Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Magical Marrakesh

魅力四射的馬拉喀什市
Find the heartbeat of Morocco in colorful and exciting Marrakesh 蒞臨馬拉喀什市──體驗這個摩洛哥城市的美景、市集和多采多姿的商品 by Beth Bowyer Wei

Marrakesh has many names – The Red City, Pearl of the South, The Heartbeat of Morocco – and lives up to them all. This bustling city charms visitors with its beautiful palaces, ancient winding streets, colorful goods, and lively city square.
Located in central Morocco, Marrakesh rests at the foothills of the snowcapped Atlas Mountains. Its location and rich cultural traditions make it one of the hottest tourist destinations in North Africa today.

A mosque, a palace and a garden
Near the city center, the towering minaret of Koutoubia Mosque rises up from a sea of rose-colored buildings. The historic building features eye-catching ceramic tiles and decorative arches. Non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque, but its haunting call to prayer can be heard throughout the city five times a day.

Another city treasure, the 19th-century Bahia Palace, boasts impressive mosaic ceilings and tiled courtyards. The lovely Jardin Mjorelle a beautiful garden filled with rare plants, also attracts tourists. After enjoying the flowers, many guests check out the paintings, pottery and jewelry on display at the garden's Islamic art museum.

Djemaa el Fna Square
In the center of the dusty city lies the famous dyemaa el Fna Square. During the day , the square is filled with performers and merchants. Dozens of magicians, acrobats, snake charmers, henna artists, performing Barbary apes, and traditional medicine sellers amaze visitors. As the sun sets, chefs set up food stalls, and the square transforms into a huge open-air restaurant. Diners can sample grilled eggplant, deep-fried fish, bean soups, and all sorts of spiced meats. A cup of sweet mint tea tops off any meal nicely.

The old city
Inside the city's medina-its walled, ancient quarter-lies a maze of small, winding streets. The medina also houses the city's traditional market, the largest one in Morocco. The market, or souk, serves locals and tourists alike, selling pastries, spices, carpets, leather bags, colorful scarves and more. The shrewd vendors charm tourists with their good English and unusual goods. The city's exotic sights, sounds, smells and tastes make it unforgettable. So while vacationers leave Marrakesh, the magic of Marrakesh never leaves them.

More Information:
Stay in a Riad
Riad, which means "garden" in Arabic, is a traditional Moroccan house. Beautifully designed, each of these homes has an enclosed garden and fountain. The rooms of the house are arranged around the open space in the middle. Years ago, all the members of an extended family would live together in one riad. Today, many tourists who travel to Marrakesh choose to stay in small hotels that were, at one time, traditional riads.

Grammar
A cup of sweet mint tea tops off any meal nicely.
tops off (idiom)-to end something in a special way (positively)
The Jones family topped off their movie evening with ice cream.
The hostess topped off the dinner banquet with her amazing homemade chocolate cake.

Vocabulary
Bustle (v)- "t" 不发音.忙忙碌碌或熙熙攘攘move around quickly, describe a city is full of power and energy. bustle with-充满了某个东西,活动令人兴奋的事情.
This bustling market is one of the city's main tourist attractions.
*This bustling market is one of the largest in the country.
*This city is bustling with all sorts of activities and excitement.
heartbeat -heartbeat make a human alive, here means the one go the place keep going.活耀鲜活
charms- please and interesting them
mosque- a building for Muslim to worship.
minaret-a towel, is a part of building, call people toward it and prayer.
haunting-stay in the mind, not easily to forgot. haunt-令人困扰,不断浮出,围绕在心头上.难以忘怀的,令人难忘的,令人难以抹灭的
The remains of the building are a haunting reminder of last year's terrible fire.
*The haunting memories of the car accident still trouble her.
*The photographer captured the haunting beauty of Alaska.
tiles (n)-磁砖,砖,或瓦,板状的东西Jill's bathroom floor is covered with blue and yellow tiles.
*The owner used imported tiles on the floor of the entrance of his house.
*They used ceramic tiles on their roof.
*tile (v)-动词是铺上地砖.We're going to tile our bathroom this weekend.
courtyards (n)-Many of the campus's classroom buildings have courtyards where students can play or study.
dusty (adj)-都是灰尘的We drove down a long dusty road on our way to the tiny African village.
*This dusty road leads to the small town.
*In the spring, the city becomes very dusty.
dusty pink-带有灰色调的(粉红色)
acrobat (n)- 杂技,特技.acrobatic-像杂技或特技般的, acrobatics (n)-特技,杂技表演
The acrobats impressed the audience with their amazing flips and jumps.
*Tim is a circus acrobat.马戏团的特技演员.
*The pitcher made an acrobatic save and no runs were scored.救了这一局没让对手得分.
*The actor went to China to study martial arts and acrobatics.武术
shrewd- good in seeing situation and make judgement.精明的,机灵的
*She is a shrewd businesswoman who knows a good deal when she sees one.
*He was shrewd enough not to offend his boss.
shrewd businessman, shrewd politician, shrewd sales person.
transform (v)-My son's favorite superhero drives a car that transforms into an airplanes.
pastry (n)-The little bakery on the corner is filled with delicious looking pastries.
henna-henna ink to draw or color your body or hair.
medina-wall protected ancient city.

Chat Room
nickname-describe the person, replace the real name.
Chicago/the Windy City
New York City/the Big Apple
Tinseltown/Hollywood-tinsel是用铝箔纸条装饰,闪闪发亮,没有实质价值的,指闪闪发光,给人廉价,俗气的感觉.比较负面的意思.如今指闪耀夺目的好莱坞.
Paris/the City of Lights
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spiced(有加香料的)/ spicy(辣的)
spice can be spicy.
spiced-有加香料的 spiced meat-有用香料醃过的肉.
spice something up-spice up-make more interesting.
"variety is the spice of life"-variety-多样化,变化多端的,变化是生活上的调味品。一成不变的生活是很乏味枯燥的。是说生活中要有调剂,变化

Monday, September 28, 2009

Getting Paid to Watch Movies

看電影不用付錢的專家,
A professional movie critic shares what it's like to watch movies for a living
专家影评人分享一看电影谋生之道by Simon Stopps

SC: What do movie critics do?
JC: I would say that a movie critic is someone who writes critically and analytically about films and measures a film’s artistic virtues. To do this effectively, a critic must have significant knowledge of film history and be able to place an individual film in its historical or cultural context. I think it’s important to emphasize that a good movie critic must also be a good writer. Film criticism is more than simply saying whether a movie is good or bad. It’s about writing in a way that captures the experience of watching the film in question.


