Wednesday, March 31, 2010

A Humorous Situation

愚人節快樂He who laughs last, laughs best 誰才是真正的哈洛根博士? Who is the real Dr. Halogen?by Ruth Devlin

A world-famous scientific expert, Dr. Halogen, was on his way to give another lecture. This particular night, his driver asked him for a favor. “Dr. Halogen, when you speak, everyone gives you honor and attention. I’d really like to see what that feels like. Could we exchange clothes just for tonight? You be the driver, and I’ll be the expert.” Dr. Halogen laughed and said, " Do you really think you can do it? What if someone asks you a difficult question? "I can answer it," boasted the driver. "I've heard you speak on this topic many, many times."

"All right, " said the scientist "It is April Fool's Day after all!" The two exchanged clothes and continued on to the meeting. When they arrived the bogus scientist was received with great enthusiasm. He gave a good imitation of the speech and answered a few questions. Then a woman asked a very tricky one. Thinking quickly, he said, "Ma'am, that question has a very simple answer. It's so easy, I'm going to let my driver, who is sitting in the back, explain it!"

Grammar
I'd really like to see what that feels like...
I'd really like...= see what that feels like=know what that feels like.
I want to know what that feels like. "want"- it's too direct , is not polite way to say it .
"would like" is more polite way to say something you want.
I would like...
I want to reschedule my ticket -better to say " I'd like to reschedule my ticket."
I want a salad with my sandwich- better say “ I would like a salad with my sandwich."

Vocabulary
boast-夸耀,吹嘘。吹嘘什么用“about / of" boast -也指拥有某些事物。
*Mothers love to boast about how smart their children are.
*Hawaii boasts great sand beaches and beautiful scenery.拥有
enthusiasm-重音在"thu",热诚,热衷,热情,热心
*The teacher's enthusiasm for literature inspired his students.
*Wesley lost his enthusiasm for the project when he learned it would take 6 months to complete.失去热情。
bogus-假的,假造的。
*The con man used a bogus credit card to buy many valuable goods.
*The suspect's claim was found to be bogus.
*He made up some bogus data in his report and got expelled.被退学

Chat Room
favor(美国拼字)=favour(英国拼字)恩惠,办忙。
favor-偏袒,偏爱,
*My mom always favors my younger brother.
asked him (someone) for a favor: you may say:
我可以请你帮个忙吗? 以下三种人说法都可:
Can I ask you for a favor?
Can I ask a favor of you?
Can you do me a favor?

Monday, March 29, 2010

Davy Liu: Made for Making Art

劉大偉:天生的藝術家Meet a talented artist who has discovered his purpose in life 這位藝術家出於滿腔熱情而創立了自己的動畫公司This artist’s passion has led him to create his own animation company by Chip Ewald

Nearly losing his life before his first breath, Davy Liu began his remarkable story before his birth. While his mother was pregnant with him, the doctor checked and detected no heartbeat. Ten days later, just before a surgery to remove his body, the doctor double-checked and found a heartbeat! Despite the near tragedy, Davy was born a healthy baby.

It appeared God had protected Liu’s life for a special purpose. If so, it later became obvious that this purpose wasn’t to make good grades. Liu struggled in school as repeated classroom failures discouraged him. But his father’s interest in his drawings encouraged him, so Liu drew whenever he could.

Learning his love for art
A 13, his family immigrated to Florida from Taichung(台中). Liu could scarcely communicate in English and barely kept up in school. In addition, being lonely made his first years in the States difficult. But he always looked forward to school art classes. Failing to shine in athletics or schoolwork, Davy felt his greatest chance of success lay in his artistic abilities. And these would soon make his greatest dreams come true.

Discovering his life's purpose
Liu realized early that he was born to create art. In eighth grade, he won a national art competition. And in spite of graduating from high school with a C average, Liu received a university scholarship to study art. He got his illustration degree from an art school, and The Walt Disney Company hired him, training him in animation. his first film assignment was designing sets for Beauty and the Beast-the first and only animated film ever nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.

Liu Dreamed of Oscars while working on films like Aladdin and The Lion King. His national fame grew as he contributed to other major companies. American Showcase magazine dubbled him the most unique illustrator in 1999, displaying his work on its cover. Liu appeared to be achieving his dreams on the outside. Yet inside, he sensed he was missing out on a full life. He felt empty using his creativity to gain the fickle approval of people. By seeking higher dreams, he discovered deeper satisfaction in using his artistic creations to serve his Creator.

Kendu Films and The Giant Leaf
Liu began 2000 with a renewed sense of purpose and concentrated his efforts on bringing a new concept to the big screen. During the following four years. he worked on founding Kendu Films. This animation production company offers all kinds of artistic media services to big-name clients from Pixar and Disney to Sony and Coca-Cola. But the company is also constantly working on its own projects: children's books that will eventually become feature films.
Kendu Films aims to create stories that build character by telling Bible stories from animals' perspectives.

The Giant Leaf, for example, tells of three animals that chase their dreams and accidentally discover their salvation from a flood. Those familiar with the story of Noah using a boat to save Earth's creatures from a global flood recognize the book's roots. With the success of this children's book, Kendu Films hopes to complete the movie version by 2012. Liu is convinced he has discovered his life's purpose. So he produces admirable artwork and inspiring stories to lead others to discover their own reason for being.

Grammar
Yet inside, he sensed he was missing out on a full life.
missing out on=to lose a chance for
...he sensed he was losing a chance for a full life.
to miss out on-is an informal way to use this great idiom when someone is fail to get something or fail to achieve something.
*Why don't you want to join the game? You're missing out on all the fun!
*Richard spent too much time partying and ended up missing out on a lot of learning opportunities.

Vocabulary
double-check-重复确认,再次核对double-双重的check-检查
*The flight attendant double-checked the passengers' boarding passes before boarding.
*The guards double-checked that the doors and windows were locked before leaving.
discouraged-失去勇气,丧气,沮丧 dis-"否定"之意 courage-勇气
*He was discouraged by the harsh comments from his colleagues.严厉的批评..同事们
*The audience's cold response to his performance didn't discourage him.冷漠的反应
scarcely (adv)- 几乎不,几乎没有scarce (adj)-稀少的
*I was scarcely able to stay awake after staying up for two nights. 保持清醒..未眠
*William is so busy that he scarcely has any chance to take a vacation with his family. 几乎没有
in spite of-尽管,不管或是不顾
*In spite of her stage-fright, Laura gave her speech.不顾舞台恐惧症,还是上台讲演
*They continued their project in spite of limited funding.资金
illustrations(n)-插画,插图 illustrate (v)-画插图
*The color illustrations of this children's book attracts kids' attention easily.彩色插图..吸引小孩子的注意力.
fickle-善变的,无常的.
*Karl is a fickle boss; it's hard to predict what he will do. 善变..预测
*The stock market is fickle right now. It's not wise to invest any money until it is more stable.不明智,不是明智之举.
eventually-最终,最后.
*Even though the couple faced many difficulties, they eventually worked out their problems.
*After tracking the fugitive for a long time, the detective eventually located him.追踪逃犯..警探终于找到他
character-故事中的人物,此指高尚的品格或人格
*Bob is a man of character. You can rely on him. 品格高尚的人
*It takes character to refuse such temptation. 必须有高尚的品格才能拒绝这样的诱惑
accidentally-意外地,偶然地 accidental-意外的
*I accidentally overheard their conversation. 无意的听到...
*I accidentally opened my sister's mail.意外的拆阅..

Chat Room
grade- 年级
make grade-获得好的成绩
make grade (idiom)-克服困难之后,达到目的或标准.
valedictorian-毕业典礼上第一名的毕业致词的学生代表.
salutatorian- 第二名毕业生
grade school-小学年级
first grade-小学一年级

tenth grade is the first year in high school, it also called "freshman"
2nd year in high school or college is "sophomore"
3nd year in high school or college is called "junior"
last year in high school or college is called "senior"
---------------------------
miss-错过,或是很想念某一个人或是某一个地方
missing somethingHe missed the train- 错过了火车
I really miss Taipei-很想念台北.
missing out on something-错失良机,错过做某事的机会.
miss out on making new friends-错失了交新朋友的机会.
to miss out on free pizza-错失吃免费pizza的机会
---------------------------
find 寻找,发现 find is discover.
found-是"find" 的过去式. found 也可自己当动词用时是指"建立,创立,创办"
found (v)-found is to create. 过去式是" founded"
founder(n)-创办人

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Exercise Is Needed; a Diet Is Essential

運動純屬必要,節制飲食實屬必須Trying hard to get rid of this 10 kg of American food學校自助餐廳的飲食害路加變胖了Cafeteria food is making Luke fat by Luke Wang

If you live in a great place like Taipei, dear readers, you might sometimes forget that the food is so delicious. In my school, all freshmen are required to purchase a meal plan, so most students eat at the campus cafeteria. After eating cafeteria food for seven months, I am sick and tired of it. And it’s making me fat. I’ve gained almost 10 kg. Even though I have done some weight training, I need to start doing cardio exercises to get in shape.

There is one thing I am grateful for: I live in California. California is known for its high number of Asian immigrants, so finding traditional Chinese food isn’t a big problem. After eating American food for a week, I always find a way to get some Chinese food with friends. A nearby city, Arcadia is even noted for some Taiwanese stores like ..... Eating there is so wonderful! Oh, and I just passed my written driver's permit test. I am now scheduling times with an instructor to learn how to drive. This is going to be really exciting!

Grammar
There is one thing I am grateful for: I live in California.=I am thankful that I live in California.
When you writing a report, try to use the simple sentence to bring people attention then tell about the good news. such as:
*Ladies and gentlemen, we finally did it: We finally have one million customers using our product.
(Ladies and gentlemen. I would like to report to all of you that we finally have one million customers using our product.)
*Yes, our company has many problems. But one thing is for sure: We need to work together as a team.
(Our company has many problems, but we need to work together as a team.)

Vocabulary
sick and tired of-对某事或某人感到极其厌倦,厌恶.
*I'm sick and tired of working hard and still not getting a pay raise.
*Alice is sick and tired of her parents' constant nagging.
noted-有名的 note-注意,注目. 以什么为有名用"for
*The noted Korean singer will perform in Tokyo this summer.知名的..
*The teacher is noted for her strictness.以严格出了名
instructor-教练,大学的讲师或训练员instruct- 训练,指导 or-人
*Brenda works part-time as a swimming instructor.
*Wesley is a History instructor in USC.教历史的讲师
cardio-refer to heart, something to do with heart.
weight training-lifting weight exercise to build up the body and make muscle strong.

Chat Room
driver's license-驾驶执照
diver's permit-学习驾驶的执照
diver's training-驾驶训练
written test-笔试
road skills test-路试
In the U.S.A you have to pass the written and road test to obtain a driver's license.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

ShelterBox

這箱子能變出東西這箱子能變出東西Providing shelter to those in need around the world This organization provides housing to people in need around the world 庇護箱組織提供臨時庇護處給全球各地有迫切需要的民眾 by Linda Ludwig.

Disasters can occur anywhere and anytime. Some are acts of nature, and some are acts of war. Many organizations respond with food, water and medicine to help people survive. Housing, however, presents a major problem. That which is provided is often inadequate. Many families lack privacy as they share a common living space. And some families can no longer live together.

The beginnings
Frustrated with this situation, Tom Henderson wanted to help. A former Royal Navy search and rescue diver, Henderson had first-hand knowledge of disaster relief. In 1999 after some research, he came up with ShelterBox – housing in a box. Others, including people in the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in the U.K., liked the idea. So in 2000 this club, of which Tom is a member, adopted ShelterBox as its major project. The 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia changed ShelterBox's history. Money poured into the club, and volunteers provided assistance to thousands. ShelterBox went from sending 2,600 boxes in 2004 to 22,000 in 2005.

The Box
What exactly does a ShelterBox contain? The contents vary slightly, but each 50-kg container holds a strong, high-quality, ten-person tent. These tents are testd in a variety of weather conditions and changed as better masterials are found. The box also includes blankets, mosquito nets, cooking pots, water purification tablets, tools and more. Also available are school supplies such as chalk, a balckboard and radio.

How it works
When a disaster strikes, a ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) that consists entirely of volunteers arrives on the scene. The SRT works with local authorities to determine who needs shelter. The volunteers also accompany the boxes and teach the recipients how to set up the equipment. The boxes and contents then become the permanent property of the families that receive them. Hundreds of volunteers raise funds, pack boxes and deliver the aid. According to ShelterBox, over 90 percent of all contributions go directly into the boxes. Now that is money well spent!

Grammar
When a disaster strikes, a ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) consisting entirely of volunteers arrives on the scene.
on the scene-being there at the location or event.
*An ambulance was on the scene after someone reported the car accident.
*The police were on the scene not long after the alarm went off at the bank.

Vocabulary
inadequate-不能满足需要的,不适合的in-有否定之意 adequate-能满足需要的或是足够的,适合的。
*Inadequate preparation caused the restaurant's opening to be a total disaster.
*inadequate lighting. 灯光不足
privacy-隐私,不受干扰得,隐私权。
*The VIP lounge was exclusively designed for the privacy of first-class passengers.贵嫔室
*The magazine was sued by the movie star for invasion of privacy.被告。。侵犯隐私权
frustrated (adj)-感到挫败的,失望的。 frustrate-使挫败,感到失望的
*Becky feels frustrated in her present job. She's thinking about making a change.
content(s) (n)-内容,内容物content (adj)-(重音在第二节)满足
*The contents of the bottles were carefully examined.
*The movie is entertaining but lacks content.有娱乐性但缺乏内容
*She's content with her life. 她对她的生活状况很满足
consist-组成,consist of-由甚么组成的
*The amateur baseball team consists of people from all walks of life.业余。。。各行各业
*The menu consists of Japanese and Italian cuisine.
recipient(n)-接收者(人)the person who receive things.
*All the award recipients' names will be posted on the website.得奖人
*The recipient of the donor heart is only 7 years old. 捐赠心脏器官的收益人
*The program is to help welfare recipients find jobs.

Chat Room
natural disaster-acts of natural.
acts of natural such as typhoons and hurricanes.热带气流引起的飓风
*在西北部,太平洋地区叫typhoon-台风
*在东北部,太平洋,大西洋地区称之为hurricane-飓风
------------------------------
scene-电影,戏剧的银幕,或出事地点,犯罪现场,或是指某一活跃的场合。
The police arrived on the scene of the crime.犯罪现场
the political scene-政界
the fashion scene-时装界
*不喜欢某一活动或场合,如你不喜欢看opera 可说“that's not my scene
change of scene-地点环境的改变
*搬到一个新地方,你会感到“a change of scene“ ,

Monday, March 22, 2010

Enjoying the Netherlands

愛上荷蘭The Netherlands aims to please with art, tulips and cheese 一探這個歐洲國家的藝術、鬱金香、陶器和起司吧 Discover the art, tulips, pottery and cheese of this European country by Ruth Devlin

The Netherlands beckons. What could be more tempting than enjoying friendly people and good food and gazing at fine art, windmills, and tulips in vibrant colors? Small towns call out to be explored, and quiet country lanes welcome all bicycles. Set foot in the Netherlands, and you will discover more than you imagined.

What better place to start than Amsterdam? This world-class city hosts the Anne Frank Huis, Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum to mention a few places. The most popular tourist attraction in the city, the Anne Frank House is sobering. Walk through tiny rooms, and continue up steep, narrow staircases as you imagine living in hiding in the house. The riveting displays capture the horrors of being Jewish in Europe before and during World War II.

The Van Gogh Museum houses the largest collection of the master artist's works. They are displayed chronologically, so people can see the changes in his techniques and color choices.
In the Rijksmuseum, discover the Masterpieces collection with works by Dutch masters as well as furniture, pottery and statues.

Tulips, tulips, tulips (郁金香)
A short distance from Amsterdam sits the charming town of Leiden, home to the oldest Dutch university. If museums captivate you, you'll love this town-it's loaded with them. That should be no surprise as Leiden is the great painter, Rembrandst's birthplace. Enjoy wandering the streets, and if you have time, take a boat trip on Leiden's scenic canals.

Not far from Leiden lie the Keukenhof gardens, a riot of color in the spring. The gardens were once the hunting area and kitchen gardens of a countess, hence the name Keukenhof (keuken is kitchen). Millions of tulips and other flowers bloom here each spring, and the gardens are advertised as the greatest flower show on Earth. Fifteen km of walking trails take visitors past beds of blooms, each more glorious than the last. The gardens are open from mid-March to mid-May. The tulips that bloom in the garden are actually on loan. Different growers loan their flower bulbs to the garden to flaunt their latest hybrids. While there, be sure to see Europe's largest fountain and a charming pond with beautiful white swans.

Pottery (陶瓷)and cheese
Now head to Delft, probably the most carefully preserved historic town in the country. Besides monuments, ancient houses and canals, you'll find interesting shops and restaurants in the little alleys that honeycomb the city. Visit the Royal Delft Pottery Factory and pick up some souvenirs to take home. Explore the New Church, built in 1381, with its tombs of the Dutch Royal family and climb the tower for a superb view of the town. No one comes to the Netherlands without wishing to see windmills. The country is still home to one thousand of them.

The best place to see them is they village of kinderdijk, where 19 of the grand structures, built in the mid-1700s, still stand. In the Netherlands, you also must have an encounter with cheese. Visit the Alkmaar cheese market for an unforgettable experience. Every Friday morning from the first of April to the first Friday in September, an elaborate demonstration shows how the cheese is weighed before it is sold. This is only a fraction of what the country has to offer. There is so much more. Do you hear it calling you?


Grammar
This world class city hosts the Anne Frank Huis, Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmusem to mention to name a few places=to mention a few places.
to describe small part of bigger place.
Our travel plan includes visiting a zoo, a garden, and an art museum to name a few places.
I was in Europe last week and visited our branch offices in London, Paris and Florence to name a few places.

Vocabulary
aims to -a goal or purpose to make people happy.
vibrant colors-bright colors.
set foot in-把脚放进去,意即“进入”“踏入”
*When you set foot in the garden, you'll be amazed by the beautiful landscape.
*The little girl refused to set foot in the movie theatre because she was afraid of the dark.
sober-使人警醒的,沉静严肃的
*Surviving such a serious accident is really a sobering experience.
*The sobering photos of how smoking damages people's lungs should motivate smokers to quit.
rivet-集中目光,吸引(目光)riveting(adj)-吸引人注目(意)的,吸引人的。
*The riveting performance of the actor won him several awards.
captivate-使入迷,使着迷。holds your attention that extremely interesting, exciting or surprising you.
*Mark is captivated by Sandra's beauty. 被。。完全给迷住了
*Computer games captivate children easily with their visual and sound effects.视觉和音效。
riot-暴动,骚乱,此指“色彩的丰富”色彩斑斓,色彩缤纷。(百花争艳)
*The festive decoration of the town plaza is a riot of color.
*The designer's summer collection is a riot of color.
flaunt-夸耀,炫耀
*Nancy flaunts her wealth by driving fancy cars and wearing expensive designers' clothes.
*Patrick never flaunts himself even though he's rich and successful.
honeycomb (n)-蜜蜂窝,蜜蜂巢 honeycomb(adj) 布满,充满,使成蜂窝状,
*The intensive gun fight honeycombed the outer walls of the building.紧密激烈的枪战..
*Public transit routes honeycombed the modern city.公共交通网(路线)
superb(adj)-一流的,极好的
*The pianist's superb performance was recorded for the album.专集
*The football team's superb strategies got them the state championship.一流的战术。
fraction-a small part of whole.(数学)分数。此指“小部分”
*Only a tiny fraction of the customers aren't satisfied with our products.
*He only spent a fraction of his time and energy managing his company, so it fell apart.
elaborate-It has a lot of careful detail, it may require a lot of energy and effort to decorate and produce.

