Exploring Ecuador (1)

Enjoy a historic city and some unusual islands
深入探索──厄瓜多 流連拉丁美洲歷史文化與自然生態交錯之美

In 1978 the city of Quito and the Galapagos Islands became two of the twelve original UNESCO World Heritage sites. UNESCO chose Quito "as the best-preserved and least-altered historic city center in Latin America." They chose the Galapagos as a "unique living museum" that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded by the Spanish in 1534 on the ruins of an Inca city. It sits at an altitude of 2850 meters and is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes.

The best place to begin a visit may be in the historic city center, Quito's Old Town. Despite many earthquakes over the years, this area has changed very little since the 16th century. Its buildings combine Spanish, Italian, Moorish and Flemish styles with native influences. At the heart of Old Town lies Plaza Grande, a busy, beautiful square surrounded by buildings from colonial times. Try walking down La Ronda, a famous nearby street, and enjoy the shops and cafes.

While in Quito, don't miss the cable car to the top of Pichincha volcano and the city-wide view.

Info Cloud

Hi, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. I've been thinking about earthquakes as there was a sizable one last night. Did you feel last night's earthquake? Yes. It was a big one. It happened around 3 a.m. and woke me up. I was shaken to the core and could not sleep the rest of the night. I'm sorry to hear that. It was a stronger quake than usual. But we do have many earthquakes in Asia. Are there any earthquakes where you come from? I come from Ohio and had never experienced earthquakes until I moved to Asia. Oh, that makes sense, then. I can understand why you feel shaken to the core. Students, people say this phrase when they feel extremely shocked or surprised by something. Yes, it definitely gave me a big scare. I wasn't expecting it at all. You raised a good point. It is the things that we don't expect that shake us to the core the most. I guess earthquakes are something I need to get used to if I'm going to live here a long time. It won't do to constantly feel shaken to the core. 

當你碰到一件令你震驚或震撼的事情，你可以用 shaken to the core 來形容你的狀態。I was shaken to the core by that earthquake. 那場地震讓我感到很震驚。shaken 有撼動的涵義，to the core 是直達核心，shaken to the core 就是深深地被震驚。基本上，shaken to the core 是在形容一種相當恐懼的狀態，這個用語並不是在形容興奮或是亢奮的狀態，而是比較極度害怕的那一種負面情緒。

Language Lab

...

Does Birth Order Determine Your Personality? (2)

Youngest child - The "Baby" 

By the time the youngest family member is born, most parents have loosened their rules. Not as much is expected of the "babies," and they tend to have more freedom. They often enjoy amusing others and being the center of attention. They are typically fun-loving, creative people who aren't afraid to question authority or take risks. Famous youngest children include Jennifer Lawrence, Zhang Ziyi and Yo-Yo Ma. 

Only child - The "King of the Castle"

Life in the family of an only child often revolves around him or her. A single child doesn't have to share their toys or their parents' time. An only child enjoys learning from adults and is usually very clever for his or her age. Only children are creative and intelligent and can easily converse with adults. They are typically confident, independent and very successful. Famous only children include Tiger Woods, Jackie Chan and Li Na.

What about you? Does the birth order description match your personality?

Info Cloud

I wasn’t born yesterday.

Welcome to Info Cloud, friends. I was helping my daughter with her homework last night, and I discovered something. Anne Marie, did you know that tomatoes are really a fruit, not a vegetable? 

Of course I know that, Rex. I wasn't born yesterday. 

Wow. You don't have to be upset about it. 

Don't worry, I'm not mad. I just wanted to give our students an example of how to use today's phrase. I get it. 

See, a baby born yesterday is very new in the world. He doesn't know anything except for eating and sleeping. 

When someone says, "I wasn't born yesterday," they are implying that something is obvious. It could be because they feel slightly offended that you would doubt their knowledge, or it could be said as a little joke. 

Do you know how to find your way around the Taipei Metro system? 

Of course I do! I wasn't born yesterday. You could also say that someone was born yesterday as an insult, like this: 

Can you believe Levi insulted our boss like that? You'd think he was born yesterday. As for me, I was a little offended that Rex thought I didn't know that fact about tomatoes. After all, I wasn't born yesterday. 

當有人問一些很簡單的問題，例如: 你知道番茄算是水果不是蔬菜嗎? 被問的人可能會有點生氣的回答: I wasn’t born yesterday. 我不是昨天才出生的，我當然知道啊。I wasn’t born yesterday. 是在表達我不是什麼三歲小孩，什麼都不懂，你問我這個問題，簡單到好像在污辱我。除了自我防衛之外，有些人也會用這句話來攻擊別人。Levi easily fell for our prank. It’s as if he was born yesterday. Levi 看起來好像昨天才出生的，很容易就被我們捉弄了。

Language Lab

loosen v. 放鬆、放開之前比較嚴格的制度或要求 
to become or to cause (something) to become less strict
- The park service has agreed to loosen the regulations within the park.
公園管理局同意放寬公園內的規則。
- The king gradually loosened his control over his kingdom.
國王慢慢地放鬆他對他王國的掌控。
loosen v. 放鬆、放開很緊的東西
to make (something) less tight or firm : to make (something) loose or looser
- My shoes feel tight; let me loosen the shoelaces a bit.
我的鞋子覺得很緊，我要把鞋帶放鬆一點。
- Terry had trouble breathing, so he quickly loosened his necktie.
Terry 呼吸困難，所以他趕緊把領帶弄鬆。 

amuse v. 製造歡樂、讓人家感到開心
to make someone laugh or smile : to entertain (someone) in a light and pleasant way
- We were all laughing at the dinner table as Uncle John amused us with funny stories.
我們一起吃晚飯的時候，一直在笑，因為John 叔叔一直跟我們講好笑的故事。
- Dennis was acting like a clown, but I was not amused.
Dennis 動作像一個小丑一樣，可是我一點都不覺得好笑。
amuse v. 提供消遣 
to get the attention of (someone) in a pleasant way as time passes
- Paul amuses himself by working on crossword puzzles.
Paul 玩填字遊戲，來當作消遣。
- The old ladies at the park like to amuse themselves with the latest gossip.
公園裡的老太太們會拿最新八卦來當作消遣。 

revolve v. 環繞著  
to turn around a center point or line : rotate
- The moon revolves around the Earth.
月球繞著地球轉。
- Andrew is so self-centered; he acts as if the whole world revolves around him.
Andrew 非常以他自己為中心，好像全世界都環繞著他一樣。
- The children should not be playing around the revolving door; it’s not safe.
小朋友不應該在旋轉門那裡玩，那裡不安全。
revolve around (someone or something) 注重在、主要在於  
to have (someone or something) as a main subject or interest
- The writer’s stories are all about the same; they all revolve around the theme of courage.
那位作家的每一本書都差不多，都跟勇氣的主題有關。 

intelligent adj.  非常聰明的、理解力非常強的  
having or showing the ability to easily learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations : having or showing a lot of intelligence
- Many scientists would say dolphins are very intelligent animals.
很多科學家認為海豚是很聰明的動物。
- We need someone who is intelligent enough to understand this problem and creative enough to come up with a solution.
我們需要一位理解力很強的人來了解這個問題，而且他還要很有創意地想出解決的辦法。
intelligence n. 智力
the ability to learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations
- The researchers are testing the intelligence of the chimpanzee.
研究人員在測試黑猩猩的智力。
- The queen was a woman of great intelligence, and she governed her kingdom wisely.
女王是一位非常聰明的女人，她很有智慧地治理她的王國。

Does Birth Order Determine Your Personality? (1)

Where do you fit into your family’s birth order?
出生順序心理學 你在家中排老幾？！

Within your family, are you the "boss," the "peacemaker," the "baby" or the "king"? Many researchers believe your position in the family influences your personality.

Firstborn - The "Boss"

First-time parents often have very high expectations for their eldest children. As a result, these kids are often responsible, organized, bossy, successful achievers.

Firstborns tend to be natural leaders who respect and trust authority. Many astronauts and engineers are firstborn children. Famous firstborns include Neil Armstrong, the first person on the moon. Also on the list are Albert Einstein, William Shakespeare and Beyonce. 

Middle child - The "Peacemaker"

Typically, parents don't give middle children as much attention as the firstborn or the youngest. That often causes middle kids to feel a bit neglected. As a result, they are usually determined to achieve success in their own way. 

They don't like conflict and will try to avoid it. They are often realistic, independent, patient peacemakers and good communicators. Famous middle children include Jeremy Lin, Bill Gates and Ang Lee.

