Tour Guide or Travel Guide
Conversation B
Melinda: I would prefer to plan our own itinerary - it gives us more freedom.
Jean: Right - freedom to get lost.
Melinda: Come on, Jean. We can see what we really want to see and not be rushed.
Jean: It would be nice to go at our own pace; however, we'll have to do some research. We have to know how to get to every destination.
Melinda: The Internet makes planning a piece of cake. Finding detailed maps and transportation shouldn't be a big deal.
Jean: But what if we get lost, how will we ask for directions? Neither of us speaks Japanese.
Melinda: Sometimes finding the way is part of the adventure!
Jean: It might be more complicated - and less fun - than you think.
Melinda: Trust me, traveling by ourselves is worth it. We can get a more intimate experience of the culture.
Jean: How?
Melinda: Well, we can eat at hole-in-the-wall restaurants and stay at hostels!
Jean: That might be fun. But have you thought about our safety?
Melinda: We would be careful. If we travel by ourselves, we'll stay together - especially at night.
Jean: Well, Melinda, let's see what kind of tour you can plan.
piece of cake 極其簡單/輕而易舉的事
eg: A: Can you help me with my history report? B: Sure! piece of caker!
eg: The interview was a piece of cake. I'm sure I'll get the job.
complicated adj. 複雜的/難懂的
eg: The equation is too complicated for a junior-high school student to understand.
eg: You have to go through a complicated procedure to access the system.
hole-in-the-wall 很小的地方(多半是指店鋪或是餐廳)
eg: This sushi bar is just a hole-in-the-wall, but it's quite famous in Tokyo.
eg: The couple's first shop was a real hole-in-the-wall, but now they own a chain store.
hostel n. 旅舍(尤其指青年旅舍)
//== Chat room ==//
i開頭的單字發音為"i"
itinerary 旅遊的行程
idea
isolate
i開頭的單字發音為短音的i
impossible
imagine
illustrate
immediate
illegal
irregular
2010年2月26日 星期五
2010年2月25日 星期四
20100225 Tour Guide or Travel Guide (1)
Tour Guide or Travel Guide?
How do you like to travel?
Some people enjoy having their trips planned and led by a tour guide. Others like the freedom of deciding their own itinerary - perhaps with the help of books called travel guides. Which guide makes a better travel compainion? Jean and Melinda are planning a trip to Japan. Let's see what they think.
Conversation A
Jean: Hey, Melinda, look at this advertisement for a tour to Japan. It includes everything - flight, accommodations, all meals, transportation, and it's fully escorted by a tour guide.
Melinda: That sounds good, but...
Jean: But what?!
Melinda: It looks like a great deal. I don't know, Jean. I'm not too keen on traveling with a group.
Jean: Why not?
Melinda: On every tour I've been on, I have been herded on and off a bus. It's always the same routine: Stop at a tourist sight, get off the bus, take pictures, get back on...
Jean: Melinda, you're exaggerating! You do more than take pictures. You also learn about the local history from the tour guide.
Melinda: But I also get annoyed when we stop at a lot of places with souvenir shops. In my mind, those places are tourist traps.
Jean: But in my opinion, those places are great! I get to see and buy local goods.
companion n. 同伴/伴侶
=> a partner
eg: My dog, Rocky, is my favorite jogging companion.
eg: Sandy is a wonderful shopping companion. She always gives good advice on what to buy.
companionship n. 陪伴
I really enjoy your companionship.
=> 我很高興你陪我。
accommodation n. 住處/膳宿
=> the place where you would live, work or stay
=> a hotel
escort v. 護送/陪同
eg: My brother will escort me to the train station.
=> 我哥哥會陪我到火車站。
eg: The movie star was escorted by security guards as she left the hotel.
=> 這個影星離開飯店是由保鏢護送著。
The boss was escorted by his executives while touring the factory.
=> 老板巡視工廠時有行事主管陪同著。
herd n. 一群(動物)
=> a group of wild animals, like elephants zebras, whales and seals
eg: a herd of elephants
eg: a herd of zebras
eg: a herd of whales
eg: a herd of seals
herd v. 成群移動/成群的趕
=> 這個動詞常用在動物
eg: The cattle were herded into the barn by the shepherd.
=> 牧羊人把羊群趕進了農舍。
eg: The participants of the conference complained that they were herded from one hall to another.
=> 參加研習會的人抱怨他們從一個廳被趕到另一個廳。
itinerary n. 旅行計劃
=> a plan of trip
eg: Robin carefully planned his itinerary before he traveled to Malaysia.
eg: The travel agent planed our itinerary and arragne our transportation and hotel reservation.
exaggerate v. 誇張/言過其實
eg: Kimmy often exaggerates her stories so that people think she is more interesting.
eg: The side-effect of the treatment has been greatly exaggerated.
eg: I'm not exaggerating; tonight's dessert is the best I've ever had!
souvenir n. 紀念品
eg: She spent a lot of money buying souvenirs.
同義字
souvenir
keepsake
memento
relic
remembrance
tourist trap 敲遊客竹槓的地方
goods n. 商品/貨物
=> things are for sale
//== Grammar on the Go ==//
I'm not too keen on traveling with a group.
=> I'm not too enthusiastic about traveling with a group.
keen adj. 熱心的/熱衷的
=> enthusiastic
=> used in informal conversation
eg: My father wants to take the whole family on a trip, but my mother is not very keen on the idea.
eg: My manager has been keen about the project ever since he saw my proposal.
//== Chat room ==//
tour guide 導遊
=> a person who lead a trip
travel guide 旅遊書
=> a book has the information about travelling
go on a tour 有專員介紹的旅遊
= take a tour
eg: go on a tour of the art museum
go on tour 巡迴演出
How do you like to travel?
Some people enjoy having their trips planned and led by a tour guide. Others like the freedom of deciding their own itinerary - perhaps with the help of books called travel guides. Which guide makes a better travel compainion? Jean and Melinda are planning a trip to Japan. Let's see what they think.
Conversation A
Jean: Hey, Melinda, look at this advertisement for a tour to Japan. It includes everything - flight, accommodations, all meals, transportation, and it's fully escorted by a tour guide.
Melinda: That sounds good, but...
Jean: But what?!
Melinda: It looks like a great deal. I don't know, Jean. I'm not too keen on traveling with a group.
Jean: Why not?
Melinda: On every tour I've been on, I have been herded on and off a bus. It's always the same routine: Stop at a tourist sight, get off the bus, take pictures, get back on...
Jean: Melinda, you're exaggerating! You do more than take pictures. You also learn about the local history from the tour guide.
Melinda: But I also get annoyed when we stop at a lot of places with souvenir shops. In my mind, those places are tourist traps.
Jean: But in my opinion, those places are great! I get to see and buy local goods.
companion n. 同伴/伴侶
=> a partner
eg: My dog, Rocky, is my favorite jogging companion.
eg: Sandy is a wonderful shopping companion. She always gives good advice on what to buy.
companionship n. 陪伴
I really enjoy your companionship.
=> 我很高興你陪我。
accommodation n. 住處/膳宿
=> the place where you would live, work or stay
=> a hotel
escort v. 護送/陪同
eg: My brother will escort me to the train station.
=> 我哥哥會陪我到火車站。
eg: The movie star was escorted by security guards as she left the hotel.
=> 這個影星離開飯店是由保鏢護送著。
The boss was escorted by his executives while touring the factory.
=> 老板巡視工廠時有行事主管陪同著。
herd n. 一群(動物)
=> a group of wild animals, like elephants zebras, whales and seals
eg: a herd of elephants
eg: a herd of zebras
eg: a herd of whales
eg: a herd of seals
herd v. 成群移動/成群的趕
=> 這個動詞常用在動物
eg: The cattle were herded into the barn by the shepherd.
=> 牧羊人把羊群趕進了農舍。
eg: The participants of the conference complained that they were herded from one hall to another.
=> 參加研習會的人抱怨他們從一個廳被趕到另一個廳。
itinerary n. 旅行計劃
=> a plan of trip
eg: Robin carefully planned his itinerary before he traveled to Malaysia.
eg: The travel agent planed our itinerary and arragne our transportation and hotel reservation.
exaggerate v. 誇張/言過其實
eg: Kimmy often exaggerates her stories so that people think she is more interesting.
eg: The side-effect of the treatment has been greatly exaggerated.
eg: I'm not exaggerating; tonight's dessert is the best I've ever had!
souvenir n. 紀念品
eg: She spent a lot of money buying souvenirs.
同義字
souvenir
keepsake
memento
relic
remembrance
tourist trap 敲遊客竹槓的地方
goods n. 商品/貨物
=> things are for sale
//== Grammar on the Go ==//
I'm not too keen on traveling with a group.
=> I'm not too enthusiastic about traveling with a group.
keen adj. 熱心的/熱衷的
=> enthusiastic
=> used in informal conversation
eg: My father wants to take the whole family on a trip, but my mother is not very keen on the idea.
eg: My manager has been keen about the project ever since he saw my proposal.
//== Chat room ==//
tour guide 導遊
=> a person who lead a trip
travel guide 旅遊書
=> a book has the information about travelling
go on a tour 有專員介紹的旅遊
= take a tour
eg: go on a tour of the art museum
go on tour 巡迴演出
2010年2月24日 星期三
20100224 Fugees Family (1)
Fugees Family
Healing lives with soccer
Members of the Fugees Family come to America from 25 different countries. They are Asian, African and Eastern European - and the family they form is anything but traditional.
Fugees are child refugees who ran away from war in their homelands. When they were relocated to Clarkston, Georgia, these young refugee boys had very little hope. But that all changed the day a woman named Luma Mufleh came to town. Worried that these boys might slip through the cracks, she started a soccer team for them.
She believed soccer could bring hope and healing, provide motivation, and challenge them to succeed. Luma became their coach, and the Fugees Family was born. Before they could play soccer though, the boys had to sign a contract. The agreement includes an English-only policy and attending after-school tutoring twice a week. Since Luma got the ball rolling in 2004, the family has grown. Today 86 refugees play on four different Fugees teams.
refugee v. 難民
=> a person who move to another country or another place for safety
homeland n. 祖國/故國/家鄉
=> a place where a person was born
=> a place where a person grew up
crack n. 裂縫
slip through the cracks 缺乏關注或照料
=> become forgotten or disappear from people's attention
eg: Check your answers before turning in your test to make sure nothing slip through the cracks.
motivation n. 動機
=> the reason for doing something
eg: I need motivation to get good grades in school.
totor v.
= teach
tutoring n. 課後輔導/家教
eg: Charles needs private tutoring to catch up with his classmates.
eg: Sam does voluntary tutoring at the community center to help disadvantaged kids.
get the ball rolling 開始執行某事
eg: Let's not wait for those who are late. Let's get the ball rolling and start our meeting.
eg: We've been trying to get the ball rolling on establishing our own library.
relocate
=> move to a new place
//== Chat room ==//
anything but
= definitely not
= not at all
anything but traditional
= not traditional
=> 這裡的but為except意思
eg: This book is anything but good.
eg: I would eat anywhere but at that restaurant.
anything but something
anyone but someone
//== Grammar on the Go ==//
Luma became their coach, and the Fugees Family was born.
=> Luma became their coach, and the Fugees Family was started.
born
=> to begin or to start
eg: When the young singer won her first international award, a star was born.
eg: With the coming of this new invention, a new trend was born.
born adj. 出生的/誕生的
eg: The Johnston's baby boy was born last Monday.
Healing lives with soccer
Members of the Fugees Family come to America from 25 different countries. They are Asian, African and Eastern European - and the family they form is anything but traditional.
Fugees are child refugees who ran away from war in their homelands. When they were relocated to Clarkston, Georgia, these young refugee boys had very little hope. But that all changed the day a woman named Luma Mufleh came to town. Worried that these boys might slip through the cracks, she started a soccer team for them.
She believed soccer could bring hope and healing, provide motivation, and challenge them to succeed. Luma became their coach, and the Fugees Family was born. Before they could play soccer though, the boys had to sign a contract. The agreement includes an English-only policy and attending after-school tutoring twice a week. Since Luma got the ball rolling in 2004, the family has grown. Today 86 refugees play on four different Fugees teams.
refugee v. 難民
=> a person who move to another country or another place for safety
homeland n. 祖國/故國/家鄉
=> a place where a person was born
=> a place where a person grew up
crack n. 裂縫
slip through the cracks 缺乏關注或照料
=> become forgotten or disappear from people's attention
eg: Check your answers before turning in your test to make sure nothing slip through the cracks.
motivation n. 動機
=> the reason for doing something
eg: I need motivation to get good grades in school.
totor v.
= teach
tutoring n. 課後輔導/家教
eg: Charles needs private tutoring to catch up with his classmates.
eg: Sam does voluntary tutoring at the community center to help disadvantaged kids.
get the ball rolling 開始執行某事
eg: Let's not wait for those who are late. Let's get the ball rolling and start our meeting.
eg: We've been trying to get the ball rolling on establishing our own library.
relocate
=> move to a new place
//== Chat room ==//
anything but
= definitely not
= not at all
anything but traditional
= not traditional
=> 這裡的but為except意思
eg: This book is anything but good.
eg: I would eat anywhere but at that restaurant.
anything but something
anyone but someone
//== Grammar on the Go ==//
Luma became their coach, and the Fugees Family was born.
=> Luma became their coach, and the Fugees Family was started.
born
=> to begin or to start
eg: When the young singer won her first international award, a star was born.
eg: With the coming of this new invention, a new trend was born.
born adj. 出生的/誕生的
eg: The Johnston's baby boy was born last Monday.
2010年2月23日 星期二
20100223 The Breathtaking Beauty of Huangshan (2)
The Breathtaking Beauty of Huangshan
To reach the summit, you can choose to climb the Eastern or Western Steps. The former is easier but quite crowded with tourists as well as vendors selling water, snacks and souvenirs. Those who climb the Western Steps experience a more rugged climb. If you prefer to ride, you can take one of the three cable car lines to the summit. One more alternative exists for reaching the peaks. A person can be carried up the mountain in a sedan chair. But the speed at which the two men move and the steep trails make this an option only for the truly adventurous.
Along any path, you'll encounter rocks, trees and scenic outlooks, like "Magpie in a Plum Tree" or "Monkey Transfixed by the Sea," named for whatever they resemble. Near the Jade Screen Pavilion stands a must-see: the Welcoming Pine, or Yingke (迎客) Song. The ancient tree's branches stretch out in welcome. Another must for visitors is watching the sunrise from one of the peaks: the view overlooking Beihai (北海) is simply stunning. Regardless of how you reach the top or how much unspoiled, natural beauty you see, visiting Huangshan will be the high point of your China visit.
transfix v. 把(某人)嚇呆/使(某人)怔住不動
=> something grabs your attention so you can only concentrate on that thing
eg: The people were transfixed at the sight of the accident.
eg: The deer were transfixed by our bright headlights.
unspoiled adj. 未受破壞的
eg: The unspoiled beauty of this beach should be preserved.
eg: The small, unspoiled village is located deep in the mountains.
alter- 其他
alternative n. 選擇/可供選擇的人事物
eg: If you don't want to eat at the college cafeteria, there are many alternatives.
=> 如果您不想在大學的自助餐廳吃，還有許多其他的選擇。
eg: It seems that I don't have any alternative but to listen to you.
rugged adj. 高低不平的/粗糙的
=> harsh/difficult
sedan chair n. 轎子
=> wooden chair you sit in and somebody carry you in the chair
magpie n. 喜鵲
=> very large bird
branch n. 樹枝
//== Chat room ==//
scenic outlook 可以眺望到景色有視野的地方
=> 通常一個outlook可以讓你看到美麗的視野，
=> 這種地方也可以稱作a lookout point
=> 或是 a lookout
lookout n. 瞭望台
look out 小心/注意
eg: 如果在過馬路時看到一台汽車衝過來，警告身邊的人說Look out!
look out for something 搜尋/尋找...
eg: Can you look out for my wallet?
//== Grammar on the Go ==//
Another must for visitors is watching the sunrise from one of the peaks.
=> Watching the sunrise from one of the peaks is a necessity for visitors.
must n. 必須做的事/不可少的事物
=> used in casual or informal situations or most in spoken situations
eg: a necessity
eg: A proper education is a must for every child.
eg: Having a personal set of paint brushes is a must for every student enrolled in this class.
must 必須
eg: You must do your homework
To reach the summit, you can choose to climb the Eastern or Western Steps. The former is easier but quite crowded with tourists as well as vendors selling water, snacks and souvenirs. Those who climb the Western Steps experience a more rugged climb. If you prefer to ride, you can take one of the three cable car lines to the summit. One more alternative exists for reaching the peaks. A person can be carried up the mountain in a sedan chair. But the speed at which the two men move and the steep trails make this an option only for the truly adventurous.
Along any path, you'll encounter rocks, trees and scenic outlooks, like "Magpie in a Plum Tree" or "Monkey Transfixed by the Sea," named for whatever they resemble. Near the Jade Screen Pavilion stands a must-see: the Welcoming Pine, or Yingke (迎客) Song. The ancient tree's branches stretch out in welcome. Another must for visitors is watching the sunrise from one of the peaks: the view overlooking Beihai (北海) is simply stunning. Regardless of how you reach the top or how much unspoiled, natural beauty you see, visiting Huangshan will be the high point of your China visit.
transfix v. 把(某人)嚇呆/使(某人)怔住不動
=> something grabs your attention so you can only concentrate on that thing
eg: The people were transfixed at the sight of the accident.
eg: The deer were transfixed by our bright headlights.
unspoiled adj. 未受破壞的
eg: The unspoiled beauty of this beach should be preserved.
eg: The small, unspoiled village is located deep in the mountains.
alter- 其他
alternative n. 選擇/可供選擇的人事物
eg: If you don't want to eat at the college cafeteria, there are many alternatives.
=> 如果您不想在大學的自助餐廳吃，還有許多其他的選擇。
eg: It seems that I don't have any alternative but to listen to you.
rugged adj. 高低不平的/粗糙的
=> harsh/difficult
sedan chair n. 轎子
=> wooden chair you sit in and somebody carry you in the chair
magpie n. 喜鵲
=> very large bird
branch n. 樹枝
//== Chat room ==//
scenic outlook 可以眺望到景色有視野的地方
=> 通常一個outlook可以讓你看到美麗的視野，
=> 這種地方也可以稱作a lookout point
=> 或是 a lookout
lookout n. 瞭望台
look out 小心/注意
eg: 如果在過馬路時看到一台汽車衝過來，警告身邊的人說Look out!
look out for something 搜尋/尋找...
eg: Can you look out for my wallet?
//== Grammar on the Go ==//
Another must for visitors is watching the sunrise from one of the peaks.
=> Watching the sunrise from one of the peaks is a necessity for visitors.
must n. 必須做的事/不可少的事物
=> used in casual or informal situations or most in spoken situations
eg: a necessity
eg: A proper education is a must for every child.
eg: Having a personal set of paint brushes is a must for every student enrolled in this class.
must 必須
eg: You must do your homework
2010年2月22日 星期一
20100222 The Breathtaking Beauty of Huangshan (1)
The Breathtaking Beauty of Huangshan
The famous mountain area has attracted travelers and inspired poets and artists for centuries
Famed 8th century poet Li Bai (李白) wrote: Thousands of feet high towers the Yellow Mountains With its thirty-two magnificent peaks, Blooming like golden lotus flowers Amidst red crags and rock columns. Li Bai was the first to use the name Huangshan (黃山)when capturing the mountain range's beauty with words. Over the following centuries, from the Tang Dynasty through the Qing Dynasty, more than 20,000 poems were written attempting to capture Huangshan's exquisite loveliness. Many describe it as "the loveliest mountain of China." For centuries, the steep slopes and magnificent scenery have lured travelers.
Located in southern Anhui (安徽) province, Mount Huangshan encompasses an area of 150 sq. km. More than 70 peaks rise 1,000 m into the sky. Huangshan has more than 400 famous scenic attractions of which 140 have been developed and opened to tourists.
