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GENERAL ENGLISH · ENGLISH IN VIDEO · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

VISITING
ICELAND
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1 Warm up

Look at the questions about Iceland, select the correct answer and then discuss the questions below
with your partner.

1. What is the capital city of Iceland?

a. Helsinki b. Reykjavik c. Oslo

2. What is the currency in Iceland known as?

a. Fróna b. Króna c. Bróna

3. Which animal is native to Iceland?

a. Arctic fox b. Arctic cow c. Arctic sheep

4. Which of the following cannot be done in Iceland?

a. polar bear watching b. puffin watching c. glacier hiking

5. How is Iceland often described?

a. The land of ice and fire b. The land of lakes and c. The land of goblins and
icebergs elves

6. Which famous singer originally comes from Iceland?

a. Sia b. Taylor Swift c. Bjork

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2 Visual Guide
Look at the images of Iceland below.

1. northern lights 2. puffins 3. Icelandic hotdog

4. Blue Lagoon 5. hot springs 6. Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

7. the Ring Road 8. Asbyrgi Canyon 9. elf house

Now work in pairs and put the words from above into the correct sentences.

1. I have a problem with my back so the warm water of the will feel like heaven.

2. I have sampled different types of sausages from all around the world, so I couldn’t wait to try
an .

3. My friend from Reykjavik told me there was an in her garden and that she once
saw a tiny, little guy run in the door.

4. Rory brought his binoculars hoping that he could see the flying above the island.

5. Driving a 4x4 on is the best and fastest way to see the whole of the island.

6. It seems like it would be a dream to walk under the , I wonder if I would get soaked.

7. Apparently the lush, green area around is the best place to go elf spotting.

8. If you are lucky enough to see the you will see the sky come alive in a multitude
of colours.

9. is one of the most famous tourist sites in Iceland, it is well worth a visit, even if
you don’t like water.

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With a partner, answer the following questions.

1. What else do you know about Iceland?

2. Are there any similarities between Iceland and where you come from?
3. Would you like to travel to or live in Iceland in the future?

3 Vocabulary
Part A: You are going to watch a video about visiting Iceland. First, match the words to the definitions.

1. splendour (n) a. grand, impressive beauty

2. geothermal (adj.) b. something that is easy to notice

3. surplus (n) c. more informal term for hot springs

4. marooned (v) d. be hypnotised by something or someone

5. palpable (adj.) e. related to naturally produced heat

6. transfixed (v) f. more than you need

7. hot pots (n) g. be left in a place you can’t escape from

Part B: Now, read the first part of the script and think which words from Part A would match each
sentence. Then watch the video (00:00- 00:57) and check your predictions.

1
The energy is on this magical island, where astonishing natural phenomena
2
inspire the welcoming creative locals. An underpopulated island near the
3
top of the globe, Iceland is literally a country in the making. Its supercharged
seems designed to remind visitors of their utter insignificance in the greater scheme of things,
and it works a treat, some crisp clean air an eyeful of the cinematic landscapes and everyone
4
is .
5 6
Iceland’s unofficial pastime is splashing around in its of
7
water, there are everywhere from downtown Reykjavik to the isolated
peninsula tips of the Westfjords, and not only are they incredibly relaxing they’re also a great
way to meet the locals.

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4 Listening for details

Part A: Watch part two of the video (00:58-01:46) and answer these questions.

1. What can you see on the Jokulsárlón Lagoon?

2. What type of animal can you look for when you are there?

3. What is Route 1 lovingly known as?

Part B: Now look at the excerpts from the transcript and match the words in bold to their definitions.

1. "Iceland’s awe-inspiring nature..." a. look around for something

2. "...comes to a dramatic climax..." b. show feelings of love or care

3. "...blue icebergs drift serenely..." c. most exciting or important time

4. "...scout for seals..." d. in a peaceful way

5. "...affectionately known as the Ring Road..." e. something extremely impressive

Part C: Watch the final part of the video (01:45-02:42) and answer the questions below.

1. Which months are usually quieter?

a. May and November

b. May and September

c. May and October

d. May and December

2. What can 40,000 Króna a day get you?

a. a dorm bed, four-wheel drive rental

b. a single room, four-wheel drive rental

c. a double room, four-wheel drive rental

d. a double room, motorbike rental

3. Where can a ‘’quick dip" happen in Iceland?

a. at a geothermal lagoon

b. at a natural lagoon

c. at a geothermal river

d. at an underwater stream

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5 Natural language
Look at the underlined words in the part of the script below. First, match them with the correct
definition.

The energy is palpable on this magical island, where astonishing natural phenomena inspire
the welcoming creative locals. An underpopulated island marooned near the top of the globe,
Iceland is literally a country in the making. Its supercharged splendour seems designed to
remind visitors of their utter insignificance in the greater scheme of things, and it works a
treat - some crisp clean air, an eyeful of the cinematic landscapes and everyone is transfixed.

