Chocoholics unite in Paris to celebrate their favorite food
The human race has found ways to celebrate just about everything the world has to offer – culture, history, art. Even a few beloved foods are given their due, not least of all chocolate, honored at the Salon du Chocolat.
Learn chocolate
At last year’s Salon, the chocolate trade show observed its 20th year with a program called “Chocolate, a Universal Heritage.” The Salon has made its way to 30 international cities over the years, but its main event always occurs in Paris.
The world gathered in Paris for the Salon and enjoyed over 200 exhibits from around the globe. In addition, chefs educated audiences with their recipes and tricks of the trade, showing there is no end to the possibilities of chocolate.
Win chocolate
With so many experts in a room, it’s impossible to avoid some healthy competition among the world’s top chocolatiers. The Chocolate Awards are distributed annually at the Salon while several cake-building competitions took place last year as well. Invited chocolate bloggers also had their recipes judged by professionals in the first Inter-Bloggers e-Cup.
Info Cloud
For centuries, the French government has spent much money, time and effort promoting and protecting the French language. The main threat being, of course English.
Historically, the French has been quite antagonistic towards English. The attitude was neatly expressed in 2006 when France’s then president Jacques Chirac promised to stop the spread of English around the world and especially in France.
Easier said than done. Consider this, starting in 2018 one of France’s most prestigious private schools, the National School of Administration made the unprecedented move of making fluent English mandatory for a mission.
One school spokesman said that graduates would need fluent English to cope with their future roles as world leaders. Now Chirac can’t be too pleased about that.
I’m sure he is not. Now more news, that French is yielding to English comes from the world entertainment, verse side a historical TV drama about French King Louis the XIV is not just the most expensive French television show ever made.
It’s the first French historical drama made by French producers in France that was filmed completely in English.
Amazing. French television executive did the unthinkable.They bowed to English in order to game a bigger global audience and make more money.
Language Lab
chocoholic n.
a person who likes to eat chocolate very much
- My husband is a chocoholic. No chocolates will remain in my fridge overnight.
workaholic n.
a person who chooses to work a lot : a person who is always working, thinking about work, etc.
heritage n.
the traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation — usually singular
- The festival is to celebrate the rich musical heritage of the Hakka.
- Italians take great pride in their cultural heritage.
- Athens has a rich historical and sporting heritage.
trick of the trade
a quick or clever way of doing something that you have learned usually as part of your job
- Let me show you a little trick of the trade.
- a mystery writer who knows all the tricks of his trade
- Stewart's father takes him on business trips to show him the tricks of the trade.
- It takes years to learn the tricks of the trade in the jewelry business.
blogger n.
- Irene is a well-known blogger who frequently shares her creative recipes.
blog n.
a Web site on which someone writes about personal opinions, activities, and experiences
- The writer communicates a lot with his readers on his blog.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Replace or Repair (2)
I guess there's nothing wrong with browsing in a few appliance stores. But I really don't want to buy a new refrigerator.
You might be surprised at how nice the new models are. They are energy-efficient and will save you money on your electric bill.
But the technology that goes into newer models also makes them more likely to break down.
Not necessarily
It seems like a waste to throw out something that can still be be used. I don't want to put it in a landfill until I have to.
But most appliances can be recycled.
Arranging for someone to recycle a fridge sounds like more trouble than finding a professional to repair it. The chemicals inside refrigerators have to be carefully removed before recycling.
Most stores will take away your fridge for free when you buy a new one. Or you could find a scrap metal business to buy it.
So instead of spending money on repairs, I would be making money on my old fridge?
Exactly. Now let's go shopping!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Electric Bill vs. Electricity Bill 教學主題: 電費賬單的名稱
Once a month or in some places once every two months we get the bill that charges us for the amount of electricity we use in our house. So what’s that bill called?
It’s called the electric bill. But is it really correct to call that?
Well, some people don’t think so, they say since electricity is what we’re paying for, it should be called the electricity bill.
Right, electric is an adjective that refers to something that uses electricity and an electric car runs on electricity. So calling a bill an electric bill implies that the bill runs on electricity.
However, if you look through all of its definitions in a dictionary, you’ll find the word electric can also be used as a noun. But we would never say, there’s no electric, it should be, there’s no electricity.
As you can see, friends, we can analyze this to death and still not reach a logical answer, the truth of the matter is that both forms are long established, it’s just irrelevant to argue which is more correct, both are acceptable.
So if you’re still not sure which one to use, here’s another option, utility bill. Just keep in mind, utility bill can include price of electricity, water and gas.
Language Lab
break down [phrasal verb]
a of a machine : to stop working properly
- My car broke down on the way to the office.
- The dryer has broken down too many times. We need to get a new one.
breakdown n.
a failure of a machine to function : an occurrence in which a machine (such as a car) stops working
- The car had a breakdown on the free way.
necessarily adv.
/ˌnɛsəˈserəli/
used to say that something is necessary and cannot be changed or avoided
- An overseas trip doesn't necessarily cost a lot of money.
necessary adj.
so important that you must do it or have it : absolutely needed
- It's necessary to call people in advance if you want to visit them.
recycle v.
to make something new from (something that has been used before)
- The campaign was designed to educate people on how to recycle domestic waste.
recycling n.
- Recycling bins are placed outside the apartment.
scrap n.
/ˈskræp/
things from an unwanted or broken object (such as a car) that are useful only in making or fixing something else
- You can bring your scrap paper to the local recycling center.
- Scrap metal is sold by the ton and shipped to other countries.
a small piece of something that is left after you have used the main part
- I wrote the phone number on a scrap of paper.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151029baaefeb2341c6e20701a166b0398484fa80b0ba46e5576991215945f728902e6602.wma
You might be surprised at how nice the new models are. They are energy-efficient and will save you money on your electric bill.
But the technology that goes into newer models also makes them more likely to break down.
Not necessarily
It seems like a waste to throw out something that can still be be used. I don't want to put it in a landfill until I have to.
But most appliances can be recycled.
Arranging for someone to recycle a fridge sounds like more trouble than finding a professional to repair it. The chemicals inside refrigerators have to be carefully removed before recycling.
Most stores will take away your fridge for free when you buy a new one. Or you could find a scrap metal business to buy it.
So instead of spending money on repairs, I would be making money on my old fridge?
Exactly. Now let's go shopping!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Electric Bill vs. Electricity Bill 教學主題: 電費賬單的名稱
Once a month or in some places once every two months we get the bill that charges us for the amount of electricity we use in our house. So what’s that bill called?
It’s called the electric bill. But is it really correct to call that?
Well, some people don’t think so, they say since electricity is what we’re paying for, it should be called the electricity bill.
Right, electric is an adjective that refers to something that uses electricity and an electric car runs on electricity. So calling a bill an electric bill implies that the bill runs on electricity.
However, if you look through all of its definitions in a dictionary, you’ll find the word electric can also be used as a noun. But we would never say, there’s no electric, it should be, there’s no electricity.
As you can see, friends, we can analyze this to death and still not reach a logical answer, the truth of the matter is that both forms are long established, it’s just irrelevant to argue which is more correct, both are acceptable.
So if you’re still not sure which one to use, here’s another option, utility bill. Just keep in mind, utility bill can include price of electricity, water and gas.
Language Lab
break down [phrasal verb]
a of a machine : to stop working properly
- My car broke down on the way to the office.
- The dryer has broken down too many times. We need to get a new one.
breakdown n.
a failure of a machine to function : an occurrence in which a machine (such as a car) stops working
- The car had a breakdown on the free way.
necessarily adv.
/ˌnɛsəˈserəli/
used to say that something is necessary and cannot be changed or avoided
- An overseas trip doesn't necessarily cost a lot of money.
necessary adj.
so important that you must do it or have it : absolutely needed
- It's necessary to call people in advance if you want to visit them.
recycle v.
to make something new from (something that has been used before)
- The campaign was designed to educate people on how to recycle domestic waste.
recycling n.
- Recycling bins are placed outside the apartment.
scrap n.
/ˈskræp/
things from an unwanted or broken object (such as a car) that are useful only in making or fixing something else
- You can bring your scrap paper to the local recycling center.
- Scrap metal is sold by the ton and shipped to other countries.
a small piece of something that is left after you have used the main part
- I wrote the phone number on a scrap of paper.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151029baaefeb2341c6e20701a166b0398484fa80b0ba46e5576991215945f728902e6602.wma
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Replace or Repair (1)
When is it time to replace an old appliance with something new?
Allison and Stacy are walking through the supermarket together.
Allison: Stacy, do you know anyone who fixes refrigerators?
Stacy: No. Why? Is yours having problems?
Allison: Yes. It's not keeping food cold enough.
Stacy: And Mr. Chen, the repairman, has retired.
Allison: That's too bad. Appliances can be so troublesome. How old is your fridge?
Stacy: I guess I've had it for more than 10 years.
Allison: Well, keep in mind that machines wear out. Maybe you should think about buying a new one.
Stacy: But new refrigerators can be so expensive! I'm sure mine can last a few more years.
Allison: Don't rule out replacing it before considering the cost of repairing it. If you need to spend more than 50 percent of the cost for a new one, than you really should replace it.
Stacy: Maybe. But it's most likely just a slight problem. If I can find a reliable repairman, it shouldn't cost too much to fix.
Allison: I've got an idea. Why don't we just browse in some appliance stores? That will give you a better idea of what a new fridge would cost.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Origin of Fridge 教學主題: Fridge的來源
The word fridge is short for refrigerator, but how did it get from refrigerator to fridge?
Some people say it’s simply a clipped word. That is, a word that has been reduced, shorten or clipped down to a component part.
Just as the word influenza got reduced to the more manageable word flu, refrigerator had its beginning and end clipped off to become fridge.
But that still doesn’t answer the question, "How did the d get in there?"
Right, well if you look closely at both words, you find that refrigerator has no d in it, while fridge does have an added d.
So some speculate that fridge actually came from Frigidaire, a well-known manufacturer of refrigerators.
This would be what’s called a genericized trademark. Kind of like calling a photo copier, a Xerox machine or calling a facial tissue, a Kleenex.
But this still doesn’t explain the d in fridge, because the d in the name Frigidaire is not where it would be if it were abbreviated.
So this leads us just one simple explanation. The d was added as a pronunciation aid. If we took out the d in fridge, the resulting word would easily be mispronounced [frig]. The addition of the d helped produce the j[d͡ʒ] sound in fridge.
Language Lab
retire v.
to stop a job or career because you have reached the age when you are not allowed to work anymore or do not need or want to work anymore
- My father retired at 65.
- The famous car racer announced that he will retire next year.
retirement n.
the act of ending your working or professional career : the act of retiring
- The retirement of the NBA player made the headlines in today's news.
troublesome adj.
causing problems or worry : causing trouble
- The scholarship application process is very troublesome.
- The troublesome backache always keeps him up at night.
slight adj.
very small in degree or amount
- The patient only made slight progress after his treatment.
- The slight difference between us doesn't interfere with our cooperation.
- I have a slight fever.
browse v.
to look at many things in a store, in a newspaper, etc., to see if there is something interesting or worth buying
- I'm not looking for anything particular. I'm just browsing.
- Rita browsed in several bookshops when she was in town.
to use a special program (called a browser) to find and look at information on the Internet
- Kelly loves to browse through shopping websites to relax.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151028baabf45a06ebea93a5b45bd620f0e860ef6472629b2c7144780830d448fc70ddbb5.wma
Allison and Stacy are walking through the supermarket together.
Allison: Stacy, do you know anyone who fixes refrigerators?
Stacy: No. Why? Is yours having problems?
Allison: Yes. It's not keeping food cold enough.
Stacy: And Mr. Chen, the repairman, has retired.
Allison: That's too bad. Appliances can be so troublesome. How old is your fridge?
Stacy: I guess I've had it for more than 10 years.
Allison: Well, keep in mind that machines wear out. Maybe you should think about buying a new one.
Stacy: But new refrigerators can be so expensive! I'm sure mine can last a few more years.
Allison: Don't rule out replacing it before considering the cost of repairing it. If you need to spend more than 50 percent of the cost for a new one, than you really should replace it.
Stacy: Maybe. But it's most likely just a slight problem. If I can find a reliable repairman, it shouldn't cost too much to fix.
Allison: I've got an idea. Why don't we just browse in some appliance stores? That will give you a better idea of what a new fridge would cost.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Origin of Fridge 教學主題: Fridge的來源
The word fridge is short for refrigerator, but how did it get from refrigerator to fridge?
Some people say it’s simply a clipped word. That is, a word that has been reduced, shorten or clipped down to a component part.
Just as the word influenza got reduced to the more manageable word flu, refrigerator had its beginning and end clipped off to become fridge.
But that still doesn’t answer the question, "How did the d get in there?"
Right, well if you look closely at both words, you find that refrigerator has no d in it, while fridge does have an added d.
So some speculate that fridge actually came from Frigidaire, a well-known manufacturer of refrigerators.
This would be what’s called a genericized trademark. Kind of like calling a photo copier, a Xerox machine or calling a facial tissue, a Kleenex.
But this still doesn’t explain the d in fridge, because the d in the name Frigidaire is not where it would be if it were abbreviated.
So this leads us just one simple explanation. The d was added as a pronunciation aid. If we took out the d in fridge, the resulting word would easily be mispronounced [frig]. The addition of the d helped produce the j[d͡ʒ] sound in fridge.
Language Lab
retire v.
to stop a job or career because you have reached the age when you are not allowed to work anymore or do not need or want to work anymore
- My father retired at 65.
- The famous car racer announced that he will retire next year.
retirement n.
the act of ending your working or professional career : the act of retiring
- The retirement of the NBA player made the headlines in today's news.
troublesome adj.
causing problems or worry : causing trouble
- The scholarship application process is very troublesome.
- The troublesome backache always keeps him up at night.
slight adj.
very small in degree or amount
- The patient only made slight progress after his treatment.
- The slight difference between us doesn't interfere with our cooperation.
- I have a slight fever.
browse v.
to look at many things in a store, in a newspaper, etc., to see if there is something interesting or worth buying
- I'm not looking for anything particular. I'm just browsing.
- Rita browsed in several bookshops when she was in town.
to use a special program (called a browser) to find and look at information on the Internet
- Kelly loves to browse through shopping websites to relax.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151028baabf45a06ebea93a5b45bd620f0e860ef6472629b2c7144780830d448fc70ddbb5.wma
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Here Comes the Bride (2)
The Cake
Western weddings usually include a large cake beautifully decorated with white frosting. Mexican wedding cakes have their own special recipe that includes nuts and dried fruit.
In Peru, the cake can determine who will be the next to marry. Charms attached to ribbons are placed between the layers of the cake. Each single woman grabs a ribbon and pulls. Whoever pulls out a charm that looks like a ring will be the next bride.
The Traditions
In Lebanon, friends and family begin the wedding outside the groom’s house. They sing, dance and shout before traveling with him to the bride’s home. Traditional weddings in Morocco lasted seven days. The first three days are used for preparation, and the ceremony happened on the fourth. Celebrations continued for the rest of the week.
Every country has its own traditions. But wherever you’re from, a wedding is an event worth celebrating!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Having and Eating Cake「有」蛋糕與「吃」蛋糕不可兼得
Let’s say you have some money saved up, and you really want to buy a car. But after you buy your car, you’d have no money left.
Sounds familiar? Well that’s often how life works. It has its tradeoffs. If you want a car, you’re probably going to give up some of your savings.
And if you want to keep that money, then you would still be wishing for a new car.
This is an example of the expression, "you can’t have your cake and eat it too." In other words, you can’t have it both ways.
Very often in life, we find that we can’t have it all, so we’re forced to give something up in order to get something else that we think is more desirable.
Now this idiom is quite common and worth knowing, but to many people it’s very confusing.
It is. So, try reversing the idiom's order and see if this helps. You can't eat your cake and still have it. Because once you eat it, it's gone.
Now, that makes perfect sense.
Language Lab
frosting n.
a sweet, creamy mixture that is used to cover cakes
- The chocolate frosting on the cake is so delicious.
icing n.
- She spread peanut-butter icing on the cupcakes.
charm n.
something that is believed to have magic powers and especially to prevent bad luck;
a small object that is worn on a chain or bracelet
- Many baseball players love to keep good luck charms to feel more confident.
- The charms on Laura's bracelet are gifts from her friends.
a quality that causes someone or something to be very likeable : an attractive quality
- The actress has a special charm.
groom n.
a man who has just married or is about to be married
- The bride and the bridegroom were childhood sweethearts.
- The groom was almost late for the ceremony because his car broke down.
preparation n.
the activity or process of making something ready or of becoming ready for something
- The failure of the campaign is due to poor preparation.
preparations [plural] : things that are done to make something ready or to become ready for something
- We need to make preparations for the trip in advance.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151027baa912610b3c09e55e4c3573aeb42fe1b0a267883b814b0fd4ec541cf8e922cd989.wma
Western weddings usually include a large cake beautifully decorated with white frosting. Mexican wedding cakes have their own special recipe that includes nuts and dried fruit.
In Peru, the cake can determine who will be the next to marry. Charms attached to ribbons are placed between the layers of the cake. Each single woman grabs a ribbon and pulls. Whoever pulls out a charm that looks like a ring will be the next bride.
The Traditions
In Lebanon, friends and family begin the wedding outside the groom’s house. They sing, dance and shout before traveling with him to the bride’s home. Traditional weddings in Morocco lasted seven days. The first three days are used for preparation, and the ceremony happened on the fourth. Celebrations continued for the rest of the week.
Every country has its own traditions. But wherever you’re from, a wedding is an event worth celebrating!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Having and Eating Cake「有」蛋糕與「吃」蛋糕不可兼得
Let’s say you have some money saved up, and you really want to buy a car. But after you buy your car, you’d have no money left.
Sounds familiar? Well that’s often how life works. It has its tradeoffs. If you want a car, you’re probably going to give up some of your savings.
And if you want to keep that money, then you would still be wishing for a new car.
This is an example of the expression, "you can’t have your cake and eat it too." In other words, you can’t have it both ways.
Very often in life, we find that we can’t have it all, so we’re forced to give something up in order to get something else that we think is more desirable.
Now this idiom is quite common and worth knowing, but to many people it’s very confusing.
It is. So, try reversing the idiom's order and see if this helps. You can't eat your cake and still have it. Because once you eat it, it's gone.
Now, that makes perfect sense.
Language Lab
frosting n.
a sweet, creamy mixture that is used to cover cakes
- The chocolate frosting on the cake is so delicious.
icing n.
- She spread peanut-butter icing on the cupcakes.
charm n.
something that is believed to have magic powers and especially to prevent bad luck;
a small object that is worn on a chain or bracelet
- Many baseball players love to keep good luck charms to feel more confident.
- The charms on Laura's bracelet are gifts from her friends.
a quality that causes someone or something to be very likeable : an attractive quality
- The actress has a special charm.
groom n.
a man who has just married or is about to be married
- The bride and the bridegroom were childhood sweethearts.
