ESL Podcast 890 - Enjoying Nature

the great outdoors - a phrase used to describe the beauty and wonder of the natural world, including opportunities to explore and have adventures

Hinton loves hiking, skiing, and rafting in the great outdoors.

stunning - very impressive and beautiful; breathtaking

The art museum has a stunning exhibit of modern art.

view - scenery; the things that can be seen in the distance with a wide, open perspective

Their seaside home has large windows with a beautiful view of the ocean.

jaw-dropping - surprising or shocking, especially in a good way

The CEO made the jaw-dropping announcement that we were all going to receive 15% raises. It was unbelievable!

pristine - in perfect, like-new condition; untouched and unaltered; clean

If that old painting were in pristine condition, it would be worth thousands of dollars.

wildlife - animals that live in nature; not animals that live in homes or on farms

Bears, moose, and caribou are some of the larger types of wildlife that we see here in the national park.

natural habitat - the outdoor area where a plant or animal normally lives, without influence from humans and not in a park or zoo

The planned building poses a major threat to the owls' natural habitat.

wilderness - a large area of land that is mostly untouched and unaffected by humans, without roads or buildings

When people go hiking in a wilderness area, it is very important that they take all of their trash and waste with them when they leave.

pond - a body of still (not moving) water, bigger than a puddle but smaller than a lake

Do any fish live in this pond?

forest - a large area covered with many trees and other plants

At night, you can hear owls in the forest.

biodiversity - the variety of life in an area; a measure of the number of plant and animal species in an area, as well as how many of each species live in the area

Modern agricultural fields have very low biodiversity, because they normally have only a single plant like corn growing over a large area.

pollution - contamination; something that is harmful, poisonous, or dirty in a natural area

What causes more air pollution: cars or factories?

foliage - the leaves of trees and other plants

Each year, tourists go to Vermont to see the fall foliage as it changes from green to red, orange, and yellow.

majestic - with great beauty and dignity; lovely, impressive, and grand; related to royalty (kings and queens)

The castle feels majestic, with tall ceilings, velvet fabrics, and stained glass windows.

landscape - scenery; the things that can be seen in the distance with a wide, open perspective

Do you prefer to paint landscapes or portraits?

at one with - feeling united with or connected to something; feeling peaceful and in harmony

Through meditation, Arnand is trying to become one with the universe.

nature - the natural environment; the parts of the world that are not controlled or changed by humans

Sometimes people think we have dominated nature, but storms and earthquakes prove just how powerful nature is.

to spoil the effect - to ruin or destroy the illusion, perception, or the way one thinks about something

Charlene put on a beautiful dress, had her hair styled, and wore expensive makeup, but her cheap jewelry spoiled the effect.