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。

Black Beauty (2)

Now that Beauty's knees are permanently scarred, he is no longer considered suitable for a wealthy estate. So he becomes a horse for hire, which is a difficult life. He is eventually sold to Jerry Barker, a cab driver in London. Barker is a first-rate cabbie and loves horses. He helps Beauty adapt to the disheartening life of a London cab horse. Then Jerry becomes severely ill and retires to the country. Beauty is sold to another series of owners who work him very hard. 

He meets Ginger again on the London streets, but she has been so cruelly treated that she dies. Beauty later sees her body on a cart and mourns her. Beauty himself is nearly dead from overwork and injury. But a kindly veterinarian nurses him back to health and then sells him. A kind grandfather and his grandson buy Beauty and care for him before selling him to two ladies who live in the country. As their groom cleans him up, he recognizes Black Beauty! It is Beauty's old friend Joe! Beauty enjoys a wonderful life in his final years. 

Info Cloud

horsing around 胡鬧

chomping at the bit  形容一個人很毛躁，想要趕快開始

Welcome to Info Cloud. Let's get started. There's no time to waste. 

Wow, Anne Marie, you're really chomping at the bit today. 

That's because I'm excited about today's lesson. 

OK, OK, fine. No horsing around. 

Both idioms we just said have something to do with an animal: a horse. 

Horsing around means playing in a way that is a little rough. 

Like an animal. Say students are running around the classroom, the teacher might remind them not to horse around. 

What about chomping at the bit? What does that have to do with horses? 

Well, a bit is a piece of metal that goes in a horse's mouth to control it. 

So if you think about horses at the beginning of a race, they are ready to go. They are impatient. They are chomping at the bit. 

Exactly. So this idiom describes someone who is eager to get started at something. 

You might also hear this idiom as "champing at the bit," spelled with an A. The racer is champing at the bit to become the champion. 

This is the original form of the word. But chomp, with an O, is more commonly used today. 

Both mean to chew or bite noisily. But whether you are champing or chomping at the bit, we hope you're excited to learn English. 

今天跟大家介紹的兩個用語都跟馬兒有關係，第一個是 horsing around，也就是胡鬧的意思。我們都知道當馬兒太興奮、失控的時候，情況就會有一點混亂。當有人正在 horsing around，那就代表他正在搗亂。No horsing around! The class is starting. 不要胡鬧，要開始上課了。

當有人很興奮地想要開始做一件事情，快要按耐不住的時候，那就要用 chomping at the bit 來形容，bit 是馬兒咬的那一根嚼口，當馬兒準備要往前衝之前，通常會很興奮地、不斷地咬住嚼口，因此，chomping at the bit 就用來形容一個人很毛躁，想要趕快開始。You’re really chomping at the bit today! 你今天有點毛躁，太興奮了喔!

Language Lab

dishearten v. 讓人很沮喪
to cause (a person or group of people) to lose hope, enthusiasm, or courage : to discourage (someone)
- Nothing could dishearten Tristan; he was determined to win.
沒有任何事會讓Tristan洩氣，他已決定非贏不可。
- Don’t dishearten the children with the bad news right now; we’ll let them know later.
不要現在把壞消息跟孩子們講，讓他們沮喪，我們晚一點再讓他們知道。
- Irene was a little disheartened when she heard she didn’t get the job.
Irene 得知沒有被錄取，而感到有一點沮喪。 

severely adv. 嚴重地 
very bad, serious, or unpleasant
- Ruby was in a car accident and was severely injured.
Ruby 出車禍，傷得很嚴重。
- The children in the refugee camps were severely malnourished.
難民營裡的小朋友們都嚴重地缺乏營養。 
severely adv. 很嚴厲地
- Tyler was severely punished when his parents found out he had been stealing.
當 Tyler 的父母得知他偷竊的行為後，就很嚴厲地懲罰他。 

mourn v. 因某人過世而哀傷悼念
to feel or show great sadness because someone has died
- In many countries, people wear black to show they are mourning.
在許多國家，人們穿黑色服裝來表示他們在哀悼。
- In some cultures, it is not acceptable to overly mourn a family member’s passing.
在某一些文化裡，家人過世後不可以非常明顯地為他們哀悼。
- Carla lost her daughter many years ago, and she is still silently mourning for that child.
Carla 多年前失去了女兒，直到如今他還是在默默地悼念那個孩子。 

