【一起听英语】登录月球

Kate: Hello, I’m Kate Colin, this is 6 minute English and today I'm joined by

Rebecca Byrne. Now, you can't failed to have noticed that this month (July)

marks the 40th anniversary 1 of the first ever moon landing 2 back in 1969.

Rebecca: Hi Kate, yes, it was indeed 40 years ago in July 1969 that Neil Armstrong

became the first man to walk on the Moon. The event which is often called the

'lunar landing' has been described as 'the greatest event in all the history of the

human race'. It certainly was incredible 3, especially when you think about how

limited technology was then compared to now. I mean, most people watched it

on black and white televisions!

Kate: Yes, I know. And it's still feels like a huge an achievement even 40 years on.

But before we go any further, here's my question for today:

How many people in total have walked on the moon?

a) 12

b) 8

c) 6

Rebecca: answers

Kate: We'll check your answer at the end of the programme. But now we're going to

hear some memories of that historic 5 day in July 1969. It was one of those

significant 6 times in history when everyone remembers where they were and

what they were doing. We're going to hear from some people to see what they

remember… 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

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In the first extract 7 we'll hear somebody using the expression pivotal point.

What does this mean?

Rebecca: Well, pivotal means very important, or at the centre of some very important

events.

Kate: Let's listen to the extract. Can you tell me what the speaker's memories are of

the moon landing?

Clip 8 1

I was out walking after dark with my mother. And she pointed 9 up and she said 'There

are men on the moon'. To her it was a pivotal point in human history.

Rebecca: Well the speaker was out walking with his mother who pointed up to the

moon and told him 'There are men on the moon'! I can see why that might

seem quite improbable to a small boy but the image has obviously 10 stuck in

his mind. But he remembers that his mother thought it was a 'pivotal point in

human history' which means an extremely important event in the history of

man.

Kate: Indeed it was. The next speaker says she liked 'science fiction' – can you

explain what this means?

Rebecca: Science fiction describes certain books or films about an imagined future,

especially one which involves space travel and other planets 11 etc.

Kate: And astronaut?

Rebecca: An astronaut is someone who is specially 4 trained to travel in space and fly

a spacecraft. Neil Armstrong was an astronaut. 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

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Kate: And finally to 'witness' something means what exactly?

Rebecca: To witness something means to see it happening. The verb is often used

when talking about a crime, accident or important event.

Kate: OK – let's listen to the next extract. What is her memory of the night of the

moon landings?

Clip 2

I really enjoyed reading science fiction, in fact I had a notion 12 that I myself might become an

astronaut one day. I really wanted to witness the moon landing, the actual moment when man

stepped on the moon. My father said he's wake me up for this. He stayed up to watch the

moon landing and somehow he forgot to wake me.

Rebecca: Oh no! What a terrible story. This speaker said she always liked science

fiction so she was obviously very interested in space travel and in the moon

landings. She said she even wanted to be an astronaut one day! I should

point out here that the live pictures were being watched in the middle of the

night in the UK. Her father forgot to wake her up so she could watch it – it

happened in the middle of the night. She missed the whole thing! Poor girl. I

don’t think she ever became an astronaut either – all her father's fault.

Kate: But most people (if they were awake) were able to watch it the moon

landings on on TV which must have been an amazing experience. In fact so

many people in the UK did get out of bed to watch it that the electricity had

to provide extra power in order to cope 13 with the extra demand. The pictures

of the first moon walk was viewed in 49 countries all together. Quite

something.

Rebecca: I'm not surprised. If I'd been about I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

Kate: No, me neither. Would you go to the moon if you were given the chance? 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

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Rebecca: answers

Kate: It is strange though because we've just been living with the knowledge that

this happened but when you stop to think about what a huge achievement it

was, especially for its time, it really takes your breath away.

Rebecca: answers

Kate: OK – so to the question I asked you earlier. Since that historic day in July

1969, how many people have walked on the moon?

Rebecca: The correct answer is 12 and the last time someone was up there was in

1972. Time for another visit I think….

That's all we've got time for. Until next time. Goodbye!