节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2014-04-16
难易度:High
关键字:collision, ingest, tangle, rehabilitate, singe
Hello again and welcome back.
Earlier today we began learning about the Montana Raptor Conservation Center.
This is a special place that helps to rehabilitate injured birds of prey.
There are many dangers faced by these birds in our modern world.
And the volunteers who work at the center are trying to help these birds survive
and have a second chance at life.
Well, let's continue learning more about this center in the next part of our
lesson.
(Music).
Rulers of the Sky.
An osprey that had her feathers singed from head to talons spent 15 months at
the center.
She flew away to freedom last September.
The birds that cannot return to the wild continue to live at the center and
become education birds.
Teams of volunteers take the birds to schools and public gatherings to teach
people about raptors and their habits.
The Montana Raptor Conservation Center's efforts keep these magnificent birds
flying in the skies where they belong.
(Music).
(Chinese).
And now let's go to our teachers.
Thank you, Michelle.
The people at this center are doing great work.
And at the beginning of this section we learned a little bit about one of the
birds that they have rehabilitated.
Yes. It took 15 months, but an osprey that had been singed from head to talons
was able to return to the wild.
Now you might have noticed that the article says "head to talons," not "head to
toes."
This is because birds don't really have toes, they have talons.
But let's talk about that idiom: head to toe.
This means "completely."
If something is from head to toe, that means it goes from the top of your head
to the bottom of your feet.
So you can use this to mean that something is completely covered.
For example, the woman dressed in black from head to toe.
That means that her entire body was covered in black clothing.
You could also say, "After playing in the rain, the little boy was soaked from
head to toe."
That means that his entire body was wet.
And the poor osprey in our lesson had her feathers singed from head to toe... or
head to talon.
Right.
Well, we learn that even if a bird can be set... cannot be set free to live in
the wild, they still have a second chance as education birds.
What does this mean?
Do the birds go to school to get an education?
Not quite.
The birds do go to schools, but it's not for them to learn things.
They go there to help students understand more about birds of prey, where they
live and what people can do to help protect them.
Hmm. And this is very important since many people may not know a lot about these
raptors.
These are very impressive birds, so I'm sure that people appreciate having the
opportunity to see them up close.
I know I love to see birds of prey flying through the skies.
And one thing I remember from my childhood was having the opportunity to attend
one of these public gatherings to learn about birds of prey.
Um, were there any education birds there?
Ah, yes, there was a hawk and an eagle.
They were beautiful birds that had been rescued.
Now if people have the opportunity to go to one of the educational gatherings by
the Montana Raptor Conservation Center, they might be able to see a bald eagle.
Aw, that would be amazing.
Bald eagles are very large, majestic birds.
And since they are the national bird for America, of course they are very
special.
The bald eagle that the center uses as one of its education birds is called 99.
That sounds like an odd name for a bird, especially since the other education
birds have names like Pilgrim, Rosa, and Nigel.
But there is a reason her name is 99.
Yes. She was the 99th bird to be rescued that year.
Unfortunately, she cannot be released back into the wild because she never
learned how to hunt for herself and has always relied on humans for food.
Yes. She was found trying to get food from people at a campground.
And this might sound cute when the eagle is small, but bald eagles grow up to be
very large, powerful birds that could be dangerous if they try to steal food
from people.
Right. Well, right now it's time for us to learn something new with Liz in the
Grammar Gym.
Then we'll enjoy a review skit, and join Linda for the Editor's Summary.
Hi, friends.
My name is Liz, and thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym.
Now writing an essay or an article isn't always easy, and to end with a good
conclusion just makes it harder.
So in today's article, the writer ends with this sentence:
The Montana Raptor Conservation Center's efforts keep these magnificent birds
flying in the skies where they belong.
Basically the writer is giving recognition to the Montana Raptor Conservation
Center for its work in helping these magnificent birds stay alive.
If you're writing an essay on someone or something, and it has done great
things, you can end by giving your subject the credit for their hard work.
Now look at the sentence pattern in today's sentence: [subject] keeps [object]
[doing something in a place].
It's because of the subject's hard work that the object is able to continue
doing something in a certain place.
For example: The church's afterschool program helps to keep kids focusing on
their schoolwork and off the streets where they don't belong.
Or: The government funding keeps these single moms working at home where they
not only earn a living but can also be with their children.
That's all the time we have for today.
Be sure to check out today's Grammar Tip section for more examples.
This is Liz from the Grammar Gym.
I'll see you next time.
Who is the ruler of the sky?
Oh, is it Superman?
No, it's not a person.
Oh, is it a fast jet?
No. The ruler of the sky is the raptor.
Oh, the raptor!
Well, a ruler of the sky, yes, that's what I am! And I love to fly...
No... not rappers.
Oh!
Raptors.
Oh.
Eagles and other powerful birds of prey.
Oh yeah! You're right. When I see those birds soaring in the sky, they give me a
sense of wonder.
Me, too.
And raptors are superb hunters.
They have keen eyesight and acute hearing.
Oh. And they dive very quickly and snatch their prey.
Yes. They come in all shapes and sizes; some weigh just one ounce.
Oh. That's just so tiny.
Yes. Others weigh in at 30 pounds.
Oh wow, that's just so big.
Yeah. Raptors are found on every continent and in every habitat.
So raptors are everywhere.
Yes. And they play an important role in the balance of nature.
They do?
Yes.
Without them, there would be too many animals and not enough food.
Oh. Raptors eat pests that destroy crops, too.
Yeah, you're right.
But sadly, the modern world is a dangerous place for these magnificent birds.
Oh.
Many are hit by cars and injured by power lines.
Oh, no.
Some are even poisoned.
Oh, no! Who can help them? Superman?
Well, thankfully, there are centers that help rehabilitate these magnificent
birds.
Good! Let's keep raptors ruling the sky.
Of course, I think Superman could help them, too.
He's pretty cool... magnificent.
There are many dangers in nature that birds of prey encounter.
They are hit by cars, they fly into power lines and even eat poisoned meat.
But there are places that help.
One of them can be found in the United States in Bozeman, Montana, and it is
called the Montana Conservation Raptor Center.
They help rehabilitate injured birds and give them a second chance at life,
whereas otherwise they would just die.
Some can fly back to freedom, like the osprey that had its feather singed.
But others can't go back, and they remain at the center and help educate the
public by being education birds and going to schools and public gatherings where
people are educated about raptors and their habits.
Thank you, Linda.
Well, the past three days have been fantastic.
We've learned so much about the different birds of prey, what they look like and
how people are trying to help them survive in this modern world.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about them.
And we'll see you next time right here on Studio Classroom.
(Music).