2010/10/29

Mayor’s aide bites cop over Lisbon traffic dispute 市長助理為了里斯本交通爭議咬警察

 ◎張沛元
Mayor’s aide bites cop over Lisbon traffic dispute
市長助理為了里斯本交通爭議咬警察
A top municipal official in Lisbon’s Oeiras suburb sank his teeth into a traffic police officer during a discussion over a fine, apparently enraged by the familiar form used by the officer to address him.
里斯本郊區歐里亞斯市的一名市府高官,在一場針對罰金的討論中以其金剛牙對一名交通警察發動攻擊,動怒原因顯然是該員警沒有用敬語稱呼他。
Police said Esequiel Lino, an aide to the mayor of Oeiras, had come to the police station to protest his daughter’s car being towed away by police.
警方表示,歐里亞斯市長助理里諾前往警察局,抗議警方拖吊他女兒的車子。
"He started verbally abusing the officers, kicking the desk and was warned several times, but it didn’t stop him. He went on and ended up biting one of the officers in the arm, and had to be detained," a police spokeswoman said.
「他開始怒罵警察,踢辦公桌,並數度遭到警告,但他依然故我,最後咬了其中一名員警的手臂,(警方)不得不拘留他,」警方一名女發言人說。
The officer had to be treated in a hospital.
該員警必須送醫治療。
The Diario de Noticias daily quoted a police source as saying the official had become infuriated when a young policeman, telling him to stop shouting, addressed the 64-year-old using the familiar form of "you," without the honorific "sir."
「每日新聞報」引述一名警方消息人士的話說,當一名年輕員警以普通的「你」而非帶有敬意的「先生」來稱呼這位64歲的官員並且告訴他不要吼叫時,這名官員就發飆了。

新聞辭典

sink one’s teeth into something:慣用語,以無比精力與熱情去做某事;本文中指官員咬警察,有雙關語之意。例句:It’s a really exciting project - I can’t wait to sink my teeth into it.(這真是個好計畫—我等不及要大展身手!)
tow away:拖吊。例句:My car was towed away!(我的車被拖吊了!)
verbally abuse:言語攻擊/謾罵。其他類似用法,physically abuse,身體攻擊/毆打。例句:Domestic violence covers a wide range of abuse including child negligence and verbally abuse.(家暴涵蓋廣泛的虐待行為,包括疏於照料兒童與言語暴力。)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 哈利波特 死神的聖物1

The long-feared war has begun, and Voldemort’s Death Eaters take control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, 1)terrorizing and arresting anyone who dares to 2)oppose them. But the one prize they still seek is the one most valuable to Voldemort: Harry Potter. As the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemort, the “Chosen One” has become the “Hunted One.” Harry’s only hope is to find the Horcruxes before Voldemort finds him. But as he searches for clues, he uncovers an old and almost forgotten tale—the legend of the Deathly Hallows. And if the legend turns out to be true, it could give Voldemort the ultimate power he seeks. (節錄自 EZ Talk 美語會話誌,完整內容請見 11 月號)

中譯 Translation

眾 人擔心已久的戰爭已經爆發,佛地魔的食死人控制了魔法部,甚至霍格華茲學校,恐嚇並逮捕任何膽敢違抗他們的人。但他們仍在尋找的目標是對佛地魔最有價值的 哈利波特。當食死人奉命尋找哈利波特,要將他帶回給佛地魔,這位「被選中的人」遂變成「被獵捕的人」。哈利唯一的希望是搶在佛地魔找到他之前找到分靈體。 但在他搜尋線索時,他挖掘出一個古老且幾乎被遺忘的故事──死神聖物的傳說。如果這個傳說確有其事,死神聖物可能會賦予佛地魔追尋已久的終極力量。

英檢字彙 Vocabulary Bank

1) terrorize (v.) 恐嚇,威脅
The man was accused of terrorizing his neighbors.
2) oppose (v.)
反對,對抗 The candidate opposes the death penalty.

英語通 Language Guide

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 哈利波特主題樂園
哈利波特主題樂園位於美國佛羅里達州奧蘭多市,是環球影城「冒險島」樂園的一部分。佔地 20 英畝,於 2010 年 6 月 18 日正式對外開放。園區入口有霍格華茲特快車 (Hogwarts Express),也就是書中載著學生從倫敦前往霍格華茲的交通工具,發車時的招牌汽笛聲和白煙當然也沒有少。園中還有許多仿照書中場景打造的特色景點與 商店,如貓頭鷹郵局 (Owl Post),可以讓遊客寄出蓋有活米村 (Hogsmeade) 郵戳的明信片。還可在 3 根掃帚酒吧 (Three Broomsticks) 品嚐書中出現的奶油啤酒 (butterbeer),或是在蜂蜜公爵糖果店 (Honeydukes Sweetshop) 買到各式搞怪糖果,包括巧克力蛙 (Chocolate Frogs) 和柏蒂全口味豆 (Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans),鼻涕、耳垢口味當然也是一應俱全。遊客也可以在哈利購買魔杖的地方──奧利凡德 (Ollivanders) 體驗一下魔杖是怎麼挑選巫師主人。

2010/10/28

Background noise affects taste of foods 背景聲音影響食物味道

 ◎國際新聞中心

The level of background noise affects both the intensity of flavour and the perceived crunchiness of foods, researchers have found. Blindfolded diners assessed the sweetness, saltiness, and crunchiness, as well as overall flavour, of foods as they were played white noise. While louder noise reduced the reported sweetness or saltiness, it increased the measure of crunch.
研究人員發現,背景聲音的大小影響食物的味道強度以及口感。蒙住眼睛的飲食者評估食物甜味、鹹味、脆度與整體味道,一邊聽著白噪音(指空間內所有噪音的總合)。噪音較吵時,說食物鹹或甜的人較少,說東西脆的人較多。
It may go some way to explaining why airline food is notoriously bland - a phenomenon that drives airline catering companies to heavily season their foods.
這可能解釋飛機餐為何總是惡名昭彰地淡而無味,讓空廚公司大量增加食物調味。
"There’s a general opinion that aeroplane foods aren’t fantastic," said Andy Woods, a researcher from Unilever’s laboratories and the University of Manchester."I’m sure airlines do their best - and given that, we wondered if there are other reasons why the food would not be so good. One thought was perhaps the background noise has some impact," he told BBC News.
聯合利華實驗室與曼徹斯特大學的研究員伍德說,「飛機餐總是被認為不好吃」,他告訴英國廣播公司新聞網,「我確信航空公司盡力了,考量到那點,我猜想,是否有其他影響食物不是這麼好吃的原因。一個想法是,或許背景聲音有一些影響」。
In a comparatively small study, 48 participants were fed sweet foods such as biscuits or salty ones such as crisps, while listening to silence or noise through headphones. In noisier settings, foods were rated less salty or sweet than they were in the absence of background noise, but were rated to be more crunchy.
在一份比較來說較小型的研究中,48名參與者吃餅乾等甜食或洋芋片等鹹點,一邊透過耳機聽安靜或是嘈雜的聲音。在較嘈雜的環境中,食物比在沒有背景噪音的環境中,較少被評等為較鹹或甜,但是被評為比較脆。
新聞辭典
blindfolded:形容詞,蒙住眼睛的。動詞與副詞皆為blindfold,例句:She was blindfolded and taken somewhere in the back of a van.(她被蒙住眼睛,用廂型車載往某處。)
bland:形容詞,淡而無味的。例句:I find chicken a little bland.(我覺得雞肉有點沒味道。)
catering:名詞,外燴,動詞為cater。例句:Which firm will be catering at the wedding reception?(這場婚宴的外燴公司是哪家?)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 哈利波特 死神的聖物1

Deathly Hallows: Part 11)takes up where the last movie 2)left off. As you may recall, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ended with the death of 3)beloved Hogwarts 4)headmaster Dumbledore at the hands of the 5)treacherous Professor Snape, who, it turns out, has been working for Voldemort all along. Now, Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on a dangerous mission to track down and destroy the secret to the Dark Lord’s 6)immortality, and therefore his destruction—the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on each another more than ever. But there are dark forces ❶ in their midst that threaten to ❷ tear them apart. (節錄自 EZ Talk 美語會話誌,完整內容請見 11 月號)

中譯 Translation

《死 神的聖物(上集)》接續前一部電影的結局。你或許記得,《哈利波特:混血王子的背叛》的結局是備受喜愛的霍格華茲校長鄧不利多死於詭計多端的教授石內卜之 手──原來石內卜一直是佛地魔的爪牙。現在,哈利、榮恩和妙麗展開一場危險任務,追蹤黑魔王永生不死的祕密,也就是能摧毀他的祕密──分靈體。靠自己的力 量,沒有教授們的指引和鄧不利多教授的保護,這 3 個朋友現在更需要相互依賴。但在他們之間有黑暗的力量,使他們時時面臨分裂的危險。

英檢字彙 Vocabulary Bank

1) take up (phr.) 繼續,重新開始。常配合
leave off使用 Let’s take up where we left off yesterday.
2) leave off (phr.) 停止,中斷
Where did we leave off last time?
3) beloved (a.) 深受喜愛的
Terry’s beloved aunt passed away recently.
4) headmaster (n.) 校長
Students are sent to the headmaster’s office when they misbehave.
5) treacherous (a.) 奸詐的,背叛的,危險的
The king was murdered by his treacherous brother.
6) immortality (n.) 永生,不朽
Man has long dreamed of immortality.

EZ好用句型 Tongue-tied No More

❶ in one’s midst 在…之中 mids 是「中間」的意思,而 in one’s midst 是表示「在……之中」, one’s 可以替換成複數人稱代名詞的所有格,如 our、your 或 its 等。 例. I suspect that we have a traitor in our midst.
我懷疑我們之中有叛徒。
❷ tear sb./sth. apart 使某人/某物四分五裂 tea 是「撕裂,扯破」的意思,tear sb./sth. apart 即為「使某人/某物四分五裂、分崩離析」,也可引申為徹底打敗某人。 A: Why did Jeff and Mandy get divorced?
為什麼傑夫和曼蒂離婚了? B: Jeff was having an affair, and it tore them apart.
傑夫有外遇,他們就分開了。

2010/10/27

Seoul squirms over octopus head war 章魚頭之戰讓首爾侷促不安

 ◎魏國金
Authorities in the South Korean capital are trying to untangle themselves from a slimy row: how many octopus heads is it safe to eat?
南韓首都當局正試圖從一個吵嚷泥淖中脫身︰能安全吃多少章魚頭?
Octopus heads are a favorite dish on the peninsula -- for their apparent aphrodisiac qualities.
章魚頭是這座半島上一道最被喜愛的菜餚—因其明顯的壯陽特質。
In September, the Seoul city government enraged restaurateurs and the fishing industry when it announced octopus heads contained hazardous amounts of cadmium, a carcinogen that poisons the liver and kidneys.
九月間,首爾市政府因宣布章魚頭含有危害健康數量的鎘,而令餐廳與捕魚業者大為光火;鎘是一種毒害肝腎的致癌物。
It advised against eating more than two heads a day.
當局建議,一天不要吃超過兩個章魚頭。
Enraged fishermen threatened to sue the government and their cause caught the imagination of the public when lawmakers representing their constituents took an octopus into a national assembly session, causing laughter as it tried to escape the jar.
惱怒的漁民威脅控告市府,同時,當代表他們選民的國會議員將一隻章魚帶進國民大會會議,而章魚試圖逃出罐子,結果引起哄堂大笑時,他們的訴求吸引到大眾的注意。
Lee Wan-beom, a fisherman from the county of Muan, told the Korea JoongAng daily that prices for octopus had halved since the government’s warning.
來自務安郡的漁民李莞汎(譯音)告訴韓國中央日報說,自政府發佈警訊以來,章魚價格已慘跌一半。
新聞辭典
squirm︰動詞,蠕動、扭動、侷促不安。例句︰He squirmed with shame.(他羞愧得坐立不安。)
untangle︰動詞,解開……糾結、整頓、使不再紊亂。例句︰The experts are searching the way to untangle the city’s traffic jams.(專家們在尋找整頓這座城市交通阻塞的方法。)
enrage︰動詞,激怒、使狂怒。例句︰His harsh remarks enraged her.(他的刺耳言論令她大為憤怒。)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 哈利波特 死神的聖物1

