October 22,2010
泰勒絲 You Belong With Me
Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me
You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset
She's going off about something that you said
'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do
I'm in the room, it's a typical Tuesday night
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like
And she'll never know your story like I do
But she wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts
She's Cheer Captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time
Chorus：
If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along, so why can't you see？
You, you belong with me, you belong with me
Walking the streets with you and your worn-out jeans
I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be
Laughing on a park bench, thinking to myself
Hey, isn't this easy？
And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town
I haven't seen it in a while since she brought you down
You say you're fine, I know you better than that
Hey, what ya doing with a girl like that？
She wears high heels, I wear sneakers
She's Cheer Captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time
【Repeat Chorus】
Standing by and waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know？
Baby, you belong with me, you belong with me
Oh , I remember you driving to my house in the middle of the night
I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you're 'bout to cry
And I know your favorite songs and you tell me 'bout your dreams
Think I know where you belong, think I know it's with me
【Repeat Chorus】
Standing by and waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know？
Baby, you belong with me, you belong with me
You belong with me
Have you ever thought just maybe…
You belong with me
You belong with me
June 23,2009
May 3,2009
May 1,2009
常春藤 2009/04/21
2009/04/21
Gaza: Efforts to Repair Vital Infrastructure Ruined by Intensified Fighting
加薩基礎設施受創嚴重 污水恐潰堤
In the Gaza Strip, the past nights have been particularly frightening, as the fighting between the Israeli and Palestinian people has intensified(強烈). At the same time, rockets launched(發動) from Gaza into southern Israel have continued to affect the population there. Water pumping stations, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure depend on a reliable power supply to operate. It was a devastating blow, then, when power lines bringing electricity from Israel into Gaza, which had only recently been repaired in dangerous circumstances, were damaged again during fighting on January 12. "Two of the three lines were damaged again just days after we escorted a crew from the Gaza electricity company to repair them," said Javier Cordoba, a Red Cross sanitation coordinator.
The biggest wastewater treatment plant in Gaza, situated in the south of Gaza, has been damaged as a result of the conflict and repairs are still pending. The Red Cross will assess the situation at the plant as soon as possible. "It is crucial that power plants and water installations, which are indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, be spared," said Cordoba. "Essential infrastructure in the Gaza Strip is suffering more and more damage, with dire consequences for public health," he said. In particular, safe drinking water is becoming increasingly scarce.
In the north of Gaza, a pumping station at a huge sewage lake is in urgent(緊急的) need of fuel(燃料). "If the station does not resume service soon, the sewage will continue to rise until the embankment collapses. An area inhabited by approximately 10,000 people risks being flooded with raw sewage," said Cordoba.
由於以巴雙方戰況激烈，加薩走廊過去幾天晚上特別不得安寧。同時，從加薩走廊發射的飛彈落在以色列南部，也對當地居民持續造成影響。抽水站、醫院和其他民生基礎建設皆有賴充沛的電力供應才得以運作。然而，維修人員才剛冒險搶修從以色列供電到加薩走廊的電纜，經過 1 月 12 日的激戰，線路又斷了，使得情況雪上加霜。紅十字會的衛生協調人員柯多巴說：『我們護送一組加薩電廠的工作人員去修復電纜，但幾天後 3 條電纜中的兩條又被破壞。』
在加薩市南邊的加薩最大污水處理廠也已遭戰火損壞，何時能修復仍是未知數。紅十字會將儘快評估該廠受損的情況。柯多巴表示：『電廠和水利設施對民生來說非常重要，所以戰火不應波及這些地方。加薩走廊最重要的基礎設施正遭受愈來愈嚴重的損害，對公共衛生造成嚴重的影響。』尤其是安全的飲水已日益匱乏。
在加薩市北邊一座巨大污水池旁的抽水站急需電力。柯多巴說：『如果抽水站不趕快恢復運轉，污水將不斷升高直到堤防決堤，住著約一萬人的地區恐怕會被未處理的污水淹沒。』
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
intensify 增強 劇烈
blow 打擊
circumstance 環境 情勢
under no circumstance 絕對不
escort 護送
coordinator 協調者
coordinate 協調
pending 懸而未決的
assess 評定
it is crucial that +子句 ....是重要的
indispensable 不可或缺的
in particular 特別地 尤其
resume 恢復
inhabit 居住於 棲息於
dwell 居住
reside 居住
be flooded with 被...淹沒
be critical to 對....而言很重要
infrastructure 公共建設 基礎設施
strip 狹長的一塊土地
pump 抽取 抽水機
civilian 民用的 百姓
reliable 可信賴的
devastating 毀滅性的 破壞性大的
sanitation 公共衛生
wastewater 廢水
plant 工廠
installation 設施 安裝
spare 免除
essential 必要的
dire 可怕的 悲慘的
scarce 缺乏的
sewage 汙水
embankment 堤防 河堤
raw 未經處理的
depend on 依賴
as a result of 因為 由於
as soon as possible 盡快地
be becoming increasingly +原級形容詞 越來越...
be in need of 需要
April 28,2009
常春藤 2009/04/17
Sarah Brightman: From Pop Starlet to Light Soprano
跨界美聲——莎拉‧布萊曼
One of music's biggest names swings through Taipei ready to impress.
