Chapter 1 Travel Writing

1.1 America - Vocabulary

Fared Managed /coped ; If you say that someone or something fares well or badly, you are referring to the degree of success they
achieve in a particular situation or activity

Traversing Crossing (over )

Close proximity Very near to each other (almost touching )

amiable Good-natured

maliciously Roguishly/malevolently

Scrupulously clean Very carefully and thoroughly cleaned

rigour Harshness/ harsh and demanding conditions

ponderous Heavy and slow moving./"a swarthy, ponderous giant of a man “ ; "the show is loaded down with ponderous one-liners"(especially of
speech or writing - dull or laborious.)

1.2 Nepal - Annapurna Circuit - Vocabulary

Freaked me out Caused me to lose my composure

ubiquitous Everywhere you looked

Conspicuous by their absence Very noticeably not present (in contrast to the writer’s experience in India)

mundane Everyday/unremarkable / dull

Mountain views to stif breath The scenery was so awesome that he stopped breathing

The big cheese The greatest challenge

reappraise Re-evaluate

Ambience Surrounding atmosphere

Chapter 2

2.1 Travel by Train -Vocabulary

I’ve been the suit-and-tied , nine -to -five commuter The writer has used trains to travel to work (which requires him to dress formally)
every day.

Slide up the glass and look through your moving Shuffle along the seat to look out of the moving train’s window at the scene outside
lens to the world that passes as if it is part of a film

budget-minded Those who wish to travel as cheaply as they can

The romantic Someone who is enchanted by the beauties of nature

Pay a supplement Pay an extra fee

compulsory Obligatory/required

2.2 Robert Louis Stevenson -Vocabulary

pioneering Leading/original

exacerbated Made worse (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling)

An occupation he was physically ill -suited for He lacked the strength of body to be successful in this demanding career

ultimately Finally

curtailed Cut short

With son Lloyd and daughter Isobel in tow Accompanied by her son and daughter

arduous Laborious/strenuous

enamoured Fell in love with

prodigious Great/colossal.
Vocabulary -Slang and Colloquialisms

pinch of salt to not completely believe something that you are told, because you think it is unlikely to be true

I felt really cheesed off annoyed and disappointed

flog Flog (- slang - ) to sell

Full of beans excitable/ energetic

To make waves not to cause trouble / not to cause disturbance

To take forty winks short rest

Strike while the iron was hot to take the opportunity

A dab hand an expert ( at doing things / a particular activity

A bit of jack-the-lad confident in a noisy way / naughty

A piece of cake very easy

Chapter 3

3.1 Pitiful Prisons -Vocabulary

evolve Developed from

Our fleeting distraction and amusement To entertain us and take our minds off things for a brief time

extremley limited possibilities for mental Very few opportunities to activate use of the brain
simulation

Under the guise Using the excuse of

dilapidated Decrepit and rundown ((of a building or object) in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or
neglect."old, dilapidated buildings" )

Questionable entities Groups/people with a dubious reputation

notorious Infamous

reckless ) Without any thought of the consequences

vulnerable Easily damaged

boycott To avoid something deliberately in order to show disapproval of it

3.2 Come Together, to Save the Arctic -Vocabulary

Breathtaking in its beauty and fragility Its magnificent appearance and evident vulnerability had a great effect

Made such an impact Had a very powerful effect

Human psyche The human spirit/soul

radically Entirely

baffles Mystifies

sanctuary A place where you are secure from harm

Irresistibly drawn Overwhelmingly attracted.

Chapter 4

4.1 Dracula /s Guest Vocabulary

I had been impressed unconsciously His mind had been influenced without his being aware of it

There was a charm of beauty The attractive nature of the surroundings appealed to him

Took little heed of time Paid little attention to the passing of time

bleak Desolate

crude Roughly made

I was fain to run I was forced to run

eddies Swirls./ move in a circular way.

4.2 The Listeners -Vocabulary

champed Chewed/ate

ferny Covered in ferns( fern is a plant

smote Struck

perplexed Concerned/confused

thronging Crowding round

hearking Listening to.

4.3 From ‘The Prelude’- Vocabulary

Act of stealth ) Something done secretly/without wanting to be discovered

The horizon’s utmost boundary As far as can be seen

As is with voluntary power instinct As if it was charged with the power to think and make decisions

A dim and undetermined sense Feeling(s) that could not clearly be described or defined

solitude The state of being alone

Blank desertion Emptiness of mind resulting from the departure of familiar associations.

4.4 Synonyms

Bite chew

devour dime

feed gorge
masticate graze

munch nibble

Chapter 5

5.1 propaganda posters -Vocabulary

propaganda The deliberate spreading of the ideas of an organisation to persuade the public to follow them

innovative New and original

satire Artistic or literary technique which exposes and ridicules follies or vices

Mural painting Artistic paintings on walls of buildings

lithographic The process of producing a picture by taking an impression from a specially prepared piece of stone

sophisticated Complex or intricate

Commercial artists Artists who are paid for producing work for which they have been previously commissioned

morale Confidence/positive outlook

ephemera Things that exist for only a very short time (and are then forgotten).

Chapter 6

6.1 The Red House Mystery -Vocabulary

Recapture the impressions Recreate the memories of what he thought and saw

All a little uncanny Recreate the memories of what he thought and saw

uncomprehendingly Without understanding

afterthought Something which occurred to him to do after his original action

6.2 The Empty House -Vocabulary

proclaim Announce officially or publicly

An ingenuous smile An artless/naïve smile

willy-nilly Inevitably/unavoidably

manifestly Plainly/clearly

unkempt Dishevelled

ascribed Attributed

He found her charged to the brim She was full of eagerness and excitement

Feigning stupidity Deliberately giving the appearance of being foolish

tremor Slight shiver.

Vocabulary - euphemisms

euphemism a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something
unpleasant or embarrassing.

generously built fat

pre-owned second-hand

Stretch the truth – lie

Between jobs unemployed

Economical with the truth presents misleading information/lies

Still has room for improvement he is not very good

Lively and challenging disruptive

No longer with us – dead

follically challenged bald

fallen off the back of lorry stolen goods

Chapter 7- No vocabulary