与自然一起生活
Living Alongside Nature
StartA Day at the Animal Park
During the summer holiday, Chen An and Su Le visit an animal park and follow the rules near the panda exhibit.
6 new words
凉快liángkuaipleasantly cool
是啊，不过今天很凉快，天上还有几朵云。
Yes, but today is cool and there are a few clouds in the sky.
热闹rènaobusy, bustling
放暑假以后，动物园的早晨也这么热闹吗？
Is the zoo this lively in the morning after the summer holiday begins?
云yúncloud
是啊，不过今天很凉快，天上还有几朵云。
Yes, but today is cool and there are a few clouds in the sky.
广播guǎngbōbroadcast, radio program
广播刚刚提醒大家照看好孩子，不要跑到栏杆旁边。
The announcement just reminded everyone to look after their children and not run near the railings.
照zhàoto take a picture, to photograph
广播刚刚提醒大家照看好孩子，不要跑到栏杆旁边。
The announcement just reminded everyone to look after their children and not run near the railings.
倒dàoindicates contrast; yet, actually
看，那只小熊猫倒挂在树上，毛真漂亮。
Look, that red panda is hanging upside down in the tree. Its fur is beautiful.
Listen to the conversation
苏乐
放暑假以后，动物园的早晨也这么热闹吗？
Fàng shǔjià yǐhòu, dòngwùyuán de zǎochén yě zhème rènao ma?
Is the zoo this lively in the morning after the summer holiday begins?
陈安
是啊，不过今天很凉快，天上还有几朵云。入口前已经有人排队了。
Shì a, búguò jīntiān hěn liángkuai, tiān shàng hái yǒu jǐ duǒ yún. Rùkǒu qián yǐjīng yǒu rén pái duì le.
Yes, but today is cool and there are a few clouds in the sky. People are already queuing at the entrance.
苏乐
广播刚刚提醒大家照看好孩子，不要跑到栏杆旁边。
Guǎngbō gānggāng tíxǐng dàjiā zhàokàn hǎo háizi, bú yào pǎo dào lánggān pángbiān.
The announcement just reminded everyone to look after their children and not run near the railings.
陈安
看，那只小熊猫倒挂在树上，毛真漂亮。
Kàn, nà zhī xiǎo xióngmāo dàoguà zài shù shàng, máo zhēn piàoliang.
Look, that red panda is hanging upside down in the tree. Its fur is beautiful.
苏乐
那个小孩走累了，正让爸爸抱着。
Nàge xiǎohái zǒu lèi le, zhèng ràng bàba bào zhe.
That child is tired from walking and is asking his father to carry him.
陈安
我们先去看老虎吧。
Wǒmen xiān qù kàn lǎohǔ ba.
Let us go and see the tigers first.
Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.
Grammar
看，那只小熊猫倒挂在树上，毛真漂亮。Look, that red panda is hanging upside down in the tree. Its fur is beautiful.
Subject +倒+ Verb/Adj
倒 · “dào”. Used as an adverb to indicate a transition, often expressing contrast or something contrary to expectations.
去长城倒是一个好主意。
Qù Chángchéng dào shì yí ge hǎo zhǔyi.
Going to the Great Wall is actually a good idea.
Which word means “pleasantly cool”?
The Forest Path
Ms. Mei explains how the group can behave responsibly on a short forest walk.
5 new words
毛máohair, fur
抱bàoto hold in arms, to hug
干gànto do, to act
我们能帮忙干什么？
What can we help with?
严格yángéstrict, rigorous
先把观察记录做好，也要遵守严格的规则。
First, make the observation notes properly, and also follow the strict rules.
难受nánshòusad, unhappy
动物吃错东西会难受，人走得太近也会打扰它们。
Animals can feel unwell if they eat the wrong food, and getting too close can disturb them.
Listen to the conversation
梅老师
等会儿要走一趟两公里的森林小路，大家能走吗？
Děnghuìr yào zǒu yí tàng liǎng gōnglǐ de sēnlín xiǎolù, dàjiā néng zǒu ma?
In a moment we will walk two kilometres along a forest path. Can everyone manage it?
陈安
能。我们能帮忙干什么？
Néng. Wǒmen néng bāngmáng gàn shénme?
Yes. What can we help with?
梅老师
先把观察记录做好，也要遵守严格的规则。
Xiān bǎ guānchá jìlù zuò hǎo, yě yào zūnshǒu yángé de guīzé.
First, make the observation notes properly, and also follow the strict rules.