SC: How do they do it?
JC: Most of the time, critics are invited to see films at press screenings held by the studios. These
screenings are generally held a week or two before the film opens to give critics time to file their reviews before the film's starts. However, it's been an increasingly common practice for studios to NOT screen a movie in advance, which is usually a pretty good sign that the movie is really bad. It there is no screening the critic has to go see the movie on the morning it opens and then publish a review as quickly as possible.

SC: How does one become a movie critic?
JC: There are all sorts of different doors leading into this profession. I became a passionate lover of film in my teens and soon developed a compulsion to write about them long before I decided to start doing it professionally. I reviewed films for my college newspaper and studied journalism, film and business. After graduating. I got an internship at Variety; eventually they hired me, and the rest is pretty much history.

SC: How have blogs and the Internet changed the role of movie critics?
JC: Enormously. For better and for worse, the Internet has democratized journalism, and that extends to film criticism as well. Nowadays anyone who sees a movie can post his or her thoughts on the web even if they aren't a particularly good writer or don't have the requisite film knowledge. That said, there are many excellent film bloggers and online critics who are adding their voices to the dialogue. Ultimately, that's what film criticism is about fashioning an ongoing dialogue among critics and their readers. I should also add that the Internet has made it much easier to dialogue with readers about my reviews.

More Info.
A good film critique could mean millions of dollars in revenue for a movie studio.
A negative critique could mean millions of dollars LOST. Knowing this, film studios work hard to persuade film critics that their movie is good. One way they do this is by sending film critics a press kit, which is basically a package containing the film's background information, flattering photos, and, often, a small gift.

Grammar
For better and for worse, the Internet has democratized journalism, and that extends to film criticism as well.
for better and for worse
for better or for worse (idiom)-Whether the situation is good or bad, or whether the outcome is good or bad.
For better or for worse, always treat people with respect.
The Internet has democratized journalism in good ways and in bad ways, and that extends to film criticism as well.

Vocabulary
critically (adv)-to find mistakes or fault or problem. think critically.批判性的,具有批评性或判别力的
Shane read the report critically and decided it was incorrect.
*As a researcher, Peter was trained to think critically.
*The author of this critically acclaimed novel is nominated for the Nobel Prize. 被提名
analytically-analysing the different part of the movie.
artistic-
virtues-value
context-put something into context-put in to place of history or culture.
capture-catching, graping or holding a moment of picture.
suspect-commit a crime.
press-here is mean " media"
in question (idiom)-under consideration, 考虑中,讨论中的
The book in question has sold over 1 million copies.
* This issue might be important, but it is not the point in question right now.
*The interviewee in question is now waiting in the conference room.
screening (n)-The movie screening will be held this weekend.
file (v)-Charlene will file the story after she has finished the interview.
Passionate (adj)-乐诚 strong feeling, many emotion. full of passion.
Martha has been a passionate gardener since the age of seven.
compulsion (n)-strong motivation to do something, 难以抗拒的冲动,冲动。
I feel a compulsion to drink coffee every afternoon.
*She felt a compulsion to go to her boss' office and quit.
*He suddenly had the compulsion to tell everyone the truth.
journalism (n)-The ability to do research is very important for those who want to succeed in journalism.
requisite (adj)- 需要的,不可少的(n) 比需品,要素necessary.
Hanna hadn't completed the requisite courses, so she wasn't admitted into the program.
*She lacks the requisite skills for the job.
*All the requisite documents should be attached with the application form.
* A good map is a requisite for travelling.
fashion (n)-时尚,流行 (v)-形成,朔造
*He fashioned the clay into a vase.
*The director has fashioned a satisfying movie from this Jane Austin novel. 导演。拍成一部满意的。
enormously-huge, large amount , very big (changes)
democratized-refer to the system for every one has equal value, every one has equal saying or doing things.

Chat Room
movie critics-影评,critics批评者,挑剔,指责,评论家,
critics, critique
a critic writes a critique-critique (重音在后面)评论
constructive criticism-get advice from 。建设性的批评,帮助人家有更好的表现
------
the rest in history (idiom)-history is everyone know about the story--故事说到这,接下来的事,不用多说,大家都已知道了。
make history- Like Obama is the first African-American president of U.S.A.创造历史,做名留青史之大事
history in the making--伟大的事正在进行。是make history的现代式,正在创造历史。

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Creative Ways to Thank Your Teacher

感謝老師的創意方式
Show appreciation to the teachers in your life 教师节勇创意来向老师表达感谢吧
by Chelsea Ewald

They spend innumerable hours planning lessons, grading papers, and encouraging and challenging students. Don’t let your teacher’s work go unnoticed. Say “thank you” in a creative way!

Create a book
Present your teacher with a one-of-a-kind book made especially for him or her. Each student in the class can create a page showing his or her thanks. On that page, they can draw a picture, write a poem, or express gratitude through a letter. Finally, have all of the pages bound inexpensively at a copy shop.


Surprise with a personalized basket
Everyone enjoys a surprise and teachers are no exception! Surprise a teacher in your life by putting together a basket of all of his or her favorite things. If your teacher loves to read, include books and magazines. If it's sports that catch your teacher's eye, include tickets to a sporting event in your teacher's basket with other sports -oriented gifts. Or, fill the basket with necessary classroom supplies like pens and paper clips.

Plan an event
Organize a fun, after-school event in honor of your teachers. Invite them to join students, parents, and administrators for a time of games and refreshments together. However you decide to say thanks, it will make your teacher's day.

Grammar
Don't let your teacher's work go unnoticed.
go unnoticed-to continue on with no one paying any attention.
Don't let your teachers' work continue on with nobody showing any appreciation for it.
This is a serious problem; how could anyone let it go unnoticed?
It's hard to imagine that Vincent Van Gogh's paintings went almost unnoticed during his life time.

Vocabulary
innumerable (adj)-多到数不清的,无数的. in-否定的字根 numerable可以数算的
Elvis Presley had innumerable hit songs in the '50s and '60s. Even today, his CDs still sell many copies worldwide.
*When you're the owner of a business, you'll have to solve innumerable problems.
*Innumerable fans' calls poured in to inquire about the singer's next concert. 涌进来寻问
bind (v)-bound (p, pp)-装订,订在一起.
Before he handed in his thesis, Jim had it bound at the university print shop.
*In the past, people used leather to bind books.皮革
*I found a beautifully bound journal in the attic. 精美的日记本,搁楼里
exception (n)-例外 except (pr) 除外,除此之外,
The special effects were the one exception to the disappointing movie-they were great!
*Most women like fashion, but Hannah is the exception.
no exception-His books are always best-sellers, and this one is no exception. 排行榜前几名,这本也
make one's day (idiom)-It made my day when I learned that I had won a free trip to Hong Kong!
catch someone's eye-get a person attention.
move out the way- let me move out the way, I'd better move out the way.

Chat Room
don't let your teacher's work go unnoticed
go-此处指变成,处于某种状态。continually and in a condition..
food may go bad 变腐坏, Child may go hungry变饿, go bald头变秃, go gray髮變白, my hair is gone gray.
go- 被称为 you go by ken. William often goes by Bill, He goes by Jimmy 一般人称他为Bill (Jimmy)
go-I go this way, you go that way.
go-叙述或说一件事 speaking or describe something, I go "Martha," She goes " Hi"
no-go (哩语)- go, or no-go- 不成功,无效,无法达成(成行) The trip is no-go because of the weather.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The Sun Is Shining; The Winds Are Blowing

美國留學記:風和日麗Here I am in Southern California Los Angeles 洛杉矶开学记-
by Luke Wang

I still remember early last month when I said goodbye to my parents, stepped on the airplane, and started my journey to America. Of course, everyone gets excited when traveling around. For me, however, this trip was different — I was traveling for academic purposes.
Filled with an anxious excitement, I began my year with the new students’ orientation. Meeting all the freshmen from different parts of America was really exciting. Watching thousands of Americans walking around, speaking English, I finally realized that I was in America – a foreign country


During the orientation, I tried to make some new American Friends. Unfortunately. it is hard for me to make friends. My English skills were poorer than the Americans'. And my culture also made me different from the rest of the students here. On the other hand, my diverse background was a good thing as it made me unique. Some were interested to know that I am from Taipei. Many asked tons of questions about the differences between Taipei and Los Angeles.

Fun times always pass by quickly. After a few days of orientation, school started and that was when the real battle began.

Grammar
Many ask tons of questions about the differences between Taipei and Los Angeles.
tons-"a lot" or "many"
plenty: plenty of choices.
loads: loads of fun.
masses: masses of people
piles: piles of cloths.
heaps: heaps of junk. Try use different word to describe something, avoid a word repeat and repeat.
Vocabulary
academic (adj)-学术上的,学业上的。。
Does Michael have the academic qualifications that are necessary for this job?
*The professor's academic achievement was not fully recognized until recently. 学术上的成就
* You need to have excellent academic record in order to be accepted by this university. 纪录
orientation (n)-introduce to the new students about the school works.
orient- 使适应,孰悉. orientation 帮助新生,新进的人适应的课程训练。
All new employees must attend a two-day orientation before they begin to work here.
*Freshmen orientation day will be on September 1st.
*New employees need to attend our 3-day orientation.
freshmen (n)-All of the freshmen at our university must take a class in cultural studies.
unique (adj)-Every person in the world is unique, no two people are exactly alike.
*His unique directing style is well received in Europe.
*This kind of butterfly is a species unique to Taiwan.
anxious-nervous but happy to looking for about something happen.
diverse (adj)-多元化的 variety, several difference.

Chat Room
language barrier- 语言障碍 barrier 障碍。 克服语言障碍的方法事有耐心的不断练习。
overcome the barrier of language is practice and learning English as much as possible.
cultural barrier- 文化障碍。 克服文化障碍的方法是多接触当地的人。
overcome the barrier of cultural is go with the people of culture and learn from them.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Dusty Earns His Keep

小狗灰灰找到人生的價值
Everyone has something special to share 灰灰有没有任何特殊才能可以和人分享呢?
by Hazel Johansen

Dusty the pup was keeping busy. “Splashing in the pond, chasing chickens, and digging in the garden sure make a farm dog tired!” he yelped. “Why, there’s so much to do, I can hardly keep up with it all. In fact,” he yawned, “I’m so tired. I’ll just find a shady spot where I can keep cool until my master comes home.” So he trotted to the pasture to rest under the oak tree where the dairy cows were lying. "And what are you doing here?" mooed Mrs. Milkmaker.
"Why," barked the puppy, "I'm lookin for a shady place to rest."
"Well, then, keep on looking." the cow continued. "We don't want you here with us. We give the farmer our finest milk," she mooed proudly.
"But what do you give? Can you give milk?"
"Well, I, uh..."
"Of course you can't!" bellowed the cow. "So keep moving ! You're not welcome here."
Dusty sadly went on his way. Noticing the barn door was open he went inside. " I'll nap in here," he thought. And he settled down in a stack of hay and closed his eyes.
"Baaa, baaa," said Sweaterby the lamb, interrupting the puppy's sleep. "Why, you're no good at all. You're baaad, baaad, baaad." The lamb kept it up. "Why does the farmer keep you around anyhow? We sheep give him our finest wool." he bragged. "But what do you give? Can you give wool?"
"Well, I, uh"
"Of course you can't! You're baaad, baaad, baaad!" Sweaterby the lamb kept at it until the puppy finally got up and went sadly out of the barn.
"Now where will I go? Dusty asked himself. And passing the hen house, he decided to duck inside.
"Oh, no! Not you again!" clucked Shelly the hen. "keep out! We're busy laying our eggs. And we can't keep on top of our work with you around!" she scolded. "Keep in mind that we chickens give the farmer our finest eggs. And what do you give? Can you give eggs? Dusty kept quiet. "Of course you can't! Now keep away from us!" the red hen warned.
Dusty could hardly keep back the tears. "All the other farm animals earn their keep." he thought, "Some give milk. Some give wool. Some give eggs. But I give nothing! What good am I?" he asked himself. "Maybe I should run away."
But just then, Dusty saw the farmer coming from the fields. Leaving his troubles behind he raced down the path to greet him. "Master! Master!" he barked wildly. His body wiggled, and his tail wagged. The farmer bent down and scooped the pup into his arms. Dusty licked the farmer's face excitedly.
"You always greet me with such happiness," the farmer smiled. "Now, keep this to yourself and don't tell the others." he said. "But of all the farm animals, you're the most special because you always give me so much joy!"

What do you give to others? If you're giving them happiness, then you're giving them the most special thing of all. So keep up the good work!

Grammar
All the other farm animals earn their keep.
to earn their keep:-to work hard enough so you can receive what you deserve or need.
earn-to work in order to receive something.
keep-food and a place to stay.
The other farm animals work hard enough so they can get to live on the farm.
to earn one's keep:
James has graduated and is moving back home, but his parents expect him to earn his keep.
Sarah was welcome to stay in the village, but she would have to earn her keep.

