Gaudy Does Not Come from Gaudí
Interesting Facts in Easy English
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- gaudy: too elaborate; showy
- intricate: with great detail
- signature: identifies a person specifically; what one is famous for
- elaborate: with great detail
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Gaudy Does Not Come from Gaudí
Comprehension Questions
- Who was Antoni Gaudí?
- What is interesting about the Sagrada Família?
- Why does this report mention the adjective gaudy?
Discussion Questions: Look at some images of Gaudí’s buildings and monuments. Do you think his style of architecture is gaudy? Why or why not?
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Gaudy Does Not Come from Gaudí
The Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) is known for his unusual and intricate designs. In Barcelona and surrounding areas, there are seven major buildings that he designed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His signature work, the Sagrada Família, a Roman Catholic church, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Construction of the church began in 1882 and is still in progress. The completion date is set for 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. Gaudí’s architecture is so intricate that some people think he inspired the similar sounding adjective gaudy, which means too elaborate or showy. This is a myth, however, since the word gaudy has been in use since the 16th century.
- Antoni Gaudí was a Spanish architect who built several unusual and intricate buildings in and around Barcelona in the 19th and 20th centuries.
- The Sagrada Família is interesting because construction began in 1882 and is still in progress.
- This report mentions the adjective gaudy because some people think Gaudi’s work inspired this word. (His work is very intricate, and some people consider it gaudy.)
