Practical Conversation — 第四冊

🔊What are you up to this weekend?

🔊Who is playing?

🔊Really? If she is coming, I would’ve thought it would be sold out by now.

🔊How many tickets does he have?

🔊That leaves 2: 1 for you and 1 for me.

🔊You wouldn’t deny me the chance to see Jolin live, would you?

🔊A big fan? I am her biggest fan. I have every album she has ever made and every DVD, too. It would crush me if I didn’t get to see her. You know I haven’t had the chance before, right? Thomas (sigh of pity): I know. I know. Ok, you can have the tickets and I’ll take Colleen to the movies instead. Kenny (tries to hug Thomas): Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thomas (defending against the hug): Alright! I got it. Just stop with the hugs. Jeez.

🔊Ok. How much are the tickets?

🔊Ok class. Today we’re going to see how much you know about sharks.

🔊First of all, what is the difference between a shark and all other fish?

🔊I know! Sharks are bigger.

🔊Yes, some sharks are bigger, but some are smaller, too. Anyone else?

🔊That is right, Frank. Sharks don’t have bones. Their skeletal structure is made entirely of cartilage just like your ear.

🔊And sharks are the only fish that kill people.

🔊That’s not true. Some fish kill people because they have poisonous spines. Really, though, sharks aren’t as dangerous as most people believe. Let me ask you this: How many people are attacked by sharks worldwide every year?

🔊Wow, that’s a lot and very specific, but it’s wrong. How about you, Sonia? What do you think?

🔊I think it is probably closer to 5000.

🔊Actually, on average, between 50 and 70 people are attacked by sharks.

🔊No, it isn’t. Why do you think Sonia and Jeffery guessed such a high number?

🔊Because people are very afraid of sharks and there are lots of documentaries on TV about shark attacks.

🔊That’s right. People have a strange relationship with sharks; they are afraid of them, but they love to watch TV shows about them. The reality is more people are killed by bees or struck by lightning every year, but movies like Jaws and other horror films have created a great fear of sharks in people. Of the people attacked, how many actually die, Tony?

🔊Yes, about 8 to 12 people die every year from shark attacks. What country reports the most shark attacks every year?

🔊Many people say that, but the USA is actually number 1. Most attacks are in Florida. Surprisingly, if you are attacked there, the chances of it being fatal are almost 0. This is because there is a shark “nursery” in the area, so most shark attacks in Florida involve inquisitive young sharks that aren’t big enough to cause much damage.

🔊What kind of sharks are the most dangerous?

🔊Yes, that is one. What are the other two?

🔊The Whale Shark.

🔊That’s crazy! Whale sharks are one of the most passive creatures in the ocean. Plus, they don’t have teeth.

🔊Yes, they are the other 2. What makes the bull shark exceptionally different from most other sharks?

🔊Yes, Alan. How did you know that?

🔊Good for you. That is a great hobby.

🔊I didn’t know that. Thanks, Alan.

🔊Yes, but how many? Do you know?

🔊5000?

🔊Not even close.

🔊5 million.

🔊Yes, if you multiply that number by 20. The answer is over 100, 000, 000 sharks are slaughtered every year.

🔊That’s terrible. What can we do to help the sharks?

🔊Don’t buy shark meat, shark fin soup or any pills that contain shark byproducts.

🔊Why do people take shark pills?

🔊It’s because shark cartilage helps people with joint trouble. It is kind of like taking glucosamine.

🔊Well…All we can do is to inform people and make them aware of the sharks’ plight. And pray!

🔊What are you reading about, Chuck?

🔊Oh. You mean like the Loggerhead Sea Turtle?

🔊I guess, but I don’t know much about them.

🔊Ok. Tell me about them.

🔊Actually, I did. I also heard that many different species used to lay their eggs on the beaches of Taiwan.

🔊Why is that?

🔊Do they protect them now?

🔊Is that the main reason their populations have declined.

🔊My grandpa told me that some temples buy them and put them on display.

🔊I know. You’d think people would want to protect them because of cultural importance.

🔊Are other countries the same way?

🔊It’s good to know that some places are taking action.

🔊I’m going to go home and look on the internet. Maybe there are some volunteer jobs available so that I can do my part.

🔊Great! I’ll catch ya later.

🔊Did you hear about the catastrophe in Japan?

🔊There was a huge earthquake just off the coast. It measured (registered) 9 on the Richter scale.

🔊But that’s not the worst part.

🔊Because the earthquake was offshore, it caused a tsunami. The following swell went as far as 4 km’s inland some places. It capsized boats and some floated down streets. It washed away buildings, farms, and even entire villages. It was like a giant bulldozer leveled the place.

