The Music of Christmas

聖誕音樂Christmas songs fill the heart with the magic of the season. by Ruth Devlin.

Each year at Christmas, we hear many beautiful songs. Their melodies are so appealing that we hum them long after the song has ended. These traditional carols capture the beauty and wonder of the Christmas story.

Hark the Herald Angles Sing
Charles Wesley, who wrote over 6,000 songs during his lifetime, penned the words to this carol. Famous composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote the melody. The words and music were never meant to go together. But in the 19the century, an organist joined the music and words together to create this favorite carol. Here is the first verse:

Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on Earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"


Silent Night
The beautiful carol Silent Night is the most-recorded and performed carol of all. It started as a poem written by a pastor back in 19th-century Austria. Then his friend set it to music. Now almost 200 years later, the song's lovely words still touch people's hearts.

Silent Night, Holy Night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace!

Joy to the World
In 1719, accomplished author and scholar Isaac Watts composed a poem based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. Nearly 100 years later. American choir director Lowell Mason set it to music giving us this joyful Christmas carol.

Joy to the World!
The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King.
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room
And heav'n and nature sing
And heav'n and nature sing
And heav'n and heav'n
and nature sing!

Grammar:

The beautiful carol Silent Night is the most recorded and performed carol of all.

carol, most recorded= most performed = most popular.

most + verb in past participle form

Princess Diana was the most photographed woman in the 20th century.

Paris was the most visited city in the world in 2009.

Vocabulary Tips:
verse-文字的一段或一節, 一節歌詞,
*Henry quoted a few verses from Shakespeare in his love letter.
*The entire audience sang along with the singer on the last verse of the song.
reconciled-重新使和好如初,使和解,或是使調和. re-有"再一次"意思
reconciled with-和誰 使調和,和好,常用被動式.
*The couple was finally reconciled with each other after not speaking for a week.
*It's not been easy to reconcile the two companies' pints of view.
triumph-勝利,重大的成功.完全的勝利. 戰勝了什麽用 " "
*The election results were an absolute triumph for the political party.政黨
*Tina's triumph over her disabilities is a story that has touched many people. 戰勝了....
triumph over -戰勝了....
.
Chat Room:
to pen something-use pen to write something.
pen (n)-原子筆
pen (v)-書寫
penned-wrote with pen.
I.D. card-身份證卡
card (n)-証卡
card(v)-要求出示証卡
to card someone-向某人要求出示証卡 ask someone for I.D to prove of legal age.,
carded me-要我出示証明.
carol- is a happy, joyful Christmas song.
perform- 表演，演出，或“執行，完成”
*The orchestra performed in several European cities.
*The pop star will perform with his band on stage tonight. 流行歌手
*The surgery will be performed tomorrow morning. 手術明早執行。
infant- 小嬰兒。
*The products were specially designed for infants.
*The Johnsons brought their 3-month old infant to the picnic with them.
infant care-幼兒照顧
an infant teacher-幼兒教師
accomplished (adj) -優秀的，造詣精湛的，傑出的accomplish-完成
*Wesley is an accomplished violinist who has won several important competitions.造詣精湛的
*Peter is accomplished in computer program design. 在...相當傑出.
--------------------------------
the most recorded (v)- 錄製最多的 the most record (n), watch for (v)& (n) pronunciation.
the most recorded carol of all- 在所有聖誕歌曲中,被錄製最多的.
set the record (n)-創下紀錄
hold the record (n)-保持紀錄
break the record-打破紀錄.
off the record (n)-不公開的,不可引用的.
for the record (n) -要別人紀錄下來的.意即"一种申明,一种公開的表態"

.

Christmas at the Biltmore House

到全美最大豪宅過聖誕America’s largest home sparkles with magic at Christmastime 全美最大的豪宅在聖誕節期間閃耀著奇幻光芒by Pamela Osment

On Christmas Eve in 1895, George Washington Vanderbilt of New York City unveiled his mountaintop masterpiece. This beautiful house had taken 1,000 men six years to construct. But what had inspired Vanderbilt to choose this remote location in the mountains near at Asheville, N.C., for his summer home and "little mountain escape"?

Where it began
In the 1800s, Vanderbilt's grandfather Cornelius amassed a fortune in the shipping and railroad business. By the turn of the century, the Vanderbilts were some of the world's richest people and faced some of the same privacy issues as today's celebrities.

This prompted George Vanderbilt to begin searching for a getaway - a place where he and his family could escape the ever-watchful press. While traveling in eastern North Carolina, Vanderbilt was captivated by the region's scenery. He chose a mountain of location there that would provide privacy and allow him to pursue hisinterests in art and horticulture.

A castle fit for a king
If Vanderbilt's Christmas Eve guests had expected a modest second home, they must have been amazed as they crossed his 120,000-acre estate. The carriages then delivered them to the 250-room French chateau equipped with a swimming pool, bowling alley and much more!

"A Vanderbilt Christmas Celebration"
Visitors today are equally awed by the beautiful estate-though it's smaller now at around 7,000 acres- and the palatial house with 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces.

An even more spectacular treat, though, awaits those who visit during the annual "Christmas at Biltmore" event. Known as one of the largest Christmas displays in the Southeast, the event boasts nearly 100 decorated Christmas trees and more than 1,000 wreaths and bows. Thirty thousand lights illuminate the Biltmore House and another 150,000 lights light up the estate. During the holiday event, thousands of ornaments also decorate the Biltmore House and its grounds.

People visiting at night are greeted on the front lawn by a 55-foot spruce tree covered with 32,000 lights. Inside, Christmas music, candles and glowing fireplaces provide a festive setting for guests viewing the thousands of decorations spread throughout the house. More than 300,000 people are expected to attend this year's display entitled. "A Vanderbilt Christmas Celebration," which started in November and runs until January 2, 2011.

Thanks to the Vanderbilts' dedication to preserving the Biltmore estate, people today - like the original guests 115 years ago - can still experience the famed Vanderbilt hospitality.

More Information:
Imagine you go to the Biltmore during the Christmas holiday season and take a tour of the estate. After experiencing so much Biltmore Christmas magic, you realize that you are inspired to decorate your own home in a similar style. But, where do you begin? You start by joining a free Biltmore holiday decorating seminar where Biltmore staff offer Christmas decorating tips and fresh ideas for your own home.

Grammar:
A place where he and his family could escape the ever-watchful press.
"ever-watchful" = "always watchful"
"ever" + "-"+"something = always something.
the ever-changing scenery=an always changing scenery.
an ever-growing problem =an always growing problem.
ever-charming countryside= always charming countryside.

Vocabulary Tips:
unveil-去掉面紗，即“首次展露或公開。 "un"-否定的字首veil-面紗。
*The remote tribe's wedding ceremony traditions were unveiled for the first time in National Geographic.
*The new hybrid car will be unveiled today at the car show.
turn of the century-the time is end of one century and start another new century. for example: Year 1999 cross the year 2000 is turn of the century. 世紀之交，指一個世紀的結束與另一個世紀的開始的期間。
*The king's death at the turn of the century began a new era in the kingdom.
*The empire collapsed at the turn of the century.
getaway(n)-a place, is a location. 度假的去處。
*Larry sees his cabin in the mountain as his favorite getaway.
*The resort was listed as one of the favorite getaways for the rich and famous.度假中心。度假勝地
getaway-短的假期。
*Alex and his wife had a weekend getaway by the lake. 在湖邊渡了一個周末假期。
awe-使敬畏，使驚嘆。害怕，敬畏
*The tourists were awed by the spectacular view of the Grand Canyon.
*I was awed by the singer's beautiful voice.
awe-害怕， 敬畏
*I'm in awe of my grandfather, even though I'm an adult now.
equally awe of -不論年代，來參觀的人，感受到相同的驚嘆。
illuminate-照亮，用燈裝飾。啓發。
*The neon lights illuminate the dark night of the city.
*The windows of the bookstore were illuminated with Christmas lights.
illuminate-啓發
*His instruction really helped me by illuminating the complicated issue.
hospitality-款待，接待，好客
*Eileen always treats her guests with great hospitality and makes them feel very welcome in her home. 尚好的款待。。。賓至如歸。
*I sent a bouquet of flowers to show my gratitude for the hostess' hospitality. 對女主人的熱情款待。
palatial (adj)- palace like, like king's palace. very palatial....
wreath and bows- wreath is come out as a round shape,made of branches. usually hang on the door or wall. bows-wide ribbon fold as a butterfly shape.
captivated by something- something was draw someone's attention.
horticulture-cultivate, culture of something relate to make things as flower, grass, trees, plants to grow.

