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2019.03.25

What is trolling and what can you do about it? (1)

Beware Internet Trolls! 

• What are trolls?
• What do they have to do with the Internet?

For anyone who grew up reading world-renowned fairy tales, the term troll will bring a certain image to mind. In the story Three Billy Goats Gruff, a troll is an ugly, menacing bully who lives under a bridge and threatens the goats who pass over. But what does this awful creature have to do with the World Wide Web?

On the internet, trolls are individuals who provoke people online by starting arguments using hostile posts. They're basically cyberbullies, always ready to post mean, hurtful comments, often hoping to pick a flight.

Instead of hiding out under bridges waiting for innocent passersby, they lurk by comment boards or wherever online users interact with one another. They're ready and waiting to attack unsuspecting internet users. This similarity is one reason why these internet intruders have come to be known as trolls.

While this hidden community taunts the rest of the internet, many people are asking why. Psychologists may have an answer. People who engage in trolling enjoy distressing others and making them feel bad. The internet is a playground for trolls.

Info Cloud

• jump scare
• mirror scare
• surprise creepy

Language Lab
beware v.
to be careful: to act in a way that shows you know that there may be danger or trouble — used only as beware or to beware
- Beware! A low-carb diet isn't suitable for all people.
beware of
- Beware of the slippery floor.
- Beware of putting your personal info on the internet.

menacing adj.
a dangerous or possibly harmful person or thing — usually singular
menace v.
/ˈmɛnəs/
- The strange man's menacing behavior scared the passersby.
- Menacing dark clouds moved fast toward us as we tried to leave the forest.

lurk v.
to be in a hidden place
- The thief was lurking in the crowd trying to find his next victim.
lurk v.
computers : to read messages written by other people on the Internet in a newsgroup, chat room, etc., without writing any messages yourself
- Ron loves to lurk around music forums and find new songs to listen to.
- Issac spends a great deal of time lurking about teen chat rooms.

taunt v.
/ˈtɑːnt/
to say insulting things to (someone) in order to make that person angry
- When he was young, Cliff used to taunt kids who were smaller than him in his class.
- Taylor's classmates love to taunt her because she's chubby.
- The kids in high school kept provoking Sean with taunts and nasty nicknames.

provoke v.
to cause (a person or animal) to become angry, violent, etc.
- He just says those things because he's trying to provoke you.

An Extraordinary Event

• What do people celebrate at Easter?
• How many people saw Jesus after he rose from the dead?

What happened at Easter?

People around the world will celebrate Easter tomorrow. But what exactly are they celebrating? They are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, God’s Son. Every life on Earth has ended in death, but Jesus’ death ended in life. Many believe Jesus’ resurrection is one of the most reliable facts of history!

Not only the Bible but also other non-Christian historical accounts tell about Jesus, a real person. He lived in the Middle East more than 2,000 years ago. He never made a lot of money or ruled a country. It was his revolutionary teachings that angered the Jewish leaders of the day.

Christian and non-Christian authorities agree that Jesus was crucified. Three days later, his tomb was found empty. Jesus had risen from the dead. His followers as well as many non-followers saw him. In all, more than 500 people saw Jesus after he rose from the dead.

More importantly, his Disciples changed. After Jesus’ death, they hid, fearing for their lives. After Jesus’ resurrection, they became bold witnesses for Jesus and his message. That message still changes lives today – just as it did 2,000 years ago.


Language Lab
extraordinary adj.
/ɪkˈstroɚdəˌneri/
very unusual : very different from what is normal or ordinary
- The general is a man with extraordinary ability and courage.
- The director's extraordinary talent to tell stories earned him many film awards.

resurrection n.
/ˌrɛzəˈrɛkʃən/
the Resurrection : the event told about in the Bible in which Jesus Christ returned to life after his death
- Many Christians believe in the Resurrection and Jesus' second coming.
the act of causing something that had ended or been forgotten or lost to exist again, to be used again, etc.
- People are hoping the new leader can bring resurrection to the country's economy.

crucify v. crucified
/ˈkruːsəˌfaɪ/
to kill (someone) by nailing or tying his or her hands and feet to a cross
- In the Bible, it says one of the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus repented and got saved.
to criticize (someone or something) very harshly
- The actress' bad acting in the movie was crucified by the critics.

disciple n.
someone who accepts and helps to spread the teachings of a famous person
- Paul was one of Jesus' disciples, and he founded the first church in Europe.
Disciple
one of a group of 12 men who were sent out to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ
- The 12 Disciples who were called, trained and sent by Jesus changed the history of the world.

White Vinegar and Its Amazing Uses

This common food item is not just for the kitchen anymore

• For wrinkles and cleaning 
• For clogged pipes
• For pets' ears

Most of us lead busy lives and appreciate anything that makes them easier. Vinegar, a common kitchen item, provides easy solutions for many problems. 

For wrinkles

Spray your clothes with a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts water. Wait a couple of minutes, and watch the wrinkles disappear.

For cleaning

Vinegar is a very effective glass cleaner. Mix one part water to one part vinegar. Spray glass surfaces and wipe clean.

For bad smells

Soak a piece of bread in vinegar. Put the bread in a smelly garbage can overnight. The smell will be gone by morning.

For clogged pipes

If you sink is clogged, mix a cup of vinegar with half a cup of baking soda. Pour the mixture down your drain and turn on the water. No more clogged pipe!

For pets' ears

Mix together one part water and two parts vinegar. Put some on a cotton ball and wipe inside your pet's ears. It  not only cleans but soothes itches. 

The next time you need an easy solution, look no further than your own kitchen.

Language Lab

vinegar n.

- Adding vinegar to the water can make hard-boiled eggs easier to peel.

- Mom loves to dip her bread into olive oil and a bit of vinegar.

- This flavored vinegar is perfect for making salad dressing.

wrinkle n.

- The pants were made of a wrinkle -free fabric.

- The cream claims to smooth fine wrinkles in just four weeks.

wrinkle v.

- Years of hardship wrinkled the woman's face, making her look ten years older than she is.

dilute v.

/daɪˈluːt/

to make (a liquid) thinner or less strong by adding water or another liquid

- You can dilute the medicine with water.

clog v.

to slowly form a block in (something, such as a pipe or street) so that things cannot move through quickly or easily

- Weekend traffic clogged the freeway system in L.A.

- The pipe was clogged with leaves.

- Our discussion was once again clogged by irrational arguments.

itch n.

- The itch on my back is really bothering me.

- Don't scratch your itches with your fingernails because you might get an infection.

v.

- The mosquito bite still itches after days.

Making Decisions

How do you make decisions?

• What did Chad buy?
• What would Jeremy rather wait for?

Jeremy and Chad see each other outside a store. 

C: Hey, Jeremy! Look what I just bought.

J: Wow! Cool cell phone. Wait, wasn't that model just released yesterday? Buying it so quickly seems a bit hasty.

C: Not at all. I've known for a long time that I wanted it.

J: I'm surprised you didn't want to read some reviews first.

C: Why would I do that? I've had my eye on this phone for months.

J: Product reviews tell you whether the phone actually performs the way the company claims it does. 

C: I've bought all of my phones from this company and have never had a problem. Besides, I'd rather be one of the first people to try out their latest model.

J: New phones are way too expensive to buy without doing some research. Not to mention I'd rather wait for the price to drop.

C: But the new technology is worth the full price. I don't want to be using something that is outdated.

J: Well, you know what they say, "Good things come to those who wait." And I'm happy to take my time with purchasing expensive items.

Language Lab

hasty adj.

done or made very quickly

- Buying a house is a big thing. Don't make a hasty decision.

- We don't want to leap to any hasty conclusions. We need to listen to each party involved in the incident. 

- People tend to be hasty in judging others just by their appearance. 

have an eye on something

If you have an eye for something or a good/keen/sharp eye for something, you have a special ability to recognize a particular thing or quality.

- Charlie's had his eye on this truck for quite some time.

an eye = one's eye

- Lily's had her eye on this watch for years, and she bought it right after she got her first job.

technology n.

the use of science in industry, engineering, etc., to invent useful things or to solve problems

- The new medical technology can benefit so many people who suffer from this disease. 

- Israel's military technology is quite advanced compared to its many neighbors.

- New recycling technologies can turn glass into fibers of fabric.

outdated adj.

no longer useful or acceptable : not modern or current

- These outdated computers in the office will soon be replaced with new ones.

- These outdated marketing strategies no longer work.

out of date

- That suit looks out of date.

Do You Doodle?

Drawing might help you think

• What kind of business does Sunni Brown run?
• What kind of learning does doodling incorporate?

An author named Sunni Brown wrote a book on doodling. She argues that doodling is a tool that can help people think. She admits that people see doodling as doing nothing, but she wants to change that. In fact, she runs a business that helps companies improve organization and planning through doodling. 

Brown believes doodling is helpful because it incorporates many ways of learning. You learn in four ways: seeing, reading or writing, and through movement.

The more ways you use, the better you learn. And when you doodle while listening to a lecture, you use all four.

You might think that being good at drawing is important for doodling. But if this point of doodling is to help you think, then it doesn't matter what the picture looks like. Even if you're not an artist, doodling can help you. So next time you need help focusing, pick up a pen and doodle away!

Language Lab

admit v. [admits; admitted; admitting]

to say usually in an unwilling way that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something)

- Melanie admitted her fear of men is the reason she never dates.

admit to [phrasal verb] admit to (something) : to admit (something) : to acknowledge the truth or existence of (something)

- The defendant was sentenced to prison after admitting to all the charges.

incorporate v.

to include (something) as part of something else

- This new car incorporates the latest entertainment features.

混合

- The decor of the hotel incorporates styles from several Asian countries.

lecture n.

a talk or speech given to a group of people to teach them about a particular subject

- Professor Anderson's lectures on art history have always been my favorite.

- The boy's mother gave him a lecture when she found out that he had been smoking.

focus v.

to cause (something, such as attention) to be directed at something specific — + on

- You need to focus while operating such complicated machinery.

- Stop focusing on your own problems. You need to care for others.

- I can't focus properly after working on the computer for a long time.

Heat or Cold: Which Is Better? (1)

 How to treat pain  如何處理疼痛

While jogging today, you twisted your ankle. It really hurts and could be a sprain. You've heard that both heat and cold can help with pain. But which one should you use? The right form of treatment differs depending on your type of injury and when it occurred.

When you're trying to decided, ask yourself the following questions?

• When did the injury happen?
• Is your pain new or have you had it for a while?

If the pain began within the past 48 hours, it could be from sudden trauma. For example, if you fell or pulled a muscle, that is a form of trauma. With this type of injury, the area might swell and be painful. You skin could also be red and warm. 

In the case of a new injury, ice is the best form of treatment. Cold slows the blood flow to an injury, numbs the pain and reduces swelling.

Info Cloud

overthink 

jump to conclusions

Don't jump to conclusion.

Language Lab

sprain n.

/ˈspreɪn/

to injure (a joint) by twisting it in a sudden and painful way

- Nathan got a bad ankle sprain while playing basketball.

- It's only a minor sprain. Rest a few days and you'll be fine.

- Alex sprained his back when he picked up a heavy box.

injury n.
- The patient suffers from a serious neck injury.
- This football player had to quit the game because of his knee injury.
injure v.
- The little girl's leg got injured when she fell from a tree.

trauma n.
/ˈtrɑːmə/
medical : a serious injury to a person's body
- The X-ray shows the patient is suffering from an abdominal trauma.
- The victim of the car accident suffered multiple head traumas.
a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time
- Victor's emotional problems are caused by childhood trauma.

numb adj.
unable to feel anything in a particular part of your body because of cold, injury, etc.
- After getting stung by a jellyfish, the boy's arm became totally numb.
numb v.
to cause (a part of the body) to be unable to feel anything
- Alcohol can numb one's senses easily.
- The cold wind numbed my face.

Twin Tim
1. pulled a muscle
2. numb your mouth
3. escaped injury

[Advanced] Two Awesome Hours (1)

Learn how to gain two hours of incredible productivity every day

The World Bog Snorkelling Championships

People from around the globe prepare to take the plunge

Believe it or not, people from all over the world are gathering in Wales, U.K., to swim through muddy water. Tomorrow is the World Bog Snorkelling Championships, an event held annually since 1985. In the past, participants have come from as far away as Australia and Japan. Competitors race to be the first to swim 110 meters through the dark, muddy water of a Welsh bog. They swim underwater and breathe through snorkels. Currently the world record is held by the U.K.'s Kirsty Johnson, who finished in 1 minute 22.56 seconds in 2014.

Competitors wear masks and fins, but wetsuits are optional. Many come in costume, and event organizers give a "fancy dress" prize for the best costume. Last year the prize went to two women who competed together as a "pantomime unicorn." The event is held on the outskirts of Llanwrtyd Wells with a shuttle bus to transport people. It features more than the competition: stalls sell food and drinks and crafts.

Swimming through a smelly bog may not sound pleasant, but the World Bog Snorkelling Championships prove that some people find it fun.


Language Lab
bog n.
an area of soft, wet land : marsh
- The region's central area is a large bog.
- Several rare species of frogs can be found in this bog.
- The man wore bog boots while fishing in the pond.

take the plunge /ˈplʌnʤ/
to do something after thinking about it especially for a long time
- After months of discussion, we decided to take the plunge and buy a house.
- The couple finally took the plunge and got married.

optional adj.
- Math and English are compulsory subjects, but music is optional.


