英语口语对话（中级）Lesson 5:Crocodiles in Queensland

In this broadcast, Vanessa, and Nick are in the middle of a live show in a radio studio interviewing Patrick. Listen to their conversation and answer the question that follows about the main idea.
Dialogue:
NICK: We’re in the studio with someone everyone has been asking us to talk to again. Patrick the biologist specializing in crocs.
VANESSA: And Patrick our viewers have been bombarding us with questions for you.
PATRICK: Let’s hear them!
VANESSA: What’s the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?
PATRICK: They are cousins! But there are many differences between the two species. For instance alligators have a larger and rounder snout and they are usually darker skinned.
NICK: What do they eat?
PATRICK: Crocodiles ambush their dinner. They wait for fish or land animals to come close and then they attack them. They rarely go hunting because they can survive long periods without food.
VANESSA: Patrick, do crocodiles cry crocodile tears?

PATRICK: Crocodiles do produce tears but they don’t actually cry. The belief that crocodiles weep when they eat a victim is a myth.
VANESSA: What dangerous creatures can somebody come across on the Queensland Beaches?
PATRICK: Oh, Crocodiles, stingrays and sharks.
NICK: With all this talk about dangerous creatures at Queensland Beaches should tourists avoid the coastline?
PATRICK: Well they shouldn't because the dangers are minimal if you take the right precautions.
VANESSA: I was there some years ago and I can tell you that no visit to Queensland is complete without spending a couple of days at one of the beautiful beaches. But what should campers do if they see a crocodile?
PATRICK: Do not feed it. Do not take a photograph. Just walk away. And don’t forget to report crocodile sightings to local authorities.

VANESSA: Can you tell us a story of a crocodile attack?
PATRICK: Yeah. Some years ago a woman fought off a crocodile with her handbag! She was screaming and hitting the croc repeatedly on its sensitive nose. It soon turned tail and fled! Crocs don’t like resistance and they run away. VANESSA: Patrick, this has been fascinating, but unfortunately that’s all we’ve got time for. Thanks a million for being here.
PATRICK: It’s been a pleasure. Now answer the following question… What are the listeners interested in? Crocodiles and the dangers found at Queensland beaches. Now listen again to the dialogue in parts. After each part there will be 3 to 4 questions on the details...
Part 1
NICK: We’re in the studio with someone everyone has been asking us to talk to again. Patrick the biologist specializing in crocs.
VANESSA: And Patrick our viewers have been bombarding us with questions for you.
PATRICK: Let’s hear them!
VANESSA: What’s the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?
PATRICK: They are cousins! But there are many differences between the two species. For instance alligators have a larger and rounder snout and they are usually darker skinned.
NICK: What do they eat?
PATRICK: Crocodiles ambush their dinner. They wait for fish or land animals to come close and then they attack them. They rarely go hunting because they can survive long periods without food.
VANESSA: Patrick, do crocodiles cry crocodile tears?
PATRICK: Crocodiles do produce tears but they don’t actually cry. The belief that crocodiles weep when they eat a victim is a myth.
VANESSA: What dangerous creatures can somebody come across on the Queensland Beaches?
PATRICK: Oh, Crocodiles, stingrays and sharks.
Now get ready to answer the questions.
1. Vanessa says” our viewers have been bombarding us with questions?” What does “bombard someone with questions” mean? “Bombard someone with questions” means to ask someone a lot of questions.
2. Patrick says “Crocodiles ambush their dinner”. What does “ambush” mean? “Ambush” means to attack someone by surprise. `
3. Vanessa says “do crocodiles cry crocodile tears?” What are” crocodile tears”? “Crocodile tears” are false tears, when we cry but we don’t really feel sad.
Part 2
NICK: With all this talk about dangerous creatures at Queensland Beaches should tourists avoid the coastline?
PATRICK: Well they shouldn't because the dangers are minimal if you take the right precautions.
VANESSA: I was there some years ago and I can tell you that no visit to Queensland is complete without spending a couple of days at one of the beautiful beaches. But what should campers do if they see a crocodile?
PATRICK: Do not feed it. Do not take a photograph. Just walk away. And don’t forget to report crocodile sightings to local authorities.
VANESSA: Can you tell us a story of a crocodile attack?
PATRICK: Yeah. Some years ago a woman fought off a crocodile attack with her handbag! She was screaming and hitting the croc repeatedly on its sensitive nose. It soon turned tail and fled! Crocs don’t like resistance and they run away. VANESSA: Patrick, this has been fascinating, but unfortunately that’s all we’ve got time for. Thanks a million for being here.
PATRICK: It’s been a pleasure.
Now get ready to answer some questions…
1. Patrick says “The dangers are minimal “. What does he mean? It is not very dangerous.
2. Vanessa says “No visit to Queensland is complete without spending a couple of days at one of the beautiful beaches”. What does she mean? Visitors must spend a couple of days on the beach if they visit Queensland.
3. Patrick says “a woman fought off a crocodile attack with her handbag!”. What does “fight off” mean? “Fight off” means to defend yourself from an attack of an animal or an illness.

GLOSSARY
1.Ambush (verb): to suddenly attack a person or a group of people after hiding and waiting for them. E.g. Five soldiers died after their bus was ambushed on a country road.
2. Authorities (noun): a group of people with official responsibility for a particular area of activity. E.g. the health authority
3.Bombard (phrasal verb): to direct so many things at someone, especially to ask them so many questions, that they find it difficult to deal with them. E.g. The children bombarded her with questions.
4.Cousin (noun): a member of a group of people with similar origins. E.g. Americans owe a great deal to their European cousins.
5.Precaution (noun): an action which is done to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous happening. E.g. Many people have been stockpiling food as a precaution against shortages.
6.Resist (verb): to fight against something or someone that is attacking you. E.g. The soldiers resisted (the enemy attacks) for two days.
7.Resistance (noun): when something or someone resists. E.g. resistance to disease
8.Snout (noun): the nose and mouth which stick out from the face of some animals. E.g. a pig's snout Turn tail: to turn around and run away, usually because you are frightened. E.g. As soon as they saw we had guns, they turned tail and ran away.
9.Victim (noun): someone or something which has been hurt, damaged or killed or has suffered, either because of the actions of someone or something else, or because of illness or chance. E.g. to donate money to victims of the fires
10.Weep (verb): to cry tears. E.g. People in the street wept with joy when peace was announced

Practice using the words in the glossary. Choose the most appropriate word or phrase from the glossary to complete the following sentences.
1. Government troops offered no __to the rebels.
2. He was __by gunmen on his way to work.
3. She was the innocent__ of an arson attack.
4. She __buckets when Paul left.
5. She’s my second __. Our grandparents were brother and sister.
6. The horse pushed its_- into my hand to eat the apple.
7. They failed to take the necessary__ to avoid infection.
8. We have been __with letters of complaint
9. When they heard the sirens they __and ran away.
10. You should report stray dogs to the __.