As you read the article about Albania take notes under the following headings

What the writer seems to have liked during his stay	What he is critical of

9. There is some good descriptive writing in this article. Which parts are most ‘visually intense’?

“Important dreams are not only visually intense …….”(par.3)

Discuss the following points in pairs.

· “We stared in amazement …….” What was amazing?

· What aspects of Albanian life seem out of date?

· What indications are there of Albania’s isolation, and the way it is being reduced?

· How is Albania similar to Stalin’s Russia?

· “Where is the boundary between consent and coercion?” What did the Scottish lecturer mean?

· Why must Albania ‘open to the world’? How does the writer seem to feel about this?

· “The hedgehog of Europe”. Explain the metaphor.

· “If the sea became yoghurt, the Albanians would not be given a spoon.” Explain this saying.

· What is the writer’s purpose? Choose from the following verbs.

Persuade	Entertain
Inform	Warn
Complain	Recommend
Describe	Criticize

Choose adjectives which you think best describe how the author feels.

Interested	Angry	Admiring	Sad
Confused	Charmed	Enthusiastic	Pessimistic
Surprised	Impressed	Amused	Open-minded

Find the answers to these questions in the article below.

1. Which war started in 1950 and ended in 1953?

2. Which war started in 1964 and ended in 1975?

3. Who was US president from 1981 to 1989?

4. Who is the founder of Microsoft?