20110124 Tomatoes (1)

Tomatoes

They are more than just delicious

What is your favorite way to eat tomatoes? Do you enjoy them raw, red and juicy in a salad? Or do you prefer them cooked on a pizza or in a soup or sauce? No matter how you eat them, they are good for you. The tomato is a true super food that contains many nutrients, including lycopene. These substances can help fight cancer and prevent heart disease.

But people have not always enjoyed tomatoes. For years, people thought they were poisonous. It wasn’t until the 16th century that people in Europe started to eat them. It took until 1820 for Americans to learn to enjoy them. But now each American eats an average of 22 pounds of tomatoes per year!

When you buy tomatoes, choose deep red and sweet-smelling ones. Or grow your own! Tomato plants can easily be grown in pots on a balcony. Keep tomatoes at room temperature. If you put them in the refrigerator, their ripening process changes and ruins the flavor. Have a tomato today! It may just keep the doctor away!

raw adj. 生的/沒有煮熟的

=> not cooked

eg: Raw beef is served as the appetizer for the meal.

=> 這個套餐的開胃菜是生牛肉

eg: The chicken is still raw. You need to cook it longer.

=> 這個雞肉還是生的，你得再煮一下。

eg: If you process fish properly, it can be eaten raw.

=> 如果你會處理魚類，魚是可以生食的。

ripen v. 成熟

=> a fruit matures

eg: When mangoes ripen, they turn yellow and red.

=> 當芒果成熟時會變成黃色和紅色

eg: Apples ripen during the fall.

=> 蘋果在秋季成熟

ripen v. 使成熟

eg: The high temperature ripened the melon quickly.

=> 高溫使哈密瓜快速地成熟

ruin v 破壞/毀壞

=> destroy

eg: Too much seasoning ruined the natural flavor of the steaks.

=> 太多調味品破壞了牛排的自然風味

eg: Her bad temper ruined her chances of succeeding in her profession.

=> 她的壞脾氣破壞了她在專業中成功地機會

eg: Parents can ruin their kids by giving them too much freedom.

=> 父母對孩子們過度放縱可能會寵壞他們

nutrient n. 營養

lycopene n. 番茄紅素

poisonous adj. 有毒的

balcony n. 陽臺/露臺

//== Chat room ==//

salad n. 沙拉

green salad 生菜沙拉

= garden salad 花園沙拉

=> 放萵苣或是一些綠色蔬菜

=> green salad為正餐前上的一道開胃菜

bound salad

=> 一種濃稠的混合沙拉，和生菜沙拉完全不同

=> 可以夾到麵包裡，做成三明治。

=> bound salad的種類有鮪魚沙拉、鮪魚沙拉、雞肉沙拉、馬鈴薯沙拉和義大利麵沙拉

=> 這種沙拉是不必加沙拉醬的，因為本身就有很重的口味

chicken salad 雞肉沙拉

egg salad 鮪魚沙拉

tuna salad 鮪魚沙拉

potato salad

pasta salad

//== Grammer on the go ==//

It wasn't until the 16th century that people in Europe started to eat them.

=> People in Europe started to eat tomatoes in the 16th century.

It wasn't until a certain time or moment that subject + verb

eg: It wasn't until Bob saw his classmates turn in their reports that he realized his own report was still at home.

eg: Even though the team assigned to the project a month ago, it wasn't until yesterday that they finally began to work on it.

//== More information ==//

The Tomato: Is it a fruit or a vegetable? Technically, a tomato is a fruit, since it contains seeds. But for those who think it is eaten more like a vegetable, you have the Supreme Court on your side. Back in 1893 a case was heard in the U.S. Supreme Court over this very question. The court ruled that the tomato was to be considered a vegetable!

20110120 Innovative Eco-friendly Products (1)

Innovative Eco-friendly Products

LED light bulbs

LED is the newest alternative to the current, energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs. But unlike fluorescent bulbs, LED lights contain no traces of the toxic element mercury. They are even found to be 5 percent more efficient than fluorescent and possess a life span of up to 50,000 hours! Purchase costs may be high, but only LEDs can say they will still be glowing 20 years from now.

LCD TVs

LCD is nothing new – liquid crystal display was first discovered as a technology in 1888. But these days, LCD is the standard in energy-efficient TVs. The past year offered up numerous improvements that are determined to save watts and bucks. For one, human presence sensors prompt the TVs to shut off after 30 minutes when no one is in the room. Additionally, illuminating backlights dim and brighten depending on the lighting present in the room. To cut off power completely, just flip a switch on the back panel to avoid paying for that energy use spent in "sleep mode." All of these are just some of the many ways LCD has once again redefined efficiency.

alter- 其他的

alternative n. 替代方案/非傳統的選項

=> It's something that can be used in place of something else.

eg: Natural herbs can be an alternative to medicine for treating colds.

=> 除了藥物之外，天然草藥是治療感冒可使用的另類方法。

eg: Green tea is a healthier alternative to coffee if you need caffeine.

=> 如果你需要咖啡因，綠茶是比咖啡更健康的替代品。

span n. 一段期間/時間

life span n. 使用期間/壽命

eg: The life span of an adult butterfly is only one or two weeks.

=> 孵出來的蝴蝶的壽命只有一到兩週

eg: The life span of this kind of battery is twice as long as the regular ones.