- The groom was almost late for the ceremony because his car broke down.
preparation n.
the activity or process of making something ready or of becoming ready for something
- The failure of the campaign is due to poor preparation.
preparations [plural] : things that are done to make something ready or to become ready for something
- We need to make preparations for the trip in advance.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151027baa912610b3c09e55e4c3573aeb42fe1b0a267883b814b0fd4ec541cf8e922cd989.wma
Monday, October 26, 2015
Here Comes the Bride (1)
A look at weddings around the world
Every country has its own traditional ways to celebrate a new marriage.
The Dress
Unique traditional clothing is a key part of wedding ceremonies in many countries. In most Western nations, brides wear long white dresses. That’s because the color white represents purity. Brides in Japan also wear white and sometimes even paint their faces and bodies white. But in India, brides traditionally wear red, the color of celebration. And brides throughout East Asia often change into several different dresses on their wedding day.
Brides in Morocco wear bright colors that vary by region. The bride and her helpers draw patterns on their skin with juice from the henna plant.
The Food
Many cultures celebrate weddings with feasts that include traditional dishes. In Sweden, this meal can last three days! Italian wedding meals often have 12-14 courses. One traditional Italian dish is almonds covered in sugar. It represents the mix of sweet and bitter events in life.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Chinese Dining vs. Western Dining 教學主題: 中西大不同的上菜方式
One of the biggest differences between Chinese and Western dining is the way food is served.
That’s right; food is served sequentially in the West that’s why a Western meal is made up of courses or multiple dishes that arrive at the table in a particular order.
The number of courses depends on how formal or elaborate a meal is.
In its simplest form a western meal has three courses, an appetizer, a main course and a dessert.
In formal dining, a full course dinner can consist of ten, twelve or sixteen courses taking up to three or four hours to complete.
Now, the dishes in some Chinese meals are also served sequentially, but during a traditionally Chinese meal, the dishes are served pretty much all at once. Sometimes two or three dishes arrive simultaneously at the table. So how is it possible to fit all that food on the table?
A Lazy Susan makes it all possible.
Who?
Ha-ha, not who Ken but what. Lazy Susan is the rotating tray placed at the center of a round table that helps to keep the food moving. Thanks to this round tray, diners can all partake in a communal spirit that comes with the Chinese meal.
Language Lab
represent v.
to officially speak or take action for another person or group of people:
- This bouquet represents my deep apology.
- The painting represents the style of this artist at younger age.
representation n.
when you have someone to speak, vote, or make decisions for you:
- The dove is a symbolic representation of peace.
purity n.
lack of guilt or evil thoughts
- The photo shows the purity and innocence of little kids.
- The Virgin Mary has been a symbol of purity down through the ages.
purity n.
something (such as a picture or symbol) that stands for something else
- The water purity is regularly tested.
vary v.
/ˈveri/
to be different or to become different : change
- The salaries in this company vary according to individual performance.
- Sales taxes vary from state to state.
various adj.
used to refer to several different or many different things, people, etc.
- Various charity organizations received this old lady's donations.
feast n.
a special meal with large amounts of food and drink
- Mom always cooks a feast whenever we go home.
- Smoked salmon is often served at wedding feasts.
a religious festival
- The musical "Cats" is a feast for the ears and the eyes.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151026baad44802c31bbc6243f40d22777dc2297a73e1cb7521d2c0c746831214b814c6bb.wma
Every country has its own traditional ways to celebrate a new marriage.
The Dress
Unique traditional clothing is a key part of wedding ceremonies in many countries. In most Western nations, brides wear long white dresses. That’s because the color white represents purity. Brides in Japan also wear white and sometimes even paint their faces and bodies white. But in India, brides traditionally wear red, the color of celebration. And brides throughout East Asia often change into several different dresses on their wedding day.
Brides in Morocco wear bright colors that vary by region. The bride and her helpers draw patterns on their skin with juice from the henna plant.
The Food
Many cultures celebrate weddings with feasts that include traditional dishes. In Sweden, this meal can last three days! Italian wedding meals often have 12-14 courses. One traditional Italian dish is almonds covered in sugar. It represents the mix of sweet and bitter events in life.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Chinese Dining vs. Western Dining 教學主題: 中西大不同的上菜方式
One of the biggest differences between Chinese and Western dining is the way food is served.
That’s right; food is served sequentially in the West that’s why a Western meal is made up of courses or multiple dishes that arrive at the table in a particular order.
The number of courses depends on how formal or elaborate a meal is.
In its simplest form a western meal has three courses, an appetizer, a main course and a dessert.
In formal dining, a full course dinner can consist of ten, twelve or sixteen courses taking up to three or four hours to complete.
Now, the dishes in some Chinese meals are also served sequentially, but during a traditionally Chinese meal, the dishes are served pretty much all at once. Sometimes two or three dishes arrive simultaneously at the table. So how is it possible to fit all that food on the table?
A Lazy Susan makes it all possible.
Who?
Ha-ha, not who Ken but what. Lazy Susan is the rotating tray placed at the center of a round table that helps to keep the food moving. Thanks to this round tray, diners can all partake in a communal spirit that comes with the Chinese meal.
Language Lab
represent v.
to officially speak or take action for another person or group of people:
- This bouquet represents my deep apology.
- The painting represents the style of this artist at younger age.
representation n.
when you have someone to speak, vote, or make decisions for you:
- The dove is a symbolic representation of peace.
purity n.
lack of guilt or evil thoughts
- The photo shows the purity and innocence of little kids.
- The Virgin Mary has been a symbol of purity down through the ages.
purity n.
something (such as a picture or symbol) that stands for something else
- The water purity is regularly tested.
vary v.
/ˈveri/
to be different or to become different : change
- The salaries in this company vary according to individual performance.
- Sales taxes vary from state to state.
various adj.
used to refer to several different or many different things, people, etc.
- Various charity organizations received this old lady's donations.
feast n.
a special meal with large amounts of food and drink
- Mom always cooks a feast whenever we go home.
- Smoked salmon is often served at wedding feasts.
a religious festival
- The musical "Cats" is a feast for the ears and the eyes.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151026baad44802c31bbc6243f40d22777dc2297a73e1cb7521d2c0c746831214b814c6bb.wma
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Look on the Bright Side (2)
Positive versus negative
It seems strange to think that a state of mind can have such effects. But there are a couple reasons why a positive attitude is better than a negative one. Negative emotions are good for giving us focus on tasks, such as running from danger, for example. Positive emotions, however, open us up to a world of possibilities and aid skill-building. The broader results of positive thinking naturally last longer as well.
Strategies for positivity
A positive attitude comes easier for some than others because it’s an inherited characteristic. Still, anyone can try a few things to bring out the positive:
Reframing: See positives through negatives, such as being glad the subway is cheap even when crowded.
Distance: When making a big decision, act like you’re giving a friend advice.
Smile: Real or not, smiles are shown to decrease heart rate and blood pressure.
In the end, a positive attitude requires not only positive thinking but also positive action.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Names of Rapid Transit Systems 教學主題: 大眾捷運系統的稱呼
If you live in a large city, chances are your city has a mass rapid transit system. In Taipei we call it, the MRT for short. But depending on the city, such a system may go by different names.
That’s right; a common name for a rapid transit system is subway. The New York City subway is one of the most famous subways in the world.
But the word subway initially means an underground path, so if you’re referring to a rapid transit system that is built above ground, and then it wouldn’t really qualify as a subway.
And that’s probably why Chicago’s transit system is called the L, which is short for elevated. A big part of Chicago’s L system is above ground, elevated over the roads.
Another common name for rapid transit system is metro, the rapid transit systems in Washington D.C., Paris, Moscow, are all called the Metro.
And finally there’s the London underground. Now being underground, this transit system does qualify as a subway, but most locals just call it the Tube.
Language Lab
versus preposition
used to indicate the two people, teams, etc., that are fighting or competing against each other or that are opposed to each other in a legal case
- The article is a thorough study of private schools versus public schools.
- Tomorrow's game is France versus Germany.
— abbreviation vs., v.
- The Italy vs. Brazil game was well-matched.
naturally adv.
used to describe something that happens or exists by itself without being controlled or changed by someone
- After the company merged, lay-offs came naturally.
in a way that is relaxed and normal
- Models need to know how to pose naturally in front of different kinds of people.
natural adj.
- natural reaction
strategy n.
a planned series of actions for achieving something:
- We need to develop new marketing strategies to increase our sales.
strategic adj.
- The general is good at strategic planning.
reframe v.
frame or express (words or a concept or plan) differently.
- The movie offers the audience an opportunity to reframe their family values.
- The company is reframing ways to gain a dominant position in the field.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151024baa5fcc9875d4a9699050cfe21a109420cc51e02f63dfa715e5b42fbde69e5bcb25.wma
It seems strange to think that a state of mind can have such effects. But there are a couple reasons why a positive attitude is better than a negative one. Negative emotions are good for giving us focus on tasks, such as running from danger, for example. Positive emotions, however, open us up to a world of possibilities and aid skill-building. The broader results of positive thinking naturally last longer as well.
Strategies for positivity
A positive attitude comes easier for some than others because it’s an inherited characteristic. Still, anyone can try a few things to bring out the positive:
Reframing: See positives through negatives, such as being glad the subway is cheap even when crowded.
Distance: When making a big decision, act like you’re giving a friend advice.
Smile: Real or not, smiles are shown to decrease heart rate and blood pressure.
In the end, a positive attitude requires not only positive thinking but also positive action.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Names of Rapid Transit Systems 教學主題: 大眾捷運系統的稱呼
If you live in a large city, chances are your city has a mass rapid transit system. In Taipei we call it, the MRT for short. But depending on the city, such a system may go by different names.
That’s right; a common name for a rapid transit system is subway. The New York City subway is one of the most famous subways in the world.
