Let's talk2

LET’S TALK 1
3B-1A
Zorb is the name of the latest exciting sport
to come out of New Zealand
— the country that gave you bungee jumping.
Well, first of all, let me tell you,
Zorb can be very exciting.
3B-1A
There are two large clear balls.
One ball fits inside of the other ball.
Do you think you want to try it?
Next, if you decide to try Zorb,
you climb inside the smaller ball.
3B-1A
Now, let’s make sure you’re comfortable!
Then, you’re almost ready to go, but not quite.
Before you go, someone pours some cold water inside of the ball.
Now get ready!
Next, someone pushes you down a hill.
3B-1A
As you roll down the hill,
the ball goes faster and faster.
You go so fast
that you are pushed up against the walls of the ball.
But don’t worry.
Nobody can get hurt doing Zorb!
3B-1A
When you stop at the bottom of the hill,
you climb out,
and you’ll be completely soaking wet!
Finally, it’s time for someone else to try Zorb.
Or, do you want to go again?
3B-1B
Danny has just tried Zorb.
Danny, how do you feel?
Not too good. I feel a little sick.
It was OK at first, but it got worse and worse.
I thought I was going to die!
3B-1B
I... I feel awful.
And, you know, I just... I just want to lie down and try to forget all about it!
Hee-Young, how do you feel?
Wonderful! That was amazing.
3B-1B
I feel like I’ve just been in a washing machine.
I can’t really stand up.
But it was great. I loved it!
Do you both want to go again?
Yes! No way!
4A-2B1
First, Yumiko.
Hi, Yumiko. How was your trip?
Oh, great. San Francisco is a really fun city.
How was the weather?
4A-2B1
Well, I was there in March,
and it was pretty cool.
Most mornings it was foggy.
Did you take the right clothes?
Yes, I had warm clothes, so I was fine.
4A-2B2
Next, Carlos.
Hey, Carlos, how was Phoenix?
Oh, wonderful! My friend and I went out into the desert,
and it was really hot and dry.
I had to keep drinking water,
and in the city I had to keep going inside air-conditioned buildings.
4A-2B2
Wow, I... I didn’t realize that Phoenix was that hot in June.
Oh, yeah, but I hear it gets even hotter in August! -
Really. Well, was it hot at night, too?
No, it was... it was much cooler.
I actually had to borrow a sweater.
4A-2B3
Next, Sylvie.
Hey, Sylvie, how was your trip to Mexico City?
You went last September, right?
Yeah, yeah. It was pretty good.
Did you have nice weather?
Well, uh... it was sunny and warm during the day.
4A-2B3
You know, the elevation of the city is very high,
so it got pretty cool at night.
It rained some, too.
Uh, cities aren’t much fun in the rain.
I know. I had to buy a raincoat and an umbrella.
4A-2B4
Finally, Adam
So, Adam, hey, how was your trip to Toronto?
Oh, great. I had a nice time.
I guess it was pretty cold and snowy in December there.
Well, no, it was actually sunny and warm.
4A-2B4
Yeah, people were sitting out in the parks enjoying the sun.
No snow, then?
No snow — no rain, either.
I completely took the wrong clothes!
Still, better safe than sorry.
4B-1B
Do you know where the hottest place in the United States is?
The hottest place?
Hmm, you know, I think I’ve heard this before.
I think it’s in Death Valley, in California, right?
— that’s right.
4B-1B
Apparently the highest temperature ever recorded there
was a hundred and thirty-four degrees Fahrenheit.
Yeah, that’s fifty-seven degrees Celsius.
OK, the coldest place, I bet that’s in Alaska, right?
4B-1B
Yeah, right. According to this, on January 23, 1971,
the temperature in Prospect Creek was minus eighty degrees Fahrenheit.
that’s minus sixty-two degrees Celsius.
Oh, that is way too cold! Yep.
4B-1B
OK, so if Death Valley in California is so hot,
then the driest place is probably also in California, right?
You’ve got it!
Let’s see, there’s a town named Baghdad
that once didn’t get any rain for two years.
4B-1B
And where do you think the snowiest place is?
Oh, let’s see, the snowiest place.
Uh, I give up. I have no idea.
Me neither. Let’s see what it says:
a place called Tamarack, also in California.
4B-1B
Over thirty-two feet of snow once fell in one month.
That’s over nine meters!
Now, where do you think the wettest place is?
OK, I’m going to take a guess here: California.
4B-1B
No, it’s in the town of Kukui, in Hawaii.
In 1982, over sixty feet of rain fell, or over eighteen meters.
Wow, that’s pretty wet.
OK, where’s the windiest place?
4B-1B
I don’t know. Let me see,
Mount Washington, in the state of New Hampshire.
That’s where the strongest wind was recorded:
three hundred and twenty-one miles per hour
4B-1B
— that’s over five hundred kilometers per hour.
All year round the average wind speed is over thirty-five miles per hour,
or fifty-six kilometers per hour!
That’s really amazing. It sure is.
4B-2A
Once again, tornado season is just around the corner.
Michael Levinson, an expert on tornadoes,
is here to tell us what to do during a tornado.
Uh, Michael, what’s your advice?
4B-2A
Well, the most important thing is to stay calm
and to find shelter immediately.
If... if you’re at home, just stay there.
OK. Which part of the house is the safest?
4B-2A
Well, the safest place would be the basement.
If you don’t have a basement,
go to a closet near the center of your home.
Cover yourself with a blanket.
4B-2A
And be sure to stay out of rooms with windows,
because if the glass breaks, it’s really dangerous.
And what if you’re at the office?
Well, again, don’t stay in rooms with windows.
4B-2A
Get to the middle of the building.
You must be far away from flying glass and metal.
And how about if you’re out in the countryside
and there are no buildings around, what then?
4B-2A
Well, in a situation like that,
if you’re outdoors, you find a low point.
Lie face down and cover your head
to protect yourself from any flying objects.
4B-2A
OK, and what if you’re in a car?
Should you try to drive away quickly?
Well, a car is probably the most dangerous place to be.
Get out of your car and get under a bridge.
4B-2A
Cover your head to protect yourself.
And remember: Never ever try to drive away from a tornado.
It’s just too dangerous.
Uh-huh. Thanks for the good advice, Michael.