Yes, the Harry Potter era is finally coming to an end. The last novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was 1)published in 2007, and the movie version will be in theaters soon. Luckily for diehard Potter fans, the movie is being released in two parts: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 will hit theaters on November 19, 2010, and Part 2 on July 15, 2011. Following the huge success of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, David Yates returns as director for the third time. And of course Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are back as our young heroes Harry, Ron and Hermione. (節錄自 EZ Talk 美語會話誌,完整內容請見 11 月號)

中譯 Translation

是 的,哈利波特的時代終於要落幕了。這系列的最後一本小說,《哈利波特:死神的聖物》,在 2007 年出版,電影版也即將上映。所幸,對死忠的哈利波特迷來說,這部電影將分成兩集:《哈利波特:死神的聖物(上集)》將在 2010 年 11 月 19 日上映,第二集則在 2011 年 7 月 15 日。在《哈利波特:鳳凰會的密令》與《哈利波特:混血王子的背叛》大獲成功之後,大衛葉慈 3 度回到導演崗位。當然,丹尼爾雷德克里夫、魯伯格林和艾瑪華森也回來演出我們的少年英雄哈利、榮恩和妙麗。

英檢字彙 Vocabulary Bank

1) publish (v.) 出版,發行
What company is this magazine published by?

英語通 Language Guide

J.K. 羅琳魔法世界的魔法字彙
●Golden Snitch 金探子
鄧不利多留給哈利的遺物,是哈利生涯第一場魁地奇比賽勝利時抓到的金探子。上面隱藏著「我在結束開啟」的文字 (I open at the close) ,但他們就是無法開啟。
●Godric Gryffindor's Sword 高椎客葛萊分多寶劍
高錐客葛來分多為霍格華茲魔法與巫術學院的創辦人之一,他的遺物是一把由妖精製作的毒劍,只有利用鳳凰的眼淚才能解毒,能夠用來摧毀佛地魔的分靈體。
●Resurrection Stone 重生石
金探子中藏有的其中一樣死神聖物,可以召喚死去人的靈魂
●Elder Wand 接骨木魔杖
死神聖物之一,被譽為最強的魔杖,也稱為 Deathstick 或 Wand of Destiny。
●Horcruxes 分靈體
分靈體是黑巫師用來尋求長生的裝置,只要有部分靈魂存活在分靈體中,就不會被殺死。想要創造一個分靈體,必須犯下極大的罪行——謀殺,用以撕裂靈魂。
●Patronum 護法
用魔杖和護法咒召喚出來的護法可以擊退催狂魔等危險魔法生物。其形狀因人而異,例如哈利波特的護法是一隻雄鹿。

2010/10/26

US grandmother shoots intruder in her bedroom 美國阿嬤對入侵她臥房的歹徒開槍

 ◎羅彥傑
A pistol-packing grandmother in northern Alabama believes intruders will think twice before messing with her again.
阿拉巴馬州北部一名隨身配槍的阿嬤相信,入侵的歹徒下次干擾她時,會三思而後行。
Police say 69-year-old Ethel Jones shot an 18-year-old man in the stomach when she found him inside her bedroom at her home in Decatur.
警方說,69歲的艾瑟兒.瓊絲對著一名18歲男子的腹部開槍,當時她發現他在自己位於第開特市的家中臥房內。
Jones tells The Decatur Daily she sleeps with her gun under a pillow next to her. She says she grabbed it after hearing a door rattle shortly before 3 a.m. Monday.
瓊絲告訴「第開特日報」,她睡覺時,槍都放在旁邊的枕頭下。她說在週一凌晨快3點時聽見房門嘎嘎作響,就隨手拿了槍。
Police say the suspect removed a window air conditioner to get inside the home. He is in the hospital and faces a charge of second-degree burglary.
警方說,這名嫌犯移動了一台窗型空調,以進入屋內。他現在人在醫院,而且面臨二級竊盜罪的指控。
新聞辭典
think twice:片語,重新考慮、仔細考慮。例句:I would like to think twice about the contract before signing it.(在簽合約以前我想要再考慮考慮。)
rattle:動詞,發出連續短促的尖銳聲音,或發生格格聲。例句:The windows rattled in the wind.(窗戶在風中格格作響。)
next to:片語,緊靠~旁邊;貼近。例句:Police found John Nelson 35, lying unconscious next to his car with stab wounds to the back of head.(警方發現35歲的約翰尼爾森在自己的汽車旁不省人事,頭部後面有傷口。)

Working Out at the Gym

Asking about aerobics 詢問有氧運動Customer: Excuse me, do you offer any aerobics classes?Clerk: Yes we do. We have aerobic fitness classes Monday through Saturday, and also water aerobics Tuesday through Friday.Customer: Is there an additional cost for the aerobics classes?Clerk: No, they’re included in your membership.顧客:打擾一下。你們有開有氧課程嗎?職員:有的。我們週一到週六都有開有氧體適能課程,星期二到五有水中有氧課程。顧客:上有氧課程需要另外付費嗎?職員:不需要,都已經包含在會籍裡。(節錄自 EZ Talk 美語會話誌,完整內容請見 10 月號)

英語通 Language Guide

常見健身課程
˙aerobics 有氧運動
˙ water aerobics 水中有氧
˙step training 階梯有氧訓練
˙ cycling 健身腳踏車
˙ boxing 拳擊
˙ kickboxing 源自泰拳的拳術運動,以抬腿飛踢為主要動作
˙ belly dancing 肚皮舞
˙ hip hop dance 嘻哈舞
˙ Latin dance 拉丁舞
˙ Pilates 皮拉提斯
˙ yoga 瑜伽
˙ circuit training 循環訓練,包含有氧、局部鍛鍊的一整套自訂(或教練指定)運動流程

Common Phrases 使用健身設備實用句

1.I want to get in shape.
我想要鍛鍊身體。
2. I want to have six-pack abs.
我想要有 6 塊肌。
3. Can you show me how to use this machine?
請教我使用這部機器的方法好嗎?
4. Can you spot me?
你能幫我支撐嗎?(編註:做重量訓練時,請人在一旁幫忙準備支撐槓鈴等重物,預防突然下墜)
5. How many reps should I do?
這個動作我要連續做幾次?
6. How much can you press?
你能推舉幾磅?
(編註:仰臥推舉用語)
7. Can I bring guests to the gym?
我能帶其他人一起來健身房嗎?
(編註:有些健身房會適度開放會員攜伴運動)
8. Do I need a reservation to use the squash courts?
使用壁球場要預約嗎?
9 . Are there lockers/towels available?
有提供寄物櫃/毛巾嗎?
10. What if I forget my membership card?
萬一我忘記帶會員卡怎麼辦?
11. Is the membership transferable?
會籍可以轉讓給他人嗎?
12. Do you have a yoga class for beginners?
你們有為初學者開的瑜伽課嗎?

2010/10/25

Is this the revenge of the daughter-in-law? Being cared for by son’s wife could shorten mother’s life 這是媳婦的復仇嗎?媽媽被兒子的老婆照料可能減短壽命

 ◎管淑平
From interfering to molly-coddling, mothers-in-law have long been accused of making life a misery. But their daughters-in-law may now be exacting revenge.
從干涉到溺愛,長久以來,婆婆都被指控是讓人日子不好過的角色。但她們的媳婦或許現在正在報復。
Research shows women who are cared for by their son’s wife in later life fare less well than those looked after by their own daughter.
研究顯示,晚年由兒子的老婆照顧的婦女,日子過得比由自己女兒照顧的還差。
In fact, the set-up is so unhealthy an elderly woman would be better off living by herself.
事實上,這種組合不利於健康,年長女性自己生活都還過得比較好。
The Japanese researchers believe the friction in the mother and daughter-in-law relationships is at the heart of their results. The two women traditionally are fighting for the affections of the same man, and years of arguments finally take their toll.
日本研究人員相信,會有這種結果,根本在於婆婆與媳婦之間的摩擦。這兩個女人向來都在跟同一個男人爭寵,數年的爭執終於要她們付出代價。
During the four-year study, the scientists tracked almost 200 elderly Japanese men and women, the journal BMC Geriatrics reports.
在這份歷時4年的研究期間,科學家追蹤將近200名日本年長男性和女性。
Analysis revealed living with a son and his wife to be highly detrimental to a woman’s health. A woman cared for by her daughter-in-law was twice as likely to have died as one who lived with her daughter.
分析發現,與兒子和兒子的老婆共同生活,高度有害女性健康。由媳婦照顧的女性,死亡率是與自己女兒同住者的2倍。
The University of Tsukuba researchers said:’These findings are provocative in that they suggest a survival disadvantage for women who are cared for by their daughters-in-law, that is a daughter-in-law"penalty".’
筑波大學研究人員說,「這些發現具有挑撥性,是在於它們意味著女性被媳婦照顧不利存活,以及這是一種媳婦的『懲罰』。」
新聞辭典
olly-coddling:動名詞,原形為molly-coddle,動詞、名詞。溺愛,嬌生慣養的人。例句:You shouldn’t mollycoddle your kids.(你不應該溺愛你的孩子。)
fare:動詞,過日子、進展。例句:He fared well in the job interview.(他求職面試表現得不錯。)
detrimental:形容詞,不利的、有害的。例句:The oil spill has caused detrimental effects on the environment.(漏油事件已經對環境造成有害影響。)

Working Out at the Gym

Asking about facilities 詢問設施Customer: What facilities does your gym have?Clerk: We have several exercise and weight rooms, as well as a swimming pool, a steam room and two squash courts.Customer: Sounds great. Do you have a dance studio?Clerk: Yes. It’s right down that hallway.顧客:你們這間健身房有哪些設施?職員:我們有好幾個運動練習室及重量訓練室,同時還有 1 座游泳池、1 間蒸汽室,及 2 座壁球場。顧客:不錯喔。你們有舞蹈教室嗎?職員:有。就在走廊那一頭。(節錄自 EZ Talk 美語會話誌,完整內容請見 10 月號)

英語通 Language Guide

健身房常見設施
● weight room 重量訓練室
● aerobics room 有氧教室
● dance studio 舞蹈教室
● boxing ring 拳擊場
● squash court 壁球場
類似運動的設施還有 racquetball court(短柄牆球場,玩法與壁球差不多,但場地較大)及 tennis court(網球場)
● swimming pool 游泳池
● sauna 烤箱
● steam room 蒸汽室
● changing room 更衣室
經常與 locker room(寄物間)在一起。

健身房常見器材

● treadmill 跑步機
● elliptical trainer 橢圓機
也稱為 cross trainer,一種模仿行走運動方式的心肺功能訓練機
● exercise bike 健身腳踏車
● stair climber 階梯機,也稱為 stepper
● rowing machine 划船機
● ski machine 滑雪機
● ab machine 腹部前屈機