overwork n. 工作超量  [over - 超過/ work- 工作] 
to work too hard;
to work on (something) too much
- If you combine overwork with low pay, you will discourage any employee.
如果你把工作過量跟低薪連在一起，每位員工都會感到沮喪。
overwork v. 工作超量
- The donkey was overworked and suddenly collapsed.
那匹驢子因為過於勞累，而突然倒下。
- The workers are on strike because they’ve been overworked and never paid.
工人在罷工，因為工作過量卻從來都沒拿到薪水。

Black Beauty (1)

A touching lesson in animal welfare narrated by a horse
黑神駒 從馬兒的角度看動物福利

The story begins right after the birth of Black Beauty, who narrates his own story. He tells of growing up with his mother as she teaches him important life lessons. She tells him to do good, always give his best effort and everything will work out. Beauty learns that humans can be great friends or cruel enemies. He realizes that not all horses are as well cared for and happy as he is. 

Beauty is trained to wear a saddle and bridle and carry a rider. He is sold to Squire Gordon of Birtwick Park. He spends some of the happiest years of his life at Birtwick. He becomes close friends with two other horses in the estate's stable, Ginger and Merrylegs. And he loves his groom, Joe. But sadness comes when Squire Gordon's wife becomes ill. Her doctor says that she must move to a warmer climate, so Squire Gordon sells his estate and horses. Beauty is then sold to a series of owners who neglect him. One night a drunk groom causes Beauty to fall. The fall kills the groom and scars Beauty for life. 

Info Cloud

Put up and tie up

Hello, and welcome to Info Cloud, friends. My daughter is growing so much recently. And her hair is growing, too. I love that I'm finally able to try different hairstyles on her. 

How about you share some vocabulary about hairstyles with us today? 

Great idea, Rex. If we are styling hair up, the verbs we use for this action are: put your hair up or tie your hair up. Put up and tie up. 

What is the end result of putting your hair up? 

Well, if it's tied together in one place, we call that a ponytail. 

A pony like a horse? Oh, I guess it does look like a pony's tail. I've seen little girls wear their hair in two ponytails on both sides of their head. What are those called? 

Those are called pigtails. Let me guess, because they look like a pig's tail? 

Exactly. Let's talk about what we use to secure these hairstyles. 

This I know. My daughter has many hair ties and hair clips at home. 

Some people even call those special rubber bands ponytail holders. My personal favorite, however, is the scrunchie. When I want to tie my hair up, the scrunchie is my go-to accessory. 

今天要跟大家分享一些跟綁頭髮有關的用語，首先 put your hair up 把頭髮磐起來，跟 tie your hair up 把頭髮綁起來，在英文都是一樣的意思。

如果後面綁一搓馬尾，那就是 ponytail, pony 是小馬的意思；如果是頭的兩邊各綁了一搓馬尾，那就是 pigtails，字面上是豬尾巴，因為有些人覺得那看起來像是豬尾巴的形狀。

另外，hair tie 是髮帶，hair clips 是髮夾，有些人會把綁頭髮的橡皮筋統稱為 ponytail holders 馬尾固定器。最後，那些被設計的很漂亮的髮束則是叫做 scrunchie。

Language Lab

saddle n. 馬鞍   
a leather-covered seat that is put on the back of a horse — see picture at horse
- Arnie is learning to put a saddle on the horse.
Arnie 在學習如何把馬鞍套在馬背上。
in the saddle ph. 控制、掌控
in control : in a position to decide what happens
- Richard might be in charge right now, but he won’t be in the saddle for too long.
現在所有事也許都由Richard 負責，但他很快就要失去控制權。
back in the saddle ph. 回到以前的工作、之前所做的事
- After being sick for several months, Anthony is back in the saddle again.
Anthony 生了好幾個月的病後，又回到工作崗位上。 

