Tuesday, June 30, 2009

DESIGN

Summer Drinks 消暑解渴方程式
Enjoy summer with a cold drink 在炎热的夏季里,民众喜欢享用冰茶,柠檬汁,果昔和更多各式各样饮料来解渴。
by Lisa Holl Chang

In summer, nothing refreshes better than a nice cold drink, and people have a lot of choices.

Many reach for iced tea. In America, the drink first became popular in the South in the 19th century. There, people often add sugar while the tea is still hot and then chill it. This favorite Southern drink is called "sweet tea." In Asia, teas are traditionally served hot, but now tea stands offer iced teas as well. Customers can personalize their order, choosing just the right flavor and amount of sugar and ice.

In India, people enjoy a cooling drink called lassi, which is made with yogurt. This easy-to-make drink can be served sweet or salty, or with added fruit.

Throughout Latin America, people enjoy avena, which means oatmeal. Those who love the oatmeal drink claim it's healthy and delicious! And don't forget drinks made with fruit. In America, nothing says "summer" better than lemonade made from the juice of freshly squeesed lemons.

Smoothies,often made with fruit, milk and sugar mixed together, are favorites in both America and Asia.

So, what are you thirsty for?


refresh(V)-full of energy, fresh feeling.
A col shower is a great way to refresh yourself on a hot summer day.
chill (v)-cool it down, put it in the regrigerator.冷却但不到冰冻的程度。
Let the potato salad chill in the refrigerator before you serve it.
*Allow the cheesecake to chill in the refrigerateor for 2 hours...
*We chilled our soda in the creek while fishing.
flavor-is the way of some thing to taste.
My favorite flavor of ice cream is strawberry.
Squeezed-put certain wight to press or push-挤压,勉强挤出,抽出。
The sandwich had mayonnaise and mustard squeezed onto it.
*He squeezed the water out of the wet mop.
*Jean ordered a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. 新鲜挤轧的柠檬汁。
*.... Susan managed to squeeze in a short vacation.
Personalized-personalized something is to make for your own personal. 使个人化,使个性化,标上自己的姓名。
She personalized her room with a lot of her own paintings.
All of his stationary is personalized.
smoothie- ice smooth, fruits ice smoothie.
Avena (a-'vin-na)-oatmeal.
Lassi (>la si)

Grammar:

In summer, nothing refreshes better than a nice cold drink...
A nice cold drink is the most refreshing thing in the summer...

something + is the most + adjective

This hotel is the most expensive one in the city.
This painting is the most famous one in the museum.

Nothing + verb +better than +something.

Nothing says "I love you" better than a diamond ring.
Nothing stops the itch of a bug bite better than this skin cream.
Nothing relaxes tight muscles better than a nice hot bath.

Chat Room

sweet tea- Southern American drink sweet tea almost every day.
sweet tea/unsweetened tea
light sweet tea usually let you add own sugar
sugar substitutes is artificial sweetener-- such as Sweet'n Low, Splenda, Equal brand.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Watches Tell More Than Time (2)

"Complications"--features that go beyond simple timekeeping-are an important part of a watch's image.

Today's watches offer a host of features that suit almost any personality. These features include altitude trackers. compasses, lunar calendars, USB drives, and even devices that measure the effectiveness of golf swings!

Creativity is also a key element in today's watches. For example, Japanese watchmaker Tokyoflash makes watches that don't even look like watches. The company's popular Shinshoku model uses different color lights to tell the time.

It looks more like a futuristic bracelet than a watch. Another Japanese watchmaker, EleeNo, makes a "handless" watch Using a ring of circles to keep time, this watch makes an excellent conversation piece. Whether a watch communicates fashion sense, creative flair or a love of sports, consumers want their timepieces to stand out. Nowadays, everyone has the same kind of gadget in their bags, so people want to make a statement with what's on their wrists. Will this interest in wrist fashion last?
Only time will tell!


altitude-the distance of height from the sea level. altitude/elevation
When the climbers reached 4,000 meters, several of them experienced altitude sickness with bad headaches and nosebleeds.
creativity (n)-Working in our company's art department requires a lot of creativity.
futuristic (adj)-don't look like it happen on this current world, but may be in future.未来感的,未来主义。
The design of this building is very futuristic. It makes me feel like I'm going to outer space!
*Th futuristic design of the building makes it the landmark 地标 of the city.
*This futuristic sci-fi novel 科幻小说was adapted into a movie.
gadget(n)-Alex owns lots of gadgets. He got an MP3 player last month, and yesterday he bought a GPS.
*This kitchen gadget can open cans in just a few seconds.
*These office gadgets are nice gifts for colleagues or clients.
*This handy gadget peels 削皮an apple and also cuts out the core.核心,果心
conversation piece-people would like to talk about it with you, something famous that you own and become a talk topic,start a conversation about it.
flair- the girl has a flair for writing music. 天才,才华(常用单数)那方面的才华用“for"
Samuel has a flair for solving difficult mathematics problems.
The new CEO has certainly got flair.很有自己的一套。
"complication"- extra features, go beyond the time, usually say in negative way, more problems, more complex make task difficult. here refer carry of functions. " " quotation means use for a special way.
compass(es) -tell east,west, south, north.
handless watch,watch usually has two movable needle on the watch face called hands. stand out.

