Kimonos (2)

Kimonos declined in popularity during the Meiji period (1868 - 1912) as the Japanese adopted Western clothing in the effort to create a modern, industrialized state. Men were encouraged to wear Western styles during daily life, and Western clothing was required for official functions. During that time, the image of graceful women in kimonos came to represent a connection to traditional Japanese culture and values.

Today, the kimono is experiencing a revival. Japanese youth are starting to wear kimonos to festivals and everyday events. Foreign visitors to Japan can also try them on as they visit historic sites. A group called Kimono Jack organizes events where large numbers of people appear in public places wearing kimonos. 

They tend to ignore strict rules about how kimonos should be worn, encouraging people to take joy in the kimonos' stunning colors and patterns. These events have taken place in several different countries, connecting people from around the world who are interested in kimonos.

Wearing a kimono has become a way for Japanese youth to connect with their history, as well as to express their individuality. Perhaps soon the streets of Japan will once again be filled with people in kimonos just as they were centuries ago.

Info Cloud

march to the beat of your own drum 你跟大家的節奏不同，你有自己的節奏，自己走自己的

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Rex, I saw you talking to John earlier. What were you talking about? 

Current events. I enjoy talking to him because his opinions aren't conventional. He thinks in a different way than most people do. 

It sounds like John marches to the beat of his own drum. Let's talk about that phrase today. 

We use this phrase to describe someone who doesn't conform to social standards, someone who enjoys being different marches to the beat of their own drum. 

You could say Erika's clothes don't follow current fashion trends. She marches to the beat of her own drum. 

So, Anne Marie, in the example you just used, it sounds like a positive thing. Can this phrase ever be used in a negative way? 

Sure it can. People who march to the beat of their own drum sometimes forget to take others into consideration. Some people might even feel that they are weird or odd. 

It may seem like Steven is rude. But don't take his comments to heart. He just marches to the beat of his own drum. 

How about you? Do you march to the beat of your own drum? 

如果你不喜歡跟隨群眾的腳步隨波逐流，或許可以用今天介紹的用語 march to the beat of your own drum 來形容自己。march 是遊行或是行軍，遊行隊伍經常用鼓聲來打拍子，指揮所有人的腳步。march to the beat of your own drum 就是跟著自己的鼓聲來前進，意思就是你跟大家的節奏不同，你有自己的節奏，自己走自己的。

Do you march to the beat of your own drum? 你是不是比較特立獨行呢? 當然，march to the beat of your own drum 可以是正面的-- 堅持做對的事情，也可以是負面的- 不合群或是不喜歡遵守規定。 

Language Lab

decline v. 減少、降低 
to become lower in amount or less in number
- After the sixteenth century, the empire’s power started to decline.
十六世紀後，帝國的權威逐漸衰退。
decline v. 拒絕、謝絕 
to say that you will not or cannot do something
- Because Mr. Jackson had too many things to do, he had to decline the dinner invitation.
Jackson 先生因為有太多事情要處理，所以只好謝絕邀請。
- Martha declined to answer the reporters’ questions.
Martha 拒絕回答記者們的問題。

revival n. 復興、復甦 
a period in which something becomes popular again after a long period of time;
the growth of something or an increase in the activity of something after a long period of no growth or activity
- There has been a revival of trade between the two countries.
這兩國之間的貿易有復甦。
- Thanks to that art exhibit, there is now a revival of that style of artwork.
現在那種藝術風格得以復興都要歸功於那個藝術展覽。
revival n. 戲劇、歌劇、舞台劇影片的重演
the showing of a play, a movie, etc., to the public usually many years after it was last shown : a new production of an old show
- Rumor has it the famous director’s next project is a revival of a Hitchcock movie.
聽說那位名導演的下一部片子是重演希區考克的電影。

stunning adj. 非常漂亮的 
very beautiful or pleasing
- I want to take a photo because the view is absolutely stunning.
我想要拍照，因為這裡的風景實在是太漂亮了。
- The bride looked stunning in her wedding dress.
新娘子穿著婚紗實在是太美麗了。
stunning adj. 震驚的
very surprising or shocking
- We didn’t know what to say when we heard the stunning news.
我們聽到令人震驚的消息後，都不知道該說什麼。
stunning adj. 讚不絕口、讓人印象深刻 
- The pianist gave a stunning performance in the concert hall.
鋼琴家在演奏廳裡的表演令人嘆為觀止。 

individuality n. 個人特質
 /ˌɪndəˌvɪʤəˈwæləti/
the quality that makes one person or thing different from all others
- The designs weren’t ugly, but they lacked individuality.
那些設計不難看，但是缺乏個人風格。
- In the process of trying to express their individuality through fashion trends, these kids all end up looking the same.
年經人透過時尚表達個人特質，結果他們看起來都變成一樣的。
- Lana claims her choice of clothes is an expression of her individuality.
Lana 說他所選的衣著是為了表達他的個人特質。

Kimonos (1)

This beautiful traditional clothing is returning to the streets of Japan
和服之美 傳統優雅服飾 美麗重現日本

The kimono, a garment with a long history, has always been associated with traditional Japanese culture. Yet now it is making a comeback because more and more people are seeking to bring back its status as everyday clothing. 

Worn by both women and men, kimonos are long robes with wide sleeves. They are wrapped around one's body and held in place by a belt called an obi.

The kimono was popular during the Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1868. This time of political stability and economic growth followed centuries of civil war. This time of political stability and economic growth followed centuries of civil war. High-class samurai, who had traditionally made a name for themselves through combat, turned instead to clothing to demonstrate their status through beautiful materials in bright colors. 

But the growing merchant class, who were of lower status, began to develop new kimono styles during the Edo period. These merchants showed off their growing wealth by wearing kimonos of distinctive patterns and materials. The upper classes responded with laws forbidding merchants from wearing certain colors and using materials such as silk. So the merchants turned to using subtle details such as patterns of delicate lines to add beauty to kimonos that initially appeared plain. 

Info Cloud

Japanese words that English has borrowed

Konnichiwa, everyone. Welcome to Info Cloud. 

Uh, Rex, what did you just say? 

I said hello in Japanese. 

Oh. No wonder I didn't understand you. 

Today we are talking about Japanese words that English has borrowed. 

There are more than you might think. 

English borrows words from other languages and cultures all the time. 

They are usually nouns that describe something originating in that country. 

There are foods like sushi, wasabi and teriyaki, a sweet Japanese barbecue sauce. 

There are types of weather like the typhoon and tsunami, which is a huge tidal wave. 

There are also some types of art that come from Japan. They are now popular all around the world. 

Origami is the art of folding paper like the paper crane. 

And a haiku is a special type of Japanese poem. It only has three lines. 

And each line has a certain number of syllables. The first and last line have five syllables each, and the second line has seven. You can try to write one in English. 

It's a great way to practice. Let me try writing a haiku about what we learned today. Sushi, wasabi, Japanese food is so fun to say and to eat. 

很多人不知道其實英文也有很多外來語，今天就跟大家介紹一個從日本來的英文外來語，最受歡迎的當然就是 sushi 壽司、wasabi 芥末還有 teriyaki 照燒，聽到是不是口水快要流出來了呢? 除了食物之外，跟天氣有關的 typhoon 颱風和 tsunami 海嘯，其實都是從日語來的。在藝術和文學方面，origami 就是日本的摺紙藝術，haiku 是日本的三行俳句詩，這種詩通常只有三句話，第一和第三句話只有五個音節，第二句則有七個音節，用英文也可以寫出 haiku 的詩。以上介紹的這些生字，都是英語系國家經常用到的外來語。

Language Lab

comeback n. 捲土重來、再一次流行起來  
a return to being popular or fashionable
- Do you think the large hairdos of the 1980s will ever make a comeback?
你認為80年代的大髮型會不會重新流行起來呢?
comeback n. 東山再起
a new effort to win or succeed after being close to defeat or failure
- The actress has not been in any movies for a very long time, but she is thinking of making a comeback.
那位女演員已經好久沒有演戲了，不過她打算要東山再起。
comeback n. 反敗為勝
- Everyone had thought the team was going to lose, but then they made an incredible comeback.
大家都以為那個球隊會打輸，結果他們竟然能夠反敗為勝。
comeback n. 反駁、回嘴
a quick reply or response
- Aaron couldn’t think of a good comeback so he chose to stay silent.
Aaron 因為不知該如何反駁，所以選擇保持沉默。 

combat n. 鬥爭、格鬥  
active fighting especially in a war
- Andrew is an army officer and he has a lot of experiences in combat.
Andrew 是一位軍官，他有不少戰鬥的經驗。
combat n. 雙方之間的爭奪
- What started out as an innocent debate between two students turned into an intense verbal combat.
那兩位同學原本只是再辯論，結果變成激烈的口角之爭。
combat v. 打擊  
to try to stop (something) from happening or getting worse
- The mayor promised the public that he would do his best to combat the issues of crime. 
市長對民眾承諾他會盡最大努力來打擊犯罪。 

distinctive adj. 獨特的、跟其他的不一樣的
having a quality or characteristic that makes a person or thing different from others : different in a way that is easy to notice
- Linda decided to buy the rugs because of their distinctive patterns.
Linda 決定要買下那幾張地毯，因為他們有獨特的圖案。
- Although Mitch didn’t have a lot of work experiences, he was able to get a job because of his distinctive personality.
Mitch 雖然沒有很多工作經驗，但是因為他的獨特個性，所以能夠找到工作。
- Only members of the royal family were allowed to wear that distinctive robe.
只有皇家成員能夠穿上那獨特的衣袍。

subtle  adj. 不明顯、不容易被注意到 
/ˈsʌtl̟/ [有 b 這個字母，但不發音]
hard to notice or see : not obvious
- I didn’t think the cake was that good; the flavor was too subtle.
我不認為蛋糕有那麼好吃，味道太淡了。
subtle  adj. 很細、細到很難察覺
- There is a difference between these two products, but the difference is very subtle.
這兩個產品不一樣，但是之間的不同是非常細微的。
subtle  adj. 東西非常精巧、微妙的 
clever and indirect : not showing your real purpose
- The queen was very wise and knew how to make subtle suggestions to the stubborn king.
皇后很有智慧，知道該如何給頑固的國王微妙的建議。

EATING WITH A CAMERA (2)

I started watching mukbang because I was curious about it. Then I watched a story-time mukbanger who was a little awkward and a little funny. She was telling a true crime story while eating five tacos. The story was about a girl who couldn't age and who had five identities. I was hooked. 

There is something social and comforting about mukbang. Now that single-person households are growing, eating alone is more common. Watching mukbang can be a way to have someone to eat with. It allows people to connect with others even though they are home alone. 

There is a dark side to mukbang, however. The way people eat food in most of these videos isn't healthy. Some mukbangers eat enough food to make their audience's stomachs hurt. This could encourage bad habits that might lead to serious eating problems. Good or bad, mukbang isn't for everyone. But I do like a good story with a good meal. 

Info Cloud

pig out 狼吞虎嚥地吃

Welcome back to Info Cloud, friends. Anne Marie, recently you were telling me that in America you lived in the countryside. I was wondering, did you grow up on a farm? 

I personally didn't live on a farm, but there were many farms near my home. 

Were there pig farms? Have you ever been to one of those? 

I sure have. And pigs can get huge. They eat a lot of food. This is a perfect time to introduce our phrase for today: pig out. 

Ah, yes, to pig out. When pigs eat, they really go at it. They eat quickly and greedily. 

If someone is pigging out, it means they are doing exactly that - eating too fast and too much. 

This phrase is commonly used paired with the word on. You can put what you ate after. Every Friday night my family likes to watch movies and pig out on pizza. 

You can also use this word in the past tense. Last night before I went to bed, I really pigged out on potato chips. Not very healthy, I know. 

Hey, it happens. When I'm tired or stressed, I like to pig out on snacks, too. 

How about you, students? What have you pigged out on lately? 

當你看到有人正在狼吞虎嚥地吃某種食物，你可以用 pig out 來形容他。pig是豬的意思，pig out 就是像豬一樣吃得又快又急又大量，但是跟中文有點不一樣地方在於，這個字並沒有任何貶低的涵義，反而有點幽默感在裡面。We like to watch movies and pig out on pizza. 我們喜歡一邊看電影，一邊吃很多披薩。不過要提醒大家的是，pig out 並不是一種很健康的飲食習慣，大家在吃東西的時候，還是要細嚼慢嚥，適量就好。

Language Lab

awkward adj. 不靈活的、難看的、不自然的  
not graceful : clumsy
- I think it’s awkward to have a plant in this corner; maybe you should move it to the balcony.
我覺得盆栽放在這個角落不好看，也許你應該要把它移到陽台去。
- Most people think Mona’s outfits are a little awkward, but she thinks they are fashionable.
大部分的人會覺得Mona的衣著有點奇怪，但是她卻認為她服裝很時尚。
awkward adj. 尷尬的
not socially graceful or confident : uneasy or uncomfortable
- Teresa felt somewhat awkward when she ran into her former boss.
當Teresa 碰到她以前的老闆時，感到有一點尷尬。
awkward adj. 一個狀況不容易處理或是很難應付 
difficult to use or handle
- These large boxes aren’t heavy but they are awkward to carry up the stairs.
這些大箱子不重，但是要搬上樓梯還是有點麻煩。 

comforting adj. 讓人感到安慰的
comfort v. 安慰
to cause (someone) to feel less worried, upset, frightened, etc. : to give comfort to (someone)
- When Kelly’s dog died, Kelly’s friends tried to comfort her.
Kelly的小狗死了後，她的朋友試著安慰她。
- It is comforting to know my friends will always support me.
知道我的朋友會永遠支持我，讓我感到欣慰。
- The actress loves getting letters from her fans because it is comforting to her. 
女藝人很喜歡收到她粉絲的信件，因為會帶給她許多安慰。 

encourage v. 鼓勵 
to make (someone) more determined, hopeful, or confident
- The teacher always tries to encourage her students.
那位老師常常會鼓勵她的學生們。
encouraging adj. 令人鼓舞的、振奮人心的
causing a hopeful feeling
- The government is encouraging people to use public transportation.
政府鼓勵民眾多利用大眾運輸。
- I’m tired of hearing all these negative reports, it’s time for some encouraging news.
一直聽到負面消息讓我感到很厭煩，該是時候來一點讓人振奮的新聞了。
encouragement n. 鼓勵的話、行為 
the act of making something more appealing or more likely to happen
- It’s easy for Carol to feel discouraged; she really needs a lot of encouragement.
Carol 很容易感到沮喪，她真的需要很多鼓勵。 

stomach n. 肚子、胃 
the organ in your body where food goes and begins to be digested after you swallow it
- Richard’s stomach wouldn’t stop growling because he was so hungry.
Richard的肚子一直咕嚕咕嚕叫，因為他實在很餓。
stomach n. 腹部 [=belly]
the part of your body that contains the stomach
- Something is bothering Ben’s stomach, but he doesn’t know what is causing the discomfort.
Ben的腹部不舒服，但是他不知道是什麼引起的。
stomach  v. 忍受、容忍 [=tolerate]
to accept or experience (something unpleasant) without becoming sick, upset, etc.
- It was hard for the young reporter to stomach the violence he had seen.
年輕的記者很難容忍他所見到的暴力。
- Marianne could not stomach the thought of having to kill an animal for food.
宰殺動物來吃是一件讓Marianne無法忍受的事。

EATING WITH A CAMERA (1)

Mukbangers share their meals and leave audiences hungry for more
「吃播」魅力無法擋 為什麼在電腦前看別人吃喝那麼療癒？

I have a secret to confess. I like to watch people eat on camera, and I'm not the only one. Millions of people log onto YouTube to watch something called mukbang. These online videos show people eating and sometimes talking to their audience. It might seem strange, but these videos are surprisingly satisfying to watch. 

