Moscow Lesson 4

Welcome to LIVE CONVERSATIONS “MOSCOW: Lesson 4!” Any questions or comments? Please write us at: support@realenglishnow.com

Please watch the video below. Remember: Don’t write anything. Just watch and listen. By the end of the lesson you will understand everything!

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Greg: Alright, and what are we looking at here?

Mark: I am standing outside the walls of the Kremlin.

Greg: And, is the Kremlin the whitish building behind you, or the red building? Or is this all the Kremlin?

Mark: This is all the Kremlin. “Kremlin” is basically the Russian word for “fortress.” So you can see, that looks like a fortress wall. And it’s come to mean, like, the seat of their government (the location of their government). So, it’s not just the walled enclosure. It’s all the buildings within that walled enclosure.

Greg: Right. Just like the White House actually means “A White House” But, it actually is referring to where the United States government is.

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Mark: Then inside the Kremlin…Really, this is one of the main things that you can see, is this cathedral. So, this domed cathedral is inside the walls of the Kremlin. You can see Jeff taking a picture of it.

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Greg: Alright, this is funny. What’s interesting is, nobody is actually looking at you while you’re trying to push that cannonball. But…..But they just didn’t notice. I bet if you did that long enough, you would probably draw a crowd. Like, if you did that for thirty minutes!

Mark: Like, I really tried! My original intent was to, you know, get a little closer and look like I was trying to pick it up, and put it inside the cannon. That was my original…

Greg: Right.

Mark: …like, “Wouldn’t that be funny?” The only thing I managed to overhear…We did not take a tour of the Kremlin. We just kind of let ourselves in, and…But I overheard — I eavesdropped on another tour, and evidently this is the biggest cannon in the world.

Greg: Wow!

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Mark: This is Red Square. I didn’t actually take (take a picture) this. Jeff took this. But, yeah. This is, you know, the world famous Red Square. This is…We know it, we grew up with this, as the place where the Soviets…the Soviets showed or displayed, excuse me, their military might (strength / power). This is where, on — I think on May Day — they would have their parades of tanks and soldiers and, you know, everything they had, on this very square, as a show to the world of their, you know, their military power. And…I don’t actually know the name of this red building. I’m actually even…I’m going to guess that it’s a cathedral. Then, to the right, those little gates…I’m pretty sure those are called the Resurrection Gates. Apologies for any mistakes here. And then if you go to the next picture, we have me, still in Red Square. Just the other…taken from…You know, now Jeff’s back is to that red building. And I’m on…Behind me is Basil…Saint Basil’s Cathedral.

Greg: Right. Yeah. Very amusement park-ish looking or something like that.

Mark: Yeah.

Greg: Said with respect.

Mark: Oh, it’s beautiful. I totally respect it. And when you mention, you know, amusement parks, that kind of acts as a segue into the next picture of…This is Lenin’s tomb. Why amusement park? Because an amusement park is where you go, and you stand in line for a long time to see something, or do something. And in this case, you would have to stand in line for a long time to see Lenin’s tomb. Granted, there is no one in line here, but that’s because it was closed. And the next time we came back, the line was crazy. So, we didn’t end up going.

Greg: Right. Yeah, I would have gone for it. I think it would be very cool to get to actually see a historical figure (famous person in history)…although not living. But to get your eyes…lay your eyes right on an actual…the actual guy, you know? Like, such a major….major player in world events.

Mark: Yeah, it’s true. I mean, the founder of communism right there in front of your eyes.

Mark: And now, if you had your back to Lenin’s tomb, what you would see is what’s in the next picture. Which…This beautiful white-ish building is called “G.U.M.” which stands for: The State-run department store.

Greg: Wow. It looks like, um…It looks like an official government building, definitely, that you would find in the government area. But it’s an actual shopping center? Is that right? Is it like one store, or is it a mall, or what?

Mark: Yeah, it’s a mall. It’s…Now it looks just like any…Well, I wouldn’t say just like any. But it functions as any Western mall, with a collection (group) of shops. But, it is very, very upscale high-class. That’s the word I was looking for. A very upscale mall.

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Step 1

Listen to Audio #1 below.
Listening before reading is very important. Please, DO NOT read the text yet. If you don’t understand the audio, that’s okay. Listen now, at least two times.

step2

Click below (where it says, ‘Click to reveal #1’) and compare the sentences. See the highlighted phrases? They both have the same meaning. But the 1st one is what students of English say. (For example: “to attract a group of people”). The 2nd one is what native speakers say, (“to draw a crowd”). Listen one more time, and then go to Step #3.