Chat Room:
privacy-隱私
paparazzi"，狗仔隊，是複數名詞，不分多寡都可說"paparazzi"。
Paparazzo-一個狗仔.
-------------------------------------
Thousands of ornaments decorate the Biltmore House and its grounds.
ground-地面
grounds- "ground" + "s" , 建築物周邊的庭院。動機，理由，基於。。,沉澱物.
These are private grounds.私人庭院
grounds-動機，理由，基於。。base on.., reason.
He resigned on the grounds of ill health.
grounds-沉澱物。
coffee grounds-咖啡渣

Employee Wellness

守護員工健康Keeping employees healthy is a priority for my company. 維護員工健康是公司的第一要務。by Joan Yu.

People are the most important asset of my company, so we are well taken care of. Many wellness events held throughout the year help employees maintain a healthy lifestyle because prevention is the best medicine. On campus, many services are available for a reasonable price. These include heart screening, flu shot clinic, on-site dietitian, weight management center, and a massage and fitness center. These on-site services make it convenient for employees to attend to these things instead of postponing or ignoring them.

I personally like the one-site flu shot clinic as it saves me a trip to the hospital. I always prompt my coworkers to get their flu shots on time. I don't want them to get sick because I spend a lot of hours working with them every day.

Other interesting yearly events such as "Bike to Work Day" and "Walk During Lunch Day" invite employees to get a taste of a healthier lifestyle. These events also include prizes as an incentive to encourage everyone to get out of their chairs and participate.

I participated in "walk During Lunch Day" and was astonished to see that hundreds of people showed up at the event. It turned out to be not only an exercise event but also a social event where I encountered many others from different departments. We walked and chatted and had a lot of fun during that lunch hour.

Although I didn't win a prize in the drawing, I was glad I had made the effort to participate. Now I know where to go for a walk around campus during lunch hour and I'm in the habit of doing it.

Joan and her coworker Sara discuss their office's wellness events.
Joan: I wish they'd organize a "Walk During Lunch Day" more often.
Sara: Why? You can walk on your own at lunchtime.
Joan: I do walk on and off, but I need something to motivate me.
Sara: And someone to accompany you?
Joan: Right, Exercise is more fun with friends.
Sara: So find a friend to walk with. There must be someone in your department. Or organize a lunchtime walking group.
Joan: That's a good idea. I'll send an e-mail around this afternoon.

Grammar:
I personally like the on-site flu shot clinic as it saves me a trip to the hospital.
"to save someone a trip" = "to keep from having to make a trip"
"to save someone a trip"-
If you help me turn in this report, it would save me a trip to the teacher's office.
I could have asked you to get something for me from the supermarket and save myself a trip.

Vocabulary Tips:
prevention-預防 pre-預先
*The research is aimed at cancer prevention. 目標在。。預防
*The government spent a lot of its budget on a new crime prevention program, unfortunately, the program didn't have the effect they desired.
on-site=現場，在場，住場，住校 site-地點
*Our school has an on-site nurse in our health center.
*The army set up an on-site medical treatment center right outside the collapsed buildings.
incentive-鼓勵，激勵。
*Tim's boss promised him a big bonus as an incentive to win the case.
*The supervisor offered cash incentives to encourage their staff to work overtime.
*Little kids love incentives like stickers or stamps. 貼紙或印章。
astonish-使大爲吃驚,使驚訝. amaze, surprise.
* It astonished me that many students don't read much outside of the classroom anymore.
*I was astonished that Cathy refused my help to babysit for her.
drawing-抽獎活動
draw(n)-抽獎 (v)-抽獎,畫畫.
*At the end of the party, there was a big drawing for a free trip to Hawaii.
*The winners of the drawing need to fill out a form before collecting their prizes.領獎
on and off- 斷斷續續,不時地,不持續地. "on"-打開,啓動,開啓 "off"-関上,停止.
*Pam works out on and off so she never loses much weight.
*Bobby and Kate wrote email to each other on and off after graduation.
habit-嗜好 create a routine doing work, and enjoy it very much.

Chat Room:
get a taste of a healthier lifestyle.
taste-滋味，經驗。
get a taste= try it out,嘗試
get a taste of something-嘗試去做某件事。
taste= refer to someone's judgement，品味，鑑賞力 such as: expensive taste, great taste.
a man of taste-很有品味的人。
have a bad taste in your mouth-留下不好的囘憶，如同吃了苦的葯，感覺很不好。
bad taste-having a bad experience. or taste badly.不好的經驗或回憶。
-------------------------------
Walk During Lunch Day-
walk-走路
take a walk-散步, 如用命令口氣,則是"出去!, 滾開！”不客氣，不歡迎的叫人“離去，走開”。
walk on eggshells-走在蛋殼上，即“如履薄冰，要非常的小心，謹慎”
walk one's feet off-把腳走斷了，意即“走了很多的路”

A Trip to the Dentist

牙醫達人 Don't forget to brush 別忘了刷牙喔！by Simon stopps

SC: Why are people so terrified of dentists?
JC: Patients can't see what a dentist is doing in their mouths. All they can see are scary-looking instruments. And then there is the drill and the terrible, high-pitched noise it makes. There's also the inevitable pain caused by having a needle stuck in your mouth. Scariest of all are the stories of bad experiences your friends have told you. Put all of those things together and people can't help but be scared of dentists!

SC: What should I look for when choosing a good dentist?
JC: You should try to find a kind and patient dentist who will listen to you. You can also try dentists that are recommended by your friends.

SC: What's the best way to prevent dental problems?
JC: The best way to prevent dental problems is to take good care of your own teeth. Brush your teeth after eating, and more importantly, use dental floss after every meal. It's also important to go to the dentist for a routine checkup every three to six months.

SC: Is there such a thing as brushing your teeth too much?
JC: The outer surface of a tooth is enamel. It is the hardest part of the human body, but the thickness of the enamel does not increase throughout your life. Rather, it decreases because it wears out.

SC: Why is flossing so important?
JC: Brushing can only remove the plaque from the smooth surfaces of your teeth. A lot of food actually gets trapped between teeth. Flossing is the most effective way to clean that food out. If you brush your teeth too hard day after day, you will wear down the enamel. Then your teeth will become more sensitive and might even develop cavities.

SC: How do you know when it's time to visit the dentist?
JC: In addition to your routine checkups, you should also go to the dentist if you have any problems with your teeth. If you feel any discomfort- a toothache or heat sensitivity- go to the dentist Even if you don't have pain, but just discoloration, bleeding gums or swelling, you should still go to the dentist. Dentists can cure dental diseases and make peple healthier.

Grammar:
Scariest of all are the stories of bad experiences your friends have told you.
*The stories of bad experiences your friends have told you are the scariest of all.
What is so scary?
The stories of bad experiences your friends have told you.
Talk about "The most of something" use "Adjective + be+verb + subject"
Everyone at the party wore a silly costume, and Regina's outfit was the most ridiculous one.
Everyone at the party wore a silly costume; most ridiculous of all was Regina's outfit.
Paul sampled many kinds of dishes on his trip; deep-fried insects were the strangest things he ate.
Paul sampled many kinds of dishes on his trip; strangest of all were deep-fried insects.

Vocabulary Tips:
high-pitch = 音調高的，尖銳的音調pitch-音調，音量
*The high-pitched screeching tires of the passing car woke us up last night. 尖銳的輪胎磨擦聲。
dental-牙齒的，牙科的 dent-字根是“牙齒”
*Dental insurance isn't provided by our company.
*Karl's dental treatment cost us over $700.
*I have a dental appointment on Thursday.
checkup-檢查。
*Larry suffers from diabetes, so he has regular checkups with his doctor.
*Every company employee is required to have a physical checkup every year.
floss(n)牙綫 ,(v)-用牙綫潔牙。
*My dentist advises me to floss after every meal.
dental floss (n)-牙綫
*Mandy only uses un-waxed dental floss. 沒上蠟的
cavity-蛀牙
*The dentist filled my cavities during my last trip to his office.
*Eating too much candy can cause cavities.
*Regular brushing can lower the risk of getting cavities.
discomfort-不舒服。dis-有“否定”的意思，comfort-舒服
*The discomfort from my surgery lasted for almost a week.
*The medicine helps relieve the discomfort caused by injury.
discoloration-變了色的，失去了原有的顏色。change color from the original color.

Chat Room
teeth (n)-牙齒
teethe (v)-to teethe 長牙齒
The baby's teeth are coming in = teething. baby changing teeth.
teething- 長牙you also can say "come in" 不是"come out “是"come in" -“有了，永久齒有了
Baby長牙不能說成“grow teeth”要說"teething, or teeth are coming in" ，
grow-是人澆水，施肥，讓其長大。長牙不需要澆水，施肥，所以不能說
dentures=false teeth.假牙 denture 一定要加 "s“ 是用多數。
---------------------------------
wisdom tooth=molar
overcrowding-過分擁擠.
braces- 牙套,矯正牙齒器. brace + "s"-
molar-臼齒
canine-狗，犬齒
incisor-門牙

The Magic of Movies

電影魔力by Drew Devlin

What's showing this winter at a theater near you?

When you go to the movies, what do you watch? Exhilarating action films? Romantic comedies? Animated adventures? Whatever you enjoy, you'll find it on the silver screen this holiday season.
Three animated films promise adventure and excitement in 3-D. In Megamind, a supervillain named Megamind discovers that his life is boring without an adversary, so he creates Titan, the perfect superhero. Unfortunately, Titan decides to destroy the world and Megamind has to save it. Disney's Tangled is an adaptation of the Rapunzel fairytale about a princess who has spent her entire life in a tower. After falling in love with a clever young man, she must venture out into the world to find him. Yogi Bear follows the adventures of two bears, Yogi and Boo Boo, who live in Jellystone Park. When the greedy mayor wants to close the park, Yogi and Boo Boo spring into action to save their home.

Romance fans will enjoy Due Date. Robert Downey Jr. plays a father-to-be trying to reach home for the birth of his first child. He hitches a ride with an aspiring actor and on the cross-country trip encounters one disaster after another.

Fantasy-adventure fans won't want to miss The Chronicles of Narnia. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. In it, Lucy and Edmund and their cousin Eustace are swallowed up by a painting in Lucy's room. Rescued by the ship the Dawn Treader. the group undertakes a quest to find the seven lost lords of Narnia. In Gulliver's Travels, Jack Black plays Lemuel Gulliver, a struggling writer. Gulliver hopes to impress a travel editor by taking a boat to the Bermuda Triangle. He survives a brutal storm and finds himself on an island populated by 6-inch-tall people. Tron: Legacy, the sequel to the 1982 film about video game programmer Kevin Flynn, tells the story of Kevin's son, Sam. While investigating his father's disappearance, Same is thrust into the digital world of Tron. He reunites with his father, and they try to escape from the cyberuniverse that Kevin created 25 years earlier. Those who enjoy historical dramas must see The King's Speech, which is inspired by from the true story of England's King George VI. A speech therapist helps the stuttering king prepare to deliver the most important speech of his life.

You'll also find heart-stopping action in theaters this winter. The action thriller Unstoppable stars two-time Oscar winner Danzel Washington. Washington plays an experienced locomotive engineer, who, with the help of a young conductor, must stop a long, unmanned train. The train, nicknamed "The Beast," is loaded with flammable liquids and poison gas and is hurtling toward a highly populated area.

Audiences will be amused at the romantic comedy Morning Glory. In it, a hard-working TV producer has trouble with her career and love life. She decides to revive her last-place morning news show, so she pairs a legendary TV anchorman with a former celebrity gossip specialist. Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton play the anchorman and gossip specialist respectively. The resulting clash of personalities plays out both on and off the air. Reese Witherspoon stars in How Do You Know, a comedy drama about professional athletes and their love lives. Witherspoon plays a professional softball player who has both a corporate executive and major-league pitcher vying for her affections. Take time to see a movie this winter, and don't forget the popcorn!

Grammar:
Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton play the anchorman and gossip specialist respectively.
respectively=in the order that was just mentioned.
Harrison Ford plays the anchorman, and Diane Keaton plays the gossip specialist.
"respectively"-
In our class play, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Samantha will play Goldilocks, Robert will play papa Bear, Mandy will play Mama Bear, and Terry will play Baby Bear.
=In our class, Goldilocks and the Three Bears Samantha, Robert, Mandy and Terry will play Goldilocks, Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear respectively.
Sandra plays the saxophone, Violet plays the violin, and Charlie plays the cello.
= Sandra, Violet, and Charlie play the saxophone, violin and cello respectively.

Vocabulary Tips:
exhilarating- 令人興奮的，刺激的。exhilarate-使振奮，使高興的現在分詞。
*The amusement park's exhilarating roller-coaster ride attracts many young visitors.
*The video footage captured the exhilarating atmosphere of the car race.
adversary-對手，敵人，敵手，敵對的一方。
*Our football team will compete against our long-time adversary tonight.
*The one-time best friends are now adversaries in the business world.
hitch a ride (hitch a lift) - 搭便車hitch-用繩子勾住，掛住，
*Our car broke down so we decided to hitch a ride back home.
*Howard hitched a lift to Vegas from a passing RV.
quest-探索, 探索什麽用"for"。 追索要做的事情用"to".
*The movie is about a quest to find a lost treasure under the sea.
*The reporter's quest to find the truth was hindered by some politicians.
legacy-遺產，先人遺留下來的東西。
*William's grandfather left him a large legacy. 大批遺產。
*Romans enjoy the cultural legacy left by their ancestors. 祖先留下來的文化遺產。
*The war left a legacy of hatred and pain. 留下來的仇恨與痛苦
stuttering-口吃，説話結結巴巴的， 結巴。
*Victor couldn't stop stuttering as he delivered his speech.
*Shannon suddenly began stuttering when the boy she liked walked in the room.
hurtle -猛衝,奔馳, -very fast, probably out of control. hurtled,
*The frightened horse hurtled toward the fence and almost got away.
*The kids hurtled down the stairs to answer the door when they heard the bell ring.
anchorman-男主播 anchorwomen女主播, anchor-(不分男,女)主播.
*The anchorman tried to stay calm as he broadcasted live from the scene of the explosion.
*The TV station hired young anchors to replace the old ones.
vie-爭奪,激烈的競爭. vied (過去式), vying (現在進行式) "for"
* The two brothers vie for their mother's attention every day.
*Many companies are vying for the top spot in the market. 爭奪領先地位.
flammable-can explode, something is easy to burn.

