Sunday, October 31, 2010

A Unique Night’s Stay

千奇百怪的旅館過夜經驗 Not all hotel nights are created equal 並非所有旅館過夜滋味都千篇一律 by Ruth Devlin.

When on vacation, what do you look for in a hotel? Maybe you want a comfortable bed, luxurious amenities or a convenient location. However, if you want something out of the ordinary and wish to go beyond the mundane, these spectacular hotels offer a stay you won't soon forget!

Hippo Point
For those who prefer an overnight stay with some four-footed -or two- winged- guests, Hippo Point in Kenya offers unique accommodations on the East African plains. The nine-story tower on a private estate and wildlife sanctuary rates as one of the top 10 resorts in the world. Guests enjoy incredible views of Olodian Bay while observing the densest population of hippos in Africa. More than 520 species of birds flock around the lake, their calls echoing in the air. After a restful night's sleep, you'll find a delicious breakfast waiting on an outside patio.

Dog Bark Park Inn
At the Dog Bark Park Inn, sleeping in a doghouse is a good thing! Located near Cottonwood, Idaho, this bed and breakfast is inside the world's largest beagle.
A private staircase leads to the second-story balcony entrance. Guests relax on dog-themed decorative furnishings and enjoy a fabulous breakfast. All this for only $92 a night!

The Poseidon Undersea Resort
Nestled in a Fijian lagoon, the Poseidon Undersea Resort boasts the world's first seafloor suite 12 meters below the surface of the ocean. By day, people enjoy golf, tennis and water sports or learn to pilot a three-passenger Triton submarine to explore the pristine ocean depths.

The Magic Mountain Hotel
In the Huilo Huilo Private Natural Reserve in southern Chile stands the Magic Mountain Hotel, which is shaped like a volcano. But instead of lava, a waterfall cascades down its sides. Wood and stone decorate the cozy interior.

Nine comfortable rooms, all with modern amenities, are each named for a local species of bird. Hotel guests can enjoy rafting, hiking and horseback riding, or they can relax in a hot tub made out of the huge trunk of a tree and filled with hot water.

Sala Silvermine
The truly adventurous can spend the night in the world's deepest bedroom in the Sala Silvermine in Sala Vastmanland, Sweden. After a guided tour of the mine located 155 meters underground, you're left alone to enjoy the solitude with a basket of refreshments. In the morning, the guide returns with a delicious breakfast to enjoy before you return to ground level.

Grammar on the go:
However, if you want something out of the ordinary and wish to go beyond the mundane, these spectacular hotels after a stay you won't soon forget.
out of the ordinary=unusual = not ordinary
If you're looking for an out of the ordinary dining experience, then you should try the new restaurant at the mall.
Mr Wilson's artwork got first place because the judges thought his design was out of the ordinary.
out of the ordinary-very special.
if you want to say it was very plain, nothing special, just add " nothing" at the front of "out of ordinary".

It was a typical Wednesday afternoon, nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Although the bank's security alarm rang, the policemen found nothing out of the ordinary.

Vocabulary Tips:
amenities-
*The cruise ship boasts top-quality amenities that attract many tourists.
*Each month, the residents of the building have to pay a fee to maintain public amenities.
mundane-
*Sarah only listens to classical music. She considers other types of music mundane.
*Victor leads a mundane life. Work occupies most of his time.
estate-莊園
*The large estate is famous for its red wine.
*The historical estate included a large home, farm buildings and one hundred acres of land.
estate-財產,遺產
*The old lady left her estate to her only son.
pristine-原始狀態的,未受汙染的very, very clean, look like new, in perfect condition.
*Antarctica is considered one of the last truly pristine places on earth. 最後的淨土
*The once pristine beach now sees thousands of tourists every day.曾是原始..
*This second-hand computer is nearly new and is in pristine condition.
cascade-(v)-如瀑布般的流下.*The bell began to ring and coins cascaded from the slot machine.
*Tears cascaded down her cheeks when she discovered that her husband had been wounded in an accident.
cascade-(n)- 瀑布,如瀑布般下垂的東西

a cascade of golden hair.
solitude-獨處,孤單的being alone, no one around.
*Jason didn't like the solitude of country life, so he decided to move back to the city.
*The writer works with more efficiency when he works in solitude.
*After retiring, Nick had a hard time adjusting to so much solitude.

Chat Room
hotel-旅館
Bed and breakfast = B & B 只供應床及早餐,指一般的民宿。
hotel- for short stay.
Resort- for longer vacation 度假勝地,度假村。
live- 住 for long time settlement
stay-for short time住旅社要說"stay".
----------------------------------
A hot tub made out of the huge trunk of a tree.
trunk-樹幹,tree trunk, trunk of a car車後面的行李艙, trunk of a body-人的身軀,(軀幹)
boot-靴子,英國人叫"trunk of car" "boot"
trunk-大型木製的或鉄製的行李箱
The boy locked himself in the trunk.大型行李箱内

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Daniel Craig: From Stage to Screen

從舞台躍上銀幕的丹尼爾?克雷格One of Britain’s busiest actors brings “Bond” into the 21st century英國最忙碌的一位演員將「龐德」帶入二十一世紀by Pamela Osment

Like many little boys in the 1970s, Daniel Craig dreamed of being James Bond, but as an adult actor, he never aspired to play the part. Yet it was this very role as the famous secret agent that turned Craig into a Hollywood superstar.

A young star in the making
Craig was born in 1968 in Chester, England, to parents Tim and Olivia Craig. His mother, who at one time had acting aspirations, exposed her son to theatrical productions at a very young age. It came as no surprise when Craig earned his very first role at age 6 in his primary school's production of the musical Oliver. Soon after, Craig accompanied his father to see his first Bond movie, and the impact of the two experiences resulted in his catching the acting bug!

He might not have been a great student, but according to his high school drama teacher Hilary Green, he was one of the school's best actors. She said that it was clear from his very first audition that "he was a natural on the stage... and quite exceptional." Others must have agreed because at age 16 Craig auditioned and was accepted into London's National Youth Theater (NYT).

The Blonde Bond
One of those roles caught the eye of movie producer Barbara Broccoli, who had just begun looking for someone to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. Broccoli said that when she saw Craig on the screen, she saw her Bond staring back at her.

Craig later graduated from London's premier academy, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 1992, he made his professional debut in the film The Power of One. He kept busy over the next 14 years, taking on over 50 roles and amassing an impressive resume. Though she was convinced Craig wasn't so sure. He had already earned the reputation as a serious, credible actor, and he knew that taking on the role of Bond could be a gamble. Craig accepted the part, though, and the gamble paid off as his first Bond film, Casino Royale earned $594,239,066, becoming the highest-grossing Bond film in the franchise. Craig once said, "I always wanted to be an actor. I had the arrogance to believe I couldn't be anything else." Whether it was arrogance or determination, his fans are glad he hasn't let anything stand in the way of his acting career.