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20160827baaf3a3e6037997071f6ceb89a336b397222bffd07b679a1040f3de679de34d154b.wma

Our Need for Boundaries (1)

Learn how to maintain your boundaries

As humans, we value our personal space. I saw this lesson demonstrated while participating in a class on cultural boundaries. Pairs from different nationalities were told to move closer and closer to one another until they became uncomfortable. In this way, we could quickly see where each one's personal boundaries stopped.

Emotional boundaries, though just as real, are harder to distinguish because they are invisible. Yet many medical experts insist that good boundaries are necessary for strong mental health.

What are boundaries?
Boundaries are conscious limits we set to guard against emotional harm.

These limits protect us from being manipulated or controlled by others. They also help us determine what kind of behavior, communication and interaction from others we will accept. How strong or weak our boundaries are will determine how healthy our relationships are.

Thinking of others
As important as our personal boundaries are, those of our friends and family members are equally important. In order to keep our relationships strong, we must also respect the boundaries set by the people closest to us.

Language Lab
boundary n.
/ˈbaʊndri/
something (such as a river, a fence, or an imaginary line) that shows where an area ends and another area begins
a point or limit that indicates where two things become different
- There's a blurry boundary between devotion to one's job and being a workaholic.
- Setting boundaries for children is crucial for any parent.

crucial adj.
extremely important

invisible adj.
impossible to see : not visible
- The submarine was designed to be invisible to radar.
被忽略的
- Clark feels invisible on his team.

manipulate v.
to deal with or control (someone or something) in a clever and usually unfair or selfish way
- Karen loves to manipulate the people around her to get what she wants.
to move or control (something) with your hands or by using a machine
- The toy dog is manipulated by sound.

interaction n.
to talk or do things with other people
- The games were designed to facilitate interaction among the trainees.
- There hasn't been much interaction between my supervisor and me.

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20160825baaee9b000b0d0b87bf8bd6a26b8170a7cd51bf6ce4ef3d607df9979944bcdd91c4.wma

The Story of Florence Nightingale (3)

• What would Ms. Nightingale do every night?
• What was set up in Ms. Nightingale's honor?

The doctors soon realized that Florence knew what she was doing. She made changes and arranged for better sanitation. Above all, Florence made sure that the men were washed and their injuries were cared for. Every night she would walk through the wards with her lamp.

Reporters, including the famous London Times journalist William Howard Russell, sometimes stopped at Scutari. His stories made Florence famous throughout England. One day Florence crossed the sea to the war-torn Crimea. While there, she became very ill -- close to death. As the news spread, British soldiers everywhere prayed for her recovery. Finally her fever broke, and when she was strong enough, Florence was back at work.

When she returned home after the war, Florence was astonished that people recognized her. A fund had even been set up in her honor. Many of the soldiers she had nursed had made contributions. Now she could set up the Nightingale Training School in London.

After years of hard work, Florence Nightingale saw army barracks become less crowded and the soldiers' health improve. Hospitals became clean and cheerful. Nursing became an honored profession. All of this is because of the compassion of the "lady with the lamp."

Language Lab

journalist n.

the activity or job of collecting, writing, and editing news stories for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio

- The journalist entered the war zone to write stories about the soldiers.

- Walter is a freelance political journalist.

recovery n.

the act or process of becoming healthy after an illness or injury : the act or process of recovering — usually singular

- Good nutrition and rest can speed up the recovery process.

- The patient made a remarkable recovery from his surgery.

astonish v.

to cause a feeling of great wonder or surprise in (someone)

- The CEO's sudden resignation astonished the employees of the company.

astonishment n.

- To everyone's astonishment, Bryan decided to quit school and pursue an action career.

barracks n.

/ˈberəks/

a building or group of buildings in which soldiers live

- The soldiers fell into formation outside their barracks.

- The sergeant caught someone smoking in the barracks.

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20160824baa7b4614284b16f38a59146f06952ff6f62f969361106d2c5f3baf1c5752293e5f.wma

The Story of Florence Nightingale (2)

• What was Florence Nightingale's biggest problem?
• Why wouldn't doctors listen to Ms. Nightingale?

Florence knew she had much to learn about nursing, so she visited hospitals in France, Germany and Ireland and learned everything she could. Upon returning home, she was an expert on hospital management.

In 1835 Florence agreed to take over a small London hospital. Her biggest problem was finding good, trained nurses, so she decided to train them herself. Soon people began to study her methods of nursing, sanitation and hospital organization.

