All About Bikes

Grab your bike and hit the road!
上山下海飛輪樂 - 騎上自行車上路吧！

When did you first learn to ride a bike? Even if it was long ago, chances are you still remember how. With bikes available for many different styles of riding, there's no excuse not to get out and ride!

Bikes for commuting
For getting to work, you'll want a bike that's comfortable and sturdy. Choose one that can handle going across holes in the road. Popular choices include mountain bikes and hybrid bikes, also known as cross bikes. Of the two, hybrids offer a more comfortable ride since they are lighter and have smoother tires. A cheaper alternative is a city bike. It may be less attractive, but it offers a more comfortable seat.

Bikes for exploring
For riding through mud and over rocks and surfaces that aren't paved, nothing beats a mountain bike! These bikes are designed to be ridden on dirt or rocky trails. They have low gears that help riders handle steep trails. Nearly all mountain bikes offer a front shock. Bikes with both front and rear shocks can handle large humps. 

Bikes built for speed
If going fast is your goal, you'll want to choose a road bike. These bikes are lighter than other bikes, so riders can go faster. The downside is that their frames aren't made to handle riding over small holes in the road. But for pushing the limits of speed, nothing beats a road bike. The style of handlebars normally used on road bikes forces riders to bend forward while pedaling. This position offers less wind resistance and makes faster speeds possible. Road bikes come with more gears than other bikes, so riders can go up and down steep mountain roads more easily.

Bike care and maintenance
Whatever bike you choose to ride, bike company Merida suggests doing a few things before every ride. These include checking and greasing the chain, checking the tire pressure and testing the brakes. For new bikes, Merida recommends an inspection after three to six weeks of riding. The reason? Several parts on the bike will shift and change, so fixing them will help your bike last longer.

Getting the appropriate fit
Choose a bike with a frame height that fits your body. When you are standing over the bike, there should be a comfortable distance between the top bar and your body. The recommended distance is 25 to 50 millimeters for road bikes and 40 to 100 millimeters for mountain bikes. Next, adjust the seat height. Getting the right height will help you feel comfortable while pedaling. Move the seat until your leg is slightly bent when the pedal is at its lowest point.Finally, adjust your bike's handlebars so that you can reach them with your elbows slightly bent.

Supporting the biking community
If you're eager to start riding, Merida sponsors several community activities that help spread the love of biking. This past summer, they sponsored a bike DIY camp for youth in Taipei. Participants gained experience in bike assembly and maintenance as well as learned proper riding techniques. The company also encourages bicyclists to ride in 1919's annual charity bike event.

Whether you're young or old, there's nothing like biking. Get out and pedal today!

Grammar Gym:
'chances are' - probably. 
Even if it was long ago, you probably still remember how.
Chances are it's going to rain.
Chances are he's still on his way.
I don't think I should call my friend; chances are he's in bed already.

Vocabulary Tips:
hit - 打击。
hit the road - get start it, get going, 上路，出发。
*If we don't hit the road now, we're not going to reach our next stop before sunset.
hit/hit/hit/hitting: 现在式/过去式/过去分词/现在分词。
*I want to stay longer, but I guess I need to be hitting the road now.
commute - travel from home to work or school, travel from one place to another place. 通勤，通车。
*Darren commutes between New Jersey and New York every day.往返通勤于。。。
commute (n)-通勤。
*Betty makes use of her long commute to study French.利用陇长的通勤机会学。。。
gear (n) - a thing that allow to change the speed. 汽车的排挡。
* I changed to a lower gear when we started to go downhill.
*Kevin shifted gears to reverse to back up the car. 换倒挡。。
shock (n)-汽车的避震器。
*The mechanic suggested that I get new shocks for my van.
shock -冲击力。
*The airbags will absorb the shock when the car is hit.
study - strong, not easy to break, truly reliable. 牢靠，坚实，可靠，靠得住，
alternative - have other option.
exploring - discovering.
nothing beats... - nothing is better than it.
cross - mix.
hybrid - two different things combined.
frame - The structure of the body (something), here refer to the structure of the bike. 骨架，框架。
*Faith has the frame of a dancer.
*The timber frame of the house is decaying because of termites.
frame -画框，眼镜架框。
*Alex is wearing new glasses with a titanium alloy frame.钛合金的
wind -风
resistance - 阻拦，阻力。抵挡。
wind resistance - against by wind. 风阻力。
*The shape of the car was designed to lower the wind resistance.
*If you open the windows while you drive, the wind resistance will increase.
grease (n)  - oil. 润滑油，油脂。
*Grease stains can be easily removed with this detergent.油脂
grease (v) - to grease is to add or put oil on something. 涂上，加上润滑油，抹上油。
*Grease the pan with butter.
*The door needs to be greased. It creaks a lot.
inspection - check carefully by a specialist or a profession person.检查，审查。
*The newly remodeled restaurant didn't pass the safety inspection.
inspect (v) -检查，
*Make sure you inspect the merchandise when it arrives.
pushing limits - everything has its limit, try to make it to the most of the limit or go beyond the limit, pass that limit boundary.
handle - control.
to shift - to change the position.
whether something  (young, fast, rich ) or something (old, slow, poor) - no matter what..
DIY - do it yourself.
appropriate -
*Barbara's outfit wasn't appropriate for the official meeting, so she was told to go home and change.
inappropriate -
*It was inappropriate of you to gain when the boss was talking.
adjust -make it to fit.使调适，调整。
*Irene adjusted her chair to fit the new desk.
adjust （v）-作生活上的调适。对某环境上，工作上的适应要用"to", adjust to something.
*Derek hopes to adjust to his new job as soon as possible.
assembly -put things or pieces together. 组装，组合。
*The new mechinery can increase the speed of assembly by 30 percent.
*Arnold worked on an assembly line for years.
assembly - people gathering together.聚集，聚会。
*The assembly was found to be illegal and was terminated.
bicyclist - the person who riding the bicycle. 自行车骑士。'list" refer to "person".人。
*Bicyclists are advised to wear bright colors at night.
motorcyclist -摩托车骑士
*Motorcyclists in Taiwan are required to wear helmets.帽子，头盔。
recommended - suggested.
love of something - like and enjoy of something that will share with others.
slightly - just a little bit, very small.

Language Tips:
city bike -城市自行车（座椅虽舒适但不及越野脚踏车来的出色好看轻巧）
You can't have your cake and eat it too - 不能同时拥有蛋糕有想吃了蛋糕。（中国）鱼与熊掌不能兼得。
You can't have it both ways. -不能同时拥有，不能二者都要。（中国）不能要求马儿好，又要马儿不吃草。
You can't have your cake and eat it too = You can't have it both ways. 这就是人生。
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sticky ball -藉由有兴趣的事物用来连接到学习枯燥乏味的事物上而帮助自己的学习。如学习英文：把对骑脚踏车的热爱应用到学习英文上：
frame/handle bar/ gear/ chain/ tire/ brake - bike. 先找出与骑脚踏车有关的字，当作是球的最内层。再由内而外的 ，加以运用这些基本的单字而造出简单的句子来，慢慢向外扩大。
My bike has 21 gears.
The tire is flat.
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bike etiquette -骑自行车的礼仪。
always keep to the right -（自行车的礼仪） 1。总是要仅靠右边关骑。
ride in a single file -（自行车的礼仪）2。二人以上，要各自前后骑，不宜并排骑。
pull off the path completely - don't stop in the middle of the road. （自行车的礼仪）3。要把车骑到路边停妥，不要想停就停，还停在路当中。
*** 若是就教导小孩从小就学会在享受骑自行车乐趣的同时，学会bike etiquette （骑自行车的礼仪）将会使小孩终生受益无穷，尤其是在他们日后在骑车，开车上。




Notes taking of Studioclassroom

The Benefits of Sports

Seven good reasons to start playing your favorite sport today!
運動好處多 - 七大好理由，讓你今天 就開始做你最喜愛的 運動！

Hitting a tennis ball, throwing a baseball or kicking a soccer ball bring hours of enjoyment. But did you know that participating in sports has lots of benefits, too?

The benefits include:
Greater confidence: Winning helps you feel a sense of accomplishment and feel good about yourself.

Becoming a good sport: 
Winning feels great, but losing teaches you how to deal with disappointments in life while still maintaining a positive attitude.

