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PERFECT BEACH ECHO

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49 views

PERFECT BEACH ECHO

Uploaded by

Jonathan David
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

5B

BEFORE YOU READ

QUIZ A. Do you know where these beaches are? Match each beach to
its location. Then check your answers on page 88.
1. Copacabana Beach a. the Philippines
2. Waikiki Beach b. Australia
3. Bondi Beach c. Brazil
4. Maya Bay, Phi Phi Island d. Thailand
5. Boracay Beach e. Florida, USA
6. Miami Beach f. Hawaii, USA

SKIMMING B. Look at the reading passage’s introduction and photo captions.


Then answer these questions with a partner.
1. Who is Stanley Stewart, and what is he doing in Brazil?
2. What is your idea of “the perfect beach”? Read the passage to
see if Stewart visits a place like the one you’ve described.

Prainha, one of Brazil’s most


beautiful beaches
80 Unit 5B
THE P E R FEC T
BEACH
In pursuit of the perfect beach, travel writer Stanley Stewart
heads to Brazil, where he discovers some of the world’s most
beautiful sandy escapes.
A I’m standing on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach, one of
Brazil’s—and the world’s—most famous stretches1 of sand. As I
watch life go by here in all its varied forms, I’ve come to realize
that any understanding of Brazil really begins on its beaches. In
this vibrant,2 multicultural country, the beach is not just a place; it’s
a state of mind—a way of thinking and living.
B Rio alone, I’m told, has over 70 beaches, each with its own
community: Some are for bodybuilders, others are for senior
citizens, still others are popular with parents and children. But
Rio’s beaches are just the starting point for my exploration of
Brazil’s Atlantic coastline, which—at more than 8,000 kilometers,
and with more than 2,000 beaches—is the longest in the world.
Every Brazilian has his or her own ideas of the perfect beach and is
eager to tell you where to find it. I’m happy to take people’s advice,
but my ultimate goal is to find my own dream beach.
C I head to a place said to have some of Brazil’s best coastline: the
state of Bahia in the northeast. Portuguese settlers established
themselves at Bahia’s present-day capital, Salvador da Bahia, in
1549. Over the centuries, people of many races have arrived and
intermarried here, creating a distinctive cultural mix. This mix
influences Bahia’s language, religion, cuisine, music, and dance.
D I’d been told that one of Bahia’s best beaches—Prainha—lies
just south of Salvador, near the town of Itacaré. On arriving at
Prainha’s beach, I discover its golden sand lined by a row of
perfect palm trees, moving softly in the ocean breeze. Under the
moon, silver waves roll onto the sand. As I enter the water, I have
the feeling of swimming through moonlight. Prainha’s beauty
is magnificent—its perfect curves and graceful lines are like
something you might see in a postcard. But for me, it’s a little too
perfect. The beach I’m searching for needs to be a little wilder . . .

1 A stretch of road, water, or land is a length of it.


2 Something that is vibrant is full of life and energy.

Unit 5B 81
E I continue my search, heading north to one of Brazil’s legendary beaches:
Jericoacoara. Twenty years ago, only a handful of people were living in Jeri (as it’s
nicknamed). Today it’s an international destination, considered one of the best
beach hangouts3 in the world (especially if you like windsurfing). It attracts visitors
from Tokyo to Toronto and has grown from a small village into a lively little town.
Despite the changes, Jeri hasn’t been spoiled by tourists, mostly because of its
isolated location—it’s at least five hours from any airport.
F Everyone in Jeri rents a beach buggy,4 which comes with a driver. I tell my driver to
take me as far along the coast as he can. We drive for three hours, finally arriving at
Maceió, a fisherman’s beach. Boats lie on their sides while nets hang out to dry on
lines between fishermen’s houses. We eat on the beach and later rest in hammocks5
near the table. It’s a great day on an amazing beach. How can it possibly get any better?
I wonder. But I have one final place to visit.

3 A hangout is a place where a particular group of people gather and relax.


4 A beach buggy is a small, open car with large wheels made for driving on a beach.
5 A hammock is a piece of strong cloth or netting that is tied between two trees and used as a bed.

82 Unit 5B
G Of the many beach destinations in this country, there is one that all Brazilians hold
in high regard—the islands of Fernando de Noronha. More than a dozen beautiful
beaches ring the island of Fernando alone, three of which rank among the top ten in
Brazil. The islands of Fernando de Noronha lie a few hundred kilometers out in the
Atlantic. For years, people were prohibited from visiting these islands because they
were used as a prison and later by the army. Today the islands are a national park
and UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich with bird and sea life.
H I visit a number of beaches on Fernando, but I leave the best one for last. The beach
at Praia do Leão is the perfect balance of sand, sea, and sky. The water is pale blue
and warm, alive with colorful fish, turtles, and other marine6 life; the sand is the color
of honey. And in the rock formations and strong winds that occasionally come in
from the Atlantic, there is that hint of wildness I was seeking. Finally, I’ve found the
beach of my dreams. I dig my toes in the sand deeply and imagine I can hold on to
this place forever.

6 Marine is used to describe things related to the sea.

Frigatebirds fly over a beach landscape


in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.

Unit 5B 83
VOCABULARY PRACTICE

COMPLETION A. Complete the information using the correct words in the box. One word is extra.

destination eager isolated state ultimate

Writer seeks “wife” for a year on a tropical island.


How many women do you think would answer this ad? A 24-year-old British woman
named Lucy Irvine did. The opportunity to survive in a(n) 1 place
provided her with the 2 challenge. The ad was from an adventurer
named Gerald Kingsland. As an adventurer herself, Irvine was 3 to live
on an empty tropical island. Irvine got the job, and not long afterward she was heading
for a(n) 4 on the other side of the world . . .

COMPLETION B. Complete the information using the correct form of words in the box.

balance magnificent prohibit rank spoil state

The uninhabited island Lucy and Gerald moved to was Tuin, between Australia and
Papua New Guinea. As living there was 1 by law, they first needed
Australia’s permission. When they arrived, the couple was in a complete 2
of wonder. The island looked like paradise: a perfect 3 of white beaches
and clear blue water. However, their experience was soon 4 .
The difficulty of finding drinking water—which 5 highest on their
list of survival needs—forced the pair to set up camp on a less attractive part of the
island. Also, their conflicting opinions led to problems. Despite their 6
surroundings, the adventure lasted only a year.

COLLOCATIONS C. The phrases in the box are frequently used with the noun state. Complete the
sentences with the correct words.

of emergency of mind of repair of shock

1. On hearing very bad news, some people are in a state : they don’t
know what to say.
2. For some older people, age is just a state . They still act and behave
as they did when they were younger.
3. After a hurricane, local governments often declare a state in places
affected by flooding.
4. Because of inadequate funding, some roads and bridges are in a very poor state
.

86 Unit 5B

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