I’d like to order an extra large chicken and mushroom pizza with extra toppings.我想要點一個特大號雞肉磨菇比薩，配料加量

對話

Maggie：Pizza World, Maggie speaking. What can I do for you？
瑪姬：比薩世界，我是瑪姬。需要什麼我為您服務的嗎？
Helen：I’d like to order an extra large chicken and mushroom pizza with extra toppings.
海倫：我想要點一個特大號雞肉磨菇比薩，配料加量。
Maggie：Would you like to order anything else? You can get chicken wings at half price when you order an extra large pizza.
瑪姬：您還需要別的嗎？點特大號比薩可用半價加點雞翅。
Helen：Sure. I will take six chicken wings and also some potato wedges and garlic bread.
海倫：好啊。那我要點6隻雞翅、炸脆薯條和大蒜麵包。
Maggie：That will be $530 in total. What's your address？
瑪姬：總共是530元。請問您的住址是？

本篇關鍵句

◎I’d like to order an extra large chicken and mushroom pizza with extra toppings.
我想要點一個特大號雞肉磨菇比薩，配料加量。
點比薩時除了可以選擇比薩口味，也可以選擇你喜歡的餅皮，配料，配菜等等。以下為一些實用的字彙及句型：
．a pepperoni / Hawaiian / seafood / vegetarian pizza
義式香腸／夏威夷／海鮮／素食比薩
．a chicken wing 雞翅
．garlic bread 大蒜麵包
．potato wedges 炸脆薯條
◎I’d like + 配料 + on my pizza.我比薩的配料要……
例：Sandy：What kind of toppings would you like on your pizza？（珊蒂：您的比薩想搭什麼配料？）
Tom：I’d like sausage, onions, and double cheese on my pizza.（湯姆：我比薩的配料要香腸、洋蔥和雙層起司。）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎extra a.額外的；外加的
例：Johnny asked his teacher to give him an extra 10 minutes to finish the test.（強尼請老師再給他10分鐘寫完考卷。）
◎mushroom n.磨菇

Ship comes in for solo travelers 單人行旅客終於出運了

◎俞智敏

If you’re fancy free and love to wander, the price might finally be right to travel solo.

假如你無拘無束、熱愛流浪，現在單人行的價格總算比較合理了。

Instead of punishing travelers who prefer to go alone with hefty surcharges, the travel industry is starting to woo them with deals that tickle their wanderlust without ravaging their wallets.

旅行業者不再收取高昂的額外收費來懲罰偏好獨行的旅客，反而開始用能夠挑起其漫遊癖好、卻又不至於掏空皮夾的心動方案，來吸引單人行旅客。

"The tour industry is making way for the single traveler," said Margie Jordan, spokesperson for the American Society of Travel Agents. "This is nothing that’s going to go away. The single traveler is going to have as many opportunities as anyone else."

「旅遊業正在替單人行旅客開路，」美國旅行業者公會發言人喬丹表示。「這並不是一時的現象。單人行旅客將跟其他旅客一樣享有更多旅遊機會。」

For years most travel deals were based on two people traveling together. "Single travelers would see a price on line and we’ve had to break the news that if you’re going by yourself, it’s 150 to 200 percent more," said Jordan. "They were left high and dry."

多年來，大多數的旅遊行程都是以兩人同行為基礎來規劃。「單身旅客在網路上看到一種價格，我們卻得向他們解釋，假如你是獨自一人旅行，還要再加收150%至200%的費用，」喬丹表示。「這使得他們進退兩難。」

But times are changing and Jordan said cruise lines in particular are stepping up. MSC Cruises is currently offering trips that waive the dreaded single supplement, which accounts for the price hike.

但時代正在改變，喬丹表示，遊輪業者跟上時代的腳步尤其快速。目前MSC遊輪公司已開始提供無需加收令人聞之色變的單人房差額之行程，而單房差額正是導致單人行價格暴增的主因。

新聞辭典

when one’s ship comes in：片語，指某人發財、功成名就，如When my ship comes in, I’ll build you a huge house in the country.（等我成功以後，就會替你在鄉下蓋一間大房子。）

solo：形容詞，指單獨的、無人陪伴的，如She flew solo from Anchorage to Miami.（她獨自一人從安克拉治飛到邁阿密。）

high and dry：片語，原指船隻擱淺，引申指處境艱難、孤立無援，如They pulled out of the deal at the last minute leaving us high and dry.（他們在最後關頭退出協議，讓我們進退不得。）

Tech group to launch new digital music file format 科技公司擬推出新數位音樂檔案格式

◎陳成良

A leading technology company is set to launch a new digital music file format which will embed additional content for fans including lyrics, news updates and images in what could be a successor to the ubiquitous MP3 file.

一家頂尖科技公司計畫推出一種新數位音樂檔案格式，可為樂迷嵌入歌詞、最新資訊及影像等附加內容。該格式或將替代目前非常普遍的MP3檔案。

The new proposal, which is called MusicDNA and has the backing of the original MP3 digital music file inventor, would allow fans to download an MP3 file on to their computer, which would carry with it additional content.

新格式稱為「MusicDNA」，並得到了原MP3數位音樂檔案發明者的支持。這一格式允許樂迷將MP3音樂檔案下載到電腦上，且同時附帶額外內容。

Music labels, bands or retailers could then also send updates to the music file every time they have something new to announce such as the dates of future tours, new interviews or updates to social network pages.

音樂公司、樂團或零售商屆時只要有新內容要公布，例如未來巡演計畫、新專訪或更新社交網頁時，都可傳送更新內容到音樂檔案中。

The user would receive as little or as much of the information as they want, every time they are online. However anyone who downloads the music file illegally would receive only a static file which would not receive any updates.

用戶每次上線時，可根據個人意願來決定接受多少資訊。然而，任何非法下載音樂檔案的用戶只會收到一個靜態檔案，不能接收任何內容更新。

BACH Technology, the group behind the MusicDNA file, says it is looking to partner with retailers, music labels, rights holders and technology companies and is happy to provide its technology for others who could use it under their own brand.

開發MusicDNA音樂檔案的（挪威）巴哈科技集團稱，希望與零售商、唱片公司、版權所有人與科技公司等建立合作關係，且樂意將技術提供給其他人，這些人可用其自有品牌來使用這個技術。

新聞辭典

ubiquitous：形容詞，無所不在的。例句：Bluetooth technology becomes more ubiquitous in markets around the world.（藍芽技術在全球市場上變得更無所不在。）

music label：原意指音樂的標籤，轉化成意指音樂（唱片）公司。全球四大唱片公司或集團一般都稱為「major record labels」。

partner：動詞，與……合作；做……的伙伴。例句：John partnered Mary at the dance.（約翰在舞會上與瑪麗結成舞伴。）

I was wondering if you could recommend any good restaurants in the area. 不知道你能否推薦這一帶幾家不錯的餐廳給我

對話
Cathy：Hello, Front Desk. What can I do for you？
凱西：您好，這裡是櫃檯。有什麼我可以為您服務的嗎？
Janet：Hello, I was wondering if you could recommend any good restaurants in the area.
珍妮特：妳好，不知道妳能否推薦這一帶幾家不錯的餐廳給我。
Cathy：There’s a very good Italian restaurant around the corner, and the Chinese restaurant across the street is also quite good.
凱西：附近有家很棒的義大利餐廳，對街那家中國餐館也很不錯。
Janet：I see. Could you also recommend some places to visit？
珍妮特：我知道了。那妳可不可以再推薦一些觀光景點？
Cathy：If you come to the front desk, I can give you a map of the local area and point out some sights for you.
凱西：如果您到櫃檯來，我可以給您一份本地的地圖，指出一些景點給您參考。
Janet：OK. Thanks a lot.
珍妮特：好。非常感謝妳。

本篇關鍵句

●I was wondering if you could recommend any good restaurants in the area.
不知道你能否推薦這一帶幾家不錯的餐廳給我。
當你到某地旅遊時，可向飯店的服務人員詢問一些餐廳及旅遊資訊，以下為一些實用的句型：
˙I was wondering if you could recommend…　　不知道你能否推薦……
˙Would you recommend…？　　可以請你推薦……嗎？

關鍵字彙與片語

●recommend vt.推薦；建議
例：Samantha recommended that movie to all her female friends.（珊曼莎推薦那部電影給她所有的女性友人。）
●around the corner 在附近；在轉角處
●local a.當地的
例：We had dinner at a local restaurant last night.（我們昨晚到本地的一家餐廳吃晚餐。）

A Diver Swims Alongside a Crocodile 潛水夫與鱷魚共游

Just off the coast of Cuba, a diver displays nerves of steel as he swims alongside an 11ft, 1,000lb crocodile.Risking his life for the potentially deadly experience, diver Israel Gonzalez, 31, got close enough to be tolerated for over two hours by one of nature’s most lethal killing machines.

就在古巴外海，一名潛水夫與一隻長11呎（約335公分）、重1000磅（454公斤）鱷魚同游，展現膽量。31歲潛水夫岡薩里茲，冒著可能喪命危險，與大自然最致命殺人機器之一的鱷魚，保持牠能忍受的距離，游了2個多小時。

Cop to nude cyclists in New Zealand：Wear helmets 紐西蘭條子告訴裸體單車客：戴安全帽

◎張沛元

Police picked up two naked men on a late night bike ride in a New Zealand town but let them off with a warning：put on helmets.

警察攔住兩名深夜在紐西蘭一座城鎮裸體騎單車的男子，但對他們法外施恩，僅給予以下警告：戴上安全帽。

"They were wanting to experience total freedom," said Senior Constable Cathy Duder, who stopped the pair about 10 p.m. on a recent night in the beach resort town of Whangamata. She told them："You may experience total confinement. You should head home and get helmets."

「他們想要體驗徹底自由，」近日某天深夜約10點在海灘度假城旺噶瑪塔攔住這兩人的資深警官凱西．杜德說。她告訴他們：「你們可能會體驗到完全監禁。你們應該回家拿安全帽。」

The duo turned tail and headed directly back to their house, Duder told The Associated Press. She said she did not see them again during her shift, and it was not known if they donned helmets and resumed their ride.

這兩人馬上轉身逃跑，直朝他們的住處而去，杜德告訴美聯社。她說，她當天值班時沒有再看見他們，並不清楚他們是否戴了安全帽後繼續騎車。

Public nudity can attract a charge of offensive behavior in New Zealand, but Duder said she cut the two men a break.

公開裸露在紐西蘭會被控行為冒犯，但杜德說，她放了這兩個男人一馬。

"It was dark and there was no one else around. They were jovial young men who had not intended to cause offense," she said.

「當時天色已暗，周遭也沒有別人。他們是生性活潑、無意冒犯他人的年輕男子，」她說。

She described the two as "happy young men in their mid-20s ... they appeared to be as sober as two judges."

