Monday, June 30, 2014

It's Mango Time!

How much do you know about one of the world’s most popular fruits?

Some people call mangoes the "king of fruit," while others just call them delicious! Those who love mangoes anxiously await the first ripe ones of the season. And not only do mangoes taste great but they also are good for you!

Did you know ... 

  • People think mangoes were first cultivated over 5,000 years ago in India. 
  • The countries of India and the Philippines have declared mango their national fruit.
  • A mango tree can live up to 300 years.
  • Countries that are major mango producers include Mexico, Egypt, Pakistan, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia and Israel. 
  • A cup of the fruit has only 100 calories and is nearly fat-free. 
  • Mangoes are a vital food source for millions of people. 
  • One cup of mango contains 100 percent of the daily requirement for vitamin C. 
  • Mangoes contain over 20 vitamins and minerals, making them a "superfood." 
  • The fruit can be eaten raw, cooked, dried or canned.
So treat yourself to a mouthwatering mango today!


Editor's Summary 
Today's article talks about the king of fruit: mango!
In fact, both India and the Philippines have declared it their national fruit.
We learned a lot of facts about mangoes today.
Did you know that mango is almost totally fat free?
And, in fact, one cup only has 100 calories.
And while mangoes may be low in calories, they are high in vitamin C.
One cup meets the daily requirement for vitamin C.
And you can eat it in so many different ways: raw, cooked, dried, or canned.
Making me hungry.
I think I am going to get some of this mouthwatering treat, so bye for now.


Info Cloud
bullet points 項目符號
條列式排列重點 
guideline 
bullet hole

Grammar Gym
Those who love mangoes anxiously await the first ripe ones of the season. 
await: to wait for 
- You can await the first ripe mangoes of the season. 
= You can wait for the first ripe mangoes of the season. 
- The people await the coming of spring. 
= The people waited for spring to come. 
- I await good news. 
= I'm waiting for good news. 
- The driver walked into the lobby where people were waiting. (can't use await)


Language Lab
cultivate v. 
to prepare and use land for growing crops and plants;
to plant and take care of a particular crop [= grow]:
- Cocoa plants are cultivated in this area. 
- Hank cultivated his land using modern technology. 
to work hard to develop a particular skill, attitude, or quality:
- Rita is trying to cultivate a positive attitude toward life.

declare v. 
to state officially and publicly that a particular situation exists or that something is true:
- After the earthquake, the government declared a state of emergency. 
declaration n. 
an important official statement about a particular situation or plan, or the act of making this statement:
- The stock market was immediately impacted by the declaration of war. 

calorie n. 卡路里, 計算食物熱量的單位 
a unit for measuring the amount of energy that food will produce:
- There are over 500 calories in this banana split. 
- My daily food intake can't exceed 1500 calories. 
- The contestants are on a calorie-controlled diet.

mouthwatering adj. 好吃的, 令人垂涎三尺的
food that is mouth-watering looks or smells extremely good:
- Mom's mouthwatering fried chicken is my favorite. 
- The mouthwatering desserts displayed in the window drew me inside the bakery.


Thursday, June 26, 2014

Shailene Woodley (2)

A life-changing opportunity 
A high-profile project called The Descendants then gave her a chance to work in a major film. The four months she joined George Clooney in Hawaii to make the movie is a period she says shaped her young adult life. Her performance as a girl dealing with the possible death of her mother earned much attention and an Independent Spirit Award. However, she maintains, "I'm not a good actor. I'm just a professional listener."

A confident individual 
Though "Secret Life" concluded last year, Woodley was reluctant to take on the sure-to-be hot film Divergent when offered to her because of its sheer size. But the celebration of the individuals she found in the popular book the film is based on "profoundly moved" her, "Everybody wants to fit in, which is so boring," she says, echoing her parents' first guideline. "I do not think one person is capable of being 'one thing' ever. That's just a stereotype." One gets the sense that Woodley fights for the right to be her own person just like her character Tris does.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Actor or Actress?
兩性平權的21世紀裡,
actor/actress actor也用來稱女演員, actress女演員則用來表示 獎項
以前空中小姐叫 stewardess, 現在則是空服員 flight attendant


Grammar Gym
The four months she joined George Clooney in Hawaii to make the movie is a period she says shaped her young adult life.
[amount of time] is/was a period [someone] says + verb. 
- Mona's two years working on the farm was a period she says taught her the value of hard work.
- Nathan's summer with his grandfather was a period he says forced him to grow up.


Language Lab
life-changing adj. 可以改變人生的
- The car accident was a life-changing experience for Ray; he has learned to cherish every moment in life.
- Getting married is a life-changing decision.

high-profile adj. 備受矚目的, 高知名度的
attracting a lot of public attention, usually deliberately
- Many high-profile production houses are interested in this script.
- This high-profile case is reported on TV news almost every day.

sheer adj. 完全的, 十足的
used to emphasize that something is very heavy, large etc;
luck, happiness etc with no other feeling or quality mixed with it [= pure]:
- The sheer delight of enjoying family time with my kids is incomparable.
- His success is sheer luck.

stereotype n.刻板印象
a belief or idea of what a particular type of person or thing is like. Stereotypes are often unfair or untrue
- Sherry doesn't fit the stereotype of a business woman. She's calm, intelligent and sweet.
stereotype v.  to decide unfairly that a type of person has particular qualities or abilities because they belong to a particular race, sex, or social class
- Asians are stereotyped in most Hollywood film. sure-to-be


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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Shailene Woodley (1)

Don't try to put this young Divergent star in a box

Shailene Woodley starts every day with a simple refrain:" Good morning, good morning! Exciting day!" Choosing to be positive on a daily basis clearly has its benefits when viewing Woodley's advancing work and success as evidence.

An accidental career 
Though Woodley insists that her acting careers was an accident, she started getting parts in numerous commercials as a child. Her parents gave her three guidelines as an actor, to stay true to herself, have fun and do well in school. Accepting the challenge, Woodley took on commercials which were soon replace with TV shows such as The O.C. and CSI: NY while she remained in school.

An eventful education 
High school proved to be eventful for Woodley in both good and bad ways. First, she learned she had scoliosis, which put her in a brace for about two years to straighten her back. When she was 15 years old, her parents were divorced. Soon after, she was cast as the resolute lead in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Her life experiences helped her relate to her role in the show, which dealt with many teen issues. All the while, Woodley did schoolwork between takes as she filmed for 30 to 50 hours per week.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: What Is a Teenager?
teenager 青少年, 指13-19歲的青少年, thirteen - nineteen (有teen在字尾)
nineteen 19歲已不算青少年
adolescent 較正式, 指幼年期至成年期間的青少年
young adult 剛過青春期, 正要邁入成年的人, 13-17歲
juvenile 心智尚未成熟的年輕人或小孩, 法律領域使用
juvenile court 少年法庭


Grammar Gym
All the while, Woodley did schoolwork between takes as she filmed for 30 to 50 hours per week.
All the while: during this time
- Although the scientist did check on his experiment every day, he had his doubts all the while.
- Lynn knew all the while that her friends were planning to surprise her.


Language Lab
refrain n. 重複說的話
part of a song or poem that is repeated, especially at the end of each verse;
a remark or idea that is often repeated:
- Darlene's constant refrain is that she wants to quit her job.
- "Location, location, location!" is a common refrain in the real estate market.

replace v. 取代  
to start doing something instead of another person, or start being used instead of another thing:
- Molly was replaced by her assistant.
replacement n. 替代,替代的人或事務
someone or something that replaces another person or thing
replacement for
- Theo is leaving the job, but we still can't find a good replacement for him.

eventful adj. 充滿事故的, 大事件的
full of interesting or important events:
- We had an eventful year; a change of CEO, a serious merger and a relocation of our headquarters.

resolute adj. 剛毅的, 堅定的
doing something in a very determined way because you have very strong beliefs, aims etc
- The president proved himself as a brave and resolute leader through the crisis.
- We need to take resolute action to solve this problem.
resolution n. 立志
a promise to yourself to do something
New Year's resolution (=a resolution made on January 1st)
- Losing 10 pounds is my New Year's resolution.


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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Discovering Your Life Purpose (2)

The process of Setting Goals
Perhaps you want to change something about yourself. Maybe you want to lose weight, exercise every week or earn higher grades. You may want to read 10 books this year, finish college or travel to another country. These are specific goals.

If you want to reach your goal, you must have a deadline. Then work toward that deadline. You will know when you reach your goal.

Once you have a goal, create a strategy that will help you reach that goal. Dreams are free, but goals have a price. You must spend time, money and effort to reach them. If you want to learn an instrument, then you must take lessons and practice. It is not always easy, but your hard work will pay off.

Finally, don't give up on your goals. At times you may get discouraged. But don't give up! Work hard and you can reach your goal.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Aphorisms  格言
格言可以傳達某種真理或智慧
- If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got.
如果你每天都在做一樣的事情, 那你得到的結果也是一成不變 (指設定目標的重要)
- Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
權力都会導致腐化,绝對的權力绝對導致腐化
- Hunger is the best sauce.
肚子餓的時候東西都特別好吃, 因為肌餓是最好的調味料


Grammar Gym
At times you may get discouraged. = Occasionally, you may get discouraged.
at times: means occasionally
- Old Mr. Richard likes to walk around the city, and you might even see him down at the harbor at times.
- The street performer usually performs at the park; at times, you can see him in the metro station.


Language Lab
process n. 過程
a series of actions that are done in order to achieve a particular result:
- The process of applying for a birth certificate is actually quite simple.
process v. 處理, 加工
to make food, materials, or goods ready to be used or sold, for example by preserving or improving them in some way:
- The customer service department will process your request as soon as possible.

deadline n. 最後期限, 截止期限
a date or time by which you have to do or complete something
- The deadline for the report is this Friday.
- The deadline for our utility bill payment is next Monday.
- Our team worked day and night just to meet the deadline.

strategy n. 策略, 戰略
a planned series of actions for achieving something:
- Our marketing strategies really worked. Sales doubled last month.
- The president held a meeting with his chief of staff to discuss new political strategies.

pay off phrasal verb 獲得成功, 得到報償
if something you do pays off, it is successful or has a good result:
- Mark's investment in bonds paid off well after five years.
- Olivia's persistence and diligence really paid off. Now she's a top model.



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Monday, June 23, 2014

Discovering Your Life Purpose (1)

You're only limited by what you do with your dreams

As a child, I would spend hours dreaming about my future. I imagined having a beautiful home and family with lots of  children. I also dreamed of being a teacher, pianist, world traveler, baker or doctor. Dreaming motivated me to set goals that could make my dreams come true. It also encouraged me to learn new skills like painting, knitting and cooking.

Without any goals or dreams, my life would have been empty. When I dreamed, I realized that the opportunities in life were endless. A dream is something that you imagine might happen. There are no limits. Once you have a dream, you can create a goal. A goal is a specific objective that you can work toward. It has a plan and time limit, so you know when you reach it. Goals turn dreams into reality. Write your dreams down and evaluate whether or not they are realistic.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Dream On 做不同的夢
dream的種類
daydream 白日夢
pipe dream 抽鴉片產生的幻想, 今日指任何不切實際的幻想
bad dream = nightmare


Grammar Gym
As a child, I would spend hours dreaming about my future.
As a [some kind of position], [someone] would spend [amount of time] + [verb-ing]. 
- As a member of his school team, Henry would spend hours training with his teammates.
- As a dancer, Ginger would spend days practicing before a public performance.
- As an artist, Paulo would spend weeks working on a new painting.


Language Lab
motivate v. 激發, 促進, 有動力
to be the reason why someone does something
- The coach is good at motivating his team members with all kinds of pep talks.
motivation n. 動力, 動機
eagerness and willingness to do something without needing to be told or forced to do it
- Criticism can kill a child's motivation to learn.

knit v. 編織, 打毛線, knitted/knitting
past tense and past participle knitted to make clothing out of wool, using two knitting needles
- Mom knitted a sweater for me.
- Diane is always knitting something for her family.

rejuvenate v. 復原, 更新, 返老還童
to make something work much better or become much better again;
to make someone look or feel young and strong again

objective n. 目標
something that you are trying hard to achieve, especially in business or politics [= goal]
- Our objective for this month is to increase our sales by 5 percent.
objective adj.
based on facts, or making a decision that is based on facts rather than on your feelings or beliefs
- The chairman's opinion was not objective and didn't represent what the board thought.

evaluate v. 衡量, 評估
to judge how good, useful, or successful something is [= assess]:
- The research team is still evaluating the effectiveness of this treatment.
evaluation n. 衡量, 評估
a judgment about how good, useful, or successful something is [= assessment]:
- We need a comprehensive evaluation of our financial status.


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140623baadd9af1e6b358a137667b4f95fa3e7987173d959e1f528e6dccdd16f83e2c860c.wma

Saturday, June 21, 2014

A Sticky Situation (2)

"Don't be afraid, I promise you that as long as you cooperate, you won't get hurt."

"Why are you doing this? And who are you?"

"Are you sure you really want to know? I don't think you'll want to involve yourself in this situation."

"Well, I'm already involved in this situation whether I want to be or not. Your kidnapping kind of made that decision for me."

"I suppose you're right about that. I'm Erica. I have worked for the Goliath National Bank Headquarters for three years. A year ago I was approached by a policeman who asked me to investigate the way they handle their business. They thought that my boss was stealing money from the company."

"I don't get it. What does this have to do with you kidnapping me?"

"Be patient and I'll tell you! I finally found proof that the police could use to arrest my boss. Before I could get the proof to them, however, my boss found out what we had planned. He framed me! Now the police think that I was using my cover with them as a way to steal money. I have to flee the country, or I'll be arrested."

"I thought things like that only happened in movies!"

"You do believe me, don't you?"

 "Of course I believe you! And I'll help you in any way that I can."


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Some Biblical Allusions 聖經的典故

聖經中出現的字詞
the Garden of Eden 伊甸園, 任何一個美好的地方
Goliath 歌利雅, 巨人, 巨大的組織/公司
the Good Samaritan 好的撒瑪利亞人, 行善之人
Armageddon 啟示錄中末日, 指現今任何大的戰爭或災難


Grammar Gym
Your kidnapping kind of made that decision for me.
kind of: a little, in a small way, make words sound soft, not direct
- I'm feeling kind of hungry. (I'm feeling a little hungry.)
- Your kidnapping made that decision for me.
- Do you know you're kind of loud? Can you please lower your voice?
- You're kind of late, you know that?


Language Lab
cooperate v. 合作, 和某人合作(+ with)
to work with someone else to achieve something that you both want
- We decided to cooperate with a German company to get the bid.
cooperation n. 合作
when you work with someone to achieve something that you both want
- The cooperation between the two firms brought a lot of benefits to both.

involve v. 牽涉, 包含
if an activity or situation involves something, that thing is part of it or a result of it:
- This project involved a large sum of money and many teams.
- This couple always involves both of their families in their quarrels.
quarrel n.
an angry argument or disagreement

frame v. 污賴, 陷害
to deliberately make someone seem guilty of a crime when they are not guilty, by lying to the police or in a court of law
- The suspect claimed that he was framed by the real thief.
- The con man manufactured false evidence to frame this innocent guy.

flee v. 逃走, 潛逃 (past tense and past participle fled, 現在分詞為fleeing)
to leave somewhere very quickly, in order to escape from danger:
- The robber fled to South America and disappeared.
fled the country 潛逃出境
- The police have the evidence to prove that the suspect has already fled the country.



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Friday, June 20, 2014

A Sticky Situation (1)

What did this stranger do?

An hour passed, and Leo grew more and more nervous. The young woman next to him stayed quiet but alert, her eyes darting back and forth as they drove. He glanced at the sign that asked passengers to be courteous to the driver and smiled to himself. Things could be much worse, but overall, this whole situations was less than ideal. Not that she had been rude, but courtesy was definitely the last thing on his passenger's mind.

He wondered what her story was and why she was in his taxi forcing him to drive her north. The way she handled the gun made him think she was too reluctant to be a hardened criminal. What could be the motive behind this kidnapping? Even though she had told him to be quiet, curiosity was starting to get better of Leo. He cleared his throat and nervously glanced at her. But before he could break the silence, she spoke first.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: What Is a Story?
Story 的多重定義:
story可指故事,也可指編織出的謊言,
像是老師問為何沒有教作業,
如果回答作業被狗吃了, 那這就是一個story,
story也可以指事情背後的真像,
如果有一個人去搶銀行, 那背後一定有一件事是讓他要去做這件事,
end of story 指故事結束了, 不想做任何解釋了


Grammar Gym
Not that she had been rude, but courtesy was definitely the last thing on his passenger's mind.
Not that..., but....
- Not that you have to buy your girlfriend expensive gifts and take her to a fancy restaurant, but showing up at her house with nothing planned is not a smart idea.
- Not that you needed to give a long speech at the dinner party, but mumbling a few words without even thanking your host was rather impolite.


Language Lab
sticky adj. 黏黏的,忌手的、令人為難的
made of or covered with a substance that sticks to surfaces
a sticky situation, question, or problem is difficult or dangerous: 陷入膠著的狀態
- The development of the new product is at a sticky stage.
- There were a few sticky moments during the trial, but in the end, we still won the case.

courteous adj. 禮貌的,客氣的
polite and showing respect for other people
- Even though Josh is successful now, he's still friendly and courteous to everyone.
courtesy n. 禮貌
polite behaviour and respect for other people [= politeness; ≠ discourtesy]:
- The clerks in this shop always treat their customers with courtesy.

harden v. 使硬化        hard adj. 堅硬的  
to become firm or stiff, or to make something firm or stiff
- The mixture will harden in a few hours.
if your attitude hardens, or if something hardens it, you become more strict and determined and less sympathetic 變的麻木不仁或立場變堅固
- The buyer's attitude suddenly hardened during the negotiations.

curiosity  n. 好奇心  
the desire to know about something
- I gave into curiously and opened the gift.
- Children's curiosity always motivates them to learn.
curious adj.  
wanting to know about something
- People are curious about the private lives of celebrities.


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Thursday, June 19, 2014

The Amazing Azores (2)

See and Do
If you love exploring historic sites, the Azores are the right place for you. Centuries-old buildings stand next to modern restaurants, shops and hotels. Most of these older structures are still in use. Because of the islands' rich religious heritage, there are many old churches. If you spend time in the capital city, Ponta Delgada, be sure to visit Matriz de Sao Sebastiao. This church was completed in 1547. Both its inside and its outside are beautifully decorated.

If you love nature, escape city life and explore the Azores' beautiful countryside. The mild climate and water temperatures are perfect for surfing and swimming. Because of the islands' volcanic activity, there are hot springs and lakes to visit. Feel like going on a real adventure? Get a bird's eye view of the Azores by paragliding! And, best of all, the Azores rank as one of the top island groups in the world for sustainable tourism. So you can feel good about your visit!


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Air Sports
飛行的極限運動:
parachuting 降落傘
paragliding 滑翔傘
hang gliding 滑翔翼
ultralight 輕航機
parasailing 拖曳傘
BASE jumping 定點跳傘
wingsuit 飛蝠裝


Grammar Gym
Feel like going on a real adventure?
feel like: to have a strong feeling to do something
= Do want to go and have a real adventure?
- I feel like having steak for dinner tonight.
- Paul and Nancy feel like taking their kids to the zoo.
- Do to want to watch movie tonight? Sorry, but I don't feel like watching a movie.
- Sorry, but I don't feel like going out.


Language Lab
historic adj. 歷史重要的, 有歷史意義的
a historic place or building is very old:
- The historic castle is a famous spot visited by many tourists.
- Today is a historic moment for our country.
historical adj. 歷史的
relating to the past:
- historical background

religious adj. 宗教的, 虔誠的
relating to religion in general or to a particular religion:
- In some parts of the world, people are still persecuted because of their religious beliefs.
- Frank is very religious. He goes to church almost every day.

sustainable  adj. 可永續經營的, 不破壞環境生態的 (sustain v. 維持, 支撐)
able to continue without causing damage to the environment:
able to continue for a long time:
- The organization is devoted to the promotion of sustainable development in all countries.

tourism n. 觀光業, 旅遊業
the business of providing things for people to do, places for them to stay etc while they are on holiday:
- Tourism is this town's main industry.
tour n. 觀光, 旅行
a journey for pleasure, during which you visit several different towns, areas etc
- We went on a half-day city tour of Tokyo.
- Nick took us on a tour of Hollywood.


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Wednesday, June 18, 2014

The Amazing Azores (1)

Portugal's Azores are one of Europe's hidden treasures

On a map of the world, the Azores may be a little hard to spot. This small volcanic island group lies about 1,600 kilometers west of Europe, right in the middle of the Atlantic. But don't judge the Azores by their size.

These nine Portuguese island offer a wonderful off-the-beaten-path experience.

A Brief History
The Azores were first discovered by Portuguese explorers in 1427. People began to settle on the islands only a few years later. The economy there grew as European and African countries began to trade with the islands. Their rich soil was the perfect place to grow wheat, sugar and fruit. The people who live there, called Azoreans, were brave people. They survived in spite of natural disasters, pirate attacks, war and invasion. Today the Azores are an important source of trade with Europe. They're also a favorite vacation spot for visitors, and their popularity is growing.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Look What’s On the Inside 不要只看外在條件
強調內在的片語
- Big things come in small packages. 東西的大小不代表他的價值, 例:訂婚戒止
- Don't judge a book by its cover. 別以貌取人
- All that glitters is not gold. 金玉其外, 敗絮其中

Grammar Gym
But don't judge the Azores by their size.
Don't judge [something 1] by its [something 2]. 
- Don't judge a restaurant by its prices.
- Don't judge a product by its packaging.


Language Lab
volcanic adj. 火山的
relating to or caused by a volcano:
- The town was destroyed by a large volcanic eruption.
volcano n. 火山
a mountain with a large hole at the top, through which lava (=very hot liquid rock) is sometimes forced out:
- The active volcano keeps throwing out flames and lava.

off the beaten path 人跡罕至的 (beaten 走過)
a place that is off the beaten track is not well known and is far away from the places that people usually visit
- This hiking trail is off the beaten path. You can enjoy solitude here.
- The fugitive was hiding in a farmhouse miles off the beaten path.
fugitive n. 逃犯, 難民
someone who is trying to avoid being caught by the police

economy n. 經濟, 經濟體制
the system by which a country's money and goods are produced and used, or a country considered in this way:
- The economy of the coastal area is growing rapidly.
the careful use of money, time, goods etc so that nothing is wasted: 節約
- Hybrid or electric cars help to increase fuel economy.

in spite of 儘管, 雖然
without being affected or prevented by something
- The mountaineers left for the top of the mountain in spite of the rain.
- The quarterback will still be playing this weekend in spite of his injury.
- In spite of his illness, William still managed to finish college.


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140618baa7a8c953ff15fb1f1f883cdf93264fdd5327e11ffc7f3e7ae5841bd210dda2c3d.wma

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

A Look Into Yachts (2)

Our next superyacht pushes the boundaries of yacht design. Designed in part by Steve Jobs himself, Venus is an 80-meter-long yacht that features an aluminum hull and lots of glass. The sleek yacht calls to mind Apple's famous designs. If you look up to the wheelhouse, you'll see the screens for the seven iMac computers used to control the boat. Reviews of Venus are mixed, with some loving it, and other claiming that it looks like a floating Apple store.

Excuse me, I'm checking our security clearance for the last yacht. And, I'm getting the OK signal, so let's proceed.

Our next superyacht looks more like a submarine than a yacht, doesn't it? This is Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko's yacht called A. At 119 meters long, A stretches the length of a football field and a basketball court from and to end. Of note, the master bedroom is only accessible by fingerprint scan, meaning it's off limits to you and me, as is the US$300 million price tag!

