In the world of American folk tales, almost anything can happen: A cowboy rides a tornado without a saddle. A huge lumberjack digs the Great Lakes to give his giant blue ox drinking water. A rabbit's big mouth gets him stuck in a bunch of tar. Sometimes, though, this world seems more like real life: A young farmer plants apple trees everywhere he goes. A man wins a race against a machine. Above all, this fantasy world finds people struggling
against circumstances— and winning.
在美國民間傳說的世界中，幾乎任何事都可能發生：一位牛仔可以
不用馬鞍而騎在龍捲風上；一個身材宏偉的伐木工人挖了「大湖」，好給他藍色
的巨牛喝水；或是一隻兔子因為愛說話而被卡在焦油裡。雖然如此，有時候傳
奇世界又似乎更像真實生活：一位年輕農夫在他所到之處種下蘋果樹；一個男
人在比賽中勝過一台機器。綜觀在這些充滿了幻想的世界裡，人們總是與環境
對抗——而最後贏得了勝利。
Tall tales, extraordinary tales of ordinary people and events, sprang from the days of the American pioneers. As the early settlers faced a rugged environment, they told stories of superhuman heroes. Paul Bunyan was a giant lumberjack who helped settle the Northwestern Territory. Bunyan could cut down a whole forest in less than an hour. His giant blue ox, Babe, could carry off the logs in one load.
在美國先民拓荒的歲月中，流傳出許多平凡人和事的誇大傳奇。由於早期
的移民者面臨了惡劣的環境，他們便傳說著一些超人式的英雄人物。保羅．邦
陽是一位伐木的大力士，他幫助到西北部來拓荒的移民安頓生活，他可以在一
小時內砍完整片森林，而他藍色的巨牛——寶貝，可以一車就拉完所有的木材。
Pecos Bill was the hero of American cowboys. Bill almost single-handedly
tamed the rough wilderness in the American Southwest. He was so tough he used a rattlesnake
for a lasso to rope in his cattle.
培寇士．比爾則是美國牛仔們的英雄，他幾乎單獨馴服了美國的西南部荒
漠，他很厲害可以用響尾蛇作繩索套住他的牛。
Not all American folk tales are so far from the truth. Some developed from real historical events. For example, Johnny Appleseed planted thousands of acres of apple trees in the Midwest. He gave apple seeds to everyone he met, encouraging them to plant trees, too. In fact, the real person behind the legend was John Chapman, an early pioneer. Chapman did indeed own many apple orchards.
並不是所有的美國民間傳說都這麼離譜，有些故事仍是從真實的歷史事件
發展出來的。例如：強尼．艾坡西（蘋果子）在中西部種植了好幾千畝的蘋果
樹，他送蘋果種子給所有他見到的人，並且鼓勵他們種樹。事實上，在此傳奇
背後的真實人物是約翰．查普曼，一位早期的拓荒者，查普曼則確實擁有很多
蘋果園。
Another legend grew up around John Henry, a black laborer helping dig a tunnel on a rail road line. A man with a steam drill boasted he could do the work of 20 men using hammers. John Henry challenged him to a race. After John Henry won, so the legend goes, he died from exhaustion. Actually, after winning the race, John Henry was killed by the collapse of the tunnel.
事實上，在此傳奇背後的真實人物是約翰．查普曼，一位早期的拓荒者，查普曼則確
實擁有很多蘋果園。另外一個傳奇則圍繞著約翰．亨利，他是一個在火車路線上協助
挖隧道的黑人勞工。有一個帶著蒸氣鑽洞機的男人自誇說，他一個人可以抵得上二
十個拿鐵鎚的工人。於是約翰．亨利就向他挑戰，這個故事流傳的結果是說在約翰．亨利
大勝之後，即因體力耗竭而過世，然而事實上，在贏了比賽之後，約翰．亨利是因隧道倒
塌而葬身其中的。
Some folk tales have come directly from the pages of American literature. Uncle Remus and his stories about Brer (Brother) Rabbit delight many young Americans. The most famous one,“Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby, ” tells how a big-mouthed rabbit gets himself into—and then out of—trouble. The writer, Joel Chandler Harris, heard many of the stories from slaves on a Southern plantation.
