Holidays mean decorations for Americans 佳節應景裝飾
Americans enjoy making their homes look beautiful for holidays by Ruth Devlin
No matter what holiday it is, many Americans love to make their homes look festive. People put up decorations both indoors and out. Lawn displays are very popular at Christmas. And at Easter, people decorate trees in their yards with colored eggs.
Decorations can be simple or expensive. In these do-it-yourself days, many people enjoy making their own decorations, especially children. They make pictures and posters, knickknacks or window displays
Decorations are not strictly limited to single homes. Some neighborhoods work together to create a neighborhood effect. This is particularly popular at Christmastime. A street may call itself "Candy Cane Lane" for the Christmas holidays. Every house on the block will have candy canes along with other decorations in its yard.
Some communities even hold contests and give prizes for the best-decorated houses. In some areas, people buy tickets to tour decorated homes. The money from the ticket sales goes to a charity or another good cause.
Simple or extravagant, to many Americans, decorations make the holidays.
Conversation A:
"Hi, Jack, Please put this box of Halloween decorations in the basement."
"Where in the basement?"
"With all the other holiday decorations. And you can bring up the Thanksgiving decorations while you're at it."
"Where are they?"
"In the box marked "Thanksgiving decorations" of course!"
"We have way too much boxes of different decorations if you ask me."
"Oh, lighten up, Jack."
"Holiday decorations help get everyone in the mood to celebrate."
"I know, And when you're finish decorating, the house looks great. But we have so many decorations! And you buy more when they're on sale!"
"On can never have too many decorations!"
Conversation B
"There, That's the last string of Christmas lights."
" Thanks, Jack. I can't wait until dark so we can turn them on and see how they look!
"They're going to look great. We must have put 60,000 lights on the house."
"We didn't hang that many!"
"OK, probably not. But we still have a lot. I'm glad these lights don't use much electricity or our bill would be sky-high this month!"
"Tonight after dark, let's drive around and look at the Christmas lights."
"Ok, we'll drive into the Westport neighborhood. All the houses there have really fancy decorations."
"I know, The whole neighborhood gets into the act."
Grammar
We have way too many boxes of different decorations,if you ask me.
"if you ask me” = "in my opinion"
We have way too many boxes of different decorations, in my opinion.
If you ask me, he has had too much coffee today.
She should have applied for the job, if you ask me.
Vocabulary
unalterable-
Mr. Sparks had one unalterable rule in his classroom. You had to show respect to everyone.
lawn (n)- None of the houses on this street have lawn decorations.
poster (n)-Jim put up posters of his favorite cars in his room.
strictly (adv)-仅仅的, 完全的
The number of people able to attend the dinner party is strictly limited to 11.
*These parking lots are strictly for the use of our VIPs.仅供VIP 成员使用。
*We discussed strictly business.仅只于谈公事。
*The use of cameras is strictly prohibited in this area.
particularly (adv.)-特别地,尤其是.This house is particularly nice looking, don't you think.
*Bobby loves to be with children, particularly the toddlers.幼童
*The company is particularly interested in developing new technology.对发展新科技（尤其）特别感兴趣。 particular (adj)-特别的,特殊的.
extravagant - 过度浪费的,奢侈.
*The extravagant lifestyle of the young star is the focus of the paparazzi.狗仔队
*Cathy considers eating out to be extravagant.奢侈的
knickknacks-small decoration- make out of paper or plastic.
festive- very joyful and merry.
lawn-a pasture of green grass.
poster-large printed picture that give out some information.
lighten up (phr v)-放轻松，别担心relax. lighten-变轻，变明亮。
Oh, lighten up, Don't be so serious all the time.
*Lighten up! I was just joking.
*Everything will be alright! Lighten up and stop worrying!
*After talking to his best friend, Tim lightened up a bit.
mood (n)-I wouldn't talk to Amber right now. She's in a bad mood.
string (n)- Anne's mom is wearing a beautiful string of pearls around her neck.
sky-high (adj)-非常高的。Max can't afford to live in this neighborhood because rents are sky-high.
*The boy hit the ball sky-high, it was a home-run!
*The price of oil went sky -high today and many industries suffered.非常昂贵的，受到冲击。
*Very few can afford the sky-high rent in Manhattan.
get into the act- (V. idiom) （动词片语）参与某种活动。，get in and join and participate in something. act-行动
*The whole class got into the act and competed in the Science Fair and won the title.参与。科学竞赛比赛
*Everyone wants to get into the act of saving more money. 加入省钱族
Chat Room
Every holiday involve "eat"
summer time activities--may take a trip to a cabin on the mountain or to a ocean for fishing or camping.小木屋
grill (n)-烤肉的架子.cooking on the grill.
grill (v) out-户外烧烤.got outside and grill out. B.B.Q.
the 4th of July -是一个大节日,美国人会有家庭聚会或 at night to watch fire works.
bonfires-秋天点燃大型的营火来庆祝,同时用这营火烤好吃的东西.
-------
winter time activities--Many people would like go ski, or sled (n)雪橇 sledding 滑雪橇。
Thanksgiving holiday is celebrating of God's blessing. Family gather around and eating turkey with other type of food and thankful for God's blessing and protection for this whole year.
Christmas- family gathering and gift sharing. also celebrate the birth of Christ.
Thanksgiving and Christmas these two holidays are for family gathering. American would like to back home, family get together and celebrating and enjoy each other.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Adventure
Tightening Ties: Small Quarters and Sailing Give a Chance to Bond 同舟共濟Living on a boat brings about big changes in the Bach family by Mark St. John Erickson / © 2009, Daily Press
Inside the Bach home in Hampton, VA, it’s just another late Wednesday afternoon – with mom Lauren taking a break and most of the kids busy in their rooms.
It could be a scene from any place in the neighborhood. Then there’s the indisputable movement of the wooden floor as their 75-foot-long seagoing home rolls up and down in the swells kicked up by a southwest wind. After more than 2,500 miles of sailing, however, no one pays much heed to the modest sway of the boat wintering in Hampton, VA, before continuing on a three-year, round-the-world journey. The Bachs and their kids have seen much worse. And they expect they’ll have to deal with many more challenges as they attempt to circle the globe together.
And they expect they'll have to deal with many more challenges as they attempt to circle the globe together.
"After their first sail. they were all ready to get off- and some of them still get a little seasick." Craig Bach says, "But with each new place we pulled into, it just kept getting better and better. And now they're all in it for the long haul.”
"My husband asked me if I wanted to do this with him .. we've always wanted to raise our kids to be independent, self-sufficient, global-minded citizens, " Lauren says. "We needed to do something more about the global part. And this was it."
Preparation to sail
Selling off their businesses as well as the family's farm, the couple started their endeavor with Craig leaving first to begin replanking the bull of a ketch in the Caribbean. Lauren and the kids followed later to lend a hand in a time-consuming overhaul that cost come $500,000 and stretched out over two years.
"The whole idea sounded cool and then-when I got there-it really looked like a lot of work,Alexis says. "Who's going to do it?" I thought-and we figured out pretty soon that it was going to be us. Moving aboard the gutted boat, the family put in 10 hours a day, 7days a week for months slowly reviving the decks and interior of the nearly 50 year old vessel. While Craig made major changes to the masts and sail plan, the girls focused on the woodwork, with Tracy learning how to use a table saw and Sara applying a 12-coat marine finish.
Inside the big cabin that Sara and Alexis planned to share, the two younger sisters added to their workload by building a dividing bulkhead. That gave each girl a semiprivate berth of her own.
"We knew that if we were going to keep the family together, we'd need a separate space for everyone." Craig says.
Bonding under stress
Those new family ties became stronger after the Bachs began testing themselves under sail in November 2007. Though their learning curve proved steeper than imagined. Craig says, they've become increasingly adept at handling the ketch in open water, where they've successfully weathered squalls of 40 to 60 knots. They've also learned to watch out for each other whenever they explore a new port. Other changes have taken place, too, as the family of six has adapted to living together in such tight, often inescapable quarters. In most cases, the kids have learned to give and take, and small annoyances have disappeared.
Equally dispensable is the lust for stuff that governed so much of the life they left. Pared down to a few square feet of living space, each of the Bachs has had to radically readjust their ideas about what they have to have. The impulse to simplify became even stronger after the family visited a struggling orphanage school in Haiti. The need for basic items convinced them to adopt the charitable venture as a fundraising mission. Even without the influence of their visit to Haiti, however, the unalterable lack of space aboard the boat has changed their attitudes for good.
More Information
20 years ago, Craig Bach was a workaholic. In one seven-year stretch, Craig worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week, month after month-all in an effort to reach his dream of being a success. Then, one morning, Craig woke up and realized he had four children and a wife he hardly knew. From that moment on, Craig decided true success would come through making his family his number one priority.
Grammar
Inside the Bach home in Hampton, VA, it's just another late Wednesday afternoon...
just another=" ordinary" or "usual"
This card is just another piece of junk mail.
It's just another ugly picture with an expensive price tag.
Vocabulary
indisputable (adj)-毋庸置疑的，无可非议的，无可否认的。in-否定意思 dispute有讨论余地的。
It is an indisputable scientific fact that hot air rises.
*One fact is indisputable. This mistake cannot happen again.
*indisputably (adv)-Their product is indisputable the best.
heed (n)-不可数名词。-注意，当心。
Jack never paid any heed to his parent's advice about money and now is in big financial trouble.
"pay heed to something " or "take heed of something" 留意某件事。
*We didn't pay much heed to the warning sign and bumped into the roadblock's.警示标志，撞上路障
long haul (n)-漫长的旅程（时间） ，haul-距离，carry a load for some distance.
the long haul-a long period of time that not easy give up. a long haul-travel journey,
If people invest their money for the long haul, then they don't pay attention to the daily rate changes.
*The training is harsh, but he performed well over the long haul.严酷的，整个长期过程中，表现很好。
*It's a long haul traveling from Chile to Japan.很长的旅程。
global-minded (adj)- Coming into contact with different cultures helps people become more global-minded.
swell-
sail-"smooth sailing" (idiom)-water calm , no big wave, it means everything going well and smooth.
"sail through" (idiom)-passing through fast, quick go through. Test is really easy, I sail through. or I sail through my homework, it only takes me 10 minuets.
don't rock the boat-rock the boat can cause a boat go side by side, finally it turns over and gets into the water. means-don't so something that the result in something bad. -"don't cause trouble"
don't make waves-don't make trouble.-the boat sailing in the waves sea is more likely will turn over and gets into the water.
endeavor-
replank-plank is a long wooden board that lay down on the boat to make a floor for people walk on it.
hull-the body of the boat. a half of hull is in the water and a half of hull is above the water.
ketch-"e" not catch, is a small boat.
overhaul (n)-completely repair all the damages.拆开检修,大修,检修.地
My car engine needed an overhaul after I had driven it 100,000 km. Then I drove it another 100,000 km.
*Our old truck is in the garage for an overhaul.在修车厂大修
*The bus is scheduled for an overhaul next month.排定..定期检修
*The engine of the car was overhauled. (当动词)是检修过了.
gut (v)-内脏,此是毁损某东西的内部,内部装璜 all the old or original thing need to moved & replace.+tted
The war-torn town was full of gutted buildings and empty streets.
*The hotel was gutted by the fire.
*The car was gutted by the thief.
revive (v)-复兴,复苏,恢复,brought back. re-再一次, vive-生命.
Samuel's dream of reviving the family farm began to come true with his first sale of produce.
*The architect revived the chapel and many tourists come to visit now. 建筑师
*A hot bath can revive me instantly. 立即充满活力.
semiprivate (adj)-I stayed in a semiprivate room in the hospital with two other patients.
bulkhead-a wall or a dividing wall between two rooms or two compartments.
berth-a place that someone can sleep. we are use this word on ship, boat or train.
learning curve (n)-steep learning curve-learn the hard skill quickly in a short time.
Because she had no experience, Sally had a steep learning curve when she started teaching.
inescapable (adj)-无法避免的,免不了的.in-否定的escapable-可避免的
The consequence of robbing the jewelry store was inescapable. Same spent three years in jail.
*It seems inescapable that we have to move to a bigger house.
*Larry has to face the inescapable fact that he will be laid off.
dispensable (adj)-非必要的,不重要的. dispense (v)-免除或省掉.
The boss treats his employees as if they are dispensable, It's like he doesn't need them.
*The money can only be used on necessities, not on those dispensable things.
*He felt that he was a dispensable member of his team.
radically (adv)-very radical in extremely way. 澈底地,完全地.
Will's casual approach to work is radically different from Simon's serious approach.
*The company decided to take a radically different approach to sell the new product.完全不同的方法来卖这产品.
radical (adj)-澈底的,完全的. a radical shift of attitude-态度上澈底的改变.
unalterable (adj)-unable to be change. un-not, alterable-changeable.
Mr. Sparks had one unalterable rule in his classroom. You had to show respect to everyone.
squall- sudden and strong wind, fast wind.
governed- control.
ropes-sailing require a lot of ropes, sailor knows tie the knots, untie the knots, good sailor knows their ropes. someone knows the ropes means they have experience and skill. If you know the ropes, that means you know how to do the things. sea sick.
overboard-falling off the boat into the water. doing way too much,
Chat Room
to deal with it (something)-to handle something.处里，应付某件事情 can't deal with it=cant' handle itdeal- make a deal with someone. 交易，和某人作交易。deal (v)-及物动词deal the cards to everybody.发牌给每一个人。cut someone a deal-和某人交易，卖方cut买方a deal 是卖方给买方一些优惠的交易。
-----
lend someone a hand-Can you lend me a hand-借某人一支手，帮助某人，助人一臂之力。
hand-me-down-穿人家穿过的衣服，尤指小小孩承接大小孩穿不下的旧衣服。
used clothes,secondhand clothes-旧的衣服.
take something off someone's hand--把东西从某人手上拿去，即帮他处理掉他手中用不着的东西。
take them off my hands
hand it to you-承认某人的优点，长处，I have to hand it to you, you are a hard worker.
get out of hand-out of control 失控. The situation got out of hand.
