English Culture Videos

Instructions: Watch this video on desert life in Utah and answer the questions. Then, read the script at the bottom of the page.

• trail (noun): a path through a natural area used for walking, hiking, or other outdoor activities
  – The trail wound through the desert and offered beautiful views of the canyon.
  – Always bring enough water when hiking a trail in hot, dry conditions.
• national park (noun): a large area of land protected by the government because of its natural beauty, wildlife, or historical importance
  – Joshua Tree is a national park in California known for its unique desert landscape.
  – Millions of visitors come to national parks every year to enjoy nature and wildlife.
• dormant (adjective): alive but in a state of rest or inactivity, often during a period of extreme heat or cold
  – Many desert plants stay dormant during the driest months and bloom again after rain.
  – The seeds had been dormant for years before the heavy rainfall brought them to life.

What unique animal life can be found in different regions of your country? Search online for information on one particular animal, including its habitat, the food it eats, and one particular feature that makes it unique.

Hi. Right now, I’m at Pothole Point Trail, uh, in Canyonlands National Park at the Needles section, and we’re going to see something–Wow, Cool, Fantastic–something you don’t imagine you’ll see in the desert.

Shrimp! Come with me.

One of the amazing things in the desert is how life springs forth, and uh, here is a pothole with water that has collected, and there are these small, little tadpole shrimp that uh, that uh, lie dormant in the dirt and the sand, and then they come alive for a short period of time until the water finally evaporates, but amazing life in the desert.