And this concludes our tour, so I'd like to thank you for participating. As you leave, take time to enjoy the great views from our marina.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Off Limits 禁止
off limits 原是軍方用語,
美軍在二次世界大戰占領日本和德國時期,
美國為了跟二國政府維持良好關係,
美國軍方就設定了一些禁區,
禁止阿兵哥進入,
這些地方就被標示off limits表示禁止進入
後來這個用法就被廣泛使用在日常生活中,
像是某樣東西, 話題, 人物是不能碰的,
就可以用off limits
- My sister is off limits. 別想碰我妹
要注意limits後要加s

Grammar Gym
The sleek yacht calls to mind Apple's famous designs.
calls to mind: makes people think of
- Listening to the talk on travel safety calls to mind my trip to Europe last year.
- The baked goods from the new bakery calls to mind the treats we had in Vienna.


Language Lab
sleek  adj. 外形流暢的、型態優美的      
1 a vehicle or other object that is sleek has a smooth attractive shape:
- Oscar drives a sleek black Porsche.
- This sleek modern furniture is great for offices or hotels.
2 sleek hair or fur is straight, shiny, and healthy-looking 光澤
- The sleek sable fur coat costs over $5,000.

clearance  n. 進出的許可
official permission for a plane to take off or land
- We can take off once we get the clearance from air control.
n. the removal of unwanted things from a place 清理或淨空
- We bought a lot of housewares at the clearance sale.

stretch v. 延伸
to spread out or cover a large area of land
- The beautiful sand beach stretches for over 10 miles.
- The scar on this patient stretches from his neck to his stomach.
to straighten your arms, legs, or body to full length: 伸展
- After sitting for hours, John got up and stretched his legs.

accessible adj.   可進入的、可到達的 [access  v. 進入]    
a place, building, or object that is accessible is easy to reach or get into
- The town is only accessible by boat or airplane.
- The data is only accessible to authorized personnel.


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Monday, June 16, 2014

A Look Into Yachts (1)

An inside view of some of the world's most luxurious boats

Welcome to the Golden Owl Marina in beautiful Monaco! I'm Pierre and I'll be your guide today. You're in luck because I'm taking you on an exclusive tour of some of the world's largest and most luxurious yachts.

The wealthy owners are only allowing us to look around their floating palaces for a short time, so let's begin!

First off, we have the 25-meter-long yacht Neptune that belongs to a local billionaire who shall remain nameless. Featuring Italian design and custom-made furniture, this Novatec European (Euro) Yacht offers a great combination of style and comfort.

For example, the master bedroom is complete with his-and-her bathrooms, and over here, notice the impressive spiral staircase! Speaking of impressive, this yacht can reach a top speed of 24 knots.

Moving on to something even larger, we step aboard Seven Seas, an 86-meter-long superyacht owned by movie director Steven Spielberg. You'll notice the special glass wall not far from the on-deck pool. As you might guess, the glass doubles as an outdoor movie screen, allowing Spielberg and his guests to enjoy movies while soaking in the pool.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Onto vs. On To
1. onto 實質的物品, 在某樣東西的上面, 放上, 走上, 跳上...
- The cat jumped onto the chair.
- We walked onto the beach.

2. on to 抽象的東西, 在...上面, 例如: 信仰
- John wants to pass his beliefs on to his children.
- We walked on to the beach. (direction)

Grammar Gym
First off, we have the 25-meter-long yacht Neptune that belongs to a local billionaire who shall remain nameless.
who shall remain nameless: whose name we shall not say
- A witness who shall remain nameless has agreed to tell the police what she saw.
- A businessman who shall remain nameless has donated one million dollars to the orphanage.


Language Lab
exclusive adj. 專用的、獨有的
available or belonging only to particular people, and not shared
- These parking spaces are for our VIP's exclusive use.
exclusive places, organizations, clothes etc are so expensive that not many people can afford to use or buy them:
- Luke goes to exclusive restaurants when he meets with important clients.

billionaire n. 億萬富翁
someone who has more than a billion dollars or pounds
- Ted became a billionaire at age 25 with his online shopping business.
millionaire 百萬富翁
someone who is very rich and has at least a million pounds or dollars

spiral adj. 螺旋式的;
winding or circling around a central point and usually getting closer to or farther away from it : shaped or moving like a spiral
- You can take the spiral stairway to the top of the light house.
spiral n. (價格或數量)不斷上升或下降
a situation in which something continuously increases, decreases, or gets worse — usually singular
- The downward spiral of the price of oil is affecting the world economy.

soak v. 浸濕
if you soak something, or if you let it soak, you keep it covered with a liquid for a period of time, especially in order to make it softer or easier to clean:
- Soak the soybeans in water before grinding them.
- The cloth was soaked in the dye for five hours and then hung to dry.
- Leo soaked in the hot tub for an hour and felt refreshed afterward.


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140616baa024c5e1abd4284a33c8ce9d5f55b653de4312e5c4e3e594dd9c4e8e15ba5c6f2.wma

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Trouble in the Land of Milk and Honey (3)

Reuben knew this meal would not cut the mustard, but he tried to stay positive. "At least dessert looks good," he said, holding up a blueberry pie.

"That looks wonderful," agreed Ginger.

"But the proof of the pudding is in the eating." Ginger cut the pie and put a piece on a plate. She took a bite.

"What did you put in this?" she exclaimed in disgust.

Reuben checked the ingredients he had used and groaned. He'd been really out to lunch and had accidentally added salt instead of sugar!

"This takes the cake. What can we do?" asked Ginger.

"Let's go back to our meat and potatoes fare and make some sandwiches," suggested Reuben.

Ginger and Reuben put together some of their famous sandwiches and presented them to the guests. They felt embarrassed about serving such simple food. But the visitors thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. The mayor thanked the chefs enthusiastically.

Reuben and Ginger learned from their mistakes and in time became some of the best chefs in town.


Editor's Summary
Reuben knew that the food they had made would not cut the mustard.
But he was happy that at least they had the blueberry pie he had made for dessert.
And, it looked good.
Ginger knows that it is not the looks that count, but the proof is in the pudding.
So she decided to try a piece, only to ask Reuben and discuss what he had to put in the pie.
It tasted terrible.
And that's when he realized how out to lunch he had been, by adding salt instead of sugar.
So, they returned to their meat and potatoes fare and made the sandwiches that the restaurant was famous for.
They were a little embarrassed to serve them, but they really had no choice.
But, in the end, everyone thought the sandwiches were the best thing since sliced bread.
And Reuben and Ginger, they learned from their mistakes and ended up being some of the best chefs in town.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Charactonyms 個性化譯名
character字根: 個性, 特徵
charactonyms 說明某人特徵的詞
我們可以常常在小說裡看到charactonyms,
如果作者將一個西餐廳的師父取名Reuben 那絕對不是巧合,
因為Reuben剛好是一個三明治的名字,
所以Reuben在故事裡就是一個charactonym

現實生活中也有charactonym,
Usain Bolt 是Jamaican的短跑運動員, 而這個字也有快速的衝出之意
Jim Horn 他是專業的saxophone 手, horn指管樂器, 號角, 喇叭

Grammar Gym
Reuben and Ginger learned from their mistakes and in time became some of the best chefs in town.
in time: eventually, or after a period of time
- Although the new clerk seemed clumsy, the manager knew things will be fine in time.
- Change might be hard to accept at first, but most people will get used to them in time.

Language Lab
disgust n.
a strong feeling of dislike, annoyance, or disapproval
- When he mentioned this one politician, a look of disgust came over his face.
disgust v.
to make someone feel very annoyed or upset about something that is not acceptable:
- His arrogance and selfishness disgust everyone around him.

accidentally adv.
- The girl accidentally found out that she was actually adopted by her parents.
accidental adj.
happening in a way that is not planned or intended : happening by accident
- An accidental fall caused the old lady's arm to fracture.

fare n.
[uncountable] food, especially food served in a restaurant or eaten on a special occasion:
- The restaurant's fare is plain and over priced.
- The diner's fare improved a lot after the new chef came.

enthusiastically adv.
enthusiastic adj.
feeling or showing strong excitement about something : filled with or marked by enthusiasm
- Every team member enthusiastically participated in the group discussion.
- Larry is an enthusiastic baseball fan.


