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.
● 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.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130611_0b774.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130611baad73170fca07eab502ec093f12ba535a5.wma
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
[Advanced] Happiness May Bring You More Money (2)
The paper was a longitudinal study and not an experiment, so it's not entirely clear whether happiness truly caused the higher earnings. But the study did show that happier teens were more likely to get a college degree, to get hired and promoted and to be optimistic, extroverted and less neurotic.
"Early happiness probably changes so many things about your life that even if later in life you're not as happy as you were, those formative experiences continue to play themselves out," said Norton, coauthor of the book "Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending."
How much is happiness motivating people to do better and how much is it simply causing others to give us more opportunities? In other words, can unhappy people fake it until they make it?
"I would bet they would get some of the benefits," Lyubomirsky said. Still, she said, most of the value of happiness probably comes from how it affects the person feeling it, not what others perceive.
The study results may even have policy implications for central banks and political leaders looking to take lagging American and European economies out of their recent downturns, said lead author Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, an assistant professor of political economy and behavioral science at University College London.
Previous research by De Neve's coauthor, economics professor Andrew Oswald of the University of Warwick in England, has suggested that low unemployment makes people happier than low inflation. Perhaps if governments focused on stimulating job growth, even if those measures boosted inflation, they would lead to greater happiness — and thus more prosperity overall, De Neve mused.
A little individual happiness, spread over entire populations, could have a massive combined effect, perhaps pulling depressed economies out of their slumps.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130611adaea0ee8dc0ca5e72125bdc0a72ff30b9d.wma
"Early happiness probably changes so many things about your life that even if later in life you're not as happy as you were, those formative experiences continue to play themselves out," said Norton, coauthor of the book "Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending."
How much is happiness motivating people to do better and how much is it simply causing others to give us more opportunities? In other words, can unhappy people fake it until they make it?
"I would bet they would get some of the benefits," Lyubomirsky said. Still, she said, most of the value of happiness probably comes from how it affects the person feeling it, not what others perceive.
The study results may even have policy implications for central banks and political leaders looking to take lagging American and European economies out of their recent downturns, said lead author Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, an assistant professor of political economy and behavioral science at University College London.
Previous research by De Neve's coauthor, economics professor Andrew Oswald of the University of Warwick in England, has suggested that low unemployment makes people happier than low inflation. Perhaps if governments focused on stimulating job growth, even if those measures boosted inflation, they would lead to greater happiness — and thus more prosperity overall, De Neve mused.
A little individual happiness, spread over entire populations, could have a massive combined effect, perhaps pulling depressed economies out of their slumps.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130611adaea0ee8dc0ca5e72125bdc0a72ff30b9d.wma
Monday, June 10, 2013
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.
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。
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130610_1db36.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130610baa58fcf583a51b852a659038cf8378470a.wma
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130610baa58fcf583a51b852a659038cf8378470a81f359053bf1b50d88995d55bb0bff8d.wma
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.
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/
- The medieval castle was turned into a museum.
medieval 老式的; 守舊的
- The boss' medieval marketing strategy doesn't compete with our competitors.
feast n.盛宴, 筵席
- 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'
- 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。
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130610_1db36.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130610baa58fcf583a51b852a659038cf8378470a.wma
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130610baa58fcf583a51b852a659038cf8378470a81f359053bf1b50d88995d55bb0bff8d.wma
[Advanced] Happiness May Bring You More Money (1)
A new study shows that happier teens will go on to make a higher income
Scientists may have discovered the secret to avoiding the fiscal cliff: Happiness. Regardless of whether money can buy happiness, being happy may actually make you more money down the road, new research finds.
People who express more positive emotions as teenagers and greater life satisfaction as young adults tend to have higher incomes by the time they're 29, according to a study published Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The difference was so great that when measuring life satisfaction on a 5-point scale, a 1-point jump at age 22 made a $2,000 difference in income down the line. Between the gloomiest and the happiest brackets, that amounts to an $8,000 earnings swing.
The researchers examined the profiles of more than 10,000 Americans at ages 16, 18 and 22 as well as their annual incomes at 29. They controlled for a number of factors known to contribute to financial success, including education level, IQ, height and self-esteem.
Whether smart or simple-minded, tall or short, self-confident or insecure, happier people earned bigger paychecks than more doleful peers: Deeply unhappy teens' future incomes were 30% lower than the average, while very happy teens earned 10% above average.
The research team took the analysis even further, comparing roughly 3,000 people in sibling pairs who shared the same parents and, presumably, the same socioeconomic status. The happier siblings, they found, still did better than their less-happy counterparts.
The findings suggest that interventions to encourage more positive thinking in kids and teens could greatly improve their future success. Researchers have looked at all sorts of things that make people happier: Spending money for the sake of others seems to give people a boost, as does actively being kind to others.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130610adaa8e3b12ac732c20446d28800ff5282a2.wma
Scientists may have discovered the secret to avoiding the fiscal cliff: Happiness. Regardless of whether money can buy happiness, being happy may actually make you more money down the road, new research finds.
People who express more positive emotions as teenagers and greater life satisfaction as young adults tend to have higher incomes by the time they're 29, according to a study published Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The difference was so great that when measuring life satisfaction on a 5-point scale, a 1-point jump at age 22 made a $2,000 difference in income down the line. Between the gloomiest and the happiest brackets, that amounts to an $8,000 earnings swing.
The researchers examined the profiles of more than 10,000 Americans at ages 16, 18 and 22 as well as their annual incomes at 29. They controlled for a number of factors known to contribute to financial success, including education level, IQ, height and self-esteem.
Whether smart or simple-minded, tall or short, self-confident or insecure, happier people earned bigger paychecks than more doleful peers: Deeply unhappy teens' future incomes were 30% lower than the average, while very happy teens earned 10% above average.
The research team took the analysis even further, comparing roughly 3,000 people in sibling pairs who shared the same parents and, presumably, the same socioeconomic status. The happier siblings, they found, still did better than their less-happy counterparts.
The findings suggest that interventions to encourage more positive thinking in kids and teens could greatly improve their future success. Researchers have looked at all sorts of things that make people happier: Spending money for the sake of others seems to give people a boost, as does actively being kind to others.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130610adaa8e3b12ac732c20446d28800ff5282a2.wma
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Snakebites (2)
If a snake bites you, try to get back so it doesn't bite again. And try to identify it if you can do so safely. Remove any jewelry that could constrict the bitten area. And avoid moving the affected limb to slow the venom's spread. Most importantly, go to an emergency medical center immediately to get antivenin, a medicine that will stop the venom's effects. Even the most dangerous bites can be cured with quick medical treatment.
Language Lab
Is an animal poisonous or venomous?
Using these two adjectives interchangeably is, strictly speaking, incorrect.
So what’s the difference? First, we must look at how the animal’s toxin is transferred.
Right. Venomous creatures transfer their toxin actively – that is they intentionally deliver it, usually through fangs or a stinger.
This means all the snakes in our lesson are venomous, not poisonous.
Because poisonous creatures will only transfer their toxins passively, like when they are ingested or touched.
An example of this is the poison dart frog. If some larger animal eats it or even touches it, the poison on the frog skin will get into the animal’s system and kill it.
Which leads us to the second distinction between poisonous and venomous – and that is how does the creature use its toxin? Poisonous creatures, like the dart frog, use their toxin for defensive purposes whereas venomous creatures use their toxin for offensive purposes.
In other words, a poisonous creature’s toxin serves as protection against predators whereas a venomous creature uses its toxin to kill its prey.
Correct. So, the blowfish, poisonous or venomous?
Poisonous.
And the scorpion?
Venomous.
You got it.
Grammar Gym
Hi there, friends. Thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym. My name is Liz. We see this sentence in today’s article: “… try to identify it if you can do so safely. That’s our Grammar Tip sentence. Our focus today is on the phrase: do so. It’s an expression that means “do this.” So what the writer is saying is: If you’re ever bitten by a snake, try to identify the snake if you can do it safely. We normally use “do so” in formal situations to talk about an action that is already mentioned.
Also, the subject needs to be the same. For example, let’s say Julia’s boss asked her to send out some letters, and Julia has already done it. Then we can say:
Julia’s boss has asked her to send out the letters, and she has already done so.
Or let’s say Thomas waited for a long time to quit his job, and this is something that Thomas should have done sooner.
So we can say:
Thomas waited too long to quit his job; he should have done so sooner.
And that’s it for today. Keep practicing your English. Doing so will help you to become more confident with your English. This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.
Language Lab
- An outbreak of the highly contagious disease terrified the country.
terrifying adj.可怕的。
- The terrifying experience of being bullied still lingers Jr. Vance's mind.
被霸凌的可怕經驗還留在Vance的腦海中
slither vi.(不及物動詞) 連走帶跑地滑; 滑溜
/ˈslɪðɚ/
always followed by an adverb or preposition : to move smoothly, quietly, or secretly like a snake [no obj]
- We saw a snake slither across the path in front of us.
- We tripped and slithered down the bank.
conceal vt.(及物動詞) 隱蔽, 隱藏; 隱瞞[(+from)][+wh-]
to hide (something or someone) from sight
- The girl put on very thick foundation to conceal her scar.
conceal 隱藏, 掩飾
to keep (something) secret
- The secret agent concealed his true identify for years.
constrict vt. 壓縮; 束緊
/kənˈstrɪkt/
- Mark doesn't like wearing any kind of tie because he hates the feeling of being constricted.
- Even though Helen was constricted by her disabilities, her story impacted many people's lives.
better yet - you suggested some idea first, while you are saying, the second idea come out even better than the first one. you can use " better yet " to give out the second suggestion.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130608_3464c.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130608baacc5610bcaffcabcbab50ff5d60ded252.wma
Friday, June 7, 2013
Snakebites (1)
Watch out for poisonous snakes!
Info Cloud
The author of today’s lesson starts her article by telling us there exists a deadly danger and that the danger is everywhere in the world.
Pretty frightening. But she didn't tell us what it is.
Not right away, anyway, because she’s busy grabbing our attention and making us care about reading what comes next.
And so finally, in the fourth sentence of the article, we learn what the danger is – snakebites.
So what did the author do? She created a little suspense – that mental and emotional excitement we feel while anticipating the outcome of uncertain situations.
Suspense could come from a real-life situation, a story, a drama or even a joke.
Using suspense is effective because we humans are naturally curious people. If we start to watch a thrilling drama, we’re usually willing to continue watching to see how it ends. If we’re reading a murder mystery, we’re often pretty eager to read on and find out who did it.
So friends, take advantage of this. The next time you write an essay or prepare a speech, try adding some suspense.
And give your audience a reason to care about what you’ll say next.
