Summary
Los Angeles: The City of Angels
Located in Southern California, Los Angeles is a vibrant city with a population of 18 million people. It is a hub for dreamers, with its sunshine, entertainment industry, and openness to newcomers and new ideas.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Downtown Los Angeles: A center of global business and home to some of the finest examples of American civic architecture.
- Olvera Street: One of the oldest surviving areas in L.A., offering a taste of Old Mexico.
- Union Station: A historic railway station that has been featured in numerous movies.
- Little Tokyo: A neighborhood with Buddhist temples, galleries, and museums, and home to some of the best sushi in the city.
- Walt Disney Music Hall: A stainless steel wonder that is home to the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA): A museum with a collection of over 100,000 pieces, spanning from classical periods to street art.
- La Brea Tar Pits and George C. Page Museum: A museum showcasing preserved mammals, insects, and plants from the Ice Age.
Neighborhoods and Beaches
- Rodeo Drive: A famous shopping street in Beverly Hills, known for its luxury and exclusivity.
- Hollywood: The epicenter of the entertainment industry, with the Walk of Fame and Grauman’s Chinese Theater.
- West Hollywood: A haven for artists and designers, with a vibrant nightlife scene.
- Griffith Park: The largest urban park in America, with hiking trails, gardens, and the Griffith Observatory.
- Santa Monica: A popular resort town with a iconic pier and a relaxed, California lifestyle.
- Venice Beach: A beach town with a promenade, known for its counterculture and street performers.
- Malibu: A scenic coastline with stunning views, salt-scented air, and coastal sage.
Theme Parks and Family Attractions
- Universal Studios: A movie studio with a theme park, featuring behind-the-scenes tours and rides.
- Knott’s Berry Farm: A theme park with child-friendly rides and a taste of America’s pioneering heritage.
- Disneyland Park: A world-famous theme park with Disney characters, rides, and attractions.
Other Attractions
- USS Iowa: A World War II battleship with a rich history, now a museum.
- Aquarium of the Pacific: A aquarium featuring marine species from the Pacific Ocean.
- Catalina Island: A island with a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for day-trippers and weekenders.
- The Getty Center: A museum with an extraordinary art collection, surrounded by beautiful gardens and water features.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Civic Architecture | The design and construction of buildings and spaces for public use, such as government buildings and monuments. | Downtown Los Angeles is home to some of the finest examples of American civic architecture. |
| Counterculture | A social movement that rejects mainstream values and practices. | Venice Beach is known for its counterculture and street performers. |
| Exclusivity | The state of being exclusive or restricted to a particular group. | Rodeo Drive is known for its exclusivity and luxury shopping experience. |
| Ice Age | A period of time when the Earth’s climate was much colder, resulting in the formation of glaciers and ice sheets. | The La Brea Tar Pits and George C. Page Museum showcase preserved mammals, insects, and plants from the Ice Age. |
| Neighborhood | A residential area within a city or town. | West Hollywood is a neighborhood known for its vibrant nightlife scene. |
| Observatory | A building or structure used for observing and studying the sky and celestial objects. | The Griffith Observatory offers stunning views of the city and features a planetarium and exhibits. |
| Philharmonic Orchestra | A large instrumental ensemble that performs classical music. | The Walt Disney Music Hall is home to the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra. |
| Resort Town | A town or city that is popular for vacationing and leisure activities. | Santa Monica is a resort town with a iconic pier and a relaxed, California lifestyle. |
| Street Art | Art that is created in public spaces, often using unconventional materials and techniques. | The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) features a collection of street art from around the world. |
| Theme Park | An amusement park that is designed around a specific theme or concept. | Universal Studios is a theme park that features behind-the-scenes tours and rides based on popular movies and TV shows. |
| Urban Park | A public park located in a city or urban area. | Griffith Park is the largest urban park in America, featuring hiking trails, gardens, and the Griffith Observatory. |
Watch The Video
Vocabulary Quiz
1. Which word means ‘a person who is trying to succeed in a particular field, especially in the entertainment industry’?
A) Newcomer
B) Dreamer
C) Pioneer
D) Artist
2. What is the term for ‘a street or area known for its luxury and exclusivity’, as described in the context of Rodeo Drive?
A) Hub
B) Haven
C) Epicenter
D) Resort
3. Which phrase means ‘a place that is welcoming to new people and ideas’, as described in the context of Los Angeles?
A) Openness to newcomers
B) Center of global business
C) Home to some of the finest examples
D) Counterculture
4. What is the term for ‘a large public park’, as described in the context of Griffith Park?
A) Urban park
B) Resort town
C) Scenic coastline
D) Theme park
5. Which word means ‘a person who creates art, music, or writing’, as described in the context of West Hollywood?
A) Dreamer
B) Newcomer
C) Artist
D) Pioneer
Answer Key:
1. B
2. D
3. A
4. A
5. C
Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: Using the Present Simple to Describe Permanent States and General Truths
Grammar Quiz:
1. Which of the following sentences uses the present simple to describe a general truth about Los Angeles?
- a) Los Angeles will be a vibrant city in the future.
- b) Los Angeles is a vibrant city.
- c) Los Angeles was a vibrant city in the past.
- d) Los Angeles is being a vibrant city now.
2. Which of the following sentences uses the present simple to describe a permanent state about the USS Iowa?
- a) The USS Iowa was a World War II battleship.
- b) The USS Iowa is being a museum now.
- c) The USS Iowa will be a museum in the future.
- d) The USS Iowa is a World War II battleship with a rich history, now a museum.
3. Which of the following sentences uses the present simple to describe a habit about visitors to Los Angeles?
- a) Visitors to Los Angeles are going to the beach every day.
- b) Visitors to Los Angeles go to the beach every day.
- c) Visitors to Los Angeles went to the beach every day.
- d) Visitors to Los Angeles will go to the beach every day.
4. Which of the following sentences uses the present simple to describe a general truth about the Aquarium of the Pacific?
- a) The Aquarium of the Pacific will feature marine species from the Pacific Ocean.
- b) The Aquarium of the Pacific features marine species from the Pacific Ocean.
- c) The Aquarium of the Pacific is featuring marine species from the Pacific Ocean now.
- d) The Aquarium of the Pacific featured marine species from the Pacific Ocean in the past.
5. Which of the following sentences uses the present simple to describe a permanent state about the Walt Disney Music Hall?
- a) The Walt Disney Music Hall was a stainless steel wonder.
- b) The Walt Disney Music Hall is being a stainless steel wonder now.
- c) The Walt Disney Music Hall will be a stainless steel wonder in the future.
- d) The Walt Disney Music Hall is a stainless steel wonder that is home to the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra.
Answer Key:
1. b) Los Angeles is a vibrant city.
2. d) The USS Iowa is a World War II battleship with a rich history, now a museum.
3. b) Visitors to Los Angeles go to the beach every day.
4. b) The Aquarium of the Pacific features marine species from the Pacific Ocean.
5. d) The Walt Disney Music Hall is a stainless steel wonder that is home to the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra.