New Destinations B2 Module 2

Read the following text and choose the answer which you think fits best according to the text.

EXPLORING GEORGIA

Would you like to see amazing wildlife and breathtaking scenery? Do you want to learn about a unique culture? If your answer is yes then you should follow in the footsteps of Mike Smith and take a trip to the state of Georgia in America.

Every year my wife and I go on a camping holiday in France. Although this is something we both really enjoy, this year I wanted to go somewhere I’d never been before and do something exciting. We did some research and came up with the idea of going to the US. We chose a kayaking holiday in the southern state of Georgia. Neither of us had ever been kayaking before, but we managed to find a package which included lessons for beginners.

Georgia is an amazing place; it’s a crossroad of different cultures and it has had a fascinating and at times violent past. It is also a place of untouched natural beauty, with nature parks and an unspoilt coastline. We went to Cathead Creek, an area rich in wildlife and scenery. Our kayaking instructor was a friendly local called Frank. As my wife and I had never been kayaking before, we found the first few lessons a bit challenging. In spite of this, Frank was always very patient and he would constantly offer words of encouragement. After some practice, we became more confident and realised it wasn’t that difficult. We also did a safety course and Frank made us aware of any potential dangers, including the alligators in the swamp! After completing the course, we felt ready for adventure and we decided to go further out along the Darien River. As we glided down the river, I felt a delicious shiver of fear run up my spine as I recalled Frank’s words of advice before we left, ‘Watch out for the alligators.’

We quietly slipped past a huge alligator, its unblinking eyes staring at us with mild interest. We paddled on and watched brightly coloured birds fly over the water. We stopped to have some bread and cheese and admire the view. We saw fishing boats returning with their catch of Georgian shrimp, which is the region’s culinary speciality and is definitely worth trying if you visit Georgia. We also spent a few days on Cumberland Island, which is one of the many islands off Georgia’s coast. Cumberland Island is a protected paradise, which makes it both secluded and peaceful. We rented bicycles and followed a trail which led to a beautiful beach. On the following day, we took a tour of the island and this gave us the opportunity to see all kinds of amazing wildlife. It was a wonderful experience and, without a doubt, Cumberland Island is a place of unbelievable beauty.

As my wife is interested in history, we also dedicated some time to visiting various museums. I particularly enjoyed the Geechee Kunda Visitor’s Centre, which some locals had recommended - here we learnt about the first Africans that had been brought to the region in slave ships. A huge cotton and rice empire was built in Georgia using the Africans as slaves. They had been taken from different parts of West Africa and each group had their own culture, language, knowledge and music which they brought into their everyday life. After the Civil War the rice and cotton plantations were burnt down and the owners left, leaving the slaves behind. As a result, a unique culture was created known as Geechee. The Geechee people spoke their own language, which was a mix of various West African languages. In the present day, the Geechee Visitor’s Centre has made a huge effort to record the history and culture of these unique people. It was a fascinating experience and something that enriched our visit to Georgia.

We returned from our holiday feeling happy and relaxed and we plan to go back to Georgia next year.

The writer

Read the following text and choose the answer which you think fits best according to the text.

EXPLORING GEORGIA

Would you like to see amazing wildlife and breathtaking scenery? Do you want to learn about a unique culture? If your answer is yes then you should follow in the footsteps of Mike Smith and take a trip to the state of Georgia in America.

Every year my wife and I go on a camping holiday in France. Although this is something we both really enjoy, this year I wanted to go somewhere I’d never been before and do something exciting. We did some research and came up with the idea of going to the US. We chose a kayaking holiday in the southern state of Georgia. Neither of us had ever been kayaking before, but we managed to find a package which included lessons for beginners.

Georgia is an amazing place; it’s a crossroad of different cultures and it has had a fascinating and at times violent past. It is also a place of untouched natural beauty, with nature parks and an unspoilt coastline. We went to Cathead Creek, an area rich in wildlife and scenery. Our kayaking instructor was a friendly local called Frank. As my wife and I had never been kayaking before, we found the first few lessons a bit challenging. In spite of this, Frank was always very patient and he would constantly offer words of encouragement. After some practice, we became more confident and realised it wasn’t that difficult. We also did a safety course and Frank made us aware of any potential dangers, including the alligators in the swamp! After completing the course, we felt ready for adventure and we decided to go further out along the Darien River. As we glided down the river, I felt a delicious shiver of fear run up my spine as I recalled Frank’s words of advice before we left, ‘Watch out for the alligators.’

