VOA Level 2 - Lesson 27 : Fish out of Water

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-level-2-lesson-27/4374632.html

Summary

Anna visits a friend on her houseboat. She says she wants to live on one. But, is that really a good idea?

Conversation

ANNA: Hello, Ms. Weaver!

MS. WEAVER: Oh, Anna. I’ve invited some people to dinner Saturday. We’re going to that new seafood restaurant -- Fish on a Dish.

MS. WEAVER: Why don’t you join us? My treat.

ANNA: Thanks, Ms. Weaver. But I already have plans. My friend has invited me to her houseboat.

MS. WEAVER: Houseboat, really? That’s unique.

ANNA: Yes, it is. In fact, I’m thinking of living on a houseboat.

MS. WEAVER: Aren’t you too tall and klutzy to live on a houseboat?

ANNA: I am not too tall!

(She knocks over a display board.)

PROF. BOT VO: Is Anna really ready for a houseboat?

PROF. BOT: Ms. Weaver invited Anna to dinner. When we make friendly, informal invitations, we use phrases like “Why don’t…?”

PROF. BOT: For example, Ms. Weaver said, “Why don’t you join us? My treat!” That’s: Why don’t plus the subject plus the simple form of the verb.

PROF. BOT: Anna responded to the invitation by saying, “Thanks, but I already have plans.” Keep watching for more examples of informal invitations!

FANNY: Anna, I’m so glad you could come!

ANNA: Hi, Fanny!

FANNY: Hi, this is my son, Phoenix.

ANNA: Hi, Phoenix.

FANNY: How about you give Anna a tour and I will make some lunch?

PHOENIX: Aye, aye, captain!

FANNY: Great!

ANNA: Do you really call her “captain”?

PHOENIX: I kind of have to.

ANNA: So, Phoenix, I think I’d like to live on a houseboat. Do you like living here?

PHOENIX: I love it! It’s much different than living in a house.

ANNA: Oh, I bet. I bet you had to get rid of a lot of stuff, didn’t you?

PHOENIX: No way! We moved from a 3-story house to a boat! So, we really had to downsize!

ANNA: I’d have to get rid of a lot of stuff. I have a rock collection and I have some really big rocks.

ANNA: Can you stop this boat from rocking for a minute?

PHOENIX: No. We’re floating on water. I can’t do that.

ANNA: Well, since you live on the water, aren’t you afraid of great white sharks?

PHOENIX: No, not really. They don’t live in these waters.

ANNA: … that you know of. What about killer whales?

PHOENIX: No.

ANNA: Electric eels?

PHOENIX: No.

ANNA: Barracudas?

PHOENIX: No.

ANNA: Piranhas?

PHOENIX: Uh-uh.

FANNY: You know, Anna, if you’re afraid of sea life, maybe you shouldn’t live on a houseboat. Do you have any boating experience?

ANNA: Oh, oh yeah, Fanny. I have battled the great waters before -- once on a swan boat and once in a duck boat ... bus. It was a boat that turned into a bus.

FANNY: Yeah, I don’t think that counts.

ANNA: Fanny, does this rocking ever bother you?

FANNY: No, I love it. It goes up and down and side to side and up and down. Anna, I love it!

(Because of the rocking, Anna begins to feel seasick.)

FANNY: Anna, are you feeling okay?

ANNA: Yeah, yeah. You know, I just need some fresh air.

FANNY: Let me open a window for you.

ANNA: No, I need some fresh land air. I mean, I need to breathe air on land. Oh, is that the time? I should really be going.

ANNA: Thanks for lunch, Fanny, and a tour of your houseboat. It’s given me a great idea!

FANNY: You’re going to live on a houseboat?
ANNA: Sort of. Thanks again!

ANNA: Hi! How would you like to hang out on my boat? Great! See you then!

(Ms. Weaver and Anna sit in a boat on land.)

ANNA: …and this is my shark net.

MS. WEAVER: Thank you for the invitation, Anna.

ANNA: Of course, would you like more orange juice?

MS. WEAVER: Uh..

ANNA: (to young man) Ahoy!

---

New Words

accept – v. to receive or take something offered
Aye, aye, captain! – expression. A phrase meaning “Yes, sir!” in naval language
barracuda – n. a kind of fierce tropical fish that has strong jaws and sharp teeth
battle – v. to try or struggle very hard to do something
count – v. to be considered or regarded as something​
decline – v. to say that you will not or cannot do something​
downsize – v. to make something smaller
deck – n. a flat surface that forms the main outside floor of a boat or ship
electric eel – n. an eel-like freshwater fish of South America, using pulses of electricity to kill prey, to assist in navigation, and for defense
fish out of water – expression. a person or thing is completely clueless or directionless when put into unfamiliar surroundings or an unfamiliar situation​
float – v. to rest on top of a liquid
get rid of – phrasal verb. to do something so that you no longer have or are affected by something that is unwanted
great white shark – n. a large aggressive shark of warm seas, with a brownish or gray back, white underparts, and large triangular teeth
houseboat – n. a boat which is or can be moored for use as a house
invite – v. to ask someone to go somewhere or do something
juice – n. the liquid part that can be squeezed out of vegetables and fruits
klutzy – adj. describing a clumsy person
killer whale – n. a black-and-white whale that kills and eats other animals
kind of – expression. to some extent
orange – n. a citrus fruit that is round and that has an orange skin​
piranha – n. a small South American fish that has sharp teeth and that eats the flesh of animals
respond – v. to say or write something as an answer to a question or request
seasick – adj. feeling sick because of the movement of a boat or ship that you are ​
swan – n. a large usually white bird that lives on or near water and that has a very long and graceful neck
sort of –expression. in some way
story – n. a group of rooms or an area that forms one floor level of a building

treat – v. an occurrence in which you pay for someone's food, drink, or entertainment