A_Room_With_a_View

//__English Lesson -__// =A ROOM WITH A VIEW =

BEFORE YOU READ. TASK 1
a) Have you made plans for your holiday? Tell your partner b) What does the concept of holiday mean to you? Why? c) What’s your ideal holiday? Why? d) What’s your nightmare holiday? Why? f) Do you like the idea of staying in a Bed and Breakfast? Why (not)?
 * . SPEAKING/LISTENING/READING/WRITING** With your partner(s) discuss these questions.

[[image:46-1-treehouse.jpg width="364" height="433" align="left"]]
Let´s think together! Answer the questions: 1- Read the title and take a look at the pictures... what can you predict about the text? 2- Where is this place? 3- Have you ever climbed a tree? ||  ||
 * - Inspiring Ideas:

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T here are trees everywhere in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Some of these trees, such as the “old-growth” giants, are hundreds of years old. The forests are home to a diverse range of wildlife: insects, birds, mammals large and small and the occasional human… On the edge of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State a huge cedar tree rises tall above a clear stream. And high up in its branches is a large wooden treehouse. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and dark green forests, this has been home to musician Bill Compher for more than 25 years :


 * Bill Compher ** (Standard American accent): // This an old-growth cedar, it’s well // // over 200 years old, an arborist told // // me, and the old way up is up the // // two-by-four ladder //// – you can see // // the ladder going up the trunk. And // // we don’t use that any more, but that // // used to be the original access. And I //// built the treehouse in the summers of 1981 and ‘82 – it took two summers – and did most of the //// construction by myself just because I couldn’t find anybody to help me, or, if I could, they didn’t want to work //// that high up //// . //// So I kind of got stuck with most of the labor //// . //

Originally from East Tennessee, Bill Compher, 57, has always loved the mountains. So when, in 1976, he had the chance to buy a plot of land in the rainforest near spectacular Mount Rainier National Park, he couldn’t resist. Even without mains electricity, his mountain hideaway was the perfect place to raise a family. The main family home was built at ground level, but Bill found that it was only natural to climb the surrounding trees. He came down one day with the idea of building a treehouse. The result was the Cedar Creek Treehouse: a comfortable, fully equipped timber home, 16 metres above the ground. 10 years ago the Comphers opened it as a bed and breakfast. The original access route was a simple vertical ladder – and you needed a good head for heights to climb it! But today’s visitors have it easy: there is a solid five-storey staircase, complete with a special room with a view, as Bill Compher explains:
 * MOUNTAIN MAN **


 * Bill Compher ** : // This observation room we’re in here, // // we’re facing south, so //// it’s great // // stargazing //// at night, you can sit out // // here and look at the stars or the // // clouds during the day. //

** A ROOM WITH A VIEW **** TASK 2. Vocabulary. ** Match the English words/expressions on the left with their Portuguese translations on the right. If you don't know, guess!
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 * ** 1. **** “old growth” giants ** || · galhos ||
 * ** 2. **** diverse range of wildlife ** || · nos limites ||
 * ** 3. **** edge ** || · a maioria do trabalho meio que sobrou pra mim ||
 * ** 4. **** a huge cedar tree... stream ** || · naquela altura ||
 * ** 5. **** branches ** || · um terreno ||
 * ** 6. **** dramatic ** || · refúgio ||
 * ** 7. **** two by four ladder ** || · gigantes de idade secular ||
 * ** 8. **** that high up ** || · imponentes ||
 * ** 9. **** so I got stuck... labor ** || · via de acesso ||
 * ** 10. **** a plot of land ** || · rede elétrica ||
 * ** 11. **** mains electricity ** || 2x4 polegadas (para escadas) ||
 * ** 12. **** hideaway ** || · escadaria de cinco lances ||
 * ** 13. **** to climb ** || · diversidade de animais silvestres ||
 * ** 14. **** access route ** || · boa tolerância para alturas ||
 * ** 15. **** a good head for heights ** || · é ótimo para observar estrelas ||
 * ** 16. **** five storey staircase ** || · um enorme cedro se ergue sobre um riacho cristalino ||
 * ** 17. **** it’s great stargazing ** || · subir, escalar ||

Now check your ideas in the Glossary. How many did you do correctly?

a clear stream.** || • um enorme cedro se ergue sobre um riacho cristalino. (04) || ( 07) || of the labor.** || • a maioria do trabalho meio que sobrou p’ra mim. (09) ||
 * **1. "old growth" giants** || • gigantes de idade secular. (01) ||
 * **2. diverse range of wildlife** || • diversidade de animais silvestres. (02) ||
 * **3. On the edge** || • nos limites. (03) ||
 * **4. a huge cedar tree rises tall above
 * **5. branches** || • galhos. (05) ||
 * **6. dramatic** || • imponentes. (06) ||
 * **7. two by four ladder** || • 2x4 polegadas ( //espessura x largura, padrão para escadas //).
 * **8. that high up** || • naquela altura. (08) ||
 * **9. so I kind of got stuck with most
 * **10. a plot of land** || • um terreno. (10) ||
 * **11. without mains electricity** || • sem acesso à rede elétrica. (11) ||
 * **12. hideaway** || • refúgio. (12) ||
 * **13. to climb** || • <span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;">subir, escalar. (13) ||
 * **14. access route** || • <span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;">via de acesso. (14) ||
 * **15. a good head for heights** || • <span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;">uma boa tolerência para com alturas. (15) ||
 * **16. five storey staircase** || • <span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;">escadaria de cinco lances. (16) ||
 * **17. it’s great stargazing** || • <span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;">é ótimo para observar as estrelas. (17) ||


 * TASK 3. Prediction. ** The article you are going to read is about an unusual Bed and Breakfast called “Cedar Creek House”. Before you read, guess if these statements are True or False. Discuss these ideas with a partner.


 * Cedar Creek House . . . || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; text-align: center;">True || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; text-align: center;">False ||
 * a) Is in Washington State ||  ||   ||
 * b) Is in a tree house ||  ||   ||
 * c) is 35 metres above the ground ||  ||   ||
 * d) costs 50 dollars a night per person ||  ||   ||
 * e) is open in the summer only ||  ||   ||

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 * SUGGESTED ANSWERS: TASK 5 . a) How long has Bill Compher lived in the tree house? b) How long did it take him to build the tree house? c) When did Bill Compher buy the plot of land where he built his tree house? d) How do people get to ( or climb up to) the tree house? e) How big is the Gifford Pinchot National Forest? e) How many people visit the Gifford Pinchot National Forest every year? f) What leisure activities can people enjoy in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest? **