Chat Room
beckon - wave someone or a signal for them to come to you.点头招手打招呼.
beckon- draw you in, something is attracted to you to go and visit.好玩的地方,向你招手,要你去游览.
beacon- a light house or a signal light for guiding the direction. 灯塔或导航用得着信号灯.
--------------------
load-1重担,负担,2装载,充满,装满
to be loaded with something-充满或装满甚么东西.
is loaded with money-装满了钱
My bag is loaded with books-
He is loaded-他很有钱
take a load off-卸货,卸下重担,休息一下
take a load off my mind-将我心中的重担卸下, 意即"可以安心了,不用担心了"
-----------------
encounter-出乎意料的遇见,遭遇,碰见.碰到.
have an encounter with cheese-遇见cheese,不只是吃到,还体验或感受到它的滋味.
a chance encounter-不期而遇,巧遇
conflict-有不同意见的.起冲突的.
confrontation-冲突
non-confrontational-不喜欢与人起冲突,不起冲突的,避免起冲突的.
to confront people is more positive way than to avoid that person.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

20 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Your Body and Health - Part 2

讓你更健康的小道消息:第二部 More fascinating facts on nutrition, exercise and more. 小睡片刻、洗鼻、運動和Facebook全都可能對健康有益喔! Naps, rinsing your nose, exercise and Facebook all benefit your health by Health.com

11. A 20-minute nap can improve your overall alertness, boost your mood, and increase productivity. William Anthony, co-author of The Art of Napping at Work (Larson Publications, 1999), says the post-nap boost can last for several hours. In addition, your heart may reap benefits from napping. In a six-year study of Greek adults, researchers found that men who took naps at least three times a week had a 37 percent lower risk of a heart-related death.

12. Rinsing your nose with salt water can help keep you healthy and ward off allergy symptoms. Nasal irrigation is a cheap and easy way to find relief if you have spring allergies, nasal congestion, stuffy noses or post-nasal drip, says Dr. Melissa Pynnonen, co-director of the Michigan Sinus Center and an assistant professor in the University of Michigan’s department of otolaryngology. symptoms. Nasal irrigation is a cheap and easy way to find relief if you have spring allergies, nasal congestion, stuffy noses or post-nasal drip says Dr. Melissa Pynnonen, co-director of the Michigan Sinus Center and an assistant professor in the University of Michigan's department of otolaryngology.

13. Watching yourself run in a mirror can make a treadmill workout go by faster and feel easier.

14. Using a food diary can double a person's weight-loss efforts. Your food diary makes you accountable to yourself and provides you with clues on where the extra calories are sneaking in.

15. Third-hand smoke-the particles that cling to smokers' hair and clothing and linger in a room long after they've left-is a cancer risk to young children (and pets).

16. Regular exercise can lower a woman's cancer risk -but only if she's getting enough sleep. The National Cancer Institute followed 5,968 women for almost 10 years, during which 604 of them developed some form of cancer. Women in the top half of physical activity levels showed an approximate 20 percent reduction in cancer risk compared to those who exercised less. For a segment of those women, sleeping less than seven hours per night had a decreased benefit to exercise. Their cancer risk was greater than those who exercised but slept more-but still lower than those who exercised the least.

17. Foreign accent syndrome and exploding head syndrome are real (but very rare) medical. conditions. The American Sleep Association explains that a person with exploding head syndrome experiences a loud indecipherable noise that seems to originate from inside the head.

18. Walking against the wind, in the water, or while wearing a backpack burns about 50 more calories per hour than walking with no resistance. People who wear pedometers also tend to burn more calories and lose more weight.

19. Germ-killing wipes can spread bacteria from one spot to another if you reuse them.

20. Facebook may be good for your health: Studies show that staying in touch with family and friends can ward off memory loss and help you live longer.

Grammar
Your food diary makes you accountable to yourself and provides you with clues on where the extra calories are sneaking in.
makes you accountable=makes you responsible
accountable = responsible
to hold one accountable = to expect someone to be responsible in something.
to make someone accountable
* Mary is Mrs. Jones' personal secretary; that makes Mary accountable to Mrs. Jones.
Jeremy is the president of the student government, that makes him accountable to everyone in the school.

Vocabulary
reap (v)-收割,收获,获得
*Bobby has been generous to all of his friends and now reaps the benefit when he needs help.
*Jack reaped the rewards of good health by exercising persistently.
*The farmer reaped the grain with machines.
treadmill-健身用的跑步机 tread-步行,踏步 mill-转动的装置。
*This type of treadmill can elevate or descend.升,降
*Mom always watches TV when running on her treadmill.
linger-持续存留,俳徊,萦绕
The wonderful memory of the trip still lingers in my mind.萦绕
*The security guard were watching those guys who lingered around the building.在大楼附近排徊。
cling-staying, refusing let it go, not leaving.
particle-very small piece of something.
otolaryngology (n)- doctors who study of ear, nose and throat. A ear, nose and throat specialist.
ward off-keep at a distance, away from.
approximate-大约,大概的
*approximate budget for the advertising campaign is $2 million. 兢选活动广告费。。*The approximate arrival time of the incoming flight is 5:30 pm.
segment-部分,片断 seg-切断的
*People over the age of 50 make up the largest population segment of this country.
*Only a short segment of the speech was recorded.
indecipherable-无法理解的in-有否定之意decipherable-可破解的/可辨解的/可辨识(认)的
*The doctor's prescriptions were so indecipherable that the pharmacist had to call him to reconfirm. 确定

Chat Room
improve overall alertness, boost your mood, increase productivity-小睡20分钟,能够改善警觉性,提振心情,增加生产力。
improve / increase / boost
improve-改进,改善
increase-增长,增加,扩大
boost-提高,增加,提升,振奋,提振
----------
lower / reduce / deduct-通常用于钱方面,钱方面的减少。
lower减低,降低-lower a woman's risk of cancer-降低女性罹患癌症的危险性。
reduce降低,减少- reduce your grade. 降低你的成绩
deduct减少,扣除-After deduct the income tax , there is not too much left.扣了税,所剩无几。

Monday, March 15, 2010

The World's Deadliest Animals

全球最有致命危險的動物How do you choose the world’s most dangerous animals?來看看全世界最危險的動物 Find out about the world’s most dangerous animals by Chip Ewald

Thousands of animals can kill humans. So which are the deadliest? Here are two ways to answer this question:

Which animals have the deadliest poison?
Many consider the golden poison-dart frog (Phyllobates terribilis) the most poisonous animal on Earth. Scientists have determined that two micrograms of its poison could kill a human. (The ink in a period weighs about six micrograms.) This 5-centimeter-long frog has enough poison to kill 10 to 20 people. Other regard the 5-meter-long box jellyfish as the most poisonous. In fact, its victims can die before they can get out of the water. One of these jellyfish can kill 60 adults. Despite this, these jellyfish have only caused about 100 reported deaths in the last 100 years.