=> 這種電池的壽命是一般電池的兩倍

sensor n. 感應器

eg: A heat sensor can detect the presence of human beings or animals.

=> 熱能的感應器能夠察覺人類或動物的存在

eg: The smoke sensor goes off if someone is smoking in the bathroom on the plane.

=> 如果有人在飛機上的廁所裡抽菸，煙霧感應器就會發出響聲。

LED (light-emitting diode) 發光二極管

fluorescent adj. 發亮的

watt n. 【電】瓦(特)

prompt v. 促使

//== Chat room ==//

save watts and bucks 省電和省錢

watts（瓦特）電力的單位

buck　美金一塊錢

=> 本課的buck為俚語的用法，表示美金一塊錢

eg: Can I borrow a buck?

=> 我能不能跟你借一塊錢

I'd like to make an extra buck.我想要多賺一點錢

pass the buck 表示推卸責任/怪罪別人

=> shit the blame to another person

the buck stops here 責無旁貸/我會付起一切的責任

=> informal expression

20110119 Innovative Eco-friendly Products (1)

Innovative Eco-friendly Products

From a toilet to a TV, new technology comes in all shapes, sizes and prices

Below are some of the most innovative products that will save you lots of cash in the long run.

Dual-flush toilets

Did you know 40 percent of indoor water usage is flushed down a toilet? That's right – 55 billion gallons of clean water are sent down the pipes each day. Dual-flush toilets use different amounts of water for solid and liquid waste. Anywhere from 30 to 50 percent less water is flushed in addition to the $100 or so dollars saved each year.

Steam dishwashers

Steam dishwashers help save on that water bill. Steam models can use up to 33 percent less water than the standard dishwasher. What's more, studies have shown steam dishwashers clean dishes better than their counterparts. Some models even offer owners the ability to customize the wash intensity for an upper rack of wine glasses and lower rack of crusted pots and pans.

Wireless charging

Allowing the charge of up to three devices plus one USB port on brands like Powermat, wireless models offer speeds equivalent to or greater then the manufacturer-provided chargers. In addition, these models incorporate an auto-shutoff feature when charging completes. Products charge while they rest on top of the charging mat. They come in handy during traveling when only a car charger or single electrical outlet is available.

du- 兩個

dual adj. 兩段式的/兩部分的/雙重的

eg: Charles enjoys his dual role as a CEO and a father of three kids.

=> Charles很享受擔任公司的執行長和三個孩子的父親的雙重角色。

eg: Brenda had dual citizenship. She's Canadian but also has a French passport.

=> Brenda擁有雙重國籍，她是加拿大人而且擁有法國護照。

counter- 對抗

counterpart n. 相對應的事物/同等職位的人

eg: Our vice president will have a meeting with his counterpart from the company we are going to sign a contract with.

=> 我們的副總和要與我們簽約的這家公司的同等職位的人開會

equi- 相等

equivalent adj. 相等的/相同的

equivalent to something 和...相等

eg: Mark is going to another company to do a job equivalent to the one he has now but with a higher salary.

=> Mark要到別的公司擔任同等的職務，可是薪水更高。

eg: One US dollar is equivalent to 30NT dollars.

=> 一塊美金等於30塊新台幣

//== Chat room ==//

frugal 節儉的、節省的

=> thrifty/economical 經濟的、節約的

penny-pinching 吝嗇/小氣

=> 把每一penny(一分錢)都pinch緊緊地捏在手上/放不開

penny-wise adj. 省小錢的/在小事情上精明的

//== Grammar on the Go ==//

Anywhere from 30 to 50 percent less water is flushed in addition to the $100 or so dollars saved each year.

anywhere from 30 to 50 percent less water

=> There was less water been flushed. How much less? We don't know the exactly amount.

=> But we do know the amount is from 30 to 50 percent of the original amount.

eg: We moved anywhere from 50 to 60 boxes yesterday.

eg: I'm not sure exactly how many people were invited to the party; it was anywhere from 30 to 40 people, so we need to be prepared.

20110118 Milford Sound, New Zealand (2)

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Weather and wildlife

Over one million tourists annually explore Milford Sound. Many go by boat or plane. And one winding road leads to it, so people can walk or drive in. No matter how they come, everyone wants a chance to see the wildlife and stunning scenery. With more than 182 days of rain yearly, the sound is one of the world's wettest places. Yet the rain adds to the beauty by causing waterfalls to spring up throughout the fiord.

Visitors can see seals sunning themselves everywhere along the sound. The fiord is home to the New Zealand Fur Seal. One of New Zealand's rarest penguins, the Fiordland crested penguin can also be spotted. Tourists also come to see famous Mitre Peak, with its steep cliffs rising 1,692 meters. One survey named Milford Sound the world’s top travel destination. And author Rudyard Kipling once called it "the eighth wonder of the world." It's no surprise then that Milford Sound is a finalist in the New7Wonders of Nature contest.

scenery Un. 風景/景色

=> general look of the area

eg: The scenery along the beach is breathtaking.

=> 沿海的景色美到令人屏息

eg: Switzerland is famous for its beautiful scenery.

=> 瑞士以它美麗的風景聞名

scene n. 場景/現場

eg: The crime scene is located on the 11th floors.