Language Lab
/ˈvɛnəməs/
a venomous snake, insect etc produces poison [= poisonous]
full of hatred or anger
- You can feel venom in his expression.
set in 某件不好的事, 開始; 到來
a substance that can cause death or serious illness if you eat it, drink it etc
- The water contains poison.
poisonous adj. 有毒的，含有毒素的
/ˈpoɪznnəs/
- poisonous mushrooms. 有毒的香菇
大而重的, 厚實的, 巨大的, 大量的 [mass 大量]
very large, solid, and heavy; unusually large, powerful, or damaging
- Massive air attacks almost ruined the city.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130607_be5f9.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130607baa5c02175e514761c149d78208f0b8f560.wma
Info Cloud
The author of today’s lesson starts her article by telling us there exists a deadly danger and that the danger is everywhere in the world.
Pretty frightening. But she didn't tell us what it is.
Not right away, anyway, because she’s busy grabbing our attention and making us care about reading what comes next.
And so finally, in the fourth sentence of the article, we learn what the danger is – snakebites.
So what did the author do? She created a little suspense – that mental and emotional excitement we feel while anticipating the outcome of uncertain situations.
Suspense could come from a real-life situation, a story, a drama or even a joke.
Using suspense is effective because we humans are naturally curious people. If we start to watch a thrilling drama, we’re usually willing to continue watching to see how it ends. If we’re reading a murder mystery, we’re often pretty eager to read on and find out who did it.
So friends, take advantage of this. The next time you write an essay or prepare a speech, try adding some suspense.
And give your audience a reason to care about what you’ll say next.
Language Lab
/ˈvɛnəməs/
full of hatred or anger
- You can feel venom in his expression.
set in 某件不好的事, 開始; 到來
- The water contains poison.
poisonous adj. 有毒的，含有毒素的
/ˈpoɪznnəs/
- poisonous mushrooms. 有毒的香菇
大而重的, 厚實的, 巨大的, 大量的 [mass 大量]
very large, solid, and heavy; unusually large, powerful, or damaging
- Massive air attacks almost ruined the city.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130607_be5f9.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130607baa5c02175e514761c149d78208f0b8f560.wma
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Drive-Ins
Eighty years ago the drive-in theater was born
Was your last trip to the movies a memorable experience? Maybe not. But years ago, people could have as much fun at the movies as they did watching the film.
The days of the drive-in theater
Hungry people would then flock to the concession stand for a small snack or a full meal. The drive-in provided a whole evening of inexpensive entertainment.
In the 1980s, however, VCRs, cable TV and rising property prices almost caused the death of drive-ins. People didn't go to them as before. But some drive-ins survive, and new generations of moviegoers are now enjoying the experience.
Grammar Gym
Hello, friends. Welcome to the Grammar Gym. My name is Liz. Our HISTORY article this month is about drive-ins. It’s a fun and interesting article. However, when it comes to HISTORY articles, not everyone is so interested in past events. It the case of today’s article, the writer could have jumped right into the history of drive-ins, but that would make a lot of readers lose interest. So what does the writer do to capture the readers’ attention?
She begins by asking a question:
Was your last trip to the movies a memorable experience? With this question, the writer invites her readers to think about a personal experience.
This creates a bridge and allows the readers to connect with the subject of the article. So next time when you’re writing or talking about a subject that is full of facts that might appear boring or not meaningful to readers or listeners. Don’t just jump right into your subject and lay out all the facts.
Instead, ask a personal question relating to your topic. This will make your readers or listeners more interested in what you have to say. And that’s it for today. This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.
Info Cloud
You know, Steve, I think it’s a real shame that many drive-ins died out.
I think so, too, Ken.
In addition to the several reasons our lesson mentions, there’s one more reason for the death of drive-ins: the multiplex.
Ah, yes. The multiplex is a special kind of movie theater. The prefix “multi-” means many or more than one. So a multiplex is a movie theater complex with multiple screens or auditoriums, maybe 6, 10 or even more.
Many multiplexes are part of a shopping mall, but they don’t have to be. Some multiplex theaters were built on the sites of former drive-in theaters.
Now that’s pretty ironic. But you have to admit, a multiplex theater has many advantages over the drive-in. In addition to offering more movie choices, it offers more showings for each movie so you don’t have to wait a long time for a particular movie to start.
Multiplex theaters also make good business sense. A theater owner can convert his single screen theater into a multiplex by dividing the large auditorium into a handful of smaller ones, thereby, generating more profit.
But those auditoriums tend to be pretty tiny like over-sized living rooms.
Which is why I try to avoid them.
Language Lab
memorable adj. 值得記念的, 難忘的, 重大的 [memo 記憶]
- The trip to Africa was a memorable time for Alison.
- The actress' memorable performance won her several movie awards.
mid-60s 60 年代中期。
- a painter in the mid-60s
late 晚期 - late 70s -70 年代晚期
early 早 - early 50s - 50 年代早期
a concession stand n. 只有具有許可，經營權的攤位
a small business that sells food, drinks, or other things at sports events, theatres etc
concession 經營權, 許可/ stand 攤販
- The concession stand at the fair sells popcorn and soda.
- The parents of the football team took turns running a concession stand.
generation n. 指一代或同代的人 [gen]出生
- The family ring was passed down from generation to generation.
generation 機械設計的新的版本，新的設計
- The company's newest generation of computers are a great success.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130606_aca87.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130606baac34e4fb241db4f8c67e2140a69c524fd.wma
Was your last trip to the movies a memorable experience? Maybe not. But years ago, people could have as much fun at the movies as they did watching the film.
The days of the drive-in theater
Hungry people would then flock to the concession stand for a small snack or a full meal. The drive-in provided a whole evening of inexpensive entertainment.
In the 1980s, however, VCRs, cable TV and rising property prices almost caused the death of drive-ins. People didn't go to them as before. But some drive-ins survive, and new generations of moviegoers are now enjoying the experience.
Grammar Gym
Hello, friends. Welcome to the Grammar Gym. My name is Liz. Our HISTORY article this month is about drive-ins. It’s a fun and interesting article. However, when it comes to HISTORY articles, not everyone is so interested in past events. It the case of today’s article, the writer could have jumped right into the history of drive-ins, but that would make a lot of readers lose interest. So what does the writer do to capture the readers’ attention?
She begins by asking a question:
Was your last trip to the movies a memorable experience? With this question, the writer invites her readers to think about a personal experience.
This creates a bridge and allows the readers to connect with the subject of the article. So next time when you’re writing or talking about a subject that is full of facts that might appear boring or not meaningful to readers or listeners. Don’t just jump right into your subject and lay out all the facts.
Instead, ask a personal question relating to your topic. This will make your readers or listeners more interested in what you have to say. And that’s it for today. This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.
Info Cloud
You know, Steve, I think it’s a real shame that many drive-ins died out.
I think so, too, Ken.
In addition to the several reasons our lesson mentions, there’s one more reason for the death of drive-ins: the multiplex.
Ah, yes. The multiplex is a special kind of movie theater. The prefix “multi-” means many or more than one. So a multiplex is a movie theater complex with multiple screens or auditoriums, maybe 6, 10 or even more.
Many multiplexes are part of a shopping mall, but they don’t have to be. Some multiplex theaters were built on the sites of former drive-in theaters.
Now that’s pretty ironic. But you have to admit, a multiplex theater has many advantages over the drive-in. In addition to offering more movie choices, it offers more showings for each movie so you don’t have to wait a long time for a particular movie to start.
Multiplex theaters also make good business sense. A theater owner can convert his single screen theater into a multiplex by dividing the large auditorium into a handful of smaller ones, thereby, generating more profit.
But those auditoriums tend to be pretty tiny like over-sized living rooms.
Which is why I try to avoid them.
Language Lab
memorable adj. 值得記念的, 難忘的, 重大的 [memo 記憶]
- The trip to Africa was a memorable time for Alison.
- The actress' memorable performance won her several movie awards.
mid-60s 60 年代中期。
- a painter in the mid-60s
late 晚期 - late 70s -70 年代晚期
early 早 - early 50s - 50 年代早期
a concession stand n. 只有具有許可，經營權的攤位
a small business that sells food, drinks, or other things at sports events, theatres etc
concession 經營權, 許可/ stand 攤販
- The concession stand at the fair sells popcorn and soda.
- The parents of the football team took turns running a concession stand.
generation n. 指一代或同代的人 [gen]出生
- The family ring was passed down from generation to generation.
generation 機械設計的新的版本，新的設計
- The company's newest generation of computers are a great success.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130606_aca87.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130606baac34e4fb241db4f8c67e2140a69c524fd.wma
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Let's Go to the Movies! (3)
Action and Adventure
The special-effects extravaganza Pacific Rim tells of a team of humans who pilot giant robots in a worldwide battle against an alien attack.
Real-life father and son Will and Jaden Smith costar in After Earth, the story of a father and son who crash land on planet Earth. The planet is no longer inhabited by humans as they were forced to abandon it 1,000 years earlier. As the father lies dying, the son must recover their rescue beacon against impossible odds.
In the action-drama White House Down, Channing Tatum stars as a Secret Service agent trying to save the U.S. president. A paramilitary force that has taken control of the White House threatens his life.
Those wanting more story-driven fare shouldn't miss the latest adaptation of F.Scott Fitzgerald's The Gatsby. Tobey Maguire stars as writer Nick Carraway, who is drawn into the flamboyant world of millionaire Jay Gatsby during the Jazz Age. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Gatsby in this tragic romance.
With so many great titles to see, film fans will be spending many hours experiencing danger, drama and laughter from the comfort of a theater seat.
Grammar Gym
Hi there, friends. Thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym. My name is Liz. In today’s article the writer mentions: Those wanting more story-driven fare shouldn't miss the latest adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. That’s our Grammar Tip sentence.
Notice the phrase “story-driven.” It describes fare. What kind of fare? It’s fare that is driven by a story.
“Driven” is usually used to talk about what we do with cars, like: He has never driven a car before. But in today’s sentence, “driven” means to be controlled by or to be strongly influenced by. So the sentence just means people who want to watch movies that are influenced by a story should go see F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. So we see story-driven fare.
What other something-driven adjective phrases are there? Well, a boss that only cares about money is a money-driven boss. A hungry tiger looking for food is a hunger-driven tiger. Or a learning program that focuses on being fun can be described as a fun-driven program.
If you turn to today’s Grammar Tip section in your magazine, you’ll find more examples there. And that’s it for today. This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.
Info Cloud
Not only is the movie The Great Gatsby an adaptation, that is a film that is based on a play, a musical or in this case, a novel, it’s also a remake.
Right. It’s a new version of a previously released movie. This can be said because there are already three other major Hollywood productions of The Great Gatsby in existence. The last one being filmed in 1974.
But there are some die-hard movie fans who will argue that the new Gatsby movie is not a remake but rather a reinterpretation.
