Now, you may know that the snake is the sixth of the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese calendar. Yes, but did you know that all the animals also symbolise two hours in a day?

Two? Yes, the hour of the snake is from 9 until 11 a.m., the time when the sun warms up the earth and snakes are said to slither out of their holes. So for this week's PodcastsinEnglish.com, we're talking about snakes.

Yes, now then, they're not really very popular, are they? I mean, a lot of people are afraid of them, like spiders. Yeah, I think it's because people think they're cold and slimy. And you said slither, right? But they're not slimy, are they? No, no, not at all. In fact, the skin of a snake is actually quite dry and scaly.

Have you ever touched a snake? Yes, I have. Oh, yes. In Thailand, often you have people come around and they put snakes over the tourist's shoulders. And it was very heavy, I have to say. But yes, no, it was quite nice.

Now, you also mentioned the morning sun, Richard. Yes, snakes are solar-powered. Which means... Well, they rely on external heat sources. So they need the heat from the sun for their body temperature to warm up and get going. Like me. I hate the cold mornings.

But there is something a bit creepy looking about them. Maybe it's because they're always staring. They don't have any eyelids. Ah, no blinking. Well, that makes sense. It's a bit weird somehow. And that flicking thing they do with their tongues.

Yes, all snakes have forked tongues and they use them to smell. But they have nostrils. Yes, but they don't use them to smell. They use their tongues to taste the air. You see, that's weird again. Yes.

Now, there are more than 3,500 species of snake around the world. Can you remember how many there are in the UK? Hmm, I know they're not many. Is it five?

Three. Oh, just three? That's not many. No, there's the adder, the grass snake and the smooth snake. Now, they all hibernate in winter because it's obviously cold in the UK. And they come out again in the warmer months.

And are they dangerous? Well, only the adder is venomous. And actually, interestingly, in fact, fewer than 25% of all snakes are in fact venomous.

Okay, for me, it's not so much about being bitten by a snake. It's the thought of being eaten alive. Every so often, you hear stories of people going missing and then for them to be found inside a snake. I mean, that is just so horrid.

Yes, not very likely in Europe, I have to say, because that would be a python. Now, it is unusual, but they do eat very large mammals. That's the pythons. All snakes actually eat their prey whole because their lower jaw can separate from the upper jaw. And this allows their mouths to open really wide.

Okay, okay, that's enough.

Okay, well, actually, July the 16th is World Snake Day. Ah, really? What's all that about? Well, it was created to help people learn more about these animals and how much they contribute to the world.

So, they suggest you choose a snake and then find out all about it. Because the more you know about them, the more you'll be interested and less afraid.

Okay, but I'm not going to do any research on a python.

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. B

2. C

3. C

4. B

5. D

Part 2: True / False / Not Given

1. F

2. F

3. T

4. F (Fewer than 25% are venomous)

5. T