节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-06-10
难易度:Medium
关键字:feast, literature, elaborate, leisurely, baked goods, Victorian
Well, it is Picnic Time here at Studio Classroom.
That means it's time to learn about picnics.
And of course if you've never been on a picnic, I suggest that you do that soon.
Find a day where it's sunny, the weather is nice, and you can go out, brings
some friends, bring your family, go on a picnic.
So far today we've talked about a little bit of history of the picnic.
And we found out that maybe it started during medieval times in Europe.
Well, we're going to continue learning about picnics right now.
(Music).
Picnic Time!
During Victorian times in England, picnics were popular because they provided an
opportunity for young people to spend time together outdoors.
Art and literature began featuring picnics, and popular novelists introduced
them in their books as enjoyable social events.
A typical Victorian picnic included a delicious meal - sometimes with lobster
tail and rich desserts.
In addition, picnic-goers enjoyed musical entertainment and group games.
The food at 20th century picnics became less elaborate and included items like
fried chicken, potato salad and other simple fare.
Today people can take whatever they like to eat, but the focus is on having a
simple, leisurely, fun-filled meal outdoors.
(Music).
Picnics are certainly fun... fun-filled meals.
Well, at the beginning of this section:
During Victorian times in England, picnics were popular because they provided an
opportunity for young people to spend time together outdoors.
Well, that's quite a long sentence.
At the beginning of it we see "during Victorian times in England." So this was
the time when Queen Victoria was ruling England.
What happened after that, Gabe?
Well, these things became popular as people were encouraging young people to
spend more time outdoors.
Do things that took you outside.
I think maybe we should still be encouraging people to do that today.
So many people like to spend time inside playing video games or watching TV.
It's good to do things outdoors.
And picnics are a great way to do that.
That's right.
And we also see a result.
Art and literature began featuring picnics, and popular novelists introduced
them in their books as enjoyable social events.
So it sounds like picnics started to become very popular.
They were even included in art and literature.
And "literature" is a word from our Word Bank today.
Gabe, what is literature?
Well, literature is what is written in a language.
When I think of literature, I think of things like books or novels or magazines
or even some advertisements,
something that will promote an idea of some kind, and it's written in a certain
language.
Of course maybe you have studied some Chinese literature, and I hope also some
English literature as well.
That's right.
Well, here we see that novelists were writing about picnics in their literature.
And they were writing about them as something that was enjoyable, an enjoyable
social event that you spend time with other people.
Well, how does it continue, Gabe?
All right.
Well, we find out about Victorian picnics.
A typical Victorian picnic included a delicious meal.
So this is the usual Victorian picnic.
And this delicious meal, sometimes with lobster tail and rich desserts.
Well, lobster sounds like kind of an expensive thing to have anywhere,
especially on a picnic.
It's not a cheap meal; but lobster tail sounds kind of good, actually.
But Carolyn, can you tell us about rich desserts?
What does that mean?
Well, we were talking earlier about how wealthy people had picnics.
And this does sound like an expensive picnic, but that is not what the word
"rich" here means.
Here the word "rich" dessert means that it's a very full dessert, probably very
sweet and has lots of sugar and butter and cream and milk.
It's a very filling, sweet, rich desert.
All right.
Well, we have more to learn about this word "dessert" with Steve and Ken in the
Information Cloud.
Listen closely to what they have to say.
Hi, friends.
Do you ever get confused about the spelling of the word "dessert"?
Should there be one "S" or two?
There should be to "S-s." If you spell it with just one "S," you'll end up with
the word desert.
So how do you remember that?
Well, here's a good way.
Just remember you always want one more dessert.
So you'll need one more "S" when you write the word dessert.
Or you can remember the name Sahara, which is a famous desert.
And Sahara only has one "S," just like desert.
Now Ken, the word "desert" can also be used as a verb, right?
Right.
But the pronunciation and meaning change when you use it as a verb.
To desert, D-E-S-E-R-T, someone or something means to leave or abandon that
person or thing without intending to return.
If a man deserts his family, then he leaves his family without planning to
return.
