Vocabulary: Art and Architecture

Vocabulary: Art and Architecture

11NS.1

​Read the following speaking sample answers and choose the correct definitions/paraphrases for the underlined words/phrases.

Multiple Choice

Are you good at art?

Art is a really vast subject, I believe and if it is about drawing things here and there, I would say I am pretty fine at it. But, I am surely not one of those who can make some masterpieces. I think I am good at it, all thanks to the art classes that I attended during my teen years. They were a great help during my growing years and taught me lot of creativity. Now, I can easily draw simple day to day things like pen or a face.

Masterpiece means..... 

• A work of outstanding artistic skill

• The construction of thought processes

• Psychological treatment

Multiple Choice

Do you like art?

I have a lifelong passion for art since I was a child. Beside the official art class in school, I also joined a drawing class in The Children’ House and my teachers were very pleased with my drawings. I also participated in some drawing competitions back then. Until now I still draw in my free time, although not as often as I used to do.

What is the paraphrase of 'have a lifelong passion for' ?

• To join in

• To be well combined

• To be enthusiastic about something

Multiple Choice

Do you think art classes are necessary? (Why?)/ How do you think art classes affect children’s development?

Yes, definitely. Learning arts, especially at a young age, can help stimulate children’s cognitive development and encourage them to think outside the box. Because they’re still little, their ideas are very fresh and lovely, which is worth appreciating.

The idiom ‘think outside the box” means

• To check something again

• To think creatively

• To be well combined

Multiple Choice

What kind of paintings do people like?

In my opinion, people love hanging landscape paintings at home. Bringing in the beauty of Mother Nature somehow ease people’s mind after a long day at work. Another style of drawing that most people also like is portrait. It could be portraits of someone important to them or even their lovely pets.

'Portrait' means

• A painting or photograph of a person especially one depicting only the face or head and shoulders

• The art of modelling or carving figures, shapes

• A musical drama

Multiple Choice

What benefits can you get from painting as a hobby?

I think the mediation efficiency worth mentioning first. Colours in some ways reflect our thoughts and emotions very well and somehow stimulate our body to defend against our negativity inside. For me, in particular, I think what’s so interesting about painting is that you have no idea how harmonized colours can become until you actually try.

'To be harmonized' means....

• To check something again

• To think creatively

• To be well combined

Multiple Choice

What kinds of things do you like to draw?

My main inspiration is Japanese manga. The drawing topic is extremely varied, however only manga seems to show great potency for my level. I have a big collection at home and as I sometimes go through it again, I can see how much I’ve improved.

'To go through something' means...

• To check something again

• To think creatively

• To be well combined

Multiple Choice

Do you prefer old or new building?

Normally, I prefer contemporary buildings mainly because I am partial towards modernly delicate structure, especially many state-of-the-art high rises. Yet, old buildings make me feel so nostalgic wherever I pay them visits that modern building couldn’t.

State-of-the-art means....

• ancient

• historical

• very modern

​Vocabulary

​1. masterpiece (n)

​2. to have a lifelong passion for

​3. to think outside the box

​4. portrait (n)

​5. to be harmonized

​6. to go through something

​7. state-of-the-art (adj)