2010/10/23

Mobile phones ’dirtier than toilet handles’ 手機「比馬桶沖水把手髒」

 ◎陳成良
Mobile phones are covered with up to 18 times more living bacteria than the flush handle on a men’s lavatory, research suggests.
手機上覆蓋的活菌數量,比男廁沖水把手多上18倍,研究指出。
Swabs and analysis of 30 mobile handsets found that seven had high or warning levels of environmental bacteria, according to consumer group Which?
對30支手機進行擦拭及分析後,發現其中7支帶有高度或達到警戒層級的環境細菌,據消費者組織「Which? 」表示。
One harboured levels of bacteria, including faecal coliforms, high enough to give its user a serious stomach upset.
其中一支帶有多種細菌,包括糞大腸桿菌群,數量之高足以造成其使用者嚴重胃部不適。
Which? said the findings suggest millions of UK mobiles would exceed the recommended acceptable levels of bacteria.
「Which? 」指出,這項發現顯示,英國有數百萬支手機帶菌程度,將超過可接受的建議標準。
While not immediately harmful, elevated levels of bacteria indicate poor hygiene and can act as a breeding ground for more serious germs.
雖然不致造成立即傷害,含菌量高意味衛生情況惡劣,可以成為更有害細菌的繁殖場所。
Hygiene expert Jim Francis said: "The levels of potentially harmful bacteria on one mobile were off the scale. That phone needs sterilising."
衛生專家吉姆.法蘭西斯表示:「其中一支手機的可能有害細菌水平大幅超標,因此需要消毒。」
The tests showed how easily bacteria could linger on the surface of a phone, which could be passed on to other people if they held the handset to look at photos or other applications.
這些測試顯示出,細菌很容易滯留在手機表面上,如果其他人拿這支手機看照片或其他應用程式,細菌可能就傳播到他們身上。
新聞辭典
hygiene:名詞,保健、衛生。例句:People with bad personal hygiene are prone to get parasites in their bodies.(不講究個人衛生的人很容易在體內產生寄生蟲。)
germ:名詞, 一般指可引起疾病的細菌。bacteria兼指有害、無害甚至有益的細菌,而英文口語中bug也可指病菌。
pass on:片語,傳遞、轉移、轉嫁。例句:The company passed on extra labor costs to the consumer.(這間公司把額外的人工成本轉嫁到消費者頭上。)

Working Out at the Gym

Asking about memberships 詢問入會Clerk: Welcome to Global Gym. Do you have a membership here?Customer: No, I don’t. What are my options?Clerk: We offer an annual membership for 500 dollars and a monthly membership for 50 . You can also buy a day pass for five dollars.Customer: OK, I think I’ll get a monthly membership.職員:歡迎來到全球健身房。您在此有會籍嗎?顧客:我沒有。有哪些選擇方案?職員:我們有一年 500 元的會籍,還有每月 50 元的會籍。您也可以買 5 元一張的單日通行證。顧客:好,我要按月計費的會籍。

英語通 Language Guide

換你說說看:跟教練討論要鍛鍊的部位
句型:I want to reduce my _______.
我想要縮小我的 ??。
句型:I want to slim down my _______.
我想要瘦 ??。
句型:I want to tone my _______.
我想要修飾我的 ??。
stomach 腹部,或稱tummy、belly
waist 腰部
hips 髖部
butt臀部
thighs 大腿
句型:I want to get rid of my .
我想要消除我的 ??。
flab 贅肉
love handles 腰部兩側贅肉
spare tire腰部一圈贅肉
beer belly 啤酒肚(男)
muffin top擠在褲頭上的一圈腹部贅肉(女),因形似杯子蛋糕膨脹滿出模型以外的部分而得名
thunder thighs 鬆垮大腿(女)

健身房常見器材

● free weights 自由重量訓練器材 包含dumbbells(啞鈴)、barbells(槓鈴)及 kettlebells(壺鈴)等讓使用者自行決定訓練位置的活動式器材。 ● weight machine 重量訓練機 針對特定部位訓練而設計的機器。 ● multi-station gym 多功能重量訓練機

2010/10/22

Diane von Furstenberg designs Ohio hospital gowns黛安.馮福斯坦柏格為俄亥俄州醫院設計病人袍

 ◎張沛元
Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg has helped the Cleveland Clinic create a more stylish hospital gown without the peek-a-boo back.
服裝設計師黛安.馮福斯坦柏格已協助克里夫蘭診所創造更有型、且身體後方春光不會若隱若現的醫院病人袍。
The gown features elements associated with von Furstenberg designs - a wrap dress with a bold, graphic print. The clinic’s logo is printed on the fabric.
這款病人袍帶有馮福斯坦柏格的設計特色——一件上面有粗體圖案印花的圍裹式洋裝。該診所的標誌印在布料上。
The gown has side ties, which eliminate the embarrassing open-back look.
這件病人袍的側邊有綁帶,減少(舊型病人袍因採後面綁帶方式以致)後面門戶大開的尷尬。
The Plain Dealer says the fabric was chosen to address a concern that patients were too warm in the hospital.
殷商報說,這種布料之所以獲選用來製作病人袍,在於因應病人在醫院裡覺得太熱的顧慮。
So designers had to find a material lightweight enough to be cool but tough enough to withstand frequent laundering and having monitors and drains pinned to it.
所以設計師們必須找出一種材料,既輕盈到足以讓人覺得涼爽,又堅韌到足以挺得過經常有監視器與管子釘在上面。
Feedback has been mostly positive. Some men have complained that the gown is too feminine, so the design team is considering an alternate print.
該款病人袍的回應大多都相當正面。有些男病患抱怨新病人袍太娘,因此設計團隊正在考慮另一種印花。
新聞辭典
gown: 名詞,女禮服;長袍。evening gown,晚禮服;night gown,睡衣。cap and gown,畢業生帽與袍。例句:It’s compulsory for graduates to wear cap and gown for attending the commencement ceremony.(畢業生參加畢業典禮時必須穿著畢業生帽與袍。)
associate with:動詞,使有關,有聯繫。
withstand:動詞,禁得起;抵擋。例句:The straw hut is too fragile to withstand heavy storms.(這棟茅草屋太脆弱以致無法抵擋大風暴。)

I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant

閱讀Less than five minutes after her water breaks, Elizabeth delivers a baby while sitting on the toilet. 1)Paramedics soon arrive and rush her to the hospital, where she delivers the 2)placenta. Amazingly, even though she had no prenatal care, her seven-pound baby boy is healthy and nearly full term. So how could Elizabeth not have known she was pregnant? She most likely conceived in July when a condom broke. Even with proper use, condoms are only 95% effective in preventing pregnancy. Because she was used to light or even absent 3)menstrual cycles, she never noticed anything different.(節錄自 EZ Talk 美語會話誌,完整內容請見 10 月號)

中譯 Translation

在 羊水破了不到 5 分鐘之後,伊莉莎白坐在馬桶上生下寶寶。醫務人員隨後抵達,趕緊將她送醫,她在醫院產下胎盤。令人吃驚的是,雖然她沒有產前照護,她 7 磅重的男嬰仍然健健康康,且幾乎足月。那麼伊莉莎白怎麼會不知道自己懷孕?她最有可能是在 7 月因為保險套破了而受孕。就算使用正確,保險套避孕的成功率也只有 95%。因為她一直習慣少量甚至沒來的月經週期,所以始終沒發現有什麼異樣。

英檢字彙 Vocabulary Bank

1) paramedic (n.) 救護人員,救護技術員
The paramedics rushed the injured man to the hospital.
2) placenta (n.) 胎盤
The placenta provides nutrients to the baby before it’s born.
3) menstrual (n.) 月經的
Eating chocolate can ease menstrual cramps.

英語通 Language Guide

月經 (menstruation) 是發育成熟的女性具備的生理現象,月經來潮的期間(平均 5 天)稱為生理期 (menstrual period),一次生理期結束至下次生理期到來的週期約 28 天,這種週而復始的循環就是生理週期 (menstrual cycle)。
除 了生理痛 (menstrual cramps) 的折磨之外,有不少女性會有月經不規則 (irregular period) 的問題,例如剛開始有生理期的女孩及即將進入更年期 (menopause) 的女性,常會隔很久才來 (infrequent period) ,或是經血量很少、1~2 天就結束 (light period) 的狀況。

2010/10/20

100-year-old Indian freedom fighter pursues PhD 百歲印度自由鬥士攻讀博士

 ◎ 魏國金
Indian freedom fighter Bholaram Das marked his 100th birthday this weekend by announcing he was going back to school.
印度自由鬥士博拉蘭.達斯本週末以宣布他將重回校園來慶祝他的百歲生日。
Das has enrolled in a PhD program at Gauhati University – making him perhaps the oldest university student in this country of 1 billion.
達斯已註冊高哈帝大學的一個博士班學程,這使他可能成為這10億人口國家的最老大學生。
"In my 100 years, I have done many things in the sphere of society, politics, governance and religion," said Das. "I thought I must work towards a PhD that could satisfy my hunger for learning."
「在我100年的歲月裡,我在社會、政治、治理與宗教領域已做了許多事,」達斯說。「我想我必須努力獲取博士學位,來滿足我的學習欲。」
Das was 19 when he was jailed for participating in a 1930 protest against British rule. He spent two months doing hard labor and went on to study commerce and law. In 1945, he joined the Congress Party that led India’s drive for independence, achieved in 1947. Das worked as a teacher, a lawyer, a magistrate and a district court judge before retiring in 1971.
達斯19歲時因參加1930年一場反英統治的示威而入獄。他做了2個月的苦役,並繼續研讀商業與法律。1945年他加入領導印度走向獨立的國大黨,1947年印度獨立。1971年退休前,他做過老師、律師、地方行政官與地方法院法官。
For his doctorate, Das plans to study a subject close to his heart– how his native Bohori village helped in the spread of neo-Vaishnavism, a liberal and monotheistic stream of the Hindu religion credited with breaking down social divisions in Assam.
對於他的博士學位,達斯計畫研讀貼近其心的主題—他的故鄉博合里村如何助長新毗濕奴教的傳佈;新毗濕奴教是一支開明的印度一神教流派,該派宗教以打破阿薩姆邦的社會分立而受讚揚。
新聞辭典
work towards︰努力達到、設法獲得。例句︰They are working towards having all countries sign a peace agreement.(他們正努力促成所有國家簽署一項和平協議。)
hard labor︰苦役、苦工。例句︰North Korea sentenced a foreign teacher to five years of hard labor.(北韓判處一名外籍教師5年勞改。)
drive︰名詞,有衝動、內驅力之意。例如︰He is a man of great drive.(他是衝勁十足的人。)

I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant 糊塗媽媽進產房

Claire is rushed to the hospital, and after a quick exam, the doctor delivers shocking news: “Claire, you’re going to have a baby any minute.” Just 90 minutes after arriving at the hospital and five minutes of pushing, she delivers a baby boy. Luckily, even with no prenatal care and Claire’s smoking and drinking, the baby is healthy. So how could she not have known she was pregnant? Claire had no nausea or cravings, and never felt the baby kick. There are some women who have few, if any, signs of pregnancy. She probably 1)conceived in October of 2006, when her birth control shots most likely failed. All forms of 2)hormonal birth control, whether 3)injections or pills, have a failure rate of 4)approximately 1%. 