Chat Room
mega-數目大的，
mega bucks-很多的錢
mega dose-很大的葯劑量dose-葯的劑量
megastar-星星很多。
megacity-大城市New York, L.A.
-----------------------------
swallow-吞噬，吞嚥
The Chronicles of Narnia. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
are swallowed up by a painting-被一幅畫吞噬了
swallow one's pride-把驕傲吞下去。意即“放下身段”
hard to swallow-難以下嚥，難以接受。
a bitter pill to swallow-吞下苦葯丸，即是“吞下能不做的苦差事，不能不吞下去的屈辱.”
-----------------------------
You'll also find heart-stopping action in theaters this winter.
heart-stopping=心臟停下來,即"驚心動魄"
show-stopper=由於觀衆的熱烈掌聲而使得表演中斷的某個動作或表演
conversation stopper=是對話停止.即"無法使對方對話延續的答覆.

Brain Foods

益腦食物 Some foods are better for your brain than others. 有些食物比其他食物更能讓頭好壯壯by Chip Ewald

No matter what you do today, your brain will need fuel to function. And some fuels are better than others. Here are some foods that are especially good for your brain:

Blueberries
Scientists think these "brain berries" may actually strengthen connections between cells in the brain. Plus, their antioxidants help protect brain cells from damage caused by old age and stress.

Wild salmon
This favorite fish offers many benefits for the brain. It contains vitamins and healthy fats that improve one's mood and protect against memory problems.

Matcha tea
The Japanese have used this tea for centuries to both focus and calm the mind. The tea's specially ground leaves are loaded with nutrients that benefit the brain and body.

Walnuts
In general, nuts are high in vitamin E, which makes them excellent brain food. Walnuts, however, have healthy fats and antioxidants that make them especially beneficial for our brains.
No food can magically change the brain. However, regularly eating foods like these will help keep your brain healthy.

More Information:
A few English idioms based around the word "brain" include. "To pick someone's brain (or Brains)" , which means to find out what someone else's thinking by questioning them. Peter picked the rich businessman's brain for ideas on how to start a business.
Next "To rack (one's ) brain" means to think long and hard. I racked my brain for two days trying to figure out how I offended my girlfriend.

Grammar on the go:
This favorite fish offers many benefits for the brain.
The tea's specially ground leaves are loaded with nutrients...
="Salmon is full of benefits for the brain."
= "There is a lot of nutrients in Matcha tea's ground leaves."
"There are many cars in the parking lot."
=The parking lot was jammed with cars.
When talk about " a large amount of something in them" : try to use different way and different word to make sentence more lively.
"Mary's presentation had a lot of good ideas."
=Mary's presentation was overflowing with ideas.
There were a lot of students in the hallway.
=The hallway was swarming with students.

Vocabulary Tips:
fuel-燃料，（油）gas, power, energy.
*This eco-friendly car consumes 50% less fuel than regular cars. 消耗
*The driver pulled over to make sure his fuel tank wasn't leaking. 油箱
*Many developed countries are trying to reduce their fuel consumption. 燃料的消耗
strengthen (v)-加強，使強化 make it stronger. strength -力量
*Spending quality time together can strengthen the relationship between parents and children. 有品質的時間。。。 增強。。之間的關係。
*The bridge's structure needed to be strengthened after the flood. 橋梁的結構。。。
beneficial-有益的，有幫助的。
*Josh has been under a lot of stress lately, taking a vacation would be very beneficial to him.
*Moderate sun exposure is beneficial to newborns. 適度的曬太陽。。
antioxidant-抗氧劑（東西)a substance that can help to reduce or slow down your body to decay.
vitamin- a substance that help your body.

Chat Room
Walnuts have healthy fats.
fat-脂肪
healthy fat-good fat
"oxymoron " 矛盾修飾法，把互相矛盾的字並列，得倒更好的效果。
oxymoron words:
healthy fats-好得很脂肪
pretty ugly-好看又難看，指“非常難看”
awfully good-可怕有好，意思“非常好”
dead serious-死了還很認真，是“非常的認真”
dead right-死了還是對的， 指“非常的正確”“對極了”

Language Tips 12/10

Grammar on the go:
Say, you are looking really good. Have you dropped some pounds?
"say"- here is try to get attention.
"say"="be quiet!"
Say, Bring me a chair, please.
All this talk about food is making me hungry. Say, does anyone know what time the restaurant opens for dinner?
Say, is anyone interested in getting ice cream?


Vocabulary Tips:
figure-體形，身材，尤指“女性的身材”
*Sherry has a very good figure since she works out every day.
*Renee got her figure back just a few months after she had her baby.
pessimistic-悲觀的
*The author's pessimistic views of the world were expressed in his work.
*The doctor is pessimistic about the patient's condition.
optimistic- 樂觀的 是悲觀的反義詞opposite of pessimistic
*Our team is very optimistic about winning the title.
fad-一時的流行或狂熱。
*The fad of wearing mini skirts has lasted for many years.
*Some teenage girls spend a lot of time and money following latest fashion fads.
sacrifice (v)-捨棄，犧牲 give something up or not doing something you like for someone's good.
* Mandy and her husband sacrificed a lot to support their kids' education.
*Many people sacrificed their time to volunteer for the charity campaign.
*Sometimes we forget how much of a sacrifice our parents make for us.
yo-yo dieting- 一下節食，一下放縱大吃大喝的節食法。yo-yo is a toy, but here mean move or change constantly, unsteady.
yo-yo: 溜溜球。延伸出“上下起伏，搖擺不定的”意思。
*The government's yo-yo tax policies were strongly criticized by the people. 搖擺不定的稅制。
sustain-維持，保持。to keep or maintain the same condition.
*To sustain the present rate of sales growth, we need to find new ways to merchandise our products.
*The coach required harder training of our team in order to sustain our momentum. 維持我們的動力，趨勢。
trim=slim=fit.


Chat Room
pound-重量單位。
Have you dropped some pounds? 你是否掉了幾磅，你是否減輕了幾磅？
put on extra pounds. 發福，增加了體重。
shed-脫落，脫掉。
shed some pounds.-減重
sweat-流汗
sweat off the pounds.流汗方式把多餘的重量除掉，燃燒掉.

Speak Up With Confidence!

帶著自信暢所欲言！Giving a speech doesn't have to be scary.發表演說不見得會那麼可怕 by Chelsea Ewald

You've prepared for this moment for months. You've written, memorized and practiced your speech. All that's left now is delivering it. But as you walk to the front of the room, you suddenly become very nervous. The audience is staring at you in silence. Your hands begin to sweat. Your eyes start to twitch. Your breathing becomes more rapid. And worst of all, your mind goes blank. Sound familiar?

Giving a speech can be scary. But it doesn't have to be a miserable experience. You can give a speech with confidence by following a few easy tips:

Step one: Focus on your content
The content of your speech is important because it expresses your ideas and opinions. Begin by creating a memorable introduction. Do this by asking a question, telling a brief story, stating a fact or repeating a famous quote. This will grab your audience's attention right at the beginning. Next, focus on writing the body of the speech.

The body of your speech consists of your main points. It is the longest part of your speech and often contains three points. Support your points and ideas in this section with facts. Finally, complete the content of your speech with a conclusion. Briefly repeat your main points in the conclusion.

Step two: Focus on your delivery.
Now, prepare your delivery. Ninety percent of communication is nonverbal. Therefore, how you look and behave in front of your audience is critical.

* Pay attention to your body language. Stand straight with your legs shoulder-width apart. Move your hands in a natural manner as you speak.

* Pay attention to your facial expressions. Make eye contact and smile at your audience.

*Pay attention to your voice. Control the pitch of your voice as well as the pace of your words. Speak clearly and naturally.

You're ready to go! Now take a deep breath, and speak with confidence!

