9 READING &

LISTENING EXTRA
ADVANCED UNIT 9 2 Read the article about cultural icons of the UK. Which is the
best summary of the article?
1 Work in pairs or small groups and discuss.
1 Apart from buildings, food and people, most people in the
1 What icons traditionally symbolise your
UK don’t argue about the icons which represent their country.
country or culture?
2 The choice of icons in the UK has always been sexist and it
2 Do you think these icons truly represent
seems like it will continue that way.
where you live, or are they simply
3 There is some controversy in the UK about choosing icons
stereotypical? Why/Why not?
that truly represent the country, but progress is being made.
3 What alternative icons can you think of?

IS IT ICONIC?
Recently, the English were asked
to vote on which icons represented
their country. The results proved
quite controversial. For some
things, like food and drink, there
was no debate whatsoever: ‘cup of
tea’ and ‘sandwich’ went to the top
of the list. These were considered
quintessential English symbols,
despite the fact that they almost
certainly have been replaced in the
high street by their Italian
equivalents – the cappuccino and
the panini. However, there was
some debate about the nation’s
favourite dish. ‘Fish and chips’
now seems to have been replaced
by the ‘chicken tikka masala’ – an
example of an arrival from another few people really know what it Until recently, apart from the
nation, in this case India. The symbolizes. The concept behind Queen herself, the only women to
latter has been heralded as an the sculpture is threefold – to appear on the UK’s money were
important icon specifically for that honour the coal miners who used the prison and social reformers
reason – it symbolises the to work nearby, to express the Elizabeth Fry and Florence
extraordinary melting pot that is transition from an industrial to an Nightingale. The others were all
the UK today, a country with one information age and to serve as a men – the naturalist Charles
of the highest immigrant focus for our future hopes and Darwin, the economist Adam
populations in the world. fears. An icon that looks to the Smith and the inventor James
Some people objected to the red future and not the past – now that Watt. In the last fifty years, of the
double-decker bus, the black cab is a step forward! eighteen people to appear on
and the tube map because they The same controversy also applies banknotes, only two have been
said these represent a strong bias to the choice of representative women. For this reason, the fact
towards the capital. There was a people. If you were British, who that the novelist Jane Austen will
strong feeling that modern would you prefer to represent the appear on the new £10 banknote
examples should also be used. country? Recently, there has been (replacing Darwin) has been seen
Why always include Big Ben a great debate about who appears as an enormous victory.
(London again!) when you could on the nation’s banknotes. But there is some way to go, it
equally choose Sir Anthony Campaigners have been canvassing seems. The new British passport,
Gormley’s striking contemporary for more female representation, as which purports to be a celebration
sculpture Angel of the North, found well as the inclusion of people that of UK success in innovation,
in the far north of the country? At the population really felt stood for architecture, art and performance,
20 metres tall and over 50 metres something important. It’s about features only two women against
wide, Gormley’s work was a very time the country did away with seven men – and Shakespeare
popular choice, probably because putting ex-governors of the Bank appears on every page. The
its monumental appearance of England on their banknotes, debate and controversy will no
already feels iconic. However, very they say! doubt continue for some time.

© Pearson Education Limited 2016

9 READING &
LISTENING EXTRA
3 Read the article again. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)? 7 Listen again and match the facts a)–i)
Correct the false sentences. to the different people’s icons. There
1 The author implies that the British drink more coffee than tea are three facts per person.
these days. 1 Glenda , ,
2 The popularity of chicken tikka masala is a symptom of Britain’s 2 Peter , ,
multicultural identity. 3 Patricia , ,
3 A lot of icons are popular only with Londoners.
4 The Angel of the North is a popular icon but people interpret a) Perhaps another icon is rivaling
it wrongly. this one.
5 The author believes that the Angel of the North transmits a b) Another version of the icon was
positive message. created for a specific reason.
6 Campaigners are only interested in seeing more women c) The powerful thing about the icon is
represented on banknotes, stamps, etc. its versatility.
7 The inclusion of Jane Austen on the £10 banknote is great but d) It sums up what the USA is all about.
more needs to be done in terms of female representation. e) It’s a very powerful image with an
inspiring message.
4 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in f) It’s the most familiar symbol of the
the box. USA around the world.
g) The imitations of the icon do not
quintessential herald melting pot object to bias canvass
matter.
stand for purport
h) The icon could not have been an
1 I really the British government’s decision to put easy thing to create.
mainly male figures on banknotes. I don’t agree at all. i) It was created only a few decades ago.
2 It’s important to include people on stamps and banknotes
who really something important, who represent 8 Underline the correct alternative.
important values. 1 The Coke bottle is a highly
3 I would agree that the cup of tea is a British recognisable/compelling image.
symbol – it’s the perfect example of Britishness. Almost everybody is familiar with it.
4 London today is a real of different cultures and 2 The I ♥ NY logo stands for/conveys a
races. I think it’s great. happy, fun image that people want
5 Some people say that the British icons show a to have on their clothes.
towards London. An example is the black cab. 3 The Pepsi logo is not as accessible/
6 If you praise something in a very expressive way, you eye-catching as the Coke one – it
it. doesn’t attract your attention as much.
7 When people want you to vote for a particular candidate, they 4 All these logos have inspired
your support by, for example, knocking on your countless/curious imitations, but this
door. is all part of becoming an icon.
8 The festival to be a celebration of everything 5 The Obama poster features a
British, at least that is its intention. long-shot/close-up of his head and
shoulders.
5 Work in pairs or groups and discuss. 6 Even if you can’t actually see these
1 What do you think of the British icons described in the article? images, I think they must be easy for
2 Which of them had you heard of before? you to encapsulate/visualise.
3 Which others do you think you could add? 7 Iconic images really represent/
capture people’s imagination.
6A 9.1 Listen to three people talking about their favourite 8 Although they seem related
American icons and complete the table. to marketing, all these images
epitomise/resonate the USA in some
Favourite icon Year created way or another.
Glenda Barack Obama campaign poster 2009
9 Work in pairs or groups. Look at the
Peter questions in Exercise 1 again. Have you
Patricia changed your mind about the icons
that represent your country? Think of
new icons that could convey something
B What three things do the icons they mention have in common? different about where you live and
perhaps challenge stereotypes.
© Pearson Education Limited 2016