Vocabulary
trot (v)-fast walking, slow running 小跑步,急行。
The wild horse trotted around in circles.
*The horse was trotting through the woods.
*We trotted along the beach while walking our dog. 沿着海边
bellow (v)-talk in very loud, anger voice 动物怒吼嘶鸣,大声叫吼,公牛叫声
I can hear the ship's horn bellowing through the fog.
*The horse bellowed and started to run wildly.
*You can hear the sergeant bellowing at the rookies.士官长,菜鸟们
yelp-dog excited and make noise. 吠
earn his keep (idiom)-earning your way of living, ability to live. earn 赚取 keep生活费,食宿费
earn his keep (idiom)-只指赚取生活费,食宿费
earn his living (idiom)- 以此来谋生。
keep up with (idiom)-keep or stay at same pace.
keep something up (idiom)- continue, going on
keep something (it) on (idiom)-continue to do something unwanted.
keep out-stay out
keep on the top of something-(a) lay eggs on the top of something. (b) finishing the work on time.
keep away-keep a distance, don't get near or come back.
keep back-hold back, stop something is going.
keep to oneself-(1)自己知道就好,保守秘密。(2)不与别人来往,独来独往。
*I'll tell you a secret if you promise to keep it to yourself.
scold (v)-angry and tell people to do something or not to do something. 责骂,斥责。
The teacher scolded the boys for fighting with each other.
*Dad scolded us for not finishing our homework before bedtime.
*Mom scolded us because we didn't come home right away after school.
scoop (v)-pick something up. (1)抱起,拾起 (2)勺子,小铲.
Mary scooped her books and headed for school.
*She scooped up her baby and ran from the fire scene.
*He scooped up his belongings off the floor and put them in his bag.
a scoop of ice-cream

Chat Room
sack, hay, hit the sack=hit the hay=go to bed 古时人们的床都是用麻布袋或大袋子,里面装满甘草。
power nap-take nap in a short amount of time (no more than 30 min) 感到精疲力尽,小睡片刻,重新得力。 -------
hen母鸡, hen house-a building is hen live=chicken coop 鸡舍,养鸡场
peck-strike with bird beak。啄
pecking order-分尊卑等级,强的,高位的可以肆无忌惮的啄比较低的,被啄的不敢反抗。-长幼尊卑有序。
chicken peck-在鸡群中也是强的啄弱的,老的啄幼的
the bottom of the pecking rank-在最低层次的员工。

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Students Have a Ball

教室裡有球
Sitting on exercise balls brings more than a smile to students and teachers 看看这些学生在教室里"坐"什么-答案可不是椅子喔!
by Ruth Devlin

Sitting on a chair all day in school can make anyone want to move around. So, more and more teachers are letting students have a ball. By replacing chairs with exercise balls, teachers find students’ posture and attention improve.
Dottie Pownall, a fifth-grade teacher in West Virginia, has been using balls as chairs since December 2008. “The students love them,” she says. Pownall took a survey of her students. She found that 80 percent thought sitting on the balls helped them focus better.


Former teacher Lisa Witt felt so strongly about the use of balls as chairs she started Wittfitt. This company encourages the use of balls. In addition, the company educates not only teachers but also students on how to use them. "We have clients in 24 states, three provinces in Canada, Puerto Rico and Japan," says Witt. "Research show that sitting on the balls promotes sitting up straighter. You can slouch on a ball, " says Witt, "but it feels awful." Because the students are moving, their blood flow increases. That carries more oxygen to the brain, so the kids have more energy and can focus longer. "Furthermore, they're fun." says Pownall.

More Information
About the WittFitt stability ball, one kindergarten teacher said, " I absolutely love ball chairs in my classroom. I tried them because I had an "active" class that couldn't sit still in their reqular chairs. I wish I would have tried them sooner, it has been very effective and my class has responded beautifully. I am seeing more independence and responsibility, therefore more teacher sanity!

Grammar
Former teacher Lisa Witt felt so strongly about the use of balls as chairs, she started Wittfitt.
strong-to feel strong,Jake always felt strong after exercising in the gym.( physically)
feel strongly about -not refer to physically,
to feel strongly about-believe in the importance or value of something.
Former teacher Lisa Witt firmly believed in the use of balls as chairs, so she started Wittfitt.
They feel strongly about protecting the environment.
Miranda feels strongly about finishing school before getting married.
to feel strongly against-强烈反对
Richard feels strongly against racial discrimination.
Jack feel strongly against animal abuse.

Vocabulary
oxygen (n)- People get oxygen from the air they breathe.
furthermore (adv)-I can't finish my work tonight. Furthermore, I can't finish it tomorrow, either.而已 *The car is not big enough for four of us, and furthermore, it's too expensive.
*I don't know what Bobby said about me. Furthermore, I don't really care.
students have a ball (idiom)-(1) have a lot of fun and having a great time in school.
(2) have a basketball of football.
replace-Henry got replaced when he became ill.
The company will replace all PCs with notebooks.
posture-体态,姿势
She needs to improve her posture if she wants to be a model. 。改善她的姿势
His bad posture made him uncomfortable.他的坏姿势
survey-ask a large amount of people to get opinion.
slouch-背靠着椅背坐,半躺半坐的。
furthermore-in addition, you say something first and "add" something more.

Chat Room
provinces (n)-省Canada has 10 provinces and 3 other area called territories地区,( Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon three territories)
states -United States, U.S.A. has 50 states. Puerto Rico is USA's territories.
provincial (adj)-(1) anything having to do with provinces.(2) some thing or some one is narrow minded. 省的,相关于首都,大都市而言。指地方而言。指地方的,或乡下的。

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Sides of Shanghai

Old and new, East and West meet in Shanghai 上海:新旧融合,东西方交会的所在。
by Lisa Holl Chang

Shanghai dazzles visitors with its variety of places new and old, East and West. New Shanghai begins at the airport with a step onto the Maglev, Shanghai’s high-speed train. Reaching 431 km/h, it whisks travelers the 32 kilometers from the airport to Pudong in eight minutes. Visitors disembark from the Maglev at Pudong, where Shanghai’s modern side awaits right outside the station.


New, modern Pudong
Twenty years of intense development has given Pudong-and Shanghai-a new skyline. People usually first notice the Oriental Pearl Tower, which has come to symbolize Shanghai. Besides serving as a TV and radio tower, the Oriental Pearl houses museums and a rotating restaurant. South of it stands the 421-m-tall Jin Mao Tower, which has hosted BASE-jumping events from just above its 88th floor. The Shanghai World Financial Center, the city's tallest building, towers above both structures at 492 m. The 100th-floor observatory has glass floors, giving visitors a bird's eye view of the city. The best view of Pudong's skyline, however, is from across the Huangpu RIver on a walk along the Bund.

