Coffee Houses (3)

Some of the world's coolest coffee houses offer more than just good coffee. 
At Brother Baba Budan in Melbourne Australia, customers are rewarded with a unique environment as well as great coffee. Wooden chairs hang from the ceiling. The door handle is a silver coffee shovel. Those who prefer to share their coffee with something furry can visit Usagi-to-Cafe in Japan. People there can sip their coffee and pet one of the 21 bunnies for about US $1 per minute.

At Wash & Coffee in Munich, Germany, patrons enjoy a coup of coffee and use the Internet as they do their laundry. 
This place aims to make people feel at home! At the Big Knit Cafe' in Bangkok, Thailand, customers are served yarn along with their coffee. The cafe' attracts all levels of knitters - experienced staff offer help to the novices. A coffee house may just serve great coffee, or it may offer something extra. Either way, there's nothing like the rich smell of coffee.

Info Cloud

It's the last day of the month, and it's high time to do the laundry.

I hope you were joking Steve. I do my laundry at least twice a week.

Yes, yes, Ken. I was joking. Let's talk about laundry for a minute. It can be a confusing word.

Yes, it can be. Laundry can either refer to dirty clothes that will be washed or clean clothes that have just been washed.

Right! We can do the laundry, hang the laundry out to dry, and finally fold the laundry.

Another word for laundry is wash. So, instead of do the laundry, you can do the wash. Notice wash is use as a noun.

And, that should not be confused with washer which is short for the washing machine. So, you will put the wash in the washer.

And, you do the wash because you want all the dirt and stains to come out in the wash.

Nice one, Ken. Coming out in the wash is also an idiom. Just like a clothing stain that can be removed by washing, a problem can come out in the wash, meaning that it will be revealed or it will turn out well in the end.

do their laundry 清洗衣服
laundry 指未清洗的髒衣服, 也指清洗好的衣服
I have to do the laundry - 指髒的衣服
Can you hang up the laundry? 清洗好的乾淨衣服
laundry = the wash (n)
come out in the wash 字面是在洗洗滌的過程中被除去, 意指真相大白, 水落石出

Language Lab
reward v.獎勵, 獎賞
to give something to someone because they have done something good or helpful or have worked for it
- The hikers who reached the summit were rewarded with a magnificent view.
reward n.
something that you get because you have done something good or helpful or have worked hard 
- Nathan was given a great bonus as a reward for his hard work.

furry adj. hairy, things has fur or long hair. 有毛的， 毛茸茸的
- These furry toys might causes allergies.
- Kids love to play with furry puppies.
fur  n. hair skin.毛皮，軟毛
- The lady was wearing a fox fur around her neck.

patron  n. 旅館或是餐館的主顧，顧客
/ˈpeɪtrən/
someone who uses a particular shop, restaurant, or hotel
- These parking spaces are for our patrons only.
- Many patrons came for the chef's delicious beef stew.
patron n. 藝術家的贊助者
someone who supports the activities of an organization, for example by giving money
- Jeffrey is an enthusiastic patron for local artists.

novice n.新手，初學者 [nove -有‘新’之意]
someone who has no experience in a skill, subject, or activity [= beginner]
- I'm a novice driver. I get lost all the time.
novice at - 那方面的新手，初學者用“at”
- As a novice at directing, he still has a lot to learn.

yarn n.
/ˈjɑɚn/
a long, thin piece of cotton, wool, etc., that is thicker than thread and that is used for knitting and weaving;
an exciting or interesting story ; especially : a story that is so surprising or unusual that it is difficult to believe

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[Advanced] Yelp Continues on Its Path of Success (3)

A Rare Genius
Yelp's sales force would be meaningless if the reviews weren't useful. Yelp initially limited critiques to a few hundred characters, but every month or so, Stoppelman would double the limit to try to keep up with the users' critical enthusiasm. Today, reviews max out at 5,001 characters and often include a comical level of detail. Yelp reviews may be plagued with frequent misspellings, overexuberance, and curious digressions, but they are generally accurate.

The company's genius is in taking these idiosyncratic assessments and making sense of them. Yelp's review algorithm gives each establishment an average star ranking and filters out shills and less experienced critics. "Typically, the push back about Yelp is, What does some college kid know about restaurants?" says Michael Luca, an economist at Harvard Business School. "People tend to assume that crowdsourced information is so erratic that it's impossible to extract meaningful signals from it. But that's not true."

Proving the Point
Luca has the data to prove it. In a recent study, he compared Yelp ratings of restaurants in Washington State with actual sales figures reported to the state's Department of Revenue. He found that a one-star improvement in a business's Yelp rating was associated with, on average, a revenue increase between 5% and 9%.

Stoppelman points out an interesting wrinkle in the study: Whereas independent restaurants received an outsize benefit from good Yelp reviews, chain restaurants appeared to be unaffected by their reviews, either good or bad. "That's something we theorized about early on," Stoppelman says, "We thought that the main reason somebody ends up at Starbucks is that they don't want to deal with the possibility that the independent coffee shop isn't any good. But with Yelp, you have that confidence."


critique n.
/krəˈti:k/
a detailed explanation of the problems of something such as a set of political ideas;
a careful judgment in which you give your opinion about the good and bad parts of something (such as a piece of writing or a work of art)  

plague v.
to cause constant or repeated trouble, illness, etc., for (someone or something)

digression n.
/daɪˈgrɛʃən/
digress v.
/daɪˈgrɛs/
to speak or write about something that is different from the main subject being discussed  

idiosyncratic n.
/ˌɪdijəˈsɪŋkrəsi/
an unusual way in which a particular person behaves or thinks

erratic adj.
/ɪˈrætɪk/
something that is erratic does not follow any pattern or plan but happens in a way that is not regular;
acting, moving, or changing in ways that are not expected or usual : not consistent or regular  

wrinkle n.
/ˈrɪŋkəl/
a surprising or unexpected occurrence in a story or series of events

theorize v.
/ˈθi:jəˌraɪz/
to think of or suggest ideas about what is possibly true or real : to form or suggest a theory about something


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Coffee Houses (2)

Thanks to Starbucks, coffee houses can now be found all over the world, and the coffee house phenomenon continues to grow. As of July last year, Starbucks boasted 17,651 coffee hoses in countries around the world. While some folks head for the nearest Starbucks when desperate for coffee, other coffee aficionados want something more. They look for coffee places that offer extra special coffee. These shops offer specialty coffee blends or signature coffee drinks.

In Brazil, serious coffee drinkers visit Isabela Raposeirs. The owner of this coffee house named for her is familiar with coffee growing. She is also skilled in roasting and blending. She travels the world to learn every thing she can about coffee. Her shop boasts an amazing espresso blend.

Those in the Philippines head to the nearest Figaro Coffee shop. This shop serves delicious coffee of several different blends. Their flavored beans are made through a special process that puts the flavor right into the bean. This results in a delicious, long-lasting flavor.

Info Cloud
Hi, friends. Have you ever wondered how Starbucks got its name? Maybe it had something to do with stars or bucks?

Good guess, Ken. But I’m afraid that’s not the case. When the three co-founders of Starbucks started the company in Seattle, Washington, in 1971, they had a meeting to decide what to name their new  company.

One man was an English teacher, one a history teacher and one a writer. And so they picked the name from the classic American novel Moby Dick. And the name was Pequod.

Now Ken, I don’t know about you, but I would hesitate to drink a hot cup of Pequod.

I don’t blame you, Steve. Pequod is the name of the whaling ship in Moby Dick. But it’s not a very savory name for a coffee house. Good thing one of the partners rejected the name.

So after more discussion, all three settled on another name from Moby Dick, Starbuck, which is the name of the chief mate on the Pequod. And since there are three partners, they simply added an “S,” officially making the name Starbucks.

And the rest, as we say, is history.

Review Skit
Ah, the rich smell of fresh coffee.

Ah, yes. Give me a cozy room with soft chairs and a cup of coffee.

Give me a place where roasting coffee beans is serious business.

However you look at it…We love coffee!

Coffee houses date back to 1475. And now thanks to Starbucks, they can be found all over the world.

Thank you, Starbucks.

The coffee house phenomenon continues to grow. Now Starbucks has over 17,000 coffee houses around the world.

People desperate for coffee head there. But some coffee aficionados want something more. They look for places with extra special coffee, like Isabela Raposeiras in Brazil.

Brazil? That’s a long way to go for coffee.

Yes. But the owner is familiar with coffee growing. She’s also skilled in roasting and blending it. She travels the world learning everything she can.

Hey. Speaking of travel, let’s head to the nearest Figaro Coffee shop.

Sure. Where is that?

In the Philippines. Their flavored beans are made through a special process for a delicious, long-lasting flavor.

Well, what are we waiting for?

I haven’t finished my coffee yet.

Language Lab
phenomenon n. 現象 [重音在no音節]
1 something that happens or exists in society, science, or nature, especially something that is studied because it is difficult to understand
2 something or someone that is very unusual because of a rare quality or ability that they have
- The phenomenon of bullying has already existed for a long time.
phenomena n. plural [countable]
- As a reporter, you should study various social phenomena.

desperate adj.渴望的，極度需要的
needing or wanting something very much
- At the audition, you can see many young talents desperate to be on stage.
desperate 絕望的
very sad and upset because of having little or no hope : feeling or showing despair
- While isolated, patients might feel desperate and lonely.

blend v. 混合，調配
to combine different things in a way that produces an effective or pleasant result, or to become combined in this way
- The chef blended the butter with some salt.
blend n. 咖啡的口味
- The barista blended 4 different kinds of coffee beans for the coffee shop's house blend.
這位咖啡師父混合了四種咖啡豆做為他們咖啡廳的招牌咖啡

espresso n. 意式的濃咖啡
strong black Italian coffee, or a cup of this coffee
- The customer ordered a double espresso.

cappuccino n. 意式咖啡的另一種
Italian coffee made with hot milk and with chocolate powder on top

aficionados n.
/əˌfɪʃijəˈnɑ:doʊ/
someone who is very interested in a particular activity or subject and knows a lot about it


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[Advanced] Yelp Continues on Its Path of Success (2)

Going Local
Despite this daunting list, Stoppelman operates like someone who knows something nobody else does. Yelp has built a business that's the envy of its rivals.

To understand why Yelp is well positioned in the fight to digitize local advertising, first consider the prevailing attitude of the competition. "Local is the holy grail of the Internet," Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, told analysts in July. "The problem with local businesses is they are just not very tech savvy."

Her curious suggestion that local businesses are somehow to blame for failing, as she put it, to "adapt things... that we would think they would obviously adapt," doesn't hold up to scrutiny. Local businesses are, in fact, buying online ads--$19 billion worth in 2012, according to Gordon Borrell, whose eponymous research firm specializes in local media. They're just not buying much on Facebook or Google.

The Sales Force
Perhaps the most contrary move Stoppelman has made as Yelp's CEO has been to embrace what's been anathema to his web 2.0 contemporaries: He hired a sales force. Stoppelman has lifted his approach from the granddaddy of local advertising, the Yellow Pages. Yelp's advertising program is similar to the Yellow Pages, too: Businesses buy subscriptions for several hundred dollars a month in order to promote their reviews and to add special tweaks to their profiles.

While critics knock Facebook for its low advertising rates, which are about $1 for every thousand impressions in the United States, Yelp has the opposite problem: It gets accused of charging too much.

Thing is, the majority of Yelp's customers and advertisers don't seem to mind. In August, Yelp reported that it had 32,000 paying clients, more than double the total from last year. An additional 791,000 businesses have free accounts where they can post pictures and respond to users' reviews.

daunting adj.
frightening in a way that makes you feel less confident;
tending to make people afraid or less confident : very difficult to do or deal with  

prevailing adj.
usual, common, or popular;
existing or accepted in a particular place or at a particular time [= current]

holy grail n.
something that people want very much, but which is very difficult or impossible to achieve

savvy n.
practical understanding or knowledge of something;
practical knowledge and ability

eponymous adj.
/ɛˋpɑnəməs/
the eponymous character in a book, film, or play is the character whose name is in its title


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Coffee Houses (1)

Coffee houses then and now

Ah, the rich smell of fresh coffee! People who love the aromatic beverage flock to coffee houses to enjoy it. A coffee house may be as simple as a cozy room with big soft chairs, Wi-Fi and dozens of coffee drinks. Or it may be a place where baristas are coffee chefs and the roasting of beans a serious business. However one looks at it, coffee houses have drawn people for centuries like honey draws flies.

The first public coffee house dates back to 1475 in Constantinople, Turkey, today's Istanul. Coffee was very important to the culture at the time. A woman was allowed to divorce her husband if he did not keep the coffeepot full! Coffee houses arrived in Europe about 1650 and spread to England by 1652.

Some believe the word "tips" first entered the English language in an English coffee house. A jar on the counter had a sign that read "To Insure Prompt Service." Customers who put a coin in the jar were served more quickly.

Grammar Gym
How are you doing today, friends? Welcome to the Grammar Gym. My name is Liz. Let's have a look at today's grammar tip sentence. "However one looks at it, coffee houses draw people like honey does flies."  This sentence just means coffees houses attract people just like honey attracts flies. Notice this sentence pattern,

[subject 1 + verb + object 1] like [subject 2] does [object 2].

This is a great sentence pattern to use when you want to talk about how a situation is much like another situation. What one subject does to an object is much like how another subject does to another object.

For example, we can say: Samantha loves shoes like a child does candy. Or: The sheriff hunts down criminals like a cat does mice.

If you turn to today's grammar tip section, you'll find more sentences there. And, that's it for today. This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.

Info Cloud
In today’s lesson our author offers one explanation as to how the word “tip” entered the English language.

But notice how she wisely started the sentence: "Some belief…" This should be a clue to you, the reader, that what follows is not necessarily true.

Right, by using these words, the author is giving the reader freedom to disagree, which is good because I disagree.

I do, too. I was suspicious when I saw the word “insure,” I-N-S-U-R-E. It feels like it’s being forced to fit for the sake of the letter I.

Right. Clearly, the better choice is "ensure," E-N-S-U-R-E, which means to make certain something takes place, like good service.

OK. A second reason we disagree about this origin of “tips” is because the explanation would make tips a 17th-century acronym. And English acronyms didn't really come into existence until the 20th century.

Right. So we think the "To Insure Prompt Service" phrase is just a clever story to explain something we’re not 100 percent sure of.

Reminding us that no matter what the language, we should always read with a critical eye.

Because not everything that’s written is fact.

tips 小費的由來, 原來是一個 acronym 頭字語: To Insure Prompt Service
課文中說到 Some believe... 有些人認為...
insure 投保 / ensure 確保
acronym 20世紀才開始大量被運用, 課文中1652年有將近300年的差距,
所以 some believe 有些人認為不是小費由來的真正典故

acronym n.
/ˈækrəˌnɪm/
a word made up from the first letters of the name of something such as an organization. For example NATO is an acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Language Lab
aromatic adj. 有香味的, 很香的 [aroma n. 香氣/ 重音在ma音節]
/ˌerəˈmætɪk/
having a strong pleasant smell [= fragrant]
- These aromatic herbs are good for your health.
- The aromatic beef not only smells good but also looks very tempting. 看起來也好好吃

beverage n. 
a hot or cold drink
- All beverages served in the business class sector are free.
- Shirley is a minor, so she can only drink non-alcoholic beverages.

divorce v.
- The couple divorced only two years after they got married.
- Al and his wife got divorced last winter.
divorce n.
The nasty divorce not only hurt themselves, it also hurt their children.

cozy adj.
small, comfortable, and warm

barista n.
/bəˈri:stə/
someone whose job is to prepare coffee in a coffee bar

insure v.
to make (something) sure, certain, or safe : ensure

prompt adj. 立即的, 馬上的
/ˈprɑ:mpt/
done or given without delay
- Prompt replies are essential in customer service.
- A prompt reaction is necessary if you work in the ER.
- This tenant is always prompt with his payment.


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[Advanced] Yelp Continues on Its Path of Success (1)

In the fractured and fractious world of local advertising, Jeremy Stoppelman and Yelp are shooting for the moon (By Max Chafkin)

Sometime last year, the home button on my iPhone stopped working. I spent a few fruitless hours trying to fix it myself - then proceeded to the Apple Store. Cost: $200.

An easier solution
Then I found Peter. A thirty-something guy, Peter works in a shoebox of an office (on the seventh floor of a shabby building) in San Francisco's financial district. There is a worktable, a watercooler, some mismatched furniture, and, crucially, a letter tacked to his bulletin board with the following words printed in large block letters: PEOPLE LOVE US ON YELP.

To Peter and millions of other local businesses, Yelp, the San Francisco-based company that has become the largest and best source for online reviews, might as well be the Internet. I had found Peter by doing a quick search for "home button repair" using the Yelp app on my barely functional iPhone. I used the app to get directions, and within 10 minutes Peter was dissecting my phone.

Cost: $89, less than half what Apple charges. It was, as I would write in my Yelp review, another five-star experience.

Yelp's mission
When I relate my story to Yelp's 35-year-old CEO and cofounder, Jeremy Stoppelman, he gives me a sly grin. "The mission," he tells me, "is connecting people with great local businesses."

He makes it sound simple, but in fact, Stoppelman is tackling - several of the most bedeviling problems to challenge Internet companies today. Yelp is in the local advertising business, a market that no Internet company has ever truly disrupted but one so tantalizingly large (worth between $90 billion and $130 billion, depending on whom you ask) that it has attracted the likes of Facebook, Google, and Groupon, larger rivals that would like to crush Yelp. Its users are increasingly coming via mobile phones, which are reputedly less amenable to ads.


fractured adj.
/ˋfræktʃɚ/
if a group, country etc fractures, or if it is fractured, it divides into parts in an unfriendly way because of disagreement [= split]

fractious  adj.
/ˈfrækʃəs/
someone who is fractious becomes angry very easily [= irritable]

reach/shoot for the moon
to try to do or get something that is very difficult to do or get
- an ambitious businessman who is always shooting for the moon

fruitless adj.
failing to achieve what was wanted, especially after a lot of effort [≠ fruitful]

shoebox n.
1 a cardboard box that shoes are sold in;
2 a very small room, house etc

tack v.
/ˈtæk/
to attach something to a wall, board etc, using a tack

shabby adj.
shabby clothes, places, or objects are untidy and in bad condition because they have been used for a long time

crucial adj.
/ˈkru:ʃəl/
something that is crucial is extremely important, because everything else depends on it
—crucially adverb

dissect v.
/daɪˈsɛkt, dɪˈsɛkt/

1 to cut up the body of a dead animal or person in order to study it

2 to examine something carefully in order to understand it

3 to divide an area of land into several smaller pieces

sly adj.

/ˈslaɪ/

a smile, look etc that shows you know something secret

grin v.

/ˈgrɪn/

to smile widely

tackle v.

to try to deal with a difficult problem

bedevil v.

/bɪˈdɛvəl/

to cause a lot of problems and difficulties for someone or something over a period of time [= plague]

disrupt v.

to cause (something) to be unable to continue in the normal way : to interrupt the normal progress or activity of (something)  

tantalizing v.

/ˈtæntəˌlaɪz/

to cause (someone) to feel interest or excitement about something that is very attractive, appealing, etc.

—tantalizingly adv.

rival n.

/ˈraɪvəl/

a person, group, or organization that you compete with in sport, business, a fight etc [= competitor]

crush v.

to defeat (a person or group that opposes you) by using a lot of force  

reputedly adv.

according to what some people say [= reportedly] 

amenable adj.

/əˈmi:nəbəl/

willing to accept what someone says or does without arguing

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The History of Women's Trousers (2)

Practical Matters
When men went off to fight in World War I, Women's roles changed. They were forced to take jobs that were traditionally performed by men. As women began working in factories and fields, they discovered that skirts weren't practical. So they wore trousers on the job.

Women once again performed traditional male jobs during World War II. Often they would borrow pants and overalls from their husbands, fathers and brothers. But trousers still weren't acceptable outside of work.

Fashionable influences
Hollywood began to change that concept, though. When stars Katharine Hepburn and Grace Kelly appeared wearing pants, many fashionable ladies copied the look. However, most women during the 1940s and 50s still preferred to wear dresses and skirts.

Teen choice
In the 1950s teenage girls chose rolled-up blue jeans for casual wear. In the 60s, they chose bell-bottom jeans, and in the 70s, designer jeans.

In the 21st century, women feel free to wear different types of pants on most occasions. From bloomers to business suits, women and their trousers have come a long way.

Info Cloud
Hi, friends. Let’s take a look at a very simple word today – look.
Now I don’t mean the verb look but the noun look.
So Steve, do you know what the preferred look for this summer is?
Ha, Ken, that’s a great example of how to use “look” as a noun when it refers to a distinctive manner of dress or fashion.
A singer might change her outfit several times in a concert, and each outfit would be a different look.
And no, Ken, I have no idea what the preferred look for this summer is.
Not important.
Now if we use… “looks,” plural, it has a different meaning.
It just means the appearance of something.
You might like the looks of a place when you first see it.
But looks can be deceiving.
Good point.
So don’t be fooled by the looks of something.
Now a person may also have good looks.
And “looks” here refers to his or her physical appearance, especially when it’s pleasing.
Right.
We can’t say somebody has bad looks – only good looks.
And good looks generally refers to one’s facial appearance, like a movie star has good looks.

Language Lab
practical adj.實用的, 實際可行的
practical plans, methods etc are likely to succeed or be effective in a situation
- Mom's suggestions are always objective and practical.
媽媽給的建議可觀有實用
- Their shoes are not flashy, but they are very practical for everyday life.
他們的鞋子雖然不花俏, 但每天穿是很實用的

overalls  [plural]  n. 連身褲, 連身工作服
a pair of pants with an extra piece attached that covers the chest and has straps that go over the shoulders
- Dad loves to wear his old overalls while working on his car.
overall  adj. 整體的，全身的，全面的
including everyone or everything
- Paula's overall job performance is above average.

fashionable adj. 流行的，時尚的
 currently popular
- These magazines introduce the latest fashionable designs.
- The fashionable hairstyle made him look 10 years younger than his real age.

occasion n.場合
a special event or time;
an important social event or ceremony:
- Richard decided to save his nicest suit for special occasions.
- We met at an occasion last Christmas.


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[Advanced] A New Spin on an Old Sound (2)

A band with a plan
Their strategy — not that they'd ever call it that — begins with touring, and lots of it. As Lovett suggests, he and his bandmates more or less live on the road, performing crowd favorites and honing new material in a variety of settings across the globe, from tiny pub gigs (including several recent ones in Dublin) to roomy amphitheater concerts to the daylong mini-festivals it put on this summer in out-of-the-way American cities such as Dixon, Illinois, and Bristol, Virginia.

The band has been careful too with exposure, limiting interviews and television performances but encouraging easy access to its music. During the first week of "Babel's" release Mumford & Sons allowed listeners to stream the album for free on Spotify — something the online service said happened more than 8 million times.

A sense of belonging
Lovett singles out the group's performance with Bob Dylan at the 2011 Grammy Awards as a pivotal moment, and he's certainly not wrong: "Sigh No More" enjoyed its biggest-ever sales week in the days following the telecast.