中譯 Translation

克 萊兒被緊急送醫,快速檢查之後,醫生告知她驚人的消息:「克萊兒,妳隨時會生下寶寶。」就在抵達醫院 90 分鐘,再經過 5 分鐘的用力生產,她生出一個男嬰。幸運的是,雖然缺乏產前照護,而且克萊兒又菸又酒,男嬰仍健健康康。那她怎麼會不知道自己懷孕了?克萊兒沒有害喜或食慾 大增,也從來沒感覺寶寶在踢。確實有一些女性幾乎感受不到懷孕症狀。她大概是在 2006 年 10 月受孕的,當時避孕針極可能失效。所有荷爾蒙避孕方式,無論是打針或吃藥,都有近 1% 的失敗率。

英檢字彙 Vocabulary Bank

1) conceive (v.) 懷孕,受孕
The couple is having trouble conceiving.
2) hormonal (a.) 荷爾蒙的
The disease is caused by a hormonal imbalance.
3) injection (n.) 注射
Insulin is usually given by injection.
4) approximately (adv.) 大概,近乎
The earthquake lasted approximately 30 seconds.

文法解析 Grammar Master

whether…(or)… 無論是否…… whether A or B的結構常表示「兩種可能性擇其一」,可解釋為「(無論)是……還是……」,連接兩個名詞、動詞、介系詞片語或不定詞片語。
例. Whether you drink coffee or tea, I’m sure you’ll like that café.
不論你喝咖啡還是喝茶,我都確定你會喜歡那家咖啡廳。
例. We should go whether it’s raining or not.
不論有沒有下雨,我們都應該去。

2010/10/16

Scientists invent invisibility cloak 科學家發明隱形披風

 ◎陳成良
It sounds like a far-fetched invention from science-fiction or fairytales.
乍聽之下,這像是科幻小說或童話故事中牽強附會的發明。
But US scientists have developed a working invisibility cloak made from small particles of glass.
不過,美國科學家已開發出一種由小玻璃粒子製成,能發揮隱形作用的披風。
When light hits an object, it bounces off the surface and into the naked eye, making it visible. But researchers at Michigan Tech University have found a way of capturing infrared light and bending it around an object, making it invisible.
當光線照射物體,物體表面反射光線到肉眼,使物體能被看見。不過,密西根科技大學的研究人員已經發現了一種方法,可以捕獲紅外光並使其在物體周圍發生彎曲,從而讓物體隱形。
At the moment the science is still based in the lab. But if the same results could be achieved with visible light, the shrouded object would disappear from sight.
到目前為止,這項科學仍處於實驗室階段,但如果能以可見光線達成相同結果,被籠罩的物體也會從眼前消失。
Professor Elena Semouchkina has developed a nonmetallic cloak that uses identical glass resonators made of chalcogenide glass, a type of material that does not conduct electricity.
賽莫金娜教授開發的這種非金屬材質的披風,採用了與紅外線波長尺寸相同的玻璃共振片,由硫系玻璃製成,不會導電。
In computer simulations, the cloak made objects hit by infrared waves—approximately one micron or one-millionth of a metre long—disappear from view.
在電腦模擬中,蓋上披風的物體受到紅外線照射,然後它真的從視線中消失了。她所使用的紅外線波長約為1微米,即1米的100萬分之一。
It is the first time scientists have tried using glass to bend light in this way.
這是科學家首次嘗試使用玻璃材質來實現光線的彎曲。
新聞辭典

far-fetched:形容詞,牽強附會的。例句:I’m not conviced by your far-fetched excuse.(我不會被你牽強的理由說服。)
(be)made from:片語,(產生本質變化的)由……製成。例句:The paper is made from wood.(紙是木材做的。)「be made of」則表示由成品可看出原料,例句:The table is made of wood. (這張桌子是木頭製造的。)
chalcogenide glasses:科學名詞,硫系玻璃。是指以硫系元素硫(S)、硒(Se)與碲(Te)為主體的玻璃。

Visiting the Museum 參觀博物館實用對話

Renting an audio guide 租語音導覽Guest: Excuse me. Do you have tours or audio guides?Attendant: The next tour starts in thirty minutes, and we also have an audio guide for two dollars.Guest: Is the audio guide available in Chinese?Attendant: Yes. They’re available in Chinese, English, French and Spanish.客 人:不好意思。你們有專人導覽或語音導覽嗎?服務員:下一場專人導覽 30 分鐘後開始,我們也有 2 塊錢的語音導覽。客 人:語音導覽有中文嗎?服務員:有的。有中文、英文、法文以及西班牙文。(節錄自 EZ Talk 美語會話誌,完整內容請見 10 月號)

博物館常見告示

• Please don’t touch the works of art. 請勿碰觸藝術品。
• Keep a safe distance from each work of art. 請與藝術品保持安全距離。
• Use a pencil when sketching or taking notes. 素描或做筆記時請用鉛筆。
• No leaning on walls or cases. 請勿倚靠牆壁或櫃子。
• No food, drinks or gum are allowed in the galleries. 展覽館內禁止攜帶食物、飲料或口香糖。
• No running or roughhousing in the museum. 博物館內請勿奔跑或嬉戲。
• No flash photography is allowed in this gallery. 本展覽館內禁止使用閃光燈拍照。
• No photography of any kind allowed. 禁止任何類型的攝影。
• Please check in all valuables and bags at the front desk. 請將貴重物品和包包寄放於櫃台。
• All children must be accompanied by an adult. 所有孩童皆須有大人陪同。
• No smoking allowed. 禁止吸菸。

Common Phrases 博物館好用句

參觀中

1. Excuse me, where is the Egyptian gallery? 請問,埃及館在哪?
2. Who created this sculpture? 這雕像是誰的作品?
3. Can you tell me about this painting? 可以跟我介紹一下這幅畫嗎?
4. What was this artifact used for? 這個手工藝品是做什麼用的?
5. Is it OK to take pictures? 可以拍照嗎?
6. Where are the restrooms? 廁所在哪裡?

逛紀念品店

1. Could you tell me how to get to the gift shop? 可以告訴我禮品店要怎麼走嗎?
2. Do you have a Chinese version of this book? 這本書有中文版嗎?
3. Do you ship items overseas? 你們有提供海外運送嗎?
4. How much does this book cost? 這本書多少錢?
5. Do you sell reproductions of famous works? 你們有賣名作複製品嗎?
6. Do you take credit cards? 你們收信用卡嗎?
7. What time does the gift shop close? 禮品店幾點打烊?

2010/10/14

Men better than women at sweating during exercise - study 研究:運動時男人比女人會流汗

 ◎ 國際新聞中心
Women unused to physical exercise had the worst sweating response, says the research in Experimental Physiology. This could mean women suffer more in hot temperatures as sweating helps the body deal with heat. A UK expert said women had less body fluid so could not lose as much as men.
刊登在實驗生理期刊的研究說,不習慣運動的女性,流汗反應最差。這可能意味著女性在高溫環境會比較難受,因為流汗有助身體處理熱。一名英國專家表示,女性身體的液體較少,所以不能像男性一樣流失那麼多。
The researchers asked 37 people to cycle continuously for an hour in a controlled climate. The results of the study showed that while physical training increases sweating in both men and women, the degree of increase is greater in men.
研究人員要求37人在受控制的氣溫中,持續踩腳踏車一小時。研究結果顯示,雖然鍛鍊身體會增加男女流汗量,但男性增加的幅度較大。
And the difference in sweating between the sexes became more pronounced as the intensity of the exercise increased. But women needed to get hotter, or work harder, than men before they got sweaty, says the study. This was particularly noticeable in the untrained women.
性別之間流汗的差異,會隨著運動量的增加而越趨顯著。但這份研究說,女性需要比男性更覺得熱、或運動得更用力,才會開始流汗,這種情況在沒練過身體的女性身上特別明顯。
新聞辭典
unused to:不習慣。例句:He is unused to sleeping outdoors.(他不習慣睡戶外。)
pronounced:形容詞,顯著的。例句:I’m told I have a very pronounced English accent when I speak French.(人家告訴我,我講法文時有很明顯的英文口音。)
sweaty:形容詞,讓人流汗的。名詞與動詞皆為sweat。例句:She wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.(她擦去前額的汗珠。)

2010/10/12

Missing snake that had zoo on edge found dead 令動物園緊張的失蹤蛇被人發現死亡

 ◎羅彥傑
Residents and visitors to Atlanta’s Grant Park can relax.
住戶與亞特蘭大「格蘭特公園」的遊客可以放心了。
The rattlesnake missing from the quarantine section of the reptile building since Friday was found dead over the weekend, its identity confirmed by the zoo on Monday.
自週五起從爬蟲類館隔離區失蹤的這條響尾蛇,週末被人發現氣絕身亡,動物園週一證實了牠的身分。
"From the snake’s perspective, obviously, there could’ve been a better ending," said Dr. Dwight Lawson, Ph.D, Deputy Director of Zoo Atlanta. "But we’re very relieved and pleased to know that the situation is over."
「從這條蛇的角度而言,本來是可以有更好的結局,」擁有博士學位的亞特蘭大動物園副園長洛森說。「但我們知道狀況解除時,仍深深感到鬆了一口氣及欣慰。」
Not knowing where the 2-foot-long, broom-handle-thick tiger rattlesnake was had Zoo Atlanta staffers on edge all weekend.
不曉得這條2英尺長、猶如掃帚柄厚度的虎斑響尾蛇的下落,讓亞特蘭大動物園工作人員整個週末都如坐針氈。
On Monday morning, the zoo got a call from a woman who’d heard that a snake had escaped from its cage at the zoo.
週一上午,動物園接到一名女子來電,她先前曾聽說有一條蛇從動物園牢籠中逃出。
"Her husband, who apparently was working on renovating a house, had said that he had killed a snake on the property presumably the day before. So, sometime Sunday," Lawson said.
「她的丈夫,顯然當時在裝修房屋,說他大概前一天在自家範圍內殺死這條蛇。所以,是週日的某個時間點,」洛森說。
新聞辭典
on edge:片語,緊張不安、煩躁。例句:The constant noise set her nerves on edge.(噪音不絕於耳,使她心煩意亂。)
renovate:動詞,修復、裝修。例句:He renovated a two-storey building.(他裝修一幢兩層樓的房子。)
presumably:副詞,據推測、大概。例句:Presumably he won’t see you, if you are leaving tomorrow.(如果你明天離開,他大概碰不見你了。)

A World in 3D 虛擬 3D 世界

The History of 3DThe 1952 film Bwana Devil is widely considered to be the first American 3D motion picture. To 1)publicize the realism of 3D, the poster read, “A LION in your lap! A LOVER in your arms!” Bwana Devil started a wave of 3D moviemaking, and a photograph of the audience wearing 3D glasses taken at the premiere is one of the most famous images of the 1950s. Studios rushed to cash in. 1953 saw the release of 27 full-length 3D films, including Vincent Price’s House of Wax, a masterpiece of horror. Creature from the Black Lagoon, another great 3D horror movie, came out a year later. But as quickly as the craze began, it 2)flickered out.(節錄自 EZ Talk 美語會話誌,完整內容請見 10 月號)

中譯 Translation
3D歷史

一九五二年的電影《布瓦納魔鬼》被公認為是美國 3D 電影的鼻祖。為宣傳 3D 的逼真效果,電影海報上寫著:「獅子坐在你腿上!愛人躺在你懷中!」《布瓦納魔鬼》開啟了製作 3D 電影的浪潮,一九五○年代最著名的影像之一,正是觀眾戴著3D 眼鏡參加電影首映的照片。電影公司趕著大撈一票。一九五三年共有二十七部 3D 劇情片上映,包括文生普萊斯的驚悚大作《恐怖蠟像館》。另一部出色的 3D 恐怖片《黑湖妖潭》則在一年後問世。但這股熱潮來得急,去得也快。

英檢字彙 Vocabulary Bank

1) publicize (v.) 宣傳,廣告,公佈
The charity event was widely publicized.
2) flicker out (phr.) 逐漸熄滅,逐漸消失
The candle flickered out, leaving the room in darkness.

