04 游乐
  公园里空气好
  dialogue
  ethan and lee want to go to people's park to enjoy the fresh air.
  伊桑和李想到人民公园里去呼吸一下新鲜空气。
  ethan: lee, today is saturday. what do you want to do?
  伊桑：李，今天周六，你有什么安排？
  lee: ah…do you have any good suggestions?
  李：呃，你有什么好建议吗？
  ethan: let's go to people's park.the air is fresh in the park.
  伊桑：那咱们去人民公园吧，那儿的空气好。
  lee: sounds like a good idea. let's go!
  李：这主意不错哦！咱们出发吧！
  ethan: look, the flowers have blossomed out.
  伊桑：你看，公园里的花都开了呢。
  lee: yeah, they are very beautiful. shall we take a picture of them?
  李：是啊，真漂亮。咱们来照张相吧？
  ethan: ok, it's great.
  伊桑：可以啊，太好了。
  lee: wow, it is really agreeable to walk in such a quiet and air-fresh place.
  李：哇，在这么安静、空气清新的地方散步真让人惬意啊。
  ethan: yeah, especially after five busy days. do you want to come here next week?
  伊桑：对啊，尤其是忙了5天之后。下周还想来吗？
  lee: i really hope to come here every day!
  李：我真希望能天天来啊！
  notes
  1. sugguestion [s?'d?est??n] n. 建议，意见
  2. blosson ['bl?s?m] v.（植物）开花
  3. agreeable [?'gri:?b?l] adj. 愉快的，宜人的
  小贴士
  yellowstone national park
  in the winter of 1807, a lone fur-trapper journeyed deep into the heart of the rocky mountains. somewhere near the headwater of the yellowstone river, he found a lost world. a wonderland, ruled by ice, fire and brimstone. a world of extremes that challenges all that strive to live here. winter in yellowstone, minus 40 degrees. for half the year, yellowstone is frozen solid. yet in the middle of this ice world there is scalding heat. this is no ordinary place and there is no ordinary winter. the fate of everything here lies in the hands of forces of almost unimaginable power. yellowstone is deep in the heart of the rocky mountains of north america. an isolated high plateau defended by rugged peaks. and its location is what makes it so different. right beneath yellowstone a unique quirt of geology means that molten rock from deep in the earth comes usually close to the frozen surface. no one knows why it happens right here, but its impact is what has made yellowstone world famous. yellowstone is the most extensive geothermal area on the earth. it has over 10 000 thermal wonders and more geysers than the rest of the world put together. old faithful is yellowstone's most well-known geyser. it shoots 5000 gallons of water, 150 feet into the air almost every hour.
  黄石公园
  在1807年冬天，一个设陷阱狩猎的猎人，孤身深入到洛杉矶山脉的心脏地带。在黄石河上游附近的某处，他发现了一个遗失的世界。一个奇境，受冰、火和硫磺所支配。一个极端的世界，考验着一切在此存活的生物。黄石公园的冬天，零下40度。每年当中有一半的时间，黄石公园都被冻得结结实实。然而在这个冰冻世界的中央，却有滚烫的热度。这是一个不寻常的地方，这里的冬天同样不寻常。在这里，每种生物的命运，都被一种几乎不可思议的力量所掌控。黄石公园位于北美洛杉矶山脉的深处，被高高起伏的山峦与世隔绝。正是它所处的位置，让它显得如此与众不同。在黄石公园的下方，隐藏着一种独特的地质形态，地质学上称之为岩浆。从地球的深处，几乎直通到冰冻的地表。没有人知道为什么刚好通到这里。然而正是岩浆的喷发作用，使黄石公园闻名于世。黄石公园有地球上分布最广的地热区域，这里有超过1万个地热景观。这里的地热喷泉数目超过世界其他所有地方的集合。“老忠实泉”是黄石公园地热喷泉中的明星，几乎每隔1小时，它就会往空中喷出5000加仑水，高达150英尺。
  奇花异草让你大开眼界
  dialogue
  maggie's company plans a spring outing to let employees relax. they are excited to go to luoyang to admire the beauty of peony flowers in the peony show.
  麦琪的公司计划组织一次春游让员工放松一下。在洛阳花会期间他们很兴奋地去赏牡丹。
  maggie: i'm so glad that we're going to peony park to admire peonies.
  麦琪：要去牡丹公园赏牡丹我真是太高兴了。
  sue: i'm so exciting that i wish only if i grow wings and fly there. the peony is the king of flowers. and luoyang is famous for its peony flowers.
  苏：我也很兴奋，恨不得长翅膀飞过去。牡丹是百花之王，洛阳牡丹甲天下啊。
  maggie: oh, here we are!
  麦琪：噢，我们到了。
  sue: wow! so beautiful! i finally get to see my yearning peonies. let's get in at once. it's said in the guidebook that peonies are big in flowers and rich in variety, and therefore are praised as the king of flowers. with its mild climate and moderate rain, luoyang is a suitable place for peonies to grow.