Which animals cause the most deaths?
Poisonous snakes like the Russell's viper and Indian cobra rank near the top of this list. Snakes kill at least 20,000 humans worldwide yearly. However, the mosquito, a more common creature, ranks number one.

Mosquitoes carry and spread diseases to over 700 million people annually. As a result, mosquito bites lead to over 3 million human deaths per year. That makes the mosquito, by far, the world's deadliest animal.

Grammar
..... mosquito bites lead to over 3 million human deaths per year.
lead= someone or something showing us the way.
A tour guide will lead us through the museum.
lead=to bring to a certain result. (use in formal report)
*Smoking leads to lung cancer and other health problems.
*Alice is not happy about her boyfriend, she does'nt believe the relationship will lead to marriage.

Vocabulary
deadliest- 最致命的deadly致命的,致死的
*AID is one of the deadliest diseases know to mankind.
*The boxer's right straight punch is his deadliest tactic.右直拳。。致命的招数
poisonous- 有毒的,poison-毒药
*The soldiers had to wear masks to avoid inhaling poisonous gas.有毒的毒气
*Some poisonous chemicals were found in the waste water from the factory.
annually (adv)-每年地,一年一度地 annual (adj)-每年,年度的
*The couple takes a vacation in Hawaii annually.
*The committee discusses their budget annually.委员会一年一度讨论。。预算。。

Chat Room
tall/taller/ tallest- 一个音节的形容词在后面加"er" or "est".
pretty/ prettier/ prettiest.
the prettiest (superlative adjective)
friendly / pretty (end with "y", change "y" to "i" and add the "er" or "est")
more/ most -(comparative adjective / superlative adjective)比较级/最高级,通常二个或三个以上音节的形容词要在字前加上“more" or "most"
more beautiful,
the most beautiful.
the most delicious.

Transumerism - A New Consumer Experience

過渡型消費主義── 全新的消費經驗Consumers become transumers to reduce the hassle of ownership 如果可以租的話,何必要買呢?Why buy something when you can just rent it? by Pamela Osment

Purchasing and possessing things used to be the consumer’s way of life. People looked for quality and durability in what they bought. But hurried, more mobile lives and a lagging global economy have helped usher in a new brand of consumers with different attitudes toward spending.

“Less about treasure and more about pleasure”
“Transumers,” a term coined by business consulting agency Fitch in 2003, refers to consumers who are motivated by experiencing something rather than owning it. They would rather use things for a short while and then move on to something new, and not deal with maintenance and repairs.

Leasing rather than owing
These days anything from designer handbags, clothes and jewelry to planes and luxury cars can be leased. The benefits include leasing items for a special event and then returing them without paying full price.

Selling and buying at auctions
Auction sites like eBay have made purchasing used belongings popular. Nowadays, before buying anything new, transumers consider how much they will get for an item when they're through with it.

Sharing rather than hoarding
Over 6 million people worldwide have discovered Freecycle, the online site where people offer and receive items for free! This lets transumers feel good about helping the environment and recycling. For transumers, their way of life means less clutter in the home and more cash in the pocket!

More Information
If you need it but don't want to buy it, don't worry-you can rent it! Today, you can lease almost anything. For example, "Wear Today, Gone Tomorrow," is a designer clothing shop which rents a $495 Vera Wang dress for $49 a week. The latest in cell phones can be leased from "Rentable". Even pets can be rented for a day. Resort guests in Aspen, Colorado need simply contact the people at "Rent-a-pet".

Grammar
.....transumers consider how much they will get for an item when they're through with it.
through=going in and then out of something
*The train went through the tunnel.
through=finished (usually use this word in informal or conversation situation)
*Are you through with the book?= Are you finish reading the book yet?
*I'm through with this job!=I got it enough, I am quiting.

Vocabulary
usher in- 印进,引入 usher-引导,引领
*The factory's new owner wants to usher in the most advanced machines引进最新近的。。.
*This scientist's findings ushered in a new era of biochemistry.发现引入(开始,进入)了生化科学的新纪元。
lease / rent-租用,租賃lease is for long period of time, rent is regardless the long or short of time, usually refer to a short of time.
*We decided to lease a car rather than buying one because it's more economical.
*Nick rented a tuxedo for this evening's banquet.
hoard-隐藏, 屯积
*In the classic novel经典小说 A Christmas Carol小气大财神, Mr. Scrooge hoards his wealth all to himself.屯积财物.
*The merchants were sued for hoarding food after the flooding.被起诉.

Chat Room
coin-硬幣,钱幣
to coin -制造钱幣, 延伸出的意思是制造出某东西
coined a word / coined a phrase 造出新的字或片语,或是表示双关语如:
Twenty local musicians have banded together to from a band.
two sides of the same coin (idiom)-同一个铜板的两面而价值未变,指角读不同,看法有異, 也指一体的两面use different way to deal with the same situation.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

The 2010 Winter Paralympics

二0一0年冬季殘障奧運Athletes show remarkable skill during the 10th Winter Paralympics 運動選手在溫哥華同場競技,技巧和速度展露無疑Skill and speed are on display as athletes compete in Vancouver by Lisa Holl Chang

Today several hundred athletes from 40 countries gather in Vancouver, BC. Like the Olympic athletes that came in February, these athletes have trained intensely for this competition. In contrast to the Olympic athletes, these athletes are blind, can’t walk, or have some other disability.
The preparations
Vancouver was announced the host city of the Olympics and Paralympics in July 2003. Canada has done many things to prepare for the Games since then. Educational programs in Canadian schools were held in November 2009 during Paralympic School Week. Students fell in love with Sumi, the Paralympic mascot, on his school visits. The Canadian Paralympic Committee website It’s the Real Deal features stories of athletes with disabilities.

The Paralympic Torch Relay began on March 3 in Ottawa, Canada. Six hundred people carried the specially designed torch on its 10-day journey. Today that torch will light up the BC Place in Vancouver during the Opening Ceremony.

The Sports
The 10th Winter Paralympics last from March 12 to 21. During these 10 days, athletes will compete in five sports. Each sport has been adapted to fit the athlete's needs. For example, in the skiing events, a sit-ski was developed for athletes unable to stand. Athletes sit on a seat on one ski and use short poles to move and balance.

Skiers with limited eyesight use regular ski equipment but have another skier who guides them. Wheelchair curling was introduced as a Paralympic Sport in the 2006 Winter Paralympics. Athletes use their hands and poles, called delivery sticks, to position the 19.1-kg stones.