Huangshan was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1990 because of its unique landforms and extraordinary natural beauty. To fully appreciate that beauty and
see the mountain area's famous features, you must reach the summit, which is actually a number of peaks. A trail called Peak Circuit runs among them.
crag n. 懸崖/峭壁
eg: The photographer loves to shoot crags in Scotland.
cragged adj. 峭壁多的/崎嶇的
eg: The beautiful scenery of the cragged coastline captured my eyes.
exquisite adj. 精美的/精緻的/製作精良的
eg: The exquisite wedding gown was handmade in Paris.
eg: exquisite replica 精緻的贗品
exquisite adj. 敏銳的
eg: The editor is famous for her exquisite taste in fashion.
lure v. 引誘/誘惑
eg: The prey(獵物) was lured into a trap set by the hunter.
eg: Money lured him away from his morals and he betrayed his boss.
lure v. 吸引
eg: Good benefits and a cash bonus should lure new graduates to accept a job here.
UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 聯合國教育科學暨文化組織
circuit v. 環行/繞行
//== Chat room ==//
peak 山頂(也可當作整座山峰)
=> refer to the highest point and refer to the mountain itself
eg: Huangshan has many beautiful peaks to climb.
eg: climb a peak 爬一座山峰
summit
=> only refer to the highest point not mountain itself
eg: We have reached the summit.
eg: I am going to climb this summit. (X)(不能這樣說)
=> 只能說get to the summit or reach the summit
mountaintop 山頂
apex, summit, peak 頂端/尖端/最高峰
climb a peak 爬一座山峰
reach a summit 抵達山頂
mountain range 山脈
The famous mountain area has attracted travelers and inspired poets and artists for centuries
Famed 8th century poet Li Bai (李白) wrote: Thousands of feet high towers the Yellow Mountains With its thirty-two magnificent peaks, Blooming like golden lotus flowers Amidst red crags and rock columns. Li Bai was the first to use the name Huangshan (黃山)when capturing the mountain range's beauty with words. Over the following centuries, from the Tang Dynasty through the Qing Dynasty, more than 20,000 poems were written attempting to capture Huangshan's exquisite loveliness. Many describe it as "the loveliest mountain of China." For centuries, the steep slopes and magnificent scenery have lured travelers.
Located in southern Anhui (安徽) province, Mount Huangshan encompasses an area of 150 sq. km. More than 70 peaks rise 1,000 m into the sky. Huangshan has more than 400 famous scenic attractions of which 140 have been developed and opened to tourists.
Huangshan was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1990 because of its unique landforms and extraordinary natural beauty. To fully appreciate that beauty and
see the mountain area's famous features, you must reach the summit, which is actually a number of peaks. A trail called Peak Circuit runs among them.
crag n. 懸崖/峭壁
eg: The photographer loves to shoot crags in Scotland.
cragged adj. 峭壁多的/崎嶇的
eg: The beautiful scenery of the cragged coastline captured my eyes.
exquisite adj. 精美的/精緻的/製作精良的
eg: The exquisite wedding gown was handmade in Paris.
eg: exquisite replica 精緻的贗品
exquisite adj. 敏銳的
eg: The editor is famous for her exquisite taste in fashion.
lure v. 引誘/誘惑
eg: The prey(獵物) was lured into a trap set by the hunter.
eg: Money lured him away from his morals and he betrayed his boss.
lure v. 吸引
eg: Good benefits and a cash bonus should lure new graduates to accept a job here.
UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 聯合國教育科學暨文化組織
circuit v. 環行/繞行
//== Chat room ==//
peak 山頂(也可當作整座山峰)
=> refer to the highest point and refer to the mountain itself
eg: Huangshan has many beautiful peaks to climb.
eg: climb a peak 爬一座山峰
summit
=> only refer to the highest point not mountain itself
eg: We have reached the summit.
eg: I am going to climb this summit. (X)(不能這樣說)
=> 只能說get to the summit or reach the summit
mountaintop 山頂
apex, summit, peak 頂端/尖端/最高峰
climb a peak 爬一座山峰
reach a summit 抵達山頂
mountain range 山脈
2010年2月9日 星期二
20100208 Tsai Erh-Ping-an Artist of Life (1)
Tsai Erh-Ping-an Artist of Life
This artist brings nature and art together
The vibrant colors of the lizard catch your eye as it seems to wiggle and crawl on the lady's sweater. Startled, you look closer and discover that you aren't looking at a real lizard at all. You're looking at a fanciful brooch made of ceramic, wire and precious stones. You have just been introduced to one of the fanciful creations of Tsai Erh-Ping (蔡爾平), a remarkable artist who draws his inspiration from creatures of nature.
Childhood influences
Insects and lizards like this excited Tsai Erh-Ping's imagination in his youth and continue to excite him today. As a child growing up in the 1950s in rural Beigang (北港)in southern Taiwan. Tsai played in the fields surrounding his home. He chased geckos and decorated them with stripes or dots of paint. His father, a medical doctor and artist in his own right, influenced his son a great deal. In fact, one of his father's quotes has become Tsai's theme in life: "Live in nature, live on nature, live for nature." And that is exactly what Tsai does.
vibrant adj. 鮮明的/明亮的
eg: The vibrant floral arrangement lightens up the hall.
eg: Helen is a vibrant girl who's full of energy.
eg: New York is a vibrant city.
=> New York 是個活力十足的城市.
wiggle v. 擺動/扭動
eg: The boy splashed water and wiggled his toes in the creek(小溪).
eg: The baby wiggled around in his crib(嬰兒床) and started to cry.
stripe (n) 條紋/Ｖ形條紋
eg: The black and white stripes found on zebras can fool their predators(掠奪者).
eg: The red and white stripes on this shirt remind me of the American flag.
eg: He has three stripes on his uniform.
gecko n. 壁虎
This artist brings nature and art together
The vibrant colors of the lizard catch your eye as it seems to wiggle and crawl on the lady's sweater. Startled, you look closer and discover that you aren't looking at a real lizard at all. You're looking at a fanciful brooch made of ceramic, wire and precious stones. You have just been introduced to one of the fanciful creations of Tsai Erh-Ping (蔡爾平), a remarkable artist who draws his inspiration from creatures of nature.
Childhood influences
Insects and lizards like this excited Tsai Erh-Ping's imagination in his youth and continue to excite him today. As a child growing up in the 1950s in rural Beigang (北港)in southern Taiwan. Tsai played in the fields surrounding his home. He chased geckos and decorated them with stripes or dots of paint. His father, a medical doctor and artist in his own right, influenced his son a great deal. In fact, one of his father's quotes has become Tsai's theme in life: "Live in nature, live on nature, live for nature." And that is exactly what Tsai does.
vibrant adj. 鮮明的/明亮的
eg: The vibrant floral arrangement lightens up the hall.
eg: Helen is a vibrant girl who's full of energy.
eg: New York is a vibrant city.