  苏：喔，太漂亮了！我终于看到朝思暮想的牡丹了。赶快进去吧。旅游指南上介绍说牡丹花大并且品种繁多，因此被誉为“百花之王”。洛阳温度适宜、雨量适中，很适合牡丹生长。
  maggie: you're well informed. look! this flower looks peculiar.
  麦琪：你知道得真多。看！那朵花好奇特啊。
  sue: oh, it's a rare breed called “erqiao”. there are two different colors in a flower. it is very beautiful, isn't it?
  苏：哦，那是名贵的品种，叫“二乔”。一朵花有两种不同的颜色。很漂亮，不是吗？
  maggie: yeah, i've never seen such kind of flowers.
  麦琪：是的，很漂亮。我从来没见过这样的花。
  sue: what's more quaint, there are many different colored flowers blossoming in a plant.
  苏：更奇特的是，一株牡丹会开很多种不同颜色的花朵呢。
  maggie: so great! this time i do widen my view.
  麦琪：太棒了！这次我真是大开眼界了。
  notes
  1. peony show 牡丹花会
  2. yearning ['j?:ni?] n. 渴望，思慕；adj. 渴望的，怀念的
  3. guidebook ['gaidbuk] n. 旅行指南，参考手册
  4. mild [maild] adj. 温和的，柔和的；宽大的；清淡的
  5. moderate ['m?d?reit] adj. 适度的；温和的；稳健的；中等的；v. 节制；使稳定；使缓和
  6. peculiar [pi'kju:lj?] adj. 奇怪的；特殊的，独特的，古怪的；n. 特权
  7. breed [bri:d] v. 繁殖；养育；n. 品种；血统
  8. quaint [kweint] adj. 奇特有趣的；古色古香的；古怪的
  9. blossom ['bl?s?m] n. 花；开花；全盛期；v. 开花；成长
  小贴士
  名花赏析：
  the calla lily 马蹄莲
  the calla lily is simple, as all elegant things. it makes a great potted plant, but you should be careful for children and animals: callas are very toxic, if eaten!
  马蹄莲花集朴素、典雅于一身。虽然马蹄莲花是一种极好的盆栽花，但是你要留心你的小孩和动物，不要让他们吃了它，马蹄莲花有剧毒。
  the bird of paradise 天堂鸟
  this amazing flower has the shape of a bird and this makes it special. the colorful bird of paradise is pretty tall: the plant may reach as much as 1.5 meters in height and the flower itself is also very large. the bird of paradise may be only found in south africa.
  这种令人惊艳的花形状很像一只鸟，正是这一点让它很特别。颜色瑰丽的天堂鸟花非常高，有1.5米那么高，花朵本身也特别大。或许你只能在南非才能看到天堂鸟花。
  the rose 玫瑰
  roses are the most known flowers in the world. the big, colored roses have been preferred by all people in the world at any event what so ever. they have many symbols, depending on their colors. for example, the color talk of white rose is “i am worthy of you”.
  玫瑰是世界上最有名的花。无论任何情况、任何场合之下，花朵饱满、颜色鲜艳的玫瑰花一直深受世界人民的偏爱。根据花色的不同，它们有很多的象征意义。比如白玫瑰的花语是“我值得你拥有”。
  orchids 兰花
  orchids are also celebrated and very famous for the great variety. they are very adaptable, populating all continents, except for the coldest antarctic continent. the unbelievable orchids are as old as time and as beautiful as rain drops.
  兰花也因其品种繁多而赫赫有名。除了最冷的南极洲外，它们适宜在任何大洲种植。不可思议的兰花，古老如岁月，精美如雨滴。
  cherry blossoms 樱花
  the most treasured flowers in japan, cherry blossoms look truly wonderful. there is nothing more poetic than a flowering cherry tree.
  樱花是日本最为珍贵的花，看上去也极为美丽。没有什么能比花团锦簇的樱花树更富有诗意了。
  游乐园里乐悠悠
  dialogue
  sarah's family went to disneyland last weekend. on monday she is talking about it with her colleague susan.
  莎拉全家在上周末去迪斯尼乐园了。在周一她正在和同事苏珊讨论这次游玩。
  sarah: have you ever been to disneyland,susan?
  莎拉：苏珊，你去过迪士尼乐园吗？
  susan: when i was young, my parents took me to the one in california.
  苏珊：小时候，我爸爸妈妈带我去过加利福尼亚的那个。
  sarah: oh, last sunday we took our son to the disneyland. he likes amusement parks very much.
  莎拉：哦，上星期天我们带孩子去了。他非常喜欢去游乐园。
  susan: did you have a good time?
  苏珊：你们玩得尽兴吗？
  sarah: of course we did. first we took a roller-coaster. i was sick and dizzy. but my son thought that was totally coolsville! he said the roller-coaster rocked! he wanted to ride it again!
