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Finn: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Finn.
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Neil: and I'm Neil. Hello.
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Finn: Today we're talking about one of the latest forms of transport on two wheels.
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Neil: Yes. We're not talking about bicycles here.
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Finn: No, we're talking about a... self-balancing transport device.
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What a complicated name!
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Now a device is an object which has been created for a particular purpose.
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But yes, you need to balance on this device
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which means you need to stand on it and not fall over.
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Neil: Well this device has other names as well.
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It's called a rideable because you ride on it like you ride on a bicycle
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Or you can call it a self-balancing scooter or others call it a hoverboard.
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Finn: That's perhaps because it looks like a skateboard perhaps...
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but it's different, isn't it?
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Neil: Yes it is, it is a bit different.
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And we'll be finding out more about hoverboards in a moment,
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but first it's time for our quiz question.
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I'm going to make a statement and
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I want you to tell me, Finn, if it is true or false. OK?
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Finn: OK.
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Neil: Here in the UK, it's illegal to ride a hoverboard on the pavement.
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Is that true or false, Finn? What do you think?
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Finn: Well, I've actually seen someone riding a hoverboard on the pavement so I'll say
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it's false. I think it's legal to ride one on the pavement.
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Neil: OK, then. We'll see if you're right at the end of the programme.
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Finn: OK. So, Neil have you ever tried riding on a hoverboard?
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Neil: No, I haven't, but I would like to give it a go. It looks like a skateboard,
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but it is different – it moves differently – and it goes in a different direction
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it goes... sideways.
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Finn: Yes. And, you know, the other big difference is that it is motorised.
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And when you change your balance the wheels turn.
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So when you lean forwards – you move forwards
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and when you lean back you slow down and stop... and if you lean even further back,
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then you actually move backwards.
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Neil: Yes. So it's hard to keep your balance.
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Like a skateboard, you need to practise to get good at this.
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Finn: And I'm no good at skateboards.
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And I think, you know, if you don't practise you'll fall off the hoverboard lots of times.
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Neil: BBC reporter Emma Ailes has tried a hoverboard.
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Who else has tried one of these rideables?
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Listen to her report.
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Emma Ailes: So you may have seen in recent weeks celebrities like Justin Bieber
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and Lily Allen riding one of these.
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It's a self-balancing transportation device or some people call them rideables.
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I've never had a go but I am going to integrate one into my life in
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the next couple of days and see how I get on.
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Neil: And that was the BBC reporter Emma Ailes.
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She said that she's going to integrate riding a hoverboard into her everyday life
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and so perhaps she'll travel to the BBC on a hoverboard.
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Now to integrate means to combine things to make them more efficient.
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Finn: Or maybe she'll go shopping on a hoverboard.
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Now she talked about celebrities
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famous people who are using hoverboards.
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Neil: Yeah. She mentioned two celebrities – singers Lily Allen – who's British.
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And Justin Bieber - he's from Canada. So people are using hoverboards all over the world.
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Finn: Neil, you were telling me about a guy you saw last weekend.
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Neil: Yes, I was at a shopping centre and there were all these kids – teenagers
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watching this guy using a hoverboard.
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Of course they all wanted to try it.
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You could hear them shouting: "Can I have a go? Can I have a go? Can I have a go?"
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Now, to have a go means to try something.
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Finn: Yes. Now what was our reporter's experience of using a hoverboard?
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How did she get on?
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Did she learn how to use it? Did she enjoy using it?
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Emma Ailes: So overall this is really good fun and I definitely recommend giving it a go.
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But there are some downsides.
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It's really heavy, it's illegal to use it on the pavement
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and it's quite embarrassing being stared at.
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So are two wheels better than two legs?
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For me, probably not.
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Finn: So that was the BBC reporter Emma once again.
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And she tried to use the two wheels of the hoverboard to move around
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but she said she prefers moving with her two legs.
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Neil: But she did say this about using a hoverboard
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it's good fun and she definitely recommends that
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people try it – they should give it a go!
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Finn: But she said there are also some downsides – some bad things.
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First, it's heavy.
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Neil: Yes, it's not very easy carrying a heavy hoverboard.
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Finn: Also when she uses it
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everyone looks at her and they don't stop looking
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they stare at her and she says that's embarrassing.
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Neil: And there is one more downside about using a self-balancing scooter.
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And this is also the answer to our quiz question...
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I asked if it's true or false that it's illegal to ride a hoverboard on the pavement in the UK.
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Finn: And I said that it's false.
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Neil: And you are... wrong. It's illegal. There is a law here about that.
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Finn: Yes, I realised I guessed the wrong answer when I heard that clip from Emma's report there.
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Neil: Yes. Their use is illegal under Section 72
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of the Highway Act 1835 for use on the public pavements and roads in the UK.
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Finn: Oh, very impressive, Neil. Now, you can use a hoverboard, I've heard, on private property
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if you have permission from the owner but NOT on public pavements and roads.
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Neil: OK. Well, next time you see your friend Justin Bieber, Finn, tell him that.
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Finn: I will. Now, that's all for today. Please do join us again soon.
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Neil: Please do. And let's hear the words before we go.
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Finn: OK. We heard:
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device
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balance
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pavement
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scooter
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skateboard
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celebrities
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to get on
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to have a go
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illegal
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private property
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That is it now. And we'll see you next time.
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Neil: Goodbye!