國發會與ICRT共同製播的時事英語廣播“The World in Brief”固定於每周三在雙語資源網更新，與大家一起聽時事學英文。

本周主題：2024竹博覽會暨世界竹論壇 2024 Bamboo Expo and World Bamboo Congress

竹子是世界上用途最廣泛的材料之一，除了可食用外，也可以用於建築、製造樂器、甚至工藝品，而臺灣也一直擁有豐富的竹文化與資源。2024竹博覽會(2024 Bamboo Expo)於3月16日至4月28日舉行，活動場地分佈於五個不同縣市，每個展場有不同的特色及故事，帶領大家了解竹子的種植方式，並從源頭了解這種多功能植物的所有資訊。而第12屆世界竹論壇(World Bamboo Congress)將邀請來自世界各地的專家進行演講，也有工藝品展覽、茶道、音樂會等活動供民眾參與，活動為期5天，自4月18日至4月22日。想知道更多嗎？讓我們用３分鐘一起跟著主持人了解更多吧！

您喜歡這則時事英語廣播嗎?進入表單與我們分享您對The World in Brief的喜好與看法吧！

 

Transcript

Voice: You’re listening to the World in Brief …

Crowd: … On tour!

 

Scarlet: ‘Dear ICRT, I’m furnishing my apartment. Do you have any design tips?

Host: Scarlet in Hsinchu needs some decoration inspiration! Let’s go!

Host: We’ve arrived! Where on earth are we? The ground is green and lush. Mountains are stretching far beyond the horizon. And, scattered all around us … *gasp* Get down! OK, I think we’re safe … What are those things?! They’re gigantic! Are they animals or monsters? I can’t tell! They haven’t moved, so I guess they can’t see us … We must all be very still … and very … very …

Expert: Hello!

Host: AAAAHHH!

Expert: Whoa! Are you OK?

Host: Quick! Hide before the monsters see you!

Expert: What monsters? … You mean, these big animals? They’re sculptures!

Host: You’re sure? These things won’t eat me?

Expert: Of course not, they’re made of bamboo! You’re perfectly safe. I live here, in Hualien, so I come here all the time. It’s great to wander around this place. I love admiring the art and soaking in the sunshine.

Host: Oh! So this is Hualien! What are all these sculptures doing here?

Expert: They’re all part of the 2024 Bamboo Expo.

Host: Hang on … there’s a whole event just for bamboo this year?

Expert: Actually, there are two! And both of them are being held here, in Taiwan.

Host: That makes perfect sense. This island’s always been so rich in bamboo culture and resources. What’s the other big event called?

Expert: The 12^th World Bamboo Congress. It’s going to feature presentations with experts from all over the world. Plus they’ll have a vendor market and a craft exhibition. They’ll have cultural events too, like tea ceremonies, and live concerts. It’ll run for five days, from April 18^th to 22^nd, in two venues: one in Hsinchu, and the other in Nantou.

Host: It’s big enough for two venues? Wow!

Expert: That’s nothing, the 2024 Bamboo Expo has five venues in total! Each has its own unique focus and story to tell.

Host: Most expos are just held in one venue, aren’t they?

Expert: They are. Visitors to the Bamboo Expo this year are being invited to explore some of Taiwan’s stunning rural areas. There they can better understand how bamboo is farmed, and learn all about this versatile plant at its source.

Host: Can I ask, just how versatile is bamboo really? I mean, seeing it used here for these artworks is really cool. But it can’t do much else, surely …

Expert: You’re so wrong! Bamboo is one of the world’s most multifaceted materials. It can be used in construction, or to make musical instruments. You can even eat it! It can be used for crafts too, like furniture for your home …

Host: Bamboo furniture? That sounds perfect for my friend in Hsinchu! She’s decorating, and wants some fresh design ideas.

Expert: Bamboo looks great all over the home: in the garden, in the kitchen, and in the living room too. And, it’s environmentally friendly! Even the hardiest bamboo plant can reach its full height in less than a year! It’s incredibly robust, which means it has many varied applications.

Host: What an amazing plant! I’ll definitely check out the 2024 Bamboo Expo, and the World Bamboo Congress! Thanks, bye!

 

Vocabulary

stretch 伸長，延伸 (v.)

Hikers in bamboo forests marvel at canes that seem to stretch up high enough to scrape the sky.

 

scattered 散布的 (adj.)

To promote Taiwan’s diverse bamboo culture and industry, the 2024 Bamboo Expo is at five venues scattered across Taiwan: Hsinchu, Nantou, Yunlin, Chiayi and Hualien.

 

versatile 多功能的 (adj.)

Bamboo is versatile, providing construction materials, biofuel, food, furnishings, kitchenware, charcoal, paper, and much more in environmentally friendly ways.

 

multifaceted 多面向的 (adj.)

The World Bamboo Congress is a free multifaceted event with conference presentations, craft and technology exhibitions, a vendor market, and cultural events.

 

hardy 堅韌的，適應力強的 (adj.)

Bamboo is a hardy plant that can adapt to a variety of environments and recover from some events that might severely damage or kill other plants.