More Information:
A few facts about Daniel Craig:
-- At 1.8 meters Craig is the shortest actor to play James Bond.
-- Craig accidentally out off the tip of his finger while filming Quatum of Solace.
--Craig's favorite Bond actor in Sean Connery.
--In October 2005, Craig signed a contract to portray Bond in five films.
--Craig is the sixth actor and first blond haired actor-to play James Bond.

Grammar on the go:
His mother, who at one time had acting aspirations, exposed her son to theatrical productions form a very young age.
at one time= in the past
At one time, people used pay phones if they needed to make phone calls when they weren't home, but now we have the convenience of cell phones.
See all these fancy office buildings in front of you? At one time, there was nothing here but cows and grass.

Vocabulary Tips:
aspire to- 渴望some strong desire to achieve something.
aspire to something-渴望得到某樣東西。
*She aspired to receive recognition and praise from her husband. 得到認同及讚美
aspire to do something-渴望做某件事
*Frank aspired to be a computer game designer.
theatrical-戲劇的,為求喜劇效果的,戲劇性的
*The actress' theatrical background helped her a great deal with her performances in movies.戲劇背景。。很大的
*Most of the children's theatrical costumes were made by their parents.戲服
bug-此並非指“蟲子” 而是指“熱衷,着迷”enthusiasm, strong desire.eager to do something. catch a bug= be bitten by ...bug 迷上了,對。。着迷。
*Charlie recently caught the fitness bug, and now he goes to the gym almost every day.
be bitten by ... bug-迷上了,對。。着迷
*Janet has been bitten by the knitting bug. 迷上了打毛衣
audition-a short performance, a try out. it's only showing to one or two people
amass-累積,積聚(一大堆的。。)
*Many envy the wealth he has amassed over the past 10 years in the real estate market.
*Throughout her modeling years, Diane amassed a stunning wardrobe full of designers' clothes.
credible-可信的,可靠的cred-相信 ..able to let people feel to be believed and trusted.
*You need to find a credible accountant to manage your finances.
*It's not easy to find a credible mechanic who won't overcharge you.
arrogance-驕傲自大的 (負面的,令人感到不舒服)
*His arrogance offended his colleagues from the beginning.
*Even though he has strong self-confidence, he does not display arrogance.
premier- the best.
Franchise-refer to a brand name with many products.

Chat Room
break a leg-跌斷了腿,"彎膝,屈膝"也指“祝你好運”,對演藝圈的人不能說:"good luck" 要說"break your leg" ," break a leg" 因爲演藝人員很迷信,相信反義詞。
break (some one's) leg- 對任何演出的人說“祝你好運”,因爲古時人們喜歡你的表演就會丟錢到台上,你要彎膝去撿,也有的是說:演員表演的成功,要出來站在台上屈膝達禮.
---------------------------------------
gamble-賭博
take a gamble-孤注一擲,賭一賭運氣,冒險,賭賭看。
play it safe-從(打牌,小心打)延伸出來“小心謹慎”“力求穩當”“明哲保身”

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

See the World Couch by Couch

沙發自助旅行CouchSurfing offers more than just a free place to sleep 「沙發衝浪」提供旅行者的不僅是一個免費睡覺的地方by Lisa Holl Chang

Last year, Clement Blain decided to leave France. he wanted to travel around Europe, but he said, "I didn't have so much money. When I discovered CouchSurfing... that was wonderful. I realized that all over the world people are ready to meet, to host, to share. And the money issue wasn't a limit anymore." After five months and 12 countries, Blain continues to experience Europe one couch at a time.
CouchSurfing is an online hospitality network with almost 2 million members.

All you need is an empty couch in your home to host a "CouchSurfer." On the road, you can send a request to members after looking at their profiles. If someone accepts your request, you can stay with him or her for free.

Instead of money, guests and hosts exchange hospitality, gifts, stories and cultures. Lia Sastra, a CourchSurfer in Indonesia, feels that through CouchSurfing: "You can meet and share your own stories and cultures through a link named trust."

How to CouchSurf
Trust builds when CouchSurfers interact with each other online and meet in person. To get started, build a profile and post in the online forums. Meet the CouchSurfers in your area by attending a local meeting. Offer to show travelers around your city. That's what CouchSurfers did for Studio Classroom teacher Ryan Batdorf on a trip to Singapore. Batdorf says, "They taught me many interesting things about Singapore. They showed me things I would never have found on my own, like amazing Indian food in Chinatown."

When you're ready to host, you can indicate that on your profile. People will begin to send you requests. Read their profiles and the references other CouchSurfers have posted about them. With this information, you can decide if you want to host a person or not.

Hosts and CouchSurfers often discover that the experience changes them. Blain says, "I think CouchSurfing is a good way to have an open mind. Maybe the best one I know."

More Information:
CouchSurfing opens the door to friendships with people from around the world. Lia Sastra from Indonesia writes: I hosted two Malaysian girls two years ago. We had many remarkable moments together. Before they left, they said: "You know what? This is the best vacation we've ever had Indonesia is not so bad like the media says: Indonesia is a great country because of the warm hearts of its people."

Grammar on the go:
After five months and 12 countries, Blain continues to experience Europe one couch at a time.
one couch at a time.
at a time= one after another
He ate his potato chips one chip at a time.
one couch at a time=something at a time.
This project is helping the neighborhood one dog at a time.
This lending program is making a difference in the world one businesswoman at a time.

Vocabulary Tips:
hospitality-款待,好客
*We were so touched by the hospitality of the townspeople.
*The VIPs will be served in the designated hospitality area.
network-網絡,人際網絡
*The television network will expand next year to include Asia.
*Eric's network of business partners is crucial to his business.
*The supermarket chain operates on an efficient distribution network.
profile-人的簡述,概述。簡介。
*The author's profile was printed on the back cover of the book.
*Before meeting her client, Vivian studied his profile.
interact-互動 inter-兩者之間
*The new student refused to interact with his classmates at first, but soon started to play with them.
*During the experiment, you can observe how the two chemicals interact.
reference-推薦函,推薦文 (信)refer -談到,提及
*My previous boss wrote a very nice reference letter for me.
reference-參考資料
*There's a long list of references at the end of the article.
open-mind-開闊的心胸, 或是‘接受新事物的能力’
*Keep an open mind, especially when you're talking to teenagers.
*We should have open minds and listen to all the people involved.

Chat Room
couch-長的sofa
rocking chair-搖椅
recliner=armchair 單人斜躺的椅子
lever-拉杆, 在椅旁。拉杆一拉,footrest 就出來了。
footrest-放腳的凳子。
upholstery-椅墊,椅套
-----------------------------------
profile- 檔案裏的個人資料,fit the profile 合乎(相似)這檔案裏的個人資料。
keep a low profile-保持低調
low profile-低姿態
high profile-高姿態,曝光率很高。

Friday, October 22, 2010

In the Kitchen with a Chef

主廚達人What really happens in the kitchen? by Ruth Devlin

So: Shat is the difference between a chef and a cook?
DW: Cooks generally work at entry-level jobs. They work at different places in the kitchen and follow recipes. Chefs have special training and know which foods go well together, so they can invent new recipes.