"I think it introduced us to people who watch [awards] shows the way we grew up watching music on TV," he said. "It makes sense that it would widen our audience. But we weren't thinking about that at the time."

Indeed, all of this maneuvering seems secondary to the powerful sense of belonging the band's songs engender among its fans. Not unlike Adele, whose "21" was last year's bestselling album, Mumford & Sons offers a chance to stand up for hand-played music in an age of machine-made pop; it embodies the feel-good realism of people singing and playing instruments onstage.

And yet the group isn't didactic about its position, vastly increasing its appeal for listeners with no horse in the authenticity race. In a recent interview with National Public Radio, Marcus Mumford declined to describe the band's music as bluegrass or any other traditional form, saying, "We just call ourselves a rock band, really."


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The History of Women's Trousers (1)

Women and pants have had an interesting history

On May 28, 1923, the top lawyer in the U.S. said women could wear slacks. Up until that time it was not acceptable for American women to wear pants. Even with this change, however, people still considered women in trousers a shocking idea.

Today, though, times have changed, and pants are a staple in most women's closets. What are some factors that made this item of clothing acceptable?

Women's rights
In New York City around 1850, some ladies became involved in women's rights and dress reform. Many of them wore full-cut pants known as "bloomers" under their skirts. The unique-looking pants were named for Amelia Bloomer, their strongest defender. However, they were heavily criticized by most people. While some women wanted to be free of their heavy skirts, they didn't like the unpopular bloomers. Yet these early pants were a glimpse of the future as women continued pushing for equal rights.

Grammar Gym
Hi there, friends. Welcome to the Grammar Gym. My name is Liz. In today’s article we read: Even with the new law, however, people still considered women in trousers a shocking idea. That’s our Grammar Tip sentence.

Our focus today is on the sentence pattern. Sometimes people just won’t change their minds about something. No matter what the situation may be, some people still hold on to their opinions. If you ever want to talk about such people and their unchanging views about something, then consider using this sentence pattern:

Even with [a certain situation], however, people still consider [something 1] a [something 2].

For example:
Even with his experience, however, people still considered the politician an unlikely candidate for the next election.
Or: Even with all that Cinderella has done for her family, her step-mother still considers her a lazy worker.

Be sure to check out today’s Grammar Tip section for more example sentences. And that’s it for today.
This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.

Info Cloud
Since our lesson today is about pants, let’s talk about pants today.

Great idea. OK. First of all, unlike the word “shirt,” the word “pants” is plural. Now you may wonder why. This is one piece of clothing, why is it plural? Well, there’s a bit of history behind the answer.

Now in the old days, pants came in two parts, one part for each leg. The pieces were put on each leg separately, and then wrapped and tied at the waist.

Later, when pants were made as a one-piece garment, the plural usage persisted.

So that’s how pants got to be plural. And since a pair of pants has two legs, you could refer to the legs as pant legs. For example, he rolled up his right pant leg.

Of course there are long pants and short pants. But most people nowadays just say “pants” to refer to the long version, and “shorts” to refer to short pants. And that’s why “pants” and “shorts,” even though they’re each one item, are plural nouns.

Language Lab

trousers n.
/ˈtraʊzɚz/
a piece of clothing that covers the lower half of your body, with a separate part fitting over each leg [= pants American English]

slacks n. pants, trousers. slacks is a relax, comfortable but look nice pants.


acceptable adj. 可接受的，可認同的 [ accept v. 接受]
capable or worthy of being accepted
- Smoking indoors used to be an acceptable behavior.
unacceptable adj.
not pleasing or welcome : not acceptable
- It's totally unacceptable to be tardy constantly. 
常常遲到是個不可接受的事情

staple n. 主要部分, 主題
1 a food that is needed and used all the time

2 the main product that is produced in a country
3 something that is used widely and often  
- Jeans and T-shirts are staple items in most kids' closets.
- Rice is the staple food in many Asian countries.
- Since when did information from tabloids become a staple of TV news?
tabloid- a newspaper that has pages about half the size of an ordinary newspaper and that typically contains many photographs and stories about famous people and other less serious news items

reform n.改革，革新 [re字首: 再一次 / form 形狀, 形成]
the improvement of something by removing or correcting faults, problems, etc.
- Economic reform take a long time, and it will take at least three years to see any improvement in the country.
reform v.
- The tax system needs to be thoroughly reformed.

criticized v. 批評，評估
/ˈkrɪtəˌsaɪz/
- The government was heavily criticized for is unrealistic new policy.
critic n. 評論家
/ˈkrɪtɪk/
a person who gives opinions about books, movies, or other forms of art
- This play received very good reviews from the critics.


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[Advanced] A New Spin on an Old Sound

Mumford & Sons’ handmade aesthetic is rocking the music world

Describing the latest album from his band Mumford & Sons, Ben Lovett sidesteps much of the language artists often use to talk about their music. He doesn't, for instance, refer to "Babel" as a bit of creative risk-taking, or as the product of divine inspiration.

Instead, the 26-year-old keyboardist says that the record was "forced out of this internal desire to prove that we have many more songs in us."

Mumford & Sons released its debut, "Sigh No More," in 2009 and immediately set about touring the world, playing concerts that grew steadily to a scale Lovett called "crazy." (Last year it performed before an audience of approximately 75,000 people on the main stage at Coachella.)

Unlikely pop stars
Before long the London-based group — which also includes singer-guitarist Marcus Mumford, 25; bassist Ted Dwane, 28 and banjo player Winston Marshall, 25 — had all but exhausted the tunes on "Sigh No More." For 2012 it needed new ones.

"And I'm sure the third, fourth and fifth records will happen the same way," Lovett continued, speaking recently after a show in Cairns, Australia. "There was absolutely zero calculation [with 'Babel']. No one ever came into the studio and said, 'Turn that banjo up and we'll make you into pop stars!'"

Yet pop stars are precisely what the band's members have become. In October "Babel" entered Billboard's album chart at No. 1, scoring what was then the year's biggest sales week — bigger than Justin Bieber and Madonna — with more than 600,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

So how did these London lads carve out such an impressive space singing original songs about struggle and redemption?


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[Advanced] Spaces That Heal (3)

The room's layout is novel too. The space is divided into three zones: family, patient, and clinical staff. The entire window area is given over to the family and other visitors, with extended seating transformable into a bed. The patient zone includes the bed, the toilet, and the media wall. The staff zone has a dedicated sink separate from the patient's bathroom, a computer screen for electronic records, and a medicine supply cabinet refillable from the hall, allowing for accurate, timely deliveries and minimizing patient exposure to microbes.

Privacy predominates
For all the architectural innovation, the most significant change is the shift to private rooms, which will both improve care and save money. Per-bed construction costs are higher for all private hospitals, but occupancy rates are higher too - potentially 90% to 95% at an all-private hospital versus 75% or so for a double-room facility. As numerous studies show, sharing a hospital room significantly increases the chance of acquiring a life-threatening infection. The infection rate for those in private rooms is far lower.

In all, according to research by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, amenities such as larger single-patient rooms, bigger windows, cleaner air systems, and decentralized nurse stations add $30 million to the $350 million price tag of a typical 300-bed hospital. But the changes yielded annual savings of about $10 million, giving a payback of only three years. "It costs less to operate a private-room hospital," says Dr. George Tingwals, of Stanford University Medical Center, "so everyone is doing it." In fact, almost no one in the United States is building two-bed rooms now, and in some states, health codes require that all rooms be private.

Modern medicine has produced an astounding cornucopia of technology: medical devices, pharmaceuticals, imaging equipment, surgical tools. The hospital itself will now be part of that arsenal.


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To Post or Not to Post (2)

Susan: Oh, I do that, too. There are so many different social networks and blog sites available. It’s easy to stay in touch with people you don’t see very often.

