[ti:It Really Is a 'Small World'] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:08.56]And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. [00:19.48]The Earth is a big place. [00:22.60]The U.S. space agency NASA says the Earth has a diameter of about 12,800 kilometers. [00:32.52]And the organization Population Reference Bureau estimates [00:37.44]that about 7.5 billion people live on our planet. [00:42.84]That is a lot of people! [00:46.68]So, it can really come as a surprise when you see someone [00:51.40]in a place where you do not expect to see them. [00:56.24]This can make the world feel very small. [00:59.48]For example, let's say I travel all the way to Brazil for a vacation. [01:06.12]Then, at my hotel, who do I see? My co-worker from back home -- Caty! [01:13.56]I have traveled very far from home only to see someone I know from home! [01:19.84]That would be a great time to say: [01:22.84]"Caty! Fancy seeing you here! What a small world!" [01:28.20]It is always surprising to run into someone we know in a place as big as ... the world! [01:36.32]We can say some form of "small world" to show this surprise. [01:43.08]Now, sometimes events and people are connected in a surprising way. [01:48.96]In these situations, we can also say "small world." [01:54.64]For example, let's say you make a new friend. [01:58.68]You two met while playing on the same sports team. [02:02.88]You start talking about where your live and what you do. [02:06.84]And as the two of you talk more, you both find out [02:10.64]that you have the same English teacher! [02:14.04]You can say, "He's your teacher, too? [02:17.32]There are hundreds of English teachers. [02:20.00]What are the odds! It is such a small world!" [02:25.32]These are all examples of coincidences. [02:29.48]You were not expecting to find these connections between people, places, or events. [02:36.40]And sometimes it is not always a pleasant surprise. [02:41.80]Let's say I go to an art show in New York City. [02:46.04]Now, on any given day there are probably many art shows taking place in the Big Apple. [02:53.24]But the one I go to just happens to be showing the artwork of my former boyfriend. [03:00.76]Really? He's the artist? Small world. [03:07.12]In a larger explanation, this expression means that although the world seems really big, [03:14.16]we can still meet people we know in the most unexpected places. [03:20.84]Usually, we say "it's a small world" to show surprise [03:25.52]at a connection that seems unlikely, improbable, and against the odds. [03:33.32]Generally speaking, "It's a small world" means that sometimes the world [03:38.48]can feel a lot smaller than it is. And that can be a good feeling. [03:45.40]"It's a Small World" is also the name of a water-based boat ride [03:50.44]at Walt Disney Company theme parks. [03:53.36]And it is the name of the song you hear throughout the boat ride. [03:58.48]There's so much that we share [04:00.60]That it's time we're aware, It's a small world after all ... [04:06.52]The ride shows children from around the world in traditional costumes. [04:11.60]They are dancing, playing, and singing. [04:15.60]On the Disney Parks website, Richard Sherman [04:19.00]-- the man who wrote the words to "It's a Small World" [04:22.56]-- talked about the song and what it means. [04:26.32]Sherman said Walt Disney wanted a simple song [04:30.88]– one that could be performed in English and many other languages. [04:36.48]He added that people everywhere share the same feelings. [04:41.40]So, everyone should respect each other and love each other ... after all! [04:49.36]And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. [04:52.28]Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo. [04:55.12]The song at the end is "It's a Small World." 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM