SIGN LANGUAGE (2)

Deaf people and hearing people have many strong opinions about sign language. Some contend that deaf people should learn to read lips instead of signing. They argue that deaf people who only sign are isolated and cut off from the rest of society. Many people disagree, claiming that ASL is simply their natural language. Educators debate whether American deaf people should use ASL or one of the other varieties of signed English. 

Whether you're deaf or hearing, learning sign language can be an enriching experience. It can help you make new friends. If you're hearing, perhaps you'll want to become an interpreter for the Deaf. You can help them understand talks or deal with medical or legal situations. 

Maybe you could become a teacher of the Deaf yourself. If you ever have a deaf child, you will be able to use sign language as a tool of communication. 

Don't worry that sign language is too hard to learn. It really can be as easy as ABC.

Info Cloud

A sign of the times 時代特徵
- It's a sign of the times that more people are working from home.

a short sign 
- Her diamond ring is a sure sign that she's engaged.

Language Lab
contend v. 聲稱 主張
to argue or state (something) in a strong and definite way
- Around 2500 to 3000 years ago, people contended that the Earth was flat.
contend v. 
to compete with someone or for something
- Athletes from around the world traveled to Tokyo this last summer to contend for gold medals in their various sports. 
contend with [phrasal verb] 應付
contend with (something) : to deal with (something difficult or unpleasant)
- Every summer it seems farmers have to contend with too much or too little rain. 

isolate v.
to put or keep (someone or something) in a place or situation that is separate from others
- Two of the skiers were isolated from their group by an unexpected snowstorm in the mountains.   
- To prevent the spread of Covid, people were isolated for two weeks if they had been exposed to someone who had it or had traveled abroad.
- It is very easy for immigrants to feel isolated.                                                                                              
enrich v. 使豐富 使充實
to improve the quality of (something) : to make (something) better
- Rob feels his mind was enriched when he went to college because he was exposed to information he had never heard before.
- Milk is often enriched with vitamin D to make sure people get enough of this vitamin.
- Financial advisors attract new clients with the promise of enriching their financial status.

interpreter n.
a person who translates the words that someone is speaking into a different language
- Sonia is a Russian interpreter at the United Nations in New York.
- When Marigold first moved to Spain, she communicated through an interpreter.
interpret v.
to explain the meaning of (something)
- Leah's refusal to work overtime was interpreted as a lack of commitment to her job, but in reality, she had a young child at home to care for. 

NATURAL SWEETENERS FOR GOOD HEALTH (2)

Healthier ways to sweeten your food
天然甜滋味──健康零負擔 用更健康的方式滿足想吃甜食的慾望

Monk fruit powder

For centuries people have used monk fruit for health purposes, making it a very popular Chinese medicine. Today the native Chinese fruit is also used as a natural sweetener in its powdered form. The powder boasts zero calories, and you only need a small amount to add sweetness. It's more than 150 times sweeter than regular sugar. The powder is a great choice for those with diabetes because it doesn't raise blood sugar levels.

Stevia

Stevia is another sweetener that comes in a powder. It comes from the small stevia bush and can help with weight loss.

Maple syrup

One of the most used natural sweeteners is a syrup that comes from ample trees. Pure maple syrup boasts a great number of health benefits. It has even been studied for its ability to slow the growth of cancer cells.

The next time your sweet tooth demands something sweet, feel free to give in. Just be sure to keep it natural. 

Info Cloud

Topic: maple syrup 楓糖

Welcome to Info Cloud. Now as a Canadian, I am a huge fan of maple syrup. Rex, do you enjoy maple syrup? 

I absolutely do, and other maple treats like maple cookies, maple candy, maple doughnuts... 

OK, Rex... I think you need to stop. You are making me homesick. Now when you think of maple syrup, do you ever think of a sugar bush or a sugar shack? 

Uh, actually, no. How do those things connect to maple syrup? 

Well, let's talk about that. A sugar bush is a forest of maple trees, mostly black maple and sugar maple trees. 

Uh. So you get the maple syrup from the... sugar bush? No, no. You tap the maple trees to collect the sap. That's the sweet stuff that comes from the tree. 

So the sap is not maple syrup? 

Not yet. The sap is taken to the sugar shack. A sugar shack is a small house or cabin. The sugar shack is usually not too far from the sugar bush. Now the collected sap from the maple trees is boiled in the sugar shack to make maple syrup. 

Wow. This is so sweet and interesting. 

So, friends, next time you enjoy some maple syrup, maybe you can think about these new words, "sugar bush" and "sugar shack," and think about the roles that they play in making maple syrup.

很多人都喜歡加拿大的楓糖餅乾或是楓糖甜甜圈等產品，因為加拿大是盛產 maple syrup 楓糖的國家，maple syrup 的特色就是美味可口又營養豐富，加拿大有很多長滿楓樹的森林，人們稱它為 sugar bush，字面上是充滿糖的灌木叢，是不是相當貼切? 在 sugar bush 當中，人們會從楓樹上蒐集製造楓糖的汁液，叫做 sap，然後把蒐集到的 sap 帶到 sugar shack 楓糖屋裡面，提煉出大家使用的 maple syrup楓糖。

Language Lab

native adj. 原生的、本土的
born in a particular place
belonging to a person since birth or childhood
produced, living, or existing naturally in a particular region
- This particular flower is native to the island.
這個特定品種的花，是這個島的原生種。
- What is your native language?
你的母語是什麼?
- After graduate school, Agnes returned to her native country, Greece.
Agnes 從研究所畢業後，就回到祖國希臘去了。

boast v. 以擁有...而自豪
to have (something that is impressive)
- Italy boasts some of the greatest museums in the world.
義大利以擁有世界上數一數二的博物館而自豪。
boast v. 吹噓、誇耀
to express too much pride in yourself or in something you have, have done, or are connected to in some way
- Parents are usually proud of their kids and boast about their achievement.
父母們常常以自己的孩子而自豪，並且誇耀他們的成就。
- Never boast about how much money you’ve made or you won’t have any true friends.
永遠不要誇耀自己賺多少錢，否則你不會有真正的朋友。

pure adj. 不參雜的、純粹的
not mixed with anything else
- The dress Lydia wore to the formal dinner was made of pure silk.
Lydia 穿去正式晚宴的這件洋裝是純蠶絲製成的。
- It was by pure chance that I ran into the governor on his morning walk.
我遇見正在早晨散步的州長，純屬巧合。
- It is very difficult to find a supply of pure water in this area.
在這個地區裡，要找到純水的資源是非常困難的事。

give in [phrasal verb] 勉強同意或屈服
to stop trying to fight or resist something : to agree to do or accept something that you have been resisting or opposing
- Even though she was trying to lose weight, Janice gave in and bought some strawberry ice cream when she went to the store.
雖然Janice 要減重，但是她去商店買東西時，還是忍不住買了一些草莓冰淇淋。
- The old house’s roof finally gave in during the storm.
這棟老房子的屋頂在暴風雨中，最終還是堅持不住 (換句話說，就是倒塌了)。
- Oliver’s mother finally gave in to his pleas to go swimming with his friends.
Oliver的母親最後禁不起Oliver一再的請求，還是讓他跟朋友去游泳了。

MAKING GOOD DECISIONS (2)

Define the problem
First, you need to define the problem you are facing. For example, let's say you are deciding what to study in college. There are so many choices! So you have to decide which major is the best one for you.

Brainstorm
The next step is to think carefully about the decision and brainstorm your choices. You should research information about different majors and their career opportunities. It might be helpful for you to get out a paper and pen to organize your thoughts. 

Choose what to do
There are risks with every decision. There is no perfect choice. In the end, you have to be the one to determine what is right for you.

Act on your decision as soon as possible
If you postpone taking action, you will be tempted to change your mind. But if you act right away, you can move forward with purpose. It's time to take a leap of faith!

Info Cloud

Hi, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. I took a quick survey in our office today and found eight out of 10 people I surveyed procrastinate. Manya, do you procrastinate? 

Let me explain what procrastinate is first. The verb procrastinate means to delay or put off doing something often because it's boring or unpleasant. We can say Sam procrastinated on filing his taxes, and now his taxes are overdue. He will need to pay a fine. To answer Rex's question - "Do I procrastinate or not?" - as a kid, I sometimes procrastinated on homework assignments I didn't like. Then my mom would nag me. She'd keep on reminding me and telling me to do my homework. This was a bad cycle, and I didn't like the nagging. As I got older, I decided to plan ahead and do the things I wanted to put off early. Then I could have peace of mind and not have to stay up late or stress out because of a looming deadline. So, friends, the habit of procrastinating can be broken. If you plan ahead, stick to your plan and don't put off unpleasant tasks, you will have less stress and be happier. 

西方人對於人們做事情拖延的問題，其實是很敏感的，英文叫做 procrastinate，在亞洲我們頂多會抱怨個兩句說這個人做事情拖拖拉拉的，但是西方人卻會把做事情會 procrastinate 當作一個課題來研究。在很多的書籍還有課程裡面，都在探討如何解決拖延的問題，Sam procrastinated on filing his taxes, and now they are overdue. Sam延遲報稅，現在已經過了報稅的期限。如果你有習慣做事情會 procrastinate，可以事前做好工作計畫，按部就班地進行，完成你的工作。

Language Lab

define v. 下定義、界定 
- Carter asked his supervisor to clearly define what her expectations of him were.
Carter 請主管明確說明她對他的期望。
- That line of trees over there defines the east side of Jackson’s property line.
那排樹是Jackson土地東側的界線。
define v. 是....的特色
- Those ducks are defined by their green and brown markings and distinct sound.
綠色和棕色的花紋和獨特的叫聲，是那些鴨子的特色。

opportunity n. 機會 
- Haley had an opportunity to work on a project with her professor, but she decided not to.
Haley 原本有機會跟教授合作一個方案，但是她決定不要。
- At the end of his speech, the president gave the reporters an opportunity to ask questions.
總統演講完後，給記者們提問的機會。
opportunity n.  時機
- Scott was asked to contact the tax department at his earliest opportunity.
Scott被通知要盡快地跟稅務部門聯絡。

postpone  v. 延後、延緩
- Many couples postponed their weddings during the Covid-19 outbreak.
很多新人在新冠肺炎爆發期間，都把婚禮延後了。
- Wesley and Sandy had to postpone their trip indefinitely because their daughter became ill.
Wesley 和 Sandy不得不把旅行無限期延後，因為他們的女兒生病了。
- Ryan postponed letting anyone go until his company lost nearly all of its money.
Ryan 等到他的公司幾乎破產時，才解雇員工。

tempt v. 想要、誘惑 
- Eric knew Irene was on a diet, but he tempted her with a piece of carrot cake anyway.
Eric 知道 Irene 在節食，但是還是拿一片紅蘿蔔蛋糕去誘惑她。
- The thought of going to the movies with his friends tempted Pete, but in the end, he finished his project that was due the following day.
跟朋友去看電影這個想法誘惑了 Pete，還好他最後也把隔天要繳的專題作業完成了。
temptation n.
- It is such a temptation to eat pasta for lunch even though I always get tired in the afternoon if I do.
我午餐好想吃義大利麵，就算我吃了下午總是會覺得疲倦。

MAKING GOOD DECISIONS (1)

How to make good decisions and avoid bad ones
你也能成為決策大師 如何避免錯誤決定 且做出正確決策？

One of the best skills you can learn in life is how to make good decisions. Why? Because bad decisions lead to disappointment and pain. Good decisions, on the other hand, make you feel happy and successful. 

So what factors go into making a good decision?  There are three to consider. First, you need to realize that every action has a consequence. You shouldn't make a big decision quickly. Second, talk to others, especially those who are older and wiser than you. They can give you helpful counsel. And finally, check your conscience. Be sure that you can feel proud of the decision you are going to make. 

When it coms to decisions, many people hesitate to make them. They may be scared of making a mistake. They may be afraid of what other people will think of their choice. Or they could even hesitate because they don't know all the facts. If you need help making a decision, use the following four steps. 

Info Cloud

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Someone asked me recently: What is your secret to success? I was surprised because I don't consider myself successful, but I said I believe hard work is the secret to any level of success. What do you think, Manya? I certainly believe so as well. We're all successful in our own little ways. Hard work is a part of the formula that many successful people use and believe in. I also know that many people believe that the secret to success is smart work, which involves finding the most efficient and effective ways to complete something. Smart work may bring great results in a shorter amount of time in comparison to only hard work. Unfortunately, I've known people who are always trying to cut corners instead of putting in the hard work to accomplish or learn something. So, for me, I believe that the secret to success is smart work, plus hard work. They go hand-in-hand, and that is certainly true when you're learning English.

很多人都想要知道一些成功人士的 secret to success，也就是成功的秘密，在傳統上很多人都會覺得不管做什麼，hard work 努力才是成功的不二法門。也有一些人認為，比起沒有方向的努力，smart work 才是他們的 secret to success。

smart work 翻譯成中文就是聰明的工作，也就是用最聰明、最有效率的方法做事，才是成功的祕訣。不過有很多人信奉 smart work 的人，他們都不太願意一步一腳印的付出努力，只想要走成功的捷徑，最後也可能沒有打好基礎而失敗。不管怎麼說，我們相信 secret to success 是 smart work 加上 hard work，缺一不可。

Language Lab

disappointment n. 失望 
- It was a huge disappointment for Sue when she found out that she wasn’t getting the raise she had been expecting.
當Sue 發現她所期待的加薪不會實現時，她大失所望。
- Robert was a disappointment to his family when he lost his job and then just sat around at home.
失業後，卻只能閒在家裡，讓家人對他大失所望。
disappoint v.
- Joanne didn’t want to disappoint her team, so she spent the entire night researching how they might improve their products.
Joanne 不想讓她的團隊失望，所以花了整個晚上研究如何改善產品。

consequence n. 不好的結果或後果 
- The teacher asked the class what they thought the consequence of cheating should be.
老師問班上的同學，作弊的人該接受什麼樣的懲罰。
- One consequence of Ron’s misbehavior is that he is grounded for two weeks.
- Ron行為不良的懲罰之一是禁足兩週。
of consequence adj. ph 重要的
- Everyone who attended the meeting was a person of consequence.
每位出席會議的人，都是重要人物。

conscience n.  良心、良知
- Matt’s conscience told him it was wrong, but he stole the apple anyway because he was so hungry.
Matt 的良知告訴他偷蘋果是不對的，但他還是偷了，因為他好餓。
- Your decision is a matter of conscience, so no one can tell you what you should do.
你的決定跟良心有關，沒有人能告訴你該怎麼做。
- Shirley can always tell when Timothy has a guilty conscience because it shows on his face.
Shirley 每次都看得出Timothy 的愧疚，因為他臉上都會顯示出來。

hesitate v. 猶豫
- Because Natalie hadn’t been feeling well, she hesitated before she started up the four flights of stairs.
Natalie 身體不舒服，所以要開始爬四段樓梯的時候，她猶豫了。
- There are so many people at the Wang house that if you hesitate to take some food during dinner, you’ll end up with nothing.
王家屋裡有好多人，你如果吃晚餐時，猶豫要吃什麼，最後就會什麼也吃不到。
- When Ethan asked Shelly to marry him, she hesitated slightly before saying yes.
當Ethan 跟Shelly 求婚時，她猶豫了一下才答應。

PALAU (2)

Natural beauty abounds on these islands and in the ocean around them
人間天堂──帛琉 海洋仙境 處處美景

Visitors can canoe through the beautiful turquoise water of Palau's bays and lagoons. When they are near land, the boats can glide through mangrove forests, where tress grow out of shallow seawater. 

On land, hikers should visit Babeldaob, the largest island in Palau. As they explore its mountains, jungles and lakes they may stumble upon ancient archaeological sites or objects from World War II. 

Many birdwatchers find Palau a great place to observe a variety of bird species, both common and endangered. They can wander the trails of the Ngermeskang Bird Sanctuary, which is one of a network of areas where wildlife is protected. 

Visitors to Palau can also take helicopter rides and see the shapes of the islands. From the air it's also possible to see marine lakes. Some of these bodies of seawater have been separated from the ocean by land. 

Palau is a paradise for plants and animals, both on land and underwater. It's like nowhere else on earth. Nature-loving tourists can explore this beautiful chain of islands in numerous ways to their heart's content. 

Info Cloud

It's a small world after all. Hi, friends. And welcome to Info Cloud. Today we are learning about a phrase in this song, "It's a Small World." Manya is going to tell us more about the phrase and the song. 

The song "It's a Small World" was written in 1964 for the World Fair in New York City. Now it is a popular boat ride created by Walt Disney. It shows dolls wearing clothes from all around the world, and the tune itself is very memorable. In fact, it is the most publicly performed song of all time. It plays around 1,200 times every day in Disney Parks. But let's talk about the meaning of that first line. When you learn more about the world, you feel more connected to others even if they are far away. The phrase "It's a small world" or just "small world" is much older than the song. It is used when a surprising coincidence happens like maybe I meet someone at the gym who is related to one of my co-workers, or maybe you are traveling and you meet someone from your hometown. These unexpected connections make us feel closer to each other and make this world seem smaller. 

如果你去過迪士尼樂園，一定聽過這首世界知名的主題歌 It’s a Small World. 小小世界。這首歌曲原本是為了1964年在紐約舉辦的世界博覽會所寫的，現在是全球迪士尼樂園每天會播放上千次的主題歌，園區內的同名遊樂設施也是遊客們會玩的經典項目，It’s a Small World. 所要表達的概念是，我們和世界各國是有某種程度上的連結，我們的距離其實並沒有那麼遠，在現在這個網路時代更是如此。下次到了迪士樂園，別忘了玩一下 It’s a Small World.

Language Lab

glide v. 滑行
to fly without engine power 
- Chris and Dylan glided along the lake in their canoe. 
glide v. 悄悄地走
to move in a smooth way
- No one heard the thief as he glided from room to room in the museum. 
glide v.
（時間等）悄悄地消逝
- Theo and Marge's summer days at the beach glided by very quickly.  

stumble upon [=found] 偶然發現
- The hikers stumbled upon a little cabin deep in the forest.
- The researchers stumbled upon a new treatment for kidney disease when trying to find a cure for cancer.  
stumble v.
to begin to have problems after a time of success
- Megan stumbled her way through the song because she hadn't learned the words very well. 

helicopter n.
an aircraft that can stay in the air without moving forward and that has metal blades that turn around on its top
- The helicopter ride down into the Grand Canyon was terrifying. 
- The team used helicopters to search for the boat lost off the East Coast. 
helicopter vt. 用直升機載送
- They helicoptered the wounded from the battlefield to the hospital. 

numerous n.
existing in large numbers
- Numerous students want to take Professor Armand's class because he is so interesting. 
- Patrick made numerous attempts to take Pauline out on a date, but he was never successful.
- After numerous meetings with the insurance company, Liz finally got them to agree to pay her claim. 

turquoise n.
 /ˈtɚˌkoɪz/
a bluish-green color

PALAU (1)

Natural beauty abounds on these islands and in the ocean around them
人間天堂──帛琉 海洋仙境 處處美景

The western Pacific nation of Palau offers visitors a chance to explore the best nature has to offer. A huge coral reef surrounds most of the chain of islands, providing great opportunities for snorkeling and diving. 

Palau's waters have more species of sea creatures than any area of similar size in the world. The wide variety of amazing plants and creatures dazzles divers. 

For example, the coral reefs of Rock Islands Southern Lagoon are composed of 385 different species of coral. And the area's clear water makes it easy to see them.

In addition to coral reefs, divers can explore underwater caves, especially Blue Holes, which may be Palau's most scenic dive. Ghostly remains of ships and planes that were wrecked during World War II also call to divers.

Palau's Rock Islands Southern Lagoon has been named a World Heritage site. Its coral reefs, along with its 445 mushroom-shaped islands, sustain a great variety of animals. It also contains the remains of small island communities that have existed for 3000 years. 

Info Cloud

Welcome to Info Cloud, everyone. Today I'm coming to you from my man cave. OK, not really. It's just this studio. But Manya and I are going to tell you about this phrase. 

Well, if Rex has his man cave, then I have a she shed. But before I explain that, let's look at a little history. The term "man cave" started being used in the 1990s because of a popular book. It referred to a space inside the home or near the house where a husband could get away from other people. It might have a TV, some tools or other things a man might want to use. And best of all, no one would nag him to keep it clean. Now it might not seem fair that a man gets a man cave, so the term "she shed" started being used, too. A shed is a small building that's often outside the home. Similar to a man cave, a she shed would be a space for a woman to enjoy her hobbies away from the rest of her family. If you live in a small apartment, it would be difficult to have either a man cave or a she shed, but most people would like a space to call their own.

很多人都喜歡擁有自己的小空間，無拘無束，沒有另外一個人打擾，對男生來說他可以稱這個私人空間為 man cave

cave 是洞穴或山洞，man cave 字面上就是男人的山洞，他可以躲在裡面，享受獨處的時光，在這個 man cave 裡面，可能會有電視、電腦、網路等等的用品，讓他可以娛樂。既然男人有 man cave，女人也可以有自己的空間，可以稱它為 she shed，shed 是小屋，she shed 就是女性的小空間。

Language Lab

abound v.大量存在、充滿
- A large number of birds and ducks abound in the preserve behind our house.
我家後面的動物保護區裡有大量的飛鳥和鴨子。
- Rumors abounded regarding the reason Alex and Maidson called off their engagement.
Alex 和 Maidson取消婚約的謠言四起。
- Several friends go fishing in Canada every summer because the lakes there abound with fish.
一些朋友每年夏天都會去加拿大釣魚，因為那邊的湖泊裡有很多魚。 

dazzle v. 使人感到驚艷或讚嘆不已
- The skaters at the Olympic Games dazzled the judges.
奧運比賽的滑冰選手，讓裁判們驚豔。
- The opera singer’s performance not only dazzled her audience, but also afforded her many opportunities to perform throughout Europe.
這位歌劇演唱家的表演，不僅令觀眾驚嘆不已，還因此得到許多去歐洲各地表演的機會。
- Everyone was dazzled by Cora’s beauty and charm.
每個人都被Cora的美貌和魅力所傾倒。

compose v. be composed of  ph. 由...組成/構成
- History class is partially composed of stories of wars between countries trying to get more territory.
歷史課部分地是由國與國之間為了爭奪領土的故事所組成的。
- Cheryl’s English class is composed of students from nine countries.
Cheryl的英文課有來自九個國家的學生。
- What is water composed of?
水是由什麼組成的?

wreck v. 破壞、毀壞 wreck n. 嚴重損毀的交通工具
- Henry wrecked his new car when he went around a corner too fast and hit a tree.
Henry在轉彎時開太快，撞到一棵樹，結果把他的新車撞毀了。
- Amy and Ellen used to be good friends, but a disagreement wrecked their friendship.
Amy 和 Ellen 本來是好朋友，但因一次意見不合，而毀掉了友情。
- It is hard to believe that Henry walked away from his car wreck without any injuries.
Henry 竟然毫髮無傷的從嚴重損毀的汽車裡走出來，真是令人難以置信。

LET’S WATCH A MOVIE! (1)

Should you watch a movie in a theater or at home?
來去看電影吧！ 應該在家裡看， 還是去電影院好？

Mason and Jennifer have both been busy at work all week. Now it's Friday night, and they have decided to relax and watch a movie. But they can't decide where to see one. Jennifer wants to stay home and stream one while Mason wants to go to a theater. 

I have really been looking forward to seeing Marvel's new movie: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. 

We'd have to go to a theater to see it, right? I know the critics gave it good reviews, but I was hoping to watch a movie at home. How about just streaming a different Marvel movie tonight?

What? No. I want to see the most current one. And we need to get out of the house. 

I'd like to stay home tonight. We've been out of the house all week. 

But that was just to go to work. 

Well, it still counts as getting out of the house! 

I've heard the special effects in the Shang-Chi film are great. And to really get the full effect, you have to see the film on the silver screen. 

But it's more relaxing at home, and I can lie down while I watch something. I'm kind of exhausted,  you know. 

Once we get to the theater, you'll perk up. 

Info Cloud
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Language Lab

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LIJIANG, CHINA (2)

The heart of Lijiang's Old Town for hundreds of years was the Mufu Palace, where the Mu clan lived. It was this clan of Naxi people that ruled Lijiang during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The Mufu's architecture follows the style of  the Han majority ethnic group. But you can see the Naxi and Bai people's influence. 

Lijiang is also a great place to see the beauty of the natural world. Lion Hill, which resembles a sleeping lion, rises from the middle of the city. 

The Wangu Tower on the hill provides views of the Old Town and surrounding villages. The view also includes Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the most southern snow-capped mountain north of the equator. At 5596 meters high, it offers an amazing view to those willing to climb it. 

You can also see Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflected in the waters of the Black Dragon Pool. This pool, located in Black Dragon Pool Park, is naturally formed where springs flow together. 

Lijiang's beauty, history and rich culture make it a fascinating place to visit. 

Info Cloud

Topic: lion's share 形容一樣東西最大的部分

Hi, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Thank you, Rex, for doing the lion's share of work on Info Cloud as I've had a lot of filming days this week. 

No problem, Manya. You'd do the same for me. We're on the same team. Let's talk more about the phrase "lion's share." 

The phrase "lion's share" means the largest part of something. For example, we can say due to the pandemic, health care received the lion's share in the government budget this year. 

Yes. So in Manya's example, health care received much more money than all the other categories in the government budget. 

Do you know where this phrase comes from? Its origins come from one of Aesop's Fables. In the fable, a lion and other animals go hunting for prey. After a successful hunt, when dividing the rewards, the lion takes the biggest portion and leaves little for the others. This is because the lion is more powerful than the other animals. 

That's interesting. Rex, did you know that we are ordering pizza for lunch today? 

Ooh, that's great. I'll be a bit late because I need to go over some scripts. Please don't take the lion's share of the pizza. Leave me an equal share. 

Ah, good one. I'll make sure not to take the lion's share, Rex.

當你和三五好友一起吃披薩的時候，有人把一大部分的披薩吃掉了，你可以說: He took the lion’s share of the pizza. 今天要跟大家介紹的用語就是 lion’s share。

share 有額度或配額的涵義，lion's share 就是獅子的那一份，我們都知道獅子一開口絕對會吃掉很大一塊的，所以lion's share 就用來形容一樣東西最大的部分。lion's share 的概念是出自於伊索寓言中，獅子跟其他動物一起打獵完畢之後仗勢欺人，把絕大部分的獵物都拿走了，只留下一點點給其他的動物。

Language Lab

the heart of ph. 核心、中央 
the central or most important part of something
- When Ron and Barb visited Rome, they went to the heart of the city to find a café to have lunch.
Ron 和 Barb 在去羅馬旅行的時候，到市中心找了一家咖啡廳吃午餐。
the heart of ph. 關鍵所在
- Jealousy is at the heart of Owen and Henry’s disagreement.
Owen 和 Henry 意見不同的關鍵，在於忌妒。
- Most children say that their mothers are the heart of their homes.
大多數的孩子說，母親是家庭的核心。 

clan  n. 宗親、家族
a large group of people who are related
- The Lee clan was very important in the development of Wo Hang Village in the region of Hong Kong.
李氏家族在香港河坑村的發展上佔有非常重要的地位。
- Our whole clan got together for a big Thanksgiving feast.
我們全部的家族團聚一堂，吃了一頓感恩節大餐。
- Scotland is well-known for ten famous clans.
蘇格蘭以十個知名的大家族而聞名。 

capped adj. 被覆蓋的 (snow-capped mountain) 
- Our hiking club found it difficult to hike on the cloud-capped mountain.
我們的登山俱樂部發現要爬上有雲覆蓋的山很困難。
cap v. 覆蓋、對什麼有限額或限制
- Most companies have decided to cap until the economy improves.
大部分的公司都已決定在經濟改善前，先制訂限額。
cap off ph v 結束
- Shirley capped off her dinner with a slice of carrot cake.
Shirley 用一片胡蘿蔔蛋糕，為她的晚餐畫下句點。 

fascinating adj. 令人著迷的 
- Paris is one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
巴黎是世界上最令人著迷的城市之一。
fascinating adj. 引人入勝的
Jacob told us the most fascinating story about how he escaped after being captured by some mountain men when he was hiking alone.
- Jacob 跟我們說了一個非常引人入勝的故事，他自己獨自登山時，被山上的人抓起來，後來再怎麼樣逃出來。
- Everyone wants to hang out with Maureen because she is so fascinating.
大家都喜歡跟Maureen一起出去玩，因為她好有魅力 。

ONLINE TUTORING (2)

When you need help with something, the sky is the limit
線上家教 讓你學習新知無極限

Tutoring Websites

How do you find a private online tutor? Go to a tutoring website, and choose one. There you can look at tutors' pictures, experience and ratings. The site also lists their subjects and available times as well as the cost. You can sign up for a trial session. If you don't like that particular tutor, you can choose another.

A tutoring website can also select a tutor for you. You tell them what you need, and they match you with someone. They have a pool of thousands of tutors.

So how much does an online tutor cost? Some cost US$10 to US$15 per hour. Tutors for difficult or specific subjects cost US$45 to US$100 per hour. Tutors with degrees from famous universities and a lot of experience usually cost more. When you need immediate help with homework, a tutoring website can find you a tutor right away. They charge 50 cents to $1.00 a minute. 

A good tutor is just a few clicks away. 

Info Cloud

something clicks 突然明白了一件事情

Hi, everyone. And welcome to Info Cloud. Rex, I want to say that I really enjoy teaching with you here on the Info Cloud. 

Well, thanks, Andrea. I appreciate you saying that. I'm so glad that I click with you. 

Yes, I agree, we click. Now, we hope that today's topic clicks with all of you. When you click with someone, you have a positive and a friendly connection with that person. This connection often happens quickly. 

So you can click with a person, you have a good connection with them. And you can also click with a group. You can say Karl joined a running team and clicked well with everyone there. Or Sara clicked with her new book club. 

We also use this word "click" when something clicks. When something clicks, it makes sense, and it's understood by everyone. 

This can take time, especially when you are learning a language. It may take a long time for grammar points or sentence structures to click. But if you keep trying and keep practicing, they will eventually click. 

Now that's a great point. Things we're learning do not click right away. My son started reading later than most of his friends. But after lots of hard work and practicing, it clicked. Now he loves reading. Well, friends, we hope this lesson clicked with you. 

今天要跟大家分享一些跟 click 有關的用語，click 就是扣起來的喀擦那『喀』的聲音，當你聽到有人說 something clicks，字面上的意思是有東西扣起來或是發出『喀』的聲音，真正的涵義是這個人突然明白了一件事情。During the class, something clicks for John. 在上課的時候，John突然開竅了，明白了一些內容。除了恍然大悟之外，click 也可以用來形容一些人連結在一起，變成朋友了。Carl joined a running team and clicked with everyone. Carl 參加賽跑的團隊，跟大家混得很熟。

Language Lab

website n. 網站 web 蜘蛛網 + site 地點、場所
a place on the World Wide Web that contains information about a person, organization, etc., and that usually consists of many Web pages joined by hyperlinks
- If you go to the company’s website, you can usually find information about its products.
如果你上這家公司的網站，通常能找到產品的資訊。
- It is so difficult to find any information about tuition on the school’s websites.
在學校的網站上，很難找到跟學費有關的資訊。
- What website do you use to order your clothing?
你都上哪個網站訂購衣服呢? 

session n.  一段時間、一堂課
a period of time that is used to do a particular activity
- We had a training session at 8:00 a.m. I was barely awake when it started.
我們早上八點就上一堂訓練課程了，開始上課時我幾乎都還沒有清醒過來。
- The art teacher is offering another session this afternoon. I really like her style.
美術老師今天下午要加上一堂課，我很喜歡她的風格。
- Lynn had a session with a piano teacher yesterday to determine if she wants to hire her.
Lynn 昨天跟鋼琴老師上了一堂課，再決定要不要請她來教。 

specific adj. 特定的、明確的
always used before a noun : special or particular
specific subjects 特殊的科目或主題
- Is there something specific that you want to talk to me about?
你有沒有什麼特定的事情想要跟我談的呢?
- Are you looking for a specific color of dress or does it matter?
你在找什麼特定顏色的洋裝嗎，還是顏色不重要?
- Dave and Joanne haven’t set a specific date for their wedding, but they are thinking about fall.
Dave跟Joanne 還沒有決定婚禮明確的日期，但是他們想在秋天結婚。 

immediate adj. 立即、馬上的
happening or done without delay
- The family whose house burned down is in immediate need of a place to stay.
那戶人家的房子失火燒毀後，立刻需要有住的地方。
- The people in the car accident need immediate medical attention.
發生車禍的人需要馬上接受治療。
immediate adj. 鄰近的、緊鄰的
close to a particular place
- Do you live in the immediate area or in another part of the city?
你住在附近，還是城市的另一邊呢?

THE TRUTH ABOUT HOUSEPLANTS

How helpful are houseplants?
室內植栽知多少 室內植物有多少好處？

Four. That's the number of plants inside my house. Houseplants look good and can help reduce anxiety. Many people also believe indoor plants can help clean the air. But can they?

The idea started in the 1980s when a NASA scientist started reporting on houseplants. He was testing plants' ability to get rid of pollutants in the air. According to the scientist, plants seemed to be a "promising, economical solution to indoor air pollution."

But there was just one problem: He was in a lab.

The air quality inside a house is much harder to control than in a lab. Recently, a professor face-checked the claims about indoor plants. He reviewed the results from nearly 200 experiments. He found it would take over 100 plants per square meter to clean the air. Thousands of plants would be needed in a single apartment to do the job. I can't fit that many plants in my place! So my four houseplants don't give me cleaner air but I still enjoy having them. 

Info Cloud

green thumb 很會種花或是其他種類的植物

Hi, everyone. Welcome to Info Cloud. So, Rex, do you have a green thumb? 

Do I have a green thumb? Um... no, Andrea, I …  I do not have a green thumb. Look! My thumb is not green. 

OK. No, I'm not talking about the color of your thumb, though I can see how you would think that. I want to talk about the phrase, green thumb. When you have a green thumb, you are able to or have the natural ability to take care of plants that are often green, and you can do that very well. 

Oh, right, I have heard of that. And actually, Andrea, then I do have a green thumb. I have a small garden at home. And I love to take care of my plants, and they are growing well. I'm even growing herbs in the garden right now that my family uses for cooking. 

Wow. Rex, that is impressive. So, Andrea, do you have a green thumb? 

No. No, I do not have a green thumb. I actually have a black thumb. A black thumb? Yes. I can't keep any plants alive. I can't even keep a cactus alive. Plastic plants would probably even die in my home. OK, I'm... I'm joking about the plastic plants part. But having a black thumb is the opposite of having a green thumb. When you have a black thumb, you cannot keep plants alive. 

很多人喜歡種植一些花花草草，今天就跟大家分享跟種植植物有關、相當有趣的用語，首先，如果一個人很會種花或是其他種類的植物，你可以用 green thumb 來形容他，thumb 是拇指，green thumb 就是綠色的拇指，代表這個人的手指頭照顧過很多綠色的植物，John really has a green thumb. John很會照顧植物，只要經過他手中的花花草草，都長得很好。

另一方面，如果有人種什麼都失敗的話，那就要用 black thumb 黑色的拇指來形容他，因為經過他手指頭的植物，都死掉了，這樣子的形容方式是不是相當有趣?