-----
give and take (idiom)-相互让步,一方让步give,一方得到好处take what you want. compromise/cooperate.
give or take (idiom)-差不多,差的有限.差不倒那儿去.$25 give or take a couple of dollars 只有二元的差异.
take someone for --将某人误认为什么人.误以为他是小偷. He takes her for thief.
give up-放弃, 什么用"on" -give up on something-give up on English.
Visit dailypress.com, the World Wide Web site of the Daily Press at http://dailypress.com and on America Online at keyword “dailypress
Inside the Bach home in Hampton, VA, it’s just another late Wednesday afternoon – with mom Lauren taking a break and most of the kids busy in their rooms.
It could be a scene from any place in the neighborhood. Then there’s the indisputable movement of the wooden floor as their 75-foot-long seagoing home rolls up and down in the swells kicked up by a southwest wind. After more than 2,500 miles of sailing, however, no one pays much heed to the modest sway of the boat wintering in Hampton, VA, before continuing on a three-year, round-the-world journey. The Bachs and their kids have seen much worse. And they expect they’ll have to deal with many more challenges as they attempt to circle the globe together.
And they expect they'll have to deal with many more challenges as they attempt to circle the globe together.
"After their first sail. they were all ready to get off- and some of them still get a little seasick." Craig Bach says, "But with each new place we pulled into, it just kept getting better and better. And now they're all in it for the long haul.”
"My husband asked me if I wanted to do this with him .. we've always wanted to raise our kids to be independent, self-sufficient, global-minded citizens, " Lauren says. "We needed to do something more about the global part. And this was it."
Preparation to sail
Selling off their businesses as well as the family's farm, the couple started their endeavor with Craig leaving first to begin replanking the bull of a ketch in the Caribbean. Lauren and the kids followed later to lend a hand in a time-consuming overhaul that cost come $500,000 and stretched out over two years.
"The whole idea sounded cool and then-when I got there-it really looked like a lot of work,Alexis says. "Who's going to do it?" I thought-and we figured out pretty soon that it was going to be us. Moving aboard the gutted boat, the family put in 10 hours a day, 7days a week for months slowly reviving the decks and interior of the nearly 50 year old vessel. While Craig made major changes to the masts and sail plan, the girls focused on the woodwork, with Tracy learning how to use a table saw and Sara applying a 12-coat marine finish.
Inside the big cabin that Sara and Alexis planned to share, the two younger sisters added to their workload by building a dividing bulkhead. That gave each girl a semiprivate berth of her own.
"We knew that if we were going to keep the family together, we'd need a separate space for everyone." Craig says.
Bonding under stress
Those new family ties became stronger after the Bachs began testing themselves under sail in November 2007. Though their learning curve proved steeper than imagined. Craig says, they've become increasingly adept at handling the ketch in open water, where they've successfully weathered squalls of 40 to 60 knots. They've also learned to watch out for each other whenever they explore a new port. Other changes have taken place, too, as the family of six has adapted to living together in such tight, often inescapable quarters. In most cases, the kids have learned to give and take, and small annoyances have disappeared.
Equally dispensable is the lust for stuff that governed so much of the life they left. Pared down to a few square feet of living space, each of the Bachs has had to radically readjust their ideas about what they have to have. The impulse to simplify became even stronger after the family visited a struggling orphanage school in Haiti. The need for basic items convinced them to adopt the charitable venture as a fundraising mission. Even without the influence of their visit to Haiti, however, the unalterable lack of space aboard the boat has changed their attitudes for good.
More Information
20 years ago, Craig Bach was a workaholic. In one seven-year stretch, Craig worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week, month after month-all in an effort to reach his dream of being a success. Then, one morning, Craig woke up and realized he had four children and a wife he hardly knew. From that moment on, Craig decided true success would come through making his family his number one priority.
Grammar
Inside the Bach home in Hampton, VA, it's just another late Wednesday afternoon...
just another=" ordinary" or "usual"
This card is just another piece of junk mail.
It's just another ugly picture with an expensive price tag.
Vocabulary
indisputable (adj)-毋庸置疑的，无可非议的，无可否认的。in-否定意思 dispute有讨论余地的。
It is an indisputable scientific fact that hot air rises.
*One fact is indisputable. This mistake cannot happen again.
*indisputably (adv)-Their product is indisputable the best.
heed (n)-不可数名词。-注意，当心。
Jack never paid any heed to his parent's advice about money and now is in big financial trouble.
"pay heed to something " or "take heed of something" 留意某件事。
*We didn't pay much heed to the warning sign and bumped into the roadblock's.警示标志，撞上路障
long haul (n)-漫长的旅程（时间） ，haul-距离，carry a load for some distance.
the long haul-a long period of time that not easy give up. a long haul-travel journey,
If people invest their money for the long haul, then they don't pay attention to the daily rate changes.
*The training is harsh, but he performed well over the long haul.严酷的，整个长期过程中，表现很好。
*It's a long haul traveling from Chile to Japan.很长的旅程。
global-minded (adj)- Coming into contact with different cultures helps people become more global-minded.
swell-
sail-"smooth sailing" (idiom)-water calm , no big wave, it means everything going well and smooth.
"sail through" (idiom)-passing through fast, quick go through. Test is really easy, I sail through. or I sail through my homework, it only takes me 10 minuets.
don't rock the boat-rock the boat can cause a boat go side by side, finally it turns over and gets into the water. means-don't so something that the result in something bad. -"don't cause trouble"
don't make waves-don't make trouble.-the boat sailing in the waves sea is more likely will turn over and gets into the water.
endeavor-
replank-plank is a long wooden board that lay down on the boat to make a floor for people walk on it.
hull-the body of the boat. a half of hull is in the water and a half of hull is above the water.
ketch-"e" not catch, is a small boat.
overhaul (n)-completely repair all the damages.拆开检修,大修,检修.地
My car engine needed an overhaul after I had driven it 100,000 km. Then I drove it another 100,000 km.
*Our old truck is in the garage for an overhaul.在修车厂大修
*The bus is scheduled for an overhaul next month.排定..定期检修
*The engine of the car was overhauled. (当动词)是检修过了.
gut (v)-内脏,此是毁损某东西的内部,内部装璜 all the old or original thing need to moved & replace.+tted
The war-torn town was full of gutted buildings and empty streets.
*The hotel was gutted by the fire.
*The car was gutted by the thief.
revive (v)-复兴,复苏,恢复,brought back. re-再一次, vive-生命.
Samuel's dream of reviving the family farm began to come true with his first sale of produce.
*The architect revived the chapel and many tourists come to visit now. 建筑师
*A hot bath can revive me instantly. 立即充满活力.
semiprivate (adj)-I stayed in a semiprivate room in the hospital with two other patients.
bulkhead-a wall or a dividing wall between two rooms or two compartments.
berth-a place that someone can sleep. we are use this word on ship, boat or train.
learning curve (n)-steep learning curve-learn the hard skill quickly in a short time.
Because she had no experience, Sally had a steep learning curve when she started teaching.
inescapable (adj)-无法避免的,免不了的.in-否定的escapable-可避免的
The consequence of robbing the jewelry store was inescapable. Same spent three years in jail.
*It seems inescapable that we have to move to a bigger house.
*Larry has to face the inescapable fact that he will be laid off.
dispensable (adj)-非必要的,不重要的. dispense (v)-免除或省掉.
