軟Q

Not Your Usual Shutterbug 貓眼看世界

朋友 recommend 的牛排店！

說法比一比：★★★★學校：Do you know any good place for steak?
　　　（你知不知道有什麼吃牛排的好地方？）
老外：Do you know where I could get a good steak around here?
　　　（你知不知道這附近有哪裡可以吃到不錯的牛排？）




實境對話
A：Excuse me, Do you know where I could get a good steak around here?
　（請問一下，你知不知道這附近有哪裡可以吃到不錯的牛排？）
B：You could try BJ's. It's just down the street.
　（你可以去試試BJ's。它在這條街的街尾。）





老外還會這麼說
ex：Are there any good seafood places around here?
　（這附近有什麼吃海鮮的好地方？）
ex：Could you recommend a good, cheap place for lunch?　
　（你能不能推薦一家又好又便宜的午餐店？）

Hey, I'm trying to 睡覺 here！

技術挑戰指數：★★★有些人特別喜歡在半夜打手機給朋友，明明就沒有什麼特別的事情，只因為自己無聊、睡不著，就打電話找朋友閒聊！可是對方卻超級想睡，這時候最好的方法就是直接說要睡了，或是改天再約出來聊天！類似這種被打擾的情況下，就可以用： Hey, I'm trying to + V. + here! ，來打斷對方的談話。




來聽老美怎麼說？
：Hey, I'm trying to sleep here.
　　　　克萊兒：喂，我在睡覺耶。
Nicole：Hun? Oh, sorry. I didn't even know you were here.　　
　　　　妮可：什麼？喔，對不起，我根本不知道你在這裡。
Claire：Are you drunk?
　　　　克萊兒：你喝醉了嗎？
Nicole：One bottle of wine is hardly drunk.
　　　　妮可：喝一瓶酒醉不了人的啦。





俚語小解析．Hey, I'm trying to + V. + here! 　喂，我在.....！
如果有人打擾了你，你有點不太高興，就可以使用這個句型，讓對方知道自己的感受。這個句型的意思類似：”Hey, leave me alone, I'm occupied with + v.”（喂，別煩我，我現在正在..........。）

Change‏

Dan McDonald is a project
manager at Normark, a large
printing company. He figures
out how much each printing job will
cost. Normark then uses this
information to prepare bids for
customers.
丹‧麥當勞是諾馬克公司的一位企
劃經理，那是一個大規模的印刷公司。
他的工作就是計算出每一筆印刷訂單的
成本是多少，然後諾馬克公司利用這個
的資訊來向客戶出價。
Dan: Dan McDonald speaking.
Rob: Hi, Dan. This is Rob Ward in
Accounting.
Dan: Hi, Rob. What’s on your mind?
Rob: Well, it’s about that health
booklet project. I need to check
your estimates before our bid
goes to the government.
Dan: What? Since when are you
supposed to check my
estimates?
Rob: Since about a week ago. Didn’t
M r. Teeter tell you? It’s a new
policy.
丹：我是丹．麥當勞。
洛伯：嗨，丹，我是會計部的洛伯．瓦
德。
丹：嗨，洛伯，有什麼事嗎？
了。競爭非常激烈，因為利潤很
少，所以我們經不起一點點錯
誤。你知道這個情形的。
丹：對啊，太清楚了——工作時數增
加、工作人員減少，而現在連會
計師也看緊我。
洛伯：嘿，我不過是在盡我的責任罷
了。
Dan: Nobody told me anything. What
new policy?
Rob: Well, Mr. Teeter wants me to
double-check all cost estimates.
If they’re too high, we won’t win
contracts. If they’re too low, we’ll
win contracts but lose money.
Dan: I know that. The printing
business has always been that
way.
丹：沒人告訴我任何事。什麼新政
策？
洛伯：是這樣的，提特先生要我再查對
一次所有的成本估價。如果太
高，我們沒法贏得合約；但如果
太低，我們即使贏得合約，也會
賠本。
丹：我知道。印刷業本來就是那樣。
Dan: Nobody told me anything. What
new policy?
Rob: Well, Mr. Teeter wants me to
double-check all cost estimates.
If they’re too high, we won’t win
contracts. If they’re too low, we’ll
win contracts but lose money.
Dan: I know that. The printing
business has always been that
way.
丹：沒人告訴我任何事。什麼新政
策？
洛伯：是這樣的，提特先生要我再查對
一次所有的成本估價。如果太
高，我們沒法贏得合約；但如果
太低，我們即使贏得合約，也會
賠本。
丹：我知道。印刷業本來就是那樣。
Dan: Nobody told me anything. What
new policy?
Rob: Well, Mr. Teeter wants me to
double-check all cost estimates.
If they’re too high, we won’t win
contracts. If they’re too low, we’ll
win contracts but lose money.
Dan: I know that. The printing
business has always been that
way.
丹：沒人告訴我任何事。什麼新政
策？
洛伯：是這樣的，提特先生要我再查對
一次所有的成本估價。如果太
高，我們沒法贏得合約；但如果
太低，我們即使贏得合約，也會
賠本。
丹：我知道。印刷業本來就是那樣。

Rob: Well, times are getting tougher.
Competition is fierce. Profit
margins are so tight that we can’t
afford a single error. You know
how it is.
Dan: Yeah, only too well—longer
hours, fewer support staff, and
now, accountants looking over
my shoulder.
Rob: Hey, I’m just doing my job.
Later, Dan goes for his regular
Wednesday pizza lunch with two of his
co-workers, Jim and Mark.
洛伯：沒錯，但是生意愈來愈不容易做
了。競爭非常激烈，因為利潤很
少，所以我們經不起一點點錯
誤。你知道這個情形的。
丹：對啊，太清楚了——工作時數增
加、工作人員減少，而現在連會
計師也看緊我。
洛伯：嘿，我不過是在盡我的責任罷
了。

Dan: I just can’t get over Teeter
making a policy change like that
without informing me.
Jim: He probably just forgot. He’s
facing a lot of changes himself
these days.
Mark: He sure is. I hear the board
members are putting pressure on
him. They want to see more
profit and higher share value.
There is even talk of showing
Teeter the door.
Dan: Boy, what happened to the good
old days, when people trusted
you to do a decent job?
丹：提特在政策上做了那樣的改變，
而不通知我，真是讓我無法釋
懷。
吉姆：他大概忘了，最近他自己也是面
對許多的改變。
馬克：那倒是真的，我聽到董事們對他
施壓，他們希望看到更豐厚的利
潤和更高的股票面值，甚至有傳
說要掃提特出門。
丹：天啊，過去的好時光那兒去了？
那時人們還會信任你能做好你的
工作。

Dan: I just can’t get over Teeter
making a policy change like that
without informing me.
Jim: He probably just forgot. He’s
facing a lot of changes himself
these days.
Mark: He sure is. I hear the board
members are putting pressure on
him. They want to see more
profit and higher share value.
There is even talk of showing
Teeter the door.
Dan: Boy, what happened to the good
old days, when people trusted
you to do a decent job?
丹：提特在政策上做了那樣的改變，
而不通知我，真是讓我無法釋
懷。
吉姆：他大概忘了，最近他自己也是面
對許多的改變。
馬克：那倒是真的，我聽到董事們對他
施壓，他們希望看到更豐厚的利
潤和更高的股票面值，甚至有傳
說要掃提特出門。
丹：天啊，過去的好時光那兒去了？
那時人們還會信任你能做好你的
工作。

Dan: But seriously, how do we handle
all this change? Nothing stays
the same for very long anymore.
For example, look at the new
“improved” e-mail software that
the computer department just
dumped on us. We’d only used
the previous system for six
months. Now we have to learn
something totally new.
丹：可是說真的，我們如何應對這些
變化呢？再也沒有什麼可以長久
保持原樣了。舉例來說，看看電
腦部門丟給我們的那個新的「改
良式」電子郵件軟體，前一個系
統我們才用了六個月而已，現在
我們又要學習完全新的東西。
馬克：但想想，丹，新的電子郵件系統
可以讓我們共享照片、圖案、甚
至是電視影像。
丹：電視影像？只要它能傳遞有關新
政策的簡單資訊，我就很高興
了。

Mark: But think, Dan. The new e-mail
system will let us share photos,
drawings, even video!
Dan: Video? I’d be happy if we could
just share simple information
about new policies.
Jim: Aw, Dan, don’t be such a
spoilsport. Technology is the
wave of the future. Better get
your surfboard!
Dan: Surfboard? I need a life
preserver!
吉姆：噢，丹，別那麼掃興。科技是未
來的浪潮。最好準備好你的衝浪
板。
丹：衝浪板？我需要一個救生圈。
會話六

Mark: I suppose there are two ways of
dealing with change. You can try
to hide from it. Good luck. Or
you can accept it and make the
most of it. Change can be
exciting, and it often brings
opportunities.
馬克：我猜只有兩種方法可以應付這些
變化：你可以試著躲避它，那麼
祝你好運；或是你可以接受它，
並且從中獲得最大的利益。改變
可以是令人興奮的，而且往往會
帶來些機會。

 

 

 

 

@Word Bank
bid (n)
出售；投標
estimate (n)
估價
policy (n)
政策
contract (n)
合約
contract (n)
合約

contract (n)
合約

dump (v)
傾倒；丟棄

spoilsport (n)
掃興的人

 

 

 

 

 

 

@The Day's Phrase

Businesses have schools to train their employees their way
公司行號設立學校，以自己的方式訓練員工

I am sure Denise is going to go places. She has great skills as an actress and musician, and she makes friends easily.
我相信狄妮絲會成功的。她有很棒的演戲和音樂天份，而且她很容易交朋友。

I'm getting by.
還過得去
I just finished listening to Evelyn tell her story at great length. She didn't leave out any details.
我才剛聽完艾芙琳鉅細靡遺地說她的故事。她一點細節都沒有遺漏。

This colorful, tasty fruit deserves its own festival
這種色彩鮮豔的美味水果當然應該有自己的節日

Fred really has a way with words. He can convince anyone to do anything for him.
弗瑞德說話真是有一套。他可以說服任何人為他做任何的事。

Talking is easy, but having a colorful conversation takes practice
講話很簡單，但是要聊得精彩可不容易

Greg doesn't have his feet firmly planted on the ground. He is always daydreaming about getting rich.
葛瑞格並不腳踏實地。他總是在做白日夢，想著怎樣可以發財。

Follow this simple advice and feel more energetic
遵守以下簡單建議，就能感到更有活力

You can't become a dancer. You have two left feet.
你當不了舞蹈家的。你的動作太笨拙了。

As soon as hail started falling from the sky, we all had to run for cover or we'd be hit by the hail.
當天空開始下冰雹時，我們都得去找個遮蔽的地方，否則會被冰雹打到。

Stupid is as stupid does.