The historic Bund
The West's influence on Shanghai is very apparent on the Bund. European countries and America' established concessions here between the early 1840s and 1943. Visiting the Bund takes one back to that era. Fifty-two buildings, all built in fashionable European styles, line this famous section of East Zhongshan First Road.
The HSBC building, which now houses the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, dominates the Bund. Inside, visitors' gazes are drawn to colorful mosaics on the dome ceiling. Another remarkable building, the Customs House, stand next door. The clock on top, nicknamed "Big Ch'ing" and similar in design to London's Big Ben arrived from England in 1843.

The old Chinese city
Just south of the Bund, the traditional buildings and tiny lanes of the old Chinese city take visitors back in time here, the Yuyuan Gardens are the main attraction. Built in 1577 by a government official for his parents, the Yuyuan Gardens occupy an area of two hectares. The carefully designed gardens, calm ponds and exquisite, buildings provide a respite for visitors. Nearby, Shanghai's Old Street is a great place to bargain for souvenirs.

Exciting Nanjing Road
While the Bund and old Chinese city interest history buffs, Nanjing Road excites shoppers. Shanghai's premier shopping destination. Nanjing Road boasts 5.5 km of shops, malls, restaurants and excitement. Colorful neon signs light up the street at night when thousands of people flood the area.

The People's Square, which divides Nanjing East and West Roads, offers great cultural experiences, including the Shanghai Museum. The museum displays 120,000 pieces of ancient Chinese art including impressive collections of bronzes, ceramics and paintings.


Trendy Xintiandi
Shanghai's past and present meet in Xintiandi, one of Shanghai's hottest nightlife destinations. Just nine years ago, Xintiandi was a crowded, old community of shabby. shikumen-style houses (Shikumen means "stone gate" )

Today, restored shikumen exteriors open into restaurants, shops and art galleries. Photographer Guo Changyao comments, "In the 21st century, if you don't go to xintiandi, then you haven't seen Shanghai."

To truly experience Shanghai one must explore all its sides. The beauty of the city lies in its old and new, West and East.


Grammar
People usually first notice the Oriental Pearl Tower, which has come to symbolize Shanghai.
Warren has come to say good-bye.
has come to
People usually first notice the Oriental Peal Tower, which has now become the symbol of Shanghai.
symbolize
represent: Although blue jeans were originally designed to be work pants they have come to represent a fashion style.
mean: For some people, wearing fur has come to mean animal cruelty.


Vocabulary
Dazzle (v)-Daisy dazzled her friends when she showed them her diamond ring.眼花缭乱,使目眩.
*The fireworks dazzled the entire audience.
*She was dazzled by her sudden fame.
*The stars are dazzling in the night sky.
whisk (v)-The elevator whisked us up to the top floor of the building.快速的走开(带开)
*He was whisked away to the emergency room when he had a heart attack.
*Elaine's husband whisked her away to New York for the weekend on her birthday.
financial (adj)-My financial planning consists of a savings account and some stock investments.
observatory (n)-The observatory at the top of the mountain provides a grand view of the whole city. rotate-The interns will rotate from department to department.
rotate-slowly turning.轮流,旋转交替,轮流去.
* Rotate the handle gently when you open the gate.轻轻旋转手把.
era (n)-We are living in an era of rapid communication and technological advances.年代。时期
*the era of Great Depression.
*The invention of TVs opened a new era of entertainment.
*The movie tried to recreate the elegant life style of the bygone era.
intense-something a lot of concentration and hard work.
apparent-noticeable
gaze-see
hectares-公顷
Bund-the area you can walk on.
dominate (v)-Google dominates web searches. Most people use that site to find things online.
attraction (n)-吸引力,吸引人的地点或游乐节目,最主要的景点
The Eiffel Tower is the most famous tourist attraction in Paris.
*The roller-coaster is the most popular attraction in this amusement park.
*Taipei 101 is the main attraction for tourists.
bargain (v)-1.you bargain for a bargain.2.talk back and forth to get a bargain. 讨价还价。
Gina doesn't like to bargain, She prefers to buy at stores with fixed prices.
concessions-租借的,让步,迁就,
You can still find some European buildings in the old British concessions in Hong Kong.
Both companies made mutual concessions so the deal can go on.
boast (v)-This restaurant boasts the best beef noodles in town.以拥有某东西而自豪,自居,自夸炫耀
*Rome boasts historic sites and ancient culture.
*Hawaii boasts beautiful beaches mild weather and friendly locals.
*Eve always boasts about her wealth.
bronze (n)-At the museum, I learned how people used bronzes thousands of years ago.
shabby (adj)-The house is a little shabby. It's old and some things need to be fixed.垃圾场旁的小破屋
*The shabby jacket the child wore didn't keep him warm in the winter.破旧的,简陋的
restore (v)-The restored castle now has a museum and restaurant inside.重新恢复,重建整修.恢复.
*The architects spent a great amount of time trying to restore the ancient palace.
*After a month of rest, he was fully restored to health.
buffs- follow, admire and interested in certain subject.
flood to the area-a lot of people come in at the period of time like water flood in.


Chat Room
bird's eye view- view you will see like a bird fly in the sky. see from above 鸟瞰,如鸟般的从高空往下看
figuratively meaning:如鸟般俯瞰大地的视觉,感受.
snake eyes-蛇眼,玩游戏,二个dice 掷出出现各一点.
fish eyes-fish-eye lens摄影镜头,极端的广角镜头,鱼眼镜头.
a deer in headlights- shacked with eyes wild open-在深夜,乡间开车,遇到过马路的鹿,他们的第一个反应不会逃而是不知所措,睁眼停在原处,盯着车头灯看.指对事情,豪无反应,不知所措,一片茫然.
He looks like a deer in headlights.他的样子,看起来,被恐慌凝结,毫无反应的鹿.
-----
government official (n),高层主管,部长,首长,署长,处长.. office (policeman, military authority position person)军官,警官. official and office are 政府官员
high rank of government official.高层主管.高级政府官员.
official (adj)-official visit, Prime Minister's official residence.公家的,出自于官方的.
an official statement or document.正式官方公文.
-----
shanghai (v)-"s"小写,被骗,绑架,或是被强迫工作,简易说是被伤害.
kowtow-to kowtow to someone磕头(v), to kowtow to someone.卑躬屈膝,奉承谄媚
gung ho-delicate & extremely hard work people工和.二次世界大战期间,有一个中国工业合作社里面的人都工作认真.,简称工和,因此,美国人称那些勤奋上进,,努力工作者为工和. gong ho-乐心起劲
You gung ho about learning English.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The School Debate

男女合校或分校之爭Do boys and girls benefit more from being taught together or separately?
接受教育时,男女一起学习比较好,还是分开学习较有益?by Jeremiah Clark and Chelsea Ewald

The debate about the best way to teach children has been around almost as long as schools have been in existence. One part of this debate has been the question of educating boys and girls separately or together.

