📙 Part 2: Describe a story or a book with animals in it

This episode's vocabulary

Stands out (phrasal verb) – to be much better or more important than someone or something else. → The book that stands out for me the most right now is The Animals of Farthing Wood.

Woodland (adjective) – relating to or characteristic of woods or forests. → They're just common woodland ones that you might find all over the UK.

Venomous (adjective) – (of an animal) secreting venom; capable of injecting venom by means of a bite or sting. → I even think they had an adder in it, which is a kind of venomous snake.

Wiped out (phrasal verb) – to destroy something completely. → In order to avoid being wiped out, they enter into an agreement to work together.

Flee (verb) – to escape by running away, especially because of danger or fear. → They work together and flee the area, which is called Farthing Wood.

Unfolds (verb) – (of a story or situation) to develop or become clear to other people. → The drama that unfolds as well after they arrive.

Prior to (prepositional phrase) – before a particular time or event. → There's some conflict with the animals which have been living there prior to their arrival.

Thoughtful (adjective) – showing consideration for the needs of other people. → She decided to give it to us, which was very thoughtful.

Appeal to (phrasal verb) – to attract or interest someone. → That sort of thing is designed or written to appeal to kids.

Comes up in conversation (idiom) – to be mentioned or discussed. → It does sometimes come up in conversation though, so it's good that I read it.

In the know (idiom) – having information that most other people do not have. → Otherwise, I wouldn't be in the know about what people are going on about.

Poisonous (adjective) – causing or capable of causing death or illness if taken into the body. → We have poisonous mushrooms, right? You eat them and you die.

Satire (noun) – the use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to expose and criticize people's vices. → This is about an animal revolution and it's about pigs and other animals. So yeah, a powerful book, satire.

Questions and Answers

Maria: Describe a story or a book with animals in it. You should say what animals are in it, what the story book is about, why you read this story or book and explain what you think of this story or book.

Rory: Well, there are lots of books like this in my country, but the one that stands out for me the most right now is The Animals of Farthing Wood, which I think was written in the early 1990s. Speaking about the various species in it, they're just common woodland ones that you might find all over the UK. There are foxes and badgers and rabbits and mice. I even think they had an adder in it, which is a kind of venomous snake. It might even be the only one we have in our country. If we consider what the whole thing is about, it tells the story of this group of animals whose home is being poisoned and destroyed by a development company. And in order to avoid being wiped out, they enter into an agreement to work together and flee the area, which is called Farthing Wood, and try to find shelter in this animal reservation called White Deer Park. So, the plot, as it unfolds, it covers various things that happen to them along the way to their final destination, and the drama that unfolds as well after they arrive because there's some conflict with the animals which have been living there prior to their arrival. So it kind of starts off in one place and moves to another and develops further. It's not just like they reach the park and it's a happy ending. There's more to follow. When I think about why I read it, well, this was when I was much younger and what kid doesn't like the idea of talking animals, especially the ones you see and hear every day. I don't think I bought it though. I think it was actually a gift from my grandmother. She had just found it sitting around in her house and decided to give it to us, which was very thoughtful. As far as what I thought of the book is concerned, I thought it was pretty good, actually, and I'm glad I took the time to read it. I think it was originally based on a TV series, but I prefer books. However, I doubt I'd read it again since that sort of thing is designed or written to appeal to kids and I'm a bit more grown up now. It does sometimes come up in conversation though, so it's good that I read it. Otherwise, I wouldn't be in the know about what people are going on about.