EZ英語通 Language Guide

★cash in 的用法
獲利賺大錢
文中的 cash in 是指「靠……賺大錢」,常用的句型為 cash in + on sth.。
例 Lots of people want to cash in on the stock market.
很多人想靠股市賺大錢。
◎兌現
賭博前會先買籌碼 (chips),離開賭局時再將籌碼兌現,就是 cash in (one’s chips)。
例 It’s time to cash in my chips and go home.
是時候把我的籌碼兌現回家了
◎賣掉、贖回(有價證券)
除了賭博用的籌碼, cash in 也可用來表示將等同金錢的東西拿去「換現金」,像是股票、債券等。
例 Daniel cashed in his bonds and bought a new car.
丹尼爾把他的債券變現,買了一台新車。

2010/10/08

Japan senior lawmaker Americans are simple-minded 日本資深議員說,美國人頭腦簡單

 ◎張沛元
A key figure in Japan’s ruling party dubbed Americans "simple-minded" in a speech to fellow lawmakers Wednesday.
日本執政黨一名要員週三在一場向同黨議員發表的演說中,稱美國人「頭腦簡單」。
It was not clear what prompted the remarks by Democratic Party heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa at a political seminar, in which he otherwise paid tribute to Americans’ commitment to democracy, saying it was something Japan should learn from.
目前並不清楚民主黨大老小澤一郎為何會在政治研討會上口出此言;此外他還在該會上向美國的民主使命感致敬,指稱此舉值得日本師法。
"I like Americans, but they are somewhat monocellular," the former Democratic Party leader said. "When I talk with Americans, I often wonder why they are so simple-minded."
「我喜歡美國人,但他們有點單細胞,」這名民主黨前黨魁說。「當我跟美國人談話時,我總搞不懂為什麼他們的頭腦會這麼簡單。」
Ozawa didn’t elaborate on what aspect of Americans made him compare them monocellular organisms, a term also used to mean shortsighted or dumb.
小澤並未詳述是美國人的哪個層面讓他覺得可將之比擬為單細胞有機體,該詞彙在日本也被用來形容短視或蠢笨。
"I don’t think Americans are very smart, but I give extremely high credit for democracy and choices by its people," he also said. "They chose a black president for the first time in U.S. history," adding that he thought once that would never be possible.
「我不認為美國人很聰明,但我相當推崇美國的民主與民治,」他還說。「他們選出了美國歷史上首位黑人總統,」他並補充說,他原本以為這件事永遠不可能發生。
新聞辭典
heavyweight:名詞,重量級拳擊手;重要人物。
pay tribute to someone or something:慣用語,向某人或某事致敬;公開認可某人或某事。例句:They will have a reception to pay tribute to the work of the charitable foundation.(他們將舉辦表揚會向那個慈善基金會的工作致敬。)
elaborate:動詞,詳述;形容詞,詳細的。例句:He was asked to elaborate on his proposal.(他被要求詳述他的提案。)

You’re Driving Me Crazy!我要抓狂了!各種表達不滿的方法

Speaking生活美 語Julia: I thought you said you knew how to fix computers.Ryan: I did, but I never said I was an expert. Your computer is really 1)messed up.Julia: You’re making it worse. The more you 2)tinker with it, the more messed up it gets!Ryan: Hey, I’m trying my best.Julia: You have no idea what you’re doing. You’re not fixing it, you’re breaking i t!
茱麗亞:你不是說你會修電腦。
萊恩:我是說過啊,但我可沒說我是專家。妳的電腦一團亂。
茱麗亞:你把它弄得更糟,你越修越糟。
萊恩:嘿,我盡力了。
茱麗亞:你根本搞不清楚你在幹嘛。你不是在修理,是在破壞。
(節錄自 EZ Talk 美語會話誌,完整內容請見 10 月號)

英檢字彙 Vocabulary Bank

1)mess up (phr.) 弄亂,搞砸
The wind messed up my hair.
2) tinker (v.)(笨手笨腳)試著修補,調整
Dave spent the weekend tinkering with his car.

You're making it worse. 你也可以這樣說

◎You’re just making a mess of things!
你把事情弄得一團亂!
◎You’re going to break it!
你要把它弄壞了啦!
◎You’re completely clueless!
你根本不知道自己在幹嘛!

2010/10/03

"Sarrazin affair" opens can of worms in Germany 「薩拉欽辭職事件」揭發德國的頭痛問題

 The resignation of a controversial German central banker came as a relief for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government but his comments on immigration have opened a Pandora’s Box.
一名引發爭議的德國央行理事辭職,讓總理梅克爾政府鬆了口氣,但他對移民問題的評論卻引發更多棘手問題。
Considerable public support for Thilo Sarrazin have revealed that there is potential for a new political party for voters uneasy about the presence of some four million Muslims in their midst, analysts say.
分析家表示,許多民眾表態支持薩拉欽,反映出德國有可能因此誕生一個新政黨,獲得對德國境內400萬穆斯林移民感到不安的選民支持。
The Bundesbank central bank said in a surprise statement that Sarrazin would clear his desk in Frankfurt by the end of September "by mutual accord."
德國央行意外發表聲明指出,根據「相互協議」,薩拉欽會在9月底清出法蘭克福總部的辦公室。
The furore followed the publication of a new book by Sarrazin, "Germany Does Itself In", that said that Germany was being made "more stupid" by poorly educated and unproductive Muslim immigrants and their numerous offspring.
這場政壇風暴是由薩拉欽出版的新書「德國自我毀滅」所引發,書中指稱德國受到教育程度低落又不事生產的穆斯林移民,以及他們的大量後代所拖累,已經「變得更笨」。
"If I want to hear the muezzin’s call to prayer, then I’ll go to the Orient," he says in the book, saying that allowing in millions of "guest workers" in the 1960s and 1970s was a "gigantic error".
「假如我想聽叫拜者呼喚大家做禮拜,我會去東方,」他在書中表示,他還說德國在1960及1970年代准許數百萬「客工」入境是一項「巨大錯誤」。
Surveys have indicated that Sarrazin’s opinions on the integration of Muslims enjoy considerable sympathy, and his book is a best-seller.
民調顯示,薩拉欽有關穆斯林融合問題的看法受到廣泛民眾認同,他的書更是一出版就變成了暢銷書。
新聞辭典
open (up) a can of worms:成語,指讓情勢變得一發不可收拾或更為棘手,如The investigation into how these expensive trips were paid for certainly opened a can of worms.(調查這些高價旅遊的付款方式反而引出了更多問題。)
open (a) pandora’s box:成語,指發現意外的問題,如Sadly, his reforms opened up a Pandora’s box of domestic problems.(不幸的是,他的改革卻製造出更多內政問題。)
pandora’s box:名詞,潘朵拉的盒子,指製造出更多意外新麻煩的事物。
breathe a sigh of relief:片語,指鬆了一口氣,放下心中的大石頭,如Coastal residents breathed a sigh of relief when the hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm.(當颶風減弱為熱帶風暴時,沿岸居民都鬆了一口氣。)

dumpling

句型 1

This filling is made of __________ and __________.
這個餡是用 ____ 和 ____ 拌成。
ground pork 豬絞肉
ground beef 牛絞肉
shrimp 蝦仁
cabbage 高麗菜
leeks 韭菜
baby bok choy 青江菜
shredded carrots 胡蘿蔔絲

句型 2

It’s seasoned with __________ and __________.
用 ____ 和 ____ 調味。
soy sauce 醬油
sesame oil 麻油
rice wine 米酒
white pepper 白胡椒粉
scallions 蔥(也稱為 green onions)
ginger 薑
garlic 蒜

介紹包法

1. Grab a dumpling skin.
拿一塊餃子皮。
2. Put it on your palm.
把皮放在手掌上。
3. Scoop up some filling with a spoon.
用湯匙舀一點餡。
4. Put it in the middle of the skin.
把餡放在餃子皮的正中間。
5. Dip your finger in the water.
用手指沾一點水。
6. Wet the edges of the skin.
把餃子皮邊緣沾濕。
7. Lift up one side of the skin.
拿起餃子皮的一端。
8. Fold it over the filling.
蓋住餃子餡。
9. Pinch the edges of the skin together.
把皮的邊緣捏緊。

U.S. scientists design smart underpants that could save lives 美國科學家設計出可救命的智慧內褲

 ◎陳成良
A team of U.S. scientists has designed some new men’s briefs that may be comfortable, durable and even stylish but, unlike most underpants, may be able to save lives.
一個美國科學家團隊已設計出一些新式男用短內褲。與大多數內褲不同的是,這種新產品不僅舒適、耐穿,甚至時尚,而且還可能挽救生命。
Printed on the waistband and in constant contact with the skin is an electronic biosensor, designed to measure blood pressure, heart rate and other vital signs.
這種內褲及腰帶上與皮膚固定接觸的部分,印製有一個電子生物感應器,用於測量血壓、心跳速率等以及其他生命跡象。
The technology, developed by nano-engineering professor Joseph Wang of University of California San Diego and his team, breaks new ground in the field of intelligent textiles and is part of shift in focus in healthcare from hospital-based treatment to home-based management.
這項由加州大學聖地牙哥分校的奈米工程學教授約瑟夫.王及其團隊開發的科技,在智慧紡織品領域開闢了新天地,也是醫療照護重心從醫院治療轉向家庭管理的其中一環。
The method is similar to conventional screen-printing although the ink contains carbon electrodes.
這種技術與傳統的網版印刷術類似,但染料中含有碳電極。
The project is being funded by the U.S. military with American troops likely to be the first recipients.
該項研究計畫由美國軍方資助,美國軍隊有可能成為首批客戶。
新聞辭典
briefs:名詞,短內褲。例句:He stripped himself to his briefs.(他脫掉衣服,只穿內褲。)
vital:形容詞,生命的;維持生命所必需的。例句:Growth and decay are vital processes.(生長和衰亡是生命過程。)
break new ground:片語,開闢新的領域;作出新發現。例句:Miles Davis broke new ground in jazz.(邁爾士.戴維斯為爵士樂開創出新風貌。)

Wu Hsing-kuo

On completing his B.A. in 1977, Wu joined the Lu-Kuang Chinese Opera Company, a traditional opera troupe run by the army, to 1)fulfill his two years of 2)military service. He would continue performing with the company for 15 years, and was a three-time winner of the Military Golden Award for Best Actor. It was during this time that Wu began to worry about the future of Beijing opera. He noticed that audiences—mostly aging 3)mainlanders—were 4)dwindling, and realized that in order to keep the art form alive, it had to be made more 5)accessible to the younger 6)generation. He made it his life’s goal to ❶ breathe new life into Beijing opera, and, fortunately for theater lovers around the world, ended up succeeding beyond his wildest dreams. 