=> New York 是個活力十足的城市.
wiggle v. 擺動/扭動
eg: The boy splashed water and wiggled his toes in the creek(小溪).
eg: The baby wiggled around in his crib(嬰兒床) and started to cry.
stripe (n) 條紋/Ｖ形條紋
eg: The black and white stripes found on zebras can fool their predators(掠奪者).
eg: The red and white stripes on this shirt remind me of the American flag.
eg: He has three stripes on his uniform.
gecko n. 壁虎
2010年2月8日 星期一
20100206 20 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Your Body and Health-Part 1 (2)
20 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Your Body and Health-Part 1
6.Smokers are four times as likely to report feeling unrested after a night's sleep than nonsmokers. Smokers often experience withdrawal symptoms at night, causing periods of restlessness and waking. Smokers were also 1.69 times as likely to develop hearing loss than non-smokers, as smoking may affect antioxidative mechanisms or the blood vessels that feed the auditory system.
7.Eating fruits and vegetables may help the human body make its own aspirin. Findings from the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry indicate that study participants who received benzoic acid, a natural substance in fruits and vegetables, could make their own salicylic acid. This is the key component that gives aspirin its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
8.Your kitchen sink is dirtier than your bathroom. Bacteria colonies with a total population exceeding 50 million can live on a single dirty sponge. And just think - that's what you use to wipe down countertops, forks and drinking glasses.
9.You're more likely to have a heart attack on a Monday, or up to three days after you've been diagnosed with the flu or a respiratory tract infection. The risk of dying from a heart attack increases by a third during outbreaks of the flu and related respiratory diseases. This was found by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
10.Vitamins don't seem to help older women guard against cancer or heart disease.
auditory n. 聽覺
eg: The accident damaged the patient's auditory system.
eg: He will have surgery next week to repair his auditory nerve.
diagnose v. 診斷
eg: The patient was diagnosed with severe depression(憂鬱症).
eg: She was diagnosed with skin cancer last year.
diagnosis n. 診斷
eg: The doctor made an initial diagnosis after analyzing the test results.
outbreak n. 爆發/暴動
eg: The outbreak of this highly infectious disease claimed many lives.
eg: The outbreak of war caused chaos in the country.
6.Smokers are four times as likely to report feeling unrested after a night's sleep than nonsmokers. Smokers often experience withdrawal symptoms at night, causing periods of restlessness and waking. Smokers were also 1.69 times as likely to develop hearing loss than non-smokers, as smoking may affect antioxidative mechanisms or the blood vessels that feed the auditory system.
7.Eating fruits and vegetables may help the human body make its own aspirin. Findings from the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry indicate that study participants who received benzoic acid, a natural substance in fruits and vegetables, could make their own salicylic acid. This is the key component that gives aspirin its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
8.Your kitchen sink is dirtier than your bathroom. Bacteria colonies with a total population exceeding 50 million can live on a single dirty sponge. And just think - that's what you use to wipe down countertops, forks and drinking glasses.
9.You're more likely to have a heart attack on a Monday, or up to three days after you've been diagnosed with the flu or a respiratory tract infection. The risk of dying from a heart attack increases by a third during outbreaks of the flu and related respiratory diseases. This was found by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
10.Vitamins don't seem to help older women guard against cancer or heart disease.
auditory n. 聽覺
eg: The accident damaged the patient's auditory system.
eg: He will have surgery next week to repair his auditory nerve.
diagnose v. 診斷
eg: The patient was diagnosed with severe depression(憂鬱症).
eg: She was diagnosed with skin cancer last year.
diagnosis n. 診斷
eg: The doctor made an initial diagnosis after analyzing the test results.
outbreak n. 爆發/暴動
eg: The outbreak of this highly infectious disease claimed many lives.
eg: The outbreak of war caused chaos in the country.
20100205 20 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Your Body and Health - Part 1 (1)
20 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Your Body and Health - Part 1
In the spirit of those addictive, you-know-you're-reading-them-even-though-you-wish-you-weren't Facebook notes everywhere, Health.com presents its list of 2 random
things you might not know about the human body, nutrition and exercise, sickness and health. Go ahead. Pass it on to our friends.
1.Dogs can smell cancer and low blood sugar. The Pine Street Foundation, a cancer-education and research center in Calif. published a study showing it was possible to train dogs to identify, based on breath samples, which patients had lung and breast cancer. In diabetics, the presence of ketones -- substances made by the body during the metabolic process -- can be smelled in urine and on the breath when blood sugars are high. Dogs can pick up on other smells that humans can't when glucose levels drop.
2.Researchers at Cornell University found that people who pass through an entryway near the kitchen tend to eat 15 percent more than those who use the front door.
3.Four out of five doctors in the U.K. don't work out enough. Heavy workloads, lack of time and poor motivation contributed to the lack of exercise.
4.You can't get a tan from your computer screen. The Computer Tan Web site was created as a hoax to raise awareness about skin cancer.
5.Baking soda can whiten teeth, and garlic can help treat athlete's foot.
addictive adj. 使成癮的/上癮的
eg: These addictive online games not only cost money but they also waste your precious time.
eg: addictive drugs 令人上癮的藥物
addicted
eg: Jason has been addicted to alcohol since he was young.
metabolic adj. 新陳代謝的
eg: Exercising can increase your metabolic rate and help you burn calories quickly.
eg: The metabolic disorder might be caused by the lack of
a certain enzyme(酵素).
hoax n. 騙局/玩笑/惡作劇
eg: The report of a fire at the school turned out to be a hoax.
eg: He made a hoax call pretending to be the boss.
hoax v. 欺騙
I was hoaxed into believing his lies.
我上了當,相信他的謊言。
In the spirit of those addictive, you-know-you're-reading-them-even-though-you-wish-you-weren't Facebook notes everywhere, Health.com presents its list of 2 random
things you might not know about the human body, nutrition and exercise, sickness and health. Go ahead. Pass it on to our friends.
1.Dogs can smell cancer and low blood sugar. The Pine Street Foundation, a cancer-education and research center in Calif. published a study showing it was possible to train dogs to identify, based on breath samples, which patients had lung and breast cancer. In diabetics, the presence of ketones -- substances made by the body during the metabolic process -- can be smelled in urine and on the breath when blood sugars are high. Dogs can pick up on other smells that humans can't when glucose levels drop.
2.Researchers at Cornell University found that people who pass through an entryway near the kitchen tend to eat 15 percent more than those who use the front door.
3.Four out of five doctors in the U.K. don't work out enough. Heavy workloads, lack of time and poor motivation contributed to the lack of exercise.
4.You can't get a tan from your computer screen. The Computer Tan Web site was created as a hoax to raise awareness about skin cancer.
5.Baking soda can whiten teeth, and garlic can help treat athlete's foot.
addictive adj. 使成癮的/上癮的
eg: These addictive online games not only cost money but they also waste your precious time.
eg: addictive drugs 令人上癮的藥物
addicted
eg: Jason has been addicted to alcohol since he was young.
metabolic adj. 新陳代謝的
eg: Exercising can increase your metabolic rate and help you burn calories quickly.
eg: The metabolic disorder might be caused by the lack of
a certain enzyme(酵素).
hoax n. 騙局/玩笑/惡作劇
eg: The report of a fire at the school turned out to be a hoax.
eg: He made a hoax call pretending to be the boss.
hoax v. 欺騙
I was hoaxed into believing his lies.