More information:
Who's Afraid of Speaking?
-If you'll be using visual aids in your speech, be sure to practice with them first. Remember-- these are just aids. They are not supposed to be the main part of your speech.
_ Never end your speech with "That's all," or "I'm finished" Conclude with a clear ending that is directly related to your topic.

Grammar on the go:
And worst of all, your mind goes blank.
"to go blank" = "to become unable to think"
"to go blank"-
Sabrina's mind went blank when the man of her dreams asked her to go out with him.
Brian prepared for his job interview, but his mind went blank when he sat down in front of his interviewer.

Vocabulary Tips:
twitch-抽動,抽筋,痙攣.抽慉
*His face twitched when he got nervous.
*The corner of Jay's mouth started to twitch because he smiled too long.
*The actor twitched his nose like a mouse sniffing a piece of cheese.
introduction-介紹,序言,序曲,序.
*In the introduction, the author talks about what motivates him to write continuously.
*The speaker loves to tell jokes in the introduction of his speech.
body-is content. important part. 文章,演説的主體, 著作的主要部分.
*He finished the body of his thesis in 6 months, but the collection of data took him over a year.
*The main body of the auto biography talks about the author's childhood memories.
rapid-fast.
speak up-說大聲些, 說出口.
grab-take, get, catch.
content-内容
*The content of his speech is very solid, but his poor delivery made it really dull.
delivery-運送,此指"表達,傳遞," 演講,講課,表演的表達. 方式的表達.
*The actor's delivery isn't believable enough in this role.
expression- 表情,臉色.臉部表情. express-表達
*Nick is a serious person; you can't really tell what he thinks by just observing his facial expressions.
*His expression shows great disapproval of my suggestion. 不贊成我的建議.
pace-速度,精進,爭競, 步調
*Hanks slowed his walking pace down so his daughter could keep up with him.
*The pace of life in big cities doesn't suit everybody.

Chat Room:
blank-空白
blank (v) out something-使一些事情成爲空白.即刻意不去想它,逃避現實(但終究還是要面對)
blank out the memory-purposely try not remember something. 從記憶中忘記,故意不去記得. go blank-腦筋一片空白,完全想不起任何事情.
-----------------------------

content (adj)-滿足的

content (n)-内容，

He is content with his life. 他很滿足他的人生.
the content of the speech.-一篇演講的内容。
the makeup of the speech.- 一篇演講的内容的結構(makeup)
the table of contents.- 一本書，由它的内容。書的目錄。書的目錄content要用複數 (s)contents

Top 10 Ways To Stick To Your Workout

讓你運動持之以恆的十個訣竅 Keep exercising- you'll be glad you did by Michele Promaulayko

1. Show up and book it
Plan your workout in advance. Lack of planning continues to be the biggest reason people fail to work out. Ninety percent of people finish their workout if they just show up.

2. Make a date with a friend
Making a commitment to someone helps you actually keep it. Be sure to find someone on your same fitness level so you both will work toward similar goals.

3. Invest in a trainer
If you don't know what you're doing when you get to the gym, it pays to hire someone who does. A personal trainer will correct your form to make sure you produce results avoid injuries.

4. Find a happy place but watch the rut
The "perfect" exercise is the one you're happiest doing. so make sure you find yourself wanting to work out. With that being said, don't let your routine become as familiar as "Friends" reruns. Vary your routine day to day and completely change it every three weeks.

5. Cut a soundtrack
Leave the slow songs for the sappy. High-tempo music is a better distracter.

6. Write it down
Record your fitness goals in a journal and track your workouts. Note the exercises that make you feel good and produce results.

7. Work with him
Sharing activities with your partner is a surefire way to stick together. Exercise releases neurohormones that make people feel happier, more motivated and less anxious.

8. Take a chance and streak
Adrenaline-spiked adventures like rock climbing will help you better manage stress in everyday life, according to a study from Texas A & M University. By streak we mean for you to see how long you can go without missing a workout. Then try to beat that record.

9. Reward yourself
Celebrate reaching your goals by treating yourself to whatever you want. Book that appointment for a massage, or take a long, hot bubble bath. Reward yourself now because sometimes that short-term reward might be the only evidence of your long-term success.

10. Show off
A brand new haircut or fresh-out-of-the-box running shoes can be just the appearance boost you need for a great lift in the gym. And when you feel better about yourself, you're going to function better.

Grammar on the go:
With that being said, don't let your routine become as familiar as "Friends" reruns.
"considering what was just mention"
"with that being said"＝considering what was just mentioned.
..... make sure you find yourself wanting to work out.
You should find yourself wanting to work out, but be sure that you don't let your routine become as familiar as "Friends" reruns.
"with that being said"
The human body's defense system is amazing when it comes to fighting germs. With that being said, we still need to wash our hands regularly in order to stay healthy.
I can tell everyone has worked very hard on the project. With that being said, I still need to point out a few things that we can improve.

Vocabulary Tips:
workout (n)-訓練，健身，練習
*Regular workouts can help reduce weight.
work out (v)-健身，鍛煉身體
*Paul works out twice a week at the gym.
fitness-身體的健康，或是好的体能。体能的程度。
*I'm trying to improve my fitness by running every morning before work.
*The exercise program is designed according to your fitness level.　健康程度，狀況
be + stuck in a rut-刻版的模式。rut-定規，慣例，老生常談。
*George felt that he was stuck in a rut for too long, so he decided to change his job.
get out of a rut- 脫離老套，離開刻板的模式。
*It's time for us to get out of this rut and find more effective ways to run our business. surefire-一定會成功，必定會發生，不會失敗的。
*The popular band's new album is a surefire hit.
*Sharing your snacks is a surefire way to make friends at school.
anxious-焦慮，緊張，擔心。
*Charles is anxious about his test result.
*The farmers started to feel anxious about their harvest when they heard about the developing typhoon.
show off-賣弄，展現，炫耀
*Eric tried to impress the girl he likes by showing off his sports skills.
* David loves to show off his muscles at the gym.
*Patrick is showing off his wealth again.
neurohormone-"neuro" is related to "brain" , hormone-賀爾蒙
adrenaline spiked- adrenaline is a kind of hormone in your body, spike-add something to make it stronger; get excited.
streak- a period of time continue to do something, not miss any day.
distract- take attention off. distracter- something that can take attention off.

Chat Room:
sappy-過度感傷的，多愁善感的
sappy=Excessively sentimental　過多的感情，情緒的。
Leave the slow songs for the sappy.　緩慢的歌曲留給多愁善感的人
sappy love songs-感傷的情歌
soap operas often have sappy plot.肥皂劇的劇情常常加入"sappy"賺人眼淚
-----------------------------
track (n)-動物的足跡 , 縱跡(v)-追蹤。
track an animal-（獵人）追蹤動物
track your workouts-追蹤你的鍛練狀況。
keep track of something-掌握某事物，某様東西的行蹤
keep track of the books you check out.　記錄，追蹤。。借的書。
track (n)-跑道，操場上的跑道，
track and field-跑道和操場，指“田徑賽”
on the right track.-在正確的跑道上，指“做對的事”

ResQMe

救援霸A simple device can save your life. by Ryan Batdorf

Picture yourself driving home late at night on a deserted street. Smoke starts pouring from your engine, and suddenly you see flames. Then your car dies. Leaving you trapped inside. You have to get out as soon as possible, but your seat belt is stuck, and everything has automatically locked. You grab your ResQMe, which is attached to your key ring, and use it to cut your seat belt and break your window. As you emerge from your car, you realize "ResQMe really did just that -rescue me."

What is ResQMe?
Designed to help you escape from your car in an emergency. ResQMe is a product of nov(safety). It attaches easily to your key ring and weighs next to nothing. Can't get your seat belt off fast enough? Cut it with ResQMe's sharp blade. Need to break your car window to escape? Push the black head against the window and watch the glass shatter. Are there several people in your car? Pass the same ResQMe around to rescue them too. Very reasonably priced, worthwhile investment. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Grammar on the go:

It attaches easily to your key ring and weighs next to nothing.

next to nothing = almost nothing.