SC: How do you become a chef?
DW: There are many culinary schools both in the U.S. and abroad. All are good -you really can't pick the best one. You get out of the course what you put into it. Eighty percent of being a chef is technique-learning how to do things. The other 20 percent is natural ability.

SC: Describe the day of a chef.
DW: I generally go to work two hours before service starts. The night before, we will have written lists of all the things we need to prepare when we get there. I get everything ready, and then we begin service. I work in different roles depending on what is needed. Typically, it's a 10 to 12-hour day. I stay about an hour after service is done to make sure all the prep lists are written for the next day. Then I close down the kitchen.

SC: How important are measurements when following a recipe?
DW: You know, I've been cooking for so long, I do it all by feel now. But for the average cook, measurements are essential. There's an old saying: "you can add to a recipe but you can't take away. "So you need to follow what the basic recipe says, but it's OK to add a little spice or change it around a bit. We have recipes, so you or I or anyone can follow the recipe and have the food turn out well.

SC: Which spices should be used with which foods and why?
DW:The spice used is closely related to the culture the food you're cooking comes from. You use those spices to make the food taste genuine. In Western cooking, certain spices generally go well with certain foods. Rosemary and garlic go really well with pork. Thyme and black pepper go well with chicken. Citrus is also very good with poultry.

SC: Do you have any tips you would like to share?
DW: To be a professional chef, you need to apply yourself and have a passion for what you're doing. It feels good to make food people really enjoy.


More Information
Restaurant kitchens can have a number of different kinds of chefs. The executive chef, or head chef is responsible for the menu. The executive chef also comes up with new recipes, hires, fires, trains, and oversees the organization of the kitchen and is daily operations. A sous chef is the head chef's "right hand man" and the kitchen's "second in command". The sous chef does a lot of cooking.

Grammar on the go:
Eighty percent of being a chef is technique-learning how to do things. The other 20 percent is natural ability.
"eighty", "20"
RULE:
Beginning sentence with number, the number have to spell out except "YEAR".
Spell out the number if it is 10 or below,
if the number is 11 or more, or shows percentage use "number form"
1999 was a difficult year for the Jones Family.
Twenty customers came into the store and bought 200 apples.
Thomas Edison once said, "Genius is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.
....life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.

Vocabulary Tips:
entry-level-最基層的,入門的,初階的,初級的 entry-進入,入門.
*Oliver just graduated from school and accepted an entry-level job at a nearby company.
*He took an entry-level course in Economics in college.
culinary-烹飪, 烹調
*Under the famous chef, Jack learned a lot of culinary skills.
*Mom planted some herbs in her garden so she could create some culinary masterpieces in her kitchen.
*The chef graduated from a culinary academy in France.烹飪學院
prep-凖備,預備. 作好凖備.
prepped/prepping
*Ricky is prepping for his midterm.期中考試
essential-不可或缺的,極其重要的very important
*Accurate marketing strategies are essential for a company's success.
*It is essential to include all team members in each discussion.
genuine- 很道地的,真的,真正的 not fake, is real, authentic
*It's not easy to find genuine Indian food in this little town.
*This chair is undoubtedly a genuine 15th century antique.
*He looked at the wounded cat with genuine concern.
citrus-柑橘類
citrus fruit-柑橘類水果
a citrus tree-橘樹
*Mom enjoys citrus tea a lot.
*This citrus orchard is quite famous for its jam. 果園....果醬
Poultry-any kind of bird's meat.

Chat Room:
get delivery-餐館外送的服務,
takeout- (美)打電話去餐館,然後去餐館拿.
takeaway-(英)' '' '' ''
to go-直接去餐館點菜帶走,帶囘去吃.
"For here of to go? "
lunchbox- means the container, box itself.
cold lunch-carry food or sandwich to school, serve cold.
hot lunch - eat at the school cafe which serve hot food.
------------------------------
spice-香料,調味品,也可指"趣味"
spice (v) up-加添趣味,加添調味料
spice up your life.-加添人生樂趣
Variety is the spice of life.-變化是人生的趣味.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The Blue Angels

藍天使 The Blue Angels treat audiences to a spectacular air show by Pamela Osment

This weekend, the skies over Jacksonville, Fla., will roar to life as one of the nation's most famous air squadrons, the Blue Angels, flies into town. The flight demonstration team, composed of highly trained U.S. Navy and Marine Corps jet pilots, will display some of the most difficult flying techniques ever performed. Their shows include vertical rolls up to 15,000 feet. The skilled pilots also combine graceful circles with spectacular dives, amazing their crowds with incredible precision flying. For the big finish, six planes look like they lock wings as they fly 500 miles an hour, only 18 inches apart.
This weekend's show is just one of 68 air shows the Blue Angels will perform in 2010, their 64th year of exhibition.

How did they begin?
At the conclusion of WWII, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz wanted to find a way to keep the public interested in naval aviation. Based on his orders, a flight demonstration team was formed, and in June 1946, the Blue Angels performed their first air show. Since then, nearly 250 pilots have performed astonishing midair maneuvers with the group for more than 463 million fans!

What does it take to be a Blue Angels' pilot?
All pilots who wish to fly with the Blue Angels must be active-duty Navy or Marine Corps jet pilots with a minimum of 1,250 flight hours. They must be willing to travel and maintain a rigorous training schedule, including 120 training flights during the winter training season.

According to Senior Chief Petty Officer George Harris, "We're simply looking for the best and brightest young men and women in the Naval service. We want team players who are excellent communicators... have strong work ethics, and who really want to be the backbone of the Blue Angels organization." in addition to their scheduled air shows, the team visits more than 50,000 people a year at schools and hospitals.

The men and women who serve as Blue Angels take their role seriously as goodwill ambassadors for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

The maintenance team
While the pilots may be the stars, the maintenance people are the ones who keep the planes flying. Thanks to their great work, the Blue Angels have never cancelled a performance due to a maintenance problem.

Each member of the team, both on the ground and in the air, epitomizes the Blue Angels' pursuit of excellence.

More Information:
Blue Angeles Fast Facts:
The average age of a Blue Angels pilot is 33.
In 1989, Blue Angeles pilot Chunk Brady became an astronaut.
The highest Blue Angel maneuver performed is called the Opposing Solo.
The lowest maneuver is called the Sneak Pass.
The fastest speed flown during a Blue Angel air show is about 1100 KM/hr.

Grammar on the Go:
We're simply looking for the best and brightest young men and women in the Naval service.
simply-meaning is not as " easily"
simple-easy.
simply=basically, only.
We're only looking for the best and brightest young men and women in the Naval service.
Don't be nervous. It's simply a rehearsal.
the essay was unacceptable because, it was simply full of grammar mistakes.