享富盛名的美聲女伶即將席捲台北。
Cashing in on the popularity of Star Wars when it was first in theaters in 1978, the group Hot Gossip released a disco single called I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper. The song, along with the group's sexy dance moves and costumes, led to an album being released. In the end, Hot Gossip's debut was a commercial failure, and the lead vocalist, Sarah Brightman, left the group to pursue other recording opportunities. Now, after more than 30 years of success in the music industry, Brightman performed in Taipei on April 4 and 5.
After her first big break with Hot Gossip, Brightman went on to do musicals, trying out for one of the parts in the long-running musical, Cats. This is where she met her future husband, award-winning English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Brightman went on to star in some of Webber's most famous musicals, including Phantom of the Opera, Song and Dance, and Requiem. Soon, Brightman was touring all around the world and releasing studio recordings of the songs from the musicals. Brightman and Webber's rocky marriage faced intense media scrutiny and ended after six years though they both claim to be good friends now.
From the 1990s to the present time, Sarah Brightman's career has taken off as she collaborated with everyone from the German electronic band Enigma to blind opera superstar Andrea Bocelli. While Brightman has sold millions of records and has mainstream appeal all over Europe, she never scored a huge hit in America. One of Brightman's biggest fans, a conductor from Phantom of the Opera, says that American audiences are missing out and that Brightman has "...two voices. She can produce a pop, contemporary sound, but she can also blossom out into a light soprano." Were you one of the lucky ones who caught one of her dazzling performances earlier this month?
搭上 1978 年首次上映的電影《星際大戰》的順風車，流行樂團 Hot Gossip 推出了一首《我愛上星艦騎兵》的迪斯可單曲。配合整個樂團性感的舞步和服裝，這首歌造就了一整張專輯的發行。Hot Gossip 的首次出擊並未成功，而主唱莎拉‧布萊曼則離開了樂團，尋求其他錄音的機會。歷經了 30 多年成功的音樂生涯，現在，莎拉‧布萊曼於 4 月 4 號及 5 號在台北演出。
在和 Hot Gossip 分道揚鑣後，莎拉‧布萊曼轉向音樂劇的演出，並參加歷久不衰的音樂劇《貓》的角色甄選。在這裡她遇到了她之後的先生，也就是獲獎無數的英國作曲家安德魯‧洛伊‧韋伯。莎拉‧布萊曼接著在一些韋伯最著名的音樂劇中演出，包括像是《歌劇魅影》、《歌與舞》以及《安魂曲》等。不久後，莎拉‧布萊曼便在世界巡迴演出，且在錄音室中錄製劇中的歌曲發行專輯。雖然她和韋伯兩人宣稱至今都還維持友好的關係，但他們搖搖欲墜的婚姻面對媒體鍥而不捨地監看，終究在 6 年後宣告結束。
從 90 年代至今，莎拉‧布萊曼與音樂各界的合作讓她的事業如日中天，從德國電音樂團『謎』到盲眼聲樂歌手安德烈‧波伽利都是她的合作對象。然而，儘管莎拉‧布萊曼有百萬的專輯銷售成績，並在歐洲各地獲得主流觀眾的青睞，但卻未在美國獲得廣大迴響。一位莎拉‧布萊曼的忠實歌迷，同時也是《歌劇魅影》的樂團指揮，表示美國的觀眾損失甚鉅，他說莎拉‧布萊曼『……有兩種聲音。她能夠唱出現代流行歌曲，但也能轉變成清新女高音。』您是否是那些幸運兒之一，能親眼在本月初見識到她那令人目眩神迷的演出？
常春藤 2009/04/15
The Genesis of Golf 高爾夫的起源
Several countries lay claim to inventing one of the world's most popular sports.
許多國家聲稱自己發明了這世上最受歡迎的運動之一。
For quite some time, the Dutch were believed to have created the game of golf because a record of a golf-like game being played in the Netherlands was traced to 1297. In this game, players would hit a leather ball with wooden sticks _(1)_ reaching a distant goal. The player to get the ball into the goal with the fewest strokes would be declared the winner. But recently, a surprise contender for the originating country of golf has _(2)_-China. Records from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) detail a game called chuiwan (捶丸), _(3)_ players chose from 10 different clubs and tried to get their ball into a hole first. _(4)_ simple sticks, these wooden clubs were decked with gold and jade, which implied that golf was a sport for the elite in ancient China, as it is today.
_(5)_, few people would argue with the fact that modern golf as we know it today with 18 holes actually comes from Scotland. The first set of rules was written in Scotland, and it has the first record of golf associations, as well as the oldest golf _(6)_ in the world. Scotland started the 18-hole tradition, which was introduced at St. Andrews Links, known as "the home of golf." The best evidence for golf's genesis in Scotland, though, was a law _(7)_ against it. Proving that in its beginning, golf was no sport of kings, the 15th-century law banned gowf for fear that common people might duck out of work to "get in a quick 18 holes."
1. (A) on account of
(B) in hopes of
(C) on behalf of
(D) at the risk of
2. (A) applied
(B) vanished
(C) collapsed
(D) emerged
3. (A) where
(B) in that
(C) when
(D) for which
4. (A) Regardless of
(B) With regard to
(C) Instead of
(D) In spite of
5. (A) Therefore
(B) Otherwise
(C) Similarly
(D) However
6. (A) courses
(B) fields
(C) courts
(D) yards
7. (A) passes
(B) passed
(C) passing
(D) to pass
曾經有很長一段時間，荷蘭人被視為是高爾夫球的發明者，因為根據文獻記載，1297 年有一項跟高爾夫球很類似的運動在該國進行。在這項運動中，參賽者手持木棍打擊皮球，希望能把它打到遠方的目標。用最少的桿數把球打進目標的人就會被宣佈為優勝者。但最近意外冒出一個競爭者來角逐高爾夫發源地的地位──中國。宋朝（西元 960 至 1279 年）的文獻詳細介紹『捶丸』的玩法：參賽者在 10 支不同的球桿中挑選出一支，然後比比看誰先將球打擊入洞。這些木製的球桿上鑲有黃金、玉石，一點也不陽春，這也意味不論古今，高爾夫在中國都是上層人士從事的運動。
然而有少數人會爭論打 18 洞的現代高爾夫是源自於蘇格蘭。蘇格蘭有最早付諸於文字的一套比賽規則、關於高爾夫協會最早的紀錄，以及世界上最古老的高球場地。蘇格蘭開啟了 18 洞的傳統，該項傳統就是從聖安德魯球場（又稱為『高爾夫之家』）開始的。高爾夫起源自蘇格蘭的最佳證明就是曾通過一項禁止打高爾夫球的法律。這條 15 世紀的法律禁止 gowf（高爾夫球）這項運動，唯恐老百姓不認真工作而相約跑去打高爾夫球，這條法律亦證明高爾夫一開始並不是王族專屬的運動。
標準答案: 1. (B) 2. (D) 3. (A) 4. (C) 5. (D) 6. (A) 7. (B)
April 26,2009
常春藤 2009/04/14
2009/04/14
Thailand: The Ultimate Paradise
熱帶天堂——泰國
From shopping to seclusion to amazing festivals, Thailand has it all.
從購物、享受僻靜到熱鬧的節慶，泰國應有盡有。
Out of all the many colorful festivals celebrated in Thailand, perhaps the most famous is the exuberant New Year festival of Songkran. Unlike many western countries, the New Year in Thailand falls in April, and it is celebrated from April 13 to 15. Like most New Year's festivals, Songkran is a time to relax with your friends and family, visit temples, and make New Year's resolutions. However, the Thais have added one unique feature to Songkran—water fights!
The water fights come from the New Year's tradition of pouring(倒) a small amount of water over someone's shoulder(肩) or head as a sign of respect and to wash away bad luck. Gradually, however, the tradition evolved among younger Thais. Since April is the hottest month in Thailand, they began to soak friends more thoroughly. Sometimes it was impossible to control a water hose, and soon strangers were getting drenched. A new tradition was born, and nowadays, the streets of Thailand are a free-for-all water fight during the New Year.
Although some traditionalists complain about the fun-filled festivities and say that the water fights distract people from religious and social duties at a significant time, the tradition seems to be here to stay. Despite governmental worries about accidents caused by the water throwing, it has become a central part of the New Year's celebration in Thailand. After all, when temperatures are around 40 degrees Celsius, wouldn't you want someone to cool you down with a bucket of water?
泰國的許多熱鬧慶典中，最有名的大概就屬充滿活力的新年潑水節了。和許多西方國家不同的是，泰國的新年在 4 月，從 13 日到 15 日為止。和多數新年節慶一樣，潑水節適合和親朋好友共度，去廟裡拜拜，許一許新年願望。但是，泰國人的新年卻別有特色──就是打水仗！
打水仗的活動源自於一項新年傳統，那就是把少量的水倒在別人的肩上或頭上，以表示尊敬和驅邪。但這項傳統在年輕世代間逐漸改變。因為 4 月是泰國最熱的季節，他們開始把朋友淋成落湯雞。有時候當水管失去控制，連陌生人也會被潑得全身濕透，於是新的傳統誕生了，現在只要每逢過年，泰國街頭便會出現全民總動員的潑水大作戰。
雖然有些保守派會抱怨這種逸樂的過節方式，說只顧潑水讓大家忘了這個重要節日背後的宗教和社會責任，但是這項傳統絲毫沒有退燒跡象。儘管政府當局擔心打水仗會引起意外，但它仍然成為泰國慶祝新年的重要活動。畢竟，當氣溫飆升到攝氏 40 度時，誰不想被淋桶水消消暑呢？
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
exuberant 生氣勃勃的
resolution 決心 決定
make a resolution to V=be resolved to V 決定要..
add A to B 把A 加到B中
as a sign of 做為...的象徵
evolve 發展 逐漸形成
drench 使濕透
complain about 抱怨..
complain of 訴說..(病痛)
distract sb from 使某人自..分心
despoite 儘管 =in spite of
ban 禁止
ban sb from N/Ving 禁止某人...
soak 使濕透 浸泡
thoroughly 徹底地 完全地
hose 水管 軟管
free-for-all 可以自由參加的
traditionalist 傳統主義者
significant 重要的 重大的
celsius 攝氏
bucket 水桶
infer 推斷
relative 親戚
resident 居民
wash away 沖走
be here to stay 持續下去
cool down 使...冷卻/冷靜
April 25,2009
常春藤 2009/04/13
2009/04/13
Thailand: The Ultimate Paradise
熱帶天堂——泰國
From shopping to seclusion to amazing festivals, Thailand has it all.
