2015-09-07 Make the Most of Your Study Time (1)

• Don't memorize too much at one time
• Study in different locations
• Write information down by hand

Try these tips to study smart

Some students can’t wait to hit the books. Others wish they could be doing anything else. For students, studying can’t be avoided. But study time doesn’t have to be a pain. Here are some ways to make it more useful.

• Rather than memorize a lot of information at one time, break it up. If you must learn a long list of words, learn five or six at a time. Then review them before learning the next six.
• Do you always study in the same place? Try a new location. Research shows that studying the same thing in different places helps you remember it better. Each time you change locations, your brain forms new associations with the material.
• You remember information better when you write it by hand. Typing will not profit you in the same way. Write things that you want to remember down on a piece of paper.

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What are the four major language roots that make English what it is today?

Well first and foremost is the GermanicAnglo-Saxon language, the earliest form of English. The other three are French, Latin and Greek. The mixture of these four languages helped to create English’s rich vocabulary, but they create some confusion too.

Yes, like when we encounter an Anglo-Saxon based English word that has lost its Anglo-Saxon adjectival form. For example, the noun finger, what’s its adjectival form? Fingerly, or fingerish? No, it’s the Latin based word digital.

Here are a few word pairs of Anglo-Saxon nouns with their Latin based adjectives, water and aquatic, house and domestic, moon and lunar.

Looking at these two words, moon and lunar you would not think that they’re related but they are. I’m sorry, more headaches for you English learners.

Okay now there are certain Anglo-Saxon adjectives that have survived with these and Latin based adjectives both exist, we have a choice. For instance, with the noun mother, we can choose either the Anglo-Saxon based motherly or the Latin based maternal.

Umm, for the noun book we also have a choice between the adjectives bookish and literary.

Language Lab
hit the books 用功讀書
to study or begin studying very intensely
- The test is tomorrow. I really need to hit the books now.
- Since last week, Josh has been hitting the books for his final.

memorize v.
to learn (something) so well that you are able to remember it perfectly
- Jason memorized all his clients' phone numbers.
- Our teacher asked us to memorize this poem.
memorization n.
- He needs to work on his memorization to be able to act.

association n.
a feeling, memory, or thought that is connected to a person, place, or thing — usually plural
- A common association with the color red is passion and love.
a connection or relationship between things or people
- The association of these two prominent families lasted for over 30 years.

profit v.
to be an advantage to (someone) : to help (someone)
- This contract profits not only our company but also your side.
to get an advantage or benefit from something — often + by or from
- Many people have profited from the low-carb diet.

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2015-09-05 The Birell Prague Grand Prix

• A race for all
• Sights and sounds

A night race on Prague's illuminated streets

At twilight in Prague today, the downtown streets will be busier than usual. Up to 9,000 runners will be participating in one of the international races in the Birell Prague Grand Prix.

A Race for All
Last year, nearly 70,000 participants from over 100 countries ran in RunCzech races, including the Grand Prix. One asset of the race is its appeal to all runners regardless of age, gender or fitness level. Anyone can participate in either the 10-kilometer race or the 3x10-kilometer team race, while 5-kilometer versions of both races are available for women.

Sights and Sounds
Runners and spectators alike get to enjoy the beauty of Prague with all races beginning and ending at Wenceslas Square. The Marathon Music Festival provides a lively soundtrck for the races with international tunes, dancing and other striking acts. Runners have the added benefit of free entry to certain museums and historical sites in Prague. With all that it offers for such a broad range of people, everyone can consider putting on their running shoes for the Birell Prague Grand Prix.

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Teaching Topic: The Letter X 教學主題: X 的廣泛用途
It’s the third least common letter in the English language and yet, it’s the most versatile letter in the alphabet. Which letter is it?

It’s x. X is versatile in its pronunciation, there are at least seven different ways to pronounce it and that’s not counting pronunciations introduced by loan words from other languages, like in the French word, prix, spelled p, r, i, x.

Besides serving as a letter to build words, x also serves as a versatile symbol representing many different things. For example, in 1765 x was first used in a letter to represent a kiss.

Later in 1827, x was first used to indicate a quality of certain liquors.

Of course, for centuries x has been used to symbolize math’s multiplication function from the mid 1600s, x signified an unknown quantity in algebra.

And I think it’s this usage of x indicating an unknown that word probably most familiar with, take the word, X-ray for example. The German scientist who discovered X-ray's used the letter x in naming them to indicate a new unknown kind of radiation.

So there’s the word X-ray, how many other English words begin with letter x, not many.

Language Lab
illuminate v.
to supply (something) with light : to shine light on (something)
- When the sun began to set, the streets were illuminated with neon lights.
to make (something) clear and easier to understand
- The professor loves to use graphs to illuminate his points.

regardless adv.
in spite of difficulty, trouble, etc. : without being stopped by difficulty, trouble, etc.
- Clark knew it would be hard to start a business, but he did it regardless.
regardless of : without being stopped or affected by (something)
- He runs every day regardless of the weather. [=he runs every day no matter what the weather is like]
- The club welcomes any new members, regardless of their backgrounds.

soundtrack n.
the sounds and especially the music recorded for a movie
- The soundtrack of the movie "My Fair Lady" has always been my favorite.
- The soundtrack of the movie alternates from classical music to folk songs.

entry n.
the act of entering something
- There's a "No Entry" sign on the door.
a person or thing that is entered in a contest
- The country's bid for entry to APEC was refused by the committee.

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2015-09-03 Prague: One of Europe's Great Cities (1)

• Prague Castle
• St. Vitus Cathedral

Explore what some call, "The most beautiful city on earth!" 

Famous Czech writer Franz Kafka once said, "Prague never lets you go..." Nothing could be truer. The Czech Republic's famous capital boasts a majestic castle, stunning bridges, gold-tipped towers and a swan-filled river. Once you visit Prague, the city's beauty will stay with you forever.

Here are some of the wonders that make it so memorable.

Prague Castle 
This remarkable structure dates back to the ninth century and is considered the largest castle complex in the world. The castle sits on top of a hill and provides breathtaking views of the city below.

Down through the ages, buildings representing various building styles have been added to the complex. Today a walk through the grounds is like a lesson in the history of architecture.

St. Vitus Cathedral
Prague has been nicknamed "the city of a hundred spires." Yet in reality almost a thousand towers and spires dominate the skyline. Some of the most famous belong to St. Vitus Cathedral, one of Europe's most beautiful churches. Inside you'll find elaborately painted glass windows and valuable religious treasures.

Closer Look
dates back [=goes back]
- The story, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer dates back 140 years ago.
- The game hide and seek dates back to medieval times.

Language Lab
majestic adj.
/məˈʤɛstɪk/
large and impressively beautiful
- We were amazed by the majestic view of the Grand Canyon.
- The majestic Fuji Mountain is a national symbol of Japan.

remarkable adj.
unusual or surprising : likely to be noticed
- The actress' remarkable performance in this movie won her several awards.
- The patient made a remarkable recovery from major surgery.

nothing could be further from the truth

architecture n.
the art or science of designing and creating buildings
- The cathedral is a classic example of Gothic architecture.
- Jason majored in architecture.
architect n.
a person who designs buildings
- Thompson is the architect who designed the bridge.

elaborately adv.
made or done with great care or with much detail : having many parts that are carefully arranged or planned
- The wedding cake was elaborately designed by a famous baker in town.
elaborate adj.
- The movie's elaborate costumes were displayed in the museum.

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2015-08-25 Do it Yourself or Use a Pro? (2)

Now hold on a second. What exactly is wrong with the washer?

It won't run.

Is it plugged in? Did you check that?

Of course I did. But when I turn it on, it won't run. I checked the hoses, and they're fine, too.

Well, where is the manual? There should be some troubleshooting tips in that. I can check online, too.

There is plenty of DIY information out there. But how do you know it's trustworthy?

You have to be careful about the sites you use. Since there is good information out there, should I still not try to solve my own problems?

Well...

I should cast all of my heroic ideas aside and call a repairman to rescue my damsel in distress?

Yes.

Honey, it's just an appliance that won't run, not hot-water pipes. At least let me take a look at it!

All right, all right. But if you can't determine the problem in half an hour, be my hero and call a repairman. I need clean clothes for the company picnic this weekend!

Info Cloud
Hello friends! Have you ever wondered which word in English has the most definitions?

Well, according to the Oxford English dictionary, that word would be “run”, in just its verb form alone there are 645 different meanings.