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140614baa5cbd0d65d6a4165d2fa04d2e336660060b9b1f87f33570b3ab87a5e371903105.wma

Friday, June 13, 2014

Trouble in the Land of Milk and Honey (2)

Reuben prepared a vegetable soup. He tasted it and decided it needed more seasoning to beef up the flavor. Reuben began sprinkling some hot pepper out of a shaker. But the shaker's top fell off, and all the hot pepper went into the soup! The soup was now too spicy to eat. But there's no use crying over spilt milk.

Reuben went to work on another dish. Meanwhile, Ginger had completed an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms. They looked delicious. But as she was carrying the tray to the refrigerator, she slipped and fell. The tray flew out of her hands, and the mushrooms rolled all over the floor.

Ginger looked upset, but she didn't whine. "We just have to take the bitter with the sweet," she said.

Reuben had said cooking this meal would be easy, but he had to eat his words. The rolls didn't rise and ended up as flat as a pancake. Some of the fruit for their fruit salad had become rotten. Then they burned the steaks. "Madeleine would go bananas if she saw this," moaned Ginger.


Editor's Summary
So we see today that Reuben and Ginger get on with the job of cooking without Madeleine.
Reuben begins by making vegetable soup and decides to beef up the flavor by adding some seasoning.
And, beef it up he did.
The top came off the hot pepper shaker, and all of it went into the soup so that it was way too spicy to eat.
But he had no time to cry over spilt milk, so he started preparing another dish.
Meanwhile, Ginger had finished preparing the appetizer, which looked delicious.
But on her way to put it in the refrigerator, she slipped and her appetizer went everywhere.
It seemed like everything was going wrong.
The rolls ended up flat as a pancake, and some fruit for the salad was rotten, and the steaks burned.
Ginger knew Madeleine would go bananas if she saw their mess.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Eat What? 認錯就是要吞下
跟認錯相關的片語:
eat one's words 承認自己先前說錯的話, 把話吞回去
eat crow 吃烏鴉, 因為很不好吃, 也是指承認自己說錯的話
eat humble pies 從umbles演變而來的, 拉下面子道歉之意
umbles 動物的內臟, 中古世季, 這些是給地位低的人吃的, 所以吃到umbles pie的人是受辱

Grammar Gym
The rolls didn't rise and ended up as flat as a pancake.
to end up: 
to find oneself in a situation that was not according to the original plan
- If you don't make any reservations right now, you may end up having to wait for a long time.
- Everything was closed at night, so the hungry traveler ended up getting a bag of chips from a vending machine.


Language Lab
seasoning n.
salt, pepper, spices etc that give food a more interesting taste
-  Green onions, garlic and coriander are seasonings commonly used in Chinese cuisine.
season v.
to add salt, pepper etc to food you are cooking
- The chef seasoned the pork chops with salt and pepper.

appetizer n.
a small dish that you eat at the beginning of a meal
- Mom prepared some nachos for tonight's appetizer.
appetite n.
a desire for food
- Isaac has a healthy appetite.

whine v.
to complain in a sad, annoying voice about something [= moan]:
- The little girl whined about not being able to buy the toy she liked.
to make a long high sound because you are in pain or unhappy:
- The puppy whined all night.

moan v.
to complain in an annoying way, especially in an unhappy voice and without good reason:
- Greg is moaning about his job again, which is very annoying.
to make a long low sound expressing pain, unhappiness, or sexual pleasure [= groan]:
- The patient moaned loudly because he was in severe pain.


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Thursday, June 12, 2014

Trouble in the Land of Milk and Honey (1)

These tasty idioms will give you food for thought

Every morning Reuben went to work smiling. His work was meat and drink to him. Reuben assisted and learned from the head chef at a restaurant called The Land of Milk and Honey. Sandwiches made with interesting combinations of fresh ingredients were The Land of Milk and Honey's bread and butter. But it served other dishes, too.

The restaurant's success was largely due to the head chef, Madeleine. She made cooking even very complicated dishes seem easy as pie.

Today the mayor and some visitors were coming to eat at the restaurant. He'd let the chefs choose what to serve. Everyone was eager to impress them, especially Madeleine. But when Reuben arrived, he saw the sous-chef, Ginger, looking worried.

"Hi Ginger. What's eating you?" he asked. "Madeleine isn't here!" Ginger said. "She just called in sick."

Ginger and Reuben looked at each other nervously. But Reuben said, "Madeleine left a list of what she wanted to make. We just have to follow the recipes. It'll be a piece of cake."


Editor's Summary 
We're visiting Reuben and Ginger at the Land of Milk and Honey restaurant.
They're having a big day as the mayor and the other special guests were coming.
The head Chef Madeleine cooked very complicated dishes that looked as easy as pie to make.
Reuben assisted and really enjoyed his job and learning from Madeleine.
But that day when Reuben got to work, Ginger the sous-chef told Reuben nervously that Madeleine had just called in sick.
So they just decided that if they followed the recipe she had prepared for the special lunch, it would be a piece of cake.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Open-ended Questions
一般問問題可以分為二種:
1. yes/no questions 直接且容易的回答, 可以快速結束對話
- Do you listen to the Info Cloud every day?
2. open-ended questions 對話可自然發展
- Why do you listen to the Info Cloud?


Grammar Gym
The restaurant's success was largely due to the head chef, Madeleine.
largely due to: mostly because of 
- The sudden cut in the school budget was largely due to poor planning from the year before.
- Gregory's business failures were largely due to his greed.


Language Lab
ingredient n.
one of the foods that you use to make a particular food or dish:
- The ingredients of the soup are all low in fat and high in fiber.
a quality you need to achieve something:
- The ingredients for successful communication are patience and understanding.

complicated adj.
difficult to understand or deal with, because many parts or details are involved
- The process of applying for college is quite complicated.
consisting of many closely connected parts [= complex];
having many parts or steps
- This bribery case is complicated, and it involves many critical people.

apprentice n.
/əˈprɛntəs/
a person who learns a job or skill by working for a fixed period of time for someone who is very good at that job or skill

sous-chef n.
A sous chef is the culinary chef located just below the executive or head chef in a kitchen's chain of command; therefore, a sous chef has a vital role in any commercial kitchen.
- The sous-chef is in charge of all the grilled dishes.

recipe n.
a set of instructions for cooking a particular type of food
- I asked Grandma to give me her recipe for apple pie.
- The restaurant's tartar sauce recipe is a secret.
- Just follow the recipes, and you can make authentic Italian food.


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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

The Big Issue

Changing lives forever

How can you help a homeless person? Just giving him money won't solve his problem. It's critical that he learns how to make his own money. The magazine The Big Issue gives him that chance. Any homeless person who wants to make money can apply for a job selling the magazine. First, he must prove he's homeless or soon will be. After training, he receives 10 free copies of the magazine which sell for NT$100 each. With that money, he buys more magazines for NT$50 each. The more magazines sold, the more money earned.

Where it all began
In 1991, John Bird and Gordon Roddick, of the United Kingdom, wanted to help homeless people. They founded a monthly magazine that homeless people could see. Its appealing content made people want to buy and read it. The idea spread. In April 2010, magazine editor Fines Lee published Taiwan's first copy of The Big Issue. "Instead of giving the homeless money," Lee says, "we provide them with a way to help themselves, and we encourage the public to do the same."


Editor's Summary
When you see someone on the street that seems homeless, do you have a desire to reach out and help that person?
Well, in 1991 John Bird and Gordon Roddick from the United Kingdom felt just like that.
But they wanted to do more than just to hand over money.
They wanted to provide a way for homeless people to make money.
So, they founded The Big Issue, to give people the chance to help themselves.
After proving himself to be homeless, a person receives some training and 10 free copies of this magazine.
That person can than buy more magazines for half that price and keep the other half.
So, the more magazines he sells, the more he earns.
In 2010, Fines Lee published Taiwan's first copy.
Here they sell for NT$100 each.
Many countries have joined in this life-changing business.
Lee feels he's providing people a way to help themselves and encourages all of us to do the same thing.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Homeless 遊民, 街友
hobo / tramp 指無家可歸的人
bum 流浪且像人要錢 (比較負面的字)
bag lady 拾荒婦女

Grammar Gym
The more magazines sold, the more money earned.
The + more + [subject1] + [verb 1], the + more + [subject 2] + [verb 2].
- The more praises received, the more confidence shown.
- The fewer mistakes made, the fewer complaints received.

