Table of contents for N. 487 in Speak Up Italia

Situated in the affluent Russian Hill neighbourhood of San Francisco is one of the city's biggest attractions: a section of Lombard Street known as “the crookedest1 street in the world.” Every year, about two million visitors traverse this six hundred-foot [182.8 metres] section of the street, which has eight sharp turns2 and a sign that recommends a maximum speed of just five miles per hour [8 kph]. MAKING IT SAFER This famous section of Lombard Street is on a hill3 with a natural 27 per cent grade. In the early 1900s, this grade was too steep4 for most cars. So a property owner called Carl Henry suggested making it easier and safer to navigate by adding the eight turns. The turns were added in 1922, and in the late 1930s,…

EXERCISES IN Work It Out! Great Scott! Back to the Future is forty years old this year. The iconic movie is beloved1 by generations past, present and, no doubt, future, for its mix of science fiction, comedy and 1950s’ nostalgia and for exploring the consequences of altering the past and the importance of accepting one's destiny. THE STORY AND CHARACTERS Released2 in July 1985, Back to the Future stars3 young-looking twenty-three-year-old actor Michael J. Fox as teenager Marty McFly. McFly accidentally travels back to 1955 in a DeLorean, a fictional time-travelling vehicle built by eccentric scientist Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd.) While there, McFly inadvertently4 prevents his teenage parents from falling in love, risking his own existence. And so he has to reconcile his parents and return to the…

EXERCISES IN Work It Out! Many people believe that dogs are intelligent, but it's surprising to learn just how smart they are. One study, at Emory University in Atlanta in the US, found that dogs have a basic understanding of words, and can distinguish words they have heard before from those they haven't. Other studies have found that most dogs can understand complex gestures, such as pointing, even if they've never been trained to do so. THE SMARTEST BREED Many studies have found that the most intelligent dog breed1 is the British border collie. So it makes sense that the dog many consider to be the most intelligent in history is a border collie called Chaser (born in 2004-died in2019). Chaser was trained by behavioural psychologist2 John Pilley at his…

SCAN, READ & LISTEN 12 PROFICIENCY C2 GLOSSARY 1 filmsiest: più delicati 2 lumps of matter: frammenti di materia 3 barely: a malapena 4 laundry: bucato 5 to upset: turbare, sconvolgere 6 spokesperson: portavoce, rappresentante 7 to conjure: far apparire 8 to spin: girare, ruotare 9 reluctantly: con riluttanza 10 to account for: rappresentare 11 aloof: distante 12 if: anche se 13 to drive: manovrare, pilotare 14 cheekily: ironicamente 15 wimp: debole 16 default: predefinita 17 mighty: potente 18 CERN: Organizzazione Europea per la Ricerca Nucleare (sigla di Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) 19 to turn up short: risultare insufficiente 20 for the foreseeable future: nell'immediato futuro 21 to come up empty: non trovare niente, non ottenere nulla 22 further afield: più lontano 23 compelling: convincente, valido 24 tweak: modifica 25 lopsided: sbilanciati 26 apiece: ciascuno, a testa 27 to bind: legare 28 vaunted: acclamata 29 heretofore: finora 30 ungainly: sgraziate, goffe 31 to bounce off: rimbalzare 32 feasible: fattibile,…

SCAN, READ & LISTEN 15 UPPER INTERMEDIATE B2 GLOSSARY 1 dairy farmer: allevatore di bestiame 2 wrestler: lottatore 3 fellowship: borsa di studio 4 to fit in: adattarsi 5 aide: ausiliario 6 ward: reparto 7 to escape notice: non farsi notare 8 deaf: sordo 9 to sweep: spazzare 10 insights: riflessioni, idee 11 acutes: acuti 12 to run: dirigere, gestire 13 sanctimonious: moralista, bigotto 14 piety: religiosità 15 former army nurse: ex infermiera militare 16 cogs: ingranaggi 17 menacing: minacciosi 18 domineering: autoritaria 19 shameful: vergognosi 20 as a means of: allo scopo di 21 to avoid: evitare 22 hard labour: lavori forzati 23 to swagger onto: entrare in modo spavaldo 24 gambling man: giocatore d'azzardo 25 zest: gusto, passione 26 urge: voglia, impulso 27 battle of wits: duello d'intelligenza 28 inmates: pazienti 29 grinding wheels: mole abrasive 30 relentless: implacabile 31 stammer: balbuzie 32 to sneak into: intrufolarsi, entrare di nascosto 33 bitter: spietata 34 widespread critical acclaim: numerosi consensi dalla critica 35…

EXERCISES IN Work It Out! Goodbye’ is a common, simple word but an important part of communication. It's used when ending or concluding a conversation (in person or on the phone,) when leaving other people (for example at the end of a workday) or when somebody is leaving. The remark1 dates back to2 the second half of the 16th century, and originated as a contraction of ‘God be with ye3’ (‘ye’ is Old English for ‘you’) that later became ‘godbwye’. Over time4, ‘God’ evolved into ‘good’, probably influenced by expressions like ‘good day’ or ‘good evening’. The original meaning of asking for divine protection was eventually5 completely lost. APPROPRIATE USE The word ‘goodbye’, however, can sound a bit formal, and there are many other ways to say goodbye to someone. The…