Conversation A
Adam: Hi, Beth. How has your sister been doing since she declared art as her major in college?
Beth: She’s doing well. And she decided to minor in business. Hey, don’t you have a sister too?
Adam: Yes, but she’s only in junior high school. Right now she’s just focused on finishing ninth grade so she can move to a coed school.


Conversation B
Beth: Well, she shouldn't be so eager to move to a coed school that students of opposite sex can be distraction.
Adam: Maybe that is true sometimes but when girl and boy study together, they are more prepared for society. Same sex education actually limits students opportunity to work cooperatively with the opposite sex.
Beth: Coed school, well, they might have ease the transition to an adulthood, but single school can encourage students to achieve more. The one study I read showed that student in single school get 15 to 22 % better grades than coed school.
Adam: But, there is more to school than just getting good grades. It is an idea place to learn how to get along with others. This is also very important point.
-----
Conversation C
Beth: Perhaps, but on the flip side, single sex are able to break down the gender stereo type when boys and girls going school together.

Adam: Are you arguing that in single sex education boys is more unlike to enroll in theater or music, art courses, and girls enroll in the math and science courses.

Beth: That exactly, what I'm saying that attending boys are less likely to enroll in these types of courses for fear of looking feminine. Likewise, female are also avoid math. and science because these courses are typically associate with boys or male.

Adam: I see your point. However in my mind there are still a few problems with single sex education.

Beth: Hear me out Adam, consider this, single sex education enhance students success, because teacher can use teaching technique and learning style yield toward of the gender of their students. After all, the study has shown the girls and boys learn in very different ways.

Adam: Unfortunately, using gender specific learning style may not always be effected. In fact, in some cases, it could actually even be harmful.

Beth: Well, single sex education may not be perfect, but there are definite people who benefit from it like female, minority or low-income students.

Adam: I think that the bottom line is that all students can strife when the element of the good teaching of the present. It's doesn't matter weather the single sex or coed setting
.

Vocabulary
opposite sex (n)-People often members of the opposite sex difficult to understand.相反的性别,异性
opposite相反,相对的, sex, (gender)性别 -Please fill in your gender on the application form.
distraction (n)-分心,令人分心的事物. distract (v)分心,使分心
The television was a huge distraction while Janet was trying to do her homework. She couldn't concentrate.
*Music at the workplace can be a distraction for some people.
*The study in my home is a good place to work because it is free from distraction.
cooperatively (adv)-合作,同心协力. cooperate (v) 合作
The two teams worked cooperatively to come up with a solution to their problem.
Our class worked cooperatively to finish this science project and won the title at the fair.科学设计.
*Oliver is very shy when he meets anyone of the opposite sex. (The fair 科学展览会)
adulthood (n)-In early adulthood, a person experiences increased independence and more responsibilities.
flip side (n)-另一方面,另一面,反面. flip 翻, side面,
The flip side of social welfare is that people begin to rely on the government for their money.
The flip side of industrialization is more pollution. 工业化的负面影响是更多污染.
gender (n)-A person's gender should not determine his or her worth. All people should be treated equally.
likewise (adv)-For people to be healthy, it is important they eat nutritious food. Likewise, they should exercise regularly. 反之亦然,同样的,照样的.
*We often complained about our parents when we were young. Likewise, our children will complain about us.
*I took the flu shot, and I suggest you to do likewise. 建议你也这么做.
bottom line (n)-结果,终结,结论.最重要得事,最重要得部分.
The bottom line is that smoking is bad for you health and can lead to medical problems.
*The bottom line is if the company doesn't get this loan, they'll have to end their business.
*We might face many problems now, but the bottom line is to make the sales grow.
stereo type-印制,陈腔滥调,老套,千篇一律.
hear me out (idiom)- listen to me until I finish what I am saying or until I done my talking.

Grammar
In co-ed schools, boys are less likely to enroll in these courses for fear of looking feminine.
for fear of--to avoid or prevent from something is or isn't done.
Johnny decided to go to the airport early for fear of getting stuck in traffic.
Karen doesn't want to leave her office for fear of missing an important phone call.

Chat Room
grades (n)-What grade are you.年级,
grades (n)-成绩,分数, (甲乙丙丁,A B C D )score,getting good grades.
grade(v)- 打分数. teacher grade papers/grade tests
When student get older, 大学以后we don't say "grade", we say "year"
What year are you? instead of what grade are you.
freshman, sophomore, junior, senior. 大学一到四年级或是高中9到12年级. 11th grade, 12th grade.
---------
something to do with woman
female/ male -most neutral way to say"gender"
female-女性.雌性.(人类,动物,植物性别)
feminine-gracefully, positive qualities. 女性特有的,女子般的,温柔的籤细的.
womanly 成人女人般的/feminine 女人样的
womanlike 此字已少用,也是女人般的意思-womanly
Something to do man
male, masculine有自信,很阳刚的-(positive qualities). manly 具男子气概,雄赳赳的,
manlike-not human, 是指具有人类特性的动物,如猩猩.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Happy Birthday, Barbie!

芭比娃娃生日快樂!
The world's most famous doll turns 50 this year 全世界最著名的洋娃娃今年过五十大寿哩
by Pamela Osment

This year Barbie lovers everywhere celebrate the doll’s 50th birthday. Happenings in Paris, Shanghai, Sydney, Mexico City, Tokyo and other international locations will mark the event.

Barbie’s beginnings
The fashion doll debuted at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. Her creator, Ruth Handler, designed her to be the very first teenage fashion model doll. At that time, Barbie cost just $3, and 300,000 sold the first year.


Changing with the times
Russia sent the first women into space in 1963. Not long afterward, Astronaut Barbie landed on toy store shelves. Toy maker Mattel hoped to show little girls they could have any career they desired. Over the past 50 years, Barbie has had over 100 careers. She has been a dentist, a basketball player and a pilot, to name a few.

Creating controversy
Barbie still ranks as the world's most popular doll, with three sold every second. But for all her popularity. Barbie concerns some parents and women's groups. They fear her unrealistic figure causes little girls to have poor self-images.

A new look
Earlier this year, Mattel revealed its newest Barbie in Malibu, CA. The doll's new face has a more natural look. Everyone agreed she still looks great, especially for 50!

