节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-06-28
难易度:Medium
关键字:submarine, refuel, attraction, vessel, tank
So far today we've been learning about the Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon.
Now many ships were sunk there in 1944 during World War II.
But for 25 years the place was pretty much unexplored.
People just kind of ignored it for a while until Jacques Cousteau made a
documentary film about it in 1969.
So now people are going there all the time.
They're popular dive sites.
And we're going to learn about some more of the ships under the water there at
this Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon.
(Music).
Chuuk: The South Pacific's Historic Treasure.
The Shinkoku Maru.
This ship was an oiler - it refueled other ships in the fleet.
It was present during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
The Fujikawa Maru.
Many think this is the best wreck dive in the lagoon.
It was an aircraft ferry that carried planes and extra parts.
The wrecks are an exciting attraction not only for their history but also for
their natural beauty.
In the warm, calm waters of the lagoon, reefs have formed on and around these
sunken vessels.
Well, there are a lot of really great dive sites to visit here.
Now let's go back and look at the next wreck on our list of recommended dives to
visit: the Shinkoku Maru.
This ship was an oiler.
So what did it do, Gabe?
Well, it's an oiler.
It had gas or fuel, I guess.
And it refueled other ships in the fleet.
So let's take a look at that word from our Word Bank: refuel.
Well, if you do something again, you can say "re-." So "fuel" can be a verb
here.
You need to fuel up or put fuel in your ship or your vessel, your car.
You can refuel.
That's right.
And so sometimes I say oh, well, I need to refuel my car, or let's refuel at the
next gas station.
That's right.
You need to refuel every once in a while.
Otherwise you will run out of gas.
So this ship was an oiler.
The whole function of the ship was to refuel other ships in the fleet.
It was present during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Well, that is an interesting fact.
This ship that was sunk in Micronesia was actually present in Pearl Harbor in
Hawaii in 1941.
That's right.
And that is an interesting piece of history,
especially since it was the U.S. who attacked these ships later in 1944 and is
responsible for all of this great sites so that you can go and wreck dive there.
Well, the next one on our list is the Fujikawa Maru.
Many think this is the best wreck dive in the lagoon.
Now why would they think that, Gabe?
Why would they think the Fujikawa Maru is the best wreck dive in the lagoon?
Well, we see a little explanation here, maybe a little glimpse of why people
love this dive.
It was an aircraft ferry carrying planes and extra parts.
All right.
So it seems like maybe it's a big ship; and it had lots of things that you can
see.
Especially if you're diving down there, there're so many different details that
you can explore.
That's right.
So it was an aircraft ferry that carried planes and extra parts.
And if it has planes on it and extra parts, that would be a really cool thing to
explore under the water.
It's true.
Well, we see some ships here.
We're learning about some of the famous ships.
We can't take time to learn about all of them right now because that would take
a long time.
But now we have a little glimpse of some of the wrecks that you can visit if you
go scuba diving here at the Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon.
That's right.
Well, these wrecks are an exciting attraction.
The wrecks are an exciting attraction not only for their history but also for
their natural beauty.
So it's not just the history that attracks divers to this area, it's also a
beautiful place to go.
And we see that word from our Word Bank, the word "attraction".
That's right, attraction.
Are you attracted by this article?
Do you want to go and learn more about Chuuk and this place?
Well, this could be an attraction to you.
You want to know more about it.
You are drawn to it.
That's an attraction.
That's right.
An attraction is something that makes you want to go somewhere.
Maybe there is a new attraction at the amusement park.
You want to go to the park because they have something new and exciting that
you're interested in seeing.
That's right. Or maybe you are traveling somewhere and you want to go visit the
tourist attractions, the things that attract most tourists to that area.
So if you're going to go visit Micronesia, and you love diving, this could be a
great attraction for you.
It could be the ideal attraction.
That's right.
But the wrecks are not the only thing that attracts visitors, it is also a
beautiful place to go.
And we see:
In the warm, calm waters of the lagoon, reefs have formed on and around these
sunken vessels.
So there are reefs, or coral reefs that have formed around and even on the
sunken vessels.
