M y Iceland Garpur :
Garpur: My Iceland by Silvana Sardi
ELI Readers
Founder and Series Editors
Paola Accattoli, Grazia Ancillani, Daniele Garbuglia (Art Director)
Real Lives Series Creation
Grazia Ancillani
Layout Sergio Elisei
Production Manager Francesco Capitano
Photo credits
Hlín Halldórsdóttir, Shutterstock
New edition 2021 First edition 2020 © ELI s.r.l.
P.O. Box 6 62019 Recanati (MC)
Italy
T +39 071750701
F +39 071977851 info@elionline.com www.elionline.com
Typeset in 13 / 18 pt Monotype Dante
Printed in Italy by Tecnostampa – Pigini Group Printing Division
Loreto – Trevi – ERT 270.10
ISBN 978-88-536-3201-4
www.eligradedreaders.com
Grammar for A2 Key
1 Read about Garpur and Iceland. Choose the correct word (A, B or C) to complete the text.
This story (0) ............................ about a boy (1) ............................ Iceland, called Garpur. He lives in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, with (2) ............................ family. Garpur talks about his country and (3) ............................... the beautiful things you can see (4) ............................... you visit Iceland (5) ............................ the wonderful nature and the fantastic animals that (6) ............................ there. You will also learn about (7) ............................ Icelandic people do in (8) ............................ free time and the food they eat. There’s (9) ............................ of information about Garpur too and the sport he likes best. There’s (10) ............................ much to see and do in this wonderful country that you’ll want to visit it for sure after reading Garpur’s story.
0 A tells B is C says
1 A to B of C from 2 A his B her C him
3 A every B all
4 A if B so
each
because
5 A as B such C like
6 A live B lives C is living
8 A our B their C its
10 A very B so C too is
7 A where B who C what
9 A many B much C lots
Vocabulary
2a Choose a word(s) from the box and write it/them under each picture. These are all things Garpur talks about in Chapter 1.
2b Look again at exercise 2a and put a tick in the box next to the things that you can also find in your country. Then complete the table below with the things that are particular about your country.
Speaking / Writing
3 Discuss these questions with a partner and write your answers.
1 What countries would you like to visit? Why? ................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................
2 Why do you think it’s important to learn about people from other countries? ................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................
3 What differences do you think you’ll find between Garpur’s way of life and yours? ................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................
4 What things do you think will be the same about Garpur’s way of life and yours?
5 What’s your favourite kind of weather and why? .................................................................................................................
6 What kind of food do you think they eat in Iceland?
Listening A2 KEY
2 ✓
4 Listen to the start of Chapter 1 and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
Garpur says that in Iceland…
A ■ there’s only ice.
B ■ there aren’t many glaciers.
C ■ they have hot springs.
1 Iceland…
A ■ isn’t part of Europe.
B ■ is just under the Arctic Circle.
C ■ is part of North America.
2 Reykjavik…
A ■ is the capital of Iceland.
B ■ is the smallest city in Iceland.
C ■ is in the northwest of Iceland.
3 Traditional turf houses…
A ■ had a concrete roof.
B ■ are no longer used by Icelanders.
C ■ had grass walls.
4 Garpur’s house…
A ■ is a traditional turf house.
B ■ is made of concrete.
C ■ has three bathrooms.
5 Garpur spends a lot of time…
A ■ playing the piano.
B ■ playing the classical guitar.
C ■ playing computer games.
6 Garpur also loves…
A ■ dancing rock ‘n’ roll.
B ■ studying technology.
C ■ cooking in his kitchen.
7 In Iceland…
A ■ there’s a lot of space.
B ■ there are more people than sheep.
C ■ there are 800,000 people.
My Homeland
So, what do you think of when you hear the word ‘Iceland’?
Ice maybe? Well, you’re almost right, as we have a lot of pure white glaciers, but there are also lava fields, mountains, hot springs, volcanic craters and waterfalls. Welcome to my homeland!
This is Kerið, a volcanic crater lake.
Gullfoss waterfall –We have a lot of waterfalls here in Iceland.
Iceland
Iceland is part of Europe. It is an island halfway between North America and Europe, just below the Arctic Circle.
