Table of contents for No 477 in Speak Up

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 the journal Frontiers in Earth Science offers proof that Pompeii was simultaneously wrecked5 by a massive earthquake. The discovery establishes a new timeline for the city’s demise6 and shows that fresh approaches to research can reveal additional secrets from well-studied archaeological sites. Researchers have always had an inkling7 that seismic activity contributed to the city’s destruction. The ancient writer Pliny the Younger reported from his vantage point8 in a nearby town that the eruption of Vesuvius had been accompanied by violent tremors. But, until now, no evidence had been discovered to support this…

SPEAK UP IN CLASS 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 at…

The lancet liver fluke1 is a microscopic parasitic flatworm2 that turns ants into zombies. An ant accidentally eats a fluke and the parasite migrates to the ant’s brain where it heads to the central nervous system and takes control. The fluke causes the infected ant to climb3 to the top of a blade of grass4 and perch5 there, dreamily awaiting its death. When cattle6 or sheep7 come to graze8, they eat the grass together with the ant, and the fluke worm settles into the larger animal’s liver9, doing terrible damage. A few months ago, I became convinced that one of these tiny demon parasites had migrated to the brain of my best friend, Pete. This was my second hypothesis. My first was that he was the subject of the other…

ARTÍCULOS POR NIVELES Todos nuestros artículos se presentan con un código de color para indicar el nivel de dificultad del inglés empleado de acuerdo con la Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. A2 PRE-INTERMEDIATE B1 LOWER INTERMEDIATE B2 UPPER INTERMEDIATE C1 ADVANCED C2 PROFICIENCY GLOSARIO Encontrarás el vocabulario más relevante de cada artículo indicado con un número en el color correspondiente a su nivel de dificultad y su traducción en el glosario adjunto. A towering1 figure in British history, Queen Victoria was actually a diminutive figure, just one metre fifty GLOSSARY 1 towering: imponente 2 to rule: gobernar 3 to number: ascender, sumar EXPLAINS Los textos subrayados en amarillo indican que la frase requiere de una explicación más extensa, como referencias históricas o culturales, frases hechas, proverbios o argot. Encontrarás la explicación al final del…

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…

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…

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 LET’S…

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. In the 1890s, she worked…

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 first Globe was built…

When the British are not busy in their own gardens, they’re often out visiting other people’s. The UK has the finest collection of historic parks, gardens, estates1 and designed landscapes in the world. Here are six of the best: 1. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall (England) Abandoned and overgrown2 after World War One, The Lost Gardens of Heligan have been transformed into one of the UK’s most enchanting attractions. Located near the Eden Project in Cornwall, this historic estate, with its warm microclimate, boast3 eighty hectares of breathtaking landscapes, from Victorian gardens to luxuriant subtropical jungle. Winding paths4 lead through towering5 tree ferns6, exotic plants, and romantic walled gardens, offering visitors a glimpse7 into 19th-century horticulture. The garden’s restoration, following its rediscovery in the 1990s, is a moving masterpiece of…

SPEAK UP IN CLASS 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 the social manoeuvring, morality, gender roles, and class barriers of the Regency period. HER OWN WAY In Rebecca ‘Becky’ Sharp, Thackeray created one of literature’s most memorable characters. Independent, strong-willed4 , amoral and manipulative, she refuses to follow the roles and rules of early 19th-century Britain. Becky Sharp does things her own way. In contrast, her friend Amelia Sedley is everything a young woman should be: polite, sentimental and devoted. When Amelia’s brother, Jos, leaves a note rejecting Becky…

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. 1) the / galaxy / and / evil / story / a / of / between / an / epic / good /battle / in / Star / distant / Wars / tells / . ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2) is / an / the / Fourth / the / American / the / famous / originated /pun / Be / You” / Although / with / Wars / in / Star /…