Word choice: sight, place

USAGE NOTES

The word “ sight ” means:

• ability to see: Ann’s sight is very good for her age.
• act of seeing something: The crowd was wanting for a sight of the Queen.
• things to see, something you can see especially, something unusual, beautiful, etc: Tourists are familiar with sights of this part of the city.

Sights – famous or interesting places that tourists visit: In the afternoon you will have a chance to go and see the sights.

go sightseeing-

visit famous or interesting places, especially as tourists

do the sights-

e.g. We bought souvenirs and then went sightseeing.

The word “ place ” means:

· position of area; a place often has a planned or official purpose: We kept moving from place to place. I visited a lot of different places (shops, hotels, towns, countries, restaurants, etc).

· building, town, country: We were living then in a place called Alberiga.

· somebody’s house: Do you to come back to our place for holidays.

If you want to ask if it is “a good idea to visit a place”, you can use worth + - ing: This place is worth seeing. London museums are worth visiting.

(Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners)

Ex. 6. Read the sentences and the sentences with the words “sight” and “place”.

1. I’m afraid we won’t manage to see all places unless (= if not) we hurry.

2. When in London I spend all my time doing the sights.

3. We visit many different cultural sights of the island.

4. Group of individuals are offered a full package sightseeing activities, social events and contacts with local people.

5. The day-trippers have found a really nice place to stay.

6. The company places emphasis on training its staff (= people).

7. There’s a nice Korean place where you can easily have lunch.

8. Many people go on sightseeing tour of a town in a bus, but some prefer going sightseeing on their own (= by themselves).

9. The word “place” is very common and describes a building, town, an area or a country.

10. You can explore America’s most history cities the with world’s most experienced sightseeing company.

11. There’s no place like home. / proverb /.

Ex. 7. Fill in the appropriate idioms related to “ sight” from the list below. Words in brackets will help you. Listen and check.

1. They fell in love ________ (as soon as possible).

2. The passengers on the ship were glad to see that the land was ________ after such a long journey (in view).

3. She watched the plane take off and fly away until it was _______ (out of view).

4. I ________ him hiding (= спрятаться) behind the tree (managed to see).

5. The defective was following her but she disappeared in the crowd and he ________ her (couldn’t longer see).

6. The athlete has ________ winning a gold metal at the Olympics (firmly decided on).

7. It was a care of “________” when Bill found the missing telephone bill that had been buried in a drawer (= выдвижной ящик) (something not seen will soon be forgotten).

8. I know him ________ but I’ve never spoken to him (recognize him face).

at first sight; set his sight on; by sight; “a sight for sore eyes”; out of sight; lose (lost) sight of; catch (caught) sight of; in sight/within sight.

Ex. 8. Read the text and try to explain the meaning of the underlined words.

Those who go abroad either for pleasure or on business are always faced with dilemma of how to make the best use of their time. So, before going on a trip you should read up on the country you are going to and think of the places of interest to be visited. A lot depends on your taste, of course. You may for instance, be keen on art galleries and museums, or prefer to see buildings and monuments, exhibitions and displays.

For their part the receiving party also tries to make their guest’s stay pleasant and entertaining. Very often they arrange interesting cultural programmes that will give the visitors an idea of the country’s present and past, culture, customs and traditions.

Paris and Rome are of course, incomparable for city-breaks. But every third world country has something to be particular proud of. Ancient temples, monuments, architectural masterpieces and other attractions make a list of sights not to be missed by visitors. In India these include Agra’s Tag Mahal, in Iraq – Babylon, in Egypt – the famous pyramids. They give a clue to understanding of people’s way of thinking and life style.

Ex. 9. Put the right word from the box. Listen and check.

1. On my ________ walking tours on Manhattan I did ________ window shopping.

2. In New York there are so many ________ to see, so many ________ to visit.

3. After a short guided tour I had to ________ London ________.

4. The special ticket gave me ________ travel on almost all of the Underground.

5. The Uffitsy Gallery in Florence with its 45 rooms, galleries and corridors ________ very important works of art.

6. We were feeling very sad when the holiday ________.

7. I go abroad whenever I can, because I’m not ________ holidays in England.

ended, contains, explore, daily, places, unlimited, sights, a lot of, fond of, on my own.

Ex. 10. Fill in the right words from list below. Listen and check. Then render the sentences.

I had only a couple of days in the city. I wanted to make _______ of my time and see as much as _______. Before going on a trip, I had read up on the city and the _______ to be visited. So I was on my way to the Tourist Information Centre with a _______ and bus-and-underground map. I was _______ on art galleries, museums and _______. They offer me interesting cultural programmes that could give the _______ idea of the city’s present and past, culture, customs and traditions. They _______ a list of _______ not to be missed by visitors. Then I bought a special ticket for 3 days of _______ travel on all buses and most of _______. I thought my stay here would be pleasant and _______.

guidebook, possible, arranged, keen, entertaining, the best, places of interest, unlimited, exhibitions, sights, visitors, underground.

Дата добавления: 2015-03-31