English Learning Resource

Module code: 1947

What Can You See?

In this lesson, you will look at a photograph of a dramatic natural scene and learn some useful vocabulary for describing it. You will listen to a model description, then write your own. Try to use the key vocabulary words in your writing.

Key Vocabulary

Before you listen, study these words — you will hear them in the description.

waterfall — water falling down from a height

gorge — a narrow valley with steep rock walls

plunge pool — a deep pool at the bottom

mist — fine water droplets floating in the air

boulder — a very large rock

turbulent — moving fast and violently

moss-covered — rocks with soft green plants on them

steep — almost vertical, very sharply angled

spray — tiny drops of water in the air

cascade — water flowing down in large amounts

lush — thick and green, healthy-looking plants

damp — slightly wet all the time

🎧 Listen

Before you listen: Look at the photograph carefully for 30 seconds — notice where the water, rocks, and plants are.

While you listen: Listen for the vocabulary words and notice how the speaker uses them to describe the different parts of the scene.

After you listen: Read the full description below and check — can you find all the vocabulary words from the list?

📝 Read the Full Description

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The image shows a large, powerful waterfall in a natural setting. The water falls from a high point at the top of the image and crashes down into a pool at the bottom. The waterfall is surrounded by dark, wet rock walls that form a narrow gorge. The rocks are covered with green moss and small plants, which grow in the damp conditions.

At the base of the waterfall, the water creates a turbulent, foamy pool. Large dark boulders sit in and around this pool. A stream flows away from the base, carrying the water further along. Fine white mist rises up from where the water hits the pool below.

The gorge is narrow and steep on both sides. The walls are tall and covered with vegetation. A small amount of pale light is visible at the very top of the image, above the waterfall, suggesting the gorge opens up to the sky above.

🌟 Going Deeper

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There is something both powerful and peaceful about this scene. The waterfall dominates everything — its roar would fill the air, and the constant spray would make the whole gorge feel cool and alive. The deep greens of the moss and ferns contrast beautifully with the white rush of the water and the dark grey of the ancient rock. It feels like a hidden place, sheltered from the outside world by its steep walls.

The light filtering down from above gives the scene a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Standing here, you would feel very small — surrounded by rock, water, and the relentless energy of nature. It is the kind of place that makes you stop and simply look.

This waterfall has probably been flowing for thousands of years. Over time, the force of the water must have carved the gorge deeper and deeper into the rock. The smooth surfaces on some of the boulders suggest that water has been shaping them for a very long time.

Someone might have walked along a trail to reach this spot, perhaps following the sound of the water through the trees before the gorge came into view. They might stop here to take photos, rest, or simply enjoy the view. When they leave, the waterfall will keep falling — it does not need an audience.

✍️Writing TaskDescriptive vocabulary for natural landscapes

Write a description of the photograph. Describe what you can see — the waterfall, the rocks, the water at the bottom, and the plants around it. Say where things are in the photograph. Try to use at least five vocabulary words from the lesson. Write 60–100 words. Use the present simple tense.

0 words / ~80 target

💬 Discussion

• Have you ever visited a waterfall or a place like this in nature? What did it look, sound, and feel like?

• Would you like to visit a place like this? Why or why not? Use some of the vocabulary words in your answer.

• What kind of weather do you think this place has? What makes you think that?

🔒

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