2009/12/31

Coffee and tea ’prevent diabetes’ 咖啡與茶預防糖尿病

◎鄭寺音

Tea and coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a large body of evidence shows. And the protection may not be down to caffeine since decaf coffee has the greatest effect, say researchers in Archives of Internal Medicine.

大量證據顯示,喝茶與咖啡的人罹患第二型糖尿病機率較低,「內科醫學文獻」的研究人員說,這種保護作用可能不是因為咖啡因,因為無咖啡因咖啡效果預防糖尿病的效果最好。

They looked at 18 separate studies involving nearly 500,000 people. This analysis revealed that people who drink three or four cups of coffee or tea a day cut their risk by a fifth or more, say researchers. The same amount of decaffeinated coffee had an even bigger effect, lowering risk by a third.

他們研究18份、50萬人參與的研究,這項分析顯示,每天喝3或4杯咖啡或茶的人,罹患機率降低5分之1以上。同樣攝取量的無咖啡因咖啡效果甚至更好,會降低3分之1的風險。

Type 2 diabetes usually starts after the age of 40 and develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly. Type 2 diabetes is treated with a healthy diet and increased physical activity. In addition to this, medication and/or insulin is often required.

第二型糖尿病好發在40歲以後,病因是身體雖能製造一些胰島素、但量並不足夠;或是製造的胰島素不能適當運作。第二型糖尿病會以健康飲食輔以增加身體活動來治療,通常還需要藥物與/或胰島素。

If the findings prove true, doctors may well start advising people to put the kettle on as well as take more exercise and watch their weight, say the researchers. When the authors combined and analysed the data, they found that each additional cup of coffee consumed in a day cut diabetes risk by 7%.

研究人員說,如果這些研究屬實,醫師或許可以開始建議人們燒水泡茶,做更多運動,注意體重。作者整合與分析數據時,他們發現每天多喝一杯咖啡可降低7%的糖尿病風險。

新聞辭典

body:名詞,大量,許多。例句:There is a growing body of evidence to support their claim.(越來越多證據支持他的說法。)

be down to sth:片語,因為某事。例句:His failure is down to bad luck.(他失敗是因為運氣不好。)

decaffeinate:動詞,除去咖啡因。decaffeinated指無咖啡因的。

I'd like to make an appointment with Dr. Smith as soon as possible.我想預約史密斯醫師的門診,愈快愈好

對話
Gina:Hello, Dr. Keller's Clinic. What can I do for you?
吉娜:凱勒醫師診所,您好。有什麼需要我為您服務的嗎?

rene:Hello, I'd like to make an appointment with Dr. Smith as soon as possible.
艾琳:妳好,我想預約史密斯醫師的門診,愈快愈好。
Gina:Well, the next opening available is at 2:00 p.m. the day after tomorrow. If it's urgent, you can make an emergency appointment for tonight, but we cannot guarantee that you'll see Dr. Smith in that case.
吉娜:嗯,下一個可以預約的時段是後天下午兩點。如果狀況緊急,你可以掛今晚的急診。但那樣的話,我們沒辦法保證是由史密斯醫師看診。
Irene:It's alright. I can wait till the day after tomorrow.
艾琳:沒關係。我可以等到後天。
Gina:OK. Thank you for calling. Goodbye.
吉娜:好的。謝謝您來電。再見。
Irene:Goodbye.
艾琳:再見。

本篇關鍵句

◎I'd like to make an appointment with Dr. Smith as soon as possible.
我想預約史密斯醫師的門診,愈快愈好。
補充幾句相關句型:
Our clinic hours are+from+時間+to+時間.我們門診時間為……(時間)到……(時間)。
This is my first consultation.
(這是我的初診。)

關鍵字彙與片語

◎as soon as possible儘快
=as soon as one can
例:Once you have made your decision, please let me know it as soon as possible.(一旦你做了決定,請馬上告訴我。)
◎emergency n. 緊急情況
例:Press the intercom button in case of an emergency.(遇到緊急情況,按下對講機通話鍵。)
◎guarantee vt. 保證╱擔保
guarantee+that 子句保證……
guarantee sb sth向某人保證某事
◎In that case, S+V 那樣的話,……

Do'nt call the fire brigade... this picture is not of a playground catastrophe—these children have grown up as part of a stunt family and are performing a trick here as part of a pilot for a reality TV show. Connor, 15, Ali, 11, and Austin, nine, and their parents Jim and Celia Dunn, already have a stunning CV of film work between them.

別叫消防隊來……這照片不是遊樂區災難—這是一群在特技家庭長大的孩子,在電視實境秀表演,15的康諾、11歲的艾莉、9歲的奧斯汀,以及他們的父母吉姆和瑟西莉雅,在電影界已有驚人的資歷。

2009/12/30

Thai police dupe fugitives with fake prize draw 泰國警方以假抽獎騙倒逃犯

◎魏國金

Thai police nabbed 14 suspected criminals after telling them they were winners of a lucky draw and arresting them when they showed up to collect their prizes.

泰國警察一口氣抓了14名嫌犯;警方告訴他們是幸運抽獎的得主,並在他們現身領獎時一網成擒。

The wanted men came out of hiding to pick up televisions and cash cheques they were told they had won when their phone or national identification numbers were picked out in a draw, said Pol. Lt-Gen. Krisada Pankongchoen, who masterminded the scam.

這些通緝犯從藏匿處出來,以領取電視機與現金支票;他們被告知其電話或身分證號碼在一項抽獎活動中被抽到,因而贏得這些獎品,策劃該計謀的警中將克里撒達.龐功中說。

"We’re happy with the result. We didn’t expect anyone to fall for this," he said. "They probably felt very stupid, especially those who were in hiding for months."

「我們對該結果感到高興,我們沒料到任何人會上這個當,」他說。「他們或許覺得非常蠢,特別是那些躲了數月之久的人。」

Police sent hundreds of congratulatory letters to the registered addresses of suspected criminals across Bangkok and the surrounding areas, among them rapists and thieves, Krisada said.

警方廣發了數百封道賀信到曼谷與周邊區域嫌犯登記的住址,這些人中有些是強暴犯與竊盜犯,克里撒達說。

They waited at various locations in the city and pounced when 14 showed up expecting to receive their prizes. "Many of them have been on our wanted list for some time and had probably thought the police were no longer pursuing them, so they weren’t suspicious," he added.

他們守在城市中的多處據點,當14名抱著領獎心態的嫌犯現身時一擁而上逮人。「許多人已在我們的通緝名單中多時,或許認為警方已不再追捕他們,所以沒有起疑,」他補充說。

新聞辭典

dupe︰詐騙、愚弄,名詞為被人利用的傀儡。例句︰She has been making you her dupe for much too long.(她一直利用你,為時太久了。)

fall for︰上當、信以為真。例句︰We must not fall for such nonsense.(我們絕不能聽信這種胡言亂語。)

pounce︰猛撲、突然襲擊。例句︰He is ready to pounce at the phone when it rings.(電話鈴一響,他馬上就會衝過去抓起話筒。)

I was wondering if I could reschedule my appointment for Friday afternoon.我想知道是否能將預約改到星期五下午。

對話
Hannah:Kay's Beauty Salon, Hannah speaking. How may I help you?
漢娜:凱伊美容院您好,我是漢娜。有什麼我能為您服務的嗎?

Nadia:Hello, I originally had an appointment for a facial tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., but I was wondering if I could reschedule my appointment for Friday afternoon.
娜迪亞:妳好,我原本預約明天下午3點做臉,但我想知道是否能將預約改到星期五下午。
Hannah:We have a slot available at 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Would that be OK?
漢娜:我們星期五下午兩點有個空檔。那時候可以嗎?
Nadia:Do you have anything a little later?
娜迪亞:還有沒有再晚一點的?
Hannah:The only other slot available on Friday is at 4:00 p.m.
漢娜:星期五下午唯一剩下的空檔是4點。
Nadia:That would be great. I'll take that slot.
娜迪亞:那太好了,我要那個時段。

本篇關鍵句

◎I was wondering if I could reschedule my appointment for Friday afternoon.
我想知道是否能將預約改到星期五下午。
當你已約好門診、約會,而需要改時間時,就可以用這個句型:
reschedule one's / the appointment for + 時間
將(某人的)預約改到……(時間)
例:Can I reschedule my appointment for Saturday morning?(我可以將預約改到星期六早上嗎?)

關鍵字彙與片語

◎originally adv. 原本地,原來地
例:The newlyweds originally planned to travel abroad for their honeymoon, but the bride got sick and they didn't go.(那對新婚夫婦原本要出國度蜜月,但新娘生病了,所以沒去成。)
◎appointment   n.約會;預約
make an appointment with sb for + 時間與某人約定在某時見面
◎facial   n.做臉
◎slot   n.空檔;時段

Bite of Discipline紀律之咬

This adult male lion lost patience with his attention-seeking son after the fun-loving cub spent hours tugging on his mane and chewing his fur. He snapped, whipping his head around with teeth bared before sinking his fangs into the cub’s head.

愛玩的小獅幾個小時來不停地拉扯爸爸的鬃毛,又咬牠的毛,終於讓這頭雄獅對尋求關愛的兒子失去耐性,牠懲罰性張嘴一咬,看來牙齒都深入小獅的頭了。

2009/12/29

Intruder arrested while having a bath 闖入者在洗澡時落網

◎羅彥傑

Police in America arrested an intruder who broke into an east Texas home - after they arrived at the crime scene to find the man having a bath in the house he’d broken into.

美國警方逮捕了一名闖進德州東部某間房屋的不速之客,因為他們抵達犯罪現場時,發現此人正在他所闖入的屋內洗澡。

Police were called to the home in Tyler, Texas at around 3:30 in the morning, when a resident of the house reported that a man had kicked the front door in. The resident fled, but police en route to the scene were told the intruder was still there.

警方在凌晨3點半左右接獲報案,準備前往這間位在德州泰勒市的房屋,因當時屋內一名住戶通報說,一名男子踢開前門闖入。這名住戶逃了出來,但警方在趕赴現場途中被告知,這名不速之客仍在那裡。

And indeed, when they arrived, they were surprised to find that the man had stripped naked and was having a bath.

果不其然,當警方抵達時,驚訝地發現此人已脫得一絲不掛而且正在洗澡。

After a brief, and presumably rather wet, struggle, the intruder - identified as 25-year-old Larry Ticey - was arrested, and jailed pending charges of misdemeanor criminal trespass.