They say a remake needs to be based on a previously released film. And the new Gatsby film is not.
It’s based on the same source material as the other three Gatsby films – the novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925.
Right, meaning in 88 years, nothing’s changed. The new Gatsby movie has the exact same characters, plot, setting and title as the other three Gatsby movies before it.
The only difference being the actors and how they interpret their roles.
But maybe those fans are just being too picky. Why can’t a film be an adaptation, a remake and a reinterpretation all at the same time?
Language Lab
extravaganza n.盛大的活動或演出 [字根 extra - 超過]
/ɪkˌstrævəˈgænzə/a very large and expensive entertainment
- Each New Year's Eve, Taipei 101 will put up a magnificent firework extravaganza.
- The extravaganza of the Oscar award ceremony attracted the attention of movie fans around the world.
alien n. 外星人
from somewhere other than the planet Earth
- The movie "ET" talks about the friendship between an alien and a boy.
alien n. 外國人
from another country: foreign
- These illegal aliens were expelled soon after they were arrested.
beacon n. 信號,
/ˈbi:kən/
a light that is put somewhere to warn or guide people, ships, vehicles, or aircraft
rescue beacon 自動求救, 讓別人可以辨識自己的求救信標
- The rescue beacon helped these victims be easily located.
beacon n. 燈塔, 明燈
- The light house beacon near the coastal line lit up at dusk.
- Charlene is the beacon of life for her husband.
flamboyant adj. 過分的華麗
/flæmˈbojənt/
having a very noticeable quality that attracts a lot of attention
- The club's flamboyant decorations became their trademark.
- Frank Sinatra's flamboyant tuxedos suited him so much.
inhabit v. 居住
if animals or people inhabit an area or place, they live there
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130605baa4c248a02fed888f3501c50c161cefa35.wma
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130605_5d584.wmv
The special-effects extravaganza Pacific Rim tells of a team of humans who pilot giant robots in a worldwide battle against an alien attack.
Real-life father and son Will and Jaden Smith costar in After Earth, the story of a father and son who crash land on planet Earth. The planet is no longer inhabited by humans as they were forced to abandon it 1,000 years earlier. As the father lies dying, the son must recover their rescue beacon against impossible odds.
In the action-drama White House Down, Channing Tatum stars as a Secret Service agent trying to save the U.S. president. A paramilitary force that has taken control of the White House threatens his life.
Those wanting more story-driven fare shouldn't miss the latest adaptation of F.Scott Fitzgerald's The Gatsby. Tobey Maguire stars as writer Nick Carraway, who is drawn into the flamboyant world of millionaire Jay Gatsby during the Jazz Age. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Gatsby in this tragic romance.
With so many great titles to see, film fans will be spending many hours experiencing danger, drama and laughter from the comfort of a theater seat.
Grammar Gym
Hi there, friends. Thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym. My name is Liz. In today’s article the writer mentions: Those wanting more story-driven fare shouldn't miss the latest adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. That’s our Grammar Tip sentence.
Notice the phrase “story-driven.” It describes fare. What kind of fare? It’s fare that is driven by a story.
“Driven” is usually used to talk about what we do with cars, like: He has never driven a car before. But in today’s sentence, “driven” means to be controlled by or to be strongly influenced by. So the sentence just means people who want to watch movies that are influenced by a story should go see F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. So we see story-driven fare.
What other something-driven adjective phrases are there? Well, a boss that only cares about money is a money-driven boss. A hungry tiger looking for food is a hunger-driven tiger. Or a learning program that focuses on being fun can be described as a fun-driven program.
If you turn to today’s Grammar Tip section in your magazine, you’ll find more examples there. And that’s it for today. This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.
Info Cloud
Not only is the movie The Great Gatsby an adaptation, that is a film that is based on a play, a musical or in this case, a novel, it’s also a remake.
Right. It’s a new version of a previously released movie. This can be said because there are already three other major Hollywood productions of The Great Gatsby in existence. The last one being filmed in 1974.
But there are some die-hard movie fans who will argue that the new Gatsby movie is not a remake but rather a reinterpretation.
They say a remake needs to be based on a previously released film. And the new Gatsby film is not.
It’s based on the same source material as the other three Gatsby films – the novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925.
Right, meaning in 88 years, nothing’s changed. The new Gatsby movie has the exact same characters, plot, setting and title as the other three Gatsby movies before it.
The only difference being the actors and how they interpret their roles.
But maybe those fans are just being too picky. Why can’t a film be an adaptation, a remake and a reinterpretation all at the same time?
Language Lab
extravaganza n.盛大的活動或演出 [字根 extra - 超過]
/ɪkˌstrævəˈgænzə/a very large and expensive entertainment
- Each New Year's Eve, Taipei 101 will put up a magnificent firework extravaganza.
- The extravaganza of the Oscar award ceremony attracted the attention of movie fans around the world.
alien n. 外星人
from somewhere other than the planet Earth
- The movie "ET" talks about the friendship between an alien and a boy.
alien n. 外國人
from another country: foreign
- These illegal aliens were expelled soon after they were arrested.
beacon n. 信號,
/ˈbi:kən/
a light that is put somewhere to warn or guide people, ships, vehicles, or aircraft
rescue beacon 自動求救, 讓別人可以辨識自己的求救信標
- The rescue beacon helped these victims be easily located.
beacon n. 燈塔, 明燈
- The light house beacon near the coastal line lit up at dusk.
- Charlene is the beacon of life for her husband.
flamboyant adj. 過分的華麗
/flæmˈbojənt/
having a very noticeable quality that attracts a lot of attention
- The club's flamboyant decorations became their trademark.
- Frank Sinatra's flamboyant tuxedos suited him so much.
inhabit v. 居住
if animals or people inhabit an area or place, they live there
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130605baa4c248a02fed888f3501c50c161cefa35.wma
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130605_5d584.wmv
[Advanced] Augmented Reality: Toy Makers’ Latest Weapon (3)
For one, augmented reality apps are expensive to develop, said Laurie Schacht, co-publisher of the Toy Insider. Many toy makers don't want to invest in the technology, especially when consumers expect mobile apps to be provided free.
Parents succumbing to a child's demands for techie devices like tablets also may not want to spend more money on real toys to augment virtual play. And there's always the parental skepticism of melding a $20 plastic toy with a $300 mobile device.
"I think it's going to take a few years before we see something that's really awesome," Schacht said. But, she said, the outcome can be magical for kids.
http://203.69.69.81/studio/20130605adaea391a320beed8f195fce25424639681.wma
Parents succumbing to a child's demands for techie devices like tablets also may not want to spend more money on real toys to augment virtual play. And there's always the parental skepticism of melding a $20 plastic toy with a $300 mobile device.
"I think it's going to take a few years before we see something that's really awesome," Schacht said. But, she said, the outcome can be magical for kids.
Sony
PlayStation's recently launched "Book of Spells" game, for example,
turns a blank book into an interactive pop-up book of magic, complete
with Harry Potter magic wand, floating figures and orbs of light.
"All of a sudden, you're playing in that magical world, and you're seeing yourself the whole time," Schacht said.
Industry expectations for augmented reality's potential are sky-high.
Tech research firm Juniper predicted that revenue from augmented reality apps could reach $300 million this year, up from a projected $82 million in 2012. By 2017, the firm predicted, more than 2.5 billion augmented reality apps will be downloaded, bringing in $5.2 billion in revenue. Another research firm, Semico, said more than 864 million high-end cellphones would be augmented-reality-enabled by 2014.
"All of a sudden, you're playing in that magical world, and you're seeing yourself the whole time," Schacht said.
Industry expectations for augmented reality's potential are sky-high.
Tech research firm Juniper predicted that revenue from augmented reality apps could reach $300 million this year, up from a projected $82 million in 2012. By 2017, the firm predicted, more than 2.5 billion augmented reality apps will be downloaded, bringing in $5.2 billion in revenue. Another research firm, Semico, said more than 864 million high-end cellphones would be augmented-reality-enabled by 2014.
But for many consumers, many of whom are not aware of the technology, the jury is still out.
For Jose Casas, 44, watching a Lego box come to life made him want the $399 Death Star set even more. "It's about imagination, dude," the self-proclaimed "kid at heart" said.
His friend Marcos Najera, 40, was unconvinced. Shopping for his 8-year-old nephew, Najera briefly picked up another Star Wars Lego set, then set it down. "It's still a $60 toy."
For Jose Casas, 44, watching a Lego box come to life made him want the $399 Death Star set even more. "It's about imagination, dude," the self-proclaimed "kid at heart" said.
His friend Marcos Najera, 40, was unconvinced. Shopping for his 8-year-old nephew, Najera briefly picked up another Star Wars Lego set, then set it down. "It's still a $60 toy."
http://203.69.69.81/studio/20130605adaea391a320beed8f195fce25424639681.wma
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Let's Go to the Movies! (2)
More animated offerings
In Epic, teenager Mary Katherine is magically transported to a deep forest where a battle between good and evil is taking place. She joins a group of strange characters who are fighting to save their world.
The animated 3-D adventure Turbo follows the adventures of a snail who somehow attains the power of superspeed. His goal is to win the Indianapolis 500.
Comic book heroes
Man of Steel, the highly-anticipated new version of Superman, tells the familiar story of a child from a dying planet who comes to Earth. He is adopted by a couple in Kansas, and as he grows up, he discovers his amazing powers and decides to use them to fight evil. Henry Cavill plays Superman/Clark Kent in the film.
A masked lawman and his Native American partner battle for justice in the unsettled west of the United States in The Lone Ranger. The film features plenty of impressive action sequences.
Hugh Jackman stars as his X-Men character Wolverine in The Wolverin, Jackman travels to Japan where he trains with a samurai warrior and confronts a mysterious figure from his past.
Info Cloud
They’ve been around almost 100 years now. So hopefully, we’re all familiar with 3-D movies, right?
Right. And what are the three dimensions again? Width, height and depth.
OK. Now are you ready for the next dimension in entertainment? 4-D!
4-D isn't actually a fourth dimension in the geometric sense.
Rather, it refers to entertainment that combines artistic talent with the latest technology for the purpose of heightening our senses and maximizing our fun.
Right. For example, let’s say you’re watching a movie about elephants. As the hefty animals begin walking past you on the big screen, you start to feel the floor vibrating underneath your feet.
Then as you watch the elephants spraying water from their trunks, you realize you, too, are being sprayed with water right there in the theater.
You might even be able to… smell the elephants, too.
Not sure if I like that. Keep your eyes open and you might also see movie advertisements claiming 5-D, 6-D and even 7-D technology. But they’re all basically the same thing – cutting edge, interactive entertainment.
Besides theaters, you’ll find 4-D entertainment in theme parks, museums, visitor centers, zoos, aquariums and casinos, too.
