节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-01-05
难易度:Medium
关键字:outstanding, mammal, destruction, deplete, tusk, game
(Music).
Hi, everybody.
Welcome to Studio Classroom Worldwide.
My name is Steve.
Thanks for joining us today.
With us today, we have Kaylah and our editor Linda.
Welcome, both of you.
Well, thank you, Steve.
It's wonderful to be here today.
And Linda, it's great to see you in the studio.
Why, thank you.
It's always a pleasure to come and visit you both in the studio.
And today we're going to start our TRAVEL article.
So Linda, where exactly are we going today?
Well, have either of you ever been to Africa?
No, I have not.
But I would love to go.
Well, I've been, but it was only briefly.
But I would love to go back.
Well, then you'll find our article very interesting.
You know, today we are beginning a three-day TRAVEL article about South Africa's
Kruger National Park.
At one time, that was a very popular, big game hunting area, wasn't it?
Yeah, I remember reading about that too.
You're right, it was.
And Paul Kruger established this park area to protect these big game animals.
This article introduces some of the history of the park, the different options
people have for lodging, and also for seeing the park.
There's something to suit everyone's taste.
We know a lot of people in our audience like to travel.
So for those of you who want a sense of the exotic and an educational vacation,
I think Kruger is a great choice.
Well, thanks, Linda.
So join Kaylah and Ryan now as they tell us more about Kruger National Park in
South Africa.
(Music).
Kruger National Park: It's Wild.
See African wildlife at its best in Kruger National Park.
Most people visit a zoo for a chance to see exotic animals like elephants, lions
and giraffes.
While a zoo is definitely an easy place to do this, nothing can compare to
viewing wildlife in the wild.
Africa's game parks provide a remarkable experience most will never forget.
And South Africa's outstanding Kruger National Park ranks near the top of those
worth a visit.
Covering over 20,000 square kilometers, the park is home to an impressive number
of species,
including 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.
(Music).
Hello, everyone.
My name is Ryan.
And my name is Kaylah.
Today we are talking about Kruger National Park: It's Wild.
Now the Kruger National Park, what is a national park, Kaylah?
Well, a national park is part of the land that is protected by the government
and we can go visit it.
Yes. And it's a good thing it is protected, there is a lot of beautiful wildlife
that you can see.
If you visit Kruger, you can see this wildlife at its best.
That's right. At Kurger National Park, African wildlife really is at its best.
It's an exciting thing to see.
You know, most people want... who want to see this kind of thing, they visit a
zoo for a chance to see exotic animals like elephants, lions and giraffes.
That's right. Yeah, you can actually see pictures of a lion on page 16 of your
Studio Classroom magazine.
There are many beautiful animals, especially in Africa.
And most people do go to zoos to see these kind of animals.
Well, I know I can't see an elephant around my neighborhood.
So if I do want to see them, I need to go to a zoo.
And you know, while a zoo is definitely an easy place to do this, nothing can
compare to viewing wildlife in the wild.
That's true. Zoos are great, but nothing can compare to seeing these animals in
the wild.
If you say "nothing can compare," that means that it is the best possible place
to do something or to see something.
That's right.
And we know wildlife are the animals that live out in the open without humans
interacting with them all the time.
And so to see wildlife in the wild would be exciting because, well, they're not
used to seeing you,
and you are not used to seeing them.
That's right. Now Africa's game parks provide a remarkable experience most will
never forget.
That's right. When we say "most," that means almost all of us, but maybe someone
would.
But I'm going to say nobody would be able to forget the... it's just an
unforgettable experience.
Now Ryan, I've never got to go to see something like this, but I would
absolutely love to.
That's true.
Now we're talking about Africa's game parks, Kaylah.
When you're talking about a game park, are we talking about playing a game?
No. When we talk about game, when we talk about wildlife, that means the animals
themselves.
So in this case, probably giraffes and elephants and rhinoceroses and zebras and
lions, all the big game animals.
Yes, so it does sound like a wonderful adventure.
Absolutely. Definitely something to experience.
And South Africa's outstanding Kruger National Park ranks near the top of those
worth visiting.
And it makes sense.
If it is rated worth the top of those visiting, then it would be outstanding.
Something that is "outstanding" means it is incredible or among the best.
That's right.
If you think about when you're standing in a crowd and you see one thing
individually that stands out, that would be outstanding.
It's so incredible, you see it above everything else.
Exactly. It is better than usual.
And that is definitely true of Kruger National Park.
That's right. This park is huge.
Covering over 20,000 square kilometers, the park is home to an impressive number
of species,
including 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.
Wow! So it's got tons of animals and it's huge - 20,000 square kilometers.
I can't even imagine how big that actually is.
But that's really huge.
That's... that is massive.
That is so large.
And Ryan, these numbers are not the number of animals.
That's not 507 birds.
That's 507 species... (That's right.) ... of bird.
And so can you explain what a "species" is?
Yeah. Well, a species is referring to a certain type of animal, not just a bird
or a dog but a type of bird or a type of dog.
So there are several different kinds of birds, for example.
Not just several birds, 507 different kinds of birds.
And that doesn't just mean birds.
That means all kinds of birds within that species, so not just one at a time.
So we see reptiles: snakes, lizards; birds and mammals.
Yes. And "mammals" is referring to the kinds of animals that do not lay eggs,
and they produce milk.
And I think most, or all of them, have hair.
So you can think of cats and dogs are mammals as well as people.
That's right.
And mammals would also include, then, elephants and giraffes and lions and
monkeys.
All of these are mammals that you can see in Kruger National Park.
Yes. Most of the large animals that people go to Africa to see can be found in
Kruger National Park.
And so it sounds like a wonderful place to visit.
That's right.
I've always wanted to see a rhinoceros.
They are such an interesting-looking animal.
And you can see a picture of them in your Studio Classroom magazine of one you
just might see at Kruger National Park.
Well, we need to take a break.
But we'll be back.
Before we go, let's visit the Chat Room.
Yeah, I'd love to have lunch with you.
Where should we meet?
Bob's Diner?
Hey, I've got a better idea.
Let's go to the Jungle Cafe instead.
I know Bob's Diner is cheap, but the food just can't compare to the Jungle Cafe.
Great. I'll see you there.
Bryan, who was that?
That was my friend Matt.
He's in town for the week and wants to meet for lunch tomorrow.
Oh. That sounds like fun.
Yeah. He's never been to the Jungle Cafe, so I'm going to take him there.
Hey, Bryan, I've got a question about that.
OK, shoot.
Well, you said that the food at Bob's Diner can't compare to the food at the
Jungle Cafe.
But it sounded like you did compare them, and you like Jungle Cafe more.
Right. I meant that the food at the Jungle Cafe is so much better that there is
no point in asking how they compare.
So if you say that A can't compare to B, it means that B is much better than A?
Yes. Here's another example.
I thought the movie was OK, but it can't compare to the book it was based on.
So that means you like the book better.
Right. A lot better.
Another expression you should know is "nothing can compare to." If you say that
nothing can compare to a certain thing,
it means that that thing is much better than everything that might be similar to
it.
So could I say nothing can compare to spending a holiday with friends and
family?
Sure, you could, Ken.
That would mean spending the holiday with friends and family is clearly the best
way to enjoy a holiday.
Here's another example.
Nothing can compare to a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day like today.
Hey, that's a good example.
And you just inspired me to go buy a cup of hot chocolate.
Would you like one too?
No. Thanks, Ken.
I need to watch my weight.
All right.
Have a good time with Matt.