【英语趣味课堂】欧洲的城市-European Cities

Chris: So Adelina, that’s how you say, right, Adelina?

 

Ade: Actually everybody calls me Ade.

 

Chris: Well that’s fine. So Ade, tell me what are your favorite cities in Europe?

 

Ade: Well first of all I have to say I like other continents a lot more than Europe. But if I have to choose one city I will say definitely¹ London.

 

Chris: Actually I don’t see you as a London girl.

 

Ade: And why not? I was living in London four years and actually it’s a city full of life. You can find whatever you want in there, clubbing, shopping, culture, it’s a melting pot.

 

Chris: A melting pot?

 

Ade: Yes, melting pot. It’s a very common expression, all British use it. They refer to London as a melting pot because of all the nationalities living there. There are so many people for all around the world that actually is weird² if you find an English person living in London.

 

Chris: Okay, interesting. I actually never heard of that expression. So you just said you lived there for four years, but then tell me, what was the purpose of that, did you live there for work, maybe a boyfriend?

 

Ade: Boyfriend? No, no boyfriend. I don’t like English guys. But the thing is that I just went there to spend a summer and improve my English. But after a while I fell in love with the city and I decided³ to stay there a little bit longer. And then I thought, why not profit some time there and do something. So I started MA in audiovisual translation. And that was one year long. So actually I was living there for four years and I did also some waitressing jobs, just to get some extra money and do a living there, because actually London is a very expensive city, so.

 

Chris: Oh yes, I totally understand you. I was there on holidays as well. So actually now do you think you could live there again?

 

Ade: Not at all, that was a chapter of my life that has completely ended. Now I just chase⁴ the sun.

 

Chris: Oh yes, also not a bad idea. So tell me, what about other cities, are there other cities that you specially⁵ like in Europe?

 

Ade: Yes, Ibiza in Spain is one of my favorites.

 

Chris: Wow, Ibiza! Well actually when you talk about Ibiza the first thing that comes up in my mind is partying, clubbing. Was that the idea of going to Ibiza?

 

Ade: No, not at all. Everybody is so wrong about Ibiza. Ibiza is worldwide known about clubbing and parties and DJs. But actually Ibiza is a tiny island but it has so much to offer, for example, the sunsets, there are these amazing sunsets and these hiding places where you can just relax and enjoy the nature.

 

Chris: Oh yes, it’s true, sunsets, I heard of its famous sunsets on Ibiza. So actually I think of going to Mallorca this summer and I might go a few days to see Ibiza. Can you tell me some famous places to see one of the best sunsets there?

 

Ade: Don’t go to Cafe del Mar⁶ for example, it’s a popular one but you don’t have the best sunset there. There is a place named Cala Conta and there is a bar there called Sunset Ashram, that is the best place.

 

Chris: Sounds great. Thanks for the tip. I will tell you about my experience when I’m back again. By the way, should I start going to the gym and buy me one of these little swim shorts like the Italians all at the beach in Ibiza?

 

Ade: Don’t be a fool. But well, you just said, Italy is also a great place and I love Italy. Actually Florence is also one of my favorite cities in Europe.

 

Chris: Oh yes, that’s true, I hear a lot of people talking so good about Florence. But as well another city I never went to.

 

Ade: You should, actually Florence is like going back in time 100 years. It’s full of art and the duomo is the greatest part. And also you can find the Michelangelo and of course the food, it’s very nice food like in Spain, you can really enjoy there. It’s a small city but it’s very, very authentic⁷.

 

Chris: Wow! It seems you’ve been to quite a lot of places already in Europe.

 

Ade: Not only in Europe, I’m a traveler, I’m a nomad⁸. The more I travel the wiser I get.

 

Chris: Yes indeed, that’s what they say at least. Well thank you very much Ade.

 

Ade: Thanks to you, it was a pleasure.

 

重点词汇：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

melting pot

 

It’s a melting pot.

 

A melting pot is a very international place with lots of different kinds of people. Notice the following:

 

New York is definitely a melting pot.

America is often called a melting pot because it has a very multicultural⁹ population.

much to offer

 

Ibiza is a tiny island but it has so much to offer.

 

A place that has much to offer, has many lifestyle choices and fun things things to do. Notice the following:

 

New York has much to offer: culture, entertainment, restaurants.

My city is so boring. It does not have much to offer.

Thanks for the tip

 

Thanks for the tip.

 

We often reply 'Thanks for the tip' when we get good advice about something. Notice the following:

 

When in L.A., you should go to Manhattan Beach.

Thanks for the tip.

Don't be a fool!

 

Don't be a fool.

 

The phrase "Don't be fool' is used to tell someone to stop thinking or acting¹⁰ foolishly. Notice the following:

 

We plan to run across campus¹¹ naked¹².

Don't be a fool!

nomad

 

I’m a traveler, I’m a nomad.

 

We use the term 'nomad' to describe people who love to budget travel and live cheaply abroad. Notice the following:

 

In college, I was a total nomad.

These days, young people like to be digital nomads¹³ and operate businesses as they travel.

 

1 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

2 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 chase   

vt.追逐，追赶，追求；n.追赶

参考例句：

• The police grabbed the robbers after a long chase.警察经过长距离追赶后逮住了抢劫犯。
• Would you chase me if I did?如果我逃开了，你会来追吗？

5 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

6 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

7 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

8 nomad   

n.游牧部落的人，流浪者，游牧民

参考例句：

• He was indeed a nomad of no nationality.他的确是个无国籍的游民。
• The nomad life is rough and hazardous.游牧生活艰苦又危险。

9 multicultural   

adj.融合多种文化的，多种文化的

参考例句：

• Children growing up in a multicultural society.在多元文化社会中长大的孩子们。
• The school has been attempting to bring a multicultural perspective to its curriculum.这所学校已经在尝试将一种多元文化视角引入其课程。

10 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

11 campus   

n.大学校园，学校校园；大学　

参考例句：

• They spoke of the old days on the campus.他们谈起昔日的校园生活。
• The campus covers an area of twenty square kilometres.这个校园占地二十平方公里。

12 naked   

adj.裸露的；赤裸裸的，无遮蔽的

参考例句：

• To the east of our school,there's a naked hillside.我们学校东边有片光秃秃的山坡。
• The children stripped off their clothes and swam naked in the river.孩子们脱得光溜溜的在河里游泳。

13 nomads   

n.游牧部落的一员( nomad的名词复数 )；流浪者；游牧生活；流浪生活

参考例句：

• For ten years she dwelled among the nomads of North America. 她在北美游牧民中生活了十年。
• Nomads have inhabited this region for thousands of years. 游牧民族在这地区居住已有数千年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》