But the word subway initially means an underground path, so if you’re referring to a rapid transit system that is built above ground, and then it wouldn’t really qualify as a subway.
And that’s probably why Chicago’s transit system is called the L, which is short for elevated. A big part of Chicago’s L system is above ground, elevated over the roads.
Another common name for rapid transit system is metro, the rapid transit systems in Washington D.C., Paris, Moscow, are all called the Metro.
And finally there’s the London underground. Now being underground, this transit system does qualify as a subway, but most locals just call it the Tube.
Language Lab
versus preposition
used to indicate the two people, teams, etc., that are fighting or competing against each other or that are opposed to each other in a legal case
- The article is a thorough study of private schools versus public schools.
- Tomorrow's game is France versus Germany.
— abbreviation vs., v.
- The Italy vs. Brazil game was well-matched.
naturally adv.
used to describe something that happens or exists by itself without being controlled or changed by someone
- After the company merged, lay-offs came naturally.
in a way that is relaxed and normal
- Models need to know how to pose naturally in front of different kinds of people.
natural adj.
- natural reaction
strategy n.
a planned series of actions for achieving something:
- We need to develop new marketing strategies to increase our sales.
strategic adj.
- The general is good at strategic planning.
reframe v.
frame or express (words or a concept or plan) differently.
- The movie offers the audience an opportunity to reframe their family values.
- The company is reframing ways to gain a dominant position in the field.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151024baa5fcc9875d4a9699050cfe21a109420cc51e02f63dfa715e5b42fbde69e5bcb25.wma
Friday, October 23, 2015
Look on the Bright Side (1)
Learn to think and act positively
The power of positive thinking has been widely researched. It’s funny how some of us accept this power quickly while others are doubtful. Our opinions about positive thinking might prove its point.
What is positive thinking?
When facing a problem, we weigh success or failure against it. We might think that positive thinking always leads us to expect success. Actually, it’s more important to realize that positive thinking results in acceptance of our situation.
If we think positively, we may predict success or ways to move on in case of failure. There’s a difference between blind positivity and seeing things in a positive light.
Benefits of positive thinking
Does research see any real value in positive thinking? Many studies show that a positive attitude leads to less stress and depression. Physically, positive thinking is linked to a longer life and quicker recovery from sickness. Positive people with a family history of heart problems are even less likely to experience heart attacks.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Heart Disease vs. Heart Attack 教學主題: 是心臟病還是心臟病發作?
Today let’s talk about the difference between a heart disease and a heart attack. Now obviously both terms are related to the heart, the difference is that heart disease is usually long term while a heart attack is something that happens in a relatively short amount of time.
Heart disease is a general description that covers numerous problems that relate to the heart and blood vessels. If a person has heart disease, he or she may have narrowed or blocked blood vessels. And when blood vessel is blocked, blood flow is interrupted and this can cause a heart attack.
Okay, so what happens when a person has a heart attack, he or she may have chest pain or shortness of breath? The discomfort might last for more than few minutes or may go away and then come back again. This is because the blood flow to the heart is blocked by a blood clot.
Now if you ever have a heart attack, go to a hospital and get help. Now the good news is most people survive their first heart attack and return to their normal lives to enjoy many of more years of productive activity. But having had a heart attack does mean you have to listen to your doctor’s advice and make some changes in your life regarding eating and exercising.
Okay, so to sum up today’s lesson, a heart disease is a condition, and heart attack is an occurrence.
Language Lab
doubtful adj.
/ˈdaʊtfəl/
uncertain or unsure about something
- The boss is very doubtful about whether flexible working hours are beneficial.
- It's quite doubtful that the injured quarterback can play next week.
acceptance n.
the act of accepting something or someone
- The transfer student tried very hard to gain acceptance from her classmates.
- The acceptance of reality is not easy for everyone.
predict v.
to say that something will happen, before it happens
- Scientists are striving to find a way to accurately predict earthquakes.
prediction n.
a statement about what you think is going to happen, or the act of making this statement
- Fortunately, the prediction about a long recession didn't come true.
positivity n.
the quality or state of being positive
- Ray's positivity and diligence made him the company's top salesperson.
positive adj.
- A good athlete must have a positive attitude.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151023baa0c29a2a1f3db1358c2542aa9a5d0b7c0bf1d01ce6af47b89a5702a19bbd3623e.wma
The power of positive thinking has been widely researched. It’s funny how some of us accept this power quickly while others are doubtful. Our opinions about positive thinking might prove its point.
What is positive thinking?
When facing a problem, we weigh success or failure against it. We might think that positive thinking always leads us to expect success. Actually, it’s more important to realize that positive thinking results in acceptance of our situation.
If we think positively, we may predict success or ways to move on in case of failure. There’s a difference between blind positivity and seeing things in a positive light.
Benefits of positive thinking
Does research see any real value in positive thinking? Many studies show that a positive attitude leads to less stress and depression. Physically, positive thinking is linked to a longer life and quicker recovery from sickness. Positive people with a family history of heart problems are even less likely to experience heart attacks.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Heart Disease vs. Heart Attack 教學主題: 是心臟病還是心臟病發作?
Today let’s talk about the difference between a heart disease and a heart attack. Now obviously both terms are related to the heart, the difference is that heart disease is usually long term while a heart attack is something that happens in a relatively short amount of time.
Heart disease is a general description that covers numerous problems that relate to the heart and blood vessels. If a person has heart disease, he or she may have narrowed or blocked blood vessels. And when blood vessel is blocked, blood flow is interrupted and this can cause a heart attack.
Okay, so what happens when a person has a heart attack, he or she may have chest pain or shortness of breath? The discomfort might last for more than few minutes or may go away and then come back again. This is because the blood flow to the heart is blocked by a blood clot.
Now if you ever have a heart attack, go to a hospital and get help. Now the good news is most people survive their first heart attack and return to their normal lives to enjoy many of more years of productive activity. But having had a heart attack does mean you have to listen to your doctor’s advice and make some changes in your life regarding eating and exercising.
Okay, so to sum up today’s lesson, a heart disease is a condition, and heart attack is an occurrence.
Language Lab
doubtful adj.
/ˈdaʊtfəl/
uncertain or unsure about something
- The boss is very doubtful about whether flexible working hours are beneficial.
- It's quite doubtful that the injured quarterback can play next week.
acceptance n.
the act of accepting something or someone
- The transfer student tried very hard to gain acceptance from her classmates.
- The acceptance of reality is not easy for everyone.
predict v.
to say that something will happen, before it happens
- Scientists are striving to find a way to accurately predict earthquakes.
prediction n.
a statement about what you think is going to happen, or the act of making this statement
- Fortunately, the prediction about a long recession didn't come true.
positivity n.
the quality or state of being positive
- Ray's positivity and diligence made him the company's top salesperson.
positive adj.
- A good athlete must have a positive attitude.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151023baa0c29a2a1f3db1358c2542aa9a5d0b7c0bf1d01ce6af47b89a5702a19bbd3623e.wma
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Enjoy Jamaica (3)
"Out of many, one people"
Although the majority of the population has African ancestors, a typical Jamaican maybe multi-racial or have ancestors from several nations. These might be Spanish, British, French, Lebanese, Indian, Chinese or native Arawak. The culture, food and language of Jamaica strongly reflect the various origins of its people. Mi irie! A former British colony, Jamaica maintains English as its national language. However, Jamaicans commonly speak Patois, a dialect of English. This informal speech, made popular worldwide by reggae music, has roots in European and African languages.
Taste of the island
Jamaican food makes my mouth water! A few of my favorites include curry goat, rice and peas and patties. I prefer these dishes mild, but any dish can set the mouth on fire by adding Scotch-bonnet peppers. These peppers create the spiciness in the seasoning for “jerk,” mouth-watering barbecued pork, chicken or vegetables. I would return to Jamaica in an instant just to savor the food. But it’s easy to fall in love with this magnificent country and all it has to offer.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Hot Foods 教學主題: Hot之於食物的定義
In English there’re a few reasons why foods and drinks might be labeled hot. First they could be formally hot.
A pizza that just came out of the oven or coffee that just finished brewing is hot.
And dangerous, so but the coffee cool down a bit before you drink it, or you might burn your tongue.
Next, foods can be spicy hot, chili peppers, mustard and wasabi are all spicy hot foods. Note that even if these items were consumed straight from refrigerator they still be considered hot because they’re spicy.
Yes, a cold pepper still has the power to make your mouth burn. Okay how about what the Chinese called, shu uu shu sin. The idea is that foods and drinks contain a central hot and cold properties regardless of thermal heat or degree of spiciness.
Right, I believe chocolate is considered hot, pumpkins are neutral while a hot cup of tea is actually cold.
Right so we might see shu uu shu sin translated into English as Chinese food therapy. Westerners are gradually becoming aware of the health benefits of Chinese food therapy, and many are making it a part of their life style.
Language Lab
ancestor n.
a member of your family who lived a long time ago
- Benjamin can trace his ancestors back eight hundred years.
- Jennifer's ancestors were from Germany.
the form in which a modern machine, vehicle etc first existed
- Rhythm-and-blues is the immediate ancestor of rock 'n' roll.
dialect n.
a form of a language which is spoken only in one area, with words or grammar that are slightly different from other forms of the same language [↪ accent]
- Taiwanese and Hakka are common dialects in Taiwan, but the official language is Mandarin.
- The ministers translated the Bible into the local dialect.
mild adj.
not very strong or hot-tasting:
- The patient can only eat mild food after her surgery.
