CHAPTER 6

p. 87

UNDERGROWTH: low vegetation

QUAINT: old fashioned, but charming

BARREN: not fertile

BUSTLING: full, lively

PRISTINE: pure, uncontaminated

LUSH: abundant

p. 88

TO LOOK DOWN ON: to consider inferior

HARDSHIPS: difficulties

p. 89

RAVAGED: badly damaged

GRIMY: dirty

OFFICIALDOM: authorities

FRAUGHT: tense

ALLURE: attractive quality

HUB: center of activity

SPIRITEDNESS: full of animation and vigor

OLD CHESTNUT: a saying that is repeated a lot

TO ASSEMBLE: to collect

SHIPPING LANE: flow of merchant shipping between two points

TO RELISH: to enjoy

TO FORGE: to créate

TO STUMBLE UPON: to find by chance

TO DETRACT: to take away (value, importance)

A FAR CRY FROM: very different from

THE BACK OF BEYOND: very remote place

LET ALONE: much less

HAPHAZARD: chaotic
TAINTED BY: spoilt by

FAR-FLUNG: distant, remote

TO SCRIBBLE: to write, to doodle

SCRAP: small piece

p. 90

STREWN: scattered, here and there

MUNDANE: boring or wordly

BEWILDERED: perplexed, confused

MUSING: comtemplation, reflections

STIFLED: repressed, suppressed

TO PACK IN STH: to finish, to quit

TO VOW: to promise

TO BESET: to afflict

TRAVEL SICKNESS: a feeling of sickness caused by the motion of a car, airplane, boat, etc

TO BE A SIGHT TO BEHOLD: to look fantastic

TO LOOK A SORRY SIGHT: to be very untidy

RAUCOUS: loud and unpleasant

SINGLE-HANDED: by oneself

BACKDROP: background

FAR-FLUNG: remote, distant

OUTBACK: rural area in Midland Australia

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: to a very remote place

p. 91

OUT IN THE STICKS: in the country, far away from any major city

BACKWATER: isolated, rural place

TO SET OUT TO DO STH: to make plans

TO SET ABOUT DOING STH: to start dealing with sth that requires effort

TO SET TIME/MONEY ASIDE: to reserve, to save

TO SET STH APART FROM STH ELSE: to make different

TO SET STH UP: to create sth

TO SET SB BACK: to delay

TO SET OFF: to start the journey

p. 92

REVENUE: income

p. 214 LISTENING TRANSCRIPT

PLOY: plan

p. 215 LISTENING TRANSCRIPT

TO THAW: to melt

TO EXACERBATE: to worsen

DIRE: desperate

WHITE-KNUCKLE: frightening

TO MEASURE UP TO: to be equal to, to match

AT CLOSE QUARTERS: near

TO JOSTLE: to push and shove, to fight

DIGNIFIED: having dignity

TO HARK BACK: to recall an earlier era

p. 93

FAR BE IT FROM ME: I don't mean to preach but

BE THAT AS IT MAY: nevertheless, however

SO BE IT: go ahead (even if I don't agree)

SUFFICE IT TO SAY: put it this way, that is enough to explain

NO MATTER WHAT: whatever

COME WHAT MAY: whatever happens

SKIPPER: captain or driver of a boat

BINDING: obligatory

p. 94

CHORE: tedious task

COUPLED WITH: together with

p. 95

TO SOURCE: to obtain
TO STAND UP TO: to face

TO ADDRESS STH: to give attention to

OFF-PUTTING: unappealing

p. 216 LISTENING TRANSCRIPT

TO UNDERLIE: to be the reason for, to lie beneath

WATCHDOG: protecting consumers’ rights

TO SLIP THROUGH THE NET: to go unnoticed or undealt with

p. 217 LISTENING TRANSCRIPT

HECTIC: extremely busy

p. 96

SPIN-OFF: something deriving from sth else

UPSHOT: result, conclusión, adaptation

GLAMPING: glamorous camping

TO GO TO GREAT LENGTH TO DO STH: to put a lot of effort and work to achieve sth

p. 98

SNAP: photo

TO DELIGHT IN DOING STH: to take great pleasure

TO GRASP: to comprehend

TO SOAK UP: to absorb

TO ENTERTAIN THE IDEA: to consider

p. 99

KNOCK DOWN: reduced

INFUSED WITH: soaked in

YOU COULD DO WORSE: expression used to say sth is quite good

p. 100

DOWN THE LINE: in the future

GLIMPSE: brief sight

TO VENTURE OUT: to dare to go

SOJOURN: stay

TO SOAK UP: to absorb

p. 102

SPRAWLING: spreading, extending

DROUGHT: no rain, lack of water