Vocabulary Tips:
Corp/ Corps - 兵團,特種部隊"p" 不發音與"core" 同音 , 單數"s"不發音,複數"s"要發音.
*The general ordered the two Marine Corps to be combined. 將軍下令..海軍陸戰隊合併
*Mark served in the intelligence corps for over 2 years. 情治單位.
precision- 精凖,精確,凖確 precise
*The race car driver's precision driving skills impressed the entire audience.
*Doctors need to use precision instruments while performing surgery.
maneuver-巧妙的動作,或是"花式表演", 動作純熟靈活. "mane" 有"手"的意思
*With a quick maneuver of the car, the driver avoided an accident.
*The troops' smart maneuver guaranteed our victory. 靈活的調度.
rigorous-嚴謹,嚴雋的,嚴苛的.
*Rigorous computer safety procedures are conducted to protect the bank's account holders.
*The team members went through rigorous training and improved dramatically in just a few weeks.
backbone-脊椎骨,此指"重要支柱,基礎"用的是單數. 也指"力量,毅力,魄力"
*the manufacturing industry is the backbone of the country.
*Volunteers are the backbone of our organization.
*Alex has no backbone and there fore shouldn't be leading the team.
epitomize-成爲典範,成爲某個對象的縮影.
*With great vision and the ability to make good decisions, Sam epitomizes a successful entrepreneur.

Chat Room
Blue Angels-美國的特技飛行小組
angel-天使
angelic-天使般的,純真可愛的.
guardian angel-守護天使,不一定是真正的天使,也可是人,保護你照顧你的人.
saint-聖人
saintly-道德崇高的.
-----------------------------------
pilot-駕駛員
copilot-副駕駛員
navigate-導航
navigator-導航員,領航員 navigator give navigate.
autopilot-is not a person, is a machine 自動駕駛儀
cruise control-定速器....(使腳不用踩踏油門)

How Sick Are You?

你病得有多嚴重啊?When you feel sick, should you stay home?覺得身體不適時,應該待在家裡嗎?by Ruth Devlin and Pamela Osment

Barbara and Tammy are roommates. Barbara isn't feeling well this morning. Should she still go to work?

Conversation
(in the kitchen)
Tammy: Good morning, Barbara. Do you want some coffee?
Barbara: Yes, please. I didn't sleep well last night.
Tammy: Why?
Barbara: I kept coughing. And my throat is rally sore. It's been sore for two days now.
Tammy: Do you have a fever?
Barbara: No. But I feel lousy.
Tammy: Why don't you stay home, when you sick you should stay home or visit a doctor? I think you should.
Barbara: I can't, I have a lot of stuffs (many work, too much)to do, if I stay home, I'll never get caught up.
Tammy: So, you are going to work and share your germs to any one.
Barbara: I am not that sick.
Tammy: You are not that well either. you need to rest to fight the infection.
Barbara: I will be fine, I will go to bed as soon as I get home from work.
Tammy: If you don't feel good you won't able be concentrate on work, you really won't get very much down.
Barbara: But I will get something done, and I am able to answer people questions. I have to go, otherwise, others won't able to get their jobs done.
Tammy: You know, Barbara, that sore throat could be strep throat.
Barbara: I don't think anything is that serious.
Tammy: Well, you won't know for sure until you go to doctor
Barbara: But I don't have time, I have an important meeting today.
Tammy: You do know that if it's strep throat, you are very contagious.
Barbara: I didn't thought about that, but I can't stay home, I don't have any sick leave left.
Tammy: If you go to the doctor may be you can get a doctor note to satisfy you boss.
Barbara: The people in my office are counting on me to get something finish up today.
They will be upset with me if I am not at work.
Tammy: They will be a lot more upset with you if you show up and you make them sick. Why don't you go to the doctor first and see what she says. If she says you are not contagious, may be you can go on to work. But if it is strep throat she probably tell you to take antibiotic for 24 hours before you go back to work.
May be you are right, I would rest easier make sure I am not contagious, I am sure my co-workers will too ( get rest easier).

Grammar Tips:
If I stay home today, I'll never get caught up.
caught up= to catch up.
to catch up =to spend time doing something that hasn't been done for some time.
If I stay home today, I'll never be able to comeplete all my unfinished work.
"to catch up"- talk about complete something that after some delay.
I have to catch up on my work because I've been on vacation.
I need to catch up on my reading if I want to be ready for my test next week.

Vocabulary Tips:
germ-細菌 ()多數,是指細菌的"种類",而非指"數量"
*Avoid germs by always washing your hands before you eat.
*Alcohol kills most household germs.
infection-傳染病,感染
*They finally got the infection under control after the classroom was sterilized thoroughly .(徹底的斷種,滅絕,消毒)
*The infection of the wound got worse and the patient needed to be hospitalized immediately.
otherwise-否則,(前面有一個說明前題的句子)
*You'd better finish your homework; otherwise, you're not going anywhere.
*I hope the weather get better; otherwise, our camping trip will be cancelled.
contagious-會傳染的,具有傳染性的。有傳播的能力的
*Since the flu is highly contagious, the government has advised children and elderly people to get a flu shot.
*Pamela's laughter is contagious. You just want to laugh with her.
count on-指望rely on
count on someone or something-指望某個對象(人或事或物)
*The whole team was counting on the quarterback and celebrated when he threw the winning pass.
count on someone for something-指望或依靠某個對象可以提供什麽。。
*You can always count on Joseph for good advice.
rest easy - 放心,放寬心,安心。rest-休息 easy-輕鬆。
*She can finally rest easy now that the police have found her little boy.
*I can't rest easy until I get my wallet back.

Chat Room:
caught up = to catch up-追上,趕上競度
I'll never get caught up-
catch up-趕上,追上
catch up on something or someone.
use "on" - I need to catch up on schoolwork.
catch up with something or someone.
use "with" -catch up with you.
catch up-聊天,續舊 I'll catch up with you. (being didn't see each other for long time)
caught up-finish work. or police caught up a thief.
catch up-嘗到某种后果 如果大吃大喝,不運動,catch up with you 疾病就會來臨.
------------------------------
Sick leave-病假
take a sick leave / day-請病假
take leave/ on leave-請假
John is on leave this week.
annual leave-年假 may use for anything include vacation.
leave of absence-留職停薪
maternity leave-產假

Notes:
She has come down and have a cold.

something tickle my through, make me kept coughing.
Stay home or go to work, it depends how lousy you really feel.
Cover your mouth when you coughing. you don't spread germs to others.
Always wash hands before eating.

Friday, October 15, 2010

The AIRPod

AIRPod 空氣壓縮車 Never worry about gas again!開車再也不用擔心沒汽油了!by Ryan Batdorf

What do you and Motor Development International's (MDI) newest car have in common ? You both rely on air to operate. Does that sound impossible? Well, it's true! You don't put gas in this vehicle-it runs on the same thing you breathe!

How it works
The AIRPod is powered by an engine that runs on compressed air. Several high-pressure tanks on the car supply the air. MDI claims the vehicle can go 220 kilometers before the tanks need to be refilled. The tanks take only minutes to refill at special air stations.

What the car can do
Use the car's joystick to drive this cute car through the city. But since the vehicle's top speed is 45 kilometers per hour, you won't be breaking any speed records. The standard model has room for three medium-sized adults and one child. The car costs about $8,000. But best of all, it cost less than $1.50 per 200 kilometers to drive and is pollution-free.