Well, I think we need to take a look at that word from our Word Bank.
It is a "vessel." And a vessel is any kind of ship or boat, something that you
use to travel or carry things on the water.
That's right.
And usually we use it to refer to ships, so something traveling through the
water.
But it could also refer to an airship, something that flies through the air.
But a vessel is not something on the ground; water or air.
That's right.
So what kind of vessels can you think about?
There're so many different kinds.
We've talked about some today.
We've talked about some sunken ships.
Of course, there are submarines.
There are aircraft; and there is an oiler.
Those are all different kinds of vessels.
That's right.
And there are many other kinds of vessels.
Which ones can you think of?
Talk about them with your friends in English, and maybe find a few more in our
article.
Well, right now I want to enjoy some time with Steve and Ken in the Information
Cloud and see what they have to say to us.
And then we'll enjoy a review skit, and get to spend time with Michelle in the
Language Lab.
So how exactly does a sunken ship create an artificial reef?
Well, it all starts when marine creatures like algae, barnacles, corals and
oysters attach themselves to it.
These tiny, tasty oceans snacks, along with the safe hiding places that the ship
provides, attract larger fish like minnows and sardines.
And then eventually, even larger fish, like sharks, might arrive at the wreck
looking for a meal.
Over the course of a few years, the sunken ship has turned into a reef, a mini
ecosystem of marine life.
Divers love to explore these sunken wrecks; and fishermen love the fish these
artificial reefs attract.
And seaside communities love the revenue that the divers and the fishermen bring
to their towns.
Artificial reefs are so attractive to fish, and so lucrative that people will
intentionally sink ships to create them.
In 2006, an old aircraft carrier was intentionally sunk off the coast of
Florida, creating the largest artificial reef in the world.
But ships aren't the only things that people sink to create reefs.
We also sink logs, used tires, decontaminated subway cars, old oil rigs, used
appliances and vending machines.
(Chinese).
This place is kind of small.
Small, yes. But there is nothing "micro" about Micronesia.
Why is that?
Well, there are more than 100 ships, submarines and aircraft lying at the bottom
of this lagoon.
Why are they there?
The result of a huge battle and ignored for 25 years.
Ignored?
That's too bad.
But in 1969 Jacques Cousteau made a film about this lagoon.
The famous explorer?
Indeed.
And divers have flocked here ever since.
Hmm. What kind of things can divers see?
Well, one ship is nearly whole.
It has a tank and several weapons on it.
Oh. I wish I could see that.
Another ship was an oiler.
It refueled the other ships and was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked.
Oh. I wish I could see that!
Another ship was an aircraft ferry carrying planes and extra parts.
Oh. I wish I could see that.
These wrecks are an exciting attraction.
Because of their history?
Yes, and because of their natural beauty.
Reefs have formed on and around these sunken vessels.
Hmm. I wish I could see that.
Too bad we're not divers.
Yeah, too bad.
So, let's visit the other parts of Micronesia.
(Music).
OK.
(Chinese).
And now let's see what our teachers are doing.
Today we've learned about three of the different wrecks that you can visit in
the Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon.
And I wonder which of these three do you find the most interesting.
If you could only visit one during your stay on the island of Chuuk,
which one would you choose to see - the Nippo Maru, Shinkoku Maru or the
Fujikawa Maru?
Gabe, which one interests you the most?
Fujikwaw Maru.
Simply because what's written here is: Many think this is the best wreck dive in
the lagoon.
See, I don't know much about Truk besides what I read in today's lesson and what
I learned yesterday.
So, many people think this is the best one to go and visit?
Well, I want to go and visit that one, too.
I think it probably has a lot of beautiful scenery... to offer underwater, many
things to see in and around this ship if I'm diving underwater there.
Well, that's probably very true since it is one of the most popular ones.
I think I might like to go see the Nippo Maru because there is a tank on this
ship, and it would be very interesting to explore that area.
Well, we still have another day to learn more about these Federated States of
Micronesia and the things that you can do there.
We hope to see you again tomorrow right here on Studio Classroom.
See you next time.