重点词汇

overview  美 [ˈoʊvərvjuː]  概述、概览、概况

birthplace  美[ˈbɜːrθpleɪs] 出生的、发源地、发祥地

border  美[ˈbɔːrdər]  国界、边界、与.....接壤

carbon dioxide    美[ˌkɑːrbən daɪˈɑːksaɪd]    二氧化碳

creek  美[kriːk] 小海湾、小港湾

inland 美[ˌɪnˈlænd , ˈɪnlænd] 内陆的、内地的

island 美 [ˈaɪlənd] 岛、使孤立

nitrogen  美[ˈnaɪtrədʒən] 氮气

population 美[ˌpɑːpjuˈleɪʃn] 人口、人口数量、族群

report  美[rɪˈpɔːrt] 汇报、报告、通报、发表、报道

representative  美[ˌreprɪˈzentətɪv] 代表、销售代表、销售代理

security 美[sɪˈkjʊrəti] 保护措施、安全工作、保安部门、保证

technical  美[ˈteknɪkl] 技术的、技能的、专业的

frustrated  美[ˈfrʌstreɪtɪd] 懊恼、沮丧 、挫败、使失忆

Overview of Earth

Earth is where we all live. 

It is our home in the solar system.

There is no other place for us to live. 

Earth isn’t just any planet.

It’s a very special place. 

It’s special because we depend on it for many things.

Because of its importance, we need to take care of it.

We depend on the Earth  for its air, its water and many of its natural resources.

Natural resources such as coal and oil give us energy.

Other natural resources we depend on include forests and soil.

Forests provide clean air and wood for building houses.

Soil is needed to grow plants and keep them healthy. 

We need to take care of these resources and not waste them.

The Earth is a large rotating sphere about 4.5 billion years old.

The equator which divides the earth into 2hemispheres, is about 40,000 kilometers long.

The Earth diameter is 12,756 kilometers.

Its radius is half that, or 6378 kilometers.

The radius is the distance from the Earth’s center to its surface.

Most of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. 

The rest of the Earth’s surface is land.

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Just above the Earth surface is the atmosphere.

The atmosphere is a layer of gases, about 500 kilometers thick.

These gases include oxygen,nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

This mixture of gases is the air that we breathe.

As we move above the Earth’s surface, the air gets thinner. 

At high altitudes,the air is too thin to breathe.

At the edge of the atmosphere is space.

There is no air at all in space.

Water on Earth

Most of the earth’s water is in the ocean.

The two largest oceans are the Pacific (太平洋）and Atlantic Oceans（大西洋）.

Unfortunately, we can’t drink ocean water.

This is because the ocean water has too much salt.

Fortunately, there is also water in lakes and rivers.

This water isn’t salty so we can drink it.

Only about 2% of the world’s water is fresh water.

Without fresh drinking water, we can’t live.

A person can’t live for more than a few days without water.

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Rivers are important.

Most rivers begin in mountains and end in the oceans.

The water flows from high ground to low ground.

At first, rivers are small and are called creeks or streams.

As water enters from other streams, a river grows.

Some rivers become very large and long.

The longest river in the world is the Nile River in Africa.

It’s almost 6,500 kilometers long.

As for the water volume, the Amazon is the largest river.

The volume of water flowing through it persecond（每秒）is more than in any other river.

Another use of rivers is for energy.

The energy of falling water is used to produce electricity.

This use of water supplies over 20% of the world’s electricity.

Rivers are also important for agriculture.

Without water, farmers cannot grow food.

And of course, rivers can be used for transportation.

River boats are used to carry things toinland cities or lakes.

A Driverless Car

Hey! Look at that.

Look at what?

Look out the window.

Do you see the young lady in the red dress?

Yeah, I see her.

Wow! she’s beautiful and hot.

Look at the way she walks.

Yes, now look behind her.

Look in the car that’s following her.

I’d rather to look at the young lady.(我宁愿看美女）

So what’s so special about the car?

Look at the driver.

Do you see one?

No, I don’t.

There isn’t anybody driving the car.

Right, it 's one of those new driverless cars.

Maybe it’s the woman’s car.

It’s following her.

I don’t know. Maybe you’re right.

Now, that’s a smart car.

Maybe I’ll go outside and follow her too.

Hey, get back to work! 

Calling Customer Service

Thank you for calling our customer support.

Please listen to the following menu to help us to direct your call.

Please say or press 1 to pay your bill.

Please say or press 2 to upgrade your service plan.

Please say or press 3 to report a technical problem.

Please say or press 4 if you want to hear these choices again.

I don’t want any of these choices.

You may also go to our website for help.

I went to your website but it didn’t help.

I want to speak to a human being.

Your business is very important to us.

Please say or press 5 or hang up to end this call. 

None of these!

I want a human being.

I want to cancel my service.

Please wait while we connect you to a service representative.

Finally, this is what they called customer services?

To assist our representative, please say your first and last name.

Tom, Smith. 

We heard Tom, Smith. 

If this is correct, say or press 1.

If this is not correct, say or press 2. 

1.

Thank you.

For security purposes, what was your father’s middle name?

He didn’t have a middle name.

Thank you, 

A customer service representative will be with you shortly.

I’m sorry but our offices are closed.

Please call back during business hours.

Our business offices are open Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 6 pm.

Thank you for calling.