Mukbang started in South Korea in the late 2000s. South Korea is a country known for its pop stars' carefully created images. But mukbang shows the exact opposite in many ways. Mukbangers, those that make mukband videos, can be dirty, noisy and even rude. 

Today people all over the world are streaming their eating habits as mukbang. Some mukbangers eat with just their hands as sauces run down their fingers. They wipe their mouths on their sleeves and stress every chew, slurp and swallow. These mukbangers aim to give you those ASMR tingles that some people enjoy. 

Info Cloud

showboats 

Welcome to Info Cloud, friends. Anne Marie has told us many times that she doesn't enjoy watching sports. I'm curious about the reason why. 

Hmm. Well, there are several reasons. One of them is that I don't enjoy all of the showboating that goes on. 

Showboating is when someone does something for attention or specifically to impress others. 

Have you ever seen an athlete do a dance after they score a touchdown or hit a home run? That's an example of showboating. 

Anne Marie, I think our students understand what it means. But where did this term come from? 

Well, showboats were a cultural phenomenon in mid-19th century America. 

A showboat was a large riverboat that usually traveled along the Mississippi River in the American Midwest. 

Oh. I've seen photos of those showboats before. They were decorated with bright colors and were very gaudy. 

Exactly. Well, the showboats would travel along the Mississippi River and stop at different towns along the way. 

At each stop, they would do a performance and bring entertainment to the people there. Like a traveling stage or a traveling theater. 

And that explains why we call showing off or giving a performance for attention showboating. 

當你看到一些人很愛現，或者是很喜歡炫耀，你可以用 showboating 來形容他們。Football players often showboat after making a touchdown. 美式足球員經常在得分之後，賣弄肢體動作、炫耀自己。showboat 其實是19世紀在美國密西西比河的沿線，巡迴演出的演藝船，這些 showboats 的外觀被裝飾地光彩奪目，每次停靠在一個地點，都會吸引很多人去看表演，像是一個行動的劇場一樣。因此，showboating 在今天可以用來形容炫耀的行為。

Language Lab

confess v. 承認、坦白地說  
to talk about or admit something that makes you embarrassed, ashamed, etc.
- I must confess I haven’t done one single house chore all day.
我必須承認我今天一整天一樣家務事都沒做。
- Alan was on a diet, but then he confessed to eating a whole box of donuts.
Alan 在節食，但是他承認他把整盒甜甜圈都吃掉了。
confess v.  認罪
to admit that you did something wrong or illegal
- The thief finally confessed to stealing the motorcycle.
小偷終於供認他偷了摩托車。
confess v. 為了宗教信仰或心靈方面的需求而懺悔
to tell (your sins) to God or to a priest
- James felt peaceful after he had confessed his sins.
James為他的罪過懺悔後，感到心裡平安。

opposite n. 相反 
someone or something that is completely different from someone or something else
- We were hoping to enjoy a nice quiet dinner, but what we experienced was the exact opposite. 我們原本希望能夠享用一頓寧靜的晚餐，結果碰到的卻是完全相反。
- Trina always prefers the opposite of what her siblings like.
Trina 老是選擇和他兄弟姊妹不同喜好的東西。
opposite adj. 完全相反
completely different
- Mr. Cranshaw had trouble working with his business partner because they had opposite ideas.
Cranshaw 先生很難跟他的商業夥伴合作，因為他們的想法是完全相反的。
opposite adj. 對面、另一邊
located at the other end, side, or corner of something : located across from something
- Josephine wants to sit on the opposite side of the table because she wants to look out the window.
Josephine 想坐在桌子的另一邊，因為她想看窗戶外面。

wipe v. 擦  
to clean or dry (something) by using a towel, your hand, etc.
- Please use this towel to wipe your hands.
請用這條毛巾來擦手。
- After we finish dinner, mom always asks us to wipe the table.
我們吃完晚飯後，媽媽都會叫我們擦桌子。
wipe v. 擦掉
to remove (something) by rubbing
- There is water on this chair, please wipe it off.
椅子上有水，請把它擦掉。
wipe n. 擦東西的那個動作
an act of cleaning or drying something by using a towel, your hand, etc.
- The furniture is very dusty, someone needs to give them a good wipe.
家具上灰塵很多，有人需要把它們好好地擦一擦。 

slurp n. 一大口 
- Ned was given a big tall glass of iced tea, and he took a nice big slurp.
有人給Ned一大杯的冰紅茶，然後他就好好地喝了一大口。
slurp v. 吃喝東西的時候，很大聲地把飲料或是食物吸進嘴巴裡 
to eat or drink (something) noisily or with a sucking sound
- In some cultures, it is very rude to slurp when you eat.
有些文化會認為吃東西出聲音是很沒禮貌的。
- The children like to slurp their noodles because they like making funny sounds.
小朋友喜歡大聲地吃麵條，因為他們喜歡發出奇怪的聲音。

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUDWIG! (2)

Why the spectacular celebration for Beethoven's birthday? This remarkable composer's works continue to capture the imagination of millions even 250 years later. His pieces are played more often than those of any other composer. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony influenced music listening in the 20th century. The playing time for a CD was set at 74 minutes because it would fit the longest recordings of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. This allowed people to enjoy the musical masterpiece in its entirety on one CD. An instrumental version of the theme from the last movement even became the anthem of the European Union. 

Beethoven's Sixth Symphony has become the rallying music of environmental activists because the work expresses a love of nature. Last November a concert was held in an elephant park in Thailand, where a pianist played passages from the work. The concert was part of the Beethoven Pastoral Project. The United Nations and others planned it to help promote climate protection. 