在一場短暫而且大概非常濕漉漉的搏鬥後,這名經確認身分為25歲的賴利.提塞的闖入者終於被捕,而且在非法侵入罪的輕罪罪名起訴前被關進監牢。

新聞辭典

break into︰片語,非法強行闖入、破門而入。例句︰We had to break into the house as we had lost the key.(因為弄丟了鑰匙,我們不得不破門而入。)

en route︰片語,在途中。例句︰They were en route from Kuala Lumpur to Paris.(他們在從吉隆坡去巴黎的途中。)

have a bath︰片語,洗一個澡。例句︰She is giving her child a hot bath.(她正在替她的小孩洗熱水澡。)

I want to invite you and your team out for a business lunch.我想邀請你和你的工作團隊共進商業午餐

對話
Tom:Hello, can I speak to Henry, please? This is Tom.
湯姆:你好,我是湯姆,請問亨利在嗎?
Henry:Yes, speaking. What can I do for you, Tom?
亨利:我就是。湯姆,我能為你做些什麼?
Tom:I want to invite you and your team out for a business lunch. I thought it'd be a good chance for us to get to know each other better since we're going to be working together soon.
湯姆:我想邀請你和你的工作團隊共進商業午餐。我認為這會是讓我們更了解彼此的好機會,因為我們很快就要共事了。
Henry:Sure, that's a great idea. Do you have a time and place in mind?
亨利:當然好啊,這個主意很棒。時間和地點你有什想法嗎?
Tom:How about 1:00 p.m. next Friday at Joys Cafe?
湯姆:下星期五下午1點在喬伊咖啡店如何?
Henry:That sounds good. I'll let the rest of the team know.
亨利:那聽起來不錯。我會告知其他組員。

本篇關鍵句

●I want to invite you and your team out for a business lunch. 我想邀請你和你的工作團隊共進商業午餐。
想邀他人外出做某件事,除了用invite,我們在電影中也常聽到一些口語用法,如:be up for sth(願意參與某活動)或come along(一同前往):
例:We're going to the Chinese restaurant around the corner. Are you up for it?(我們要去附近那家中國餐館。你要參加嗎?)

關鍵字彙與片語句

●invite   vt.邀請
●have...in mind  心中有……想法;心裡想到……
例:It was a nice apartment, but it was'nt what we had in mind.(那是棟不錯的公寓,但卻不是我們心裡想要的那種。)
●How about + N/V-ing?  ……如何?

Flying Robot 飛行機器人

Japan's Chiba University professor Hiroshi Ryu displays the flying robot, which flutters its wings 35 times a second like a humming bird, at his laboratory in Chiba city, on December 28, 2009. The hummingbird robot, 10cm in length and weighing only 2.6g, has four plastic-made wings, driven by a micro actuator.

日本千葉大學教授龍博司(譯音)12月28日在日本千葉市的實驗室中,展示每秒鐘可振翅35次的飛行機器人,這個10公分長、2.6公克重、外形像蜂鳥的機器人,有4個塑膠製的翅膀,由一枚微促動器操控。

2009/12/28

Balloon proposal falls flat 熱氣球求婚洩氣

◎管淑平

A US vicar’s romantic proposal to his girlfriend in a hot air balloon fell flat when he dropped the engagement ring.

一名美國牧師向女友的浪漫熱氣球求婚失敗,當他掉了求婚戒指。

James Ng, 27, had hidden the £2,000 diamond ring in his camera case. But as the pair floated above Ohio, Mr Ng accidentally fumbled his camera case over the side and watched in horror as it fell 500 feet into the woods, said the reports.

27歲的詹姆士.恩格事先把這枚2000英鎊的鑽戒藏在他的相機包裡,但是當這對情侶搭熱氣球升上俄亥俄州上空,恩格笨手笨腳不小心把包包弄掉,驚恐地眼看著它墜落500英尺下的樹林裡,報導說。

But his girlfriend Sonya Bostic caught on, leaving Mr Ng with little choice but to drop onto bended knee and pop the question with a £5 Wal-Mart ring. She said yes.

但是他的女友頌雅.波斯提克已經明白他要做什麼,讓恩格沒什麼選擇,只能硬著頭皮跪下,用一枚5英鎊的大賣場戒指求婚。她答應了。

Unable to believe the ring was lost for good, the vicar mapped the ordinates of the balloon’s journey from the sky and searched for the bag over the following week.

無法相信那枚戒指就這樣丟了,這名牧師從空中畫出熱氣球行經路線的座標,然後在接下來那週尋找那個相機包。

After seven arduous days of searching the three-mile-square area, they found the camera bag. The only thing still inside it was the ring.

辛苦的找了7天、搜遍3平方英里後,他們找到了,相機包裡唯一還在的東西,就是那枚戒指。

"I think the first thing I said was holy cow," said Mr Ng. "Then I called Sonya right away."

「我想當時我說的第一句話是不會吧」,恩格說,「然後我馬上打給頌雅。」

Now the couple plan to marry in June.

現在這對情侶準備在明年六月結婚。

新聞辭典:

fall flat:動詞片語,失敗。flat原有氣球或輪胎洩氣、fall有墜落之意,本文中一語雙關。例句:The project which he has worked for a whole year eventually fell flat.(他努力了一整年的計畫最終還是失敗了。)

fumble:動詞,笨手笨腳或胡亂地用手摸索、拿某物;漏接(球);支支吾吾地說話。例句:He tried to explain but fumbled for words.(他試圖解釋,但是支支吾吾地說不清楚。)

holy cow:口語,表示非常驚訝到不敢置信。類似詞還有holy crap。

My battery is dying. 我的電池快沒電了

對話
Rose:Hi Tania, it’s Rose here. I was just wondering if we’re still on for dinner on Tuesday.
蘿絲:嗨,譚妮亞,我是蘿絲。我正在想我們星期二還是照原訂計劃約吃晚餐吧?
Tania:Hi, Rose. Yes, we are. I’ve made a reservation at Liza’s for 7:00 p.m.
譚妮亞:嗨,蘿絲。是的,沒錯。我訂好麗莎餐廳晚上7點的位子。
Rose:I don’t know where that is. Could you give me directions?
蘿絲:我不知道那在哪裡。妳可以告訴我怎麼去嗎?
Tania:Hey, listen, my battery is dying. It’ll run out any minute now. I’ll email you the link to the restaurant later on.
譚妮亞:聽著,我的電池快沒電了。現在隨時會沒電。我晚點會用電子郵件寄餐廳的連結給妳。
Rose:Sure, no problem.
蘿絲:好的,沒問題。
Tania:I’ll see you then.
譚妮亞:到時見。

本篇關鍵句

◎My battery is dying.
我的電池快沒電了。
我們講手機常會遇到的問題就是電池快沒電了,因此得趕緊向對方說明並結束對話。另還可說:
.My battery is running out.= My battery is running low.(我的電池快用完了/快沒電了。)
手機的電池沒電則是這麼說:
.The battery in my phone died.=The battery in my phone is dead.(我的手機沒電了。)

關鍵字彙與片語

◎direction n. 方向指示(常用複數);方向
.give sb directions to + 地方
給某人到某地的方向指示
例:Excuse me, I’m lost. Can you give me directions to the national museum?(不好意思,我迷路了。請問你可以告訴我國家博物館怎麼走嗎?)
◎run out用完
例:We are running out of gas. Is there a gas station nearby?(我們快沒汽油了。附近有加油站嗎?)
◎link n.(網際網路的)連結&vt. 連結
例:The new railroad links the eastern and western regions together.(這新鐵路連結東西區。)

Miniature Versailles 迷你凡爾賽宮

This exquisitely crafted miniature of a French 18th Century Hotel Particulier is a homage to the Palace of Versailles and would please even Marie Antoinette. Made by husband-and-wife team Kevin Mulvany and Susie Rogers, it was commissioned for ?70,000 by an American woman with a passion for France.

這個精心製作的法國18世紀別墅模型,是為了向凡爾賽宮表達敬意,可能連瑪莉安東尼皇后都會芳心大悅。它是由夫妻檔凱文慕凡尼與蘇西羅傑斯製作,委託人是一位熱愛法國的美國女士,製作費7萬英鎊(約360萬元台幣)。

2009/12/27

Black nativity angers Italy’s "White Xmas" party 黑色耶穌誕生圖激怒義大利的「白色耶誕」政黨

◎俞智敏

A nativity scene featuring a dark-skinned Jesus, Mary and Joseph that has gone on display in a Verona courthouse has created heated debate in a city with strong links to Italy’s anti-immigration Northern League party.

由黑皮膚的耶穌、馬利亞與約瑟為主角的耶穌誕生圖最近在維羅那的一所法院展示,但卻在這座與義大利反移民的北方聯盟黨有緊密關聯的城市引發激烈辯論。

The nativity’s appearance coincides with the League’s controversial operation "White Christmas," a two-month sweep ending on Christmas Day to ferret out foreigners without proper permits in Coccaglio, a small League-led town east of Milan.

這幅耶穌誕生圖的出現時機,正好碰上北方聯盟推動一項極具爭議性的「白色耶誕」行動,這項為時兩個月、於耶誕節當天結束的行動,目的是要找出住在由北方聯盟執政、位於米蘭東方的小城科卡里歐,卻沒有合法居留證件的外國人。

The Christmas scene -- featuring a dark-skinned baby Jesus dressed in a red shirt and lying in a manger -- was the idea of Mario Giulio Schinaia, the chief Public Prosecutor in Verona.

這幅耶誕場景──穿著紅上衣的黑膚嬰孩耶穌躺在馬槽中──是維羅那市檢察長史奇納亞想出的主意。

"History teaches us that baby Jesus and his parents were very probably dark-skinned," Schinaia said. "There shouldn’t be a white or black Christmas, only a merry Christmas for everyone, of every skin color, ethnic background and nationality."

「歷史告訴我們,嬰孩耶穌和他的父母很可能擁有深色皮膚,」史奇納亞表示。「耶誕節根本不該分白色或黑色,而是屬於所有人、所有膚色、種族背景與國籍的快樂耶誕。」

The nativity has caused heated reactions in the rich northern town, where resentment toward foreigners has spread as the number of immigrants, particularly from north Africa and eastern Europe, continues to rise.

但這幅耶穌誕生圖卻在這座富裕的北方城市引發激烈反應,當地人對外國人的憎惡,隨著移民的人數,尤其是來自北非與東歐的移民持續增加而不斷擴散。

The Northern League, an ally of conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi with key cabinet posts including the interior ministry, has used its growing political clout to secure tough new laws including making illegal immigration a crime.