Language Lab
issue n.
1 a subject or problem that is often discussed or argued about, especially a social or political matter that affects the interests of a lot of people
- This political issue ignited many controversies between the two parties.
2 a magazine or newspaper printed for a particular day, week, or month
- Starting from this month's issue the new chief editor is changing the style of the magazine cover.

homeless adj.
without a home:
- The homeless shelter is run by a local church.
- The homeless teenagers in this area were absorbed by gangs.

found v.
to start something such as an organization, company, school, or city, often by providing the necessary money [= establish]:
- The organization was founded by a group of single moms devoted to helping single parents.
- The business founded by Peter's father is now a big national company.

appealing adj.
attractive or interesting
- The girl has not only good looks but also an appealing personality.
- The restaurant has an appealing charm that is old-fashioned.



mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140611baa4e5d2d8a856f75cbdd89e1c2ab90f3f4217ae6194371d06a2ee48a849d1f1f15.wma

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

DESTINATION WEDDINGS (2)

A magical wedding 
A wedding in a place some call paradise would be a dream come true for many, and AYANA Resort and Spa in Bali is in the dream-making business. Their wedding packages offer pre-wedding beauty treatments, massages, professional hair and makeup sessions, wedding cakes, tropical flowers, traditional entertainment and more. If couples want to be married indoors, they can choose from two sparkling glass chapels, Tresna and Astina, both with beautiful views of the Indian Ocean. If an outdoor ceremony is preferred, the couple can take their vows on a cliff overlooking breathtaking Jimbaran Bay and then be whisked away in a horse-drawn carriage.

A unique wedding
For those seeking adventure, a safari-themed wedding in South Africa can provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, located in Kruger National Park, offers luxurious lodgings and world-famous safaris. The bride and groom can exchange vows as the African sun sets and wildlife wonders up like invited guests. Afterward, the couple can spend the next few days enjoying relaxing massages, delicious food and spectacular animal encounters.

Destination weddings offer a wonderful alternative for any couple with a desire to combine travel with the perfect wedding.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Letter C
人們最常翻閱字典裡的字母C
C 這個字沒有自己的發音
ceremony /ˈserəˌmoʊni/
couple /ˈkʌpəl/
一般來說, 如果C在E,I,Y之前, 那就是發  /se/
其餘的就是發 /ˈk/


Grammar Gym
...one resort in Bali is in the dream-making business.
dream-making business
business
movie-making business
[something]-making business 
solution-making business
laugh-making business



Language Lab
massage n.
the action of pressing and rubbing someone's body with your hands, to help them relax or to reduce pain in their muscles or joints:
- A neck massage is really relaxing, especially for people who are under a lot of stress.
v.
to press and rub someone's body with your hands, to help them relax or to reduce pain in their muscles:
- Melissa gently massaged her baby's back after giving him a bath.

ceremony n. 典禮
an important social or religious event, when a traditional set of actions is performed in a formal way
- Martha and her husband flew all the way from New York to Seattle to attend their daughter's graduation ceremony.
- The award ceremony is being relayed by satellite right now.

game reserve n.
a large area of land that is designed for wild animals to live in safely
- The game reserve is protected by rangers.
- This game reserve became a national park last year.

lodging adj.
a place to stay:
- The fare includes lodging, breakfast and free Internet service.
- Timothy stayed in cheap lodgings outside the city to save money.



mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140610baa0b4d97d81dc35d8d5899848994c57b8292fde0cf92f9d1d647179dc5311e5510.wma

Monday, June 9, 2014

DESTINATION WEDDINGS (1)

Unique weddings for couples looking for something different

Before a bide and groom tie the knot, they have numerous decisions to make. In the past, traditional weddings in a church or civil ceremonies at a court were usually the only options. But these days, some couples are choosing something more exciting - destination weddings. For a destination wedding, the couple travels to a unique location, often with friends and family, and everyone celebrates there. Where do they go? Take a look!

A fantasy wedding
For the bride who has always wanted a Cinderella-type wedding, Disneyworld is the perfect venue. The bride can choose to arrive in a horse-drawn carriage, with a trumpet to announce her arrival. The couple can then exchange vows in front of Disney's famous Cinderella Castle.

A historic wedding
Scotland has the very best picturesque and historic wedding destinations. Comlongon Castle in southwest Scotland is a 15th century medieval castle. The groom and guests are escorted by a bagpiper into the 600-year-old Great Hall which is lit only by candles and a roaring fire. The bride follows, and in a truly romantic setting in front of an enormous fireplace, the couple becomes husband and wife.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Adjective Suffixes

1. -esque
in the manner or style of a particular person, group, or place
picturesque 像圖畫般美麗的
Disneyesque 像迪士尼般的

2. -oid
like
humanoid 長的像人的機器人

3. -ish
the ending of some adjectives that show disapproval:
childish

4. -like
used after a noun to say that something is similar to or typical of the noun:
childlike
having qualities that are typical of a child, especially positive qualities such as innocence and eagerness

Grammar Gym
For the bride who has always wanted a Cinderella-type wedding, Disneyworld is the perfect venue.
For the [person who...], [something] is the perfect... 
- For the traveler who wants a taste of nature combined with modern comforts, this mountain resort is the perfect choice.
- For young picky eaters who are hard to satisfy, this family restaurant is the perfect solution.


Language Lab
destination n.
the place that someone or something is going to
- The destination of this flight is Chicago.
holiday/tourist destination
- Hawaii is an extremely popular holiday destination.

tie the knot
to get married
- The famous couple tied the knot last week in Tahiti.
get hitched 
to get married
- Bryan is getting hitched this fall.

venue n.
a place where an organized meeting, concert etc takes place
- The championship game venue is our high school stadium.
- Greek Theatre is one of the most popular concert venues in Los Angeles.

vow n.
a serious promise
- Steve took a vow to never ever touch any drugs again.
exchange vows
to get married
- The couple exchanged vows before their family members and close friends in a small chapel.


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140609baadc19333c0839d1819c3c4e0c3f8dfc4cefdfdec978a9ccc797769b22bda50501.wma

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Holidays

Sharing cultures is fun

Thanks to my host family, I had the opportunity to experience American culture during my stay. Two of my most remarkable experiences were Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving, a traditional American festival, means the family gets together and has a feast. I tried a lot of food that I'd never had before such as mashed potatoes, turkey and zucchini. Everything was very tasty. Then it was Christmas. We had an enormous dinner on Christmas Eve. Then we sat in front of the fireplace, and my host father told me the story of Jesus' birth. After that we gave each other presents and chatted. It was great!

Besides experiencing their cultural events, I shared some of mine with them. First I introduced Mid-Autumn Festival to them. I made pineapple cakes and served tea. We watched the moon, too! At Chinese New Year, I prepared a traditional meal for them. One dish was dumplings. After I taught them how to wrap them, we did it together!

I am glad I got to experience that culture and share some of my own.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: When Exactly is Christmas Eve?
Christmas Eve: night before Christmas 平安夜 聖誔節前一日或前一晚
New Year's Eve


Grammar Gym
Thanks to my host family, I had the opportunity to experience American culture during my stay.
thanks to: because of 
- Thanks to the sudden rain, we were forced to end our picnic early.
- The airport was closed thanks to the heavy snowstorm.


Language Lab
remarkable adj. 特殊的, 非凡的, 引人注目的
unusual or surprising and therefore deserving attention or praise:
- The research team's finding is a remarkable achievement.
- The boy's remarkable singing talent made him famous.

chat v.n. 閒聊, 聊天chatted/chatting
to talk in a friendly informal way, especially about things that are not important:
- Emily is chatting on the phone with her best friend.
- Cindy chatted with her mom about the latest film.
- I had a chat with my neighbor this morning.

cultural adj. 文化的, 與文化有關的
belonging or relating to a particular society and its way of life:
- When Tom first moved to Asia, he had serious cultural shock.
- The team is formed by people from different cultural backgrounds.

culture n. 文化
- The ideas of Confucius play an important part in Chinese culture.
- Teenagers are greatly influenced by pop culture.