Iceland’s awe-inspiring nature comes to a dramatic climax in the Westfjords, the island’s
best off the beaten path experience. A ghostly procession of luminous blue icebergs drift
serenely throughout the 25 square kilometre Jokulsárlón Lagoon, before floating out to sea.
Boat trips among the Bergs are popular or you can simply wander the lakeshore, scout for
seals and exhaust your camera’s memory card. Everyone longs to glimpse the Northern Lights
the celestial kaleidoscope known for transforming long winter nights into natural lava lamps.

1. : changing shapes and colours that can be seen in the sky

2. : does very well

3. : a long, satisfying look at something

4. : sharp and fresh

5. : into an isolated, remote place

6. : the general way that things are organised and relate to each other

7. : in the process of developing

Now complete the sentences with one of the underlined phrases.

1. The fireworks were amazing, and they produced what looked like a .

2. As I got higher up the mountain, I could see the streams were full of water.

3. I’m not a huge fan of big, tourist attractions, I much prefer to get .

4. The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona has been over a hundred years .

5. If you can’t find any dressing for your salad then just use olive oil and salt, it .

6. As he turned around, she got an the tattoos on his arms.

7. After the enquiry, people started to question the Prime Minister’s role in the .

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6 Pre-reading: vocabulary

Part A: Match the following vocabulary to the definitions.

1. isolation (n) a. be unusual but in a positive attractive way

2. breathtaking (adj.) b. drink enough so that you don’t feel thirsty

3. quirkiness (n) c. the act of being separated from somewhere or

something
4. pristine (adj.) d. in perfect condition, as if new

5. quench (v) e. very impressive

II

1. healing (n) a. a place or position where you can see something

clearly
2. uninhabited (adj.) b. the process of becoming healthier, of feeling better

3. vantage point (n) c. informal, slang term for photographs

4. snaps (n) d. the background, your surroundings

5. backdrop (n) e. a place where nobody lives

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Part B: Now fill in the gaps using some words from Part A. The form of the word might be slightly
different from the word form used above.

1. I always loved the of the little, cute cafes that I found in the backstreets of Paris.

2. I would give anything for a cold glass of orange juice right now, anything to my
thirst.

3. When Sam first moved to the countryside from the city, he could really feel the
of being away from the liveliness of it all.

4. She wasn’t feeling well, so she took a few weeks away from work to start the and
fully recover.

5. I bought a car off the Internet, the guy selling it told me it was but, when I went
to pick it up, I could see it only had three wheels.

6. When we were kids, there was an house on our street, we used to think it was
haunted.

7 Skimming for general understanding

You are going to read about food from different parts of Iceland. Match the following paragraph titles
(A-E) to the article on page 8. Two of the titles are not needed.

• Somewhere under the rainbow

• Wonderful weirdness
• Ski to the top
• Do you want ice with that?
• Dark, cosy nights
• Capital on foot
• Lots of room for all
• Scenes from another world
• Fairy-tale dudes
• Healthy water
• Birds of a feather

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Iceland: An island like no other

Embrace the unexpected

A. Iceland is a country of isolation. 500 miles from its nearest European neighbour (Scotland), Iceland
has always stood out from the pack due to its unique and breathtaking natural landscape. More than twice the
size of Denmark but with a population of only 300,000, Iceland has a lot of space for the average Icelander to
enjoy, and this is perhaps one of the reasons why Iceland is often ranked as one of the happiest countries in the
world.

B. One of the many things you’ll notice when you arrive in Iceland is the quirkiness: the colourful
houses, the puffin colonies, the existence of invisible elves, the list goes on and on, but one thing is for sure, this
is a country that feeds on the creative mind.

C. The chances are that Reykjavik will be your first port of call, and whilst most tourists want to
head out into nature as quickly as possible, there is still a lot of fun to be had in the capital. Being quite a compact
city, you can enjoy a lot of Reykjavik on foot, giving yourself more chances to inhale that pristine Icelandic air, and
if you get a hole in your stomach from all that walking then take time to gobble down a "pylsur", a Rekjavik hotdog.

D. Made out of a combination of beef, lamb and pork, covered in both raw and cooked onions
and topped off with a sweet brown mustard, it is a delicacy that thrills both tourists and locals alike. To quench
your thirst after that tasty treat then why not head to a bar they call, "Magic Ice”. As the name suggests, it is all
about ice. In fact, almost everything in the bar is made of ice: the chairs, the tables, the walls, it is definitely an
experience not to be missed.

E. Once you decide you have had enough of city life and you want to hit the nature trail, set your
sights on Seljalandsfoss. Seljalandsfoss is one of the most stunning waterfalls on the whole island. At certain times
of the year, you are afforded the special chance to walk underneath the falls, and if you catch it on a particularly
bright day, you may be lucky enough to witness a mini rainbow.

F. It is highly recommended that your next stop off should be the widely known and widely adored
Blue Lagoon. Defined as a geothermal spa comprised of sea water, the Blue Lagoon is talked about as having
natural healing qualities and it really is a treat for all your senses.

G. If you are an animal lover and the aforementioned puffins sound adorable to you, then be sure
to make a beeline for Akurey and Lunday, two uninhabited islands which provide the perfect vantage point to see
these stocky little fellows. From May to September Iceland becomes home to 60% of the world’s population of
puffins so the chances are that you will be able to get plenty of snaps to impress the folks back home.