=> 犯罪現場位於11樓

spring v. 冒出/長出

spring up 迅速長出/迅速出現

=> appear suddenly

eg: Weeds sprang up everywhere in our backyard when we were on vacation.

=> 我們出去度假的時候，院子裡的雜草叢生。

eg: Last spring, it seemed like gourmet restaurants were springing up everywhere in the area.

=> 去年春天美食餐廳似乎在這個區域到處快速出現。

destination n. 目的地/終點

=> a place you would go to

eg: The final destination of this bus is Chicago.

=> 這個巴士的終點站是芝加哥

eg: Napa Valley is one of the hottest vacation destinations in California.

=> Napa山谷是現在加州最熱門的觀光景點之一

eg: We should be able to reach our destination by noon.

=> 我們應該可以在中午之前到達目的地

wildlife n. 野生生物

tourist n. 旅遊者/觀光者

stunning adj. 令人震驚的

=> very beautiful, breathtaking

seal n. 海豹

crested adj. 有冠毛的

=> has feather on the top of the head

One of New Zealand's rarest penguins, the Fiordland crested penguin can also be spotted.

=> You can see the Fiordland crested penguin, one of New Zealand's rarest penguins.

cliff n. (尤指海邊的)懸崖

//== Chat room ==//

winding road 蜿蜒的道路

=> 注意wind為動詞時的發音

wind v. 蜿蜒曲折

wind v. 上緊發條

unwind v. 解開/鬆開

=> 下班回到家可以打開音響、喝個飲料unwind(放鬆心情)

wind n. 氣息/呼吸

=> 讀作wind(發音和風相同)

=> 劇烈運動後會feel winded 上氣不接下氣/喘不過氣來

//== More information ==//

In 1812, when Captain John Grono ventured into Milford Sound's narrow entrance, he was greeted by a vision of matchless natural beauty. Soon after, European seal hunters and fisherman began arriving. It took another 100 years, though, before the flocks of tourists appeared. In 1954, the Homer Tunnel opened, making Milford Sound accessible by automobile. Before that, the sound was only accessible by boat, plane, or foot.

20110117 Milford Sound, New Zealand (1)

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Discover the magic and majesty of this amazing waterway

New Zealand's narrow, icy blue waterway known as Milford Sound is often photographed and painted. Some have called the sound "the most beautiful place in the world." Yet this fiord remained a mystery to most of the outside world until the 20th century.

Nineteen kilometers long, Milford Sound is situated on New Zealand's South Island. The sea helped create the waterway when it flooded a valley of glaciers. Today, rock walls rising straight up out of the water line the fiord. Though narrow in some spots, the fiord widens to three kilometers. The entrance at Dale Point is only 548 meters wide. This narrow entrance actually kept the waterway a secret from the outside for many years. Early explorers feared getting their ships stuck in the narrow passage and sailed by. In 1812, Captain John Grono sailed into the fiord, proving it was safe for ship travel. The opening of the Homer Tunnel in 1954 made it possible to reach the fiord by car.

remain v. 保持不變/依然是

eg: Sam remains humble even though he's quite successful now.

=> 雖然Sam現在很成功，但是他依然保持謙虚。

eg: A high crime rate remains this area’s biggest problem.

=> 高犯罪率依然是這個區域最大的問題

situate v. 使位於/使坐落在

eg: The city government situated a bus stop near the elementary school for the students' convenience.

=> 市政府為了學生的便利，把公車站設在距離小學很近的地方。

eg: The company's headquarters are situated in Denver, Colorado.

這家公司的總部位於科羅拉多的丹佛

rise up 聳立/樹立

eg: As we were driving, we saw beautiful green hillsides rising up in front of us.

=> 我們開車的時候，看到美麗的綠色山坡在我們的面前聳立。

eg: The first time I went to Manhattan, I was amazed by the skyscrapers rising up around me.

=> 我第一次到曼哈頓的時候，對環繞在我周圍的摩天大樓感到讚嘆。

//== Chat room ==//

magic adj. 魔術/魅力

magic adj. 帶有神秘的美/有魔力的

magical time of year

=> 形容春天大地起死回生的時候

magical adj. 魔術的, 魔法的

=> 要形容魔術，要用magic當形容詞

eg: magic tricks 變魔術的把戲

=> 不是magical tricks。

eg: magic show 魔術秀

=> 不是magical show，除非是具有魅力的一場演出。

20110114 Do Schools Kill Creativity (1)

Can students really be creative at school?

High school students Erin and Paul are talking after class.

Conversation

Erin: What do you think of Mr. Powers' assignment?

Paul: It doesn't matter what I think. Mr. Powers did all the thinking for us. He told us exactly what to do and how to do it.

Erin: What's wrong with that?

Paul: There's no creativity involved. If I decide to do the assignment differently, I'll get a bad grade.

Erin: Why would you want to do it differently?

Paul: Well, I might want to be creative. Maybe I want to think outside the box. But schools kill creativity. Mr. powers' assignment is a perfect example.

Erin: Schools don't kill creativity. The structure, the established hours and the schedules all help prepare us for the expectations of the real world.

Paul: Schools just ensure we're all alike. In school, we are taught to get the right answers and to conform.

Erin: But we have to learn skills like reading and math to be anything in life.Those subjects have right and wrong answers.

Paul: I know. But we also need to be able to play with idea and not just complete assignments.