Wow, we all know run’s most common definition to move quickly using one’s legs and feet, right? Well, here are some more ways to use this word, you can run a fever, run your mouth, run an errand and run for office.

A machine should run when you turned it on, you can also run around, run off, and run somebody through with a sword.

So you should see by now that when we look up a word in the dictionary, we need to look at all the definitions, so we can grasp the real meaning of the word.

Language Lab
troubleshoot v.
a person who finds and fixes problems in machinery and technical equipment (such as computers);
a person who tries to find solutions to problems or end disagreements;
- An engineer was brought in to troubleshoot the computer problems.
troubleshooting n.
- William is an expert at troubleshooting and problem solving.

trustworthy adj.
able to be relied on to do or provide what is needed or right : deserving of trust
- Charles is a trustworthy and honest man. You can cooperate with him.
- If you want to sell your house, it's important to find a trustworthy real estate agent.

heroic adj.
of or relating to heroes;
having or showing great courage;
- The heroic act of the pilot has made him a household name now.
- The heroic firefighter rescued the baby from the burning house.

a damsel in distress
/ˈdæmzəl/
The phrase damsel in distress is used often humorously in modern speech and writing to refer to a woman who needs to be rescued.
- The heroines in modern movies are no longer damsels in distress. They can solve their own problems.

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2015-08-14 Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke? (1)

• Too much sun
• What is heat exhaustion?

Be cautious when spending time in the sun

"She has heat stroke. We need to get her to the hospital."

I was on the ground, unaware of what was happening around me. My body was hot. My head pounded. Within a few minutes, I was on my way to the hospital.

My collapse happened last year in the heat of the summer. I, along with thousands of other athletes, had gathered in Taipei for a running competition. Halfway through the race, I started to feel dizzy.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: A Particular Hospital?
Hospital前要加冠詞嗎？
這就要看你是用美式還是英式英文,
美式英文: the hospital
- We need to get him to the hospital.
- He is in the hospital.
英式英文:
- We need to get him to hospital.
- He's in hospital. 他住院
但英式英文要注意,
如果是在醫院工作或是去探病,
就要加上定冠詞,
- I was in the hospital.

Language Lab
pound v.
to hit (something or someone) with force again and again
- Someone was pounding at our door last last night.
- The man suddenly pounded the table with his fist.
to beat loudly and quickly
- My heart was pounding when the earthquake happened.

brutal adj.
/ˈbruːtl̟/
extremely cruel or harsh
- The fugitive is a brutal and reckless criminal.
fugitive n.
/ˈfjuːʤətɪv/
a person who is running away to avoid being captured
- The brutal murder disturbed the whole nation.
brutality n.
/bruˈtæləti/
cruel, harsh, and usually violent treatment of another person
- The novel depicts the brutality of the war.





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2015-08-15 Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke? (2)

• What is heat stroke?
• Symptoms of heat stroke
• The dangers of heat stroke

If you experience any of these symptoms, find a cool place right away. Drink plenty of water and rest. You could be experiencing heat exhaustion. If not treated, heat exhaustion could turn into heat stroke.

What is heat stroke?
Heat stroke, also known as sunstroke, is the most dangerous heat-related condition. Heat stroke happens when one's body overheats from exposure to hot temperatures for too long.

When someone suffers from heat stroke, their body temperature rises to 40 degrees Celsius or higher. And it won't cool down without medical attention.


Language Lab
symptom n.
a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present
- The symptoms of the disease include weight loss and uncontrollable trembling.
- The medicine can suppress the symptoms but can't cure the condition.

exposure n.
/ɪkˈspoʊʒɚ/
the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something : the condition of being exposed to something
- Exposure to toxic wastes can cause serious diseases.
public attention and notice
- The movie needs more media exposure to be successful at the box office.
expose v.
to reveal (something hidden, dishonest, etc.)
- The political scandal was exposed by a rookie reporter.















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2015-08-13 Find James Bond, "Bali Hai" scenery in Kauai's proud, culture-rich Hanalei (3)

• Ho'opulapula Haraguchi Rice Mill

For schooling in a page of unique island history, I join a tour of Hawaii's only remaining rice mill, situated among the taro ponds. Rice was grown here commercially from the 19th century until Hawaii's rice industry collapsed in the 1960s.

The Ho'opulapula Haraguchi Rice Mill is now in the middle of Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, off-limits to most visitors. So if you're a birder, the tour also offers chances to bolster your life list with possible glimpses of endangered species such as the koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck).

The tour is highly personal. Leading it is 35-year-old Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama, whose family is in its sixth generation of farming the valley, which included operating the mill until its closure. Now, through a nonprofit, the family helps preserve the historic mill, which has been rebuilt and restored through many flash floods and two major hurricanes. She shows how scoops of rice moved on a conveyor belt powered at first by a water wheel. later by a hefty diesel engine.

The tour concludes with a demonstration of taro pounding using a lava-rock stone.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Permutations 名詞的排列組合
Permutations
/ˌpɚmjuˈteɪʃən/
one of the many different ways or forms in which something exists or can be arranged — usually plural
一個國家或文化裡頭,
越常見到的事物通常就會有越多的詞彙來形容他,
像芬蘭文就有超過30個單字用來形容不同種類的冰雪,
因為芬蘭長期處在冰雪當中,
義大利文有各式各樣的用來表示麵條的單字,
因為義大利把他們的麵發洋光大,
中國人的主食是米,
米在英文就叫做rice,
煮熟的米叫做飯,
在英文還是叫做rice,
中國人還是糯米飯, 小米粥...
這些在英文裡都叫做rice,
因為在西方很少吃飯,
就算吃飯也是配菜

Language Lab
off-limits adj.
/ˈɑːfˈlɪməts/
— used to say that people are not allowed to enter a place or use something
— often + to
- The warehouse area is off-limits to customers.
- The military base is off-limits to civilians due to security reasons.

bolster v.
/ˈboʊlstɚ/
to make (something) stronger or better : to give support to (something)
- The company needs to bolster its marketing strategies to survive in the market.
- The coach is good at bolstering his team members with pep talks.

closure n.
/ˈkloʊʒɚ/
a situation or occurrence in which something (such as a business or factory) closes forever
- The closure of the mines caused many workers to lose their jobs.
- The closure of the branch stores helped the company's finances to improve.
a feeling that a bad experience (such as a divorce or the death of a family member) has ended and that you can start to live again in a calm and normal way
- After saying goodbye to her ex-boyfriend, Sandy finally reached a sense of closure.

hefty adj.
/ˈhɛfti/
large and heavy; big and strong
- Kyle gave his brother a hefty push to get him on the train.
very large
- Teresa lost her job, and now she doesn't know how she's going to pay back her hefty loans.

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2015-08-12 Find James Bond, "Bali Hai" scenery in Kauai's proud, culture-rich Hanalei (2)

The old bridge doesn't keep visitors out, so Hanalei town has its share of touristy boutiques and galleries. But even their setting, such as the rustic Old Hanalei School retail complex (check out the vintage restrooms), beats your average strip mall.

Hanalei is home to one of the planet's prettiest little churches, circa 1912. Sunday services (10 a.m.) at the green-shingled, American Gothic-style Wai'oli Hui'ia Church, in the heart of town, include hymns sung in the Hawaiian language.

Visitors are welcome. The dress code is Aloha shirts, muumuus and flip-flops, with an occasional plumeria blossom in the hair.

Pick up a handheld lauhala fan, woven from the leaves of a hala tree, from a basket by the door if there's not enough breeze through the open windows. Their stained glass has a colorful theme of tropical flowers and banana leaves.

After the service, look behind the church for Christian missionaries Abner and Lucy Wilcox's 1837-vintage home. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with its lava-rock chimney, classic koa furniture and a master bedroom where Lucy gave birth to eight sons.

Editor's Summary
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Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Dying Languages 消失中的語言


Language Lab
vintage adj.
/ˈvɪntɪʤ/
used to describe something that is not new but that is valued because of its good condition, attractive design, etc.
- I like the vintage decoration of this cafe.
- The vintage design of the cover of the band's album has been vastly discussed online.
- Britney has a whole collection of vintage Disney cartoons.
vast adj.
very great in size, amount, or extent

strip mall n.
a long building that is divided into separate shops which usually have outside entrances and which share a parking lot
- You can find authentic local food here in the strip mall.
- The suburban strip mall is where most people who live nearby do their grocery shopping.

weave v.
/ˈwiːv/
[weaves; wove /ˈwoʊv/ or weaved; woven /ˈwoʊvən/ or weaved; weaving]
- The old lady is weaving a blanket from wool.
- The basket was woven from willows.

missionary n.
a person who is sent to a foreign country to do religious work (such as to convince people to join a religion or to help people who are sick, poor, etc.)
- These missionaries built the first school in this area.
of or relating to missionaries
- Our church started our missionary work in India last year.

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2015-08-11 Find James Bond, "Bali Hai" scenery in Kauai's proud, culture-rich Hanalei (1)

This hidden area has culture and history to offer

"Defend Hanalei" says the bumper sticker on a rusty, surfboard-loaded pickup puttering slowly down the winding, two-lane road in front of my rental car. I [am] approaching a bridge into Kauai's green, green Hanalei Valley.

The bridge itself is a political statement aimed at keeping "progress" out of this isolated community on the north shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

Over centuries, Native Hawaiians farmed taro and other food crops in this fertile valley. Native crops gave way to a boom of rice farming in the 19th century.

Today, waterfalls thread thousands of feet down emerald-green hillsides beyond ponds that once again grow taro, now used in traditional dishes plus everything from hummus to smoothies.

Travel across the valley through Hanalei (say "haw-na-LAY") town, then into the Bali Hai" area of Kauai.

There rainbows arch across cockscomb-jagged hills above some of the island's best snorkeling beaches.

"South Pacific" was filmed here. A former James Bond - actor Pierce Brosnan - has a home here. Every morning, hikers by the score set out from the Kuhio Highway's end to tackle the challenging Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali cliffs.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Hawaiian Words 夏威夷詞彙


Language Lab
putter v.
/ˈpʌtɚ/
to make small popping sounds while moving slowly
- A rusty old motorcycle puttered down the road in front of us.
putter around [phrasal verb] US :
to spend time in a relaxed way doing small jobs and other things that are not very important
- Monica loved to putter around her mother's kitchen when she was a kid.

rental adj.
the amount of money paid or collected as rent
- The rental car costs $80 per day.
- The rental fee of the apartment was raised again this year.
rental n.
- a car rental company

smoothies n.
a thick, cold drink that is made of fruit mixed with milk, yogurt, or juice
- Mom made strawberry smoothies for tonight's dessert.

jagged adj.
/ˈʤægəd/
having a sharp, uneven edge or surface
- Jagged cliffs are a common background in Chinese paintings.
- Watch out for the jagged edge of the broken glass!

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2015-08-10 Limbitless Solutions Gives Kids a Hand

• Limbitless Solutions
• Albert Manero
• The Collective Project

Students chase their ideas for hope
For Christmas last year, 6-year-old Alex Pring received a gift. He called it a "robo-arm." But it was no toy. It was a bionic limb to be used over Alex's underdeveloped right arm.

Albert Manero
Engineering student Albert Manero designed the arm, which moves by electrical muscle commands. The design was then produced by a 3-D printer for about $350. Compared to the $40,000 spent on similar items, this design is an important development.

Manero believes "no one should profit from a child in need of an arm." He and his volunteer group, Limbitless Solutions, funded the arm with their "coffee money." The group is building a variety of different arm designs, including Alex's Transformers arm.

The Collective Project
Manero's team has been featured by The Collective Project, supported by Microsoft's note-taking app, OneNote. This project features students contributing hope to the world with their ideas. Last year's International Children's Peace Prize winner, Neha Gupta, puts their desire into words. She said, "Throw your heart out in front of you and run ahead to catch it."

Editor's Summay

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Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: How to Write “No One”教學主題: No One 的寫法
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Language Lab
bionic adj.
/baɪˈɑːnɪk/
made stronger or more capable by special electronic devices — usually used figuratively a pitcher with a bionic arm [=a pitcher who throws extremely fast]
- The bionic arm can move just like a real arm.
- A new bionic eye enabled this girl to see her parents for the first time in her life.

limb n.
/ˈlɪm/ b不發音
a leg or arm
- The limbs of the dogs were injured during the fire.
- I need to stretch my cramped limbs after sitting for such a long time.

fund n.
an amount of money that is used for a special purpose
- We don't have sufficient funds to keep this program running.
fund v.
to provide money for (something)
- The school is privately funded by an international corporation.
- Tina's parents agreed to fund her college tuition.

variety n.
the quality or state of having or including many different things
- The work here is dull and lacks variety.
a number or collection of different things or people — usually + of
- The cafeteria serves a wide variety of food.
- The town has a variety of shops and restaurants.

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2015-08-08 A Fair-Weather Friend? (2)

After school, she was shooting the breeze with her friend Jackie. Jackie remarked that she’d seen Sara at the mall during lunch time going into Forever 18. The news hit Ava like a bolt from the blue. Sara would only go there for one reason – to buy the jacket for herself! Ava felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. She should have left Sara in the dark about the sale. She’d had her head in the clouds and hadn’t been thinking clearly. She decided to confront Sara!

Ava stormed over to Sara’s house. When she knocked, Sara answered, “Oh, come in, Ava!” she exclaimed happily. “I  have something for you.” She handed Ava a box. “I know you’ve been snowed under lately,” she said. “So I thought I’d so something nice for you.” When Ava opened the box, there was the jacket! She hugged Sara and felt relieved. Sara wasn’t a fair-weather friend after all. Now everything was as right as rain. Sara’s friendship was a ray of sunshine.

Editor's Summary
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Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: One Space or Two?教學主題: 句尾間隔的紛爭
Hello, friends! When typing in English, how many spaces should there be after a period, one or two?

Well, there are lots of people who would say one, and lots of other people who would say two. The confusion comes from the era of the typewriter, anyone remember those? The typewriter used mono spaced type to make type documents easier to read people were taught at an extra space after each period.

Today though, computers use proportional fonts, so adding an extra space after a period is unnecessary.

Indeed, professional topographers and English style guys are all in agreement, that there should be just one space after period.

But as we said, there are still people who insist on using two. One journalism teacher in Colorado still today, teaches her high school students to use two spaces, even though she knows it goes against what all the style manual say.

So why does she do that, well she admits it’s because that’s how she learned to type when she was a student.

Friends, in your life as you study English, is there any thing you know you’re doing wrong? Yet refused to change just because it’s what you’re used to?

Language Lab
remark v.
to say something, especially about something you have just noticed:
remark that
- Sean remarked that he's going to England to study literature.
remark n.
something that you say when you express an opinion or say what you have noticed [= comment]:
- The governor's remarks about the incident irritated many women.

confront v.
if a problem, difficulty etc confronts you, it appears and needs to be dealt with:
- She left me no choice but to confront her.
to face someone in a threatening way, as though you are going to attack them:
- The robbers opened fire when confronted by the police.
confrontation n.
a situation in which there is a lot of angry disagreement between two people or groups:
- a serious military confrontation

exclaim v.
to say something suddenly and loudly because you are surprised, angry, or excited:
- "Help!" the girl trapped under the ruins exclaimed.
- She exclaimed in delight upon hearing the good news.

relieve v.
to reduce someone's pain or unpleasant feelings
- A nice hot bath can help relieve your headache.
relieved adj.
feeling happy because you are no longer worried about something
- I was so relieved when I heard you'd recovered from the surgery.

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2015-08-07 A Fair-Weather Friend? (1)

• Why was Ava so upset?
• Why didn't Ava buy the jacket?

Friendship isn’t always a breeze.
Ava’s face looked like thunder, and she was fuming. She had thrown caution to the wind, and now she regretted it. She hoped she could weather the storm that was brewing between her and Sara. Sara was her best friend – sometimes. They had a stormy relationship. Some days, everything was fine. On others, she felt like Sara was just a fair-weather friend. Today was one of those days.

Yesterday Ava had told Sara about a jacket she’d seen at Forever 18. She wanted it desperately. A sales clerk had told Ava in confidence that the jacket would go on sale today. She was on cloud nine and had told Sara. Ava planned to go to the store the next day and buy it. Sara had assured her she’d not let anyone get wind of Ava’s plan. There was only one jacket left in Ava’s size. Well, Ava had gone to the store, and the jacket was gone! She was crushed. Her entire day was now under a cloud.

Editor's Summary
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Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Different Stores教學主題: 不同形式的Store
Over the past decade we have been witnesses to a shopping revolution. More and more of us are using the internet to buy stuff, everything imaginable including English lessons.

Why, mostly because the internet is super convenient. Back in 2012, for the first time ever global e-commerce sales topped one trillion US dollars.

Unfortunately, the success of e-commerce is making a difficult for traditional stores to stay in business.