北方聯盟為保守派總理貝魯斯孔尼的盟黨,掌有包括內政部長在內的重要內閣職務,該黨已利用其日益增長的政治影響力通過多項嚴苛的新法令,其中包括把非法移民列為罪行。

新聞辭典

nativity:名詞,指出生、誕生,大寫時尤指耶穌的誕生或耶穌誕生圖,亦可泛指耶誕節。如nativity play,耶誕劇(通常由兒童在耶誕節演出、關於耶穌降生的戲劇)。

ferret:名詞原指雪貂、白鼬,作動詞時指仔細搜索、找出,如Officials say they will ferret out abuses in the welfare program.(官員們表示會仔細找出社福計畫中的弊病。)

clout:名詞,指對其他人或事物的影響力,如The Queen may have privilege but she has no real political clout.(女王或許擁有特權,但她沒有實質的政治影響力。)

There’s nobody here by that name.這裡沒有人叫這個名字。

對話

Nancy:Hello, can I speak to Linda, please?
南茜:你好,可以請琳達聽電話嗎?
Casey:I’m sorry, but there’s nobody here by that name.
凱茜:很抱歉,這裡沒有人叫這個名字。
Nancy:Are you sure? Isn’t this 2552-3477?
南茜:妳確定嗎?這裡不是2552-3477嗎?
Casey:Yes, it is. Perhaps you wrote down the wrong number?
凱茜:是的,沒錯。可能是妳號碼寫錯了吧?
Nancy:I guess you are right. Sorry to have troubled you.
南茜:我想妳說的沒錯。不好意思打擾妳了。
Casey:Sure, no problem.
凱茜:不會,沒關係。

本篇關鍵句

◎There’s nobody here by that name.這裡沒有人叫這個名字。
若接到打錯電話,禮貌上要向對方說明這裡沒有他要找的人,或告訴對方撥錯電話(dialed the wrong number)。另外還可用下列句型表示:
˙There’s no one here called / named + 名字.  這裡沒有叫……的人。
= There’s no + 名字 + here.
˙There’s no one called / named + 名字 + in + 部門.  某部門沒有叫……的人。
= There’s no + 名字 + in + 部門.
例:The number is correct, but there’s no one here named Brad.(號碼是對的,但是這裡沒有叫布萊德的人。)

關鍵字彙與片語

◎perhaps  adv.可能;大概
例:We haven’t decided where to go for our vacation. Perhaps we will go to Italy or France.(我們還沒決定要去哪裡渡假。可能會去義大利或是法國吧。)
◎write down...  記下……
例:Mr. Johnson's secretary wrote down everything we said in the meeting.(強森先生的秘書把我們在會議上所說的每句話都記錄下來。)
◎trouble vt.打擾,麻煩 & n.麻煩
例:I'm sorry to trouble you, but could you tell me how to get to the train station?(對不起打擾你,能不能告訴我火車站怎麼去?)

2009/12/26

Cigarettes kill, but don't tell smokers? 香菸會致命,但別告訴菸槍?

◎陳成良

Cigarette pack warnings that remind smokers of the fatal consequences of their habit may actually make them smoke more as a way to cope with the inevitability of death, according to researchers.

香菸包裝盒上的警語提醒吸菸者他們的習慣會帶來致命後果,事實上可能使他們抽更多菸,以應對難免的一死,據研究人員表示。

A small study by psychologists from the United States, Switzerland and Germany showed that warnings unrelated to death, such as "smoking makes you unattractive" or "smoking brings you and the people around you severe damage," were more effective in changing smokers’ attitudes toward their habit.

美國、瑞士與德國心理學家聯合進行的小型研究顯示,與死亡無關的警語,諸如「抽菸讓你毫無吸引力」或「抽菸帶給你及周圍的人嚴重傷害」,更有效改變吸菸者對抽菸習慣的態度。

This was especially the case in people who smoked to boost their self-esteem, such as youth who took up the habit to impress or fit in with their peers and others who thought smoking increased their social value, the researchers said.

在以抽菸來提高自尊心的人群當中,該現象尤為明顯;如一些養成抽菸習慣來突出自己或為融入同儕而抽菸的年輕人,或其他一些認為抽菸可以提高社會價值的人,研究人員說。

"On the one hand, death-related warnings were not effective and even ironically caused more positive smoking attitudes among smokers who based their self-esteem on smoking," the study said.

「一方面來說,與死亡相關的警語不會收效,諷刺的是,甚至會刺激那些因自尊心而抽菸的人持更正面抽菸態度」,該研究說。

"On the other hand, warning messages that were unrelated to death effectively reduced smoking attitudes the more recipients based their self-esteem on smoking."

「而另一方面,與死亡無關的警告訊息,有效降低那些較依賴抽菸建立自尊者的吸菸態度。」

新聞辭典

remind of:片語,提醒。例句:I remind him of his promise.(我提醒他許下的諾言。)

cope with:片語,意指對付、應付或處理,with後面接名詞。例句:There was more work than I could cope with.(工作多到超過我可以勝任的範圍。)

self-esteem:名詞,自尊。例句:He regains his self-esteem. (他重拾自尊心。)

I’m losing the signal.我電話收不到訊號了。

對話
Rick:Hello, can I speak to Ms. Rita Allen, please?
瑞克:妳好,可以請麗塔?艾倫小姐聽電話嗎?
Rita:Yes, this is she speaking.
麗塔:是,我就是。
Rick:I’m calling from JCT Electric Company. Ms. Allen, you haven’t paid your electric bill for the last two months.
瑞克:我這裡是JCT電力公司。艾倫小姐,妳前兩個月的電費都還沒繳。
Rita:Really? I wasn’t aware of that. There must be a mix-up at the bank.
麗塔:真的嗎?我不知道。一定是銀行弄錯了。
Rick:Unless you do so by next week, I’m afraid we’re going to cut off your power supply.
瑞克:除非妳在下星期前繳費,否則貴府恐怕就會被斷電。
Rita:I’m sorry, but I can’t hear you now. I’m losing the signal. Goodbye!
麗塔:對不起,我聽不見你說的話。我電話收不到訊號了。再見!

本篇關鍵句

●I’m losing the signal. 我電話收不到訊號了。
講手機時,有時訊號會突然變弱而聽不清楚對方說的話,這時可用上列關鍵句。此外還可以說:
例:I’m sorry. I’m losing you.(對不起,我聽不見你講話了。)
例:The signal is getting weaker.(手機訊號越來越弱了。)

關鍵字彙與片語

●electric a.電的;用電的
electricity n.電
an electric bill 電費帳單
●mix-up n.(引起混亂的)錯誤
例:Ted was very angry at the airline about the mix-up with his reservation.(泰德很生氣航空公司將他的訂位弄混了。)
●aware a.知道的
be aware of... 知道……
●cut off...╱cut...off 切斷……(水、電等)
例:While I was talking with Sarah on my cell phone, the call was cut off all of a sudden.(我和莎拉正在講手機時,電話突然被切斷了。)
●power supply 電力供應

2009/12/25

What’s in an unusual name? More than you might think 罕見名字有啥玄機?出乎你意料

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes might have thought twice about naming their daughter Suri if they’d known that it means "pickpocket" in Japanese, "turned sour" in French, and "horse mackerels" in Italian.

湯姆.克魯斯與凱蒂.荷姆絲也許會重新考慮是否要把女兒命名為「蘇莉」,倘若他們知道這個字在日文中意指「扒手」、在法文中意指「惡化」,以及在義大利文意指「?魚」。

Today Translations, a London-based translation company, is offering parents-to-be -- particularly celebrities -- the chance to check the meaning of prospective baby names in other languages.

總部設在倫敦的翻譯公司「今日翻譯」,如今提供即將為人父母者──特別是名流──查詢即將誕生的小寶寶的名字在其他語言中的意思的機會。

For 1,000 pounds, the company’s linguists will carry out a "basic name translation audit" of names, checking their meaning in 100 languages, or more for an additional cost.

只要出得起1千英鎊,該公司的語言學家就會對名字進行「基本的名字翻譯審查」,查核名字在100種語言中的意義,額外付費還可以查詢更多種語言。

While open to everyone, the firm said it expects the service to attract celebrity clients who are known for giving their babies unusual names.

儘管(該服務)對所有人開放,該公司表示,預料這項服務將吸引向來以幫小孩取罕見名字聞名的名流客戶。

Among other baby names the company could have warned about in advance are Kai Rooney, the newborn son of English soccer player Wayne Rooney, whose name means "probably" in Finnish, "pier" in Estonian, and "stop it" in the west African language of Yoruba.

在該公司可以事先警告進而避免的嬰兒名字中,英國足球員韋恩.魯尼剛出生的兒子凱伊.魯尼名列其一。這個名字在芬蘭文意指「可能」,在愛沙尼亞文意指「碼頭」,在西非優魯巴語意指「停住」。

新聞辭典

think twice:片語,重新考慮,三思。例句:You should think twice before spending all that money on clothes.(你應該重新考慮是否要把錢全花在衣服上。)

turn/go sour :片語,惡化,變壞。例句:It looks like all my plans are going sour.(看來我所有的計畫都砸鍋了。)

to-be:形容詞,即將成為…,前面多接名詞形成複合名詞,如bride-to-be,待嫁新娘,mother-to-be,準媽媽,孕婦。

Oh, have I caught you at a bad time?喔,我打來的不是時候嗎?

對話
Helen:Hey, Linda? It’s Helen here.
海倫:嗨,琳達嗎?我是海倫。
Linda:Hi, Helen. Listen, I’m a little busy at the moment.
琳達:嗨,海倫。聽著,我目前有點忙。
Helen:Oh, have I caught you at a bad time?I just want to ask you something quickly.
海倫:喔,我打來的不是時候嗎?我只要很快問妳一件事就好了。
Linda:Well, OK. What is it?
琳達:嗯,好吧。什麼事?
Helen:Could I borrow your green sleeveless top for my date with John tonight?
海倫:我能向妳借那件綠色無袖上衣嗎?我今晚和約翰有約。
Linda:Sure, it’s in the top drawer of my dresser. Make sure you don’t spill anything on it!
琳達:當然,衣服就在我衣櫥最上層的抽屜內。千萬別把任何飲料潑到衣服上了!

本篇關鍵句

◎Oh, have I caught you at a bad time?喔,我打來的不是時候嗎?
打電話給他人時,為求禮貌,通常都會詢問他人是否有空談話。我們可使用下句詢問:
例:Do you have a minute?I have something important to tell you.(你有空嗎?我有重要的事要告訴你。)

關鍵字彙與片語

◎sleeveless a.無袖的
.sleeves n.袖子(恆用複數,因袖子有兩條)
.a long-sleeved shirt 長袖襯衫
◎top n.上衣
◎in the top / bottom drawer在最上層/最底層的抽屜
例:I always keep my socks in the bottom drawer.(我向來都是把襪子放在最底層的抽屜。)
◎make sure + that 子句務必……(that 可省略)
例:Make sure (that) you turn off all the lights before you leave.(你離開前務必要把所有燈都關掉。)
◎spill A on / over B把 A 潑到 B 上
例:Tom spilled coffee on my skirt by accident.(湯姆不小心把咖啡灑到我的裙子上。)

2009/12/24

Female Viagra’ discovery claim 科學家宣稱發現女性威而鋼

◎鄭寺音

A drug that failed tests as an antidepressant is being hailed as "Viagra for women" after surprising but not unpleasant side effects. In three separate trials, the drug flibanserin did wonders for women’s flagging sex drive despite doing nothing to lift mood.

一種未能成為抗憂鬱劑的藥物,出現讓人驚訝但並非讓人不快的副作用之後,被譽為「女性威而鋼」。在3項不同的試驗中,這種藥「flibanserin」雖不能提振精神,但在提升女性的性衝動方面,確實有讓人驚艷的效果。

The accidental discovery is akin to Viagra’s-it was originally designed as a heart medicine but failed.

這與威而鋼一樣都是意外的發現。威而鋼原本是用來治療心臟病之用,但未能發揮療效。

The US work was presented at a sexual medicine meeting in Lyon, France.