中譯 Translation

一 九七七年拿到學士學位後,吳興國加入陸光劇團——軍方經營的傳統戲曲劇團——服完兩年兵役。他繼續跟著陸光劇團演出十五年,三度贏得國軍文藝金像獎的最佳 男演員獎。這段期間他開始擔心京劇的未來。他注意到觀眾──多半是年邁的外省人──正在凋零,並了解要讓這種藝術形式生生不息,必須更親近年輕一代。他將 賦予京劇新生命列為終身職志,而且讓全球戲劇愛好者感到慶幸的是,他最後的成就遠超過他的想像。

英檢字彙 Vocabulary Bank

1) fulfill (v.) 完成(任務等),執行(命令等)
The manager was fired for failing to fulfill his duties.
2) military service (phr.) 兵役
All Israelis are required to complete military service.
3) mainlander (n.) 大陸人,(台灣)外省人
Many mainlanders came to Taiwan in the late 1940s.
4) dwindle (v.) 漸漸減少
Public support for the war is dwindling.
5) accessible (a.) 易被理解的,易被接受的
The author’s history books are accessible to a general audience.
6) generation (n.) 代,世代
We should all do our part to preserve the planet for future generations.

EZ好用句型 Tongue-tied No More

❶ breathe (new) life into…
為……注入新鮮感、活力 breathe 是「吹氣」,這裡的吹氣的人、事、物可是吐氣如蘭,被吹到的人都如沐春風般振作起來呢。 A: The new CEO says he’s going to breathe new life into the organization.
新上任的執行長說他要為組織注入新活力。 B: Yeah, sure. That’s what the last one said.
最好是啦。上一任執行長也是這樣說。

2010/10/01

Libertarian candidate objects to political symbols自由派候選人反對政治象徵物

 ◎張沛元
A Libertarian candidate for Licking County commissioner has challenged the county Board of Elections over some donkey and elephant figurines - symbols of the major political parties.
一名競選俄亥俄州里克金郡郡長的自由派候選人,針對象徵民主與共和兩大黨的驢子與大象小雕像,向該郡選舉委員會提出質疑。
James Snedden Jr., 63, of St. Louisville, won his quest to have them removed.
63歲、來自聖路易斯維爾的詹姆斯.史奈登主張撤除這些小雕像,最後他的要求獲勝。
Snedden filed a complaint with the board on Aug. 4 saying that when he turned in paperwork to run for office, he noticed donkey and elephant symbols representing the Democratic and Republican parties were on display. He said symbols of other political parties were not displayed, which he thought gave an unfair advantage to major-party candidates.
史奈登在8月4日就此事投訴選委會,指稱當他前往選委會遞交競選郡長的文件時,注意到裡面陳列有代表民主黨與共和黨的驢子與大象的象徵物。他說,這些屬於其他政黨的象徵物不該被陳列出來,因為他認為這麼做會讓主要政黨的候選人享有不公平的優勢。
The Ohio secretary of state’s office called several days later, Sue Penick, director of the elections board’s office, said, and suggested that the statuettes be removed from public view to avoid any hassle. As a result, the figurines are no longer on the public counter but are still in the office.
選委會辦公室主任蘇.潘尼克說,俄亥俄州州務卿辦公室數日後來電,建議不要在大眾面前陳列這些小雕像以免滋生困擾。結果,這些小雕像不再被放在公共櫃檯上,但仍存在於該辦公室。
新聞辭典
object to someone or something:慣用語,不同意某人或某事。例句:He objects to my opinion.(他反對我的看法。)
turn someone or something in(to someone or something):慣用語,向某人或團體,特別是公職,遞交或介紹某人或某物。例句:She turned in the report to the auditor.(她向審計官遞交報告。)
hassle:名詞,混亂,麻煩,爭執。例句:I installed this software without hassle.(我安裝軟體沒有遇到問題。)

Wu Hsing-kuo 英雄不卸甲 吳興國

As a young boy, Wu Hsing-kuo lost his father in the Chinese civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists.❶ On the strength of his singing voice, he was accepted to the National Fu Hsing Dramatic Arts Academy at the age of 11. Over the next eight years, he received 1)intensive training in Beijing opera, learning to perform both wusheng (male 2)warrior) and laosheng (old male) roles. In university, Wu was 3)exposed to the Western 4)theatrical tradition, studying Shakespeare and other classics. He also came to the attention of famous Taiwanese 5)choreographer Lin Huai-min, who invited him to join his Cloud Gate Dance Theater. Wu learned modern dance under Lin’s instruction, and eventually became a lead dancer with the 6)troupe. It was there that he met his future wife, Lin Hsiu-wei, who was also a lead dancer. (節錄自 EZ Talk 美語會話誌,完整內容請見 10 月號)

中譯 Translation

吳興國還是個小男孩時,父親就在國共內戰中喪生。由於嗓音出色,他在十一歲獲准進入國立復興劇校。接下來八年,他接受密集的京劇訓練,學習扮演武生及老生的角色。大學時代,吳興國接觸到西方戲劇傳統,研讀莎士比亞和其他經典。他也引起了台灣知名編舞家林懷民的注意,並受邀加入雲門舞集。吳興國在林懷民的指導下學習現代舞,最後成為舞團的首席舞者。他也在那裡結識未來的妻子,同為首席舞者的林秀偉。

英檢字彙 Vocabulary Bank

1) intensive (a.) 加強的,密集的
Craig has signed up for an intensive Japanese course this summer.
2) warrior (n.) 戰士
The warrior went to battle with his shield and sword.
3) expose (v.) 使接觸到,使暴露於 (phr.) expose to 暴露於
The goal of the program is to expose students to art.
4) theatrical (a.) 戲劇的,戲劇性的
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are going to see a theatrical performance tonight.
5) choreographer (n.) 編舞者
The singer hired a famous choreographer for her new video.
6) troupe (n.)(劇團等)一班,一團
The acting troupe is performing a Shakespeare play.

EZ好用句型 Tongue-tied No More

❶ on the strength of… 因……之故 表示做決定的原因,一般用於有證據支持,或是得到承諾而做的決定。
A: I heard that murder suspect is a free man now.
聽說那個殺人嫌犯現在是自由之身。
B: Yeah. According to the paper, his case was dismissed on the strength of his testimony.
對啊,報上說他的案子因他的證詞而被撤銷。

2010/09/30

Clue to getting a good night’s sleep discovered 一夜好眠的線索發現了

 ◎國際新聞中心
US researchers are a step closer to discovering why some people can sleep peacefully despite the noise of modern life. A process in the brain plays a key role in blocking out sound during sleep, they say, and it appears to be more effective in certain individuals. It may be possible to boost this effect using therapy, drugs or electronic devices, says a Harvard team.
美國研究人員即將發現為什麼現代生活充滿噪音,人類還能安睡的原因。他們說,腦中一種過程扮演在睡夢中隔絕聲音的重要角色,在某些人身上,這種過程似乎特別有效。一個哈佛團隊說,或許可以用療法、藥物或電子器材來促進這種效果。
US researchers studied 12 healthy volunteers at a sleep clinic over the course of three nights. The first night was quiet but during the second and third nights, volunteers were confronted with the sounds of telephones ringing, road and air traffic noises and the beep of hospital equipment.
美國研究人員在3個晚上的研究過程中,在睡眠診所觀察12名健康的志願者。第1晚很安靜,不過第2與第3晚,志願者就會聽到電話鈴聲、路上與空中的噪音,以及醫院儀器的嗶嗶聲。
They were monitored each night using an electroencephalograph(EEG), which records the electrical activity of the brain. The team, led by Dr Jeffrey Ellenbogen of Harvard Medical School, Boston, detected patterns known as sleep spindles which are thought to block out the effects of sound and other sensory information passing through the brain.
他們每晚接受腦電圖(EEG)監控,記錄受試者大腦的電子活動。由波士頓哈佛醫學院艾倫波根博士領導的團隊,偵測被稱為睡眠紡錘波的模式。紡錘波被認為會封鎖聲音與感官訊息通過大腦。
Individuals with the highest rates of spindles on the quiet night were less likely to be woken by noises on the second and third nights, and some were not even aware their sleep had been disrupted, he said.
在安靜的夜晚紡錘波速最高的人,第2第3晚比較不會被噪音吵醒,有些人甚至不知道睡眠曾被干擾。
新聞辭典
block out:片語,阻擋(光線或聲音通過)。例句:The tree outside the window blocks out the sun.(窗外的樹木擋住了太陽。)
sensory:形容詞,感官的。例句:A study was conducted on sensory stimulation and its effects on the brain.(針對感官刺激及其對大腦的效果進行一項研究。)
aware:形容詞,知道。例句:Are you aware how important you are to me?(你知道你對我有多重要嗎?)

This Day in History September 30 歷史上的今天9月30日

Since 1903, the World Series has determined the champions of Major League Baseball. Each year, baseball fans tune in to watch who will earn that year’s bragging rights. However, it wasn’t always so easy to catch this great event. It wasn’t until this date in 1947 that the World Series was televised for the first time. It brought the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers into the living rooms of New Yorkers. This was also the first World Series in which an African-American player participated. The final result was the Yankees achieved victory in seven games.
自1903年起,世界大賽決定了美國職棒大聯盟的冠軍。每年棒球迷都會準時收看比賽,看那年誰能贏得揚眉吐氣的權力。不過要觀賞到這場運動盛事並非一直這麼容易。直到1947年的今日,世界大賽才首次在電視上轉播。當時在紐約民眾家中客廳上演的是紐約洋基隊和布魯克林道奇隊之間的比賽。這次也是世界大賽中首次有非裔美國球員的參與。最後洋基隊打滿7場比賽才奪得勝利。

單字片語

˙determine vt. 決定;確定
例:The scientists analyzed the moon rock to determine its composition.(科學家們分析那塊月球岩石以確定它的成分。)
˙champion n. 冠軍;優勝者
˙bragging rights 值得誇耀的成就或勝利
例:The winning band got NT$500,000 and bragging rights for a whole year.(比賽的冠軍樂團能夠獲得50萬元,並且揚眉吐氣一整年。)
˙televise vt. 電視播送
˙participate vi. 參加,參與
例:We are participating in the swimming competition next week.(我們將要參加下星期的游泳比賽。)
˙victory n. 勝利

知識大補帖

每 年美國聯盟(American League)和國家聯盟(National League)各選出冠軍隊伍,以7戰4勝的方式決選出美國職棒大聯盟的冠軍(編按:除了1903、1919、1920 和1921年採9戰5勝制),優勝的隊伍可贏得世界大賽獎盃(Commissioner’s Trophy)。而除了1904和1994年外,世界大賽(圖為1947年比賽情形,翻攝網路)年年都有舉辦。目前紐約洋基隊是贏得最多次世界大賽的隊伍。

