Table of contents for N. 482 in Speak Up Italia

EXERCISES IN Work It Out! Fans of Star Wars, the popular science fiction saga that began in 1977, celebrate Star Wars Day every year on 4 May. This date was chosen because of a pun1 on the film’s famous saying2 “May the Force be with you3.” As everyone knows, Americans officially use the month/day/year format to write the date. Therefore4, the date 4 May is ‘May 4th’ in America. By swapping4 the word ‘fourth’ for ‘force’… Get it? A clever5 play on words occurs! That’s how a new international event to celebrate everything Star Wars was born. A BRITISH PUN Even though Star Wars was an an American movie that later became franchise, the Star Wars Day pun originated in the UK. On 4 May 1979 Margaret Thatcher was elected…

EXERCISES IN Work It Out! Considered the most important British women’s rights political activist in history, Emmeline Pankhurst formed and led the Suffragettes, a women-only militant group which demanded voting rights for women. She also fought bravely and tirelessly1 for the poor and oppressed. Pankhurst was born Emmeline Goulden in Manchester on 14 July 1858. Her parents were strong supporters of the Suffragist movement, which campaigned for parliamentary votes for women through peaceful means2. After attending her first women’s suffrage meeting aged fourteen, Emmeline declared herself a committed suffragist. In 1879, she married Richard Pankhurst, a supporter of women’s rights. They would have five children. SHOCKED BY POVERTY In 1889, she founded the Women’s Franchise League, demanding women’s right to vote in local elections — which was achieved in 1894.…

After Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018, she experienced an inevitable culture clash. The British Royal Family is known for its reserved nature and traditional values. Meghan, however, is a former1 actress from Los Angeles, California, a place associated with liberal values and a laid-back2 attitude. CALIFORNIAN EXILE The apparent contrast between Meghan and the Royal Family and even British culture in general, provoked attacks from the UK media, which she once described as “almost unsurvivable.” In 2020, those attacks drove Meghan and Harry to abandon their royal duties3 and move thousands of miles away, to Montecito, California. Now the couple and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, have settled into4 their lives on the sunny Californian coast. And Meghan is bringing Hollywood glamour and fame to her royal…

EXERCISES IN Work It Out! SCAN, READ & LISTEN 10 UPPER INTERMEDIATE B2 GLOSSARY 1 seed: seme 2 to sow: seminare 3 scattered: sparsi 4 root causes: origini 5 Gulf Stream: corrente del Golfo 6 mild: mite, temperato 7 lush: rigoglioso, fiorito 8 the far reaches: i confini 9 crops: coltivazioni 10 flamboyant: stravagante 11 rulers: governanti 12 lavish: lussuosi 13 collectible: pezzo da collezione 14 well-off: benestante 15 to boast: vantarsi di 16 to dig: scavare 17 shortages: carenze 18 allotments: orti 19 patch: appezzamento 20 GDP: PIL (gross domestic product) 21 scheme: piano 22 heritage: patrimonio 23 chairman: presidente Gertrude Jekyll, the British horticulturist and garden designer, wrote in 1899 that, ”the love of gardening is a seed1 that once sown2 never dies.” While scattered3 across the world,…

EXERCISES IN Work It Out! Our fascination with witchcraft1 and the supernatural has endured2 through time. It can be seen in the abundance of films, TV series and books we produce about the subject in an age when, in many parts of the world, spells3 and curses4 have long ceased to be considered a serious threat5. Most of us are familiar with the more sobering history behind these tales6: a history of persecution and the execution of many women, and some men, accused of consorting with7 the devil. But who were the victims? What kind of lives did they lead? What troubling human impulse drove the witch hunts8, and does this impulse still exist in society today? FORCES OF GOOD AND EVIL Marion Gibson, professor of Renaissance and magical literatures…