我上了當,相信他的謊言。
2010年2月3日 星期三
20100203 A Trip to the Tailor (1)
A Trip to the Tailor
A tailor shares the secrets of his trade
SC: How does one become a tailor?
JL: In the past, becoming a tailor meant completing an apprenticeship with an experienced tailor. I apprenticed with a cutter from Shanghai for six years. Now, there is a system of tests and licenses for tailors.
SC: What questions should people ask a tailor when they are having clothes made?
JL: It depends who the person is. If they are a student, they might want to ask about price. If that is less of a concern, they might ask questions about style, material and quality.
SC: What's the difference between a store-bought suit and a tailor-made suit?
JL: There are a lot of differences. You see, there are many kinds of body types. During fittings, a tailor figures out how to make the suit fit you perfectly, so you feel comfortable all over. They also leave extra material so the suit can be adjusted later if you gain or lose weight. You don't do a fitting when you buy a store-bought suit. They just take your measurements and then select the pre-made suit that is closest to your size. Then you try it on and see if you like it.
That's OK if you are a standard size. But if you aren't, you will always have problems with ready-made suits.
tailor n. (尤指男裝)裁縫師;(尤指男裝)服裝店
=> a person who makes or changes clothes so that it fits you
apprenticeship n. 學徒身分/學徒資格/學徒期/見習期
apprentice v. 當學徒
apprentice with
eg: Greg apprenticed with his uncle, who was a talented carpenter.
=> 格雷戈曾經當過他伯父的學徒，他伯父是一位很有才華的木匠.
apprentice n.學徒/徒弟/見習生
=> a student or a learner who studies on somebody else in order to learn particular skill
eg: He worked for 2 years as Trump's apprentice.
style n. 風格/作風
=> the kind of form/look/appearance that something has
fitting n. 試衣並進行修改
eg: The wedding gown(禮服) fittings took a lot of time but they were fun.
eg: We'll start the play's costume fittings next week.
adjust v. 校正/校準/調整
pre-made 預製的/現成的
eg: These pre-made curtains are a lot cheaper than custom-made ones.
eg: There are many pre-made e-cards for you to choose from at this websits.
ready-made
//== Chat room ==//
rack n. 架子
off-the-rack <=> custom made
off-the-rack adj. 現成的(衣服)
=> 從店裡的架子上拿下來的，指的是現成的衣服
= ready-to-wear adj. 現成的/已經可以穿的
tailor-made adj. 良身訂做的
custom made adj. 訂製的
=> 範圍更廣，任何可以訂做的東西，都可用custom made，也可以說custom-built
=> 還有另一種說法為made-to-order(依照你的指示所製造的)
從小笨霖筆記本上看到的用法說明
I just want to buy some off-the-rack clothes.
我只想隨便買一些現成的衣服。
Rack 指的是一般在商店中用來吊衣服的衣架，所以 off-the-rack 指的是那種由工廠大量製造的成衣，通常暗指很普通、不是特別好的衣服。例如我朋友問我，"Your jacket looks very nice. Where did you get it?" (你的外套很好看，是在哪買的啊？) 事實上那件外套是我在某夜市所搶來的地攤貨，但英文裏沒有「地攤貨」這樣的講法，所以我就可以回答他，"It's just something off-the-rack." (只是件普通的衣服啦！) 相較於 off-the-rack 這種便宜的衣服，custom-made 或是 tailor-made 指的是「量身定做」的。例如，"I need to get a custom-made tuxedo for my wedding." (我必須為了我的婚禮去買一件量身定作的燕尾服。)
//== Grammar on the Go ==//
If that is less of a concern, they might ask questions about style, material and quality.
=> If that is not something to worry about, they might ask questions about style, material and quality.
less of a concern
=> not something to worry about
eg: With the convenience of cell phone technology, being unreachable is less of a concern for most people these days.
eg: Not being able to shower is less of a concern for Kathy than for Susan.
A tailor shares the secrets of his trade
SC: How does one become a tailor?
JL: In the past, becoming a tailor meant completing an apprenticeship with an experienced tailor. I apprenticed with a cutter from Shanghai for six years. Now, there is a system of tests and licenses for tailors.
SC: What questions should people ask a tailor when they are having clothes made?
JL: It depends who the person is. If they are a student, they might want to ask about price. If that is less of a concern, they might ask questions about style, material and quality.
SC: What's the difference between a store-bought suit and a tailor-made suit?
JL: There are a lot of differences. You see, there are many kinds of body types. During fittings, a tailor figures out how to make the suit fit you perfectly, so you feel comfortable all over. They also leave extra material so the suit can be adjusted later if you gain or lose weight. You don't do a fitting when you buy a store-bought suit. They just take your measurements and then select the pre-made suit that is closest to your size. Then you try it on and see if you like it.
That's OK if you are a standard size. But if you aren't, you will always have problems with ready-made suits.
tailor n. (尤指男裝)裁縫師;(尤指男裝)服裝店
=> a person who makes or changes clothes so that it fits you
apprenticeship n. 學徒身分/學徒資格/學徒期/見習期
apprentice v. 當學徒
apprentice with
eg: Greg apprenticed with his uncle, who was a talented carpenter.
=> 格雷戈曾經當過他伯父的學徒，他伯父是一位很有才華的木匠.
apprentice n.學徒/徒弟/見習生
=> a student or a learner who studies on somebody else in order to learn particular skill
eg: He worked for 2 years as Trump's apprentice.
style n. 風格/作風
=> the kind of form/look/appearance that something has
fitting n. 試衣並進行修改
eg: The wedding gown(禮服) fittings took a lot of time but they were fun.
eg: We'll start the play's costume fittings next week.
adjust v. 校正/校準/調整
pre-made 預製的/現成的
eg: These pre-made curtains are a lot cheaper than custom-made ones.
eg: There are many pre-made e-cards for you to choose from at this websits.
ready-made
//== Chat room ==//
rack n. 架子
off-the-rack <=> custom made
off-the-rack adj. 現成的(衣服)
=> 從店裡的架子上拿下來的，指的是現成的衣服
= ready-to-wear adj. 現成的/已經可以穿的
tailor-made adj. 良身訂做的
custom made adj. 訂製的
=> 範圍更廣，任何可以訂做的東西，都可用custom made，也可以說custom-built
=> 還有另一種說法為made-to-order(依照你的指示所製造的)
從小笨霖筆記本上看到的用法說明
I just want to buy some off-the-rack clothes.