bridle n. 馬轡、馬勒   
 /ˈbraɪdl̟/
a device that fits on a horse's head and that is used for guiding and controlling the horse
- It was difficult for Angela to put the bridle on the horse.
要把馬勒裝上馬，對Angela 來說是很難的事。
bridle n.  意志
- Dwayne was very careless with his money until his parents put a bridle on his spending habits.
Dwayne 很會亂花錢，所以他的父母嚴厲控制他亂花錢的習慣。
bridle v. 把馬勒套上
to put a bridle on (a horse) — sometimes used figuratively
- Evan noticed something was wrong with the horse as he was bridling it.
Evan 再把馬勒套在馬的時候，有注意到馬有一點怪怪的。 

groom n. 新郎  
a man who has just married or is about to be married
groom n. 馬伕、一位專門照顧馬匹的人  
a person who takes care of horses
- Clarence wanted to own some horses, but he would also need to hire a groom to care of them.
Clarence 想養幾匹馬，但是他也就需要一位馬伕來幫忙照顧。
groom v. 做動物美容 
to clean and care for (an animal)
- The dogs are all groomed before the dog show begins.
在小狗表演之前，每隻狗都做了寵物美容。
groom v. 訓練、培訓 
to prepare (someone) for a particular job or position
- The princess was being groomed to become the next ruler because she was the king’s only child.
公主被訓練成為下一位統治者，因為她是王唯一的後裔。 

scar  n. 疤痕  
a mark that is left on your skin after a wound heals
- The scar on my knee is from a motorcycle accident.
我膝蓋上的疤痕是因為摩托車車禍所造成的。
scar  n.心裡方面的傷痕
a feeling of great emotional pain or sadness that is caused by a bad experience and that lasts for a long time
- For Mark, losing both of his parents at a very young age left a huge emotional scar.
從小就失去雙親給Mark心裡留下很深的傷痕。
scar  v. 留下疤痕 
to mark (something) with a scar
- His arms were scarred by a terrible skin disease.
嚴重的皮膚病造成他的兩隻手到處都是傷痕。

Great Expectations (2)

In London, Pip meets new friends and disdains his family and former friends. Later his sister dies, and he attends her funeral, feeling bad for the way he treated her. A few years pass, and on night someone forces his way into Pip's room. It is the convict Magwitch. He announces, to Pip's disbelief, that he is the source of Pip's fortune, not Miss Havisham. He tells Pip he was so moved by Pip's kindness that he wanted to make Pip a gentleman. It's why Magwitch worked to make a fortune as a sheep farmer in Australia. Still considered a criminal, Magwitch is on the run and needs to escape London. 

Pip tries to secretly take Magwitch down the river in a small boat to escape. But the police catch them. Magwitch is sentenced to death; Pip loses his fortune, and Magwitch dies in prison. 

Pip goes abroad to work as a trader. Years later he returns and finds Estella in the ruined garden at Satis House. Her husband has died and her coldness has turned into sad kindness. Pip and Estella leave the garden hand in hand.

Info Cloud
It’s your funeral. 來警告別人不要做這件事情

Welcome to Info Cloud. Anne Marie, I need your advice. 

Hey, Rex, what's up? 

My wedding anniversary is coming next month, but I just realized that I have a ticket to a concert on the same day. I must have forgotten when I bought the ticket. 

So just take your wife to the concert. 

She hates that kind of music. But I paid a lot for the ticket. What should I do? You think my wife would mind celebrating our anniversary on a different day? 

You can ask her, but it's your funeral. 

What do you mean? 

Well, this is a phrase we use to say we think someone's decision will lead to something bad. 

Oh... like death? 

Exactly. The statement is exaggerated. So someone saying this doesn't really think you will die, but they're expecting bad results. 

For example, if your boss is in a bad mood, and one of your coworkers insists on bothering them with something unimportant, you might say: It's your funeral if you go in there. 

Yes. They must take responsibility for the consequences of their choices. 

Well, after all this talk about funerals, I think I know what I should do. 

Skip the concert and spend your anniversary with your wife. Otherwise, it's your funeral. 

