Unit
8
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Art is beauty
Topics Art; museums; poetry; buildings and architecture
● Use
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of English Modals of deduction; verbs + prepositions; question forms;
poetic technique; inversion after adverbials; causatives have and get;
referencing devices
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Lessons 1–2 What is art?
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In groups, make a list of as many forms of arts as you can think of, for example,
painting, music …
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Listen to a podcast about different forms of
art from around the world. As you listen,
match each photo to a country.
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1 China
2 the USA
3 the UAE
Listen to the podcast again and choose
the correct meaning for the words.
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Listening
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1 imagination
a what we use to create new ideas
b knowledge needed to achieve something
c the experience you gain making art
2 digital art
a art made by hand
b art made using computer programs
c art that uses language
3 podcast
a a TV programme
b an audio programme you can listen to on the Internet
c a movie
4 unique
a one of a kind
b something you can find copies of
c something old and traditional
5 affordable
a expensive
b inexpensive
c something overpriced
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C
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Art is beauty
Use of English
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Look at these sentences from the podcast about different
forms of art.
Language tip
We use the modals must,
could and might to make
deductions:
1 ‘It must be visual, something you can look at’ because they’re
used to only seeing paintings and drawings.
2 However, today, lots of Chinese pottery is inexpensive and
affordable, which might be because it’s made on an
industrial scale.
3 It was mainly found in poor areas, so people automatically
thought that if a street had graffiti on its walls then it could
be a dangerous place.
a Is the speaker sure about all the statements?
b Are the underlined phrases facts or assumptions?
cDid the speaker sometimes have clues to guide her to
these statements? What are these clues?
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Must is used to describe
deductions and assumptions
based on clear clues.
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Could and might are used
to describe deductions
and assumptions based on
unclear/uncertain clues.
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Think about:
the form of the art
what tools were used to create it
the meaning of the piece.
For example:
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In groups of three, look at the pictures of art
and make some deductions.
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This looks as though it was drawn on a computer,
so it must be digital art.
Birds are free in nature but they’re in cages in the
photo, so it could be talking about freedom.
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Art is beauty
Lessons 3–4 Museums of the world
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How often do you visit museums?
What kinds of museums do you like going to? Why?
Writing
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Look at the photographs. Match the outside of each museum (1–4) with its inside (a–d).
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1 G
uggenheim
Museum
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2 Sharjah
Calligraphy
Museum
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3 The Louvre
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4 Guangdong
Folk Art
Museum
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Speaking
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Hi Aisha
Do you think museums should only show
old objects? Why/Why not?
Why do you think museums are important?
Do you think heritage museums, where you
can touch exhibits, are better? Why/Why not?
What would you like to see in a museum?
Why?
What do you think you would find in the
Al Fahidi Fort Museum in Dubai?
I can’t wait for you to come and visit. There’s so much to
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Now discuss these questions in your group.
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Subject:
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do here and I know you’re really interested in history so
I thought we could go to the Dubai Heritage Village first.
It’s a brilliant museum which shows you what life was like
in Dubai in the past. There are people dressed in clothes
based on traditional designs and doing jobs we don’t do
anymore. It’s also got historic buildings that come from all
over the country which you can go and look at. There’s a
market where you can buy traditional sweets, pottery and
souvenirs made from palm and sometimes you can hear
people singing old folk songs. The museum is visited by
tourists from all over the world and I think it appeals to
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everyone because you can really understand our heritage
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Read the subject line of the email. What do
you think it’s about?
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Read the email. Then decide if the
statements are true (T), false (F) or the
information is not given (NG).
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Reading
3
Art is beauty
and what it was like to live here in the past.
Then there’s Dubai Fort which is part of the heritage village
and was built in 1787 and opened as a museum in 1971. In
the middle of the fort is a courtyard and it’s got a display of
boats and bamboo houses with their traditional furniture. In
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1995, an underground museum was added to the museum
but I’ve never been there – maybe we can get a guide to
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show us around. What do you think?