More Info
Barbie's creator originally named the doll Barbie Millicent Rogers. At one time, more than half of the world's Barbie dolls were made in Taiwan. Since her debut, more than I billion Barbie dolls have been sold in over 150 countries. Barbie has had more than 40 pets including cats, dogs, horses, a panda, a lion cub and a zebra.

Grammar
She has been a dentist, a basketball player and a pilot, to name a few.
to name a few ( you don't want to mention all, just say a few)
You need all kinds of things to make this soup: mushrooms, onions, chicken, and spices, to name a few.
The scientist has been invited to speak at many famous universities around the world: Oxford, Yale and Stanford, to name a few.

Vocabulary
location (n)-Coffee shops can be found in many different locations around the city.
fashion (n)-The fashion magazine has pictures of the latest styles for fall and winter.
rank (v)-位于某种等级.等级,排名Tiger Woods ranks as one of the best golfers of all time.
*He ranked first among the interns and got hired by the firm.
*She received the first rank for international female tennis players.
concern (v)-单心,忧愁.It concerns me that you haven't started your paper yet and it's due tomorrow. *The boy's latest odd behavior concerns his parents.
*Global warming concerns us all.与某人或某事有关. 与..息息相关.
unrealistic (adj)-unreal, unreasonable.
Tonya's unrealistic plans for the project might have to be changed.
debuted-初次登台表演This now world-renowned singer debuted at a jazz club when she was only 18.
*This young star made his debut in a Disney movie. 初试啼声
poor self-image-the way they weight on themselves low.

Chat Room
jack-of-all-trades- they are people who know many jobs, a person able to do many different jobs.
trade-作买卖,此指各种种类的工作或行业. jack-of-all-trades了解很多事情,能融会贯通做各种不同工作的人.
handyman-a person who does many different small job or task. 手很巧的人,善于多种手艺的人,会修修补补
A handyman in an apartment building or a house fixing small problems
multitasking-a person is doing many small tasks at the same time. 同时做很多件事,一心多用
jack-of-all-trades 是在不同时间里做不同的事, 不是同时在作.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Understanding Your Blood Pressure

不可不知的血壓
Find out what your blood pressure numbers really mean 血压数据学问大 by Pamela Osment

You go for a doctor’s visit. When you see the doctor, a nurse wraps a blood pressure cuff around your arm. The cuff squeezes your arm and gives the nurse two numbers. These numbers are your blood pressure.
Both numbers measure the amount of pressure placed on the inside of your blood vessels. The top number measures the pressure while your heart is pumping. And the bottom number measures the amount of pressure while your heart is resting between beats.


Watch those numbers!
In adults, healthy blood pressure numbers should be 120/80 or less. These numbers show that blood moves easily through your body at the right rate. High blood pressure begins at 140/90, putting you at risk for heart disease. The higher your blood pressure, the greater the risk.

Keep it low
In order to prevent high blood pressure, you should maintain a healthy weight. Exercise regularly and eat healthy foods. Don't eat too much salt, and avoid alcohol and cigarettes. By doing these simple things, you should pass your blood pressure test with flying colors!

More Info
Accounting to the website HeartHub, about one in three adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure but one third of them don't even know it. That's why high blood pressure is sometimes called the "Silent" killer. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get it checked.

Grammar
High blood pressure begins at 140/90, putting you at risk for heart disease.
to put someone at risk=to increase your chances of suffering the danger of something.
High blood pressure begins at 140/90, increasing your chances of suffering from heart disease.
People put themselves at risk when they drive while talking on their cell phones.
The restaurant's dirty kitchen is putting the customers at risk for food poisoning.

Vocabulary
blood pressure (n)-My dad takes medicine because his blood pressure is too high.
disease (n)-Dan has the same disease that his father and uncle both had.
cigarette (n)-a thin tube that paper wrapped with tobacco or nicotine.
Ricky started smoking cigarettes when he was only 15.
pass with flying colors (idiom)-to pass something with a large amount of success. (very successfully pass) pass 及格,过关, flying colors-战舰上随风飘扬的旗帜,延伸出的意思是亮眼的胜利或成绩,成绩亮眼,亮眼的成绩
If you begin studying for your exam now, you should pass with flying colors.
*Sarah studied really hard for the exam, and she passed it with flying colors.
cuff (n)-bend, wrap around your arm.a bend that end of the shirt sleeve. 袖口,量血压套手的束带
The cuffs of the shirt are dirty. I need to tell the dry-cleaner to treat them with extra care.衬衫袖口
The suspect broke the handcuffs and ran away. 手铐 (cuff)
disease (n)-疾病This rare disease can only be cured by a special diet.
a contagious disease- 传染病She caught this contagious disease during her flight back home.
blood vessel-small tube inside your body for blood to travel.
blood pressure-pressure is force, a pressure or a force, the blood created inside your body as blood travel through your body.

Chat Room
blood pressure-120/80 , slash (/) - as word "over", read "120 over 80"
slash (/)斜线as word "per"-$500/month-read $500 per month, 60km/hr read 60 kilometers per hour.
$10/hour=10 dollars per hour. 60km/hour=60 kilometers per hour. 15 weeks/year=15 weeks per year
test score-98/100 read " 98 out of 100"
math. fraction 1/8 read "one eighth".
web address such as www. studioclassroom.com/sc, the "/" read "slash".

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Is Your Job Germy?

辦公室是細菌溫床?The top five dirty jobs by Rachel Zupek; Copyright January 29, 2009, CareerBu 一探那种工作场所潜藏最多细菌

Did you know that the average toilet seat is 400 times cleaner than your desk? Or that there are more than 10 million germs on the average desktop? Your desk isn’t the only thing harboring germs. Your phone, keyboard, light switches, buttons on the elevator and door handles – each of these things is loaded with countless microbes. In one study, Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona and his researchers found that an infected person can leave a trail of viruses on every surface he touches. The viruses can survive on surfaces for up to three days.
Here are five of the germiest jobs, in order from most to least germy.


1. Teacher
Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 17,800
Why it's germy: Kids' desktops are probably the dirtiest objects in a classroom. Additionally, when children turn in tests and assignments, they hand in germs too. Teachers had 5 1/2 times more germs on their phones and nearly 27 times more germs on the computer keys than other professions studied.

2. Accountant
Average amount of bacteria per square inch:6,030. Why it's germy: Accountants tend to spend a great deal of time behind their desks. Accountants' desks and pens ranked No. 1, averaging 12,600 and 2,350 bacteria per square inch, respectively.

3. Banker
Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 5,400. Why it's germy. Everyone knows how dirty money is. When you think about the one core duty of bankers-handling money -it's no surprise the germs bankers come in contact with.