這份美國研究是在法國里昂的性醫學會議上發表。

Lead researcher Professor John Thorp, of the University of North Carolina, told the European Society for Sexual Medicine: "Flibanserin was a poor antidepressant. However, astute observers noted that it increased libido in laboratory animals and human subjects. So, we conducted multiple clinical trials."

北卡羅萊納大學的領導研究者索普教授告訴歐洲性醫學協會:「flibanserin是一種很爛的抗憂鬱藥,但精明的觀察者發現,它會增強實驗室動物與人類樣本的性慾,所以我們進行了多項臨床試驗。」

The women in the studies who took 100mg of the drug once a day for their low libido reported significant improvements in their sexual desire and satisfactory sexual experiences, he said.

他說,研究中,每天服用100毫克flibanserin治療性欲不振的女性,據報在性欲與性滿意度方面有顯著改善。

新聞辭典

side effects:名詞,副作用。例句:Does this drug have any side effects?(這種藥有副作用嗎?)

wonder:名詞,奇蹟,奇觀,奇事。例句:We spent a week visiting the wonders of Ancient Greek civilization.(我們花了一個禮拜參觀古希臘文明奇景。)

flagging:形容詞,虛弱的。例句:The news will boost his flagging reputation.(這個消息將提振他委靡的聲勢。)

We’ve been experiencing problems with our phones all day.我們電話整天都怪怪的

對話
Maurice:Hello, Royal Hotel, Maurice speaking. What can I do for you?
莫瑞斯:皇家服務,您好,我是莫瑞斯。請問您需要什麼服務
Celia:Hello, I was just making a booking, but I got cut off.
希莉亞:你好,我正在訂房,但是突然斷線了。
Maurice:Oh yes, I'm sorry about that. We've been experiencing problems with our phones all day.
莫瑞斯:噢,是的,關於此事我很抱歉。我們電話整天都怪怪的。
Celia:Well, you should sort it out soon. You could lose a lot of business that way.
希莉亞:你們應該要趕緊處理。那樣會喪失很多生意的。
Maurice:Yes, you are absolutely right. So you'd like to make a booking for a double room from Jan 23 to Jan 25.
莫瑞斯:是的,您說的一點都沒錯。所以您想預訂一間雙人房,時間從1月23日至1月25日。
Celia:Yes, that's right.
希莉亞:是的,沒錯。

本篇關鍵句

◎We've been experiencing problems with our phones all day.
我們電話整天都怪怪的。
當我們遇到問題時,可以有以下幾種講法:
例:I'm sorry, but we are experiencing a problem with our computer system.
=I'm sorry, but we are encountering a problem with our computer system.
(很抱歉,我們的電腦系統目前有問題。)

關鍵字彙與片語

◎get cut off  (電話通話)被中斷
例:Something's wrong with our telephone line─I already got cut off three times today.
(我們的電話線路有問題──今天我已經斷線3次了。)
◎sort sth out  替某事找出解決辦法
例:You should sort your financial problems out before making any further investments.
(你要做進一步的投資前,應該先解決掉你的財務問題。)

2009/12/23

Happy Christmas honey - here’s a divorce voucher 耶誕快樂,親愛的—這裡有張離婚禮券

◎魏國金

Stuck for Christmas gift ideas? Is your marriage or a friend’s going through a rocky patch? How about a divorce voucher? A London law firm is offering Christmas gift vouchers for divorce advice.

想不出送什麼耶誕禮物嗎?你或朋友的婚姻正經歷困境嗎?送張離婚禮券如何?倫敦一家法律事務所正提供離婚建議禮券作為耶誕禮物。

The firm, Lloyd Platt & Company, which normally charges 325 pounds an hour, said it had been swamped with enquiries since it launched the vouchers early last week. So far, more than 60 have been sold -- a snip at 125 pounds for a half hour session with a divorce lawyer.

里歐德.普拉特律師事務所通常一小時收費325英鎊,該公司說,自上週初推出禮券以來,湧入的詢問應接不暇。迄今已賣出逾60張禮券—與離婚律師諮商半小時僅需125英鎊。

A spokesman for the Church of England called the vouchers sad. "Divorce is a very personal matter and not really suitable for the idea of gift vouchers," he said.

英國國教一名發言人對於該禮券表示悲哀。「離婚是非常個人的事,真的不適合禮券這種點子,」他說。

Demand for the vouchers could soar over the next few weeks. Christmas tends to be a particularly stressful time for families, with a huge rise in people seeking advice each January, Vanessa Lloyd Platt, the firm’s founder, said.

未來幾週離婚禮券的需求量可能攀升。耶誕節對家庭來說向來是特別有壓力的時期,因此每年一月間,尋求離婚建議的人們大幅增加,該公司創辦人凡妮莎.里歐德.普拉特說。

新聞辭典

be stuck for︰想不出來。be stuck on則指迷戀、特別喜愛。例句︰She is really stuck on her new teacher.(她實在喜歡她的新老師。)

a rocky patch︰困境。Their relationship has hit a rocky patch.(他們的關係已觸礁。)

be swamped with︰多到難以招架。例句︰We were swamped with telephone calls after our advertisement was put in the paper.(自從在報紙登廣告後,我們的電話就應接不暇。)

I got disconnected.電話斷線了

對話
Jack:Hello, Ryan residence.
傑克:這裡是萊恩家,你好。
Kelly:Hello, could I speak to Ian please?I was speaking to him just a moment ago, but I got disconnected.
凱莉:你好,請問我可以和伊恩說話嗎?我剛剛跟他通電話,但是電話斷線了。
Jack:Oh, really?Let me just get him for you.
傑克:喔,是嗎?我去幫妳叫他。
Ian:Hello, Kelly. I'm sorry about that. What were you saying?
伊恩:喂,凱莉。對不起電話斷線了。妳之前說什麼?
Kelly:I was wondering if you were free to go out this weekend.
凱莉:我想知道這個周末你有空出來嗎。
Ian:Oh no, the connections really bad. I'll call you later, OK?
伊恩:喔,真糟糕,通話情況真得很糟。我晚點打給妳,好嗎?

本篇關鍵句

◎I got disconnected. 電話斷線了。
disconnect除了可指電話被切斷,也可指網路斷線。當電話突然斷線時還可這麼說:
.I / My call suddenly got disconnected.=I / My call suddenly got cut off.(我的電話突然斷線了。)
.We just got cut off. Sorry about that.(電話剛才斷線了,不好意思。)
.網路斷線則可說:The Internet was disconnected.(網路斷線了。)

關鍵字彙與片語

◎a moment ago不久前
◎disconnect vt.切斷(電話╱電源等)
.connect vt. 使(電話)接通
例:Our Internet has'nt been connected yet.(我們的網路還沒接通。)
.connect A with B把A的電話轉接給B
例:Please connect me with Mr. Brown in the Marketing Department.(請幫我轉給行銷部的布朗先生。)
◎connection n.(電話╱線路的)連接╱通話

2009/12/22

2 lions kill white tiger in Czech zoo 捷克動物園的兩隻獅子殺死一隻白虎

◎羅彥傑

A rare white tiger has been killed by two lions in a zoo in northern Czech Republic, a zoo official said Thursday.

捷克共和國北部動物園裡的一隻罕見白虎,被兩隻獅子殺死,動物園人員週四表示。

The lions, 14-year-old Sultan and 11-year-old Elsa, managed unexpectedly to enter an open-air area occupied by the 17-year-old tiger Isabella, by opening a trap door leading to it, Liberec Zoo spokesman Ivan Langr said.

這些獅子,14歲的蘇坦與11歲的愛莎,打開通往露天區的活動門,出人意料地設法進入由17歲大的老虎伊莎貝拉使用的露天式區域,利貝雷茨動物園發言人伊凡.藍格說。

He said authorities were not able to prevent the killing, which took place Thursday morning.

他說園方無法阻止這起發生在週四上午的殺戮事件。

The lions and tigers in the zoo share the same pavilion overnight, which they leave for separate open-air areas during the day. The animals are allowed to enter various areas on a rotating daily basis and the lions likely were trying to enter the place where they spent the previous day, Langr said. He said the zoo will abandon the rotating system following the killing.

藍格說,動物園裡的獅子與老虎共用同一個欄舍過夜,到了白天才前往各自的露天式區域。這些動物可以每天輪流進入各區,而這些獅子可能當時是想進入牠們前一天待過的地方。他說,園方在經歷這起殺虎事件後將廢除輪住制度。

The pavilion was built in 1994 and the system has been in place since. No such accident has happened before.

這座欄舍建於1994年,此後就推行這套制度。過去從未發生過這類意外。

新聞辭典

open-air:形容詞,戶外的、露天的。例句:He wants to hold an open-air concert here.(他想在這裡舉行露天音樂會。)

trap door:名詞,活動門、活動天窗。例句:A trap door in the ceiling leads to the attic.(天花板的一扇活動門可通閣樓。)

in place:片語,在合適的位置,適當的、適時的。例句:Everything is in place. (一切準備就緒。)

I tried, but the line’s always busy.我試過了,但電話一直在忙線中

對話
Susie:Hello, Alice?It’s Susie here. I’ve left my keys at home, and I was wondering what time you’re going to be home tonight.
蘇西:喂,愛麗絲嗎?我是蘇西。我把鑰匙放在家裡頭了,我想知道妳今天晚上什麼時候會回家。
Alice:I’m going to a party tonight, so I won’t be home till after midnight. Why don’t you try calling Laura at home?I think she is staying in tonight.
愛麗絲:我今晚要去參加派對,所以午夜後才會回到家。為什麼妳不試著打回家給蘿拉?我想她今晚應該在家。
Susie:I tried, but the line’s always busy.
蘇西:我試過了,但電話一直在忙線中。
Alice:Maybe the phone’s off the hook. Have you tried her cell phone?
愛麗絲:也許電話沒掛好。妳有試著打她的手機嗎?
Susie:I did, but it’s not turned on. What should I do?
蘇西:我試過了,但她沒有開機。我該怎麼辦?
Alice:Well, I guess you’d better come to the party with me. Then we can go home together.
愛麗絲:嗯,那我想妳最好跟我去參加派對吧。那我們就能一起回家。

本篇關鍵句

◎I tried, but the line’s always busy.我試過了,但電話一直忙線中。
撥電話給人但電話忙線中,可說:
.The line is engaged.(現在忙線中。)
.The line was busy; I couldn’t get through to him.(他的電話正在通話中,我打不進去。)

關鍵字彙與片語

◎stay in 待在家裡╱不外出
例:I’m worn out today, so I just feel like staying in and watching TV tonight.(我今天累壞了,今晚只想待在家看電視。)
◎hook n.(電話的)聽筒架
.leave the phone off the hook將電話筒拿起來
例:If you don’t want to take any calls, you can leave the phone off the hook.(如果你不想接電話,可以將電話筒拿起來。)

Woodpecker and Snake Fight for Nest啄木鳥和蛇爭巢

The crimson crested woodpecker made repeated attempts to drive the snake out of the tree and was bitten by the snake five times. After a fight lasting about four minutes, the wounded bird left the area and is likely to have died of its injuries or been killed by a predator.