Info Cloud

third wheel / fifth wheel 指那個多餘的人

Welcome to Info Cloud, everyone. Last night I went to see a movie with two of my good friends. I was really looking forward to it, but I just felt left out the entire time. 

Well, you know, those two you're talking about just started dating. It's easy to feel like a third wheel around people like that. It won't feel that way forever. But while we're on that topic, let's discuss "third wheel". 

Good idea. It is an interesting phrase. Sometimes people will say "fifth wheel," too. Do you know the origin? 

I do. Most vehicles have either two or four wheels. The third one or the fifth one is extra - and I hate to say it - useless and wanted. 

Yeah. That's just how I felt around my two dating friends: totally useless and unwanted. Can this phase be used in situations other than when two people are dating? 

Yes. No one likes to play on the playground with Cindy and Hannah. They make everyone else feel like a third wheel. It's not a good feeling. Students, remember, calling someone a third or fifth wheel means you feel they are not necessary to the group or are unwanted. 

How about you, students? Have you ever felt like a third wheel? 

當一對情侶在一起的時候，出現了另外一位朋友，我們通常會說他是電燈泡，英文可以用 third wheel 或 fifth wheel 來形容那多出來的人。third wheel 或 fifth wheel 分別是第三或第五個輪子，這世界上的交通工具通常不是兩輪就是四輪，如果出現 third wheel 或 fifth wheel 那就完全沒有用處。因此，third wheel 或 fifth wheel 就是指那個多餘的人。I felt like a third wheel around my two dating friends. 我在那兩位正在交往的朋友身邊，感覺好像是多餘的人。

Language Lab

peacemaker n. 一位調解人、使人和好的人
a person who helps to prevent or stop an argument, a fight, or a war
- Andy has two older brothers and two younger sisters, and he has always been the peacemaker in the family. 
Andy 有兩位哥哥及兩位妹妹，他在他們家老是扮演調解人。
- When people get into arguments, Carl is always the peacemaker.
當人們之間有爭議的時候，Carl 往往是調解人。
- Because the tribe leader is a peacemaker, people go to him whenever there is a problem.
因為部落的領袖是調解人，所以誰有什麼問題就會去找他調解。 

achiever n. 有成就的人   
a person who achieves success : a successful person
achieve v. 成就、達成
to get or reach (something) by working hard
- We hope to achieve our goals by the end of this year.
我們希望在年底可以達到目標。
- Every single student in this class is a high achiever.
這個班裡的每一位同學都是成績很好的人。
high achiever n. 成績優秀的人
hardworking and successful
low achiever n. 成就不怎麼樣的人
an unsuccessful person who does not work hard
- The boss wanted to fire every single worker who was a low achiever.
老闆打算解雇每一位績效不彰的員工。 

neglect v. 疏忽、忽視   
to fail to take care of or to give attention to (someone or something)
- How could Richard have neglected to tell us that important detail.
Richard 怎麼會漏了告訴我們那個重要的細節呢?
- Marlene didn’t mean to neglect her guests; she suddenly had an important phone call to make.
Marlene 不是故意要忽視她的客人，她只是突然有一個很重要的電話要打。
neglect n. 疏忽、忽視   
lack of attention or care that someone or something needs
- The neighbor’s yard used to be very neat, but now it is in complete neglect.
鄰居的院子本來保持得很整齊，但是現在完全被忽視。
- The poor dog was kept in a cage and suffered from neglect.
可憐的小狗被關在籠子裡遭受忽視。

communicator n. 溝通者 
communicate v. 溝通
to give information about (something) to someone by speaking, writing, moving your hands, etc.
- The company is looking for someone who is an effective communicator to lead its public relations department.
公司在尋找一位溝通能力強的人，來擔任公關部主管。
- James is often misunderstood because he is not a good communicator.
James 常常被誤會，因為他不是一位善於溝通的人。
communicator n. 溝通電子產品
- In a lot of sci-fi movies, the characters use fancy communicators to talk to each other.
在很多科幻片裡，裡面的角色用很炫的溝通器彼此通話。
- The communicator is not broken; it just needs a new battery.
通訊器沒有壞掉，只是需要一顆新的電池而已。

Want to Be a Better Job Interviewer? Start Mirroring (2)

Mirroring is a conversational technique that establishes rapport, helps others open up and lets you get past the canned 
「鏡像模仿」幫你找到對的人這種談話技巧能建立融洽關係、助人敞開心胸、讓人不再制式回應

Do that, and you accomplish at least two things. One, you show you're actually listening. Two, you show you want to know more... and the candidate will give you more. As Voss says, "People love to be mirrored. They love to be encouraged to go on."

