节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2014-03-08
难易度:Medium
关键字:thrill, foremost, awareness, barrier, snowboard


























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Hello, again.
Today we're learning more about the 2014 Winter Paralympics, which just began
yesterday.
There is a new event this year - snowboarding.
So if you like watching snowboarders, make sure you don't miss those events.
We learned about an Evan Strong who didn't start snowboarding until an accident
took his left leg.
We also learn about Olena Iurkovska, an Paralympian with 15 medals to her name.
But what makes this Paralympics different from others in the past?
Well, let's continue learning to find out.
The 2014 Winter Paralympics.
What makes this Paralympics different from others in the past?
We're happy to say that this is the biggest Winter Paralympics yet with more
than 550 athletes coming from nearly 50 countries.
That has allowed many people to participate in our Paralympics Awareness
Program, which took place before the games.
Efforts have also been made to make Sochi barrier-free, which allows disabled
people to reach all areas easily.
That's all we have time for, but we hope for your continued support of the
Paralympics.
Let the games begin!
All right.
(Chinese).
Thanks, Michelle.
So what makes this Paralympics different from others in the past?
We will talk a little bit about that, but first, let's look at the phrase: what
makes...
When we ask what makes something, and then say an adjective, we want to know why
something is that adjective.
Right.
For example, some of you say English is difficult.
Well, what makes English so difficult for you?
Is it the amount of words you need to remember?
Is it the grammar?
Is it difficult to speak?
What makes it difficult?
Or maybe your friend tells you this is the best day of their life.
You could ask: What makes today the best day?
What makes it so special?
So back to our lesson.
We know that this Paralympics is different from the ones in the past, but what
makes this year different?
And we read we are happy to say that this is the biggest Winter Paralympics yet
with more than 550 athletes coming from nearly 50 countries.
That's a big jump from the last Winter Olympics, which had 506 athletes from 44
countries.
I hope more and more people from around the world can participate in the future.
Well, we are happy to say that this is the biggest Winter Paralympics yet.
Hey, "the biggest yet." That means to this point in time or up till now it's the
biggest.
How else could we use the word "yet"?
Well, if there's a new hamburger restaurant in town, and it's better than all of
the other ones, I could say that's the best burger place yet.
Or maybe there's an actor you really like, and you really liked his performance
in a recent movie, you could say that was his greatest performance yet.
And this is the biggest Paralympics yet with more than 550 athletes.
And we read on that this allowed many people to participate in our Paralympics
Awareness Program.
Now why do we need Paralympics awareness?
Well, first let's look at the word awareness.
When you make someone aware of something, that means you bring it to their
attention or you cause them to think about something that maybe they've never
thought of before.
I see. So it could be that many people have never heard of the Paralympics
before, and they need to be made aware.
So there is a Paralympics Awareness Program, which has actually been going on
for a long time.
And we can learn more about the Paralympics and how we can celebrate with these
athletes and perhaps change our attitudes toward disability.
That's why we have the Paralympics Awareness Program.
But that's not all.
We read that efforts have been made to make Sochi barrier-free, which allows
disabled people to reach all areas easily.
Hmm, what's a barrier?
Well, that's something that blocks or stops you from doing something.
So in this picture, the barrier is a wall that the horse is jumping over.
Some mountain roads have barriers on the side to prevent you from falling off
when you're driving.
So sometimes barriers are a good thing.
But they often also limit freedom.
Have you ever heard of the term language barrier?
That is a barrier to communication because of the fact that you speak a
different language from someone else.
Good point.
When you visit another country, you might hit a language barrier when talking to
people.
Language barriers can be a little bit frustrating.
Hey, have you ever hit language barriers in other countries, Carolyn?
Well, sure, Gabe.
I've traveled to a lot of different places, and they didn't speak English in
those countries, so.
It's important to try to practice learning a little bit of the local language
before you travel.
I think that's a great idea.
This will help when you encounter that language barrier.
Well, we're glad that you're learning with us, you're learning English.
And that will help break down those language barriers for when you visit
English-speaking countries or when you talk to foreigners in your own country.
And back to the lesson, Sochi is going to be barrier-free, so I imagine more
wheelchair ramps and elevators in the future.
Well, right now it's time for us to visit Liz in the Grammar Gym.
How are you doing today, friends?
My name is Liz, and thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym.
In today's lesson we see this sentence:
Efforts have also been made to make Sochi barrier-free, which allows disabled
people to reach all areas easily.
That's our Grammar Tip sentence.
Notice how the sentence begins with the phrase: efforts have been made to.
Sometimes we want to let people know that something is being done about a
problem.
It doesn't matter who's doing the job or solving the problem, the point is
people need to know that the job is taken care of.
This phrase, efforts have been made to, is a great phrase to use to let people
know that the job is being done.
The problem may not be fully solved, but at least work is being done.
For example:
To help the company save money and not be wasteful, efforts have been made to
reduce the amount of paper used within each department.
Or: To encourage factory productivity, efforts have been made to improve the
staff's working environment.
If you'd like to see some more example sentences, they're available in today's
Grammar Tip section in your Studio Classroom magazine.
That's it for today, friends.
This is Liz from the Grammar Gym.
I'll see you next time.
Thank you, Liz.
Well, it looks like we've come to the end of our tour of the 2014 Winter
Paralympics.
But we haven't reached the end of our program.
Let's watch a review skit, and then enjoy the Editor's Summary.
That's it! The Olympics are over, finished, done, gone.
Well, yeah, but the Paralympics Games are just getting started.
The Paralympic Games?
What's that?
Competitions for athletes with disabilities.
Wow! What kinds of disability?
Well, some athletes have lost limbs, others have poor vision, and some have
muscle or mental issues.
Hmm. Do they all compete in the same events?
No. Athletes compete in three different categories.
How cool!
How many events are there?
There are five sports; snowboarding has been added this year.
Snowboarding! What a thrilling addition.
I know. It's included under alpine skiing.
Disabled athletes can ski and snowboard?
I want to see that.
Well, you will, and this Winter Paralympics is the biggest one yet.
Wow! How big is it?
Five hundred and fifty athletes are coming from nearly 50 countries.
That is big!
Yes. And many people have participated in the Paralympics Awareness Program.
Wow, I wasn't aware.
Efforts have made Sochi barrier-free so that disabled will be able to reach all
areas.
That's good news.
Let's cheer for the athletes and support the Paralympics.
Yeah! Let the games begin.
Again.
Again, yeah!
In this year's Paralympics, there is a new addition - snowboarding in standing
and sitting categories.
Two people to watch this year are Evan Strong from Hawaii and Olena lurkovska
from the Ukraine.
They are both favorite to win several medals.
This is the biggest Winter Paralympics ever.
Fifty countries will be represented with over 550 athletes competing.
Exciting!
Thanks, Linda.
Well, it is all we have time for today.
But as our lesson says, we hope for your continued support of the Paralympics.
Yes. Do take the chance to watch them on TV or online.
And we will see you next time right here at Studio Classroom.
See you.