Improved math skills: 
Players use math skills as they calculate team scores, etc.

New friends: 
Playing on a team gives you the chance to meet people with the same interests.

Disease prevention :
Playing sports helps prevent cancer, heart disease, depression and other diseases. Playing also helps to build healthy bones.

A healthy lifestyle:
Kids who play sports are less likely to smoke or take drugs because of the negative effects on their performance.

Reduced stress: 
Playing sports helps to reduce stress. Exercise releases a chemical ( endorphin ) in the brain that makes you feel happy and less anxious.

Whether playing competitive sports or just a social game, you should have fun. So get up and get active because there are lots of good reasons to go out and play!

Grammar Gym:
".....losing teaches you how to deal with disappointments in life while still maintaining a positive attitude."
[ Situation 1] + While still maintaining [ Situation 2 ].
Robert was able to compete in several tennis tournaments while still maintaining good grades in school.
Miriam was able to attend classes during the day while still maintaining two jobs.

Vocabulary Tips:
sport (n) - 运动
a good sport - 有运动精神的人，气度宽宏的人，有度量的人，（输了还保有良好风度的人）
*No one wants to play with a person who isn't a good sport.
*George is always a good sport while playing basketball.
calculate - relate to math, adding or subtracting...计算。
*We need to calculate the sum of our total costs before giving your our estimate.
calculation (n) -计算
*We did a rough calculation of the profit we can get from this deal.
prevention - 预防。
prevent -stop from getting something. 预防，防止。
prevent from -
*Exercise can prevent cardiovascular diseases. 心肺疾病。
*The research team is working on cancer prevention.
compete (v) - race. 竞争。
competition (n) -竞争的，有竞争性的。
competitive (adj)  - compete with someone else.竞争性强的。
*You have to work hard to excel in this competitive environment. 出类拔萃。
* Claire is a very competitive tennis player.求胜心强的。。。
loser - a party who is not winning. 败者。
get something - get up and get active, get going, get up, get involve and to do something.

Language Tips:
sport (n) - 运动.
sport (v) - 炫耀，惹人注意的穿著打扮。
to sport - 用以炫耀。
sport your favorite hat - 自豪或炫耀的戴着自己喜爱的帽子。
sport a mustache -自豪或炫耀留着的山羊胡子.
sport a goatee - 自豪或炫耀 留着的小胡子.






Notes taking of Studioclassroom

Running Right

Running is great exercise – if you do it right
正確跑步方式 - 跑步是很棒的運動，但要有正確 的做法.

The sun is out. The weather is pleasant. It's a great day for running. But before you start, here are some tips for avoiding injuries.

Be safe
Pay attention to what's happening around you while you run. If you are running along a road, wear light-colored clothes so drivers can see you.

Listen to your body
Running is tiring and can hurt. But consistent pain indicates that something is wrong. Maybe you need to change the way you move to put less pressure on certain muscles or joints. Or maybe you're overtired and need a day off. Resting when necessary will help you get back to running as soon as possible.

Choose good shoes
Pick comfortable shoes that fit the unique shape of your foot. This will prevent strain on your feet, ankles, legs and back.

Mix it up
Many experts recommend cross-training - doing other physical activities besides running. That could mean biking, swimming or playing a sport. By varying your exercises, you avoid injuries caused by repeated motion.

Following this simple advice will help you stay safe while you get healthy.

Grammar Gym:
Resting when necessary will help you get back to running as soon as possible.
"when necessary" - when it is necessary.
Don't take this medicine every day. Take it only when necessary.
Mr. Martin rarely uses his cell phone; he makes calls only when necessary.

Vocabulary Tips:
consistent - happen over and over, happen all the time. 持续的。
*You can see a consistent improvement in this student's performance.
consistently (adv.) -持续地。
*The defendant consistently denied all the changes.
pressure -压力。也指“心理上的压力".
press -压。push.
*Apply pressure to the wound to stoop the bleeding.
*Eddie has been under a lot of pressure. He needs a break.
strain -紧张，扭伤，拉伤。变形。曲解，拉紧。。
*Warming up before exercising can prevent muscle strain.
strain -负担，压力。
*The public hospital system is under considerable strain because of this infectious disease.
physical -身体的。refer to body.
*a physical exam. -体检。
*Billy's physical condition is worsening.
physical -外在的，有形的，具体的。
*You need physical evidence to prove your car was scratched intentionally.具体的证据。。
injury (n) - someone get hurt.
injure (v) - to injure something.
"to get back to something" - work for a long time, you stop and take a break, then back to what you were doing.
* get back to work, get back to the topic.....
cross-training - get training from different classes.
repeated motion - same gesture doing over and over, again and again.

Language Tips:
running /jogging :
run - fast speed, take less 9 minutes to finish a mile.跑步
jog -fast walking, speed less than run. take more than 9 minutes to finish a mile.慢跑
run and jog 在意义上虽不同，但在口语上可以通用，去慢跑，可以说去跑步。
I'm going running. 我去慢跑在口语上可以说我去跑步。



Taking notes of study "StudioClassroom"

Games to Improve Your Game

Improve your basketball skills while having fun.
能增進比賽表現的比賽 - 好玩之餘，又可增進你的籃球 技巧.

If you're serious about improving your basketball skills, you probably practice your shooting and ball handling daily. But improving your skills doesn't have to be all work and no play. You can also get some practice by simply playing these straightforward games.

H-O-R-S-E
An old classic, this game continues to help people improve their shooting accuracy and versatility. Players take  turns trying to make the first basket using a lay-up, bank shot or hook shot. When one player makes a basket, all other players must do so in exactly the same way, or they get penalized with a letter (first H, then O, etc.). When players have missed five shots (gaining an entire HORSE), they are eliminated - teh last man standing wins.

21 - The Game
The game of 21 is essentially a game of half-court basketball. But instead of  having teams, each player is competing against all the others. The first player to score 21 points wins. This game is a great way to practice aggressive offense because other players outnumber the player holding the ball. Whether on the court, in a park or in the street, these games are a lot of fun. But more than that, they'll help you improve your skills.


Grammar  Gym
"....all other plays must do so in exactly the same way or are penalized with a letter (first H, the O, etc.)
"etc." - etcetera. -"and the rest".

Vocabulary Tips:
versatility (n) - versatile, very useful, fit a lot of things, able to do a lot of things.
*Max stands out for his incredible versatility as an entertainer.
versatile (adj)-
*He's the most versatile actor I've ever seen.
penalize -penalty, punishment.  "pen" -
*The player was penalized and couldn't play the rest of the game.
*The company is being penalized for its environmental violations.
competing against -
competing - 竞争，对抗。
*The Red Sox are competing against the Yankees today.
compete for -为什么而竞争用“for ”
*The two teams will compete for the championship tonight.
outnumber - big disadvantage in team game. a team has less people to play.
outnumber -数量上胜过， "out" - 超过, "number" -数量。
*Our troops were greatly outnumbered by our enemies.
*Even though we were outnumbered, we still won the battle.
ball handling - in control of the ball, or a kind of skill you have.
all work and no play - you work so serious, so hard, so much, after all, you don't feel fun anymore, it supposed to be play and have fun.
straightforward - not complicate, very clear, frank.
lay-up : driven the ball, use hand to bring the ball up and push it into the basket.
take turns - wait for your turn.
essentially - important, basically. 最主要的。

Language Tips:
street ball -街球，街头篮球。
pick up game -即兴的（篮球）比赛。两队比赛的人，有时互相不认识。
make it / take it -是 “pick up game ” 的好处-头篮得分后，还能拥有球。不像一般正规篮球，投篮之后，球就归对方。
make it - make the basket.头篮得分
take it - take the ball.还能拥有球，拿球。


Taking notes of study "Studio Classroom".

Basketball Terms

Learn the language you need to be the best you can be
籃球術語一把罩 - 學習讓你成為箇中高手的術語.

Every sport, including basketball, has its own special words and terms. Knowing these terms will help you understand the sport better. If you are playing the game, they will also help you cooperate with other players.

The basketball court
Basketball courts are divided in half by a midcourt line. In the middle of this line is the center circle where the game begins with a jump ball. Each end of the court has a basket and a three-point line. 

