Can you identify one feature of content and at least four of language which are typical of the genre. You can consider them “typical” if you can exemplify them with extracts from at least three of the reviews.
Scroll down past the reviews to find the Suggested Answer
1) Greenwich, London
An interesting part of London I'd missed on previous trips.
Was tired after an overnight flight and wanted somewhere new to navigate while I tried to stay away to acclimate to the time change. Greenwich hit the spot. Lovely college town feel, lots of places to stop for meals or tea or an ale, depending on your wants and the time of day. Didn't go in to any, but there are lots of interesting spots to explore, including the Cutty Sark, the Royal Naval Observatory and the Maritime College. We also saw cute little street markets, the Prime Meridian and various monuments and architecturally interesting homes and businesses. Definitely plan to return on a future trip to spend more time. The views from the park are fantastic, as are the people we got to speak with along the way.
2) Lancaster Castle
Worth a detour. Not to be missed if staying in the city
This is a foreboding place at the best of times. On a dismal January day, it looks particularly grim. All the better for it too.
You need to join a guided tour. The downside
of which is that the hour-long tour does not give enough time to properly read all the information boards along the way.
The upside is that the guide was
both amusing and incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the castle. And what a history that is.
The more squeamish might want to miss the descriptions of some of the punishments handed out here
and some of the exhibits leave little to the imagination about the horrors of being incarcerated in here. Particularly
those unfortunate ones who were not going to get out alive.
It is still a working court - both civil and
criminal and we get to see the courtrooms and hear some of the more amusing/interesting tales of times gone by. At the
end, there is the option of being locked in one of the dungeons. Another interesting experience.
Well worth an hour of anyone's time.
3) Hampton Court
A must-see
location
Hampton Court is one of the real must-see locations. It is easily possible to fill a day here.
On the outside, the views of the place, gardens and river are amazing. Inside, the royal apartments, the art gallery, the great hall, the Tudor kitchens etc. are stunning. In the high season (tourist months), they have guides dressed in detailed historical costumes and they fire up the kitchens to give people a taste of the unusual flavours of the time. On a previous visit, I got a drink of spiced chocolate, the way it was served when it first arrived in the country.
Transport to the palace is pretty good - there
is a car park (though this is probably the worst way of getting there, given the local roads); there is a railway
station right next to the bridge and only a short
walk from the palace entrance (Hampton Court service from London Waterloo - 40
minutes); if you've got plenty of
time, you can also take a boat from Richmond, Kingston, Kew or, if you have all day, Westminster.
Access and facilities are reasonable, though some bits are tricky because the building is so old.
4) Loch Ness
Amazing Place! Must see place.
Loch Ness was a wonderful place to visit. We had to travel over 3 hours to get there but it was well worth the drive! We ate in the little café next to the Nessie tour bus station. Delicious food made on site. The tour guide was really knowledgeable, about Nessie of course but also about local wildlife and local features, he kept us really entertained. He let the children in the party steer the boat for a short time each and kept them entertained with Nessie sightings throughout the tour. The whole place is beautifully atmospheric. The views of the castle were also stunning from the boat, really gave you a sense of how it would have been for invaders to look up to this formidable structure.
Such a romantic place, will definitely go back. We did not get to see Nessie herself :( but I am sure she was just being camera shy.
5) York Minster
It’s York Minster...What Else Could You Want?
This building is a true testament to greatness. Absolutely stunning piece of living history right in the centre of an already beautiful city packed with an unbelievable amount of surviving history. Free guided tours nearly every hour (until 3 PM) and incomparable stained glass and architecture.
The Tower offers STUNNING views, but DO NOT attempt unless you are 1000% sure you can make it. It’s even narrower and intense than you might imagine and getting down is as hard as getting up.
As of this writing, the Undercroft exhibition
was closed, which is unfortunate as it is one of the best places to see Roman remains in the city.
The only complaint I have is of the tour. The tours, while included, focus almost entirely on the stained glass. As someone who was there specifically for the Wars of the Roses / Tudor related history, it was terribly disappointing, as the guide was unable to answer any of my questions, including a question regarding a shield that contained the Three Suns of York and another question about obvious (though small) destruction that occurred during the Reformation.
Overall, however, the building does most of the work. You’ll be absolutely gobsmacked by the CENTURIES of history and the unparalleled architecture. 10/10.
Note: York Minster also contains the only memorial for the WOMEN of the Commonwealth that died in WWI. All their names can be found inscribed in the North Transept.