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Friday, June 6, 2014

Too Close for Comfort? (2)

What about start-ups? 
Many start-ups have a preference for the open office concept. Take Chartbeat for example. The company's 50-plus employees get to choose their desk and chair styles, and everyone shares an open space with the CEO sitting in the middle. The office space is a mixture of single workstations and casual meeting areas where workers can lounge on sofas. While this design may be ideal for workers in start-ups, it may not suit workers who need a higher level of privacy.

Current fears 
In 2011 Matthew Davis, an organizational psychologist, reviewed over a hundred studies regarding office environments. He found that employees in open offices experienced more distractions and higher stress levels than those working in traditional offices. What's worse, a study in Denmark found that workers in open offices took more sick days than those working in traditional offices.

No going back? 
Even though open office plans present potential problems in terms of worker health and privacy, businesses probably won't return to traditional offices. Modern office workers tend to need both times to focus and times to collaborate with others. So designing offices that account for both needs may be the best way forward.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Ergonomics 人體工學
- John is studying ergonomics.
ergonomic adj. 合乎人體工學
good ergonomic design
the sickle 廉刀就是一種人體工學的設計


Grammar Gym
While this design may be ideal for workers in start-ups, it may not suit workers who need a higher level of privacy.
While [something] may be ..., it may not suit ... 
- While this jacket may be comfortable for travelers to wear, it may not suit those who prefer something fancier.
- While this backpack may be great for students to carry to school, it may not suit backpackers who want to go hiking in the mountains.


Language Lab
start-up n. 新興公司
a new small company or business, especially one whose work involves computers or the Internet:
- This small Internet start-up became a national corporation after about two years.
- This biotech start-up is already making a large profit.
start up phrasal verb 開始
if you start up a business, company etc, or it starts up, it begins to exist:

preference n. 喜好, 偏好
if you have a preference for something, you like it more than another thing and will choose it if you can
- The hotel records its customers' preferences in its computer system.
preference for
- Helen shows a preference for comfortable clothes rather than stylish ones.
prefer v. 更喜歡, 傾向

distraction n. 分心, 注意力分散
[uncountable and countable] something that stops you paying attention to what you are doing:
- Maneuvering this large vehicle requires that there be no distractions.
令人分心的事物(可數)
- I find the radio a distraction when I really need to concentrate.

collaborate v. 合作
to work together with a person or group in order to achieve something, especially in science or art
- Our company collaborated with a Japanese firm on developing this new product.
collaboration n. 合作
when you work together with another person or group to achieve something, especially in science or art:
- Our two departments work in close collaboration.


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Thursday, June 5, 2014

Too Close for Comfort? (1)

A look at the modern open office

Visit a medium- or large-sized company these days, and you're likely to find the staff members sharing a large, open space. Instead of having private offices with doors and walls, most workers sit in cubicles that are only partially enclosed. Whenever workers talk on the phone, their colleagues nearby can't simply shut their doors. In fact, sometimes they can't help but overhear everything that's said. At times, the best way to focus in this type of office is to reach for one's headphones and listen to music.

How did we get here?
The open office concept is not new; it was created by a team of consultants from Hamburg, Germany, in the 1950s. Called the office landscape plan, the concept was created with a good intention - to facilitate communication and the transfer of ideas. The design also encouraged managers and their teams to work near each other, making it easier for managers to supervise projects. Now, the open office concept is often used as a excuse for companies to save money on construction costs, regardless of the effect on productivity.


Grammar Gym
In fact, sometimes they can't help but overhear everything that's said.
can't help but [verb] : someone has no way to avoid something
- Danny says he's busy, but I can't help but think he just doesn't want to go out with us.
- With the store having such a huge sale, Evelyn can't help but go in and buy stuff.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Personal Space
1. public zone
2. social zone
3. friend zone
4. intimate zone


Language Lab
cubicle n. 方形的小隔間
a small part of a room that is separated from the rest of the room:
- Nathan put a small fish tank in his cubicle to make it homier.
- The little girl accidentally locked herself in a cubicle in the restroom.

colleague n. 同事, 同領域及階級, 階層的
someone you work with, used especially by professional people:
- Claire was my colleague for two years when I was in Texas.
coworker n. 共事的人, 領域及職位可能不同
a person who works at the place where you work : someone you work with

facilitate v. 增長, 促進, 幫助
to make it easier for a process or activity to happen:
- A structured routine can facilitate learning, even for very young children.
- The new tax policy hopefully will facilitate economic growth.

productivity n. 生產力
the rate at which goods are produced, and the amount produced, especially in relation to the work, time, and money needed to produce them
- The productivity of this business sector improved by 3 percent last quarter.
produce v. 生產
to cause a particular result or effect
- The field produces corn and cauliflower.


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140605baa8658164df4b305f0192861d1efa1f30925c492f68ded10bf540b1fe4c860b83f.wma

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

[Advanced] Conquering Fear (1) 6/2

Two experts offer advice on how to live adventurously | By Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz

Whether it's reaching for Mount Everest or reaching for a promotion, plunging from a perfectly good airplane or plunging into marriage, [we] can [live] adventurously, if only we confront those primal fears that so often hold us back.

[Two] authors with varied perspectives weighed in on the value of taking risks and releasing the stranglehold of fears that can keep us from pursuing potentially enriching experiences.

Feeling fear
Feeling afraid evolved as an adaptive trait, an intuitive reaction that allows you to make a quick judgment about whether something is a threat when you don't have all the information, said David Ropeik, a risk perception consultant and author of "How Risky Is It, Really? Why Our Fears Don't Always Match the Facts" (McGraw-Hill).

"Risk is not a fact," Ropeik said. "It is a feeling."Although that instinct worked wonders for our primitive ancestors fleeing lions and bears, the more complicated risks of the modern world require more careful thought, Ropeik said.

Otherwise, we fear some things too much and some things too little, and the mistakes can be dangerous. For example, many people might fear going scuba diving on vacation in the South Pacific, lest they encounter a very unlikely shark, while they wouldn't hesitate to venture into the sun for hours without sun protection, despite plenty of evidence of the dangers.

Pushing past the fear
"We should challenge ourselves to be more critical thinkers," Ropeik said. "Don't just react and you're done. Get the facts, have more say in the combat with your feelings."

Individual life experiences as well as personality traits influence what we see as risky in the world, which is why some people are terrified of earthquakes and others are far more petrified of commitment.

Several characteristics of the risks themselves also feed our gut feelings that drive our fears.


Vocabulary Focus
hold somebody/something ↔ back phrasal verb
to make someone or something stop moving forward:

petrified adj.
extremely frightened, especially so frightened that you cannot move or think




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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

What's on This Summer? (3)

Maleficent is a new version of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. It is told from the viewpoint of Maleficent, the evil fairy who put Princess Aurora into her deep sleep.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 continues the adventures of the heroic Viking Hiccup and his faithful flying dragon, Toothless. The two discover a secret ice cave that is home to wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider.

Jersey Boys tells the story of the popular American singing group The Four Seasons. They overcame tremendous challenges, became successful and performed together for more than 40 years.

Planes: Fire and Rescue, the sequel to last year's Planes, follows Dusty the crop duster air racer. He joins a fire and rescue team led by a helicopter named Blade Ranger. They help fight a huge wildfire.

Helen Mirren stars as a famous chef in The Hundred Foot Journey. She begins mentoring an Indian boy whose family operates a rival restaurant in her neighborhood.

Don's miss the action and laughs in your neighborhood theater this summer.


Editor's Summary
Today we find out about five more movies, several of which I am sure you will say to yourself, "I have to see this one."
I know most of us have heard of Sleeping Beauty.
Well, this fairy tale tells it from the point of view of the evil fairy.
Interesting.
And we have the sequel to How to Train Your Dragon.
Our Viking hero Hiccup, along with Toothless the flying dragon, find a secret ice cave.
And, what do they find in there?
And, we also heard about the American singing group The Four Seasons.
Find out what challenges they went through to become so popular.
And, don't miss the sequel to Planes: Fire and Rescue.
Dusty and the helicopter, Blade Ranger, help fight a huge wildfire together.
In The Hundred Foot Journey, we see Helen Mirren as a famous chef who mentors an Indian boy, who just happens to be a member of the family that runs a rival restaurant in her area.
You know there really is something for everyone no matter what your taste in movies is.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Mentor
mentor 導師, 生命中的老師, 良師益友
to mentor 教導, 輔導
protégé 接受輔導的人 (這個字源字法文)


Grammar Gym
They help fight a huge wildfire.
help fight
- They help to fight a huge wildfire
help + verb [ help後面不加 to ]
- The new plan can help to make things better.
- The new plan can help make things better.
- The music helps to create a romantic feeling in the restaurant.
- The music helps create a romantic feeling in the restaurant.
- The secretary helped to finish this assignment.
- The secretary helped finish this assignment.