Another museum we can visit is the Sharjah Art Museum.
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It has a permanent collection of contemporary and modern
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art and sculptures by artists from the UAE and other Middle
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Eastern countries. I’m not sure what temporary exhibits
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will be there, but we should visit the permanent collection
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donated by HH Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi.
You can also see the new branch of the Louvre in Abu
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Dhabi. I think it’s an amazing piece of modern architecture
which was designed by Jean Nouvel and is located on
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Saadiyat Island. There have already been two exhibitions.
I went to one last year – it was brilliant. I really liked a little
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Chinese statue that I saw there and I think the exhibits I
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1 Aisha enjoys learning about history.
2 The Dubai Heritage Village encourages
visitors to take part in traditional activities.
3 Dana thinks only tourists like the Heritage
Village.
4 Dubai Fort became a fort in the mid-90s.
5 Dana wants to visit the underground
museum at the fort.
6 The Sharjah Art Museum sometimes exhibits
work by international artists.
7 Dana went to see a temporary show at the
Louvre.
8 Dana recommends visiting four museums.
saw have been loaned to our government so I’ll be able to
see it again when the Louvre properly opens here.
Send me your flight details so I can meet you at the airport.
Dana
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Art is beauty
Lessons 5–6 The artists
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In groups of three, make a list of all the artists you know.
Listening
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Look at the different descriptions, then listen to the radio
interview and decide on the best one.
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1 An interview with an artist talking about his work.
2 An interview with an artist talking about his favourite artists.
3 An interview with three different artists about their work.
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Look at the statements,
then listen to the interview
again to decide if they’re
true (T), false (F) or the
information is not given
(NG).
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1 The artist talks only about
modern day artists.
2 Vincent Van Gogh was born
in the 1900s.
3 Vincent Van Gogh invented
many techniques.
4 The painting Starry Night
can be found in a museum in
New York.
5 Steve McCurry is a graffiti
artist.
6 The photograph Afghan Girl
is the most printed portrait in
the world.
7 The artist likes graffiti
because it helps make
streets and walls look more
beautiful.
8 Banksy is an American artist.
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Art is beauty
Use of English
Look at the following questions about the artist who was interviewed in the
listening activity, then complete the table. The first one is already done as an example.
a
b
c
d
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What form of art does he like?
Does he have any favourite artists?
Who inspired him to be an artist?
Did Van Gogh invent a new technique in painting?
What has he always enjoyed doing?
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Time
Kind of question
Structure
Present
Wh-question
question word + object phrase + do/does + subject +
base verb
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Question
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With a partner, use the Internet to learn about a new artist or one
you already have a little information about. Take some notes of
important information you learn about him/her.
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Speaking
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Can you think of any other questions you can ask about the interview?
Work with another pair and ask them questions about the artist they learned about.
When you have finished, answer questions about the artist you chose.
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the time he/she lives/lived in
famous work
special awards that he/she has won
where his/her work can be found.
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Think about the following information:
Remember to take notes while listening to the answers.
Writing
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With your partner, write a short description about the artist you asked questions
about.
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Art is beauty
Lessons 7–8 Poetry from the past
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Look at the photo of the man below and answer the questions.
● What is the man doing?
Unknown Bedouins
● What kind of mood is he in?
Before the sun climbs over
● What do you think is the connection
the walls of the mud houses
between the man and the two images of
unknown Bedouins return
to
themselves in my
Bedouins below?
after selling milk and honey
in the city market.
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Identify the eight words connected to
sleep in the word cloud. Write them
in your notebook, marking the correct
part of speech.
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Vocabulary
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Where does this sound of the coffee grinder come
from
that resounds through the walls of my house
where I
forgetting the television
flickering noiselessly in the shadows?
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DOZE
Listen to the poem Unknown Bedouins
by Khalid Albudoor. Complete the
gaps in the poems with the eight
words above.
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Pale pictures hunt in my head
A long, empty time has passed since I found
and back came the Bedouins
raiding my day with their sandy faces.