When players throw the ball into the basket from behind that line, they score three points. If they shoot the ball from anywhere in front of the line, they score two points.

The area under each basket is called the key. Since the key is sometimes painted a different color, it is also called the paint. At the "top" of each key is the free-throw line. 

Players stand behind this line when shooting free throws or foul shots if there has been a penalty. 

Getting the ball
When the other team has the ball, your team wants to stop them from scoring. You can do this in several different ways.

In man-to-man defense, each player on your team has someone from the other team to defend. In a zone defense, each person on your team defends one area of the floor.

Scoring points 
One of the easiest offensive plays is the give-and-go. In a give-and-go, you pass the ball to a teammate. Then that teammate passes the ball back to you so you can score.

If you want to be like Jeremy Lin, you need to master the pick-and-roll. In a pick-and-roll, a teammate picks or screens you from a defender. This lets you get away from the defender and score a basket.

Communication is important for any team. Try using these basketball terms the next time you play.

Grammar Gym:
In the middle of this line is the center circle....
describe a big area, from one part to another... we use this pattern.
There was once a very old castle. In the middle of this castle is a magical fountain.
Walk into the museum and you will see a big status. At the bottom of the status is a famous quote.

Vocabulary Tips:
cooperate - work with other people. 一起合作
operate - work.
*The witness refused to cooperate with the police. 见证人拒绝。。。
cooperation (n)-合作
*The project requires close cooperation of both companies.
court -球场
* a tennis court -网球场
* a badminton court -羽毛球场
court -法庭
*The defendant showed up in court at the last minute.
score (n)-分数, score (v)-得分。
*This player scored 9 points in the first quarter.得了9分。
*Rita scored 17 out of 20 in her spelling test. 20分满分得了17。。。
penalty - when you do something wrong in sport game, or when you do something wrong, there is something you need to pay for it.处罚，犯规，或因犯规而另对方有优先权。。。
*The penalty kick gave the opponents the lead. 罚球让对手领了先，占了优势。。
*The referee awarded a penalty shot.裁判判决罚球。
term - specific word or language in certain field or area.
be the best you can be - try your best, do your best.
midcourt line-the line is in middle court,  in the middle of the court.
center circle - there is a circle in the middle of the court.
free throw- penalty shot twice for two points.
foul - penalty shot once for one point only, then the ball turned to the opponent after the shot.
top - the highest the point.
"top" -quotation word,  is not really mean the highest point, is similar meaning of the high but just the top from the end.
man-to-man : 盯人，一对一的紧迫盯人，一对一的盯人打法。
*A coach gave the signal to play man-to-man.
man-to-man (talk) - 坦诚的，坦率的，开诚布公的（一般男性才会用到的）
*It's time for us to talk man-to-man.
defense -防守，防御。
*The team has very strong defense today. 。。。防御很强。
defensive -防御的。
* a defensive player.
offensive - attacking in a very aggressive way.进攻，
*Henry snatched an offensive rebound.
offensive -冒犯他人或不当的。
*The show contains offensive language.
offend (v) -冒犯他人或不当的。
master -精通，掌握。（精通而能运用自如）
*you need to master the pick-and-roll.
*She has fully mastered this newly developed software.
*French is a difficult language to master.
play (n)-球赛, play (v)打球 : play (v) this  play (n) you first need to know the play (adj) rule.

Language Tips:
court -大多是任何与网子，球拍有关的，小型的室内体育馆
tennis court-网球场。
baseball court -棒球场。
volleyball court -排球场。
badminton court -羽毛球场。
basketball court-篮球场。
field -室外，户外的运动场
soccer field -足球场，
rugby field -橄榄球场。
arena -本市罗马的竞技场，如今用来指室内大型的体育场。
stadium -巨大型的体育场。
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stop / prevent -阻止，防止/预防，避免
I grabbed her hand to prevent her from falling. （阻止，防止/预防，避免什么，美式英语会用from )
I grabbed her hand to prevent her falling. (英式英语没有from )
stop someone to do something.
stop someone from something.
When the other team has the ball, your team wants to stop them from scoring. （美式英语要用from）
to stop them scoring. (英式英语省略from )

Grab Your Sword

A look at the fast, exciting sport of fencing. 你也可以當劍客！ 來認識這項快速、刺激的擊 劍運.

Two serious men stand facing each other. They are holding swords. But don't worry - this isn't a fight to the death. It's the sport of fencing. Fencing was once a way for gentlemen to settle disagreements. But over time, it has become a fast, safe and exciting sport. 

Modern fencing includes three types of sword fighting: foil, e'pe'e and sabre. Each type or event, is named after the kind of sword used in it. The foil and e'pe'e have guards to protect the fencer's hand. But foils are small with thin, flexible blades while e'pe'es are long with thin, stiff blades. The sabre has a flat blade, and its guard only protects part of the hand. Each fencing event requires strength and speed. But each event also has its own special rules, traditions and style of fighting. Foil requires strong defensive skills. E'pe'e uses good timing and sword control. Sabre is very aggressive and requires both speed and strength. 

fencing has come a long way in the last few hundred years. Even today the sport contines to change and develop. Wheelchair fencing, for example, has become a popular sport at the Paralympics. In general, fencing requires good footwork and balance. Since fencers in wheelchairs have limited movement, they need to have excellent sword skills. As a result, wheelchair fencing's swordfights are very fast and exciting.

People often associate fencing with rich people and private schools. That's because fencing has long been popular at top private schools and universities. But fencing is also starting to appear in community centers and public schools. In many places, fencing clubs are always looking for new members. They often offer classes for beginners, and many provide equipment for those who can't afford to buy their own.

Fast and fun, fencing is a great way to get some exercise. So grab a sword, and give fencing a try!

Grammar Tips:
Fencing has come a long way in the last two hundred years.
"To come a long way" 
"a long way" = " a long distance "
The hotel was a long way from downtown.
"To come a long way " - to make a lot of progress or improvement.
Since the 19th century, women's rights have come a long way.
The health care system has come a long way for the people living in the mountain villages.

Vocabulary Tips:
blade -刀片，刀锋。
*The razor blade is already dull. 刀锋顿了。
*The sword's steel blade is sharp.
*The ice-skate's blades were chipped during the hockey games. 刀片缺了一角，或是掉了一块。
defensive -防守的，防御性的。
*Congress cut down the defensive weapons budget.
defensive -防御性强的，袒护。
*Gina gets really defensive whenever someone criticizes her son. 非常的袒护。。
aggressive -攻击性强的，或是有侵略性的
*Tommy's aggressive behavior at school got him into lost of trouble.
aggressive -积极的，进取的。
*To be a good sales representative, you have to be aggressive.好的业务代表你作风必须要积极。


balance (n)-（不可数名词）平衡，平稳。
*The kid lost his balance and fell off the chair.
*Kay grabbed my arm to keep her balance.
balance (v)- 保持平衡的
*It's not easy to balance work and family.
university -大学，综合几个学院在一起的大学，颁发学士，也颁发硕士，博士的学位。 "veri" -“转变，转换”之意。
*Harvard University.
University / college -用意思。用义。，但是"college" -是"university"里的一个学院。
afford - 的，有足够条件去做某事，或去尝试某事。you are able to pay for it.
*I don't think I can afford another car.
*We are running behind schedule so we can't afford to lose any time.
affordable -负担得起，可以负担得起的。
*Affordable childcare.
grab - 抓住，拿住，握住。

Chat Room:
fight -打架，厮杀，交战，搏斗。
fight to the death - 奋战到底，打到一方死亡为止。殊死战。
this isn't a fight to the death -剑击运动，不是非把对方刺死为止的运动。
fight tooth and nail -用牙齿和指甲来打斗。即指“用激烈的手段或方法来争取或抵抗。”
tooth and nail (adv.) - 牙齿和指甲，这里当作副词用。
I fight tooth and nail to get that policy changed. 我拼老命才争取到了把这制度（条款，政策）给修改了。
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
equipment -设备，器材（不可数n）不加  "s"
camping equipment.- 露营装备。
"piece, pieces" when we talk about more equipment, not add "s" after "equipment.
The only pieces of carrying equipment have are sleeping bag and backpack.
camping equipment = camping gear.
gear -设备，器材。（不可数n）不加  "s"
fishing gear -钓鱼的渔具。
rain gear -雨具
sports gear -运动器材。
gear - 有齿轮的。（车）排档。（可数n）加  "s"
The car only has four gears.- 有四个排档。