Mirroring sounds more conversational. Asking follow-up questions is important but can seem interrogative: "What did you do next?" "How did that turn out?" 

Each also sounds potentially judgmental. What the candidate did, how things turned out - the answers could be positive or negative.

But mirroring takes "judgment" out of the equation. Mirroring says, "That's interesting. Tell me more." 

Say you ask a sales candidate to describe the toughest sales call she ever made. 

Candidate: "... but I pushed through."

You: "Pushed through?"

Candidate: "... until I realized what his real needs were."

You: "His real needs?"

Keep mirroring and you'll learn how the candidate navigated the call, built rapport, dealt with rejection, found the right strategy, etc. 

By repeating the last three or four words the candidate says, you'll turn what could have been a question-and-answer session into an engaging conversation. And get a better sense of their motivation, outlook and cultural fit. 

Info Cloud

spill the tea / spill the gossip / spill the beans 形容分享祕密

Hello, everyone. Welcome to Info Cloud. Anne Marie, I heard a really big secret this morning, and I've been dying to tell you. 

Rex, what are you waiting for? Spill the tea! 

I will as soon as we explain "spill the tea" to our friends. 

OK, fine. Spill means to reveal confidential information to someone. Maybe you've heard the phrase: spill the gossip? 

Gossip is information about someone else. It's usually something about their personal life. 

Like the secret Rex has to tell me. 

Not yet. Anne Marie, we're not done teaching. In this phrase, "tea" has become synonymous with gossip. 

It's easy to imagine how "spill the tea" came to mean the same thing as "spill the gossip". 

Yep. And "spill the beans" means essentially the same thing. Although this phrase is older, it also carries the idea of letting information slip that you shouldn't have. 

I guess you could say that people have always been spilling the gossip. "Spill the tea" is just a trendier way to say it. OK, Rex. It's time to spill the tea. 

當有人正在講八卦，或是分享祕密的時候，你可以說他正在: spill the tea，spill是灑出來的意思，tea是茶，spill the tea 字面上就是把茶灑出來，用來形容分享祕密。你也可以說: spill the gossip，因為gossip是流言蜚語或是小道消息。在這邊，tea 跟 gossip 就有一樣的涵義。當你想要你的朋友告訴你某個秘密，你可以跟他說: Come on, spill the tea. 除了 spill the tea 和 gossip 之外，你也可以說 spill the beans. 字面上是把豆子灑出來，跟 spill the tea 有一樣的涵義。

Language Lab

interrogative adj. 疑問的 
/ˌɪntəˈrɑːgətɪv/
asking a question : having the form or force of a question
- James was acting goofy, and the people around him all had an interrogative look on their faces.
James 的動作很奇怪，他周遭的人臉上表情充滿疑問。
- My coworker gave me an interrogative stare when I walked into the office with the giant box.
我拿著超大的箱子子走進辦公室的時候，我的同事看著我的眼神充滿疑問。
interrogate v. 審問、訊問 
/ɪnˈterəˌgeɪt/
to ask (someone) questions in a thorough and often forceful way
- The spy was captured and taken to a secret base where he would be interrogated.
那個間諜被抓了之後，被帶到一個秘密基地去訊問。
- When you’re going on a first date with someone, don’t make them feel like you’re interrogating them.
當你第一次跟人家約會的時候，不要讓對方覺得你在審問他。 

equation  n. 數學、化學的方程式 
mathematics : a statement that two expressions are equal (such as 8 + 3 = 11 or 2x – 3 = 7)
- The teacher was surprised at how quickly the student was able to solve the equation.
老師對學生解方程式的快速感，感到驚訝。
- The professor wrote an equation on the board for everyone to see.
教授在板上寫了一個方程式給大家看。
equation  n. 有多種因素的狀況 
a complicated situation or issue — usually singular
- The situation is very complicated, and I’m trying to find a way to remove myself from the equation.
情況很複雜，所以我在想如何把自己從況況中抽出來。
- The use of smartphones has completely changed the equation when it comes to our forms of communication.
智慧型手機的使用，對我們溝通的方式帶來了很大的改變。 

