Introduction to ArtificiaI Intelligence in Higher Education
B1 - Vocabulary Story - Change of Plans - Daway.pdf
1.
CHANGE OF PLANS
After a long week at work I like to relax, I think everyone does. Usually, I hang
out at home at the weekends. During the day I like to put my feet up and LA, LA,
LA, LA! I listen to music on my old CD player (yes, call me old-fashioned) while
singing badly. I think my neighbors hate it, but I sing anyways.
If I’m feeling like an artist, I’ll draw or paint, and in the evenings, I watch TV. My
paintings are great, they all look like Picasso’s. Actually, all of my hobbies are
great, but I feel a little bit too lazy at the weekends so I think I’m ready to try
something new. Be more active perhaps.
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2. I know my friends Samantha and Ron usually go camping. They’re the type of
people who prefer insect bites and an inspiring night hike to going to your
typical Saturday night club and having a few drinks, if you know what I mean.
They sleep in a tent with their family (rain or sun), live on a campsite in the
forest (with bears!), barbecue meat, have picnics and go to the playground with
their children (mostly for the slides, and I’m talking about the parents).
All of this sounds brilliant if you love to be outside and feel at one with nature,
but... I don’t. When I camp, I can’t make the tent correctly, there are a lot of
insects in the forest, it’s impossible to start a fire and I don’t like to hear the
sounds of animals at night. I also love the warm, comfortable feeling of sleeping
in my own bed. It’s so cosy!!! So, no camping, thank you very much.
Sightseeing in my city might be a good idea. Hmm. It’s something I usually do
when on holiday in a new country and I’m often keen on hiring a taxi to go. It’s a
great way to join in city festivals or parties. They usually have amazing food and
music. Plus, watching the local people act crazy is a lot of fun. If I go on holidays
with friends, they always want to go to the beach and sunburn, I mean...
sunbathe while I visit museums to see collections of paintings. Yep, guess I am
not the typical expat.
Oh I remember one time. I met some German tourists who take photographs
while riding bikes in the park. Strange hobby right? They often go on cruises
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3. when on holiday, but this time decided to visit the city. The day we met, we
went on a bike ride together. It was VERY difficult to take photographs without
stopping the bicycle, and it took me such a long time to just keep my balance,
the others left without me. Ehm….BYE! Luckily, I met them later on and we went
to a party. They like to be social by enjoying nightlife. Usually, they go out to a
nightclub and spend the whole night dancing. I was very excited about going
with them. Techno, salsa, awkward robot moves...Now, this is a hobby I might
enjoy!!!
However,... I sat alone all night because I couldn’t speak the language of the
country and the music was very loud. I mean, I could get by and communicate
with these Germans because they spoke some English, but trying to practise my
poor German in a loud club, where I know no one….I don’t think I’m a really
social person, let’s face it.
Better to try more “independent” activities, perhaps. My friend James is what a
lot of people would describe as “a nerd”, and he’s a member of a chess and
computer club in his hometown. He spends his free time alone, learning about
computers and how to be a great chess player. Just to give you an idea, he spent
a whole weekend in his basement, practising ONE CHESS GAMBIT until he
thought he had mastered it. Yes, ONE chess gambit, 48 hours, no eating,
drinking or sleeping. Not sure about whether he went to the bathroom either.
He’s a great guy, though, and can be “social” within the realm of this hobbies. For
example, he goes to a club where he meets other members who are fans of the
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4. same hobbies too, and they seem to be super happy. Sounds easy, doesn’t it?
This is a good way to be sometimes social and sometimes alone.
I’m not a true computer nerd or a particularly good chess player, but I do like to
keep fit and there is a sports facility near my house. It’s a good place to get a
jogging club membership. However... the more I think about it, the more
expensive it sounds. Also... I don’t want everyone else watching me. And... I hate
the thought of professional joggers running faster than me. Oh well, I think it’s
better to keep fit at home.
Maybe I will call my little sister Jane. I really want to learn to play the guitar. She
is a musician and right now I’m sure she is playing. But... she lives on the other
side of the city, and... I don’t have a guitar. Honestly, I think it is a lot of work and
my hands get sweaty when I’m playing. I will save this idea for when I have more
free time (and motivation).
My other friend, Sarah, is a photographer who takes pictures of models in nice
clothes. I really enjoy fashion and love to look at the photographs of clothing in
magazines. Sarah’s worked for super famous agencies and magazines in the UK.
She takes absolutely stunning pictures, and I can ask her to take photos of me.
All I need to do is to get dressed, do my hair and makeup and smile, and then
after she takes the picture, ehm... do it again, I guess? Get dressed...do my hair
and makeup…smile... hmm...you know what? I’m not a model, so it’s best not to
try to be one.
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5. Now that I think about it, for a long time I have been a fan of FILMS. I remember
when I was young, my sister and I used to like collecting DVDs and watching
new films on the DVD player. Hey... YEAH! Exactly! Staying in sounds easy and
comfy enough. I think this weekend I will relax, watch a film, eat some tasty food
and maybe even paint or draw. Why not wait to try a new hobby next weekend?
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7. INDOOR
- chess (ajedrez)
- CD player (reproductor de CD)
- DVD player (reproductor de DVD)
- computer (ordenador/computadora)
- doll (muñeca)
- museum (museo)
- party (fiesta)
- club (club)
- membership (pertenencia)
- collection (colección)
- gallery/ sculpture/ painting (galería/ escultura/pintura,cuadro)
- facilities (instalaciones)
- nightlife (vida nocturna)
VERBS
- go out (salir)
- hire (alquilar)
- hang out (pasar tiempo)
- camp (acampar)
- collect (coleccionar)
- dance (bailar)
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8. - sunbathe (tomar el sol)
- join in (unirse a, ingresar en)
- keen on (entusiasta, aficionado)
- keep fit (mantenerse en forma)
- paint (pintar)
- take photographs (tomar/hacer fotos)
- play the guitar (tocar la guitarra)
- read fiction (leer ficción)
- listen to music (escuchar música)
- draw (dibujar)
PEOPLE
- collector (coleccionista)
- fan (fanático)
- member (miembro)
- model (modelo)
- musician (músico)
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