。

The Summer Paralympics 2012

	Another global gathering of great athletes begins now
	二○一二年夏季殘障奧運開跑
	另一場聚集全球運動好手的比賽正式開鑼 Last month, London, England, hosted the Summer Olympics, attracting great athletes from around the world. Now, equally extraordinary athletes are gathering there for the Paralympics, an international sporting event second only to the Olympics in size. Since 1960, the Paralympics has given people with disabilities and opportunity to demonstrate their athletic ability. These games take place in the same year and in the same city as the Olympics. England has a unique historical bond with the Paralympic Games. One of the first sports competitions for the disabled began in Stoke Mandeville, England. Surgeon Sir Ludwin Guttman organized the games for World War II veterans with spinal-cord injuries. The competition was first held in 1948 on the opening day of the Olympics. In 1952, Dutch participants made the Stoke Mandeville Games an international competition. The 1960 games, held in Rome, included athletes from 23 countries. Considered the first Paralympics, it fulfilled Guttman's dream of creating a "parallel Olympics" for athletes with disabilities. This year's Paralympics" for athletes with disabilities. This year's Paralympic mascot is named Mandeville in honor of the Stoke Mandeville Games. The 2012 Paralympics includes 20 different sports. Some are slightly modified Olympic sports; others were designed specially for disabled athletes. Cycling In this sport you can see Paralympians racing on bikes modified for them. For example, blind Paralympians ride tandem bikes with a sighted person who sits in front to steer. People who cannot use their legs to pedal use their arms to operate handcycles, and others ride normal bicycles. The sport is divided into two areas - road and track - that are held in different locations. Wheelchair basketball Wheelchair basketball has almost all the same rules as regular basketball, including the size of the court and the height of the hoops. Players are even required to bounce the ball while pushing their wheelchairs. Unlike many Paralympic sports, wheelchair basketball permits participants with different disabilities to play together. Players receive a number from 1 to 4.5, with lower numbers corresponding to more severe disabilities. The sum of the numbers for all players on the court for each team must be 14 or lower. Goalball Crowds watch this sport in complete silence as players try to roll a ball into the opposing team's goal. The players all have impaired vision, so they play by listening for bells that are inside the ball. All players are required to wear eyeshades so that those with some vision don't have an advantage. The Athletes One hundred and forty seven different countries send representatives to the Paralympics. These athletes have a variety of disabilities, which they were born with or acquired through sickness or injury. But in the face of difficult circumstances, they all show amazing determination not only to survive but also to master their sports. Paralympic athletes' accomplishments are quite amazing. For instance, Paralympic rower Angela Madsen rowed across the Indian Ocean in 2009. And swimmer Natalie du Toit made history in 2008 by competing in the Olympics as well as the Paralympics. Catch the action from now until September 9. Join fans around the world as they cheer for these amazing athletes, marveling at their skill and their inspiring. Grammar Tips: ......an international sporting event second only to the Olympics in size. "second only to " = the second most.... K2 is a mountain located in Pakistan and is second only to Mont Everest in height. The Amazon river, second only to the Nile in length, begins in Peru and empties into the Atlantic Ocean from Brazil. Vocabulary Tips: athletic -运动的，体育的。体格健壮的。 athletic competition -  运动 竞赛 athletic sports - *Lawrence is very athletic. 体格健壮的 athlete -  运动员。person who is very active in sports. *Charles is a natural athlete. He's good at many sports. disable - "dis"-“不的意思”， "able" -可以的，能的。 * a disable girl.有障碍的女孩。 * The disabled.- 前面有定冠词，是指“残障人士”。 disabilities -身心有障碍的。 *This program is designed for children with disabilities. parallel - 平行的，相似的，类似的。"para" -在旁的。beside/ to alongside of something. *Parallel experiments were conducted both in Harvard and Yale. *The sisters have parallel interest. host - someone provide something (food, place..) to people. extraordinary - outstanding, amazing, incredible, fantastic. Dutch - 荷兰的，荷兰人。   (go dutch - pay for your own. ) mascot - a person dressed in costume like animal or something to represent to the event or company. modify - change something a bit to make it better in some way. modifies / modified -更该，修改。 *The computer program can be modified to meet customers' needs. *The clinic's facilities were modified for the elderly patients. steer -驾驶，掌控。 *Dad steered while mom gave directions. *Tim steered his car out of the traffic jam. *Teresa tried to steer their conversation away from this sensitive topic. correspond -符合，一致。 result in something, relate to something. 符合的对象用“”或“”。 *The witness' statement corresponds with the victim's. 相一致。 *The result of the experiment corresponds to what we expected.和我们期待的一致。 cycling -bicycle, most use on the competing in bicycle ride.骑脚踏比赛。 tandem -together. tandem bike - two people ride bicycle. sighted - person who had vision able to see. wheelchair - a chair with two big wheels on the back and two small wheels on the front. impaired (adj) - 受损伤的，能力受到影响的。 impaired - it is not as good as it should be, refer to poor vision or no vision at all. "impair" -损伤，损坏（的过去式） *Pam learned sign language so she could communicate with her sister, who is hearing-impaired. *The boxer's vision was impaired permanently because of the match. in the face of - despite in the face of something -纵然，或是面对某件事 *Eric passed the entrance exam in the face of his poor health. *The football team won the game in the face of the stiff competition.很坚强，棘手的对手 marvel - show great surprise, amazed. 感到惊讶，好奇，赞叹。 marvel at -对什么对象感到惊讶，好奇，赞叹，用'at" *We marveled at the beautiful sunset and didn't want to leave. *People marvel at the young girl's courage. accomplishment - complete and successful in something, you are achieve in something. master- to be the best of it. advantage - easy to them or has better chance for something. 占优势。有优势的。 rower - person who row the boat.  quite - very incredible.  catch the action - refer to "watch the action", "get the action". bell -bell rings, the sound of the bell inside the ball.铃。（指铃声）。 Chat Room: The Paralympic Games. 殘障奧運 Surgeon Sir Ludwin Guttman organized the games for World War II veterans with spinal-cord injures. veteran -退伍军人。 很有经验的，很老练的。 World War II veteran - vet = veteran 退伍军人 的简称  /veterinarian -兽医的简称。 a veteran golfer. 很有经验的。 a veteran actor .很老练的 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- hoop-篮筐 shoot hoops-投篮，打篮球。 Lets shoot some hoops at my house this weekend. rim -篮筐上的那一圈铁圈。 hanging on the rim - 用双手抓住篮筐的铁圈，把身子悬空。 swish - 空心球。（拟声字，取其投入空心球的声音）。 He swished it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ shade -阴影，荫凉的地方，树阴。 He is resting in the shade. shades -二个深色镜片，二个深色镜片下有二个阴影。 shades -refer to sun glasses. 太阳眼镜，墨镜。 The sun is so bright out today, you should wear shades. eyeshade -眼罩。 goalball players are required to wear eyeshades.

A Look At Sumo

在日本国技相擈里，体型是关键 Size matter in Japan's national sport

When it comes to sum, bigger is definitely better. Sumo, a Japanese style of wrestling, is a face off between two challengers in a ring measuring about 4.5 meters across. The goal of the match is for one wrestler to knock the other off his feet or push him out of the ring. The bigger the opponent is, the harder he is to defeat.

Sumo wrestling dates back over 1,500 years and has its roots in religious rituals. What started as a rough style of fighting with few rules gradually grew into a sport with rules and regulations.
Throughout the centuries, sumo has been used in royal court ceremonies, in military training and as a form of entertainment for the masses.

Today this battle between lumbering giants in loincloths is Japan's national sport. sumo wrestlers in Japan eat, sleep and breathe sumo. They live together in a complex called a "stable." which is run by a coach, or "stable master."  The stable master controls when the wrestlers sleep, what they eat and how they train. Because there are no weight classes or restrictions in sumo, it's important for the wrestlers to become as big as they can.

They achieve this through carefully planned, high-calorie diets and hours of rigorous training - sumo wrestlers are as athletic as they are large!

