Speakout Advanced p 15. Georges-Pierre Seurat: Bathers at Asnières. Extra Listening

Georges-Pierre Seurat: Bathers at Asnières



Use some of these words to describe the painting above:

clue, tells, background, must, outskirts, possible, sure, seem, hardly, fact, seem, right, maybe, although, bottom, seems, as, why, top, across, side, middle, posh, used, might, perhaps, normally, would, suitable, profile, acquired.




Now listen to a description of the painting in the video above and write the sentences which contain these words. The words are in the order you are going to hear them.

clue: e.g. On the boat there’s a clue as to where we are
tells:
background:
must:
outskirts:
possible:
sure:
seem:
hardly:
fact:
seem:
right:
maybe:
although:
bottom:
seems:
as:
why:
top:
across:
side:
middle:
posh:
used:
might:
perhaps:
normally:
would:
suitable:
profile:
acquired:

Alternatively, fill in the gaps with a word or expression:
On the boat there's a (1)__________ as to where we are. The flag (2)______ us we are in France. In the (3)_____________ there are factories. Therefore, we (4)________ be on the (5)_________ of the city. It's (6)____________ these people work in the factories. However, we can't be (7)_________. They don't (8)___________ know each other. (9)___________ anybody is making any noise. In (10)_________ the only person who does (11)__________ to be is this boy on (12)__________. (13)___________ he is shouting at someone. (14)___________ we can't see who it is. The man (15)________________ left (16)______________ heard him. By the standards of the nineteenth century they are (17)________________ naked. And (18)______________the only woman in the painting, on the boat, is (19)______________ herself from the naked man with the parasol. The man with her is wearing a big (20)__________  and they are being (21)_____________ the river by a boatman. They are not going to stay (22)____________ of the river with the naked men. They are going to an island (23)_________________, where the (24)__________ people (25)__________ to go. Who do you think the boy (26)____________ shouting at? At the (27)___________ people on the island, (28)____________? 
Paintings of ordinary people (29)_______________ been smaller and they would have usually been (30)_________________. People didn't think this was a (31)______________ for a work of art. What Seurat did was (32)____________________ of the working man of Paris and to make him look as important as the king or a (33)__________________ god. The everyday had (34)______________ a new status.


KEY

E.g. On the boat there's a (1) clue as to where we are.



The red white and blue flag (2) tells us we are in France.



In the (3) background there are factories.



We (4) must be



on the (5) outskirts of the city.



It's (6) possible these people work in the factories



but we can't be (7) sure.



They don't (8) seem to know each other.



(9) Hardly anybody is making any noise.



In (10) fact the only person



who does (11) seem to be is this boy



on (12) the right.



(13) Maybe he is shouting at someone.



(14) Although we can't see who it is.



The man (15) at the bottom left



(16) seems to have heard him.



By the standards of the nineteenth century they are (17) as good as naked

as good as: very nearly, almost. E.g. They've as good as admitted it was their fault. The matter is as good as settled.



And (18) that's why the only woman in the painting, on the boat, 



is (19) shielding herself from the naked man with the parasol. 

shield: to protect somebody/something from danger, harm or something unpleasant. E.g. I shielded my eyes against the glare. The ozone layer shields the earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays. You can't shield her from the truth forever. Police believe that somebody is shielding the killer.



The man with her is wearing a big (20) top hat 

top hat: a man's tall black or grey hat, worn with formal clothes on very formal occasions



and they are being (21) taken across the river by a boatman.



They are not going to stay (22) on this side of the river with the naked men.



They are going to an island (23) in the middle,



where the (24) posh people  



(25) used to go.



Who do you think the boy (26) might be shouting at?



At the (27) well-dressed people 



on the island, (28) perhaps?



Paintings of ordinary people (29) would normally have been smaller



and they would have usually been (30) fully clothed.



People didn't think this was a (31) suitable subject for a work of art.



What Seurat did was (32) raise the profile of the working man of Paris 

Profile: the general impression that somebody/something gives to the public and the amount of attention they receive. E.g. The deal will certainly raise the company's international profile. We want to improve the profile of women's health issues.



and to make him look as important as the king or a (33) mythological god. 



The everyday had (34) acquired a new status.

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