- The mild rain in the afternoon cooled down the temperature.
a mild person has a gentle character and does not easily get angry:
- Mike has a mild temper; I've never heard him raise his voice.
savor v.
to enjoy the taste or smell of (something) for as long as possible
- Don't rush! Take your time savoring our cuisine.
to enjoy (something) for a long time
- He not only can make money, but he also knows how to savor his success.
savor n.
a good taste or smell — usually singular
- The chicken has a savor of rosemary.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151022baada71a84ae7a724071b17c8760bcb016fc89e2e475c7e114514b80936103d1733.wma
Although the majority of the population has African ancestors, a typical Jamaican maybe multi-racial or have ancestors from several nations. These might be Spanish, British, French, Lebanese, Indian, Chinese or native Arawak. The culture, food and language of Jamaica strongly reflect the various origins of its people. Mi irie! A former British colony, Jamaica maintains English as its national language. However, Jamaicans commonly speak Patois, a dialect of English. This informal speech, made popular worldwide by reggae music, has roots in European and African languages.
Taste of the island
Jamaican food makes my mouth water! A few of my favorites include curry goat, rice and peas and patties. I prefer these dishes mild, but any dish can set the mouth on fire by adding Scotch-bonnet peppers. These peppers create the spiciness in the seasoning for “jerk,” mouth-watering barbecued pork, chicken or vegetables. I would return to Jamaica in an instant just to savor the food. But it’s easy to fall in love with this magnificent country and all it has to offer.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Hot Foods 教學主題: Hot之於食物的定義
In English there’re a few reasons why foods and drinks might be labeled hot. First they could be formally hot.
A pizza that just came out of the oven or coffee that just finished brewing is hot.
And dangerous, so but the coffee cool down a bit before you drink it, or you might burn your tongue.
Next, foods can be spicy hot, chili peppers, mustard and wasabi are all spicy hot foods. Note that even if these items were consumed straight from refrigerator they still be considered hot because they’re spicy.
Yes, a cold pepper still has the power to make your mouth burn. Okay how about what the Chinese called, shu uu shu sin. The idea is that foods and drinks contain a central hot and cold properties regardless of thermal heat or degree of spiciness.
Right, I believe chocolate is considered hot, pumpkins are neutral while a hot cup of tea is actually cold.
Right so we might see shu uu shu sin translated into English as Chinese food therapy. Westerners are gradually becoming aware of the health benefits of Chinese food therapy, and many are making it a part of their life style.
Language Lab
ancestor n.
a member of your family who lived a long time ago
- Benjamin can trace his ancestors back eight hundred years.
- Jennifer's ancestors were from Germany.
the form in which a modern machine, vehicle etc first existed
- Rhythm-and-blues is the immediate ancestor of rock 'n' roll.
dialect n.
a form of a language which is spoken only in one area, with words or grammar that are slightly different from other forms of the same language [↪ accent]
- Taiwanese and Hakka are common dialects in Taiwan, but the official language is Mandarin.
- The ministers translated the Bible into the local dialect.
mild adj.
not very strong or hot-tasting:
- The patient can only eat mild food after her surgery.
- The mild rain in the afternoon cooled down the temperature.
a mild person has a gentle character and does not easily get angry:
- Mike has a mild temper; I've never heard him raise his voice.
savor v.
to enjoy the taste or smell of (something) for as long as possible
- Don't rush! Take your time savoring our cuisine.
to enjoy (something) for a long time
- He not only can make money, but he also knows how to savor his success.
savor n.
a good taste or smell — usually singular
- The chicken has a savor of rosemary.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151022baada71a84ae7a724071b17c8760bcb016fc89e2e475c7e114514b80936103d1733.wma
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Enjoy Jamaica (2)
Tropical paradise
Hellshire Beach, a short drive from Kingston, is my favorite spot to soak in some sun and enjoy the ocean air. Whether in the sun or the shade, lunch – fried fish and festival (fried bread) – is personally delivered. And the oyster man stops by to serve up cold, fresh oysters.
A honeymoon destination, Jamaica offers newlyweds the perfect tropical escape. Beautiful, white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water provide the ideal setting to rest and relax. The all-inclusive resort was first opened in Jamaica. Therefore, Jamaicans know all about taking care of guests’ every need.
In the mood for adventure
The island also offers plenty for the adventurous traveler. On the north coast in Montego Bay, my cousin and I went ziplining for the first time. Flying through the forest felt fantastic! True risk-takers head west Negril. Besides an amazing seven-mile stretch of beach, Negri has the place to cliff jump –Rick’s Cafe. I watched both experienced and first-time jumpers plunge over the cliff. Then I ended the day viewing a breathtaking sunset over the ocean.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Silent Letters, Why? 教學主題: 不發音的字母
Silent letters are a lot like mosquitoes they’re annoying and you don’t know when they strike next. Just like the other day I was listening to a man gave a fabulous speech. His English was excellent except for one word he kept mispronouncing, debt.
Ah, that silent b can be tricky.
And so it sounded like he kept saying [debit], a related but different word. Fact is no matter how long we’ve been speaking English; silent letters can unexpectedly appear and bite us.
As irritating as silent letters are, there are rational reasons for their existence. One is that during the Renaissance there was a classical language revival, people were rediscovering all the literary treasures from the ancient Greek and Latin languages.
That was when scholars in England began tweaking the spelling of certain English words, so they would conform to the Latin ideal. They fit, they were helping.
Umm, and that’s when the word “dette” got its silent b. Yes, the change made the word look more like its Latin root “debitum”,but it created more headaches for you and me.
Hum. Many other English words acquired silent letters for this same reason, words like reign, receipt and island.
Language Lab
soak v.
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:
- Alex wants to do nothing but relax and soak up some sun in his backyard.
- Soak the red beans for two hours before cooking them.
- After a long day, Samantha just wanted to soak in a hot tub.
crystal-clear adj.
perfectly clear : able to be seen through completely
- The crystal-clear lake makes you want to dive into it.
perfectly easy to understand
- The conman's motivation is crystal-clear: he just wants your money.
conman n.
someone who tries to get money from people by tricking them
bask v.
/ˈbæsk/
to lie or relax happily in a bright and warm place
- We sat basking in the sun.
zipline n.
an inclined cable or rope with a suspended harness, pulley, or handle, down which a person slides for amusement.
- The tour features five different ziplines in the rainforest.
- Max went ziplining when he went to Whistler, Canada.
plunge v.
/ˈplʌnʤ/
always followed by an adverb or preposition : to fall or jump suddenly from a high place
- It's so hot today, I wish I could go to the beach and plunge into the cool water.
- The car plunged over the cliff and fell to the bottom of the valley.
newlyweds n.
a person who has recently married
- They took pictures of the happy newlyweds.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151021baa89b1ab522d67a0f6255360bf65d43d7a5512affb17ca0a30c91b3e49ce769afe.wma
Hellshire Beach, a short drive from Kingston, is my favorite spot to soak in some sun and enjoy the ocean air. Whether in the sun or the shade, lunch – fried fish and festival (fried bread) – is personally delivered. And the oyster man stops by to serve up cold, fresh oysters.
A honeymoon destination, Jamaica offers newlyweds the perfect tropical escape. Beautiful, white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water provide the ideal setting to rest and relax. The all-inclusive resort was first opened in Jamaica. Therefore, Jamaicans know all about taking care of guests’ every need.
In the mood for adventure
The island also offers plenty for the adventurous traveler. On the north coast in Montego Bay, my cousin and I went ziplining for the first time. Flying through the forest felt fantastic! True risk-takers head west Negril. Besides an amazing seven-mile stretch of beach, Negri has the place to cliff jump –Rick’s Cafe. I watched both experienced and first-time jumpers plunge over the cliff. Then I ended the day viewing a breathtaking sunset over the ocean.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Silent Letters, Why? 教學主題: 不發音的字母
Silent letters are a lot like mosquitoes they’re annoying and you don’t know when they strike next. Just like the other day I was listening to a man gave a fabulous speech. His English was excellent except for one word he kept mispronouncing, debt.
Ah, that silent b can be tricky.
And so it sounded like he kept saying [debit], a related but different word. Fact is no matter how long we’ve been speaking English; silent letters can unexpectedly appear and bite us.
As irritating as silent letters are, there are rational reasons for their existence. One is that during the Renaissance there was a classical language revival, people were rediscovering all the literary treasures from the ancient Greek and Latin languages.
That was when scholars in England began tweaking the spelling of certain English words, so they would conform to the Latin ideal. They fit, they were helping.
Umm, and that’s when the word “dette” got its silent b. Yes, the change made the word look more like its Latin root “debitum”,but it created more headaches for you and me.
Hum. Many other English words acquired silent letters for this same reason, words like reign, receipt and island.
Language Lab
soak v.
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:
- Alex wants to do nothing but relax and soak up some sun in his backyard.
- Soak the red beans for two hours before cooking them.
- After a long day, Samantha just wanted to soak in a hot tub.
crystal-clear adj.
perfectly clear : able to be seen through completely
- The crystal-clear lake makes you want to dive into it.
perfectly easy to understand
- The conman's motivation is crystal-clear: he just wants your money.
conman n.
someone who tries to get money from people by tricking them
bask v.
/ˈbæsk/
to lie or relax happily in a bright and warm place
- We sat basking in the sun.
zipline n.
an inclined cable or rope with a suspended harness, pulley, or handle, down which a person slides for amusement.
- The tour features five different ziplines in the rainforest.
- Max went ziplining when he went to Whistler, Canada.
plunge v.
/ˈplʌnʤ/
always followed by an adverb or preposition : to fall or jump suddenly from a high place
- It's so hot today, I wish I could go to the beach and plunge into the cool water.
- The car plunged over the cliff and fell to the bottom of the valley.
newlyweds n.
a person who has recently married
- They took pictures of the happy newlyweds.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151021baa89b1ab522d67a0f6255360bf65d43d7a5512affb17ca0a30c91b3e49ce769afe.wma
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Enjoy Jamaica (1)
- What kind of music is Jamaica known for?