有些民間傳說直接來自美國文學作品。瑞莫斯叔叔和他的兔老弟的故事就帶給年輕的
美國人許多歡樂的時光，他最有名的故事「兔子老弟和焦油寶寶」，述說了一隻大嘴
巴的兔子如何陷入麻煩，又如何逃脫。這些故事的作者喬伊．千德勒．哈里斯從南方
大莊園上的黑奴那兒聽來了許多故事。Another popular tale came from the pen of Washington Irving. Rip Van Winkle, a poor farmer from New England, falls asleep during a hunting trip and sleeps for 20 years. When he awakens, his whole world has changed.
另一個很受歡迎的傳說是出自於華盛頓．爾文的筆下：瑞普．范恩．文克是一個新英格蘭
區的貧窮農夫，他去野外打獵時睡著了，而且一睡就是二十年，當他醒來的時候，整個
世界都已經改變了。
Of course, Americans didn't invent folk tales. Every culture has its own stories of common people dealing with life's challenges. Often these tales are passed down orally from generation to generation. Some of them, like Snow White, Cinderella and even Santa Claus, exist in different versions all over the world. Many others are unique to the cultures that tell them. But all reflect a common hope: to live “happily ever after.”
當然，民間傳說並不是美國人所發明的。在每個文化中都有屬於它們自己的故事，這些
故事講述著平凡人如何面對生活的挑戰。通常這些故事都是一代代地以口相傳，其中有
些以不同的版本流傳在世界各地，比如說白雪公主、灰姑娘，甚至是聖誕老公公。而有
許多傳說則是某特定文化才獨有的。然而所有的故事都反映出人們一個共同的願望：那
就是「從此過著幸福快樂的生活」。
@Word Bank
tornado (n) 龍捲風；颶風
saddle (n) 馬鞍
lumberjack (n) 伐木工人
tar (n) 黑油；焦油
single-handedly (adv) 獨自地
rattlesnake (n) 響尾蛇
orchard (n) 果園
against circumstances— and winning.
在美國民間傳說的世界中，幾乎任何事都可能發生：一位牛仔可以
不用馬鞍而騎在龍捲風上；一個身材宏偉的伐木工人挖了「大湖」，好給他藍色
的巨牛喝水；或是一隻兔子因為愛說話而被卡在焦油裡。雖然如此，有時候傳
奇世界又似乎更像真實生活：一位年輕農夫在他所到之處種下蘋果樹；一個男
人在比賽中勝過一台機器。綜觀在這些充滿了幻想的世界裡，人們總是與環境
對抗——而最後贏得了勝利。
Tall tales, extraordinary tales of ordinary people and events, sprang from the days of the American pioneers. As the early settlers faced a rugged environment, they told stories of superhuman heroes. Paul Bunyan was a giant lumberjack who helped settle the Northwestern Territory. Bunyan could cut down a whole forest in less than an hour. His giant blue ox, Babe, could carry off the logs in one load.
在美國先民拓荒的歲月中，流傳出許多平凡人和事的誇大傳奇。由於早期
的移民者面臨了惡劣的環境，他們便傳說著一些超人式的英雄人物。保羅．邦
陽是一位伐木的大力士，他幫助到西北部來拓荒的移民安頓生活，他可以在一
小時內砍完整片森林，而他藍色的巨牛——寶貝，可以一車就拉完所有的木材。
Pecos Bill was the hero of American cowboys. Bill almost single-handedly
tamed the rough wilderness in the American Southwest. He was so tough he used a rattlesnake
for a lasso to rope in his cattle.