紅冠啄木鳥一再想把蛇趕出樹幹,被蛇咬了五次。經四分鐘纏鬥,受傷的啄木鳥飛走了,很可能死於傷勢或其他掠食者手下。

2009/12/21

Baby-faced people ’live longer’ 長得娃娃臉的人「較長命」

◎管淑平

People who look young for their age are already the envy of their peers, but those holding back the years haven’t just been blessed in the looks department.

看起來比他們實際上還年輕的人已經讓同年齡的人嫉妒了。但是這些抵擋歲月侵襲的人並不只是在外表上佔便宜。

Now they have another reason to be smug:not only do the wrinkles remain at bay, but the Grim Reaper takes longer to call, according to a new Danish study published online in the British medical journal BMJ.

現在他們有另一個沾沾自喜的理由了:不只阻擋皺紋出現,死神也較晚來召喚,根據在英國醫學期刊網站上發表的丹麥新研究指出。

In 2001, Danish researchers conducted physical and cognitive tests on more than 1,800 pairs of twins older than 70, as well as taking photos of their faces.

2001年丹麥研究人員對1800多對70歲以上的雙胞胎做生理和認知檢測,並拍下他們臉部照片。

Three groups of people who didn’t know the twins’ real ages guessed how old they were. The researchers then tracked how long the twins survived over seven years.

三組事先不知道這些雙胞胎實際年齡的人猜測他們的年紀。研究人員然後追蹤這些雙胞胎七年的存活狀況。

The experts found that people who looked younger than their actual age were far more likely to survive, even after they adjusted for other factors like gender and environment.

專家發現,看起來比他們實際年齡還年輕的人活得比較久,即使考慮了性別和環境等其他因素後。

The bigger the difference in perceived age within any twin pair, the more likely it was that the older-looking twin died first.

雙胞胎中外觀看起來的年齡差異越大,其中外觀較老的那個先死的可能性就越高。

新聞辭典:

smug:形容詞,沾沾自喜的。例句:She has that smug look everytime she talks about her son.(她每次談到她兒子都有那張得意的表情。)

remain/hold/keep at bay:片語,不讓……接近,困住。The strategy worked and kept the enemy at bay.(戰略奏效,成功阻止敵人進逼。)

Grim Reaper:專有名詞,死神,原意為面目猙獰、拿著大鐮刀的收割者,傳說源自中世紀黑死病侵襲歐洲期間對死神面貌的描述。

I may need to take sick leave.也許我需要請病假

對話
Scott:Hello, can I speak to Roger, please? It’s Scott.
史考特:你好,麻煩請找羅傑。我是史考特。
Roger:Hello, Scott, what’s up? Why aren’t you at work yet? We’re very busy today.
羅傑:哈囉,史考特,怎麼了?你怎還沒進公司?我們今天很忙耶。
Scott:I wasn’t feeling too well this morning, so I went to the doctor’s to have a check-up. It turns out that I have the flu, so I may need to take sick leave.
史考特:我今天早上感覺不太舒服,所以去診所做檢查。結果我得了流感,所以也許我需要請病假。
Roger:That’s terrible news! We really need you at work this week.
羅傑:那真是太糟了!我們這星期很需要你在公司。
Scott:I’m really sorry. Perhaps you could get the weekend staff to come in and cover for me. I heard that Harry is looking for some extra hours.
史考特:我真的很抱歉。也許你可以叫周末班的員工來代班。我聽說哈利想額外多加一些時數。
Roger:Good idea, Scott. Hope you get better soon.
羅傑:好主意,史考特。祝你早日康復。

本篇關鍵句

◎I may need to take sick leave.也許我需要請病假。
對話中 take sick leave 表「請病假」。此外,take paid/unpaid leave表「請支薪╱不支薪假」。關於請假的常見用法如下:
.take annual leave/be on annual leave  請年假╱請年假中
.take personal leave/be on personal leave請事假╱請事假中
.take maternity leave/be on maternity leave請產假╱請產假中
.take funeral leave/be on funeral leave請喪假╱請喪假中

關鍵字彙與片語

◎flu n.流行性感冒(是influenza的縮寫,始終與the並用)
.have the flu  得了流感
◎cover for sb  替某人代班
例:I’m covering for Patrick while he is on annual leave.(派崔克休年假期間我暫代他的工作。)

2009/12/20

Sarkozy provokes French left by honouring Albert Camus 薩科茲向卡繆致敬惹惱法國左派

◎俞智敏

French intellectuals have heaped scorn on a proposal by Nicolas Sarkozy to bestow the country’s greatest posthumous honour upon the writer Albert Camus, accusing the rightwing president of trying to cash in on the thinker’s popularity with little respect for his politics or personality.

薩科茲總統打算向法國作家卡繆獻上法國最偉大的死後殊榮,法國知識份子卻紛紛對此表達輕蔑不屑,並指控這位右翼總統只是企圖自這位備受尊敬的法國思想家身上謀利,絲毫不尊重卡繆的政治見解或個性。

Sarkozy said recently that he thought it would be an "extraordinary symbol" to transfer the Algerian-born author’s remains to the Pantheon, the resting place for heroes of France, on the 50th anniversary of his death in January.

薩科茲最近表示,他認為在明年一月卡繆逝世50週年紀念時,把這位出生在阿爾及利亞的作家遺骸移葬至法國歷代英雄長眠的先賢祠,會是一項「非凡象徵」。

But the idea of a rightwing leader often accused of authoritarian tendencies and anti-intellectualism celebrating the life of a man who made a career out of political resistance and literary endeavour has outraged many Camus experts.

但一位經常被指控有極權與反智主義傾向的右翼領袖,卻提出要紀念一位畢生因參與政治反抗活動和文學成就而聞名的文人的想法,反而激怒了許多卡繆專家。

They suspect Sarkozy is using a golden opportunity to bask in the reflected glory of a charismatic hero, whose ideas are being feted by the mainstream half a century after he died in a car crash.

他們懷疑薩科茲是想利用這個千載難逢的好機會,靠著一位極具魅力的英雄人物所散發出來的光芒來沾光,因為卡繆的思想在他因車禍身亡半世紀後,依然受到主流社會所推崇。

"I don’t think Albert Camus has any need of Sarkozy. I think Sarkozy has greater need of some intellectual sparkle," said Olivier Todd, a biographer of Camus, on French radio.

「我認為卡繆根本不需要薩科茲,反倒是薩科茲才更需要一點知識火花,」卡繆傳記作家陶德就在法國電台上表示。

新聞辭典

heap/pour scorns on sb/sth:蔑視、嘲笑某事或某人,如Critics of the President have been pouring scorn on the plan ever since it was first proposed.(自從總統首度提出這項計畫後,批評者就不斷對其冷嘲熱諷。)

cash in on sth:片語,指自某事或某狀況中謀利、以不當手法佔便宜,如Should the families of criminals be allowed to cash in on their crimes by selling stories to the papers?(罪犯的家屬難道可藉著把犯罪故事賣給報紙,乘機從他們的罪行中大撈一筆嗎?)

pantheon:名詞,原指 古羅馬時代的萬神殿,現泛指眾神廟或先賢祠等場所,如Jupiter is head of the Roman pantheon.(朱彼特為羅馬萬神殿的眾神之首。)亦可指一群對某領域或事件有偉大貢獻、廣受各界崇敬的人,如the pantheon of modern physics.(現代物理學的大師們)。

...but the second page of the fax is missing.……但是缺了傳真的第2頁

對話
Nina:FBC International, Nina speaking.
妮娜:FBC國際您好,我是妮娜。
Anna:Hello, Nina, it’s Anna here.
安娜:妳好,妮娜,我是安娜。

Nina:Oh hello, Anna. Did you receive the fax I sent you this morning?
妮娜:噢,安娜,妳好。妳有收到我今天早上傳給妳的傳真嗎?
Anna:Yes, I got it, but the second page of the fax is missing. Do you think you could fax it over again, please?
安娜:有,我收到了,但是缺了傳真的第2頁。妳可以再傳一次給我嗎?
Nina:Well, I’m a bit tied up at the moment, but I’ll make sure I get round to it after lunch if that’s OK.
妮娜:我現在有點忙,不過我午餐過後會抽空處理,這樣可以嗎?
Anna:Yes, that’s fine. I’ll let you know if there are any problems.
安娜:好的,沒問題。有問題的話我再跟妳聯絡。

本篇關鍵句

◎But the second page of the fax is missing. 但是缺了傳真的第2頁。
傳真時有時會有幾頁沒傳到,或是某一行字在傳真的過程中漏掉了等等,這個時候就可用以下關鍵句來告訴對方:
第幾頁╱第幾行等 is missing. 第幾頁╱第幾行等缺漏了╱不見了。
例:I received your fax, but the last two lines of the second page are missing. (我收到你的傳真了,但是第2頁的最後2行不見了。)

關鍵字彙與片語

◎missing a.找不到的,不見的
例:Can I exchange this shirt for another one? There’s a button missing.(我可以更換這件襯衫嗎?有顆鈕扣不見了。)
◎be tied up 原為「被綁住」,引申為「忙得走不開」
例:I’m tied up at the moment. Can you pick up the children from school?(我現在忙得走不開。你可以去接小孩放學嗎?)
tie vt.(用線、繩索等)捆,綁
◎get round / around to + N/V-ing 抽出時間去做……
例:I’ll be in a meeting all day tomorrow, but I’ll make sure to get round to taking a look at your proposal. (我明天整天都在開會,不過我會記得抽時間看你的提案。)

2009/12/19

Stress makes for more sleepless in Taiwan-study 研究:壓力致使台灣失眠人數增加

More than one in five people in Taiwan suffers from insomnia likely caused by stress due to the economic woes, a figure higher than the global average, researchers said on Wednesday.

逾1/5的台灣人有失眠困擾,這可能肇因於經濟衰退的壓力。這個數字高過全世界的平均值,研究人員週三表示。

The survey of 4,005 people found that 21.8 percent of the population has chronic trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, said Lee Hsin-chien, psychiatry chairman at government-run Shuang-Ho Hospital in Taipei.

這項對4,005人進行的調查發現,21.8%的人口有慢性入睡困難或難以保持睡眠狀態的問題,台北的署立雙和醫院精神科主任李信謙說。

Overseas, averages of 10 to 15 percent of the population reports insomnia, he said, while Taiwan’s rate was about 10 percent in 2000.

他說,在國外,平均10-15%的人有失眠問題,而台灣2000年失眠人口的比例約為10%。

Stress due to recession on the export-reliant island earlier this year might have contributed to the increase, Lee said.

這個仰賴出口之島今年稍早經濟衰退造成的壓力,可能與失眠人數上升有關,李表示。

Diabetes, hypertension, anxiety and depression may also be driving insomnia as health generally declines in the face of an increasingly Western lifestyle, he added.

