提示：点击↑上方"小芳老师"免费哦
6 Minute English - New transport on two wheels
The bicycle is the most popular form of two-wheeled transport in the world, but could we all soon be using hoverboards? They look like a skateboards and are used by pop stars such as Lilly Allen and Justin Bieber. Listen to what happens when a BBC reporter tries a hoverboard, and learn some new vocabulary.
This weeks question
Is it legal to ride a hoverboard on the pavement in the UK? Yes or no?
You can hear the right answer at the of the programme.
Transcript
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Finn
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. Im Finn…
Neil
… and Im Neil. Hello.
Finn
Today were talking about one of the latest forms of transport on two wheels.
Neil
Yes. Were not talking about bicycles here.
Finn
No, were talking about a… self-balancing transport device. What a complicated name! Now a device is an object which has been created for a particular purpose. But yes, you need tobalanceon this device which means you need to stand on it and not fall over.
Neil
Well this device has other names as well. Its called a rideable because you ride on it like you ride on a bicycle – or you can call it a self-balancing scooter- or others call it a hoverboard.
Finn
Thats perhaps because it looks like a skateboard perhaps… but its different, isnt it?
Neil
Yes it is, it is a bit different. And well be finding out more about hoverboards in a moment, but first its time for our quiz question. Im going to make a statement and I want you to tell me, Finn, if it is true or false. OK?
Finn
OK.
Neil
Here in the UK, its illegalto ride a hoverboard on thepavement. Is that true or false, Finn? What do you think?
Finn
Well, Ive actually seen someone riding a hoverboard on the pavement so Ill say its false. I think its legal to ride one on the pavement.
Neil
OK, then. Well see if youre right at the of the programme.
Finn
OK. So, Neil have you ever tried riding on a hoverboard?
Neil
No, I havent, but I would like to give it a go. It looks like a skateboard, but it is different – it moves differently – and it goes in a different direction – it goes… sideways.
Finn
Yes. And, you know, the other big difference is that it is motorised. And when you change your balance the wheels turn. So when you lean forwards – you move forwards – and when you lean back you slow down and stop… and if you lean even further back, then you actually move backwards.
Neil
Yes. So its hard to keep your balance. Like a skateboard, you need to practise to get good at this.
Finn
And Im no good at skateboards. And I think, you know, if you dont practise youll fall off the hoverboard lots of times.
Neil
BBC reporter Emma Ailes has tried a hoverboard. Who else has tried one of these rideables? Listen to her report.
INSERT
Emma Ailes, BBC Reporter
So you may have seen in recent weeks celebritieslike Justin Bieber and Lily Allen riding one of these. Its a self-balancing transportation device or some people call them rideables. Ive never had a go but I am going tointegrateone into my life in the next couple of days and see how Iget on.
Neil
And that was the BBC reporter Emma Ailes. She said that shes going to integrateriding a hoverboard into her everyday life and so perhaps shell travel to the BBC on a hoverboard. Now to integrate means to combine things to make them more efficient.
Finn
Or maybe shell go shopping on a hoverboard. Now she talked about celebrities – famous people - who are using hoverboards.
Neil
Yeah. She mentioned two celebrities – singers Lily Allen – whos British. And Justin Bieber - hes from Canada. So people are using hoverboards all over the world.
Finn
Neil, you were telling me about a guy you saw last week.
Neil
Yes, I was at a shopping centre and there were all these kids – teenagers - watching this guy using a hoverboard. Of course they all wanted to try it. You could hear them shouting: "Can I have a go? Can I have a go? Can I have a go?" Now, to have a go means to try something.
Finn
Yes. Now what was our reporters experience of using a hoverboard? How did she get on? Did she learn how to use it? Did she enjoy using it?
INSERT
Emma Ailes
So overall this is really good fun and I definitely recomm giving it a go. But there are some downsides. Its really heavy, its illegal to use it on the pavement and its quite embarrassing being stared at. So are two wheels better than two legs? For me, probably not.
Finn
So that was the BBC reporter Emma once again. And she tried to use the two wheels of the hoverboard to move around but she said she prefers moving with her two legs.
Neil
But she did say this about using a hoverboard - its good fun and she definitely recomms that people try it – they should give it a go!
Finn
But she said there are also some downsides– some bad things. First, its heavy.
Neil
Yes, its not very easy carrying a heavy hoverboard.
Finn
Also when she uses it everyone looks at her and they dont stop looking – they stare at her and she says thats embarrassing.
Neil
And there is one more downside about using a self-balancing scooter. And this is also the answer to our quiz question… I asked if its true or false that its illegal to ride a hoverboard on the pavement in the UK.
Finn
And I said that its false.
Neil
And you are… wrong. Its illegal. There is a law here about that.
Finn
Yes, I realised I guessed the wrong answer when I heard that clip from Emmas report there.
Neil
Yes. Their use is illegal under Section 72 of the Highway Act 1835 for use on the public pavements and roads in the UK.
Finn
Oh, very impressive, Neil. Now, you can use a hoverboard, Ive heard, on private propertyif you have permission from the owner but NOT on public pavements and roads.
Neil
OK. Well, next time you see your fri Justin Bieber, Finn, tell him that.
Finn
I will. Now, thats all for today. Please do join us again soon.
Neil
Please do. And lets hear the words before we go.
Finn
OK. We heard:
device
balance
pavement
scooter
skateboard
celebrities
to get on
to have a go
illegal
private property
That is it now. And well see you next time.
Neil
Goodbye!
Vocabulary
device
an object invented for a certain purpose
to balance
to stand (on something) without falling over
pavement
the hard path you walk on next to a road (sidewalk in American English)
scooter
a board with wheels and handlebars you stand on with one foot and push with the other to travel
skateboard
a board with wheels you stand on with one foot and push with the other to travel
celebrities
famous people, for example pop stars
to get on
(here) to be successful, to manage
to have a go
to try to do something
illegal
not legal, against the law
private property
land and/or buildings that belong to someone, not to the public
合集收藏
觉得不错，一定点赞呢！！！