//== Chat room ==//

kill 殺死

=> destroy

kill creativity 扼殺創意

kill time 打發時間

kill the engine 停止引擎

20110113 Green Solutions for Future Events

"Green" Solutions for Future Events

Event planners may score a big win with these eco-friendly ideas

As Spain kicked its winning goal, World Cup planners were already thinking about 2014. Plans include looking for ways to make future games “greener.” One topic being discussed is the benefits of temporary stadiums rather than permanent ones.

South Africa, for instance, spent hundreds of millions of dollars on several permanent stadiums. Now that soccer fans have departed, city leaders aren’t sure how to use the massive arenas. However, permanent structures that are built for one event could soon be a thing of the past.

Architect John Barrow believes solutions exist in something he calls “stadium in a box.” Flexible arenas would be designed to meet the needs of individual events. London’s 2012 Olympic stadium will use this idea. During the Olympics, 55,000 temporary seats will be added to 25,000 permanent seats and then removed afterward.

Barrow also suggests using prefab materials to build stadiums. When an event ends, the stadium could be taken apart and built again somewhere else. Recyclable solutions may very well be found in "stadiums in a box."

individual adj. 個別的/個人的

eg: The design of the kitchens can be adjusted according to each household's individual needs.

=> 廚房的設計可以根據每個家庭不同的需求變化

eg: Victor's individual writing style can be easily recognized.

=> Victor獨特的寫作風格很容易被辨識出來

prefab adj. (建築)預製構件的

=> prefabricated的縮寫

eg: These prefab houses are designed to be temporary shelters for earthquake victims.

=> 這些預製的組合屋是為地震災民所設計的臨時避難所

recyclable adj. 可回收再利用的/可再循環的

eg: These milk jars are recyclable.

=> 這些牛奶瓶可以回收再利用

eg: Recyclable materials are often a bit more expensive, but they are definitely worth the investment.

=> 可再利用的材料一般都比較昂貴一點，但絕對是值得投資的。

//== Chat room ==//

green綠色/表示注重環保的。

blue adj. 藍色/憂鬱

eg: You look blue today.

=> 你今天看起來鬱鬱寡歡

yellow-bellied adj. 懦弱/膽小的

tickled pink 表示讓人非常高興/非常愉快

eg: I was tickled pink to hear that they are getting married.

我很高興聽到他們要結婚的消息

black sheep 害群之馬

eg: The black sheep of the family.

=> 讓家人蒙羞的那一分子

See through rose colored glasses.

=> 過分樂觀的看事情，把一切都看得太美了。

20110112 Will Power (3)

Will Power

From the small screen to the silver screen

Today, most people know Smith for his diverse movie roles. He can do anything from action films like Bad Boys to romantic comedies like Hitch and bring in an audience each time. Whether he's batting aliens, robots or zombies, Smith's characters often have a knack for saving the planet. Such is the case in films like Independence Day, Men in Black, I, robot and I Am Legend. When Smith ventures into dramatic roles he gained critical praise. He received Oscar nominations for his portrayal of famed boxer Muhammad Ali in Ali and later as a struggling father in the Pursuit of Happyness.

After his 2008 superhero flick Hancock hit theaters, Smith became the first actor to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million at the box office. Today he remains one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. Smith continues to find success with each new movie. And when he's got spare time, he often produces hits like the two Grammy-award winners from the 1997 album Big Willie Style. Will Smith puts his mind to his work and succeeds. After all, where there's a Will, there's always a way.

diverse adj. 多元的/多種的

=> many different types of something

eg: The author writes about diverse topics from politics to fashion trends.

=> 這位作者所寫的東西相當多元，從政治到時尚潮流都有。

eg: New York is a culturally diverse city, which makes it an exciting and interesting place to visit.

=> 紐約是一個有多元文化的城市，使它成為一個令人興奮又有趣的觀光地點。

knack n. 技巧/本領

=> natural ability to do somthing easily

eg: Pamela has a knack for telling jokes, and everyone loves to be around her.

=> Pamela有說笑話的本事，每個人都很想親近她。

eg: Eric has a knack for getting things organized.

=> Eric有一種讓事情井井有條的本領

eg: There's a knack to opening this jar.

=> 要打開這個罐頭是有技巧的

consecutive adj. 連續不斷的

eg: Her album has been at the top of the Bulletin Board for 6 consecutive weeks.

=> 她的專輯在排行榜上已經蟬聯六週冠軍了

eg: This is the third consecutive weekend that Peter has to work.

=> 這週已經是Peter要加班工作連續第三個週末了

silver screen

=> big screen

=> movie screen

television

=> small screen

zombie n. 殭屍

Where there's a will, there's a way.

=> 有志者事竟成

//== Chat room ==//

spare adj. 多餘的

spare time 多餘的時間/閒暇的時間

=> extra time

eg: When he's got spare time, he often produces hits like the two Grammy-award winners from the 1997 album Big Willie Style。

=> Will Smith不拍片時，經常製作暢銷的音樂作品，像1997年獲得兩項葛萊美獎的Big Willie Style專輯。

//== Grammer on the go ==//

Such is the case in films like Independence Day, Men in Black, I, robot and I Am Legend.