On this Caribbean island everything is "No problem!"
I had not been back to my birth country for seven years. Previous visits to Jamaica had been to see relatives. However, the reason for my most recent visit was to be a tourist. My trip started in the busy capital of Kingston.
Kingston Town
I went to pay my respects to the most famous of Jamaicans, the late reggae singer Bob Marley. I toured his former home and recording studio, which are now the Bob Marley Museum. Because of Bob Marley, people all over the world are familiar with the “rhythm and rhyme” of Jamaica. It’s no wonder the museum is the city’s most visited tourist site.
Afterward I headed to Devon House, a 19th century mansion that has been converted into a historical site and shopping area. There, I saw a piece of Jamaica’s past and tasted the best ice cream on the island.
Blue Mountain Peak
I also took a hike in the Blue Mountains, located east of Kingston. On my way up, I passed coffee trees whose beans make the world-famous Blue Mountain coffee.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Dropped Ds 教學主題: 消失的字尾D
When we speak there’s a natural tendency for us to shorten orskip certain sounds in words. We do this, because it’s convenient. It saves time and effort.
In other words, we’re lazy. There’re many different ways we skip sounds when we speak. One way is by dropping the letter d. Take ice cream for example. Originally, this frozen treat was called iced cream. But over the years the d disappeared.
More examples which also happen to be dairy products include skim milk and cream cheese. These two words used to be pronounced with d’s, like this, skimmed milk and creamed cheese.
Today there’re certain English words that are heading towards losing their d, but half in quite got in there, like tossed salad. Most people don’t pronounce the d, they just say toss salad.
Right! Toss salad of course isn’t officially correct, though someday it probably will be.
And in keeping with the food theme, how about iced tea, it’s another word that’s very close to dropping its d.
Right, ice tea is pretty much how everyone says it, so I think it’s just a matter of time before we all spell it without the d.
Language Lab
rhythm n.
a regular repeated pattern of sounds or movements
- I love the jazzy rhythm of the drum in this song.
- Alan has no sense of rhythm at all. It's impossible for him to be a professional singer.
- The gentle rhythm of the boat made me feel sleepy.
rhyme n.
/ˈraɪm/
one of two or more words or phrases that end in the same sounds
- This poem is not written in rhyme.
- Can you think of a rhyme for "tree"?
rhyme v.
to have or end with the same sounds
- The word "free" rhyme with "tree."
convert v.
to change something into a different form of thing, or to change something so that it can be used for a different purpose or in a different way
- The messages are converted into digital codes by a device.
- The chair can be converted into a table.
- The couple converted their study into a nursery.
hike n.
a long walk in the mountains or countryside:
- We went on a 5-mile hike in a forest near the camping site.
- I took a hike in the Blue Mountains.
take a hike
used to tell someone rudely to go away
- Why don't you take a hike if you're going to keep insulting people?
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151020baae3e8cce6ac85fad645e2b1abd9dc019e0b049ec1bb4b34f49d9a220d045a73c4.wma
Monday, October 19, 2015
The Mysterious Desert Glass of the Sahara
What is this prized treasure of the sand?
Deep in the Sahara Desert, neat the Egypt-Libya border, lies a large stretch of sand littered with unique yellow-brown glass. This mysterious desert glass was discovered in 1932 but continues to command scientific study.
A changing fascination
Though it has been on modern science’s radar a relatively short time, desert glass was used as Pleistocene tools and was featured in Tutankhamen’s jewelry. But the glass’s purposes are very different to people today. Scientists believe the glass may be the result of a comet explosion in Earth’s atmosphere. If this is true, it may allow a greater understanding of the universe than anyone has ever attained before.
A new revelation
The more recent discovery of a black pebble at the site has caused even more excitement in the scientific community. Tiny diamonds inside the pebble, which form under very high pressure, suggest that the pebble is a piece of comet, never found on Earth’s surface before. Scientists are understandably keen to study this landmark specimen as it may give clues to the formation of the solar system. Though the mystery of the desert glass continues, scientists are growing closer to learning its secrets.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Sand or Sands? 教學主題: 沙要如何數？
Let’s talk about a very simple word today, sand. You know the stuff that you find at the beach. Steve, what should we remind our students of when they use this word?
Okay, we should remind them that most of the time the word sand is uncountable. That’s right, sand is uncountable, that means you don’t add an s at the end of it. For example, there is a lot of sand at the beach. If you want to count sand, you can use the word, grain. I think there’s a grain of sand in my eye.
Right, there is only one instance I can think of, that we use sand as a countable noun, and that is in the phrase, the sands of time.
Ah, yes, the sands of time are running out.
If you’ve ever seen how sand flows through an hour glass, you’ll appreciate this saying, which means time is getting short, and you should do what you need to do right now.
Carpe diem.
Good one. Ken, carpe diem is a Latin phrase that means “seize the day”. If time is running out, we should grab hold of at the present before it’s too late.
沙是不可數名詞,
如果要數的話, 可以用grain,
a grain of sand 指的是一粒沙,
sand只有一個地方可以當可數名詞 the sands of time,
這是比較古老文言的用法指的是時間光陰歲月,
我們可以說 the sands of time are running out 常日將近, 時間不多了
我們可以想象 hourglass 沙漏裡的沙不斷的流逝
時間的流逝會提醒我們 Carpe diem 指的是 “seize the day” 把握今天
Language Lab
fascination n.
the state of being very interested in something, so that you want to look at it, learn about it etc [↪ obsession]
- This artist's work holds a special fascination you can't resist.
- The film introduces the fascinations of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
something that interests you very much, or the quality of being very interesting
- Vincent's fascination with car racing never ceases.
attain v.
to succeed in achieving something after trying for a long time:
- Steven Spielberg attained top director status when he was only 29.
- Cheetahs can attain a speed of up to 75 miles per hour.
- We need to put in a lot more effort to attain our goal.
be littered with something if something is littered with things, there are a lot of those things in it [= be full of something]
to cover (a surface) with many things in an untidy way
on the radar
A career in politics wasn't even on my radar (screen) at that point.
[=I wasn't thinking at all about a career in politics]
revelation n.
something that is surprisingly good, enjoyable, or useful revelation to
- The book is a revelation to me in terms of how to communicate with my children.
the act of suddenly making known a surprising fact that had previously been secret
- After the revelation of the political scandal, the senator was forced to resign.
specimen n. [spec 字根:看]
/ˈspɛsəmən/
a small amount or piece that is taken from something, so that it can be tested or examined;
a single example of something, often an animal or plant;
- The boy has a large collection of fossil specimens.
- The doctor took the patient's blood and urine specimens for analysis.
pebble n.
/ˈpɛbəl/
a small, round stone especially : one that has been made smooth by the movement of water
- a pebbly beach [=a beach with many pebbles]
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151019baa9d469295de43ea4f31376fe11148482d37970c6c8f6f44cfd86a46745231ef9d.wma
Deep in the Sahara Desert, neat the Egypt-Libya border, lies a large stretch of sand littered with unique yellow-brown glass. This mysterious desert glass was discovered in 1932 but continues to command scientific study.
A changing fascination
Though it has been on modern science’s radar a relatively short time, desert glass was used as Pleistocene tools and was featured in Tutankhamen’s jewelry. But the glass’s purposes are very different to people today. Scientists believe the glass may be the result of a comet explosion in Earth’s atmosphere. If this is true, it may allow a greater understanding of the universe than anyone has ever attained before.
A new revelation
The more recent discovery of a black pebble at the site has caused even more excitement in the scientific community. Tiny diamonds inside the pebble, which form under very high pressure, suggest that the pebble is a piece of comet, never found on Earth’s surface before. Scientists are understandably keen to study this landmark specimen as it may give clues to the formation of the solar system. Though the mystery of the desert glass continues, scientists are growing closer to learning its secrets.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Sand or Sands? 教學主題: 沙要如何數？
Let’s talk about a very simple word today, sand. You know the stuff that you find at the beach. Steve, what should we remind our students of when they use this word?
Okay, we should remind them that most of the time the word sand is uncountable. That’s right, sand is uncountable, that means you don’t add an s at the end of it. For example, there is a lot of sand at the beach. If you want to count sand, you can use the word, grain. I think there’s a grain of sand in my eye.
Right, there is only one instance I can think of, that we use sand as a countable noun, and that is in the phrase, the sands of time.
Ah, yes, the sands of time are running out.
If you’ve ever seen how sand flows through an hour glass, you’ll appreciate this saying, which means time is getting short, and you should do what you need to do right now.
Carpe diem.
Good one. Ken, carpe diem is a Latin phrase that means “seize the day”. If time is running out, we should grab hold of at the present before it’s too late.
沙是不可數名詞,
如果要數的話, 可以用grain,
a grain of sand 指的是一粒沙,
sand只有一個地方可以當可數名詞 the sands of time,
這是比較古老文言的用法指的是時間光陰歲月,
我們可以說 the sands of time are running out 常日將近, 時間不多了
我們可以想象 hourglass 沙漏裡的沙不斷的流逝
時間的流逝會提醒我們 Carpe diem 指的是 “seize the day” 把握今天
Language Lab
fascination n.
the state of being very interested in something, so that you want to look at it, learn about it etc [↪ obsession]
- This artist's work holds a special fascination you can't resist.
- The film introduces the fascinations of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
something that interests you very much, or the quality of being very interesting
- Vincent's fascination with car racing never ceases.
attain v.
to succeed in achieving something after trying for a long time:
- Steven Spielberg attained top director status when he was only 29.
- Cheetahs can attain a speed of up to 75 miles per hour.
