The English Lesson 10 theme is SOUTH AFRICAN WINE

Part One: Learn English Skills

Read the following text and answer the questions that follow:

South African Wine Farm, Stellenbosch Less than an hour from Cape Town is beautiful Stellenbosch, the centre of The Winelands. A wide range of high-quality red and white wines are produced on almost a thousand farms in this region.

French settlers began growing grapes in South Africa more than 300 years ago. Soon they were producing wines that were as fine as those in Europe. Napoleon is said to have asked for South African wine during his exile on St. Helena.

A Wine Route tour has become an essential part of any visit to Cape Town. The tours take visitors through some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. Tourists have the opportunity to taste delightful wines and cheeses, and have picnics in the gardens of the wine estates.

More and more people are drinking red wine since it has become known that a glass a day is very healthy. The taste and feelings produced by good wine are enough reason to enjoy a glass from time to time, however!

Your Turn

What did Napoleon ask for during his exile?
Where did the wine farmers come from?
Which word means the same as "necessary"?
Which word means the same as "a chance"?
Genius Question: What word in English means "someone who enjoys and has good taste in food and wine"?

Part Two: Learn English Structure

ALOUD and LOUDLY

ALOUD and LOUDLY are both adverbs that refer to sound, but they have different meanings.

ALOUD is used to explain that something is done with sound, and not silently. It is often used together with the verb "read". For example: The tour guide asked Maria to read ALOUD in the bus. LOUDLY means that something is done with a great strength of sound. For example: The tourist clapped hands LOUDLY, after tasting the excellent wine.

Your Turn

Complete the following sentences with ALOUD or LOUDLY.

The corks popped _______ as they came out of the bottles.
When he drinks too much, he often thinks _______.
Marcus read the wine list _______ to his wife, who had left her glasses at the hotel.
The wine taster swallowed _______ to show his satisfaction.

Part Three: Funnies

The policeman signals to a car driver to pull over to the side of the road, due to the fact that he appears to be driving erratically. He says to the driver, "You appear to have been drinking!"

The driver answers, "No sir, I am just tired." The policeman looks into the car and notices that the driver is a priest! He also notices that

there is an empty bottle on the floor. He says to the driver, "What is, or should I say was in this bottle? The driver answers, "Water!" The policeman says, "It is not, it's wine!" The driver looks up to the heavens and says, "Oh Lord, you have done it again!"

Part Four: Famous Words

If you give up drinking, smoking and loving, you don't actually live longer - it just seems longer. - Clement Freud

I am drinking the stars! - Dom Perignon, on his first sip of bubbly Champagne.

Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of good wine - St. Thomas Aquinas

Wine in itself is an excellent thing. - Pope Pius XII

Part Five: Links

Would you like to try some delicious South African wine? You can order some at the following address:

http://www.wine.co.za/

The Backsberg Estate produces some fine and inexpensive wines, if you do not know what to order. Of course, you can try as many South African wines as you like when you come to Cape Town to learn English at Eurocentres!