Hampshire police release ’lettuce’ e-fit of suspect 漢普郡警方公布嫌犯的「萵苣」辨識圖

 ◎ 魏國金
British police have admitted having technical issues after releasing an e-fit of a burglary suspect which looks like a man wearing a lettuce.
英國警方在公布一張看起來像是頭戴萵苣的男竊嫌臉部辨識圖後,坦承出現技術問題。
Officers released the image after a distraction burglary in which £60 was stolen from an elderly woman in Stockbridge, Hampshire. But the picture appeared to show the man with a lettuce on his head.
漢普郡斯塔克布里治地區發生一名年長婦人被偷走60英鎊的詐騙竊案後,警員公布這張圖像,但照片似乎顯示該男頭上有顆萵苣。
A spokesperson said that "while the hair on this image may not be of the best quality, it takes nothing from the overall clarity of the facial features". He added: "It would therefore be wrong to withhold the release of the e-fit just based on this technical issue."
一名發言人指出,「這張圖像的頭髮部分或許不是當中品質最優的,但無損臉部特徵的整體清晰」。他說︰「因此,只因這個技術問題而不公布這張歹徒的辨識圖是錯的。」
The suspect had asked the woman for money for gardening work but stole £60 from her handbag. He is described as white, between 40 and 45, about 5ft 8ins, with a round clean shaven face, large round eyes and with wavy blonde or greying hair.
這名嫌犯以園藝工作為由向受害婦女要錢,卻從她的手提包偷走60英鎊,他被描述是白人、介於40歲至45歲之間,身高5呎8吋,有張鬍子刮乾淨的圓臉,圓圓大大的眼睛,以及金色鬈髮或花白頭髮。
A Victim Support spokesperson said: "Victims or witnesses to a crime highly expect the criminal justice system to bring someone to justice. People put their trust in the system and the software and expect results, which would explain why people might be baffled by the picture."
受害者支持團體的一名發言人說︰「犯罪的受害者或目擊者高度期待刑事司法體系能伸張正義。人們信賴該體系與軟體,並期待結果,這可以說明為何人們對這張照片感到不解。」
新聞辭典
e-fit︰electronic facial identification technique(電子臉部辨識技術) 的縮寫,指以電腦方式,依據目擊者提供的訊息,合成歹徒等臉部圖像的繪圖技術。
distraction burglary:等同artifice burglary,指訴諸詐騙手段的竊盜。例句︰The elderly are particularly vulnerable to distraction burglary. (對於詐騙竊案,年長者特別容易上當。)
put one’s trust in︰片語,信任。

This Day in History September 29 歷史上的今天 9月29日

The world had to deal with a lot of turmoil during World War II. Before the bulk of the fighting began, European leaders tried to appease Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler since no one actually wanted another war. Because of this, the Munich Agreement was signed on this date in 1938. It stated that a part of Czechoslovakia, called Sudetenland, would be turned over to Germany. Hitler wanted it because the people there were ethnically German. The leaders from several European countries met to make the agreement. Oddly enough, Czechoslovakia’s leader was not one of them.
二次大戰期間,全世界得處理許多混亂的事情。在主要戰役爆發之前,歐洲領袖試圖安撫德國納粹和希特勒,因為沒有人真的希望再掀起另一場大戰。正因如此,慕尼黑協定遂於1938年的今天簽署,它明令捷克斯洛伐克的蘇台德地區必須割讓給德國。希特勒要此區的原因是該區的人民在種族上屬日耳曼人。許多歐洲國家的領袖會晤並制定此協定。但奇怪的是,捷克斯洛伐克的領袖卻未出席該會議。

單字片語

˙turmoil n. 騷動,混亂
例:The business has been in turmoil since the CEO stepped down unexpectedly.(執行長突然宣布下台後,該企業便陷入一片混亂。)
˙bulk n. 主體;大部分
例:The bulk of the country’s population is concentrated in the two largest cities.(該國的人口大部分集中在兩個最大的城市裡。)
˙appease vt. 平息,安撫
˙agreement n. 協定;協議
˙ethnically adv. 種族上
˙Oddly enough, S + V 奇怪的是,……
例:Oddly enough, Leo wasn’t tired after only getting three hours of sleep last night.(奇怪的是,里歐昨晚只睡了3小時卻不覺得疲倦。)

知識大補帖

慕尼黑協定是英國、法國、德國、義大利 4 國的領袖──張伯倫(Neville Chamberlain)(左起,圖為簽約前合影,翻攝網路)、達拉第(Edouard Daladier)、希特勒以及墨索里尼(Benito Mussolini)在德國慕尼黑召開的會議。英法為避免歐洲再度爆發戰爭,於是決定犧牲捷克斯洛伐克的權益與德國簽署慕尼黑協定,此乃一項綏靖政策(appeasement)。捷克斯洛伐克政府原先拒絕承認該項協定,但英法政府施壓,表示捷克斯洛伐克政府若不同意,那麼英法就沒有義務幫助協防。最終,捷克斯洛伐克只得妥協,同意割讓領土。

2010/09/28

Woman jailed for low-riding shorts 女子因穿低腰短褲被關

 ◎羅彥傑
A New Orleans woman was jailed for ten days after she went to court in low-riding shorts which revealed her underwear.
紐奧良一名女子穿低腰短褲出庭,露出內褲,被關了10天。
Kimberly Senette, 23, had only gone to court to urge her brother Lawrence Senette, 18, to accept a plea deal.
金柏莉.塞尼特,23歲,出庭只是為了要自己的弟弟羅倫斯.塞尼特,18歲,接受認罪協商。
But Judge Steve Windhorst took a dim view of her revealing outfit and locked her up for contempt of court, reports the Times-Picayune newspaper.
但法官史提夫.溫霍斯特對她暴露的服裝觀感很差,以藐視法庭罪把她關起來,《時代瑣聞報》報導說。
Miss Senette was wearing knee-length shorts which revealed her pants and the top of her buttocks, according to a witness.
塞尼特小姐穿著及膝短褲,露出內褲及自己屁股頂部,根據一名目擊者說。
When Judge Windhorst questioned her appearance, she said she had to remove her belt when going through a security checkpoint at the courtroom entrance.
當溫霍斯特法官質疑她的服裝儀容時,她說她在通過審判室門口的安檢崗哨時,必須拿掉皮帶。
She ended up being handcuffed and seated a row behind her brother as he eventually accepted a 12-year prison sentence in exchange for his guilty plea to carjacking and battery charges.
她最後被戴上手銬,坐在弟弟後面的一排座位,而弟弟最後接受12年徒刑,換取對劫車與毆打等指控的認罪。
新聞辭典
take a dim view of ~:片語,對~持悲觀或否定看法。例句:She took a dim view of my suggestion.(她對我的建議持否定態度。)
lock up:片語,鎖上、關起來。例句:She locked herself up in her room.(她把自己關在房間裡。)
carjacking:名詞,劫車。例句:Police believe that she was killed in a random carjacking.(警方相信她是因歹徒隨機劫車而遭到不測。)

This Day in History September 28 歷史上的今天 9月28日

Teachers play a vital role in shaping people's minds. They come in all different forms, from those at school to those in your own family. One of history's greatest teachers was Confucius. Born on this date in 551 BC, Confucius was a thinker and philosopher who promoted morality, justice, and sincerity. In Taiwan, Confucius and all other teachers alike are honored on September 28, commonly referred to as Teacher's Day. It is a day to show gratitude and respect towards teachers and for their profession. Celebrations for the holiday take place all over the island.
老師在塑造人的心智 方面扮演著極其重要的角色。他們以各式各樣的身分出現,從校園到家中都有。古往今來,孔子可說是最偉大的老師之一。他生於西元前551年的今日,是位思想 家與哲學家,推崇道德倫理、公平正義及真誠待人。在台灣,孔子和其他所有老師都在9月28日這天受到表彰,而這天就是一般所稱的教師節。人們會在這一天表 達對老師及老師這個職業的感激之情及尊敬之意。整個台灣都在這個節日舉辦各種慶祝活動。

單字片語

˙play a vital/key role/part in... 在……扮演重要/關鍵的角色
例:The manager played a key role in turning the company around. (那名經理是讓公司營運好轉的關鍵人物。)
˙come in... 有……(形式、大小、顏色、尺寸等)
例:That type of nail polish comes in six different colors.(那款指甲油共有6種不同的顏色。)
˙justice n.正義
˙justice be served/done 正義得以伸張
例:When the murderer was put in prison, justice was served.(那名兇手被關進牢裡時,正義得以伸張。)
˙honor vt.& n.表彰;致敬
˙in honor of... 以紀念……;向……表示敬意
例:The museum exhibit was set up in honor of that artist.(這次美術館展覽是為了紀念那位藝術家。)
˙be referred to as... 被稱為……
例:This invention was referred to as a major breakthrough in science.(這項發明被稱之為科學領域的一大突破。)
˙gratitude n.感激(之情)

知識大補帖

每 年的教師節,各地孔廟(Confucian temple)都會舉行祭孔大典,以最隆重的儀式,表達對孔子無上的敬意(圖為學生在祭孔典禮表演八佾舞。資料照片),而這項傳統是自漢武帝獨尊儒術開 始,之後的皇帝(emperor)每年均會舉行祭孔。除此之外,在教師節時,教育行政單位及各級地方政府也會舉辦「慶祝教師節大會」,分別頒發資深及優良 教師獎狀,以表彰教師們對社會的貢獻(contribution)。

2010/09/27

Lady Gaga, dressed like a dog’s dinner! But is offal MTV outfit real or fake? 女神卡卡,穿得像狗的晚餐!但這套MTV內臟裝是真是假?

 ◎管淑平
It’s a dress that certainly took some guts to wear.
這是一套肯定要有點勇氣才能穿的衣服。
But the question on everybody’s lips after Lady Gaga’s appearance in a ’raw meat’ outfit at the MTV Video Music Awards was: real or fake?
但在女神卡卡穿著一套「生肉裝」出席MTV音樂錄影帶獎頒獎典禮後,每個人都在問的問題是,這是真的還是假的?
The singer no doubt planned on causing maximum controversy by wearing the ensemble - including a meat hat and purse - to the Los Angeles event on the night of Sep. 12.
這名歌手無疑計畫好要藉由穿著這整套包括肉肉帽、肉肉包在內的服裝,參加這場9月12日晚間在洛杉磯舉行的活動,來製造最大爭議話題。
The dress, the work of Los Angeles-based Argentinian designer Franc Fernandez, came just days after Lady Gaga, 24, appeared on the cover of Japanese Vogue in a bikini also apparently made from meat, sparking outrage from animal rights activists.
這套出自洛杉磯的阿根廷裔設計師法藍柯.費南德茲的服裝問世前幾天,女神卡卡才穿著一套看來也是肉做的比基尼,登上日本版Vogue雜誌封面,引起動物權益活動人士憤慨。
As she walked on stage to collect her Video Of The Year award from Cher, Gaga admitted the meat dress was difficult to walk in.
在她走上舞台要從雪兒手中領取最佳年度音樂錄影帶獎項時,卡卡承認,穿著這套肉塊裝很難走路。
Later she appeared on The Ellen Show still wearing her meaty gown.
之後她出現在艾倫脫口秀,依舊穿著她的肉塊禮服。
When the host, stern vegan Ellen Degeneres, presented her with a gift of a lettuce bikini to replace it, and an excited Gaga held up the bikini and said, ’Is it organic?’
當主持人、嚴格的素食者艾倫.狄珍妮斯拿出一件生菜比基尼當禮物送給她取代肉塊裝時,一副興奮模樣的卡卡拿起比基尼,說「這是有機的嗎?」
新聞辭典:
take (some) guts:片語,花(點)勇氣。gut的複數形guts除了「勇氣」,還有「內臟」之意,在本文中一語雙關地意指這件生肉裝既用上了點內臟,要穿上它也得要有點勇氣。
(something +be動詞)on everybody’s lips:片語,膾炙人口、為人津津樂道的。例句:The legend of the great baseball player is on everybody’s lips.(這名偉大棒球員的傳奇為人津津樂道。)
ensemble:名詞,整套互相搭配的服裝;或指整體、整體的演出。例句:She looks more attractive wearing this sexy ensemble. (她穿著這身性感服裝看起來更迷人。)