H. As your trip comes to a close, why not try and catch a glimpse of the legendary Icelandic elf. It
is thought that around 50% of Icelanders believe in the presence of elves, and to increase your chance of seeing
them head to Asbyrgi Canyon where it is believed that the "capital city of the elves" exists.

I. Whether you spend your time in Iceland looking for mythical creatures or sampling the real-life
beauty, the supernatural backdrop that the natural landscape creates is definitely something that makes it feel like
you are on another planet.

Sources: BBC, Lonely Planet, Expedia, The Guardian

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8 Reading comprehension

Read the sentences and decide if they are true, false or not given. Give reasons for your answers.

1. Iceland is half the size of Denmark.

2. Reykjavik is quite small for a city.

3. Reykjavik is a great place to listen to live music.

4. Icelandic hotdogs have two different types of onion on them.

5. You can walk under Seljalandsfoss all year round.

6. The Blue Lagoon is particularly busy in the summer.

7. More than half of the world’s puffins come to Iceland.

8. You have less chance to see elves at Asbyrgi Canyon.

9 Talking point

Look at the questions and discuss them with your partner.

1. Do you know anybody who has been to Iceland? If not, would you like to go there someday?
2. What was the most interesting thing you read in the article? Which of the places would you like
to go to first?
3. What do you think a mini rainbow looks like? When was the last time you saw a rainbow?
4. Would you like to go puffin spotting? Are you a bird lover?
5. Do you think you would see elves if you went to Iceland? Do you think elves are real?
6. Are there any similarities between Iceland and your country? What are the main differences?

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10 Optional extension: language in context

Read the terms written in bold below. What do you think they mean? Discuss them with your partner.
Can you guess the meaning from the context?

In the article the writer uses the following phrases:

• "take time to gobble down a ’pylsur’, a Rekjavik hotdog"

• "you want to hit the nature trail then set your sights on Seljalandsfoss"
• "If puffins sound adorable to you then be sure to make a beeline for Akurey and Lunday"

Now, answer the questions below.

1. What kind of food do you usually gobble down?

2. What ambition would you like to set your sights on this year?
3. When you go shopping, what kind of shop do you usually make a beeline for?

11 Extension/homework

Look at the three texts below. Each one is about an interesting fact about Icelandic life. Work in
groups and complete your text with the vocabulary in the box.

Once you have read your text, summarise it to your partners. Try and use different vocabulary as this
will develop your ability to paraphrase.

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referendum / prohibition / frothy / beverage / banned / bucketload

A. Beer ban

On March 1st every year, Icelanders celebrate a day that has come to be known as ‘’Beer
Day”. Beer Day celebrates the day when the people of Iceland were allowed to drink this
1 2
tasty again, because believe it or not, beer was in Iceland
for 74 years.
3
At the start of the 20th century and after a nationwide , all alcohol was
4
banned in Iceland. The on wine and spirits didn’t last too long though, with
both bans being overturned by the 1930s, however, the fortune of beer drinkers seemed to
be missing. It wasn’t until 1989 that people in Iceland could drink beer freely again. It seems
the primary reason for beer’s lengthy ban was the thought that it was extremely tempting for
5 6
young people, who would go out their way to drink a of the
liquid.

centred / obsession / wannabe / concentration / conducted / bookworms

B. Everyone’s a book publisher

1
Iceland is a nation of and books seem to be more popular here than in any
2
other country on the planet. A study in 2013 found that 50% of Icelanders
3
read at least 8 books a year, and the with books does not stop there.

It is thought this culture and tradition of book reading began as early as the 13th century
and whilst it is clear that Icelanders love to read, it is also true that they love to sit down and
give writing a go. It is believed that one in ten Icelanders will publish a book in their lifetime.
4 5 6
The highest of these authors is in
Reykjavik, where you can often see them scribbling away in the trendy cafes of the capital.

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crash / encased / skyrocketing / bolt / honeymoon period / popping / creeping / packed up

C. Where’s the nearest McDonald’s?

McDonald’s is one of the most recognisable brands in the entire world. Travel to the distant
1
corners of the Earth and the chances are you will see that big, yellow ‘’M”
out from somewhere. This, however, is not the case in Iceland, because in 2009, McDonald’s
2
their bags and left this little island.

The reasoning for the departure is quite complex but it is thought it was based on two
3
reasons. Firstly, Icelanders were just not that into it, and after the initial
business was not performing as the company would have hoped. Then, when the second
4 5
reason came along, the 2008 financial spelt the end. The
6
crash sent the cost of ingredients so Ronald McDonald and his gang decided
7
to . The funny thing is that if you visit the National Museum in Iceland you
8
can find the last McDonald’s cheeseburger in glass.

Look at the questions below and talk to your partner.

1. Are you a beer drinker? If you are in a pub or a bar, what do you like to drink?
2. Do you like reading? Would you describe yourself as a bookworm?
3. Do you have McDonald’s in your country? How often do you go there?

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