【英语趣味课堂】几维鸟-The Kiwi

Todd: OK, Leonard, now, when most people think of Kiwi, at least Americans, we think of the fruit.

 

Leo: Right, right. Also in Japan as well.

 

Todd: Oh, really! OK. But, uh, people from New Zealand are called Kiwis not because of the fruit I take it.

 

Leo: That's right. That's right. The nickname¹ for New Zealanders is Kiwi, and actually the Kiwi bird... Kiwi is actually a Maori name, and Maori are the native people of New Zealand.

 

Todd: Oh, wow!

 

Leo: And so Kiwi, the pronunciation of Kiwi K-I-W-I KEE-WEE, Maori has similar pronunciation to the Japanese language, ah, ee, uu, eh, oh. They pronounce the vowels².

 

Todd: OK. I'm..what is Kiwi?

 

Leo: A kiwi is a nocturnal bird, which only walks, it doesn't fly.

 

Todd: OK. So nocturnal means it only comes out at night.

 

Leo: Right. Right. And in the deep forest. Actually, you'd never see a Kiwi if you went to New Zealand, unless you went to the zoo.

 

Todd: Oh, really!

 

Leo: Right!

 

Todd: OK.

 

Leo: And the brown Kiwi is the most, uh, rarest of them all. They're only I think, there are less than one thousand brown kiwis left.

 

Todd: Wow. So..

 

Leo: It can only be found in New Zealand.

 

Todd: Ok. OK. maybe I missed it but can it fly.

 

Leo: No, no it can't.

 

Todd: It can't fly.

 

Leo: It can only walk.

 

Todd: Wow, so it only comes out at night...in the deep forest and it can't fly.

 

Leo: You'd be surprised. If you go to New Zealand, uh, there are over twenty different types of birds that walk.

 

Todd: Really! That's fascinating. Well, thanks for telling us about the Kiwi.

 

Leo: You're welcome.

 

学习内容：

 

at least

 

When people think of Kiwi, at least Americans, they think of the fruit.

 

We use the phrase 'at least' like this to give more specific information to a general statement.  The sentence isn't talking about all people, it is specifically³ talking about Americans. Notice the following:

 

This week, at least Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, he will be very busy.

Most teenagers, at least the students that I have, always have their cell phones with them.

as well

 

People in Japan think of the Kiwi as a fruit, as well.

 

'As well' means the same as 'also' and 'too.' Notice the following:

 

I think I will get a chocolate ice cream as well.

He works⁴ at Best Buy as well.

less than

 

There are less than one thousand brown Kiwis left.

 

The phrase 'less than' is used with a number to mean the same as 'fewer than.'  It means that the number of Kiwis left is below 1,000. Notice the following:

 

We have less than a half a tank of gas.

There were less than 50 people at the wedding.

nocturnal

 

The Kiwi is a nocturnal bird, so it only comes out at night.

 

Something that is 'nocturnal' is most active during the night. Notice the following:

 

I am kind of a nocturnal person and enjoy staying up late.

Bats are nocturnal animals.

over

 

In New Zealand, there are over twenty different types of birds that walk.

 

When 'over' is used like this it means 'more than' and is used in combination⁵ with a number. Notice the following:

 

I have over 20 new emails.

You must be tired.  You drove for over ten hours today.

1 nickname   

n.绰号，昵称；v.给...取绰号，叫错名字

参考例句：

• She called me by my nickname.她叫我的外号。
• Why do you fasten such a nickname on her?你为什么给她取这样一个绰号？

2 vowels   

n.元音，元音字母( vowel的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Vowels possess greater sonority than consonants. 元音比辅音响亮。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Note the various sounds of vowels followed by r. 注意r跟随的各种元音的发音。 来自超越目标英语 第3册

3 specifically   

adv.明确地，具体地；特别地，特意

参考例句：

• The book was written specifically for children.这本书是特地为儿童编写的。
• I told you specifically not to do that.我明确地告诉你不要那样做。

4 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

5 combination   

n.组合，合并，联合；

参考例句：

• He carried on the business in combination with his friends.他与朋友们合伙做生意。
• The materials can be used singly or in combination.这些材料可以单独使用也可以混合用。