Unlocking Word
Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in
today’s article.
1. scenery
(n.) [see-nuh-ree] – the appearance of a place
Example: The scenery from top of the Mt. Fuji was unforgettable.
2. vintage
(adj.) [vin-tij] – something from the past but with lasting interest or importance
Example: Many people like to collect vintage items from the 1950s.
3. lure
(v.) [loor] – to attract or tempt into something
Example: The sceneries and cultures in Asia lure many travelers into visiting Asian
countries.
4. dazzle
(v.) [daz-uhl] – to impress someone deeply
Example: The beauty queen’s elegance dazzled the audience.
5. mundane
(adj.) [muhn-deyn, muhn-deyn] – common, ordinary, or unexciting
Example: Doing mundane tasks each day can be
boring for an employee.
Article
Read the text below.
Movies with breathtaking scenery set in a foreign country may influence a person's travel
plans, according to travel writer Caroline Costello. She suggests some movies
that might just send the viewer packing and booking a flight to that country.
First is the romantic comedy movie "Midnight
in Paris". Set in the 1920s, the movie features gorgeous Parisian
imagery including sidewalk cafes, vintage
item vendors, women in elegant clothes, and the Eiffel Tower. The movie could
have been sponsored by the French tourism board, Costello added.
Italy also has its share of movies that may lure travelers
into its shores. The romance movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" is a
story of a divorcee who tours Tuscany, buys a house there on a whim, and
finds new life and love. More than the story, viewers will find themselves dazzled with Tuscany's landscapes and
architecture. Another movie, released in 1953, is the "Roman
Holiday" starring the very iconic actress Audrey Hepburn. Playing the
role of a princess seeking to escape from her mundane lifestyle, she sets off to a great adventure along Rome's
ancient sites.
From the other side of the world, the movie
"Lost in Translation", shot in Japan and directed by Sofia Coppola,
tells the story of friendship and self-discovery born out of culture shock.
However, the real star of the film is Tokyo, which comes off as a mysterious and
a dreamy destination. The film also features the very historical Kyoto. Tokyo
also stars as a very futuristic city in the mystery science 2002 fiction film
"Solaris".
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion
A
·
Which
do you think makes a movie more interesting, the story or the setting?
·
Can
you share a movie with a setting that you really liked or a movie that inspired
you to do something?
Discussion
B
·
Do
you think the government should work with filmmakers to promote a country’s
beauty? Please explain your answer.
·
What
do you think are the advantages or disadvantages of countries being featured in
movies?
