Шесть студентов и студенток из разных стран мира – что у них общего? Все они приехали в американский университет по обмену на один семестр. Они будут изучать английский язык, культуру США, будут специализироваться в своей области. Эта серия Ежедневных диалогов посвящена жизни студентов в течение семестра в американском вузе. Диалоги рассчитаны на владеющих английским языком на среднем или более высоком уровне.
Двое студентов (Питер и Акини) говорят о том, как важно обеспечить доступность чистой питьевой воды.
Peter: Is that a straw?
Akinyi: Yes. Isn’t it great? This is a solution to water scarcity.
Peter: You’re starting to sound a bit like Lee. Are you studying water scarcity in a class? And how is a straw the solution?
Akinyi: I’m studying the business model of one company that creates these filter straws. Believe it or not, this straw is a portable water purifier.
Peter: Is there really a large need for a water purifier to be portable?
Akinyi: Definitely. We all know that clean and safe water is essential to healthy living. But lack of clean water can affect the education of many children in the world.
Peter: Really? How?
Akinyi: Well, for example, students might get sick from drinking unsafe water and miss school.
Peter: And if students can carry filter straws, then they can always drink safe water?
Akinyi: Exactly. The straws have iodine, charcoal and filters – these combine to reduce harmful particles and remove bacteria. And they last up to a year!
Peter: Wow. That seems like a great solution for people without access to clean and safe drinking water.
Слова и выражения.
A straw is a thin, hollow tube that is used to suck water or other drinks from a container. [Соломинка.]
Water scarcity is the lack of water or the lack of access to clean, safe water. [Нехватка воды.]
A business model is a design for the success of a business, including its purpose, goals and ways to achieve its goals. [Бизнес-модель.]
A filter is a device that removes unwanted things (such as particles) from a liquid or gas. In this conversation, a filter straw is a straw for drinking water. The straw has a filter, and this filter removes unwanted bacteria (very small living organisms that often cause diseases) and particles from the water. [Фильтр, фильтр-соломинка.]
When something is portable, it is easy to carry and move around. [Портативный.]
To purify means to remove bad substances from something. A water purifier removes harmful substances from water. [Очищать; устройство для очистки воды.]
Essential: necessary; extremely important; absolutely needed. [Необходимый.]
Iodine is a chemical element. It is used in water purification because it kills many bad small organisms in water. [Иод.]
Charcoal is a form of carbon. It is used in water purification because it removes harmful materials in water and improves the taste of water. [Уголь.]
Bacteria (plural of bacterium): very small living organisms that often cause diseases. [Бактерии.]
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Вебсайт American English предлагает разнообразные бесплатные ресурсы для учащихся и преподавателей английского языка. Учебные материалы также можно найти на ежедневно обновляемой странице American English Facebook.
Ежедневные диалоги разработаны старшим сотрудником отдела программ английского языка Хейди Холланд (Бюро по делам образования и культуры Государственного департамента США).