=> Independence Day, Men in Black, I, robot and I Am Legend are examples of what was just said.

such is the case

=> what was just said

eg: Students often do better in class when their teachers have high expectations. Such is the case with the students of Class 302.

eg: A person's English is more likely to improve when they force themselves to practice regularly; such is the case with Sandra's English.

20110111 Will Power (2)

Will Power

When Smith was 16 years old, he met a disc jockey named Jeff Townes at a party. For years Smith had been interested in rap music, creating rhymes with a comedic twist and dreaming of someday making it big. The two adolescents quickly became friends and began to produce music, Townes acting as DJ and Smith as rapper. Soon, the duo became known as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and released their first album before Smith even graduated from high school. By the time he was 18, Smith was a millionaire.

Known for their parent-friendly, squeaky-clean lyrics, the duo won the first-ever Grammy award for Best Rap Performance in 1989. As Smith's musical success soared, another show business opportunity presented itself. In 1990 he was cast as himself in the television show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Although he had no prior acting experience, audiences were immediately drawn to Smith and watched in delight as the sitcom propelled him further into the spotlight. The show would run for six seasons, making Smith a household name and paving the way for even greater success.

squeaky adj. 吱吱響的

squeaky-clean adj. 純潔的一塵不染的

=> 東西乾淨到摸得時候會發出吱吱饗的聲音，即純潔的一塵不染的

eg: After washing the car for two hours, the windshields were squeaky-clean.

=> 洗車兩個小時下來，擋風玻璃乾淨到一塵不染。

eg: The singer lost her squeaky-clean image after the scandal was exposed.

=> 醜聞爆發之後，這位歌手純潔的形象被破壞了。

soar v. 高飛/猛增

=> fly very high in the air

eg: The eagle soared into the sky.

=> 老鷹高飛衝向天際

eg: The price of copper soared when the mines collapsed.

=> 礦坑一崩塌，銅的價格就飛漲。

eg: The football team's performance soared after a series of difficulties during training.

=> 訓練時經過一連串的困難之後，這支足球隊的表現一飛衝天。

prior adj. 之前的/先前的

eg: His references from his prior jobs are really impressive.

=> 他之前工作的推薦信讓人印象深刻

eg: No prior knowledge of computers is required in this course.

=> 這堂課程不需要事先會電腦

prior to ... 在某個時間點之前

eg: A month prior to her graduation, Chloe had already found a job.

=> 在畢業前的一個月，Chloe已經找到工作了。

disc jockey [DJ] (電臺)唱片音樂節目主持人

comedic twist

adolescent n. 青少年

duo

=> two people

parent-friendly

=> friendly to parent

=> appropriate for children to listen

In 1990 he was cast as himself in the television show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

=> he acted not as another character, but he actually acted like himself

For years Smith had been interested in rap music, creating rhymes with a comedic twist and dreaming of someday making it big.

=> 這裡的making it big為become famous

Although he had no prior acting experience, audiences were immediately drawn to Smith

=> he has no acting experience prior to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

household name 家喻戶曉的名字

=> a person who is very well-known

//== Chat room ==//

As Smith's musical success soared, another show business opportunity presented itself.

=> 這裡的musical為形容詞，意思為音樂的

=> musical success 音樂上的成功

=> Smith在音樂上的成功快速的進展

musical n.音樂片或音樂舞台劇

eg: I'm going to see a musical tonight.

=> 我今晚要去觀賞一齣音樂劇

show business 演藝界

eg: There's No Business Like Show Business.

=> 没有什麼比演藝事業更棒的行業了

=> 有一首經典的英文歌曲叫做There's No Business Like Show Business.

scene n. 某個活耀的場面

eg: the fashion scene 時裝界

eg: the political scene 政界

20110110 Will Power (1)

Will Power

Hollywood superstar Will Smith knows success

He's sold millions of records, had a hit sitcom and starred in multiple blockbuster films. He's one of Hollywood's biggest stars and, arguably, one of the most-recognized celebrities in the world. Will Smith has seemingly done it all, and yet in spite of his immense fame, he continues to stay grounded. His grandmother once wisely advised him, "Don't let failure go to your heart and don't let success go to your head." While that may be a tough task for many Hollywood A-listers, it's second nature for Smith.

A "Prince" is born

Willard Christopher Smith Jr. was born on Sept. 25, 1968, and enjoyed a middle-class upbringing in Philadelphia, PA. There, Smith learned to appreciate and get along with people of differing ethnic backgrounds. His neighborhood was a melting pot where people of many different cultures co-existed. Described as a bright child, Smith was known to play up his natural charm. When he was attending high school, Smith's teachers took note of this and aptly nicknamed him "Prince" for his ability to charm his way out of trouble. Little did Smith know that this nickname would stick, bringing him success and fame in the process.

grounded adj. 腳踏實地的/平時的

eg: Although Frank is a successful businessman, he stays grounded and treats everyone with respect.

=> 雖然Frank是一個成功的生意人，他仍然腳踏實地的生活，而且對每個人都很尊重。

ethnic adj. 人種的/種族的

eg: Representatives from many ethnic groups all attended the meeting.

=> 許多種族團體的代表都參加了這次會議

eg: He tried to hide his ethnic background because he feared being discriminated against.

=> 他試著隱藏自己的種族背景，因為害怕會被歧視。

play up something 凸顯/賣弄/故意強調

=> make something obvious to people

eg: Sarah loves to play up her ability to speak different languages, especially in front of her boss.

