(Reading Practice (Improve your pronunciation in English

Summary

The script presents a series of personal anecdotes and experiences, ranging from adjusting to new living environments, overcoming fears, and dealing with various life situations. It touches on themes of enjoying nature, city pollution solutions, travel mishaps, and interpersonal relationships. The narrative offers insights into personal growth, cultural observations, and the pursuit of a balanced and fulfilling life.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The speaker moved to a countryside house seeking a more nature-oriented lifestyle, but struggles with physical activity due to being out of shape.
• 🚴‍♂️ The city implemented measures to reduce air pollution, such as special bicycle lanes, carpool rules, and pollution-free electric buses.
• ✈️ The speaker's initial fear of flying was alleviated by understanding the engineering principles that keep airplanes aloft.
• 🏠 Neighbors' children playing baseball in the speaker's yard resulted in property damage, with the parents showing no responsibility for the incident.
• 🏊‍♀️ Overcoming a childhood fear of water through swimming lessons led to a newfound love for water activities and beaches.
• 🗂 The speaker's shift from collecting baseball cards to stamps reflects a desire for collecting beautiful items akin to art.
• 💼 Frequent business travel can be lonely, but the speaker finds comfort in a hotel with healthy food options and friendly staff, despite some drawbacks.
• 🚗 A disappointing trip to the lake was marred by poor hotel accommodations and service, highlighting the importance of advance reservations.
• 🎉 A spring break trip to the beach was less than ideal due to a family-oriented hotel and slow service, but the room's size and view were redeeming qualities.
• ❄️ A snowstorm delay led to an overnight hotel stay with expensive dining options, but the speaker appreciated the attentive staff and luxurious room amenities.
• 🐍 A childhood encounter with a snake instilled a lasting fear in the speaker, who remains unable to touch or interact with snakes.
• 🤝 The speaker values a roommate with a good sense of humor and intelligence, but wishes for more social interaction and study-friendly habits.

Q & A

What was the main reason the speaker moved to a house in the country?

The speaker moved to enjoy nature and spend their free time outside, as opposed to their previous lifestyle which involved sitting in cafes and surfing the internet.

What is the speaker's concern about engaging in outdoor activities?

The speaker is not in very good shape and does not like doing sports or activities that involve a lot of exercise. They also had a negative experience with hiking which resulted in an injury.

How did the city attempt to reduce air pollution?

The city implemented special bicycle lanes, a rule requiring at least two people in a car to drive downtown during the week, and introduced pollution-free electric buses.

What was the speaker's initial fear about flying?

The speaker was terrified of flying and couldn't understand how a heavy airplane could stay up in the air.

How did the speaker overcome their fear of flying?

The speaker spoke to an airplane engineer who explained how airplanes stay in the air, which helped them understand and eventually love flying.

What problem did the speaker have with their next-door neighbors?

The speaker's next-door neighbors' children played baseball in the speaker's yard, accidentally breaking a window, and the parents did not offer to pay for the damages.

What change in attitude did the speaker experience after learning to swim?

After learning to swim in high school, the speaker went from being afraid of water to loving it and feeling safe, especially at the beach.

Why did the speaker start collecting stamps instead of baseball cards?

The speaker felt that baseball card collectors were only interested in money, and they wanted to collect something beautiful, like paintings, which led them to start collecting stamps.

What is the speaker's complaint about the hotel they are staying at during their job trips?

The speaker's complaint is about the room; the bed is very hard, and they suggest the hotel should buy a softer mattress.

What was the main issue during the speaker's trip to the lake?

The main issue was the lack of proper accommodation arrangements. The hotel's restaurant only served small snacks, the room was dirty and tiny, and the kids had to share a bed.

What was the speaker's experience with their roommate?

The speaker found their roommate to be neat, humorous, and smart, but wished the roommate would take more time off to make friends and be more social.