傻人有傻福

Bedbugs have found a new home - yours
臭蟲找到新家啦──你家是也

Ian is a lone wolf. He prefers to do things by himself.
伊安是個孤僻的人。他喜歡自己獨自做事。

How necessary are credit cards?
信用卡有多必要？

When I told Janet I had damaged her car, she was hopping mad.
當我告訴珍娜我弄壞了她的車時，她氣得跳腳。

 Kids are using cameras to earn an education
孩子藉由攝影獲得教育機會

It's a small world. When I was on vacation in Tahiti, I met my friend Karen from high school.
這世界真小。當我在大溪地度假時，我遇到我的高中同學凱倫。
I'm stuck
我沒輒了

If you would stop making a fool of yourself, maybe the class would respect you, instead of just laughing at you.
如果你可以停止把自己搞得很可笑，或許班上的同學會尊重你，而不嘲笑你了。

One man's efforts bring education to the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan
憑一己之力帶給巴基斯坦、阿富汗民眾受教育的機會
Love is blind. I realized that when I saw how mean Mike's girlfriend is!
愛情是盲目的。當我看到麥可的女朋友有多惡劣時，我就了解了！

Rivera joins 600-save club - Yanks closer Mariano Rivera notched his 600th save on Tuesday.

I Am Alive: Surviving the Andes Plane Cr

 Friday the 13th in October of 1972 was a dark day for an amateur rugby1 team from Uruguay. The team had paid for a plane to fly them, their families, and their friends to a match in Santiago, Chile. What was supposed to be a routine flight from Montevideo, Uruguay turned into a fight for their lives. The plane with its five crew2 members and 40 passengers was starting to descend3 when it crashed in the Andes Mountains.
對一支來自烏拉圭的業餘橄欖球隊來說，1972年十月十三日的黑色星期五是個不幸的一天。這支球隊包機與他們的親友一同飛往智利的聖地牙哥參加一場比賽。這趟從烏拉圭蒙特維多起飛的例行航程，卻成為了攸關他們生死的一場奮戰。這架載著五名機組人員和四十位乘客的飛機，在開始降落時竟撞上了安地斯山脈。
　　Twelve people were killed instantly. After 10 days, search efforts were called off, which left the survivors with little hope of rescue. The 27 survivors4 found a way to make it through the harsh weather conditions, starvation5, and extreme cold. Even worse, an avalanche6 buried the crashed plane in snow and killed eight more people. In the end, two of the survivors went in search of help and succeeded in crossing over 60 kilometers and reaching civilization7. Finally, on December 23, 1972, all 16 of the remaining survivors were rescued. To find out how they beat death for 72 days, don't miss History Channel's "I Am Alive: Surviving the Andes Plane Crash" this month.
飛機上有十二個人當場死亡。十天後，搜救行動竟被取消，這也使得生還者得救的機會愈加渺茫。這二十七位倖存者設法撐過惡劣的天候狀況，以及飢餓和酷寒的折磨。更慘的是，一場雪崩掩埋了墜毀的飛機，進一步造成八人喪命。最後有兩位生還者出發向外求援，並成功橫越六十多公里，抵達了文明世界。終於在1972年十二月二十三日那天，空難生還者中僅存的十六人全數獲救。想知道他們如何在這七十二天中擊敗死神，就不能錯過本月份歷史頻道播出的《空中驚魂》。

@Building Your Vocabulary
1. amateur　a. 業餘的，非職業的
Joshua is an amateur tennis player, but he hopes to turn professional one day.
喬許亞是業餘的網球選手，但他希望有一天能轉戰職業。
2. routine　a. 例行的，一般的
Did you have your routine health checkup this year?
你今年去做例行的健康檢查了嗎？
3. instantly　adv. 立即，馬上
Karen raised her hand instantly when the professor asked the class a question.
當教授向全班問一個問題時，凱倫立刻就舉起手來。
4. rescue　n. & vt. 救援，拯救
The lifeguard jumped into the pool and rescued the drowning boy.
救生員跳進泳池裡，救起那個溺水的男孩。
5. harsh　a. 嚴酷的，惡劣的
No matter how harsh life gets, I never give up hope.
無論生活會有多艱難，我都不會放棄希望。
6. extreme　a. 極度的，極端的
The extreme heat of the noon sun was unbearable, so the construction workers took a break in the shade.
正午的太陽極為炙熱難耐，因此建築工人們在陰涼處稍作休息






@Phrases for learning
1. call...off/call off...　　取消∕撤銷……
The couple called off their wedding after a big fight.
那對情侶大吵一架後就取消了他們的婚禮。
2. make it through...　　渡過∕熬過……（難關）
Al made it through the worst of the cancer treatment and is starting to feel better.
艾爾熬過了癌症治療最痛苦的時期，現在已開始好轉。






@Extra Words

1. rugby　n.（英式）橄欖球（本文中作形容詞用）
2. crew　n. 全體機組人員（本文中作形容詞用）
3. descend　vi. 下降
4. survivor　n. 倖存者，生還者
5. starvation　n. 飢餓，挨餓
6. avalanche　n. 雪崩
7. civilization　n. 現代文明