=> Sarah很喜歡賣弄她能說多國語言的能力，特別是在老闆面前。

eg: Jack always plays up his past achievements as a student because he's not doing well in his job right now.

=> Jack總是炫耀過去學生時代的光榮事蹟，因為他現在工作上並不順利。

blockbuster n. 風靡一時的電影巨片

sitcom n. 情境喜劇

=> short situation comedy

=> 像是美國影集的六人行(Friends)

A-lister

=> the most famous people

second nature 第二天性

middle-class 中產階級

upbringing n. 養育/教養/培養

aptly adv. 適當地

melting pot 大熔爐

=> 很多人比喻美國為melting pot，

=> 顧名思義不同的族群背景的人彼此融合(blend)在一起

=> 族群融合是一種迷思，錯誤的以為美國是一個民族大熔爐

=> 因此在過去二三十年越來越少人提到大熔爐

=> 取而代之的是salad bowl

=> 也就是多元文化的提倡

=> 在沙拉碗中大家都是具有特色的/有風味的

=> 而這些風味是組合起來的，而不是融合

//== Chat room == //

Pennsylvania (PA) 賓州的縮寫

California (CA) 加州

New York (NY) 紐約

Texas (TX) 德州

public address (PA) 在公共場所廣播

=> 對大眾講話，指的是在公共場所廣播

public address system

=> PA system擴音系統

//== More Information ==//

Will Smith The Family Man

One thing that keeps Will Smith grounded is his family. He enjoys raising his three children with his wife of over 13 years, actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The family is often photographed together on red carpets and is known for their close bond. Smith shared the big screen with his son Jaden in 2006's The Pursuit of Happyness.

20110108 Determining Asia's Best (2)

Determining Asia's Best

How it all works

In the first round, each of the 16 teams will compete in three matches. Then the eight most successful teams will progress to the next round. The teams that lose in the four matches of that round are knocked out of the tournament. The teams that survive then complete in four final matches that determine the winner. This winning team claims the Asian title for four years. In addition, it automatically qualifies for another tournament – the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Where it all happens

This year’s Asian Cup will take place in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar. Though it’s one of the world’s smallest countries, Qatar isn’t worried about handling the crowd. It successfully hosted the AFC Asian Cup in 1988, using only two stadiums. This time, however, the oil-rich country will use five.

Qatar certainly won’t be the only country putting its best foot forward at the tournament. Asia’s finest will be doing the same as the Asian Cup determines its champion.

20110107 Determining Asia's Best (1)

Determining Asia's Best

Asia's biggest soccer tournament starts today

Today, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) begins one of the world’s foremost soccer tournaments. In the AFC Asian Cup, Asia’s top 16 national teams will contend to be the region’s best.

How it all got started

The AFC organizes the Asian Cup every four years. Stretching from Australia to Lebanon, this confederation is the most wide-reaching of FIFA’s six confederations. The AFC began in 1954 with 12 participating nations. As soccer, called football in most countries, grew in popularity throughout Asia, so did the confederation.

Today, the AFC claims 46 member nations – representing over half the world’s population!

AFC tournaments started in Hong Kong in 1956 with Korea Republic winning the first two. In the 1960s, victories shifted to the Middle East where they stayed until the 1990s. Japan brought triumph back to the Far East in 1992, winning three of the next four championships. Who will win this year’s Asian Cup? The next 32 games will answer that.

foremost adj. 最重要的/最著名的

eg: Henry was accepted by one of the foremost colleges in the U.S., his whole family was thrilled.

=> 當美國最著名的大學之一接受了Henry的入學申請時，全家人都興奮得不得了。

eg: Sherry is one of the foremost biochemists of the country.

=> Sherry是國內最優秀的生物學家之一

represent v. 代表/象徵/表示

eg: Geoffrey is representing his school in the national math contest.

=> Geoffrey代表學校參加全國性的數學比賽

eg: The defendant hired a famous lawyer to represent him in court.

=> 被告聘請了一位有名的律師代表他出庭

eg: Red roses often represent love.

=> 紅玫瑰常常象徵著愛情

shift v. 轉移/轉換

eg: She shifted her weight from one foot to the other so she wouldn't feel tired.

=> 她把身體的重量從一隻腳換到另一隻腳，這樣就不會覺得累。

eg: He tried to shift his focus from his terrible break–up with Nancy to his job.

=> 他試著把焦點從和Nancy分手的痛苦轉移到工作上

20110106 Iceboating (2)

Iceboating

If people are iceboating on Long Island, it is a fair bet that one of them will be Mike Acebo. "I'll go anywhere there's ice," he says. "I don't think there is anything else that's as exciting. You're just using wind power and going at 60 miles per hour, two inches above the surface." Before aircraft, some of the fastest vehicles devised were iceboats. Yet, where there is speed, there is also danger. Iceboaters need fast reactions and must read the ice carefully to make sure they do not plunge through it.

In 2009 a man died after falling through the ice. And in 2006 a man was killed after his iceboat slammed into his brother's iceboat. Bill Kanz has had a few close encounters himself. When his boat broke through the surface, his friends knew what to do. They quickly brought out the ropes to haul the boat out of the ice. Acebo and Kanz, who built their boats together at Acebo's shipyard, agree that iceboating is not really about the adrenaline rush – it's about camaraderie.

devise v. 發明/設計

=> create

=> clever recreated

eg: Mr. Jones devised many fun games to play with his kindergarten students.

