节目资讯
刊物:空中英語教室
日期:2012-04-21
难易度:Low
关键字:polluted, ATM [automated teller machine], container, solar, filter, swipe
OK, I hope you had a great break.
If you don't know about the clean water crisis in the world, then consider right
now nearly one billion people don't have access to clean water.
Also, more than 3.5 million people die each year from water-related diseases.
Well, the Indian company Sarvajal is doing something about it.
Let's find out how their water ATMs work on page 43.
(Music).
Sarvajal: Water For All.
How do water ATMs work?
First, local workers filter water using Sarvajal's equipment.
Then workers deliver the clean water to the ATM units and sell prepaid cards to
locals.
The locals swipe their cards at the machine, select an amount of water and fill
their containers.
Each Sarvajal ATM unit features the latest technology and can run on solar
power.
And each unit sends data that allows Sarvajal to track the water taken and its
quality.
Thanks to Sarvajal's network and water ATMs, clean water is now available to
more than 70,000 people 24/7.
It makes sense that in one of the local languages Sarvajal means "water for
all.".
Well, we've been learning about Sarvajal and how they have come up with these
water ATMs.
But how exactly do these water ATMs work, Kaylah?
Well, that is a good question, Brandon.
How does a water ATM work?
Well, first, local workers filter water using Sarvajal's equipment.
So people in that area, they are local, help get the water clean.
That's right.
And so they filter that out, filter the water, get all of that dirty stuff out
so people can actually drink the water.
Then workers deliver the clean water to the ATM units and sell prepaid cards to
the people there.
And so they deliver the water to the ATM units.
These are the machines.
They put the water in there.
And then people have these prepaid cards, Kaylah.
That's right.
So Brandon, if we think about an ATM that we would get cash out of - money -
there is money inside the machine already.
Well, these water ATMs are no different.
There is water inside the machine.
So they clean it, bring it, put it in the machine.
Then they get prepaid cards, which just means there's already money on it.
That's right.
And so the people can pay using those prepaid cards.
And then the locals, they just swipe their cars at the machine.
Maybe you've done this before.
You have a card, and you just swipe it.
And something... a sensor picks it up, and it takes money automatically off of
it.
And so you swipe it at the machine, and then you can get your water.
That's right.
So they have these cards, they already have money on it, so they're not paying
when they come to the machine.
They pay ahead of time.
And it's prepaid; "pre-" meaning before.
So they pay ahead of time.
Then they just "swipe" the card, select an amount of water and fill their
containers.
Wow! That sounds very convenient, right?
You just have your card, you swipe it.
And then you have your container there - maybe some sort of bottle - and you
fill your container with the clean water.
It's pretty simple if you ask me.
You don't have to worry about using somebody else's bottle or jar, you can just
take your own.
And you've already paid ahead of time.
But a "container," Brandon, we're talking about the containers are the things
that we use to hold the water.
That's right.
You may drink out of a bottle.
That is what contains the water.
Well, each Sarvajal ATM unit features the latest technology and can even run on
solar power.
It features the latest technology; it has the latest technology.
And it can even run on solar power.
Now that's impressive.
When we refer to "solar" anything, we're referring to the sun.
So solar power is power from the sun.
And you can collect that energy, that power out of the sunlight through panels.
And instead of using electricity, you can run the machine off of the energy that
they're collecting from the sun.
And that's very efficient.
That's... definitely a green way of collecting power.
We've talked a lot about green products, this would be one.
That's definitely true.
It's great that it can be solar power.
It's much better for the environment.
And each unit sends data that allows Sarvajal to track the water taken and its
quality.
And so they are really paying a lot of attention to what's going on.
They get information updates about the quality of the water and how many people
are coming to the machines.
That's right.
They can track all of that from somewhere else.
They don't have to be at the machine doing that.
It's a very, very efficient way of providing clean water to locals.
Well, thanks to Sarvajal's network and water ATMs, clean water is now available
to more than 70,000 people 24/7.
That "24/7" just means all the time.
So it reaches 70,000 people 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Well, it makes sense that in one of the local languages Sarvajal means "water
for all." So I said at the beginning, it's not an English word.
But here, now we know what it means.
It's water for everyone at any point of the day.
Well, thanks for joining us for learning about Sarvajal.
I hope you can do some research and let us know what you think about Sarvajal as
a company.
For now, let's visit Ken in the Chat Room.
(Music).
Hey, Bryan, that guy sitting over there must be really tired.
Yeah. I was talking to him earlier.
It turns out he's a firefighter and was called to help with a fire at 3 a.m.
last night.
Oh, no wonder he's tired.
Firefighting must be a difficult job.
I think so too.
I really admire people who have jobs where they have to be ready 24-7.
24-7? Now what does that mean?
It's short for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Basically, it means all the time.
You might see signs on some stores that say they're open 24-7.
Oh. So does it have the same meaning as "nonstop"?
Not exactly.
"Nonstop" is used when you're talking about a person doing something constantly.
For example, you could say John has been talking nonstop about his favorite
book.
Could I say he was talking 24-7 about the book?
Well, you might be able to say he was talking about the book 24-7.
You could definitely say that store is open 24-7.
But you can't say that store is open nonstop.
So "nonstop" always describes an action while "24-7" can talk about an action or
a situation?
Right.
Another way of saying that something happens constantly is: night and day.
Night and day?
So can I say the student studied night and day for her big exam?
Sure. You could also say that store is open night and day.
So "night and day" can refer to both actions and situations.
Hey, you know, Bryan, when that firefighter wakes up, I'll buy him a coffee just
to thank him for being ready to help people night and day.
That's nice of you. Good idea.
(Chinese).
(Chinese).
And time really flies.
Make sure you come back next time for more Language Tips.
OK. Sarvajal's water-filtering network and water ATMs are making clean drinking
water available to people in small Indian villages.
The number of people Sarvajal has helped may seem like "a drop in the bucket."
But in places where there's no clean drinking water at all, every drop counts.
This weekend when you drink a glass of water or buy a bottle of water, stop for
a moment and count your blessings.
Then join us on Monday when we PROFILE Elle Fanning.
Have agreat day.