Spoken English Conversation for Travel: Watching an Acrobatic Show

1. It's very difficult to see Chinese acrobatics at home.

It's very difficult to see Chinese acrobatics at home.

2. Oh! They're breathtaking.

Oh, the trapeze is really thrilling.

3.Those hair-raising performances can be scary.

Those hair-raising performances can be scary.

4. It must be very difficult for them to be trained as very skillful acrobats.

It must be very difficult for them to be trained as very skillful acrobats.

5.That goes without saying.

This goes without saying.

6. Look at the girl who is building a pagoda of bowls.

Look at the girl who is building a pagoda of bowls.

7. It's almost incredible.

It's almost incredible.

8. Ah, it's bicycle stabilizing feats on a raised platform.

Oh, this is a bicycle stabilizing on a raised platform.

9. More people do performances on a still bike.

There are many people doing performances on a still bike.

10. There might be a performance called trick cycling tonight.

There might be a performance called trick cycling tonight.

There might be a performance called trick cycling tonight.

Dialogue A

(Mary and Bill are going to an acrobatic performance. )

Mary: I'm all dressed up and ready to go.

Bill: That was pretty fast. It only took you fifteen minutes.

M: I don't dilly dally when there's the prospect of a good acrobatic performance in the offing. Let's go.

B: Yes, it's very difficult to see Chinese acrobatics at home. So it's great to have this opportunity since I like them very much.

M: So do I. What kind of things do you prefer?

B: All kinds. Such as magic shows, flying trapeze acts, tightrope walking, and even the clowns.

M: Flying trapeze acts! Oh! They're breathtaking. I'm the nervous type and get too nervous.

B: Yes, those hair-raising performances can be scary. I saw a little girl fell off a pyramid of chairs when she was balancing on them.

M: Really? Was she hurt?

B: Fortunately, she survived the accident because of the safety rope fastened on her.

M: That's too bad. It must be very difficult for them to be trained as very skillful acrobats.

B: Yes, that goes without saying.

M: Oh, it's a hard and very dangerous job. I hope we won't see the same thing today.

B：I don't think so. It seldom happens.

Dialogue B

(Mary and Bill are watching the performances. )

B: Can you see clearly? If not, we can move to the front.

M: No problem. It's very good here.

B: Look at the girl who is building a pagoda of bowls. She's stacking the bowls one by one very skillfully.

M: Oh, it's almost incredible. How can she do that?

B: I heard they are trained when they were very young. Oh, she's finished. Let's applaud her.

M: All right. What's next?

B: We have to wait for the announcer. Ah, it's bicycle stabilizing feats on a raised platform.

M: What's that like?

B: Er…one or more people do performances on a still bike. The bike is on a raised platform.

M: That's difficult, unless the bike is moving.

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B: Yeah. It's not easy even on a moving bike. There might be a performance called trick cycling tonight. That's the one with a moving bike. If there is one, you can see it with your own eyes.

M: That kind of act would take a lot of skill. Everything is easier when you are skillful at it.

B: Yes, just like speaking Chinese. We feel it's difficult , yet the Chinese use it freely.

Words and Expressions

dillydally vi. [oral] dillydally, idle time to kill

prospect n. prospect

acrobatics n. acrobatics; [military] aerobatics

offing n. nearby, in the near future

magic n. magic

trapeze n. Gao Qiuqian

clown n. clown

breathtaking a. thrilling; amazing

hair-raising [oral] scary, making hair stand on end

scary a. scary; (horses, etc.) easily frightened

pyramid n. pyramid shape; pyramid phenomenon; pyramid

balance n. v. balance< /p>

skillful a. skilled

acrobat acrobat (especially tightrope walker)

pagoda n. tower, pagoda

incredible a. Unbelievable

applaud vt. vi. cheer; applaud

announcer n. announcer; (TV, radio) announcer; (game, etc.) commentator

stabilize vt. stabilize

feat n. skill

platform n. platform; platform

trick-cycling n. car skill

trick n. stunt; trick; skill

stack vt. pile up