The boss treats his employees as if they are dispensable, It's like he doesn't need them.
*The money can only be used on necessities, not on those dispensable things.
*He felt that he was a dispensable member of his team.
radically (adv)-very radical in extremely way. 澈底地,完全地.
Will's casual approach to work is radically different from Simon's serious approach.
*The company decided to take a radically different approach to sell the new product.完全不同的方法来卖这产品.
radical (adj)-澈底的,完全的. a radical shift of attitude-态度上澈底的改变.
unalterable (adj)-unable to be change. un-not, alterable-changeable.
Mr. Sparks had one unalterable rule in his classroom. You had to show respect to everyone.
squall- sudden and strong wind, fast wind.
governed- control.
ropes-sailing require a lot of ropes, sailor knows tie the knots, untie the knots, good sailor knows their ropes. someone knows the ropes means they have experience and skill. If you know the ropes, that means you know how to do the things. sea sick.
overboard-falling off the boat into the water. doing way too much,
Chat Room
to deal with it (something)-to handle something.处里，应付某件事情 can't deal with it=cant' handle itdeal- make a deal with someone. 交易，和某人作交易。deal (v)-及物动词deal the cards to everybody.发牌给每一个人。cut someone a deal-和某人交易，卖方cut买方a deal 是卖方给买方一些优惠的交易。
-----
lend someone a hand-Can you lend me a hand-借某人一支手，帮助某人，助人一臂之力。
hand-me-down-穿人家穿过的衣服，尤指小小孩承接大小孩穿不下的旧衣服。
used clothes,secondhand clothes-旧的衣服.
take something off someone's hand--把东西从某人手上拿去，即帮他处理掉他手中用不着的东西。
take them off my hands
hand it to you-承认某人的优点，长处，I have to hand it to you, you are a hard worker.
get out of hand-out of control 失控. The situation got out of hand.
-----
give and take (idiom)-相互让步,一方让步give,一方得到好处take what you want. compromise/cooperate.
give or take (idiom)-差不多,差的有限.差不倒那儿去.$25 give or take a couple of dollars 只有二元的差异.
take someone for --将某人误认为什么人.误以为他是小偷. He takes her for thief.
give up-放弃, 什么用"on" -give up on something-give up on English.
Visit dailypress.com, the World Wide Web site of the Daily Press at http://dailypress.com and on America Online at keyword “dailypress
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Mechanics to the Rescue
救車英雄Everything you wanted to know about cars but were afraid to ask
by Simon Stopps
SC: Used cars can be cheaper than new ones, but they can also be riskier. How do you know you are getting a good used car?
RC: A lot of people check consumer guides that tell you which cars are built with quality and last well. Guides also list which car parts are good and which tend to fail. If you’ve got a mechanic that you trust, take the car to that mechanic. Pay him or her to look it over and check all the major components. That’s always money well-spent.
SC: How can you find a good mechanic?
RC: In North America, mechanics have to get their "Class A License." Getting the license requires about 9,000 hours of work as an apprentice, completion of college courses and passing a written test. Having a license is one mark of a mechanic's ability. Dealerships often have factory-trained technicians. They tend to be well trained, but they can also be pricey. You can also rely on word of mouth. If you've found a good mechanic, quite often you'll tell people.
SC: What can you do to save money on maintenance without putting your car at risk?
RC: I would make sure my tires were at the right air pressure so I could improve my fuel economy. I'd also keep an eye on things under the hood such as oil and brake fluid. It doesn't cost you anything to check those things. It's also good to be familiar with the owner's manual for the car. The need for things like oil changes varies among different cars. Typically, people like to do those things too soon-and that's like throwing money out the window.
SC: Do different grades of gasoline make a difference to your car and its mileage?
RC: In theory, yes. Higher-octane fuels can give better mileage. But, if you are going to use higher-octane fuel, make sure your car is tuned up. Things like tire pressure affect mileage greatly. It's probably best to do a little experiment. Use a tank of gasoline and check your mileage, and then try the higher octane and check your mileage again. See if the trade off in better mileage is worth it because obviously higher octane costs more money.
Grammar
That's always money well-spent.
well-spent
He is a well-known speaker.
It is a well-written story.
That is a job well-done.
It was a song well-played.
That's always money well-spent.
That's always money that is well-spent.
a job well done= a job that is well-done.
a song well played=a song that is well-played.
Vocabulary
license (n)-Last Tuesday, Salina passed the test and received her driver's license.
technician (n)_技师,技术员a person who had been well trained with technical skells.
The technicians are trying to fix the plane's engines.
word of mouth (idiom)-News often travels by word of mouth.
mechanic(n)-修理工,技工I need to take my car to the mechanic. It is not working properly.
*Greg is one of the top mechanics of this garage. 修理厂
*Ray works as an aircraft mechanic.
components-构成的元素,零件,Vegetables and fruits are important components of a healthy diet.
*These second-hand computer components are still usable. com-有"一起"的意思.
apprentice-Charlie was a carpenter's apprentice for several years before he become a real carpenter.
*Most chores and hard work were done by the apprentices. apprentice-学徒,见习生
tune up (phr v)-Martin's motorcycle is always clean and tuned up.
trade off (n)-交换,抵消作用或代替,换取.trade-交易
When buying a computer, there is always a tradeoff between quality and price.
*To Vivian, giving up a nice job is an acceptable trade off for staying home..
*Both the husband and the wife are very successful, but the trade off is they seldom see each other
economy (n)-经济,此指"节约性". Their goal was to achieve better economy in their use of water.
*This new device can boost the fuel economy. 新装置提升省油性.
*With the sky-high oil price, most people tend to buy fuel economy cars.
manual (n)-手册,食物选购单You should always check the manual before trying to fix the fax machine.
*Henry read the DIY manual for the cabinets before assembling them.
*The software comes with a 200-page manual.
Chat Room
care- 照料,保养.忧虑,烦恼 hair care-take care your hair头发的保养;
health care健康的保养, car-care
take care of- 保养,照顾某个人或某样东西.
take care-=good bye with warning,take care that you don't catch a cold. 保重,小心,当心(别感冒)
He doesn't have a care in the world. 他总是无忧无虑.a happy person who doesn't worry things.
-------------
eye-
keep an eye on something-watching 注意,盯着看某样东西.
keep an eye out for -searching, seeking寻找某样东西.
keep one's (your) eye on the ball (idiom)-pay attention. focus on something 眼盯着(球),要专心,不要分心.
see eye to eye (idiom)- agree with someone 与某人看法相同,有相同的观点.
see with half an eye- clear understand 一看就明白,一目了然.
by Simon Stopps
SC: Used cars can be cheaper than new ones, but they can also be riskier. How do you know you are getting a good used car?
RC: A lot of people check consumer guides that tell you which cars are built with quality and last well. Guides also list which car parts are good and which tend to fail. If you’ve got a mechanic that you trust, take the car to that mechanic. Pay him or her to look it over and check all the major components. That’s always money well-spent.
SC: How can you find a good mechanic?
RC: In North America, mechanics have to get their "Class A License." Getting the license requires about 9,000 hours of work as an apprentice, completion of college courses and passing a written test. Having a license is one mark of a mechanic's ability. Dealerships often have factory-trained technicians. They tend to be well trained, but they can also be pricey. You can also rely on word of mouth. If you've found a good mechanic, quite often you'll tell people.