- We need to put in a lot more effort to attain our goal.
be littered with something if something is littered with things, there are a lot of those things in it [= be full of something]
to cover (a surface) with many things in an untidy way
on the radar
A career in politics wasn't even on my radar (screen) at that point.
[=I wasn't thinking at all about a career in politics]
revelation n.
something that is surprisingly good, enjoyable, or useful revelation to
- The book is a revelation to me in terms of how to communicate with my children.
the act of suddenly making known a surprising fact that had previously been secret
- After the revelation of the political scandal, the senator was forced to resign.
specimen n. [spec 字根:看]
/ˈspɛsəmən/
a small amount or piece that is taken from something, so that it can be tested or examined;
a single example of something, often an animal or plant;
- The boy has a large collection of fossil specimens.
- The doctor took the patient's blood and urine specimens for analysis.
pebble n.
/ˈpɛbəl/
a small, round stone especially : one that has been made smooth by the movement of water
- a pebbly beach [=a beach with many pebbles]
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151019baa9d469295de43ea4f31376fe11148482d37970c6c8f6f44cfd86a46745231ef9d.wma
Saturday, October 17, 2015
How to Talk Money With Kids (2)
- How should you discuss the problem with older kids?
- How can kids contribute?
With 12- to 18-year-olds, you can broaden the discussion to include the banking crisis and other factors that contributed to the recession, Meyer says. Younger kids have the notion that they’re at the center of things, and adolescents by nature are especially egocentric. “They will think they’re responsible,” Meyer says. A cut in allowance might seem punitive, so the message that the child is not at fault needs to come across. Depending on the child’s age, “You can also ask them to bring some income by working a job or helping more around the house so Mom or Dad can work more,” he says.
Kids can also contribute by taking over house cleaning or landscaping services previously done by a paid professional. “You’ll pay lower rates, and the money stays in the family,” financial consultant Denis Cauvier says. He also suggests implementing an incentive program to cut household expenses. Whoever comes up with a cost-cutting idea gets 10 percent of the savings.
That way, they’ll come to understand that a paycheck only goes so far, and decisions and sacrifices are part of responsible money management.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Getting Names Right 教學主題: 遇到難唸的人名時
Maybe you’ve noticed as a world gets smaller work coming into context with more and more people from different parts of the globe who have names that are well pretty tricky to pronounce.
If you meet someone face to face and they introduced themselves with an unusual or difficult name, you can politely ask them to say their name again.
By making an effort to say their name correctly, you show in that person honor and respect.
Which is good, unfortunately, you don’t always have the luxury of personally asking someone with the tricky name how to pronounce it.
Maybe you have to reach something in public. Give a speech,or a report or maybe emcee an event where you have to pronounce a difficult name. Cases like these, it pays to do some homework.
Right. If a person’s name looks like it would be tricky to pronounce, ask around or check to see if the person has a website. Sometimes you’ll find some pronunciation clues there.
Other times, if you are lucky and if the person is famous enough, you’ll find something on YouTube, where you can hear how the person’s name is correctly pronounced.
- Can you tell me how to pronounce your name?
Language Lab
egocentric adj. [ego字首-自我; cent 字根- 中心]
/ˌiːgoʊˈsɛntrɪk/
caring too much about yourself and not about other people : self-centered
- Larry is an egocentric person, who only cares about himself.
- School life helps children learn to not be egocentric and share with others.
punitive adj.
/ˈpjuːnətɪv/
intended to punish someone or something
- The politician is suing the newspaper for $500,000 in punitive damages for false coverage.
- Punitive actions were taken by the UN against the country for using biochemical weapons.
at fault
if someone is at fault, they are responsible for something bad that has happened:
- The police said that the other driver was at fault.
- Some people claim that it is the UN that is at fault.
implement v. [im字首-進入]
to take action or make changes that you have officially decided should happen 實施
- The government will implement the new tax policy next year.
- The committee is concerned about when their recommendations will be implemented.
implementation n.
- Implementation of the new law will be difficult.
incentive n.
something that encourages you to work harder, start a new activity etc:
- The teacher uses field trips as incentives to encourage his students to achieve better grades.
- In most companies, bonus payments are the biggest incentives for people to work hard.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151017baacd4a1f2f9a38d426bdbcde8e9e18bd8e1d1a059618e2cf89356f0f50c8ca9c50.wma
Friday, October 16, 2015
Health Watch: Take Care of Your Spine (1)
These tips can help you avoid back problems
Tip of the Week
The most common mistakes leading to a bad back are poor body mechanics and unhealthy habits. How you move objects, your posture, not stretching before exercising and the wrong kind of shoes all contribute to one of the most common medical problems today. Back pain affects eight out of 10 people in their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Douglas Won, founder and director of Minimally Invasive SpineCARE and Star Medical Center in Plano, Texas, offers some tips to improve overall back health:
First, maintain proper body mechanics:
Well, know that English has 21 consonants, its five main vowels are, a, e, i, o and u. Now the difference between vowels and consonants is where and how the sounds are produced in the mouth.
Right, vowels are produced with an open mouth or throat,whereas consonants are restricted by vocal chords, teeth, tongue or lips.
Right, another way to distinguish between vowels and consonants is, vowels are the pleasing sounds of words. The parts that can be sung. For example, a, e, i, o, u…
Nice, consonants, on the other hand, are the short non-singable sounds. I mean, there’s no way to make the cuff sound melodious. So are there any English words that don’t have any vowels?
Not, really, besides interjections and onomatopoeia like grr, and bzz. There is the mathematical expression,“nth”, n, t, h, as in I’ve told you for the for the nth time, now other any words with no consonants.
Well, besides the single letter words, i and a, there’s a kind of lava called “a a” spelled aa.
Interesting, okay. And now just for fun, here’s a word that contains all five vowels in alphabetical order, facetious, f, a, c,e, t, i, o, u, s.
The useful word that describes someone who tries to be funny but is instead annoying.
Language Lab
mechanics n. [mechan字根:機械]
the way in which something works or is done:
- The mechanics of writing a thesis are different from those of writing an essay.
the study of machines:
- Raymond is majoring in mechanics at school.
mechanic n.
someone who is skilled at repairing motor vehicles and machinery:
- a car mechanic
minimally adv. [min: 小]
very small or slight in size or amount
- Patrick claims he's only minimally successful, but actually he's one of the richest men in the country.
minimally invasive
- a minimally invasive surgery
strenuous adj.
/ˈstrɛnjəwəs/
requiring or showing great energy and effort
- The patient should avoid any strenuous activities after the operation.
- James does strenuous exercise to keep himself fit and healthy.
- Strenuous efforts have been made by the government to improve the condition in public schools.
improperly adv.
not proper, right, or suitable: such as not correct, not following rules of acceptable behavior : legally or morally wrong
- Many teachers in the country were improperly trained back in the old days.
- The mayor was accused of using the taxpayers' money improperly.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151016baa77638efb0d1ad33a33ab7dd8e0d1edc1b1c2548dd6498d5e2432ef88c9ae1f12.wma
Tip of the Week
The most common mistakes leading to a bad back are poor body mechanics and unhealthy habits. How you move objects, your posture, not stretching before exercising and the wrong kind of shoes all contribute to one of the most common medical problems today. Back pain affects eight out of 10 people in their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Douglas Won, founder and director of Minimally Invasive SpineCARE and Star Medical Center in Plano, Texas, offers some tips to improve overall back health:
First, maintain proper body mechanics:
- Stretch before exercising or doing any strenuous activity.
- Push heavy objects across the floor instead of pulling or lifting them.
- When lifting is necessary, lift with your knees, not your back.
- Avoid sudden movements and “twisting” motions when carrying objects – even a bag of groceries can do serious harm when handled improperly.
- If you work in an office, check your chair and desk to make sure they are the right height for you.
Well, know that English has 21 consonants, its five main vowels are, a, e, i, o and u. Now the difference between vowels and consonants is where and how the sounds are produced in the mouth.
Right, vowels are produced with an open mouth or throat,whereas consonants are restricted by vocal chords, teeth, tongue or lips.
Right, another way to distinguish between vowels and consonants is, vowels are the pleasing sounds of words. The parts that can be sung. For example, a, e, i, o, u…
Nice, consonants, on the other hand, are the short non-singable sounds. I mean, there’s no way to make the cuff sound melodious. So are there any English words that don’t have any vowels?
Not, really, besides interjections and onomatopoeia like grr, and bzz. There is the mathematical expression,“nth”, n, t, h, as in I’ve told you for the for the nth time, now other any words with no consonants.
Well, besides the single letter words, i and a, there’s a kind of lava called “a a” spelled aa.
Interesting, okay. And now just for fun, here’s a word that contains all five vowels in alphabetical order, facetious, f, a, c,e, t, i, o, u, s.
The useful word that describes someone who tries to be funny but is instead annoying.
Language Lab
mechanics n. [mechan字根:機械]
the way in which something works or is done:
- The mechanics of writing a thesis are different from those of writing an essay.
the study of machines:
- Raymond is majoring in mechanics at school.
mechanic n.
someone who is skilled at repairing motor vehicles and machinery:
- a car mechanic
minimally adv. [min: 小]
very small or slight in size or amount
- Patrick claims he's only minimally successful, but actually he's one of the richest men in the country.
minimally invasive
- a minimally invasive surgery
strenuous adj.
/ˈstrɛnjəwəs/
requiring or showing great energy and effort
- The patient should avoid any strenuous activities after the operation.
- James does strenuous exercise to keep himself fit and healthy.
- Strenuous efforts have been made by the government to improve the condition in public schools.
improperly adv.
not proper, right, or suitable: such as not correct, not following rules of acceptable behavior : legally or morally wrong
- Many teachers in the country were improperly trained back in the old days.
