很顯然地，母親對每個人來說都非常重要。她們是我們學習如何去關愛別人的榜樣。事實上，幾乎沒有人能想像如果沒有母親的幫助和指引，我們的人生會是如何。因此毫不意外的是，每個國家都設有一個節日來頌揚母親、母性以及她們對社會所產生的影響。這個節日最普遍就定在五月的第二個星期日。而今年的母親節是在五月十三日這一天。
The idea to have a holiday just for celebrating mothers comes from many sources. Long ago, there were ancient events that included honoring women and mothers. However, it was the influence of women in the US that really set the stage for this holiday. Julia Ward Howe, a writer, poet, and social activist, first suggested the idea of Mother's Day in 1870. Her inspiration was her belief that women had a responsibility to make societies better. Some years later, Ann Jarvis turned this idea into Mother's Friendship Day as a way to cope with the aftermath of the Civil War. After Jarvis' death, her daughter Anna became the first to fight for Mother's Day becoming an official holiday. She finally succeeded in 1914.
為了讚頌母親而設立節日的這個想法有諸多起源。在很久以前就有許多古老的慶祝活動是與頌揚女性和母親有關。然而真正讓這個節日水到渠成的是美國女性的影響力。1870年，身兼作家、詩人和社會激進份子等多種身分的茱莉亞‧沃德‧荷伊首次提出了母親節這個構想。其靈感是來自於她深信女性應身負改善社會的責任。若干年後，安‧賈維斯將這個理念轉化為母親友誼日，以應付南北內戰後的餘波。賈維斯過世後，她的女兒安娜成了極力爭取將母親節變為國定假日的先驅。她的努力最終在1914年開花結果。
@Words & Phrases
1. obvious a. 顯然的，顯而易見的
It is obvious when Pinocchio lies because his nose grows longer.
皮諾丘說謊的時候會很明顯，因為他的鼻子會變長。
2. guidance n. 指導，指引
The nurse offered Anita guidance on how to care for her baby.
護士小姐指點安妮塔要如何照顧她的寶寶。
3. it comes as no surprise （某事）並不意外∕突然
It came as no surprise that the hard-working employee got promoted.
大家都不意外那位工作認真的員工會獲得升遷。
4. influence n. 影響
Parents have a huge influence over their children's personalities and behavior.
父母會大大影響孩子們的人格和行為舉止。
5. fall on + 日子 （特殊事件、慶典等）落在某個日子
The Moon Festival falls on a Sunday this year.
今年的中秋節落在星期日。
6. set the stage for... 使……成為可能；為……做準備
The negotiations fell through, setting the stage for the bus drivers' strike.
這一連串的協商都破了局，導致這場公車司機大罷工的發生。
7. cope with... 處理∕應付……
I was amazed at Cindy's ability to cope with the difficult situation.
辛蒂處理危機的能力令我感到很驚艷。
8. succeed vi. 成功
We finally succeeded in getting our stubborn grandfather to have a health check-up.
我們終於成功讓我們頑固的祖父去做健康檢查。
It is obvious when Pinocchio lies because his nose grows longer.
皮諾丘說謊的時候會很明顯，因為他的鼻子會變長。
2. guidance n. 指導，指引
The nurse offered Anita guidance on how to care for her baby.
護士小姐指點安妮塔要如何照顧她的寶寶。
3. it comes as no surprise （某事）並不意外∕突然
It came as no surprise that the hard-working employee got promoted.
大家都不意外那位工作認真的員工會獲得升遷。
4. influence n. 影響
Parents have a huge influence over their children's personalities and behavior.
父母會大大影響孩子們的人格和行為舉止。
5. fall on + 日子 （特殊事件、慶典等）落在某個日子
The Moon Festival falls on a Sunday this year.
今年的中秋節落在星期日。
6. set the stage for... 使……成為可能；為……做準備
The negotiations fell through, setting the stage for the bus drivers' strike.
這一連串的協商都破了局，導致這場公車司機大罷工的發生。
7. cope with... 處理∕應付……
I was amazed at Cindy's ability to cope with the difficult situation.
辛蒂處理危機的能力令我感到很驚艷。
8. succeed vi. 成功
We finally succeeded in getting our stubborn grandfather to have a health check-up.
我們終於成功讓我們頑固的祖父去做健康檢查。
@Extra Words
1. motherhood n. 母性
2. activist n.（欲改善社會或政治現況的）積極份子
3. aftermath n.（災難、戰爭等結束後的）餘殃，餘波
4. civil war n. 內戰（字首大寫時專指1861年的美國南北內戰）
2. activist n.（欲改善社會或政治現況的）積極份子
3. aftermath n.（災難、戰爭等結束後的）餘殃，餘波
4. civil war n. 內戰（字首大寫時專指1861年的美國南北內戰）
@Tips In Use
few 和 a few 的不同
few 和 a few 之後接的都是可數名詞，但 few 含否定意味，表『幾乎沒有』之意；而 a few 則含有肯定意味，意指『還有一些』。此外，類似情況的還有 little（幾乎沒有）以及 a little（還有一點），唯兩者之後接的都是不可數名詞，各位讀者在使用時務必小心。
Those eggs should hatch in a few days.
（那些蛋應該會在幾天內孵化。）
There has been too much rain and too little sun recently.
（最近雨實在下得太多，而且幾乎沒什麼陽光。）
few 和 a few 之後接的都是可數名詞，但 few 含否定意味，表『幾乎沒有』之意；而 a few 則含有肯定意味，意指『還有一些』。此外，類似情況的還有 little（幾乎沒有）以及 a little（還有一點），唯兩者之後接的都是不可數名詞，各位讀者在使用時務必小心。
Those eggs should hatch in a few days.
（那些蛋應該會在幾天內孵化。）
There has been too much rain and too little sun recently.
（最近雨實在下得太多，而且幾乎沒什麼陽光。）
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