The athletes
The most inspiring element of the Paralympic Games is, without a doubt, the athletes themselves. They all have stories about overcoming physical challenges to excel in their sports. This coming week, extraordinary skills are sure to be displayed in Vancouver.

More Information
How do disabled people compete in the Paralympics? In the Biathlon for example, visually impaired athletes shoot at their targets by listening to sounds that direct them towards the bull's eye. In the ice-sledge hockey event, athletes sit on sledges with two sticks. One end of the sticks is used to move over the ice. The other end is used to pass and shoot the puck.

Grammar
The most inspiring element of the Paralympic Games is, without a doubt, the athletes themselves.
without a doubt=certainly
*The most inspiring element of the Paralympic Games is certainly the athletes themselves.
without a doubt=without doubt
*Without doubt, this is the best cake I've ever tasted.
without a doubt=no doubt
*The director's most recent movie is no doubt his strangest one.
without a doubt=beyond doubt or beyond a doubt.
*His idea is beyond doubt the craziest one.
without a doubt=beyond a shadow of doubt
*Beyond a shadow of doubt, Lisa is committed to her family.
without a doubt=certainly =without doubt =no doubt =beond doubt =beyond a shadow of doubt.

Vocabulary
intensively-密集地,强烈地 intensive-密集的,集中的。
*The city was bombed intensively and many were wounded.
*Our team worked intensively for the past week to meet the deadline.集中火力工作, 期限内
contrast-相反,差别悬殊的
* There's a distinct contrast between the styles of the two directors.
in contrast to something or someone-合谋对相反或有明显得反差。
* There's a distinct contrast between the styles of the two directors.
disabilities- 残障,障碍,残疾。dis-没有ability能力。
*The girl with multiple disabilities writes with a sound-activated computer. 声控
adapt-修改,改变,也指“适应”
*The cabinets of the house were adapted in order to accommodate the height of the owner.
*The chef adapted his menu to fit the appetite of his customers.
*We slowly adapted to the cold weather here.适应
balance-使平衡
*The acrobat balanced her body on the thin iron rope.
*You need to balance your work and personal life.
*The gymnast tried to keep her balance but fell off the beam.
excel- 超出,超越,excelled-超越他人 或超越
*The winners who excelled in the competition received national attention.受到
*The new software excelled beyond the competition when it came to functions.

Chat Room
disability- disable残障的
disability(most common use)/handicapped (less respect to people, only use for public area, such as parking / physically challenged(politically correct terms正确政治术语-to show respect to all kinds of people)
mental disable=mentally challenged.
------------------
come over, coming over, came over
overcome, overcoming, overcame-克服,打败,征服
to be overcome-被压倒,被打败,被淹没
overcome with sadness被伤心难过淹没,=get choked up 喉咙哽塞,意味着感动得落泪。

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

America's Treasure Trove: The Smithsonian Museums

美國的寶庫:史密森尼博物館Explore the world’s largest museum complex 一探全球規模最大的博物館建築群by Chelsea Ewald

Have you ever wanted to learn about the complex life of ants or pondered the wonders of aviation and space travel? Or, maybe you find yourself intrigued by African art or ancient human civilization and culture. Believe it or not, you can investigate all of these things and more by visiting a Smithsonian museum.

Beginnings
The year was 1826 and James Smithson, a British scientist, named his nephew as beneficiary in his will. According to the will, if the nephew should die without heirs, the estate would go to the United States of America. When the situation played out precisely this way years later, the Smithsonian Institution was created. Smithson specified that the establishment, which officially came into existence on Aug. 10, 1846, was to exist "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men."
Since then, the Smithsonian has become the world's largest museum complex and research organization, boasting 19 museums, nine research centers, and a zoo. These hold a collection of over 136 million artifacts and specimens. In 2008 alone, an impressive 25.2 million people visited Smithsonian museums.

Treasures
The National Mall in Washington, D.C. is home to 10 of the 19 museums. Here you can visit the National Air and Space Museum and view aviation milestones such as the 1903 Wright Flyer, the first successful airplane. Then stroll over to the National Museum of Natural History and explore ancient life forms in Dinosaur Hall. While visiting, be dazzled by the Hope Diamond, the world's largest and most famous deep blue diamond. Next, head next door to the National Museum of American History and enjoy American pop culture icons like the lovable Kermit the Frog.

If Asian art piques your interest, be certain to take in the Free and Sackler Galleries of Art. But that's not all , The reach of the invaluable Smithsonian extends beyond the National Mall. See over 2,000 animals at the National Zoo or explore additional Smithsonian museums located in Washington, D.C., Virginia and New York City. The Smithsonian Institution even offers traveling exhibitions, allowing communities across America to enjoy artifacts, history and culture without leaving home.

Today, the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution continues to diffuse knowledge through its fascinating exhibits and collections. And the best part? It won't cost you anything-museum admission is free!

More Information
The first major movie ever to be filmed in the Smithsonian was the recently released Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. A variety of the Smithsonian museums were used for filming bringing to life such objects as a giant 5-ton tyrannosaurusrex. Also, female aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart's bright red Lockheed Vega airplane was featured, as was Dorothy's famous ruby slippers from the film The Wizard of Oz.

Grammar
If Asian art piques your interest, be certain to take in the Freer and Sackler Galleries of Art.
to take in= to have a good and careful look at something.
* Yvonne walked slowly through the park in order to take everything in.
* Amy likes to travel on her own so she can take in all the sights.

Vocabulary
milestone-里程碑,化时代的事件
*The invention of the mobile phone was a major milestone in telecommunications.
*I consider studying abroad to be an important milestone in my life.
invaluable-价值非凡的,宝贵的,无价的,(in-有否定之意)valuable-有价值的
*The experience of working under such a great CEO is invaluable.
*The famous artist's invaluable painting is carefully kept in a safe.
renowned-有名的,知名的,以什么着称用 "for"
*The renowned scientist will giving a speech tonight.
*The country is renowned for its movie industry.
diffusion-散播,使普及
*The Health Bureau announced new regulations to stop the diffusion of this disease.
*The diffusion of the new technology makes communication much easier and faster.
beneficiary (n), 受益人beneficiaries- benefit-好处,指好的东西。
*Low-income families are the major beneficiaries of the new policy.
*The chief beneficiary of the wealthy man's inheritance is his only son.
ponder- 深思,默想,仔细思考。 ponder over / on
*He took some time to ponder over how to respond to this situation.
*Nathan has been pondering his next career move lately.
intrigue-very interesting
play out-develop to the end.
specify-state very clear, correctly state it.
specimen- a sample of something use for study. insect specimen, butterfly specimen.
artifacts-any object or tool use by the recent history.
pop (popular) culture-popular culture.

