VIP Class Notes (Raph)

Today we focused on:

We did some reading, and then talked about nature documentaries. The focus was on pronunciation and vocabulary.

Vocabulary

Vegetarian (n/adj): 1- a person who does not eat meat or food that doesn’t include meat.
E.g.: Of the four million people who have become vegetarians in this country, nearly two thirds are women.
E.g.: I’ve been feeling much healthier since I became a vegetarian.
E.g.: Do you serve any vegetarian dishes?

Vegan (n/adj): 1- a person who does not eat or use any animal products, such as meat, fish, eggs, cheese, or leather.
E.g.: She decided to turn vegan after watching a documentary about how animals are raised for meat.
E.g.: Vegans get all the protein they need from nuts, seeds, and cereals.

Dairy (n): 1- foods that are made from milk, such as cream, butter, and cheese.
E.g.: She’s has been on a dairy-free diet for many years now.
E.g.: I was advised not to eat too much dairy.

Cruise (n): 1- a journey on a large ship for pleasure, during which you visit several places.
E.g.: They’re going on a cruise round the Mediterranean (地中海).
E.g.: They’ve just set off on a round-the-world cruise.

Sweet tooth (n): 1- If you have a sweet tooth, you like eating sweet foods, especially sweets and chocolate.
E.g.: I have a sweet tooth – I can’t say no to cookies.

Decoy (n): 1- something used to trick or confuse a person or animal:
E.g.: He makes decoys for hunters.
E.g.: Scarecrows (稻草人) are used as decoys against birds that try to eat crops.

Entice (v): 1- to attract or persuade someone to do something by offering them something pleasant.
E.g.: The ads entice the customer into buying things they don’t really want.
E.g.: People are being enticed away from the profession by higher salaries elsewhere.
E.g.: A smell of coffee in the doorway enticed people to enter the shop.

Habitat (n): 1- 栖息地

Nectar (n): 1- 花蜜

Beehive (n): 1- 蜂箱

Reading

Beekeeper says bears prefer premium honey
(Source: www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1908/190831-premium-honey-5.html)

A beekeeper in Turkey made a discovery thanks to a group of honey-stealing bears. The beekeeper lives in the Black Sea coastal town of Trabzon, northeast of Ankara. For many years, he has tried to prevent bears from stealing the honey his bees make. He has discovered that the bears particularly like the best quality, most expensive honey. He struggled to keep the bears and their sweet teeth away from his beehives. His metal cages and protective storage houses did not stop them. He also tried to use apples and other fruit as a decoy but that didn’t work.

The beekeeper told reporters that the bears cost him $10,000 in three years. He set up cameras to find out more about their tastes. He put out four bowls to entice the bears. Three bowls contained different types of honey and one had cherry jam. Time after time, the bears chose the most expensive honey. They continually ate the premium Anzer honey. This is the most expensive in the world. It is produced from the nectar of 90 flowers that only grow in the mountains. It has many medicinal and curative powers. Despite his financial losses, the beekeeper said he now loves the bears.

Grammar

So much students. – So many students.

Pronunciation

Fossil: /ˈfɑː.səl/

Record (n): /ˈrek.ɚd/

Record (v):  /rɪˈkɔːrd/

Evolution: /ˌev.əˈluː.ʃən/

Nostalgia:  /nɑːˈstæl.dʒə//nos.tall. gee.a/


BBC Nature Documentary Series:

  • Planet Earth II
  • Blue Planet II
  • Dinasties