Julie: In some cases, maybe. But I don’t really want people I don’t talk to regularly to know what I’m doing or where I’m going. That’s just creepy.

Susan: Then you can be more particular about who you friend and who can see your updates. But I like keeping large numbers of people in the loop by posting a single message.

Julie: I guess. But that doesn't mean I want everyone I’m friends with to see what I post. Besides, some people respond a little too quickly to my posts, and it makes me uncomfortable.

Susan: Oh, that just shows that your friends are interested in what you are doing or thinking. You shouldn't let that bother you. These sites are great for sharing so many things.

Julie: I guess so, but sometimes people share too much information. They post pictures that are inappropriate or uninteresting, or they share things that are unimportant.

Susan: Well, that’s one opinion. Maybe what you think is unimportant is actually really interesting to someone else.

Julie: Maybe. But I think I’ll stick to just posting what I think is important.

Info Cloud
Like all languages, English is constantly changing. New words are born. Old words die out. And existing words change form and meaning.

That’s right. Like the word “friend,” for hundreds of years, it was a noun. Just eight years ago, it became a verb.

Turning nouns into verbs is called verbing, which is funny because the word “verb” itself is a noun.

Right.

One reason verbing happens is because of new technology. With certain new inventions, we discover we need to describe an action that previously did not exist.

For example, using a microwave oven. When the appliance came out in the 1950s, there was no quick and easy way to tell someone you were going to heat or cook something in one.

Right. But people are practical. And it didn’t take long before someone took microwave, the noun, and turned it into a verb.

So now if you want a quick snack, you just throw something, like a bag of popcorn, into the microwave and “microwave” it.

Right. Technology is a huge driving force behind verbing. Consider some of the other nouns we've recently turned into verbs, words like text, bookmark, access and, of course, Google.

Grammar Gym
How you doing today, friends? My name is Liz, and thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym. In our article today we see this sentence: But I think I’ll stick to just posting what I think is important. That’s our Grammar Tip sentence. Our focus today is on the phrase: stick to.

Normally we use “stick to” to talk about how things are connected together on the surface, like:
When gum sticks to the bottom of your shoe, it’s not easy to get it off. But in today’s sentence, there are no objects with surfaces that are connecting to one another. Instead, “stick to” is an informal way to say “to focus on one activity and not on other activities.”

For example, parents might tell their kids: Just stick to your homework; don’t waste time on other things. Or: It’s not healthy to stick to your computer all day and not to other things. If you turn to today’s Grammar Tip section in your magazine, you’ll find more example sentences there.

And that’s it for today. This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.

Language Lab
creepy adj.令人緊張不安的，令人毛骨悚然的
- Ellen couldn't fall asleep after hearing those creepy stores.
creep n. 指毛骨悚然的感覺
- The dark corner of the building always gives me the creeps.

particular adj.詳细的，特别的，指定的，講究的
particular about 特别講究在某方面要用 "about"
- Martha is very particular about food.
- In our training, particular emphasis will be put on self-expression.
我們的訓練會特別看中自我的表達

inappropriate adj.不合適的,不恰當的 [in 字首-否定/ appropriate 合宜的, 恰當的]
- It's inappropriate to cut into other people's conversations.
appropriate -合宜的，合適的，恰當的
- Is it appropriate to call him directly?

stick to something phrasal verb 對某件事堅持不變的
1 to do or keep doing what you said you would do or what you believe in, even when it is difficult [= keep to]
 - Jennifer decided to stick to her story no matter what.
stick to something -緊跟著
2 to keep using or doing one particular thing and not change to anything else
- Make sure that you stick to the trail.
緊跟著登山路徑


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To Post or Not to Post (1)

How much do you share online?

Julie and Susan are eating lunch together at a cafe. Susan takes out her phone and starts taking pictures of her food.

Julie: Wow, you sure are taking a lot of pictures. You must really like the presentation of the food.

Susan: I do! The heart-shaped sandwich is really cute. I want to update my status so my friends can see it, too. Do you want me to take pictures of your food for you?

Julie: No, that’s OK. I don’t usually post stuff like that online. If people really want to know what I have for lunch, they can ask me.

Susan: But posting your meals is a great way to start conversations with your friends. And it helps you find new places to eat as well.

Julie: Maybe. But to me, that sort of information isn't worth my while. It’s a waste of time for me to post about it. Not to mention that it wastes my friends’ time when they scroll through their updates.

Susan: It’s not a big deal. If people don’t want to see my posts, they can just skip it. What sort of things do you like to share online?

Julie: Well, I don’t post many updates. I like to check what my friends are doing. But me – I usually just post about major events or things that catch my interest.

Info Cloud
Hey, Steve, let me ask you this. What do you think of when you hear the word “bug”?

I think of insects.

OK. That’s one meaning. Another meaning of bug is a person who has an interest or enthusiasm for something.

Ah, yes. When tacked on at the end of certain words, a fun, new descriptive word is created.

OK. Let’s tack “bug” on to the end of the word “shutter,” which is that mechanism that lets light into a camera.

Perfect example. The new word is “shutterbug.” And it describes an amateur photographer who has a lot of enthusiasm for taking pictures, just like Susan in today’s lesson.

OK. We all know what “litter” is, right? It’s the trash and garbage that you see on the streets or in parks. Add the word “bug” to “litter,” and you get “litterbug,” which is a person who wouldn't think twice about throwing trash in public places.

OK, one more. What happens when we place “bug” at the end of the word “cuddle,” which means to hold close in an affectionate way for comfort or warmth.

We get cuddle-bug. We sometimes use “ cuddle-bug” to describe an infant who delights in being hugged and held by mom and dad.

And if your pet dog or cats display this kind of behavior, you can call them cuddle-bugs, too.

bug n.
1 a usually small insect 蟲
2 the bug a sudden, strong interest in a particular activity 對什麼狂熱的人
shutterbug 熱愛照相的人
litterbug 愛丢纸屑的人
cuddle-bug 喜歡被擁抱的人, 大多对小孩或小猫，小狗

Review Skit
Wow, this restaurant is really nice.
Yes, it is.
Let me take some pictures.
OK. I’m smiling.
Well, I don’t want a picture of you.
I want a picture of the pizza.
What for?
I want to update my status online, and I want all my friends to see it.
Why?
Well, so they’ll know about the pizza here. And maybe they’ll want to start a conversation.
I don’t post things like that.
Why not?
It’s a waste of my time and my friends’ time.
Who wants to scroll through all those updates?
My friends do. And if they don’t, it’s not a big deal. They can just skip it.
That sort of information isn't worth my while.
So what kinds of things do you post online?
Actually, I don’t post many updates. I only post major events.
Only major events?
Sometimes I post things that catch my interest.
Oh. OK.
Of course, I do check to see what my friends are doing.
Well, that’s good. So what are your friends doing now?
Hmm. Well, Jim is eating spaghetti. And Betty is eating a sandwich. And Mike is having noodles.
How fun!
And we are eating pizza.
Yeah!

Language Lab
presentation n. [noncount] 顯示, 呈現; 表現; 描述 [present v.展現]
the way in which something is arranged, designed, etc. : the way in which something is presented
- The presentation of a dish determines how the customers perceive it.
菜餚的擺盤決定客人如何看這道菜
presentation n. 介紹,報告
- Jonathan prepared a lot of charts for his presentation.
Jonathan 為了他的報告準備了很多個圖表

status n. 狀態 (本文指個人在社群中的狀態)
Patrick constantly checks the status of his friends on Facebook.
Patrick 不斷的Facebook 檢示朋友們的狀態
status n. 狀況
- The financial status of the company is getting worse.
這家公司的財務狀況越來越糟

worth one's while 值得自己花時間的 [worth值得/while 一段時間]
- I like shopping on-line. I think shopping at department stores isn't worth my while.
- Come with me to the gym! I promise I'll make it worth your while.
值回票價

scroll v. (在電腦螢幕上) 滾動, 滑動
- I scroll down and found the file.
- Sam scrolled down to the end of the document.
scroll n.卷軸
- The archaeologists found some scrolls with an ancient language when they were working at that site.