About a year later, Britain became involved in a war against Russia. London newspapers were full of stories about the terrible conditions wounded and sick soldiers were suffering.

Sidney Herbert, the Secretary of War, asked Florence to help care for the wounded and sick. Needless to say, Florence agreed to go.

When Florence and the nurses arrived at the British hospital in Scutari (in modern day Istanbul), they were horrified. The hospital left men lying on the floor, and rats were running everywhere.

There was no running water and no heat. Many soldiers died before receiving help. In spite of the shortage of staff, the doctors wouldn't listen to her. They didn't like the idea of women in army hospitals -- until one day five hundred unexpected casualties arrived.

Language Lab
sanitation n. [sanit-健康]
the process of keeping places free from dirt, infection, disease, etc., by removing waste, trash and garbage, by cleaning streets, etc.
-This area's poor sanitation is the reason for the fast spread of the disease here.
- The restaurant was fined by the sanitation department because their food was not stored at the proper temperature.

suffer v.
to experience pain, illness, or injury
- The cancer patient is suffering tremendous pain.
suffer from
- The girl has been suffering from asthma since she was very little.
to become worse because of being badly affected by something
- Mike's marriage suffers because he's always working.

needless to say
used to say that the statement you are making is obvious
- Needless to say, Howard's job performance is the best in our team.
- Needless to say, all major companies are showing an interest in this mega-size project.

casualty n.
/ˈkæʒəwəlti/
a person who is hurt or killed during an accident, war, etc.
- The army suffered/took/sustained heavy casualties [=many soldiers were killed or wounded] in the town.

shortage n.
a state in which there is not enough of something that is needed
- There's a severe shortage of food and drinking water in this refugee camp.
- The summer camp was cancelled due to a shortage of funds.


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20160823baa92a7680a6ed0bf55be42039a988fed33c56efaa95e8f60f8012c0319236a8f7f.wma

The Story of Florence Nightingale (1)

• The value of compassion
• What was Ms. Nightngale named after?

The value of compassion

Florence Nightingale was named after her birthplace, Florence, Italy. When almost a year old, she returned with her family to England.

Their house was always full of friends and family. Florence would look after the children by inventing games and making sure they didn't get hurt. She also did whatever she could to help injured horses or sick calves. She cared for wounded birds until they could manage themselves. Her father reminded her not to let her compassionate heart make her forget about her lessons.

Florence often helped her mother deliver food to the poor around their estate. Her heart ached at the misery in which some of them lived. As she grew older, she visited them on her own, especially the sick. She wanted to make them well. So Florence decided to become a nurse. Her family was shocked because nursing was not a respected profession.

But Florence was determined and studied books on medicine. One day she persuaded a doctor to show her around a London hospital. She was shocked at the dirty and uncared for patients, the filthy wards and beds and the rats. Florence vowed to change all of this.

Language Lab
compassion n. [com一起]
a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc.
- The news coverage was written with compassion.
compassionate adj.
feeling or showing concern for someone who is sick, hurt, poor, etc.
- This doctor is not only skillful, but also compassionate.
- The movie is deeply compassionate.

calf n. [calves]
/ˈkæf/
a very young cow
- Only some of the cow's calves survived the first few months.

filthy adj.
/ˈfɪlθi/
very dirty
- The homeless boy's clothes were filthy and smelly.
- The reporter revealed the officer's filthy conduct in his article.
filth n.
- The floor was covered with filth and beer cans.

ward n.
/ˈwoɚd/
a section in a hospital for patients needing a particular kind of care
- The patient still remains under observation in the emergency ward.
- Peter was put in a four-bed ward.
a section in a prison
- The escape was planned by the inmates of the same ward.

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20160822baaf683e48fcf2fbc317e528beea6b77dc467e1ddcf0da2a693fedbe1c714b0c463.wma

Health Care by Robot

Taking personal health care to the next level

Many people who saw the movie Big Hero 6 immediately fell in love with Baymax. He's a big, friendly robot that takes care of people's health. Imagine a robot like Baymax as a personal health care companion in real life!

He would be especially useful in caring for the growing elderly population. The health of senior citizens needs greater monitoring and care -- as well as a softer touch.

At Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, scientists are working to make Baymax a reality. Chris Atkeson, a professor in the field of robotics, leads the research. He and his team actually inspired Disney filmmakers to create the soft, lovable robot.

Health care robots aren't quite as advanced as Baymax yet. But people can still personally manage their health at home through convenient apps.