從購物、享受僻靜到熱鬧的節慶，泰國應有盡有。
Of all the countries that make up Southeast Asia, the most famous is Thailand. Once an underdeveloped rural economy, now Thailand is home to one of the world's biggest tourist industries, with nearly 14 million tourists per year. The best thing about the "land of smiles" is that more than 50 percent of Thailand's tourists return for more.
But more of what? Although not an enormous country, Thailand boasts an amazing range of tourist attractions—The bustling city life of Bangkok, ancient Buddhist temples, and idyllic, secluded beaches with powdery white sand. All are linked by the famous Thai hospitality and the equally famous Thai cuisine.
The capital, Bangkok, is known throughout the world for its exciting nightlife. During the day, there are a large number of shopping malls to visit, as well as traditional markets selling various goods. Some are even located on the city's extensive network of canals, and visitors can cruise through these waterborne markets as an alternative to the traditional tourist rickshaws. If the pressures of city life are too much, guests can take refuge in any one of Bangkok's magnificent temples.
Thailand's beaches are among the best in the world. Most offer cheap hotels, bars, and restaurants for visitors to base themselves at while they laze on white sand under palm trees. More adventurous travelers can go scuba diving off the coast and see the amazing range of tropical fish. And for the ultimate seclusion, there are numerous islands that are waiting to be explored only a boat ride away from the coast. In short, Thailand offers something for everyone with its wide range of attractions. It's no surprise that all those visitors keep on coming back.
在東南亞各國中，最著名的就是泰國。泰國曾經是落後的農業經濟體，如今卻成為全球最興盛的旅遊勝地之一，每年有近 1 千 4 百萬名觀光客湧入。最棒的是，這個『微笑之國』總會吸引超過半數以上的觀光客舊地重遊。
為何觀光客會舊地重遊呢？雖然她國土面積不大，卻涵蓋了形形色色的觀光景點，像是喧囂擾攘的曼谷、古色古香的佛教廟宇以及如詩如畫、與世隔絕的白色沙灘，這一些都因當地著名的好客民情和同富盛名的泰式佳餚而連結在一起。
首都曼谷以刺激的夜生活聞名全球。在白天，你可以造訪許多購物中心，或者到販賣各式商品的傳統市場逛逛。有些市場甚至位於曼谷市內密佈的運河上，遊客可以乘船在水上市場間穿梭，成為搭乘傳統人力車的另一選擇。如果都市生活讓你喘不過氣，你也可以躲進宏偉的寺廟裡遠離喧囂。
泰國的海灘是全球數一數二的，多數都有便宜旅館、酒吧和餐廳，供遊客在徜徉白沙椰影之餘盡情流連。喜愛冒險的旅客可以在外海潛水，欣賞各式各樣的熱帶魚。想更離群索居一點的人，只要乘船就能到許多人跡罕至的小島上偷個清閒。總之，泰國的特色之豐富，滿足每個人的需求，難怪所有造訪過的旅客總會一再重遊此地。
April 22,2009
常春藤 2009/04/11
2009/04/11
請將以下各題組的兩個中文句子譯成正確、通順、達意的英文。
A 題組
1. 我每天在社區附近的游泳池做水中有氧運動。
2. 在水中運動不僅可以減少肌肉或關節受傷的風險，還可以防止一個人體溫過熱。
1. 第一題可譯為：
I do water aerobics at the swimming pool in my neighborhood on a daily basis.
2. 第二題可譯為：
Exercising in water not only reduces the risk of muscle or joint injuries but also prevents one's body from overheating.
B 題組
1. Marty 從小就一直想要追隨父親的腳步，成為一名醫師。
2. 所以，他下定決心今年要向醫學院申請入學許可。
1. 第一題可譯為：
Marty has wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a doctor ever since he was a child.
2. 第二題可譯為：
Therefore, he made up his mind to apply for admission into the college of medicine this year.
C 題組
1. Tom 在農曆新年期間從家人那收到兩萬元的紅包。
2. 他決定這個夏天用這些錢到東京（Tokyo）旅行。
1. 第一題可譯為：
Tom received NT$20,000 in red envelopes from his family members during Chinese New Year.
2. 第二題可譯為：
He decided to use the money to go on a trip to Tokyo in the summer.
----------------------------------------------------------------
aerobics 有氧運動
water aerobics 水中有氧運動
swimming pool 泳游池
neighborhood 社區 鄰近地區
on a daily basis 每日地
on a.....basis 以..為基準
exercise 運動
reduce the risk of 減少...的風險
joint 關節
prevent sb/sth from N/Ving 防止某人/某物免於...
overheat 過熱
follow in one's footsteps 跟隨某人的腳步
ever since 自從
make up one's mind to V 某人下定決心
=make a decision to V=determine to V
apply for 申請
admission 許可
college of medicine 醫學院
envelope 信封
money in a red envelope 壓歲錢
a family member 一位家人
member成員
go on a trip to+地方名詞 到某地旅遊
=take a trip to
dikson 片語Unit20
dikson 片語Unit19
April 19,2009
常春藤 2009/04/10
2009/04/10
S.O.S.-Save Our Salmon
國寶魚--櫻花鉤吻鮭
by Rebecca A. Fratzke
Though a survivor from the Ice Age, the Formosan salmon needs a big hand to make a comeback.
櫻花鉤吻鮭雖然從冰河時期存活了下來，卻仍需要靠大家的力量來復育。
In the cold mountain waters of central Taiwan, a true miracle of nature exists. The Formosan landlocked salmon is the only salmon to live in a subtropical region. During the Ice Age, the salmon's ancestors spent most of their lives at sea, migrating down from the Sea of Japan into Taiwan's fresh waters to breed. Over time, major changes in migration routes took place, cutting off the salmon's typical paths back to the ocean. Since then, they have survived as best they could.
As recent as the 1950s, Formosan salmon were still seen in large numbers and were fished in the upper Dajia River. But the places that once met the salmon's needs-clean, clear water with temperatures below 16 degrees Celsius-are decreasing, limiting them only to the Qijiawan Stream at the Wuling Farm in Xueba National Park. Pollution has hurt the water quality, and deforestation of the riverbanks due to farming has caused water temperatures to rise. In 1990, there were only 346 Formosan salmon surviving, but thanks to new policies, the Heritage Preservation Act and the Wildlife Preservation Act, they have been pulled back from the brink of extinction.
There are an estimated 2,700 Formosan salmon today, and hope has been on the rise since the opening of the Taiwan Salmon Eco Center in 2007. The Center is responsible for breeding and doing research on the salmon for reintroduction into their natural habitat. In addition, the Wuling Farm has stopped all commercial farming so as to give the fish a leg up. Even so, it will take the combined efforts of citizens all over Taiwan to improve environmental conditions enough to secure a strong future for the Formosan landlocked salmon.
台灣中部山區冰冷的溪水裡，上演著自然界的奇蹟。台灣的櫻花鉤吻鮭是唯一生活在亞熱帶的鮭魚。在冰河期，牠們的祖先大多數時間都待在海裡，只有在繁殖的時候才從日本海南下游進台灣的溪流。而後其洄游的路徑發生重大的改變，鮭魚返回大海的必經之地被封，從此牠們就一直努力求生。
50 年代還能在大甲溪上游看到及捕獲成群的櫻花鉤吻鮭，但從前適合牠們棲息的地方（溫度低於攝氏 16 度的乾淨溪水）不斷地減少，目前僅限於雪霸國家公園武陵農場旁的七家灣能發現牠們的蹤跡。水質遭到污染、因農耕而砍伐河岸的森林導致水溫上升，使得櫻花鉤吻鮭的數量在 1990 年僅剩 346 條。幸虧文化資產保存法和野生動物保護法的新政策，把牠們從絕種的邊緣挽救回來。
現在估計櫻花鉤吻鮭的數量已有 2,700 條，並希望 2007 年啟用的櫻花鉤吻鮭生態中心能使牠們的數量持續上升。該中心負責櫻花鉤吻鮭的繁殖與研究，好讓牠們在自然棲息地復育。此外，武陵農場為了國寶魚的保育，也已經停止一切商業性的農業活動。即使如此，要大幅改善生存環境以確保櫻花鉤吻鮭有更美好的未來，仍有賴台灣各界的努力。
dikson片與 Unit 18
April 18,2009
dickson Unit 17
A: What's worng with you? You look awful(糟糕的).
B:It's not my day today. In the morning my wife had a quarrel(爭吵) with me because I forgot to shut off the faucet(水龍頭) again. Having no time to argue with her, I told her to shut up and hurried to the office. A tire blew out on the way, so I was late when I finally got to the office.
A: Your boss must be mad at you.
B: He warns me if I do not keep up with other colleagues(同事), I will be fired. He also turns down my new sales project.
A: Don't worry too much. Your boss knows that it is easy to find a new worker, but it is hard to break him in. You have got to be aggressive(有企圖心的), and on the alert for any fresh ideas about sales. Above all, don't be late again.
...繼續閱讀April 17,2009
常春藤 2009/04/09
2009/04/09
My Most Unforgettable Birthday Experience
我最難忘的生日經驗
Everyone hopes for an extraordinary birthday party, and I am no exception. Every year, my family and I go to a fancy restaurant in our neighborhood to celebrate my birthday. The food there is delicious, and the decorations are delightful.
The most unforgettable experience on my birthday happened there this past year. We got to the restaurant, and as I was walking up the stairs, I suddenly lost my balance and fell down. At first, I thought I had only twisted my ankle. However, I was unable to put any weight on it at all, so my parents rushed me to the hospital. The doctor said I had fractured my left ankle and that surgery would be needed. I felt really bad because my clumsiness ruined my birthday party, and my whole family was at the hospital taking care of me. This was the worst birthday experience I've ever had.