她形容這兩人是「20多歲的快樂年輕男子……看似沒喝酒相當清醒。」

新聞辭典

turn tail （and run）：慣用語，逃跑；在驚嚇中逃開。例句：Under the circumstance, turning tail may be the only sensible thing to do.（在這種情況下，閃人逃跑也許是唯一合理之舉。）

cut someone a break/cut someone some slack：慣用語，讓某人喘口氣；放某人一馬。

be as sober as a judge：慣用語，清醒得就像法官一樣，意指完全沒有喝酒。

I'm out of towels. 我的房間沒有毛巾了

對話
Alan：Hello, Front Desk. What can I do for you？
亞倫：櫃檯，您好。請問需要什麼服務嗎？
Brenda：I’m calling from room 132. I’m out of towels.
布蘭達：我從132號房打來的。我的房間沒有毛巾了。
Alan：The house cleaning staff usually replaces your used towels with fresh ones during the morning rounds. Did you not get them？
亞倫：飯店清掃人員通常會在早上巡迴打掃時把用過的毛巾收走，然後換上乾淨的。您沒有拿到嗎？
Brenda：As a matter of fact, no.
布蘭達：老實說，我沒有拿到。
Alan：Perhaps they haven’t gotten to your floor yet. Let me see what I can do for you.
亞倫：或許他們還沒打掃到您那一層樓。讓我來看看如何幫您處理。
Brenda：Thank you.
布蘭達：謝謝你。

本篇關鍵句

◎I’m out of towels.
我的房間沒有毛巾了。
飯店房間一般都會備有基本的盥洗用具，另外有些用具像吹風機等可能要特別詢問才有，或清潔人員偶爾可能會少放一條毛巾等。遇到這些情況可能會用到下列例句：
Can I have two extra towels？（我可以多要2條浴巾嗎？）
Can I borrow your hairdryer？（我可以借用你們的吹風機嗎？）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎be out of sth 沒有某物；某物用完
例：We are out of milk. Can you get some on your way home？（我們牛奶喝完了。你可以在回家途中買一些回來嗎？）
◎fresh a.乾淨的；新鮮的
例：Do you want to take a walk outside and get some fresh air?（你要不要出去走走呼吸新鮮空氣？）
◎round n.例行要做的事
◎as a matter of fact 事實上
◎floor n.樓層；地板
例：The menswear department is on the fourth floor.（男裝部在4樓。）

A Puffin Was Mugged By a Greedy Gull 海鸚鵡遭貪吃海鷗搶劫

This amazing image captures the moment a puffin was the victim of a mid-air mugging by a greedy gull. The puffin got a nasty shock when it the raider swooped in to snatch a haul of sand eels from its beak. The smaller seabird, which would have had to work hard for its beakful of fish, was taken totally by surprise during the airborne smash-and-grab.

這張令人驚奇的照片，捕捉到一隻海鸚鵡成為貪吃海鷗空中搶劫受害者的瞬間。突襲者突然俯衝，從海鸚鵡背後奪取一大口的玉筋魚時，令海鸚鵡遭到難受的打擊。這隻體型較小的海鳥，必須要辛勞才能捕到滿嘴漁穫，卻在這場空降的猛撞搶劫中，被乘其不備全部搶走。

Plump pouted women look younger 厚唇的女性看起來較年輕

◎國際新聞中心

Women who have fuller and firmer lips are seen as younger than they really are, research suggests. Even with a few wrinkles or grey hairs, a plump pout can takes years off a woman, Unilever scientist David Gunn has found.

研究顯示，嘴唇較豐厚結實的女性，看起來比實際年齡小。聯合利華的科學家岡恩發現，即使是有一些皺紋或灰髮，豐厚的嘟唇可以讓女性小好幾歲。

His study of over 250 women, including sets of twins, reveals that thin lips are a genetic trait rather than a result of our environment.

他針對逾250名女性、包括多對雙胞胎的研究顯示，薄唇是基因特徵，而不是環境造成的結果。

The researchers found a large variation in lip thickness among women over 60. The pink part of the thinnest lips measured just 3mm from the top of the upper lip to the bottom of the lower lip, while the fullest lips among the over-sixties measured 2.2cm.

研究人員發現，超過60歲的女性，嘴唇厚度有很大的不同。最薄的嘴唇，唇上緣到下緣的粉色部分只有3公厘，而其中最豐厚的嘴唇，上下唇寬達2.2公分。

Other tell-tale signs of ageing that appeared to be genetically determined included a receding hairline and greying hair. But wrinkles, sun damage and age spots were equally influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

其他似乎是基因決定的明顯老化跡象，包括髮線後退或頭髮變灰等，但皺紋、曬傷與老斑，基因與環境因素的影響一樣大。

Researcher David Gunn said："When we identified people who looked young for their age, we were struck by the difference in their lips. It is a feature that is strongly genetically determined and relatively easy to measure."

研究人員岡恩說：「我們看到比實際年紀輕的人的時候，我們會驚訝於他們嘴唇的差異，這是強烈受到基因決定、相對容易判別的特徵。 」

新聞辭典

plump：形容詞，胖嘟嘟的。例句：The baby has rosy plump cheeks.（這嬰兒的臉頰紅紅胖胖的。）

pout： 動詞／名詞，噘嘴。例句：She didn’t say anything but I could tell from her pout that she wasn’t very pleased.（她沒說什麼，不過我可以從她噘嘴，知道她不是很高興。）

recede：動詞，後退、變淡。例句：The painful memories gradually receded in her mind.（痛苦的記憶逐漸從她的心裡淡去。）

The guests next door are being very noisy, and it's very difficult for me to fall asleep. 我隔壁的房客一直很吵，讓我很難入睡

對話
Judy：Hello, Front Desk. What can I do for you？
茱蒂：您好，這裡是櫃檯。請問有什麼需要我服務的嗎？
Carol：I'm calling from Room 101. The guests next door are being very noisy, and it's very difficult for me to fall asleep.
卡蘿：我從101號房打來。我隔壁的房客一直很吵，讓我很難入睡。
Judy：I'm terribly sorry about that. I'll have a word with them and ask them to keep their voices down.
茱蒂：對這種情況我真的感到非常抱歉。我會跟他們說，請他們把音量降低。
Carol：Thank you very much.
卡蘿：非常感謝妳。
Judy：No problem at all.
茱蒂：這是應該的。

本篇關鍵句

◎The guests next door are being very noisy, and it's very difficult for me to fall asleep.
我隔壁的房客一直很吵，讓我很難入睡。
在飯店住宿遇到一些問題時，一般都會打電話請飯店服務人員處理。以下為一些實用的句型：
．The guests upstairs have been making a lot of noise.（樓上的房客一直很吵。）
．The guests in Room 321 have been having a party since 11:00 p.m.（321號房的房客從晚上11點開始就一直在開派對。）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎next door　　在隔壁
例：The boy that lives next door is my high school classmate.（住在隔壁的男生是我的高中同班同學。）
．next door to...　　在……隔壁
◎fall asleep睡著
例：Billy fell asleep in the middle of the movie.（比利看電影看到一半就睡著了。）
◎have a word with sb 與某人談一談
◎keep one's voice down 降低某人的音量
例：Can you keep your voice down? I need to concentrate.（你可以降低你的音量嗎？我需要專心。）

The Worlds Most Miserable-Looking Fish世界長得最衰的魚

The unfortunately named blobfish has already acquired a reputation for looking sad.And now it has good reason for its glum expression - scientists are warning over-fishing by trawlers of its south eastern Australian habitat is threatening to make it extinct.

這隻看來很不幸的魚叫水滴魚，以悲傷表情著稱。現在牠更有好理由擺出悶悶不樂的表情－科學家警告拖網漁船在牠位於澳洲東南方的棲息地過度捕魚，讓牠面臨絕跡威脅。

Prairie dogs chat with advanced ’language’ 草原犬鼠以先進的「語言」對談

◎魏國金

Biologists studying the prairie dogs have found that they have one of the most sophisticated languages in the animal kingdom-second only to humans.

研究草原犬鼠的生物學家發現，牠們擁有堪稱動物王國中最複雜的語言—僅次於人類。

The findings have surprised many wildlife experts as it was assumed that mankind’s closest relatives, primates, or intelligent mammals such as dolphins were likely to be the most talkative species after humans.

該發現讓許多野生動物學家感到驚訝，因為一般以為人類近親的靈長類動物，或諸如海豚等聰明動物可能是僅次於人類的最健談物種。

But Professor Con Slobodchikoff, a biologist at Northern Arizona University, has discovered that the prairie dogs’ squeaky bark contains surprising amounts of information that can describe colours, size, directions of travel and even speed.

但北亞利桑那大學的生物學家斯洛伯契科夫教授發現，草原犬鼠刺耳的高叫聲包含令人驚訝的資訊量，這些訊息能傳達顏色、大小、行進方向，甚至速度。

He first discovered the animals’ ability to communicate by studying the alarm calls they make when predators enter their territories.

藉由研究掠食動物進入草原犬鼠領地時，牠們發出的警訊，他才首度發現這類動物的溝通能力。

Prairie dogs are highly social and live in large colonies that can span hundreds of acres of the grasslands of North America. They use loud panic calls to alert other members of the colony of a threat.

草原犬鼠是高度群居的生物，其聚落可橫跨北美數百英畝綠地。牠們常利用緊急高叫警告聚落其他成員出現威脅。

新聞辭典

second only to︰僅次於；second to none則指不比任何差，例句︰As a baseball picther Chien-Ming Wang is second to none.（作為一名棒球投手，王建民是首屈一指了。）

sophisticated︰形容詞，精密的、複雜的；也有矯柔造作的、老於世故之意，例如，a sophisticated manner（矯柔造作的舉止。）

predator︰名詞，掠奪者、捕食者，形容詞predatory有掠奪性的、損人利己的之意，例如，predatory price-cutting（掠奪性削價。）

I’d appreciate it if I could get another room. 如果能換房間的話，我會非常感激

對話
Richard：Front Desk, what can I do for you?
理察：這裡是櫃檯。您需要什麼服務嗎？

Henry：It’s me from room 202 again. The heater’s broken again, and now the toilet doesn’t work, either.
亨利：又是我從202號房打過來。暖氣又壞掉了，而且現在連馬桶也不通了。
Richard：I’m really sorry about that. I’ll send someone up to take a look.
理察：我真的很抱歉發生這種事。我會派人上去察看。
Henry：You know, I’d appreciate it if I could get another room. Nothing seems to be working in this room.
亨利：你知道嗎，如果能換房間的話，我會非常感激。這間房似乎沒有一樣東西能正常運作。
Richard：I’m really sorry for the inconvenience. Let me see what I can do for you.
理察：我很抱歉造成您的不便。讓我看看能如何幫您處理。
Henry：Thank you very much.
亨利：非常感謝你。

本篇關鍵句

◎I’d appreciate it if I could get another room.如果能換房間的話，我會非常感激。
關鍵句所使用的appreciate 表「感激」，其後不能以「人」當受詞。
例：I really appreciate your timely help.（我非常感謝你及時相助。）
當你希望別人幫忙處理某事時，就可以用appreciate，句型如下：
I’d appreciate it if…
=It would be great if…
如果能……的話，我會非常感激。
例：It would be great if you could have someone send some additional towels to my room.（如果你能請人多送幾條毛巾到我的房間就太好了。）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎be broken （一般電器用品或機器等）故障
= be out of order
例：The vending machine is broken.
=The vending machine is out of order.（自動販賣機壞了。）
◎work vi.運作
◎inconvenience n.不便

Man jokes about terrorism at German airport 男子在德國機場開恐怖攻擊的玩笑

◎羅彥傑

A German man was temporarily detained at Stuttgart airport on Tuesday after he repeatedly told security personnel that he had explosives in his underwear, police said.

一名德國男子週二在斯圖加特機場遭到暫時扣押，因為他多次告訴安全人員，自己的內衣裡有炸藥，警方說。

The 42-year-old man apparently was joking about the failed attempt by a Nigerian man to blow up a jetliner bound for Detroit on Christmas Day by igniting explosives concealed in his underwear.

這名42歲男子顯然是拿耶誕節的炸機未遂案開玩笑，當時一名奈及利亞男子點燃藏在內衣的炸藥企圖引爆飛往底特律的班機。

Police said a full body search of the German man did not turn up any explosives. However, Tuifly airline refused to let the man, his wife and daughter board the plane to Egypt, where they planned a vacation.

警方說，對這名德國男子的全身搜查並未發現任何炸藥。不過，Tuifly航空公司拒絕讓這名男子、他的妻女登機飛往他們原預定度假的埃及。

The police said in a statement that the family would not be refunded for the cost of their canceled trip and could ’’expect a fine of up to euro 1,000...and possible costs for the police operation.’’ The names of the man, his wife and daughter were withheld in accordance with German privacy laws.