*Res QMe attaches easily to a key ring and weighs almost nothing.

next to nothing-

I bought a stereo system for next to nothing.

I'm not qualified because I know next to nothing about leading a team.

I was so sick that I got next to nothing done.

Vocabulary Tips:
attach-裝上，貼上，使附著，附著在什麽上用“to”
*Please attache a Xeroxed copy of your ID to your application form.
*There's a card attached to the bouquet of roses.
*I attached the printer to my PC with this cable.
escape-逃脫，逃走。從那兒逃脫用“from”
*The hostages escaped from the bank robbery unharmed.
*The refugees escaped from Vietnam and fled to Hong Kong.
worthwhile-有價值的。或是值得花時間，金錢，筋力的。
*Every participant thought the seminar was quite worthwhile.
*Molly considers volunteering a worthwhile things to do.

Chat Room:
desert (adj)-有“被抛棄”之意。指“荒蕪，荒廢，不毛之地。發音與“dessert” 餐后甜點同音。
desert (n)-沙漠。
Picture yourself driving home late at night on a deserted street.
deserted street-荒涼空蕩蕩的街道。
a desert island-荒島，不是沙漠島，而是蔓草叢生的荒島。
dessert-餐后甜點 "ss" instead of "s" in the middle. 記住因爲好吃，所以甜點比沙漠多個“s” :)

A Century of Liquid Fire – Neon’s Bright History

液態火問世百年──霓虹的閃亮歷史This unique form of lighting made its debut 100 years ago.霓虹這種獨特的照明形式在一百年前問世. by Bryan Hagerla

French inventor Georges Claude displayed a new kind of lamp at the 1910 Paris Motor Show. When Claude connected two, 12-meter-long glass tubes filled with colorless neon gas to electricity, they glowed with a reddish-orange color. Onlookers praised Claude's invention, but they weren't excited about lighting their homes with his fiery light.

Claude's breakthrough came after he bent his tubes into the shapes of letters and learned how to produce other colors. In 1912, the world's first neon sign was displayed outside a Paris barbershop, and neon's role in advertising was born.

Americans first encountered neon in 1923 when the Packard Moter Car Company in Los Angeles displayed two of Claude's signs. Drivers stopped to gaze at the signs lit by "liquid fire." By the 1930s, American companies were producing their own signs and pushing the limits of neon. In 1936, for example, the Wrigley Company erected a huge aquaium scene in Times Square that featured animated, bubble-blowing fish and used over 1,000 feet of neon tubes.

Neon's golden age, however, didn't arrive until the 1950s when businesses from restaurants to movie theaters were all using neon signs to lure customers. Although neon's use has dipped since that golden age, neon districts like Las Vegas and Osaka continue to draw big crowds to this day.

More Information:
Two of the more famous Neon Districts around the world include:
Las Vegas: One neon "hot spot" features several restored neon signs from the golden years of Vegas - including Vegas Vic, 1 16-meter-tall neon cowboy created for the Pioneer casino.
Hong Kong: Every night the city puts on its "Symphony of Lights" show, a spectacle of light and sound dubbed the "World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show" by the Guinness World Record.

Grammar on the go:

By the 1930s, American companies were producing their own signs and pushing the limits of neon.

"pushing the limits of neon"-go beyond the limits

the limits of a city

"to push the limits"-

Cancer research continues to push the limits of microbiology.

The invention of cell phones pushed the limits of wireless communication.

"to push the limits"-

The training program was designed to push the limits of the athlete's physical endurance.

The baby's nonstop crying pushed the limits of the babysitter's patience.

Vocabulary Tips:

neon lights-霓虹燈

*The owner of the store used neon lights to light up the windows.

*One of the hotel sign's neon letters is burned out.

erected-建立,豎立,竪起來.

*A monument was erected to memorize what the brave warriors did for their country.

* The Empire State Building in New York City was erected in 1931.

*My father and I spent 2 hours erecting the tent.

golden age-黃金年代,全盛時期.

*The golden age of typewriters ended when the word processor was invented.

*The actor looked back on his forties and fifties as his golden age in the industry.

gaze- take time to look at something.注視

Chat Room

fiery-與"火"有関的.

fire, fiery, fir -all for "fiery",19 世紀,有不同拼音,直到新聞印刷出現,才統一用"fiery"

fiery (adj)- 也用來形容"人火爆的脾氣,個性上的衝動"

Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Lives

雙面狄更斯 This famous author saw both hard times and good times.名作家查爾斯?狄更斯曾歷經艱辛，卻也曾體驗美好時光 by Chelsea Ewald

For English author Charles Dickens (1812-1870), life included the best of times and the worst of times. Although he became successful as an adult, his childhood was full of hardship.

Dickens's difficulties began when he was a young boy. Even though his father had a steady job, he didn't handle money well. When Dickens was just 12, his father was put in prison for debt. This experience deeply affected the young Dickens.

While his mother and seven siblings lived with his father in prison, Dickens was forced to work instead of attending school. He put labels on black shoe polish bottles in a factory for three months. Conditions in the factory were harsh, and Dickens found himself feeling lonely and hopeless. Later that year. Dickens' father was released from prison, and young Dickens returned to school. His days spent slaving away in the factory, however, haunted him for life. They also influenced his writing.

By 1832, 20-year-old Dickens was employed as a newspaper reporter. As his writing skills developed, he began composing stories of his own. He even adopted a pseudonym and started writing under the name Boz. After he had some success with his early writing, Dickens pursued a career as a novelist. Around the same time, he also married Catherine Hogarth, his editor's daughter.

Many of Dickens' most well-known novels first appeared as monthly installments in magazines. Oliver Twist was one such story, running form 1837 to 1839. As many of Dickens' writings did. Oliver Twist exposed the evils of society. Years later, David Copperfield (1849-1850) and Great Expectations (1860-1861) also ran as magazine series. Both of these famous works are said to be largely autobiographical. Dickens' bad childhood memories of working in a factory come to life in these stories. Dickens' life had its share of difficult times. But in the end, those experiences brought him great success as an author.

More Information:
A Christmas Carol is one of Dickens' most loved works. It tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, who hates Christmas. however after meeting three Christmas spirits, he learns an important lesson. Scrooge becomes a caring and generous man.
The story has been made into several movie versions over the years. The latest version was released in 2009 and starred Jim Carrey.

Grammar on the go:
Dickens' life had its share of difficult times.
"to have it share of" ="to have a large amount" - a person have more experience than others.
"to have one's share of"
Justin has had his share of good luck this month.
Ellen has had her share of headaches recently.

Vocabulary Tips:
polish (n)-擦亮劑，polish (v) 擦
shoe polish-
furniture polish-家具用的擦亮劑
silver polish-
*Tim polishes his shoes every morning before going to work.
slave away- 像奴隸般努力的辛苦工作 slave-奴隸
*Rita has been slaving away all day at her proposal and hasn't even had time to eat.
*Mom slaved away in the kitchen all afternoon to prepare for tonight's big feast.
haunt-縈繞在心理，纏繞不去的，久久揮之不去。something stay with you , not going away.
*Even though years have passed, the terrible accident scene still haunts the driver.
*Irene was haunted by the harsh words of her best friend.
tale-story
hardship-very difficult time.
steady-stable.
installment-分期或連載的部分。也指“分期付款”
*I can't wait to read the next installment of the author's sci-fi novel series. 下一次連載部分
in installments-用“分期付款”的方式付款用“in”
*Eric bought his stereo system in installments.
expose-曝露，揭發 ex-有“向外”之意。
*The newspaper exposed the widespread exploitation of sweatshops. 曝露血汗工廠的剝削。
*The bribery scandal surrounding the police officer was exposed by a reporter. 賄賂醜聞
autobiographical-自傳式的 auto -refers "self"自己指, bio - refers "living live" 指“生活”
autobiography-自己寫自己的一生。written by that person about himself.
biography-為別人寫傳記，寫別人的一生。written for someone that not ourselves, is something about that person's.
*The autobiographical movie based on the pop star's life was last summers' biggest blockbuster.
*Linda is writing an autobiographical novel about her childhood.
compose-to put things together.
pseudonym- the name is not real name, fake name. pseudo- fake, not real "nym" refer to name.
T.V company airs the T.V program, the newspaper runs the novel installments.

