英語播客 A Cup of English 2016 You want to join the circus?

My daughter wants to join everything. She loves football, gymnastics, basketball, swimming, acting, dancing, and almost anything else. I don't know where she gets her energy from. Of course, I'm glad that she's energetic; its a sign of being healthy. Her friend, Lilly, has been involved with the Wenatchee Youth Circus for four years, and is a rope performer. She twists and turns (1) on two ropes that have a bar of wood joining them, like a seat. She hangs from the bar, spins, and does all kinds of acrobatics. For an eleven year old, she is very strong indeed (2). She spent the weekend with us, and as she had practice, my daughter went with her. The practice was two and a half hours long! When I went to pick them up, I expected to find two very exhausted girls, but they were still full of beans (3). Domini begged me to let her join the circus, "I'll think about it, Domini," was my reply. "It's not very likely though," I said. "You can't possibly do everything, you know," she gave me those big, disappointed eyes. I videoed her friend practicing her routine before we left. Her trainer called out names of moves and positions that she had to make. By the time she had finished, I could see that she was breathing heavily, and needed a rest. She will go with the circus all over Washington State to perform in various towns. It is a big commitment to be part of the circus, even though it is just a small one. It doesn't have any animals; however, it has a surprisingly large amount of acrobats, fire breathers, Spanish rope performers, and high wire riders. Some of these young people have been involved with the circus since they were little. It makes me wonder if Lilly will be performing when she is an adult with bigger circuses. Who knows? Domini and I will certainly join the crowds in Wenatchee when she gives her first performance.

1. 'Twists and turns' go together very often, and the phrase is used figuratively.

a. English country roads are full of twists and turns.

b. He navigated the twists and turns of a difficult life, and finally found happiness.

2. 'For a/an + adjective +noun, main clause' this is a more common sentence structure switched around. The 'for a/an ...' is a great way to reintroduce, or point to character traits in the subject.

a. For an inexperienced climber, he did very well. * You can, of course, switch the sentence around and say:

He did very well, for an inexperienced climber.

b. For an old lady, she sang as well as the younger women.

(She sang as well as the younger women, for an old lady).

c. For beginning English students, they did very well on the intermediate test.

(They did very well on the intermediate test, for beginning English students).

3. 'To be full of beans' is an idiomatic phrase which means to be full of energy.

a. I hoped that the trampoline would make the kids tired, but they were still full of beans!

b. I have recovered from my illness, and am now full of beans.

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