Existing apps can check a person's heart rate and remind them to take their medicine. Some apps can monitor a person's blood pressure and perform other valuable functions. The information collected by the apps can make a diagnosis faster and more accurate. Like Baymax, these apps may end up saving lives.

Language Lab
elderly n. adj.
old or rather old : past middle age
- The restaurant is thoughtfully designed for the elderly.
- Elderly people need companionship with loved ones.
elder adj.
of greater age : older
- My elder sister, Jade lives in the States.

monitor v.
to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time
- The doctor suggested that the patient get his cholesterol monitored periodically.
- The FBI is monitoring the gang's activities.
n. a device that is used for showing, watching, or listening to something: such as a : a device that shows information or images on a screen
- The monitor in the parking lot had been tampered with.

advanced adj.
beyond the basic level
- The engineer used advanced technology to create this virtual reality device.
- The advanced English class only has 15 openings.

diagnosis n.
the act of identifying a disease, illness, or problem by examining someone or something
- The doctor's diagnosis is that the patient has diabetes.
- Early diagnosis can reduce the risk of cancer.
diagnose v.
diagnose with
- The patient was diagnosed with arthritis.

To Tip or Not to Tip (2)

Info Cloud
Americans are tip crazy, every year they spent 40 billion dollars tipping people.

70 percent of those tips go to restaurant servers. So with so much money being spent, it makes sense that people will study this custom to understand exactly how it works.

Okay, one professor at Cornell University has spent years studying restaurant tipping. One thing he found is that when a small candy comes with the bill, the tip goes up.

Touching the customer on the shoulder when delivering the bill increases tips too, so does drawing a smiley face on the bill.

But, those things only work if the server is a woman. Now, if the server man or woman squats down next to, or sits that table while taking an order, the tip goes up on average of one dollar per table.

And here’s something surprising, by and large, good service does not increase a tip.

That is surprising. As wide spread as tipping is, there is a small growing movement in the US to abolish tipping. Some restaurants are finding it’s easier for customers and fairer to servers to just pay the wait-stuff, a flat wage out of the menu prices.





mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20160416baa66011b232b41b5b589c8f6c0aeed944a3da5c050a62f9a49ee1c5385c3318d2d.wma

Noodles of the World (2)

In Vietnam long, flat rice noodles appear in beef soup. Thin, white rice noodles are rolled in spring rolls. In Singapore rice noodles are eaten with seafood or served in a peanut sauce. In India and Sri Lanka thin noodles are eaten with curry. Examples of tasty noodle dishes in other Southeast Asian countries are far too numerous to list.

Central Asia and the Middle East
In countries throughout Central Asia, including parts of Russia, people eat long noodles called lagman. Lagman can be eaten in a thick stew or in a sauce. In some places, each ingredient is served in a separate bowl. Elsewhere, everything comes already mixed together.

Central Asian countries also have other noodle dishes. For example, one Kazakh dish consists of large, square noodles topped with meat. People eat this dish with their hands, so its name means "five fingers." And in Kyrgyzstan people eat spicy rice noodles served cold.

Info Cloud
Okay, everyone, here’s a geography question. There are seven countries names that have s t a n as their suffix. How many can you name?

Well, there’s, Afghanistan and Pakistan, there in the news a lot, umm, I can only think of one, another one, Kazakhstan.

For more Steve, okay, here they are. Kurdistan, Turkmenistan, Tadzhikistan and Uzbekistan. For the most of these names,the first part refers to a particular ethnic group. Well, the“stan” suffix means land of or place of. So Kazakhstan means land of the Kazakpeople.

Right, besides countries names, the stan suffix is used in the name of the regions all over central Asia.

For instance, within the borders of Russia, there’s a region call Tatarstan where the Tatarpeople live. In the middle of east, the region called Kurdistan which transcends of the borders of the five different countries is the place where the Kurdslive.

Now, you could say stan is the Persian version of the English word land which leads us to the next geography question. How many countries can you think of that have the word land as the suffix? There’re at least ten, that would you help get started with Switzerland.

Language Lab
seafood n.
fish and shellfish that live in the ocean and are used for food
- The island boats a splendid array of seafood.
- The seafood chowder is very fresh and delicious.
- The seafood restaurant serves top-notch lobster and crab.

numerous adj.
existing in large numbers
- Numerous fan letters poured in to support the band's reunion.
- Despite numerous attempts to quit, Frances still smokes.

stew n.
a dish of vegetables and usually meat cooked in hot liquid for a long time
- I miss Grandma's beef stew, especially in winter.
- This famous vegetable stew takes hours to make.
v.
- Stew the prunes for 40 minutes and then add sugar.

elsewhere adv.
in or to another place
- I have to buy this dress right now. You can't find it elsewhere.
- There are too many people here, so we'd better discuss this elsewhere.