警方在聲明中說，這家人取消旅程的費用不會退給他們，而且可能「預料會有高達1000歐元的罰款……以及警方執勤的可能費用」。為遵守德國隱私法的規定，這名男子及其妻女姓名予以保密。

新聞辭典

blow up︰片語，爆炸、炸掉。例句︰The Taliban blew up a girls’ school in Pakistan’s Khyber district.（「神學士」炸掉巴基斯坦開柏區的一間女子學校。）

turn up︰片語，出現、找到。例句︰The police have apparently turned up some new evidence.（警方顯然已找到一些新的證據。）

refund︰動詞，退還、歸還。例句︰Will my travel expenses be refunded?（我的旅費能退還嗎？）

There seems to be a problem with the heater. 暖氣機好像有點問題

對話
Richard：Hello, Front Desk. How may I help you？
理察：您好，這裡是櫃檯。我可以幫您什麽忙嗎？
Henry：Hello, I'm calling from room 202. There seems to be a problem with the heater.
亨利：你好，我這兒是202號房。這裡的暖氣機好像有點問題。
Richard：Was there any noise when you turned it on？
理察：您啟動暖氣機時機器有發出任何怪聲嗎？
Henry：No, nothing happened when I turned it on.
亨利：沒有耶，我開暖氣機時什麽都沒發生。
Richard：OK. I'll send someone up to take a look at it right away.
理察：好的，我會立刻派人上去檢查。
Henry：OK, thanks a lot.
亨利：好，非常感謝你。

本篇關鍵句

◎There seems to be a problem with the heater.暖氣機好像有點問題。
住飯店時，要向櫃檯人員描述一些房間設備出問題的情況時，可以利用以下句型：
．There seems to be a problem with the air conditioning.（空調好像有點問題。）
．Something is wrong with the toilet.（馬桶有點問題。）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎heater n.暖氣
◎turn sth on / off 打開／關掉……電源
例：Do you mind turning on the air conditioner？It's hot in here.（你介意開冷氣嗎？這裡面好熱啊。）
◎send vt.派遣
．send sb to V派某人去從事……
例：I sent Anna to buy some coffee.（我派安娜去買咖啡。）
◎right away立刻
例：When the fire broke out, the neighbors called the fire department right away.（火災一發生，鄰居們立刻打電話給消防隊。）

New Anti-ageing Mask新型抗老面膜

A Shiseido employee displays the anti-ageing essence ampul and the new face mask to firm up skin during a press preview of the company's new brand “In and On” in Tokyo on January 25, 2010. Shiseido unveiled the new brand targeting women in their fourties and will be launched on to the Japanese market on March 21.

1月25日在日本東京，一名資生堂職員在記者會上展示該公司新品牌「In and On」的小包裝抗老精華液和緊緻皮膚的新型面膜，資生堂是針對40多歲的婦女推出這個新品牌，將於3月21日在日本問市。

Bookie refuses to pay out $11 million on snow bet 賭中下雪 莊家拒付1100萬美元賭金

◎管淑平

Bookmaker Ladbrokes is refusing to pay out more than 7 million pounds（$11 million）to a man who gambled on a white Christmas across the UK, as the bet was accepted by mistake.

賭盤業者Ladbrokes拒絕付出逾700萬英鎊（1100萬美元）賭金給一名下注賭英國會有一個白色耶誕節的男子，因為這筆賭注是誤收。

Cliff Bryant, 52, had placed two 5-pound accumulator bets that snow would fall on 24 towns and cities across the north of England on Christmas Day. He claimed the first accumulator would have won him 4.9 million pounds, with the second adding 2.2 million.

52歲的布萊恩下了兩注5英鎊的累計賭注，賭耶誕節北英格蘭24城鎮會下雪。他宣稱，第一筆累計賭注原本讓他贏了490萬英鎊，第二筆又贏220萬英鎊。

"We have apologized to the customer for any confusion and for mistakenly accepting an accumulator bet when our own rules state that only single bets are available on a market of this nature," said a Ladbrokes spokesman.

「我們已為任何混淆、以及錯誤地接受一筆累計賭注向該名顧客道歉，我們的規定言明，這種賭盤只接受單次下注。」一名Ladbrokes發言人說。

"We are happy to void the bets and to pay the customer his winnings on the relevant singles." They however amount to just 31.78 pounds, rather than the 7.1 million Bryant was expecting.

「我們樂於宣告這些賭注無效，並支付該名顧客他在相關的單次下注中所贏的的賭金。」不過，這些錢加起來只有31.78英鎊，而非布萊恩原本期待的710萬英鎊。

The graphic designer told a local newspaper he was "gutted" and would seek legal advice. "If I make a mistake in my work like that it costs me dearly and I think the offer should be a lot more generous than they have made," he said.

這名平面設計師向一家地方報紙說，他「極為失望」，會尋求法律建議。「如果我在工作上犯了像這樣的錯誤，我要付出很大代價。我認為他們應該提出更大方得多的金額」，他說。

新聞辭典：

void：動詞，使作廢；形容詞，無效的、空的；名詞，空虛。例句：It was this void of understanding that resulted in the war.（就是這種缺乏了解導致戰爭。）

gutted：形容詞，十分沮喪、失望。例句：John is positively gutted for losing his newly bought iPhone.（約翰現在肯定為了新買的iPhone丟了感到很沮喪。）

dearly：副詞，非常、代價很大地。例句：The divorce cost him dearly.（離婚讓他付出很大代價。）

I'd like to have my laundry collected, please. 我有送洗衣服要請你們來收，麻煩你

對話
Nancy：Hello, Front Desk. What can I do for you？
南茜：櫃檯，您好，請問有什麼需要服務的嗎？
Cleo：I'd like to have my laundry collected, please.
克莉歐：我有送洗衣服要請你們來收，麻煩妳。
Nancy：Have you put it in the proper bag and filled out the information on the card？
南茜：請問待洗衣物是否放進要送洗的袋子，並填好卡片上的資料了嗎？
Cleo：Yes, I have.
克莉歐：有的，都弄好了。
Nancy：OK, just leave it beside the bed, and our staff will collect it shortly. It should be returned to you before dinner.
南茜：好的，把它留在床邊就好，我們的工作人員待會兒就會去拿。您的衣物應該在晚餐前會洗好送回去給您。
Cleo：Thanks a lot.
克莉歐：多謝妳。

本篇關鍵句

◎I'd like to have my laundry collected, please.我有送洗衣服要請你們來收，麻煩你。
洗滌衣物時常會有一些特殊的需求，以下介紹幾種洗滌注意事項：
．This wool sweater needs to be dry-cleaned.這件羊毛衣要乾洗。
．This silk shirt needs to be washed by hand.這件絲質襯衫要用手洗。

關鍵字彙與片語

◎front desk（飯店）櫃檯
◎laundry n.（待洗、洗好後的）衣物
．do the laundry　　洗衣服
◎collect vt.收集；領取
例：I dropped by the post office to collect my mail.（我順道去郵局領取我的信件。）
◎proper a.正確的，適當的
例：Can you show me the proper way to pronounce this word？（你可以告訴我如何正確發這個字的音嗎？）
◎fill out...填寫……（表格等）
=fill in...

One Skin Contained Two Bananas雙胞胎香蕉

A pensioner, Cedric Hooper, who bought some bananas at his local supermarket was astonished when he got home and found one skin contained two bananas. “I like a banana most days and have bought thousands - but I've never seen anything like this one.” Mr Hooper said he had still eaten the fruit. “Both tasted fine,” he added. Telegraph UK

已退休的塞德烈克胡柏日前在住家附近超市，買了一些香蕉，回家後意外發現，其中一根是雙胞胎。胡柏先生照吃不誤後說：「我幾乎每天都要吃香蕉，買過上千根，但這樣的從來沒見過。」不過，「兩根吃起來都沒問題。」

The Avatar Effect 阿凡達效應

◎俞智敏

Hollywood blockbusters aren’t usually notable for their artistic or political subtlety. And James Cameron’s latest sci-fi(science-fiction) hit, "Avatar," would seem to be no exception, going by the lament of some critics that the film’s impressive special effects are undercut by a skimpy story line and flat dialogue.

好萊塢巨片通常並非以其藝術或政治敏銳性著稱。詹姆斯．卡麥隆的最新熱門科幻電影「阿凡達」似乎也不例外，依照某些批評者的說法，此片的故事情節短缺、對話單調，讓片中驚人的特效失色不少。

That, however, is not how many Chinese see the film, which tells the story of rapacious humans trying to evict the blue-skinned natives of the planet Pandora in order to extract some exceedingly valuable mineral. This is standard politically correct fare for a Western audience, conveying a message of racial sensitivity and environmental awareness. In China, however, it has more rebellious undertones.

但許多中國觀眾對此片的看法卻並非如此。這部電影描述貪婪的人類試圖驅逐潘朵拉星球上的藍皮膚原住民，以便採掘某種極為珍貴的礦物。對西方觀眾而言，這是標準的政治正確觀點，傳達出對種族問題的敏感性及環保意識。然而在中國，這部電影卻帶有更反叛的潛在含意。

That’s because Chinese local governments in cahoots with developers have become infamous for forcibly seeking to evict residents from their homes with little compensation and often without their consent. More often, however, they are driven away by paid thugs. Private property is one of the most sensitive issues in the country today, and "Avatar" has given the resisters a shot in the arm.

這是因為中國的地方政府與建商合夥，在只提供極少補償金、甚至常未經過同意，就把居民強制驅離其住家的作法早已惡名遠播。更常見的情況是，居民被收了錢的惡棍強行趕走。私有財產已成為中國目前最敏感的議題之一，而「阿凡達」等於是替反抗者打了一劑強心針。

Even in Hong Kong, the "Avatar" banner has been taken up by antigovernment activists trying to defeat a plan to demolish a village to make way for a new high-speed railway line. One mysterious benefactor reportedly donated movie tickets to the villagers to stoke their enthusiasm for protests.

即使在香港，反政府運動人士也高舉著「阿凡達」旗幟，試圖阻撓政府為興建新的高速鐵路而打算拆除某村莊的計畫。據說一位神秘金主還捐出了電影票給村民，好激起他們對抗議活動的熱情。

新聞辭典

rapacious：形容詞，指貪婪的、強取的，如a rapacious landlord/businessman（貪婪的房東／商人）。

undertone：名詞，指文章、話語或某事件的潛在含意，如I thought her speech had slightly sinister undertones.（我認為她的那番話帶有些許惡意。）

in cahoots with：cahoots為名詞，指合夥、同謀，in cahoots with指與他人合夥圖謀不軌，如It’s reckoned that someone in the government was in cahoots with the assassin.（外界認為政府內部有人與刺客同謀。）

I’m calling from room 315, and I want to order room service. 我從315號房打來，我想要客房送餐服務

對話
Alice：Hi, I'm calling from room 315, and I want to order room service.
艾莉絲：你好，我從315號房打來，我想要客房送餐服務。
Jack：No problem, ma'am, what would you like?
傑克：沒問題，女士，請問您想點什麼呢？

Alice：I want a ham and cheese sandwich, please.
艾莉絲：我要點火腿起司三明治，麻煩您。
Jack：Will that be all?
傑克：這樣就好了嗎？
Alice：Actually, I'd also like to order some orange juice.
艾莉絲：事實上，我還想要點柳橙汁。
Jack：Sure, your order will be delivered to your room in 15 minutes.
傑克：沒問題，您的餐點15分鐘後就會送到您的房間。

本篇關鍵句

◎I'm calling from room 315, and I want to order room service.
我從315號房打來，我想要客房送餐服務。
在飯店叫客房服務時，一定要先說房號，再點餐。以下為實用句型：
例：A: When is room service available? （A：客房服務的時間是什麼時候？）
B: Room service is available from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.（B：客房服務的時間從早上7點到凌晨1點。）
例：I ordered dinner 20 minutes ago, but it hasn't come yet.（我20分鐘前就點了晚餐，但是現在還沒到。）
◎room service　　客房送餐服務；客房服務
◎Will that be all?　　這樣就好了嗎？
= Do you need anything else?
◎actually adv事實上
例：Eric and Mary have known each other for a long time. Actually, they used to be a couple.（艾瑞克和瑪麗認識很久了。事實上，他們以前曾是一對。）
◎juice n.果汁
例：May I have a (glass of) grape juice, please?（可以給我一杯葡萄汁嗎？）

Women think fitting into old jeans is ’better than sex’ 女人認為穿得下舊牛仔褲「勝過性愛」

◎陳成良

More than a quarter of British women believe fitting into an old pair of jeans again would feel better than sex, according to research.

