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今回から２回に分けて、オーストラリアとニュージーランドの野生生物（wildlife）についての会話をお届けします。これらの国々を代表する動物といえば、皆さんは何を連想しますか。カンガルーやコアラのようなおなじみの愛らしい動物から、近年日本でも被害が出ているセアカゴケグモまで、少し思い浮かべただけでもさまざまな動物がいますね。ここでは、日本ではあまり知られていないものも登場しますので、どうかお楽しみに！

（初級〜中級）*** It's a Good Expression ***

（今回の重要表現）

hardly any 〜 at all

ほとんど〜ない

black widow spider

セアカゴケグモ

※オーストラリア原産で、最近日本でも被害が報告されている有毒のクモだが、この「ゴケグモ」（後家蜘蛛）は"widow spider"を直訳したもの。

jellyfish

クラゲ

sharks

サメ

stingrays

エイ

to tackle

ぶつかっていく

Crikey!（オーストラリア英語）

= Wow!

on the topic of

〜と言えば

*** Script ***

Wildlife in Australia and New Zealand (Part 1)

M: Anna, you're from New Zealand right?

W: Yeah, that's right.

M: Is it dangerous there, with all the deadly animals?

W: Deadly animals? Actually, there are hardly any dangerous animals in New Zealand at all! You're probably thinking about Australia, right? There are so many animals in Australia that could kill you that it's scary!

M: Like the black widow spider?

W: Ha ha. Yeah, I heard that every time you go to the toilet, you should check to make sure there aren't any black widows inside before you sit down! Also, if you go swimming, you have to be careful of jellyfish, sharks, even stingrays!

M: Oh, stingrays! I heard there was a famous wildlife expert from Australia who was killed by a stingray, right?

W: Yeah, his name was Steve Irwin. He had his own TV show. I grew up watching him tackling crocodiles and helping kangaroos! His nickname was "the Crocodile Hunter."

M: That's right, Steve Irwin! And he would always say "crikey!"

W: Yep, that's him!

M: But I never really understood what "crikey" meant.

W: It's just something they say in Australia when you're surprised. But on the topic of things that may kill you there, did you know there are even plants you have to be careful of?

M: Plants? Cute little plants?

(Written by Anna Mace)