Umm... you might hear of traditional stores, being referred to as brick and mortar stores which are stores and actual physical buildings as opposed to somewhere in cyberspace.

Another kind of store is the big box store, also known as a superstore, most often these businesses are chain stores, that is, a network of many stores with the same name under the same ownership selling the same stuff. Big box stores specialize in  selling things in high volume at discount prices.

Making them an enemy of mom-and-pop stores, which are small, independent businesses operated by members of the same family. Mom-and pop stores are great for the lively hood of local communities, but sadly they too are struggling to stay a float in this age of e-commerce.

Language Lab
fair-weather friend 
someone who only wants to be your friend when you are successful;
[=they are friends when you are successful but not when you fail]
- As soon as Henry ran out of money, all his fair-weather friends left him.

fume v.
/ˈfjuːm/
to produce or give off (smoke, fumes, etc.);
to show or feel anger
- My sister and I had a quarrel last week. When I saw her last night, she was still fuming.
quarrel n.
/ˈkworəl/
an angry argument or disagreement
fume at/over/about
- People are fuming over the unjust verdict of the trial.

in confidence
if you tell someone something in confidence, you tell them something on the understanding that they will not tell anyone else
- Alicia told the reporter the information in confidence.
- I'm telling you these things in confidence. Make sure no one knows about our conversation.

assure v.
to tell someone that something will definitely happen or is definitely true so that they are less worried [= reassure]
- The mechanic assured me that my car would be ready by noon.
- I can assure you that you'll be satisfied with our product.
assurance n.
the state of being sure or certain about something
- Kevin gave his wife assurance that he'd take care of her no matter what.

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2015-08-06 Eat with Caution (2)

Casu marzu
This food has been banned by the European Union; however, that doesn’t stop the people of Sardinia from enjoying it occasionally. Casu marzu is sheep’s milk cheese fermented and softened by fly larvae. The cheese is unsafe to eat once the larvae die, so it’s eaten with the living flies in it.

Bullfrog legs
Frog legs are enjoyed in various places around the world, but the skin and organs of giant bullfrogs are actually very poisonous. Giant bullfrogs harvested before their mating season can cause kidney failure if eaten, though some say cooking the frogs with dry wood cancels the poison’s effect.

Familiar fears
To feed your anxieties more, you should know about some common foods that present risks. Raw cashews, for example, contain a chemical like that in poison ivy and must be steamed to remove it. If you have weak kidneys, avoid starfruit as its juice must be filtered for toxins. And if you don’t eat greens, you might be avoiding multiple potential contaminations caused by fertilizer or contact with animals. So remember, new experiences are healthy, but not all new foods are.

Editor's Summary
We are taking a look at some foods we should eat with caution.

And today, we find one has actually been banned by the European Union but still eaten on the island of Sardinia.

This food is a cheese called casu marzu.

It is sheep’s milk that is fermented and softened by fly larvae.

Once larvae died, cheese is not safe to eat, so it is eaten while they are alive and still living in the cheese.

And then, we look at bullfrog legs.

Be careful though as the skin and organs of giant bullfrogs are very poisonous.

If they are harvested and eaten before their mating season, kidney failure may result.

Then, there are some common foods to be careful of, as they also represent some risks.

For example, cashews, which I love, should be steamed before you eat them to remove a chemical like one that’s found in poison ivy.

Or star fruit should be avoided if you have weak kidneys, as its juice should be filtered for toxins.

And be careful when eating greens, as contaminations from fertilizer or animals could occur.

So remember that even though new experiences are generally healthy for us, not all new foods are.

Bon appetit.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Green Refers to Plants 教學主題: Green代表植物的用法

Hello, friends! When you hear the word green, what do you think of? Vegetables, maybe or plants perhaps.

Indeed, greens can refer to vegetables. I still remember my mom telling me to eat my greens when I was small.

I do too. So eat your greens, it’s just another way of saying eat your vegetables. But there is a difference between the two words. "Greens" is always plural in this context, whereas vegetable, singular is always a countable noun.

Right. Greens may refer to one type of vegetable, such as mustard greens, whereas the word vegetables may refer to a mixture of types, such as peas and carrots, or broccoli and corn, separately.

So greens are edible plants, what about plants that aren’t edible? Well, there’s the word greenery, which refers to green foliage or leaves. The park has acres of greenery, right in the heart of the city.

Or lush greenery is part of a typical village scene in Wo Taiwan.

And if you have a green thumb, you’re good at growing plants. Why, because most plants are green.

And finally, if you go green, you’re taking actions that help protect the environment.

Language Lab
ban v.
to forbid people from using (something) : to say that something cannot be used or done
- The government banned the use of DDT in farming.
- Smoking in office buildings was banned many years ago.
ban n.
an official rule saying that people are not allowed to use or do something
- a ban on cigarette advertisements

poisonous adj.
/ˈpoɪzn̩nəs/
capable of putting poison into another animal's body by biting it;
causing sickness or death by entering or touching the body : containing poison
- The waste water from the plant is highly poisonous.
- The patient who was bitten by a poisonous spider was hospitalized.

cashew n.
a type of roasted nut that has a curved shape
- The chef added some cashew nuts and walnuts on top of the muffins.
- Cashews are high in magnesium, especially the roasted ones.

contamination n.
/kənˌtæməˈneɪʃən/
to make a place or substance dirty or harmful by putting something such as chemicals or poison in it:
- The workers at the unclear plant are testing the area for contamination.
contaminate v. [=polluted]
/kənˈtæməˌneɪt/
to make (something) dangerous, dirty, or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it
- The whole area was contaminated by radioactive waste.

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2015-08-05 Eat with Caution (1)

• Fugu
• Ackee
• Hakarl

What foods are you willing to try?

While an adventurous appetite is often a positive characteristic, it isn’t always beneficial. The world is full of exotic flavors and textures that sometimes require you to take your life in your own hands.

Fugu
One pufferfish, fugu in Japanese, contains enough poison to kill 30 people. Chefs are required to obtain a license to prepare it, which means two or three years of training. The best chefs, however, are said to leave just enough poison in the fish to give diners a tickling feeling when they eat it.

Ackee
Jamaica’s national fruit, ackee, just so happens to cause its “national illness,” Jamaican vomiting sickness, which is actually much worse than it sounds. Enjoy the fruit, but eat only the ripe, properly peeled yellow meat (not the toxic black seeds) to avoid a coma or death.

Hakarl 
If you’re in Iceland, you can try hakarl – fermented Greenland shark – or not. The Greenland shark has no urinary tract, so its meat is full of toxins. But not to worry – they’re removed after the shark is buried in sand and rocks and dried about six months.

Editor's Summary
Our title tells us to eat with caution.

An adventurous appetite may mean that you take your life in your hands as the world is full of exotic flavors and textures.

Today, we are looking at why our authors said that.

First, we see the fugu, or pufferfish, which contains enough poison to kill 30 people.

That is one fish to 30 people.

Chefs who work with pufferfish are required to obtain a license in order to prepare it.

That usually means two to three years of training.

For those of you who think they remove all of the poison, think again.

The best chefs leave just enough to give those who dine on fugu a tickling feeling as they eat it.

Hmm… and then, we have Jamaica’s national fruit, ackee, which also causes a national illness, which is Jamaican vomiting sickness.

If you eat this fruit, make sure that you only eat the ripe properly peeled yellow meat.

Not the black seeds, which are toxic, if you want to avoid a coma or even death.

And if you find yourself in Iceland, you might want to try hakarl, or fermented Greenland shark.

Then again, maybe you don’t.

Since the Greenland shark has no urinary tract, the meat is full of toxins.

But these are removed by burying the dead shark in sand and under rocks, and dried for about six months.

Enjoy!

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: How Many Foods?教學主題: Food 可以數嗎？
Today let’s talk about food or more precisely the word food, is it countable?

Well, can we say two food, three food, four food? Of course, the answer is no, we can’t. Food is therefore uncountable. We cannot say, “I do not eat many food”.

However, sometimes we might see the word, foods with an s, in this usage, foods means types of food, I’m willing to try different foods, means I’m willing to try different types of food.

Sometimes I buy frozen foods, they are convenient to prepare.

So Steve likes to cook different kinds of frozen food, frozen vegetables, frozen pizza, frozen breakfast burritos.

Umm, so, it all that tends how you look at food in general o rin particular.

Other than food, we can add an s at the end of many uncountable nouns to indicate different types of something like different candies, chocolates, wines, cheeses all words that are normally uncountable.