Chat Room
complex (adj)-错综复杂的
complex (n)-several buildings, more than two buildings.综合建筑物, apartment complex.
the world's largest museum complex.
complex-心理学中特别定义“情结

Oedipus Complex-念母情结
inferiority complex- 自卑心,劣等感,自卑情绪。
----------------------------
mall-shopping mall,大型 购物中心大a closed place where the temperature is controlled in certain degree. Some new big malls, each has more than 800 stores with ice skating, theater, play ground and the food court.
mall-here refer to out door park area where people can go.户外广场
The National Mall-在华府的国家广场。
the food court-中国人说的美食街。
mall rat-一天到晚耗在mall 里,在mall里闲逛的年轻人。




Sunday, March 7, 2010

Making Movie Magic

電影特效現場追擊Go behind the scenes and see how things are really done 你知道電影中的特效究竟是怎麼製造出來的嗎?快來一探究竟吧Find out how visual effects in movies are done by Simon Stopps

SC: What does a visual effects supervisor do?
JH: I work with a team of visual effects artists to create things that aren’t real for the movie or television screen. We use a combination of artistic techniques, from the classic skills of drawing and painting to modern techniques of computer animation and 3D.


SC: What is a favorite visual effect scene that you personally worked on? How did it work?
JH: My favorite scene would have to be from my most recent project, the movie 2012. It features the White House getting wiped out by a giant wave and crushed by an aircraft carrier. The first thing we did was to work with the director to creatively meet his vision so we knew what he was expecting to see.

We had to establish a general timing and composition of the shot. Where should the camera be? How big should the White House be? How quickly should the wave approach? We also tried to establish the mood. Is it really dark and gloomy, or should it feel lighter and less foreboding?

SC: How important are visual effects to movies today? How important is it that effects look real or believable?
JH: Visual effects have made their way into nearly every feature film you see in theaters. A lot of people think visual effects are only used in the mega blockbusters with robots and explosions. But one great adage or saying of the business is that the best visual effect is the one you can't see. If you can't tell that something is a visual effect, then we've done our job well. Even movies without very obvious effects are still loaded with effects.
This could mean changing the color of the sky to a more beautiful color or making an actress look 10 years younger or 10 pounds skinnier.

SC: What do you think are the best visual effects scenes of all time?
JH: People say this industry was born with Star Wars. But besides that I would say scenes in the first Jurassic Park film. The scene where T-Rex attacks the jeep is so frighteningly real; it looks real even 20 years later. It looked so convincing that as a kid, the only thing you could think of was "Wow, that's a scary dinosaur."

More Information
There is actually a big difference between special effects and visual effects. Special effects are done live on stage when filming a scene. They could be anything from explosions to glass breaking Visual effects, however, are done after a scene is filmed, mainly through computer graphics visual effects could also mean filming different elements of explosions and fire separately and then putting them back together later.

Grammar
What do you think are the best visual effects scenes of all time?
of all time=from the very beginning when something started until now.
of all the visual effects scenes that have ever been created, what do you think are the best ones?
"of all time" when you try to say something is the best or the worst in that category.
*Casablanca is the best romantic movie of all time.
*Who is the most influential person of all time?

Vocabulary
visual effect-视觉效果 visual- 视觉的effect-效果
*Special visual effects made the images of the movie very colorful.电影画面
sound effect-音效
*Many sound effects are created with simple tools.
wipe out (v. idiom)- 彻底的摧毁,毁灭,铲除wipe-抹去,擦干净。
*The military base was totally wiped out by continual bombing.
*The police announced that they had successfully wiped out mob power in the city.黑势力
composition-构成,构图,成份 compose-构成,组成
*The lab technicians are examining the composition of the unknown substance.物质
*The composition of the painting is well-balanced.
composition of the shot- make sure that everything in the right place when taking a shot.
animation-动画,动画片。
explosion-爆炸,爆破
*The exposion of the chemical plant left many casualties and severe damage.
*The explosion scene in the movie was carefully calculated by professionals.
load-装满,使摆满,很有钱
loaded with something-充满了某种事物。
*This book is loaded with professional terms that are so hard to read and understand.
*He's loaded. Let him pay if he wants to! 他很有钱
convincing-令人说服的,令人信服的,或具有说服力的 convince(v)-说服
*The evidence the police collected at the crime scene is very convincing.

Chat Room
behind the scenes-在幕后的,原本指在剧场上的幕后人员。
working behind the scenes-在后台的工作人员。
behind-the-scenes-指不公开的,秘密的,暗地里进行的。
behind-the-scenes negotiations-秘密的,不公开进行的协议。
make a scene-在公共场所引起大众注意,当场大吵大闹,惹人注意。
Don't make a scene-不要丢人现眼
-------------------
theater-戏院,电影院
“the” theater-戏剧院,歌舞剧,歌剧院refer to life performance
cinema-movie theater
I'm going to the theater-去歌剧院(看歌剧到剧院必须穿着很正式)
I'm going to theater-去电影院
movie ticket-电影票
the theater ticket-歌剧票,戏剧票

Friday, March 5, 2010

The World's Artist: Michelangelo

藝術巨匠的養成:米開朗基羅Discover one of the greatest artists of all time by Pamela Osment
這位偉大的藝術家不但創作雕塑,還在教堂天花板作畫,此外還有更多藝術創作This great artist made sculptures, painted ceilings and more by Pamela Osment

One look at Michelangelo’s masterpieces reveals why he became a world-famous artist. During his lifetime, he mastered painting, writing poetry, designing buildings and making sculptures. Michelangelo was truly a one-of-a-kind artist.

His early years
When Michelangelo was born in Caprese, Italy, in 1475, his mother was in poor health. For that reason, he was sent to live with a stonecutter’s family. There, the young child first learned to love cutting large pieces of stone into shapes . Michelangelo later returned to live with his father in Florence. His father soon realized how intelligent the boy was and sent him away to school. Michelangelo, though, wasn't very interested in school and spent much more time drawing than studying. An art student that he knew convinced him to study the art of painting. But this angered his father, who wanted him to become a successful businessman or merchant, However, at 13 Michelangelo became an apprentice to a famous painter.


His famous works
Growing up during the Renaissance, Michelangelo was influenced by many great artists and works of art. Soon he was creating his own art, and by 16, he had finished his first two sculptures. By 25, Michelangelo had completed what some call the world's greatest sculpture, the Pieta. The statue of Mary holding her dead son Jesus amazed everyone because of Mary's emotionless expression. This was the only sculpture ever signed by the artist.


In 1501 Michelangelo began his next masterpiece, a statue of the Bible hero David. People marveled at the 5.17-meter statue because the human form was extremely lifelike.


Due to Michelangelo's fame, Pope Julius II selected him to paint the Sistine Chapel celling. Beginning in 1508, Michelangelo spent the next four years painting from a high, wooden platform. When he had finished, over 300 figures covered the chapel ceiling! Artists today still get inspiration from Michelanelo, the man many call the world's greatest artist.