“Taught from their infancy that beauty is woman's sceptre18, the mind shapes itself to the body, and roaming round19 its gilt cage20, only seeks to adorn its prison.“ One of the leading intellectuals of the Age of Enlightenment1, Mary Wollstonecraft (17591797) was a trailblazing2 advocate3 for the equality of women, laying the foundation4 for modern feminism. In the 18th century, women had very few rights. They were barred5 from politics, higher education and most professions. They were considered the property of their husbands or fathers and were even considered incapable of rational thought! Wollstonecraft was born during the Enlightenment, a European movement which critiqued traditional authority in religion and politics. The rights of men were widely debated, but not those of women. Wollstonecraft would fill this gap6. DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD Born into…

The New Forest is a national park like no other in Britain. Located in the south of England, it boasts1 140,000 acres [566.5 sq km] of ancient woodlands, heathland2, bogs3 and mires4, reaching down towards the rugged5 Hampshire coastline. Wild ponies roam6 free, while local farmers take their animals there to graze7, thanks to the park's rights of common pasture. Its natural beauty and varied fauna have attracted countless visitors and inspired some of the greatest British literature, such as Alice in Wonderland and the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. ROYAL HUNTING GROUND The New Forest's history goes back to the time of the Norman conquest. Originally called Ytene — Land of the Jutes — it was established by William the Conqueror as Nova Foresta in 1079. He declared…

EXERCISES IN Work It Out! SCAN, READ & LISTEN 10 UPPER INTERMEDIATE B2 GLOSSARY 1 flawed: difettoso 2 burdensome: pesante, gravoso 3 gruelling: estenuante 4 never mind: figurarsi 5 checks: controlli 6 to gain traction: guadagnare terreno, prendere piede 7 figurehead: figura di rappresentanza 8 to tap into: sfruttare 9 to betray: tradire 10 to stoke: attizzare, alimentare 11 zealots: fanatici 12 trailblazer: pioniere 13 unrest: malcontento, inquietudine 14 baseless: infondato 15 term: mandato 16 oversight: supervisione 17 real estate tycoon: magnate del settore immobiliare 18 deal: patto, accordo 19 to pledge: promettere, impegnarsi 20 fondness: passione 21 regal décor: arredamento regale 22 to brand: mettere la propria marca 23 to rule: governare, regnare 24 to run: dirigere, amministrare 25 striking: sorprendenti 26 the latter: quest'ultimo 27 to overpower: sovrastare 28 market share: quota di mercato 29 the former: il primo 30 allegedly: presumibilmente 31 tall order: compito arduo 32 thereby: quindi, in questo modo 33 to override: ignorare, scavalcare 34 to erode:…

EXERCISES IN Work It Out! With just a five-week break in late 1997, every day, from 2 October 1950 to the day he retired on 14 December 1999, US cartoonist Charles M. Schulz published a comic strip1 that became one of the most influential and beloved in history. It centred on a social group of school-age children, an anthropomorphic black and white beagle called Snoopy, and a cute2 yellow bird called Woodstock. The comic strip appeared under the title Peanuts, though very much against the wishes of its creator! With its quirky3 sense of humour and cast4 of relatable characters5, Peanuts quickly grew in global popularity. It had emotional depth, contained gentle social commentary and resonated with6 readers of all backgrounds7 and ages. CHARLIE BROWN Peanuts evolved from a weekly…

SCAN, READ & LISTEN 16 LOWER INTERMEDIATE B1 GLOSSARY 1 PhD: Doctor of Philosophy, dottorato 2 to blink: sbattere le palpebre 3 to struggle: sforzarsi, fare fatica 4 -ish: circa, più o meno 5 faint: lieve, fioca 6 to stare: osservare, guardare 7 in astonishment: con stupore 8 inner self: sé interiore 9 nurture: educazione 10 hatefulness: cattiveria, odio 11 to feed: alimentare 12 blind spots: punti ciechi 13 contrary to popular belief: contrariamente a quanto si crede 14 niece: nipote 15 to squeeze: stringere 16 nurse: infermiera 17 to gasp: sussultare Melissa left the laboratory on the campus, where she was doing a PhD1 in Biology, blinking2 rapidly. “So, how was it?” asked her boyfriend, Ricky, who was waiting for her outside. “It was… indescribable.” She had just participated in an experiment conducted by one of her professors, Dr. Peterson. The professor had directed laser pulses…

SpeakUp 487 UNIT 1 Page 8 A2 LEVEL Goodbye SOLUTIONS PAGE 74 1.1 SONG So Long, Marianne is a goodbye song by Leonard Cohen, released in 1967. It's about saying farewell to someone you once loved, with kindness and emotion. Look it up on YouTube and fill in the missing words. SO LONG, MARIANNE 1.2 READING COMPREHENSION Read the article and answer the questions. UNIT 2 Page 14 B2 LEVEL Mary Wollstonecraft SOLUTIONS PAGE 74 2.1 VOCABULARY Match the two words that go together by selecting one word from each group to obtain expressions used in the article. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS to become famous overnight diventare famoso da un giorno all'altro 2.2 GRAMMAR Fill in the blank with a preposition from the box, or leave it empty if no preposition is needed. for…