我只想隨便買一些現成的衣服。
Rack 指的是一般在商店中用來吊衣服的衣架，所以 off-the-rack 指的是那種由工廠大量製造的成衣，通常暗指很普通、不是特別好的衣服。例如我朋友問我，"Your jacket looks very nice. Where did you get it?" (你的外套很好看，是在哪買的啊？) 事實上那件外套是我在某夜市所搶來的地攤貨，但英文裏沒有「地攤貨」這樣的講法，所以我就可以回答他，"It's just something off-the-rack." (只是件普通的衣服啦！) 相較於 off-the-rack 這種便宜的衣服，custom-made 或是 tailor-made 指的是「量身定做」的。例如，"I need to get a custom-made tuxedo for my wedding." (我必須為了我的婚禮去買一件量身定作的燕尾服。)
//== Grammar on the Go ==//
If that is less of a concern, they might ask questions about style, material and quality.
=> If that is not something to worry about, they might ask questions about style, material and quality.
less of a concern
=> not something to worry about
eg: With the convenience of cell phone technology, being unreachable is less of a concern for most people these days.
eg: Not being able to shower is less of a concern for Kathy than for Susan.
2010年2月2日 星期二
20100202 Jules Verne Adventures in Imagination (2)
Jules Verne: Adventures in Imagination.
At the age of 28, Verne married Honorine Morel, a young widow who had two daughters. With a family to support, Verne began working as a stockbroker. But he continued to write, getting up at 5 a.m. to write before going to his job in the afternoon. Verne's break finally came in 1862 when he met publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel.
Hetzel saw potential in Verne's stories and advised Verne on how to make them better. Verne successfully published his first book in 1863 and went on to write 54 novels.
In his books, Verne enthralls readers with tales of extraordinary adventures. For example, in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Verne's characters explore oceans in a submarine. In Around the World in 80 Das, a man makes a bet to circle the globe in 80 days. Known as a visionary, Verne portrayed skyscrapers, automobiles and air conditioners in Paris in the 20th Century. None of those things existed then; they sprung from Verne's imagination. But he would not be surprised that today they are reality.
widow n. 寡婦
eg: The poor widow had to give up her children and send them to the orphanage.
widower n. 鰥夫
eg: After the accident, Patrick found himself a widower with three kids.
stockbroker n. 股票(或證券)經紀人
=> one who buys and sells stocks
publish v. 出版
eg: The author's latest novel was published in 1999.
publisher n. 出版商
=> a person who does publishing
eg: His book was published by Random House, a world-renown publisher.
eg: Dave works for a publisher that only publishes text books.
extraordinary adj. 離奇的/使人驚奇的
=> not ordinary
-ary 人
vision n. 遠見/願景
visionary n. 有遠見的人
eg: The Nobel Prize winner was a visionary who started a new era in his professional field.
enthrall v. 迷住/吸引住
=> charm/catch one's imagination
eg: The magician enthralled the child.
portray v. 描寫
eg: Dickens portrayed his characters to the life.
skyscraper n. 摩天樓
eg: This is the highest skyscraper in the world.
//== Chat room ==//
break 幸運/好運
=> a piece of good luck
a big break
a lucky break
eg: He got his big break when he was in college.
=> 當他讀大學的時候，幸運女神眷顧了他
break a leg 祝福，祝……成功
=> 在演藝圈祝福某個演員在表演的時候能夠有好運
=> 因為許多演員迷信覺得講good luck反而不吉祥，故講break a leg
//== Grammar on the Go ==//
With a family to support, Verne began working as a stockbroker.
= Because Verne has a family to support, he began working as a stockbroker. (Sounds too long)
eg: With only a few dollars left in his wallet, Sam needed to find an ATM soon.
eg: With three meetings to attend and several reports to finish, Tara knew her day was going to be a busy one.
At the age of 28, Verne married Honorine Morel, a young widow who had two daughters. With a family to support, Verne began working as a stockbroker. But he continued to write, getting up at 5 a.m. to write before going to his job in the afternoon. Verne's break finally came in 1862 when he met publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel.
Hetzel saw potential in Verne's stories and advised Verne on how to make them better. Verne successfully published his first book in 1863 and went on to write 54 novels.
In his books, Verne enthralls readers with tales of extraordinary adventures. For example, in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Verne's characters explore oceans in a submarine. In Around the World in 80 Das, a man makes a bet to circle the globe in 80 days. Known as a visionary, Verne portrayed skyscrapers, automobiles and air conditioners in Paris in the 20th Century. None of those things existed then; they sprung from Verne's imagination. But he would not be surprised that today they are reality.
widow n. 寡婦
eg: The poor widow had to give up her children and send them to the orphanage.
widower n. 鰥夫
eg: After the accident, Patrick found himself a widower with three kids.
stockbroker n. 股票(或證券)經紀人
=> one who buys and sells stocks
publish v. 出版
eg: The author's latest novel was published in 1999.
publisher n. 出版商
=> a person who does publishing
eg: His book was published by Random House, a world-renown publisher.
eg: Dave works for a publisher that only publishes text books.
extraordinary adj. 離奇的/使人驚奇的
=> not ordinary
-ary 人
vision n. 遠見/願景
visionary n. 有遠見的人
eg: The Nobel Prize winner was a visionary who started a new era in his professional field.
enthrall v. 迷住/吸引住
=> charm/catch one's imagination
eg: The magician enthralled the child.
portray v. 描寫
eg: Dickens portrayed his characters to the life.
skyscraper n. 摩天樓
eg: This is the highest skyscraper in the world.
//== Chat room ==//
break 幸運/好運
=> a piece of good luck
a big break
a lucky break
eg: He got his big break when he was in college.
=> 當他讀大學的時候，幸運女神眷顧了他
break a leg 祝福，祝……成功
=> 在演藝圈祝福某個演員在表演的時候能夠有好運
=> 因為許多演員迷信覺得講good luck反而不吉祥，故講break a leg
//== Grammar on the Go ==//
With a family to support, Verne began working as a stockbroker.
= Because Verne has a family to support, he began working as a stockbroker. (Sounds too long)
eg: With only a few dollars left in his wallet, Sam needed to find an ATM soon.
eg: With three meetings to attend and several reports to finish, Tara knew her day was going to be a busy one.
2010年2月1日 星期一
20100201 Jules Verne Adventures in Imagination(1)
Jules Verne: Adventures in Imagination
French author Jules Verne takes readers on adventures in his stories
Balloon flights over Africa, journeys under the sea in a submarine, expeditions to the North Pole - even today these ideas sound thrilling. But at the time French author Jules Verne (1828-1905) wrote of them, his readers could only imagine them.
Childhood adventures
Even as a young boy, Verne was fascinated with travel. His passion was sparked by watching boats travel the Loire River, which his family vacationed by in the summer. At 12, the young Verne hopped on an ocean-going vessel without his parents' knowledge. Unfortunately for Verne, his father found out and caught him before the ship Coralie actually went to sea. Verne promised then that he "would only travel in imagination."