Grammar Tips:
What started as a rough style of fighting with few rules gradually grew into a sport with rules and regulations.
"What started as...grew into a...."- Start with humble and little as... then became famous and bigger..
What started as a rough style of fighting with few rules gradually grew into a sport with rules and regulations.

Vocabulary Tips:
face - off -对峙，对立，对抗，对争 two people face to face compete, against each other.
*Richard's face-off with his supervisor became more and more intense. 越来越白热化（紧张，紧绷）
*The face-off between these two basketball teams attracted many viewers. 吸引许多观众。
lumber-缓慢吃力的行动，沉重的行走。伐木
*My little sister lumbered along the street because she didn't want to go to school.
*A herd of elephants were lumbering across the field.
*This area was heavily lumbered.大规模，大量的被砍伐。
rigorous -严格的，严厉的。
*Rigorous safety checks are conducted everyday to ensure the safety of all passengers.
*The quality of our products can be guaranteed by our rigorous quality control.
rituals - something conduct in the ceremonies of religious.
masses- refer to "a large group of people."

Chat Room:
ring- 场地。Sumo相擈的场地是圆形的，叫"ring", Boxing拳击的场地虽是方形的，有绳圈起来，也叫"ring". (different sport play in different place不同的运动有不同的场地，英文称呼也不同。)
rink-溜冰和曲棍球的场地叫"rink", level, smooth and big place with ice.
hockey rink曲棍球场。
course-高尔球的场地，循着路线而打球。
court-有网子的，室内球场。
basketball court -蓝球场
tennis ball court-网球场
volleyball court.-排球场。

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Amazing Races: Bobsleigh, Skeleton and Luge

Racers compete as they speed over ice and snow!

Thrills and excitement await visitors at the 2012 International Federation of Bobsleigh and Tobogganing. Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing) (FIBT) World Championships! Athletes will race around 20 curves on a 1,455- meter course in Lake Placid, New York. The bobsleighs will travel at speeds close to 130 kilometers per hour during the February 13 to 26 event.

All about bobsleighing
The sport of bobsleighing is popular today, but it didn't start out as a competitive sport. In the beginning, bobsleighing was used for fun and as a form of transportation. Accounts of the activity date back to the 16th century. Yet bobsleighing as a sport didn't begin until the 19th century, when the Swiss designed a de vice to steer a sleigh. These sleighs were called "bobsleighs" because of the way the racers bobbed back and forth, hoping to increase their speed.

In 1923 the FIBT was formed. One year later, the four-man bobsleigh competition made its appearance at the 1924 Winter Olympics in France. Today, bobsleighs are made of steel and fiberglass, weigh up to 210 kilograms and hold two- or four-person teams.

What is a "skeleton"?
In 1892, a British man invented a new sled made almost entirely of metal. The design allowed a single rider to lie face down on a flat surface and slide headfirst. The sled became known as a "skeleton." Though no  one knows where the name originated, some say the original sled resembled a human skeleton.

In 1926, the International Olympic Committee declared skeleton on Olympic sport. Participation in the sport continues to grow, and currently 30 countries from six continents compete in the sport.

Luge: An independent federation
Although the sport of luge was once part of the FIBT, in FIL (International Luge Federation) was formed. Seven years later, luge made its Olympic debut. The fastest and perhaps the most dangerous of the three sports, luge racing uses a small sled, which provides little protection. Lugers lie on their backs and plunge feet-first down icy tracks at speeds up to 150 km per hour.

These fast and exciting winter sports draw crowds of people! If you're looking for some winter fun, why not join them?

Grammar Tips:
Accounts of the activity date back to the 16th century.
"to date back to" - to begin in a certain time.
"date back to" - talk about something started for a period of time, and the time passed.
The country club dates back to the 60s.
The tourists are visiting a castle that dates back to the 13th century.

Vocabulary Tips:
federation-a group of people or nations gather together.联盟，联合会。联邦。
*The federation of Hong Kong industries held a luncheon on Sep. 26th. 联合会
* The U.S.A. is a federation of 50 states. 美国是一个由50个州组成的联邦政府。
transportation- 运输，运送，（交通，运输工具）"trans"-越过
*The transportation of this artwork cost a lot of money.运送
*Visitors to the exhibition are advised to take public transportation. 建议搭乘公共运输。
bob- (bobbing/bobbed)moving or bounce up and down, side to side, back and force.上下左右快速摆动（移动）
*The raft was bobbing on the rushing river and the people almost fell into the water.
*The race car bobbed a lot when it passed this muddy area.
originate-start, begin发源，来自，产生 "ori"- “ 开始.”
originate (from/in)
*The customs of Lunar New Year originated from a legend of a monster.
*These spices originated in India.香料来自于。。
debut - "t"在此不发音。初次登场，初次演出，初次发片 to be seen in the public at first time.
*The actress made her debut in her school's musical when she was 15.
*The singer made her debut in 1995.
plunge-going down at very fast speed, quickly falling.快速下降，快速下滑。空中跳伞，高空跳板下水。
*The elevator suddenly plunged a few feet, hurting passengers in the fall.
*Due to the strike, the stock price of this car company plunged 10% today.

Chat Room:
thrills and excitement await visitors.
wait/await- 等待
wait-intransitive 用在口语上，不及物动词，要加“介系词for"
await-transitive 及物动词，不加“介系词”， 比较”文言“大多用在等待抽象事物，如等某人的到来。
I'm awaiting Peter's arrival.
waiting for someone - I'm waiting for Peter.
----------------------------------------------------
bobsleigh, skeleton and luge- 雪车，俯卧雪橇，需橇
sleigh/sled-雪橇
sleigh (Europe)有座位的大型雪橇，有动物在前拉跑的
sled (U.S.A)体积小的，小孩在雪地上玩的小雪橇，必须是在斜坡地上才能玩，由上而下滑行。
dog sled-狗拉的雪橇。sled pulled by dog.


.

America’s Big Game

美式足球超級杯America gets ready for its favorite television event – the Super Bowl 全美準備好迎接最受歡迎的電視盛事——超級杯by Chip Ewald

Tomorrow, millions will gather at parties to watch the Super Bowl - professional football's championship game. For years, football has ranked as America's most popular sport. Last year's Super Bowl was the most-watched show of any kind in U.S. history. What makes this annual television event so popular? Here are a few reasons:

The game
Football is fun to watch. Each team strives to score by running or passion the football to get it down the field. And, they must avoid getting tackled. So, players must display an amazing combination of elephant-like strength and cat-like agility.

The halftime show
After the game's first half, famous musicians give a brief but exciting musical performance. Past Super Bowl halftime shows have featured names like Aerosmith, U2 and Michael Jackson.

The commercials
Companies know that a large TV audience means huge opportunities to advertise. Therefore, companies broadcast their newest and most entertaining commercials during the Super Bowl. Even if you're not a real football fan, Super Bowl Sunday is still an exciting day!

More Information:
Because the Super bowl is one of the most watched television events of the year, commercial time costs big money. Last year, the average price for a 30 second commercial was between 2.5 and 2.8 million dollars. Because of the global economic problems, those prices were actually lower than the 2009 prices, which averaged 3 million dollars per commercial in other words, a cost of 100,000 dollars for every second!

Grammar Tips:
Each team strives to score by running or passing the football to get it down the field.
part 1: subject : Each team strives to score
part 2: how : by running or passing the football
part 3: lead to what: to get it down the field.
Scientists are testing a drug by giving it to rats to see if it can fight tumors or not.
The celebrity wants to help by sending food and medical supplies to support the refugee camps.

Vocabulary Tips:
tackle-美式足球以擒抱，並摔倒對方以達到阻擊效果。force them to get down to the ground.
* The receiver was tackled by number 32 of the opposing team. 對手的隊。
tackle-抓住
*The police officer tackled the robber in an alley. 在巷子裏抓住了小偷。
agility-ability to move quickly and change position or direction very fast. 靈活，敏捷
agile -靈活的。
* The taxi driver maneuvers his car with agility on the streets jammed with traffic.靈活 （敏捷的）操縱他的車。。。
* The boy showed great mental agility at a young age. 展現他靈活的思想（頭腦）
agile-靈活的。
*Leopards are agile hunters. 美洲豹是靈活敏捷的狩獵者。
commercial -電視上的廣告。
*The commercial for this cereal was so successful that it boosted sales almost 20%. 穀片
advertisement -平面廣告或宣傳。advertise (v) -做宣傳，做廣告。
*An advertisement on the front page costs a lot of money.
halftime- the time between the first half and second half.
rank -position in the list
strive- trying very hard with afford.