Described as “a celebration of the scientific and educational value of palaeontology,” International Fossil Day is an unofficial yet1 important global event that takes place this year on 15th and 16th October. The word ‘fossil’ originates from the Latin word ‘fossilis’, meaning ‘dug up2’. Fossils can be many things, from shells3, bones, certain corrals or stone imprints4 of animals or microbes to objects preserved in amber, petrified wood or coal5. DNA remnants6 are also considered fossils. WHAT ARE FOSSILS? Fossils are remains or traces7 of plants, animals and other life forms that have been buried8 in sediment under ancient seas, lakes or rivers. While soft body tissue9 decays10 fast, harder tissue, such as bones or teeth, can be preserved. Over thousands or millions of years, these hard parts are slowly replaced…

Britain's largest voluntary women-only organisation, the Women's Institute, known simply as the WI, has been inspiring and enabling1 women for 110 years. In that time, the WI has campaigned2 on many important issues3 and has produced huge quantities of cakes and jam4. RURAL LIFE Why does jam matter? When World War One began in 1914, many farms, food producers and rural communities suffered shortages5 of labour. The foundation of the Women's Institute (WI) aimed6 to boost morale7 and, importantly, to secure8 food supplies9. Jam production and the pickling10 of fruit and vegetables was an important part of the war effort. The movement was founded in 1897 in Canada, and the first British WI group was inaugurated on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, in 1915. LIFELONG LEARNING Today, there are…

By all accounts1, Brian Wilson was Ba genius. His fellow greats2 Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney both used the word in their tributes to the creative force behind the Beach Boys, who died last June aged eighty-two. So did John Cale, Mick Fleetwood and Elton John. And so did Wilson's bandmates, who wrote in a joint statement3: “The world mourns4 a genius today.” You may imagine Wilson gradually accrued5 such a vaunted standing6. Artistic legacy is largely dependent on the longevity of mass appeal, and the fact that the Beach Boys’ opus7 Pet Sounds remains one of the most celebrated and beloved records of all time almost sixty years since its release is proof enough of his incredible talent. Wilson's claim to genius status8 began with a 1966 PR9 campaign masterminded10…

The legitimacy of the monarchies of the past was rooted as much in1 the use of force and an alleged2 divine mandate as in ceremony and performance, with strong hierarchies and complex codes and rituals. The Trump presidency replicates many of the dynamics of a dynastic court, where everything gravitates around a single figure who prizes3 loyalty above all else. BLOOD TIES AND YES-MEN The President's inner circle4 is, unsurprisingly, composed largely of blood relations5; of Trump's five children, the three eldest — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric — and their spouses have held official roles or benefited from their proximity to power in their private ventures6 (or both). The court intrigues become much more volatile when it comes to the second circle of influence, composed of trusted appointees7 and…

SCAN, READ & LISTEN 14 UPPER INTERMEDIATE B2 GLOSSARY 1 four-panel strip: strisce a quattro vignette 2 touchstone: punto di riferimento 3 thriving: fiorente, prospero 4 to uphold: mantenere, accogliere 5 enduring: duraturo 6 depth: profondità 7 gag-a-day: battuta, scenetta del giorno 8 punchline: battuta 9 to whack: colpire 10 frying pan: padella 11 props: oggetti di scena 12 over time: col tempo 13 sassy: sfacciato 14 whishy-washy: accondiscendente, privo di carattere 15 well-meaning: ben intenzionato 16 drawing board: tavolo da disegno 17 to hang around: gironzolare, bighellonare 18 thoughtful: riflessivo 19 setbacks: contrattempi 20 endeavour: sforzi, tentativi 21 crush: cotta 22 red-haired: dai capelli rossi 23 strong-willed: determinata 24 opinionated: ostinata 25 blunt: brusca 26 booth: stand, postazione 27 to tear: strappare 28 tomboyish: da maschiaccio 29 outgoing: estroversa 30 straightforward: diretta 31 oblivious: ignara 32 social cues: convenzioni sociali 33 club champion: campione in tutto 34 to indulge: assecondare 35 selfish: egoista 36 to display: mostrare, esporre 37 to host: ospitare 38 plush: peluche 39 in…

Hello, it's Olivia here. I'm calling to confirm the details of my visit next week. Oh, yes! I'm looking forward to meeting you in person! Same here1! My flight lands2 at 10.30, so I should be at your offices around noon. Are you sure you don't want me to pick you up? No, that's alright. It's easy to take a taxi. OK. We're on a big industrial estate. Tell the taxi to take the entrance on the south side. OK, I will. I can't wait to see the new production plant! You’ ll love it – it's state of the art! We’ ll do a tour of the facilities and then break for lunch. Will the whole team be there? Sarah and I will join you for lunch, but all…