Heatwaves: can we adapt?

6 Minute English

语言学习

2023-08-24

6 分钟

单集文稿 ...

  • Beth: I'm Beth.

  • Neil: And I'm Neil.

  • Beth: I have a confession to make, Neil - I love the hot weather.

  • It's a chance to get outside, maybe get a suntan.

  • But sometimes it gets too hot, even for me.

  • Neil: Yes, depending where in the world you live,

  • you've probably noticed that it's getting hotter year after year.

  • 2023 is the hottest year on record with heatwaves in many countries around the world, even Britain.

  • Beth: When it gets too hot, the human body knows how to cool down.

  • It sweats, passing salty water called sweat through the skin to lose heat.

  • But unlike the body, houses don't know how to keep cool.

  • And in hot parts of the world where air conditioning is unavailable, or unaffordable,

  • this is a real problem.

  • Neil: In this programme, we'll be hearing about an innovative new idea

  • for keeping houses cool in one of the hottest countries on Earth, India.

  • And as usual we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well.

  • Beth: But before we hear more about this sweaty subject,

  • I have a question for you, Neil.

  • Living in cities where summer temperatures regularly exceed 45 degrees Celsius,

  • Indians have been finding clever ways to keep their houses cool for over five thousand years.