逾1/4英國婦女相信，再度穿得下一件舊牛仔褲，感覺勝過性愛，據研究指出。

More than a third（35 per cent）of those surveyed admitted owning a pair of ’’trophy’’ jeans they used to fit into and kept in the hope they would slim down enough to wear.

逾1/3（35%）受訪者承認擁有一件他們曾經穿得下的「獎盃」牛仔褲，並保存下來，希望自己夠苗條時再穿。

Asked how managing to put them back on would feel, 29.1 per cent said it would be better than sex, 28.9 per cent thought it would beat a promotion, 20.6 per cent believed it would top a best friend’s wedding, 20.3 per cent said it would feel better than a lottery win and 11.1 per cent thought it would beat a marriage proposal.

被問及若順利再次穿得下感受如何，29.1%人說將勝過性愛，28.9%認為比升遷還棒，20.6%相信會勝過參加摯友婚禮，20.3%認為比中樂透還爽，11.1%認為勝過一場求婚。

The poll by cereal brand Special K also revealed that 30 per cent of women fantasised more about slimming back into their ’’trophy’’ jeans than about Hollywood heartthrobs such as George Clooney or Brad Pitt.

由穀麥片品牌「Special K」所做的這項民調還透露，相較於對諸如喬治克隆尼、布萊德彼特等好萊塢萬人迷的感覺，30%的女性對於能瘦到再度穿得下「獎盃」牛仔褲，存有更大的幻想。

The survey showed that on average women own five pairs of jeans, with 10 per cent of women claiming their jeans have outlasted their longest relationship.

這項調查顯示，女人平均擁有5件牛仔褲，10%的女性宣稱，她們牛仔褲的壽命比自己最久的戀情還長。

新聞辭典

slim down：片語，（靠節食等）變苗條，減肥。例句：Is it possible to slim down to a size zero without risking your health?（有可能減肥至零尺碼又不損健康嗎？）

fantasise：動詞，夢想，幻想。例句：He liked to fantasise that he had won a gold medal.（他愛幻想自己奪下金牌。）

heartthrob：名詞，心跳；激情；迷戀的對象，最受喜愛的人，特指影星、歌星等「大眾情人」。例句：John is Mary’s heartthrob.（約翰是瑪麗迷戀的對象。）

Can I get a 6:00 a.m. wake-up call tomorrow?可以在明天早上6點打電話叫醒我嗎？

對話

Janet：Reception, Janet speaking. What can I do for you？
珍妮特：櫃台您好，我是珍妮特。您需要什麼服務嗎？
Natalie：Yes, can I get a wake-up call at 6：00 a.m. tomorrow？
奈特莉：是的，可以在明天早上6點打電話叫醒我嗎？
Janet：What is your room number, madam？
珍妮特：女士，請問您住幾號房？
Natalie：I'm staying in room 203.
奈特莉：我住 203 號房。
Janet：OK. You'll get a wake-up call from our automated service tomorrow.
珍妮特：好的。您明天會接到我們的自動電話叫醒服務。
Natalie：Thank you very much.
奈特莉：非常感謝妳。

本篇關鍵句

◎Can I get a 6：00 a.m. wake-up call tomorrow？
可以在明天早上6點打電話叫醒我嗎？
在飯店住宿時，可以請飯店提供打電話叫醒客人的服務，除了本關鍵句，還可以用以下說法：
Can / Could you give me a 5：00 p.m. wake-up call, please？（可以請你在下午5點鐘打電話叫醒我嗎？）
．此外，你還可以向飯店櫃台尋求一些其他的服務，例如：
Do you provide shuttle service to the airport？（你們有提供到機場的接駁巴士服務嗎？）
．shuttle a. 短程往返的
n.短程往返的交通工具

關鍵字彙與片語

◎reception n.接待櫃台；接待
例：The woman at the reception desk checked me into the hotel.（接待櫃台的小姐幫我登記入住旅館。）
例：My home-stay host gave me a warm reception.（我的寄宿家庭主人非常熱情地接待我。）
◎automated a.自動（化）的
例：It is easy and convenient to withdraw money from an automated teller machine.（從自動存提款機領錢很簡單也很方便。）
◎automated teller machine
．自動提款機（常縮寫為 ATM）

Tigers for Adoption 老虎開放認養

Two months old Sumatran tigers named Puji (L) and Wati (R), born in captivity at Jakartas Ragunan Zoo are attended to by a zoo caretaker on January 22, 2010. The Indonesian government has hatched a plan to save the endangered tigers from extinction by allowing people to adopt captive-born animals as pets for 100,000 USD a pair.
AFP

1月22日在印尼雅加達的拉古南動物園，飼養員正在照顧在園中出生、兩個月大的蘇門答臘幼虎普吉（左）和瓦蒂（右）。印尼政府為了拯救瀕絕的老虎，計劃開放讓人認養動物園中的老虎當寵物，一對老虎要價10萬美元（約3200萬元台幣）。

Snoopy named top dog in pop culture 史努比名列流行文化第一狗

◎張沛元

The "Peanuts" comic strip character Snoopy was named the top dog in pop culture by the American Kennel Club as part of its 125th anniversary celebration, beating out a college sports mascot.

「花生米」連環漫畫中的角色史努比，擊敗一所大學的運動吉祥物，榮登美國育犬協會票選的流行文化第一狗。這是該組織慶祝125週年的活動之一。

Nearly 76,000 online voters chose their favorites from a list of pop culture dogs drawn from television, film, literature, sports and art, the kennel club said.

該育犬協會表示，將近7萬6000名網路投票者從一份網羅電視、電影、文學、體壇與藝術界的狗名單中，選出他們最喜歡的流行文化狗。

Snoopy was the pensive dog whose best friend was a bird and who seemed to be smarter than his human master in the comic strip created by the late Charles Schulz, who died in 2000.

史努比是由已於2000年辭世的查爾斯．舒茲創造的連環漫畫中的角色，牠是一隻憂鬱、且看似比牠的人類主人還聰明的小狗，最好的朋友是一隻鳥。

"Peanuts," which for close to five decades served as a mirror for the baby boom generation, appeared in 2,600 newspapers in 21 languages. Its daily readership was believed to be the most of any comic strip in history.

近50年來作為嬰兒潮世代真實寫照的「花生米」，以21種語言刊載於2600家報紙上，據信其每日閱讀率居史上所有連環漫畫之冠。

Second place went to Texas A&M University’s mascot Reveille, followed by Scooby Doo, the television cartoon character.

排名第二的是德州農工大學的吉祥物「起床號」，電視卡通角色史酷比緊追在後。

新聞辭典

beat someone or something out：慣用語，擊敗某人或某事；贏過某人或者某事。

mascot：名詞，吉祥物。例句：Do you like the official 2008 mascots for the Beijing Olympics?（你喜歡2008年北京奧運的官方吉祥物嗎？）

the baby boom generation：嬰兒潮世代，指出生於二次世界大戰後的1946年到1964年。baby boomer，嬰兒潮世代出生的人。例句：My parents are baby boomers.（我爸媽是嬰兒潮世代的人。）

I need to speak to one of your guests. 我要找你們一位房客

對話
Frank：Hello, is this the Royal Hotel? I need to speak to one of your guests. His name is Peter Norton, but I don't know which room he's in.
法蘭克：你好，請問是皇家飯店嗎？我要找你們一位房客。他名叫彼得?諾頓，但我不知道他住哪一間房。
Jeffrey：Let me just check if we have someone by that name staying here.
傑佛瑞：我查一下是否有叫這個名字的人住進本飯店。
Frank：He checked in today. I'm supposed to meet him at the hotel at 6:00 p.m., but I'm going to be a little late.
法蘭克：他今天辦理住房手續，我本來晚上6點要和他在飯店碰面，但我會稍微晚一點到。
Jeffrey：Ah, yes. That's right. He checked in this afternoon. Let me put you through to his room.
傑佛瑞：喔，有的。他今天下午辦理了住房手續。讓我為您轉接到他房間。
Frank：Thank you very much.
法蘭克：非常感謝。
Jeffrey：You're welcome.
傑佛瑞：不客氣。

本篇關鍵句

◎I need to speak to one of your guests.我要找你們一位房客。
一般來說，我們打電話到飯店找人時，若已知道那人的房號，通常會請櫃台直接把電話轉到那人的房間：
例：Can you put me through to room 806, please?（麻煩你替我接 806 號房好嗎？）
．put sb through to...
替某人轉接電話給……

關鍵字彙與片語

◎by the name of…名叫……
例：A woman by the name of Lisa just called to confirm her room reservation.（一位名叫麗莎的女子剛打來確認訂房事宜。）
◎be supposed to V
應該／應當……
注意：be supposed to 相當於助動詞 should，但口氣較 should 緩和。
例：Anna is supposed to take out the trash every day, but she often forgets.（安娜應當每天把垃圾拿出去丟，但她經常忘記。）

MP3 Player for Unborn Babies 胎兒MP3

A new music system has been designed to deliver soothing tunes straight to the tender ears of the most delicate of listeners —unborn babies. Its designers say unborn babies show signs of 〝reactive listening〞from just 17 weeks into the pregnancy.

這種新的音樂播放系統是專為胎兒設計的，可以把撫慰的旋律直接傳送給胎兒纖弱的耳朵。設計者說，17周大的胎兒，就已經會對聽覺出現反應。

Our standard rooms are $120 per night 我們標準單人房的房價是每晚120美元

對話
Julia：King Hotel, Julia speaking. May I help you?
茱莉亞：國王大飯店，您好。我是茱莉亞。請問需要什麼服務嗎？
Alice：Yes, I’d like to book a single room from September 6 to September 12.
愛麗絲：有的，我想訂一間單人房，從9月6日住到9月12日。
Julia：Would you like a standard room or a deluxe room? Our standard rooms are $120 per night, and our deluxe rooms are $180 per night.
茱莉亞：請問您要標準單人房還是豪華客房？我們標準單人房的房價是每晚120美元，豪華客房是每晚180美元。
Alice：What’s the difference between them?
愛麗絲：這兩種有什麼差別？
Julia：There is a king-sized bed and bathtub in our deluxe room as well as a wonderful sea view.
茱莉亞：豪華客房有特大號的床和浴缸，而且還可以看到美麗的海景。
Alice：I think I’ll take a deluxe room.
愛麗絲：我想我要訂豪華客房。

本篇關鍵句

◎Our standard rooms are $120 per night. 我們標準單人房的房價是每晚120美元。
房價（room rate）依不同住宿時間區分為很多種：
．weekday rate 平日價
．weekend rate 周末價
．peak season rate 旺季房價
．off- season rate 淡季房價
例：What is your rate for a room during the peak season?（請問你們旺季時的房價是多少錢？）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎standard a.標準的 & n.標準
例：What are the standard procedures for applying for a membership card?（請問你們申請會員卡的標準程序是什麼？）
◎deluxe a.豪華的
◎per prep.每
例：This delicious chicken soup has less than 300 calories per serving.（這道美味的雞湯每份熱量不到300大卡。）
．serving n.（食物、飲料等）一份
◎a king-sized bed 國王尺寸的特大號床

97kg Catfish 97公斤鯰魚

A grandmother has entered the record books after catching the biggest ever freshwater fish by a British woman - a 97kg catfish. Sheila Penfold, who stands at just 160cm and is registered blind, was nearly dragged into the river when the monster catfish took her bait during a holiday in Spain.

一位阿嬤捕獲一條97公斤重的鯰魚，創下英國女性捕獲最大魚的紀錄。席拉潘福身高僅160公分、且是登記在案的視障者。她在西班牙度假時釣魚，當這隻巨大鯰魚吞下她的餌時，她幾乎被拖進河裡。

Many ignorant on "waist fat" risk 許多人忽略粗腰風險

◎國際中心

Almost nine in 10 people are not aware of the risks of carrying extra fat around their waistline. A survey of 12,000 Europeans found most had no idea that a thick waist was a sign of a build-up of a dangerous type of fat around the internal organs.