Chat Room
the Super Bowl -美式足球縂冠軍賽，超級杯冠軍賽。
spectator sport-吸引大量觀衆的運動。有旁觀者的運動。
spectator-旁觀者，觀賞的民衆，觀衆。
participant sports -自己參與，沒有旁觀者的運動。
participant-參與者。
Life is not a spectator sport.- 人生並非是一個觀賞性的運動，不參與生命中任何的活動， 只是扮演一個旁觀者，簡直是在浪費生命。

Determining Asia’s Best

亞洲杯爭奪戰 Asia’s biggest soccer tournament starts today 亞洲規模最大的足球賽事今日展開by Chip Ewald

Today, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) begins one of the world's foremost soccer tournaments. In the AFC Asian Cup, Asia's top 16 national teams will contend to be the region's best.

How it all got started
The AFC organizes the Asian Cup every four years.
Stretching from Australia to Lebanon, this confederation is the most wide-reaching of FIFA's six confederations.
The AFC began in 1954 with 12 participating nations. As soccer, called football in most countries, grew in popularity throughout Asia, so did the Confederation. Today, the AFC claims 46 member nations-representing over half the world's population! There only 16 out of them are able to play the tournament.

How it all works
In the first round, each of the 16 teams will compete in three matches. Then the eight most successful teams will progress to the next round. The teams that lose in the four matches of that round are knocked out of the tournament. The teams that survive then compete in four final matches that determine the winner.
This winning team claims the Asian title for four years. In addition, it automatically qualifies for another tournament - the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Where it all happens
This year's Asian Cup will take place in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar. Though it's one of the world's smallest countries, Qatar isn't worried about handling the crowd. It successfully hosted the AFC Asian Cup in 1988, using only two stadiums. This time, however, the oil-rich country will use five. Qatar certainly won't be the only country putting its best foot forward at the tournament. Asia's finest will be doing the same as the Asian Cup determines its champion.

Vocabulary Tips
knock out somebody-把某人擊倒。也指“淘汰”
*Our opponents were knocked out easily by us.
*This strong team was surprisingly knocked out in the first round of the tournament.
automatically- "auto"-有“自己”之意， automatically-自動自發地，不自覺地。
*The computer software automatically sorts the names alphabetically.
*The fee will be automatically deducted from your account every month.
put one's best foot forward-把某人最好的腳往前伸。即“全力以赴”，竭盡所能的。
*If you want to get the job, you'd better put your best foot forward at your interview.
*Because the football captain always puts his best foot forward during practice, the whole team respects him.

Chat Room
score-得分
touchdown-a score in American football (because knee down so we said touchdown)
basket-a score in basketball投籃得分
try-橄欖球得分
run-baseball 棒球用跑的得分，所以叫 "run"
goal-a score for soccer， 足球得分

Asia Competes

亞洲競賽Guangzhou (廣州) hosts the 16th Asian Games 第十六屆亞運由廣州主辦 by Simon Stopps

From today until Nov.27, Guangzhou, China, will host the 16th Asian Games. With 45 teams competing in 42 sports, this will be the biggest Asian Games ever!

The Asian Games feature a mixture of many different kinds of sports. Twenty-eight of them are Olympic sports while others are uniquely Asian. Some sports, like karate, dragon boat racing and wushu are familiar to Asian sports fans. Others will be less well-known. These games will give fans the chance to watch sepak takraw, a Malaysian ball game. They can also see kabbadi, an exciting team sport from South Asia.

The city has worked hard to get ready for these games. An emblem and mascots based on goats have been chosen for the games. The energetic cartoon mascots are five goats competing in various sports. Moreover, 11 new and 32 rebuilt stadiums have been prepared to hold sports events.

Guangzhou doesn't just want these to be the biggest Asian Games ever. The city also wants them to be the best!

Grammar on the go:
Twenty-eight of them are Olympic sports, while others are uniquely Asian.
uniquely Asian-
Although Jenny thought every wedding dress in the store was pretty, she found one that was uniquely elegant.
If you're looking for some uniquely aboriginal artwork, you can try looking in the gift shop.

Vocabulary tips:
compete (v)-競爭,對抗,比賽, 與某對象用 "with" or "against".
*All graduates will go on to compete with each other in the job market.
*It's hard for small, family-owned grocery stores to compete against giant supermarkets.
feature-以某個對象或事物為特色.
*The charity concert features the most popular pop singers and bands.請來...對象..
*The movie features Tom Cruise as a secret agent. 領銜主演
mascot- 吉祥物, 或是扮演吉祥物的人
*Our football team's mascot is a ram.
*Bobby will try out to become the basketball team's mascot today.
emblem- a picture or an object that use to represent something else.

Chat Room:
a good sport-不是指一個好的運動
a good sport-指"有好的運動員風度的人,無論比賽輸贏,都很有風度.常用來形容"一個人有雅量,開得起玩笑的人."
a poor sport=a sore loser-是指"沒有雅量,輸不起的人"

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.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup

二○一○年世界盃 Nations gather in South Africa for their favorite sporting event!
本月哪個足球隊會在南非稱霸呢？Which soccer team will reign in South Africa this month? by Chip Ewald.

The FIFA World Cup-international soccer's biggest tournament- has been played every four years since 1930. It was originally planned as an alternative to the 1932 Olympic Games, which weren't going to include soccer. Now it ranks as the world's premier international soccer event and as history's most-watched sporting event. The last World Cup, in 2006, claimed a global audience of 5.9 billion. This number easily exceeds the 4.7 billion who viewed the Olympics in Beijing-the most-watched Olympic Games in history. Furthermore, this year's at-home spectators get an even greater viewing experience as several matches will be broadcast in 3-D!

Nearly 200 teams have spent the past four years competing to qualify for this year's tournament in South Africa. Since the tournament started last Friday, the world's 32 best national soccer teams have been facing off. During the next two rounds of intense competition, all teams but four will be eliminated. Those remaining teams will then contend in four final matches to determine their rank and ultimately the world champion.

This year's mascot: Zakumi
Once charismatic character will be cheering at all the major matches - Zakumi, the leopard. As this year's World Cup mascot, he symbolizes both his country and his continent. And his green hair, which helps him blend in on a soccer field, is fitting of his favorite sport. Zakumi combines "Za," South Africa's international abbreviation, and "kumi." the word for "10" in several African languages. So his name is appropriate for both the location and the year. And more importantly, Zakumi was "born" in 1994 - the year apartheid ended in his country.

A proud moment for South Africa
South Africa proudly claims the privilege of being the first African country to host the World Cup. Chosen by FIFA in 2004, South Africa is hosting matches at 10 stadiums in nine different cities. These venues range from Cape Town in the southwest to Polokwane, over 1,500 km to the northeast.
Since its first multiracial elections in 1994, South Africa has taken huge strides toward equality for everyone. It's hard to imagine a more appropriate place to bring together the world's races for their favorite sporting event.

More Information
People who can't travel to South Africa may still be able to feel as if they're watching the matches in person. For the first time in history, matches will be broadcast in 3-D. And, if anyone misses the action as it unfolds this month, they're in luck. After the tournament ends, Sony Pictures Entertainment plans to use the recorded 3-D footage to produce a feature film.

Grammar
....the world's 32 best national soccer teams have been facing off.
to face off- to meet face-to-face for a competitive reason.
Many people gathered to watch the two world-class chess players face off in Las Vegas.
The two political candidates will face off at a debate later this week.