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@Grammar Check

What was supposed to be a routine flight from Montevideo, Uruguay turned into a fight for their lives.
（這趟從烏拉圭蒙特維多起飛的例行航程，卻成為了攸關他們生死的一場奮戰。）
　　疑問詞（what, when, where, why, how 等）可以引導名詞子句，在主要子句中作主詞、受詞或置於 be 動詞後作主詞補語。本句中，what 所引導的名詞子句"What was supposed to be a routine flight from Montevideo, Uruguay"即作主詞用。
I want to know when you're coming over.
（我想知道你何時會過來。――名詞子句作受詞用）
注意:
how 在引導的名詞子句中修飾形容詞或副詞時，須將該形容詞或副詞置於 how 之後，使 how 直接修飾該形容詞或副詞。
Just go outside and you'll see how cold it is today.
（只要走到外面，你就會知道今天有多冷。）

SMAP風光20週年

A Foreign Foreign Accent 外國口音綜合症：聲音也會被

How about 新開的餐廳？

說法比一比：★★★★學校：Can you eat sashimi?
　　　（你可以吃生魚片嗎？）
老外：Do you eat sashimi?
　　　（你可以吃生魚片嗎？）






實境對話
A：I kind of feel like Japanese. Do you eat sashimi?
　（我有點想吃日本料理。你吃不吃生魚片？）
B：Yeah, I love sashimi.
　（吃啊，我愛吃生魚片。）






老外還會這麼說
ex：Do you like sashimi?
　（你喜歡吃生魚片嗎？）
ex：Is sashimi OK with you?　
　（你可以吃生魚片嗎？）
ex：How about that new Japanese place?　
　（那家新的日本料理店怎麼樣？）
ex：Let's try that sushi bar near the MRT station.　
　（我們去試試捷運站附近那家壽司吧。）

That covers 新政策的概念！

技術挑戰指數：★★★作簡報時，標示用語是用來告訴聽眾，主講人報告到什麼部份！如果報告的時候不加以標示，那麼聽眾會不知道你在談論哪個部份，並因此感到困惑！此外，連結用語是讓聽眾知道一個部份已經告一段落，或是一個部份即將開始，可以是個簡短的介紹或是結論！簡報應該要有許多連結語，如果不使用這些連結語，聽眾可能不知道你是否已講完一個部份，或是你要開始講另一個部份！






來聽老美怎麼說？
ex：That covers the issue of salary raises.
　 （以上就是有關加薪議題的說明。）
ex：Let's move on to the subsidiary budget.　
　（讓我們往下討論補貼預算的部份。）
ex：As a rule, the smaller shippers are better for us.
　（小型海運公司公通常比較適合我們。）
ex：In passing, I want to address our hiring policy.
　（順便提一下，我想討論我們的聘僱政策。）






俚語小解析．That covers.....　　 以上就是.....的介紹
　cover有”包含、適用於”的意思，可以單獨放在句子中間，或是用來當一句話的開頭。cover
　當名詞時，有”遮蓋物、封面、掩蔽處、藉口、餐具”.......等的意思。

瘋子+傻子=情緒製造機

電影製片者(movie maker)利用特效.精挑的演員及引人入勝的場景,巧妙轉化故事為具有聲光效果,隨著演員的全心投入劇本角色,觀眾(audience)渾然忘我融入劇中人生,情緒也因著高潮迭起的劇情遊走於愛恨嗔癡,悲歡苦樂間,難怪俗話說:"演戲的是瘋子,看戲的是傻子",而每部電影即是一步情緒製造機!
欣賞完一部影片,不論好壞,除了說:"好精采的電影"(It was pretty good.)或"好爛的影片"(This movie was terrible.)之外,還可以用哪些榮詞來描述電影?
"amusing, delightful, entertaining, funny, happy, hilarious, interesting" - 引人發噱的,令人愉快的,有娛樂性的,滑稽的,開心的,令人捧腹的,適合描述喜劇或卡通片
"beautiful, impressive, romantic, touching" - 美麗的,令人印象深刻的,浪漫的,感人的;非風花雪月的愛情片莫屬
其他如冒險影片或科幻片等可利用如: engrossing - 引人入勝的, exciting - 令人興奮.刺激的, imaginative - 富有想像.創造力的
舉例來說: 它是一部浪漫的電影 It's a romantic film.
                  它是部令人感動的電影 It's a touching film.
"creepy, frighting, jumpy, scary, spine - chilling, terrifying" - 不寒而慄的,恐怖的,令人緊張地神經兮兮的,令人提心吊膽的,令人毛骨悚然,可怕的;則用於描述恐怖或驚悚片等
其他描述不同類別的電影的形容詞還有: "sad, teary" - 悲傷的,易使人流淚的; "disgustibg" - 令人作嘔的; "boring, flussy, mediocre, tedious" - 枯燥無味的,內容空洞的,二流的/平淡無奇的,冗長乏味的; "bittersweet, difficult, disappointing, glossy, violent" - 苦樂參半的,艱澀的,令人失望的,虛有其表的,猛烈/狂暴的
例句:＂這部電影太暴力了＂ (It was too violent.)