將近10分之9的人不知道腰部有多餘脂肪的風險。針對1萬2000名歐洲人的調查發現，多數人不知道，粗腰是內臟周圍有危險脂肪堆積的跡象。

The report from GlaxoSmithKline, who make weight loss drug Alli, said this "visceral fat" is strongly linked with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Most people would lose weight once they found out the risk, the survey found.

製造減肥藥Alli的葛蘭素史克藥廠在報告中說，這種「內臟脂肪」與第2型糖尿病以及心臟病有著強烈關聯。調查發現，知道這種風險之後，多數人會減重。

Report author Dr Terry Maguire, honorary senior lecturer at Queen’s University in Belfast, said people did not know that visceral fat, which you cannot see or feel and which sits around the organs in the abdomen, is there or that it poses a problem.

報告作者、貝爾發斯特皇后大學的榮譽資深講師麥奎爾說，人們不知道有內臟脂肪，或是它會帶來問題。內臟脂肪是你看不到也感覺不到、圍繞在腹部器官周邊的脂肪。

It is thought that the danger of visceral fat is related to the release of proteins and hormones that can cause inflammation, which in turn can damage arteries and enter the liver, and affect how the body breaks down sugars and fats.

一般認為，內臟脂肪的危險，與可能造成發炎的蛋白質及荷爾蒙釋放有關，發炎之後會傷害動脈、進入肝臟，影響身體分解糖與脂肪。

Only a quarter of those questioned in the Europe-wide study thought being overweight was a risk to long-term health at all. "Most overweight people still see themselves as having a body image issue not a health problem," he said.

在這份歐洲研究中，只有4分之1的人認為過重會造成長期健康風險。他說：「多數過重的人，依然認為自己是體型有問題，而不是健康有問題。」

新聞辭典

visceral：形容詞，內臟的，名詞為viscus。

inflammation：名詞，發炎。例句：Aspirin reduces pain and inflammation.（阿斯匹靈減輕痛苦與發炎。）

break down：片語，分解。例句：During digestion, the protein foods we eat are broken down into amino acids.（消化的時候，我們吃的蛋白質食物會分解成胺基酸。）

Haiti quake could not have been predicted：experts 專家︰海地地震不大可能預報

◎魏國金

The catastrophic earthquake that struck Haiti could not have been predicted, experts said , but seismologists have made progress in identifying areas likely to be hit by major quakes in the next few decades.

專家說，襲擊海地的災難性地震不大可能預報，但地震學家對未來幾十年恐遭強震襲擊地區的確認已有進展。

Geologists have long been aware that a major earthquake could rock the fault line that runs through the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The hard part was figuring out when.

長久以來地質學家已察覺一個強震恐撼動穿越海地首都太子港的斷層線。困難的部分是算出何時會發生。

U.S. geologists presented a paper in 2008 concluding that Port-au-Prince, which had not been hit by a major seismic event since 1751, could face a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. But they could not say if that quake would come the next day or in 30 years.

美國地質學家在一份2008年發表的論文中結論說，自1751年以來沒有遭受重大地震襲擊的太子港恐面臨7.2規模的強震。但他們無法說出該地震是否將在明天或30年後到來。

"Where we are getting better is earthquake forecasting, where scientists are able to recognize what areas are likely to have a big earthquake sometime in the next several decades," Stuart Sipkin, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey, told Reuters.

「我們有所進步之處是地震的預測，在此科學家能辨認出什麼地區在未來幾十年的有朝一日恐有大地震，」美國地質調查所的地質學家史都華．斯普金告訴路透說。

That forecasting is done by measuring the amount of stress built up in a particular fault, then extrapolating how much energy could ultimately be released. Even then, the earthquake could strike at any number of points along a fault line, and evacuating people from one area ahead of a quake could put them into harm’s way.

那樣的預測是藉由測量在特定斷層中增加的壓力，然後推定最後將釋出多少能量而作成。儘管如此，地震可能襲擊斷層線上許多點，而在地震之前疏散人群恐使他們置於險境。

新聞辭典

any number of︰好多、許多。例句︰I must have seen her any number of times.（我不知見過她多少次了。）

even then︰甚至直到那時、儘管如此。例句︰She explained everything, but even then he was unwilling to forgive her.（她什麼都解釋了，但即使如此他仍不願原諒她。）

put into harm’s way︰置於險境，out of harm’s way指在安全地帶、脫險。例句︰ The program will keep your data out of harm’s way.（這個程式將使你的資料免於損害。）

I'd like to book a double room from July 6 to July 12. 我想訂一間雙人房，從6月6日到6月12日

對話
Gina：Hello, Weston Hotel, Gina speaking. How may I help you?
吉娜：衛斯敦飯店，您好，我是吉娜。請問您需要什麼服務？
Anna：Hello, I was wondering how much it would cost to book a double room at your hotel for a week.
安娜：妳好，我想知道訂你們飯店的雙人房一周要多少錢。
Gina：It depends on the dates you stay at the hotel. During the summer season, it is $150 per night. That includes breakfast.
吉娜：這要看妳住宿飯店的日期而定。暑假期間，一晚150美元。包含早餐。
Anna：OK, I'd like to book a double room from July 6 to July 12.
安娜：好的，我想訂一間雙人房，從6月6日到6月12日。
Gina：That will be $900 for the six nights. You can check in any time after 10:00 a.m., but you'll need to check out before 11:00 a.m. You will also need to pay a $50 deposit first.
吉娜：6晚是900美元。您早上10點後就可以辦理入住手續，但要在11點以前辦理退房。您還需要先付50美元的訂金。
Anna：Sure, that is no problem.
安娜：好的，沒問題。

本篇關鍵句

◎I'd like to book a double room from July 6 to July 12. 我想訂一間雙人房，從6月6日到6月12日。
下列為常見的飯店房間類型：
．a single room （有一張單人床的）單人房
．a double room （有一張雙人床）雙人房
．a twin room （有兩張單人床的）雙人房
．a suite （備有臥房、客廳及浴室的）套房

關鍵字彙與片語

◎depend on… 取決於……
．That / It depends. 看情況。
例：Whether you succeed or not depends on your determination.（你會不會成功取決於你的決心。）
．include vt.包含
．deposit n.訂金

Eco-Friendly Toy Vehicle環保玩具車

An employee of toy manufacturer Tomy displays a prototype model of a toy vehicle which runs on electric power generated from Sonys bio battery, whose energy source is a soft drink, in Tokyo on January 19, 2010. Sony developed the passive type bio battery system which breaks down sugar to generate “eco-friendly” electricity.

玩具製造商Tomy一名員工，1月19日在東京展示一輛玩具車原型。玩具車電力來自索尼的生物電池，其能量來源是軟性飲料。索尼研發出這種被動型電池系統，可將糖分解後產生環保電力。

London Zoo to do stock take of all their animals 倫敦動物園準備清點所有動物

◎羅彥傑

Staff at London Zoo have started their annual stock take, where they have to count every animal individually... last year they were 15,107.

倫敦動物園的工作人員已開始對動物進行清點，他們必須一個一個地清點動物……去年他們得出的數字是15,107。

While bosses at the zoo say they have a good idea of what animals they have, they claim the stock take is the only way to know exactly what is where.

雖然動物園的主管表示，他們十分清楚擁有哪些動物，但他們也主張，清點是精確掌握哪裡有哪些動物的唯一辦法。

As a result staff have the unenviable job of counting and logging them all, but with over 5,000 fish it is harder than it sounds.

因此，員工要清算與登錄所有動物的這個工作不值得羨慕，且由於魚群數量超過5千，情況比聽起來還難。

There are more than 750 different species at the zoo including gorillas, squirrel monkeys and tigers -- as well as many smaller （and harder to count） critters.

動物園內有超過750種不同的物種，包括大猩猩、松鼠猴與老虎—以及許多更小（與更難計算）的動物。

Hopefully not too many of the animals are currently buried under the snow.

但願此刻不會有太多動物埋在雪堆中。

A spokesperson for London Zoo said： "Spare a thought for Zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo today, when they will be undertaking a complete head count of every animal."

倫敦動物園一名發言人說︰「今天請替倫敦動物園的管理員想一想，他們就要對每一頭動物進行徹底清點的工作。」

新聞辭典

stock take︰片語，盤點、清點存貨。例句︰Does your company undertake an annual or periodic stock-take?（貴公司會進行年度或定期盤點嗎？）

as a result︰片語，因此。例句︰I had stuttered since my boyhood and as a result talked very little.（我從兒時起就口吃，因此很少說話。）

spare a thought for ~︰片語，替～著想。例句︰Anyway, spare a thought for the homeless.（無論如何，替那些無家可歸者想一想吧。）

You haven’t paid your phone bill for last month. 您上個月的電話費還未繳。

對話
Terry：Can I speak to Mr. Peter Jennings?
泰瑞：請問彼得?傑寧斯先生在嗎？
Peter：Yes, speaking.
彼得：我就是。
Terry：I’m calling from NG Telecom to remind you that you haven’t paid your phone bill for last month.
泰瑞：這裡是NG電信公司，提醒您您上個月的電話費還未繳。
Peter：Oh yes, that’s right. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to sort it out.
彼得：喔，對，沒錯。我一直很忙沒時間處理。
Terry：Well, if you don’t pay your bill by the end of the week, I’m afraid your line will be disconnected.
泰瑞：無論如何，如果您本周前還沒繳清的話，恐怕您的電話就會被停話。
Peter：OK. Thanks for the warning. I’ll make sure to pay the bill later today.
彼得：好。感謝你來電提醒。我今天稍晚一定會去繳清帳款。

本篇關鍵句

◎You haven't paid your
phone bill for last month.您上個月的電話費還未繳。
當你要通知用戶電話費欠繳時，就可用這個句型：
．You haven't paid your...bill for + 時間.
您…時間的…帳款還未繳清。
例：You haven't paid your credit
card bill for last month.（你上個月的信用卡帳單尚未繳清。）
另外，你還可以用：
．... is past due……過期未繳 = ... is overdue

關鍵字彙與片語

◎telecom n.電信業；電信公司
= telecommunications
◎bill n.帳單
例：When you pay the bill, don't forget to ask for a receipt.（你付帳時，別忘了索取發票。）
◎sort sth out / sort out sth處理某事
例：The customer insisted that the store manager sort out the issue.（這位顧客堅持要店經理來解決這個問題。）
◎warning n.警告；提醒

Huge Piece of Jade 巨大玉石

Women look a the jade piece as it was unveiled on Monday, Jan. 18, 2010 in Hai Duong province, Vietnam. The jade imported from Myanmar measures 3 meters high, 2.15 meters wide and 2.2 meters deep and weighs 35 tons is seen as one of the world’s biggest pieces of jade.

1月18日在越南的海陽省，多名女性觀看一塊剛揭幕的玉石，這塊從緬甸進口的玉石有3公尺高、2.15公尺寬、2.2公尺深，有35公噸重，被視為世界上最大的玉石之一。

Obama speech won’t bump ’Lost’ premiere： White House 白宮：歐巴馬的演講不會和「Lost檔案」首映撞期

◎管淑平

US fans of the show ’Lost’ can breathe a sigh of relief after the White House pledged a key speech by President Barack Obama won’t displace the premiere episode of the show’s final season.

美國的Lost檔案影迷可以鬆口氣了，在白宮承諾總統歐巴馬的一場重要演說不會壞了這齣影集最後一季的首映之後。

US television station ABC has set aside a three-hour block on the evening of February 2 to show the first episode of the wildly popular show’s last season.

美國ABC電視台已為這部廣受歡迎的影集最後一季第一集的播出，排出2月2日晚間一個3小時時段。

But fans feared that President Barack Obama might choose to give his first State of the Union address, which is traditionally delivered on the last Tuesday of January, on the same day.

但是影迷擔心，總統歐巴馬也許會選擇同一天發表他首次國情咨文演說，國情咨文傳統上在一月最後一個週二發表。

Most US television stations agree to set aside their previously-scheduled programming to give the president a national platform for his speech to a joint session of Congress.