Who knows how Beethoven's music will be used in the next 250 years? But there is not doubt it will be enjoyed!

Info Cloud

Variation on the theme of 一樣東西的不同版本

Hello, and welcome to info Cloud. I heard the funniest comedy routine on YouTube the other day. It's about working as a waiter in a Mexican restaurant. 

Oh, I know that joke. Customers ask about what's in different dishes but each is just a variation on the theme of the exact same ingredients put together. 

Exactly. What's a taco, tortilla, cheese and meat or veggies, a burrito or a chimichanga, tortilla cheese and meat or veggies. 

Let's talk more about the expression variation on the theme of something. Basically it means doing something different with something familiar. 

Right. This is a common concept in music. You repeat a part of a song over and over but you make small changes and that makes all the difference. 

Usually, when we say something is a variation on the theme of something else, it means it’s a different way of doing something familiar. 

I just finished a great book. It was a collection of stories that were all variations on the theme of boy-meets-girl but none of the stories were romance stories. 

You know, Mexican food in a way it's like music - it's all about fantastic variations on a theme. 

今天要介紹的這個用語相當特別，在亞洲比較少聽到，那就是 Variation on the theme of，意思就是一樣東西的不同版本。例如，男孩遇見女孩的主題可以在不同的小說當中出現不同版本的故事，你可以說: This novel is a variation on the theme of boy-meets-girl. 這部小說就是一種男孩遇見女孩的故事。還有一個例子是，肉絲和青菜可以做出很多菜色，你可以說: They are the variations on the theme of meat and vegetables. 這一些菜都是肉絲和青菜的不同組合。

Language Lab

spectacular adj. 非常壯觀的、讓人感到驚嘆的 
causing wonder and admiration : very impressive
- That was a spectacular circus performance.
那場馬戲團表演真的實在令人讚嘆。
- The view from the top of the mountain was spectacular.
從山頂看到的景觀真的是太壯觀了。
- We watched the New Year’s fireworks display, but it wasn’t as spectacular as last year’s.
我們去看跨年煙火秀，但是感覺沒有像去年的那麼令人驚嘆。
spectacularly adv. (某個動作或舉動) 讓人感到驚奇或是印象深刻地 
- The young gymnast was able to perform her routines spectacularly.
那位年經的體操選手能夠把動作表演地讓人感到驚嘆。 

remarkable adj. 會引人注意的 (因為非常優秀、特別或驚奇的)
unusual or surprising : likely to be noticed
- The young child’s piano performance was absolutely remarkable.
那位小朋友的鋼琴表演實在是太讓人驚奇了。
- It was remarkable to see a mother cat taking care of a baby squirrel.
看到一隻母貓照顧松鼠寶寶真的很特別又驚奇。
- The student might get good grades on his tests but there is nothing remarkable about his essays.
那位同學的考試成績也許很好，但是他的作文沒有讓人有特別的印象。 

rally v. 為了一個共同目標或意象團結或聚集在一起  
to meet publicly to support or oppose something : to come together for a rally
- The townsmen rallied together to protest against the pollution caused by the local factory.
鎮裡的人們聚集在一起，抗議當地工廠所製造的汙染。
- The general rallied the soldiers and promised them the victory.
將軍把士兵們聚集在一起，並承諾他們會戰勝。
rally n. 大型的集會 
a public meeting to support or oppose someone or something
- During the week, right before the election, there were political rallies everywhere.
在選舉的前一個禮拜當中，到處都在舉行競選大會。
- After Margaret attended her first student rally, she became more interested in social movements. 
Margaret 自從參加了她的首場學生集會後，就開始對社會運動有興趣。 

passage n. 一首曲子裡的樂段  
a usually short section of a piece of music
- The musician played a passage on the piano and asked us to guess the name of the song.
音樂家在鋼琴上彈了一個樂段，然後要我們猜猜曲名。
passage n. 文章裡的段落
a usually short section of a book, poem, speech, etc.
- The teacher asked one of his students to read a passage from the book.
老師請了一位學生來唸出書裡的一個段落。
passage n. 走道、走廊 
a long, narrow space that connects one place to another
- The children explored the old castle and found a dark and narrow passage.
小朋友在古堡裡探險時，找到一個又暗又窄的走廊。
passage n. 身體裡面的通道 
a narrow space that people or things can move through
- The man has trouble breathing because there is something wrong with his nasal passage.
這個人呼吸有困難，因為他鼻道有問題。

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUDWIG! (1)

Celebrate the 250th birthday of one of the world’s great composers
路德維希，生日快樂！ 歡慶「樂聖」貝多芬兩百五十歲誕辰

Most people enjoy a birthday celebration on one particular day. But one exceptional person's birthday is being celebrated for an entire year! Who might that be? Da-Da-Da-DUM... Beethoven! His birthday festivities began on Dec. 16, 2019, and they will continue until Dec. 17, 2020. Why? Because Ludwig van Beethoven was baptized on Dec. 17, 1770; his actual birthday is unknown. 

Where can you celebrate the life of this musical genius? One place is the city of Bonn, Germany, the composer's birthplace. Each year the city holds the Bonn Beethovenfest, where famous international artists play his music. 

