A1 English Listening Practice

13 Dec 201905:04

Summary

TLDRThis English listening practice video discusses various types of weather and personal preferences. The speaker enjoys sunny days, dislikes cloudy ones, and finds rainy days inconvenient for outdoor activities. Windy days have mixed feelings, cooling hot cities but exacerbating cold ones. Snow is appreciated for winter sports but not for daily living. The speaker also mentions dangerous driving conditions during rain and the fear of lightning in storms, inviting viewers to share their weather preferences.

Takeaways

😀 The speaker enjoys sunny weather and prefers hot weather over cold.
☀️ Sunny weather is the speaker's favorite, making them happy and comfortable even if it's hot.
🔥 Las Vegas is mentioned as an example of a city that is extremely hot during summer.
🌥️ The speaker dislikes cloudy days, associating them with a lack of sunshine and feeling sad.
🏙️ London is cited as a city that is often cloudy, which the speaker finds undesirable.
🌧️ Rainy days are the speaker's least favorite due to the inability to be outside and the discomfort of getting wet.
🌬️ Windy days can be good in hot cities but bad in cold ones, making the weather even colder.
🌪️ Strong winds can cause problems like fallen trees and are generally not preferred by the speaker.
❄️ Snow is enjoyed in moderation, like during family ski trips, but a snowy city is not ideal for the speaker.
🌨️ Extremely cold weather, like minus 20 or 30 degrees Celsius, is not liked by the speaker.
⚡ The speaker finds lightning in thunderstorms to be scary and generally dislikes stormy weather.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is discussing different types of weather and the speaker's preferences regarding them.
Why is talking about the weather important when learning English?
-Talking about the weather is important because it is a common topic in everyday conversations, and knowing how to discuss it can help improve English listening and speaking skills.
What type of weather does the speaker prefer and why?
-The speaker prefers sunny weather because it makes them happy, and they find hot weather better than cold weather.
How does the speaker feel about hot weather in cities like Las Vegas?
-The speaker likes hot weather but finds it too hot in cities like Las Vegas, where it's necessary to stay inside during the afternoon due to the extreme heat.
What does the speaker dislike about cloudy days?
-The speaker dislikes cloudy days because they love sunny days, and the absence of sunshine makes them feel a little sad.
Which city is mentioned as being always cloudy, and how does the speaker feel about living in such a city?
-London is mentioned as a city that is always cloudy, and the speaker cannot imagine living in a city with constant cloudiness because they need sunshine.
What does the speaker dislike about rainy days, and how does it affect their activities?
-The speaker dislikes rainy days because they love being outside, and rain prevents them from doing outdoor activities, forcing them to stay indoors.
How does the speaker's wife feel about the rain, and what does she find calming about it?
-The speaker's wife likes the rain, but only when she's inside. She finds the sound of the rain calming, which the speaker disagrees with.
What are the potential dangers of driving in the rain mentioned in the video?
-Driving in the rain can be dangerous because wet streets increase the risk of car accidents. It is advised to drive slower in such conditions to avoid accidents.
What are the speaker's thoughts on windy days and how does the wind affect different cities?
-The speaker prefers days that aren't windy. However, wind can be good in hot cities as it cools them down, but bad in cold cities as it makes the weather even colder.
What is the speaker's opinion on snow and living in a snowy city?
-The speaker likes snow, especially for activities like skiing and snowboarding, but they do not want to live in a snowy city due to the cold and the difficulties it brings to daily life.
What type of weather does the speaker find scary and why?
-The speaker finds stormy weather, especially with lightning, to be scary. They have experienced thunderstorms but not hurricanes or tornadoes, which they consider to be bad storms.

Outlines

00:00

🌞 English Listening Practice on Weather Preferences

The speaker introduces an English listening practice video focused on discussing the weather, a common topic in everyday conversations. They express a preference for sunny and hot weather, contrasting it with their dislike for cold and uncomfortable heat in cities like Las Vegas. The speaker also mentions the prevalence of air-conditioning in U.S. buildings to cope with the heat. Moving on to cloudy days, the speaker admits to feeling sad without sunshine, especially noting that some cities like London are often overcast. Rainy days are described as the least favorite due to the confinement indoors and the inconvenience of needing an umbrella to stay dry, as well as the increased risk of car accidents. Windy days are discussed with a city-specific perspective, where wind can be a relief in hot cities but a nuisance in cold ones, occasionally causing physical damage. Lastly, snow is mentioned as a seasonal pleasure rather than a year-round condition, with a brief mention of extreme cold weather and stormy conditions like hurricanes and thunderstorms, which the speaker finds intimidating.

