节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-08-02
难易度:Low
关键字:expansion, carriage, original, decrease, hemisphere, commercial
OK, everybody, we're learning about some of the world's oldest underground
transportation systems.
Now can you imagine the great cities of London, Boston or Buenos Aires without
subways?
Indeed. Clean, safe, efficient subway systems are a large part of what make
these cities great.
OK. Our next great city with its famous subway is Tokyo.
Let's read about it on line 7.
The History of Subways.
Tokyo.
Asia's first metro line opened in Tokyo in 1927, connecting two commercial
areas.
Today the original line is part of the Ginza line, one of Tokyo's 13 subway
lines.
Subways provide people around the world with cheap, convenient transportation.
They protect the environment and decrease traffic.
Just imagine how different life would be if subways had never been invented.
(Music).
Well, we've talked about metro systems in Europe, North America and South
America.
So we're moving over to Asia to talk about Asia's first metro.
It opened in Tokyo in 1927.
That's right. It connected two commercial areas together.
Now something that is "commercial" has to do with business or the exchange of
money.
Well, Ryan, it would make sense to have these two commercial areas connected so
you can do business more quickly and efficiently so they can go back and forth.
That's right. They can buy and sell things easier and quicker.
Well, today the original line is still part of the Ginza line, one of Tokyo's 13
subway lines.
So it has 13 lines.
That's a lot of lines when we think that these trains are very long, the line is
very long and goes to a lot of stations.
Thirteen subway lines would allow you to move around the city to really
anywhere.
Yeah. So there are 13 lines in that one city.
That seems like a lot.
I wonder what the average number of subway lines in one city is.
I don't know, but this seems to be a very high number.
Well, subways provide people around the world with cheap, convenient
transportation.
That's true. It is convenient.
That's probably the first word people think of when they think of subways.
It is very nice and easy to use, and it helps you very quickly and easily.
And it's also cheap.
That's right.
Now even from the very beginning with this original line, it's still in use.
Now that word "original" means that is the very first, it's the... the first
one, the one that was built and used in the beginning.
Yes. The word "original" means it was there in the beginning from the start.
And so, as we were saying before, that first line is still part of the new line.
That's right.
Now it's exciting to see they've done this in Tokyo as well as in London.
They can still use these original lines.
OK. Well, now back to what we were saying before:
Subways are convenient.
They are cheap.
They protect the environment, and they decrease traffic.
That's right.
When we say they are cheap, that means they are inexpensive to ride.
You don't have to pay a lot of money, and it's very good quality transportation.
That's right.
They also "decrease" traffic, which means to make something less, or make
something smaller.
So that means there's less traffic to worry about.
People can drive quicker on the roads, and also people can get around quickly on
the trains.
That's right.
And it does help the environment because each car, each vehicle puts out the
fumes and the chemicals into the air that are not good for the environment.
So by taking the metro system, you cut down on how much chemicals you're
releasing into the atmosphere.
That's right.
And also, you remember, Kaylah, these are electric trains.
And so those don't put off fumes, like you said, or chemicals - also known as
smog - or pollution.
And so these are not bad for the environment.
They are actually quite good for the environment.
So if you take the metro, you are going green to work.
Now just imagine how different life would be if subways had never been invented.
Can you even imagine that, Ryan?
Well, actually I grew up not using a subway line, so I guess I can understand.
But now that I live in Asia, now that I'm here, I use one almost every day.
And it's difficult to think about not using it.
Well, I know my city doesn't have one.
And I think about how convenient it would be for people who don't have vehicles,
who cannot afford a car, it would definitely be a great system.
So I think subway systems really have changed the world and have made life in a
city a lot cleaner, a lot more efficient, and definitely a lot more convenient.
It is much better.
Life is made much easier now that subways are here.
And so I hope that you get a chance to use a subway and appreciate how
convenient it really is.
That's right.
Thank you so much for joining us learning about subways.
Let's watch today's skit.
Oh, yes.
Oh, hello.
Say, have you ever ridden the London subway before?
Of course! And not just me, my family has ridden it for generations.
Mine too.
You know, London had the very first subways.
I know.
And now subways are all over the world.
Indeed. The first subway in America opened in Boston, Massachusetts.
Why, Boston?
Well, like London, it experienced great expansion, which brought great benefits.
And great traffic jams?
Exactly. People would say walking on the tops of carriages would be faster than
riding.
Was that a joke?
Yes. Anyway, Boston's subway was a first.
It opened in 1897.
Oh. And don't forget about the Southern Hemisphere.
Oh, yes, underground systems reached Buenos Aires in 1913.
And now they have six lines.
And what about subways in Asia?
The first metro line opened in Tokyo in 1927.
Now the subway system has 13 lines.
You know a lot about metros around the world.
Indeed, I do.
Metros provide people with cheap, convenient transportation.
Now that's important.
And they protect the environment and decrease traffic.
Aye. Imagine how different life would be if the subway had never been invented.
Imagine! We'd be riding slow carriages across town.
Or walking on the tops of carriages.
Is that a joke?
Aye.
I think so.
(Music).
(Chinese).
And time really flies.
Make sure you come back next time.
Bye-bye.
Thank you again, Michelle.
We appreciate that.
Now in the mid-19th century, London needed a big solution to solve its big
transportation problem.
Enter the subway.
In 1863, London became the first city in the world to build a subway.
The world's second subway was built in Glasgow, Scotland, which opened to the
public in 1891.
Today, close to 70 cities have subway systems that provide cheap, convenient
transportation making life in the big city more livable.
OK, everyone, hope the rest of your Thursday is great.
And we'll see you all tomorrow.
Take care.