Script
Track 11
Narrator: Now turn to part 2.
You will hear a student called Jess Erminite talking about a visit to Brasilia as part of her university course in architecture. For questions 1–8, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase. You now have 45 seconds to look at part 2.
Jess Erminite: Hi,everyone. My name’s Jess Erminite. I’m a second-year architecture student, and I’ve just come back from a trip to Brasilia, where, it has to be said, the buildings are absolutely stunning.
I was privileged enough to go after winning the Design Today competition. Apparently, the organisers were particularly taken by the way I emphasised the practicalities over the innovations of contemporary design.
Before I go into detail about the trip, a quick word about the competition.
Originally, on the face of it, it was open to everyone. Even amateurs with little more than a passing interest in the field could submit something. But then a friend told me that entries were confined to university undergraduates, which gave me the push I needed to get something down on paper and send it in. Thank goodness I did.
Now, most urban planners creating new towns and cities tend to design a real mixture of districts, creating that feeling of organic growth. Not Brasilia. It has zoned areas that are laid out according to their function – financial quarter here, residential district there, and so on. It doesn’t take long for any visitor to find their way around – the logic behind the planning is clear.
I have to say at this point, it was clear from the word go that everyone I met took great pride in their city. Yes, the entire place has been designed from scratch, but the locals were keen from day one to establish a distinct atmosphere of togetherness. They have certainly created this in Brasilia. And, again, what great architecture. The TV Tower is the perfect example of striking simplicity. The best place to stand and stare at its impressive size is from the huge arch bridge that connects the airport to the city centre. From the top of this tower, you can wander around, marvelling at the whole Federal District stretching across the horizon.
Thanks to the competition organisers, I was lucky enough to be accompanied by a local guide for the initial part of my visit. She didn’t necessarily tell me anything I didn’t already know about architecture, and was a little sketchy in her grasp of its finer points, but she certainly knew the restaurants of the city well. We ate out every night, anyway!
It may seem strange, but for me the city becomes even more impressive after the sun has gone down. The way the lights radiate all around as you wander the streets is magical, and you're overcome by a real haunting feeling as you gaze up at the architecture in its silhouetted forms.
One thing in particular has stuck with me. In practically every building that you come across they really have made concrete a fundamental aspect. It's not the most attractive material, and, yes, it does have its critics, but so many of these buildings are surrounded by water, so that their mirror images are seen everywhere you walk. I was struck by how prominent this is in Brasilia, creating this astonishing sense of the world reflecting back on itself.
Watch this video and this other video to see Brasilia
Vocabulary
be taken with/by something to be attracted by a particular idea, plan, or person.
E.g.
I’m quite taken by the idea of Christmas in Berlin
on the face of it used to say that something seems to be good, true, etc. but that this opinion may need to be changed when you know more about it. Sp. a primera vista.
E.g.
On the face of it, it seems like a great deal.
What may, on the face of it, seem obvious often turns out to be far more complicated.
passing: lasting only for a short period of time and then disappearing. Brief.
E.g.
a passing phase/thought/interest
This was the album that confirmed once and for all that rap music was no passing fad. (Sp. moda pasajera)
lay out to plan how something should look and arrange it in this way. Sp. trazar, ordenar.
E.g.
The gardens were laid out with lawns and flower beds. a well-laid-out magazine
sketchy: not complete or detailed and therefore not very useful. Synonym rough. Sp. incompleto, sin detalles.
E.g.
He gave us a very sketchy account of his visit.
sketchy notes
grasp: a person’s understanding of a subject or of difficult facts. Sp. comprensión.
E.g.
He has a good grasp of German grammar.
beyond somebody's grasp These complex formulae are beyond the grasp of the average pupil.
As the drugs took hold, her grasp of reality began to slip slowly away.
the finer points of The more complex or detailed aspects of.
E.g.
he went on to discuss the finer points of his work.
the finer points of poetry are often lost in translation — Sp. los matices más sutiles de la poesía a menudo se pierden en la traducción
overcome: if someone is overcome by emotion, they cannot behave normally because they feel the emotion so strongly. Sp. abrumar.
E.g.
be overcome by/with something Charles was overcome with grief.
haunting beautiful, sad or frightening in a way that cannot be forgotten. Sp. inolvidable.
E.g.
a haunting melody/experience/image
gaze: to look steadily at somebody/something for a long time, either because
you are very interested or surprised, or because you are thinking of
something else synonym stare. Sp. contemplar
E.g.
She gazed at him in amazement.
He sat for hours just gazing into space.
stick with somebody to remain in someone’s memory. Sp. permanecer en la memoria.
E.g.
Those words will stick with me for the rest of my life.
strike: surprise. Sp. sorprender, golpear
E.g.
He was struck by the news of his cousin's death. Sp. La noticia de la muerte de su primo lo golpeó con dureza
be struck by/on/with somebody/something (informal) to be impressed or interested by somebody/something; to like somebody/something very much.
E.g.
I was struck by her youth and enthusiasm.
We're not very struck on that new restaurant
prominent: easily seen. synonym noticeable. Sp. prominente, destacado.
E.g.
The church tower was a prominent feature in the landscape.
The story was given a prominent position on the front page
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