🔊The footage has been all over the news. I can’t believe you haven’t seen or heard of this yet.

🔊Are you kidding? The cost is expected to be in the 10’s of billions of dollars.

🔊The latest death toll was estimated at over 2000, but that is just confirmed deaths. The final numbers are probably going to be much, much higher because there are some towns that are completely destroyed.

🔊I think they’re all probably still in shock.

🔊I’m not sure. Many countries have already offered aid and sent in relief workers to search for survivors and to help with first aid. There are probably organizations you can donate money to.

🔊It will be used to provide medical supplies, food, clothing to those affected by the disaster. Some of the money will also go to help rebuild the country.

🔊Me, too. I think sending some money is the least we can do.

🔊Do you ever wonder about life on other planets? 3

🔊Do you think there is intelligent life somewhere else in the universe?

🔊I can’t even comprehend the size of our own solar system, let alone our galaxy or the entire universe.

🔊Yeah, they must be out there somewhere.

🔊It is hard to ignore millions of people all around the world that have claimed to have seen UFO’s.

🔊Maybe they are just observing us and doing experiments.

🔊Reports of alien abductions aren’t that uncommon. There are even credible people that have claimed to be taken aboard alien ships… or should I say, formerly credible.

🔊Probably the same reason humans study everything they can get their hands on.

🔊Our curiosity. People are curious about everything and are always doing experiments or studying something, so why would aliens be any different?

🔊I would say because they know us all too well. If people knew there were really aliens, they would probably try to start a war with them or something like that.

🔊Anyway, I’d better get home before my mom starts to wonder if I’ve been abducted by aliens.

🔊Bye!

🔊Are you into body art?

🔊No, it refers to things like piercings and tattoos.

🔊I guess it is kind of a subculture.

🔊Well, my dad has tattoos and he isn’t a freak.

🔊That is because you can only see them if he takes off his shirt. He has earrings, too, but he only puts them in when he isn’t working.

🔊I’m not allowed to get a tattoo until I’m older, but I was thinking about getting my ears pierced… and maybe my nose, too.

🔊I don’t care what people think. I just want to be me and I want to be different.

🔊Whatever! You just don’t like people who look different.

🔊I’m not looking for attention.

🔊I guess I never thought about that.

🔊Ok. I’ll think about it first.

🔊Not really. I’m finished with my homework and have done all the chores you asked me to do.

🔊What can I do?

🔊I’m washing the vegetables just like you asked me to.

🔊Why not?

🔊When you said ‘wash the vegetables’, I just assumed there would be soap involved. How am I supposed to know these things? I’ve never washed vegetables before.

🔊Maybe if we make the food really spicy, nobody will notice.

🔊You wouldn’t do that, would you? Edward’s mom (laughs evilly): Wouldn’t I?

🔊Well, look what the cat dragged in. What’s up?

🔊Why not? Did you drink too much green tea again?

🔊God! I hate it when that happens. They’re such pests.

🔊Did it?

🔊A real pain in the neck, hey?

🔊Actually, I don’t mind mosquito bites so much; it’s the buzzing around my ears that drives me crazy. You swat at them and they stop for a bit, but they always come back.

🔊They’re such sneaky little things.

🔊I guess that’s why they call them bugs.

🔊It was great. We got to play dodge ball in PE.

🔊I sure do.

🔊We should have.

🔊Well, it was down to 3 against 1; 3 for us and 1 for them.

🔊I hit the other player in the leg, but the ref didn’t see it. And the player said I was lying.

🔊I know, but he wasn’t. Then he hit one of our guys with the ball, so we lost a player and it was down to 2 on 1.

🔊Then I threw the ball at him and it grazed his shoulder, but he said it didn’t hit him again!

🔊That is exactly what happened. Now it was 1 on 1 and I was off my game. I more or less gave up and he won.

🔊But it made me so angry. He had to cheat to win.

🔊Maybe I should have used my emotions against him.

🔊Anyway, I would rather lose honestly than win by cheating.

🔊But he won!?

🔊How about this spot? It looks like a good place to catch some fish.

🔊What are you using for bait, Vernon? I’m using an earthworm. I’ve always had good luck using them.

🔊Holy cow! Are you trying to catch a fish or scare it to death?

🔊I got one! I got one!

🔊The fishing is really good today, hey buddy?

🔊What do you mean?

🔊You must be joking. Both of them pull their tangled lines from the water. They can clearly see the spider holding the worm tightly with its front legs and biting it.

🔊I’m never going fishing with you and your gigantic spider again.