Grammar Tips:
But since the vehicle's top speed is 45 kilometer per hour, you won't be breaking any speed records.
"breaking speed records"-
going very fast-
exaggeration - making something appear greater.
Before you start planning concerts, why don't you finish your homework?
I like basketball and I play it a lot, but that doesn't mean I'll be joining the NBA.

Vocabulary Tips:
rely on - 依靠,依賴
*Many people rely on computers too much today. They can't work without them.
*Rebbecca relies on her mother for advice.
compress-壓縮,壓扁.
*The weight of the truck compressed the soil underneath and made it more solid.
*The tank is filled with compressed gas and needs to be moved with extreme caution.
refill-再充滿.
*The coffee shop offers free refills for early birds.
*The waiter refilled all the glasses with water.

Chat Room:
full-service gas station-自助式的加油站
Fill 'er up - 加滿
pay at the pump -
pump gas-加油
topping off-滿了還硬加進去.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Top Ten Teacher Tips for Getting Tip-Top Homework Grades

老師的十大撇步讓你成績頂呱呱 Change a few habits and improve your grades 只要改變一些習慣,就能讓成績進步喔by David Hirning

Homework. The word alone elicits groans from kids of all ages. It's often accompanied by the thud of an overloaded book bag hitting the floor. A heavy helping of homework is, for many students, a fate worse than death.

But it doesn't have to be that way. There's no magic formula for getting good grades on homework assignments-and believe me, kids have been searching for one since the Stone Age. But there are some basic things that students can do to raise their grades. Here are ten homework tips from a veteran teacher (speaking on condition of anonymity, as these are trade secrets):

1. Study in a Clean and Well-Lighted Place.
Doing your homework while lying on your clothes- strewn bed by the light of the TV is probably not the best way to go.

2. Limit Distractions.
Listening to your iPod and sending instant messages to 14 different people while you're trying to study isn't the recipe for success. Multitasking is overrated when it comes to getting work done.

3. Organize Your Time.
Set aside a certain amount of time for homework every night. If you have nothing due the next day, you can work on long-term projects (see next item) or read a book. It won't kill you, I promise.

4. Keep Track of Assignments
Our source says that the best way to do this is to use a homework planner. This planner should include not only your day-to-day assignments, but also a schedule for longer-term projects. In other words, if you have a research paper due in three weeks, you would write down when you need to have all your books and materials, when your notes should be done, when the first draft should be completed, etc. This prevents those nasty "surprises" when you suddenly have to write a whole paper in one evening.

5. Watch Your Language.
Like, it helps to have a dictionary and thesaurus handy, y'know? Dude, they even have these things on the Internet now, (See Encarta's Dictionary and Thesaurus.) What's another word for "brilliant"?

6. Ask, Ask, Ask,
Our teacher writes: "It's important for every student to ask the teacher at least one question each week- and asking to go to the bathroom doesn't count. It can be as simple as, "How am I doing in your class?" If that's too scary, you can take in a paper and have the teacher check over it. This makes a world of difference in making a student-teacher connection."

7. Check Your Work
Everyone makes mistakes
, but it's better if you catch them rather than the teacher. Take the time to go over your work. And remember, four eyes are better than two, so get a parent or older sibling to review it as well. (Oops, I just caught a typo there myself.)

8. Procrastination=bad
This is also mentioned in number 3, but it's worth repeating. Don't wait until the last minute to do your assignment. Rushed work is sloppy work.

9. Reward Yourself
You worked hard, and now it's time for a little Xbox or a bowl of chocolate-peanut butter ice cream. or take a break. Telling your parents, and show them your masterpiece.

10. Eat Your Weadies:
Eat healthy food, get enough sleep and drink planty water to keep your body in a healthy and good condition.

Grammar Tips:
Like, it helps to have a dictionary and thesaurus handy, y'know?
"like", "y'know" are use on the informal conversation.很口語的,口頭禪的
My friends think that the movie is, like, funny.
"y'know"=you know, you see, you understand, right?
Whenever I'm on a hike, a nice barbecue just sounds really good, y'know?
Watch! not necessary word better avoid in a formal situation.

Vocabulary Tips:
elicits-引出,引來
*The anchor's inappropriate comments elicited severe criticism from all parts of the nation.
*After hours of interrogation, the detective successfully elicited the whereabouts of the stolen money.偵訊...引出...
anonymity-匿名,不公開姓名 anonymous (adj)-隱藏的,不公開的
*Speaking off the record and on the condition of anonymity, a government official conveyed the possibility of tax-raising. 以匿名的方式...私下透露..
overrated-過度評價的, 過度重視,過度高估的.
*Being slim is overrated nowadays.現今,保有瘦身材是被過度重視.
*It seems to me that the young actor is overrated.
"tip-top "--excellent, great, perfect, outstanding.
planner-記事簿,規劃本(簿)plan-j計劃
*Elizabeth uses a weekly planner to help her organize her schedule.
*My 2010 planner is made out of recycled materials.
nasty-討厭的,嚴重的(較負面的)
*The nasty cut needs to be stitched.嚴重的割傷需要縫合。
*Patrick has a nasty habit of talking about people behind their backs. 討厭的嗜好
*A nasty snowstorm ruined the crops in the area. 嚴重的。。
thesaurus-同義字辭典
*This pocket-sized electronic thesaurus really comes in handy when you travel.
*Using a thesaurus can help you write with more vocabulary.

Chat Room:
Study in a clean and well-lighted place
well-lighted-光線明亮的
well-lit-光線明亮的
"light" - 有兩個過去式的寫法"lighted" and "lit"
a lit candle= a lighted candle. 一支點亮的蠟燭.

------------------------------------
Watch your language-pay attention to what you say注意你的言語。
bad language/foul language-“三字經”之類的不好的話, 粗話。
Pardon my French.-原諒我的粗話,對我的粗話抱歉
Speak the same language-說同樣的話,意即“對於對方所說的話有同感,有共鳴”。“二人之間共同的想法,喜好”。
------------------------------------
award-your work has approved and get recognition by others and giving it in public, some kind of competition involve. 經過審查或審核候,公開頒發的獎項,在公開,正式的場合(競爭之下)
reward-something you get for something you have done. 指個人的獎賞, 賞金。
reward yourself-善待自己
a $100 reward

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Interview

我就是這樣通過面試How prepared can you really be? by Joan Yu

Working for a Fortune 500 company is a dream for a lot of Chinese people in the U.S., including me. The salary and overall benefits are so much better than what many companies in the U.S. offer. And this kind of work experience looks good on a resume for future career advancement.

A friend who knows me very well referred me to the hiring manager of a Fortune 500 company. There was an immediate opening for a permanent position, and my background seemed to be a good match.

The interview process started with a phone interview with the HR department. One invaluable lesson I earned from a career counselor is to be absolutely honest about your resume. You can exaggerate. But at the interview, good interviewers can easily tell if you know what you are talking about .I got myself ready a couple hours before the phone interview by reviewing my resume and preparing for questions regarding my background. I wanted to make a good first impression and move forward to the second round interview. And I did!