2011/09/20
自由時報Ｄ10旅遊版 - 旅遊英文通
撰文 / Gwen

International Literacy Day 國際掃盲日

 For most people, reading and writing are nothing special. They are just things you learn to do as you grow up. However, many people in the world do not have these abilities. In fact, one in five adults is illiterate1. By definition, a person who is literate2 can read and write an article about their everyday life. Think about how many times you read or write in one day. Now, imagine how different your life would be if you could not do either. Would you still have your job? Would friends treat you differently?
對大多數人來說，閱讀和書寫其實沒什麼特別的。它們只是您在成長過程中學會做的事。然而，世上有許多人並沒有這些能力。事實上，每五位成年人中就有一位是文盲。按照定義，一個識字的人能夠閱讀並寫下一篇關於他們日常生活的文章。試想您在一天中閱讀或書寫了多少次。現在，想像一下如果您既不能讀又不會寫的話，生活會變成什麼樣子。您是否依然保有自己的工作？您的朋友又會不會用不同的方式來對待您？
　　Everyone deserves a basic education. That is why International Literacy3 Day is held on September 8 every year. UNESCO developed the idea in 1965 and celebrated the first official International Literacy Day a year later. Today, some 800 million adults still cannot read or write. Two-thirds of them are women, and nearly 80 million children are out of school.
每個人都應該接受基礎教育。這就是為什麼國際掃盲日在每年的九月八日舉行。聯合國教科文組織在1965年構思了這個想法，並在一年後慶祝首屆正式的國際掃盲日。現今世上仍約有八億名的成年人無法閱讀或書寫。這當中有三分之二為女性，而且還有將近八千萬孩童失學。
　　In 2010, the theme was "The Power of Women's Literacy." It showed that when more women are literate, the world improves in many ways. Home life is better because mothers can get better jobs. Also, their children have a much greater chance of being literate. UNESCO knows that by helping and encouraging adults to learn to read and write, they also help children. Better yet, by helping children become literate, we build a brighter future for the whole world.
2010年的國際掃盲日主題為『女性識字的力量』。這個主題突顯出要是有更多女性識字時，世界上的許多層面就會獲得改善。由於母親們能得到更好的工作，因此家庭生活會更臻美滿。此外，她們小孩識字的機會也會更高。聯合國教科文組織明白，藉由幫助及鼓勵成人學習閱讀和書寫，這些成年人也會幫助兒童。更進一步的是，藉由幫助兒童識字，我們也為整個世界打造更光明的未來。

@Building Your Vocabulary
1. ability　n. 能力；才能
Ben has the ability to touch his nose with his tongue.
小班能用舌頭碰到自己的鼻子。
2. imagine　vt. 想像
It is difficult for me to imagine being an only child because I grew up with four brothers.
我是跟四個兄弟一起長大的，所以很難想像身為獨生子是什麼樣子。
3. deserve　vt. 應得
No one deserves the MVP award more than Hank because the team couldn't have won without him.
漢克最應該得到最有價值球員獎，因為球隊沒有他就贏不了。
4. some　adv. 大約
Some 5,000 people took part in the protest against experiments on animals.
大約有五千位民眾參加那場反對利用動物做實驗的抗議活動。
5. theme　n. 主題
The theme of our costume party is legendary heroes.
我們這次變裝舞會的主題就是傳奇英雄人物。







@Phrase for Learning
1. by definition　　從定義上來說，根據定義
Leila is by definition a feminist since she believes in equal rights for women.
萊拉在本質上就是一位女權主義者，因為她主張女性平權。
2. encourage + 人 + to + 原形動詞　　鼓勵某人……
My parents have always encouraged me to follow my heart and do the things that interest me.
我父母向來都鼓勵我要跟著感覺走，去做那些我感興趣的事。
3. better yet/still　　（比前面所提到的事物）更好的是
We could all go to that burger place, or better still, you guys could come over for dinner.
我們可以一起去那家漢堡店，不然更棒的是，你們可以來我家吃晚餐。







@Extra Words
1. illiterate　a. 不識字的，文盲的
2. literate　a. 識字的，有讀寫能力的
3. literacy　n. 識字，有讀寫能力
illiteracy　n. 不識字，文盲







@Tips In Use

In fact, one in five adults is illiterate.
（事實上，每五位成年人中就有一位是文盲。）
A in/out of (every) B　　每 B 個中有 A 個（表比例）
Four out of (every) five high school students in Taiwan are nearsighted.
（每五個台灣高中生裡就有四個是近視。）

Two-thirds of them are women...
（這當中有三分之二為女性……）
　　用英文表示分數時，分子須用基數（one, two...）表示，而分母則用序數（second, third...）。當分子大於"1"時，分母的字尾須加上"s"。分子與分母間通常有連字號"-"連接，但"a/one half"（二分之一）與"a/one quarter"（四分之一）間則沒有。例：
1/5 → one-fifth
3/10 → three-tenths
Vincent beat the other runners by one-tenth of a second to win the race.
（文森以零點一秒的差距打敗其他跑者，贏得這場比賽。）

What in God's name is this? 這是什麼碗糕?

