分类： Let’s Learn English (Level 1)

Speaking

Pronunciation

Conversation

Anna: Hi, there, sports fans! Baseball is America’s sport. Today, I am going to Nationals Park. It is home to Washington, D.C.’s baseball team — the Washington Nationals!
Anna: Hi, Jonathan!
Jonathan: Hi, Anna! Where are you going?
Anna: I am taking a bus to a Nationals baseball game!
Jonathan: Don’t take the bus. A taxi is faster than a bus.
Anna: Oh, good idea. You know I love baseball.
Jonathan: That’s great. Have fun.
Anna: In fact, I wanted to be a baseball player.
Jonathan: Is this one of your memories? I’m really busy.
Anna: This won’t take long. I can see it now… I am at home plate. I wait for the pitch. The ball comes. I swing. It’s a hit! I run to first base, second base, third base, then home plate. It’s a home run! The crowd cheers! Woo hoo!
Jonathan: You really love baseball. Have fun at the game, Anna.
Anna: Thanks, Jonathan.Taxi!
Ashley: Hi, Anna. Where are you going?
Anna: Hi, Ashley. I am going to see a Nationals baseball game!
Ashley: What time is the game?
Anna: 7 o’clock.
Ashley: Do you have a ticket?
Anna: No, not yet.
Ashley: Anna, you should go a lot earlier than 7 o’clock.
Anna: That is why I’m taking a taxi. Taxi!
Ashley: Anna, Anna, that’s not a good idea. A bicycle is faster than a taxi.
Anna: Oh, Ashley. Ashley, Ashley, Ashley. A car is faster than your bicycle.
Ashley: In D.C. traffic sometimes a bicycle is faster than a car. And right now, there is a lot of traffic.
Anna: Good point. But I don’t have a bicycle.
Ashley: Okay, Anna, you can use my bicycle.
Anna: Thanks! I really want to learn how to ride one.
Ashley: What do you mean, learn how to ride a bike? Oh, Anna! Anna, Anna!
Ashley: You know, Anna, the Metro is faster than a taxi and a bicycle. You ought to take the Metro. It’s that way.
Anna: Good idea.
Ashley: OK.
Anna: See you later!
Ashley: Bye, Anna!
Anna: Bye!
Anna: The Metro was a lot faster than a bus, taxi or bike. And now I’m at Nationals Park! Look at all these fans! So many people like to watch baseball. There’s the ticket window. What? The tickets are sold out? Nooooooo!Nooooooo! But I really want to watch a baseball game. Does anyone have an extra ticket?
Fan: Next time, you should buy your ticket online.
Anna: Thanks. Thanks a lot. It is good advice. Being early is better than being late. Until next time …

Speaking

Pronunciation

Conversation

Anna: Hello! Washington, D.C. sits on the Potomac River. This river is important to the history and culture of the city. Today, I am at an outdoor seafood market near the Potomac River. Some say it is the oldest outdoor seafood market in the United States! I am here to buy seafood. Let’s see what they have!
Anna: Excuse me. Can you help me?
Pete: Sure! What do you need?
Anna: Pete!
Pete: Anna!
Anna: What are you doing here?
Pete: I work here. You know, it’s not easy to be a writer.
Anna: Yeah, I heard that. Sorry.
Pete: But this job is great. I work outside by the river. And I can eat all the free seafood I want!
Anna: That is great, Pete. In fact, I am here to buy some seafood for my dinner party.
Pete: You came to the right place. They have the freshest seafood in town. How much money can you spend?
Anna: I can only spend $50.
Pete: Okay. What do you want?
Anna: First, I want to buy some shrimp.
Pete: Sure thing. Follow me. How much shrimp do you want?
Anna: How much do I need for five people?
Pete: (yells to co-worker) Give her a pound of shrimp!
Anna: Ok, now I want to buy some crabs.
Pete: The crabs here are delicious! They are the best because they come from the nearby Chesapeake Bay! Walk this way.
Pete: How many crabs do you want?
Anna: I want a dozen crabs.
Pete: You should get the larger crabs. They have the most meat.
Anna: Then I want a dozen large crabs, please!
Pete: Is that everything you need?
Anna: Let’s see … I have shrimp and crabs. And a friend is bringing a salad and many ears of corn-on-the-cob.
Pete: Is that all the seafood that you need?
Anna: Yes.
Pete: That’ll be $49.95. Cash or credit?
Anna: Credit, please.
Pete: Anna, you love to eat seafood. Did you grow up on the water?
Anna: No, I didn’t. But I love the water. And I love being on the water.
Pete: You know how to sail?
Anna: Well … this afternoon I am going on a boat.
Pete: You are full of surprises. What kind of boat? Is it a motorboat or a sailboat?
Anna: It’s a special boat, Pete. Well, thanks for your help. See you later!
Pete: See you, Anna! Wow, Anna’s a sailor! Who knew?
Anna: Yes, rivers are important to the history and culture of Washington, D.C. And now I am part of this city’s interesting waterfront culture. Until next time!

Speaking

Pronunciation

Conversation

Anna: Hello! In Washington, D.C., there are many places that bring history to life. But people who live here often do not have time to see them. They are too busy with work — like me. Hi, Marsha!
Marsha: Hi, Anna! Have a seat.
Anna: Thanks. This was a good idea. Working outdoors is nice.
Marsha: Um-hum, it is.
Anna: I am tired. Today was a busy day at work. And I still have work to do!
Marsha: Hmm, that’s too bad.
Anna: How are you these days?
Marsha: I’m really busy too, Anna. Let’s get to work.
Anna: Marsha, look! That bus has a photo of Abraham Lincoln!
Marsha: That’s an advertisement for Ford’s Theatre. They have a new show.
Anna: They have shows where Abraham Lincoln died?
Marsha: Yeah, it’s a working theater and a museum.
Anna: I love Lincoln. You know, Marsha, that advertisement reminds me of something.
Marsha: Um-hum. What’s that?
Anna: When I was a little girl … When I was a little girl … I was not like other children.
Marsha: Um-hum, I can believe that.
Anna’s voice: I was a tall, serious child. At the playground the other children played silly games. They played with dart guns. They played on the swings, the slide and the teeter-totter. They also played ball But not me. I loved to read serious books about U.S. presidents.
Anna: In fact, I wanted to be … don’t laugh … President of the United States.
Marsha: (laughs)
Anna: Stop! I know it’s a silly childhood dream.
Marsha: I’m sorry. It’s not silly. Guess what I wanted to be?
Anna: What?
Marsha: I wanted to be… an astronaut.
Anna: Really?
Marsha’s Voice: When I was a kid, I studied the stars and planets. I wanted to fly into outer space!
Anna: You know, Marsha, childhood dreams are really important.
Marsha: They are. And it’s good to remember them.
Anna: Hey! I have an idea. Let’s go.
Marsha: Go where?
Anna: Let’s go make our childhood dreams come true.
Marsha: We’re going to the Air & Space Museum! Yes!
Anna: No. We’re going to see a show at Ford’s Theatre just like Abraham Lincoln did when he died! It’s not far from here.
Marsha: Uh huh. That is your childhood dream.
Anna: Good point. Okay, next week, we’ll come here and be astronauts.
Marsha: Honestly?
Anna: Honestly.
Anna: Tonight we are seeing a show at Ford’s Theatre, where a man shot President Abraham Lincoln. This is history come to life … and a childhood dream come true! Until next time …