Language Lab
Mike還年輕就財富和名利雙收
attain v. 達到某個程度或目標
version n. 版本, 變化的型式
a copy of something that has been changed so that it is slightly different
version n. 說法
- Brenda's version of their breakup is totally different from her ex-boyfriend's.
sequence n. 順序 一種順序排列 [字根 - sequ 跟隨]
the order that something happens or exists in, or the order it is supposed to happen or exist in;
a series of related events, actions etc that happen or are done in a particular order;
one part of a story, film etc that deals with a single subject or action
- You have to enter a sequence of codes in order to access the file.
- The chase scene's action sequences were perfectly edited to make the movie exciting.
warrior n.勇士，戰士，古時所謂的武士
a soldier or fighter who is brave and experienced - used about people in the past
- The brave warrior won numerous battles.
- The warrior was trapped in the enemy's ambush.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130604_dae60.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130604baa332e07785ffa5bfc7904dfd4bce3b10d.wma
In Epic, teenager Mary Katherine is magically transported to a deep forest where a battle between good and evil is taking place. She joins a group of strange characters who are fighting to save their world.
The animated 3-D adventure Turbo follows the adventures of a snail who somehow attains the power of superspeed. His goal is to win the Indianapolis 500.
Comic book heroes
Man of Steel, the highly-anticipated new version of Superman, tells the familiar story of a child from a dying planet who comes to Earth. He is adopted by a couple in Kansas, and as he grows up, he discovers his amazing powers and decides to use them to fight evil. Henry Cavill plays Superman/Clark Kent in the film.
A masked lawman and his Native American partner battle for justice in the unsettled west of the United States in The Lone Ranger. The film features plenty of impressive action sequences.
Hugh Jackman stars as his X-Men character Wolverine in The Wolverin, Jackman travels to Japan where he trains with a samurai warrior and confronts a mysterious figure from his past.
Info Cloud
They’ve been around almost 100 years now. So hopefully, we’re all familiar with 3-D movies, right?
Right. And what are the three dimensions again? Width, height and depth.
OK. Now are you ready for the next dimension in entertainment? 4-D!
4-D isn't actually a fourth dimension in the geometric sense.
Rather, it refers to entertainment that combines artistic talent with the latest technology for the purpose of heightening our senses and maximizing our fun.
Right. For example, let’s say you’re watching a movie about elephants. As the hefty animals begin walking past you on the big screen, you start to feel the floor vibrating underneath your feet.
Then as you watch the elephants spraying water from their trunks, you realize you, too, are being sprayed with water right there in the theater.
You might even be able to… smell the elephants, too.
Not sure if I like that. Keep your eyes open and you might also see movie advertisements claiming 5-D, 6-D and even 7-D technology. But they’re all basically the same thing – cutting edge, interactive entertainment.
Besides theaters, you’ll find 4-D entertainment in theme parks, museums, visitor centers, zoos, aquariums and casinos, too.
Language Lab
Mike還年輕就財富和名利雙收
attain v. 達到某個程度或目標
version n. 版本, 變化的型式
a copy of something that has been changed so that it is slightly different
version n. 說法
- Brenda's version of their breakup is totally different from her ex-boyfriend's.
sequence n. 順序 一種順序排列 [字根 - sequ 跟隨]
the order that something happens or exists in, or the order it is supposed to happen or exist in;
a series of related events, actions etc that happen or are done in a particular order;
one part of a story, film etc that deals with a single subject or action
- You have to enter a sequence of codes in order to access the file.
- The chase scene's action sequences were perfectly edited to make the movie exciting.
warrior n.勇士，戰士，古時所謂的武士
- The brave warrior won numerous battles.
- The warrior was trapped in the enemy's ambush.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130604_dae60.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130604baa332e07785ffa5bfc7904dfd4bce3b10d.wma
[Advanced] Augmented Reality: Toy Makers’ Latest Weapon (2)
Adding augmented reality to physical toys may help toy makers win back
children who are increasingly playing with smartphones rather than
Barbie dolls.
"There's
not much that's more magic than seeing something that's not really
there, from the perspective of a kid," said Sean McGowan, a toy industry
analyst at Needham & Company.
Using the technology to market and sale toys
Using the technology to market and sale toys
Lego uses the "Digital Box" kiosks to entice
children into buying the Lego sets. Wal-Mart recently released its
Web-Slinger app that enables children to see Spider-Man battle the
Lizard in 3-D on a mobile device.
A few toys incorporating augmented reality technology also began appearing on toy store shelves last year.
WowWee, a company specializing in high-tech toys, rolled out a foam plane that mounts in front of the mobile device's camera. On the screen, the player can see the plane superimposed on various aerial combat scenarios. The player controls the plane by moving the device.
German puzzle maker Ravensburger has added augmented reality apps that can make 3-D animals jump out from a puzzle of an African safari scene when a camera is aimed at it. And a number of laser tag toys allow smartphones to be mounted on plastic guns. Pointing the gun at a bookshelf or sofa, for example, might prompt virtual alien attackers to appear on the smartphone screen.
But analysts said few of the games had the "wow" factor that would convince them that the latest trend has staying power.
"Why do I need a piece of plastic to push the buttons when I could hold my phone or tablet out and do it myself?" McGowan said. "You need to convince people that something really extraordinary is going on to get people to part with their money."
For companies willing to try, challenges await.
http://203.69.69.81/studio/20130604adae06c05d760d9cf7690e4dd5bba8a9f28.wma
A few toys incorporating augmented reality technology also began appearing on toy store shelves last year.
WowWee, a company specializing in high-tech toys, rolled out a foam plane that mounts in front of the mobile device's camera. On the screen, the player can see the plane superimposed on various aerial combat scenarios. The player controls the plane by moving the device.
German puzzle maker Ravensburger has added augmented reality apps that can make 3-D animals jump out from a puzzle of an African safari scene when a camera is aimed at it. And a number of laser tag toys allow smartphones to be mounted on plastic guns. Pointing the gun at a bookshelf or sofa, for example, might prompt virtual alien attackers to appear on the smartphone screen.
But analysts said few of the games had the "wow" factor that would convince them that the latest trend has staying power.
"Why do I need a piece of plastic to push the buttons when I could hold my phone or tablet out and do it myself?" McGowan said. "You need to convince people that something really extraordinary is going on to get people to part with their money."
For companies willing to try, challenges await.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Let's Go to the Movies! (1)
Summer movies are the most highly anticipated of the year
Movie lovers eagerly await the start of the summer movie season when the studios roll out their biggest pictures. Summer 2013 will not disappoint them.
Sequels and Series
Once again sequels and film franchises make up a big part of the summer offerings. Iron Man 3 finds billionaire/superhero Tony Stark traveling to China. There he faces the terrorist mastermind who has destroyed his comfortable life. Stark must rely on his own ingenuity rather than his super suit to survive.
Science-fiction fans eagerly await Star Trek Into Darkness, the 12th film in the Star Trek franchise. In it, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise must hunt down the villain responsible for Starfleet’s destruction.
Sully and Mike of Monsters, Inc. fame return in Monsters University, which tells of the pair’s days at the University of Fear. Their initial dislike of each other slowly becomes respect and, eventually, friendship. The 3-D format adds to the fun of the college pranks the pair plays on each other.
Another animated offering, Despicable Me 2, finds Gru, his three adopted daughters and his band of minions taking on a dangerous villain.
Info Cloud
sequel / prequel
Most of the films in today’s lesson are sequels. That is they are movies that follow or continue the story of other movies that have already been released.
The one exception is Monsters University. It’s not a sequel, it’s a prequel, which is the opposite of a sequel.
Right. Instead of going forward in time and telling audiences what happens next, a prequel is a movie or book that goes back in time and tells audiences what happened before the original story took place. They’re also sometimes called backstories.
So it seems like movie studios are giving us more and more prequels these days. Why do you think that is?
Well, like sequels, prequels have a pre-existing fan base that is already familiar with the characters. This means sequels and prequels aren’t as big a financial risk for studios to produce.
But the one big challenge in creating a successful prequel is writers can’t include a surprise ending.
Right, because audiences already know from the original movie basically how things will end.
That’s why prequels generally focus on character interaction and character development, cluing in audiences with how and why events in the original movie took place.
Review Skit
Hooray! The summer movie season is finally here.
Yes. The studios are rolling out their biggest pictures. I’ve been waiting. I’m expecting a lot.
And summer 2013 will not disappoint. I want to see Iron Man 3. Tony Stark is traveling to China, where he faces the terrorist mastermind.
Ooh. And he must rely on his own ingenuity to survive, not his super suit.
Yeah. Let’s go.
Wait. Wait. Wait. Star Trek Into Darkness is also playing.
Hmm, with Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise?
Yes. They’re hunting down the villain responsible for Starfleet’s destruction.
Wow! Maybe we should go see that one.
Wait. Wait. Wait. Now wait before. Sully and Mike of Monsters, Inc. are back, too.
I love Monsters, Inc. What about the new movie?
Well, it’s Monsters University. It tells about Sully and Mike’s days at the University of Fear and all their college pranks. And it’s in 3-D.
Wow! That sounds pretty good.
Also showing is Despicable Me 2. That’s another great movie.
Wow! I want to go see that one.
There are so many great titles. Which one should we see?
Let’s see them all.
OK.
Language Lab
anticipate v. 預期, 期待某件事發生, 預先做準備
to expect that something will happen and be ready for it
- We anticipate a big crowd on the restaurant's opening day.
我們預期餐廳開幕那天會有很多人
sequel n.
/ˈsi:kwəl/
a book, film, play etc that continues the story of an earlier one, usually written or made by the same person
terrorist n. 恐怖份子, 恐怖主義者 [terror 恐怖/ 字尾 -ist 代表人 ]
- the explosion.
terrorism n. 恐怖主義
- Leaders of many countries gathered to discuss how to fight terrorism.
/ˈpræŋk/
- Eric's childish pranks irritated his classmates.
someone's minions are the people who just obey their orders and do unskilled work - used humorously
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130603_88998.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130603baa9ab1b3a1e9b429a211b7f4fd5b68e7a9.wma
Movie lovers eagerly await the start of the summer movie season when the studios roll out their biggest pictures. Summer 2013 will not disappoint them.
Sequels and Series
Once again sequels and film franchises make up a big part of the summer offerings. Iron Man 3 finds billionaire/superhero Tony Stark traveling to China. There he faces the terrorist mastermind who has destroyed his comfortable life. Stark must rely on his own ingenuity rather than his super suit to survive.
Science-fiction fans eagerly await Star Trek Into Darkness, the 12th film in the Star Trek franchise. In it, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise must hunt down the villain responsible for Starfleet’s destruction.