05:01

🎵 Background Music for Transition

This paragraph contains background music, likely used for a transition in the video, and does not include any spoken content or dialogue. It serves as an auditory pause or interlude between sections of the video script.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Weather

Weather refers to the atmospheric conditions that include temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, visibility, and wind. In the video, the speaker discusses various types of weather, emphasizing its importance in daily conversations. The speaker's personal preferences and experiences with different weather conditions are shared to illustrate the impact of weather on mood and activities.

💡Sunny

Sunny weather is characterized by clear skies and bright sunlight. The speaker mentions sunny weather as their favorite, associating it with happiness and preference over cold weather. The term is used to contrast with other types of weather, such as cloudy or rainy days, and to set the tone for the speaker's positive outlook on hot, sunny conditions.

💡Cloudy

Cloudy days are described as those with overcast skies, where the sun is obscured by clouds. The speaker expresses a dislike for cloudy days, as they prefer the brightness and warmth of the sun. Cloudy weather is mentioned in the context of cities that are perpetually overcast, like London, and is used to discuss the emotional impact of less sunlight.

💡Rainy

Rainy days involve precipitation in the form of rain, which can limit outdoor activities. The speaker dislikes rainy days because they prevent them from being outside. The term is used to discuss the inconvenience of rain, such as needing to stay indoors or use an umbrella, and the increased risk of car accidents due to wet roads.

💡Windy

Windy days are characterized by strong gusts of wind. The video script discusses how wind can be both beneficial, by cooling down hot cities, and detrimental, by intensifying the cold in colder cities. Windy conditions are also mentioned in the context of potential hazards, such as fallen trees, which illustrates the dual nature of wind as both a natural phenomenon and a factor affecting daily life.

💡Snow

Snow refers to frozen precipitation that falls in colder climates. The speaker mentions that snow is not common in their city but is enjoyed during family trips to the mountains for skiing and snowboarding. Snow is used to contrast the speaker's preference for milder climates with the appeal of winter sports and the challenges of living in very cold conditions.

💡Stormy

Stormy weather involves severe atmospheric disturbances, such as thunderstorms, hurricanes, or tornadoes. The speaker discusses stormy weather as something they have not personally experienced but acknowledges the presence of thunderstorms. The term is used to highlight the fear and potential danger associated with extreme weather events, including the fear of lightning.

💡Air-conditioning

Air-conditioning is a system used to cool and dehumidify indoor spaces. In the context of the video, the speaker mentions that most buildings in hot cities in the U.S. have air-conditioning, which is essential for comfort during the hot summer months. This term is used to illustrate the adaptation to different climates and the importance of technology in enhancing living conditions.

💡Temperature

Temperature refers to the degree of hotness or coldness of the air or an environment. The video script uses temperature to differentiate between the speaker's preference for hot weather over cold and to describe extreme cold conditions in some cities. Temperature is central to the discussion of weather types and their effects on daily life and personal comfort.

💡Precipitation

Precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. It includes rain, snow, sleet, or hail. The speaker discusses precipitation in the context of rain and snow, using it to explain the limitations and preferences associated with different weather conditions. Precipitation is a key factor in determining weather types and their impact on outdoor activities.

💡Umbrella

An umbrella is a device used for protection against rain or sunlight. The video script mentions the need for an umbrella during rainy days to avoid getting wet. The term is used to illustrate practical measures people take to adapt to weather conditions and the inconvenience of not having one when it starts raining unexpectedly.

Highlights

Introduction to the English listening practice video focusing on discussing the weather in English.

The importance of knowing how to talk about the weather in English for effective communication.

Sunny weather being the speaker's favorite type due to their preference for hot weather over cold.

Las Vegas being an example of a city that is extremely hot during the summer, making it necessary to stay indoors during the afternoon.

The prevalence of air-conditioning in buildings in hot U.S. cities to combat the heat.

The speaker's dislike for cloudy days and their impact on mood, contrasting with cities like London that are often cloudy.

Rainy days being the least favorite due to the limitations they impose on outdoor activities.

Different perspectives on rain, such as the speaker's wife finding the sound of rain calming when indoors.

The inconvenience of rain causing people to stay indoors and the need for umbrellas to avoid getting wet.

Increased car accidents during rainy days due to wet streets, emphasizing the need for careful driving.

Windy days having both positive and negative aspects depending on whether a city is hot or cold.

The potential dangers of strong winds, such as fallen trees, and the speaker's preference for less windy days.

The speaker's rare experience with snow and their enjoyment of it during family trips to the mountains.

The speaker's aversion to living in a snowy city due to the cold temperatures and the difficulties it brings to daily life.

Extreme cold weather conditions in some U.S. cities during winter, with temperatures dropping to minus 20 or 30 degrees Celsius.

Stormy weather and its dangers, including the speaker's experience with thunderstorms and the fear of lightning.

Invitation for viewers to share their preferred weather type in the comments section.

Conclusion of the video with a sign-off and anticipation for the next video.