节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2014-01-04
难易度:Low
关键字:ski, steadily, challenging, skip, groom
Hello, everyone.
My name is Gabe.
And my name is Carolyn.
Welcome to Studio Classroom.
Today we are continuing our LIFE IN AMERICA article: Winter Wonderland.
Winter is a great season, but snow isn't always as magical as it might seem in
movies or stories.
As we learned yesterday, snow can mean a lot of extra work for people who need
to go outside.
But it can be a lot of fun for kids.
No school!
They can play outside and enjoy the icy weather.
While snow is fun for kids, it can, in fact, also be a lot of fun for adults.
We'll be learning about one very fun activity that kids and adults can both
enjoy.
And what is that? Skiing!
Lots of people love to ski.
It's true! So let's start with the first reading for today.
Then we'll learn some important words with Michelle in the Language Lab.
So open up your magazine and get ready to learn.
(Music).
Winter Wonderland.
Despite these troubles, snow can also be exciting, especially if you love to
ski.
I remember when we went to Colorado for a ski camp years ago.
We started by attending a beginners' class.
We learned how to slide, stop, turn and get up after a fall.
The coach also introduced us to the gear.
The boots were so heavy that I couldn't walk steadily.
Then we learned how to use the poles to change direction or stop.
(Music).
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
The article today opens with a sentence that goes back to what we were talking
about yesterday.
We read: Despite these troubles, snow can also be exciting.
What trouble is she talking about, Gabe?
Well, she's talking about how dangerous snow and ice can be and the amount of
effort it takes to remove these things from roads and sidewalks.
However, she doesn't let this stop her from enjoying winter.
This sentence actually has a great grammar pattern that we can look at:
Despite..., (something) can do something else.
So this pattern shows that even though one thing is true, something surprising
is also true.
For example: Despite being expensive, good winter clothes can protect you from
the cold.
So spending extra money on nice, warm clothes is actually worth it.
You could also say: Despite being the youngest in his class, he can ski better
than everyone else.
Ah, such a quick learner he is!
Skiing is a great winter sport that people can enjoy.
It is certainly one good thing about getting lots of snow.
Actually, skiing has become so popular that there are many places that make fake
snow so people can actually ski inside.
Inside? Oh. You know, I think I've heard of an indoor ski slope near London.
They're smaller than if you went to a large outdoor ski resort, but it still
offers everything from equipment rental to lessons.
You know, Carolyn, that's not the only place with indoor skiing.
Even very hot places, like Dubai in the Middle East, have indoor ski resorts.
That's amazing.
I guess people really want to be able to enjoy snowy activities no matter where
they live.
I think you're right.
Well, our author got to learn how to ski in one of the United States' most
popular ski locations - Colorado.
Colorado is filled with top-of-the-line ski resorts and attracts a large number
of skiers throughout the season.
Carolyn, have you ever wondered why Colorado is called Colorado?
Well, I've never really thought about it, but I'm sure there must be a reason.
Well, there is a reason.
And Steve and Ken can tell us more about these names or the state name of
Colorado in the Information Cloud.
Great! Let's go there now.
Studying a location's name is a great way to learn about that location's
history, culture and geography.
Today let's touch on a few names of U.S. states.
We'll start with names that originated with the American Indians.
These names account for almost half of all the state names.
The name of my home state, Connecticut, for example, is an American Indian word
which means something like beside the long tidal river.
Next, if you remember your American history, you'll know that the French played
a big role in shaping the nation.
Their influence can be seen in state names like Vermont, which in French means
green mountain.
How apropos!
British names? Well, not as many as you might think.
One example: New Jersey is named after Jersey Island in the English Channel.
Moving west, we get into state names with Spanish origins like Colorado, which
means colored red.
Why red?
Because Colorado has a lot of red sandstone.
Now some of you might be wondering about the name California.
We don't know its exact meaning, but we do know this:
It was named after an imaginary paradise described in a popular 16th century
Spanish novel.
(Chinese).
Thank you, guys.
Well, name origins are always very interesting.
I think Connecticut was my favorite - beside the long tidal river.
I actually really like Colorado, colored red.
Speaking of Colorado, let's continue to learn about skiing.
Great idea.
Pauline and her family went to a ski camp and attended a beginners' class.
In the article she says they learned to slide, to stop, to turn and to get up
after a fall.
And that is a lot of "tos." She could have just written: We learned to slide,
stop, turn and get up after a fall.
She could have, but by putting the word "to" in front of each verb, she helps to
emphasize each action.
When I read this sentence, I can imagine each one of these actions happening
before I move on to the next one.
So instead of simply listing the things she learned, she wants to help you
imagine each one individually.
Exactly.
When you learn to ski, you also have to learn how to move in the clothes worn by
skiers.
What gear and clothing do you need when you ski?
Well, you definitely need warm clothing.
You should have a ski jacket, ski pants and layers of clothing underneath that
keep you warm but don't make you sweat.
Sweating in really cold temperatures can actually make you sick.
Right. And they should all be waterproof.
And you should also have gloves, a hat or headband, good socks and maybe some
glasses or goggles to protect your eyes.
And of course, don't forget the ski boots and the guiding poles and your skis.
Wow! You need a lot of stuff to go skiing.
But many sports require special clothing and equipment, and skiing is no
different.
All of that equipment can make moving around difficult, as Pauline found out.
That's right.
She couldn't walk steadily.
And walking with long, thin skis attached to your feet certainly isn't easy.
No, it's not.
Well, we will continue learning more about her exciting skiing experience
afterthis.