This Day in History September 27 歷史上的今天 9月27日

The movie Titanic made everyone dream of traveling on an ocean liner and finding adventure and maybe even love at sea. For many people years ago, this was not just a dream. It was actually the only way to travel from one place to another. On this date in 1938, the ship Queen Elizabeth was christened and launched. Queen Elizabeth of England, whom the ship was named after, had the honor of breaking the bottle on the side of the ship, which signified its launch. The Queen Elizabeth wasn't used as an ocean liner at first, though. Due to World War II, it served as a warship for six years before being turned into a luxury ship for civilian use. The Queen Elizabeth was the first in a series of QE ocean liners that continue to sail the high seas today.
電影《鐵達尼號》讓每個人都夢想搭乘遠洋郵輪,在海上進行冒險甚或愛之旅。對於多年前的民眾來說,這不僅僅是個夢想,而是從某處遠行到另一地的唯一方法。在1938年的今天,《伊利莎白女王號》正式命名啟用。這艘郵輪得名於英國的伊利莎白女王,而她正是受邀進行破瓶儀式以象徵船隻啟用的貴賓。不過《伊利莎白女王號》一開始並非當成郵輪使用。由於第二次世界大戰的關係,它頭六年的時間先是充當戰艦,然後再改造成豪華郵輪供一般百姓搭乘。《伊利莎白女王號》是一系列同名郵輪的第一艘,而這個系列的郵輪至今仍持續航行四海。

單字片語

★christen vt.為(船等)命名;給……起綽號
例:She was christened the queen of glam by the media.(她被媒體封為華麗女王。)
★launch vt. & n. 使(船隻)下水;發射(飛彈等);發起(活動)
★signify vt. 象徵,代表,意味著
例:My tattoo signifies my devotion to my children.(我這個刺青是代表我對子女全心全意的愛。)
★serve as... 充當……,當作……之用
例: Grandfathers umbrella also serves as his cane.(爺爺的雨傘也拿來當拐杖用。)
★civilian a.民用的,平民的& n.平民,百姓
例: All civilian aircraft must submit a flight plan before takeoff.(所有的民用飛機在起飛前必須呈交飛航計劃。)

知識大補帖

伊利莎白女王號(圖,翻攝網路) 全長1031英尺,排水量(displacement)達83600噸,是1930至1970年代世界上最大最豪華的郵輪。1971年,香港船商董浩雲 (也就是香港前特首董建華之父)斥資350萬美元購入該郵輪,並計劃耗資1200萬港幣,將其改裝成一所教育用途的流動大學,命名為「海上學府」,不過卻 在1972年改裝(remodeling)接近完成時遭大火完全燒毀。經調查指出,這場大火的起火原因是由於縱火(arson)所致,但至今仍查不出誰是真兇。

2010/09/26

Mumbai’s taxi drivers browned off over livery change 孟買計程車司機不滿被迫改變車身顏色

 ◎俞智敏
Drivers of Mumbai’s black and yellow taxis, a distinctive feature of city life for nearly a century, are up in arms after the state government unveiled plans to change their colour to beige and brown.
孟買的黑黃雙色計程車近一世紀來一直是該市的特色之一,現在這些計程車司機卻對邦政府公布要把車身顏色改成淺棕色與咖啡色的計畫感到非常火大。
Maharashtra state transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said all new taxis coming into service in India’s financial and entertainment capital would be painted beige with a nut-brown trim.
馬哈拉施特拉邦運輸部長帕提爾表示,所有打算在這個印度金融和娛樂首都營業的新計程車,都必須把車身漆成淺棕色,再加上咖啡色飾條。
But the largest union representing drivers hit out at the proposal, saying they had not been consulted.
但代表計程車司機的最大工會卻對這項提案提出抨擊,因為當局並未先徵詢司機們的意見。
"There’ll be two types of taxis in Mumbai:black and yellow ones and new vehicles in the new colour. People will get confused," said the general secretary of the Mumbai Taximen’s Union, A.L. Quadros.
「未來孟買會有兩種計程車,一種是黑黃雙色的,另一種是塗上新顏色的新車。民眾一定會搞混,」孟買計程車司機工會秘書長夸德羅斯說。
"The minister has taken this decision without consulting the union. Changing the colour of taxis is not a burning issue. He should be concentrating on other things."
「部長作這項決定前根本沒徵詢工會意見。改變計程車身顏色並非緊迫議題。他應該把心力放在其他事情上。」
Quadros, whose union represents 40,000 of the 55,000 taxi drivers plying Mumbai’s streets, said the tinkering made no sense, as the vehicles were as synonymous with the city as black cabs in London or yellow taxis in New York.
在每天穿梭孟買街頭的5萬5000輛計程車中,有4萬名司機是夸德羅斯所屬工會的成員,夸德羅斯表示,政府的新政策毫無意義,因為黑黃雙色計程車已成為孟買的同義詞,就好比倫敦的黑色計程色或紐約的黃色計程車一樣。
Motorised taxis arrived in the then city of Bombay in the early 20th century and have become an icon represented in everything from Bollywood movies to commemorative tea towels and t-shirts.
計程汽車是自20世紀初期開始出現在孟買街頭,並已成為孟買象徵,從寶萊塢電影到紀念茶巾與T恤上,到處都可見到黑黃雙色計程車的身影。
新聞辭典
brown off/brown someone off:俚語,指生氣,如 I am really browned off at you!/You really brown me off! (你真的讓我很火大!)
tinker:動詞,指拙劣地修補,亦常指徒勞無功地瞎忙,如I wish the government would stop tinkering with the health service.(真希望政府不要再隨便亂修改健保制度。)
synonymous:形容詞,指意義相同或類似的,或指意涵非常接近的,如His name was synonymous with greed.(他的名字就等於貪婪。)

This Day in History September 26

What would William Shakespeare think if he found out that one of his greatest love stories had been turned into a musical? He might actually be impressed. Based on Romeo and Juliet, the American musical West Side Story opened in New York City on this date in 1957. Its plot is centered on two rival teenage gangs. Just as with the Montagues and Capulets, the feud between the Sharks and the Jets escalates when a romance blooms between a boy and a girl from the two opposing sides. West Side Story's creation marked a turning point for musicals because it used sophisticated music and elaborate dance scenes to bring attention to a dark social problem.

史上的今天 9月26日…

要是莎士比亞發現他其中一部愛情鉅作被改編成音樂劇會作何感想?他或許真的會感到印象深刻。於1957年的今日在紐約市首演的美國音樂劇《西城故事》(圖為2006年台北演出情形,資料照片)即是改編自《羅密歐與茱麗葉》。這齣音樂劇的劇情圍繞在兩個敵對的年輕幫派上。正如同蒙特鳩與凱普雷特兩家一樣,在兩個來自敵對陣營的男女擦出愛火之際,鯊魚及傑特兩幫之間的仇恨鬥爭也愈演愈烈。《西城故事》這項創作為音樂劇劃下一個轉捩點,因為它利用饒富深度的音樂及精心安排的舞蹈場景來使人們注意到黑暗的社會問題。

單字片語

◎musical
n. 音樂劇,歌舞劇
◎feud
n.(個人或群體間的)長期爭鬥,世仇
◎escalate
vi.(暴力、爭鬥等不好的狀況)惡化,擴大
例:Gina's financial problems escalated after she lost her job.(吉娜的財務問題在她失業後更加惡化。)
◎opposing
a. 敵對的;對立的
例:Ethan and Frank have opposing views on the matter.(伊森和法蘭克對那件事的意見相左。)
◎sophisticated
a. 精緻的;複雜的
◎elaborate
a. 精心製作的;詳盡的

"No English, no job"「不會英語,就沒工作」

 ◎陳成良
In a bid to plug dwindling domestic consumption by tapping into overseas markets, some of Japan’s big-name retailers are telling their employees to start speaking English -- or find another job.
一些日本大型零售商希望透過拓展海外市場,緩解國內消費疲弱的壓力,因而要求雇員必須開始說英語,否則就請另謀高就。
As Japan’s population shrinks, the country’s retailers are increasingly looking to boost sales by expanding abroad and some firms are waking up to the necessity of being able to speak the global language of business in order to succeed overseas.
因日本人口減少,該國許多零售商越來越寄望拓展海外市場來提振業績。有些公司也逐漸意識到,只有掌握英語這種全球商業語言,才能在海外市場取得成功。
Rakuten, Japan’s biggest online retailer, plans to make English the firm’s official language, while Fast Retailing, operator of the Uniqlo apparel chain, wants to make English more common in its offices by 2012 and plans to test its employees for proficiency.
日本最大的網路零售商「樂天公司」計畫將英語作為公司的官方語言,而服裝連鎖業者「優衣庫」(Uniqlo)的母公司「Fast Retailing」希望到2012年,公司上下能更普遍地使用英語,並計畫測試員工的英語水準。
"It’s about stopping being a Japanese company. We will become a world company," Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said last week at a news conference in Tokyo -- conducted almost entirely in English.
「不能再僅是一家日本公司了,我們將成為一家全球化的公司,」樂天執行長三木谷浩史上週在東京記者會上表示。這場記者會幾乎全用英語發言。
Employees at Rakuten will need to master English by 2012 to avoid facing the sack. "No English, no job," Mikitani told the Asahi newspaper.
樂天員工需在2012年前精通英語,以避免被開除的命運。三木谷浩史對朝日新聞說:「不會英語,就沒工作。」
新聞辭典
dwindling:形容詞,正在減少的;動詞原形為dwindle,減少。例句︰Taiwan’s population is expected to dwindle after 2050. (台灣的總人口預計在2050年後開始減少。)
tap into:動詞片語,打入(市場)。例句:The company is hoping to tap into a broader international market.(這家公司希望打入更大的國際市場。)
proficiency:名詞,精通;熟練。例句:He made little proficiency in literary accomplishments.(他在文學方面的成就不多。)

This Day in History September 25

Only a few countries have the means to start their own space programs and actually get a human up into space. They are the US, Russia, and China. On this date in 2008, the third Chinese manned spacecraft was launched. The launch was part of Project 921, which was started in 1992 with the ultimate goal of creating a manned space station. The mission was a great success, and the astronauts gave the Chinese space program its first spacewalk.

史上的今天 9月25日

只有幾個國家有方法展開他們的太空計劃,並真正將太空人送上太空。這些國家分別是美國、俄國和中國大陸。2008年的今日,中國第三艘載人的太空船發射升空。這次升空是屬於「921計劃」的一部分,這項計劃始於1992年,最終目的是要建立一個有人駐紮的太空站。這次任務相當成功,也是中國太空計劃中,太空人首次進行太空漫步。

知識大補帖

中國的國家航天局CNSA(China National Space Administration)成立於1993年,負責進行太空計劃(space program)。第一艘載人的太空梭神州五號(Shenzhou 5)於2003年10月15號發射,之後2005年和2008年又進行神州六號和七號(Shenzhou 6 and Shenzhou 7)的發射。其中神州六號是中國第一艘執行「多人多天」任務的太空梭。(圖為2008年神州七號航天員出艙揮手致意。)

單字片語

◎means
n.手段,方法(單複數同形)
˙by means of... 藉由……
例:Albert achieved his success by means of hard work.(艾伯特藉由努力獲致成功。)
◎manned
a.載人的;有人操作的
◎spacecraft
n.太空船(單複數同形)
˙space shuttle n.太空梭
◎launch
vt.使升空;發射& n.發射
˙launch a rocket/missile發射火箭/飛彈
例:The space shuttle is scheduled to be launched at 3:00 PM tomorrow.(太空梭預計在明天下午3點發射。)
◎ultimate
a. 最終的,最後的
例:An employer has the ultimate responsibility for his company's success or failure.(老闆必須為公司的成敗負最後的責任。)