日常生活中,有的人喜歡用"米糕"或"碗糕"來表示對不了解的東西的驚訝與困惑,你可以說: What in God's name is this? "In God's name "強盜"到底...."此外也可以說"What the heck is this?" heck在口語上是hell(地獄)的意思,因此這句話也常被說成"What the hell is this?"應盡量少用

A: Whoa, what in God's name is this?
    哇勒......這是什麼碗糕啊?
B: This is from my newest recipe -- pizza with oolong noodles and Korean glutinous rice cake.
    這是我最新的食譜: 披薩加烏龍麵加韓式年糕

資料來源: 台灣科技大學應用外語系助理教授黃玟君
2011/09/19自由時報A10教育.生活版

嘆氣

Collective Buying Power Groupon：大家揪團來撿便

我 feel like 一號餐！

說法比一比：★★★★學校：What do you want to eat?
　　　（你想吃什麼呢 ?）
老外：What do you feel like?
　　　（你想吃什麼呢 ?）




實境對話
A：It's almost time for lunch. What do you feel like?
　（午餐時間快到了，你想吃什麼呢？）
B：I feel like something light.
　（我想吃清淡的東西。）





老外還會這麼說
ex：What are you in the mood for?
　（你想吃什麼呢？）
ex：Do you feel like getting some pasta?　
　（你想吃義大利麵嗎？）
ex：Are you in the mood for a pizza?　
　（你想吃披薩嗎？）

Just because有呼吸，doesn't mean你活著！

技術挑戰指數：★★★要和別人唱反調還真麻煩，不過有時候還是得這麼做。當你覺得他人隨便下定論時，這個句型就很有用；當別人什麼都沒說，但是其舉止已經透露出某種觀點時，也可以使用這個句型，例如你的朋友失戀後，陷入低潮，失魂落魄，這時你就可以告訴對方”Just because you're breathing, doesn't mean you're living.”（不要以為你有呼吸，就表示你活著。）。





來聽老美怎麼說？
Nicole：Does Steven get drunk like that very often?
　　　　妮可：史蒂文常常喝成那副德行嗎？
Zoe：No, I've never seen him like that, actually. But he does get a little tipsy sometimes.　　
　　　　左伊：沒有，真的，我從沒見他喝成那樣，不過他偶爾會有點小醉就是了。
Nicole：Great. Another alcoholic has fallen for me.
　　　　妮可：很好，又多了一個酒鬼迷上我了。
Zoe：Hey, just because a guy enjoys a few drinks doesn't mean he's an alcoholic.
　　　　左伊：喂，不要以為一個人喜歡多喝幾杯，就認定他是酒鬼。






俚語小解析．Just because ... doesn't mean ... 　不要因為....就以為...
這個句型常用在反諷的時機，假設因為一些小事情被誤會，就可以用這句話來回話，告訴對方不要以偏概全！例如不小心遲到一次，就被認為天天都遲到的狀況！

Tiger Man 老虎私生活

Tigers are native to eastern and southern Asia, so what are they doing in South Africa? These big cats are part of one man's dream to raise a group of tigers that can live on their own in the wild. John Varty is a South African filmmaker as well as a lover of big cats, and he is known as the Tiger Man. He established Tiger Canyons2 to give one of nature's deadliest yet endangered1 animals a chance of survival.

　　National Geographic Channel's "Tiger Man" shares Varty's incredible footage3 of the intimate4 life of tigers with viewers. Some scenes, such as a tigress5 giving birth, have never been seen before. Others show the violent yet touching nature of tigers mating6, raising their cubs7, and fighting for territory8. The Tiger Man witnesses the birth of a rare white cub, but he also has to decide whether to step in and raise abandoned cubs himself. The series follows Varty as he increases his starting group of two males and two females into a family of nearly 20 tigers. For an unforgettable ride, don't miss NGC's "Tiger Man" this month.







@Building Your Vocabulary
1. raise　vt. 飼養（動物）；種植（植物）；養育（孩子）
Dora's parents died when she was young, so she was raised by her grandparents.
朵拉小時候就失去了雙親，因此她是由祖父母養大的。
2. establish　vt. 建立，設立
The community center was established to give city kids a safe place to go after school.
這間社區中心是設立來讓城市孩童在放學後有個安全的去處。
3. deadly　a. 致命的
Some snakes are deadly, so make sure to avoid getting close enough for any to bite you.
有些蛇類會致命，因此務必不要靠得太近，以免牠們咬到您。
4. touching　a. 感人的
It was touching to see the father reunited with his son at the end of the movie.
在電影尾聲，父子重逢的那一幕非常感人。
5. witness　vt. 親眼看見；目擊（罪行或事故）
Gina had to appear in court because she witnessed a crime.
吉娜必須出庭作證，因為她目擊了一件刑案。
6. abandoned　a. 被遺棄的；廢棄的
The abandoned building is scheduled to be torn down this afternoon.
這棟廢棄大樓預計今天下午進行拆除。







@Phrase for Learning

1. be native to + 地方　　在某地土生土長的
Many people come to see the unique flower that is native to this part of the island.
許多人前來島上的這個地區欣賞這種當地土生土長的特有花朵。
2. step in　　介入，插手
The babysitter stepped in when the two brothers started fighting over the toy truck.
當兩兄弟開始爭奪起那輛玩具卡車時，褓姆便介入來停止紛爭。

 

 

 

 

 

 

@Extra Words

1. endangered　a. 瀕臨絕種的
2. canyon　n. 峽谷
3. footage　n. 影片
4. intimate　a. 私密的；親密的
5. tigress　n. 雌老虎
6. mate　vi.（動物）交配
7. cub　n.（動物的）幼獸
8. territory　n.（動物的）地盤，領域

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@Grammar Check

John Varty's dream is to raise...
（約翰‧瓦提的夢想是要養育……）
...part of one man's dream to raise...
（……某個人的夢想之一，他希望能養育……）
He established Tiger Canyons to give...
（他建立了Tiger Canyons這個園區，用意是要讓……）
　　不定詞即為"to + 原形動詞"，而上述三句中的不定詞分屬不同用法，以下便為各位介紹：

