Moon landing

BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Moon landing
NB: This is not an accurate word-for-word transcript 1

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 of the first ever moon landing 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 2, 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 4 day in July 1969. It was one of those
significant 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…

In the first extract 5 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 6 1
I was out walking after dark with my mother. And she pointed 7 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 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 etc.
Kate: And astronaut?
Rebecca: An astronaut is someone who is specially 3 trained to travel in space and fly
a spacecraft. Neil Armstrong was an astronaut.

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 9 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 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?
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!

点击收听单词发音  






1
transcript

  
 


n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书


参考例句：





A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。












2
incredible

  
 


adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的


参考例句：





Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。












3
specially

  
 


adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地


参考例句：





They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。












4
historic

  
 


adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的


参考例句：





This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。












5
extract

  
 


vt.取出，提取，获得，摘录；n.摘录，提出物


参考例句：





The article was a choice extract from her writings.这篇文章是从她的著作中摘录出来的精粹。
We can extract oil from olive.我们可以从橄榄中榨油。












6
clip

  
 


n.夹子，别针，弹夹，片断；vt.夹住，修剪


参考例句：





May I clip out the report on my performance?我能把报道我的文章剪下来吗？
She fastened the papers together with a paper clip.她用曲别针把文件别在一起。












7
pointed

  
 


adj.尖的，直截了当的


参考例句：





He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。












8
inhuman

  
 


adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的


参考例句：





We must unite the workers in fighting against inhuman conditions.我们必须使工人们团结起来反对那些难以忍受的工作条件。
It was inhuman to refuse him permission to see his wife.不容许他去看自己的妻子是太不近人情了。












9
notion

  
 


n.概念，意念，看法


参考例句：





One common Chinese notion is that the elders ought to be respected.中国人共有的一种观念是长者应受到尊敬。
He had a sudden notion to visit all his relatives.他心血来潮，突然想去拜访他所有的亲戚。