We should know however that “foods” is not commonly used in everyday speech. We more often say different kinds of food, rather than different foods. If you went to a party, and there were different types of food from different countries, instead of saying, there were Mexican, Chinese and Italian foods, you might want to use more common dishes. For example, there were Mexican, Chinese and Italian dishes at the party.

Language Lab
caution n.
care taken to avoid danger or risk : a careful attitude or way of behaving
- The roads are icy and slippery. Drive with caution!
a warning telling someone to be careful
- The police officer only gave the driver a caution because it was his first offense.
caution v.
to warn or tell (someone) about a possible danger, problem, etc.
- We were caution by the neighbor for being too loud.

texture n.
the way that something feels when you touch it
- The moisturizer has a silky texture which makes it easier to apply.
- The walls of the Mexican restaurant have a rough texture.
- I like the creamy texture of the corn soup.

toxic adj.
/ˈtɑːksɪk/
containing poisonous substances : poisonous
- The area surrounding the factory was contaminated with toxic waste.
- Toxic chemicals were found in the fish in the coastal area.

ferment v.
/fɚˈmɛnt/
to go through a chemical change that results in the production of alcohol
- Leave grapefruit juice to ferment for a certain amount of time, and it will turn into wine.
- Cheese ferments faster when stored at a higher temperature.

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2015-08-04 International Forgiveness Month (2)

Let it go!
There are many benefits to forgiveness. For one thing, forgiveness is good for your health. It helps reduce your stress and anxiety levels.

It can also prevent high blood pressure and depression. For another, when you develop the habit of forgiveness, your relationships are healthier. One study found that forgiveness restores positive feelings toward the one who committed the offense. These positive feelings often spread to other relationships, making them better, too.

In addition, another study found that those who practice forgiveness often live longer.

Lastly, holding a grudge always causes you more problems than the original “unforgivable”offense. When you finally let go of your anger, you will be rewarded with peace and joy.This month, with its emphasis on forgiveness, would be the perfect time to start fresh. Why not make an effort to let others know you have forgiven them? You’ll feel better and the odds are, they will, too.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: It’s vs. Its教學主題: It’s與 Its的差別
Hello, friends! What’s the number one most common English grammar mistake of all time? It’s the failure to distinguish between two words, words with the exact same pronunciation.

The two words are “it’s”and “its” one has an apostrophe, the other one does not.

Now if you’re one of the many people who has trouble keeping these two words straight, you are in good company.

That’s right. Former US president and statement, Thomas Jefferson and in his first draft of that Declaration of Independence sometimes wrote “it’s” with the apostrophe for the possessive form of “its”.

And there was good reason for that, back in the 1700s when dictionaries were still uncommon to make a word possessive one added an apostrophe s to the end of it, like in the word “children’s”.

As always though, there were exceptions, the possessive pronouns, ours and yours, for example, had no apostrophes and eventually it’s, i, t, apostrophe s lost its apostrophe, too.

Although we may still confuse “it’s” and “its”, the rules to distinguish these two words are pretty easy to remember, when you mean “it is” or “it has”, use an apostrophe.

And when using “its”as possessive, don’t.

Editor's Summary
We are talking about forgiveness.

And today, we looked at some of the benefits.

It is good for your health.

Your stress and anxiety levels will be reduced, and high blood pressure and depression can also be prevented.

Also, your relationships are healthier.

Forgiveness has been found by one study to restore positive feelings toward the one who committed the offense, and these positive feelings often spread to other relationships, too.

Another study found that those who forgive seem to live longer, and when you hold a grudge, you end up with more problems than the original unforgivable offense.

You will be rewarded with peace and joy when you finally do let it go.

So with this month’s emphasis on forgiveness, why not start now?

Make an effort to let others know that you forgive them.

The odds are that they will feel better just like you will.

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2015-08-03 International Forgiveness Month (1)

• International Forgiveness Month
• What is forgiveness?

Two special days this month put the focus on forgiveness

How easy is it for you to say to someone, "I forgive you"?

Many times, when someone hurts you, the last thing you want to do is to forgive them. And even if you know you should, forgiving someone can still be quite a challenge.

"Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive." This is how famous write C.S. Lewis once described the difficulty of forgiveness.

Yet studies have shown that forgiveness can benefit you more than the one you forgive.

What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness is a conscious decision to let go of your resentment. It doesn't mean that you have to forget what the person did to offend or hurt you. It also doesn't mean that you have to excuse the act or the person's responsibility. Instead, you choose not to remember the situation and the person with anger. This will help prevent the negative emotions from causing you greater problems.

Editor's Summary
I forgive you.

Is that easy for you to say or not?

If you’re hurt, probably not so easy.

And even when you know you should forgive, it can be a challenge to actually do so.

I like what C.S. Lewis had to say about forgiveness.

“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.”

So true.

But, did you know that studies have shown that forgiving someone benefits you more than the person  you are forgiving.Forgiveness is actually a conscious decision to let go of resentment.

You don’t have to forget what a person did, but you don’t have to excuse it either.

If you can remember the situation and the person without being angry, it will help prevent greater problems in the future which negative emotions may cause you.

Language Lab
forgiveness n. [forgive v.]
when someone forgives another person
- The thief got down on his knees in front of the store owner and begged for forgiveness.
- Forgiveness means letting go of the past and being free.

challenge n.
something that tests strength, skill, or ability, especially in a way that is interesting
- Finding a cure for this disease is a difficult challenge.
- Ryan likes to explore new things and enjoys challenges.
challenge v.
to invite someone to compete or fight against you, or to try to win something
challenge somebody to something
- My nephew challenged me to a game of chess.

conscious adj.
awake and able to understand what is happening around you
- It takes a conscious effort of both husband and wife to maintain a good relationship.
noticing or realizing something [= aware]
- The wounded passenger was still conscious when he was sent to the ER.

resentment n.
a feeling of anger because something has happened that you think is unfair
- The boy has a deep resentment towards his classmates because they bullied him.
- The workers don't dare to show their resentment because they fear losing their jobs.

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2015-08-01 - The Nihonmachi Street Fair

• The Nihonmachi Street Fair  
• The purpose of the fair 
• What to expect at the fair

This long-running fair takes place today and tomorrow

Everyone loves a good festival with delicious food, great music, and fun activities. San Francisco's Nihonmachi Street Fair, sometimes called the "melting pot" of street fairs, combines these ingredients with much more.

City officials started the event in 1973 as a way to offer opportunities to young people in Japantown. This historic region of San Francisco was beginning to lose its cultural identity. But festival leaders encouraged the area's Asian-Pacific American youth to staff, produce and organize a street fair. The goal was to help young people develop leadership and communication skills while honoring their cultural heritage.

The first year, the all-volunteer effort drew only a few participants. Today, however, the festival averages around 30,000 people! Festival participants enjoy many aspects of Asian-Pacific American culture. The festival's two stages feature music ranging from rock to jazz. Diverse cultural entertainment, including Chinese Lion dances, Hawaiian music and traditional Japanese drummers, in on display  as well. Along with Asian food, Asian-inspired crafts can be purchased. Japantown's youth, with their energy, passion and creativity, remain an important part of this successful event.

Editor's Summary
Today, we looked at the Nihonmachi Street Fair which is held in San Francisco.

This street fair is sometimes called the melting pot of street fairs because it combines delicious food, fun activities, and great music with much more.

The event was started in 1973 by city officials as a way to offer young people in Japantown opportunities.

Japantown is a historic area, but it was beginning to lose its cultural identity, so festival leaders encouraged the Asian-Pacific American youth to produce and organize a street fair, and also to provide the staff for it.

Developing leadership and communication skills and honoring their cultural heritage were the goals.

It started out with only a few people attending the first fair, but they didn't give up.

And now, the average attendance is over 3000 people.

What can a person expect?

Two stages with music that ranges from rock to jazz, diverse culture entertainment including Chinese Lion Dances, Hawaiian music, and Japanese drummers.

Crafts that are Asian inspired can be purchase right along with Asian food.

