【英语趣味课堂】澳大利亚的动物们-Aussie Animals

 Todd: So, Aaron, in America we have this image of Australia being very rugged¹ and all these dangerous animals. So is that true?

 

Aaron: It's not so true, but it's not so wrong. The three main animals that are dangerous in Australia, one is the crocodile, two are snakes, and three are spiders. We have some deadly spiders in Australia and some deadly snakes, but the crocodiles aren't as dangerous, as you think.

 

Todd: Really.

 

Aaron: Unless you go swimming in crocodile water, you never see them and they're only in small parts of the north. They're not in the cities and the same with the spiders and the snakes. You never seen one. I've never seen one, and I don't think I ever will unless I go looking for it.

 

Todd: Oh, that's interesting

 

Aaron: If you see one, you shouldn't play with it. It's not toy. 

 

Todd: Yeah! What about the sharks?

 

Aaron: Sharks! Again, I've never seen one, but they do attack people, and they are a little bit dangerous, but it's more dangerous to cross the road, than to go swimming.

 

学习内容：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

rugged

 

In America, we have this image of Australia as being very rugged.

 

A 'rugged' place is rocky and not well maintained². It is very natural and has not been altered³ by humans. Notice the following:

 

I prefer a more rugged landscape than the city.

There are miles of rugged trails in the mountains.

deadly

 

We have some deadly spiders and snakes.

 

If an animal is 'deadly' it can kill you. Notice the following:

 

The poison that it injects in its prey⁴ is deadly.

Have you ever seen a deadly animal?

crocodile water

 

Unless you go swimming in crocodile water, you never see them.

 

'Crocodile water' is water where crocodiles live. Notice the following:

 

This place definitely⁵ looks like crocodile water.

There is a lot of crocodile water around here.

look for

 

You'll never see them, unless you go looking for it.

 

When you 'look for' something you are searching or trying to find it. Notice the following:

 

We are looking for a good place to sit down in the sun.

I'm looking for my passport and I can't find it.

cross the road

 

It's more dangerous to cross the road than to go swimming.

 

When you go from one side of a road to the other side you are 'crossing the road.' Notice the following:

 

Be careful driving because a lot of animals cross the road in this area.

My parents taught me to hold their hands when I crossed the road.

1 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

2 maintained   

保持( maintain的过去式和过去分词 )； 保养； 坚持； 保卫

参考例句：

• He maintained a professional demeanour throughout. 他始终保持着专业人才的风度。
• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。

3 altered   

adj.[医]改变的v.改变，更改( alter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The bright boy altered it to a circular form. 这个聪明的男孩把它改成了圆形。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The ship has altered its course. 这艘船改变了航线。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

5 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。