My second interview took place on the company's campus a couple of days later. On the day of the interview, I arrived early, found the right building, and cleared my thoughts before I went in. the interview was an hour long and was more of a behavior interview.

The hiring manager wanted to learn about my personality and working style. We clicked in the second-round interview, and I felt quite confident going into the last interview. My third-round interview lasted half a day and was conducted by five people from the hiring department. I had to answer all kinds of questions, even some that didn't pertain to the job! One person asked me a brainteaser question. Another asked me a math question, and luckily that's one of my strengths. I wasn't sure if I satisfied every interviewer. However, I tried to just be myself and prove that I was the right fit for the position.

I was thrilled to receive the offer letter a couple of weeks later- the job was mine!
and prove that I was the right fit for the position.

Grammar Tips:
I tried to just be myself
"the right fit"-
"fit"-having the right shape or size to cover something in an exact way.
The fit of this jacket isn't right, it's too small.
I think Brent is the right fit for Claire, they have many similar interests and really get along well.
Terrence has trouble working with others, so I don't think he is the right fit for the job as manager.
Greg is the right fit for the assignment because he has had many years of experience.

Vocabulary Tips:
overall-整體的,大體上的
*The department's overall evaluation will be posted next week.
*Overall, it has been a good year for our business.
referred/referring -介紹,后面接“to
*Molly referred her best friend Julie to her father's company.
*My family doctor referred me to a well-known surgeon.
impression-印象,
*She gave the impression that she didn't want to talk to others.
*David wanted to make a good impression on his future father-in-law so he got a hair cut.
*She gave the impression that she didn't want to talk to others.
click-一見如故,一拍即合.合得來.
*Josh an Samuel totally clicked the first time they met. They became best friends at once.
*Wilma and Tanya didn't click at first, but they slowly realized that they made a good team.
conduct-執行
*The project was conducted by one of the top construction companies in the country.
*The experiment was conducted in the Boston University's science lab.
pertain有關的,相關的-
*The writer's latest article pertains to racism has caused a lot of controversy.
* We'll only be discussing issues that pertain to our topic today.

Chat Room
One invaluable lesson I learned.-無價的
valuable-价值
invaluable-無價的無法用價值去估算的
priceless painting-物價的
invaluable help and support-
-----------------------------------
interviewer-主持面試的人
interviewee-被接受面試的人
"or" or "er"- 人
"ee"-接受..的人, 被...的人
interviewee, interview被面試的人
employee, employ-被雇用的人
examinee, examine-被檢查的人, 參加考試的人
trainee, train-被訓練的人
murder, murderer, but not murderee.謀殺,謀殺人的人,但不能說被人謀殺的人爲"murderee"

Friday, October 8, 2010

Chopin: Poet of the Piano 鋼琴詩人蕭邦

This Polish composer’s beautiful piano music plays to the heart by Lisa Holl Chang.

On a winter night in 1810, a boy with exceptional talent was born in a village in Poland. Son of a French father and Polish mother, Frederic Francois Chopin (1810-1949) would end up writing expressive piano music that still moves audiences today.

The youth in Poland
Chopin began studying the piano at home when he was 5. His prodigious talent quickly became obvious. Before he was 10, Chopin was composing music and performing in public. He published his first composition at the age of 7. At 11, he performed his own music for Alexander I, the tsar of Russia. The pleased tsar gave Chopin a diamond ring. Chopin benefited from studying under teachers that encouraged his orginal style and didn't push him to follow traditional conventions.


Chopin's teachers emphasized classicl composers such as Beethoven and Mozart without neglecting to introduce Chopin to contemporary romantic composers. By age 20, Chopin had already composed many piano pieces, including Polish folk dances called polonaises and mazurkas. In 1830, Chopin embarked on a music tour that eventually took him to Paris.

The composer in Paris
In 1831, Chopin settled down in Paris, making a living as a composer and highly paid piano teacher. Shy by nature, Chopin avoided playing in public, preferring to perform for small groups instead. His health also began declining during this time.


In 1838, he spent the winter in Majorca, an island south of Spain. Chopin was forced out of an apartment there because the landlord feared he had tuberculosis. Though the move was a hardship, Chopin managed to compose 24 pieces of music, called preludes, that winter. Despite his poor health. Chopin was dedicated to composing. An observer once described his creative process. "(The music) came to his piano suddenly... or it sang in his head during a walk... But then would begin the most heartbreaking labor I have ever witnessed....He would shut himself up in his room for days at a time, weeping, pacing, breaking his pens, repeating and changing a single measure a hundred times."


In 1849, Chopin's ill health finally took his life. However, through Chopin's more than 200 compositions, his passion can still be heard from the piano.


Information:
A few musical terms to help us understand Chopin's music include
Etude: a piece of music made to help students practice a specific skill.
Mazurka: a type of Polish dance that is written in triple meter and has a lively tempo.
Noctume: a style of music that is inspired by the night and played for an evening party.
Polonaise: a slow dance Polish origin that is written in triple meter.


Grammar Tips:
Shy by nature, Chopin avoided playing in public, preferring to perform for samll groups instead.
"shy by nature" - shy personality came from human charectors.
"adjective + by nature"- use this pattern on people.
Suspicious by nature, Henry has a hard time trusting people.
Jonathan is fun-loving by nature.
"adjective + by nature" - is also can use on animals.
Sheep are nervous by nature.
Curious by nature, cats like to explore.


Vocabulary Tips:
prodigious-非凡,驚人的
*The little boy has a prodigious memory of numbers.
*The editor's prodigious taste in fashion always comes through on the pages of his magazine.
compositions-作曲,作文
*This serenade is one of his earliest compositions.
*She went to Austria to study music composition.
convention-傳統的,
*The architect broke with convention and designed a one-of-a-kind building.
*In Chinese culture, convention states that during meals the host sits facing the door.
settle down-定居,安定下來,
*the couple decided to settle down in New Jersey to raise their children.養育兒女.
*The kids-finally settled down in front of the TV set after running around for almost half-an-hour.
heartbreaking-令人心碎的,悲痛的.
*The family's heartbreaking story touched many people, so dontations poured in.
*The heartbreaking scene of the earthquake victims lingers in my head. 在腦海揮之不去.
pace-來回度步,或走來走去.walk back and forth, back and forth at same place.
*The husband was pacing outside the labor room waiting for the birth of his child.
*He paced back and forth while waiting for the test results.
pace-(n) 步調,速度.
*The pace of the course needs to be adjusted according to the students' ability.
preludes-前奏曲,一件事的開頭
tuberculosis (n)-肺炎
contemporary-at the same time live or exist.