隨著生活方式日益西化,人們整體健康狀況下滑,糖尿病、高血壓、焦慮、抑鬱等都可能導致失眠症狀,他補充說。

《新聞辭典》

make for:意 指造成、有助於;例句:The large print makes for easier reading. (大型字體有利閱讀。)此片語亦可當作移向、衝向解釋,且通常用在速度很快且已有目標的情況;例句:It started raining, so she made for the nearest shelter. (開始下雨了,所以她衝向最近的躲雨地方。)

insomnia:醫學名詞,失眠症。例句:I suffer from insomnia and have to rely on sleeping pills.(我患有失眠,要吃安眠藥。)

woe:名詞,困難;災難;不幸。例句:She told him all her woes.(她向他傾訴全部苦惱。)

You have one new message. To listen to your message, press 5…您有一通新留言。聽取留言請按 5

電話留言
˙Voicemail(語音信箱)
Welcome to Vodacom Voicemail. You have one new message. To listen to your message, press 5; to delete your message, press 6; to save the message, press 7; to listen to the message again, press 8.
歡迎來到富達康語音信箱。您有一通新留言。聽取留言請按 5;刪除留言請按 6;保留留言請按 7;重聽留言請按 8。
˙Interactive Voice Response(互動式語音回覆系統)
Welcome to JTV Cinema. For this week’s movie schedule, press 1; to book tickets, press 2; to speak to a service agent, press 3; to listen to the options again, press 4.
歡迎來到 JTV 戲院。聽取本週電影放映時間表請按 1;訂票請按 2;和工作人員通話請按 3;重聽選項請按 4。

本篇關鍵句

˙You have one new message. To listen to your message, press 5… 您有一通新留言。聽取留言請按 5……
打電話到自己的語音信箱,或撥電話到互動式語音回覆系統時,須聽懂關鍵句才能得到所需服務。其他常聽到的關鍵句如下列:
To + V, press +號碼.
要……,請按某號碼
Please enter your 數字-digit card number. 請輸入若干位數字卡號

關鍵字彙與片語

˙delete vt.刪除
例:I accidentally deleted the file. Is there any way to restore it?(我不小心把檔案刪掉。可否回復?)
˙Interactive Voice Response互動式語音回覆系統(縮寫為 IVR)
˙cinema n.電影院(英式用法= movie theater)
˙schedulen.時間表;時程表
例:Can you finish the report on schedule?(你能如期完成報告嗎?)
˙option n.選擇
例:We offer several options to meet your needs.(我們提供您多種選擇以滿足您的需求。)

1 Meter Long Lobster 1米長的龍蝦

This photo of Lizzy Sharp bravely holding what is probably the biggest lobster netted in British waters for 80 years is the only proof her fisherman husband has of his catch. Simon Sharp threw the creature, which measured more than 1m long, back into the sea after snapping it on his mobile phone. Daily Mail

莉絲勇敢地拿著這隻可能是英國水域80年來捕獲最大的龍蝦,她先生西蒙幫她拍的這張照片,可能是唯一的見證,因為西蒙用手機拍完照後,就把這隻超過1米長的生物丟回海裡了。

2009/12/18

Recession means smaller Christmas tree for SC

經濟衰退讓南卡羅萊納州耶誕樹變小

◎張沛元

The recession is downsizing everything - even South Carolina’s Statehouse Christmas tree.

經濟衰退讓一切都縮小減量─連南卡羅萊納州州議會的耶誕樹也難逃變小的命運。

This year’s tree is about 30-feet tall and doesn’t even reach the top of the Confederate soldiers’ monument on the capitol’s front lawn.

今年的耶誕樹約30呎高,甚至比州議會大樓前方草坪上的邦聯戰士紀念碑還低。

"We’re like nonprofits and other groups everywhere. We’ve got to be a little more careful with our money," said Jane Suggs with the Columbia Garden Club, which has been putting up the tree along one of the city’s busiest streets for several years.

「一如各地的非營利與其他團體,我們在金錢方面都得格外留心,」多年來在該市最繁忙街道之一的路旁安置耶誕樹的「哥倫比亞花園俱樂部」的珍.薩格斯說。

The height of the tree also creates a uniquely South Carolina touch. To anyone driving or walking down Main Street a few blocks from the Statehouse, it looks like the tree is topped with the Confederate soldier that sits atop the monument behind it.

這棵樹的高度也創造出一項獨特的南卡風情。對任何從距離州議會大樓數個街口外走路或開車走上「主街」這條路的人來說,那景象就像耶誕樹後方紀念碑最上方的邦聯士兵,就站在耶誕樹的樹頂上。

Most people walking by the tree on a balmy fall afternoon said the Christmas spirit trumps the look of the tree.

大多數在某個宜人秋日午後經過這棵樹的人都說,耶誕精神遠勝於這棵樹的外型。

"The size and shape of the tree didn’t matter to Charlie Brown," Paul McCormick said. "Why should it matter to us?"

「查理.布朗都不在乎耶誕樹的尺寸與外型了,」保羅.麥克康米克說。「我們還有什麼好在乎的?」

新聞辭典

downsize:動詞。縮小規模,裁員。例句:Corporations continued to downsize after the economy recovered.(企業在經濟恢復後仍持續裁員。)

trump:動詞,超越,勝過。

A Charlie Brown Christmas:知名的史努比電視卡通特集「查理.布朗的耶誕節」,主角查理.布朗為追求耶誕節真諦,不介意地挑了一棵小樹當耶誕樹。

This is… It’s now… I’m calling to…

我是……。現在是……。我來電的目的是……

電話留言
●informal(非正式)
Hi Susie, this is Gina. I can’t find my Neil Dreyfuss CD. Did I lend it to you by any chance? It’s not urgent or anything. I was just sorting out my CD collection, and I noticed that it was missing. Call me back later. Bye.
嗨,蘇西,我是吉娜。我找不到我那張尼爾?杜萊福斯的CD。有沒有可能我借給妳了呢?其實沒那麼急啦。我只是在整理我收藏的CD,然後發現那張不見了。回電給我吧。掰。
●formal(正式)
This is Mathew White from GBS National. It’s now 10:25 a.m. on Tuesday October 5. I’m calling to arrange a meeting to discuss the proposal you sent. Please call me back at 3455-8877, extension 517.
我是GBS國際公司的馬修˙懷特。現在是10月5日星期四,上午10時25分。我來電的目的是要安排會議討論你寄過來的企劃書。請回電給我,電話是3455-8877,分機517。

本篇關鍵句

●This is… It’s now… I’m calling to…
我是……。現在是……。我來電的目的是……。
電話留言時,應該要先表明自己的身分、留言時間及原因或目的。熟悉以上結構,就可以清楚表達你要對方知道的資訊。
This is + 人名 (+ from 公司). It’s now + 時間. I’m calling to + 目的.

關鍵字彙與片語

●lend vt.借出
lend sth to sb將某物借給某人
例:May I borrow your stapler? Kevin doesn’t want to lend his to me.
(我可以跟你借訂書機嗎?凱文不想把他的借給我。)
●by any chance 或許;可能
例:Did you leave your keys in the office by any chance?
(你有沒有可能把鑰匙放在辦公室了?)
●sort sth out / sort out sth 整理某物
例:The little boy was asked to sort out his toys.(那小男孩被叫去整理他的玩具。)

2009/12/17

People ’get happier as they age’

人隨著年紀增長會越來越快樂

◎鄭寺音

Most people get happier as they grow older, studies on people aged up to their mid-90s suggest. Despite worries about ill health, income, changes in social status and bereavements, later life tends to be a golden age, according to psychologists.

針對年齡到90多歲中期者的研究顯示,多數人年紀越大會越快樂,心理學家說,雖然擔心健康不佳、收入、社會地位改變與喪親之痛,晚年生活仍比較會是黃金時代。

They found older adults generally make the best of the time they have left and have learned to avoid situations that make them feel sad or stressed. The young should do the same, they told the American Psychological Association.

他們發現,年紀較長的人,一般都會善加利用他們剩餘的時間,也已學會避免讓他們感到難過或有壓力的情況。心理學家告訴美國心理學協會,年輕人應該也這樣做。

Work carried out by Dr Laura Carstensen, a psychology professor at Stanford University, asked volunteers ranging in age from 18 to mid-90s to take part in various experiments and keep diaries of their emotional state.

史丹福大學心理學教授卡斯登森請年齡18到90多歲中期的志願者參與各種實驗,並每日記錄他們的情緒狀態。

She found the older people were far less likely than the younger to experience persistent negative moods and were more resilient to hearing personal criticism. They were also much better at controlling and balancing their emotions - a skill that appeared to improve the older they became.

她發現,年紀較大者,情緒持續負面的經歷遠比年齡較輕者少,對於針對個人的批評也比較有彈性。他們也比較善於控制與平衡情緒,那是一項似乎會隨著年齡增長加強的技巧。

新聞辭典

make the best of:片語,充分利用。例句:We should make the best of this valuable opportunity.(我們應該充分利用這個寶貴的機會。)

resilient:形容詞, 有彈性的。例句:She’s a resilient girl - she won’t be unhappy for long.(她是很有彈性的女孩,不會不快樂太久。)

envisage:動詞,想像、設想。例句:Train fare increases of 5% are envisaged for the next year.(火車車資明年預估將上漲5%。)

All our operators are busy at the moment, so we are unable to take your call.

本公司所有總機人員目前皆在忙線中,因此無法接聽您的電話

課文
Thank you for calling JP Deliveries. All our operators are busy at the moment, so we are unable to take your call. Please hold and your call will be answered as soon as an operator is available. Press one if you would like to hold or press two if you would like to leave a message.
感謝您來電JP快遞公司。本公司所有總機人員目前都忙線中,因此無法接聽您的電話。請稍候,總機人員一有空將盡快為您服務。若您要等候請按1,若您要留言請按2。

本篇關鍵句

◎All our operators are busy at the moment, so we are unable to take your call.
本公司所有總機人員目前皆在忙線中,因此無法接聽您的電話。
打電話到公司行號時,一般會聽到以下的訊息:
.Thank you for calling World Bank. Please dial the extension of the person you're trying to reach or zero for the operator.(感謝您來電世界銀行。請直撥分機號碼,或撥0由總機轉接。)
如果已超過公司行號的上班或營業時間,則會聽到以下的訊息:
.Thank you for calling Super Trade Company. Our office is now closed. Please call back during regular business hours.
(感謝您來電超級貿易公司。現在是下班時間,請於上班時間再來電。)

關鍵字彙與片語

◎operator n. 總機╱接線生
◎at the moment 此刻╱現在
例:I'm very busy at the moment. I'll call you back as soon as possible.(我現在很忙。我會盡快回電給你。)
◎take the/one's call 接電話
例:I'll take the call in my office.(我到我辦公室接那通電話。)
◎available a. 有空的╱可提供的╱可獲得的
例:Will you be available this afternoon?=Will you be free this afternoon?(你今天下午有空嗎?)
例:This shirt is also available in red and black.(這件襯衫還有紅色和黑色可供選擇。)

Magician Parodies Beckham's Advert

Few men would dare emulate this pose by David Beckham. But Paul Daniels, a 71-year-old magician, slipped into some designer underwear and copied the footballer's tattoos to recreate his stance on an advertising poster for Armani.

