Picnic Time! (2)

While picnics are an enjoyable family or couple's activity, they can also be a great group event. Many companies, churches and clubs host picnics for their employees and members, featuring food, games and fun.

Tips for a successful picnic:

● Take a blanket - A handy blanket allows you to spread out your meal on the ground.

● Take bug spray - Mosquitoes can ruin your outdoor fun, so be prepared with mosquito repellent. Ants are never welcome, so don't lay your blanket near an ant hill.

● Wear sunscreen - When spending time outdoors, make sure you are protected from the sun's harmful rays.

● Pack items that won't break -take unbreakable cups and dishes or ones that can be disposed of easily.

● Take games - Pack a ball to toss, a Frisbee to throw or something else that will provide a fun activity.

● Throw away your trash - leave the area clean for those who will follow you.

● Have fun - A picnic is a great opportunity to eat and have a fun time of outdoor relaxation.

Grammar Gym
Hello Friends, welcome to the Grammar Gym, my name is Liz. In our article today, the writer gives  several tips on how to have a good picnic.

We read,  "A handy blanket allows you to spread out your meal on the ground." That's our grammar tip sentence. Our focus is on the word "handy". It's a common expression we use to describe how something is very easy to use, or it's very useful.

In the case of today's sentence, the writer is explaining that by having a blanket laid out, things will be so much easier to organize. So, it's a good thing to have a blanket. It's a handy thing to have on a picnic.

What else can we be describe as being handy? Certain kitchen appliances can be described as handy because they can make whatever you are doing become so much easier.

Like:
This food processor is very handy and can help you save a lot of time in the kitchen.
Or:
If you have a certain tool that's convenient to carry around with you, than you can describe it as being handy.
Like:
An army knife is a handy tool to have when you are in the mountains.

So, think of something that's handy, and talk about it with a friend, and if you check out today's Grammar Tips section, you'll find more example sentences there. This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.

Info Cloud
Frisbee - a trademark,  口語代替飛盤, 凡有trademark的來代表某物，第一個字母都要用大寫
Xerox - copy, photocopy 影印, photocopier.
Kleenex - facial tissue. 面紙
photocopier -影印机。
Band-Aid -adhesive bandages. 包札膠帶
genericized- 普通化了
凡公司放棄弃trademark商標權的，他們的名字人們已習慣引用的，變成普通的英文单字。

Language Lab
host v. 主辦, 主持, 做東款待客人
- Brazil will host the Olympic Games in 2016.
- Joanne will be hosting her best friend's wedding shower.
host n. 主人, 主持人
hostess n. 女主持人

ruin v. 毀壞, 嚴重損害
- The hurricane ruined this coastal town.
- Bob was ruined by an unwise investment.
ruin n.廢墟; 遺跡
- The ruins of the earthquake can still seen in the city.

unbreakable adj.不易碎的 [un-否定字首, break-打破]
not able to be broken : not breakable
- The children in this daycare center use unbreakable plastic utensils.
unbreakable 牢不可破的
- Nothing can stop Amanda's unbreakable determination to become a singer.

dispose of [phrasal verb]  處置, 處理
dispose of (something) a : to throw (something) away : to get rid of (something)
- Make sure you dispose of all the garbage in the trash bag provided.
disposable adj. 可丟棄的
- disposable gloves.


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Picnic Time! (1)

Celebrate summer by eating outside
Instead of eating at the same old restaurant this weekend, why not go on a picnic? If you've never been on one, or if it's been a while, you can discover how good food tastes outdoors.

Picnics throughout history
Many believe the first planned outdoor meals took place during medieval times in Europe. The well-organized feasts usually included cold meats and fancy baked goods for wealthy guests of hunting parties.

During Victorian times in England, picnics were popular because they provided an opportunity for young people to spend time together outdoors. Art and literature began featuring picnics, and popular novelists introduced them in their books as enjoyable social events.

A typical Victorian picnic included a delicious meal - sometimes with lobster tail and rich desserts. In addition, picnic-goers enjoyed musical entertainment and group games. The food at 20th century picnics became less elaborate and included items like fried chicken, potato salad and other simple fare. Today people can take whatever they like to eat, but the focus is on having a simple, leisurely, fun-filled meal outdoors.


Info Cloud
dessert 甜點，點心
sweet food served after the main part of a meal
甜點當然是多多益善，所以有字裡有二個 s , 容易與沙漠分辨
desert n. 沙漠
desert v.擅離(職守等) 發音與'dessert' 甜點相同
- He deserted his family.他抛弃了他的家庭。
deserter n.背棄者, 擅離職守者; 逃兵

Language Lab
medieval adj.中世紀的; 中古風的 [medi 中間]
/ˌmi:diˈi:vəl/
connected with the Middle Ages (=the period between about AD 1100 and 1500)
- The medieval castle was turned into a museum.
medieval 老式的; 守舊的
very old or old-fashioned - used in a humorous or disapproving way
- The boss' medieval marketing strategy doesn't compete with our competitors.

feast n.盛宴, 筵席
a large meal where a lot of people celebrate a special occasion 
- We're having a big feast next Saturday to celebrate Grandma's birthday.
feast 大量令人享受的事物或享宴
- A trip to Rome is a feast for the eyes.
羅馬之行，令人大飽眼福
feast 飽餐
- The kids feasted on fried chicken and pizza.
這些小孩快樂的吃炸雞和pizza

elaborate n. 精心製作的; 精巧的; 詳盡的
/ɪˈlæbərət/
made or done with great care or with much detail : having many parts that are carefully arranged or planned
- The elaborate hairstyle took hours to complete.
elaborate v. 詳細規劃, 詳細解釋 'e-la-ba-ret'
to give more details or new information about something:
- The police refused to elaborate on the case.

leisurely adj.從容不迫的, 悠閒的
/ˈli:ʒɚli/
if you do something in a leisurely way, you do it in a slow, relaxed way, without hurrying
- These tourists walked at a leisurely pace.
- Fiona had a leisurely lunch with her friends.
leisurely (adv) - 悠閒的，從容地
- We leisurely strolled along the beach.

host (v) - to in charge or hold an event.主持，主辦，作東款待
- Brazil will host the Olympic Games in 1016.
- Joanne will be hosting her best friend's wedding shower.
结婚前的最后一次單身聚会。

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