Sully and Mike of Monsters, Inc. fame return in Monsters University, which tells of the pair’s days at the University of Fear. Their initial dislike of each other slowly becomes respect and, eventually, friendship. The 3-D format adds to the fun of the college pranks the pair plays on each other.
Another animated offering, Despicable Me 2, finds Gru, his three adopted daughters and his band of minions taking on a dangerous villain.
Info Cloud
sequel / prequel
Most of the films in today’s lesson are sequels. That is they are movies that follow or continue the story of other movies that have already been released.
The one exception is Monsters University. It’s not a sequel, it’s a prequel, which is the opposite of a sequel.
Right. Instead of going forward in time and telling audiences what happens next, a prequel is a movie or book that goes back in time and tells audiences what happened before the original story took place. They’re also sometimes called backstories.
So it seems like movie studios are giving us more and more prequels these days. Why do you think that is?
Well, like sequels, prequels have a pre-existing fan base that is already familiar with the characters. This means sequels and prequels aren’t as big a financial risk for studios to produce.
But the one big challenge in creating a successful prequel is writers can’t include a surprise ending.
Right, because audiences already know from the original movie basically how things will end.
That’s why prequels generally focus on character interaction and character development, cluing in audiences with how and why events in the original movie took place.
Review Skit
Hooray! The summer movie season is finally here.
Yes. The studios are rolling out their biggest pictures. I’ve been waiting. I’m expecting a lot.
And summer 2013 will not disappoint. I want to see Iron Man 3. Tony Stark is traveling to China, where he faces the terrorist mastermind.
Ooh. And he must rely on his own ingenuity to survive, not his super suit.
Yeah. Let’s go.
Wait. Wait. Wait. Star Trek Into Darkness is also playing.
Hmm, with Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise?
Yes. They’re hunting down the villain responsible for Starfleet’s destruction.
Wow! Maybe we should go see that one.
Wait. Wait. Wait. Now wait before. Sully and Mike of Monsters, Inc. are back, too.
I love Monsters, Inc. What about the new movie?
Well, it’s Monsters University. It tells about Sully and Mike’s days at the University of Fear and all their college pranks. And it’s in 3-D.
Wow! That sounds pretty good.
Also showing is Despicable Me 2. That’s another great movie.
Wow! I want to go see that one.
There are so many great titles. Which one should we see?
Let’s see them all.
OK.
Language Lab
anticipate v. 預期, 期待某件事發生, 預先做準備
- We anticipate a big crowd on the restaurant's opening day.
我們預期餐廳開幕那天會有很多人
sequel n.
/ˈsi:kwəl/
terrorism n. 恐怖主義
- Eric's childish pranks irritated his classmates.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130603_88998.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130603baa9ab1b3a1e9b429a211b7f4fd5b68e7a9.wma
[Advanced] Augmented Reality: Toy Makers’ Latest Weapon (1)
Toy makers hope to recapture children’s interest with augmented reality apps
Unable to resist the “Try me!” sign, 8-year-old Julian Rivas held up a box containing the Star Wars Death Star Lego set in front of a yellow kiosk and was blown away. On the kiosk’s TV screen, Rivas could see not only himself holding the box but also a 3-D image of the Death Star as it would look had he built it himself. Better yet, when Rivas rotated the box, the Death Star moved with it, revealing miniature guards sparring with light sabers and laser guns firing into space.
“It was amazing,” Rivas said as he put the box back down at the Glendale, California, Lego store. “I could see the little Lego people walking around. And I heard R2-D2.”
Toys in the tech realm
The kiosk was equipped with a small camera and one of the latest technologies to hit the toy market: augmented reality.
The technology, which superimposes digital images, video or animation over a user’s live surroundings, has been around for several years. [During the] holiday season, it made its way into retail stores in a big way as toy makers sought new ways to sell more products.
In an age when even toddlers use tablets and smartphones, capturing children’s interest and imagination is harder than ever, toy analysts and toy makers said.
“Kids are moving very quickly past their physical toy and into the tech realm,” said Jason Moser, a toy analyst with Motley Fool, a financial information website. Children as young as 5 are outgrowing physical toys. “They want the touch-screen stuff,” said [Karla Gomez, a stay-at-home mom].
Mobile apps, many of which are free, can keep kids entertained for hours and often have an educational focus, Moser said. These are all big wins for parents but may represent big losses for traditional toy makers.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130603adac6c8a4db7b2d847fbdcad73af92b7f69.wma
Unable to resist the “Try me!” sign, 8-year-old Julian Rivas held up a box containing the Star Wars Death Star Lego set in front of a yellow kiosk and was blown away. On the kiosk’s TV screen, Rivas could see not only himself holding the box but also a 3-D image of the Death Star as it would look had he built it himself. Better yet, when Rivas rotated the box, the Death Star moved with it, revealing miniature guards sparring with light sabers and laser guns firing into space.
“It was amazing,” Rivas said as he put the box back down at the Glendale, California, Lego store. “I could see the little Lego people walking around. And I heard R2-D2.”
Toys in the tech realm
The kiosk was equipped with a small camera and one of the latest technologies to hit the toy market: augmented reality.
The technology, which superimposes digital images, video or animation over a user’s live surroundings, has been around for several years. [During the] holiday season, it made its way into retail stores in a big way as toy makers sought new ways to sell more products.
In an age when even toddlers use tablets and smartphones, capturing children’s interest and imagination is harder than ever, toy analysts and toy makers said.
“Kids are moving very quickly past their physical toy and into the tech realm,” said Jason Moser, a toy analyst with Motley Fool, a financial information website. Children as young as 5 are outgrowing physical toys. “They want the touch-screen stuff,” said [Karla Gomez, a stay-at-home mom].
Mobile apps, many of which are free, can keep kids entertained for hours and often have an educational focus, Moser said. These are all big wins for parents but may represent big losses for traditional toy makers.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130603adac6c8a4db7b2d847fbdcad73af92b7f69.wma
Saturday, June 1, 2013
June
“And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days.” – James Russell Lowell
Grammar Gym
Hello, Friends, welcome to the Grammar Gym, my name is Liz. In today's article we read " ....Winter begins bringing cold, rainy weather." That's our grammar tip sentence. Our focus today is on the sentence pattern " Notice the pattern, [subject] + [verb 1], [verb-ing 2].
This is a great sentence pattern to use when you want to talk about the conditions or results of a situation. Looking at today's grammar tip sentence, you can see there are two parts.
Part 1, Winter begins. Part 2, Winter brings cold, rainy weather.
Part 1 is the main point of the sentence, winter begins.
But part 2 describes part 1 winter brings cold, rainy weather.
Put the two together, add a comma in between both parts. and make sure the verb in part 2 ends in ing form. and that's the sentence pattern. Let's look at some example sentences.
- The tired traveler climbed on board the train, dragging his suitcase with him.
- The dog chased the thief down the road, barking wildly and waking up the whole neighborhood.
And, that's it for today. Thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym. This is Liz, and I'll see you next time.
Info Cloud
port/harbor 大海港/ 小港口
harbor n.
an area of water next to the land where the water is calm, so that ships are safe when they are inside it
port n.
a place where ships can be loaded and unloaded
harbor 小型海港, 也指“海港的水域”，port include harbor, harbor is not port.
dock in the harbors. 停泊在大型海港
Language Lab
head off somewhere [phrasal verb] 動身前往
to go to another place
- Don't worry! Well be heading off soon, We won't be late.
head off to somewhere 去那兒用介系詞 to +地點 place
- The boss will head off to the convention center in a minute.
- Online shopping impacted the economics of retail business.
economics n.一個國家或是一個公司的狀況或體制
a science concerned with the process or system by which goods and services are produced, sold, and bought
- Online shopping impacted the economics of retail businesses.
economic adj. 經濟的, 有經濟效益的
relating to trade, industry, and the management of money
- The economic growth of the country has slowed down in the past two years.
patriot n. 愛國者, 愛國主義者 [o發ə ]
/ˈpeɪtrijət/
a person who loves and strongly supports or fights for his or her country
- Henry has been a fierce patriot since he was a teenager.
patriotic adj.愛國的 [o發 重音在第3音節]
/ˌpeɪtriˈɑ:tɪk/
having or showing great love and support for your country : having or showing patriotism
patriotic songs 愛國歌曲
appreciation n. 感恩，感謝
a feeling of being grateful for something someone has done
- The students expressed their appreciation to their teacher through a song.
appreciation 欣賞, 賞識
pleasure you feel when you realize something is good, useful, or well done
- Exposure to great art work can enhance children's appreciation of art.
commemorate v.
/kəˈmɛməˌreɪt/
to do something to show that you remember and respect someone important or an important event in the past
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130601_6868e.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130601baa2b2e6d1858858ef22a01c8931ddfe9de.wma
Grammar Gym
Hello, Friends, welcome to the Grammar Gym, my name is Liz. In today's article we read " ....Winter begins bringing cold, rainy weather." That's our grammar tip sentence. Our focus today is on the sentence pattern " Notice the pattern, [subject] + [verb 1], [verb-ing 2].
This is a great sentence pattern to use when you want to talk about the conditions or results of a situation. Looking at today's grammar tip sentence, you can see there are two parts.
Part 1, Winter begins. Part 2, Winter brings cold, rainy weather.
Part 1 is the main point of the sentence, winter begins.
But part 2 describes part 1 winter brings cold, rainy weather.
Put the two together, add a comma in between both parts. and make sure the verb in part 2 ends in ing form. and that's the sentence pattern. Let's look at some example sentences.
- The tired traveler climbed on board the train, dragging his suitcase with him.
- The dog chased the thief down the road, barking wildly and waking up the whole neighborhood.
And, that's it for today. Thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym. This is Liz, and I'll see you next time.
Info Cloud
port/harbor 大海港/ 小港口
harbor n.
harbor 小型海港, 也指“海港的水域”，port include harbor, harbor is not port.
dock in the harbors. 停泊在大型海港
Language Lab
head off somewhere [phrasal verb] 動身前往
to go to another place
- Don't worry! Well be heading off soon, We won't be late.
head off to somewhere 去那兒用介系詞 to +地點 place
- The boss will head off to the convention center in a minute.
- Online shopping impacted the economics of retail business.
economics n.一個國家或是一個公司的狀況或體制
a science concerned with the process or system by which goods and services are produced, sold, and bought
- Online shopping impacted the economics of retail businesses.
economic adj. 經濟的, 有經濟效益的
relating to trade, industry, and the management of money
- The economic growth of the country has slowed down in the past two years.
patriot n. 愛國者, 愛國主義者 [o發ə ]
/ˈpeɪtrijət/
a person who loves and strongly supports or fights for his or her country
- Henry has been a fierce patriot since he was a teenager.
patriotic adj.愛國的 [o發 重音在第3音節]
/ˌpeɪtriˈɑ:tɪk/
having or showing great love and support for your country : having or showing patriotism
patriotic songs 愛國歌曲
appreciation n. 感恩，感謝
a feeling of being grateful for something someone has done
- The students expressed their appreciation to their teacher through a song.
appreciation 欣賞, 賞識
pleasure you feel when you realize something is good, useful, or well done
- Exposure to great art work can enhance children's appreciation of art.
commemorate v.