SC: What can you do to save money on maintenance without putting your car at risk?
RC: I would make sure my tires were at the right air pressure so I could improve my fuel economy. I'd also keep an eye on things under the hood such as oil and brake fluid. It doesn't cost you anything to check those things. It's also good to be familiar with the owner's manual for the car. The need for things like oil changes varies among different cars. Typically, people like to do those things too soon-and that's like throwing money out the window.
SC: Do different grades of gasoline make a difference to your car and its mileage?
RC: In theory, yes. Higher-octane fuels can give better mileage. But, if you are going to use higher-octane fuel, make sure your car is tuned up. Things like tire pressure affect mileage greatly. It's probably best to do a little experiment. Use a tank of gasoline and check your mileage, and then try the higher octane and check your mileage again. See if the trade off in better mileage is worth it because obviously higher octane costs more money.
Grammar
That's always money well-spent.
well-spent
He is a well-known speaker.
It is a well-written story.
That is a job well-done.
It was a song well-played.
That's always money well-spent.
That's always money that is well-spent.
a job well done= a job that is well-done.
a song well played=a song that is well-played.
Vocabulary
license (n)-Last Tuesday, Salina passed the test and received her driver's license.
technician (n)_技师,技术员a person who had been well trained with technical skells.
The technicians are trying to fix the plane's engines.
word of mouth (idiom)-News often travels by word of mouth.
mechanic(n)-修理工,技工I need to take my car to the mechanic. It is not working properly.
*Greg is one of the top mechanics of this garage. 修理厂
*Ray works as an aircraft mechanic.
components-构成的元素,零件,Vegetables and fruits are important components of a healthy diet.
*These second-hand computer components are still usable. com-有"一起"的意思.
apprentice-Charlie was a carpenter's apprentice for several years before he become a real carpenter.
*Most chores and hard work were done by the apprentices. apprentice-学徒,见习生
tune up (phr v)-Martin's motorcycle is always clean and tuned up.
trade off (n)-交换,抵消作用或代替,换取.trade-交易
When buying a computer, there is always a tradeoff between quality and price.
*To Vivian, giving up a nice job is an acceptable trade off for staying home..
*Both the husband and the wife are very successful, but the trade off is they seldom see each other
economy (n)-经济,此指"节约性". Their goal was to achieve better economy in their use of water.
*This new device can boost the fuel economy. 新装置提升省油性.
*With the sky-high oil price, most people tend to buy fuel economy cars.
manual (n)-手册,食物选购单You should always check the manual before trying to fix the fax machine.
*Henry read the DIY manual for the cabinets before assembling them.
*The software comes with a 200-page manual.
Chat Room
care- 照料,保养.忧虑,烦恼 hair care-take care your hair头发的保养;
health care健康的保养, car-care
take care of- 保养,照顾某个人或某样东西.
take care-=good bye with warning,take care that you don't catch a cold. 保重,小心,当心(别感冒)
He doesn't have a care in the world. 他总是无忧无虑.a happy person who doesn't worry things.
-------------
eye-
keep an eye on something-watching 注意,盯着看某样东西.
keep an eye out for -searching, seeking寻找某样东西.
keep one's (your) eye on the ball (idiom)-pay attention. focus on something 眼盯着(球),要专心,不要分心.
see eye to eye (idiom)- agree with someone 与某人看法相同,有相同的观点.
see with half an eye- clear understand 一看就明白,一目了然.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Music to Patients' Ears
患者的福「音」
Music calms, comforts and may even heal 病患們驚喜地發現，音樂治療的確有益健康
by Lisa Holl Chang
Throughout time, people have loved music for its ability to transport them into a world of rhythm and melody. Recently, more and more hospitals and clinics have been tapping into the power of music – not only to comfort patients, but to help them heal as well. Welcome to the world of music therapy.
After each of the two world wars, musicians visited hospitals and played instruments for injured soldiers suffering from emotional and physical pain. Today’s music therapists continue this practice, playing instruments such as guitars and harps to bring comfort to their audiences.
Therapist Eric Mammen encourages his patients at a children's hospital to participate with him as he plays. During visits with 13-year-old cancer patient Lawrence Garcia, Mammen encourages Garcia to beat on electric drums while he plays the guitar. The therapy won't cure his cancer, but it does according to Garcia's mom, take away much of the boy's depression.
Music therapy can elevate patients' moods and ease the symptoms of depression according to the American Music Therapy Association. Other benefits include relieving pain, calming tension, aiding sleep, counteracting worry or fear, and easing muscle tension.
Jose Haro personally experienced the benefits of music therapy when he was recovering from heart surgery. During his recovery, he played a piano whose keys lit up, indicating which keys to touch to play along with the background music. Soon, he was playing tunes and noticing something strange. "I was searching for my pain." he says of his experience, "but it was gone".
While Haro's experience provides anecdotal evidence of the power of music to relieve pain, scientific research has proven music also helps patients with Alzheimer's disease and arthritis. In addition, music therapy helps premature babies. Doctors are tapping into a powerful way to teach premature babies that haven't yet learned how to suck lullabies. Doctors use a device that soothes the babies by playing music when they suck on a pacifier. Soon, the babies learn to suck in return for music gaining weight faster and going home earlier than those ho don't use the device.
Even perfectly healthy people are discovering the power of music to calm and heal. Drum circles attract people who find stress relief in pounding out rhythms. While music isn't a cure-all, it does make life a little easier.
More Information
What Is Music Therapy?
According to the American Music Therapy Association, "Music therapy is an established health care profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. "Music therapy not only helps those recovering from disabilities or illnesses but also improves the quality of life for healthy individuals. So, what are you waiting for? Go listen to some music!
Grammar
Soon, the babies learn to suck in return for music...
in return for (idiom)-payment or an exchange for something.
The babies soon learn to suck in exchange for music.
Brian is willing to mow the lawn for his parents in return for some extra spending money.
In return for your kindness, I would like to invite you out for dinner.
Vocabulary
tap into (phr.v)- Our group decided to tap into the experiences of other parents with physically challenged children.
therapist (n)-a person has special training help particular people to have better performance.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones decided to see a marriage therapist to help them resolve a problem.
a physical therapist-复健治疗师
a language/a speech therapist-语言治疗师
therapist-一般指"心理医生" therapy (n)-复健治疗法.
elevate (v)-lift up
Listening to music is a great way to elevate one's spirits.
counteract (v) -起反作用,抵消,中和. counter 反方向, act 起作用.
Exercise will help to counteract the side effects of the medicine you're taking.
*Antioxidants can counteract the effects of aging.
*Grapefruit juice sometimes counteracts the effects of medicine.
tap into something- Many companies tapped into the cheap labor of this country to make a fortune.
*She's capable of tapping into many wealthy investors.
participate-take part in..
depression- a medical condition, cause people feel sad and anxious.
tension-tense, tightness, very nervous.
anecdotal (adj)-观察式的,趣闻, 有证据.
Harry's description of the accident is only anecdotal. We don't know the facts.
*This report mostly consists of anecdotal evidence.