當你預先知道一件事情會帶來不好的結果，你可以用今天分享的這個相當有趣的用語: It’s your funeral. 來警告別人不要做這件事情。funeral 是喪禮，It’s your funeral. 就是用來形容如果你做了這件事情，你的死期就到了。It’s your funeral if you forget your wedding anniversary. 如果你忘記你的結婚周年，你就死定了，因為你的另外一半可能會很生氣。It’s your funeral. 雖然是比較誇張的表達方式，不過也很容易達到提醒或警告的效果。

Language Lab
disdain v. 鄙視、藐視 
/dɪsˈdeɪn/
to strongly dislike or disapprove of (someone or something)
- Although the movie was disdained by critics, it did very well in the box office.
那部電影雖然被影評鄙視，但是它在票房的表現卻是非常好。
- The chef disdained the use of food processors and preferred cooking the traditional way.
那位廚師看不起料理機，而情願用傳統方式做菜。
disdain v. 因為覺得不值得做而拒絕
to refuse to do (something) because of feelings of dislike or disapproval
- The politician disdained to answer the reporters’ questions.
政客不屑於回答記者們所發問的問題。
- Wendy is always so gracious and disdains to speak ill of others.
Wendy 一直很有風度，也不屑於說人家的不好。 

disbelief n. 不相信  [dis- 否定 / belief n. 相信、信念]
a feeling that you do not or cannot believe or accept that something is true or real
- When Xander heard the bad news, he walked away in disbelief.
Xander 聽到壞消息後，無法相信地離開。
- Although Yvette didn’t say anything, the look on her face showed disbelief.
Yvette 雖然沒有說話，但是她的表情呈現出她的不信。
disbelief n. 懷疑
- After being lied to so many times, Zoe responded with disbelief.
Zoe 因為被騙過好幾次，所以她的反應充滿懷疑。 

on the run ph. 逃跑   
running away from someone in order to avoid being captured
- The wanted suspect is now on the run.
那個通緝犯現在正在逃跑中。
- The thief has been on the run for the last fifteen years.
那名竊賊十五年來一直在躲警察。 
on the run ph. 繁忙趕路中
while going somewhere or while doing something else
- Victor’s job requires him to be on the run every day.
Victor的工作需要天天趕路。
- Because we didn’t have time to eat lunch, we were forced to eat a snack on the run.
由於我們沒有時間好好吃我的飯，只能在趕路中間簡單吃個點心。 

ruin v. 毀掉、糟蹋 
to damage (something) so badly that it is no longer useful, valuable, enjoyable, etc. : to spoil or destroy (something) Moths ruined the sweater.
- A herd of goats suddenly made its way into our vegetable garden and ruined everything.
一群羊就突然跑進我們的菜園裡，然後把所有的東西毀掉。
ruin v. 毀壞名聲
to cause (someone) to lose money, social status, etc.
-  The scandal completely ruined the movie star’s reputation.
那件醜聞完全毀了那位影星的名聲。
ruin n. 破壞
a state of complete destruction : a state of being ruined
- The singer’s drug addiction led to her ruin.
那位歌手的毒癮使她身敗名裂。
ruin n. 廢墟 
the remaining pieces of something that was destroyed
- After the fire, the factory was a complete ruin.
大火災後，工廠完全變成一片廢墟。

Great Expectations (1)

An orphan boy’s unexpected life
遠大前程 一個孤兒的 意外人生

Pip, an orphan boy, lives with his sister and her husband Joe, a blacksmith. His life changes when he meets a convict who scares him near the graves of his parents. Pip helps the convict named Magwithc, but he is eventually captured and returned to prison. Pip thinks no more about the meeting. 

One day, Pip;s uncle takes him to Satis House to play. There he meets Miss Havisham, who is extremely eccentric. She always wears an old wedding dress and keeps the clocks in her house stopped at the same time. 

Pip is introduced to her adopted daughter Estella, who treats him with contempt because he is a common boy. Yet Pip still falls in love with her. He dreams of becoming a gentleman to be worthy of her. Instead he becomes an apprentice to his brother-in-law the blacksmith.