魔術師模仿貝克漢廣告

很少人敢模仿貝克漢這個姿勢。不過71歲的魔術師丹尼爾斯,硬是穿上類似的內褲、還模仿這位足球明星的刺青,重現貝克漢為亞曼尼拍的海報。

2009/12/16

FEMA suggests Christmas gifts for the disaster age

美國聯邦急難管理署推薦因應災變時期的耶誕禮物

◎魏國金

Imagine tearing open that large present under the Christmas tree with your name on it and finding inside... a fire extinguisher. Or a foldable ladder. Or a smoke alarm in that smaller box.

設想拆開聖誕樹下有你名字的大禮物,結果發現裡面是…一個滅火器。或摺疊式梯子。或在小盒內是煙霧警報器。

Those, plus a home disaster kit including food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours, or a first aid certification course are just some of the gifts that the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is suggesting Americans give their loved ones this holiday season.

那些,加上裝有維持72小時所需的食物、水與處方藥品的家庭急難包,或一期的急救證書課程,正是聯邦急難管理署(FEMA) 建議美國人民在此耶誕假期給予所愛的一些禮物。

"Giving a gift of a fire extinguisher might not be the first thing that springs to mind, but for the guy who has everything, it might be perfect," FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said.

FEMA署長傅格特說︰「送一個滅火器禮物或許不是心裡閃現的第一個想法,但對於什麼都有的傢伙,它可能很理想。」

FEMA also advised that, in addition to reading "The Night Before Christmas" to the kids, you take the occasion of having the whole family together to "develop a family disaster plan."

FEMA也建議,除了給孩子唸「平安夜」的故事外,你可趁此全家團圓的機會,「擬定家庭災難應變計畫」。

"What we’re saying is that the holidays are the only time families really get together. So it’s the ideal time to talk about a family plan in the event of a disaster," Fugate said.

「我們說的是這個假期是家人真正團聚的唯一時刻。所以是討論家庭災難應變計畫的理想時刻,」傅格特指出。

新聞辭典

disaster kit︰急難包。kit即是工具包、用品箱。比如,a first-aid kit(急救箱)。

spring︰在此有突然閃現之意。例句︰A rude remark sprang to my lips, but I managed not to say it.(一句無禮粗話突然來到我嘴邊,可是我總算沒說出來。)

take(seize)occasion︰趁機。例句︰I take occasion to tell him my work.(我趁機對他談談我的工作。)

Please speak after the tone.請在嘟聲後留言

對話
Voicemail:Hello, youve reached the voicemail of Sandra Adams. Im away from my desk at the moment, but if youd like to leave a message, Ill get back to you as soon as possible. Please speak after the tone.
語音信箱:您好,這裡是珊卓拉.亞當斯的語音信箱。我目前不在座位上,如果您留言,我會盡快與您聯絡。請在嘟聲後留言。
Richard:Hello, Ms. Adams. This is Richard Norman from Norton Electronics. Im calling to let you know that Im still waiting for you to fax me the information I requested. Could you do that as soon as possible? Its very urgent. Thank you.
理查:妳好,亞當斯女士。我是諾頓電子公司的理查.諾曼。我打電話是要通知妳我還在等妳傳真我要的資料給我。妳可以盡快處理這件事嗎?這件事很急。謝謝妳。

本篇關鍵句

◎Please speak after the tone.請在嘟聲後留言。
進入語音信箱時,一般到最後都會聽到本關鍵句。此外,下列句子亦是常聽到的說法:
.Please leave a message after the tone.請在嘟聲後留言。

關鍵字彙與片語

◎voicemail n. 語音信箱
.a voicemail message 語音信箱留言
◎be away from……離開……
例:Ill be away from home for two weeks. Can you take care of my cat?(我將會離家2個星期。你可以照顧我的貓嗎?)
◎tone n.(電話等發出的)電子聲音信號╱語調╱音調
.in a/an...tone 以……的語氣╱口吻
例:From Amys tone, I knew she was angry with me.(我從艾美的語調知道她對我很生氣。)
◎request vt. & n. 請求╱要求
.request sb to V 請某人從事……
例:Headquarters requested us to send them the quarterly report by July 1.(總公司要我們於7月1日前把季報告寄給他們。)
◎urgent a. 緊急的

2009/12/15

London police explode illegally parked car

倫敦警方引爆違規停車的汽車

◎羅彥傑

A British man said police told him they blew up his car because it was parked illegally near the prime minister’s office and raised terrorism fears.

一名英國男子表示,警方告訴他,他們引爆他的汽車,因為該車違規停在首相辦公室的附近,引起恐怖攻擊的疑慮。

Michael Raphel, 28, of Oxford, England, said he was visiting London to celebrate a friend’s birthday and parked his car Nov. 7 in an area that police later informed him was less than a quarter mile from 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s residence and office, and was along the route of parade due to take place the following day, The Daily Telegraph reported Monday.

28歲、英格蘭牛津市的麥可.拉斐爾說,他11月7日去倫敦替友人慶生,停車的位置,警方後來告知他,距離布朗首相官邸與辦公室的唐寧街10號不到1/4英里,而且就在預定隔天舉行的遊行路線沿路上,每日電訊報週一報導說。

Raphel said he returned to his car at 2 a.m. to find it surrounded by anti-terrorism police.

拉斐爾說,他在凌晨2時回去開車,發現車子被警察反恐小組包圍。

"They explained that because I was seen running from the car, and because of the parades the next day, it had heightened their suspicions," he said.

「他們解釋說,因為有人看見我從車內跑出來,而且由於隔天有遊行,加深了他們的疑心,」他說。

He said police told him they carried out two controlled explosions on the car.

他說警方告訴他,他們在車上進行兩次受到控制的引爆。

"When I got back to the car, the driver and passenger windows had been blown out and the bonnet and boot had come open with the force," Raphel said.

「當我回到車上,駕駛座與乘客座的車窗已被炸破,而引擎蓋與行李廂也因為爆炸力道而打開。」

新聞辭典

route︰名詞,路線、航線。例句:The car took the shortest route.(這輛車抄了一條最短的捷徑。)

take place︰片語,發生、舉行。例句︰The match takes place on Sunday.(比賽定於週日舉行。)

blow out︰片語,使爆裂、炸開。例句:The flat’s windows have been blown out by the explosion.(爆炸震破了這間公寓的窗戶。)

Hello, you've reached the home of Diana Simmons.

你好,你已經撥進黛安娜.賽門斯的家。

對話
Answering Machine:Hello, you've reached the home of Diana Simmons. I'm unable to answer the phone right now, but if you leave a message after the beep, I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Bye! Beep…
電話答錄機:你好,你已經撥進黛安娜.賽門斯的家。我現在無法接聽您的電話,如果您在嗶聲後留言,我會儘快與您聯繫。再見!嗶……
Julie:Hi, Diana. Its Julie here. I was wondering if you wanted to catch a movie Friday night. That romantic comedy you wanted to see has just come out, so we could check it out. Anyway, call me later.
茱莉:黛安娜,妳好。我是茱莉。我想知道妳周五晚上是否想去看電影?妳想看的那部浪漫喜劇已經上映了,所以我們可以去看了。不管怎麼樣,稍晚打個電話給我。

本篇關鍵句

Hello, you've reached the home of Diana Simmons.
◎你好,你已經撥進黛安娜.賽門斯的家。
錄製電話留言時,務必先表明自己的身份,除上述關鍵句外,你還可以說:
.Hi, this is + 人名s + answering machine.
你好,這是某人的電話答錄機。
.Hello, you've reached the+姓氏s.
你好,你已經撥進某姓氏家。

關鍵字彙與片語
◎unable a.不能……的
.be unable toV 不能/無法做……
.be able to V 有能力/能夠做……
◎beep n. 嗶嗶聲
◎catch vt. 觀看,觀賞
例:Lets go catch the exhibit at the gallery.(咱們去看那個畫廊的展覽。)
◎romantic a.浪漫的
例:Rick planned a romantic marriage proposal for his girlfriend.(瑞克為女友計劃了一場浪漫的求婚。)
◎comedy n.喜劇
.tragedy n.悲劇
◎come out 上映;出版,發行
例:The magazine usually comes out on the 15th of every month.(這本雜誌通常每個月的15日出刊。)

2009/12/14

Berlusconi accused by Mafia hitman

黑手黨殺手指控貝魯斯孔尼

◎管淑平

Italy’s government was rocked by accusations made by a Mafia hitman that Silvio Berlusconi had made commitments to Sicily’s Cosa Nostra as he was about to enter politics 15 years ago.

一名黑手黨殺手的指控:貝魯斯孔尼15年前要踏入政壇時,對西西里「我們的事業」黑手黨做出了承諾,震驚了義大利政府。

Gaspare Spatuzza, the Mafia turncoat testifying in a court in Turin, claimed he had been told by a top Sicilian mobster that Mr Berlusconi and his long-time business associate, Marcello Dell’Utri, had given "everything" the Mafia had wanted.

史帕圖薩,這名在杜林法院作證的黑手黨污點證人,宣稱一名西西里黑幫老大告訴過他,貝魯斯孔尼和他長期事業夥伴德烏特里給了黑手黨想要的「一切」。

"Thanks to the seriousness of these people, they have practically put the country in our hands," Mr Spatuzza quoted Giuseppe Graviano as saying.

「多虧了這些人認真,他們實際上已經將這個國家交到我們手上」,史帕圖薩引述格拉維亞諾的話。

The prime minister’s office rejected the allegations, accusing Mr Spatuzza of seeking to sabotage the government’s crackdown on Cosa Nostra.

總理辦公室駁斥這些說法,指控史帕圖薩意圖破壞政府打擊「我們的事業」。

The case is fuelling existing divisions in Mr Berlusconi’s coalition and is likely to exacerbate a war between the prime minister and judges he accuses of waging a political witch-hunt.

此案正加深貝魯斯孔尼聯合政府內部分裂,並可能擴大這名總理與他指控進行政治追殺的法官之間的戰火。

Adding to the image of a prime minister under siege, the court proceedings were broadcast live by Sky Italia, a satellite network owned by Rupert Murdoch, who Mr Berlusconi--a billionaire with his own media empire--has accused of joining the battle against him for commercial reasons.

更加深總理處於四面楚歌形象的是,這段法院審理程序透過梅鐸擁有的衛星電視義大利天空電視實況轉播,自己擁有媒體帝國的富豪貝魯斯孔尼曾指控梅鐸為了商業因素加入這場打擊他的戰爭。

新聞辭典:

turncoat:名詞,變節者。

witch- hunt:名詞,字面意義為獵巫,指的是為打壓異己而進行的迫害行動。例句:The people in authority launched a witch-hunt campaign to the so-called ’turncoats’ of the party.(當權派對黨內所謂「叛徒」展開追殺行動。)

under siege:處於被包圍狀態。例句:The city is under siege.(這座城市被包圍了。)

I’m sorry, but I don’t quite follow you.

