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Skimming is reading rapidly in order to get a general overview of the material.
Scanning is reading rapidly in order to find specific facts.
VOCABULARY
colorful: with a lot of colors
bright: strong in color
strange: unusual
shapes: forms
low-income: without a lot of money
wood-burning stove: a stove that uses wood
upstairs: second floor
🏘️Shusaku Arakawa and Madeline Gins are famous designers. Their nine lofts near Tokyo, Japan, are very colorful. The apartments are blue, pink, red, yellow, and other bright colors. Inside, the walls are colorful, too. The floors go up and down, and some rooms are round. The windows have strange shapes, so there are no curtains. There are small doors to the outside. Inside, there aren’t any closets. The bookcase is in the middle of the living room.
🏚️ Dan Phillips likes to help people. He builds houses for artists and other low-income people in Huntsville, Texas, in the United States. One house, the “tree house,” is in a large tree in the forest. It has windows on the floor! It also has a small kitchen. The bed is on the upstairs floor. There is a woodburning stove from an old ship in the living room. Phillips teaches people how to build houses with recycled materials.
A Read the article. What’s in each home? Complete the chart.
bed on the upstairs floor bookcase closets
✓colorful walls windows on the floor wood-burning stove
Arakawa and Gins’s lofts
1. There are colorful walls.
2. There aren't any ..... .
3. There is a ..... in the middle of the living room.
Dan Phillips’s tree house
4. There are ..... .
5. There is a ..... .
6. There is a ..... .
B Group work Talk about these questions.
1. Imagine you are painting your house. What colors do you use? Why?
2. Imagine you are building a house. Do you use new materials or recycled materials? Why?
Derinkuyu: A Subterranean Marvel
Have you ever imagined living underground in a fully functioning city with its own schools, churches, and even wineries?
What would it be like to escape to a hidden world beneath the earth's surface, protected from dangers above?
Would you be surprised to learn that some people built entire cities underground, complete with ventilation and water systems?
Buried deep within the heart of Cappadocia, Turkey, lies a subterranean marvel known as Derinkuyu.
This ancient underground city, carved into the volcanic rock, stands as a testament to human ingenuity and resilience. Its intricate network of tunnels, chambers, and ventilation shafts offers a glimpse into a world hidden beneath the surface.
A City Beneath the Earth
Derinkuyu is a colossal underground metropolis, capable of housing an astonishing 20,000 people. Its construction, believed to have begun in prehistoric times, was primarily driven by the need for protection from invaders. The city’s depth, reaching approximately 85 meters below ground, provided a secure refuge during times of conflict. Generations of inhabitants expanded and refined the complex, creating a self-sufficient ecosystem underground.
Life Underground
Within the labyrinthine depths of Derinkuyu, life once thrived. The city boasted a sophisticated infrastructure, including stables, wineries, storage areas, churches, and even schools. A complex system of ventilation shafts ensured fresh air reached the lower levels. To prevent invasion, massive stone doors could be rolled into place, sealing off the entrances. Water management was another crucial aspect, with cisterns and wells providing a vital resource.
A Legacy of Survival
Derinkuyu is more than just a historical site; it is a symbol of human determination. The people who carved out this subterranean world left behind an enduring legacy of resilience and ingenuity. Today, visitors can explore a portion of this underground wonder, marveling at the architectural feats and imagining the lives of those who once called it home.
Derinkuyu offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the subterranean world of our ancestors. This underground city stands as a remarkable achievement of human engineering and a testament to the enduring spirit of those who sought refuge in its depths.
VOCABULARY
beneath: below, under
astonishing: amazing, surprising, incredible
thrived: flourished, prospered, grew successfully
stables: buildings for housing horses
wineries: places where wine is made
cisterns: large containers for storing water
wells: deep holes dug in the ground to get water
feats: achievements, accomplishments, remarkable deeds
Based on the reading passage answer the following questions.
Where is Derinkuyu located?
Why did people build Derinkuyu underground?
What kind of things were there in Derinkuyu?
Is Derinkuyu open to visitors today?
DISCUSSION
How does the text portray the significance of Derinkuyu in terms of human ingenuity and survival?
Discuss the potential challenges and innovations involved in creating a self-sufficient ecosystem underground, as described in the text.
Compare and contrast the life above ground with the life depicted in Derinkuyu. What does this comparison reveal about human adaptability?
The text mentions that Derinkuyu is a "symbol of human determination." Explain how this symbolism is developed and supported in the text.
The Derinkuyu Underground City is a striking example of human ingenuity in the face of adversity. The following questions aim to stimulate further thought and discussion about this subterranean marvel.
Ingenuity refers to the quality of being clever, original, and inventive. It implies the ability to think creatively and come up with new ideas or solutions to problems.
The engineer's ingenuity led to the development of a groundbreaking new product.
Her ingenuity in solving complex puzzles was truly impressive.
The children showed remarkable ingenuity in building their fort.
Personal Living Situation
What is your favorite room in your home and why?
Describe your ideal living space.
What do you like most about your current living room?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of your kitchen layout?
What is the most striking feature of the view from your living room window?
How would you describe the atmosphere of your neighborhood?
What do you enjoy most about your neighbors?
How do you deal with noisy neighbors?
Housing Preferences
What are the pros and cons of apartment living versus homeownership?
Do you prefer the urban lifestyle or suburban living? Why?
How important is outdoor space to you in a home?
Would you prefer a ground floor or a high-rise apartment? Explain your choice.
Which do you find more appealing: a home with a yard or a fireplace?
What would motivate you to move to a new home?
How do you typically search for a new place to live?
Do you think pets should be allowed in apartments? Why or why not?
What factors influence your choice of paint color for a home?
If you could make one improvement to your home, what would it be?
Do you think nonsmoking apartments are beneficial for residents?
Housing Market and Finance
What qualities would you look for in a real estate agent?
What factors contribute to the high cost of housing in your area?
Can you explain a mortgage in simple terms?
Housing Trends and Future
How do you envision homes evolving in the next decade?
What were the most significant differences between homes 100 years ago and today?
How do housing styles vary across different cultures and climates?
Do you believe it's feasible to have residential colonies on the moon in the future?
General Housing Questions
How accessible are amenities and transportation from your home?
Which animals exhibit the most complex home-building behaviors?
VOCABULARY
Real Estate
Real estate refers to land and the buildings on it. It can include homes, apartments, commercial properties, and industrial spaces.
Property is a general term for something owned. In real estate, it often refers to land and buildings.
Property value is the estimated worth of a piece of real estate.
Real estate agent is a professional who helps people buy, sell, or rent property.
Mortgage
A mortgage is a loan used to buy property.
Mortgage payment is the regular amount paid to the lender to repay the mortgage.
Interest rate is the percentage charged by the lender for borrowing money.
Down payment is the initial amount of money paid upfront when buying a property.
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