/kəˈmɛməˌreɪt/
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130601_6868e.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130601baa2b2e6d1858858ef22a01c8931ddfe9de.wma
[Advanced] Eat Dessert for Breakfast
Plus 3 other dieting do’s that will surprise you
Here are four simple, healthy, and dare we say, fun ways to help you slim down and stay healthy.
Have Your Cake … for Breakfast
Aside from being depressing, the way to maintain weight loss isn't by feeling deprived. Scientists say that the people who started off the day with a treat and larger meal felt fuller and more satisfied, and that led to their sticking with the program as the day went on. Being hungry is no way to start your day, so fuel up with protein and a morsel of something sweet. And most of all, enjoy!
Sleep Your Way to Weight Loss
Another reason to stop burning the midnight oil is that people who aren't getting enough z’s consume an average of 549 more calories a day than their more rested counterparts, reports a Mayo Clinic study. If you find it tricky to wind down at night, turn off the electronics and engage in soothing activities, like taking a bath or listening to calming music.
Journal to Drop Pounds
The best weapons for a dieter? Pen and paper! Women who wrote down everything they ate lost more weight than those who didn’t track their food intake. Journaling makes you accountable and more aware of what you’re eating, so it makes sense that it’ll keep you from mindlessly munching if you aren't actually hungry.
Even a Tiny Bit of Exercise Helps Your Health
Even 20 to 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week (broken up into smaller chunks is fine!) reduces your risk for all sorts of physical ills. And even 20 minutes a week can improve your mood. That really stuck with me. It’s easy to beat ourselves up or burn out if we make goals that are incredibly hard to achieve, but walking a few times a week is doable—and meaningful, too.
For further reading
chocolateforbreakfast.com
Sufficient sleep helps with weight loss
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130601adaaeed17eefa51b82ce9b551bb39394d71.wma
Here are four simple, healthy, and dare we say, fun ways to help you slim down and stay healthy.
Have Your Cake … for Breakfast
Aside from being depressing, the way to maintain weight loss isn't by feeling deprived. Scientists say that the people who started off the day with a treat and larger meal felt fuller and more satisfied, and that led to their sticking with the program as the day went on. Being hungry is no way to start your day, so fuel up with protein and a morsel of something sweet. And most of all, enjoy!
Sleep Your Way to Weight Loss
Another reason to stop burning the midnight oil is that people who aren't getting enough z’s consume an average of 549 more calories a day than their more rested counterparts, reports a Mayo Clinic study. If you find it tricky to wind down at night, turn off the electronics and engage in soothing activities, like taking a bath or listening to calming music.
Journal to Drop Pounds
The best weapons for a dieter? Pen and paper! Women who wrote down everything they ate lost more weight than those who didn’t track their food intake. Journaling makes you accountable and more aware of what you’re eating, so it makes sense that it’ll keep you from mindlessly munching if you aren't actually hungry.
Even a Tiny Bit of Exercise Helps Your Health
Even 20 to 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week (broken up into smaller chunks is fine!) reduces your risk for all sorts of physical ills. And even 20 minutes a week can improve your mood. That really stuck with me. It’s easy to beat ourselves up or burn out if we make goals that are incredibly hard to achieve, but walking a few times a week is doable—and meaningful, too.
For further reading
chocolateforbreakfast.com
Sufficient sleep helps with weight loss
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130601adaaeed17eefa51b82ce9b551bb39394d71.wma
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Coffee Houses (3)
Info Cloud
It's the last day of the month, and it's high time to do the laundry.
I hope you were joking Steve. I do my laundry at least twice a week.
Yes, yes, Ken. I was joking. Let's talk about laundry for a minute. It can be a confusing word.
Yes, it can be. Laundry can either refer to dirty clothes that will be washed or clean clothes that have just been washed.
Right! We can do the laundry, hang the laundry out to dry, and finally fold the laundry.
Another word for laundry is wash. So, instead of do the laundry, you can do the wash. Notice wash is use as a noun.
And, that should not be confused with washer which is short for the washing machine. So, you will put the wash in the washer.
And, you do the wash because you want all the dirt and stains to come out in the wash.
Nice one, Ken. Coming out in the wash is also an idiom. Just like a clothing stain that can be removed by washing, a problem can come out in the wash, meaning that it will be revealed or it will turn out well in the end.
do their laundry 清洗衣服
laundry 指未清洗的髒衣服, 也指清洗好的衣服
I have to do the laundry - 指髒的衣服
Can you hang up the laundry? 清洗好的乾淨衣服
laundry = the wash (n)
come out in the wash 字面是在洗洗滌的過程中被除去, 意指真相大白, 水落石出
Language Lab
reward v.獎勵, 獎賞
- The hikers who reached the summit were rewarded with a magnificent view.
reward n.
- Nathan was given a great bonus as a reward for his hard work.
furry adj. hairy, things has fur or long hair. 有毛的， 毛茸茸的
- These furry toys might causes allergies.
- Kids love to play with furry puppies.
fur n. hair skin.毛皮，軟毛
- The lady was wearing a fox fur around her neck.
patron n. 旅館或是餐館的主顧，顧客
/ˈpeɪtrən/
- These parking spaces are for our patrons only.
- Many patrons came for the chef's delicious beef stew.
patron n. 藝術家的贊助者
- Jeffrey is an enthusiastic patron for local artists.
novice n.新手，初學者 [nove -有‘新’之意]
- I'm a novice driver. I get lost all the time.
novice at - 那方面的新手，初學者用“at”
- As a novice at directing, he still has a lot to learn.
yarn n.
/ˈjɑɚn/
a long, thin piece of cotton, wool, etc., that is thicker than thread and that is used for knitting and weaving;
an exciting or interesting story ; especially : a story that is so surprising or unusual that it is difficult to believe
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130531baa3ba7bcbce0b1c15c1145dce9f0249b7b.wma
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130531_57818.wmv
[Advanced] Yelp Continues on Its Path of Success (3)
A Rare Genius
Yelp's sales force would be meaningless if the reviews weren't useful. Yelp initially limited critiques to a few hundred characters, but every month or so, Stoppelman would double the limit to try to keep up with the users' critical enthusiasm. Today, reviews max out at 5,001 characters and often include a comical level of detail. Yelp reviews may be plagued with frequent misspellings, overexuberance, and curious digressions, but they are generally accurate.
The company's genius is in taking these idiosyncratic assessments and making sense of them. Yelp's review algorithm gives each establishment an average star ranking and filters out shills and less experienced critics. "Typically, the push back about Yelp is, What does some college kid know about restaurants?" says Michael Luca, an economist at Harvard Business School. "People tend to assume that crowdsourced information is so erratic that it's impossible to extract meaningful signals from it. But that's not true."
Proving the Point
Luca has the data to prove it. In a recent study, he compared Yelp ratings of restaurants in Washington State with actual sales figures reported to the state's Department of Revenue. He found that a one-star improvement in a business's Yelp rating was associated with, on average, a revenue increase between 5% and 9%.
Stoppelman points out an interesting wrinkle in the study: Whereas independent restaurants received an outsize benefit from good Yelp reviews, chain restaurants appeared to be unaffected by their reviews, either good or bad. "That's something we theorized about early on," Stoppelman says, "We thought that the main reason somebody ends up at Starbucks is that they don't want to deal with the possibility that the independent coffee shop isn't any good. But with Yelp, you have that confidence."
critique n.
/krəˈti:k/
a detailed explanation of the problems of something such as a set of political ideas;
a careful judgment in which you give your opinion about the good and bad
parts of something (such as a piece of writing or a work of art)
plague v.
to cause constant or repeated trouble, illness, etc., for (someone or something)
digression n.
/daɪˈgrɛʃən/
digress v.
/daɪˈgrɛs/
to speak or write about something that is different from the main subject being discussed
idiosyncratic n.
/ˌɪdijəˈsɪŋkrəsi/
an unusual way in which a particular person behaves or thinks
erratic adj.
/ɪˈrætɪk/
something that is erratic does not follow any pattern or plan but happens in a way that is not regular;
acting, moving, or changing in ways that are not expected or usual : not consistent or regular
wrinkle n.
/ˈrɪŋkəl/
a surprising or unexpected occurrence in a story or series of events
theorize v.
/ˈθi:jəˌraɪz/
to think of or suggest ideas about what is possibly true or real : to form or suggest a theory about something
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130531ada4bd6f939d61c55a23085e80068c7887f.wma
Yelp's sales force would be meaningless if the reviews weren't useful. Yelp initially limited critiques to a few hundred characters, but every month or so, Stoppelman would double the limit to try to keep up with the users' critical enthusiasm. Today, reviews max out at 5,001 characters and often include a comical level of detail. Yelp reviews may be plagued with frequent misspellings, overexuberance, and curious digressions, but they are generally accurate.
The company's genius is in taking these idiosyncratic assessments and making sense of them. Yelp's review algorithm gives each establishment an average star ranking and filters out shills and less experienced critics. "Typically, the push back about Yelp is, What does some college kid know about restaurants?" says Michael Luca, an economist at Harvard Business School. "People tend to assume that crowdsourced information is so erratic that it's impossible to extract meaningful signals from it. But that's not true."
Proving the Point
Luca has the data to prove it. In a recent study, he compared Yelp ratings of restaurants in Washington State with actual sales figures reported to the state's Department of Revenue. He found that a one-star improvement in a business's Yelp rating was associated with, on average, a revenue increase between 5% and 9%.
Stoppelman points out an interesting wrinkle in the study: Whereas independent restaurants received an outsize benefit from good Yelp reviews, chain restaurants appeared to be unaffected by their reviews, either good or bad. "That's something we theorized about early on," Stoppelman says, "We thought that the main reason somebody ends up at Starbucks is that they don't want to deal with the possibility that the independent coffee shop isn't any good. But with Yelp, you have that confidence."
critique n.
/krəˈti:k/
plague v.
to cause constant or repeated trouble, illness, etc., for (someone or something)
digression n.
/daɪˈgrɛʃən/
digress v.
/daɪˈgrɛs/
to speak or write about something that is different from the main subject being discussed
idiosyncratic n.
/ˌɪdijəˈsɪŋkrəsi/
an unusual way in which a particular person behaves or thinks
erratic adj.
/ɪˈrætɪk/
wrinkle n.
/ˈrɪŋkəl/
a surprising or unexpected occurrence in a story or series of events
theorize v.
