Unit 1: Maps
1. Sample: Theatre Changes (2010–2012)
The plans illustrate how much a theater has changed between 2010 and 2012. It seems that the theater was expanded sideways to build more facilities.
Overall, a number of changes took place all over the layout of the building, some of which involved the conversion and relocation of some features. The only exception was the center as it remained relatively unchanged.
In 2010, the theater could be entered from the main entrance to the south, through which a café could be easily spotted in the right corner. A ticket office and administration office were situated opposite the café. After two years, however, the ticket office was relocated to the bottom right corner where the café had been demolished, while the administration office was moved to the back. This was to make way for a new restaurant area in the left rear corner.
The old media room and storage room had been moved to the top left and right sides respectively, both of which could now be accessed from the new hallway. The space which used to be occupied by the media room was reduced by two times so that the stage in front could be expanded. Finally, a new showers area had been built next to the media room. Lastly, no changes were made to the central auditorium.
The plans show the changes made to a small theatre in 2010 and 2012.
(Actual test, January 23, 2021)
ANALYSIS
1. The plans illustrate how much a theater has changed
Dịch nghĩa: Bản đồ cho thấy một nhà hát đã thay đổi như thế nào.
Cách sử dụng: Đây là mẫu câu dùng để viết mở bài. Người học chú ý vào mệnh đề danh từ how much + Noun + Verb đứng sau từ illustrate. Dù bắt đầu bằng how much, mệnh đề này không phải ở dạng câu hỏi nên động từ không được đảo lên trước danh từ mà đứng ở sau danh từ.
Cấu trúc mẫu:
- The diagrams show how much a college will have changed by 2020.
→ Bản đồ cho thấy một trường đại học sẽ thay đổi như thế nào đến năm 2020.
Cách diễn đạt tương tự:
- The plans illustrate the changes taking place / occurring at a theater.
- The plans/diagrams + illustrate/show + how much + Noun + change.
2. some of which involved the conversion and relocation of some features
Dịch nghĩa: Một vài sự thay đổi đó có liên quan đến sự chuyển đổi và chuyển vị trí của một số vật thể.
Giải thích:
- involve (+ Noun): có liên quan đến
- conversion: sự thay đổi
- relocation: sự di dời
- feature: đặc điểm, hạng mục
Cách sử dụng: Cụm some of which là mệnh đề quan hệ rút gọn dùng để thay thế cho một phần (không phải toàn bộ) của danh từ được nhắc đến trước đó.
Ví dụ:
- A number of changes took place all over the layout of the building, some of which involved the conversion and relocation of some existing features.
↔ A number of changes took place all over the layout of the building. Some of them involved the conversion and relocation of some existing features.
3. a café could be easily spotted in the right corner
Dịch nghĩa: Một tiệm cà phê có thể được dễ dàng nhận ra ở góc phải.
Cấu trúc: spot + Noun → phát hiện, nhìn thấy một vật.
Ví dụ tương tự:
- Food and drinks counter and the relax room have been added to the bottom-left corner of the cinema where Cinema 1 used to be located.
→ Quầy thức ăn và phòng thư giãn đã được thêm vào góc dưới bên trái của rạp chiếu phim, nơi từng đặt Rạp 1.
Cách diễn đạt tương tự:
- In the right corner, a café was clearly visible.
4. the bottom right corner where the café had been demolished
Dịch nghĩa: Ở góc dưới bên phải, nơi quán cà phê đã bị dỡ bỏ.
Giải thích: where được dùng trong mệnh đề quan hệ chỉ nơi chốn.
Ví dụ tương tự:
- A new hall could be easily spotted in place of the old media room.
- The space which used to be occupied by the café in 2005 has been taken up by the new gallery shop.
5. The space which used to be occupied by the media room
Dịch nghĩa: Không gian từng được sử dụng cho phòng truyền thông.
Cấu trúc: A + occupy + B → A chiếm dụng/sử dụng B.
Dùng occupy để mô tả không gian được dùng cho một mục đích cụ thể.
Ví dụ:
- The space which used to be occupied by the café in 2005 has been taken up by the new gallery shop.
→ Không gian từng dành cho quán cà phê vào năm 2005 đã được sử dụng cho cửa hàng trưng bày mới.
6. was reduced by two times
Dịch nghĩa: Bị giảm xuống hai lần.
Cách sử dụng: Diễn tả sự giảm kích thước hoặc diện tích.
Ví dụ:
- The hall has been reduced two times in size to make room for a bathroom.
→ Hội trường đã giảm kích thước hai lần để nhường chỗ cho phòng tắm.
Cách diễn đạt khác:
- to be reduced in half
- to be halved (in size/value/etc.)
- go through a reduction in size
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with words/phrases given in the box
The maps illustrate how much the layout of an art gallery (1) has changed from 2005 to now.
Overall, a number of internal modifications have taken place all over the layout of the building, (2) some of which involve the addition of several new rooms and facilities, and access for the disabled. The only exception was the eastern wall, which remained relatively unchanged.
In 2005, the gallery could be entered from the main entrance to the south, through which a line of three exhibition rooms (3) could be easily spotted in the right wall with Exhibition Room 4 to the other side. However, Exhibition Room 4 has now been split into a children’s area and a temporary exhibition room. The gallery office previously located behind Exhibition Room 4 has now been removed and the space opened up to become a part of the entrance hall area.
Previously, the space which used to be (4) occupied by the café in 2005 has been taken up by the new gallery shop. A new vending machine facility has been placed outside the gallery shop (5) where the gallery used to be. The reception desk has been moved closer to the front of the entrance hall, and new disabled access facilities have been added, including a wheelchair ramp at the front of the building and a lift located next to the stairs.
Answer key:
(1) has changed
(2) some of which involve
(3) could be easily spotted
(4) occupied by the café
(5) where the gallery used to be
Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets
- The diagrams give information about changes in a student accommodation.
→ The diagrams illustrate how much a student accommodation has changed from 2010 to the present. - In general, the building has witnessed several changes all over its layout throughout the period, and some modifications involve the transformation and relocation of some features.
→ In general, the building has witnessed several changes all over its layout throughout the period, some of which involve the conversion and relocation of some features. - In 2010, located in the southwest part of the student accommodation lay a large hall and a bathroom.
→ In 2010, a large hall and a bathroom could easily be spotted in the southwest part of the student accommodation. - The garden to the south has been demolished to make way for some parking space.
→ A parking area has been added to the south where a garden used to be located. - 2022 has witnessed a 2-time reduction in size of the hall adjacent to the entrance as its space is now shared with a bathroom.
→ The space which used to be occupied by the hall was reduced by two times to make room for a bathroom.
Exercise 3: Write a full report on the maps below
The maps indicate how much a sporting facility at a university has changed since 1990.
Overall, it is evident that the sports facility has undergone major changes, most of which involve the conversion and relocation of some features. The most noticeable modification is the construction of a new facility to the northwest of the court.
In 1990, there was a café in the southern area, and an outdoor swimming pool could easily be spotted due to the large space it occupied. Also, the reception and changing room were situated on the left-hand side of the pool at the time. No changes have been made to the reception, but the changing room was expanded two times and now faces the pool. The outdoor pool has undergone a transformation to an indoor one. The building also has a new fitness center inside.
In order to make room for the new building, the tennis courts have been reconstructed and relocated to the place where the car park used to be. The park has also been demolished to construct a basketball court at the top left corner of the map.