每個人都希望有個與眾不同的慶生會，我也不例外。每年我和家人會到住家附近的一間昂貴餐廳去慶祝我的生日。那裡的食物很美味，裝潢也很舒適。
我最難忘的一次生日經驗就在去年於該餐廳發生的。我們抵達餐廳，當我上樓梯時卻突然失去平衡而摔倒。起初我以為只是扭傷腳踝而已，但我的腳卻無法再使力。爸媽趕緊把我送到醫院。醫生說我的左腳踝因為骨折需要開刀。我感覺糟透了，因為我的笨手笨腳搞砸了慶生會，還要讓全家人在醫院照顧我。這是我所度過最糟的一次慶生了。
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
extraordinary 特別的
fancy 昂貴的 豪華的
celebrate 慶祝
decoration 裝飾 裝潢
ankle 腳踝
clumsiness 笨拙 笨手笨腳
walk up the stairs 上樓梯
fall down 跌倒
hope for 希望
be no exception 不例外
neighborhood 鄰近地區
delightful 令人愉快
unforgettable 難忘的
get to +地方 抵達某地
balance 平衡
lose one's balance 某人失去平衡
keep one's balance 某人保持平衡
strike a balance between A and B 在A與B之間取得平衡
twist 扭傷
be unable to V 不能....
rush sb to +地方 迅速將某人送在某地
fracture 骨折 使斷裂
surgery 外科手術
perform surgery on sb 為某人進行外科手術
ruin 毀壞
take care of sb 照顧某人
April 14,2009
常春藤 2009/04/08
2009/04/08
A Day of Dominoes 變化萬千的推骨牌遊戲
by Marcus Maurice
Every year, domino enthusiasts congregate to break world records.
熱愛骨牌的粉絲每年齊聚一堂，試圖打破世界紀錄。
When the click-clack sounds of shuffling tiles are heard, most people in Asia automatically think of Mahjong(麻將). But there is another game—dominoes—that is a Chinese invention, and it _(1)_ AD 1120. Initially, dominoes only had 21 tiles, each of which _(2)_ a result of throwing two six-sided dice. The tiles are mostly made of plastic now, but they used to be carved from ivory or bone, which _(3)_ the game's nickname, "bones." The game went through many changes as it was passed on from China to India to Europe, and now modern sets of dominoes have seven _(4)_ tiles with blanks on them.
There are _(5)_ ways to play the game of dominoes, but what they are mostly known for is being lined up and knocked down. Every year in the middle of November, domino enthusiasts from around the world _(6)_ together in the Netherlands to try to break world records for Domino Day. They methodically line up millions of dominoes front to back and then push one over to start a chain (連鎖的)_(7)_. Soon, dominoes are flying left and right as well as up and down ladders(梯子), stairs, and swings.
Every year, Domino Day has to up the ante with over-the-top theatrics to keep viewers interested, and 2008 was no _(8)_. The goal of last year's Domino Day was to _(9)_ a world record by toppling more than 4.3 million dominoes within a two-hour TV program. Eighty-five people from 13 different countries spent a greater part of the year planning this feat, and then eight weeks setting up the dominoes. When the program _(10)_, a former Miss Finland was suspended from the ceiling(天花板). She was lowered down to flick over the first domino, and soon another world record was knocked down.
(A) set (B) exception (C) gather (D) led to (E) commenced
(F) reaction (G) represented (H) additional (I) dates back to (J) a variety of
在亞洲，大多數人聽見喀哩喀啦響的洗牌聲時，自然而然會想到麻將。但另一種同樣由中國人發明的『骨牌』遊戲，其歷史可追溯到西元 1120 年。骨牌最初只有 21 張，這些牌是擲兩個 6 面的骰子所得的 21 種組合。現今大部分的骨牌是塑膠材質，但從前則是用象牙或骨頭刻製而成，於是才有『骨牌』這個稱呼。骨牌遊戲從中國傳到印度、歐洲後幾經變革，現代每套骨牌則多了 7 張，每張骨牌上面都有一邊是空白的。
骨牌的玩法有很多種，但最廣為人知的玩法則是將排好的骨牌推倒。每年 11 月中旬，世界各地的骨牌迷齊聚荷蘭，試圖在『世界骨牌日』打破世界紀錄。他們將數百萬張骨牌有條不紊地由前到後排好，然後將一張骨牌推倒，開始一連串的骨牌效應。骨牌飛速地左右來回倒下，在梯子、階梯與鞦韆之間上下穿梭。
每年的世界骨牌日都必須加碼推出誇張的舞台效果來一饗大眾，2008 年自然也不例外。去年世界骨牌日的目標是創下世界紀錄，在兩小時的電視節目中推倒 4 百 30 多萬張骨牌。85 名來自 13 個國家的人馬花了近一年的時間籌劃這項壯舉，並花了 8 個星期把骨牌立好。節目一開始，前芬蘭小姐從天花板倒吊而下，用手彈倒第一張骨牌，不久後就打破了另一項世界紀錄。
標準答案: 1. (I) 2. (G) 3. (D) 4. (H) 5. (J) 6. (C) 7. (F) 8. (B) 9. (A) 10. (E)
April 11,2009
常春藤 2009/04/07
2009/04/07
Demand for "Best Job in the World" Crashes Website
全世界最棒的工作
The chance to be the caretaker of a tiny tropical(熱帶的) island in Australia has sparked so much interest around the world that a rush of applications crashed the website advertising the post.