=> Jones發明了許多和他的幼稚園學生一塊玩的有趣的遊戲

eg: The new marketing strategy was devised by the whole team.

=> 這個新的行銷策略是整個團隊構想出來的

plunge v. 忽然掉落/縱身跳下

=> fall into

eg: The car went out of control and plunged over the bridge.

=> 這部車失去控制，從橋上掉下來。

eg: The girl ran to the beach and plunged into the water.

=> 這個女孩跑到沙灘上，然後縱身跳進海水。

eg: The company's stock prices plunged 10% in one day.

=> 這家公司的股價一天就跌了10%

camaraderie Un. 友情/友愛

=> deep friendship

eg: After the summer training, a strong sense of camaraderie developed among the member of the soccer team.

=> 暑訓之後，這個足球隊的隊員培養出強烈的革命情感。

slam v. 猛地關上

=> hit with a lot of force

haul v. 拖/拉

=> drag something from one place to another

adrenaline n. 腎上腺素

adrenaline rush 身體分泌腎上腺素引起的高度亢奮的感覺

//== Chat room ==//

Iceboats nees fast reactions and must read the ice carefully.

=> 冰上划艇玩家必須要仔細判斷冰層的狀況

read the ice

=> read在這個句子表示觀測、判斷

eg: He can read me like a book.

=> 他對我的想法摸得一清二楚，意思即他把我看透了。

eg: I can read your thoughts from your face.

=> 我從你的臉上看得出你的想法

//== Grammar on the Go ==//

If people are iceboating on Long Island, it is a fair bet that one of them will be Mike Acebo.

=> If people are iceboating on Long Island, it is most likely that one of them will be Mike Acebo.

it is a fair bet

=> most likely

=> 用來描述how something is very possible

=> 用於less formal situation

eg: I'm trying to call my friend, but it is a fair bet that he doesn't have his phone with him.

eg: It's a fair bet the store is closed already. Why don't you go tomorrow morning?

20110105 Iceboating (1)

Iceboating

One doesn't need summer to enjoy the water!

When the coldest depths of winter come to Long Island, New York, the sea and lakes freeze into smooth sheets of ice. If you are fortunate, you might hear the crack of the Long Island iceboats speeding through the chilly air. "When those boats go by at 80 miles per hour, it sets off a vibration," says Bill Kanz, long-time iceboater and member of the orient Ice Yacht Club. "There's nothing like it. It's a roar like a fighter jet going over you."

The boats sit above the ice on skates and have a sail that catches the wind. The boats draw out the whole community of Orient, bundled in their warmest garments. Orient, a pretty village at the tip of Long Island, is located 100 miles or so from New York City. Surrounded by water on most sides, Orient is ideal for iceboating. "It's really special. When the ice is frozen thick enough, the whole village comes out, even those who don't iceboat," Kanz says. "It's very social; people will hang around talking all day."

set off something 啟動/引發

=> cause something to make a loud sound

eg: set off fire alarm

=> 觸發火警警報器

eg: We accidentally set off the alarm and the security people arrived right away.

=> 我們不小心啟動了警報器，然後保全人員馬上就到了。

eg: These fireworks can be easily set off.

=> 這些煙火很容易被引爆

eg: A careless joke set off a big argument between the couple.

=> 一個無心的玩笑引起這對夫妻之間很大的爭執

vibration n. 震動/顫動

eg: Vibrations from the construction site were felt miles away.

=> 工地所傳出來的震動幾哩之外都還可以感覺到

eg: Even at a high speed, the car's engine causes very little vibration.

=> 即使在高速行駛時，這部車子的引擎造成的震動也很小。

hang vt. 掛起來

hang vi. 徘徊/逗留

hang around 聚在一起/泡在一塊

=> stay in a place for a little while

eg: My brother loves to hang around with his high school buddies even though he graduated years ago.

=> 我哥哥畢業多年了，但是很喜歡和高中時的哥兒們聚在一起。

eg: We hang around at the cafe until late last night.

=> 昨晚我們在咖啡廳待到很晚

fortunate

=> lucky

roar v. (獅/虎等)吼叫

garment n. 服裝/衣著

//== Chat room ==//

The boats draw out the whole community of Orient, bundled in their warmest garments.

draw out 吸引

=> 抽出/引出，本課為吸引的意思

draw out 鼓勵某個人說話

eg: You could draw a shy child speaking out in public.

=> 你可以鼓勵一個很害羞的小孩在公眾場合講話

withdraw 從一個地方抽回或者縮回來

=> 從一個地方抽回或者縮回來，一個軍隊可以withdraw(撤退)

withdraw from the contest 退出比賽

withdraw money 提款

20110104 Business Executives (2)

Business Executives

The Chair of the Board

A chair is responsible for leading a company's board of directors. The chair presides over meetings, acts as the board's representative, and along with other board members, the chair helps set an organization's goals and policies. This person is also responsible for approving budgets and selecting and assessing executive officers like the CEO.