1. 第一句中的不定詞為名詞不定詞（即不定詞作名詞用），接在 be 動詞後作主詞補語，此時主詞均為表『意願、企圖』的名詞。
　Lily's plan is to get home by 5:00 PM.
　（莉莉的計畫是下午五點到家。）
2. 第二句中的不定詞為形容詞不定詞（即不定詞作形容詞用），此類不定詞一定採後位修飾，也就是形容詞不定詞直接置於名詞後。
　Emily still has a lot of work to do.
　（艾蜜莉仍然還有很多工作要做。）
3. 第三句中的不定詞為副詞不定詞（即不定詞作副詞用），副詞不定詞修飾動詞、形容詞或副詞時，一定置於該詞類之後。
　 Carl is quite able to handle the problem.
　（卡爾相當有能力來處理這個問題。）

Overworked

副Amanda and Sherry work for the
law office of Mitchell & Stone as
legal secretaries. The receptionist
had quit two months before. The
secretaries struggled to complete their
own work as well as that of a
receptionist.
雅曼達與雪莉是「米契爾與史東法
律事務所」的律師專屬秘書。公司裡的
接待員兩個月前辭職了。兩位祕書除了
要做自己的工作，還要辛苦地兼接待員
的工作。
Mr. Mitchell: Have you finished that
brief yet, Amanda? I need
it by 10:00 tomorrow
morning.
Amanda: I know, Mr. Mitchell, I'm
trying. But the phone
keeps ringing and
interrupting me. If this
keeps up, I'm not going to
get it done.
Mr. Mitchell: Can't you stay a little late
tonight to finish it up?
Amanda: Not tonight. It's my
father's birthday.
米契爾先生：雅曼達，那份案情摘要完
成沒？ 我明天十點以前
要。
雅曼達：我知道，米契爾先生，我
正在努力。可是電話一直
響，我的工作一直被打
斷。如果繼續這樣下去，
我永遠不可能完成。
米契爾先生：妳今天晚上能不能留晚一
點把它完成？
雅曼達：今天晚上不行。今天是我
爸爸生日。

Mr. Mitchell: (Looking at the other secretary)
Sherry, could you take all
the phone calls while
Amanda finishes that
brief?
Sherry: OK, Mr. Mitchell. But I’ve
got letters to type for Mr.
Stone. They’re urgent
too.
Mr. Mitchell: (sigh) Well, work it out
between the two of you,
then.
米契爾先生：（ 看著另外一位祕書） 雪
莉，雅曼達在做這份案情
摘要的時候，妳可不可以
接所有的電話？
雪莉：好的，米契爾先生。但我
要替史東先生打一些信，
也很緊急。
米契爾先生：（嘆氣）那麼，妳們兩個協
調一下，自己解決吧!
Amanda: We’ve been doing that for
two months now, Mr.
Mitchell. Not having a
receptionist makes our
jobs a lot harder. We’r e
working a lot of overtime.
Mr. Mitchell: I know, and I really
appreciate it. Guess I’d
better try to find a new
receptionist soon.
Sherry: The sooner the better.
雅曼達：我們已經這麼做兩個月
了，米契爾先生。少一位
接待員，我們的工作變得
更困難。我們已經加班很
久了。米契爾先生：我知道，我很感激妳們這
樣做。我想我最好趕快雇
一個接待員來。
雪莉：愈快愈好。

Amanda: We’ve been doing that for
two months now, Mr.
Mitchell. Not having a
receptionist makes our
jobs a lot harder. We’r e
working a lot of overtime.
Mr. Mitchell: I know, and I really
appreciate it. Guess I’d
better try to find a new
receptionist soon.
Sherry: The sooner the better.
雅曼達：我們已經這麼做兩個月
了，米契爾先生。少一位
接待員，我們的工作變得
更困難。我們已經加班很
久了。米契爾先生：我知道，我很感激妳們這
樣做。我想我最好趕快雇
一個接待員來。
雪莉：愈快愈好。

Mr. Mitchell: Amanda, Sherry, I’d like
you to meet Jennifer.
She's our new receptionist.
Would the two of
you please show her the
ropes?
Amanda: Sure. Jennifer, why don’t
you come and sit over
here? This phone system
has just two lines. They
seem to ring all the time!
Sherry: Yeah, you’ll stay pretty
busy making appointments
for the lawyers. Here’s the
appointment book. If
anyone asks a question
you can’t answer, relay
him to one of us. Any
questions?
米契爾先生：雅曼達、雪莉，我要跟妳
們介紹珍妮佛。她是我們
的新接待員。妳們兩位能
不能教教她怎麼做？
雅曼達：好。珍妮佛，請妳來坐在
我們中間。這套電話系統
只有兩線。它們好像隨時
都在響。
雪莉：是啊！妳會一直忙著替律
師們訂約會。這裡是約會
預約簿。如果遇到回答不
了的問題，就轉給我們。