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[Advanced] Spaces That Heal (2)

Tomorrow's hospital rooms will also be fully wired to help patients engage with the outside world and their own treatment. At the Kaiserslautern Military Community Medical Center in Germany, which will serve soldiers returning from the Middle East, the entire wall opposite the bed will have an interactive video screen, letting patients look at photos of their kids, stream Netflix, Skype with their friends, see schedules for doctors' visits, and hold video chats with teams of physicians.

Do no harm
Other recent research has looked at how hospitals contribute to patient harm. A landmark 1999 study by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences concluded that medical errors, including falls and medication mistakes, were responsible for up to 98,000 deaths in American hospitals each year, making preventable hospital errors the fifth-leading cause of death, behind only maladies like heart disease and cancer. Hospital believe better design can reverse the trend.

When architecture firm HOK began creating the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro, in New Jersey, a replacement hospital building that opened this past May, fall prevention was a top priority.  Nurses wanted clear sight lines into the room so they could see if someone was struggling to get out of bed, but the toilet presented a design problem. The safest place for the toilet is along the wall by the bed. But putting it there would obstruct the nurse's view of the patient's head. The solution to the sight-line problem: the parallelogram. By canting the room at angles like a diamond on a playing card, the toilet can still go near the patient, but recessed so that the nurse can see the patient from head to toe. The arrangement also lets the patient see both the window and the video screen.

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3-D Printing: No Factory Required! (2)

The future of 3-D printing
One startling ability 3-D printers have is that they can print parts of themselves. This ability could come in handy for future space missions, like building a base on Mars Instead of transporting heavy equipment to Mars, engineers could send one 3_D printer that could "print" multiple printers. Each one could be used to make certain objects - from doors to windows - for astronauts to assemble.

An even more incredible application of 3-D printing technology is being tested in the medical field. A company called Organovo has developed a type of 3-D printer that can take a human's cells and use them to create organic tissues. Organovo successfully printed their first blood vessels in 2010, and they are looking ahead to the day when they can print entire replacement organs.

Making an impact
Last year, analysts at the Atlantic Council released a report titled "Could 3-D printing Change the World? The authors predict that 3-D printing will be a game changer on many levels. They believe that 3-D printing could have "as profound an impact on the manufacturing world as the PC and the Internet on the information world.

Info Cloud 
Hey, Ken, thanks for lending me your cell phone yesterday. It really came in handy.

No problem. That's just an old cell phone I'm not using anymore. I'm glad it came in handy.

Now friends, when I said, "It came in handy", I mean it became useful.  Since my cell phone was being repaired, Ken's phone came in handy, or it became useful to me.

Now, if you keep something handy, it's not really the same as come in handy, is it?

No, it's not. If you keep something handy, it's close to you. And therefore, it's easy to reach or get to, presumably with your hands. I like to keep a Chinese-English dictionary handy, so I can look up Chinese characters that I don't know.

Sounds like it's a handy reference book.

It is Ken, my Chinese-English dictionary is very useful.

You know, I always keep a pen handy, so I can jot down important information.

Good. It's always within easy reach. Now, we should mention a related word handyman, and that's someone who can do many different small jobs or tasks, like fix things in a house or building.

A handyman is very handy with various tools.

Yes, he or she is very good at working with tools.

handy adj. 手很巧的
clever or skillful in using your hands, doing small jobs, etc.
- My brother is handy with electronic devices.
我弟對电子器材操作自如

handy adj.手頭的, 手邊的, 離手很近的
near and easy to reach
- keep a pen handy 
將筆放在離自己很近, 随手可得

handy adj. 容易操作的,好使用的
useful
- a handy reference book.
一本很好使用的参考書

handyman n.善常於多種手藝的人
a person (especially a man) who is skillful at doing small jobs (such as household repairs)

print themselves 印出自己的零件

come in handy 派上用场

Language Lab
startle v. 使驚嚇; 使嚇一跳; 使驚奇
to make someone suddenly surprised or slightly shocked
- Ray's sudden resignation startled everyone in the company.
Ray突然辭職讓公司每個人都嚇一跳
startling adj. 令人吃驚的
very unusual or surprising
- The girl's startling looks made her a rising star in modeling.
這個女孩驚人的美冒讓她成為模特兒介的新秀

incredible adj. 不能置信的，令人無法相信的，不可思議的, 驚人的
[in字首-否定之意/ credible 可信的]
-hard to believe.
不能相信的, 不可信的
- The boy has an incredible memory.
- The incredible voice of the singer captured the attention of the entire audience.

replacement n.替代, 代替者, 取代; 更換; 接替
when you get something that is newer or better than the one you had before
replace v.替代，替換
to start doing something instead of another person, or start being used instead of another thing
- Our computers are too old and too slow and require replacement.
- The quarterback was seriously wounded, and the team needs a replacement quickly.

profound adj.深深的; 深刻的; 深切的; 深度的
having a strong influence or effect
- George's tragic childhood has had a profound impact on his character. 
Georg的悲慘童年, 对他性格影响深遠
profound adj.知識淵博
showing great knowledge and understanding [= deep]
- Professor Frasier's profound knowledge of ancient Egypt amazed us.

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[Advanced] Spaces That Heal (1)

The latest medical breakthrough is the hospital room itself

Someday not too long from now, when you are away from home, you might have the chance to stay in a room unlike any you've ever seen. You'll have unprecedented privacy with your bathroom restocked from the hallway, your bedside remote will let you pull up the shades or flip on the AC. And the TV will fill an entire wall. It could be a swank hotel, but it's the hospital room of the future.

Time for an upgrade
Hospitals need to change, and they're turning to architects for help. In part the impetus for new-look hospitals is bureaucratic. Medicare and private insurers are moving away from the fee-for-service model, in which they pay for each procedure and Tylenol tab-let, to flat-fee payments for entire episodes of care - a knee replacement, say, or an arterial bypass operation - so rooms are less of a profit center. Medicare has also begun paying bonuses to hospitals that provide effective, high-quality treatment, while penalizing those that don't meet basic standards or have high rates of avoidable readmissions. Private insurers are beginning to follow suit.

The changes dovetail with years of research showing that the color, shape, layout, and accoutrements of a hospital room have a direct effect on health. In 2005, a team at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center studied the effect of sunlight on the recovery of patients who'd just had spinal surgery. Comparing patients on brighter and darker sides of a room, the experiment concluded that sunlight significantly reduced both pain and the need for analgesic medication. Dozens of other studies have reached similar conclusions on patient exposure to nature and art, classical music, colored walls, and the presence of family members. In other words, pleasant rooms aren't only more comfortable; they're therapeutic.


unprecedented adj.
/ˌʌnˈprɛsəˌdɛntəd/
never having happened before, or never having happened so much

swank adj.
/ˈswæŋk/
very fashionable and expensive: swanky
- a swank club/hotel/restaurant

impetus n.
/ˈɪmpətəs/
1 an influence that makes something happen or makes it happen more quickly
2 the force that makes an object start moving, or keeps it moving

bureaucratic adj.
/ˌbjɚrəˈkrætɪk/
involving a lot of complicated official rules and processes

episode n.
/ˈɛpəˌsoʊd/
an event or a short period of time during which something happens

penalize v.
/ˈpi:nəˌlaɪz/
to punish (someone or something) for breaking a rule or a law

accoutrement n.
/əˈku:trəmənt, əˈku:tɚmənt/
the equipment needed for a particular activity or way of life

therapeutic adj.
/ˌθerəˈpju:tɪk/
1 making you feel calm and relaxed
2 relating to the treatment or cure of an illness

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3-D Printing: No Factory Required! (1)

This magical technology turns 3-D designs into 3-D objects
Printing images is easy: Select an image of a purple robot on your PC, for example, and then press print. Your home printer precisely shoots drops of ink onto a flat piece of paper, creating the robot's 2-D image. "Printing" 3-D objects is something altogether different. Take the purple robot. First select a file of the 3-D model of the robot and send it to your special 3-D printer. Immediately, the printer begins making noise, and a nozzle releases plastic material in thin layers, over and over again. In two to three hours, a 3-D purple robot is standing before you!