不好意思,我聽不太懂妳的意思。

對話

Simon:Hello, Sunshine Travel, Simon speaking. How may I help you?
賽門:您好,陽光旅遊,我是賽門。有什麼我能為您服務的嗎?
Susie:I’d like to book a ticket to Thailand for two people.
蘇西:我想要訂兩張到泰國的機票。
Simon:Can I have the dates for your departure and return?
賽門:妳可以告訴我去程和回程的日期嗎?
Susie:Yes, we want to leave on September 24 and return on the 20.
蘇西:好,我們想要9月24日出發,20日回來。
Simon:I’m sorry, but I don’t quite follow you. Did you say you wanted to return on September 20?
賽門:不好意思,我聽不太懂妳的意思。妳是說妳想要9月20日回來嗎?
Susie:Sorry, I didn’t make myself clear. We want to return on October 20.
蘇西:抱歉,我沒講清楚。我們想要10月20日回來。

本篇關鍵句

I’m sorry, but I don’t quite follow you.不好意思,我聽不太懂妳的意思。

關鍵字彙與片語

◎follow
vt.理解(= understand)
例:I just can't follow the teacher's explanation.(我就是聽不懂老師的解釋。)
◎book vt.預訂
例:I would like to book a table for six for tomorrow night.(我想要訂明天晚上6人的桌位。)
◎departure n.出發;(飛機或火車等)離開
.vdepartvi.離開(與介詞for並用)
.depart for + 地方前往某地
◎make oneself clear
將某人的意思表達清楚
例:Did I make myself clear?(我表達的夠清楚嗎?)

Bubbly Bubble Bath Banknote泡泡浴鈔票

An employee of Japan’s toymaker Bandai presents paper-thin, rose-aroma bath soap shaped like an American 100-dollar bill that dissolves in water in Tokyo on December 11, 2009.To avoid being mistaken for the real thing, the “Bubbly Bubble Bath” banknote features the winking face of former US president Benjamin Franklin, and the number 1,000 instead of 100.


日本玩具商「萬代」的員工,12月11日在東京展示如紙般厚、散發玫瑰香味的100美元紙鈔狀水溶沐浴皂。為避免被誤認為真鈔,「泡泡浴鈔票」圖案是美國前總統富蘭克林眨眼的表情,且用數字1000代替100。

2009/12/13

Dylan song adopted for Copenhagen

狄倫名曲獲選為哥本哈根氣候峰會主題曲

◎俞智敏

Bob Dylan has star billing at the climate change summit in Copenhagen...or at least, his music does. The United Nations has adopted one of his songs, A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall, as its unofficial anthem for the talks.

知名樂手巴布狄倫在哥本哈根氣候變遷高峰會中享有頭牌明星地位……或至少該說,他的音樂是如此。聯合國已選用了狄倫的名曲之一,「大雨即將落下」,作為這場峰會的非正式主題曲。

This is a song best known for channelling the fears of a generation living under the threat of nuclear war.

這首歌是以傳達出生活在核戰威脅下世代的恐懼而廣為人知。

Dylan performed it for the first time in 1962 at the height of the Cold War, shortly before a plan by Moscow to station atomic missiles in Cuba set off a crisis between the United States and the Soviet Union.

狄倫首次演唱這首歌是在冷戰最高峰的1962年,不久後莫斯科當局就打算在古巴部署原子飛彈,引發美國與蘇聯之間的危機。

But Hard Rain has weathered well, and is now being invoked to highlight this generation’s fear of environmental calamity.

但「大雨」一曲歷久彌新,現在更被引用來凸顯當前世代對環境災難的恐懼。

That is testimony to the enduring and universal power of its lyrics, says David Fricke, a senior editor at the Rolling Stone music magazine.

「滾石」音樂雜誌資深編輯佛瑞克表示,這正證明了這首名曲歌詞持久與普及的力量。

Regardless of what Bob Dylan did mean, A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall clearly remains an indictment, says Fricke, and a stark warning to today’s leaders. "It really shows that if we don’t address things, the hard rain is not only ’gonna’ fall," he says, "but it’s been falling already, and we’ve haven’t been paying attention."

不論狄倫本人當時的用意為何,「大雨即將落下」一曲顯然是一項指控,更是對今日領袖的一項明確警告,佛瑞克說。「這首歌顯示假如我們不解決問題,大雨非但不是『即將落下』,」他說,「而是早就已經落下,但我們卻一直未曾留意。」

新聞辭典

star/top billing:billing為名詞,原指佈告或廣告,如Unfortunately, the show never lived up to its billing.(很不幸地,這場表演並不如廣告所宣傳的那麼好。)billing 亦可指節目表或電影中演員依重要性排序,star/top billing則指在廣告中被宣傳為最重要的演員、頭牌明星。

channell(英式拼法)/channel(美式拼法):動詞,指輸送、傳達,如He channeled the information to us. (他把那項消息傳達給我們。)

weather:動詞,指平安度過、禁受得住(風暴、危機等),如It was a difficult time for her, but she weathered through beautifully. (這段時間對她而言非常艱困,但她卻安然度過。)

Could you speak up a bit?

妳可以說大聲一點嗎?

對話
Luke:Hello, Kelly? It’s Luke here. I’m on my way home now. What did you want me to pick up from the grocery store?
路克:嗨,凱莉嗎?我是路克。我現在在回家的路上。妳要我去雜貨店買什麽?
Kelly:Can you get me three onions, five apples, some mushrooms, and five packs of spaghetti?
凱莉:你可以幫我買3顆洋蔥、5顆蘋果、一些磨菇和5包義大利麵條嗎?
Luke:Could you speak up a bit? It’s very noisy here.
路克:妳可以說大聲一點嗎?這裡很吵。
Kelly:Didn’t I give you a shopping list earlier?
凱莉:我之前不是給你一張購物清單了嗎?
Luke:That’s right. I totally forgot about that. I’ll just get it from my bag.
路克:沒錯。我全忘了。我來從包包裡拿出來看。

本篇關鍵句

◎Could you speak up a bit?
妳可以說大聲一點嗎?
若想要求對方說大聲一點,可用speak up,或用下列各句:
例:Can you speak up a little? I can barely hear what you’re saying.(你可以大聲一點嗎?我幾乎聽不到你講的話。)
例:You’ll have to speak louder. I can’t hear you.(你得說大聲一點。我聽不見你講話。)

關鍵字彙與片語

◎speak up 說大聲點
例:Please speak up. We can’t hear you clearly from the back of the classroom.(請說大聲點。我們在教室後面聽不太清楚你說的話。)
◎pick up sth / pick sth up 購買某物(= buy sth)
例:Can you pick up some milk on your way home?(你回家的路上可以買些牛奶嗎?)
◎a grocery store 食品雜貨店
.grocery n.食品雜貨(常用複數)
例:Don’t forget to buy some groceries for me.(別忘了幫我買一些食品雜貨。)
◎pack n.小紙包,一包

2009/12/12

Intel wants to stick chips in your brain

英特爾要在你腦中植晶片

◎陳成良

By the year 2020, you won’t need a keyboard and mouse to control your computer, say Intel Corp. researchers. Instead, users will open documents and surf the Web using nothing more than their brain waves.

到了2020年,你無需鍵盤及滑鼠來控制電腦,英特爾公司研究人員說。取而代之的是,使用者將只需用腦波即可開啟文件並上網。

Scientists at Intel’s research lab in Pittsburgh are working to find ways to read and harness human brain waves so they can be used to operate computers, television sets and cell phones. The brain waves would be harnessed with Intel-developed sensors implanted in people’s brains.

英特爾匹茲堡研究實驗室的科學家,正致力找出讀取並駕馭人類腦波的方法來操控電腦、電視機及手機。這些腦波將由植入腦中、由英特爾研發的感應器來駕馭。

Intel research scientist Dean Pomerleau and his research teammates from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, are currently working on decoding human brain activity.

英特爾研究科學家波默洛及其來自卡內基美隆大學及匹茲堡大學的研究團隊夥伴,目前正致力為人類腦部活動解碼。

Pomerleau said the team has used Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI) machines to determine that blood flow changes in specific areas of the brain based on what word or image someone is thinking of. People tend to show the same brain patterns for similar thoughts, he added.

波默洛說,該團隊利用「功能性核磁共振機」,來判定腦部特定部位的血流,會根據一個人想到什麼字眼或影像而有什麼變化。人們傾向於對類似的想法展現出相同大腦模式,他補充說。

Pomerleau said researchers are close to gaining the ability to build brain sensing technology into a head set that could be used to manipulate a computer. The next step is development of a tiny, far less cumbersome sensor that could be implanted inside the brain.

波默洛說,研究人員已快要具備將腦部偵測科技內建在頭罩中的能力,這種頭罩可用來操縱電腦;接下來要研發的是一種可以植入腦中的小型、一點也不笨重的偵測器。

新聞辭典:

harness:動詞,利用;控制;駕馭。例句:The skills required to harness new technical innovations are growing every day. (利用新科技創新生產的技能每天都在增長。)

implant:動詞,植入;移植;灌輸;注入。例句:Teachers implant sound principles in the mind of children. (老師把健全的原則灌輸到兒童心中)

cumbersome :形容詞,麻煩的;笨重的。例句: his cumbersome writing style.(他沉重的寫作風格。)

What extension are you trying to call?

你要打的分機是幾號?

對話

Mark:Hello, Maurice? It’s Mark here. I was wondering if we could postpone our meeting to 5:00 p.m.? Things are a bit hectic in our department at the moment.
馬克:莫瑞斯嗎?你好,我是馬克。我在想是否可以把會議延到下午5點?我們部門現在很忙。
Kevin:Sorry, this isn’t Maurice. What extension are you trying to call?
凱文:抱歉,我不是莫瑞斯。你要打的分機是幾號?
Mark:Isn’t this 556?
馬克:這不是556嗎?
Kevin:No, this is 557 actually.
凱文:不是,這裡其實是 557。
Mark:Oh, I’m sorry. Can you transfer my call to Maurice?
馬克:噢,真抱歉。你可以幫我把電話轉給莫瑞斯嗎?
Kevin:Well, he’s not in our department. It would be better if you redialed.
凱文:呃,他不屬我們的部門。你重打的話會比較方便。

本篇關鍵句

◎What extension are you trying to call?
你要打的分機是幾號?
當對方打錯電話給你時,你可以問他原本是要打幾號,因為可能他撥錯分機,或他的號碼根本不對。你還可以這樣說:
What number / extension are you trying to reach?你要打的號碼/分機是幾號?

關鍵字彙與片語

◎postpone vt.延期,延遲
=put off...
postpone + N / V-ing 延後(做)……
例:Because of the typhoon, we have to postpone our hiking trip until next weekend.(因為颱風的關係,我們必須把健行活動延至下周末。)
◎hectic a.繁忙的
a hectic life生活忙碌
例:It's hard for Lucy to adapt to the hectic life of the city.(露西很難適應城市緊張忙碌的生活。)
◎redial vi. & vt. 重撥
例:The number you dialed is no longer in service. Please check it and redial.(你撥的號碼是空號。請查明後再撥。)