The energy, passion, and creativity of Japantown's youth still play an important part of the successful festival.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Historic vs. Historical Historic 和 Historical的差別
historic adj.
a historic place or building is very old
historical adj. 史學的
relating to the past
有時可以同時用, 例如:
historical/ historic times 古老的時期

Language Lab
melting pot n.
a place (such as a city or country) where different types of people live together and gradually create one community — usually singular
- New York City is one of the great melting pots of America.
- Singapore is a cultural melting pot of multiple races.

ingredient n.
one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc.
- The ingredients of the cake are eggs, flour, sugar, butter and yeast.
a quality or characteristic that makes something possible
- Mutual trust and passion are vital ingredients for a successful marriage.

entertainment n.
things such as films, television, performances etc that are intended to amuse or interest people:
- There's a wide variety of entertainment offered at the resort.
- The musical is great entertainment for audiences of all ages.

purchase v.
to buy something:
- Tickets for the show can be purchased online.
- We purchased the TV with our credit card.
purchase n.
something you buy, or the act of buying it:
- The product can be refunded within seven days after purchase if you're not satisfied.

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2015-08-31 The US Open

• The tournaments
• Women's singles
• Men's singles

Who will win in New York this year?

With the Australian Open, French Open and the Wimbledon Championships behinds us, the last 2015 Grand Slam event begins today. The next two weeks will be filled with thrills for tennis fans watching this year's US Open.

The tournaments 
The US Open includes tournaments for men's and women's singles and doubles as well as mixed doubles, juniors and wheelchair matches. These events all take place in the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. The center is currently making strategic changes, adding and updating stadiums.

The first year, the all-volunteer effort drew only a few participants. Today, however, the festival averages around 30,000 people! Festival participants enjoy many aspects of Asian-Pacific American culture. The festival’s two stages feature music ranging from rock to jazz. Diverse cultural entertainment, including Chinese Lion dances, Hawaiian music and traditional Japanese drummers, is on display as well. Along with Asian food, Asian-inspired crafts can be purchased Japantown’s youth, with their energy, passion and creativity, remain an important part of this successful event.

Info Cloud
grand slam 大滿貫

What exactly is a grand slam?

Well, this would depend on who you are asking?

Right. If you are asking a baseball fan, a grand slam is a home run, it would all of the bases loaded giving the header’steam for runs at once.

If you talk to a tennis fan, a grand slam is winning all for major tennis competitions. The Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

And if you talk to a golf fan, a grand slam is winning the foremost prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf.

The master tournament, the US Open, the Open Championship and the PGA Championship.

So one might hit a grand slam in a baseball game, but intennis and golf one would have to win for tournaments in a year’s time.

But did you know that the term grand slam originated not from any sporting arena, but from the cart table. In the game of bridge, a grand slam is winning all thirteen tricks of a hand as opposed to a little slam winning twelve of the thirteen tricks.

Language Lab
tournament n.
a sports competition or series of contests that involves many players or teams and that usually continues for at least several days
- The women's golf tournament was broadcasted on Fox Sports Channel.
- Our team won in the first round of the tournament.
- The duo breezed into the semi-finals of the tennis tournament.

update v.
to change (something) by including the most recent information;
to make (something) more modern
- The bank recently updated its computer system for security reasons.
to give (someone) the most recent information about something
- I'll update you on the latest development of the personnel changes.
update n.
- news update

2015-07-31 - It sticks! (2)

• What did people think of Mestral's idea?
• What did NASA think of his idea?
• What products use Velcro today?
• QOD: Mestral thought his idea might be better than what?

Many people thought de Mestral's idea was silly and laughed at him. But de Mestral thought his idea might be a better fastener than the zipper. He patented his idea in 1955 and named it "Velcor." He than started a company to make Velcor. However, it took awhile for people to see how great the fastener was.

In the 1960s, NASA began to use a lot of Velcor. They used it as a fastener on space suits. The space agency's use of the fastener led to its use in many other area of life. Soon shoe companies began to use it on children's shoes. Companies that made ski clothes also saw its usefulness. Today Velcro is widely used on everything from children's toys to blood pressure cuff.

Velcro has had some unexpected uses, too. During the first ever artificial heart surgery, Velcro was used to hold the human heart together!

Info Cloud

Teaching Topic: NASA Spinoffs 教學主題: 太空科技的副產品
NASA的科技也應用在日常生活中, 這種現象叫做 spinoff

Language Lab

fasten v. 

/ˈfæsn̩/ (t不發音)

to attach (something) or join (two things or two parts of something) especially by using a pin, nail, etc.

- Please fasten your seat belt, and put your seat in the upright position before we land.

- The fasten seat belt sign will go off when the plane has reached its designated altitude.

patent v.

/ˈpætn̩t/

to get a patent for (something);

to obtain a special document giving you the right to make or sell a new invention or product

- The scientist patented his invention and made a huge profit.

patent n.

an official document that gives a person or company the right to be the only one that makes or sells a product for a certain period of time

- The company applied for a patent for its new product.

agency n.
an organization or department, especially within a government, that does a specific job:
- Josh used to work for the Central Intelligence Agency.
a business that provides a particular service for people or organizations
- I booked my flight through a travel agency.
agent n.
a person or company that represents another person or company, especially in business:
- a real estate agent

artificial adj.

/ˌɑɚtəˈfɪʃl̟/
not happening or existing naturally : created or caused by people
- The artificial arm moves just like a real arm.
- There's an artificial lake at the resort.
not natural or real : made, produced, or done to seem like something natural
- I can't stand the taste of artificial sweetener.

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2015-07-30 It Sticks! (1)

• Where did the inspiration for Velcro come from?
• QOD: How long did George de Mestral work on his idea before he found an answer?

One invention that changed the world

Throughout history people have invented amazing things. Some inventions, like the car, changed people's lives in big ways. Other inventions, like the shopping cart, just made life more convenient. Where does the inspiration come from for these inventions? It can come from anywhere, but the inspiration for Velcro came from nature.

In 1941, George de Mestral was taking a nature hike in Switzerland one day. He noticed many burs sticking to his pants. When he got home, he looked at one of the burs under his microscope. He saw the bur's tiny hooks holding tight to the tiny loops of cloth of his pants. "Could this idea be useful?" he wondered. He worked on it for almost eight years before he found an answer. He made two strips of material. One had thousands of tiny hooks on it; the other was covered with thousands of tiny loops. The two strips could stick tightly to each other.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Biomimicry 仿生學
字首 bio表示生命, mimicry 模仿
Biomimicry 利用自然界的現象改善人類生活的做法

Language Lab
inspiration n.
something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone
- Many writers find inspiration in the people and things around them.
inspire v.
to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create
- Joanne was inspired by her drama teacher and became an actress.

Velcro n.
/ˈvɛlˌkroʊ/
used for a nylon fabric that can be fastened to itself
- The bag has a Velcro opening and an inside zipper pocket.
- Many kids don't know how to tie shoelaces because they always wear shoes with Velcro straps.

hook n.
a curved or bent tool for catching, holding, or pulling something
- Greg always hangs his jacket on the hook by his office door.
- These curtain hooks were made of brass.
hook v.
to connect or attach (something) with a hook
- Ricky hooked his trailer to his truck.

microscope n.
a device used for producing a much larger view of very small objects so that they can be seen clearly
- Mike loves to look at insect samples under the microscope.
- When you're using a microscope, make sure you adjust the focus correctly.

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Things to See and Do in Toronto (2)

The CN Tower 
Most will agree that if you only do one thing in Toronto, you must visit the CN Tower. This iconic structure, built the 1970s, looks like a giant doctor's needle and is the highest freestanding building in the world. Glass elevators wait to take you 553 meters to the top where you are rewarded with terrific views!

St. Lawrence Market 
Sights and smells delight your senses as you stroll through Toronto's famous St. Lawrence Market. In 1803, at the market's outset, farmers brought in fresh vegetables on Saturdays, but today the popular landmark permanently houses over 120 vendors. In 2012, National geographic named St. Lawrence Market the world's best food market.

Casa Loma 
Casa Loma, Toronto's only castle is also one of the city's greatest historical monuments. In 1911, 300 men began construction on the mansion and finished it three years later at a cost of over US$3 million. Walking into the magnificent home is like stepping back into an era of European splendor. The 98-room castle has towers, tunnels, secret passages, balconies, and a five-acre garden, all fit for a king or queen.

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Things to See and Do in Toronto (1)

Visit the city that is home to the world

Toronto bears the distinction of being the capital of Ontario, Canada, yet people sometimes refer to it as "New York City run by the Swiss." The city boasts world-class restaurants, shopping and theaters in the midst of clean sidewalks and friendly people. Because Toronto is situated on the banks of Lake Ontario, the city has always been an important port town. Early on, it was a French trading post that was later taken over by the British and named "York" in 1793.

From 1825 to 1851, the town grew from 720 people to 30,775, changing its status from a trading post to an important administrative and commercial center. In 1834, it officially became a municipality and received a new name - "Toronto."

