Tree climbing: Part 2

Tree climbing: Part 2
NB: This is not an accurate word-for-word transcript¹
Dan: Hello and welcome to this week’s 6 Minute English. I’m Dan Walker Smith
and today, for the second part of our tree climbing programme（节目,计划）, I’m joined by
Kate.
OK Kate, well last week we were talking about tree climbing, and we covered
some interesting vocabulary, including the parts of the tree. So could you
quickly remind us of some of those?
Kate: Of course. The trunk is the main body of the tree, the branches are the tree’s
‘arms’, and the leaves are the flat green parts at the end of the branches.
Dan: Later on in the show we’re going to be talking about the world’s tallest tree,
but this week's question for you Kate is: where would you find the world’s
oldest tree? Is it:
a) in Australia
b) in Tanzania
c) in Sweden
Kate: Ooh, that’s a really difficult question. I have no idea, but I’m going to guess,
and go for a) Australia.
Dan: We’ll see if you’re right at the end of the programme. Now let’s hear about the
world’s tallest tree. Here’s tree expert Tony Russell to tell us all about it. Have
a listen to the extract³; how tall is the tree?
Extract 1
The biggest giant redwood is in California and it’s one called the General Sherman tree.
And it is an astonishing size. In height it’s about 275 feet tall. Its circumference⁴ at
ground level is over 100 feet; with a diameter(直径) across of 36 feet. Astonishing thing.
Dan: So the tree is around 275 feet tall. As Tony said, it’s an astonishing size. What
does astonishing mean here Kate?
Kate: Well astonishing（惊人的） can mean both surprising and amazing. If something’s
astonishing, it’s basically so incredible⁵ that you almost can’t believe it.
Dan: And as well as the height, Tony described the circumference and the
diameter of the tree. Now what do these words mean Kate?
Kate: They’re both words that relate to the tree’s size; circumference is the distance
around a circle or a round shape, and diameter would be the distance across a
circle, so in this case, across the width of the tree.
Dan: Can you imagine being at the top of that Kate?
Kate: Oh, I don’t think I’d want to be actually. I’m not very good with heights.
Dan: Well some people spend practically their whole lives climbing up trees. Last
week, for example, we heard from the professional tree climber James Aldred.
He was talking about how he started climbing. So let’s hear him again as he
goes up a tree. We join him just as he’s preparing to camp for the night, just
above the forest canopy⁶（帐篷）. What does he mean there Kate?
Kate: OK, well to camp means to sleep outdoors, usually in a tent or under some
sort of temporary shelter. And the canopy here is the upper layer. So in this
case it’s the forest’s ‘roof’. But it really means anything that spreads out above
you.
Dan: Let’s have a listen to James as he prepares to camp. Can you tell me what he’s
going to sleep in instead of a bed?
Extract 2
So this is where I’m going to camp for the night. The sun is just about to dip beneath the
canopy level. I’m just above the canopy, the surrounding canopy. So if I rig² my
hammock here I should catch the last rays of sun.
Kate: Right, so James is setting up a hammock to sleep in. A hammock is a
swinging bed made of cloth or rope.
Dan: Let’s have a listen to the final extract. Here’s James at the top of the tree. He
says it’s a hell of a view from up there. Can you explain this Kate?
Kate: Well, saying it’s a hell of a view is an informal way of saying that the view is
incredible. The phrase ‘hell of a’ emphasises（强调） any quality you’re talking about,
whether it’s good or bad. And here it’s pretty obvious that James thinks the
view is amazing.
Dan: OK well let’s have a listen to the extract; how does he describe the area around
him?
Extract 3
It is a hell of a view from here; just looking out over endless forest. I can hear cars; I can
hear traffic, but I can’t see them. For all intents⁷ and purposes, I’m in the middle of
wilderness⁸.
Dan: So he says that for all intents and purposes he’s in the middle of wilderness.
Kate, what’s he saying here?
Kate: OK, wilderness means an area of land that’s never been developed by man.
It’s still wild, so it’s called the wilderness.
Dan: And when he says for all intents and purposes?
Kate: This phrase, for all intents and purposes, means ‘in a practical sense’. So
James isn’t actually in the wilderness, but because he can’t see any cars or
buildings, for all intents and purposes, it appears like he is.
Dan: Well, we’re almost out of time, so let’s go over some of the vocabulary we’ve
come across today:
Dan: And today’s question was Kate: in which country would you find the world’s
oldest living tree?
Kate: And I took a complete guess and said Australia.
Dan: I was quite surprised by this; the answer is in fact Sweden.
Kate: Wow! That is surprising!
Dan: You wouldn’t expect it to be in Sweden. It doesn’t strike me as the kind of
place to have that sort of wilderness about it.
The tree itself is a Norway spruce called Old Tjikko. And apparently（显然的） it’s 9,550
years old!
Kate: Wow! That’s so old!
Dan: That’s almost 5,000 years older than the second oldest recorded tree, which
can be found in California. But Kate, could you tell us about the largest tree in
the world?
Kate: Well, the largest tree by volume, including all its trunk, branches, and leaves,
is called El Tule, and can be found in Mexico. It has a circumference of
119 feet, so it’s 36 metres around the base. And its diameter is 38 feet, which
is almost 12 metres across.
Dan: I’ve actually been to that tree, and it is massive⁹, absolutely huge.
Kate: Oh I can hardly even imagine it.
Dan: It’s odd, because it’s not very tall; it just goes on and on. It’s the size of a
house basically; it’s absolutely massive.
Kate: Wow!
Dan: But I’m afraid that’s all we have time for here this week, so thanks very much
for listening, and goodbye!
Kate: Goodbye!（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 rig   

n.装备，帆具，服装；v. 装配，装扮，垄断

参考例句：

• They rig their domestic markets in favour of local businesses.他们操纵国内市场以使当地企业受益。
• Our camping rig includes cooking pots and sleeping bags.我们的野营装备包括锅子和睡袋。

3 extract   

vt.取出，提取，获得，摘录；n.摘录，提出物

参考例句：

• The article was a choice extract from her writings.这篇文章是从她的著作中摘录出来的精粹。
• We can extract oil from olive.我们可以从橄榄中榨油。

4 circumference   

n.圆周，周长，圆周线

参考例句：

• It's a mile round the circumference of the field.运动场周长一英里。
• The diameter and the circumference of a circle correlate.圆的直径与圆周有相互关系。

5 incredible   

adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的

参考例句：

• Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
• Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。

6 canopy   

n.天篷，遮篷

参考例句：

• The trees formed a leafy canopy above their heads.树木在他们头顶上空形成了一个枝叶茂盛的遮篷。
• They lay down under a canopy of stars.他们躺在繁星点点的天幕下。

7 intents   

意图( intent的名词复数 )； 意向； 几乎完全； 差不多等于

参考例句：

• The work is, to all intents and purposes, finished. 那项工作实际上已经完成了。
• The revised edition is to all intents and purposes a new book. 修订本实际上是一本新书。

8 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

9 massive   

adj.巨大的，大规模的，大量的，大范围的

参考例句：

• A massive sea search has failed to find any survivors.经过大规模的海上搜救仍未找到幸存者。
• He drank a massive amount of alcohol.他喝了大量的烈酒。