Or we can talk about a soldier deserting his post in the military.
Such a person is called a deserter.
You know, Ken, there's one thing I'd never desert.
Oh, yeah? What's that, Steve?
A dessert!
Get it?
I'd never desert a tasty dessert.
Ah, good one.
(Chinese).
Very funny, Steve.
I'd never desert a tasty dessert.
Well, we're continuing to learn about these Victorian picnics.
In addition, picnic-goers enjoyed musical entertainment and group games.
So that's not just simply a time to get your friends together and have some food
outside.
Sometimes it can be a lot bigger than that, right, Carolyn?
That is right.
And we learn a little bit more about that in the next paragraph.
The food at 20th century picnics became less elaborate and included items like
fried chicken, potato salad and other simple fare.
So you can play games; you can have these elaborate uh, festivities.
But you can also have things that are more simple.
But first, let's look at that word "elaborate" from the World Bank.
If something is elaborate, then it's very fancy.
It's very big and maybe even complicated.
That's right.
There are so many details in something elaborate.
It's not simple.
It's the opposite of simple.
Maybe you heard someone give a speech.
It wasn't just a simple speech.
It was an elaborate speech.
They did a very good job.
Or you might say that someone's home is very elaborate.
If it is a very expensive home with lots of art hanging on the walls, very fine
decorations, you might say that their house is elaborate.
But we see that they went from eating lobster tail and rich desserts at these
picnics to much more simple fare, or simple food, like fried chicken or potato
salad.
What else do we learn, Gabe?
Today people can take whatever they like to eat, but the focus is on having a
simple, leisurely, fun-filled meal outdoors.
That's true.
Let's take a look at that word "leisurely" from the Word Bank.
If you do something leisurely, that means you're not stressed when you're doing
it.
You can take your time.
That's right.
It is a very relaxed activity.
And picnics should be leisurely.
It should be just a fun time to get together and eat a meal outdoors.
And you can do other things leisurely as well.
You could take a leisurely walk.
You could walk at a leisurely pace, not too quick.
Well, right now it's time for us to continue learning something... well, having
fun actually, with a review skit.
And then we'll learn something new with Michelle in the Language Lab.
What time is it?
I don't know.
It's picnic time.
Picnic time?
Great! I love picnics.
Most people do.
And tomorrow is International Picnic Day.
Whoa, wow! Let's have a picnic and celebrate.
OK. Let's discover how good food tastes outdoors.
OK. But wait, I have a question.
About picnics?
Yeah. When did people start having picnics?
Good question.
Many people believe that the first planned outdoor meals took place in medieval
times.
Medieval times? Ooh.
Yeah. Those feasts were usually for wealthy guests at hunting parties.
So picnics have a long history.
That's right.
And during the Victorian times in England, picnics provided an opportunity for
young people to get together.
Oh. So were they popular?
Oh, yes.
Soon art and literature began featuring picnics.
They were introduced as enjoyable social events.
Oh. Really enjoyable, right?
Yes.
A typical picnic included a delicious meal with lobster tails and rich desserts.
They also had musical entertainment and games.
Well, hooray! Let's have a picnic.
Will we have lobster tails?
No. Today's picnics are less elaborate with fried chicken and other simple fare.
Oh. Well, sounds good to me.
You bring the food, and I'll bring the fun.
OK.
(Chinese).
And now let's get back to our teachers.
We have learned a lot about the history of picnics today and how they've changed
over the years.
And if you want to know a little bit more about picnics, there are some fun
facts that you can find on page 24 of your magazine.
Now Gabe, I have a question for you.
Where would you go for a picnic?
Well, I think anywhere where there's a body of water like a lake or a river,
that's a good place to have a picnic because usually those make beautiful
places,
beautiful scenery there.
That is very true.
Lakes and rivers do have beautiful scenery.
If you aren't near a lake or a river, you might simply go to a park.
They are wonderful for picnics as well.
Well, we have more to learn about picnics tomorrow right here on Studio
Classroom.
See you then.
Goodbye.