3-D printing: then and now
3-D printing technology first appeared in the 1980s. At that time, it was used as an inexpensive way for companies to make prototypes before creating final products. But 3-D printing technology has matured to the point where printers can now create high-quality objects using a variety of materials, including metals. That means 3-D printers can now make final products that meet high industrial standards. 3-D printers are already being used to make parts for race-cars and jets as well as artificial limbs and hearing aids.

Info Cloud
quotation marks/ quotes 引號
one of a pair of punctuation marks “ ” or ‘ ’ that are used to show the beginning and the end of a quotation, to show that something is a title, to show that a word or phrase is being used in a special way, etc. — usually plural

Today, let's take a look  at something that may seen insignificant but it's in fact quite meaningful: quotation marks. Steve, what can you tell us about quotation marks?

Well, as the name suggests, quotes are used when quoting someone's words. That's the most common usage of quotation marks.

Yes, that's one usage. But, there is another function of this punctuation mark. Irony which is the use of words to express something different from there original meaning.

In other words, what's quoted is an usual meaning of the word.

As an example, living in the age of the internet, we might talk about living in the virtual world. And, I might put the word "living" in quotes because no one can literally live in the virtual world. It's not real.

That's a good one, Ken. Here's another example. John claimed he was too "busy" to help me. If I put busy in quotes, I am doubting whether he was really busy.

Hey, Steve! Why did you put your fingers up like that just now?

Well, Ken. That's what we call air quotes. Some people called it finger quotes when people speak, they'll sometimes use their fingers to indicated quotation marks. Giving the quoted word an ironic or unusual meaning.

insignificant adj.
small or unimportant : not significant; too small or unimportant to consider or worry about
irony n.
/ˈaɪrəni/
when you use words that are the opposite of what you really mean, often in order to be amusing
literally adv.
according to the most basic or original meaning of a word or expression

Grammar Gym
take: take for example
Hi, there, friends! How are you doing today? Welcome to the Grammar Gym, my name is Liz. In today's article, we see this sentence: take the purple robot. The writer is not saying that the we, the readers, should go ahead and reach out with our hands and grab the purple robot. No, instead take is a short way of saying take for example. So today's sentence just means, using the purple robot as an example.

This use of take to talk about examples is most often found in spoken situations. For example, Robert has so many crazy stories about his travels. Take the time when he was stuck in Mexico City without his passport. Or, Mrs. Jensen's students are very creative. Take Timothy and his artwork. And that's it for today. Be sure to check out today's grammar tips section in your magazine for more example sentences. This is Liz, from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.

Language Lab
precisely adv.[=exactly] 精確地, 準確也
 [prɪˋsaɪslɪ]
very accurate and exact
- No one knows precisely how many people survived the train crash.
precise adj. 精確的
- The precise location of the stolen car has not been determined yet.

nozzle n.噴嘴
/ˈnɑ:zəl/
a short tube that is put on the end of a hose or pipe to control the way a liquid or gas flows out
- The nozzle of the fire extinguisher was jammed.
這台噴火器的噴嘴堵住了
- The gas nozzle automatically stops adding gasoline when the tank is full.
當油箱滿的時候, 加油的油槍會停止加油

prototype n. 新發明設備或機械的樣本, 樣品, 原型, 原模型
/ˈproʊtəˌtaɪp/
 [prot字首- 第一個/type典型]
an original or first model of something from which other forms are copied or developed
- The prototype of the new car was built by a group of Japanese engineers.

mature v.成長, 成熟
to become mature: such as a : to become fully developed in the body and mind
- Teenage girls usually mature faster than teenage boys.
mature v. 趨于完善
to continue developing to a desired level
- Her acting skills mature rapidly over the years.
maturity n.成熟
the time or state when someone or something is fully grown or developed
- The girls delayed maturity was caused by a hormonal imbalance. 
這個女孩的過晚發育是因為荷爾蒙失調引起的

limb n.
a leg or arm


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[Advanced] NEWSworthy Clips (3)

New HIV test for infants seen as possible breakthrough for sub-Saharan Africa
by Peter Frost And Melissa Harris

In HIV-plagued sub-Saharan Africa, it can take up to three months for mothers to learn whether their babies have the deadly virus, delaying what could be life-sustaining treatment.

Many of the far-flung and rudimentary public health clinics aren't equipped with reliable electricity and refrigeration, let alone the sophisticated laboratories required to process HIV tests for infants.

Tests must be sent off to a lab. Because of that delay, even among women willing to walk miles to get their infants tested, more than half never receive the results.

A team at Northwestern University say they are on the verge of addressing the problem. In October, they planned to unveil a new HIV test for infants of mothers who have tested positive for the virus, which promises a result in less than an hour at a palatable cost.

Infants diagnosed early can be placed on anti-retroviral drugs that help them manage the disease for decades.

Designed by David Kelso, a Northwestern biomedical engineering professor, with the help of others, the new medical device is targeted specifically for testing infants in rural Africa.

Existing tests for infants in the developed world rely on expensive and sophisticated equipment.

Kelso's device is about the size of a single-slice toaster and runs on battery power. It was designed to be used by lightly trained nurses or community health workers.

His team aims to drive the cost of performing each test below $10 and get the equipment in as many rural public health clinics as possible.

The device will first be evaluated in five clinics in Mozambique and eventually be expanded to rural settings, where researchers will measure the accuracy of the test, how its availability affects the number of infants tested and how many of those found to be HIV positive are treated.

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130522ada0ec793a6d358434701d326306aff6a0f.wma

[Advanced] NEWSworthy Clips (2)

Disney's Cars Land is a stunning addition

We got to Disneyland on a Monday morning and were pleasantly surprised to find only a 15-minute line for the Matterhorn ride.

On Tuesday morning, we found out why. Everyone was over at California Adventure, queuing up for the park's hot new attraction -- Radiator Springs Racers, the signature ride at the new Cars Land attraction that opened in June.

Cars Land, part of a $1.1-billion renovation, is a stunning addition to California Adventure -- a separate park that celebrates the Golden State with rides and a back lot section honoring the movie biz.

But this year it's all about Cars Land, 12 or so acres that put you right in the middle of Radiator Springs, the fictional city of the 2006 Pixar movie.

You wander in along "Route 66," where you'll find the requisite Disney shops and snack bars. But we didn't bring two kids all the way across the country to eat. They wanted to ride.

And finally, it was time to make our way to the Racers. It was only five minutes between hitting the line and making our way into one of the six-seat cars that race you through the impressive mountain range that serves as the backdrop to Cars Land.

The ride started slowly, with an almost leisurely drive through the mountains -- the car even slowed down a touch to give us a look at a stunning waterfall. But then night descended and characters from the movie started dashing out of the dark to narrowly miss head-on collisions.

Back into the daylight, another car shows up at our side, and when we get the flag, the race is on. Suddenly, you're speeding through the course, around some slightly terrifying embankments that have you riding on your side, not to mention some serious bumps in the road.

 "That was AWESOME," screamed my little guy. As for me, I wanted to go again.

Disney's Cars Land is a stunning addition
http://www.newsday.com/travel/disney-s-cars-land-is-a-stunning-addition-1.4265229

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New Kid on the Block (2)

The second week of the semester, the school had a "back to school" night. Parents meet the teachers and learn about their child's schedule, requirements and grading. The biggest difference between elementary and middle school is that the students change classrooms for each subject. Do you think that's complicated? Wrong! From Monday to Friday, the schedule also changes. Math can be the first class on Monday and then the second one on Tuesday. I'm still confused but the kids have no problem after the first week.