The job, which offers a salary of US$105,000 to spend six months on the Great Barrier Reef island of Hamilton, has been inundated with hundreds of thousands of prospective candidates. An official from the state of Queensland, which is offering the position, said the job was created as an antidote to the global economic slump and was being advertised in 18 countries including the United States and China. Duties for the so-called "best job in the world" include feeding ocean fish, cleaning a pool, and collecting deliveries of mail that arrive by plane.
在澳洲的熱帶小島當管理員激發全世界人們高度的興趣，一窩蜂申請流量讓刊登此份工作的網站一度停擺。
這份工作需要在大堡礁漢米頓島待上 6 個月，薪資高達 10 萬 5 千元美金，讓數十萬人對此工作趨之若鶩。這份職務由昆士蘭州提供，該州一位官員表示，這份工作在全球景氣低迷的時期可說是一劑強心針，包括美國和大陸在內的 18 個國家皆刊登此徵人廣告。這份被稱之為『全世界最棒的工作』內容包括餵魚、清理泳池和接收飛機送來的郵件。
Finger Length May Predict Financial Success
無名指較長容易賺大錢？
The length of a man's ring finger may predict his success as a financial trader. Researchers at the University of Cambridge in England reported that men with longer ring fingers, compared to their index fingers, tend to be more successful in the frantic high-frequency trading in the London financial district.
The length ratio between those two fingers is determined during the development of the fetus, and the relatively longer ring finger indicates greater exposure to the male hormone androgen, the researchers noted. Previous studies have found that such exposure can lead to increased confidence, risk preferences, search persistence, heightened vigilance, and quickened reaction times.
While the finger ratio appears to signal likely success in highly-active trading that calls for risk-taking and quick reactions, it may not indicate people who would do well at other sorts of financial activities, the researchers said.
男性無名指的長度或許能預測他是否能成為一名成功的金融交易員。英國劍橋大學的研究人員表示，在倫敦的金融交易區，無名指長於食指的男性較能夠勝任緊張狂亂、操盤頻繁的交易員工作。
研究人員指出，胚胎發育時期決定了兩隻手指的長度比例，擁有較長的無名指表示胚胎期受男性荷爾蒙刺激較多的影響。而先前的研究發現，較多的男性荷爾蒙刺激能使人更具信心、勇於冒險、做事穩定持久、警覺性較高以及反應較快。
研究人員表示，雖然手指的長度比例可代表人們在需要冒險精神及快速反應的高強度金融交易工作上較可能成功，但這未必就表示他們在其他類型的金融工作就能表現良好。
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
caretaker 照顧者 管理人
application 申請
advertise 刊登...廣告
post 工作 職位
antidote 對抗手段 解毒劑
so-called 所謂的
a rush of 一陣的...
hunderds of thousands of 數十萬的
crash 碰撞
crash into 撞上..
spark 激發 引發
inundate 向...擁來 使溢出
be inundated with .. 被..淹沒
prospective 可能的 預期的
slump 衰落
boom 繁榮
duty 職責
by plane 搭飛機
ring finger 無名指
index finger 食指
trader 交易員 商人
frantic 狂暴的 狂亂的
high-frequency 高頻率的
ratio 比率 比例
fetus 胚胎 胎兒
indicate 指出 表明
hormone 荷爾蒙
androgen 男性荷爾蒙
heighten 增加 提高
vigilance 警戒 警覺
relax one's vigilance 鬆懈某人的警覺
quicken 加快
signal 示意 表示
be successful in 在...成功
lead to 導致 造成
predict 預測 預料
compared to/with 與..相比
tend to V 往往 =be apt to V=be inclined to V=be liable to V =be prone to V
relatively 相 對地
exposure 暴露 接觸
preference 偏愛
have a preference for 對..有偏好
persistence 堅持 毅力
call for =require 需要...
April 10,2009
常春藤 2009/04/04
2009/04/04
請根據句意和文法選出一個最正確的答案。
1. Because he tends to buy things on _____, Timmy's credit card balance is usually high every month.
(A) collision (B) instinct (C) impulse (D) sensation
2. The police used tear gas to _____ the rioting students at a demonstration downtown.
(A) overlap (B) exploit (C) smuggle (D) disperse
3. The company reached a(n) _____ settlement with the labor unions by agreeing to pay for overtime work.
(A) amicable (B) versatile (C) rigorous (D) eccentric
4. The city government decided to _____ on a major project to improve the traffic flow during rush hour.
(A) reside (B) embark (C) testify (D) conform
5. The president gave his orders for strengthening national security, and the military acted _____.
(A) accordingly (B) theoretically (C) considerately (D) unknowingly
6. The company is facing a _____ over buying a new computer system, which is costly but will improve the work efficiency.
(A) promotion (B) captivity (C) dilemma (D) feedback
7. Did you see the _____ speech made by the mayor on TV yesterday? The newspaper said it touched the hearts of thousands of people.