Vocabulary Tips
tournament-比賽，錦標賽，連賽，(參賽者經過層層的比賽才能贏得冠軍).
*Wimbledon is one of the most important tennis tournaments.
*The golf tournament attracted a lot of attention because the grand prize is worth very much.
exceed-go over, go beyond.超越，超過。
*Our team's performance exceeded the school's expectations.
*Expenses to set up this branch office have already exceeded our budget.
contend-爭奪，競爭compete.
*Top dancers from all over the country came to contend for the title.
*Ricky will contend against his long-time opponent, Timothy in tonight's match.
ultimately- at the end, in the end.
FIFA- International football (soccer) association
eliminated-removed.
charismatic-具有魅力的，有非凡領導力的。 charisma-魅力，非凡的領導力。
*Sam is a charismatic businessman, so his employees are willing to follow his leadership.
*Kennedy was a rare and charismatic politician.
privilege-榮耀，擁有殊榮，殊榮，特權。
*I have the privilege to work for one of the best producers in the country.殊榮
*It's a great privilege to meet you.榮幸
*Senior executives enjoy the privilege of having a reserved parking space.特權
stride-take a large step, walking forward, moving toward the goal. 濶步，一大步，此指“進展”
*Many countries are taking strides to minimize vehicle exhaust.邁進一步。。廢棄物。
*The company has made strides in developing new products.

Chat Room
face off-來自曲棍球，一場球賽開始時，有二個球員face off 面對面來爭球。延伸為“和某人對抗”
face up to-勇敢面對。face up to something or someone.勇敢的面對某事或某人
He faced up to the challenge (boss). 勇於面對挑戰 (老闆，上司）。
face the music-勇於承擔責任（一個人闖禍就要 face the music)
Let's face it-面對現實吧，說真話。
Let's face it, we're not getting any younger。說真的，青春不再。
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nation/country/State (州）國家。
nation-a group of people share the common culture. 強調民族，人民。
country-has it's boundary. 有土地，領土
State-尤其是在政治學和國際法用到的國家。
Canada has English specking nation and French specking nation is it's country.

Soccer – the World’s Game

Learn more about the world’s favorite sport古人也瘋狂的運動：足球 Whether you call it “soccer” or “football,” the whole world loves this sport! 深入了解這種全世界最受喜愛的運動by Chip Ewald

Soccer, or football, ranks as the world’s favorite sport – hands down. Soccer claims around 3 billion fans – nearly half the world’s population! And according to FIFA’s count in 2006, 265 million people play this game. That’s 4 percent of the global population!

The game’s roots
Determining soccer’s original birthplace isn’t easy. Many ancient people played early forms of this modern game. Cu ju (蹴鞠), a ball-kicking game in ancient China, was reported as early as 2,500 B.C. Around the same time, Greeks were also playing a similar ball game without using their hands.
During the Middle Ages,different varieties of the sport developed and spread throughout Europe. But modern soccer didn't become official until 1863 when England's Cobb Morley stepped in. Morley introduced the idea of a football association and wrote the sport's official rules.
This association, founded in London, would later spark other association as in countries outside Britain. These would eventually come together to form the FIFA, which organizes the World Cup.

The world's sport
Identifying a single reason for soccer's worldwide popularity is a challenge. But one reason is how simple the sport is. While many sports require special equipment, soccer requires only two feet and a ball. This makes it a sport that developing countries can easily play. Some of the sport's best players come from these poor nations. Also, soccer performances are pleasing to the eye. The sport's basic no-hands rule prompts beautiful dance-like movements on the filed.
In addition, this sport excited the heart. Teams might score only a few times per match, so matches can turn around suddenly.
The world's true love for soccer, however, seems rooted in nationalism. Since FIFA's birth, soccer's most competitive matches have been nation against nation. So when people cheer for their team, they are also cheering for their country. No one knows who will win at the 2010 World Cup in South Aftrica next month. But one thing is certain; The world will be watching.

More Information
Most of the world calls it football, but in some places, such as the United States people call it soccer. Where does the name soccer come from? It comes from the abbreviation a-s-s-o-c, which is short for association-years ago the sport's official name was Association Football. Soccer is different from American or Canadian football and rugby in that it is mostly played with the feet.

Grammar
Also, soccer performances and pleasing to the eye.
pleasing to the eye-something pretty, attractive or good-looking cause eye to enjoy.
I think those color combinations are pleasing to the eye.
How my friend has decorated for the party is very inviting and pleasing to the eye.

Vocabulary
hands down-(adv. idiom)-豪无疑问的,轻而易举的.
*Michael Jackson was one of the most talented entertainers, hands down.豪无疑问的
*The football team won hands down over their opponents.轻而易举的赢了对手
claim-声称,宣称.认领
*The candidate claimed victory before all the tickets were even counted.
*If no one claims the lost notebook, the person who found it should be able to keep it.
step in-介入,涉入,
*The police had to step in and stop the conflict between the two groups of protesters.冲突,纷争
*The teacher stepped in to end our argument.
FiFA- Federation Internationale de Football Association.
identify-确定,确认,辨认.
*We're trying to identify what caused the fire by collecting evidence.
*A good problem solver needs to be able to identify the problem. 好的解决问题者.
*She went to the police to identify the suspect.辨认嫌犯
developing-正在开发中的 developing country-开发中的国家
*The stock market analysts see great potential in developing countries this year.
developed-已开发的 developed country-已开发的国家.
*The birthrate in developed countries is getting lower and lower each year. 生育率
prompt-激发出,引起..
*The mayor's comments prompted many angry responses.市长的言论激起(引发)
*The movie star's vagueness prompted the reporters to ask more questions. 含糊其辞

Chat Room
soccer / football-足球（美国称足球为soccer）因地区不同，称呼不同。
英国或其他欧洲国家说football 是指soccer.
Association Football-足球协会
association-协会，soccer-是协会的缩写，或由协会演生出来。
rugby- 橄榄球，
American football-美式足球即指橄榄球。
American football is not soccer, soccer is football.
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root-树根,衍生意思是根源于,来源于
The world's true love for soccer seems rooted in nationalism.-根源于对自己国家的热爱支持.
rooted in-深植于, established.
Money is the root of all evil.-金钱是万恶之根.
money it self is not evil, you can use money to help people and do something good for your country or societies. Once money became to your goal of living, the center of your whole being, or the purpose of your life. You let the money to control your mind, your act and your motivation. then the money is all evil, it will ruin your heart and harm your life.
root-为..加油 support someone or something.
What team are you rooting for? 为那队加油?
The whole team is rooting for him. 全队为他加油.

The Gaelic Athletic Association

蓋爾運動協會
A different way to play 愛爾蘭運動的不同風貌by Simon Stopps

Professional sports have become big business. Athletes are paid huge salaries. You can buy T-shirts, coffee mugs and seat cushions with your favorite team logos on them. If you have enough money, you can even buy a team and move it from city to city. But that’s not how things work in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).

Formed in 1884, the GAA was designed to promote traditional Irish culture and sports. With more than 2,600 clubs and over 1 million members, it’s now Ireland’s largest sporting organization. In keeping with its mission, the GAA promotes a range of Irish sports and cultural traditions. That said, the association's best-known sports are Gaelic football and hurling. Both are traditional Irish sports.

Gaelic football is often described as a mixture of soccer and rugby. However, it is older than either of those games. In contrast, hurling is a lot like field hockey. It's Europe's oldest field sport and has been around for at least 2,000 years.

From the lowest to the highest levels. GAA players are amateurs. More importantly, clubs cannot be sold or even owned by individuals. Instead, each club is based in a community and run by the people of that community. Each year, club members vote to elect a committee to manage the club's affairs. Even at the highest levels, association officials are elected and can only hold their posts for four years.

Despite its focus on amateur sports, the association's business model has proven extremely successful. Over the years, the GAA has built up more than 2.6 billion euros in assets. Last year it earned an additional 64 million euros. An impressive 80 percent of that income was invested back into local GAA clubs. This year the GAA marks its 125th anniversary. As an organization, it has stood the test of time. The association has demonstrated that community and culture can still be an important part of top-level sports.

Grammar
In keeping with its mission, the GAA promotes a range of Irish sports and cultural traditions. That said, the association's best-known sports are Gaelic football and hurling.
that said is fancy way to say " however"
The hostess has asked us not bring anything to the dinner party. That said, we're still planning to take a small gift.
The theater has asked the audience to not take pictures during the performance. That said, many people still had their cameras out.

More information:
Will Gaelic Games die out?
With its stable, healthy economy, Ireland has become a very desirable place to live. What this means is there are more and more people living in Ireland who aren't Irish. This presents a unique challenge to the Gaelic. Athletic Association, which has traditionally marketed itself to Irish nationals. So now, the question is: can the GAA help Ireland's non-Irish people develop a passion for Irish sports?