Anyway, my name’s Garpur Gylfason and I come from Reykjavik, the capital and largest city in Iceland, in the southwestern part of the island. I live with my parents, Hlín and Gylfi.
Surname
Do you want to know how it works? Well, the surname is formed by the father’s name and the Icelandic word for son or daughter. So, if your father’s name is Ingi, your surname will be Ingason if you’re a boy, or Ingadóttir if you’re a girl.
Icelandic Turf Houses
In Iceland, traditional houses were built with earth* and a grass roof. Some Icelanders lived in these turf houses until the 1960s. Nowadays, most people live in concrete* houses like me.
My house has a large kitchen and eating area, a big family bathroom and three bedrooms. I spend quite a lot of time in my room, playing my electric guitar or computer games.
earth where things like carrots grow
concrete something strong you build houses with
Quite hard to sit on a ball and play the guitar at the same time!
Of course, that’s after I’ve finished my homework. (I had to put that last sentence in … you never know who may read this … mum, dad, maybe one of my teachers …). I need to practise … since I play in the school orchestra and we perform once a month. I also love listening to music, especially rock ‘n’ roll and some techno.
When I’m not in my room, you’ll find me in the kitchen. I love cooking!
Come and visit me in Iceland and I’ll make you one of my cakes!
We certainly have a lot of space here in Iceland, with about 340,000 of us on an island that covers an area of 103,000 km2! That’s a lot of space to play in, but we share it with about 800,000 sheep! That’s more than two sheep per person! It’s OK, I quite like sheep!
Icelandic sheep
The Vikings first brought sheep to Iceland in the 9th and 10th century. Most Icelandic sheep are either black, brown or white, or some of these colours together. On the roads in Iceland, there are many signs telling you to be careful of the sheep that are free to go where they want from spring to September. Then the farmers need to go and look for them to bring them home for the winter, when they’re kept inside.
There aren’t only sheep. Our most famous bird is the puffin and Reykjavik is the only capital city in the world that has a colony* of puffins.
Atlantic puffin
These puffins spend most of their life at sea, but come back to make their nests* in spring and summer. 60% of the world’s Atlantic puffins make their nests in Iceland from April to September every year. There are different types of puffins but the Atlantic puffin is special because it’s the same colour as a penguin* but with a fantastic coloured beak*. Aren’t they cute*?
We also love other animals, most of all, our own Icelandic horses.
Icelandic horse
The Norwegians were the first to bring this kind of horse to Iceland 1100 years ago. It’s quite a small horse, but it’s very strong. In Iceland, you can’t bring horses from other countries to our island, and any Icelandic horses that leave the island cannot return. They still use this horse on farms but also for shows, races and riding tours.
colony a group nest where birds put their eggs
penguin
beak a bird’s mouth cute lovely
After-reading Activities
Stop & Check
1 Choose A, B or C to make true sentences about Chapter 5. Garpur is ..................... about playing in front of the Danish coach.
A sad B excited C angry
1 Garpur usually goes on holiday with his… A parents. B class. C friends.
2 The National Day of Iceland is on… A 15th June. B 16th June. C 17th June.
3 In the parade there are people carrying… A sheep. B flags. C bells.
4 The Danish coach asked them…
A if they liked B if they could C why they Denmark. speak Danish. liked handball.
5 During the match, the Danish coach…
A took a lot B spoke to C stopped the of notes. Garpur’s coach. match.
6 Garpur’s dad told Garpur that it was important to… A score. B help his C speak Danish teammates. to the coach.
Writing
2 In Chapter 5, Garpur talks about what he does in the summer months. Write him an email. In your email you should:
– tell him what summer is like in your country
– invite him to come and visit you next summer
– tell him what you could do together (25 words or more) excited
Speaking
3a Discuss the following questions with a partner.
– Do you think Garpur was right not to tell the Danish coach about his father?
– Why do you think the Danish coach chose Garpur and Eiður and not their other friend?
– Would you like to play in an international tournament? Why/why not?
3b What is different about your country from Iceland?
Discuss with a partner and complete the table below. Garpur and Iceland Your Country
Special