*the anecdotes of celebrities, anecdote (n)传闻,趣闻.
premature (adj)-早产的,草率的,仓促,发展较慢pre-before, mature-fully grown.
This premature baby is at a greater risk for infection than a full-term baby.
*Brenda was born a premature infant, and that's why she has developed more slowly.
*The decision seems a little premature without consulting others.
soothe (v)-安慰,使平静.make someone calmer, less tense紧张, soothing令人放松的气氛.
Whenever her baby cries uncontrollably, Mary soothes him by singing softly and patting him on the back.
*The soft texture of the blanket can soothe her.柔软的质料.
*I love the soothing atmosphere of the spa.
*Massages can soothe tense muscles.
cure-all (n) -My mom thinks this vitamin is a cure-all for all kinds of problems, but I don't believe her.
Alzheimer's disease-forget things badly.
arthritis-joints painful disease.
suck-pull from.. lullabies-lullaby (n)摇篮曲,轻风的声音,任何轻柔的声音 , pacifier-奶嘴
Chat Room
music to one's ears-very pleasant news to a person, very enjoy.
It's music to my ears - 听到好消息或是一句好话,很开心,就可说..
all ears- is eager to hear someone going to say. 洗耳恭听
falling on deaf ears- you call for help but people don't respond, ignore by people.掉在耳聋的耳朵上. 意思是"没听进去".
wet behind the ears- refer to young, less experienced, as a baby animal born, very wet. 耳朵后面还湿的, 指年轻, 涉世未深, 没什么经验的
an earful-have heard enough, get an earful.耳朵被塞满.(比较负面的意思)
I got earful of her chatter. 听够了没完没了的话.The boy had earful of scold. 好好的挨了一顿骂.
-------
He played a piano whose keys lit up=钢琴的琴键会发光the keys of which(此用法太正式,念起来也绕口)
whose is who and as well as which. 所有格,用于人也可以用于无生命的东西上.
The car, whose engine is old, still runs smoothly.
Who is 的缩写= Who's, Who is coming = Who's coming.
Music calms, comforts and may even heal 病患們驚喜地發現，音樂治療的確有益健康
by Lisa Holl Chang
Throughout time, people have loved music for its ability to transport them into a world of rhythm and melody. Recently, more and more hospitals and clinics have been tapping into the power of music – not only to comfort patients, but to help them heal as well. Welcome to the world of music therapy.
After each of the two world wars, musicians visited hospitals and played instruments for injured soldiers suffering from emotional and physical pain. Today’s music therapists continue this practice, playing instruments such as guitars and harps to bring comfort to their audiences.
Therapist Eric Mammen encourages his patients at a children's hospital to participate with him as he plays. During visits with 13-year-old cancer patient Lawrence Garcia, Mammen encourages Garcia to beat on electric drums while he plays the guitar. The therapy won't cure his cancer, but it does according to Garcia's mom, take away much of the boy's depression.
Music therapy can elevate patients' moods and ease the symptoms of depression according to the American Music Therapy Association. Other benefits include relieving pain, calming tension, aiding sleep, counteracting worry or fear, and easing muscle tension.
Jose Haro personally experienced the benefits of music therapy when he was recovering from heart surgery. During his recovery, he played a piano whose keys lit up, indicating which keys to touch to play along with the background music. Soon, he was playing tunes and noticing something strange. "I was searching for my pain." he says of his experience, "but it was gone".
While Haro's experience provides anecdotal evidence of the power of music to relieve pain, scientific research has proven music also helps patients with Alzheimer's disease and arthritis. In addition, music therapy helps premature babies. Doctors are tapping into a powerful way to teach premature babies that haven't yet learned how to suck lullabies. Doctors use a device that soothes the babies by playing music when they suck on a pacifier. Soon, the babies learn to suck in return for music gaining weight faster and going home earlier than those ho don't use the device.
Even perfectly healthy people are discovering the power of music to calm and heal. Drum circles attract people who find stress relief in pounding out rhythms. While music isn't a cure-all, it does make life a little easier.
More Information
What Is Music Therapy?
According to the American Music Therapy Association, "Music therapy is an established health care profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. "Music therapy not only helps those recovering from disabilities or illnesses but also improves the quality of life for healthy individuals. So, what are you waiting for? Go listen to some music!
Grammar
Soon, the babies learn to suck in return for music...
in return for (idiom)-payment or an exchange for something.
The babies soon learn to suck in exchange for music.
Brian is willing to mow the lawn for his parents in return for some extra spending money.
In return for your kindness, I would like to invite you out for dinner.
Vocabulary
tap into (phr.v)- Our group decided to tap into the experiences of other parents with physically challenged children.
therapist (n)-a person has special training help particular people to have better performance.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones decided to see a marriage therapist to help them resolve a problem.
a physical therapist-复健治疗师
a language/a speech therapist-语言治疗师
therapist-一般指"心理医生" therapy (n)-复健治疗法.
elevate (v)-lift up
Listening to music is a great way to elevate one's spirits.
counteract (v) -起反作用,抵消,中和. counter 反方向, act 起作用.
Exercise will help to counteract the side effects of the medicine you're taking.
*Antioxidants can counteract the effects of aging.
*Grapefruit juice sometimes counteracts the effects of medicine.
tap into something- Many companies tapped into the cheap labor of this country to make a fortune.
*She's capable of tapping into many wealthy investors.
participate-take part in..
depression- a medical condition, cause people feel sad and anxious.
tension-tense, tightness, very nervous.
anecdotal (adj)-观察式的,趣闻, 有证据.
Harry's description of the accident is only anecdotal. We don't know the facts.
*This report mostly consists of anecdotal evidence.
*the anecdotes of celebrities, anecdote (n)传闻,趣闻.
premature (adj)-早产的,草率的,仓促,发展较慢pre-before, mature-fully grown.
This premature baby is at a greater risk for infection than a full-term baby.
*Brenda was born a premature infant, and that's why she has developed more slowly.
*The decision seems a little premature without consulting others.
soothe (v)-安慰,使平静.make someone calmer, less tense紧张, soothing令人放松的气氛.
Whenever her baby cries uncontrollably, Mary soothes him by singing softly and patting him on the back.
*The soft texture of the blanket can soothe her.柔软的质料.
*I love the soothing atmosphere of the spa.
*Massages can soothe tense muscles.
cure-all (n) -My mom thinks this vitamin is a cure-all for all kinds of problems, but I don't believe her.
Alzheimer's disease-forget things badly.
arthritis-joints painful disease.
suck-pull from.. lullabies-lullaby (n)摇篮曲,轻风的声音,任何轻柔的声音 , pacifier-奶嘴
Chat Room
music to one's ears-very pleasant news to a person, very enjoy.
It's music to my ears - 听到好消息或是一句好话,很开心,就可说..
all ears- is eager to hear someone going to say. 洗耳恭听
falling on deaf ears- you call for help but people don't respond, ignore by people.掉在耳聋的耳朵上. 意思是"没听进去".
wet behind the ears- refer to young, less experienced, as a baby animal born, very wet. 耳朵后面还湿的, 指年轻, 涉世未深, 没什么经验的
an earful-have heard enough, get an earful.耳朵被塞满.(比较负面的意思)
I got earful of her chatter. 听够了没完没了的话.The boy had earful of scold. 好好的挨了一顿骂.