Vocabulary
athletic (adj)-Roberta and Alexandra are very athletic. They swim, play soccer and run.
*The athletic facilities here in the gym are pretty old. athlete (n)-
*Jason is an athletic boy. He's good at many sports.
cushion (n)-soft square pillow type thing, can move around.
I brought a cushion because the chairs are very hard.
promote (v)-提倡，促进，宣传，推动，宣传
Carol's job is to promote the development of the downtown area.
*The organization promotes literacy programs in poor areas.
*The campaign successfully promoted this new product.
mission (n)-purpose, the most important goal.
The organization's mission involves helping poor students get a good education. 在行。
mixture (n)-混合，混合体，混合物The movie is a mixture of laughter and drama. mix-混和。
*The style of the band is a mixture of rock and country.
*Leave the mixture of flour, eggs and milk in the fridge for an hour.
professional sports- player and couch get pay a huge money to play.
logo-一个品牌的图样。owl is Studio classroom's logo.
In keeping with (idiom)-keeping here means Harmony, unity or agreement.
committee (n)-a group of people who have chosen to make decision for the organization or event. Last year we started a committee to help plan student events.
extremely (adv)-at very great (greatest) degree. It's extremely hot outside.
Mountain climbing is an extremely exciting hobby.
invest (v)-投资make the money grow, spend money on something to increase it's value and gain more money from it.
Simon would like to invest his money but he has a lot of questions.
*Alex invested some of his savings in real estate.
*investment-He made a large investment in the stock markets.
demonstrate (v)-证明，表明show, how something work.
Mr. Maxwell stood at the front of the class to demonstrate the experiment.
*The research clearly demonstrated the connection between lung cancer and smoking.
*The change of location of headquarters demonstrated the company's determination to take over the Asian market.
asset-The majority of the couple's assets are in cash. 资产，财产，大都用複数"s". assets.
*The most valuable assets of this company are their copyrights.
*Britney is an important asset of our company.
amateurs-业余的 don't play for money, not been paid. opposite of professional.

Chat Room
Sport's play place: 不同球类场地有不同的名称。
outdoor sports:field-大型的户外球场。
ballpark/ field-棒球场地。
diamond-内野的球场，一垒到本垒形状像diamond
Indoor sports: court- 小型尤其是迁涉net 网子室内球场。tennis court, volleyball court, basketball court.
bowling alley-is a building where you play bowling, where you roll the ball is call "land"
rink- ice skating, hockey, play on ice溜冰，冰上曲棍球的场地。
arena-古罗马德里竞技场，现在的室内运动场。
stadium-大型的户外运动场。
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stood the test of time-means to last for a long time.经得起时间的考验to stand the test of time。
stand out from the crowd-杰出，凸出，突出，很优秀 stand out =prominent
stand out like a sore thumb-也是很显眼但是负面的，如一个人包了受伤的大拇指般很突出。
It stands to reason-make sense. 显而易见的
stand up to- confront-抵挡，抵抗某人，勇敢面对某人。
stand on one's ground-站立在自己的地方stand on your ground-不退后,不屈服,坚持自己的立场.

The Summer Deaflympics

夏季聽障奧運會
Taipei welcomes a sound-free competition 台北迎接听奥这个激动人心的无声竞赛
by Simon Stopps

This month, Taipei welcomes athletes from around the world to the 21st Summer Deaflympics. The world’s oldest competition for athletes with disabilities, these games showcase the incredibly talented competitors from the world’s deaf community

Sound and sports
Sound holds a very important place in most athletic competitions. Fans cheer, coaches shout directions and referees blow whistles to start, stop and control play. More importantly, major events like the Olympics provide participants with the chance to talk, laugh and cry with people from different cultures and countries. But unlike hearing people, deaf athletes can’t rely on sounds to guide their actions and define their experiences. That’s why the Deaflympics have taken on such an important role within the deaf community. The Deaflympics give deaf athletes a chance to participate in a top-notch international athletic competition that might otherwise be closed to them. In order to avoid reliance on sound, the Games have developed unique, visually oriented forms of play. Unlike other sporting events, officials at the Deaflympics discard whistles and starter pistols. Instead, play is controlled with flags, and races are started using flashes of light.

A history of excellence
Originally known as the International Silent Games, the Deaflympics have been around since 1924. When they began, deaf people were broadly viewed as being intellectually inferior and were often treated as social outcasts. Almost from the outset, the Games became a means of comparing the ways in which different countries treated their deaf citizens. In this role, the Deaflympics have promoted human rights for deaf people and shown that bearing has little bearing on intelligence or potential.
Just as importantly, the Games have been a means of inspiration for the deaf community. While other competitions for athletes with disabilities employ nondisabled officials and organizers, the Deaflympics are organized and run exclusively by deaf people. This practice allows deaf people from all walks of life to be integral parts of the competition as athletes, officials volunteers and spectators. Running from September 5 to 15, the Taipei Games will feature 20 exciting sports. And with approximately 4,000 athletes representing 81 different countries, this year's Deaflympics are sure to be the focus of a lot of attention.

Grammar
Originally known as the International Silent Games, the Deaflympics have been around since 1924.
been around=to be near a certain location.
been around=been present and active and growing in experience or reputation during that time.
The boys have been around the park a lot recently.
Although that song is on the singer's most recent album, it is actually an old song that has been around for several decades.
The guitar has been around for many centuries.

disability (n)-失能，残疾人，学习障碍。dis有离,否定的意思,ability-能力, disadvantage to do or learn something.
Stanley has never let his disability keep him from living a normal life.
*Jason was diagnosed with having a learning disability.
referee (n)-wear black and white stripes shirt sport judge.
The referee decided the goal did not count.
*Even though Lily only has one arm, she refuses to let her physical disability limit her future.
reliance (n)-rely (v)-depends on.
Our country's reliance on oil is bad for the environment.
oriented-detail, focus on.. 东方，使适应，按照某个对象来调整。
career oriented, health-oriented,-means pay a lot of attention on it (career ,job or health..)
Steve and Janet are very career-oriented. They work all the time.
*The manufacturers need to orient their products toward the needs of customers
*That new family-oriented film has done well at the box office.
discard-throw away, give away.
Please ask Trisha not to discard her old clothes before I have a look at them.
*Greg decided to discard his busy city life to live in the quiet country.
*Discard any containers with liquid over 100CCs before entering the airport.
outcast (n)-exclude them from the society. cast them out. 被排除的人，被驱逐的，被遗忘的，被隔离的。
Though an outcast in high school, Marco became very popular at his university.
*After Frank lost his job, he became an outcast among his family.
*Janet spent her whole life trying to help the homeless and other social outcasts.
organizer (n)-Sylvia is one of this company's most talented organizers.
integral(adj)-necessary, without it would not be completed.
主要的，不可或缺的，对甚么是主要的，接"to".
Mrs. Jackson has been an integral part of our school for more than 10 years.
*Brenda is one of our top sales associates; she's integral to the store's good business.
spectator (n)-not playing, sit in the seat and watch others.
Emilio won't be playing on Saturday but will be a spectator.
bearing-connection, between. 有关连的，与甚么有关连的用bearing后面接 "on",
His personal life should have no bearing on his qualification for this job.
What she said at the meeting didn't have much bearing on our discussion.
all walks of life (idiom)-no matter where you come from, no matter who you are.
sound-free- there is no sound, the deaf competitors don't hear any sound.
showcase- show off.
top notch-high quality.
inferior-it means worse than, less than.. opposite of superior-greater than, better than.
broad view-general view.
run exclusively-only run by.

Chat Room
Negative Prefixes---in, un, non, and anti
inaccurate, intolerant...the words from Latin or history, use "in"
undiluted, undo....almost all adj. word use "un"
inhuman不是人的，非人类的- unhuman-非一般人，超人类的。
non-almost come with any word. nonscientific 非科学的, unscientific没有科学证明的。.
anti-against, antiwar-against war.
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not sure which one should use for negative prefixes, can use "non"不确定时可用"non"(不是)
non-American, "non" 通常不用连字“-" 符号，只有用在专有名词时加“－”连字符号
double negatives-not untime=it's on time. The book is not uninteresting=the book is interesting.
使用字首否定，最好避免双重否定的情形发生。