Language Lab

pollutant n. 會污染的東西、汙染物
a substance that makes land, water, air, etc., dirty and not safe or suitable to use : something that causes pollution
- The pollutants in the air are making Neil cough.
空氣中的汙染物讓Neil 一直咳嗽。
- The pollutants in the pond are affecting the fish.
池水中的汙染物，影響到水裡的魚。
- Sarah is looking for an air filter to clear out the pollutants in her apartment.
Sarah 在找一台空氣過濾器，來清掉她公寓裡的汙染物。

economical adj. 經濟實惠、省錢的
using money, resources, etc., carefully
- Jeremy can’t afford to go on a vacation at a resort; he needs a travel plan that is more economical.
Jeremy 付不起到度假村旅遊，他需要一個比較經濟實惠的旅遊計畫。
- Sally is trying to be more economical so she can save up her money.
Sally 為了要存錢，試著更節約。
- Gary likes to shop online because he finds it is more economical. 
Gary 喜歡網購，因為他發覺這樣比較省錢。

lab n. 實驗室 (laboratory 的縮寫) 
a room or building with special equipment for doing scientific experiments and tests
- The scientist had been in the lab all day. 那位科學家已經在實驗室裡待了一整天。
lab n. 電腦教室 (=computer lab)
a room with equipment (such as computers or tape recorders)
- The students were busy in the computer lab. 學生們在電腦教室裡忙著。
lab n. 拉不拉多犬 (=labrador 的縮寫)
- The boy was playing with his black lab. 小男孩跟他的黑色拉不拉多犬一起玩。

experiment n. 實驗、試驗
a scientific test in which you perform a series of actions and carefully observe their effects in order to learn about something
- Jenny loves chemistry and enjoys doing experiments.
Jenny 很愛化學課，他非常喜歡做實驗。
- Brian wants to do an experiment to see how his cats respond to different kinds of music.
Brian 想來做一個測試，看看他的貓對不同音樂有什麼反應。
experiment v. 做實驗、做測試
to make or do an experiment: such as
- Mary is trying to bake the perfect cake and has experimented with different kinds of ingredients.
Mary 想烤一個完美的蛋糕，並請用了好多不同種的食材來做測試。

skepticism n.
/ˈskɛptəˌsɪzəm/
an attitude of doubting the truth of something (such as a claim or statement)
- She regarded the researcher's claims with skepticism.
- It's good to maintain a healthy skepticism about fad diets.

GOUT

A pain in your joints might be caused by a bigger problem
痛風 不就是關節痛？可能沒那麼簡單！

You wake up in the middle of the night with intense pain in your big toe. It feels as if it's on fire. It could be gout. The pain comes on quickly, often at night. The joint at the base of the big toe is where it usually hits. But it can occur in other joints such as ankles, knees or fingers. Gout happens when high uric acid levels in your blood cause uric acid crystals to form in your joints. The crystals cause pain and swelling. 

Your kidneys usually take the uric acid out of your blood. But sometimes there is too much for them to handle. 

Many people think gout comes from eating too much red meat and drinking too much. But research shows that gout is genetic. Diet and weight can bring on attacks of gout but do not cause it. Eating a healthy diet and staying at a healthy weight will help. However, the best way to treat gout is to take medicine. 

Info Cloud

stub one’s toe 腳趾頭踢到桌腳或是椅子

dip one’s toe 嘗試去學習或做一件新的事情

Hi, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Rex, are you OK? You look like you're in pain. 

I am in a bit of pain. I stubbed my toe this morning, and it still hurts. 

Oh, Rex. I'm so sorry. But that's a good point to talk about. 

You want to talk about my toe? 

No, no, no. The phrase, to stub your toe. When you stub your toe, you hit it against something. Rex, how did you stub your toe? 

I stubbed my toe by hitting it against my chair when I got up from the breakfast table. 

Oh, I see. Well, Rex, have you ever dipped your toe into something? 

What do you mean? And why are we still talking about my toe? 

OK, OK. It's just another fun phrase to teach. When you dip your toe into something, you try it out for the first time, or you try something that is unfamiliar. 

Ah, yes. I recently dipped my toe into baking. I'm slowly learning how to bake a few things. 

Well, that's great. Just don't stub your toe as you're in the kitchen dipping your toe into baking. And I do hope that your toe feels better soon. 

相信大家都有過腳趾頭踢到桌腳或是椅子的經驗，真的是很痛，英文可以用 stub one’s toe 來形容，例如，I stubbed my toe by hitting it against my chair. 我踢到椅子，傷了我的腳趾頭。另外一個跟 toe 腳趾頭有關的用語是 dip one’s toe，字面上是用腳趾頭去碰觸一樣東西，意思就是嘗試去學習或做一件新的事情。I’ve recently dipped my toe into baking. 我最近開始嘗試去做烘焙。

Language Lab

joint n. 關節
a point where two bones meet in the body
- When Mrs. Clark got out of bed, her joints felt very stiff.
Clark 太太起床的時候，她覺得關節很僵硬。
joint adj. 共同的、共有的
doing something together
- After Jim and Anita got married, they decided to open a joint bank account. 
Jim 跟 Anita 結婚後，就決定要在銀行裡開一個共有的戶頭。
joint n. 餐館、酒吧  
a cheap bar or club
- Kelly is meeting her friends at the joint across the street from her apartment.
Kelly 跟她的朋友們要在她公寓對面的餐館碰面。 

swelling n. (身體部位) 腫起來
an area on someone's body that is larger than normal because of an illness or injury
Greg hurt his knee, and he’s now putting ice on it to keep the swelling down.
Greg 傷了膝蓋，他現在在冰敷，以便控制膝蓋的腫脹程度。
- Rachel woke up with swelling on her right eye; she’s guessing a mosquito had bitten her.
Rachel 醒來時右眼是腫的，她猜是蚊子咬的。
- There is swelling on my arm; it doesn’t hurt but it itches a lot.
我的手臂上有個腫塊，它不痛但是非常癢。 

attack n. 攻擊
to act violently against (someone or something) : to try to hurt, injure, or destroy (something or someone)
- The soldiers are planning an attack; it will happen at midnight.
軍人們在策畫要進攻，打算在半夜裡突襲。
attack n. 強烈的批評
to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh and severe way
- The manager’s verbal attack during the meeting was very inappropriate.
經理在會議中的言語批評實在是非常的不妥當。
attack n. 身體內的疾病突然發作
to begin to harm, injure, or destroy (something)
- Michelle was so stressed out that she had a panic attack.
Michelle 的壓力過大，造成她恐慌發作。 

genetic adj. 跟基因有關的、遺傳性的
of, relating to, or involving genes
- Sabrina is interested in becoming a genetic engineer.
Sabrina 有興趣成為一位基因工程師。
- Evelyn has diabetes and she says it is genetic; her mother has it, too.
Evelyn 有糖尿病，她說是遺傳的，因為她母親也有。
- His dysplasia is a genetic disease that affects German Shepherds.
髖關節發育不良是一種在德國牧羊犬中的遺傳性疾病。

PAINTBALL! (1)

Build friendships while playing paintball and taking cover
漆彈大戰！ 玩漆彈、找掩護、交朋友 

What do you think of when you hear the word paintball? Some people think it’s a rough game. Getting shot during a game hurts! But over the years, paintball has become very popular. Here are five good reasons why you should play the game with your friends.

It’s a team game.

Teamwork is an important part of paintball. During a game, you have to cooperate with your teammates. Each member has to do their part to help the team win. And you always have to watch each other’s backs! By working together, friendships can become stronger.

It teaches problem solving.

Paintball is a strategy game. One of the most popular ways to enjoy paintball is to play capture the flag. You enter the enemy base, steal their flag and take it back to your base. So you need to think of ways to overcome difficulties. And that can help you face challenges in your daily life.

Info Cloud

watch paint dry 形容無聊的事情

Welcome to Info Cloud. Recently I watched a documentary about a famous composer with my kids. How was it? Well, I enjoyed it, but my kids said it was like watching paint dry. Oh. So they weren't interested in the subject. I guess. 400-year-old composers aren't exciting to children. But this phrase is fun to use. If you describe something as being like watching paint dry, that means you think it's boring. Just think about if you paint a wall in your house white. It takes several hours for the paint to dry. But you won't see any dramatic changes. The wall stays white. So sitting and watching paint dry isn't a fun activity. We might hear someone use this as a comparison. They will say they'd rather watch paint dry than do something else. I'd rather watch paint dry than go to another math lecture. Well, you're in luck because there's even an online video that shows 10 hours of paint drying! Unbelievable. Or you could tune in to Info Cloud. We promise that it's more fun than watching paint dry.

當你發現一件事情相當無聊的時候，除了用 boring，還可以用 watch paint dry 來形容，這是一種很有趣的表達方式，因為 watch paint dry 就是看著油漆乾掉，我們想想那會是多麼無聊的一件事情，通常油漆就放它風乾就好了，不需要看著它，不過西方人就會很幽默地用 watch paint dry 來形容無聊的事情。Watching this documentary is like watching paint dry. 看這部紀錄片就像等待油漆乾掉那樣無聊，意思就是超級無聊。如果要耍幽默到極點，你也可以說: I’d rather watch paint dry than watch this documentary. 我寧願看著油漆乾掉，也不願看這部紀錄片。