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oblivion
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DROWSINESS
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rest
asleepdreams
drift sleep
The sandy courtyard lies in fog
and the palm tree’s plaits
sway, seeming
listening
to the water flowing
in the depths of the well.
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I know my memory has forgotten the shape of water
I have
like those
who wander without land
searching for stars for centuries.
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Tell me, O trees, which watch over my lounge,
where these voices come from
that resound in my night.
Maybe if you concentrated
you could make out their faces
which camel driver’s song they’re singing
or which memory
and why
they raid my house now,
with their quizzical faces,
is nothing but
while my
the contentions of
on the threshold of dawn.
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Art is beauty
Reading and Speaking
3
How do we know the following things? Read the poem again and find the
words and expressions that tell us. Then, in pairs, read the poem out loud
to feel the rhythm of the words.
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The poem is set in the early morning. [Stanza 1]
The man doesn’t recognise the faces of the Bedouins. [Stanza 1]
The atmosphere in the house is quiet. [Stanza 2]
The man has trouble sleeping. [Stanza 3]
The man has seen Bedouins in his dream before. [Stanza 3]
The man lives in modern times. [Stanza 4]
The man feels disconnected from ancient traditions. [Stanza 5]
The man is searching for meaning in his dreams. [Stanza 6]
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2
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Listen to the poem again in pairs. During
the pauses, read each stanza out aloud to
each other. Try to copy the rhythm used
by the narrator.
Speaking tip
When giving your opinion in a discussion,
try to use discourse markers. For example,
To my mind … , Let me put it like this … .
These will signal to other people listening
that what you are saying is important and
that they should pay attention.
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Pronunciation
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Discuss the following questions.
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Speaking
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1 What do you think the poet is trying to
say about our relationship to the past?
How can we see this in the poem?
2 How would you describe the mood of the poem and the narrator? Which details
tell
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Art is beauty
Lessons 9–10 The beauty of buildings
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Why does architecture vary from country to country?
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Speaking
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Look at the photographs. What are the
main differences between the buildings?
Discuss with a partner.
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Reading
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Read the article about architecture in the UAE.
Which is the best heading for it?
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a Traditional and modern buildings in the UAE
b Problems facing builders in the UAE
c Family houses in the UAE
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produce the wide range of housing and offices that can be seen
close together so there was shade in the alleys between them.
throughout the region. The variety of modern architecture ranges
Building materials varied depending on the location of the house
from two-storey villas, with gardens and swimming pools, to amazing
and included stone, mud brick, wood and palm reeds, although
skyscrapers which tower above the waterfront. In between are the
some houses nearer the coast were built of coral stone.
apartment blocks that house most of the population.
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Traditional permanent houses in the Emirates were usually built
courtyard and veranda, which provided a private space for family
Some of these modern buildings are designed to retain a link
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Almost all traditional houses were built around a central
with the past. For example, the owners of Burj Al Arab got the
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designers to produce an iconic design which looks like the sail of
place for cooking, playing and during the summer could be used
a traditional dhow boat. Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, is
for eating and sleeping. In some houses they had a well dug to
another building inspired by traditional architecture. The architect
provide drinking water. Rooms were arranged around the courtyard
was inspired by a range of local influences including sand dunes
with the most important room being the meeting room where the
and minarets, which can be seen in the way the building grows
family received guests. More elaborate houses had a wind tower
more slender as it rises from the ground.
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or barjeel installed to keep the rooms cool. This simple way of
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activities, especially for the women of the household. This was a
Like builders of the past, modern-day architects have to find
ways to keep the buildings cool during the hot summer months.
symbol of architecture throughout the Arabian Gulf.
The architect of Burj Khalifa had thousands of glass panels placed
on the outside of the building to reflect the sun. He also used its
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The house of Sheik Saeed Al Maktoum in Dubai is a perfect
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bringing air into the rooms and improving ventilation has become a
great height to pull cooler air down from the top to ventilate the lower
got builders to use local materials such as coral, stone and lime
levels in the same way that wind towers were used centuries ago.
