英語趣味課堂：陸地旅行 walk-about

Todd: Aaron, sometimes I hear from Australians, the term, have a walk-about, or walk-about!

Aaron: A walk-about is an aboriginal word. It basically, means an aboriginal boy, when he is growing up goes for a long walk, maybe for twelve months, and he doesn't see his family and he has to live off the land. He can't, he doesn't have money so he can't buy food, he can't buy anything, and he just hunts for food. It's not so common now, and I've never had to do it, but it's more of an old story from the aborigines who tell you about a walk-about.

Todd: Do you know anybody who's ever done it?

Aaron: No, I've never know anybody to do it, but I don't know if it's a true story or, I don't think it's common now, but maybe in the old days, maybe a hundred years ago, it was common for them to do it, but now they don't.

Todd: So, there's lots of different aboriginal people in Australia. Where does, which aboriginal tribe does this come from, or group?

Aaron: OK, I'm not sure what tribe it comes from but the aboriginals in the Northern Territories, which is all desert are probably the most famous for it, near Darwin and the top end we way, the north of Australia, where it's very mountainous, and you could walk for a year, and never find your way anywhere.

學習內(nèi)容：

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

walkabout

The aborigines tell stories about a walkabout.

Typically a 'walkabout' is an informal walking tour which is usually done by important people in the community and is done so that they can be seen by the public. The way that Aaron uses it, however, describes an aboriginal custom for boys to become men. The boys are sent out on their own with no money or food to survive for one year. Notice the following:

Walkabouts are not very common anymore.

This ceremony is the modern-day form of a walkabout.

aboriginal people

There are lots of different aboriginal people in Australia.

The 'aboriginal people' in Australia are the native or indigenous people who lived there before the land was taken as a territory of the British. Notice the following:

This art was made by the aboriginal people from the southern part of the country.

There are very few aboriginal people that still have the same traditions and customs as in the past.

famous for

The aboriginals in the Northern Territories are probably the most famous for the walkabout stories.

If a group of people is 'famous for' something many people know that this is something that they do. You can be famous for good or bad things. Notice the following:

He is famous for getting angry when things don't go how he planned.

This town is famous for its beer.

tribe

Which aboriginal tribe does this come from?

A 'tribe' is a group of people or community that has common customs or cultures. This group usually separates themselves from normal society and may have their own leaders and rules. Notice the following:

Before the explorers and colonialists came there were many separate tribes in the United States.

I spent last year in Panama studying the Kuna tribe.

hunt

He can't buy anything and he just hunts for food.

To 'hunt' literally means to follow an animal to kill it for food. Nowadays we also use hunt in a less specific way meaning to look for something that you need or want. Notice the following:

She is hunting for a new boyfriend.

Since the invention of the supermarket, hunting has become a hobby instead of a need for most people.

1 aboriginal

adj.(指動植物)土生的，原產(chǎn)地的，土著的

參考例句：

They managed to wipe out the entire aboriginal population.他們終于把那些土著人全部消滅了。

The lndians are the aboriginal Americans.印第安人是美國的土著人。

2 basically

adv.基本上，從根本上說

參考例句：

His heart is basically sound.他的心臟基本上健康。

Basically I agree with your plan.我基本上同意你的計劃。

3 tribe

n.部落，種族，一伙人

參考例句：

This is a subject tribe.這是個受他人統(tǒng)治的部落。

Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.這部落的許多風俗、儀式都極其古老。

4 aboriginals

(某國的)公民( aboriginal的名詞復數(shù) ); 土著人特征; 土生動物(或植物)

參考例句：

He remained fascinated by the Aboriginals' tales. 他一直對澳大利亞土著居民的傳說極感興趣。

They drove the aboriginals out of their lands at sword point. 他們以武力將土著人趕出他們的家園。

5 indigenous

adj.土產(chǎn)的，土生土長的，本地的

參考例句：

Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每個國家都有自己本土的文化傳統(tǒng)。

Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

6 tribes

n.部落( tribe的名詞復數(shù) );(動、植物的)族;(一)幫;大群

參考例句：

tribes living in remote areas of the Amazonian rainforest 居住在亞馬孫河雨林偏遠地區(qū)的部落

In Africa the snake is still sacred with many tribes. 非洲許多部落仍認為蛇是不可冒犯的。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》

7 literally

adv.照字面意義，逐字地;確實

參考例句：

He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻譯這段文字。

Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有時候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，決不肯坐下來。