Spotlight - 01.2020

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Illustrationen: Martin Haake; donatas 1205/Shutterstock.com

Spotlight 1/2020 THE BASICS

THE BASICS

Easy English

Here, you’ll find a dialogue and interesting

facts related to it — at the A2 level of English.

By VANESSA CLARK

EASY PLUS

Dialogue

In our Vocabulary section (pages 48–49), you learned the names

of many different kinds of clocks and watches. Now, you get a

chance to hear from someone who has a real passion for time-

pieces: we talk to Gerald Mathers, a watchmaker.

You’re a watchmaker, so do you make watches?

No, I don’t actually make them. I repair them. I sell clocks and

watches, too — new and antique.

What sort of repairs do you do?

It’s often very simple jobs, like a new battery — but then, occa-

sionally, someone comes in with a beautiful old clock, and I can

restore it and bring it back to life for them.

Can you repair any watch?

Yes, I can usually find the problem and fix it. Unfortunately, a lot

of people buy cheap watches and just throw them away.

What sort of watch are you wearing today?

I don’t wear one at work. I don’t need to because there are clocks

all around me.

Is it true that you always set clocks and watches at 10.10?

Oh, yes, for photos. At ten past ten, the hands are up and it looks

more positive.

Do you have any other insider info for us?

Yes, I’ll give you a tip. Don’t spray perfume on your watch. Put

your perfume on first, before you put your watch on.

Show and tell

Now, find out about the UK’s most famous clock: Big Ben.

Big Ben is one of London’s most famous landmarks, but at the

moment, it can’t be seen or heard. It’s under covers and is silent.

A team of experts is cleaning, repairing and restoring the big

clock and its 96-metre-tall tower. They’re making the building

more energy-efficient and installing a lift and a toilet. The work

started in 2017 and won’t finish until 2021.

Did you know that Big Ben isn’t actually the name of the clock?

It’s only the name of the big bell. The real name of the clock is the

Great Clock in the Elizabeth Tower — but, of course, everyone

knows it as Big Ben.

The repair team will have to

take a break on 31 Decem-

ber so that the New Year

can begin in the traditional

way, with the bells of Big

Ben ringing at midnight.

hand [hÄnd]

, hier: Uhrzeiger

landmark [(lÄndmA:k]

, Wahrzeichen

take a break

[)teIk E (breIk]

, pausieren, eine Pause

einlegen

timepiece [(taImpi:s]

, Zeitmesser

Cabinet of curiosities

Watch out for our exercises

in Spotlight plus: spotlight-

online.de/spotlight-plus

Gerald Mathers, watchmaker