Chief Operating/Operations Officer (COO)

While a CEO is responsible for strategy, a chief operations (or operating) officer is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of an organization. A COO oversees the use of resources, and the design, production and delivery of goods or services. Like most other executives, a COO reports to the CEO but can also report directly to the board.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

A company's CFO is responsible for the organization's financial affairs. This usually means taking responsibility for financial planning, record keeping and reporting. In very large corporations, these responsibilities may be shared with other executives like chief accounting officer (CAO) or the chief investment office (CIO).

While many people aspire to top-level jobs, understanding that executive positions require time and commitment puts all those perks in a new light.

preside vi. 管轄/指揮/主持

preside over/at + O

=> in charge of some formal event

eg: Wesley will preside over the department meeting this afternoon.

=> Wesley會主持今天下午的部門會議

eg: The branch manager presides over the office's monthly meetings.

=> 分公司經理主持辦公室的月會

assess v. 評估/進行評價

=> judge the amount of quality of something

eg: Each employee is assessed by his or her supervisor annually.

=> 每位職員每一年都會被主管評估一次

eg: The stability of the computer system needs to be assessed thoroughly.

=> 這部電腦系統的穩定度需要徹底的評估

operate v. 運作

operational adj. 操作上的/運作上的

eg: The operational efficiency of our department needs to be improved if we want to keep our jobs.

=> 如果我們不想丟飯碗的話，我們部門的運作效率需要提高。

operational adj. 運作中的

eg: The new HR system is fully operational.

=> 新的人力資源系統已經全部運作正常

oversee v. 監視/監督/管理/看管

accounting n. 會計

//== Chat room ==//

affair n. 工作/事情/事務

eg: financial affairs 財務

eg: family affairs 家務事

eg: private affairs 私事

eg: public affairs 公務

a fare 一個車資票價

fare n. (大眾工具的)車資/票價

train fare 火車票價

taxi fare 計程車資

//== More information ==//

What's wrong with the word "chairman"? With few exceptions, the chairman of a company has always been a man. Now today, with more and more women reaching the highest levels of business management, chairwoman is sometimes used as the female counterpart to chairman. The term "chair" and "chairperson" are sometimes used to avoid gendered titles altogether, and thus avoid any potential offense.

20110103 Business Executives (1)

What do top executives really do?

Business executive – for some, the term elicits respect and envy, while for others executives are a source of resentment and a symbol of greed. But how much do people really know about executives – and their roles in the organizations they lead?

A lot of attention is given to the perks executives enjoy – big offices, expense accounts and large paychecks. Less focus falls on the long hours, high stress levels and limited job security faced by many executives. Very few people really understand what it is like to be a senior executive. Of all the workers in the U.S., only 0.27 percent are chief executives – making top executives members of a very exclusive and mysterious club.

Here are some of the most common executive positions and the roles they play in the organizations they work for.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

People usually think of a CEO as the boss. Indeed, a CEO is generally the highest-ranking administrator in an organization; however, that doesn’t make CEOs all-powerful. While they are often responsible for achieving goals, planning and oversight of an organization. CEOs are ultimately responsible to an organization’s board of directors and shareholders.

resent v. 厭惡

resentment n. 憤怒/怨恨/厭惡

=> an anger

eg: Henry has a lot of resentment toward his parents during his teenage years.

=> Henry青少年時期對父母親有許多的不滿

eg: Her promotion caused widespread resentment among her colleagues.

=> 她的晉升引起同事間普遍的不滿

ex- 除了...之外

exclusive adj. 獨有的/專用的

=> available to only a specific people

eg: This lounge is for the exclusive use of our VIP customers.

=> 這個休息區是給我們VIP顧客專屬使用的

eg: The bank is offering an exclusive discount to its long-term customers.
eg: This room is for the exclusive use of our VIPs.
eg: This parking space is for the exclusive use of the president.

exclusive adj. 昂貴的/高級的

eg: This brand of leather jackets can only be found in this exclusive store.

=> 這個品牌的皮夾克只有在這家高級服裝店出售

ultimately adv. 最後/終究

=> in the end, finally

eg: Timothy's hard work ultimately won him a promotion.

=> Timothy的辛勤工作最後終於讓他得到升職

eg: Sam works for his uncle right now, but ultimately he wants to open his own business.

=> Sam現在為他叔叔工作，但是終究想要開創自己的事業。

elicit v. 引出/誘出

perk n. 津貼/額外補貼

paycheck n. 付薪水的支票/薪津

administrator n. 管理人/行政官員

=> somebody who is in charge of managing how a company is run

shareholder n. 股東

=> people who has purchases a part of the company

//== Chat room ==//

long hours 很長的工作時間/讀書時間

eg: I often work long hours these days.

=> 我最近常常花很多的時間在工作上

small hours 深夜/三更半夜/凌晨以後的時間

= wee hours

=> early hours in the morning

=> between 1 am and 5 am

=> 之所以叫做small hours是因為一點、兩點、三點這些都是很小的數字

//== Grammar on the go ==//

A lot of attention is given to the perks executives enjoy – big offices, expense accounts and large paychecks. Less focus falls on the long hours, high stress levels and limited job security faced by many executives.

a lot of attention is given to

less focus falls on

eg: A lot of attention is given to how glamorous fashion models look in fashion magazines. Less focus falls on how hard it is for models to work at these photo shoots.

eg: A lot of attention is given to how amazing movie stars look on film. Less focus falls on how the workers behind the scenes make the movie stars look good.