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This podcast is designed to give English students extra practice by discussing events, history, culture and language.
Hello and welcome. In today’s podcast, you will hear about a day and a night in the desert, and you will hear different expressions that are used to talk about cause and effect. Cause is the reason something happens, and effect is what happens. For example: I worked all day. I am tired. The cause is working all day, and the effect is that now I am tired.
Now, close your eyes and imagine this.
The sun rises slowly over the desert. A new day is beginning.
The sand is golden, the sky is clear, and the air is already warm.
The desert looks quiet, but many animals are getting ready for the day.
A camel walks calmly across the sand.
Because water is very hard to find, the camel drinks a lot when it can.
Its body stores fat in its hump, so it can travel for days without food and water.
The camel’s long legs lift its body away from the hot sand.
Because the wind blows sand everywhere, its long eyelashes protect its eyes.
As the sun climbs higher, the desert becomes burning hot.
Now, many animals slow down or hide.
Under a rock, a small lizard is resting.
Because the sun is too strong, the lizard stays in the shade.
Its body needs warmth, but too much heat is dangerous.
So, the lizard waits.
In the early morning and late evening, when the air is cooler, it comes out to eat insects.
By the afternoon, the desert feels almost empty, as if life in the desert has come to a full stop.
But this is not the end of the story.
Eventually, the sun slowly sets.
The sky turns orange, then purple, and finally dark blue.
The sand begins to cool, and the desert wakes up again.
A snake slithers quietly across the ground.
Because of the cooler sand at night, this is the best time for the snake to hunt.
It moves its body along the ground, and its color helps it hide in the sand. It is camoflauged.
Because many animals are active at night, the snake has more chances to find food.
Not far away, a fennec fox listens carefully.
Its ears are very big.
As the nights are quiet, its ears help it hear even the smallest sound.
They also help remove heat from its body.
Because of the extremely high daytime temperatures, the fox sleeps during the day and hunts at night. It is nocturnal.
The desert is dry and difficult.
There is little water, strong sun, and big temperature changes.
But animals survive here because they adapt.
Because of the hot temperature, they rest.
As water is rare, they save it.
Because days are dangerous, they choose the night.
When the sun rises again, the desert will look quiet, but now you know its secret.
The desert is full of life— life that’s smart, patient, and perfectly adapted.
Comprehension questions:
Why does the lizard stay under a rock during the day?
because the sun is too strong
Which body parts help the camel survive in the desert?
its hump and its eyelashes
Why do the snake and the fennec fox hunt at night?
because there are more animals active in the cooler night time for them to hunt
And which words did you hear to talk about cause and effect. There were 3 different words or expressions.
because, because of and as
If you got some questions correct, well done. If you got all 4, you’re a superstar!
Your homework, choose a habitat and write 3 sentences using because, because of and as to talk about the cause and effect of the habitat on three animals that live there. Tell your sentences to your VivaLing coach or family member.