Language Lab

rough adj. 粗野、有暴力性的、危險的
having or causing sudden, violent movements
- Hillary doesn’t want her son to play football because she thinks it is too rough for him.
Hillary 不要她的兒子玩美式足球，因為她認為美式足球太危險了。
rough adj. 氣候不佳 (像是有狂風暴雨) 
not calm : having large waves, strong winds, storms, etc.
- According to the weather report, the weather is going to turn rough.
根據氣象預測，天氣將會變得很不好。
rough adj. 狀況很艱難或很辛苦的
somewhat informal : difficult or unpleasant to deal with
- We had a rough trip; so many unfortunate things happened along the way.
我們的行程很不順，一路上都有不幸的事情發生。

cooperate v. 合作 
to work together : to work with another person or group to do something
- The neighbors cooperated and cleaned up the whole street.
鄰居們互相合作，把整條街清理乾淨。
- If the two departments cooperate, the job can be completed sooner.
如果兩個部門一起合作，那項工作就可以快一點完成。
cooperate v. 配合、順從、乖乖聽話
to be helpful by doing what someone asks or tells you to do
- The police are asking the residents in the apartment building to cooperate with the investigation.
警方要求整棟公寓裡的居民們配合警方的調查。

overcome v. 解決、克服 
to successfully deal with or gain control of (something difficult)
- Taylor finally overcame his fear of public speaking.
Taylor 終於克服了對演講的恐懼。
The students were encouraged to face their problems and learn to overcome them.
學生們受鼓勵要面對問題，並學習去克服它們。
overcome v. 讓人招架不住、讓人受不了
to affect (someone) very strongly or severely — usually used as (be) overcome
- The widow was overcome by grief and could not be comforted.
那位寡婦悲傷不已，旁人安慰不了她。 

challenge n. 挑戰、問題 
a difficult task or problem : something that is hard to do
- The young entrepreneur is not afraid of challenges.
年輕的企業家不怕面對挑戰。
challenge n.考驗
- The teacher decided to give her students a challenge.
老師決定要給她的學生一個考驗。
challenge n. 邀請對方來挑戰
an invitation to compete in a game, fight, etc.
- The winner from last year's tournament has decided to retire and will not take on any challenges.
去年比賽的冠軍決定要退休，並且拒絕接受任何人的挑戰。

NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA (1)

New South Wales is home to several interesting World Heritage sites
新南威爾斯州 一探澳洲新州 令人讚嘆的世界遺產

"Stunning natural beauty" describes the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. This wilderness area, also on the World Heritage list, is a large, mountainous region that covers 1.03 million hectares. It is home to a vast number of Australia's birds and other forms of wildlife.

The Blue Mountains' scenery and closeness to Sydney make it a very popular tourist destination. One of the most visited sites is the Three Sisters, named for its unique rock formations. Everyone who visits is rewarded with majestic views.

Off the coast of New South Wales lies a remote island paradise called Lord Howe Island. Created by a volcano, the island is surrounded by beautiful reefs. Two mountains tower over a bay with sandy, white beaches. Visitors can enjoy beach walks, mountain hikes, water activities (both above and below the water), exceptional bird watching and more. 

About 380 people live on this World Heritage site, and a maximum of 400 visitors can visit at one time. New South Wales offers its visitors an abundance of experiences to choose from and many memories that will last a lifetime. 

Info Cloud

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Language Lab

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INSTAGRAM VS. REALITY (2)

A few small improvements? The beauty mode on my friends' phones sometimes makes them look like total strangers! They post a selfie, and I think: Who is this? Do I know you? That can't be healthy!

Ha-ha. Well, I have to agree that people's pictures can look strange. Sometimes I think: Are you kidding me? What are you, a robot? Your face looks plastic! But it's fun to edit pictures, and besides, I don't see how it's harmful.

Think about it: Every day we're comparing ourselves with false beauty standards. Perfect skin, super white teeth, narrow faces - it makes real people look ugly by comparison. 

We look ugly by comparison!

I get what you're saying. You know, sometimes I feel that our real lives seem dull compared to the pictures that other people share. 

Now that is something to worry about. Psychologists say social media use lowers our sense of self-worth. This daily comparison with artificial standards is increasing our anxiety and making us unhappy. 

Well, if that's how you feel about it, why don't you just get off Instagram?

Quit Instagram? Are you crazy? How would I keep up with everyone?

Info Cloud

acronym 經常使用的用語和縮寫

Hello, everyone. Welcome to Info Cloud. Rex, did you get my PM about today's lesson? 

Uh... PM? Yes. I sent you a PM through FB. 

Andrea, I honestly don't know what you are talking about. 

PM and FB! These are acronyms that are used in social media. An acronym is the first letter of each word in a phrase or title. You say some acronyms by the letters, and some become their own word. 

I see. But we don't really use these acronyms in spoken English, do we? 

Some social media acronyms have found their way into spoken English. But you're right, most are used in comments, captions and conversations between people on social media. 

So what does PM stand for? 

A PM is a personal message. You can send personal messages through FB, which is Facebook. They can also be called DMs or direct messages. That acronym is used on IG. IG is Instagram. Do you have an IG account? 

Whoa! That's a lot. No, I don't have an IG account. 

But don't you have FOMO? FOMO is fear of missing out. A lot happens on IG every day, and you miss out on it! 

I'm OK with that. But how are you supposed to learn all these acronyms? 

Honestly? There are hundreds of them, you don't have to learn them all. I often look them up online to find out what their meaning is. 

現在是 social media 社群媒體相當熱絡的年代，大部分的人都有使用社群媒體的經驗，今天我們要跟大家一起來分享一些我們在 social media 上經常使用的用語和縮寫 acronym，像是大家都很熟悉的 FB 就是 Facebook，IG 就是 Instagram，不過 FB 跟 IG是亞洲人比較習慣聽到的縮寫 acronym，西方人還是比較常說Facebook和Instagram。如果你跟西方人在 social meida 上面交流，可能會看到PM這個縮寫，意思是 private message 私訊。人們經常使用 social media 很多時候是因為 FOMO，也就是 fear of missing out 害怕錯失一些訊息的恐懼症。

Language Lab

edit v. 編輯、修訂(圖片) 
to be in charge of the publication of (something)
- Which app do you like to use if you need to edit your photos?
如果要修照片，你想用哪個應用程式?
edit v. 文字編輯、校對
to prepare (something written) to be published or used : to make changes, correct mistakes, etc., in (something written)
- Melissa has written several stories, and now she needs someone to help her edit them.
Melissa 寫了幾篇故事，現在她需要一個人幫她做文字編輯。
edit v.  影片的剪輯   
- Caleb used a new software program to edit his video clips.
Caleb 用一個新軟體剪輯那幾個影片片段。

comparison n. 對照、比較 
the act of looking at things to see how they are similar or different
- In comparison with her twin sister, Helene is far more outgoing and talkative.
與她的雙胞胎妹妹相比，Helene 比較外向而且話比較多。
- This restaurant’s spaghetti is a lot better in comparison with that restaurant’s spaghetti.
與那家餐廳的義大利麵相比，這一家的比較好吃。
comparison n. 相提並論 
the act of suggesting that two or more things are similar or in the same category
- There is no comparison between these two novels; one is a classic, and the other is trash.
這兩本小說不能相提並論，一本是經典名作，另一本是垃圾。

dull adj.  無聊乏味、沒意思  
not exciting or interesting : boring
- The banquet was so dull that we decided to leave early.
晚宴相當無趣，我們就決定提早離開。
dull adj.  東西沒有光澤、色澤不光亮
not shiny
- The old cabinets looked dull, but a fresh coat of paint should make everything look better.
舊櫃子的顏色暗沉，可是刷上新漆可以讓一切看起來好看一點。
dull adj.  刀片不是很利
 having an edge or point that is not sharp
- It’s hard to chop vegetables with a dull knife.
拿不夠利的刀來切菜，是不容易的。 

anxiety n. 焦慮不安的感覺  
fear or nervousness about what might happen
It’s normal to feel some anxiety before you give a speech.
 演講前感到焦慮不安是很正常的。
anxiety n. 麻煩的事情、讓人感到焦慮的事情
- There is a lot of stress and anxiety going on at the office.
辦公室裡有不少壓力跟麻煩的事情。
anxiety n. 焦慮症 
a feeling of wanting to do something very much
After Horace had that big accident, he began to suffer from depression and anxiety.
Horace 出了嚴重車禍後，就開始有憂慮症和焦慮症。

INSTAGRAM VS. REALITY (1)

Do we have to choose between social media and self-worth? IG vs. REALITY
發現自我價值 不一定要完美無瑕

Are you one of the 3.6 billion people on earth who use social media? One app, Instagram, has over 500 million daily users and 1 billion users each month! This makes it one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. We average over two hours every day on social media. But does following friends, companies and influencers make our lives better or worse? Does sharing pictures and getting likes have a positive or negative effect on us? Phoebe and Joanna are friends, but they don't feel the same way about social media. 

Hey, did you see the article Lydia posted on Facebook this morning?

You mean the one about Instagram being bad for us?

Yeah, it talks about the psychological effects of comparing ourselves with pictures of artificial beauty. It also says people's real lives aren't as wonderful as they seem on Instagram.

I don't see what the big deal is. I love using Instagram! 

I use it, too, but I'm becoming worried. Don't you think that what people share is kind of fake?

Just because people use filters on their selfies doesn't mean they're fake. What's wrong with making a few small improvements?

Info Cloud

reality check 現實的檢驗

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Recently I have been teaching people how to sing. I have to say that the most challenging thing is getting people to practice every day. 

Well, I have tried playing the piano before. I know how hard it is to overcome laziness to practice. How do you do that with your students? 

I give them a reality check by asking them in detail how much time they spend practicing each day. That's when they realize they are not practicing enough, if at all. 

Wow. That sounds like a common problem with singers. 

It is. My voice teacher told me singers are lazy and sometimes they don't know it. So it is my job to bring them back to reality. 

OK. Well, let's talk about these two expressions you just used: reality check and bring someone back to reality. 

