节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-09-11
难易度:Medium
关键字:shelter, notable, pollution, reckless
OK. I hope you all had a great break.
Welcome back.
Friends, this is a true story.
Just earlier today I got an e-mail from a friend who had an accident on his
scooter.
And it really wasn't his fault.
He ended up with a broken right hand.
And the worst part is he's a musician.
So for all of you scooter drivers out there, please be careful.
OK. Let's get back to the lesson and read about the scooter's biggest snag,
safety, on line 14.
(Music).
Car or Scooter?
Also, I haven't used my car much lately because the price of gas has gone up a
lot.
Driving a scooter is much less expensive, and it creates less pollution.
True, but riding in a car is so much safer.
Several of my friends have been hurt in scooter accidents.
Cars provide much more protection.
That's a good point.
Even if you're not a reckless driver, you can still have an accident.
If you have the money and it makes you feel safer, maybe buying a car would be
worthwhile.
You have made some good points.
I guess I'll think about it some more.
(Music).
All right. Let's finish this debate between Ann and Tim trying to decide is it
worth it to spend the money for a car.
OK. Well, let's find out is a car worth the expense.
Tim is telling us some of the disadvantages of cars.
The first one was it's hard to find parking spaces.
Now the second one is: I haven't used my car much lately because of the price of
gas, it's gone up a lot.
That's a very good point.
Something many people forget about is that cars use more gas than scooters.
Scooters, you do have to use gas.
But cars use a lot more.
And since the price of gas has gone up, then the price of driving a car has gone
up too.
That's really the major disadvantage for me.
In America I had my own car.
But I hated going places in it because I had to pay for gas.
OK. And we see Tim is doing the same thing.
He's not using his car as much because it's so expensive.
That's right.
If you live in a big city with good public transportation, you can take the bus
or you can take a train; so it's better.
But you know, if... cars would just be so expensive for gas.
That's true, so.
We know cars have a couple disadvantages.
It's hard to find parking, and they're more expensive to drive because of the
price of gas.
Well, driving a scooter is much less expensive, and it creates less pollution.
Ooh, now this is another good point.
"Pollution" is damage done to nature usually because of things in the air from
cars or trains or boats.
That stuff, that dirty stuff is damaging to the environment.
That's right.
Pollution is what comes from manmade machines.
And so it's kind of how man is affecting the nature around.
So that brown stuff in the air, we call that "smog," that is the pollution.
And if we're going green, we're trying to get rid of pollution.
And this is a good point.
A scooter creates much less pollution.
And that's true, a car puts out a lot more smoke and grossness than a scooter
would.
OK. So we know that scooters are easier to park than cars.
They are cheaper to drive, and they're a little better for the environment.
That's right. So it looks like the scooter is winning on our advantages.
Ann has a comeback, she says: True, but riding in a car is so much safer.
And Ryan, I... I have personal experience with scooters, and I know that a car
can be a lot safer.
Now Kaylah, if you don't mind me asking, how do you know that?
Well, I was driving my scooter, and I had a very strange scooter accident.
And it could have been avoided if I was in a car.
I had a tree fall on me.
So if I was in a car, it would not have hurt me as bad.
But since I was on a scooter, I did not have shelter and protection.
I'm sorry. I should not have laughed at that, Kaylah.
You're right, though.
Cars are much safer than scooters.
If you get in an accident, you'll be safer.
Here we see that Ann says several of her friends have been hurt in scooter
accidents as well.
Well, I was hurt in my scooter accident, and I have had friends hurt as well.
So friends, if you are driving a scooter, please wear your helmet all the time
with the buckle done up and drive carefully because it can be very dangerous.
Cars provide much more protection than a scooter does.
OK. Protection, of course, is what is used to help keep you safe, something that
helps prevent danger.
And of course, an accident is when you crash.
That's right. So be careful.
You don't want to end up hurt like I was.
And Tim agrees with this point.
He says that's a very good, very good point.
All right.
And if you say something is a point, that means it is an idea.
He says that is a good topic, what you said is right.
Now even if you're not a reckless driver, you can still have an accident.
Just like me, I was driving carefully, I was not reckless, but I still ended up
in an accident.
All right.
Now if you're "reckless," that means you're doing something dangerous but you...
you don't care,
you're not worried about the consequences or what will happen.
That's right.
To not be reckless means you are careful.
Now if you have the money and it makes you feel safer, maybe buying a car would
be worthwhile.
For safety and finances, it does make sense.
It might be worthwhile.
It might be a good idea.
And Ann says: You have made some good points.
I guess I'll think about it some more.
So even though she wants to be safe, she likes the idea of road trips and
shelter from bad weather, she's going to think over the price of owning a car.
OK, that's probably a very good idea.
Friends, you should think about this too.
Now let's watch these interviews.
There are different benefits for owning cars and scooters.
For example, I like to go on some trips with my friends, and many people can fit
in a car.
Also, cars can carry a lot of stuff.
Thus we can eat and share, creating a very fun time together.
Moreover, cars offer more shelter from the rain and other bad weather and keep
us in good shape.
And cars provide more protection than scooters.
On the other hand, scooters create less pollution, are much easier to park and
are less expensive.
Also, scooters are very good for distance that are not too far or too close.
It can also shuttle through small alleys.
Therefore, if you ask me, which one do I prefer? I would say if my boss raise my
salary, I would like to have both.
I prefer using a scooter while I'm in the city.
It does help a lot when I need to look for a parking space.
And when the traffic gets bad, scooters can always find an easy way to pass
through traffic jams.
And what impresses me the most is that the cost is so much cheaper to ride a
scooter than driving cars, or even taking the MRT.
However, I prefer driving a car when the weather is awful and I have a lot of
stuff to carry.
It's also safer and much more comfortable sitting in cars.
So the best idea for me would be having both, a scooter and a car.
Then I don't have to worry too much about commuting to places in different
conditions.
(Chinese).
And I guess that's all the time we have for today.
I'll see you soon.
Bye-bye.
OK. Thank you, Michelle.
We appreciate that.
So why would you want to buy a car instead of a scooter?
Well, that's easy.
Comfort.
A car will not only protect you from rain, snow and wind, but cars lets you
control the inside temperature.
So that's a big plus.
Bigger than that, though, is the fact that cars are much, much safer than
scooters.
Now the biggest reasons why scooters are attractive is because they're cheaper
to own and operate, and they're easier to park.
And there you have it.
Friends, go out. Speak a little English today and have a fantastic Tuesday.
Bye-bye.