More Information
Before starting a new sculpture. Michelangelo spent months choosing just the right block of stone. He believed each block had a statue inside, trying to get out. Michelangelo's last project wasn't connected to sculpture; it was to oversee the construction of the dome of St. Peter's Church in Rome.
The famous dome is so classic it has been the inspiration for numerous capitol buildings in the United States.

Grammar
For that reason, he was sent to live with a stonecutter's family.
for that reason=because of that reason
Julie was bitten by a dog when she was young, for that reason she has never liked dogs.
Tom's parents are always away and don't have time to take care of him, for that reason, he was sent to a boarding school.

Vocabulary
masterpiece-杰作,名作,个人最具代表性的作品。
*“The Adventures of Tom Sawer" is one of Mark Twain's masterpieces.
*Many consider the film "Transformer" to be the masterpiece of Michael Bay.
intelligent-聪明,有智慧的intelligence (n)
*It's obvious that the young boy is highly intelligent-he started reading when he was only two years old.
*Don't underestimate the intelligence of a young child.
convince-使说服,使劝服
convince someone to do something-劝服某人去做某事
*Diane's parents tried to convince her to major in finance.
*The sales representative convinced Henry to buy a van.
works of art-艺术品, 精心创作.
*The museum has many works of art from the Impressionists.印象派
*"The Starry Night" is one of Van Gogh's most praised works of art.
*This beautiful diamond necklace is really a work of art.
statue-雕像,槊像
*the Statue of Liberty
*The statue of the couple's beloved dog reminds them of him. 睹物思人
* A statue honoring the brave fireman was erected in his town.
lifelike- 栩栩如生的
*A lifelike portrait of the president was hung on the wall of his office.
*These lifelike glass grapes make people want to touch them.


Chat Room
kind-友善的。
of a kind-属于某一种类型的
one of a kind- a very unique. 独特的,独一无二的。
two of a kind-二个很相似。臭味相投或二个同类似的东西。
three of a kind-play poker, 三张一样的牌。
four of a kind-四张同点子的牌。
------------------------
work-不可数名词。
I have a lot of work to do today. 今天我 有很多的工作要做。
很多不同项目的工作,最好用 "chore" or "task" instead of work. "chores"," tasks".
works-把"work"当作“文学”或“艺术”方面的作品
the works of Shakespeare-沙士比亚的作品
famous works-名作
works of art-艺术品或精心创作。
in the works-the project is still in the works. 还在(正在)开发,进行中。
with the works- add all whatever you offer. 加添,加上所有的料。
I order a pizza with the works= I order a pizza with everything on it.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Art of Appreciating Art

名畫鑑賞家你來當How can one really appreciate art? 不要光只是觀看藝術作品,要用心去欣賞Do more than look at a piece of art; enjoy it by Ruth Devlin

Perhaps you’re planning a trip to France or Italy. Besides admiring the fantastic architecture and eating outstanding food, you plan to see some fine art. But how do you really appreciate it and understand what you’re seeing?

Before you go
Do your homework. Find out the stories behind some of the great paintings you plan to see. Learn about some of the details the artist inserted to make the painting unique or special. Find out about the artist and what the culture was like during that period of time. Maybe even read about some of the painting techniques used. All this will help you appreciate what you’re seeing.

When you're there
Enjoy the piece of art. Stand in awe in front of it. Don't just take a photo and move on to the next painting, drawing or sculpture. Really look at it; study it from different angles. What emotions do you see? What colors are used? How do those colors create the mood of the picture?

The Mona Lisa
Take, for example, the most famous painting in the world-the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris. People from all over the world throng to see her, take her picture and move on. Knowing more about her can help people appreciate her more. Painted over four years by Leonardo da Vinci beginning in 1502, she is thought to be Lisa Gherardini, a businessman's wife. To paint her, da Vinci used the sfumato technique, a time-consuming method that requires the artist to layer tiny dots of associated colors. The finished work gives the appearance of having no lines.

And then there is her smile. In the 1500s, women in portraits were not to smile widely nor look too serious. The mysterious smile of the Mona Lisa suits the culture perfectly. And it makes people wonder what she is smiling about. Eugene Delacroix, a 19the century French painter declared, "A picture is nothing but a bridge between the soul of the artist and that of the spectator" We should take time to cross that bridge.

Grammar
Stand in awe in front of it
awe-a serious feeling, a deeply move, make you quiet, respect for something.
in awe- a strong feeling by it's amazing, beauty and shocking experience.
*I was in awe after watching my friend eat eighty dumplings within 30 minutes.
*The pianist left the audience in awe of his outstanding performance.

Vocabulary
appreciate- being thankful, really enjoy it.
outstanding-excellent, out of usual, is unique.杰出的,卓越的
* The actress' outstanding performance won her much praise from the critics.
*The outstanding research team won the Nobel Prize.
insert-putting something inside of something else. 放进,添加,增添。
*The writer decided to insert an extra chapter at the end of the novel to make it more complete.
*The illustrator inserted a rainbow in the background of the page.
move on (idiom)-leave a place you've been or move forward quickly. 做新的事情的,做新的改变,或是往前走。
*After working as an assistant for 2 years, Susan thinks it's time to move on to something move challenging.
*The security guard instructed the crowd to move on without stopping at the exit.
throng-蜂拥而至,群聚。
throng to do something-蜂拥的去做某事。
*Thousands of fans thronged to watch Michael Jackson's film.
*The small town was thronged with tourists during the weekends. 挤满
time-consuming-很花费时间的,耗时的。 consume-消耗
*Coaching a football team is a time-consuming task. 一项耗日费时的工作
*Collecting all the required data for the research is incredibly time-consuming.
declared-announcing, 宣告,宣布,表示,宣战,宣称
*The congressman declared his support for the proposal. 表示
*He declared his innocence throughout his trial. 整个过程,宣称无罪
*The country had no other choice but to declare war on their enemy.宣战
mysterious-unknown, strange or may be is not perfectly understood.
suits-fits
associated colors- color related, color very close.
bridge-connecting, from one place to another place.
Louvre-a very famous museum in Paris. 罗浮宫

Chat Room
painting:
technique-way, method 专门的技术,技巧。
medium-媒介,此指画家使用的素材,如水彩,油画,蜡笔等。
genre-艺术类型
abstract art-抽象艺术abstract art is one of art genre.
beret-博雷帽,一种画家喜欢戴的帽子。
--------------------------
portrait-肖像,肖像画。
portrait- 广义的讲,“一个人或一群人的照片,如“family portrait-全家福照片”或是指“人物的写照,描述,以书或电影方式来呈现,如biography (传记).