Chat Room:
talent-才華,天才
have talent as-有某方面(某領域的)的才華
Ashley has talent as a singer-
He has talent as a writer.
He has a talent for writing. 有在某方面的才華.
a wealth of talents-豐富的才華.wealth-豐富
He has a wealth of talents-
------------------------------
preludes-前奏曲,一件事的開頭
icebreaker-破冰,
break the ice-

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Take a Trip to Table Mountain

爬「桌山」Beauty and wonder are served on nature’s largest table by Chelsea Ewald

Africa has long been known for its breathtaking scenery and spectacular wildlife. From wild jungles and vast deserts to Mount Kilimanjaro and Victoria Falls, Africa boasts immense beauty. Table Mountain is no exception. Located in South Africa, the continent's southernmost country, this landmark mountain beckons locals and tourists alike.

What you should see
Table Mountain gets its name from its unique table-like form. From the top of this three-kilometer-long plateau, one can enjoy spectacular views of Cape Town and the surrounding Atlantic Ocean waters. While there, visitors can also admire the wide variety of plants and flowers that encircle the mountain. It is, after all, one of the richest areas for plants in the world.

While there, visitors can also admire the wide variety of plants and flowers that encircle the mountain. It is, after all, one of the richest areas for plants in the world. Approximately 1,470 plant species grow around the mountain and make their way up its slopes. That's more species than are found in the British Isles or New Zealand! But tourists should heed advice about visiting Table Mountain on a sunny day. Otherwise, its famous "tablecloth"- a dense fog that rolls over the mountain's sides-may obstruct the beautiful scenery.

How you can get there
Not many mountains in the world are found in such close proximity to an urban area. Because Table Mountain is so easily accessible from Cape Town, thousands of tourists make their way to the mountain each day.

Adventurous visitors can opt to climb up the mountain. The hike up takes a minimum of three hours to complete and should only be attempted by those who are physically fit. Due to the mountain's steep slopes, the climb presents many challenges, and every year fatal accidents occur when people become careless.

The most popular and safest way to ascend to the summit is via the Cableway. It first began operating in 1929 and has carried over 20 million tourists safely to the top. Each modern cable car holds up to 65 people and rotates 360 degrees as it climbs to the summit. This ensures visitors a panoramic view. Riding the Cableway is much quicker than climbing. Instead of a three-hour hike, the Cableway takes less than ten minutes!

Why you should go
Table Mountain is simply stunning. Its amazing views, unique shape and prime location have been recognized and admired by South Africans for years. Likewise, tourists travel thousands of miles across multiple continents to experience this masterpiece of nature firsthand. The mountain is so spectacular, in fact, that it is the only earthly feature to lend its name to a constellation.

French astronomer Abbe Nicholas Louis de Lacaille discovered a table-like formation while surveying the southern skies in South Africa in 1754. Since the stars resembled Table Mountain, de Lacaile appropriately named the constellation Mensa-meaning the Table Mountain. Today, the world has an opportunity to recognize Table Mountain as one of the planet's seven greatest natural wonders.

The landmark mountain is currently one of 28 finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature competition. Over 1 billion people are expected to participate in naming the winners of this prestigious title. Whether the mountain is selected as a winner or not, this nature-made table will continue to impress for years to come.

Grammar Tips:
Not many mountains in the world are found in such close proximity to an urban area.
Same meaning as "There aren't many mountains in the world that are close to urban areas."
"Not many things are found..."-is a very useful sentence patent for using on "uncommon" situation.
Not many vendors are found to be honest, so if you want to buy a souvenir here, you need to be careful.
Mr. Wang wants to hire new workers because not many of his employees are found to be dependable.
"found" ="known" , both changeable.
Not many cats are known to like water except for big cats like tigers and jaguars.
In this remote mountain village, not many people are known to have an education beyond primary school.

Vocabulary Tips:
plateau-高原,或是上升后的穩定階段或是水準。
*Tourists can enjoy the view of the whole island from the top of the plateau.
*Company sales remained at a plateau for a year, and then suddenly declined drastically.很快的滑下來
heed-留心,或聼從 pay attention, listen to.
*Brenda heeds her mother's advice to keep herself away from the bad students at school.
*Farmers heeded the warning about a severe snowstorm and kept their cattle inside.
obstruct-1,遮住或擋住。2。阻礙或妨礙 ob-“反對”之意 struct-建造
*The new building obstructs our view of the park.
*He was charged with a crime because he obstructed the police investigation.
encircle- go around something
proximity-臨近,靠近
*Proximity to medical facilities is crucial for elderly people.
*One of the strengths of the shopping mall is its proximity to the subway.
*All of Susan's family members live in close proximity to each other.
ascend-攀登,登高,升上去moving up, moving upward.
*The mountaineers slowly ascended toward the top of the mountain because of the bad weather. descend-下降,下來。move downward.
*The plane descended to 5000 feet to prepare for landing.
ensure-確保,保證。en-使如何。。如何sure-確定肯定。promise to having something.
*Safety procedures are designed to ensure the safety of passengers.程序
*The contract was signed to ensure both parties fulfill their obligations.完成。責任
rotate- 繞一圈,替換
fatal-anything cause "death" will be "fatal".
masterpiece-傑作,名作master-大師piece-作品
*"Starry Night" is one of Van Gogh's masterpieces. “星空”
*Critics called the novelist's latest work her masterpiece.書評們。。
formations (n) -結構,構成無 form -構成的。形成,或是形態
*The kids were looking at the spectacular cloud formations before the rainstorm.
*The rock formations in this area are quite unique. Many photographers come here to take pictures.
appropriately (adv)-合適地,恰當地appropriate (adj)(-恰當的,合適的。
*Gina always dresses appropriately for all occasions. 任何時候
*Children should be taught how to express their emotions appropriately.如何適當的表達情緒。

Chat Room:
water-(原為不可數名詞)
waters- 當指(1)領海,海域時 (2)或是某個湖,某條河,某海洋的水,(3)或是瓶裝的礦泉水,餐廳裏要兩杯水,都要加"s" 成“可數名詞”
Japanese waters-日本水域
the surrounding Atlantic Ocean waters-大西洋中的水(很詩意的説法)
two waters- 二瓶裝水,二杯清水。
Still waters run deep-平靜的水流的深,不管海底下如何翻騰,水面平穩。意即中國人所謂的“人不可貌相”“海水不可斗量”。 or means :"says a little, may effect a lot".
-----------------------------------
Mountain climbing-登山,需有全套重裝備,一去就是三,五天,或是好幾個禮拜。通常只有mountaineers 去登山。
mountaineers-專業的登山員。
hiking-爬山。(一天或半天的爬山,走山坡小徑等)
hiking in the mountains or
climb a mountain-都是通常所謂的“爬山”。
----------------------------------
simply-簡單的,確實的,的確地,真正地 completely, absolutely.
Table Mountain is simply stunning.-確實地
It was simply delicious.-的確
simply put-簡單地說,簡而言之, conclusion
simple/simplistic-simple is 簡單,單純 / simplistic is 過分簡化,過分簡單,但有負面的意味較多.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Uniting the Commonwealth Through Sport

體育運動讓大英國協團結一心The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, move a beloved tradition forward 於印度德里舉行的二○一○年大英國協運動會讓這項深受喜愛的傳統向前躍進by Chip Ewald

It all started a year ago when Queen Elizabeth II sent out the official baton from London to the distant reaches of the Commonwealth. Traveling by land, sea and air, this baton, which passes through thousands of hands in over 70 countries, symbolizes the Commonwealth's unity.