Chat Room:
included the best of times and the worst of times.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." is "paradox"
paradox-一种相互矛盾的說法。彼此互相矛盾。同時存在二個相對的情形。
For example: "Nobody goes to that restaurant, it's too crowded".
-----------------------------
bad childhood memories.
hood-時期，階段，狀態，
childhood- 童年時代
adulthood-成人階段
fatherhood- 父親的身份
motherhood-母親的身份
sisterhood- 姐妹關係，也指“婦女團體”或“姐妹淘”
brotherhood-兄弟関係，也指“志同道合者”
the old saying "girlhood" and "boyhood", now replaced by "childhood" or "sisterhood", "brotherhood".

Mark Twain: “The Father of American Literature”

美國文學之父：馬克?吐溫One hundred years after Twain’s death, his memorable characters live on. by Pamela Osment

In 1835, the return of Halley's comet caused great excitement in the world. That same year in another historic event, the baby who would become the "Father of American Literature" was born.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens - Known later as Mark Twain - began life on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Mo. When Clemens was around 4, his family moved to Hannibal, Mo., a river town situated on the Mississippi River. His new home provided him with lots of excitement and adventure as steamboats from New Orleans and St. Louis stopped there regularly. The new environment also proved to be fertile ground for a boy with an active imagination and a gift for storytelling.

Discovering his talent
When Clemens was only 11, his father died, leaving the family in financial difficulty. At 13, the boy had to quit school and find a job, working first for a printer. Next he worked for his brother, a newspaper publisher, and it was then that Clemens discovered how much he enjoyed writing . in his free time, he began writing and submitting humorous pieces to his brother's newspaper.

Realizing a dream
Though Clemens liked writing he had always dreamed of piloting steamboats on the mighty Mississippi River. While in his 20x, he decided to do it, training and then working as a riverboat captain for three years.
His experiences left a lasting impression on him and even provided the pen name Mark Twain, which he would later use.

Finding fame
In 1863, Clemens began publishing regularly as Mark Twain, but fame eluded him. Then in 1865 he found success with his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." However, it was his books about two boys growing up along the Mississippi River that would bring him lasting prominence. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn introduced readers to a child's world of delightful adventures.

Living on
Twain published over 60 works during his lifetime. Then, as he himself had predicted, he died the same year Halley's comet returned - in 1910. One hundred years ago, the world lost a literary giant. But his words still live on in the lives of America's favorite fictional boys, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

More Information:
A Few Mark Twain Facts:
1. Halley's comet could be seen at the night Mark Twain was born and the night he passed away.
2. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the fictional town of St. Petersberg was based on Twain's hometown of Hannibal, Mo.
3. As a riverboat pilot Twain earned from $150 to $250 a month.
4. Roughing it describes Twain's journey out West with his brother Orion.

Grammar on the go:
.....in 1865 he found success with his short story....
"to found success with.."= to become successful in...
" to find success with something "-
After trying numerous different diets to lose weight, Katherine finally found success with her current exercise program.
Although Joseph didn't do well in his studies, he did find success with the school's drama club.

Vocabulary Tips:
literature-複數名詞“文學”
*The professor specializes in modern English literature.專精於。現代英國文學。
*In this author's latest work of literature, you can find a shift from pessimism to optimism. 從。。由悲觀轉變成樂觀。
fertile ground for something-某件事的沃土，意即“培養某件事的最環境. fertile-肥沃，
*Touring with his mother's band offered fertile ground for the talented little boy.
submit-呈交，繳交，提交 submitted/submitting。
*The proposal will be submitted next week.
eluded-1. 閃避，逃避，躲避. 2. 想不起來，難倒某個對象，（看不懂，找不到答案，搞不清楚）escaped, avoid, confused.
*The deer successfully eluded the tiger and ran into the forest. 閃躲掉。
*the details of our contract eluded me. 難倒了我，弄不清楚。
*A cure for this disease still eludes scientists.找不到答案
prominence-有聲望，有名聲的。聲望，名聲。fame, well known, noticeable and important.
*A researcher of prominence will visit our lab today.
*The actor gained prominence when he was nominated for an Oscar. 提名
predicted-預報，預測，預言。pre-在。。之先。
*The hurricane was predicted to influence the entire coastal area of Florida.
*Many professional analysts predicted that another financial crisis would happen this year.

Chat Room
humor -幽默，可笑，滑稽。
a sense of humor-幽默感
see its humor-看到它的幽默。
humor=mood- 心情，情緒，興致。
In a good humor,-有個好心情，好興致。
In a bad humor-有個坏心情， 心情不好。
I'm in no humor to do something. 我沒心情去做某事。
Humor is "noun" can not be a "adjective", humor's adjective is "humorous"
humorous (adj)-很 幽默的。
humorous pieces-很幽默的文章，作品
----------
His experiences left a lasting impression on him
impression-印象
lasting impression-深刻的印象。
first impression-初次的印象，第一印象。
get the wrong impression-得到錯誤的印象，誤解，誤會。

Today’s Technology Trends

當今的科技趨勢A closer look at where technology is and where it is going by Simon Stopps

SC: What is the difference between computer science, computer engineering and management information systems (MIS)?
EC: In general, computer science tends to deal with theory, methods and processes. In computer engineering, the emphasis is on applying those theories to real-world situations. In contrast, Management Information Systems goes a step further and focuses on applying various technologies in business situations.

SC: What areas of computer technology are growing in importance?
EC: There are a lot of exciting things happening with technology right now. Currently, there is a lot of emphasis on mobile technologies-like cell phones. There is also a lot of interest in search technology, especially with regard to searching for things like images and videos.

SC: What area of computing are becoming less important?
EC: We are currently seeing a shift away from computer science and toward engineering and MIS. I don't know that it's because computer science is becoming less important. It's just that theory has developed so quickly that businesses need a chance to catch up with applications.

SC: What technological changes should we expect over the next little while?
EC: Basically, we are going to continue to see smaller, faster and more powerful devices. We are also moving toward more integrated technologies. In smart homes, for example, every thing is integrated. You can open windows and doors or turn on lights and appliances remotely.

SC: What impact are mobile technologies having?
EC: Originally, cell phones just made phone calls. Next, they sent text messages and then came images and video calls. Now we're seeing cell phones that make extensive use of extremely varied applications. Eventually, these applications should let us control the other integrated technologies in our lives, while we're on the move.

SC: What challenges will need to be faced as technology moves forward?
EC: In most cases, the technology is ready, but the need is not great enough to justify teh expense. The exception to this is in the area of surveillance. We also need to ensure dependable cell phone coverage as people move around, especially by plane or high-speed rail.

Grammar on the go:
What areas of computer technology are growing in important?
"growing in importance" =" becoming more important."
Having clean water to drink is a subject growing in importance.
"growing in"
"growing in popularity"
Ever since the bakery started selling their special cakes, the bakery has grow in popularity.
"growing in confidence"
Timothy's unique internship position has allowed him to grow in confidence.

