情境导读
Dick一家一起看杂技，表演非常精彩，令他们叹为观止。
英语情景会话
(以下D代表Dick.N代表Nicole)
N: Get a load of that! The boy is doing tightrope walking and making faces.
D: Incredible! It's a feast for the eyes.
N: Yes, I hear of that the programs of Chinese Acrobatic Circus are marvelous, and some of them won gold medals in various well-known international acrobatic contests such as in France. Hungary, Russia and Italy.
D: Wonderful! Look at our boys. They love the circus performance!
N :What are they doing? They are scary. I'm afraid that the acrobats might fall down to the ground.
D: Oh, the fling trapeze acts. Don't worry about them. They are skillful acrobats, and what is more. they have safety ropes fastened on them.
N: How do they pull this together?
D: It will take a lot of skills. And practice makes perfect.
N: Yes, they are doing such a hard and dangerous job. It's really breathtaking.
英语笔记
1.get a load of 连读作/ˈɡe ˈtə ˈləʊ ˈdəf/。
2.此处发生弱读和同化现象，what are they 读作/ˈwədəðeɪ/。
3.the flying trapeze acts 意为“空中飞人表演”。
4.take a lot of 连读为/ˈteɪ ˈkə ˈlɒ ˈtf/。
英语语音语调
弱读和同化
你听到的what are they发生了弱读和同化，所以读作/ˈwədəðeɪ/，而不是/ˈwɒtɒ:ðeɪ/。在特殊疑问句中，句首的特殊疑问词一般要强读。但在较快的语速中，也可以弱读。弱读时特殊疑问词常与后面的词一起互相影响而同化，从而发生音变。如：
What is he/ˈwədɪzɪ/doing?
他在干什么?
What is she/ˈwədɪʃɪ/writing?
她在写什么?
What am I/ˈwədəmaɪ/singing?
我在唱什么?