大多數美國電視台都同意擱置原本排定的節目，給總統一個全國性舞台發表對國會聯席會的演說。

"I don’t foresee a scenario in which the millions of people that hope to finally get some conclusion in "Lost" are preempted by the president," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs sought to allay those fears in response to a question from a journalist from ABC’s news program at a White House press briefing.

「我預期不會出現一種情況，就是數百萬名期待終於能看到部分Lost檔案結局的人，被總統搶先佔掉時段。」白宮發言人吉布斯在白宮新聞簡報會上回應ABC一名記者提問時，試圖化解這些憂慮。

新聞辭典：

bump：動詞，碰撞、提高（價格、人數等）；副詞，猛然地。例句：The cost of overseas shipping has bumped up the price.（海外運輸成本讓售價上漲。）

set aside：動詞片語，擱置、排除、撥出（時間、金錢等）。例句：The highly controversial issues have been set aside in this conference.（高度爭議議題已在這次會議被擱置。）

allay：動詞，使緩和（憂慮、痛苦等）。例句：The president tried to allay people’s worries about the deteriorated economy.（總統試圖舒緩民眾對經濟惡化的憂慮。）

Have you tried unplugging and re-plugging the modem? 您試過把數據機插頭拔掉再重新插上嗎？

對話
Lisa：I can't connect to the Internet.
莉莎：我連不上網路。
Natalie：Have you tried unplugging and re-plugging the modem？
娜塔莉：您試過把數據機插頭拔掉再重新插上嗎？

Lisa：Actually, no, I haven't tried that. I guess I might have accidentally changed my settings.
莉莎：老實說，沒有，我沒試過。我在猜是我不小心更改到設定。
Natalie：Well, try unplugging the modem first.
娜塔莉：這樣啊，請先把數據機的插頭拔掉試試看。
Lisa：And if that doesn't work？
莉莎：如果沒有用呢？
Natalie：It could mean that there's something wrong with your settings or that you have a virus. If you're still having problems after re-plugging the modem, I can talk you through your setting options.
娜塔莉：那可能表示您的設定出了問題，或您的電腦中毒了。如果您把數據機插頭重新插上後還是有問題，我會向您說明如何設定選項。
Lisa：OK, hold on one moment.
莉莎：好的，請等一下。

本篇關鍵句

◎Have you tried unplugging and re-plugging the modem?您試過把數據機插頭拔掉再重新插上嗎？
遇上無法連到網路的問題，當你打電話給服務人員，他們通常會請來電者先做以下動作：
Make sure that all of your cables are connected.（請確認您所有線路都接上了。）
Restart your modem, and then the router.（請先重新啟動數據機，然後再重新啟動路由器。）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎plug vt. 插上插頭 & n. 插頭
plug in... / plug...in 插上…的插頭
例：Sherry plugged in her hair dryer before turning in on.（雪莉先將吹風機插上插頭才打開電源。）
◎accidentally adv. 意外地
例：When I turned around, I accidentally knocked over a glass of water.（我轉身時，不小心打翻了一杯水。）

Helicopter Controlled by iPhone iPhone 遙控直升機

A man maneuvers the AR.drone from French company Parrot -- a small remote-controlled helicopter using the accelerometer in an Apple iPhone -- on January 13, 2010 in Paris. Parrot specializes in making hands-free wireless systems for cars.

1月13日在法國巴黎，一名男子正以iPhone中的加速計，控制一架小型遙控直升機AR.drone，這款直升機是由法國公司Parrot所製造，這家公司專精製造車用的免手持無線裝置。

Gere serves up a haven for vegetarians 李察吉爾為素食者提供庇護所

Richard Gere, the Hollywood actor who has spurned red meat for the past 30 years, has thrown his support behind a plan to transform the site of Buddha’s enlightenment into a vegetarian zone to spread the message of peace.

不吃紅肉長達30年的好萊塢明星李察吉爾最近表態支持一項計畫，打算把佛陀悟道之地變成素食區，以傳達和平的訊息。

The activist, who was taking part in a five-day training session with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leader, in the Indian town of Bodhgaya, took part in a candlelit march highlighting the campaign.

這位運動人士最近在菩提迦耶參加由藏傳佛教領袖達賴喇嘛主持的5天法會，同時也參加了一場宣傳此項計畫的燭光遊行。

"Bodhgaya is a pious place and I want to come here again," he said, after joining around 500 monks and activists who took part in the march. "I am with the people who have launched this campaign."

「菩提迦耶是個虔誠的地方，我還想要再來，」他在與大約500位僧侶及運動人士一起參加這場遊行後表示。「我全力支持發起這項運動的人士。」

According to Buddhist tradition, Bodhgaya, in the state of Bihar, is where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment around 500BC. Starting in the 19th century, the area gradually become a site of pilgrimage and is now visited by Buddhists from all over the world.

根據佛教傳統，位於印度比哈邦的菩提迦耶城正是釋迦牟尼在公元前500年左右悟道之處。自19世紀起，當地逐漸成為佛教徒朝聖之地，目前來自全球各地的佛教徒都會造訪此處。

新聞辭典

serve （sth） up/out：動詞片語，端上食物或飲料等，上菜。如Come on everyone, I’m ready to serve up.（大家過來吧，我準備要上菜了。）

throw one’s weight/support behind sth/sb：運用某人的力量或影響力來支持某事或某人，如If we could persuade the chairman to throw his weight behind the plan, it would have a much better chance of success.（假如我們能說服董事長鼎力相助，這項計畫成功的機會會更大。）

attain：（正式用語）動詞，指達到、獲得，如India attained independence in 1947, after decades of struggle.（歷經數十年的努力，印度終於在1947年獲得獨立。）

We can help you pack and label all your belongings before loading them in our trucks. 我們可以在您的物品搬上貨車前協助您打包並貼上標籤註記

對話
Melanie：JHK Movers, Melanie speaking. How may I help you？
梅蘭妮：JHK搬家公司，您好，我是梅蘭妮。請問有什麼需要服務的嗎？

Nina：Hello, we're moving two weeks from now, and I was wondering if you could give me some information about your services.
妮娜：妳好，我們再過兩個星期就要搬家了，請問可否告訴我關於你們所提供服務的資訊。
Melanie：We can help you pack and label all your belongings before loading them in our trucks. We can provide you with a quote depending on the amount being moved and the distance covered.
梅蘭妮：我們可以在物品裝載上貨車前協助您打包並貼上標籤註記。我們可以依照載運量的大小及路運輸程的距離向您報價。
Nina：There is a slight problem. You see, we can only move into our new house two weeks from now, so we will need somewhere to store our belongings.
妮娜：有個小問題。妳要知道，我們還要再兩個星期才能搬進新家，因此我們需要有地方存放東西。
Melanie：We also have a storage service where your property is loaded into specialized containers and stored in a warehouse.
梅蘭妮：我們也提供存放服務，你們的財物會被放進專門的貨櫃裡，然後存放在我們的倉庫。
Nina：That sounds perfect.
妮娜：那聽起來很棒。

本篇關鍵句

◎We can help you pack and label all your belongings before loading them in our trucks.
我們可以在您的物品搬上貨車前協助您打包並貼上標籤註記。
其他可能的問題還有：
Do you provide special packing materials for fragile items？
（請問你們針對易碎物品有提供特殊的包裝材料嗎？）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎pack vt. 打包
◎label vt.貼標籤 & n.標籤
◎depend on... 視……而定；依賴╱依靠……

No smoking prison sparks drop in crime／禁煙監獄降低犯罪率

◎陳成良

A noticeable drop in recorded crimes on the Isle of Man is being attributed to the opening of Europe’s only completely no smoking prison.

曼島的犯罪報案數顯著下降，這得歸功於歐洲唯一全面禁煙的監獄啟用。

The island which is one of the safest places to live in the British Isles, has seen a massive reduction in total crimes since the new £42m jail opened in August 2008.

該島是不列顛群島最安全居住地點之一，自從這座造價4200萬英鎊的新監獄於2008年8月啟用後，當地犯罪總數就大幅下降。

In the nine month period from April 2008 to December 15 2008 the total recorded crimes stood at 2,508. But in the same period this year crimes dropped off 14 per cent, with a total of 2,157 crimes committed.

在2008年4月至2008年12月15日的9個月期間，報案總數為2508件。但今年同一時期，犯罪案件下降了14%，總數為2157件。

At present there are just under 100 prisoners at the jail. It means at least 40 cells empty, as wannabe crooks turn their back on a life of crime - many because they don’t want to give up cigarettes if they get caught.

目前這座監獄才關了不到100名囚犯。這表示至少有40間牢房是空著，想為非作歹之人放棄了犯罪生涯，許多人是因不想在落網後戒煙。

The prison is Europe’s one and only completely non-smoking prison - with smoking not even allowed in the prison exercise yard. Even prison guards are banned from smoking anywhere on the premises and have to go into a nearby car park to light up.

這座監獄是歐洲獨一無二的全面禁煙監獄，連在監獄運動場內抽煙也不可以，甚至獄警也不能在建築物內任何地點抽煙，而必須進入到附近一座停車場才能點煙。

Prisoners are told they have no choice but to give up and are given free nicotine patches and counselling sessions to help them beat their cravings.

囚犯被告知，他們別無選擇只能戒煙，並獲得免費尼古丁貼片，以及協助他們擊敗煙癮的諮商課程。

新聞辭典 Dictionary

wannabe： 非正式用語，指想要達到某種目標的人，或模仿某些受人尊敬者的舉止、習慣或打扮的人。如︰The bar is frequented by wannabe actresses and film directors.（想成為女演員的人和電影導演經常出入這間酒吧。）

turn one’s back on：片語， 轉過身不理；背棄；不理睬。例句：The city has promised not to turn their backs on the poor. （該城許諾不會不理睬窮人。）

on the premises：片語，屋內；建築物內；店內。複數型premises是指房產、房屋。

We offer very competitive rates.我們提供極具競爭力的價格

對話

Lisa：I received a leaflet in my mailbox about your fitness center, and I'm interested in becoming a member.
麗莎：我在信箱中收到你們健身中心的廣告傳單，有興趣加入會員。
Sarah：We offer very competitive rates and our instructors are all fully qualified. We even have a special deal going on at the moment.
莎菈：我們提供極具競爭力的價格，且我們的健身教練都是百分之百合格。我們目前還有特別優惠。
Lisa：Oh really? What's the deal that you're offering?
麗莎：喔，真的嗎？你們現在提供的優惠方案是什麼？
Sarah：If you pay for a full-year's membership upfront, you can get a 25 percent discount. It's really a very good deal.
莎菈：如果妳預付1年的會費，可享75折。這是相當優惠的價格。
Lisa：I have to give it some more thought.
麗莎：我得再考慮一下。
Sarah：Why don't you come in for a consultation? We can give you more details, and we can also offer you some advice on the types of exercise that best suit your needs.
莎菈：要不要親臨本店諮詢呢？我們可以提供您更多的細節，而且還可以建議符合您需求的運動類型。

本篇關鍵句

◎We offer very competitive rates.
我們提供極具競爭力的價格。
也可用以下說法：
．We have high quality goods at the best / lowest prices.
（我們有高品質的商品，並且提供最好╱最低的價格。）
．Our price is unbeatable.
（您找不到更低的價格了。）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎leaflet
n.廣告傳單
◎competitive
a.有競爭性的；競爭的
例：Nowadays, graduates have to look for jobs in a highly competitive market.（如今的大學畢業生得在競爭激烈的市場求職。）
◎qualified
a.符合資格的；合格的
◎upfront
adv.預付地 & a.預付的

Foot Long Tongue

Saint Louis Zoo visitors were left tongue-tied when a Sun Bear yawned. The bear — which measures just four feet — lazily opened its mouth to show of his FOOT long tongue. It uses its impressive licker to extract the sweet treat from beehives hidden away in tree trunks.
The Sun

美國聖路易動物園遊客看到這頭馬來熊打呵欠後，全都瞠目結舌。這頭身長才4呎（約122公分）的熊，懶洋洋的張嘴展示牠長達1呎（約30公分）的舌頭。牠施展驚人的長舌功，從藏在樹幹裡頭的蜂巢偷吃蜂蜜。
英國《太陽報》

Flashing teen found guilty after being hit by car 露胸少女遭車撞後被判有罪

◎ 張沛元

A New Zealand teen who was flashing her breasts at passing cars has been found guilty of disorderly behavior for the prank, which ended with her in a hospital after a distracted driver ran into her.Cherelle May Dudfield, 18, pleaded guilty to the charge when she appeared in Invercargill District Court, the Southland Times newspaper reported.