Becoming a writer
At the time, his parents didn't understand what he actually meant by those words. Verne's father, a lawyer, expected his son to follow in his footsteps. He sent Verne to Paris to study law. There, Verne concentrated on writing instead, causing his father to stop his financial support. Undeterred, Verne worked at a theater owned by Alexandre Dumas and wrote several plays.
spark n. 火花
spark v. 激起/引發
=> begin
eg: The trip to Paris sparked her interest to learn French.
eg: Mess demonstrations(大型示威) were sparked by the controversial policy.
vessel n. 飛船/飛機(尤指水上飛機)
=> a large ship
follow in someone's footsteps 跟隨某人的足跡/繼承衣缽/追隨某人的腳步
=> do the same thing as the somebody else in your life
eg: Samuel followed in his father's footsteps and became an engineer.
eg: Nicky followed in her sister's footsteps by attending Harvard.
undeterred (adj) 未受阻的/不氣餒的
=> not bother by something
eg: Nobody supported Bob's idea of starting his own business, but he was undeterred.
eg: Undeterred, we went on vacation even though the typhoon was coming.
=> 雖然颱風來了，我們卻沒有打消去度假的念頭。
thrilling adj.
=> extremely exciting
expedition
=> a trip/journey
//== Chat room ==//
渡假美國人會用 vacation
渡假其他英語系國家會用 holiday
go on vacation
go on holiday
national holiday 國定假日
eg: The forth of July 美國獨立紀念日
//== More Information ==//
Many of Jules Veme's books are part of what is knows as "The Extraordinary Voyages.
Some of the more famous titles include Journey to the Center of the Earth, a story that has been retold in movie format four times! Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is a classic underwater adventure while Verne's Around the World in 80 days is a novel that was recently adapted into a movie starring Jackie Chan.
French author Jules Verne takes readers on adventures in his stories
Balloon flights over Africa, journeys under the sea in a submarine, expeditions to the North Pole - even today these ideas sound thrilling. But at the time French author Jules Verne (1828-1905) wrote of them, his readers could only imagine them.
Childhood adventures
Even as a young boy, Verne was fascinated with travel. His passion was sparked by watching boats travel the Loire River, which his family vacationed by in the summer. At 12, the young Verne hopped on an ocean-going vessel without his parents' knowledge. Unfortunately for Verne, his father found out and caught him before the ship Coralie actually went to sea. Verne promised then that he "would only travel in imagination."
Becoming a writer
At the time, his parents didn't understand what he actually meant by those words. Verne's father, a lawyer, expected his son to follow in his footsteps. He sent Verne to Paris to study law. There, Verne concentrated on writing instead, causing his father to stop his financial support. Undeterred, Verne worked at a theater owned by Alexandre Dumas and wrote several plays.
spark n. 火花
spark v. 激起/引發
=> begin
eg: The trip to Paris sparked her interest to learn French.
eg: Mess demonstrations(大型示威) were sparked by the controversial policy.
vessel n. 飛船/飛機(尤指水上飛機)
=> a large ship
follow in someone's footsteps 跟隨某人的足跡/繼承衣缽/追隨某人的腳步
=> do the same thing as the somebody else in your life
eg: Samuel followed in his father's footsteps and became an engineer.
eg: Nicky followed in her sister's footsteps by attending Harvard.
undeterred (adj) 未受阻的/不氣餒的
=> not bother by something
eg: Nobody supported Bob's idea of starting his own business, but he was undeterred.
eg: Undeterred, we went on vacation even though the typhoon was coming.
=> 雖然颱風來了，我們卻沒有打消去度假的念頭。
thrilling adj.
=> extremely exciting
expedition
=> a trip/journey
//== Chat room ==//
渡假美國人會用 vacation
渡假其他英語系國家會用 holiday
go on vacation
go on holiday
national holiday 國定假日
eg: The forth of July 美國獨立紀念日
//== More Information ==//
Many of Jules Veme's books are part of what is knows as "The Extraordinary Voyages.
Some of the more famous titles include Journey to the Center of the Earth, a story that has been retold in movie format four times! Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is a classic underwater adventure while Verne's Around the World in 80 days is a novel that was recently adapted into a movie starring Jackie Chan.
20100130 A New Semester (1)
A New Semester
I am ready to catch the ball.
Watching the crystal ball drop and the people count down on New Year's Eve, I realized my Christmas break was ending. A couple of days later, I flew back to Los Angles. Although I was more familiar with the school's environment, the tensions of starting a new semester still held me in a death grip. Like last semester, I chose all my classes but soon realized that some weren't suitable. Fortunately, in American universities, students can change all their classes within the first few weeks. So I dropped and then added some classes.
I am determined that difficulties won't stop me. I will be stronger and sturdier as I go through challenging times - this is the belief that holds me. I take these challenges as a way to improve myself. I have evaluated myself over and over to see whether I have improved. I want to show my friends and family back home that I have grown, so I need to push myself harder. I want to test my limits. I am ready. Even though this semester is going to be hard, my every step is stronger and sturdier.
count down 倒數
eg: All the spectators counted down together before the spacecraft launched.
eg: We were counting down the days until the prom(畢業舞會).
drop v. 退選某個課程
eg: I found that French 201 is way too difficult for me, so I dropped it.
add v. 加選某個課程
eg: Sherry decided to add Economy 101 to her class schedule.
sturdy adj. 堅強的,剛毅的;堅決的;堅固
eg: He's a sturdy fighter who can beat the disease.
eg: a sturdy chair ideal for kids
=> 適合小朋友的堅固耐用的椅子.
eg: She had no problem climbing the mountain thanks to her sturdy boots.
I am ready to catch the ball.
Watching the crystal ball drop and the people count down on New Year's Eve, I realized my Christmas break was ending. A couple of days later, I flew back to Los Angles. Although I was more familiar with the school's environment, the tensions of starting a new semester still held me in a death grip. Like last semester, I chose all my classes but soon realized that some weren't suitable. Fortunately, in American universities, students can change all their classes within the first few weeks. So I dropped and then added some classes.
I am determined that difficulties won't stop me. I will be stronger and sturdier as I go through challenging times - this is the belief that holds me. I take these challenges as a way to improve myself. I have evaluated myself over and over to see whether I have improved. I want to show my friends and family back home that I have grown, so I need to push myself harder. I want to test my limits. I am ready. Even though this semester is going to be hard, my every step is stronger and sturdier.
count down 倒數
eg: All the spectators counted down together before the spacecraft launched.
eg: We were counting down the days until the prom(畢業舞會).
drop v. 退選某個課程
eg: I found that French 201 is way too difficult for me, so I dropped it.
add v. 加選某個課程
eg: Sherry decided to add Economy 101 to her class schedule.
sturdy adj. 堅強的,剛毅的;堅決的;堅固
eg: He's a sturdy fighter who can beat the disease.
eg: a sturdy chair ideal for kids
=> 適合小朋友的堅固耐用的椅子.
eg: She had no problem climbing the mountain thanks to her sturdy boots.
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