Reading and Speaking skills practice:
Learning to speak that English
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Chapter 6… Manuela and eternal love, from the novel, In the land of volcanoes, by edudelcorral
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
It could, or not, be said, that in the life of every great man, there is a great woman to be found at his side. In a few words, Grandmother Manuela was certainly an extraordinary woman, and Grandfather Jairo was also a great man.
Her sweet disposition and the cool serenity of her mind, combined to distinguish her with a special kind of inner loveliness, forever present every moment of her life. Moreover, her physical beauty and charm (legendary since she was a child in Honduras), together with her internal presence, manifested themselves in a most definite magnetic personality. Without ever intending to do so, she painted herself into such a beautiful living picture, so absolutely and stunningly captivating, that she invariably attracted the world towards her, and there, as it was held involuntarily trapped, it would gravitate revolving around her.
Grandmother was definitely a devout person, but she always held an open mind and an extremely respectful attitude to other people’s beliefs and their own personal ways of contemplating life. Consequently, she was never known to have tried to impose her view on those around her. That happiness she carried inside, could, on occasion, be just barely caught in a slight glimpse revealed by that mysterious smile of hers, which she perpetually wore, faintly delineated, on her delicate lips.
When she was still a child, her mother hired the linguistic services of a foreigner. He was a gringo that came from Alabama, and lived a few blocks from her house.
“So that he will teach Manuelita to talk, even if it´s the kind of American-English that he speaks. It may be useful someday, that is of course, if she happens to find someone who talks in such a strange way,” her mother would explain to her friends and neighbors.
Vocabulary
Disposition: [singular] the way that someone typically thinks and behaves, that shows what type of person they are.
He is not known for having a warm and friendly disposition.
Of a nervous disposition: This movie is not suitable for viewers of a nervous disposition.
Inner loveliness: [expression] the beauty in a person’s personality, manners or way of thinking and treating other people.
She radiated an inner loveliness that all her friends admired.
Magnetic personality: [expressions] A highly attractive attitude that impresses people and makes them desire to be in the presence of that person.
He has an outgoing and magnetic attitude and easily makes friendships.
Stunning: [Adjective] very impressive or beautiful
A stunning display of tropical plants
The view from the top of the hill is stunning.
Stunningly: [Adverb]
A stunningly beautiful scenery.
Captivating: [Adjective] very interesting or attractive in a way that takes all your attention.
A captivating tale.
His smile was captivating.
Revolving: [verb] Turning in a circle around a central point
A revolving shelf/stage/restaurant.
It seemed that the whole world revolved around her life.
Devout: [adjective] Very religious, very enthusiastic in your support for something
A devout capitalist.
He was always a very devout Muslim.
Perpetual: [Adjective] happening so often that you become annoyed as a result:
He soon grew tired of her perpetual demands for money.
[Literary expression] Continuing all the time: Many people live in perpetual fear of losing their jobs.
A perpetual mist hung over the valley.
Perpetually: [ adverb]
Her face wore a perpetually worried expression.
He’s perpetually interfering in our affairs!
Delineate: [verb] To draw, or to make a mark or pattern.
The border between both countries are faintly delineated in red.
In the land of volcanoes’ Chapters Purchase the book Talking easy English lessons Versión en español