An International Choir Festival is also planned for this fall. Choirs will attend workshops and perform together as well as join a choir flash mob. Concerts are also scheduled in Dresden, Prague and Vienna. In Dresden, a talented pianist plans to perform all of Beethoven's piano concertos. And from Vienna, where Beethoven spent most of his life, a cruise down the Danube River has been organized. The trip features concerts at landmarks along the way and a special concert onboard the ship.

Info Cloud

milestone birthdays 生日里程碑

Hello, and welcome to Info Cloud friends. Today I want to talk about getting older. 

Do we have to talk about age again? That’s an embarrassing topic for me. 

Don't worry. I thought we could discuss milestone birthdays and the traditions that accompany them. 

Well, in that case, let's get to it. Let's start with sweet sixteen. This refers to the parties some girls have when they turn 16 years old. Can you talk about turning 18, Anne Marie? 

Sure. In the USA, when you turn 18, you're considered an adult. At this age, you're allowed to vote, get married, voluntarily join the military or open your own bank account. 

How about 21? That’s a milestone birthday too, isn't it? Well, that's the legal age you're allowed to drink alcohol in the US. 

If you are over the hill, it means you're older than 40. Since that is about half the average lifespan, people sometimes say that once you're over the hill, you're finished with the first half of your life. 

Before we go, I want to introduce a phrase about getting older -- aging gracefully. That means we accept that we are getting older and embrace it. 

No matter how old you are, aging gracefully is something we all can do. 

大部分的人每年都會過生日，但有些生日是有特別的意義的，像是16歲生日在美國代表小孩慢慢長大成熟，18歲生日代表你可以投票、合法結婚、加入軍隊，或是自己到銀行開戶，美國人統稱這一些特別的生日為 milestone birthdays 生日里程碑，或是有里程碑意義的生日。當然還有21歲，在美國代表可以喝酒了，這也是一個 milestone birthday。另外，當你用 over the hill 越過山丘 來形容一個人，那就代表他已經超過40歲了。當一個人的年齡越來越大，你可以用 aging gracefully 來形容這個人。aging gracefully 的意思就是非常優雅地增長年齡。

Language Lab

particular adj. 特定的  
used to indicate that one specific person or thing is being referred to and no others
- Is there a particular place that you would like me to take these packages to?
你有沒有要我把這些包裹送到哪個指定的地方呢?
- Robert just bought some flowers for a particular person. 
Robert 剛剛為某個特別的人買了一些花。
particular adj. 挑剔、非常講究的
having very definite opinions about what is good or acceptable
- When it comes to grilling steak, Jerry is very particular. 
Jerry 對烤牛排可是非常講究的。
- It’s very hard to eat out with Lana because she is always so particular. 
要跟Lana出去吃飯很麻煩，因為她是非常挑剔的。 

festivity n. 歡慶 
/ˈfɛˈstɪvəti/
celebration and enjoyment
festivities [plural] : enjoyable activities at the time of a holiday or other special occasion : festive activities 節慶當中的慶祝活動或是活動內容
festival n. 節慶 
a special time or event when people gather to celebrate something
- The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon; do you have any special plans?
中秋節快到了，你有沒有什麼特別的計畫?
- The students put up a few balloons around the classroom to create a feeling of festivity.
學生們用幾個氣球來布置教室，製造一點歡慶的氣氛。
- Martha was so busy planning the festivities that she wasn’t able to enjoy the festival itself.
Martha 忙著籌備慶祝活動的細節，而無法享受節慶的歡樂。
- During the holiday weekend, thousands of visitors participated in the festivities.
佳節的周末時，好幾千名遊客來參加節慶活動。 

workshop n. 工作坊、廠房(機械產業、手工方面的工作環境)   
a place where things are made or repaired
- There are many machines in the workshop, so please be careful when you enter.
廠房裡有很多機器，進去時請注意安全。
- Paul uses his garage as a small workshop and keeps all his tools there.
Paul 把他的車庫當成一個小型工作室，他所有的工具都收在那裏。
workshop n. 專題討論會、研討會
a class or series of classes in which a small group of people learn the methods and skills used in doing something
- For those interested in taking pictures, there will be a photography workshop this weekend.
這個周末會舉辦一場攝影研討會，給對拍照有興趣的人參加。
- The students’ acting skills improved after they attended the drama workshop.
學生們參加了戲劇培訓會後，演技有進步。 

landmark n. 地標 
an object or structure on land that is easy to see and recognize
- The Statue of Liberty in New Work City is a famous landmark you must go see.
自由女神像在紐約是一個必看的著名地標。
- The Taj Mahal is a well-known landmark in India.
泰姬瑪哈陵是印度有名的地標。
landmark n. 一個發展過程中的重要點; 一件事情有重大意義 
a very important event or achievement
- Neil Armstrong walking on the moon was a landmark in modern history.
阿姆斯壯踏上月球是現代歷史重要的里程碑。
- The king made the landmark decision to free all the slaves in his kingdom.
國王做了重大的決定，要釋放他王國裡所有的奴隸。

Escape Rooms are Amazing! (2)

Escape rooms in Taipei are quite elaborate. Inside one, you feel as if you had just stepped into a story. It could be a thriller, a legend or something from sci-fi. Tricks and technology complete the illusion created by the room's theme. And there's always a variety of engaging puzzles.

Different companies offer a number of rooms to try. Some are suitable for just a few friends while others are big and require a large group of people to solve. But be warned: Some escape rooms are extraordinary because they are intense! We learned that the hard way when we invited a large group of friends to one. Some of them had never tried an escape room before. They were a little nervous, but we assured them that escape rooms are relaxing and fun. "They aren't scary or too high pressure," we said. Well, we were wrong. It turns out some are a bit over the top, but we enjoyed that, too! There is nothing like the feeling of solving problem as a team.

