Electrical Safety

Be careful with electricity 用電安全Protect your home – and yourself – with these important tips 若想保護你和你的家──別忘了善用重要的用電訣竅喔
by Pamela Osment

Look around your home, and you’ll likely find many electrical appliances. While they can make your life easier, they can also be dangerous. If not properly maintained, appliances can cause fires. In a normal year in the United States, electrical appliances are responsible for 67,800 house fires. What can you do to be safe?

Here are some tips:
* Check the cords on your appliances regularly. Replace all the worn or damaged ones immediately.
* How many things do you have plugged into one outlet? Plugging too many items into one outlet can be dangerous. Be careful not to use one small plug for too many gadgets。
* Keep electrical appliances away from wet areas. Be especially careful in the bathroom and kitchen. If an appliance falls into the water, do not touch it. Unplug it first. Even if an appliance is turned off, it can shock you.
* If an appliance has a three-prong plug. use it only in a three-hole outlet. Never cut off the third prong and try to fit it into a two-hole outlet.

Electricity is important in the modern world-use it properly.

Grammar
"If not properly maintained, appliances can cause fires."
shorten from "If they are not properly maintained, appliances can cause fires."
(1) two clauses in one sentence, both have same subject. (2) The first clause has be verb. (3) remove the subject and verb from first clause. --shorten a sentence is best in writing.
for example:When Elaine is shopping at the mall, she always visits the stationery store.
When shopping at the mall, Elaine always visits the stationery store.
If you get bitten by a snake, get medical help as soon as possible.
If bitten by a snake, get medical help as soon as possible.

Vocabulary
plug into (phr v) -use"into"-need to plug into a specific place. 从某地方接上电源，接通电源
Ivan's sister plugged her hair dryer into an outlet beside the mirror.
plug-接通电源。(-ged,-ging)
plug in－连接。
Ivan's sister plugged her hair dryer into an outlet beside the mirror.
*We need to find a place to plug the TV set into.
*All you have to do is plug in the computer, and the program will start to run连接上电脑程式就会跑.
cords (n)-(long thin wire). Does the TV cord reach across the room or is it too short?
electrical circuit-电路，electric (adj)-电的,电动的,发电的,用电的,导电的an electric car.
electrical (adj)-电的，用电的,有关电的，电气科学，令人兴奋的，紧张刺激的。
Electrical-This store sells electrical goods like irons and coffeemakers.
*All the electrical equipment needs to be checked again before the concert.
appliance(n)-My mom's favorite appliance is the dishwasher!用具或设备
*Modern appliances like washing machines can make your life much easier.
*These kitchen appliances are all imported from Germany.进口
multi plug-one small plug for many gadget.
unplug-disconnect, remove the cord from outlet.插座
prong－叉子，靶子，刺，贯穿，翻掘，鹿的角，尖部　three prong plug-有三根叉子的插头。