SCAN, READ & LISTEN 16 ADVANCED C1 GLOSSARY 1 lancet liver fluke: distoma lanceolato 2 flatworm: vermi piatti 3 to climb: arrampicarsi 4 blade of grass: filo d’erba 5 to perch: posarsi 6 cattle: bovini 7 sheep: pecore 8 to graze: pascolare 9 liver: fegato 10 ladder: scala 11 ceiling: soffitto 12 clumsy: goffo, impacciato 13 roof: tetto 14 mop: straccio 15 bucket: secchio 16 slippery: scivoloso 17 to miss your footing: perdere l’equilibrio, cadere 18 to slither: strisciare 19 fluke: colpo di fortuna 20 chance occurrence: evento fortuito 21 nasty: brutte 22 to show for it: avere come conseguenza 23 scratches: graffi 24 to heed: prestare attenzione 25 fortnight: due settimane 26 to run out: esaurirsi 27 to chuckle: ridacchiare 28 second storey window: finestra del secondo piano 29…

ARTICOLI PER LIVELLI Tutti i nostri articoli hanno un codice di colore che indica il livello di difficoltà dell’inglese in base al Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. A2 PRE-INTERMEDIATE B1 LOWER INTERMEDIATE B2 UPPER INTERMEDIATE C1 ADVANCED C2 PROFICIENCY GLOSSARIO In ogni articolo troverai le parole più rilevanti affiancate da un numero del colore corrispondente al livello di difficoltà, oltre alla traduzione nel glossario correlato. Gin and tonic is arguably1 Britain’s favourite drink GLOSSARY 1 arguably: probabilmente 2 to skyrocket: andare alle stelle EXPLAINS Le frasi evidenziate in giallo sono quelle che hanno bisogno di approfondimenti, come nel caso di riferimenti storici o culturali, frasi fatte, proverbi o espressioni di slang. Troverai la spiegazione alla fine dell’articolo. SPEAK UP IN CLASS Ogni mese su Speak Up troverai anche…

Every year, on the first bank holiday1 weekend of May, the seaside town2 of Hastings in East Sussex hosts one of the leafiest3 events of the year: Jack in the Green. This English folk custom is associated with the celebration of May Day. While Jack in the Green events exist elsewhere in the UK, the four-day festival in Hastings is the biggest of them all. Held in its historic Old Town, it dates back at least to4 the 1700s and is associated with milkmaids5 and chimney sweeps6. It culminates in a grand procession and the Slaying7 of the Jack on bank holiday Monday. TRADITIONS Historically, milkmaids would wear their finest clothes8, carry decorated milk pails9 and dance in front of their customers’ houses in exchange for tips10. Chimney sweeps would…

Hailed1 as John Lennon’s greatest musical gift2 to the world, Imagine is one of the bestloved songs ever. Inspired by a poem by the former Beatle’s wife Yoko Ono, and a prayer book3 the couple had been gifted, Lennon wrote what he described as “an anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalist song.” Aware4 that his political views were under scrutiny, he added “but because it’s sugar-coated5, it’s accepted.” Recorded in 1971 in the midst6 of the Vietnam War, the song’s reference to a world with no religion created some controversy among church leaders – Lennon told Playboy magazine he had refused a request to change the line7 to “one religion”, saying “it would defeat the whole purpose8 of the song, the whole idea.” Although initially credited as a solo composition, Lennon admitted…

EXERCISES IN Work It Out! William Shakespeare died in 1616 and the Globe Theatre in London, where Shakespeare’s acting company performed many of his plays, was pulled down1 in 1644. But, thanks to the vision of American actor Sam Wanamaker, a replica theatre called Shakespeare’s Globe now stands2 close to the original site on the South Bank next to the River Thames. Like the original, this theatre, which opened in 1997, is almost circular and open to the sky in the middle. The design is as close as possible to the original but incorporates important modern features3 like electricity. Every year thousands of people get the chance to see innovative productions of Shakespeare’s plays in this unusual setting. A TERRIBLE FIRE Today’s replica is, in fact, the third Globe theatre.…