Info Cloud

beware, be aware and be warned. 

Hello, and welcome to Info Cloud. Today we are going to talk about the difference between beware, be aware and be warned. 

Have you ever seen a sign that says: Beware of dog? Some people put that sign on the fence around their house. 

We had a neighbor in the U.S. that had that sign. They had a big dog. It was a warning to beware of danger from the dog at their house. 

But if you turn beware into be aware, it means that there is information that you should be aware of, not an immediate danger. 

Please be aware: These chips were made at a factory that processes peanuts. You might find that warning on a bag of chips. It's information that people who are allergic to peanuts might want to know. But the sense of be aware is that you aren't in immediate danger. 

But if you think that people should be more cautious, or if you want to make it clear you are warning someone, you can use: Be warned. 

I read a great article about the new Marvel movies. But be warned it gives away some major plot developments. 

So we just wanted you to be warned: beware and be aware sound very similar, but you can't always use them interchangeably. 

英文有幾種方式來提醒人們要注意一些必須注意的事情，例如，院子裡養了一隻很兇的狗，主人可能會在門外掛一個 Beware of dog. 的標語，也就是注意裡面有狗，可能會有點危險。beware of 可以用來形容人、動物或是某件事情。

如果是 be aware 那就比較溫和，只是告訴你一些重要的資訊，像是 Please be aware the coffee is hot. 你要注意咖啡是熱的。

如果你覺得你必須發出警告，那就要用比較強烈的 Be warned. 例如，Be warned that this area is not safe. 注意這個地區不是很安全，可能治安不好。

Language Lab

elaborate adj. 詳盡的、複雜的  

 /ɪˈlæbərət/

made or done with great care or with much detail : having many parts that are carefully arranged or planned

- The team leader’s plan was too elaborate for the team members to follow, so he had to come up with a whole new plan. 

組長的計畫對組員們來說太複雜，所以得再設計一套全新的計畫。 

- Stephanie won the design contest because her design was the most elaborate one in the competition. 

Stephanie 在設計大賽獲勝，因為她的設計是競賽裡最精心製作的。 

elaborate v. 多加說明/講解 

/ɪˈlæbəˌreɪt/

to give more details about something : to discuss something more fully

- The scientist had mentioned in his presentation that he was about to make an important scientific discovery, but he never elaborated on it. 

這位科學家在演講中提到他即將有重要的科學發現，但是他卻沒有多加說明。 

- The key witness appeared in court and was asked to elaborate what she had seen on the day of the crime. 

這位主要證人在法庭出席，並被要求說明他在案發當天所看到的一切。 

thriller n. 驚悚的故事小說/影片/舞台劇 

 /ˈθrɪlɚ/

a novel, movie, etc., that is very exciting : a story full of exciting action, mystery, adventure, or suspense

- Joanna read a captivating thriller and it kept her up all night. 

Joanna 讀了一本引人入勝的驚悚小說而害她一整晚都沒睡。 

- Kathy didn’t go to the movies with her friends because they all wanted to watch a thriller, but she doesn’t like being nervous and scared. 

Kathy 沒有跟朋友一起去看電影，因為他們都想看驚悚片，而 Kathy 不喜歡那種緊張又害怕的感覺。 

- The stage thriller was adapted from one of Agatha Christie’s famous novels. 

這齣驚悚舞台劇是由一部克里斯蒂的著名小說改編而成的。 

extraordinary adj.非凡的、非常特別的 

very unusual : very different from what is normal or ordinary

- Helen Keller had the most extraordinary teacher to help her learn things. 

海倫凱勒有一位非凡的老師來幫助她學習。 

extraordinary adj. 很驚奇、意想不到的 

extremely good or impressive

- In 1922, Howard Carter made an extraordinary discovery: The tomb of King Tutankhamun. 

在1922年，Howard Carter 有個意想不到的發現，就是埃及法老王圖坦卡門之墓。 

extraordinarily adv. 非常、格外地 

/ɪkˌstroɚdəˈnerəli/

- The designer’s fashion shows are usually very beautiful to watch, but her most recent one was extraordinarily enchanting. 

那位設計師的時裝秀通常都很好看，但是她最新的那一場是格外的令人著迷。

- Have you noticed how the weather has been extraordinarily hot these days? 你有沒有注意到這幾天的天氣特別地熱。 

assure v. 保證一件事，好讓對方感到放心 

to make (something) certain : ensure

- Emily was worried that she would not be able to get to the hospital in time, but her friends assured her the ambulance was on its way. 

Emily 擔心她無法及時趕到醫院，但是她的朋友向她保證救護車馬上會到。 

- Mr. Radcliff assured his investors that their meeting would be in the afternoon. 

Radcliff 先生向他的投資者保證，他們的會議一定會在下午舉行。 

- The airline representative assured the passengers that no flights would be cancelled. 

航空公司的代表向旅客們保證，不會取消任何班機。

Escape Rooms are Amazing! (1)

Escaping a room can be a lot of fun 

密室逃脫大驚奇！ 密室逃脫有多好玩

Have you ever tried an escape room? I first experienced one in Montana, U.S.A., with my wife, Pauline. We went to one to celebrate her father's birthday. Her entire family loves games and puzzles, so trying an escape room was a perfect activity for us. The room's theme was "the missing scientist." We played the role of investigating detectives. We entered the room and discovered we were "trapped." We then had only 60 minutes to escape before the room "exploded."