Grammar:

It looks more like a futuristic bracelet than a watch.

It looks more like an A than a B. (显示它们的不同)。

Sarah's evening gown looks more like a coat than a dress.
The artist's painting looks more like a child's artwork than a masterpiece.

Chat Room

device/gadget (usually smaller)小器具,小器件。
hands-watch 用身体的部位来形容东西。手表的长短针
face-watch 手表的表面。
nose-the front part of airplane.
legs-table, chair, bed has
a comb has teeth
a needle has an eye 洞
a bottle has a neck 瓶颈
bottleneck traffic--交通尖峰时
the eye of the needle 针孔
heel 脚跟- is the end piece of a loaf of bread 面包的最后的一段部位。

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Watches Tell More Than Time

手錶不只能報時
From cool Japanese styles to multi-function models, watches make a statement
by Beth Bowyer Wei 用你所戴的手表来表态

In today's world of cell phones, mini laptops and MP3 players, most people have at least one time-telling tool with them. Since these devices are so common, is time running out for the 500-year-old watch? According to some consumers, yes. New Jersey teenager Charlie Wollman Says a watch is "an extra piece of equipment with no necessary function. " Many young adults agree-and use their cell phones to tell time. Louis Galie, a senior vice president at Timex, said that fewer young people wear watches today than five years ago. As a result, some people claim that the watch industry is at a crossroads.

However, watchmakers optimistically say that watches regain popularity when consumers reach their 20s and 30s. By then, they are willing to spend money on a quality timepiece that doesn't just keep good time. Fifty years ago, watchmakers boasted about their products' accuracy. But in recent years, the watch industry has transformed itself into an accessory business.

And for many today, the image a watch communicates has become more important than the time it tells.

device-machine or a tool use for some purpose. 装置,仪器
With this mobile device, I can listen to music, play games and surf the Internet.
*This special device shows where the patients are located in the hospital.
*The device the doctor put in her chest regulates her heartbeats. 调节
consumers -you use it or buy it, you are a consumer. 消费者,用户
Angry consumers called the store to complain about the damaged products they had purchased.
consume- 消费,消耗
*The rise of oil prices impacts all consumers.
*Consumers should be educated about their rights.
*Consumer spending decreased dramatically last year.
popularity-many people know about it or use it. 受欢迎的,流行。
Social networking websites are increasing in popularity. Even my grandmother uses one!
popular- 受欢迎
*The movie's success boosted the actor's popularity.
*Many companies have started to notice the increasing popularity of organic food.有机食物
accuracy-Some universities don't allow students to use information from wikis because of problems with the sites' accuracy.
function-refer to the job or roll of a person or something.
make a statement--communicate something without word.
crossroads-two streets cross--十字交叉路口。come to a point you need to choice which direction should go.timepiece- a piece of equipment that tell time, watches, clocks are timepieces.
accessory-not essential, not necessary but it does add something to look good or more style on you. Watches are now communicate more than just tell time.

Chat Room

tool- anything help you something. hammer, screwdriver etc help you to do physical work.
-it also can be something that help you to do some particular work.

tools of the trade--专业用的器具。(a group of tool)
are the things you need to use or do a specific job. like hair stylist need a group of
hair tool to cut or style people's hair. 梳子,剪刀等
utensils-- 部插电的厨房用具,刀叉,饭瓢,铲子等。
cooking utensils, eating utensils. tools in kitchen not use electricity.
appliance-- 插电的厨房器具,烤面包机,洗碗机,冰箱等
electrical machine use in the kitchen. tools in kitchen need electricity to make them work.
instrument--很精密细小的 仪器。如外科用的解剖刀(scalpel)
refer to a tool usually is very small but used by a special trained person, such as scalpel.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

What Would You Do? Studying Abroad 出国留学 (2)

6-27-09

Drawbacks--disadvantage, bad side of situation-leave family, friends, the comforts of home...
There are many drawbacks to driving a car, including the high cost of fuel. (draw拉的动作)往后拉,弊端,缺点.
*One of the drawbacks of playing computer games is the lack of inter personal relationship.
*The biggest drawback of living with a roommate is to share the bathroom.