-------
He played a piano whose keys lit up=钢琴的琴键会发光the keys of which(此用法太正式,念起来也绕口)
whose is who and as well as which. 所有格,用于人也可以用于无生命的东西上.
The car, whose engine is old, still runs smoothly.
Who is 的缩写= Who's, Who is coming = Who's coming.
Hsieh Chih-Mou
To be continued
Vocabulary
in someone's shoes (idiom)- 穿某人的鞋子. 指处于他人的处境.
Sheila's job is too stressful, I would never want to be in her shoes!
*David has so many problems to deal with today.
*I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.
*If I were in your shoes, I would refuse this offer.
behavior (n)-what people do, talk about animal, what animal do. good/bad behavior.
Changing one's behavior patterns is not always easy.
conquer (v)-使投降,征服,克服.
After finally conquering her fear of heights. Denise jumped off the rock into the water.
*The city was conquered in just 3 days.
*Scientists finally conquered the fatal disease after years of effort.
*Ellen finally conquered her stage-fright and gave a wonderful speech.
initiate (v)-开始,发动,发起
Even though he is a little shy, Ian initiated a conversation with a pretty girl on the bus.
*The boy claimed that he didn't initiate the fight.
*the writer initiated a reading program for disadvantaged kids.发起, 弱势儿童.
meets people's needs-help out or provide people with their basic need.(shelter, food)
Chat Room
-wide, suffix wide add to a lot of word, but not add to every "noun" usually use on location.
worldwide, or global, but can't be globalwide or earthwide.全世界的,或全球的
through out the nation, we say "countrywide, or nationwide" 全国的
statewide/citywide/countywide/schoolwide
some word add wide need a "-" to connect, such as neighborhood-wide/
company-wide/organization-wide.
Vocabulary
in someone's shoes (idiom)- 穿某人的鞋子. 指处于他人的处境.
Sheila's job is too stressful, I would never want to be in her shoes!
*David has so many problems to deal with today.
*I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.
*If I were in your shoes, I would refuse this offer.
behavior (n)-what people do, talk about animal, what animal do. good/bad behavior.
Changing one's behavior patterns is not always easy.
conquer (v)-使投降,征服,克服.
After finally conquering her fear of heights. Denise jumped off the rock into the water.
*The city was conquered in just 3 days.
*Scientists finally conquered the fatal disease after years of effort.
*Ellen finally conquered her stage-fright and gave a wonderful speech.
initiate (v)-开始,发动,发起
Even though he is a little shy, Ian initiated a conversation with a pretty girl on the bus.
*The boy claimed that he didn't initiate the fight.
*the writer initiated a reading program for disadvantaged kids.发起, 弱势儿童.
meets people's needs-help out or provide people with their basic need.(shelter, food)
Chat Room
-wide, suffix wide add to a lot of word, but not add to every "noun" usually use on location.
worldwide, or global, but can't be globalwide or earthwide.全世界的,或全球的
through out the nation, we say "countrywide, or nationwide" 全国的
statewide/citywide/countywide/schoolwide
some word add wide need a "-" to connect, such as neighborhood-wide/
company-wide/organization-wide.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Hsieh Chih-Mou
浪子回頭的教授：謝智謀
Meet a university professor who uses his past to help others’ futures by Chip Ewald
A keen outdoorsman, Hsieh Chih-Mou (謝智謀) has climbed to the summits of numerous mountains. But life hasn’t always been full of high points for Hsieh. He’s certainly experienced and learned from his share of low points as well.
Growing from his past
Growing up in a violent home put Hsieh on the path toward a life of crime. Getting into fights with people and into trouble had become a habit for him. After stealing a stranger’s motorcycle, he was arrested and put in a detention center. Three days after being released, he failed his second year of high school. This low point was a life-changing wake-up call for Hsieh. He realized he was becoming someone he didn’t want to be.
So, Hsieh decided to turn his life around by finishing high school, college and a master's degree program. Combining his interests in psychology and outdoor recreation, he went on to complete a Ph.D. in experiential dedication and adventure therapy at Indiana University. After becoming a Christian in graduated school, he determined to use his life to serve people.
Persevering through medical challenges
During the next eight year. Hsieh finished his ph.D. and took groups of at-risk youth on outdoor wilderness trips. Then in 2006, a serous heart attack permanently damaged his heart. Consequently, his weakened heart now supplies only 55 to 60 percent of the total oxygen that a healthy heart pumps. Only four months after heart surgery, he led a group of university students on a sea kayaking trip in Alaska. For Hsieh, falling into the near-freeing Alaskan water with his heart condition would almost certainly be fatal.
Two weeks in such dangerous waters taught him and his group lessons about overcoming fear with courage and faith. Hsieh accepted an even greater challenge in the Himalayas the following summer. The oxygen-poor air at great heights causes a person's heart to work extra hard. Hence, climbing mountains is especially risky for people with heart disease. Until that summer, no one with Hsieh's heart condition had ascended above 4,500 m. By climbing the 6,189-m Island Peak, he set a new record for altitude among people with his heart condition.
Adventures with a purpose
The constant possibility that his nex day could be his last has been a powerful force in Hsieh's life. Certain that living for himself would be a waste of time, he spends his life serving others.
More Information
One of Hsieh Chih Mou's past adventures was sea kayaking in Alaska to raise money for an at-risk school program in Taipei. Another 2008 adventure saw a grough climbing Africa's highest mountain, Mt. Klimanjaro, to help build facilities for a local school. Hsieh also once led adventurers into the Himalayas to help build a classroom for an nearby school-and then helped fill the school's library with 1,000 books.
Grammar
Growing up in a violent home put Hsieh on the path toward a life of crime.
path-a little road. here mean direction.
to put someone on the path toward something.
Growing up in a violent home put Hsieh in the direction toward a life of crime.
After months of careful negotiations, the two companies are now on the path toward a business agreement.
With all the wise career choices he's made, Bradley is on the path toward success.
Vocabulary
surgery (n)-open fix to fix
Alex will need to stay i n the hospital for two days after his surgery.
fatal (adj)-致命的Jonathan was in a car accident, but fortunately it wasn't fatal.
*This contagious disease might be fatal.传染病
*The fatal car accident took his life.
*The coach made a fatal mistake and lost the game.
hence (adv)-for this reason, therefor.
These computers are compact and inexpensive. hence, they are popular with students.
ascend (v)-If takes 15 minutes to ascend those stairs, so I always take the elevator.攀登,登上,上升
*The mountaineers were slowly ascending to the peak.
descend-ascent 反义词,下降.The airplane is descending to the airport right now.
persevere-坚持不懈,不屈不挠, (with) have task work through, press, and push through.
*Despite her illness, Helen perseveres in her attempt to finish college.
*If you persevere to achieve your dream, one day your dream will come true.
Keen (adj), 热衷于
*With over 100 antiques, my aunt is a very keen collector.
wake-up call (n)-The stock market crash was a huge wake-up call for the government.
*Ricky's brush with death came as a wake-up call and caused him to stop drinking.
*The teacher turned her students' attitudes toward learning around.
turn something around (idiom)-,澈底的转变,起死回生. turn around转过去
The team's best player turned the game around by scoring 10 points in two minutes.