Students attend seven classes each day. Every student has different classes from the others depending on their electives. Some study Spanish, some learn French. Classes end at 2:40, and the school bus takes the students home. So far, Irene has missed the school bus twice and gone to the wrong class once. But I think she likes her new school. This new kid on the block is finding her way despite the language barrier. We can only stand beside her, support her and look forward to a great school year!

Info Cloud
Hey, Steve. Don’t you think it’s incredible that the education system in America still doesn't require middle school and high school students to study a foreign language.

Well, it is a shame, Ken, because when you study a second language, you benefit yourself in so many ways. Some ways you might be aware of, and some maybe not. Here are a few.

First, studying a foreign language increases your global understanding. It shows you that there are different ways of thinking. You get a different perspective of life.

So it forces you to look out beyond yourself. But a foreign language also compels you to look inward, too.

Right. Studies show that knowing a foreign language increases your understanding of your own culture – and that includes your native language.

Thirdly, knowing a foreign language increases your chances of getting into a better school, going abroad to study and then later, getting a better job.

Next, remember that foreign languages help you to appreciate foreign books, movies and music.

And finally, perhaps the best reason to study a foreign language – it helps you to make new, lifelong friends like everyone here at Studio Classroom, your friend for life.

compel v. 強迫, 使不得不
[kəmˋpɛl]
to force (someone) to do something
- The law will compel employers to provide health insurance.

inward adj.
/ˈɪnwɚd/
 of or relating to a person's mind or spirit

Grammar Gym
to find one’s way: to figure out how to move from one place to another place

Hi there, friends.
Thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym.
My name is Liz.

In today’s article we read:
This new kid on the block is finding her way despite the language barrier.
That’s our Grammar Tip sentence.
And today we’re looking at the phrase: to find one’s way.
Normally “to find one’s way” means to figure out how to move from one place to another place.
But in today’s sentence, the phrase means figuring things out.
In other words, this new kid on the block is figuring things out despite the language barrier.

OK. Let’s have a look at some example sentences.
Jason would not have found his way in the corporate world if he hadn't followed his father’s advice.
Or: With good common sense and a positive working attitude, Janet is finding her way in her new job.

Want more example sentences?
Then check out today’s Grammar Tip section in your magazine.
And that’s it for today.
This is Liz from the Grammar Gym.
See you next time.

Language Lab
complicated adj. 複雜的
hard to understand, explain, or deal with
complicate v. 使複雜
to make (something) more difficult or less simple
- The application procedure is too complicated for me.
complicated 混亂的, 麻煩的
consisting of many closely connected parts [= complicated; ≠ simple]
- The situation in the Middle East is complicated.
中東的情勢很混亂的

confused adj. 感到困惑的, 不清楚的
unable to understand or think clearly
confuse 使迷惑
to make (someone) uncertain or unable to understand something
- The new computer system made me so confused.
confused about 對哪些事感到疑惑
- I am confused about how to get to the train station.

elective n. 選修課程 [elect v. 選出 to select (someone) for a position, job, etc., by voting ]
a class that is not required in a particular course of study
- I chose marketing as one of my electives.
elective adj. 選出來的
an elective position or organization is one for which there is an election:
- Wilma holds an appointed position while Donna holds an elective office.
Wilma的職位是被指派的, Donna的職位是被選上的

despite preposition 儘管,雖然
used to say that something happens or is true even though something else might have prevented it
- Susan finished her doctoral degree despite her illness.
儘管生病, Susan 還是完成她的博士學位
- Despite the objections of their parents, Ricky and Chloe still got married.
雖然有父母的反對, Ricky 和 Chloe 還是結婚了

mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130521_c4b25.wmv

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New Kid on the Block (1)

Life in an American junior high school

As the new kid on the block, my daughter Irene needs to deal with and overcome several difficulties. Fortunately, there are detailed instructions for parents and students who move to our area. From enrollment to the academic program, we followed them step by step.

My daughter graduated from grade school in Taipei, so she is entering the seventh grade. Each semester, the school holds an orientation for transfer students like her and new sixth graders.

We thought that would be the perfect time for us to learn more about the school. However, parents aren't allowed! The school expects middle-schoolers to be independent and have self-discipline. So my brave daughter went with two new friends from church.

The activities included getting to know your campus, finding your classrooms and learning how to read the bulletin board. In the classroom, the students played Bingo in small groups to learn more about each other.

Info Cloud
break the ice / icebreaker 

Normally when a group of strangers is together in one room, it takes a while before they feel comfortable talking and sharing personal information with one another.

Well, it’s natural. People want to protect themselves from getting hurt or embarrassed, so they behave in a cold and somewhat reserved manner.

But nobody likes being in an atmosphere like that. It’s icy and uncomfortable.

Hey, sounds like the perfect time for an ice breaker! Ice breakers, also known as warm up activities, are games or activities that are designed to help groups of people break the ice – that is to encourage them to get to know one another better.

Ice breakers are great for people in groups who intend to work together as a team like office workers and athletes.

They’re also useful for building community for freshman students moving into a university dormitory, for example.

And ice breakers come in all shapes and sizes. The most basic is probably just writing your name on a sticker and wearing it on your shirt. It’s amazing how people will talk to you once they know your name.

Right. Friends, check the Internet for fun and creative ways you can help people break the ice.

Review Skits
Now that’s funny.

What’s funny?

I’m reading about my friends that move to the States.

Oh, yeah. I remember. So how are they doing?

Well, their daughter is in junior high school. It’s not easy. She needs to overcome some difficulties.

How is she dealing with it?

Fortunately, the family has detailed instructions. They’re following them step by step.

Good. But why were you laughing?

Each semester, the school holds an orientation for new students.

For students to learn about the school. Why is that funny?

It’s for students! But the parents wanted to go, too.

What?

They were surprised when they weren't allowed.

Oh, that is funny.

So the daughter went with her friends.

That’s good. Did she learn about the campus and the classrooms?

Yes. And she learned how to read the bulletin board, and even played Bingo!

Orientation sounds like fun.

Yeah. I want to go.

Too bad it’s just for students.

Language Lab
enrollment n. 註冊 [en字首- 使如何如何, roll名單, 名冊]
the process of arranging to join a school, university, course etc
- Enrollment for this semester is already closed.
本學期已經沒有辦法再註冊了
enroll v.使入學, 註冊
to officially arrange to join a school, university, or course, or to arrange for someone else to do this
- Mandy tried to enroll her daughter in a private school.
Mandy 試著要讓女兒進入私立學校就讀

academic adj. 學業的
relating to education, especially at college or university level
- Alice's academic performance at school is outstanding.
Alice 在學校的學業表現的非常突出
academic adj.成續優異的
good at studying
- Hank is bright, but not very academic.
Hank很聰明, 但是成績不是很好
academy n.學院
/əˈkædəmi/
a college where students are taught a particular subject or skill
- a police academy 警察學院

self-discipline n. 自律, 自我約束 [self自己/ discipline紀律]
/ˌsɛlfˈdɪsəplən/
the ability to make yourself do things that should be done  
- To become a great athlete requires determination and self-discipline.
要成為一位偉大的運動員, 需要決心和自律
self-disciplined adj. 自律的
- He lives a self-disciplined lifestyle.
他過著自律的生活方式

bulletin board n.公佈欄 [bulletin 公報; 公告/ board 板子 ]
a board on the wall that you put information or pictures on
- Our poster was taken off the bulletin board.
我們的海報從布告欄上被拿下來了
- The time and the location of the meeting will be posted on the bulletin board.
會議的時間和地點會張貼在公佈欄

new kid on the block (idiom) new to the area
A new kid on the block is a person who has recently joined a company, organisation, team, etc, and does not know how things work yet.


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