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Noodles of the World (1)

This tasty food can take many forms

When were noodles invented? For a long time, no one knew. They have been a popular food in many parts of the world for 2,000 years. References to noodles appear in a book written sometime between A.D. 25 and 220 in China. A fifth-century text from the Middle East also mentions them. But in 2005 a 4,000-year-old bowl of noodles was discovered in China. This earliest known example of the food was made from ground millet. Since that time, noodles have spread around the world.

East and Southeast Asia

Noodles are still popular in China although they have changed a bit. Today most Chinese noodles are made from wheat. But some are made from rice or other things.

Several types of noodles are eaten in Japan. These include thin, round ramen noodles, thick udon noodles and several types of buckwheat noodles. In Korea noodles are sometimes made from acorns. They can be stir-fried or eaten cold.

Info Cloud
Draw Steve’s childhood, he thought the word acorn with spelled e g g c o r n.

Eh, that’s what I thought people were saying, and I’m not the only one. Today so many people think tree nuts have a connection with chicken eggs that linguists now use this made up word egg corn to describe a word or a phrase that results from mishearing another similar sounding word or phrase.

Egg corns are very similar to puns, the main difference being people who make puns do it intentionally to be funny, people who use egg corns however are unaware they’re making mistake.

Another characteristic of egg corns is that they introduce new meanings that are different from the original but are still plausible. For instance, the egg corn old-timer’s disease. We understand why people might say this instead of Alzheimer’s disease, because everyone associates Alzheimer’s with old age.

Here’s another egg corn, like a bowl in a china shop, at first glance nothing seems wrong with this phrase, it’s perfectly normal that there would be bowls for sale in a porcelain shop.

But actually it should be like a bull in a china shop, a phrase that describes a physically or socially clumsy person in a delicate situation.

Language Lab
reference n.
the act of mentioning something in speech or in writing : the act of referring to something or someone
reference to
- Knowing that Bobby had just been laid off, his friends avoided making nay references to their own jobs.
[noncount] : the act of looking at or in something for information
- Eric kept all the files regarding the project for future reference.

grind v.
/ˈgraɪnd/
grinds; ground /ˈgraʊnd/
to crush or break (something) into very small pieces by rubbing it against a rough surface or using a special machine
- The chef ground the corn with a food processor.
adj.
- Add some ground pepper to the top of the salad.

wheat n.
a kind of grain that is used to make flour for breads, cookies, etc
- Wheat is the main resource of food for the people of this region.
- Sam only eats whole-wheat bread. He doesn't like white bread.

stir-fry v.
to fry (something) quickly over high heat while stirring it constantly
- Stir-fry the beef for one to two minutes, and then add the broccoli.
- Tina stir-fried the onion with chicken.
stir-fry n.
a dish made of foods (such as meat or vegetables) that are fried quickly over high heat while being stirred constantly
- The restaurants' stir-fries are famous for their taste and reasonable prices.

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Capitol Records Building

This classic Hollywood sight is still making music

Sixty years of age this month, Los Angeles' Capitol Records Building still retains its personality and confidently gazes to the future.

The Design 
While many believe that the building's design is meant to resemble a stack of records, architect Louis Naidorf denies it. Not knowing his client was a record label, Naidorf planned the world's first circular office building for practical reasons, including giving windows to every office. The building is crowned with a spire that blinks "Hollywood" in Morse code and has echo chambers 30 feet underground for recording.

The Artists
Many legendary singers and bands have re corded in the Capital Records Building, including Frank Sinatra and the Beach Boys. The south wall features a mural of jazz musicians to represent Capital Records' work within the field. Today, Capital has Katy Perry, Sam Smith and 5 Seconds of Summer on their label, to name a few.

The Future
Much of the area surrounding the downtown building has remained underdeveloped -- but that will soon change. If plans for a 38- and a 39-story tower go through, the Capital Records Building will be the center of a new Hollywood destination.