navigate v. 為船隻或車輛導航   
to find the way to get to a place when you are traveling in a ship, airplane, car, etc.
- When Patrick goes on a road trip, he relies on his GPS to navigate.
Patrick 開車長途旅行時會依賴GPS來導航。
navigate v. 導向
to control the direction of (something, such as a ship or airplane) : steer
- Please don’t ask Serena to navigate; she can’t read a map.
請不要讓Serena 幫你導向，她不知道怎麼看地圖。
navigate v. 確定方向
- How do salmons navigate their way back to their place of birth?
鮭魚是如何確定方向，游回他們出生的地點呢?
navigate v. 在一個狀況或是問題當中逐漸確定，並導正方向 
- It was a miracle that we were able to navigate through that crisis.
我們得以在那危機當中度過，真的是一個奇蹟。 

outlook n. 看法、觀點 
the way that a person thinks about things
- Sam has a negative outlook on everything and likes to criticize things.
Sam 看事情都很悲觀，所以很愛批評。
- Alice has changed her outlook on things, and it’s made her a happier person.
Alice 改變了她的觀點，她人也因此變得比較開朗。
outlook n. 前景 
a set of conditions that will probably exist in the future : the future of someone or something — usually singular
- The weather outlook for the coast is pretty good for this weekend.
這周末，氣象預報說海岸區的天氣會不錯。
- With the way the team is playing in this game, the outlook is not very favorable.
以球隊在這場球賽的表現來看，前景不是很樂觀。

Pet Influencers (2)

Mr. Bagel was adopted from a shelter. Now he's Instagram's favorite chinchilla! Mr. Bagel has sweet black eyes, big gray ears and soft white fur. He is often seen posing with tiny furniture or pushing a tiny shopping cart. Though he isn't Instagram's biggest influencer, this little guy has more than 100,000 followers. 

Mr. Bagel encourages his followers to say "no" to wearing fur. Chinchilla fur is very soft, and it is often used to make coats. 

Around 150 chinchillas must be killed to make one fur coat. It is no wonder that MR. Bagel feels strongly about this cause! 

Then there is Hamlet the Piggy, who boasts more than 300,000 Instagram followers. Hamlet is famous for her unique sense of fashion. Her online posts are a joy to many people. But Hamlet focuses on helping one person. Her main job is being her owner's therapy pig.

Social media followers can't get enough of these animal celebrities. They can't wait to see what they will post next!

Info Cloud

go down the rabbit hole 形容這件事情迷到無法自拔的情況

Welcome back to Info Cloud, friends. Growing up, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland sparked my imagination. In that book, Alice falls down a rabbit hole and finds herself in Wonderland. 

"Going down the rabbit hole" now has a different meaning because of the story. This concept means to go on a strange, illogical journey. It can be literal or in your mind. 

While daydreaming during class, Isaac fell down the rabbit hole of imagining what would happen if aliens took over the world. 

This phrase is commonly used in reference to the Internet. In Alice's story, she fell through the hole for a long time. 

That's why when someone goes down the rabbit hole on the Internet, they're spending a lot of time reading or researching things that they didn't mean to. Sometimes I go down the rabbit hole researching idioms for Info Cloud. I get lost reading so many different articles online that I can't even remember what I was looking for in the first place. 

You might even hear someone ask, "How far down the rabbit hole are you willing to go?" or say: "Don't go down the rabbit hole." This means they are warning you not to go on a crazy journey because you may discover things you didn't want to know in the first place. 