/ˈθi:jəˌraɪz/
to think of or suggest ideas about what is possibly true or real : to form or suggest a theory about something
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130531ada4bd6f939d61c55a23085e80068c7887f.wma
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Coffee Houses (2)
Info Cloud
Hi, friends. Have you ever wondered how Starbucks got its name? Maybe it had something to do with stars or bucks?
Good guess, Ken. But I’m afraid that’s not the case. When the three co-founders of Starbucks started the company in Seattle, Washington, in 1971, they had a meeting to decide what to name their new company.
One man was an English teacher, one a history teacher and one a writer. And so they picked the name from the classic American novel Moby Dick. And the name was Pequod.
Now Ken, I don’t know about you, but I would hesitate to drink a hot cup of Pequod.
I don’t blame you, Steve. Pequod is the name of the whaling ship in Moby Dick. But it’s not a very savory name for a coffee house. Good thing one of the partners rejected the name.
So after more discussion, all three settled on another name from Moby Dick, Starbuck, which is the name of the chief mate on the Pequod. And since there are three partners, they simply added an “S,” officially making the name Starbucks.
And the rest, as we say, is history.
Review Skit
Ah, the rich smell of fresh coffee.
Ah, yes. Give me a cozy room with soft chairs and a cup of coffee.
Give me a place where roasting coffee beans is serious business.
However you look at it…We love coffee!
Coffee houses date back to 1475. And now thanks to Starbucks, they can be found all over the world.
Thank you, Starbucks.
The coffee house phenomenon continues to grow. Now Starbucks has over 17,000 coffee houses around the world.
People desperate for coffee head there. But some coffee aficionados want something more. They look for places with extra special coffee, like Isabela Raposeiras in Brazil.
Brazil? That’s a long way to go for coffee.
Yes. But the owner is familiar with coffee growing. She’s also skilled in roasting and blending it. She travels the world learning everything she can.
Hey. Speaking of travel, let’s head to the nearest Figaro Coffee shop.
Sure. Where is that?
In the Philippines. Their flavored beans are made through a special process for a delicious, long-lasting flavor.
Well, what are we waiting for?
I haven’t finished my coffee yet.
Language Lab
phenomenon n. 現象 [重音在no音節]
1 something that happens or exists in society, science, or nature, especially something that is studied because it is difficult to understand
2 something or someone that is very unusual because of a rare quality or ability that they have
- The phenomenon of bullying has already existed for a long time.
phenomena n. plural [countable]
- As a reporter, you should study various social phenomena.
desperate adj.渴望的，極度需要的
needing or wanting something very much
- At the audition, you can see many young talents desperate to be on stage.
desperate 絕望的
very sad and upset because of having little or no hope : feeling or showing despair
- While isolated, patients might feel desperate and lonely.
blend v. 混合，調配
to combine different things in a way that produces an effective or pleasant result, or to become combined in this way
- The chef blended the butter with some salt.
blend n. 咖啡的口味
- The barista blended 4 different kinds of coffee beans for the coffee shop's house blend.
這位咖啡師父混合了四種咖啡豆做為他們咖啡廳的招牌咖啡
espresso n. 意式的濃咖啡
strong black Italian coffee, or a cup of this coffee
- The customer ordered a double espresso.
cappuccino n. 意式咖啡的另一種
Italian coffee made with hot milk and with chocolate powder on top
aficionados n.
/əˌfɪʃijəˈnɑ:doʊ/
someone who is very interested in a particular activity or subject and knows a lot about it
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130530_096c6.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130530baab01406a620b6a237a8e7bd47885001e5.wma
[Advanced] Yelp Continues on Its Path of Success (2)
Going Local
Despite this daunting list, Stoppelman operates like someone who knows something nobody else does. Yelp has built a business that's the envy of its rivals.
To understand why Yelp is well positioned in the fight to digitize local advertising, first consider the prevailing attitude of the competition. "Local is the holy grail of the Internet," Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, told analysts in July. "The problem with local businesses is they are just not very tech savvy."
Her curious suggestion that local businesses are somehow to blame for failing, as she put it, to "adapt things... that we would think they would obviously adapt," doesn't hold up to scrutiny. Local businesses are, in fact, buying online ads--$19 billion worth in 2012, according to Gordon Borrell, whose eponymous research firm specializes in local media. They're just not buying much on Facebook or Google.
The Sales Force
Perhaps the most contrary move Stoppelman has made as Yelp's CEO has been to embrace what's been anathema to his web 2.0 contemporaries: He hired a sales force. Stoppelman has lifted his approach from the granddaddy of local advertising, the Yellow Pages. Yelp's advertising program is similar to the Yellow Pages, too: Businesses buy subscriptions for several hundred dollars a month in order to promote their reviews and to add special tweaks to their profiles.
While critics knock Facebook for its low advertising rates, which are about $1 for every thousand impressions in the United States, Yelp has the opposite problem: It gets accused of charging too much.
Thing is, the majority of Yelp's customers and advertisers don't seem to mind. In August, Yelp reported that it had 32,000 paying clients, more than double the total from last year. An additional 791,000 businesses have free accounts where they can post pictures and respond to users' reviews.
daunting adj.
frightening in a way that makes you feel less confident;
tending to make people afraid or less confident : very difficult to do or deal with
prevailing adj.
usual, common, or popular;
existing or accepted in a particular place or at a particular time [= current]
holy grail n.
something that people want very much, but which is very difficult or impossible to achieve
savvy n.
practical understanding or knowledge of something;
practical knowledge and ability
eponymous adj.
/ɛˋpɑnəməs/
the eponymous character in a book, film, or play is the character whose name is in its title
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130530ada2891df439b062f6f28ee63a6a1f629aa.wma
Despite this daunting list, Stoppelman operates like someone who knows something nobody else does. Yelp has built a business that's the envy of its rivals.
To understand why Yelp is well positioned in the fight to digitize local advertising, first consider the prevailing attitude of the competition. "Local is the holy grail of the Internet," Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, told analysts in July. "The problem with local businesses is they are just not very tech savvy."
Her curious suggestion that local businesses are somehow to blame for failing, as she put it, to "adapt things... that we would think they would obviously adapt," doesn't hold up to scrutiny. Local businesses are, in fact, buying online ads--$19 billion worth in 2012, according to Gordon Borrell, whose eponymous research firm specializes in local media. They're just not buying much on Facebook or Google.
The Sales Force
Perhaps the most contrary move Stoppelman has made as Yelp's CEO has been to embrace what's been anathema to his web 2.0 contemporaries: He hired a sales force. Stoppelman has lifted his approach from the granddaddy of local advertising, the Yellow Pages. Yelp's advertising program is similar to the Yellow Pages, too: Businesses buy subscriptions for several hundred dollars a month in order to promote their reviews and to add special tweaks to their profiles.
While critics knock Facebook for its low advertising rates, which are about $1 for every thousand impressions in the United States, Yelp has the opposite problem: It gets accused of charging too much.
Thing is, the majority of Yelp's customers and advertisers don't seem to mind. In August, Yelp reported that it had 32,000 paying clients, more than double the total from last year. An additional 791,000 businesses have free accounts where they can post pictures and respond to users' reviews.
daunting adj.
frightening in a way that makes you feel less confident;
tending to make people afraid or less confident : very difficult to do or deal with
prevailing adj.
usual, common, or popular;
holy grail n.
something that people want very much, but which is very difficult or impossible to achieve
savvy n.
practical understanding or knowledge of something;
practical knowledge and ability
eponymous adj.
/ɛˋpɑnəməs/
the eponymous character in a book, film, or play is the character whose name is in its title
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130530ada2891df439b062f6f28ee63a6a1f629aa.wma
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Coffee Houses (1)
Coffee houses then and now
Ah, the rich smell of fresh coffee! People who love the aromatic beverage flock to coffee houses to enjoy it. A coffee house may be as simple as a cozy room with big soft chairs, Wi-Fi and dozens of coffee drinks. Or it may be a place where baristas are coffee chefs and the roasting of beans a serious business. However one looks at it, coffee houses have drawn people for centuries like honey draws flies.
The first public coffee house dates back to 1475 in Constantinople, Turkey, today's Istanul. Coffee was very important to the culture at the time. A woman was allowed to divorce her husband if he did not keep the coffeepot full! Coffee houses arrived in Europe about 1650 and spread to England by 1652.
Some believe the word "tips" first entered the English language in an English coffee house. A jar on the counter had a sign that read "To Insure Prompt Service." Customers who put a coin in the jar were served more quickly.
Grammar Gym
How are you doing today, friends? Welcome to the Grammar Gym. My name is Liz. Let's have a look at today's grammar tip sentence. "However one looks at it, coffee houses draw people like honey does flies." This sentence just means coffees houses attract people just like honey attracts flies. Notice this sentence pattern,
[subject 1 + verb + object 1] like [subject 2] does [object 2].
This is a great sentence pattern to use when you want to talk about how a situation is much like another situation. What one subject does to an object is much like how another subject does to another object.
For example, we can say: Samantha loves shoes like a child does candy. Or: The sheriff hunts down criminals like a cat does mice.
If you turn to today's grammar tip section, you'll find more sentences there. And, that's it for today. This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.
Info Cloud
In today’s lesson our author offers one explanation as to how the word “tip” entered the English language.
But notice how she wisely started the sentence: "Some belief…" This should be a clue to you, the reader, that what follows is not necessarily true.
Right, by using these words, the author is giving the reader freedom to disagree, which is good because I disagree.
I do, too. I was suspicious when I saw the word “insure,” I-N-S-U-R-E. It feels like it’s being forced to fit for the sake of the letter I.
Right. Clearly, the better choice is "ensure," E-N-S-U-R-E, which means to make certain something takes place, like good service.
OK. A second reason we disagree about this origin of “tips” is because the explanation would make tips a 17th-century acronym. And English acronyms didn't really come into existence until the 20th century.
Right. So we think the "To Insure Prompt Service" phrase is just a clever story to explain something we’re not 100 percent sure of.
Reminding us that no matter what the language, we should always read with a critical eye.
Because not everything that’s written is fact.
tips 小費的由來, 原來是一個 acronym 頭字語: To Insure Prompt Service
課文中說到 Some believe... 有些人認為...
insure 投保 / ensure 確保
acronym 20世紀才開始大量被運用, 課文中1652年有將近300年的差距,
所以 some believe 有些人認為不是小費由來的真正典故
acronym n.
/ˈækrəˌnɪm/
a word made up from the first letters of the name of something such as an organization. For example NATO is an acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Language Lab
aromatic adj. 有香味的, 很香的 [aroma n. 香氣/ 重音在ma音節]
/ˌerəˈmætɪk/
having a strong pleasant smell [= fragrant]
- These aromatic herbs are good for your health.
