Summary 简介
Anna wants to go to see a baseball game. The question is: what is the fastest way for her to get there? Her friends Jonathan and Ashley give her advice.
Speaking 口语
In this video, learn to say the new words for this lesson. You can also learn about comparative adjectives like "faster," and superlative adjectives like "fastest."
Pronunciation 发音
Use this video to learn about pronouncing "than" in sentences with comparative adjectives.
Conversation 对话
Anna: Hi, there, sports fans! Baseball is America’s sport. Today, I am going to Nationals Park. It is home to Washington, D.C.’s baseball team -- the Washington Nationals!
Anna: Hi, Jonathan!
Jonathan: Hi, Anna! Where are you going?
Anna: I am taking a bus to a Nationals baseball game!
Jonathan: Don’t take the bus. A taxi is faster than a bus.
Anna: Oh, good idea. You know I love baseball.
Jonathan: That’s great. Have fun.
Anna: In fact, I wanted to be a baseball player.
Jonathan: Is this one of your memories? I’m really busy.
Anna: This won’t take long. I can see it now... I am at home plate. I wait for the pitch. The ball comes. I swing. It’s a hit! I run to first base, second base, third base, then home plate. It’s a home run! The crowd cheers! Woo hoo!
Jonathan: You really love baseball. Have fun at the game, Anna.
Anna: Thanks, Jonathan.Taxi!
Ashley: Hi, Anna. Where are you going?
Anna: Hi, Ashley. I am going to see a Nationals baseball game!
Ashley: What time is the game?
Anna: 7 o’clock.
Ashley: Do you have a ticket?
Anna: No, not yet.
Ashley: Anna, you should go a lot earlier than 7 o’clock.
Anna: That is why I’m taking a taxi. Taxi!
Ashley: Anna, Anna, that’s not a good idea. A bicycle is faster than a taxi.
Anna: Oh, Ashley. Ashley, Ashley, Ashley. A car is faster than your bicycle.
Ashley: In D.C. traffic sometimes a bicycle is faster than a car. And right now, there is a lot of traffic.
Anna: Good point. But I don’t have a bicycle.
Ashley: Okay, Anna, you can use my bicycle.
Anna: Thanks! I really want to learn how to ride one.
Ashley: What do you mean, learn how to ride a bike? Oh, Anna! Anna, Anna!
Ashley: You know, Anna, the Metro is faster than a taxi and a bicycle. You ought to take the Metro. It’s that way.
Anna: Good idea.
Ashley: OK.
Anna: See you later!
Ashley: Bye, Anna!
Anna: Bye!
Anna: The Metro was a lot faster than a bus, taxi or bike. And now I’m at Nationals Park! Look at all these fans! So many people like to watch baseball. There’s the ticket window. What? The tickets are sold out? Nooooooo!Nooooooo! But I really want to watch a baseball game. Does anyone have an extra ticket?
Fan: Next time, you should buy your ticket online.
Anna: Thanks. Thanks a lot. It is good advice. Being early is better than being late. Until next time …
Writing 写作
Do you like to watch sports? Where do you watch them? Write to tell us about a game you saw. Try to use some of the words from this lesson, like ticket, crowd, fans, and cheer. Write to us by email or in the Comments section.
你喜欢看体育比赛吗？你在哪看比赛？试着用本课学习的词汇描述一场你看过的比赛。电邮或是发表评论告诉我们。
Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice using comparative and superlative adjectives with a friend.
点击下载练习页，跟朋友一起练习使用比较级和最高级形容词。
Learning Strategy 学习技巧
Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
The learning strategy for this lesson is Visualize. Visualize means creating an image in your mind. When learning a new language, we can visualize to help us understand what we are learning.
本课的学习技巧是形象化。
In this week's video, Anna visualizes playing a baseball game. You can also say she imagines playing the game. Jonathan listens and makes an image in his own mind. He understands that Anna loves baseball. He says, "You really love baseball. Have fun at the game, Anna."
在本周视频中，Anna 想象参加棒球比赛的样子。
Do you ever visualize when listening to or reading English? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.
你在英语听力和阅读过程中，会使用到这种学习技巧吗？电邮或是发表评论告诉我们。
Quiz 测试
Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz.
Quiz - Lesson 31
Start the Quiz to find out
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New Words 新词汇
base - n. any one of the four places a runner must touch in order to score in baseball
base - 名词，棒球比赛中的垒
baseball - n. a game played on a large field by two teams of nine players who try to score runs by hitting a small ball with a long rounded stick and then running to each of the four places a runner must touch in order to score without being put out
baseball - 名词，棒球
better - adj. more attractive, appealing, effective or useful
better - 形容词，更好的，更有吸引力的
bicycle/bike - n. a 2-wheeled vehicle that a person rides by pushing on foot pedals
bicycle/bike - 名词，自行车
cheer(s) - v. to shout with joy, approval, or enthusiasm
cheer(s) - 动词，欢呼
crowd - n. a large group of people who are together in one place
crowd - 名词，人群
earlier -adv. before the usual or expected time
earlier - 副词，早些时候
extra - adj. more than is usual or necessary
extra - 形容词，额外的
fan(s) - n. a person who likes and admires someone, such as a famous person, or something, such as a sport or a sports team, in a very enthusiastic way
fan(s) - 名词，粉丝
faster - adv. with great speed
faster - 副词，速度更快的
hit - v. to cause a ball to move by hitting it forcefully with a bat in baseball;
hit - 动词，打击
hit - n. when a baseball player is able to successfully swing the bat and connect it with the ball
hit - 名词，（棒球选手）击中球
home plate - n. the base that a runner must touch in order to score in baseball
home plate - 名词，棒球比赛中的本垒
home run - n. a hit that allows the batter to go around all the bases and score a run in baseball
home run - 名词，全垒打
Nationals Park - n. a baseball park located in Washington, D.C. that is the home ballpark for the Washington Nationals baseball team
Nationals Park - 名词，华盛顿国民棒球队的主场
online - n. done over the Internet
online - 名词，线上
pitch - v. to throw a ball to the player who is trying to hit the ball in baseball
pitch - 动词，投球
swing - v. to move your arms while holding the long rounded stick that is used to hit the ball in baseball with a quick, curving motion
swing - 动词，挥棒
team - n. a group of people who compete in a sport or game against another group
team - 名词，球队
than - conj. used to introduce the second or last of two or more things or people that are being compared — used with the comparative form of an adjective or adverb
than - 连词
ticket - n. a piece of paper that allows you to see a show, participate in an event, travel on a vehicle
ticket - 名词，票
window - n. an opening in a wall or door that usually contains a sheet of glass
window - 名词，窗口
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Free Materials
免费资料
Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website.
Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice using comparative adjectives and learn more about baseball.
For Teachers
教师资源
See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions.
Grammar focus: Comparatives: faster, earlier
Topics: Making comparisons; Asking for & giving advice
Learning Strategy: Visualize
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Using comparative and superlative adjectives; Pronouncing reduced "than" in comparative sentences
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