在網路時代，人們經常不經意地被某些內容吸引，一看就是幾個小時，浪費了許多時間，英文有一句諺語 go down the rabbit hole，就是用來形容這件事情迷到無法自拔的情況。Don’t go down the rabbit hole of the Internet. 不要被網路迷惑到無法自拔。go down the rabbit hole 這句諺語是源自於經典名作《愛麗絲夢遊仙境》裡的情節，女主角愛麗絲掉進 rabbit hole 兔子洞裡，不停地向下墜落，到了一個令她困惑又驚奇的地方。down the rabbit hole 通常是用來形容一種越陷越深的情況，像是看電視或是跟人展開一場激烈的討論，讓你一頭栽進去。

Language Lab

shelter n. 庇護所、收容所  
a place that provides food and protection for people or animals that need assistance
- We want to get a dog, so we will take a trip to the animal shelter to adopt one.
我們想要一隻狗，所以會去動物收容所領養一隻。 
shelter n. 遊民的收容所 
a structure that covers or protects people or things
- A lot of people donate food to local shelters during the holiday season.
很多人會在佳節期間為當地收容所捐食物。 
shelter n. 受虐者的庇護所
- The counselor helps out at the women’s shelter.
那位輔導員會到婦女受虐者的庇護所幫忙。 
shelter n. 遮蓋、提供遮蓋的地方
the state of being covered and protected from danger, bad weather, etc.
- Let’s try to find some shelter before it starts raining hard.
在雨還沒有下很大之前，我們趕緊找個可以遮雨的地方吧。 

pose v. 擺姿勢   
to stand, sit, or lie down in a particular position as a model for a photograph, painting, etc.
- Gloria wanted to pose next to the boat but then she fell into the water.
Gloria 想要站在船邊擺姿勢，結果不小心掉入水裡。
pose v. 引起問題
/ˈpoʊz/
to be or create (a possible threat, danger, problem, etc.)
- Making sure the boss’s young son was doing his job posed a problem for the manager.
要一直確認老闆的兒子有在工作，造成經理的困擾。
pose v. 提出問題
to ask or suggest (a question)
- The delegate posed a question during the conference.
那位代表在大會中提出了一個問題。
pose v.  假裝、冒充 
pose as [phrasal verb] pose as (someone or something)
to pretend to be (someone or something) in order to deceive people
- In the movie, a police officer posed as a drug dealer and got himself into trouble.
在電影裡，一位警察冒充毒販，結果碰到麻煩。 

boast v. 擁有值得驕傲的東西 
to have (something that is impressive)
- The town boasted one of the best universities in the country.
在那座城市，擁有全國最好的大學之一。
- That restaurant may not have the best food, but it sure boasts a great view.
那家餐廳的菜雖然不怎麼樣，但是它卻有超級無敵的景觀。
boast v. 誇耀、吹牛
to express too much pride in yourself or in something you have, have done, or are connected to in some way
- Nobody really wants to work with Sammy, because he is always boasting about his past achievement.
沒有人想跟Sammy 一起工作，因為他老是在誇耀他以前的成就。
- The king got very drunk and started boasting about his riches.
國王喝醉酒，開始誇耀自己的財富。 

unique adj. 獨一無二的、獨特的 
used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else
- The artist was known for his unique painting style.
那位藝術家因為他的畫風很獨特而出名。
unique adj. 獨有的
very special or unusual
- Each piece of jewelry was hand-made and every single one of them was unique.
每一件首飾都是手工的，每一件都很獨特。
- Sumo Wrestling is unique to Japan.
相撲摔角是日本獨有的。 
unique adj. 難得的事情 
belonging to or connected with only one particular thing, place, or person — + to
- It is such a unique opportunity for these children to participate in an international tournament.
這些小朋友能夠參加國際比賽，真的是一個很難得的機會。

Seven Habits of the Happiest People (2)

4. They express gratitude.

Several research studies indicate that a deep sense of gratitude can increase happiness levels by up to 25 percent and help reduce anxiety and depression. The evidence also shows that grateful people  are more resilient and sleep better.

5. They are generous. 

In one study of more than 600 Americans, "happiness was predicted by the amount of money they gave away: The more they invested in others, the happier they were." Science also confirms that giving is good for our health and evokes gratitude. 

6. They exercise patience. 

In one 2012 study, researchers found that people exhibiting the rare trait of patience made more progress toward their goals and were more satisfied when they achieved them. Other research also found that patient people tend to experience less depression and negative emotions and can cope better with stressful situations. Additionally, they feel more gratitude, more connection to others and experience a greater sense of abundance. 

7. The deep a gratitude journal.

Science says you can train your brain to be happy and optimistic if you journal three things daily for which you are grateful. And you do it for 21 days in a row. 

Info Cloud

chasing paper  形容人們追求金錢

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Recently, I have been thinking about the role of money in our lives. Is it wrong for people to be chasing paper? 