- The mayor was accused of using the taxpayers' money improperly.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151016baa77638efb0d1ad33a33ab7dd8e0d1edc1b1c2548dd6498d5e2432ef88c9ae1f12.wma
Thursday, October 15, 2015
National Pizza Month (2)
An international treat
Americans, however, aren’t the only ones who love pizza. People around the world enjoy its convenience and great taste.
This is due, in large part, to hard work on the part of pizza companies. Over the years, they have introduced pizza to international consumers. As a result, people around the globe buy about five billion “pies” every year.
Not everyone likes the same toppings on their pizza, though.
Australia
Australians enjoy kangaroo and crocodile meat on their pizza.
France
The French like to have fried eggs on top of their pizza.
Russia
Russians enjoy pizza with more of a fishy flavor. One favorite pie is called “mockba.” It is topped with onions and four different kinds of fish.
Scotland
In Scotland you can find deep-fried pizza. It’s often served with “chips,” which are better known as french fries.
What about you?
What are some of your favorite toppings? No matter what they are, be sure to enjoy some pizza this month. Why not have a slice today in honor of National Pizza Month?
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Dutch Treat 教學主題: 各付各的
The word treat is mostly used as a verb. When it is used as a noun, it usually refers to anything that gives you pleasure or delight.
If your friend is celebrating his birthday, for example, you can give him a birthday treat by sending him a singing telegram.
Now that would be a treat, there’s one treat that’s not a treat at all, and that’s a Dutch treat.
Right, Dutch treat or going Dutch is an expression that means each person pays his or her own expenses during outing or a meal instead having one person pay for everyone.
And that’s not just dividing the bill by the number of people and having each person pay an equal amount, no, you only pay for what you order.
That’s right, so if Ken and I went out for lunch, I ordered a big steak and Ken just had a salad, I would be paying more than him, if we went Dutch.
I would certainly hope so. Now in that situation I would probably not use the expression going Dutch, I would just say let’s pay for our own orders. Going Dutch is a term usually used in a context of a date.
Good point, when a man takes a woman on a date, and they split the bill instead of the man paying the complete tab, we call that going Dutch, or Dutch treat, so why do people do that, Steve?
Well, if a woman wants to be just friends for the man, and not give the impression that she is romantically interested, then she can make it clear before the date by insisting they go Dutch.
Language Lab
globe n.
the globe : the earth
- Maroon 5 is a popular band all around the globe.
- People from every corner of the globe came to compete in the contest.
an object that is shaped like a large ball with a map of the world on it
- Nathan loves to study the big globe in the library.
crocodile n.
a large reptile that has a long body, thick skin, and a long, thin mouth with sharp teeth and that lives in the water in regions with hot weather — see picture at alligator
- The crocodile dragged its prey from the riverbank to the water.
- This crocodile handbag costs a lot of money.
alligator n.
- an alligator belt
fishy adj.
of or relating to fish especially: tasting or smelling like a fish
- Kids might not like the fishy taste of the dish.
- The fridge has a terrible fishy odor.
causing doubt or suspicion: likely to be bad, untrue, dishonest, etc.
- There's something fishy in the report.
flavor n.
the quality of something that you can taste
- Koreans love food with a spicy flavor.
- Strawberry is Rebecca's favorite ice-cream flavor.
flavor v.
to give or add flavor to (something)
- You can add some green onions to flavor the dish.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151015baa33cd8aa8b4a3ca221f2087b47fd3d89ee6279b35a4474bdca7d384da39066b37.wma
Americans, however, aren’t the only ones who love pizza. People around the world enjoy its convenience and great taste.
This is due, in large part, to hard work on the part of pizza companies. Over the years, they have introduced pizza to international consumers. As a result, people around the globe buy about five billion “pies” every year.
Not everyone likes the same toppings on their pizza, though.
Australia
Australians enjoy kangaroo and crocodile meat on their pizza.
France
The French like to have fried eggs on top of their pizza.
Russia
Russians enjoy pizza with more of a fishy flavor. One favorite pie is called “mockba.” It is topped with onions and four different kinds of fish.
Scotland
In Scotland you can find deep-fried pizza. It’s often served with “chips,” which are better known as french fries.
What about you?
What are some of your favorite toppings? No matter what they are, be sure to enjoy some pizza this month. Why not have a slice today in honor of National Pizza Month?
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Dutch Treat 教學主題: 各付各的
The word treat is mostly used as a verb. When it is used as a noun, it usually refers to anything that gives you pleasure or delight.
If your friend is celebrating his birthday, for example, you can give him a birthday treat by sending him a singing telegram.
Now that would be a treat, there’s one treat that’s not a treat at all, and that’s a Dutch treat.
Right, Dutch treat or going Dutch is an expression that means each person pays his or her own expenses during outing or a meal instead having one person pay for everyone.
And that’s not just dividing the bill by the number of people and having each person pay an equal amount, no, you only pay for what you order.
That’s right, so if Ken and I went out for lunch, I ordered a big steak and Ken just had a salad, I would be paying more than him, if we went Dutch.
I would certainly hope so. Now in that situation I would probably not use the expression going Dutch, I would just say let’s pay for our own orders. Going Dutch is a term usually used in a context of a date.
Good point, when a man takes a woman on a date, and they split the bill instead of the man paying the complete tab, we call that going Dutch, or Dutch treat, so why do people do that, Steve?
Well, if a woman wants to be just friends for the man, and not give the impression that she is romantically interested, then she can make it clear before the date by insisting they go Dutch.
Language Lab
globe n.
the globe : the earth
- Maroon 5 is a popular band all around the globe.
- People from every corner of the globe came to compete in the contest.
an object that is shaped like a large ball with a map of the world on it
- Nathan loves to study the big globe in the library.
crocodile n.
a large reptile that has a long body, thick skin, and a long, thin mouth with sharp teeth and that lives in the water in regions with hot weather — see picture at alligator
- The crocodile dragged its prey from the riverbank to the water.
- This crocodile handbag costs a lot of money.
alligator n.
- an alligator belt
fishy adj.
of or relating to fish especially: tasting or smelling like a fish
- Kids might not like the fishy taste of the dish.
- The fridge has a terrible fishy odor.
causing doubt or suspicion: likely to be bad, untrue, dishonest, etc.
- There's something fishy in the report.
flavor n.
the quality of something that you can taste
- Koreans love food with a spicy flavor.
- Strawberry is Rebecca's favorite ice-cream flavor.
flavor v.
to give or add flavor to (something)
- You can add some green onions to flavor the dish.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151015baa33cd8aa8b4a3ca221f2087b47fd3d89ee6279b35a4474bdca7d384da39066b37.wma
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
National Pizza Month (1)
- The history of pizza
Find out why this delicious food is loved all over the world
Do you like pizza? If so, this is your month! In 1984, an Indiana pizzeria owner established October as National Pizza Month in the United States. So how did pizza become one of America’s favorite foods?
The history of pizza
Records show that ancient Greeks and Romans cooked flat, round bread with various toppings. But Italian cooks perfected the dish by adding one key ingredient – tomatoes. Pizza’s popularity grew during the 1830s, and pizzerias began popping up around the region.
When Italians moved to other countries, they took their pizza recipes along.
The delicious food began gaining popularity in the U.S. after soldiers returned from WWII. While fighting in Italy , many had discovered the famous food. When they returned home, they took with them a taste for the delightful dish. Today 94 percent of Americans eat pizza at least once a month. They consume 100 acres of pizza per day, which equals 350 slices per second!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Cooks and Cookers
Hi, friends! What do you call a person who knows how to cook, and please don’t say cooker. Unless that person has an electrical cord plugged into him.
Ha-ha, very funny Steve! But you are right. I hear many students say their mothers are good cookers. No, if your mother can make lots of delicious dishes, your mother is a good cook.
That’s right. Cook is both a verb and a noun. The verb refers to the act of making food. And the noun refers to the person who makes the food.
Steve, what about someone who cooks very slowly, can I call the person a slow cooker?
Ah, ha. You’re even funnier than I am, Ken. No, a slow cooker is a cooking appliance, also known as a crock pot.
Good, I’m glad we got that cleared up. Now there’s another word that describes someone who can cook, and that is a chef. So the obvious question now is, how’s a chef different from a cook?
Umm, good. Anyone who prepares food is a cook, but a chef is a professional cook who is in charge of a kitchen. We sometimes hear about a celebrity chef and that’s no ordinary cook.
Also you might ask why is this word pronounced /ˈʃɛf/ and not [chf]? Well, that’s because the word chef came from the French language hence the pronunciation chef. In French, chef means chief, so a chef is literally a chief of the kitchen.
Right, so if you think you’re a good cook, work hard and maybe one day you’ll become the chef at a nice restaurant.
Language Lab
establish v.
to begin or create (something that is meant to last for a long time)
- The school was establish back in 1850.
- That country's ambassador is trying to establish a stronger relationship with our country.
establishment n.
the act of establishing something or someone: such as a: the act of starting something that will last for a long time
- The establishment of the museum is due to the effort of a renowned family.
topping n.
a food that is added to the top of another food
- The non-dairy topping on the cake is very tasty.
- You can choose four toppings for your pizza.
recipe n.
a set of instructions for making food
- If you follow the recipe, you'll be able to cook authentic Italian risotto.
a way of doing something that will produce a particular result — + for
- The recipe for a happy parent-child relationship is to make reasonable boundaries.
delightful adj.
very pleasant: giving or causing delight
- The little girl is cute, charming and absolutely delightful.
- The delightful music instantly changed my mood.
delight n.
a strong feeling of happiness: great pleasure or satisfaction
- The baby is the delight of this couple.
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