6) Kew Gardens
Gorgeous & Interesting - worth the short trip out of London
The Royal Botanic Gardens, affectionately known as Kew, is worth a visit, but even after many, there'll always be more to see. You can take the lift (or stairs!) to the tree top walkway where you can look down on the extraordinary variety of trees, take in the astonishing range of colour and also get an overview of the wealth of natural beauty on display. The Pagoda is currently being renovated so this is your only aerial view. You can visit The Hive to see and learn about the work of bees, the Palm House and Queen Charlotte's Cottage. There's a picture gallery and ponds with a variety of wild life from swans to Egyptian geese. You might also meet a stunning peacock or two. There are several different places to eat and if you're with young children, a visit to Climbers & Creepers - an indoor play area - is a must. Just outside it there's a playground, too. My most recent visit was a tour and talk on Kew's activities during WWII. Check the web site for current talks and tours. It's been said that Kew is expensive to enter compared to wonderful 'free' London parks. It's fair comment, but unfair criticism. Qualified and knowledgeable staff work on ecology, research plant and tree diseases, and develop methods for cure and preservation. Their work is world class and widely shared. Even the profit from what you spend when you eat goes towards such development. And it's by the fabulous River Thames! Easy to reach by rail, tube or bus, but not boat.
7) The British Museum
Don’t bite off more than your brain can manage!
This museum is awesome in the truest sense of the word. There is so much here that we have found it more satisfying to restrict our visits to a couple of exhibitions. The new Asian exhibition is a wonderful experience. We don’t know much at all about the artefacts but learned a little as we walked around. Mostly we came away with an enormous respect for the cultures and their artists. Just to see the real thing, right there in front of you, is enough to give shivers down the back. The Business of Printing was our second choice. Fascinated by the process and again, seeing the actual article. Wow, and we didn’t pay a thing to see either. Thanks British Museum.
8) The Gower Coast (Wales)
A gentle start to visiting the Gower beaches!
I'm not the type to slip into walking boots, wear a Cagoule and carry 2 daft walking sticks! I like to visit places where there are opportunities for a nice coffee on route. If you feel the same try this gentle but scenic introduction to the coast......
Firstly park on Rotherslade road, just outside Mumbles. Here the parking is free !
Walk down to the first cove where you can enjoy your first break with views of the sea. Walk along the footpath to Langland bay. There are other places here too to have refreshments if you wish.
Langland is pretty with its beach huts but the parking a tad expensive. Follow the coastal path to Caswell, another beautiful bay. (& yet another coffee should you wish!) The coastal path offers a beautiful first glimpse to what the Gower can offer. Once enthused, research other parts but beware you may find it difficult to find things open if visiting out of season.
Suggested answer
1. Content
a) Indications of how to reach the place. Examples :
3: Transport to the palace is pretty good - there is a car park (though this is probably the worst way of getting there, given the local roads); there is a railway station right next to the bridge and only a short walk from the palace entrance (Hampton Court service from London Waterloo - 40 minutes); if you've got plenty of time, you can also take a boat from Richmond, Kingston, Kew or, if you have all day, Westminster.
6. Easy to reach by rail, tube or bus, but not boat.
8. Firstly park on Rotherslade Road, just outside Mumbles
b) Indications of what there is to see there. Examples :
1. We also saw cute little street markets, the Prime Meridian and various monuments and architecturally interesting homes and businesses.
3. Inside, the royal apartments, the art gallery,
the great hall, the Tudor
kitchens etc. are stunning.
6. There's a picture gallery
and ponds with a variety of wild life from swans to
Egyptian geese.
c) Reference to the characteristics and capability of the staff
3. …they have guides dressed in detailed historical costumes
4. The tour guide was really knowledgeable, … he kept us really entertained.
5. …the guide was unable to answer any of my questions
6. Qualified and knowledgeable staff work on ecology, research…
2. Language
a) Frequent use of ellipsis - Examples:
1. (I) Was tired after an overnight flight…
2. (Lancaster Castle is) Worth a detour. (It is) Not to be missed if (you are) staying in the city.
7. (We were) Fascinated by the
process…
b) Use of informal lexis and lexical chunks. Examples
1. …hit the spot 2. The downside
/ upside… 5. gobsmacked 7. Wow / awesome
8. daft / a tad
c) Frequent use of evaluative adjectives. Examples :
3. amazing / stunning / reasonable / tricky
5. stunning / beautiful / incomparable / unfortunate / disappointing / unparalleled
6. gorgeous / interesting / extraordinary / astonishing / stunning /
d) … which are often intensified by adverbs. Examples :
2. …the guide was … incredibly knowledgeable
4. The tour guide was really knowledgeable
5. Absolutely stunning piece of living history / it was terribly disappointing
3. Transport to the palace is pretty good.
e)
Frequent occurrence of proper
nouns.... Examples:
1. …including the Cutty Sark, the Royal Naval Observatory and the Maritime College.
5. As someone who was there specifically for the Wars of the Roses / Tudor related history, it was terribly disappointing
6. You can visit The Hive to see and learn about the work of bees, the Palm House and Queen Charlotte's Cottage
f) Written in the first person (singular or plural)… Examples:
4. We had to travel over 3 hours to get there
5. The only complaint I have is of the tour
8. I'm not the type to slip into walking boots,
g) … and often addresses the reader directly using you and your
2. You need to join a
guided tour
5. You’ll be absolutely gobsmacked
8. …where you can enjoy your first break