南島時報報導，一名朝往來車輛展露胸部的紐西蘭少女，已因妨礙治安行為之罪名被判有罪。此一胡鬧之舉導致該少女遭一名分心駕駛撞上送醫。18歲的雪芮兒．梅．杜德菲爾德現身英佛卡吉爾地方法院時，對此罪名坦承不諱。

Dudfield, egged on by her friends, was flashing passing motorists from a traffic island in the middle of a four-lane road in the southern city of Invercargill.

在友人的慫恿下，杜德菲爾德在南方城市英佛卡吉爾的一條四線道中央的安全島上朝往來駕駛展露胸部。

The alcohol-fueled prank went awry when one of the vehicles crashed into her as she tried to run to the side of the road, police Inspector Olaf Jensen said.

警探歐拉夫．簡森說，當她企圖跑到路邊時，卻遭其中一輛車撞上，此一酒精作祟的胡鬧之舉就此變調。

"She was extremely lucky as the vehicle had slowed because of her behavior," he told The Associated Press. "She rolled up onto the bonnet （hood） and cracked the windscreen before she came down with some minor injuries and was taken to hospital."

「她非常幸運，這輛車因為她的行為已經減速，」他告訴美聯社。「她滾到汽車引擎蓋上，撞裂擋風玻璃，受了輕傷後送醫。」

新聞辭典

run into：片語，撞上；偶遇。例句：I ran into an old friend on the street the other day. （我前幾天在街上偶遇一個老朋友。）

prank：名詞，動詞，胡鬧，惡作劇。He’s not a kid anymore but still likes to play pranks on people.（他已經不是小孩了，但還是喜歡對人惡作劇。）

come down with something：慣用語，得病，罹患疾病。例句：He came down with a bad cold and had to call in sick. （他得了重感冒，不得不跟公司請假。）

I can’t seem to connect to the Internet. 我似乎無法連上網

對話
Natalie：Hello, TOL Technical Department. How may I help you?
娜塔莉：TOL技術部，您好。我可以幫您什麽忙嗎？
Lisa：Hello, I can’t seem to connect to the Internet.
莉莎：妳好，我似乎無法連上網。
Natalie：Can I have the name and phone number that your account is registered under?
娜塔莉：可以給我您帳號登記的姓名和電話號碼嗎？
Lisa：It’s Ms. Lisa Acton and the number is 5555-6778.
莉莎：登記的是莉莎．阿克頓女士，號碼為 5555-6778。
Natalie：Can you tell me how many lights are flashing on your modem?
娜塔莉：您可否告訴我現在數據機上有幾顆燈在閃？
Lisa：Only the red light on the very left is flashing.
莉莎：只有最左邊的那顆紅燈在閃。

本篇關鍵句

◎I can’t seem to connect to the Internet. 我似乎無法連上網。
也可以用以下說法：
．The computer virus kept me from logging on to the Internet.
（電腦病毒使我無法登入網路。）
電腦常見問題說法列舉如下：
．My computer seems to have crashed.
（我的電腦似乎當機了。）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎connect vi. & vt.（使）連接
．connect (A) to B 使（A）連接上 B
例：Would you please help me connect the printer to the computer?（可以請你幫我將印表機接上電腦嗎？）
◎account n.帳號；（銀行）帳戶
．例：My email account was hacked yesterday.（昨天我的電子郵件帳戶被入侵了。）
．hack vt.（非法）入侵（電腦系統）
◎register vt. & vi.登記，註冊
．例：I registered the car in my wife’s name.（我這輛車登記在我老婆名下。）

Scary Contact Lenses 嚇人的隱形眼鏡

These scary contact lenses really do have to be seen to be believed. Created by a special effects artist who has worked on Hollywood blockbusters starring Bruce Willis and Natalie Portman, the range will set you back up to 500 a pair.

你要親眼看到這些嚇人的隱形眼鏡才會相信，這是由和布魯斯威利與娜塔莉波曼等明星合作過的好萊塢特效藝術家所製作的，最貴的一付隱形眼鏡要價達500英鎊（約25500元台幣）。

Feeling grumpy ’is good for you’ 感覺暴躁對你有益

◎國際中心

In a bad mood? Don’t worry - according to research, it’s good for you. An Australian psychology expert who has been studying emotions has found being grumpy makes us think more clearly. Miserable people are better at decision-making and less gullible, his experiments showed.

心情不好嗎？別擔心，根據研究，這樣對你是好的。澳洲一名長期研究情緒的心理專家發現，情緒暴躁會讓我們想得更清楚，他的實驗顯示，脾氣不好的人比較會做決策，也比較不容易受騙。

While cheerfulness fosters creativity, gloominess breeds attentiveness and careful thinking, Professor Joe Forgas told Australian Science Magazine. The University of New South Wales researcher says a grumpy person can cope with more demanding situations than a happy one because of the way the brain "promotes information processing strategies".

佛格斯教授告訴澳洲科學雜誌，好情緒雖然強化創造力，憂鬱也能培養注意力與細心思考，這位新南威爾斯大學的研究人員表示，暴躁的人因為腦部「促進資訊處理策略」的方式，比開心的人更會處理嚴峻的情況。

He asked volunteers to watch different films and dwell on positive or negative events in their life, designed to put them in either a good or bad mood.

他要求志願者觀看不同電影，並想著他們人生中的正面或負面事件，藉此來讓他們處於好或壞的心情中。

Next he asked them to take part in a series of tasks, including judging the truth of urban myths and providing eyewitness accounts of events. Those in a bad mood outperformed those who were jolly - they made fewer mistakes and were better communicators.

接下來他要求他們參與一系列任務，包括判斷都市神話的真相、講述對事件的目擊證詞等。心情不好的人表現比開心的人好，錯誤比較少，也比較會溝通。

新聞辭典

grumpy：形容詞，脾氣暴躁的。例句：I hadn’t had enough sleep and was feeling a bit grumpy.（我睡不夠，情緒有點暴躁。）

gullible：形容詞，易受騙、易上當的。例句：He is so gullible that he believes everything you tell him.（他很容易受騙，他會相信你告訴他的每件事情。）

dwell on sth：片語，一直想或一直說（某事）。例句：In his speech, he dwelt on the plight of the sick and the hungry.（他在演講裡一直講著生病與飢餓的悽慘。）

Does it make a funny sound when you switch it on？ 您打開電源時會發出怪聲嗎

對話
Helen：Hello, is this Whitmore Appliances？
海倫：你好，請問這裡是惠莫爾電器行嗎？
Jack：Yes, it is, ma'am. How may I help you？
傑克：是的，女士。請問您需要什麼服務？
Helen：I bought an air conditioner from you six months ago. It was out of order yesterday, and I was wondering if you could send someone to take a look at it.
海倫：我6個月前在你們店裡買了一台冷氣機。昨天故障了，我想知道你們是否可以派人過來看一下。
Jack：Does it make a funny sound when you switch it on？
傑克：您打開電源時會發出怪聲嗎？
Helen：No, I can’t switch it on at all.
海倫：不，冷氣連開都不能開。
Jack：OK, a member of our repair staff will be out to take a look at your air conditioner this afternoon.
傑克：好的，我們維修部的同仁今天下午會過去看您的冷氣。

本篇關鍵句

◎Does it make a funny sound when you switch it on？您打開電源時會發出怪聲嗎？
家中若有電器故障需要打電話請維修人員來檢查時，可以在電話中先敘述電器故障情形。
直接說電器無法使用：
．The heater / refrigerator / washing machine doesn’t work.
（暖氣／冰箱／洗衣機故障了。）
或是詳述電器的問題：
．The images on the TV screen are fuzzy / blurry.
（電視上的畫面很模糊。）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎appliance n.用具（尤指家電用品）
．household appliances 家用電器
◎be out of order（冰箱、洗衣機等電器用品）故障
例：The printer is out of order. Please call a technician to take a look at it.（印表機壞掉了。請打電話叫維修人員來看一下。）
◎funny a.奇怪的
例：I smell something funny. Is something burning？（我聞到奇怪的味道。有東西燒焦了嗎？）

Four-inch-long Chihuahua 4英吋吉娃娃

This 3-month-old chihuahua is turning heads as one of the world’s smallest dogs - measuring up at just four inches long. Her owner Jean Tindall, 76, who has bred chihuahuas for five years, noticed Lulu was not growing like her siblings - in fact, she was not growing at all.

這隻3個月大的小吉娃娃「露露」是全世界最小的狗之一，身長只有4英吋（10.1公分），她76歲的主人亭道爾，培育吉娃娃已有5年經驗，發現「露露」跟她的同胞兄姊不同，她完全沒有長大。

Residents may be evicted for spitting 居民可能因吐痰而被趕出住屋

◎魏國金

Chinese people who live in government-sponsored housing in a prosperous southern province may be evicted if caught repeatedly spitting in public, according to a draft plan.

中國一個繁榮南方省份的國宅居民若一再被逮到公然吐痰，可能被趕出住屋，根據一項計畫草案指出。

The plan, carried on the Guangzhou Land and House Management Bureau’s website, also includes littering, making too much noise and gambling among more than 20 other "misdeeds" that would lead to eviction, based on a point system.

這項刊於廣州市國土資源與房屋管理局網站的計畫，也包括亂丟垃圾、製造太大噪音與賭博等其他超過20種恐導致被逐出的「惡行」；該計畫是依據分數辦法施行。

Spitting once in the community carries a three point penalty, littering five, dropping things from upper stories seven and not paying the rent for three consecutive months carries the maximum of 20 points, the plan said. People in such housing will be forced to move out if they rack up a total of 20 points.

在社區吐痰一次扣3分、亂丟垃圾5分，從樓上丟東西7分，連續三個月沒付租金扣光滿分20分，該計畫說。住這樣房宅的人若累計達總分20分將被迫搬出。

The bureau’s website said it had "borrowed ideas from the advanced experience of Hong Kong on public housing management." But the idea has upset China’s increasingly vocal online community.

該單位網站說，該計畫「借鑑香港先進的公共房屋管理經驗」。然而這樣的構想讓日漸直言不諱的中國網路社群感到不妥。

Some web users have criticized the plan as "discrimination against the poor," saying Hong Kong was a much fairer and more modern city than Guangzhou, where people could not be expected to live up to such high standards.

一些網友批評該計畫「歧視窮人」，表示香港是遠比廣州公平、現代的都市，無法期待廣州人遵守如此高的標準。

新聞辭典

evict︰動詞，逐出、收回（資產）。例句︰They were evicted from the house for not paying their rent.（他們因沒付房租而被趕出房子。）

carry︰動詞，刊登、含有…結果。例句︰Such a crime carries twenty years to life in that country.（這種罪行在那樣的國家可處20年徒刑至無期徒刑。）

live up to︰片語，遵守、落實。例句︰The politician failed to live up to his promises.（這名政治人物沒有實踐他的承諾。）

My kitchen sink is completely clogged up. 我廚房的水槽完全塞住了

對話
Paul：JHN plumbing, Paul speaking. How can I help you?
保羅：JHN水電行，您好，我是保羅。請問有什麼需要幫忙的嗎？

Laura：Hello, my kitchen sink is completely clogged up. I’ve tried everything, but nothing works.
蘿拉：你好，我廚房的水槽完全塞住了。我什麼方法都試過了，但都沒有用。
Paul：No problem. I can send someone to take a look at it right away. Can I have your address?
保羅：沒問題。我馬上就派人過去看看。請給我您的住址好嗎？
Laura：It’s 54 Crescent Drive.
蘿拉：住址是新月路 54 號。
Paul：OK, someone will be there within half an hour.
保羅：好的，半個小時內就會有人過去。
Laura：Thank you very much.
蘿拉：真是太感謝你了。

本篇關鍵句

◎My kitchen sink is completely clogged up. 我廚房的水槽完全塞住了。
家裡有水電方面的修繕問題需要打電話請人來處理時，以下為幾句實用的例句：
例：My toilet is plugged up.（我的馬桶堵住了。）
* plug vt. 堵塞
例：Can you send someone to fix my burst pipe?（你可以派人來幫我修破掉的水管嗎？）
例：There is a leak in this water pipe.（水管會漏水。）
* leak n. 漏水

關鍵字彙與片語

◎plumbing n. 水電（工程）
plumbern. 水電工
◎sink n.（廚房、浴室等）洗手槽
◎clog vt. 堵塞
例：The pipes must be clogged. The sink won't drain the dirty water.（水管一定是堵住了，水槽無法將污水排掉。）
◎crescent n. 弦月，新月
◎within half an hour 在半小時之內
within + 一段時間
在……（一段時間）內
例：I need to go to the grocery store to get some milk. I’ll be back within 20 minutes.（我得去雜貨店買些牛奶。20分鐘內會回來。）

Art on a Roll 捲筒衛生紙藝術

An artist spends hours painstakingly cutting out tiny shapes to make detailed models—and then fits them inside used toilet rolls. Anastassia Elias uses paper the same colour as the cardboard tubes to build up a winter scene with a child building a snowman.