苏乐
为什么不能把吃的东西留在路边？
Wèishénme bù néng bǎ chī de dōngxi liú zài lùbiān?
Why can we not leave food by the path?
梅老师
动物吃错东西会难受，人走得太近也会打扰它们。
Dòngwù chī cuò dōngxi huì nánshòu, rén zǒu de tài jìn yě huì dǎrǎo tāmen.
Animals can feel unwell if they eat the wrong food, and getting too close can disturb them.
陈安
那我会把剩下的食物收好，不留在路边。
Nà wǒ huì bǎ shèngxià de shíwù shōu hǎo, bù liú zài lùbiān.
Then I will put away the food that is left and not leave it by the path.
Grammar
我们能帮忙干什么？What can we help with?
Subject +(Adverb)+干
干 · “gàn”. A verb meaning to do something or to be engaged in a certain work or activity.
以后要继续努力，我一定会好好儿干的。
Yǐhòu yào jìxù nǔlì, wǒ yídìng huì hǎohāor gàn de.
Keep working hard, I will certainly do my best.
等会儿要走一趟两公里的森林小路，大家能走吗？In a moment we will walk two kilometres along a forest path. Can everyone manage it?
Verb +一+趟+ Place
趟 · “tàng”. A measure word indicating the number of round trips, used for actions involving coming and going.
上个月我去了一趟北京动物园。
Shàng ge yuè wǒ qù le yí tàng Běijīng Dòngwùyuán.
Last month I went to the Beijing Zoo.
Fill the gap动物吃错东西会____，人走得太近也会打扰它们。Animals can feel unwell if they eat the wrong food, and getting too close can disturb them.
Giving Animals Space
Chen An and Ms. Mei discuss why people should respect animals and plants rather than treating nature as a backdrop.
6 new words
趟tàngmeasure word for round trips
放暑假fàng shǔjiàto be on summer vacation
老虎lǎohǔtiger
入口rùkǒuentrance
排队pái duìto form a line, to line up
活泼huópōlively, vivacious
因为活泼的动物也需要自己的空间。
Because lively animals need their own space too.
Listen to the conversation
陈安
梅老师，为什么动物园不让人碰小动物？
Méi lǎoshī, wèishénme dòngwùyuán bù ràng rén pèng xiǎo dòngwù?
Ms. Mei, why does the zoo not let people touch the small animals?
梅老师
因为活泼的动物也需要自己的空间。社会里的人要学会尊重别人，自然里也一样。
Yīnwèi huópō de dòngwù yě xūyào zìjǐ de kōngjiān. Shèhuì lǐ de rén yào xuéhuì zūnzhòng biérén, zìrán lǐ yě yíyàng.
Because lively animals need their own space too. People in society need to learn to respect others, and nature is the same.
陈安
那植物会不会也竞争阳光和水？
Nà zhíwù huì bú huì yě jìngzhēng yángguāng hé shuǐ?
Do plants compete for sunlight and water as well?
梅老师
会。森林里的生命互相影响，但不一定要争到只剩一个。
Huì. Sēnlín lǐ de shēngmìng hùxiāng yǐngxiǎng, dàn bù yídìng yào zhēng dào zhǐ shèng yí ge.
They do. Life in a forest affects one another, but it does not always have to compete until only one is left.
陈安
我以前以为保护自然只是大人的事，现在觉得我们也能做一点。
Wǒ yǐqián yǐwéi bǎohù zìrán zhǐshì dàren de shì, xiànzài juéde wǒmen yě néng zuò yìdiǎn.
I used to think protecting nature was only an adult matter. Now I think we can do a little too.
梅老师
对，从不打扰动物开始，就是一种负责的行动。
Duì, cóng bù dǎrǎo dòngwù kāishǐ, jiù shì yì zhǒng fùzé de xíngdòng.
Yes. Starting by not disturbing animals is one responsible action.
Which word means “lively, vivacious”?
What a Map Can Teach
A short article on how a nature centre uses maps to show the connections between habitats.
5 new words
社会shèhuìsociety
竞争jìngzhēngto compete
森林sēnlínforest
暖和的海边、很深的海洋和高山森林都有不同的生命。
Warm coasts, deep oceans, and mountain forests all have different forms of life.
剩shèngto be left over, to remain
暖和nuǎnhuowarm
暖和的海边、很深的海洋和高山森林都有不同的生命。
Warm coasts, deep oceans, and mountain forests all have different forms of life.