The United Kingdom is home to more gardeners per capita, with more gardens open to the public, than any other nation in the world. What lies behind this national passion for plants and green spaces? What do people get out of gardening? To find out, we contacted Dr. Twigs Way, a researcher and writer in garden history and designed landscapes, and course director for the MA1 in Garden History at the University of Buckingham. Way is fascinated by the past: she studies the role of flowers, gardens and landscapes in art and culture of all kinds. As Way explains, every garden is grown2 by people, in a particular time and place. We began by asking her if there is any such thing as a British or English garden. Dr. Twigs…

In November and December last year, Spotify’s chief executive, Daniel Ek, sold 420,000 shares1 in the music streaming company, earning himself $199.7m. One wild rumour that circulated on social media suggested Ek’s eagerness2 to divest3 himself of stock in the company he founded was linked to the imminent publication of Liz Pelly’s book Mood Machine, as if Ek feared the revelations contained within it would adversely affect the share price. That was obviously a fanciful4 notion. Ek started cashing out5 Spotify shares in July 2023, and has continued to do so into 2025. At the time of his last transaction, a month after Pelly’s book was published in the US, Spotify’s share price was at an all-time high6. And yet, you can see how people who had a preview of…

Hi, welcome to our stand. Can I show you around1? Yes, that would be great. Is there anything in particular you’re interested in here today? Well, I’m just scouting around for ideas. What business are you in? We’re a telecoms company, with offices all around Europe. Oh yes, I see your badge now. You’re one of the leading players in the field! Thank you. I like to think we deliver2 a good service. I’m sure you do. So, are you looking for a cloud solution? Nothing specific. I’m just visiting the show to see what’s new. OK, I’ ll show you our latest solutions and you can let me know if you’d like a demonstration of any that catch your interest. How does that sound? Perfect! Lead the way. NOW…

www.speakup.it SPEAK UP PIÙ COMODO Il nuovo sito web di Speak presenta strumenti e risorse interattive per creare un’esperienza utente coinvolgente e dinamica. Le tecnologie all’avanguardia che abbiamo applicato e la moderna interfaccia permetteranno di esplorare nuovi modi divertenti per migliorare e praticare l’inglese con maggiore comodità. Scopri subito il nuovo sito e inizia esplorare la vasta gamma di articoli e risorse! TEST DI LIVELLO Verifica qual è il tuo livello di inglese con il nostro test gratuito e scopri i tuoi progressi con i nostri articoli classificati per difficoltà. ESERCIZI INTERATTIVI Leggi e ascolta gli articoli e controlla i tuoi progressi con l’inglese grazie ai nostri test interattivi. Super comodo! PRACTICAL ENGLISH Un ampio catalogo di lezioni di grammatica, consigli, e materiale scaricabile per imparare quando e dove vuoi.…

Every year, green-fingered1 enthusiasts and professional gardeners descend upon2 the Chelsea Flower Show. Also known as the Great Spring Show, this five-day event is held annually in May in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, in Chelsea, West London. Chelsea has been home to the event since 1912, but the Great Spring Show actually began in 1862, when it was held in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) garden in Kensington, situated in the neighbouring Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Before this, the RHS organised various flower shows in the West London district of Chiswick from 1833 onwards3. EMERGING TRENDS The Chelsea Flower Show is not only a chance to brush up4 on your horticultural knowledge but also an opportunity to learn about innovation, design and emerging trends in…

THE RANKINGS 1 Singapore: access to 195 destinations. 2 Japan: access to 193 destinations. 3 Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain: access to 192 destinations. 4 Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxem bourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden: access to 191 destinations. 5 Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom: access to 190 destinations. 6 Australia, Greece: access to 189 destinations. 7 Canada, Malta, Poland: access to 188 destinations. 8 Czechia, Hungary: access to 187 destinations. 9 US, Estonia: access to 186 destinations. 10 Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates: access to 185 destinations. How powerful is your passport? According to the Henley Passport Index, if you are Spanish or Italian you hold the third most powerful passport in the world. Yes, your burgundy-coloured1 EU passport is greater than a navy blue British…