一位藝術家辛苦地花了數小時的時間，雕刻出精細的小人偶，然後把他們置入用過的捲筒衛生紙軸中，艾利亞斯用跟紙軸同顏色的紙，創造出一幅小孩堆雪人的冬天景致。

Brothel wants males to service women 妓院徵男妓服務女客

◎羅彥傑

A Nevada brothel owner said she is hoping to begin offering male prostitutes for female clients by the middle of January.

內華達州一間妓院老闆表示，她希望在元月中旬前開始提供男妓給女顧客。

Bobbi Davis, owner of the Shady Lady Ranch brothel in Nye County, said the Nevada State Health Division agreed to write men into the state codes governing prostitution earlier this month and she is scheduled to meet Jan. 5 with the Nye County Commission for final approval, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Monday.

奈伊郡妓院「雪蒂女士牧場」老闆芭比．戴維絲說，內華達州衛生處在本月稍早同意將男人納入州立娼妓管理辦法，而且她預計在元月五日會晤奈伊郡委員會爭取最後批准，《拉斯維加斯評論報》週一報導說。

Davis said, if all goes as planned, she could add two men to her current stable of five female prostitutes the week after the meeting with the commission.

戴維絲說，如果一切按照計畫進行，她可能在會晤委員會後的這一週，延攬兩男加入旗下5名小姐的陣容。

Several experts, including industry lobbyist George Flint, have already predicted failure for Davis’ venture. Flint said several brothel owners have attempted hiring men to service women in the past, but the gambles always failed.

若干專家，包括業界說客喬治．佛林特，已預言戴維絲這項冒險行動注定失敗。佛林特說，數家妓院老闆過去已嘗試過雇用男人服務女客，但這些冒險行動總是以失敗收場。

新聞辭典

write into︰片語，把～寫入、納入。例句︰The king wrote his record into the history books. （國王把自己的功業載入史冊。）

if all goes as planned︰片語，如果一切順利。例句︰If all goes as planned, space shuttle Atlantis will lift off Monday.（如果一切順利，「亞特蘭提斯號」太空梭將在週一升空。）

in the past︰片語，在過去。例句︰ The Fed now faces greater political pressures than at any other time in the past.（聯準會現面臨比過去任何其他時候更龐大的政治壓力。）

Brothel wants males to service women 妓院徵男妓服務女客

◎羅彥傑

A Nevada brothel owner said she is hoping to begin offering male prostitutes for female clients by the middle of January.

內華達州一間妓院老闆表示，她希望在元月中旬前開始提供男妓給女顧客。

Bobbi Davis, owner of the Shady Lady Ranch brothel in Nye County, said the Nevada State Health Division agreed to write men into the state codes governing prostitution earlier this month and she is scheduled to meet Jan. 5 with the Nye County Commission for final approval, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Monday.

奈伊郡妓院「雪蒂女士牧場」老闆芭比．戴維絲說，內華達州衛生處在本月稍早同意將男人納入州立娼妓管理辦法，而且她預計在元月五日會晤奈伊郡委員會爭取最後批准，《拉斯維加斯評論報》週一報導說。

Davis said, if all goes as planned, she could add two men to her current stable of five female prostitutes the week after the meeting with the commission.

戴維絲說，如果一切按照計畫進行，她可能在會晤委員會後的這一週，延攬兩男加入旗下5名小姐的陣容。

Several experts, including industry lobbyist George Flint, have already predicted failure for Davis’ venture. Flint said several brothel owners have attempted hiring men to service women in the past, but the gambles always failed.

若干專家，包括業界說客喬治．佛林特，已預言戴維絲這項冒險行動注定失敗。佛林特說，數家妓院老闆過去已嘗試過雇用男人服務女客，但這些冒險行動總是以失敗收場。

新聞辭典

write into︰片語，把～寫入、納入。例句︰The king wrote his record into the history books. （國王把自己的功業載入史冊。）

if all goes as planned︰片語，如果一切順利。例句︰If all goes as planned, space shuttle Atlantis will lift off Monday.（如果一切順利，「亞特蘭提斯號」太空梭將在週一升空。）

in the past︰片語，在過去。例句︰ The Fed now faces greater political pressures than at any other time in the past.（聯準會現面臨比過去任何其他時候更龐大的政治壓力。）

I’ll pick it up tomorrow night. 我明晚會過去拿

Janet：Can I speak to Ms. Sarah Johnson, please?
珍娜：請問莎拉?強森女士在嗎？
Sarah：Yes, speaking.
莎拉：我就是。

Janet：I'm calling from Nortons Bookstore to let you know that the book you ordered last week has arrived.
珍娜：這裡是諾頓書店，我打來是要通知您，您上周訂的書已經到了。
Sarah：Oh, that's wonderful! I've been looking forward to reading that for so long. When can I pick it up?
莎拉：喔，那真是太好了！我期待讀那本書很久了。我何時可以去拿？
Janet：We have it ready for you at the counter, so you can pick it up anytime.
珍娜：我們已經放在櫃檯等您來領取。您隨時可以過來拿。
Sarah：OK. I'll pick it up tomorrow night.
莎拉：好的。我明晚會過去拿。

本篇關鍵句

◎I'll pick it up tomorrow night. 我明晚會過去拿。
有人打電話通知訂貨已到達時，除了親自領取，也可請服務員將貨寄送到家。
例：I'll pick it up at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.
=I'll get it at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.（我明天早上10點過去拿。）
例：Please mail it to me.（請把它郵寄給我。）
若要寄貨，回答付款方式例句：
例：I would like to pay in cash when the goods arrives / comes in.（我想要貨到付款。）
例：I would like to pay in advance with my credit card.（我想先用信用卡結帳。）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎pick sth up / pick up sth 取回某物；買某物
例：Can you pick up some milk from the grocery store on your way home?（你回家時可以順便去雜貨店買些牛奶嗎？）
◎look forward to + N/V-ing 期待做……
例：I'm looking forward to meeting you in person next Monday.（我很期待下周一當面見到您本人。）
◎ready a.準備好的

Coming-of-AgeDay 成年日

Women in kimono dresses pose for photos with a Disney character to celebrate their entry into adulthood during the annual Coming-of-Age Day ceremony at the Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu city in Chiba prefecture, suburban Tokyo on January 11, 2010. Some 1.27 million people who turned 20 celebrated across Japan as the country recognises the age when one officially becomes an adult.

身穿和服的日本女性擺姿勢跟迪士尼卡通人物合影，慶祝成年，她們1月11日在東京郊區千葉縣浦安市東京迪士尼樂園，參加一年一度的成年日慶典。全日本約127萬將滿20歲的人，在這天慶祝邁向成年，日本認為滿20歲就正式成人。

Washington slaps fee on plastic shopping bags華府對塑膠購物袋強制課稅

◎管淑平

Washington slaps fee on plastic shopping bags

華府對塑膠購物袋強制課稅

Residents of the US capital may have to dig a little deeper into their pockets when they go grocery shopping. The city slaps a five-cent levy on each plastic shopping bag.

美國首都居民去雜貨店買東西時可能要多花一點錢了。這座城市對每個塑膠購物袋，強制徵收5美分稅。

The measure, which takes effect on January 1, 2010 and is the first such initiative in the United States, seeks to make consumers bear the brunt of clean up costs for the bags which currently are dispensed for free with a customer’s purchases.

這項在2010年1月1日生效的措施是美國首例，尋求讓消費者負擔這些目前在消費者購物時免費給予的塑膠袋清理成本。

Plastic bags, while popular with shoppers, often end up clinging to tree branches, tangled in power lines, polluting rivers and clogging up storm drains.

購物民眾廣泛愛用的塑膠袋，用完丟棄後通常不是卡在樹枝上、電線上，就是污染河川、阻塞雨水下水道。

"I signed this law in July to cut down on the disposable bags that foul our waterways," said Mayor Adrian Fenty in a statement last month, saying that one particularly urban waterway, the city’s Anacostia River, has been particularly befouled by the plastic shopping bags.

「我在7月簽署這項法律，以減少這種阻塞我們水道的拋棄式袋子數量。」市長芬提上個月在聲明中表示，尤其是該市的安納克斯提亞河，這條都市水路，被塑膠購物袋阻塞情況特別嚴重。

Under the new law, city businesses that sell food or alcohol must charge customers five cents for every disposable paper or plastic carryout bag. The law also requires that these bags be recyclable and carry a message encouraging recycling.

根據這項新法，在該市出售食品或酒類的商店，都得向顧客為每個拋棄式紙袋或塑膠袋收5分錢，此法也要求這類袋子必須可回收，並標示鼓勵回收的訊息。

◎新聞辭典：

slap：動詞，強制實施或作某事。例句：The tour operator slapped on extra fees for solo travelers.（旅行社對獨行旅人強制加收額外費用。）

dig （deep） into one’s pocket：動詞片語，花（大）錢。例句：You must have dug deep into your pocket for this fancy dress.（你肯定為這一身盛裝花了大錢。）

bear the brunt of：動詞片語，首當其衝，承擔主要的負擔。例句：He bore the brunt of the failing project.（他為這失敗的計畫成了箭靶。）

I am interested in the holiday package to Italy in your brochure.我對妳們旅遊手冊中的義大利度假套裝行程有興趣

對話

Abby：Hello, Go Go Travel, Abby speaking.
艾比：上上旅行社，您好，我是艾比。
Neil：Hello, I am interested in the holiday package to Italy in your brochure, and I was wondering if you could give me a little more information about it.
尼爾：妳好，我對妳們旅遊手冊中的義大利度假套裝行程有興趣，我想知道妳是否能多提供我一些資訊。
Abby：No problem, sir. What can I help you with？
艾比：沒問題，先生。我能幫您什麼忙？
Neil：In the brochure, the package is for four nights. What's the price if we want to stay an extra two nights？
尼爾：手冊中的套裝行程是4個晚上。如果我們多住兩晚價格怎麼算？
Abby：It is an additional $80 per person for each extra night that you stay. Would you like to make a reservation？
艾比：每多住一晚每人加收80美元。您要預訂嗎？
Neil：Well, thanks for the information. I have to think about it.
尼爾：這樣啊，謝謝妳的資訊。我要考慮一下。

本篇關鍵句

◎I am interested in the holiday package to Italy in your brochure.
我對妳們旅遊手冊中的義大利度假套裝行程有興趣。
若要表達你對某項商品或服務有興趣，可以用以下這個句型：
．I am interested in…我對……感興趣
例：I’m interested in your product. （我對你們的產品有興趣。）

關鍵字彙與片語

◎package n.套裝（商品、服務等）
例：Many travel agencies offer special vacation packages in the summer.（許多旅行社在夏季會推出特別的假期套裝行程。）
◎extra a.額外的
．an extra+數字　　額外的……
=an additional+數字