Today Ontario's capital is the fourth largest city in North America and is home to more than 6 million people. Many new arrivals are foreign immigrants, bringing more than 140 languages to the region, and making Toronto the most multiculturally diverse city on earth. The food, music and customs of almost every nation can be found in the capital city.

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Cricket (2)

The Ashes 
Cricket is known to cause confusion for new spectators and rules can be discussed extensively. Test cricket, the sport's full professional form, also lasts up to five six-hour days! Still, the details and length of the sport don't keep away scores of fans. You won't find truer followers (or stronger rivals) than in England and Australia. The Ashes, a series of five Test cricket matches played between England and Australia, are played every two years.

The death of English cricket 
In 1882, Australia beat England at cricket for the first time on home soil. In response to the defeat, a newspaper reported the death of English cricket. It read, "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia." Ivo Bligh, captain of England's cricket team, vowed to bring back the Ashes from Australia the next season. A tiny urn, perhaps containing the ashes of a wicket piece, was given to him in Australia. English cricket may have died, but it rose from the Ashes and continues to this day.

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Cricket (1)

The most popular sport you probably know nothing about

Soccer (or football) can easily claim the greatest number of fans of any sport. But you might be surprised to find out what game is often named the runner-up - cricket.

A little like baseball ...
Both baseball and cricket share some feathers - a ball and a bat, throwers and runners. In cricket, a bowler throws a ball to the striker, like a batter, on the other team. Numerous players wait in the oval field to catch balls hit by the striker, hoping to manage an out. The similarities between the two sports mostly end there.

But not much
While baseball is played on a diamond with four bases, cricket has a 20.1 -meter pitch with two ends. One batsman stands on each end with the bowler throwing from behind one of them. If the striker hits the ball well, the batsmen rack up runs by running to trade places. Then they perform this wsitch again and again before the bowler's team breaks a wicket. Wickets, structures at either end of the pitch, come apart when hit correctly.

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Save Money by Saving Water

A few simple ways to reduce your water bill

Your water bill came in the mail, and it is high! What can you do to lower it?

The power of showers
Take a shower, not a bath. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that 113.6 liters of water fill up half a bathtub. The average shower uses about 8 liters per minute. So shower in five minutes and save!
Stop leaks 
Check your faucets and your toilet for leaks. Even a small faucet leak can waste 700 to 950 liters of water every month! Add a few drops of food coloring to your toilet tank, and wait 15 minutes. If the food coloring appears in the bowl before you flush, you have a leak.

Don’t let water run
Instead of running the water when washing your face, fill the sink with water. When you’re washing dishes, fill a bowl with soapy water. After washing the dishes in the bowl, rinse them with running water. Also wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl.When it comes to saving water, small changes can have a big impact.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Bath vs. Shower

Most of us take either a bath or shower every day. The difference, of course, is that a bath is taken by soaking yourself in the bathtub and a shower is taken by standing under a nozzle with water spring down on you.

Notice Steve just said take a bath and take a shower, that’s because he is American. The British, on the other hand, tend to say have a bath, and have a shower.

And when we wash ourselves by taking a bath, we are bathing, which is spelled b-a-t-h-i-n-g.

Right, not [ bˈæθ ing]. Bathing comes from the verb, to bathe, b-a-t-h-e.

Okay, now when talking about swimming, people used to say that they’re going bathing, hence the term “bathing suits”.

Right, a bathing suit is a swimsuit, nowadays however, bathing is seldom used to refer to swimming. It is more common to say, swim, go for a swim, have a swim or go swimming.

Let’s go for a quick swim in the pool. Okay, when bathing is mentioned nowadays, it usually refers to sunbathing, which is sitting or lying out in the sun in order to get a suntan. For example, I might say, “It’s so nice out. I think outgo sunbathing in the park.”

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Light Up the Sky (2)

European rulers loved fireworks. They often used them to entertain their people and show their wealth and power. French kings had fantastic displays at their palaces. Czar Peter the Great of Russian used them when his son was born. The czar arranged a 5-hour display to celebrate the boy’sbirth! Before the 1830s, fireworks weren’t very colorful. They produced loud booms, orange flashes or white sparks. Then the Italians began to add traces of metals and other things to the fireworks. The result was colorful sparks and bright bursts now seen in modern firework shows.

Today, fireworks remain extremely popular for all kind of celebrations. Big displays are set up professionals. Their rockets carrying the shells of the fireworks can reach speeds of 240 kilometers per hour. They can fly as high as 200 meters before exploding. China makes and exports more fireworks than any other country. Ninety percent of all fireworks come from there. Nothing says celebration like fireworks.

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Light Up the Sky (1)

Fireworks light up a dark sky with bursts of color

People love fireworks. Many countries celebrate their national day or major holidays with fireworks. They fill the night sky with bursts of red, blue, green and gold. Historians say fireworks began in China. Between 600 and 900 A.D., the Chinese invented gunpowder . They put it into bamboo tubes and threw them into the fire. The tubes would burst with a loud bang. Thus, the first fireworks were born. Chinese used them to scare away ghosts and celebrate special events.

By the 13th century, gunpowder had found its way to Europe. Western scientists improved it and used it in weapons. At the same time, gunpowder was used in fireworks to enhance celebrations of military victories. In medieval England, people who were good with fireworks were called "firemasters." They had assistants called green men. These assistants wore hats made of green leaves to protect their heads from sparks. Theirs was a dangerous job, and many died or were injured in accidents.

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The Art of Voice Acting (2)

The world of voice acting

As you embark on a voice acting career, remember that your new environment is one that demands patience and hard work. You might start by recording bits for commercials or the voice people hear when the subway doors are closing. With some success, avenues for film or video game animation and documentary narration might be in your future. But even professionals take both energy-filled jobs, like original animation, and jobs like dubbing, which can leave you feeling like you're trapped in a booth.

Voice acting greats

If you're seeking a fun and artistic career, voice-over might be for you, but don't expect fame to come with it. You probably don't know of Tom Kenny or Peter Cullen, but you've almost definitely heard of Kenny's Spongebob Squarepants or Cullen's Optimus Prime. Hank Azaria has managed to appear in live-action films like Godzilla (1998) and The Smurfs (2011) while also performing more than 35 voices on The Simpsons. However, voice acting careers more often take after the legendary Looney Tunes voice of Mel Blanc who worked almost exclusively in voice-over. One way or another, voice acting is work that will both exhaust and reward.

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The Art of Voice Acting (1)

Being an invisible yet audible star

Do your friends or acquaintances ever compliment your voice for being interesting and unique? Do you enjoy doing silly voices and impressions, and are you a big fan of animated films and cartoons? If your answer is yes, voice acting might be a possible career for you, but don’t expect an easy road to success.

Getting started
Achieving professional status among voice actors is just as difficult as breaking into regular acting and singing. Likewise, you need to go to similar lengths of preparation as those performers before you can expect to find work.

If you’re serious about voice acting, you probably will want to enroll in acting classes and vocal lessons. Also, theimportance of producing a quality demo reel that representsyour talent cannot be emphasized enough.

Once you're armed with some good preparation, you'll want to contact a talent agency and start booking auditions. Unfortunately, this is basically impossible unless you live in a city where the voice-over industry is strong. Once you are getting consistent work, you will likely need to invest in a home studio with industry-level equipment.

Language Lab
Teaching Topic: Levels of Relationship 教學主題: 不同的人際關係
Hello, friends! What do you call someone whom you know but is not a close friend? That person might be considered an acquaintance.

That’s right. An acquaintance is a person you know but not well enough to be considered a friend. Some half  jokingly say that an acquaintance is a person we know well enough to borrow money from but not well enough to lend money to.

That’s a good way to look at it. So the basic order of relationships might go something like this, stranger, acquaintance, friend, close friend and best friend.

And there’s even another level, Ken. The highest level of relationship is summed up in the popular term, soul mate. Soul mates are two people who are more than best friends. In addition to shared tastes and interests, they have a rare ability to connect on a very deep level emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.

So, can soul mates be people of the same sex? Sure. Soul mates can describe two people of the same sex, like sisters, for example, who are very close might use this term. But it’s more commonly used between people of the opposite sex. Finding a soul mate is a rare and precious thing.

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What Did You Say?

Be polite when asking again

Interviews, meeting or phone calls – your conversations are important. But what if you can’t understand the person? In English, it can be rude to repeatedly ask, “What?” when you don’t know what someone has said. You don’t want that person to think their pronunciation is unclear. There are many ways to politely ask someone to repeat something. Start by apologizing for not hearing what the person said. You can begin with “excuse me” or "pardon me" or "sorry." Then politely say that you did not hear or understand what was said. For instance, you could say, "I'm sorry, but I didn't quite hear you."