SCAN, READ & LISTEN 09 PROFICIENCY C2 GLOSSARY 1 to entomb: seppellire 2 layers: strati 3 ash: cenere 4 doom: distruzione 5 to wreck: distruggere 6 demise: rovina 7 inkling: intuizione 8 vantage point: punto di vista 9 gap: lacuna 10 scholars: studiosi, esperti 11 bakery: panificio 12 to rule out: escludere 13 hazards: pericoli 14 debris: detriti 15 to crumble: sgretolarsi 16 to seek shelter: cercare rifugio 17 to rock: scuotere 18 to stream through: scorrere attraverso 19 hardly: difficilmente 20 to misattribute: attribuire erroneamente 21 to be to blame: essere colpevole Pompeii was destroyed by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79, entombing1 residents under layers2 of volcanic ash3. But there is more to this story of an ancient Roman city’s doom4. Research published last July in…

SCAN, READ & LISTEN 12 UPPER INTERMEDIATE B2 GLOSSARY 1 estates: proprietà 2 overgrown: trascurati 3 to boast: vantarsi di 4 winding paths: sentieri tortuosi 5 towering: imponenti 6 tree ferns: felci arboree 7 glimpse: sguardo 8 glasshouse: serra 9 treetop walkway: passerella tra gli alberi 10 stunning: mozzafiato 11 to showcase: mostrare 12 ongoing: in corso 13 hub: centro 14 blend: mescolanza 15 set against the backdrop: con lo sfondo di 16 sprawling: vasta 17 to thrive: prosperare 18 to burst: esplodere 19 tapestry: arazzo 20 crimson: cremisi 21 nestled: incastonati 22 shores: rive 23 rugged: accidentato 24 trails: sentieri 25 blooms: fioriture 26 delights: delizie 27 bold: audaci 28 marchioness: marchesa 29 to weave together: intrecciare 30 ever-changing: in continuo cambiamento When the British are not busy in…

SCAN, READ & LISTEN 15 UPPER INTERMEDIATE B2 GLOSSARY 1 against the backdrop: con il telone di fondo 2 instalments: fascicoli 3 to intertwine: intrecciare 4 strong-willed: tenace 5 upset: turbata 6 governess: istitutrice 7 lecherous: lascivo 8 before long: poco dopo 9 income: reddito 10 chance meeting: incontro casuale 11 gullible: credulone, ingenuo 12 throughout: durante tutto il tempo 13 awkward: goffo 14 sense of duty: senso del dovere 15 weak: debole 16 maze: labirinto 17 flaws: difetti 18 to hail: acclamare William Makepeace Thackeray wove many of his own experiences into his greatest work, Vanity Fair. A satirical story of English society set against the backdrop1 of the Napoleonic War, it was published in monthly instalments2 during 1847-48. The novel intertwines3 the fortunes of two women and describes…

SpeakUp 482 UNIT 1 Page 8 B1 LEVEL Star Wars Day SOLUTIONS PAGE 74 1.1 VOCABULARY Find in the article the words that mean: 1.2 LISTENING COMPREHENSION Listen to the article and match questions (1-7) and answers (a-g). 1.3 READING COMPREHENSION Read and write the words in the correct order to form sentences. UNIT 2 Page 10 B2 LEVEL Jack in the Green SOLUTIONS PAGE 74 2.1 VOCABULARY Match numbers (1-13) and letters (a-m) to obtain expressions or words used in the article. 2.2 WORDSEARCH Read the article and locate the words hidden in the grid that mean the following. The words can be written in any direction. ❖ MANCIA ❖ SECCHIO ❖ CORONA ❖ MUSICISTA ❖ FORTUNA ❖ SPAZZACAMINO ❖ MUNGITRICE ❖ GHIRLANDA ❖ PITTURA, VERNICE ❖ VESTITI ❖…