节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-08-01
难易度:Low
关键字:ambitious, efficiently, line, extend, metro
OK. I hope you had a great break.
Welcome back.
As 19th century London experienced its growing pains, it came up with a way to
help its citizens move around the crowded city:
Send them underground on a subway.
Now we don't think about it too much today.
But for some people back then, the idea of going down into a hole in the ground
to ride a train was rather unacceptable.
OK. Let's wrap up our reading on London's Met on line 9.
(Music).
The History of Subways.
The Met was so successful that just five years later in 1868, a second metro
line opened.
And London's metro has been growing ever since.
Today the original line still operates along with other newer lines, all of
which are enjoying great success.
In fact, London's current metro system is one of the longest subways in the
world.
Called the London Underground, it stretches for 402 kilometers, of which 45
percent is underground.
Each year 1.065 billion passengers use the network, which extends to 270
stations.
Hi, friends.
We've seen that the first metro line was started in London.
And it was quickly becoming so popular, everyone was attracted to use this
subway line.
That's right.
It's so crowded.
People need to get around more efficiently, so in an organized and quick way.
But the Met provided that.
Yes, it did.
And it was so successful, Kaylah, that in just five years time, in 1868 a second
metro line opened.
So London was the first city to open a metro line, a Met line.
And just five years later, they decided to build another one.
Now what is a metro line?
If we're building these, we should know what they are.
OK. Well, the... the word "metro" is talking about an underground electric
train, a subway.
Now what about the word "line"?
Now a "line" refers to the way a track moves, the direction or where a track for
a train is.
You cannot drive a train without a line, a track that it goes on.
OK. So if you're taking the subway, then you might need to decide which way you
want to go.
And so you will need to choose which subway line do you want to take.
That's right.
And there are multiple lines in many cities, so you can change train lines at
different train stations so you can go to different areas.
I don't know if you have the opportunity to travel, Ryan, but the Hong Kong
metro line is very big.
There's a lot of different lines, and you change them on the same area.
Right. And yes, most major cities have multiple lines.
So here in London they opened the first line, and it was so popular that they
needed to open a second line for people to go even more places.
That's right.
And the London's metro system has been growing ever since then.
So from the very beginning in 1863 all the way till now, the London metro system
is continually growing and covering more areas.
OK. Now even today that original six-kilometer line still operates along with
all of the other newer lines, all of which are enjoying great success.
Now that word "operates" means that they still use it.
The trains are still on it, and people are still using that very first metro
line.
And it's continuing to grow and it's enjoying success.
Yes. And if you're... if you have success, that means things are going very
well.
And so people are using these metro lines, and they're getting around much more
efficiently.
Well, in fact, London's current metro system is one of the longest subways in
the world.
That's how successful it is.
It's that popular that people needed so many extra lines that now it is one of
the longest in the entire world.
Yeah. I didn't realize that.
I... there are many cities that have very long subway lines; so that's very
impressive.
That's right.
And it kind of makes sense considering London is where it all got started.
Yeah, it does make sense.
Now this line is called the London Underground.
And it stretches for 402 kilometers, of which 45 percent of that is actually
underground.
That's right.
Now some subways, even though we call them a subway, they're also called a
metro, are above the ground.
But 45 percent of London's is underground, so we call it the London Underground.
That's right, the London Underground.
And so it's... we don't really refer to it as the Met, this line.
This line is called the London Underground, and it's actually quite famous.
That's right.
And the underground includes all those different lines.
It puts all of them together into one name.
And friends, you might actually recognize the symbol for the London Underground.
It's very famous and one we all recognize.
OK. Now each year 1.065 billion passengers use the network, which extends to 270
stations.
Now here Kaylah, they're using a "network." What is a network?
Well, a network is all of those different lines that work together to connect
you to different places.
So it's all the smaller pieces that make up a larger working whole.
OK. So often we think of the word network is talking about computers, when
computers can reach to each other and connect together.
But here when we're talking about trains, it's the same thought.
Everything is connected together.
That's right.
So their metro system is very large, it extends to 270 stations.
Now to "extend" means it reaches towards.
Exactly. It can reach towards something or get longer or get bigger.
In this case, it's extending, which means it gets to... gets to those stations,
to 270 of those.
270 stations is a lot of stations.
Yes, there are.
And so this is a very big metro line.
And it started in London; it's grown.
And now it's one of the largest in the world all there in London, which is very
impressive.
That's right. But London is not the only city in the world with a metro system.
We're going to talk about more cities tomorrow.
But right now we need to go see today's skit.
(Music).
Well, hello, London. I have arrived.
Arrived, have you?
Yes. I hope to find opportunity and wealth here.
You are quite ambitious.
Indeed. That's why I moved to Europe's largest city, ready to find opportunity
and wealth.
I'm afraid what you'll find here are crowds, dirt and disease.
Well yes, I found garbage. It fills the streets.
And what you won't find is housing.
Well actually, I'll be staying with a friend on the other side of town.
I'll travel there by horse-drawn vehicle.
No... You need to take the Met.
It will get you there more efficiently.
The Met?
I've never met the Met.
The Met is the world's first subway line.
Subway line?
Aye, an underground train.
Yes, an underground train?
Who wants to ride underground?
Everyone!
The subway attracts many travelers.
In fact, the city's first metro was so successful that we recently opened
another metro line.
Unbelievable.
And I'm sure it will continue to grow.
Grow?
Yes.
Imagine, the future underground could stretch hundreds of kilometers.
Wow!
And imagine, it could take millions of passengers to hundreds of stations.
Oh, wow.
Hey, let's go see the subway!
What? Right now?
Yes! I can't wait to meet the Met.
Where is it? Let's go.
Well, it's underground.
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And that's it for today.
Keep up the good work, and I'll see you tomorrow.
Last week was the beginning of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
In the months leading up to the Games, London spent a lot of time and money
upgrading its subway system.
Having an efficient transportation system to quickly move Olympic guests around
town is always something Olympic Committee officials look for when they choose a
host city.
OK. Tomorrow we'll visit three more great cities that are great, in part,
because of their great subway, so.
Until then, I hope all of you have a great day.
Bye-bye.