A reality check is something that forces someone to face what is really happening in reality. For example, the failed project is a reality check that the company has some internal problems to solve. 

On the other hand, when you bring someone back to reality, you're almost waking them up from any illusions that they might have so they can face the facts. 

For example, I wanted to buy a new computer, but my empty bank account brought me back to reality. 

So "reality check" and "bring someone back to reality" basically have the same meaning. They're both used to let people face the reality of what's really happening. 

有的時候過度樂觀或是悲觀都不是很好的事情，今天要跟大家分享兩個有關面對現實的流行用語，第一個是 reality check，reality 是現實，check 有檢查或檢驗的涵義，reality check 就是現實的檢驗，這通常是指一些讓我們面對現實的事件，例如: The failed project is a reality check for the company. 這個失敗的企劃案迫使公司必須面對現狀，有可能是因為長期以來，大家都不願意去面對現實，現在發生這些事情，可以讓大家正視一些問題。

另外，bring someone back to reality 幾乎是一樣的意思，只不過是動詞，My empty bank account brought me back to reality. 我那個已經沒錢的銀行帳戶把我打回現實，有可能是本來想買一些東西，可是想到沒錢就打消主意了。

Language Lab

billion n. 十億 
the number 1,000,000,000 : one thousand million
- The company made over two billion dollars last year.
公司去年賺超過二十億。
billion n.  很多
many  
- I’ve told you a billion times not to do this!
我已經跟你講很多次不要這樣做。
- Henry has driven by this store billions of times, but he has never once entered it.
Henry 開車經過這家店不知道有多少次了，但是他從來都沒有進去過。 

average n. 平均、平均數
a number that is calculated by adding quantities together and then dividing the total by the number of quantities
- I don’t need to see all the numbers; just give me the average.
我不用看到所有的數字，給我平均數就好。
average adj. 平均的
calculated by adding quantities together and then dividing by the number of quantities
- The factory workers are rather young; the average age is 18.
工廠的工人都很年輕，他們的平均年齡是18歲。
average v. 平均為
to have (a specified number) as an average
- Business was good last week, and the sales team averaged ten customers per day.
業務團隊上禮拜的生意非常好，每天平均可以收到十位客戶的訂單。

psychological adj. 跟心理學有關的、跟心理方面的 
/ˌsaɪkəˈlɑːʤɪkəl/
of or relating to the mind : mental
- The school counselor cares about the psychological wellness of her students.
校園輔導員很關心學生們的心理健康。
psychological adj. 心理作用 
of or relating to the study of the mind : of or relating to psychology
- Irma says the job is too hard for her, but I think it’s all psychological.
Irma 說那份工作對他來說太難了，但是我認為那只是她心理作用。
- This psychological thriller proves that a story doesn’t need ghosts in order to be scary.
這部心裡懸疑片證明一個故事沒有鬼出現，也同樣可以讓人感到害怕。

fake adj.  假的 
not true or real 
- In the movie, a spy used a fake passport to travel through several countries.
在影片裡，情報員用假護照到幾個不同國家去。
fake adj.  虛偽的
- Cassandra might appear friendly, but don’t be fooled by her fake smile.
Cassandra 也許看起來非常友善，但別被她虛偽的微笑給騙了。
fake n. 東西或人是假的或是冒充的
a copy of something that is meant to look like the real thing in order to trick people
- Roberta is so mad because she had spent a thousand dollars on a fake purse.
Roberta 很生氣，因為她花了一千塊購買了一個冒牌的皮包。

self–worth n.
a feeling that you are a good person who deserves to be treated with respect : self-esteem
- a healthy sense of self-worth

LIVING WITH LESS (1)

Discover the benefits of living simply
生活新哲學：少即是多 發掘簡單生活的種種好處

Chinese New Year is right around the corner! This is the time of year when we "sweep away the dust". We give our homes a good, thorough cleaning. We do this in order to make a clean, fresh start in the New Year. 

Another great way to start fresh is to get rid of all the clutter. Over a year ago, I did just that. In preparation for a move, I gave away around 75 percent of my clothes. I then got rid of over 60 percent of my furnishings. At first, I was afraid I would miss those things. However, I soon realized what a burden on my life that excess had become. I found that caring for fewer things means more time to spend with friends and family.

These days it seems that many people are trying to live with less. They're discovering the joy of spending their time and resources on the things that matter most. 

Info Cloud

spring cleaning 春季大掃除

Welcome to Info Cloud, everyone. Today we want to talk about cleaning the house to get ready for the new year. 

You know, in America and in Canada, we wait until the springtime before we do our yearly deep cleaning. 

That's right. Spring cleaning. So, Andrea, can you tell us a little bit more about what it means to do a spring cleaning? 

Well, it is very much like doing a deep cleaning to get ready for the new year. But in North America, it's too cold to open up the windows at the beginning of the year to let the fresh air in. 

In the beginning of spring, the weather warms up. And it's a great time to open up the windows in your house and clean all that dust out. 

Exactly. And there's another benefit to waiting for early spring. It's warm enough to open up the windows but too cold for bugs. So you don't have to worry about letting a lot of bugs in. 

I've also heard of people using the expression doing some or doing a little spring cleaning and not just to refer to cleaning your home. 

Right. Spring cleaning also involves organizing the things that you have and getting rid of the things that you don't use. 

So if you are spending time re-organizing your office files, you can say that you are doing a little spring cleaning. 

Yes. You know, that reminds me, my desk is still filled with some old things from previous employees. I think it's time for me to do a little spring cleaning. 

每年春節來臨的時候，很多華人家庭都會做年度大掃除，其實西方人也有這種習慣。他們稱之為 spring cleaning 春季大掃除，在美國和加拿大，人們通常不會在冬季做大掃除，因為天氣太冷，不適合打開門窗打掃，讓屋子透透氣，只有等到春天來臨，陽光普照又不會太熱，再進行房子的年度清潔工作。

除了打掃房子之外，spring cleaning 還包含了除舊佈新，把舊的、不要的東西丟掉，只保留真正需要用到的物品，也把房子裡所有的東西排整齊，如果是在公司大掃除，也要把文件整理歸檔。西方人的 spring cleaning 文化，是不是跟我們的過年大掃除很像呢?

Language Lab

thorough adj. 完全的、徹底的
 /ˈθɚroʊ/
complete or absolute
- After a thorough search at the crime scene, police were able to find a clue.
經過警察在犯罪現場徹底搜尋之後，找到了一個線索。
thorough adj.  很小心的、很仔細的
including every possible part or detail
- The investigator was very thorough when he looked through all the files.
調查員在看所有的檔案的時候，非常仔細。
- Airport security was very thorough when they checked Patrick’s backpack.
機場安檢很仔細地檢查Patrick的背包。

preparation n. 預備、準備
the activity or process of making something ready or of becoming ready for something
- The food on the table might not look fancy, but the preparation took a long time.
桌上的食物也許看起來很普通，但是要準備它花了不少時間。
- Andrew decided to take a trip without any preparation.
Andrew 沒有做任何準備就出去旅行了。
- Henry was in charge of the final preparation of the event, but he messed everything up.
Henry 負責活動的最後一部分的預備工作，但是他把所有的事情搞砸了。

furnishings n. 家具配備 
pieces of furniture, curtains, rugs, and decorations for a room or building
- Tyler is looking for an empty apartment to rent. He doesn’t want one with furnishings.
Tyler 要租空的公寓，不要有附家具的。
- Paula has decided that since she’s moving into a new place, she wants to get new furnishings.
Paula 決定既然要搬進新的地方，她打算要買新的家具配備。
furnish v. 用家具配備來布置裝潢一個地方 
to provide (a room or building) with furniture
- Mrs. Anderson has finished furnishing her guestroom because her grandson is going to stay with her.
Anderson 太太把她的客房布置好，因為她的孫子要搬去跟她住。

burden n. 重擔、負擔  
someone or something that is very difficult to accept, do, or deal with
- Your friend's job situation is not your burden to carry.
你朋友的工作狀況不是你應該承擔的重擔。
burden n. 重的東西
something heavy that is carried : load
- A long time ago, people relied on animals to carry heavy burdens.
很久以前，人們靠動物來幫忙扛很重的東西。
burden v. 給人家添加麻煩、給人加壓力 
to make (someone) hold or carry something heavy or accept or deal with something difficult : to put a heavy burden on (someone)
- Noah has a problem but he’s not saying anything because she doesn’t want to burden us.
Noah 碰到了問題，但是她什麼都沒說，因為她不想給我們添加麻煩。

clutter n.
/ˈklʌtɚ/
a large amount of things that are not arranged in a neat or orderly way : a crowded or disordered collection of things
- There's a lot of unnecessary clutter in the house.

ENJOY COFFEE WHILE YOU CAN (1)

Climate change is destroying the environments needed to grow drinkable coffee
沒有咖啡的日子！？ 氣候變遷恐造成咖啡品種滅絕

Coffee is probably [the] world's least expensive success power tool. Coffee builds better teams and increases your leadership ability. Coffee also increases your immunity. It increases focus and drive and my even increase your lifespan. 