Underestimated--think lower or less about something.
Will missed his flight because he underestimated the amount of traffic on the highway to the airport.

Transition (v)--change from one situation place to another, big change, big transition (n)改变,过度期
Jamie learned a lot about responsibility when she transitioned from sales to management at her job.
*Our computer system is in transition right now.
*The course's purpose is to train us to transition to a new way of thinking.
*He had difficulty transitioning from a follower to the role of a leader.

Chew on--think deeply about something, spend time to think carefully, have something for me to chew on, give me a lot to chew on. (chew)俎嚼, shew on something不是咬嚼东西,此处指细心地去思考,讨论甚么事
Ben loves his philosophy course because it always gives him a lot to chew on.
* Thank you for your proposal, but I need to chew on it before making any decisions.

Culture shock--usually happen in the beginning, have shocked in culture--everything is different--we think it is common but may not be accepted by others.
Learn to understand and appreciate other people (country) culture. Study abroad students are feel they are in the deep hole, feel sad, anxious, lonely and confuse, depress. --to expect or be aware of some culture shock. I never said it will be easy but the way to travel, learn, and meet new people you can't really do at your own country, all of that though is part of experience of study abroad. The experiences or the end result is well worthy. I see your point, but there is big expenses involve too. Point out this in some point is not cheap at all, high cost in living, high Education, there are add expenses to go to other country, travel, car, take public transportation, stay dorm or apartment, pay rent and food...it cost an arm and a leg.
There are some school provide scholarship and grand to help needed students to cut down the expenses.

Did you know...

Thinking about studying in the United States? Currently, the U.S. has nearly 600,000 international students. Nearly HALF of all international students in the U.S. come from India, China, Korea, Japan, and Canada. The five U.S. states that attract the most international students are California. New York, Texas, Massachusetts, and Florida. The most popular fields of study for international students are business, engineering, mathematics and computer science.

Chat room

An arm and a leg--something is very expensive.
cost someone an arm and a leg (cost=pay=charge) 把一支手一条腿都付出了,付上很大的代价.表示极起昂贵的意思.
Cost a pretty penny--一分钱一分钱,聚沙成塔.所费不资,很贵,
At all costs--no matter how much afford will cost (involve), do anything you can to avoid, finish, obtain...付上所有代价,不惜付出一切代价.




Friday, June 26, 2009

What Would You Do? Studying Abroad 出国留学

6-26-09
Is studying in another country really a good idea?-by Jeremiah Clark and Chelsea Ewald

Each year, students around the world leave behind the comforts of home to pursue a study-abroad experience in a foreign country. While many would say that studying abroad is advantageous, some would argue otherwise.

Conversation A

Adam: Have you been in the student union lately? At lunchtime today I heard French, Arabic, Chinese and a few language I didn't even recognize.

Beth: I know ! It seems like our university gets more international students every year. But to be honest, I don't know if I see the benefits of studying in another country.

Adam: What? There are plenty of them! the most obvious is second language acquisition. Where better to practice another language than in a country where it's spoken?


Proficient (in) --Julie decided not to study in Canada because she doesn't think she is proficient in English.--(good skill, very good in.. success in ..

Advantageous--Tom realized the advantageous effects of exercise after he lost five kg in one week. ( Benefit,

*The bank promised to give us an advantageous interest rate.较优厚的,较好的

*The new policy is advantageous to minorities.--有帮助的,有利的

Acquisition (n)-- The president hoped to increase his company's profits through the acquisition of a small business.--(acquire(v.)gain)

*He spent his whole life on the acquisition of wealth.--获得,取得.

*The acquisition of one's mother tongue is a natural process.

Accordingly (adv.)--When we visit the CEO's office, we all have to dress accordingly.(according和谐的 is to do what is the right or best.

*Once we receive the notice from your lawyer, we will act accordingly.(相对的,相称的,相对应的)

*The boss sent him home to rest accordingly. (因此,所以)

ESL-(English as a Second Language)

What happen if...,

Grammar:

It's one thing to practice a language, but it's another to study in it.

It's one thing to ....,but it's another to.....(表示前后两个全然不同的situation)

It's one thing to play with an animal, but it's another to own one as a pet.

It's one thing to visit a place, but it's another to live there.

Chatroom

Accommodate..(v.)(provide students what they need to make them feel home)-迁就,迎合,照顾

Hotel accommodations_ (n)-accommodating us,

Amenities-(Hotel, Airline or Cruise provide) for better and more confors (cost more money, usually, book a hotel, ask about accommodations and amenities.-住宿或Hotel招待的设备,如泳池,早餐等..amenities使生活舒适的东西比accommodations多

Accommodate someone or something--need to adjust, and learn to live with that person or that thing.--go out of their way to help.