  莎拉：我们当然玩得很尽兴。我们刚开始做了过山车，坐得我晕头转向的。但是我们的儿子却觉得很棒。他说做过山车太刺激了，还想再坐一次！
  susan: if you don't think twice about the rides and go on every ride that you can,you'll have loads of fun.
  苏珊：如果你能不假思索地去坐每样游乐设施，而且什么都能玩，那你就一定能玩得很开心。
  sarah: maybe. my son also thought the characters in costumes were cool and when he grew up, he wanted to be one.
  莎拉：也许吧。我的孩子还觉得穿道具服的卡通人物很酷，长大了也想做一个卡通人物。
  susan: ha-ha, kids are always so cute!
  苏珊：哈哈，孩子都是那么可爱！
  notes
  1. disneyland ['diznil?nd] n. 迪斯尼乐园
  2. california [?k?li'f?:nj?] n. 加利福尼亚，加州
  3. amusement park 游乐场
  4. roller-coaster ['r?ul?'k?ust?] n. 过山车；云霄飞车；惊险游戏车
  5. coolsville ['ku:lzvil] adj. lt;美俚gt;顶呱呱的，极好的
  6. loads of 大量，许多
  7. cute [kju:t] adj. 可爱的，聪明的，伶俐的；n. 智取敌方的策略 / 手段，灵巧
  小贴士
  ferris wheel 摩天轮
  giant stride 旋转飞椅
  monorail 单轨列车
  swinging boat 海盗船
  merry-go-round 旋转木马
  excursion boat 观览艇
  revolving boat 碰碰船
  mini-train 小火车
  go-cart 单座赛车
  mad-mouse 疯狂老鼠
  与海洋动物亲密接触
  dialogue
  susan and julie had an appointment to go to the aquarium together at 9:00 a.m. on sunday. now they meet outside the aquarium.
  苏珊和朱莉约好在周日上午9点去海洋馆。现在她们在海洋馆外面碰面了。
  susan: hi, julie. i'm sorry for being late. have you waited for a long time?
  苏珊：嗨，朱莉。很抱歉我迟到了。你在这等了很久吗？
  julie: i've been here for an hour.
  朱莉：我已经在这等一个小时了。
  susan: what? that's impossible. i couldn't have been late for so long.
  苏珊：什么？不可能的。我不可能迟到这么长时间的。
  julie: ha-ha, just kidding. i arrived here just now, then you appeared. let's get in. i have bought two tickets.
  朱莉：哈哈，开个玩笑。我前脚刚到，你后脚就跟着来了。我们进去吧。我已经买了两张票。
  susan: oh, julie. i am at a loss whether to cry or to laugh.
  苏珊：噢，朱莉。你真是让我哭笑不得。
  julie: look at this! it's so cute! what on the earth is it? it's only about three centimeters long. and more interestingly, it has wings, looks like an angel.
  朱莉：看这个！好可爱呀！这到底是什么东西？差不多只有3厘米长。更有趣的是，它还有翅膀，看起来像个天使。
  susan: i know it's called a sea angel!
  苏珊：我知道这叫海洋天使！
  julie: it swims by flapping its wings. wow…it's so beautiful!
  朱莉：它靠拍动翅膀来游动。哇……太美了！
  susan: yeah, it's also intelligent.
  苏珊：是呀，还特别有灵性呢。
  notes
  1. aquarium [?'kw??ri?m] n. 水族馆；养鱼缸
  2. at a loss 困惑，不知所措
  3. fla [fl?p] n.拍打，拍打声；片状垂悬物；v. 拍打；鼓翼而飞
  4. intelligent [in'telid??nt] adj. 聪明的，智能的；有理性的
  小贴士
  have you ever seen a whale in an aquarium? “of course”, you may answer.and have you even seen a whale that can talk? a japanese researcher says he has taught a beluga whale called nack to “talk” by using sounds to identify three different objects. isn't it wonderful? nack emits a short, high-pitched sound when he sees a swimming fin, a long, high-pitched sound when he sees goggles and a short, low-pitched sound when he sees a bucket. he correctly chooses the right object when the three sounds are played back to him. the research offers hope that one day humans may be able to hold conversations with sea mammals.
  你在水族馆见过鲸鱼吗？你也许会说“当然见过”。那你见过会讲话的鲸鱼吗？日本一位科研人员称，他成功教会了一头名叫纳克的白鲸用声音“说出”三个不同的物体。这难道不稀奇吗？每当纳克看见游动的鳍状物时，它会发出一阵短高音；当它看到潜水镜时，会发出长高音；而看到水桶时，它又会发出一声短低音。之后再将这三种声音播放给它听时，它也能正确地识别出相应的物品。这项研究成果为人类有朝一日与海洋哺乳动物对话带来了希望。