Is Burj Khalifa the future of architecture? The 160 storeys
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as they were easy to obtain. The house has two storeys, three
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example of a house built in the traditional style of the region. He
courtyards and twenty verandas, and like many houses of its
in this skyscraper include a hotel, apartments, sports facilities and
time, Sheik Saeed had the house divided into six independent
an outdoor observation deck for spectacular views of the city. It
living areas. It also has four wind towers which rise 5–8 metres
is really a ‘mini city’ and according to architects, these super tall
above the roof. Although much grander than most houses, the
buildings are better for the environment. Each one can be built on
Sheik Saeed House is a reminder of the rich heritage, culture and
a fairly small plot of land and can accommodate a large number of
architecture of the Emirates.
people. This means that skyscrapers can be constructed closer
Contemporary architecture in the Emirates is very different.
Nowadays architects get builders to use concrete and glass to
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together and cities could become more ‘walkable’, both vertically
and horizontally, and the need for more roads and the pollution
8
3
1
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Writing
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the history of the building (when it was
built, who designed it, etc.)
a description of its architecture
the reasons for its design
any influences you can see in the design.
Writing tip
When you write a composition try to use
a range of different language structures to
explain and clarify your ideas.
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Use of English
Read these two sentences from the
article. Are they active or passive?
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Research a local building which is
important to you – it can be old or new.
Then write a composition describing
this building.
Include:
Pr
Read the article again and answer the
questions.
How did alleys help people in the heat?
Why were homes made of a variety of
different building materials in the past?
How did wealthy homeowners keep their
houses cool?
What is the main building material used
today?
What did the designers of Burj Al Arab and
Burj Khalifa try to do?
What do architects believe are the
advantages of skyscrapers?
What does ‘walkable’ mean in this article?
Art is beauty
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A get + object + to + infinitive
B have/get + object + past participle
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1 We use this passive structure to describe
something which is done for somebody by
someone else.
2 We use this active structure to describe
getting someone to do something for us.
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Look at the rules 1 and 2. They describe
the grammatical structures in the box.
Match the structures to the rules.
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a In some houses they had a well dug to
provide drinking water.
b He got builders to use local materials such
as coral stone and lime.
Now read the sentences from the article
again and match them to the correct
structure, A or B.
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Art is beauty
Lessons 11–12 Calligraphy
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Look at the example of Arabic calligraphy and try to read the
words.
Do you like the design? Why/Why not?
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Reading
Look at the different subheadings for the text.
Quickly read the text and put the subheadings in the
correct places 1–4.
a
b
c
d
The Basics of Arabic Calligraphy
What is Arabic Calligraphy?
Calligraphy Around the World
Competitions in the UAE
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The Art of Handwriting
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Reading
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Art is beauty
Writing
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Read the questions, then read the text
to find the correct answers.
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1 How long ago did Arabic calligraphy start?
2 Which special calligraphy tools does the
text mention?
3 Why is ebru paper specially used for
calligraphy?
4 What are the two stages of learning Arabic
calligraphy?
5 What other two forms of Arabic art does
the Emirati Ministry of Culture focus on?
6 What is the age range of applicants for the
Burda award?
7 What are the activities included in
calligraphy programmes around the
world?
In groups of three, choose one of the
following pieces of calligraphy and
write a paragraph about it. Think
about the following ideas:
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1 Do you think this is modern or
traditional calligraphy?
2 What kind of writing is in it – connected
or individual letters?
3 What kinds of colours are included?
4 Anything else that you think is useful to
describe the image
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Look at the following sentences from
the text and answer the questions.
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1 What does one refer to in the first
sentence?
2 What does one refer to in the second
sentence?
3 What can you replace one with in each
sentence?
4 Why do we use the word one?
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It is the same font as the one taught to
young school children.
It is the same tool as the one used today
for large size calligraphy art.
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Use of English
Discuss the following questions
in your group:
1 Do you think children should learn
calligraphy at school?
2 What do you think is the most
difficult thing about learning
calligraphy?
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