4. Radio D J (disc jockey)
Average amount of bacteria per square inch:3,323. Why it's germy: Radio DJs often work in shifts, with several people coming in and out of the station a day. As we said before, an infected person can leave a trail of viruses on every surface he touches. So many people using the same equipment is bound to garner a lot of bacteria.

5. Doctor
Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 2,620
Why it's germy: As professionals who serve sick people, it's no surprise doctors are their own source of germs.

More Info:
What we know about germs has mostly been discovered within the past two hundred years. It was in the 1800s that doctors first thought to wash their hands between treating patients. It was also at this time that people realized germ-causing sicknesses could be spread through a public water supply. Because of their tiny size, germs went unseen until the invention of the electron microscope, in the early 1930's.

Grammar:
..an infected person can leave a trail of viruses on every surface he touches.
a trail of viruses. trail=path or route. a mountain trail.
but here means a long line of something left behind by someone or something.
The explorers followed a trail of clues to find the hidden treasure.
The billionaire's disappearance left a trail of questions for investigators to figure out.

Vocabulary:
germ (n)-细菌,微生物,病菌The germs around you can make you sick. germy (adj)带菌的,含有细菌的
*Cockroaches and flies spread germs rapidly. 快速
*The germ that causes this disease can be easily eliminated. germy working gloves 带菌手套
countless (adj)-Timothy spent countless hours working on his English speech.
assignment (n)- 任务,作业assign 指定,分派you, give you something to do.
Our assignment today is to read 30 pages in our science textbook.
*Our assignment is to write a letter in English to our best friends.
*The assignment to set up a branch office is easy for Larry.
profession (n)-专业,职业your profession is the job you do. what's your job (place), what's your profession (name of the job, teacher, doctor, nurse etc.)
*Kathy intends to make acting her profession.
*There are more and more females entering the legal profession each year.进入法务专业
*The writer of the book is a doctor by profession.这本书的作者的职业是医生.
accountant (n)-The accountant helped Susan do her income taxes.
respectively (adv)-different things refer to different numbers.各自地,各别地,分别地..
Julie and Sarah are 10 years old and 8 years old, respectively.
*All students will gather at the hall for the morning session, and afterwards will go to their electives respectively.
*In the 400 meters, Joe and Patrick came in 1st and 3rd respectively. 分别取得..
shift (n)-轮班,轮值,轮班制,轮值的人,轮职。
Mac will get off work at 3 a.m. when his shift at the factory ends.
*work in shifts, day shift, night shift
*Ray works on the night shift so he can make more money.
*The day shift usually arrives at 6 am.
garner (v)-collect 储藏,累极,收集。
Pete has garnered many awards for being a great baseball player.
*The writer garnered information from many resources to Collete this book.
*The district attorney already garnered much evidence to prove the defendant guilty.
microbes (n)-肉眼看不见的微生物,细菌。
harbor-keep, store, stay. core-main.
additionally- in addition, give you more fact.

Chat Room
Is your job germy?
字尾suffix, 有时可在 noun plus "y" to become "adjective"
germy, cloudy, thirsty, fishy, chewy
some add "able', "ish", "ful"-doable(可行的possible to do), bookish(用功的,爱好书本爱读书的), wonderful, beautiful
"five of the germiest jobs"- pretty-prettiest,
superlative adjective-最高级,只有一个或二个音节字后加 "est",三个音节以上在字前加 "most" most beautiful
-----
Banker-person who serves as officer or owner of the bank, investment bankers.银行家,襄理,协理,银行老板,银行高级主管. 手不实际接触(碰摸)钱却是在电脑里转钱.
bank tellers/bank cashiers, cashiers, 柜台人员work (sit) behind the counter in the bank, handle the money all day as they deal with various customers.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Friends For Life!

一生的朋友!
Choose good friends who are good for you 该选择甚么样的朋友呢?结交益友就对了!
by Pamela Osment

The Scottish poet Robert Louis Stevenson once said, “A friend is a gift you give yourself.” So when choosing friends, be careful to give yourself good “gifts.” The letters in the word friend will show you how to choose your friends!

F is for fun
Choose friends you can have fun with and with whom you can be yourself.

R is for righteous
Choose friends who will help you make good decisions. Genuine friends want you to become the very best you can be!


I is for intimate
Close, personal friends know your faults and like you anyway. You should be able to share your hopes, dreams and fears with them.

The Scottish poet Robert Louis Stevenson once said, "A friend is a gift you give yourself." So when choosing friends be careful to give yourself.

E is for encouraging
When you face challenges, friends encourage you to not give up but to do your best. They give you hope and help you look forward to the future.

N is for near
Good friends won't abandon you during the bad times. You should be able to count on friends to be available when you need them.

D is for direct
Real friends care enough to tell you what you need to hear. They won't just say what you want to hear.
Since friends can be for life it's important to choose the best ones!
More information
William Shakespeare once described a friend as someone who knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.
Ralph Waldo Emerson famously stated "The only way to have a friend is to be one."
Another famous friendship proverb reminds us that People are judged by the company they keep and the company they keep away from.

Grammar
Close, personal friends know your faults and like you anyway.
anyway=nevertheless
Even though close personal friends know your faults, they still like you.
Jill knows it's going to rain soon, but she's going out for a walk anyway.
Terence knew that he wouldn't get paid, but he did the job anyway.
Nathan wasn't wearing a suit, but he decided to attend the formal dinner anyway.

genuine (adj)-真实的,真诚的,真正的
David showed genuine surprise when we turned on the lights and everyone shouted "Happy Birthday!"
*Sam is a genuine man. He's always very honest with us.
*She accepted our gifts with genuine gratitude.真诚的感激
*..genuine manuscripts of Shakespeare. 沙士比亚的手稿
intimate (adj)-亲切,亲密的The couple only invited close, intimate friends to their wedding.
abandon (v)-抛弃,放弃,丢弃We might have to abandon the car and walk to the gas station.
*The captain had to order the crew to abandon the ship in order for them to survive.
*Hank was abandoned by his parents when he was only 5.
*During the war many were forced to abandon their homes. 战争期间。
available (adj)-可以取得的,可以买得到的。可以获得的。可以下载而取得的。
I'll be available tomorrow afternoon if you need help preparing for the party.
*I'm afraid I'm not available to help you with your project.
This movie is now available for downloading on the Internet.

Chat Room
acronym-Radar=radio detecting and ranging. SARS=Severe Respiratory Syndrome.
Aids (not AIDS), 好几个子缩成的字。
AWOL = absent without leave=without permission.吴故缺席,擅离职守。没有准许儿缺席。
abbreviation-U.S.A.= United States of America 缩写, 一般只读每个字的字首