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Hybrids
简体
Hybrids
混合动力汽车

Learn the Zero Conditional

Date: Aug 03 2011

Themes: Tech

Grammar: Zero Conditional

Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Many people are worried about global warming and the effects of pollution on the planet. We’d all like to do something to help protect the environment, but it can sometimes seem like too great a challenge.

However, a lot of the choices that we make can help lead to a healthier planet. One of those choices is what kind of car to buy. Electric and hybrid cars not only help you save money on gas, they also pollute less, making them better for the environment.

But for some, hybrids are just too expensive. They also might not offer the kind of look, feel, or power you want from a car. Hear Marni try to convince Jason to make his next car a hybrid.

许多人都在为全球变暖和污染问题担忧。我们都希望能够为环保出一份力,但有时困难重重。
不过,我们仍然有很多可能会对地球有益的选择。其中一个便是决定购买何种类型的汽车。电动和混合动力汽车不仅帮你省去了昂贵的汽油费,而且污染小,更有利于环保。
但是对于一部分人而言,混合动力汽车过于昂贵。而且,此类汽车还可能无法提供你喜欢的外观、感觉或者动力。请听玛尼如何劝说詹森购买混合动力汽车。

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Jason

Marni

Marni

Jason:  I’m thinking about getting a new car soon.

Marni:  Yeah?

Jason:  And I really want to get a hybrid or some kind of alternative car, but they’re so expensive.

Marni:  Well, yes, they are expensive, but I think if you are going to purchase a new car, it’s very wise to invest in a hybrid or an electric car, because that is the future. And I think that gas is getting so expensive. I think it’s a wise investment.

Jason:  Yeah, I mean, it’s great, you know, in the long run. It’s just so hard to pay that much upfront. But yeah, I mean, the gas mileage is incredible. You can get on one gallon of gas what some cars get on a whole tank almost.

Marni:  Exactly. And it’s an investment into our planet. I mean, global warming is a true reality whether people want to acknowledge that or not, and pollution is out there.

Jason:  Here’s another problem though. They’re not terribly cool looking cars. Have you noticed that?

Marni:  Well, I kind of disagree. But I also own a Saturn Wagon. Not a very cool looking car. But the one thing I think is fascinating about the Priuses and the hybrids is they’re really quiet.

Jason:  It’s true.

Marni:  They sneak up on people.

Jason:  It’s pretty cool. If you’re standing next to one you might not even know it’s running.

Marni:  Exactly.

Jason:  But I want it to look like…You know, like where is the awesome convertible hybrid, you know?

Marni:  Yeah. Maybe you should design one.

 

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Discussion

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Jason is shopping for a new car. He would like to buy a hybrid, but he is worried that they are too expensive. Marni tells him that even though they can be expensive to buy upfront, a hybrid will help him save money in the long run. They are very efficient, so people who own them don’t have to spend as much money on gas.

Marni also says that hybrids are better for the environment. They pollute less than regular cars and can help fight global warming. Jason agrees that hybrids are better for the environment. But he isn’t sure they look cool enough for him.

What kind of car do you drive? What kind of car would you like to drive? Do you think more people should buy hybrids?

 

Comments

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SÉRGIO

SÉRGIO

Brazil

Hybrid cars are a good alternative! but instead of thinking about getting new cars I just think that people should use more other ways to locomotion for sort distances like bicycles, public transportation, anyway!! It would help not only the environment but also the quality of life in big cities!!

12:44 PM Aug 03 2011 |

Olya1106

Olya1106

Ukraine

I don’t drive any car. To my mind It’s very good if people would pay more attention to our environment and drive an ecological cars such as hybrids. But if we want to drive hybrids their producers should make it chipper to us.


10:53 AM Aug 03 2011 |

hmiman

hmiman

Egypt

i prefer hyprid car than normal car


but at this moment normal car win the race for many things such that price, and energy consumption, batteries of hyprid has a small working time , limited speed


i wish the technology of electric cars to progress more to cover these disadvantages at this moment i will buy oneEmbarassed

08:22 AM Aug 03 2011 |

Lizaza

Lizaza

Belarus

I must confess, my dear friends, when I’m driving my car, especially on the highway, I don’t care about environment. Yahoooo!!! And my choise of the car doesn’t depend on environmentally friendly aspect, it depends on the sum of money I have. And again, if i had a choise I would buy a car which is less money consuming. (I am being practical)Embarassed

08:17 AM Aug 03 2011 |

slaguhterNet

Colombia

I think the people should buy more ecological cars, because the one huge problem in the world is the globla warming and polkution.

03:39 AM Aug 03 2011 |

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