past
Example: Ancient objects and artifacts are displayed in the town’s museum.
3. enormous [ih-NAWR-muh s] (adj.) – unusually great in size or amount
Example: The Tokyo Skytree is an enormous tower.
4. replica [REP-li-kuh] (n.) – a close or exact copy of an object
Example: I came to see the replica of the dinosaurs in the national museum.
5. maiden [MEYD-n] (adj.) – done for the first time
Example: The new cruise ship will have its maiden trip by the end of this year.
Article
Read the text below.
Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer has recently revealed his plans to build a theme park with life-sized mechanical dinosaurs. Inspired by the movie Jurassic Park, the theme park will feature more than a hundred mechanical dinosaurs that are currently being built in China.
At present, Palmer Coolum Resort, Palmer’s property, has already installed Jeff the T-Rex, while a 20-meter Deinosuchus is set to arrive by the end of April. With a name that translates as the “terrible crocodile,” a Deinosuchus might be the largest ancient crocodile that ever existed.
With 165 robotic dinosaurs, Palmer Coolum Resort will probably be the world’s largest dinosaur exhibit. The theme park will be constructed in the resort’s golf course.
Aside from being enormous, the animal robots will also be able to perform life-like movements such as blinking, swaying their tails, and lifting their chests.
In addition to the Jurassic Park-themed attraction, Palmer also intends to construct a replica of Titanic, the historic cruise ship that sank in April 1912. Considered as one of the deadliest disasters in the sea, the Titanic tragedy took more than 1,500 lives.
Named as the Titanic II, the replica will have the same dimensions, design, and classifications of the original ship. The replica will also offer tickets for first, second, and third class passengers. Titanic II’s construction will be complete by 2016 and will have its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York in the same year.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· If you had a chance, would you visit Palmer Coolum's dinosaur exhibit? Why or why not?
· Do you think Clive Palmer's plan to recreate the Titanic is a good decision? Please explain your answer.
Discussion B
· What fictional movie characters and settings would you like to exist in real life? Why is that so?
· How important is it to recreate historical events?