Listen to the text
自然中心的展板按地区排列。暖和的海边、很深的海洋和高山森林都有不同的生命。讲解员告诉我们，在海洋底也有许多生物；美人鱼只是故事，不是真实的动物。地图上，两座保护区相隔几十公里，可是它们仍然需要彼此连起来，动物才有地方活动。看懂这些关系以后，孩子们明白，保护自然不是只看一只可爱的动物，而是照顾整个环境。
Zìrán zhōngxīn de zhǎnbǎn àn dìqū páiliè. Nuǎnhuo de hǎibiān, hěn shēn de hǎiyáng hé gāoshān sēnlín dōu yǒu bùtóng de shēngmìng. Jiǎngjiěyuán gàosu wǒmen, zài hǎiyáng dǐ yě yǒu xǔduō shēngwù; Měirényú zhǐshì gùshi, bú shì zhēnshí de dòngwù. Dìtú shàng, liǎng zuò bǎohùqū xiānggé jǐshí gōnglǐ, kěshì tāmen réngrán xūyào bǐcǐ lián qǐlai, dòngwù cái yǒu dìfang huódòng. Kàn dǒng zhèxiē guānxì yǐhòu, háizimen míngbai, bǎohù zìrán bú shì zhǐ kàn yì zhī kě'ài de dòngwù, ér shì zhàogù zhěng ge huánjìng.
The displays at the nature centre are arranged by region. Warm coasts, deep oceans, and mountain forests all have different forms of life. The guide tells us that there are many living things on the ocean floor; mermaids are only stories, not real animals. On the map, two protected areas may be dozens of kilometres apart, yet they still need to be connected so that animals have room to move. After understanding these links, children see that protecting nature is not just about looking at one adorable animal, but about caring for the whole environment.
Fill the gap____的海边、很深的海洋和高山森林都有不同的生命。Warm coasts, deep oceans, and mountain forests all have different forms of life.
Culture
China's National Treasure - The Giant Panda
The giant panda is a first-class national protected animal in China. It is black and white, has a round face, and is known as a 'living fossil'. Bamboos make up 99% of its food. It primarily lives in the mountainous areas of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu.
A Small Promise
A reflection on the small actions people can take for a better relationship with nature.
7 new words
海洋hǎiyángsea, ocean
底dǐbottom, base
美人鱼Měirényúmermaid
公里gōnglǐkilometer
仍然réngránstill, yet
排列páilièto arrange, to put in order
梦mèngdream
有人梦想着在城市里多种树，有人想参加海边清洁活动。
Some people dream of planting more trees in the city, while others want to join a beach-cleaning activity.
Listen to the text
人们为了生活而使用自然的资源，也为了未来而保护它们。一次参观结束后，大家把带来的东西收好，不让垃圾留在地上。有人梦想着在城市里多种树，有人想参加海边清洁活动。无论做得多小，只要愿意开始，人与自然的关系就会慢慢变得更好。
Rénmen wèile shēnghuó ér shǐyòng zìrán de zīyuán, yě wèile wèilái ér bǎohù tāmen. Yí cì cānguān jiéshù hòu, dàjiā bǎ dài lái de dōngxi shōu hǎo, bù ràng lèsè liú zài dì shàng. Yǒu rén mèngxiǎng zhe zài chéngshì lǐ duō zhòng shù, yǒu rén xiǎng cānjiā hǎibiān qīngjié huódòng. Wúlùn zuò de duō xiǎo, zhǐyào yuànyì kāishǐ, rén yǔ zìrán de guānxì jiù huì mànmàn biàn de gèng hǎo.
People use nature’s resources for life, and also protect them for the future. After a visit, everyone can put away what they brought and keep rubbish off the ground. Some people dream of planting more trees in the city, while others want to join a beach-cleaning activity. No matter how small an action is, if people are willing to begin, the relationship between people and nature can gradually become better.
Grammar
人们为了生活而使用自然的资源，也为了未来而保护它们。People use nature’s resources for life, and also protect them for the future.
为了+ Purpose +而+ Verb
为了……而…… · “wèile… ér…”. A pattern used to indicate the purpose of an action.
植物会为了阳光、空气和水而竞争。
Zhíwù huì wèile yángguāng, kōngqì hé shuǐ ér jìngzhēng.
Plants compete for sunlight, air and water.
Which word means “still, yet”?
Write the new characters
0 of 19 written
凉 from 凉快 · pleasantly cool
Practice
8 questions · about 4 minutes
Pick the meaningListenFill the gapMatchWord order
Finish
Finish the practice to complete this lesson.