- The aromatic beef not only smells good but also looks very tempting. 看起來也好好吃
beverage n.
a hot or cold drink
- All beverages served in the business class sector are free.
- Shirley is a minor, so she can only drink non-alcoholic beverages.
divorce v.
- The couple divorced only two years after they got married.
- Al and his wife got divorced last winter.
divorce n.
The nasty divorce not only hurt themselves, it also hurt their children.
cozy adj.
small, comfortable, and warm
barista n.
/bəˈri:stə/
someone whose job is to prepare coffee in a coffee bar
insure v.
to make (something) sure, certain, or safe : ensure
prompt adj. 立即的, 馬上的
/ˈprɑ:mpt/
done or given without delay
- Prompt replies are essential in customer service.
- A prompt reaction is necessary if you work in the ER.
- This tenant is always prompt with his payment.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130529_894ed.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130529baa940d4b323d05f4453ad84f66d9b7787c.wma
Ah, the rich smell of fresh coffee! People who love the aromatic beverage flock to coffee houses to enjoy it. A coffee house may be as simple as a cozy room with big soft chairs, Wi-Fi and dozens of coffee drinks. Or it may be a place where baristas are coffee chefs and the roasting of beans a serious business. However one looks at it, coffee houses have drawn people for centuries like honey draws flies.
The first public coffee house dates back to 1475 in Constantinople, Turkey, today's Istanul. Coffee was very important to the culture at the time. A woman was allowed to divorce her husband if he did not keep the coffeepot full! Coffee houses arrived in Europe about 1650 and spread to England by 1652.
Some believe the word "tips" first entered the English language in an English coffee house. A jar on the counter had a sign that read "To Insure Prompt Service." Customers who put a coin in the jar were served more quickly.
Grammar Gym
How are you doing today, friends? Welcome to the Grammar Gym. My name is Liz. Let's have a look at today's grammar tip sentence. "However one looks at it, coffee houses draw people like honey does flies." This sentence just means coffees houses attract people just like honey attracts flies. Notice this sentence pattern,
[subject 1 + verb + object 1] like [subject 2] does [object 2].
This is a great sentence pattern to use when you want to talk about how a situation is much like another situation. What one subject does to an object is much like how another subject does to another object.
For example, we can say: Samantha loves shoes like a child does candy. Or: The sheriff hunts down criminals like a cat does mice.
If you turn to today's grammar tip section, you'll find more sentences there. And, that's it for today. This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.
Info Cloud
In today’s lesson our author offers one explanation as to how the word “tip” entered the English language.
But notice how she wisely started the sentence: "Some belief…" This should be a clue to you, the reader, that what follows is not necessarily true.
Right, by using these words, the author is giving the reader freedom to disagree, which is good because I disagree.
I do, too. I was suspicious when I saw the word “insure,” I-N-S-U-R-E. It feels like it’s being forced to fit for the sake of the letter I.
Right. Clearly, the better choice is "ensure," E-N-S-U-R-E, which means to make certain something takes place, like good service.
OK. A second reason we disagree about this origin of “tips” is because the explanation would make tips a 17th-century acronym. And English acronyms didn't really come into existence until the 20th century.
Right. So we think the "To Insure Prompt Service" phrase is just a clever story to explain something we’re not 100 percent sure of.
Reminding us that no matter what the language, we should always read with a critical eye.
Because not everything that’s written is fact.
tips 小費的由來, 原來是一個 acronym 頭字語: To Insure Prompt Service
課文中說到 Some believe... 有些人認為...
insure 投保 / ensure 確保
acronym 20世紀才開始大量被運用, 課文中1652年有將近300年的差距,
所以 some believe 有些人認為不是小費由來的真正典故
acronym n.
/ˈækrəˌnɪm/
a word made up from the first letters of the name of something such as an organization. For example NATO is an acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Language Lab
aromatic adj. 有香味的, 很香的 [aroma n. 香氣/ 重音在ma音節]
/ˌerəˈmætɪk/
- These aromatic herbs are good for your health.
- The aromatic beef not only smells good but also looks very tempting. 看起來也好好吃
beverage n.
a hot or cold drink
- All beverages served in the business class sector are free.
- Shirley is a minor, so she can only drink non-alcoholic beverages.
divorce v.
- The couple divorced only two years after they got married.
- Al and his wife got divorced last winter.
divorce n.
The nasty divorce not only hurt themselves, it also hurt their children.
cozy adj.
small, comfortable, and warm
barista n.
/bəˈri:stə/
someone whose job is to prepare coffee in a coffee bar
insure v.
to make (something) sure, certain, or safe : ensure
prompt adj. 立即的, 馬上的
/ˈprɑ:mpt/
done or given without delay
- Prompt replies are essential in customer service.
- A prompt reaction is necessary if you work in the ER.
- This tenant is always prompt with his payment.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130529_894ed.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130529baa940d4b323d05f4453ad84f66d9b7787c.wma
[Advanced] Yelp Continues on Its Path of Success (1)
In the fractured and fractious world of local advertising, Jeremy Stoppelman and Yelp are shooting for the moon (By Max Chafkin)
Sometime last year, the home button on my iPhone stopped working. I spent a few fruitless hours trying to fix it myself - then proceeded to the Apple Store. Cost: $200.
An easier solution
Then I found Peter. A thirty-something guy, Peter works in a shoebox of an office (on the seventh floor of a shabby building) in San Francisco's financial district. There is a worktable, a watercooler, some mismatched furniture, and, crucially, a letter tacked to his bulletin board with the following words printed in large block letters: PEOPLE LOVE US ON YELP.
To Peter and millions of other local businesses, Yelp, the San Francisco-based company that has become the largest and best source for online reviews, might as well be the Internet. I had found Peter by doing a quick search for "home button repair" using the Yelp app on my barely functional iPhone. I used the app to get directions, and within 10 minutes Peter was dissecting my phone.
Cost: $89, less than half what Apple charges. It was, as I would write in my Yelp review, another five-star experience.
Yelp's mission
When I relate my story to Yelp's 35-year-old CEO and cofounder, Jeremy Stoppelman, he gives me a sly grin. "The mission," he tells me, "is connecting people with great local businesses."
He makes it sound simple, but in fact, Stoppelman is tackling - several of the most bedeviling problems to challenge Internet companies today. Yelp is in the local advertising business, a market that no Internet company has ever truly disrupted but one so tantalizingly large (worth between $90 billion and $130 billion, depending on whom you ask) that it has attracted the likes of Facebook, Google, and Groupon, larger rivals that would like to crush Yelp. Its users are increasingly coming via mobile phones, which are reputedly less amenable to ads.
fractured adj.
/ˋfræktʃɚ/
if a group, country etc fractures, or if it is fractured, it divides into parts in an unfriendly way because of disagreement [= split]
fractious adj.
/ˈfrækʃəs/
someone who is fractious becomes angry very easily [= irritable]
reach/shoot for the moon
to try to do or get something that is very difficult to do or get
- an ambitious businessman who is always shooting for the moon
fruitless adj.
failing to achieve what was wanted, especially after a lot of effort [≠ fruitful]
shoebox n.
1 a cardboard box that shoes are sold in;
2 a very small room, house etc
tack v.
/ˈtæk/
to attach something to a wall, board etc, using a tack
shabby adj.
shabby clothes, places, or objects are untidy and in bad condition because they have been used for a long time
crucial adj.
/ˈkru:ʃəl/
something that is crucial is extremely important, because everything else depends on it
—crucially adverb
dissect v.
/daɪˈsɛkt, dɪˈsɛkt/
a smile, look etc that shows you know something secret
/ˈgrɪn/
to smile widely
tackle v.
to try to deal with a difficult problem
bedevil v.
/bɪˈdɛvəl/
to cause a lot of problems and difficulties for someone or something over a period of time [= plague]
a person, group, or organization that you compete with in sport, business, a fight etc [= competitor]
according to what some people say [= reportedly]
Sometime last year, the home button on my iPhone stopped working. I spent a few fruitless hours trying to fix it myself - then proceeded to the Apple Store. Cost: $200.
An easier solution
Then I found Peter. A thirty-something guy, Peter works in a shoebox of an office (on the seventh floor of a shabby building) in San Francisco's financial district. There is a worktable, a watercooler, some mismatched furniture, and, crucially, a letter tacked to his bulletin board with the following words printed in large block letters: PEOPLE LOVE US ON YELP.
To Peter and millions of other local businesses, Yelp, the San Francisco-based company that has become the largest and best source for online reviews, might as well be the Internet. I had found Peter by doing a quick search for "home button repair" using the Yelp app on my barely functional iPhone. I used the app to get directions, and within 10 minutes Peter was dissecting my phone.
Cost: $89, less than half what Apple charges. It was, as I would write in my Yelp review, another five-star experience.
Yelp's mission
When I relate my story to Yelp's 35-year-old CEO and cofounder, Jeremy Stoppelman, he gives me a sly grin. "The mission," he tells me, "is connecting people with great local businesses."
He makes it sound simple, but in fact, Stoppelman is tackling - several of the most bedeviling problems to challenge Internet companies today. Yelp is in the local advertising business, a market that no Internet company has ever truly disrupted but one so tantalizingly large (worth between $90 billion and $130 billion, depending on whom you ask) that it has attracted the likes of Facebook, Google, and Groupon, larger rivals that would like to crush Yelp. Its users are increasingly coming via mobile phones, which are reputedly less amenable to ads.
fractured adj.
/ˋfræktʃɚ/
fractious adj.
/ˈfrækʃəs/
reach/shoot for the moon
to try to do or get something that is very difficult to do or get
- an ambitious businessman who is always shooting for the moon
fruitless adj.
shoebox n.
2 a very small room, house etc
tack v.
/ˈtæk/
to attach something to a wall, board etc, using a tack
shabby adj.
shabby clothes, places, or objects are untidy and in bad condition because they have been used for a long time
crucial adj.
/ˈkru:ʃəl/
something that is crucial is extremely important, because everything else depends on it
—crucially adverb
dissect v.
/daɪˈsɛkt, dɪˈsɛkt/
1 to cut up the body of a dead animal or person in order to study it
2 to examine something carefully in order to understand it
3 to divide an area of land into several smaller pieces
sly adj.
/ˈslaɪ/
grin v.
disrupt v.
to cause (something) to be unable to continue in the normal way : to interrupt the normal progress or activity of (something)
tantalizing v.
/ˈtæntəˌlaɪz/
to cause (someone) to feel interest or excitement about something that is very attractive, appealing, etc.
—tantalizingly adv.
rival n.
/ˈraɪvəl/
crush v.
to defeat (a person or group that opposes you) by using a lot of force
reputedly adv.
amenable adj.
/əˈmi:nəbəl/
willing to accept what someone says or does without arguing
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