培寇士．比爾則是美國牛仔們的英雄，他幾乎單獨馴服了美國的西南部荒
漠，他很厲害可以用響尾蛇作繩索套住他的牛。
Not all American folk tales are so far from the truth. Some developed from real historical events. For example, Johnny Appleseed planted thousands of acres of apple trees in the Midwest. He gave apple seeds to everyone he met, encouraging them to plant trees, too. In fact, the real person behind the legend was John Chapman, an early pioneer. Chapman did indeed own many apple orchards.
並不是所有的美國民間傳說都這麼離譜，有些故事仍是從真實的歷史事件
發展出來的。例如：強尼．艾坡西（蘋果子）在中西部種植了好幾千畝的蘋果
樹，他送蘋果種子給所有他見到的人，並且鼓勵他們種樹。事實上，在此傳奇
背後的真實人物是約翰．查普曼，一位早期的拓荒者，查普曼則確實擁有很多
蘋果園。
Another legend grew up around John Henry, a black laborer helping dig a tunnel on a rail road line. A man with a steam drill boasted he could do the work of 20 men using hammers. John Henry challenged him to a race. After John Henry won, so the legend goes, he died from exhaustion. Actually, after winning the race, John Henry was killed by the collapse of the tunnel.
事實上，在此傳奇背後的真實人物是約翰．查普曼，一位早期的拓荒者，查普曼則確
實擁有很多蘋果園。另外一個傳奇則圍繞著約翰．亨利，他是一個在火車路線上協助
挖隧道的黑人勞工。有一個帶著蒸氣鑽洞機的男人自誇說，他一個人可以抵得上二
十個拿鐵鎚的工人。於是約翰．亨利就向他挑戰，這個故事流傳的結果是說在約翰．亨利
大勝之後，即因體力耗竭而過世，然而事實上，在贏了比賽之後，約翰．亨利是因隧道倒
塌而葬身其中的。
Some folk tales have come directly from the pages of American literature. Uncle Remus and his stories about Brer (Brother) Rabbit delight many young Americans. The most famous one,“Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby, ” tells how a big-mouthed rabbit gets himself into—and then out of—trouble. The writer, Joel Chandler Harris, heard many of the stories from slaves on a Southern plantation.
有些民間傳說直接來自美國文學作品。瑞莫斯叔叔和他的兔老弟的故事就帶給年輕的
美國人許多歡樂的時光，他最有名的故事「兔子老弟和焦油寶寶」，述說了一隻大嘴
巴的兔子如何陷入麻煩，又如何逃脫。這些故事的作者喬伊．千德勒．哈里斯從南方
大莊園上的黑奴那兒聽來了許多故事。Another popular tale came from the pen of Washington Irving. Rip Van Winkle, a poor farmer from New England, falls asleep during a hunting trip and sleeps for 20 years. When he awakens, his whole world has changed.
另一個很受歡迎的傳說是出自於華盛頓．爾文的筆下：瑞普．范恩．文克是一個新英格蘭
區的貧窮農夫，他去野外打獵時睡著了，而且一睡就是二十年，當他醒來的時候，整個
世界都已經改變了。
Of course, Americans didn't invent folk tales. Every culture has its own stories of common people dealing with life's challenges. Often these tales are passed down orally from generation to generation. Some of them, like Snow White, Cinderella and even Santa Claus, exist in different versions all over the world. Many others are unique to the cultures that tell them. But all reflect a common hope: to live “happily ever after.”