Mr. Mitchell: Amanda, Sherry, I’d like
you to meet Jennifer.
She's our new receptionist.
Would the two of
you please show her the
ropes?
Amanda: Sure. Jennifer, why don’t
you come and sit over
here? This phone system
has just two lines. They
seem to ring all the time!
Sherry: Yeah, you’ll stay pretty
busy making appointments
for the lawyers. Here’s the
appointment book. If
anyone asks a question
you can’t answer, relay
him to one of us. Any
questions?
米契爾先生：雅曼達、雪莉，我要跟妳
們介紹珍妮佛。她是我們
的新接待員。妳們兩位能
不能教教她怎麼做？
雅曼達：好。珍妮佛，請妳來坐在
我們中間。這套電話系統
只有兩線。它們好像隨時
都在響。
雪莉：是啊！妳會一直忙著替律
師們訂約會。這裡是約會
預約簿。如果遇到回答不
了的問題，就轉給我們。
還有沒有問題？（稍後）
珍妮佛：嗯，什麼時候是我的休息時
間？
Jennifer: Uh, when’s my coffee
break?
Amanda: We try to stagger our
breaks in the mid-morning.
We all need one, believe
me! You can go first at
about 10:00. Breaks are 15
minutes long.
(at 10:30)
Sherry: I’m concerned about
Jennifer. She seems more
interested in her breaks
than her work. You told her
to take a 15-minute break,
and she’s been gone for 30
minutes. If she doesn’t
shape up, we won’t have a
receptionist again.
Amanda: I agree. I’ll go find her.
雅曼達：我們試著在上午過半的時候輪
流休息。相信我，我們都需要
的！十點的時候妳可以先休
息，休息時間是十五分鐘。
（十點半）
雪莉：我很擔心珍妮佛。她好像對休
息比對工作有興趣。妳告訴她
休息十五分鐘，可是她已經去
了半個鐘頭。如果她不能進入
情況，我們可不會再有一位接
待員。
雅曼達：你說得對。我去找她。

Amanda: Jennifer, did you lose track
of the time? It’s after 10:30
now.
Jennifer: What? My watch must have
stopped. Oh, I’m so
embarrassed. I know you
two need to take breaks,
too.
Amanda: Well, we’re far behind on
our work right now, so we
can’t take a break. We ’ r e
really counting on your help.
Jennifer: Then I’ll get right back to
work. I’ll apologize to
Sherry, too. (she leaves)
Amanda: (to herself) I think Jennifer will
work out just fine.
雅曼達：珍妮佛，妳忘了時間嗎？現在
已經過十點半了。
珍妮佛：什麼！我的錶一定停了。喔，
真不好意思。我知道妳們兩個
也需要休息。
雅曼達：是啊，但是我們的工作已經落
後一大段，沒時間休息。我們
真的很需要妳的幫忙。
珍妮佛：我現在就回去工作。我也會向
雪莉道歉。（她離開）
雅曼達：（對著自己說）我想珍妮佛會適應得不錯。

@word bank
struggle (v)
努力
brief (n)
提供給律師的案情摘要

urgent (adj)
緊急的

stagger (v)
使?錯開

@The Day's Phrase

This city in New Mexico is 400 years old and still thriving
來看看你該吃哪些新鮮食物，以及如何烹煮才能獲得最大健康效益

If you let him, Bill will eat you out of house and home.
你如果放任比爾，他會把你吃垮的。

I really do want to clean my room, but I just can't bring myself to do it.
我實在很想清理我的房間，但我就是提不起勁去做。

How many shirts can your cup of coffee make?
你手上的那杯咖啡能做多少件襯衫？

A little bird told me you were turning 50, but I'll keep it a secret.
有人偷偷告訴我說妳快五十歲了，但我會保守秘密的。

That student's presentation was a cut above all the others, so she was awarded the trophy.
那個學生的口頭報告最為出色，所以由她獲獎。

Some interesting facts about this amazing animal
這種了不起的動物趣聞可不少

Monica only buys things when they are on sale because she believes that a penny saved is a penny earned.
夢妮卡只在拍賣的時候才會買東西，因為她相信省一分錢就是賺一分錢。

Peter's mother kept telling him that a watched pot never boils, so he stopped anxiously
waiting for the mail to arrive.
彼得的媽媽告訴他，焦急的等待無所助益，所以他就不再急著等收到信了。

Examining my work performance
考察我的工作績效
Now that the clients from out of town have gone home, Janet is able to breathe again.
那些外地來的客戶已經回去了，珍娜可以鬆一口氣了。

Do you want to be part of the problem or part of the solution?
你想製造問題還是想解決問題？

Albert can do that blindfolded. I've seen him fix similar problems hundreds of times.
亞伯特做那件事是易如反掌。我已經看他解決類似的問題好幾百次了。

Is internet service for free?
上網需要費用嗎?
Where is the luggage claim?
請問託運行李在哪裏領?
Could I try this on?
我可以試穿這件嗎?
I'd like to have a tax refund, please.

請幫我退稅
Keep the change.
不用找了

His business went down the drain recently, and he still hasn't recovered from the shock.
他的事業最近一敗塗地，而且他還沒從那個打擊中恢復過來。
<<Washington Post>>
Chien-Ming Wang leads as Washington snaps five-game skid to Florida.
王建民率領國民中止對馬林魚的五連敗
<<Washington Times>>
Investment in Chien-Ming Wang finally starting to pay dividends for Nationals.
國民隊在王建民身上的投資,終於開始獲得股利
<<Washington Examiner>>
Nationals' Wang is winning a role.
國民隊的王建民可望爭取到重要角色
<<ESPN>>
Chien-Ming Wang turns in best outing since return from surgery.
王建民投出手術復出後最棒的比賽
Over the line? C.J. Wilson publishes Mike Napoli's phone number on Twittwe.

四海一家,乎乾啦

She's a midget. 她是哈比族

秋高氣爽採蘋果

「嵐」帶動招財貓風潮