Cover of the textbook Outcomes Upper-Intermediate - Student's Book

The key answer of exercise 1

The key to exercise solutions in chapter 6 - Going places for the textbook Outcomes Upper-Intermediate - Student's Book with authors Hugh Dellar and Andrew Walkley from National Geographic Learning

Question

Decide if the sentences express positive or negative views about places, or if they could be either.

Answer

  1. negative – it was muddy (i.e. it had probably rained a lot and the earth was very wet and difficult to walk in), and everything got filthy  (= very, very dirty)
  2. positive – a stunning view is a really good view
  3. positive – service is the help given by people working in a place; if something is efficient, it work(s) in a reliable, professional way 
  4. negative – unbearably hot means it was too hot – it was unpleasant and difficult to function in
  5. negative – it’s not the kind of view you want!
  6. positive – people were very friendly and made you feel at home. Overwhelming can be used negatively, but here it means that it affected you in a very positive way. 
  7. negative – if a place is a bit of a dump, it’s dirty and unpleasant
  8. positive – the facilities (i.e. equipment, gym, spa, swimming pool, etc.) were all really, really good
  9. could be both – depending on whether you like being away from people or not – isolated means far from people and towns
  10. positive – there was plenty of space and  privacy – deserted means empty of people