📙 Part 2: Describe an object that you think is beautiful

This episode's vocabulary

Rail bridge (noun) – a bridge designed for trains. → The rail bridge connects towns on opposite sides of the river.

Span (verb) – to stretch across an area of space. → The bridge spans the river for nearly two kilometres.

Bank (noun) – the land alongside a river. → We had a picnic on the riverbank.

Capital city (noun) – the most important city in a country, usually where the government is. → Paris is the capital city of France.

Symbol (noun) – something that represents a country, idea, or concept. → The maple leaf is a symbol of Canada.

Section (noun) – a part of something larger. → This section of the building is closed for renovation.

Anti-rust paint (noun) – paint that prevents metal from rusting. → The bridge is coated with anti-rust paint.

Garish (adjective) – too bright or showy in an unattractive way. → The walls were painted in garish neon colours.

Feat of engineering (phrase) – an impressive achievement in building or design. → The skyscraper is a remarkable feat of engineering.

Postcard (noun) – a card with a picture sent from a place, often by tourists. → I sent my friend a postcard from Rome.

Juxtaposition (noun) – the contrast of two different things placed next to each other. → The artist used the juxtaposition of light and dark.

Suspension bridge (noun) – a type of bridge supported by cables. → The Golden Gate is a famous suspension bridge.

Bygone era (noun) – a period of time in the past. → The castle reminds people of a bygone era.

Landmark (noun) – a well-known building or structure that is easily recognised. → The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark in Paris.

Architecture (noun) – the style or design of buildings and structures. → Gothic architecture is admired worldwide.

Iconic (adjective) – widely recognised and admired as a symbol. → Big Ben is an iconic sight in London.

Heritage (noun) – cultural traditions, monuments, or buildings passed down from the past. → The temple is part of the country’s heritage.

Picturesque (adjective) – visually attractive, like a painting. → The village was small and picturesque

Flamboyant (adjective) – very showy, colourful, or dramatic. → He wore a flamboyant red jacket.

Scenery (noun) – the natural or built landscape that you can see. → The mountain scenery was breathtaking

Questions and Answers

Maria: You should say what it is, where you saw it, what it looks like, and explain why you think it's beautiful.

Rory: Well, actually, I'm going to talk about the Forth Rail Bridge today. That's a bridge in Scotland. It spans the gulf between both banks of the River Forth, which is close to our capital city in Edinburgh.

I know it's a bit strange to pick a bridge, but it's not an ordinary bridge. Not only is it a rail bridge, it's actually a sort of symbol for our country because it's got a very unusual shape. It's got, I think, three or four sections that are shaped like hexagons, and they're bright red as well because of the anti-rust paint on them. So you would think that that makes it stand out and look a bit garish, but actually, I think it looks amazing. It's a real feat of engineering. And obviously, I'm not the only one who thinks so, because it's become a kind of symbol that's associated with Scotland and Scottish engineering. You see it on postcards all over the place.

I don't remember when I first saw it, but I definitely see it every time I go over the road bridge on the other side, which is a great juxtaposition because you've got this sort of old kind of 19th century style of flamboyant engineering on one side, and then on the other side, you've got this more modern, very boring looking suspension bridge by comparison. And of course, whenever I take the train to Edinburgh, I see it from the inside there as well.

When it comes to why I think it's beautiful, like I say, it's sort of a reminder of this kind of bygone era when people made things like even bridges looked beautiful, and they would put a lot of effort into the design to make them stand out and make them look good. In addition to the fact that I think it's actually quite a unique design anyway. So if this thing didn't exist, I think Scotland would be a lot worse off as a result. We would lack a key national symbol. And I think that's kind of important to have.

Maria: And what about your friends? Do they like it?

Oh, we definitely commented on it when we were younger, but now it's just kind of part of the scenery. But it's still a beautiful part.