Well, I think you should explain what chasing paper means before we continue this deep discussion on money. 

Oh, sorry. Chasing paper means to be only interested in making money or chasing money, you know, because money is made of paper and ink. 

Chasing paper is often used in a negative way to describe someone loving money too much that they put too much effort into making it. 

Because the word paper tends to remind us what money really is, and there are more important things in life worth our attention. On the other hand, chasing paper can be used in a neutral way. 

For example, if someone is trying to support their family, the person would do any kind of work, you could say: She doesn't really like her job. She's just chasing paper. 

今天跟大家分享的用語相當有趣，那就是 chasing paper，字面上是「跟著紙後面跑」，這是什麼意思? chasing paper 是形容人們追求金錢。例如，John is just chasing paper at work. John 在工作上只是追求金錢，可能他根本不喜歡那份工作。雖然 chasing paper 通常是負面的使用，但他也可以客觀的形容賺錢這件事情。例如，一個人為了養家，他願意做任何工作，他可以說: I’m chasing paper to support my family. 我要賺錢養家。

Language Lab

resilient adj. 很有適應能力  
 /rɪˈzɪljənt/
able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens
- Although the job was difficult, the worker was resilient and able to get everything done.
工做雖然艱難，但是那位工人適應能力很強，並且能夠把該做的事都做完。
- The manager noticed how resilient the intern was and offered him a full-time job.
經理注意到實習生的適應能力很強，所以給他一份全職的工作。
resilient adj. (東西)很有彈性的、可以恢復到原來的狀態的 
able to return to an original shape after being pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, etc.
- The company has a new product, but the material isn’t very resilient.
那家公司有新的產品，但是產品質料的彈性不夠好。
- The inventor is trying to come up with a fabric that is both resilient and 100 percent natural.
發明家想發明一種有彈性的純天然布料。

evoke v. 引起   
to cause (a particular reaction or response) to happen
- The king’s many foolish decisions have evoked a series of protests across the country.
國王的這些愚昧的決定，已經引起全國各地的抗議。
- The actor played the villains so well that it evoked a feeling of disgust within me.
那位演員演壞人演得非常好，看了會引起我內心的一種厭惡感。
evoke v. 想起、喚起 
to bring (a memory, feeling, image, etc.) into the mind
- Listening to that song on the radio evoked ugly memories of the past.
在廣播中聽到那首歌，就想起一些過去很不好的回憶。
- It’s amazing how the food in this restaurant evokes the flavors of my grandmother’s cooking.
這家餐廳的菜很神奇地讓我想起我祖母煮飯的味道。

exercise  v. 運動  
to do physical activities in order to make yourself stronger and healthier
- As we walked into the jungle, our guide told us to exercise caution.
當我們進入叢林時，我們的嚮導警告我們一定要非常小心。
exercise  v. 使用
to use (an ability, power, etc.)
- It is sad how these people do not know how to exercise their right to free speech.
這些人不懂得如何行使他們的言論自由，真是很悲哀。
exercise  n. 運動 
physical activity that is done in order to become stronger and healthier
- The young king was eager to exercise his power.
年輕的國王迫不期待地要行使他的權力。

trait n. 特質、特徵
a quality that makes one person or thing different from another
- David has so many wonderful traits, but patience is not one of them.
David 有很多很棒的特質，但是耐性不是其中一個。
- When a girl was asked to list all the positive traits of her boyfriend, she couldn’t think of any.
當那位女孩被問到她男朋友有那些好的特質時，她想不出任何一個。
- Beatrice knew Clancy was dishonest, and that was a trait she could not accept.
Beatrice 知道Clancy 人不老實，而那是一個她無法接紹的特性。

Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons (1)

Press
集合啦！動物森友會按下A鍵就能打造自己的專屬島嶼

This past spring Nintendo released a new version of its popular Animal Crossing game. It was an instant hit. People loved the open-ended game play. They also loved the chance to share their in-game work with friends. It was perfect for people stuck at home because of the coronavirus. 

The game begins with a loan from Tom Nook, owner of Nook, Inc. He wants your help exploring a deserted island. The loan covers your trip to the island and a few basic things to use there. 