The baton's 340-day, 190, 000-kilometer journey reached its climactic conclusion in Delhi, India, at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. There, on October 3, a message was removed from the baton and read aloud to the athletes, marking the official start of these Games.

The history of the Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games mark the 19th time in history that Commonwealth nations have gathered to participate in these much-adored, multi-sport events. First held in Canada as the British Empire Games in 1930, these games have grown and evolved enormously over time. While the first games saw 400 athletes from 11 different countries compete today's games host well over 4,000 athletes from over 70 different countries.

Furthermore, those innovative first games comprising only six single-competition sports, developed to include 17 sports today, including team sports like rugby 7's and netball.

Delhi's preparations
Since winning the bid to host the Games in 2003,Delhi, India's home to over 14 million people, has been eagerly anticipating these games. In preparation for a flood of English-speaking visitors, Delhi made sure workers such as taxi drivers and security staff received training in basic English. In addition to boosting international friendliness, Delhi has promised that these games will also be environmentally friendly, presenting these as the Commonwealth's first-ever Green Games. Organizers have promoted environmental awareness to the masses and worked to make each venue as green as possible.

The crown jewel of the Green Games venues is the Thyagaraja Sports Complex, which houses the netball competitions. It uses harvested rainwater and recycled waste water wherever possible while the solar panels covering its roof convert solar energy into electricity.

Ad these ten days of international competition in Delhi come to a close, the winners will rise in triumph, bringing honor to their countries. As the close of thee games, athletes and fans alike will begin eagerly awaiting the 2014 Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Then the Commonwealth will once again unite as one in celebration of friendly athletic rivalry.

Grammar Tips:
While the first games saw 400 athletes from 11 different countries compare today's game host well over 4,000 athletes from 71 different countries.
"well"-"quality of things", here mean "very much"
Stephanie sang really well. (quality)
well over/ well under (very much of something, talk about a large or small amount of something, emphasis the size of how big or how small it is)
We started the project at nine in the morning,by the time we were done, it was well over two in the morning.
At this department store, you can find many name brand outfits well under $100 USD.
The math assignment isn't hard; anyone should be able to complete the calculations well under ten minutes.

Vocabulary Tips:
reaches-(複數名詞)地帶,區域,通常指地方範圍很大的 reach-(單數)可到達,可拿到的地方.
*The upper reaches of the Amazon aren't easy to access by vehicle.
*The troops were stationed in one of the farthest reaches of the country.
climatic-最高潮的地方
*In the climatic scene of the movie, the villain's car is driven off of a cliff.
*The game reached its climactic moment when the pitcher broke his personal record.
innovative- 創新的,新的,具有原創作性的"nov"-字根有"新"的意思
*Small companies are often innovative and therefore have great potential. 很大的潛力.
bid-出價,投標,競標
*The company won the bid and bought the property for a very good price.
*The CEO decided to sell his company's building to the buyer who made the highest bid.
*Richard bid (v) on the antique vase and won.
crown jewel-最重要的,最寳貴的,最珍貴的,至要的 crown-皇冠 jewel-珠寶
*The crown jewel of the Louvre is the painting "Mona Lisa."
*The computer industry is the crown jewel of the economy of the United States of America.
rivalry-競爭,對抗 rival-競爭對手
*Once you graduate from school, you'll start to feel fierce rivalry as you compete for a good job.
*The sibling rivalry between the three brothers became a serious problem.

Chat Room
read aloud / out loud is inter changeably. 二字意思相同 發出聲音.
read aloud-較正式,大聲朗讀,大聲念,發出聲音,高聲的.
out loud-(口語)發出聲音的,有出聲的,不一定很大聲. 可大聲,可小聲,有些人傷心過度,cry out loud or cry out loud in softly voice.
to think out loud-無意思的自言自語的說話.
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environmentally friendly-環境友善的,不會傷害環境的作爲。
friendly-是“形容詞”必須用‘副詞’來修飾“形容詞” environmental 後面要加 "名詞”
you can't say "environmental friendly"
nature-friendly.-there is "hyphen" between.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Snoopy’s Big Day!

史奴比的大日子!Everyone’s favorite cartoon dog has a birthday today 大家最喜歡的卡通狗今天長尾巴囉!by Bryan Hagerla

Snoopy made his first appearance in the Peanuts comic strip on this day in 1950. At first, Snoopy looked and acted like a normal dog. Two years later, however, Snoopy's creator, Charles Schulz, gave him a unique personality. He gave Snoopy the ability to express his thoughts in speech bubbles. Soon after, the smart beagle became as famous as his master, Charlie Brown.

Snoopy displayed his personality by sleeping on top of his doghouse instead of inside of it. And while awake, he acted out imaginary roles on top of his doghouse. He took orders as a grocery clerk. He typed out stories as a famous novelist. And he battled the dreaded Red Baron as a fighter pilot.

The Peanuts comic strip officially ended in 2000 with the death of Charles Schulz. Since then, Snoopy hasn't appeared in any new comics, but people continue to enjoy the old ones. They are still published in newspapers and books and on greeting cards. Generations after his debut, children and adults worldwide still love Snoopy, the one-of-a-kind cartoon dog.

Grammar Tips:
Generations after his debut, and adults worldwide still love Snoopy, the one-of-a-kind cartoon dog.
"one-of-a-kind"=unique (cartoon dog)
The unique color of the marble makes this sculpture a one-of-a-kind artwork; there is no other like it in the world.
If you're looking for a-one-of-a-kind dress, you might find it in this store.
"one of a kind" -(use it when adjective phrase does not come before a "noun")
Many people think that Michael Jackson's style is one of a kind.
Scott is very different from all of the other students; his personality is really one of a kind.

Vocabulary Tips:
creator-創造者,創作者create- 創造"or"-指"人"
*The creator of the popular online game is now a millionaire.
*This famous doctor is known as the creator of the successful diet and exercise program.
imaginary-幻想的,想象的,虛構的imagine- 幻想,想象
*My little sister used to have an imaginary friend named "George."
*The child withdrew to his imaginary world as a result of the severe trauma of the accident.退到虛幻世界裏....嚴重的傷害
dreaded-令人害怕的 dread-害怕,恐懼
*Jack is dreading his final exam because he missed so many classes.
*The boy hid under his bed and held his breath after reading a scary story about a dreaded villain. 躲到他的床下..屏住呼吸(不敢呼吸)...可怕的坏蛋

Chat Room
Snoopy displayed his personality by....
personality-個性,個人色彩的,個人特色。。也可用在房間,建築或其他方面,
a lot of personality-具有強烈的吸引人的個性及魅力。(很活耀的)
little personality-不具有(沒什麽)強烈的吸引人的個性及魅力。
TV personality-電視名人,名嘴的(性格)
radio personality-廣播名人或電台主持人(特色)。