We had to search every corner of the room for clues in order to get out. As we did, we solved simple calculations, unscrambled codes and found keys to secret boxes. Getting one clue involved running balls through a maze. That took some skill! Together we solved every puzzle and escaped with just a few minutes to spare!

Pauline and I now live in Taipei. We tried our first escape room here over a year ago. It was such an amazing experience that we did two more almost immediately afterward. We have become completely hooked on Taipei's escape room. 

Info Cloud

reality show 真人實鏡秀

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. I know that Rex likes watching TV, so I want to ask him: Do you like reality shows? 

I know that reality shows have become very popular, and we even have a reality show culture now. But I have to say that I don't really like it. 

Well, let me first say that a reality show is a type of TV program that films what happens and how people react when they are placed in real situations. You don't like that? 

It depends on what you mean by reality. When we watch the shows on TV, they are the final products of professional editing and special effects, which is necessary for TV production. 

Oh. So you're saying that the word reality is misleading. 

A little bit. I'm an actor myself, and I know that whenever a camera is on, people act differently. That's just human nature. 

Good point, Rex. I guess we can look at reality shows more as a certain style and type of TV program than a show that reflects reality. 

在電視上，我們經常看到 reality show 真人實鏡秀，這類的電視節目相當受歡迎，在網路上，我們也可以看到一種 reality show culture 真人實境秀的文化，很多人會在網路上自己製作這種影片，reality 代表現實的情境，電視製作單位會將一些人放入某種現實的情境，把他們中間所發生的事情拍攝下來，但是要經過剪接和特效的後製，然後才發表最後的成果。而 reality show 是不是真正的反映出現實生活中發生的情況呢? 還是只能說它是某種電視節目的類型，那就見仁見智了。

Language Lab

theme n. 主題、題目

the particular subject or idea on which the style of something (such as a party or room) is based

- The theme for Alice’s afternoon tea party is rose garden, so there are rose decorations everywhere. 

Alice的下午茶會的主題是玫瑰園，所以到處都是玫瑰花裝飾。 

- The theme for this year’s food and wine conference is South East Asian cuisine. 

今年的飲食大會的主題是東南亞料理。 

- The theme of today’s meeting was about good hygiene: the importance of washing our hands after we use the restroom.  

今天的會議主題是關於好的衛生習慣: 如廁後洗手的重要性。 

theme song n. 主題曲 

a song that is played at the beginning and end of a television show, movie, etc.

- The musician has been asked to write a theme song for the movie. 

這位音樂家受邀，來為這部電影寫一部主題曲。 

investigate v. 調查 

to try to find out the facts about (something, such as a crime or an accident) in order to learn how it happened, who did it, etc

- In the movie, a retired police officer was asked to help investigate a mysterious robbery. 

在電影裡，一位退休的警員被請來幫忙調查一件離奇的搶劫案。 

- The committee was sent to investigate the sanitation standards of all the senior centers in the county. 

委員會被派去調查縣裡所有老人中心的衛生標準。 

investigation n. 調查這個行為或動作

- The detective was in the middle of an important investigation, and was in no mood to receive any phone calls unrelated to the case. 

警探正在做一項重要的調查，沒有心情接聽任何跟案子無關的電話。 

- The mayor was against the investigation because he felt it would be a waste of time and taxpayers’ money. 

市長不支持這件調查，因為他認為會浪費時間跟納稅人的錢。 

maze n. 迷宮 非常複雜或是難搞懂的指示/規則/過程 

a complicated and confusing system of connected passages

- The Hampton Court Palace Maze is a famous maze that attracts a lot of tourists everywhere. 

漢普頓迷宮是一座很有名的迷宮，每年會吸引很多觀光客。

- During the fall, visitors can visit corn fields that have been converted into mazes. 

每年秋天，遊客可以參觀被改造成迷宮的玉米田。 

maze n. 街道穿梭的複雜又容易迷路的一個地方

- Unlike the new district with its grid-like street and boulevard, the historic district is a maze of winding alleys. 

舊城區的巷道繞來繞去的，像一座迷宮，不像新城那邊的街道像格子一樣又直又正。

maze n. 非常複雜或是難搞懂的指示/規則/過程

a confusing collection or mixture of things (such as rules)

- I don’t understand why I need to go through this maze of instructions just to handing an application form. 

我不瞭解只是交一份申請表，為什麼要經過這麼複雜的程序。 

to spare v. 額外的、還有剩的  

If you have money, time, energy, etc., to spare, you have more than enough money, time, energy, etc.

- Sara is very careful with her budget, and she is happy to see at the end of the month that she still has some money to spare. 

Sara 很小心地控制預算，然後很開心地看到，月底還有剩一些錢。 

- Jonathan’s meeting ended early, and since he had some time to spare, he decided to get a bite to eat. 

Jonathan的會議提早結束，既然還有剩一點時間，就決定去吃一點東西。

spare adj. 備用的、多餘的 

kept as something extra that can be used if it is needed

- Because Benjamin forgot his house key, he had to unlock the door with the spare key that he had hidden in his front yard. 

Benjamin 忘了帶鑰匙，所以用他藏在院子裡的備用鑰匙來開門。 

- The homeless man asked the pedestrians for spare change. 

遊民向行人們乞討零錢。