Language Lab
heroic adj. 英雄的, 英勇的
extremely brave or determined, and admired by many people [= courageous]:
- The firefighter's heroic deed was reported on tonight's TV news.
- The heroic security guard tackled the robber and saved the hostage.

tremendous  adj. 極大的, 驚人的, 可怕的
very big, fast, powerful etc:
- The tight schedule put the cameramen under tremendous pressure.
- The production house invested a tremendous amount of time and money in this movie.

helicopter n.
a type of aircraft with large metal blades on top which turn around very quickly to make it fly
- The patient was rushed to the hospital by helicopter.
- Rescue helicopters were hovering over the mountain area trying to locate the missing climber.

chef n.
a skilled cook, especially the main cook in a hotel or restaurant:
- Ricky finally became the head chef after three years of being a junior chef.
cook n.
someone who prepares and cooks food as their job
- My husband is a wonderful cook.


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140604baac753b88cfb8f1e19e7a14c0508ad6d431017017d28e6d4243ed3b3f98f36b35d.wma

What's on This Summer? (2)

In X-Men: Days of Future Past, Professor Charles Xavier and elder Magneto must alter a major historical event. It threatens the existence of both people and mutants. The film features both characters from the original X-Men films and their younger selves from X-Men: First Class.

Tom Cruise stars in Edge of Tomorrow as a soldier in the future. He battles the Mimics, a race of aliens that has invaded Earth. Caught in a time loop, he relives the battle and his death each day. But each time, he also learns more about the aliens' weaknesses.

Jupiter Ascending is a 3-D, futuristic science-fiction story about a human woman named Jupiter. The Queen of the Universe wants her dead because her existence threatens the Queen's power. Channing Tatum plays a genetically engineered hunter sent to Earth to find and save Jupiter.

Transformers: Age of Extinction features another battle between the Autobots and Decepticons. Mark Wahlberg plays a mechanic who makes a discovery that sets the plot in motion. Parts of the film were shot on location in China.

Editor's Summary
In today's movie article, we find out about the next sequel in the X-Men series: Days of Future Past.
A major historical event threatens the existence of both humans and mutants.
A mixture of modern day X-Men and their younger selves are involved in this adventure.
And the futuristic science fiction movie, called Jupiter Ascending, is guaranteed to provide action.
As a genetically engineered hunter is sent to Earth to find and save Jupiter from the Queen of the universe, who wants her dead.
And, we also have the new Transformers movie: The Age of Extinction, parts of which were shot in China.
This action packed movie once again features a battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons.
And, of course for all you Tom Cruise lovers out there, we have Age of Tomorrow, in which Tom is a soldier of the future.
Watch him battle aliens that are invading earth.
So many movies; so little time.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Historic vs. Historical
1. historic 歷史上的,歷史性的(有名的)
a historic occasion 一個歷史性的場合
a historic building
2. historical 歷史的, 史學的
historical character 歷史人物(不一定有名, 但有記載)

但古老的時期, 二者都可用: historic times/historical times


Grammar Gym
The Queen of the Universe wants her dead because her existence threatens the Queen's power.
wants her dead= wants her to be dead
to want [someone/something] + [description]
- The director wanted the lights adjusted.
- The manager wanted the plants removed.


Language Lab
mutant n. 變種, 突變體
something that is very different from others of the same type, in a way that is strange or bad - often used humorously
- These mutant mice were important subjects for the research.
- A mutant gene might be the cause of this birth defect.
mutate v. 突變
if an animal or plant mutates, it becomes different from others of the same kind, because of a change in its genetic structure:
- The virus mutated and became more deadly.

alien n.
in stories, a creature from another world
- The photographer claims that the figures in his photos are aliens.
someone who is not a legal citizen of the country they are living or working in:
- Most of the workers in the factory are illegal aliens.
alien  adj. 陌生的, 格格不入的
very different from what you are used to, especially in a way that is difficult to understand or accept 
- When Sandy first moved to Africa, everything was alien to her.

genetically engineered adj. 經過基因改造或改良的
genetically modified also genetically engineered GM genetically modified foods or plants have had their genetic structure changed so that they are not affected by particular diseases or harmful insects
- The chef refused to use any genetically engineered produce.
- Genetically engineered corn grows faster than regular corn.

mechanic n. 技工, 機(械)師,
someone who is skilled at repairing motor vehicles and machinery:
- The mechanic replaced my car's spark plugs.
運作方式或技巧
the way in which something works or is done:
- Jack knows the mechanics of running a restaurant.



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Monday, June 2, 2014

What's on This Summer? (1)

Summertime means movie time!

What's playing at your local theater this summer? Lots of interesting films! The summer of 2014 offers a wide variety of movies including superhero sequels, science-fiction adventures and more. Get some popcorn, and enjoy some of Hollywood's biggest films.

The drama Heaven is for Real will get audiences thinking. In it, a young couple's son has a near-death experience. He claims to have visited heaven during that time. He talks about things that happened before his birth that he could not possibly have known about. His parents struggle to understand and find the meaning of the boy’s extraordinary experience.

In Hercules, Dwayne Johnson stars as the son of Zeus. The mythical hero must stop a mad king from destroying Greece.

A group of superheroes must protect the galaxy from danger in Guardians of the Galaxy. A powerful villain, Ronan will stop at nothing to get control of a mysterious orb. The superheroes must take a stand against him.


Editor's Summary
Today, we saw summer movies introduced.
And, there is such a wide variety coming out.
So, everyone will find something they like to watch.
If you like superheros, then, you will want to catch some of the sequels of the heroes you most enjoy.
In addition, there are new science fiction adventures.
I plan on seeing "Heaven is for Real."
This is a true movie about a small boy who has a near death experience and talks about going to heaven.
His extraordinary experience will set everyone to thinking.
And, if you do like superheros, then don't miss Hercules as he tries to stop the destruction of Greece or the "Guardians of the Galaxy" as they fight against the powerful villain, Ronan.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Two Different Theaters
the theater 戲劇院
- I'm going to the theater. 我要去戲院
movie theater 電影院 (口語中常常會省略movie)
your local theater 你家附近的電影院
cinema 美語用的電影院
movie thickets 電影票
theater tickets 戲劇院的票

Grammar Gym
Ronan will stop at nothing to get control of a mysterious orb.
to stop at nothing: to do whatever is needed in order to get something or complete something
- Allison is determined to get first place in the beauty contest and will stop at nothing to win the crown.
- Byron will stop at nothing to get the promotion in his company.


Language Lab
sequel n. [sequ字根-跟隨]
a book, film, play etc that continues the story of an earlier one, usually written or made by the same person
sequel to
- Martha bought the sequel to "Bridget Jones' Diary" online.
an event that happens as a result of something that happened before
- There's a dramatic sequel to the mayor's scandal.

science fiction n.
stories about events in the future which are affected by imaginary developments in science, for example about travelling in time or to other planets with life on them
- The science-fiction movie "Inception" that starred Leonardo DiCaprio was a big hit in 2010.
- David is an avid reader of science fiction.

mythical adj.
existing only in an ancient story:
- Many kids are fascinated by this mythical dragon in the cartoon.
- These mythical figures are powerful and never age.
myth n.
an ancient story, especially one invented in order to explain natural or historical events
- Greek myths

mysterious adj.
mysterious events or situations are difficult to explain or understand:
- A mysterious stranger saved the girl.
mystery n.
an event, situation etc that people do not understand or cannot explain because they do not know enough about it
- Zack's sudden resignation remains a mystery.


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