One day a lawyer arrives with the news that Pip has been gifted a large fortune. He is to go to London immediately and learn to be a gentleman. Pip is sure that Miss Havisham is behind his good fortune and hopes he can marry Estella. 

Info Cloud
roll over in your grave 形容一些意料之外的事情，或是某些重大改變

Hello, everyone. And welcome to Info Cloud. I heard someone use a phrase the other day, and I thought it would be a good one to talk about here on Info Cloud. 

Well, tell us about it. It's: roll over in your grave. A grave is the place where someone is buried after they die. To roll over means to move from one side to the other while you're laying down. 

Something that would make a dead person roll around after being buried would have to be pretty shocking. 

That's exactly how we use it. It's used to show that a situation would shock someone who has already died. 

James's grandfather always expected him to take over the family business. If he knew his grandson had decided to become a YouTuber, he would roll over in his grave. 

If our grandparents could see the state of the planet now, they would roll over in their graves. 

It sounds like this phrase also describes a change like something that previous generations weren't expecting. That's exactly right. 

I wonder what things in the future have in store that would make our generation roll over in our graves.

傳統的華人社會有一種祭祖的觀念，後代子孫如果做了不名譽的事情，那就會被指責愧對列祖列宗，英文有一個類似用語 roll over in someone’s grave 在墳墓裡翻身。我們都知道，這個躺在墳墓裡面的人是不可能動的，這個用語是形容一件事情令人震驚，連死人都會嚇一跳。例如，James 的爺爺生前一直希望他能夠接掌家族企業，但他卻成為一名YouTuber，這個時候你可以說: James’s grandfather would roll over in his grave. James的爺爺知道之後，會氣得從墳墓裡翻過來。當然這是比較誇張的表達方式，用來形容一些意料之外的事情，或是某些重大改變。

Language Lab
convict n. 罪犯; 囚犯 
/ˈkɑːnˌvɪkt/
a person who has been found guilty of a crime and sent to prison : prisoner
- The convict was sentenced to thirty years in prison.
這名罪犯被判了三十年的徒刑。
- The pastor visits the convicts every week and prays for them.
牧師每個禮拜會到監獄探訪囚犯，並為他們禱告。
convict  v. 判決、宣判有罪 
/kənˈvɪkt/ 
to prove that someone is guilty of a crime in a court of law
- The man was convicted in court and sent to prison.
那個人在法庭裡被判決，然後被送進監獄裡。
convict  v. 自己做了錯事的認知
- Carol spoke to David, and her words convicted him of his selfishness.
Carol跟 David 談了一下，而她的話讓他為他的自私行為感到內疚。

extremely adv. 非常地  
very great in degree
- Our homework assignment today is extremely difficult.
我們今天的功課非常難。
- Everett is an extremely talented young man.
Everett 是一位非常有才華的年經人。
extreme adj. 極度的 
very great in degree
- Frank enjoys going to the mountains, but for his kids, it means extreme boredom.
Frank 喜歡登山，但是對他的孩子來說是極度的無聊。
extreme n. 極端
an amount or degree that is far beyond what is normal or reasonable
- Gayle would go to such extremes to keep her house clean.
Gayle 會讓他家裡保持乾淨到極端的地步。

eccentric adj.
/ɪkˈsɛntrɪk/
tending to act in strange or unusual ways

contempt n. 輕視他人的態度 
 /kənˈtɛmpt/  
a feeling that someone or something is not worthy of any respect or approval
- Nobody likes to chat with my neighbor because he shows a lot of contempt.
沒有人喜歡跟我的鄰居聊天，因為他會輕視人。
- I know you don’t like that person, but there’s no reason to speak to him with contempt.
我知道你不喜歡那個人，但是你沒有必要那樣不尊重對方。
- You’re complaining that he is disrespectful towards you, but you treat him with contempt.
你抱怨他對你不尊重，但是你卻藐視人家。
contempt of court 就是藐視法庭。
speech or behavior that does not show proper respect to a court or judge
- The defendant's behavior was disrespectful, and he was charged with contempt of court.
被告在法庭裡因行為不尊重，而被判藐視法庭罪。 