Unfortunately, we may not be enjoying the benefits or pleasures of coffee too much longer according to ecologists, there's a good chance that in 20 or 30 years, the varieties of coffee that we drink today will be extinct. And we'll be drinking either a coffee substitute or some almost-coffee hybrid that vaguely resembles the drink we enjoy today. 

The problem, of course, is the pace of climate change. Successful coffee cultivation has three prerequisites: 1) a warm, highly stable tropical climate with elevations that keep air temperature between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius, 2) rich soil full of natural nutrients, and 3) an ecological environment that's pest and disease resistant. 

Coffee is a crop that is only grown in a thin band called the "coffee belt" close to the equator. It simply won't grow anywhere else. Unfortunately, the "coffee belt" is extremely vulnerable to climate change. If the air is too cold or too hot, it stunts the growth of the coffee plant. 

Info Cloud

running on fumes 形容身體疲累但還是必須工作的狀態

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Um, Rex, you are looking awfully tired today. What is going on? 

I have been working on several projects at the same time. After work, I have to take care of my kids at home. I feel like I'm running on fumes lately. 

Oh. I certainly know how you feel. Why don't we explain what you mean by running on fumes? 

Well, just look at me. Look at me. Running on fumes means you are extremely tired, but you have to keep going with not much energy left. 

Yes. OK. It's just like a car that is running out of gas or when overheated, fumes start to come out of the engine, but the car is still going. 

It is not a good condition to be in if you want to perform well. Another way to say this is running on empty, meaning you are running out of energy, but you are still working. 

Instead of running on empty, sometimes you would hear people say they are running on caffeine, meaning they are using coffee to give them a boost of energy to keep working. 

當你已經筋疲力盡，卻必須努力完成工作，或許可以用今天分享的用語 running on fumes 來表達自己的狀態。fumes 是煙，running on fumes 就好比一台車子因為過熱，引擎開始冒煙，但還是繼續在跑一樣，用來形容身體疲累但還是必須工作的狀態。I’m running on fumes lately working on so many projects. 最近我處理好幾個案子身體相當疲累。除了 running on fumes 之外，你也可以說 running on empty，意思是一樣的，empty 是空的，表示身體沒有力氣和能量了。另外，很多人也會 run on caffeine 靠著咖啡因繼續工作，因為喝咖啡可以讓身體短暫地恢復精神。

Language Lab

immunity n. 免疫、免疫力、抵抗力 
medical : the power to keep yourself from being affected by a disease — usually + to
- Proper nutrition can do wonders to your immunity.
適當的營養對免疫力有極好的影響。
- Andrew wants to boost his immunity because he gets sick quite often.
Andrew 想要增強她的抵抗力，因為他常常生病。
immunity n. 豁免、豁免權
special protection from what is required for most people by law — usually + from
- The foreign ambassador claimed diplomatic immunity when his car was stopped by the police.
當外交大使的車被警察攔下時，大使聲稱他有外交豁免權。 

extinct adj. 消失、滅絕 
 /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/
no longer existing
- In 2011, the West African black rhinoceros was declared extinct.
在2011年，西非黑犀牛被正式宣布已滅絕了。
extinct adj. 形容火山是死的 
no longer active
- Mount Fuji is not an extinct volcano; it can still erupt.
富士山不是死的火山，它還是有可能會爆發。
extinct adj. 因為沒有在用，所以消失了 
- Even though cellphones have replaced pagers, pagers have not gone extinct.
雖然手機已經取代了BB 呼叫器，但是BB機並沒有完全消失。 

resistant  adj.  能夠抗或防某樣東西 
opposed to something : wanting to prevent something from happening — usually + to
- James is trying to find something to make his shoes odor resistant.
James 在找能夠讓他的鞋子防臭的東西。
- This jacket is water resistant, but it is not waterproof.
這件外套可以抗水，但不是防水。
resistant  adj.  抗拒的 
not affected or harmed by something
- Elois is resistant to new kitchen gadgets and prefers to prepare food in the old-fashioned way.
Elois 抗拒新式廚房用具，她選擇用傳統方式來做菜。 

stunt v. 阻礙發展、讓東西無法好好生長 
 /ˈstʌnt/
to stop (someone or something) from growing or developing
- The sudden drop in temperature stunted the growth of the seedlings.
溫度突然下降造成幼苗發展的阻礙。
stunt n. 特技動作  
a difficult and often dangerous action
- The actor insisted on doing all the stunts himself.
那位演員堅持親自做所有的特技動作。
stunt n. 噱頭 
something that is done to get attention or publicity
- The politician’s appearance at the orphanage was just a stunt.
政客出現在孤兒院只是在搞噱頭。

WONDER (2)

A young boy faces many challenges because he is different
奇蹟男孩 一個關於「勇氣」的故事

Later, the story switches to the perspective of Auggie's older sister, Via. She began high school when Auggie began middle school. She has to come to terms with the fact that her family's life revolves around Auggie and his needs. 

If part four, the story changes to Jack's perspective. He figures out that Auggie overheard him and feels terrible. He really likes Auggie, but he got caught up in wanting to be accepted by kids like Julian. One day, Julian tells Jack that being friends with Auggie isn't worth it. 

Jack gets angry and punches Julian in the face. The incident results in Jack and Auggie renewing their friendship.

By the end of the book, almost everyone at school has accepted Auggie. Graduation arrives, and Auggie wins a special award for courage and kindness. He realizes how much he has grown since the beginning of the year. He now has a good group of friends and feels comfortable around people. The novel ends with his mother whispering to him that he is a wonder.

Info Cloud

to fit in / to stand out

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Recently I've been having flashbacks of my high school days when I was being silly and immature. 

Well, we all go through those times when we are young. But please, tell me about what you were like in high school. 

Well, you know, high school is like a little society where you try to fit in first. And then, if you're like me, you try to stand out. And that's exactly what I did. 

Oh. So you were trying to be one of those cool guys to attract girls' attention. I see. Well, why don't you explain to our students what you meant by fit in and stand out. 

To fit in means to be a part of a group by acting or looking the same way as everyone else in the group. 

So in order to fit in with the group, you cannot be too different than others. 

On the other hand, to stand out kind of means the opposite. You look different to attract attention from people. 

So you could stand out by looking differently in a physical way or to have outstanding performance in a certain area. Well, I can tell why Rex would stand out in high school - because of his talents in music. 

很多時候我們會面對如何融入一個群體的挑戰，今天要跟大家分享兩個用語 to fit in 還有 to stand out，首先 fit in 的意思就是靠著模仿其他人的言行舉止和穿著打扮來融入群體。John feels he should look smart to fit in with this group. John 覺得自己要看起來很聰明，才能融入這個群體。

另一方面，stand out 幾乎有相反的涵義，那就是看起來跟別人不一樣，透過行為舉止、個人風格或是突出的表現，讓你非常地顯眼，吸引眾人的目光。His outstanding performance makes him stand out from the crowd. 他在表演中的傑出表現讓他成為目光焦點。

Language Lab

come to terms with ph. 慢慢地或漸漸能夠接受 (通常是處在一個不愉快的狀況下 或因為某人過世的關係)
to learn how to accept or live with something that is difficult or painful — + with
- The young widow hasn’t come to terms with the sudden death of her husband.
那個年經寡婦還未能夠接受丈夫的突然過世。
- Harry has come to terms with having to share his bedroom with his little brother.
Harry 已經漸漸能夠接受弟弟跟他睡同一間房間。
come to terms with ph. 達成協議 
to reach an agreement
- After hours of discussion, both parties have finally come to terms.
經過好幾個小時的討論後，雙方終於達成協議。 

catch up ph v. 在某種狀況或氣氛中，被吸引住或被迷住 
- Dorothy was caught up in the excitement of the performance and didn’t hear her phone ring.
Dorothy 完全被表演的熱鬧氣氛吸引住，而沒有注意到她手機再響。
catch up ph v. 趕上  
to move fast enough to join someone or something that is in front of you
- Arnie stopped to tie his shoes, and then he had to run in order to catch up with his friends.
Arnie 停下來綁鞋帶，然後要用跑的才能夠趕上他的朋友。
catch up ph v. 趕進度 
- Jimmy was away from the office for three days, and now he needs to catch up on his work.
Jimmy 因為離開辦公室三天，所以他現在必須趕工作進度。 

incident n. 事件 (通常是不太好的、很離奇、不尋常的)
an unexpected and usually unpleasant thing that happens
- A strange incident happened at the factory last night, and only the security guard was there at the time.
昨晚在工廠發生了很奇怪的事情，當時就只有警衛在現場。
- The front desk receptionist writes down every incident that occurs in the lobby.
櫃檯接待員會記下大廳裡發生的每一件不尋常的事情。
- Did you hear about that scary incident at the department store yesterday?
你有沒有聽到昨天在百貨公司裡發生的可怕的事件? 

graduation n. 畢業  
the act of receiving a diploma or degree from a school, college, or university : the act of graduating
- Amos plans to travel the world after graduation.
Amos 打算畢業後去環遊世界。
graduation n. 畢業典禮
a ceremony at which degrees or diplomas are given out
- Melissa will be attending her nephew’s graduation.
Melissa 會去參加她侄兒的畢業典禮。
graduation n. 刻度 
- This ruler has the metric graduation on one side and the imperial graduation on the other side.
這把尺有一邊是公制刻度，另一邊是英制的刻度。