當然，民間傳說並不是美國人所發明的。在每個文化中都有屬於它們自己的故事，這些
故事講述著平凡人如何面對生活的挑戰。通常這些故事都是一代代地以口相傳，其中有
些以不同的版本流傳在世界各地，比如說白雪公主、灰姑娘，甚至是聖誕老公公。而有
許多傳說則是某特定文化才獨有的。然而所有的故事都反映出人們一個共同的願望：那
就是「從此過著幸福快樂的生活」。
@Word Bank
tornado (n) 龍捲風；颶風
saddle (n) 馬鞍
lumberjack (n) 伐木工人
tar (n) 黑油；焦油
single-handedly (adv) 獨自地
rattlesnake (n) 響尾蛇
orchard (n) 果園
tunnel (n) 隧道
hammer (n) 鐵鎚
orally (adv) 口頭地
reflect (v) 反映
big-mouthed (adj) 大嘴巴的；愛說話的
hammer (n) 鐵鎚
orally (adv) 口頭地
reflect (v) 反映
big-mouthed (adj) 大嘴巴的；愛說話的
@The Day's Phrase
Sorting out your snapshots today will make reliving memories easier tomorrow
今日整理一下照片，將讓你明日重溫回憶變得更加輕鬆
Would you like a cup of tea? No thanks, I'm fine.
要來杯茶嗎？不用了，謝謝。我很好。
今日整理一下照片，將讓你明日重溫回憶變得更加輕鬆
Would you like a cup of tea? No thanks, I'm fine.
要來杯茶嗎？不用了，謝謝。我很好。
It's over now. No one will bother you ever again.
都結束了。不會再有人來煩你了。
都結束了。不會再有人來煩你了。
Marketers can use neuroscience to find out what you're thinking, even before you
know yourself
行銷人員可以運用神經科學來得知你的念頭，速度甚至比你本人更快
know yourself
行銷人員可以運用神經科學來得知你的念頭，速度甚至比你本人更快
Do you really want fish for dinner tonight? On second thought, let's have pork instead.
你今天晚餐真的想吃魚嗎？我又想了一想，我們還是吃豬肉吧。
你今天晚餐真的想吃魚嗎？我又想了一想，我們還是吃豬肉吧。
Is James going to be at the party on Saturday? Good question.
詹姆斯週六會去那個派對嗎？問得好。
詹姆斯週六會去那個派對嗎？問得好。
Mike spilled Coke on Julie's new white dress. It was an accident, so Julie
decided to grin and bear it rather than get angry.
麥可把可樂灑在茱莉全新的白洋裝上。由於是個意外，
所以茱莉就決定忍下這口氣而不計較了。
decided to grin and bear it rather than get angry.
麥可把可樂灑在茱莉全新的白洋裝上。由於是個意外，
所以茱莉就決定忍下這口氣而不計較了。
Singing out the beauty of hope
新加坡創作歌手符美雲唱出希望之美
新加坡創作歌手符美雲唱出希望之美
After Kerry broke up with her boyfriend, her best friend wanted to know all the details. Kerry met her friend for coffee and spilled the beans.
凱莉與男友分手後，她最的好朋友想知道所有的細節。
凱莉就約了她朋友喝咖啡，說出所有的秘密。
凱莉與男友分手後，她最的好朋友想知道所有的細節。
凱莉就約了她朋友喝咖啡，說出所有的秘密。
April's mom is planning a surprise birthday party for her. She wrote on the invitation,
"Please don't let the cat out of the bag!"
愛帛兒的媽媽正為她計劃著生日的驚喜派對。她在邀請函上寫著：「請別洩漏秘密！」
In America, workers at fast food restaurants take your order and then they usually say,
"Have a nice day." Sometimes they really mean it!
在美國，速食店店員在幫你點完餐後，他們通常會說「祝您有個美好的一天！」。
有時候他們真的是這個意思喔。
Andy Pettitte fractured his ankle in win.
"Please don't let the cat out of the bag!"
愛帛兒的媽媽正為她計劃著生日的驚喜派對。她在邀請函上寫著：「請別洩漏秘密！」
In America, workers at fast food restaurants take your order and then they usually say,
"Have a nice day." Sometimes they really mean it!
在美國，速食店店員在幫你點完餐後，他們通常會說「祝您有個美好的一天！」。
有時候他們真的是這個意思喔。
Andy Pettitte fractured his ankle in win.
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