Vocabulary Tips:
emphasis (n)- 強調重點 emphases (v)-
* The main emphasis of the program is to help foreign students to adjust more easily to the university.
* We should put more emphasis on the quality of our products instead of our marketing strategies.
shift-轉移,轉變change to
*The politician's drastic shift from supporting the Republican Party to the Democratic Party is a big risk.
*The poll is designed to collect information regarding the shift in consumers' demands.
application-應用,運用
*The applications from this research are mostly used in the field of medicine.
*Engineers are still working on developing a practical application of the theory.
justify-成爲某事的正當理由. give a good reason for something. it comes from " just"-公正的
*I find it very difficult to justify your frequent tardiness. 。。。為你的屢次遲到找到正當理由。
*Being offended doesn't justify your behavior. 被冒犯並不能成爲你行爲的正當理由。
dependable-可靠的，可信靠的。靠得住的
*You have to find a dependable accountant to manage your money.
*The car might not look very fancy, but it's quite dependable. 不很豪華但是很可靠。
coverage (n)- 含概的範圍。cover(v)-覆蓋
*The dictionary gives very good vocabulary coverage. 字典含概相當多的單字。
*People without any form of health coverage always get rejected by the hospital. 任何保險
impact-effect
integrate- technology all come together.
smart homes- it means the house build with many technology involved that make people's living much convenience

Chat Room
the Chair of the Computer Science Department
chair-椅子,.
chair係主任=chairman(男的)- chairwoman(女的), chairperson(中性)
chair (v)-主持
chair a meeting-主持一個會議
---------------------------------------
The exception to this is the area of surveillance.
exception- come from "except" -no exception, excluded.
There are no exceptions to the rule-每人都要遵守規則，每人可以例外。
except-（介係詞）除。。。之外。
Everyone is going to the party except me
except-（連接詞）但是，只是。however
I would go to the party, except I have a lot of work to do. 我很想。。。只是（但是）我有。。
accept- to receive, to agree, to take in. 接受， 接納。

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

梅西百貨感恩節大遊行America starts Thanksgiving in style 美國民眾別具風格地慶祝感恩節by Ryan Batdorf

Today in America, most families are gathering together for a feast. In addition, they will play games or watch football together. However, for many, the holiday doesn't seem complete without viewing this large parade in New York City.

How it started
Back in 1924, many of Macy's Department Store employees were European immigrants. Wanting to celebrate American holidays as they did in Europe, they staged a parade. The parade consisted of three floats, four bands and many animals from the Central Park Zoo. Man Macy's employees dressed up and marched in this parade too. And Santa Claus appeared at the parade's end-still a tradition 86 years later!

Today's celebration
Some aspects of this parade have changed over the years. Floats, marching bands and Santa are still a part of the parade, but animals aren't. Those watching today will see numerous giant balloons shaped like animals or famous cartoon characters. Ten thousand people now take part in this parade. More than 3.5 million watch from the sidewalks, and the expected TV audience is 50 million. Many Americans just can't imagine a Thanksgiving without the magical Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Grammar on the go:
Many Americans just can't imagine a Thanksgiving without the magical Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Subject + can't imagine a + something + without + something.
Many Chinese just can't imagine a Lunar New Year celebration without firecrackers.
Jeff is always online, so he can't imagine living in a place with no Internet access.

Vocabulary Tips:
parade-(n),(v)-遊行,
*Many townspeople gathered at the plaza to watch the parade.
*People wear green outfits to attend the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
*Firemen and paramedics paraded through the streets.
immigrant-從囯外移民進來的移民 "im"-"進來"的意思, "migr"-字根有"遷移"的意思.
*Leo's father was an Italian immigrant.
*Illegal immigrants will be sent back immediately.
emigrant-遷移到外國的，"em"- “向外”，emigrant -遷移到國外的移民
float-(v)- 飃浮，(n)-花車。
*The float was decorated with carnations and roses.
*The dancers on the floats dressed like characters in fairy tales. 童話故事
magical- doing something with magic, but here means " wonderful, very exciting."
athletic-運動
* Figure skating has become more and more athletic over the last ten years.
*Melody is an athletic girl. She's good at many sport.
determined-決定， 取決於，立志，立定志向。
*When Nancy left her hometown, she was determined to return one day as a successful business person.
*Your health is determined by your lifestyle and your diet.
break into-進入，潛入
*Samuel broke into the world of computer programing design when he was only 12.
*Entering beauty contests is one of the ways to break into show business.

Chat Room
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
parade-遊行， 行列，炫耀。
a parade of people-行列，人一個接一個出現。
a parade of books-接連不斷的書
parade around the neighborhood in his new car. 繞來繞去在街上炫耀他的新車。

I'm impressed.

Break Dancing

霹靂舞An amazing dance style is back 令人嘆為觀止的舞蹈形式又捲土重來了by Chelsea Ewald

Break dancing is a style of dance like no other. The moves are jaw-dropping, and watching dancers performing them will make your head spin. Break dancing takes skill, strength and rhythm. The style combines acrobatics, Kung Fu-like moves and dance to create a totally unique art from. Although its roots are American, today its popularity has spread around the globe.

Break dancing breaks new ground
Unlike many styles of dance, break dancing is fairly new. In fact, its history only dates back a few decades. It all began in 1969 with music superstar James Brown. While singing his hit song "Get on the Good Foot" Brown did a high-energy dance. his "Good Foot" dance caught on and soon this style of dance became known as B-boy. Identified by its quick footwork, B-boy hit the streets of New York City. There, dancers would gather to hold "dance battles." These battles often helped settle disputes between people without using violence.

As B-boy spread throughout the 1970s and 1980s, its style changed. It became more athletic. At this time, the general public began to call it break dancing. Since dancers danced when a song took a break from worlds and played only music, the name fit. The focus of the dance grew to include more than just fancy footwork.

Break dancers, also known as b-boys and b-girls, were now doing head-spins, back spins, hand spins and flips.

Break dancing today
Break dancing became less popular from the late 1980s and into the a990s. It was still around but no longer in the spotlight. Today, however, break dancing is back and stronger than ever. The competitions take place all over the world. These modern-day dance battles no longer settle disputes. Instead, they are used to determine the most talented b-boy and b-girls. These dancers' skill and moves are more impressive than ever! People can now be seen breaking into break dancing all over the world.

More Information:
Power moves in Break Dancing.
1. The Windmill: a move where the dancer spins from his back to his chest while twirling his legs in the air.
2. Head-spins: the dancer spins on his head while lifting his hands in the air.
3. Flare: an incredibly difficult move borrowed from men's gymnastics.
4. Jackhammer: when a dancer balances on one hand while spinning and bouncing up and down.

Grammar on the go:
Unlike many styles of dance, break dancing is fairly new. In fact, its history only dates back a few decades.
unlike many styles of dance.
"unlike many"- to bring up something that is very unique from something else.
Unlike most cats, the Turkish Van likes to swim.
Unlike most companies, this company allows its workers to bring their children and pets to work.

Vocabulary Tips:
make one's head spin-暈頭轉向 頭昏眼花, 使人傷腦筋 spin-旋轉
*The roller coaster ride really made our heads spin.
*All of my new work responsibilities really made my head spin.
break new ground- 新天地 新局面 創新ground-地面
*The scientist finally broke new ground in biochemistry after years of hard work 新發現 .
dispute -爭執 爭論 爭吵
*The dispute over the import policy became more and more severe between the two parties.越來越激烈
*The couple's best friend finally helped them resolve their long-lasing dispute.

Chat Room:
hit- 打, 到達, 抵達, 前往, 擊中, 命中目標
B-boy hit the streets of New York City. - "hit" - arrive, appear.
hit the market-在市場上推出 (抵達)
Let's hit the beach-前往海灘
hit the jackpot-中頭獎
a hit- "hit" (n)- 成功而風行一時的事物