Amazing Bridges

 Bringing cultures and people closer together
令人歎為觀止的橋 - 拉近文化與民眾間的距離

Bridges come in many shapes and sizes, from simple spans to architectural wonders. People admire their beauty. The Sydney Harbor Bridge, Tower Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge draw countless tourists each year.

Bridges area an important part of our transportation system,too. Imagine trying to get to work or school without any bridges! 

Amazing design
While all bridges rely on careful engineering, some attract attention because of their interesting examples of design. The Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany is a wonderful example and looks a lot like an optical illusion. As strange as it sounds, the bridge connects two canals and allows their water to pass over the Elbe River. The bridge works like a "concrete bathtub" and helps boats avoid a long and difficult journey down the river.

Another showcase of bridge design is the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in England. The bridge is made of two steel arches that tip up to allow boats to pass underneath. Each time this self-cleaning bridge tips up trash rolls along the bridge and into traps at either end.

Different roles
Bridges do many things in additiong to spanning obstacles. The Khaju Bridge in Esfahan, Iran, illustrates some of the roles bridges play. Built around 1650, the bridge's graceful aches have provided people with a shady meeting place for hundreds of years. In the middle of the bridge sits an octagonal pavilion with an art gallery. It also acts as a dam. By blocking the flow of the Zayandeh River, the bridge provides water for gardens on its upstream side. Steps along its downstream side provide locals with a place for doing laundry.

Bridges in language and culture
Bridges also play a role in the English language. We warn people not to cross a bridge until they come to it and not to burn their bridges.

The past becomes water under the bridge. Culturally, bridges are a symbol of change. The feature in songs like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and movies like the Bridge on the River Kwai. They also feature prominently in stories from around the world.

From transportation to culture, bridges play important roles in our daily lives.


Grammar Gym:
"While all bridges rely on careful engineering, some attract attention because of their interesting examples of design."
 sentence pattern "While all (situation A ), some (situation B )"
While all students have classes from Monday through Friday, some take special classes on Saturdays.
While all tourists visit the base of the waterfall, some take the extra time to hike to the top of the waterfall.


Vocabulary Tips:
transportation (n) - a tool that take people or things to get around. 运输，运送工具。
"trans" -“越过”之意, "port" -“运送”之意。
*Jason takes public transportation to save money. 公共交通（运输）工具。。。省钱。
*The transportation and lodging can be reimbursed afterward. 行住费用。。。
engineering - take math. science  and other knowledge to work together to come out something. 工程，工程学。
*Taipei 101's engineering is revolutionary. 。。工程创举。
genetic engineering-基因工程学。
engineer (n) - person study engineering and some day can become a specialist in the engineering field.工程师。
engineer (v) -设计制造。
*The hybrid car was engineered to save energy.。。。结合油电。。。设计制造出节省能源。
concrete - semen, hard and solid, not easy to break or damage.混凝土的，水泥的。
*The city is full of high-rise concrete buildings.高耸的水泥大楼建筑物。
concrete -solid and firm.具体的。
*The police don't have any concrete evidence to prove the suspect committed the crime.具体的证据。
underneath - something is under.在下面的，或是从地下的。
*I crawled underneath the truck to get my cat.
underneath -（介系词）指在。。。底下，在。。。下面。
*Howard always hides his keys underneath his doormat.
as strange as it sounds - use on something you talk to a person, make that person surprise,can't believe.
canal - men made water way.
The Magdeburg Water Bridge - （德国的）玛格德堡水桥。
obstacle - something is in the way. road obstacle to stop the car. 障碍，障碍物。
*The car hit an obstacle and rolled over.
obstacle + to +noun - 为达到某理想而遇到了障碍，用“to” 后面加“名词”
*The terrible weather is the biggest obstacle to rescuing the hikers.
illustrate - show, drawing to explain.说明，注明。
*The shift in his political position was neatly illustrated by his latest speech.。。。政治立场改变。。
*Let me illustrate my point with this chart.让我用图表来说明。。
illustration -说明，插图。
feature in -时成为主角。
feature (n) -特征，特点，特色，特色之处。
*The actress got famous by being featured in this popular sitcom.。。走红。。受欢迎的喜剧片
*The main feature of this town is this beautiful cathedral.-这城市的特色，特征。。
prominently - very important, stand out that people easy to notice. "pro" - 有“向前”之意。主要的显著的，明显的。
*All the doctor's certificates were prominently displayed on the walls of the clinic.明显的展示在。。
*Child abuse figures prominently in this report. 虐待儿童。。
spanning - to across from one place to another.
graceful - look very nice, it moves or flow very smooth. when people speak with kind word.
octagonal -八角形，把边形的。
pavilion （n)-大帐篷，临时建筑，楼阁，凉亭，阁，休息处。
cross a bridge when ..come to it - deal the situation later when it come up, don't waste time or useless to worry about now.
don't burn your bridges - don't ruin or kill the old relationship, keep a good relationship with people.
water under the bridge - the water pass the bridge will continue to flow, will not stay, it's gone. (your downfall has been forgiven. -you burned the bridge but someone forgive you.)

Language Tips:
optical illusion - 视力上的错觉
optical -视力
illusion -幻觉，错觉。
mirage - is a kind of optical illusion.海市層楼。
auditory illusion -听觉上的错觉
tactile illusion -触觉上的错觉
------------------------------------------------------------------------
up / down - 上/下
upstream -上游
downstream -下游
uptown / downtown -上城/下城。
uptown -市区的北端，远离市中心的市郊或使高级住宅区。
downtown -下城，原本指区域的南端，地理上正好也在下方。现指市中心，商业区的或是闹区。
field -球场。
downfield -上场（要看谁进攻，谁防守而言）
upfield -下场（要看谁进攻，谁防守而言）
upwind -上风，上风的，逆风的。
downwind -下风，顺风的。

Taking notes of study "Studio Classroom"