*The new manager turned this failing company around.
recreation (n)-消遣娱乐.
Although the conference was a week long, they scheduled an entire day for recreation.
*William's favorite forms of recreation are soccer and tennis.
*The resorts' recreation facility needs to be improved.度假中心
*Molly enjoys outdoor recreation a lot.
detention center- a jail for youngsters.
Chat Room
share (n)-一份 a portion of something。 (v) 分享.
one's share of something-
movie has its share of memory moment难忘的片断;
California has a share of fire and earth quick.足够的数量.
one's fair share of something. 加上"fair",一个人正当的一份,应得的一份. ,
amount of something-应得的分.her fair share of cake
more than one's fair share of something (negative)句首加"more" 形容人很不幸,运气很坏,过多不好的事让他遇上. Friend has more than her fair share of financial problem. 她很不幸,有多过她份内的经济问题.
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at -risk (adj)-describe people who needs special extra care.有受虐待危险,有传染疾病危险.
at risk of something (idiom)-冒着某一种危险. at-risk children. (animal)遭受虐待的儿童,遭受危险的动物
risky-involve dangerous 危险的,有风险的.形容某一事件,活动很危险.
Climbing is risky, ...people at risk.
in someone's shoes (idiom)
Meet a university professor who uses his past to help others’ futures by Chip Ewald
A keen outdoorsman, Hsieh Chih-Mou (謝智謀) has climbed to the summits of numerous mountains. But life hasn’t always been full of high points for Hsieh. He’s certainly experienced and learned from his share of low points as well.
Growing from his past
Growing up in a violent home put Hsieh on the path toward a life of crime. Getting into fights with people and into trouble had become a habit for him. After stealing a stranger’s motorcycle, he was arrested and put in a detention center. Three days after being released, he failed his second year of high school. This low point was a life-changing wake-up call for Hsieh. He realized he was becoming someone he didn’t want to be.
So, Hsieh decided to turn his life around by finishing high school, college and a master's degree program. Combining his interests in psychology and outdoor recreation, he went on to complete a Ph.D. in experiential dedication and adventure therapy at Indiana University. After becoming a Christian in graduated school, he determined to use his life to serve people.
Persevering through medical challenges
During the next eight year. Hsieh finished his ph.D. and took groups of at-risk youth on outdoor wilderness trips. Then in 2006, a serous heart attack permanently damaged his heart. Consequently, his weakened heart now supplies only 55 to 60 percent of the total oxygen that a healthy heart pumps. Only four months after heart surgery, he led a group of university students on a sea kayaking trip in Alaska. For Hsieh, falling into the near-freeing Alaskan water with his heart condition would almost certainly be fatal.
Two weeks in such dangerous waters taught him and his group lessons about overcoming fear with courage and faith. Hsieh accepted an even greater challenge in the Himalayas the following summer. The oxygen-poor air at great heights causes a person's heart to work extra hard. Hence, climbing mountains is especially risky for people with heart disease. Until that summer, no one with Hsieh's heart condition had ascended above 4,500 m. By climbing the 6,189-m Island Peak, he set a new record for altitude among people with his heart condition.
Adventures with a purpose
The constant possibility that his nex day could be his last has been a powerful force in Hsieh's life. Certain that living for himself would be a waste of time, he spends his life serving others.
Hsieh loves helping Taiwan's youth who are at risk. having been in their shoes he is able to help young people who face violence as well as behavior and drug problems. Hsieh currently teaches at National Taiwan Sport University. Each year, his students plan, organize and lead an overseas adventure trip that somehow meets people's needs.
For example, the 2006 Alaskan adventure was a way to raise money for an at-risk youth program in Taiwan. In 2007 and 2009, after climbing in the Himalayas, Hsieh's students completed several projects for a Sherpa community school. And in 2008, after conquering the 5,895-m Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, his class built restrooms for a nearby school. In addition, they initiated a community-wide soccer program. Hsieh's example helps others to discover the adventure and satisfaction of living generously.More Information
One of Hsieh Chih Mou's past adventures was sea kayaking in Alaska to raise money for an at-risk school program in Taipei. Another 2008 adventure saw a grough climbing Africa's highest mountain, Mt. Klimanjaro, to help build facilities for a local school. Hsieh also once led adventurers into the Himalayas to help build a classroom for an nearby school-and then helped fill the school's library with 1,000 books.
Grammar
Growing up in a violent home put Hsieh on the path toward a life of crime.
path-a little road. here mean direction.
to put someone on the path toward something.
Growing up in a violent home put Hsieh in the direction toward a life of crime.
After months of careful negotiations, the two companies are now on the path toward a business agreement.
With all the wise career choices he's made, Bradley is on the path toward success.
Vocabulary
surgery (n)-open fix to fix
Alex will need to stay i n the hospital for two days after his surgery.
fatal (adj)-致命的Jonathan was in a car accident, but fortunately it wasn't fatal.
*This contagious disease might be fatal.传染病
*The fatal car accident took his life.
*The coach made a fatal mistake and lost the game.
hence (adv)-for this reason, therefor.
These computers are compact and inexpensive. hence, they are popular with students.
ascend (v)-If takes 15 minutes to ascend those stairs, so I always take the elevator.攀登,登上,上升
*The mountaineers were slowly ascending to the peak.
descend-ascent 反义词,下降.The airplane is descending to the airport right now.
persevere-坚持不懈,不屈不挠, (with) have task work through, press, and push through.
*Despite her illness, Helen perseveres in her attempt to finish college.
*If you persevere to achieve your dream, one day your dream will come true.
Keen (adj), 热衷于
*With over 100 antiques, my aunt is a very keen collector.
wake-up call (n)-The stock market crash was a huge wake-up call for the government.
*Ricky's brush with death came as a wake-up call and caused him to stop drinking.
*The teacher turned her students' attitudes toward learning around.
turn something around (idiom)-,澈底的转变,起死回生. turn around转过去
The team's best player turned the game around by scoring 10 points in two minutes.
*The new manager turned this failing company around.
recreation (n)-消遣娱乐.
Although the conference was a week long, they scheduled an entire day for recreation.
*William's favorite forms of recreation are soccer and tennis.
*The resorts' recreation facility needs to be improved.度假中心
*Molly enjoys outdoor recreation a lot.
detention center- a jail for youngsters.
Chat Room
share (n)-一份 a portion of something。 (v) 分享.
one's share of something-
movie has its share of memory moment难忘的片断;
California has a share of fire and earth quick.足够的数量.
one's fair share of something. 加上"fair",一个人正当的一份,应得的一份. ,
amount of something-应得的分.her fair share of cake
more than one's fair share of something (negative)句首加"more" 形容人很不幸,运气很坏,过多不好的事让他遇上. Friend has more than her fair share of financial problem. 她很不幸,有多过她份内的经济问题.
----
at -risk (adj)-describe people who needs special extra care.有受虐待危险,有传染疾病危险.
at risk of something (idiom)-冒着某一种危险. at-risk children. (animal)遭受虐待的儿童,遭受危险的动物
risky-involve dangerous 危险的,有风险的.形容某一事件,活动很危险.
Climbing is risky, ...people at risk.
in someone's shoes (idiom)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Electrical Safety
* 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。
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