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to draw a crowd = to attract a group of people

Remember, in these four groups of sentences below, a native speaker will usually use the 2nd version. So, "to draw a crowd" is the advanced phrase we want to learn.

David Beckham attracts a group of people wherever he goes.
David Beckham draws a crowd wherever he goes.

The Beatles always attracted a group of people in public.
The Beatles always drew a crowd in public.

Did it attract a group of people?
Did it draw a crowd?

I bet if you did that long enough, you would probably attract a group of people.
I bet if you did that long enough, you would probably draw a crowd.
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step3

Make a flashcard. Write one of the example sentences on your card, and underline the new word. On the other side of the card, write the translation in your first language. Please make these flashcards now, as you go through the lesson. Then repeat Steps 1 – 3 for each word below.

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evidently = I haven’t confirmed it, but

Remember, the 2nd version (using "evidently") is how a native speaker will probably say these sentences.

I haven’t confirmed it, but Madonna is playing a concert in Kiev this summer.
Evidently, Madonna is playing a concert in Kiev this summer.

This is yours, but I haven’t confirmed it.
This is yours, evidently.

I haven’t confirmed it, but Paul has the flu.
Paul evidently has the flu.

I haven’t confirmed it, but the Kremlin cannon is the biggest one in the world.
Evidently, the Kremlin cannon is the biggest one in the world.

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very = actual

This is the actual shirt I was wearing when you and I first met.
This is the very shirt I was wearing when you and I first met.

This is the actual song I was talking about.
This is the very song I was talking about.

This is the actual place where I found your wallet.
This is the very place where I found your wallet.

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crazy = unreasonable

The prices for the newest iPhones are unreasonable.
The prices for the newest iPhones are crazy.

$70 for a T-shirt? That’s unreasonable.
$70 for a T-shirt? That’s crazy.

It’s a 45 minute wait to get a table in that restaurant. That’s unreasonable.
It’s a 45 minute wait to get a table in that restaurant. That’s crazy.

The line was unreasonable, so we didn’t go in.
The line was crazy, so we didn’t go in.

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to go for something = to do something (that seems risky in some way)

You should ask Jill to go on a date. She might say no, but you should still do it.
You should ask Jill to go on a date. She might say no, but you should still go for it.

I’m scared, but I’m going to do it.
I’m scared, but I’m going to go for it.

To get good things in life, sometimes you need to take a risk and do it.
To get good things in life, sometimes you need to take a risk and go for it.

Even though the lines were long, I would have done it.
Even though the lines were long, I would have gone for it.

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upscale = high-class, luxury

I don’t like shopping in Beverly Hills. The stores are too high-class…and too expensive.
I don’t like shopping in Beverly Hills. The stores are too upscale…and too expensive.

That Gucci store is very high-class.
That Gucci store is very upscale.

They only sell Rolex watches in high-class stores.
They only sell Rolex watches in upscale stores.

The G.U.M. mall in Moscow is very high-class.
The G.U.M. mall in Moscow is very upscale.

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Step 1.

First, read the “Easy” sentence. Then, try to think of the advanced expression that we learned which has the same meaning as the highlighted expression.

Easy: David Beckham attracts a group of people wherever he goes.

Advanced: David Beckham ___ ___ ___ wherever he goes.

Step 2.

Play the audio file to check your answer.

Step 3.

Play the audio again, and repeat, until you can say it from memory.

Step 4.

Repeat Steps 1 – 3 for each set below.

Easy: I haven’t confirmed it, but Madonna is playing a concert in Kiev this summer.
Advanced: ____, Madonna is playing a concert in Kiev this summer.

Easy: This is the actual shirt I was wearing when you and I first met.
Advanced: This is the ___ shirt I was wearing when you and I first met.

Easy: The prices for the newest iPhones are unreasonable.
Advanced:The prices for the newest iPhones are ___ .

Easy: You should ask Jill to go on a date. She might say no, but you should still do it.
Advanced: You should ask Jill to go on a date. She might say no, but you should still ___ ___ ___ .

EASY: I don’t like shopping in Beverly Hills. The stores are too high-class…and too expensive.
ADVANCED: I don’t like shopping in Beverly Hills. The stores are too ____…and too expensive.