We quietly slipped past a huge alligator, its unblinking eyes staring at us with mild interest. We paddled on and watched brightly coloured birds fly over the water. We stopped to have some bread and cheese and admire the view. We saw fishing boats returning with their catch of Georgian shrimp, which is the region’s culinary speciality and is definitely worth trying if you visit Georgia. We also spent a few days on Cumberland Island, which is one of the many islands off Georgia’s coast. Cumberland Island is a protected paradise, which makes it both secluded and peaceful. We rented bicycles and followed a trail which led to a beautiful beach. On the following day, we took a tour of the island and this gave us the opportunity to see all kinds of amazing wildlife. It was a wonderful experience and, without a doubt, Cumberland Island is a place of unbelievable beauty.

As my wife is interested in history, we also dedicated some time to visiting various museums. I particularly enjoyed the Geechee Kunda Visitor’s Centre, which some locals had recommended - here we learnt about the first Africans that had been brought to the region in slave ships. A huge cotton and rice empire was built in Georgia using the Africans as slaves. They had been taken from different parts of West Africa and each group had their own culture, language, knowledge and music which they brought into their everyday life. After the Civil War the rice and cotton plantations were burnt down and the owners left, leaving the slaves behind. As a result, a unique culture was created known as Geechee. The Geechee people spoke their own language, which was a mix of various West African languages. In the present day, the Geechee Visitor’s Centre has made a huge effort to record the history and culture of these unique people. It was a fascinating experience and something that enriched our visit to Georgia.

We returned from our holiday feeling happy and relaxed and we plan to go back to Georgia next year.

The couple found kayaking

Read the following text and choose the answer which you think fits best according to the text.

EXPLORING GEORGIA

Would you like to see amazing wildlife and breathtaking scenery? Do you want to learn about a unique culture? If your answer is yes then you should follow in the footsteps of Mike Smith and take a trip to the state of Georgia in America.

Every year my wife and I go on a camping holiday in France. Although this is something we both really enjoy, this year I wanted to go somewhere I’d never been before and do something exciting. We did some research and came up with the idea of going to the US. We chose a kayaking holiday in the southern state of Georgia. Neither of us had ever been kayaking before, but we managed to find a package which included lessons for beginners.

Georgia is an amazing place; it’s a crossroad of different cultures and it has had a fascinating and at times violent past. It is also a place of untouched natural beauty, with nature parks and an unspoilt coastline. We went to Cathead Creek, an area rich in wildlife and scenery. Our kayaking instructor was a friendly local called Frank. As my wife and I had never been kayaking before, we found the first few lessons a bit challenging. In spite of this, Frank was always very patient and he would constantly offer words of encouragement. After some practice, we became more confident and realised it wasn’t that difficult. We also did a safety course and Frank made us aware of any potential dangers, including the alligators in the swamp! After completing the course, we felt ready for adventure and we decided to go further out along the Darien River. As we glided down the river, I felt a delicious shiver of fear run up my spine as I recalled Frank’s words of advice before we left, ‘Watch out for the alligators.’

We quietly slipped past a huge alligator, its unblinking eyes staring at us with mild interest. We paddled on and watched brightly coloured birds fly over the water. We stopped to have some bread and cheese and admire the view. We saw fishing boats returning with their catch of Georgian shrimp, which is the region’s culinary speciality and is definitely worth trying if you visit Georgia. We also spent a few days on Cumberland Island, which is one of the many islands off Georgia’s coast. Cumberland Island is a protected paradise, which makes it both secluded and peaceful. We rented bicycles and followed a trail which led to a beautiful beach. On the following day, we took a tour of the island and this gave us the opportunity to see all kinds of amazing wildlife. It was a wonderful experience and, without a doubt, Cumberland Island is a place of unbelievable beauty.

As my wife is interested in history, we also dedicated some time to visiting various museums. I particularly enjoyed the Geechee Kunda Visitor’s Centre, which some locals had recommended - here we learnt about the first Africans that had been brought to the region in slave ships. A huge cotton and rice empire was built in Georgia using the Africans as slaves. They had been taken from different parts of West Africa and each group had their own culture, language, knowledge and music which they brought into their everyday life. After the Civil War the rice and cotton plantations were burnt down and the owners left, leaving the slaves behind. As a result, a unique culture was created known as Geechee. The Geechee people spoke their own language, which was a mix of various West African languages. In the present day, the Geechee Visitor’s Centre has made a huge effort to record the history and culture of these unique people. It was a fascinating experience and something that enriched our visit to Georgia.

We returned from our holiday feeling happy and relaxed and we plan to go back to Georgia next year.

Mike was frightened when they went down the Darien River because