(A) transparent (B) eloquent (C) permanent (D) deficient
8. The legislator _____ his voters by sponsoring a bill that increased environmental pollution in his district.
(A) commemorated (B) justified (C) modified (D) alienated
9. Zack's wife promised that she would _____ him no matter what. However, she filed for divorce after he went bankrupt.
(A) pick on (B) get along with (C) stand by (D) make up for
10. The police searched for the missing girl for three months, but _____. She was never heard from again.
(A) in vain (B) for good (C) on call (D) at large
標準答案: 1. (C) 2. (D) 3. (A) 4. (B) 5. (A) 6. (C) 7. (B) 8. (D) 9. (C) 10. (A)
1.因為提米買東西往往很 衝動，所以他每個月的卡費通常都很高。
2.警察用催淚瓦斯 驅散 在市中心示威鬧事的學生。
3.該公司和工會達成 友好的 協議，同意支付加班費。
4.市政府決定 展開 一項重大計畫來改善尖峰時刻的交通流量。
5.該總統下令加強國防安全，而軍方 照 令行事。
6.這家公司正面臨 左右兩難 的情況，購買新的電腦系統很昂貴，但卻能提高工作效率。
7.你有看見昨天市長在電視上發表的 強而有力的 演說嗎？報紙說那場演說感動了好幾千人。
8.這名立法委員所提出的議案增加了他選區內的環境汙染，因而與他的選民 漸行漸遠。
9.柴克的老婆曾保證不管發生什麼事都會 支持 他。然而，她在他破產後就申請離婚。
10.警察花了 3 個月的時間搜尋那名失蹤的女孩，但卻徒勞無功。 後來再也沒有她的消息了。
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
collision 碰撞 牴觸
instinct 本能 直覺
by instinct 本能地
impulse 衝動
on impulse 衝動地
sensation 感覺
cause a sensation 引起騷動 造成轟動
credit card balance 信用卡費用
overlap 與...部分重疊
exploit 剝削
smuggle 走私
disperse 驅散 疏散
tear gas 催淚瓦斯
rioting 騷亂的 鬧事的
demonstration 示威
April 7,2009
常春藤 2009/04/03
2009/04/03
Can I Borrow Your Home?
換屋渡假？讓你省錢玩遍全世界
by Matthew Brown
An affordable housing option is helping travelers around the world find great places to stay.
人人都負擔得起的住宿選擇幫助全世界的旅客找到落腳的好去處。
The traditional way to take a vacation is to pack some bags, lock up the house, and travel to a new place to stay in a hotel. However, hotels are very expensive, and with rent or mortgage payments due every month, it's difficult for most people to pay for another place to stay. Luckily, there is an alternative called house swapping, and it's saving travelers a great deal of cash.
To house swap, people who are planning to travel look for people who want to trade homes for a while. For example, if a couple from New York wants to spend a week in Paris, they would place an ad offering to trade their New York apartment for one in Paris for a week. If a Parisian couple who wants to vacation in New York reads the ad, residences can be swapped, and both couples save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars by avoiding big-city hotel fees.
There are other advantages to house swapping as well. Hotels are often located in a part of the city where few people live, making them a strange place to experience a new city. Staying at someone's home puts you in a neighborhood that can give you a better representation of the life and culture in the place you're visiting. With the popularity of the Internet continuously growing, house swapping is becoming easier than ever, and as more people participate, more options are becoming available. The next time you want to spend some time in an exotic locale, but don't want to pay a fortune, check what's posted online and find a house to swap.
傳統的渡假方式是打包行李、關好門窗、出發到從未去過的地方，然後投宿在旅館裡。然而，旅館住宿費相當昂貴，而大多數人每個月都被房租或房貸纏身，要付錢住在另一處實在很困難。幸好有個替代的方法，那就是交換房屋，這替旅客省去了一大筆費用。
交換房屋就是計畫去旅遊的人尋找願意短期交換房屋的人。舉例來說，如果一對從紐約來的夫妻想要在巴黎待上一星期，他們會張貼廣告，提供自己紐約公寓一星期的時間來交換巴黎的住處。如果有一對住在巴黎的夫妻想要到紐約渡假，看到了廣告，那雙方的住所就可以互相交換，而不必住在大城市裡的旅館，就可以省下好幾百、甚至好幾千塊的費用。
交換房屋還有其他好處。旅館通常位於城市中人煙稀少之處，絕對不是體驗新城市的好地方。住在別人的家中讓你融入周遭社區環境，能好好體驗當地的生活文化。隨著不斷攀升的網路普及率，交換房屋變得再簡單不過了。而隨著越來越多人交換房屋，可選擇的地方也日益增加。下次你想在某個具有異國風情的地方待上一陣子，又不想花大錢時，上網瞧瞧有沒有交換房屋的訊息吧。
------------------------------------------------------------------
pack 打包
pack up 將..打包好
lock up 將.....鎖起來
due 應支付的 到期的 預期的
be due to V 預計(做)...=be expected to V
alternative 供選擇的東西或辦法
have no alternative but to V=have no option but to V=have no choice but to V 除了...以外別無選擇
swap 交換
swap A for B 用A交換B=trade A for B=exchange A for B
place/put an ad 登廣告
ad 廣告
offer to V 主動提議...
advantage 優點
be located in+大地方／at+小地方 位於。。
continuously 連續不斷地
continually 不斷地
gain in popularity 越來越受歡迎
mortgage 抵押
residence 住所
representation 表現
exotic 異國風情的
locale 場所
post 貼出 公布
book 預定
a great deal of 很多的。。