Language Lab
architect n.
a person who designs buildings
- Miho Museum was designed by the famous Chinese architect I.M. Pei.
architecture n.
the art or science of designing and creating buildings;
a method or style of building
- Taipei 101 is an amazing piece of architecture.
- The Colosseum in Rome is an example of Roman architecture.

spire n.
a tall, narrow, pointed structure on the top of a building
- The skyscraper's spire is almost five floor high.
- The bell in the spire of the cathedral rings every hour.
- The building's spire was hit by the airplane that crashed.
- church spires

legendary adj.
/ˈlɛʤənˌderi/
very famous or well-known
- The song What a Wonderful World was sung by the legendary Louis Armstrong.
- The movie was adapted from an ancient legendary story.

mural n.
/ˈmjɚrəl/
a usually large painting that is done directly on the surface of a wall
- The huge mural outside the company's building is decorated with paintings made by the children of our staff.
muralist n.
a person who has strong feelings and opinions about what is right and who tries to control the moral behavior of other people
- This muralist spent a whole year finishing this mural of sea creatures.

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Enchanting Venice (2)

In the square outside the Basilica, lovers of literature can sit at Caffe Florian, regarded as the oldest coffee house in Eurpoe. Charles Dickens, Henry James as well as Lord Byron enjoyed the aromatic drink here.

Venetian Activities 
Art lovers should buy a museum pass and visit some of the city's exceptional museums. They can view works by Venetian masters like Giovanni Bellini, Titian and Tintoretto.

Murano Glass and Burano Lace
In the Venetian Lagoon, the island of Murano has been home to glassmakers since 1291. Tourists can visit factories, studios and the Glass Museum. Glass artists produce everything from simple souvenir pieces to beautiful works of contemporary art.

Only glass works made using traditional methods on Murano Island can be called Murano Glass. The nearby island of Burano is famous for lace making and colorful houses. Looking at the colorful houses and kaleidoscopic streets makes people feel as if they are waling in a fairy tale.


Language Lab
aromatic adj.
/ˌerəˈmætɪk/
having a noticeable and pleasant smell
- The beef turned aromatic after being simmered for 30 minutes.
- The aromatic herb can refresh you in no time.

exceptional adj.
unusually good : much better than average
- The actor has an exceptional ability to attract attention.
- The company's exceptional marketing strategies made them number 1 in the field.

contemporary adj.
happening or beginning now or in recent times
- Samuel doesn't like any classical art; he's more interested in contemporary art.
- Picasso was more famous than many other contemporary artists.

kaleidoscope adj.
/kəˈlaɪdəˌskoʊp/
a mixture of many different things
- The fashion designer used a kaleidoscopic range of fabrics in his winter collection.

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Enchanting Venice (1)

• What is Venice known for?
• St. Mark's Basilica and Square

The City of Water attracts tourists with its history and beauty

Located in northeastern Italy, Venice is known for its cultural treasures, romantic atmosphere and unusual living-on-water experience. The city spreads out over 118 islands, which are linked by more than 400 bridges, in the Venetian Lagoon.

Venice's historical center consists of six regions. San Polo in the middle and San Marco in the south, the busiest main regions, are linked by the Rialto Bridge. The famous stone arch crosses Venice's main waterway -- the Grand Canal. When night falls, many tourists enjoy dinner at the outside tables by the Grand Canal while watching colorfully lit boats glide by.

St. Mark's Basilica and Square

Near the end of the S-shaped Grand Canal lies St. Mark's Basilica, a must-see. Inside, dazzling mosaics tell stories of Bible figures. Nearby are the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. These were made famous by Lord Byron, "I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs, a palace and prison on each hand." Legend has it that if a couple passes under the bridge, their love will last forever.


Language Lab
arch n.
a usually curved part of a structure that is over an opening and that supports a wall or other weight above the opening
- A group of noisy tourists just passed by the arch and entered the old city.
- The bride and her father walked through a row of arches and entered the church.
the raised area on the bottom of the foot that is formed by a curved section of bones
- Because Martha has high arches, it's not easy to find shoes that fit her.

glide v.
to move in a smooth way
- The dancers glided on the dance floor effortlessly.
- The swans g gracefully glided across the pond.
— glide noun [singular]
- the graceful glide of the swan
- The plane went into a glide.
- Due to global warming, polar bears are on a fast glide to extinction.

dazzle v.
to cause (someone) to be unable to see for a short time
- I was dazzled by the grand street lights of Vegas.
- Many girls were dazzled by Jack's good looks.
dazzling adj.
- The model's blue eyes and dazzling smile are his trademarks.

mosaic adj.
/moʊˈzejɪk/
a decoration on a surface made by pressing small pieces of colored glass or stone into a soft material that then hardens to make pictures or patterns
- The mosaic fountain was designed and constructed by local art students.
- The mansion houses a beautiful collection of mosaics.

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