You could also say, “Can you please say that again?” or “Could you repeat that?” It can be frustrating when you don’t hear someone clearly. But it is always important to say calm and pleasant. And be sure to put the blame on yourself. You didn’t hear clearly or understand. That makes people feel more comfortable even when you can’t understand them well.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Enunciation vs. Pronunciation教學主題: 表示「發音」的兩個字
You might have a large English vocabulary understand all the grammar rules and even know the exceptions to the rules. But if you can’t make yourself understood when you speak, expect to hear “Why did you say a lot?”

When speaking any language, knowing how to string words together to create coherent sentences isn’t enough. You also need skill in the delivering those words.

Right. You need both good enunciation as well as good pronunciation. Enunciation is making yourself understood, while pronunciation is saying sounds correctly.

Okay, consider the word February, the name of the second month of the year. Say the word aloud, being very careful to say each syllable clearly and precisely, [ fe, bju, e, ri.]

Good, now say it again. Each syllable clear and precise, [ fe , bju, e, ri.]

Okay, we tricked you to show that it is possible to have good enunciation, but poor pronunciation.

Right, our enunciation was clear and precise both times, but our pronunciation was correct only the second time. So is it possible for the opposite to occur to have good pronunciation but poor enunciation?

I think it is. I might pronounce February correctly, but say it so softly. You can’t hear me.


Closer Look
In English, it can be rude to repeatedly ask, “What?” when you don’t know what someone has said.
It can be [adjective] to [verb] when [situation].
- It can be frustrating to walk home on a rainy day when you have to carry many things by yourself.
- It can be embarrassing to ask for someone's name when you've already met them before.

Language Lab
repeatedly adv. [repeat v.]
said, done, or happening again and again
repetitively adv.
happening again and again : repeated many times
- I repetitively explained the importance of setting the alarm system to Grandpa, but he just didn't get it.

unclear adj. = clear as mud; crystal clear = very clear
confused or uncertain about something — often + about
- There are some points of your proposal that are unclear to me.
- The motives for the crime remain unclear.

frustrating adj.
causing feelings of anger and annoyance
- Losing the game again is really frustrating for the whole team.
frustrated adj.
- Irene is frustrated because she can't find a job.

blame n.
responsibility for something that fails or is wrong
put the blame on someone
- The business owner put all the blame on his factory manager for the fire.


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A Picnic Anyone?

Enjoy a picnic outdoors

It's a beautiful summer day. The sky is blue. The birds are singing. The sun is shinning. So make some sandwiches, grab some friends and head for a park near your house. It's International Picnic Day!

History 
Some historians believe that picnics started during medieval times. After a successful hunt, villagers would celebrate with an outdoor meal. Others believe that picnics started during the Victorian era. They were an important social time when young men and women could meet.

How to celebrate 
Early picnics usually consisted of lots of food and games. Today, picnics are more simple and relaxed. In fact, the phrase "it's a picnic" means something is easy. People usually eat food like sandwiches, chips and carrot sticks. These are foods people can eat with their hands.

What makes a good spot to have a picnic? That depends on you. Enjoy the sun or the shade from a tree. Just get out and have a picnic!

Info Cloud
dessert idiom 與甜點有關的片語

If you’re looking for more English idioms to say something is easy, just remember one word, dessert.

Umm, let’s start with pie as in, “easy as pie”, and by that I mean eating pie, because making pie requires time effort and some skill. Okay, you know, there are few things easier than lifting a forkful of pumpkin pie to my mouth and eating it.

Easy as pie. Now if you like cake more than pie, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered, “a piece of cake” is one of the more familiar idioms to mean something that takes little or no effort to do.

Okay. Since we’re on the topic of the cake, let’s introduce the easy idiom, “cakewalk”.

Cakewalks started in 18 century America as a formal of public entertainment. They were kind of like dance contest, the person or couple who had the fanciest or most entertaining dance moves won a big cake as the price.

Now, on a related note, some linguists believe that the cakewalk contest is also where the idiom “take the cake” came from. This idiom means ranking first, or surpassing all others, sometimes with a negative connotation. For example, I knew Jack was arrogant, but his brother really takes the cake.

a piece of cake 很容易達成的事
- That test was a piece of cake.
cakewalk 輕而易舉
take the cake 叫他第一名(多用於負面)
Of all the bad restaurants I been to, this one takes the cake.
as easy as pie 很輕鬆(像吃派一樣)

Closer Look 
After a successful hunt, villagers would celebrate with an outdoor meal.
After a successful [event], [somebody] would celebrate with [something]. 
- After a successful business trip, the salesman would celebrate with a trip to the beach with his family.
- After a successful competition, the team would celebrate with a pizza party.

Language Lab
outdoors adv. 在戶外, 在野外;
- The wedding was held outdoors.
- Freddy works outdoors, so he's tanned.
outdoors  n. 戶外
- Tim loves to enjoy the great outdoors with his family.

historian n. 歷史學家, 史學工作者
- Many historians are fascinated by ancient Chinese history.
- Charlie is a historian who specializes in Greek history.

celebrate v. 慶祝, 慶賀
- Paul and Vivian celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last Sunday.
celebration n. 慶祝
- The company's 50th anniversary celebration lasted for a whole week.

shade n. 陰涼處, 遮陰, 色彩的濃淡或深淺
- The big maple tree in the backyard provides welcome shade.
- Laura wants a lighter shade of blue for her bedroom wall.

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Summer Job or Summer Fun? (2)

• How do you stand on your own two feet?
• What does Mike think about grades?

Are idle summers bad for teenagers?

Sometimes previous work experience is helpful. But if it's not in a related field, it's probably not that advantageous.

OK, well what about the extra money she could earn? Both Janet and Michelle love to shop.

True, but I don't mind giving Michelle spending money. She is responsible with her weekly allowance.

Handling money from her parents is good, but what about managing her own money? Having a paycheck is a great way to get her acquainted with a budget.

She's just a teenager. She has plenty of time to learn those kinds of skills.

But by learning them now, she'll be more equipped to stand on her own two feet.

What if she goes to a college far away?

Then we'll discuss finances and budgets before she leaves.

Michelle is smart.

You know, a lot of colleges are interested in students who know how to use their time wisely -- like juggling a summer job with other activities.

I think her good grades and school activities will be more than enough for her to get into a good university.

If you say so. But I'm glad Janet plans to get a summer job.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Shop Till You Drop 教學主題: 血拼到掛

Hello, friends! If you like to shop, and I mean really like to shop, here is a nice idiom you can learn, “shop till you drop”.

“Shop till you drop” means to buy things until you drop to the ground from the exhaustion and to reach such an end one would have to be shopping for a very long time.

And that’s something people who walked have shocked, don’t mind doing. Many of my female friends love to shop and “shop till you drop” has become a slogan, almost of battle cry for them.

You might see this phrase on their t-shirt or bumper sticker.

So how do we use this phrase? Here’s an example, if you go to London with Jury, be sure to take comfortable shoes. She likes to shop till she drops.

I’m not sure I would like to go shopping with Jury. When I think of shopping, I think of finding and buying only what I need in the shortest possible time.

Hey, I’m with you there. Okay, what if you don’t have any money? Well, you can still shop, window shop.

Right. Window shopping means looking at things in shop windows without actually purchasing anything. Serra already spent her weekly allowance, so she could only go window shopping.

Closer Look
If you say so. But I’m glad Janet has a summer job.
If you say so, but…
- If you say so, but I think there are other movies that are better.
- If you say so, but I feel it's not too bad.

Language Lab
advantageous adj.
/ˌædˌvænˈteɪʤəs/
helpful or favorable : giving an advantage to someone
- The new tax policy is advantageous to business owners.
- The business agreement is advantageous for both parties.

allowance n.  [allow v.]
/əˈlawəns/
- Mark now gets an allowance from his parents because he's too busy studying to work.
- Lawrence's company gives generous travel allowances, so he doesn't mind going on business trips.

equip v. equips; equipped; equipping
to provide (something) with a particular feature or ability
- The course aims to equip students with communication skills.
- Ruth's MBA equipped her for a higher management position.

stand on one's own two feet
to support yourself without help from other people
- You're already 25, so it's time for you to stand on your own two feet.
- Stanley learned how to stand on his own two feet very early in life because he was raised by a single mom.

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