Once you arrive, you must make your own equipment such as shovels, fishing poles and ladders. Then you can go fishing, catch bugs, collect fruit and explore. Everything you find you can sell to Tom Nook. Within a few days, you should have earned enough to pay back the loan.

Tom Nook decides that you are just the person to help develop the island. He gives you a bigger loan to build a house. You become the island representative in charge of making all the decisions. 

Info Cloud

Lend me your ears. 請聽我說

Welcome to Info Cloud, everyone. Lend me your ears, and I will share some wonderful English idioms with you. 

I'm glad you said this is an idiom because I don't really want to borrow anyone's ears.

Me, either. This idiom is a way to ask someone to listen to you or pay attention to what you have to say. 

Are there other things we can lend beside our ears? 

Yes. You can lend your name to something or someone. That means you give it public support or you officially associate your name with it. 

Oh, like if a celebrity lends his or her name to a political campaign. 

Yes. People who are fans of that person might be influenced to vote for the candidate they support. 

You can also lend weight or support to something. Both of these words mean making an idea appear more true or correct. 

In this case, it doesn't have to be a person. For example, that research paper lends weight to her theory; or he found several books to lend support to his thesis. 

今天要跟大家介紹跟lend有關的流行用語，lend 是借東西給別人，Lend me your ears. 就是把你的耳朵借給我，意思就是請聽我說。如果你要支持某個行動，你可以lend your name，把你的名字借給別人，他們就可以說你是支持他們的，明星代言也是這個意思。另外，lend weight to something 代表讓一件事情更有正當性和真實性，That research paper lends weight to her theory. 那份研究報告更加證實她的理論。

Language Lab

loan n. 貸款、借款 
an amount of money that is given to someone for a period of time with a promise that it will be paid back : an amount of money that is borrowed
- Vivienne has paid back her school loan.
Vivienne 已還清她的助學貸款。
- Ronald is going to the bank to apply for a loan.
Ronald 要去銀行，申請貸款。
on loan ph.  東西被借出、人才暫時效勞於另外一個單位
borrowed from someone or something for a period of time
- These ancient manuscripts are on loan from a private collector.
這些古卷是從一位私人收藏家借來的。
- Sullivan is working with human resources, but he’s actually on loan from the finance department.
Sullivan 在人力資源部工作，他其實是從財務借來的人才。

deserted adj. 空無一人的
/dɪˈzɚtɪd/
there were no people
- The hikers found a deserted cabin in the mountains.
登山客在山裡找到一間空無一人的小屋。
- Jacob often goes to a deserted beach to be by himself.
Jacob 常常會去某個空蕩的海灘，好獨自一人。
deserted adj. 被離棄、撇掉的
abandoned
- In the movie, a fisherman finds a deserted ship in the middle of the ocean.
在影片裡，一位漁夫在大海中找到一個被遺棄的船。
- The deserted soldier had to find a way to survive in enemy territory.
這名被拋下的軍人，得想辦法在敵區存活下來。 

shovel n. 鏟子 v. 用鏟子移動東西
a tool with a long handle that is used for lifting and throwing dirt, sand, snow, etc.
- We want to move this pile of dirt, but we need to get some shovels.
我們要把這堆土移掉，是必須先拿幾把鏟子來。
- The children are playing in the sand with their toy shovels.
小朋友拿著玩具鏟子在沙堆裡玩耍。
shovel v. 用鏟子移動東西 
to lift and throw (dirt, sand, snow, etc.) with a shovel
- Snow is pretty to look at, but shoveling it is not fun.
雪看起來很美，但是你要剷雪可就不好玩了。
- Allen hurt his back while he was shoveling dirt.
Allen 在鏟土的時候，傷到他的背。 

representative n. 代表  adj. 代表的、典型的
someone who acts or speaks for or in support of another person or group
- A representative from the company was sent to the overseas factory to inspect the work there.
公司派一位代表去海外的工廠，檢查那邊的工作。
- Please call this phone number if you wish to speak to a customer service representative.
如果跟我們的客服代表聯絡，請撥打這個電話號碼。
representative adj. 代表的、典型的 
typical of a particular group of people or of a particular thing
- The painting is not representative of the artist’s work.
這幅畫不代表那位藝術家的傑作。
- The clothing worn by our tour guide is representative of what the women wear in that region.
我們導遊穿的衣服，是當地婦女們典型的衣著。