worthy adj. 值得 (尊敬、支持)  
good and deserving respect, praise, or attention
- The arrogant man feels no one is worthy of his respect.
那傲慢的人認為沒有人可以配得他的尊敬。
- The children’s home helps so many children every year, and is worthy of our support.
兒童之家每年幫助許多孩童，是值得我們支持的。
trustworthy adj. 值得信任的 
able to be relied on to do or provide what is needed or right : deserving of trust
- Henry has shown that he is a trustworthy sales representative.
Henry 展現出他是一位值得信任的業務代表。
newsworthy adj. 值得播報的 
interesting or important enough to report as news
- I don’t understand why this is in the news; it’s not even newsworthy.
我不懂為什麼會出現在今天的新聞裡，這根本不值得播報。

The Book Thief (2)

Hans agrees to conceal a Jew named Max in his basement. Max's father had saved Hans's life in World War I. Liesel and Max become friends, and Max writes her a book about their friendship.

As the war intensifies, Nazi soldiers march Jews through Molching on the way to the concentration camp at Dachau. The soldiers see Hans give an old Jewish man some bread, and they beat both of them. Fearful that the Nazis will come to arrest him, Hans tells Max he is no longer safe in the basement, so Max leaves.

Air raids over German cities are increasing in frequency, and everyone is in danger. When Liesel next sees Max, he is in the parade of Jews bound for Dachau. Liesel loses all desire to read, but IIsa gives her a notebook and encourages her to write her story. While Liesel is writing in the basement, bombs fall on her street and kill all of her friends and family. Liesel and Max survive the war. Then Liesel moves to Australia where she has a family and lives a long life.


Info Cloud
book it 很迅速地做某件事情或是迅速地離開

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to Info Cloud. Anne Marie, why are you so out of breath? You look like you just ran a race.

I was just running. My train was really late this morning, so I really had to book it to get here in time for Info Cloud.

Hmm. Book it? You were reading on the train again?

Well, yes. But that's not what I mean by book it.

To book it means to go really fast or leave quickly. For example, if you want to make your flight, you'd better book it.

Oh, I see. That's some interesting slang. Where did it come from?

Actually, it's a pretty recent term. It seems like it began to make an appearance in the 1970s.

Although we aren't sure of the exact origin, some people think it could be a military term. Whenever you go on vacation in the military, you need to sign out in a book. So maybe book became synonymous with leave.

Well, that's all the time we have for Info Cloud today. Let's book on out of here.

今天要跟大家介紹一個非常有趣的俚語 book it，book 除了書本之外，還有預訂或是登記的涵義。而 book it 的真正涵義就是很迅速地做某件事情或是迅速地離開。

If you want to make your flight, you’d better book it. 如果你要趕上飛機的話，你最好快一點。這是一個很特別的用語，有人說是從1970年代開始，從軍隊裡面的用語衍伸而來，那個時候軍人要放假，必須在一本冊子上登記，才能夠離開營區，所以有可能因此 book 有離開的涵義。


Language Lab
conceal v. 隱藏 
/kənˈsiːl/
to hide (something or someone) from sight
- The scientist concealed a camera in a tree right by the pond in order to get videos of animals drinking water.
科學家把一架攝影機隱藏在池塘邊的一棵樹，為了錄到動物喝水的影片。
- Alice removed the painting off the wall, and concealed behind the painting was a mysterious envelope.
Alice 把油畫從牆上拿下來，藏在畫後面的竟然是一封神祕的信封。
conceal v. 隱瞞
to keep (something) secret
- The queen’s sister was accused of concealing the truth about the queen’s health.
皇后的妹妹指控隱瞞關於皇后的身體狀況的事實。
concealment n. 隱藏行為或概念
/kənˈsiːlmənt/
- The mother bird chose to build her nest in the rocks, and it was a perfect place of concealment.
母鳥選擇在岩石中築巢，而那個地方是一個完美的隱藏之處。

intensify v. 加強、增強
 /ɪnˈtɛnsəˌfaɪ/
to make (something) stronger or more extreme : to make (something) more intense
- Paul kept ignoring the problem, but the problem only intensified.
Paul 持續忽視這個問題，而問題卻越演越烈。
- Letting this dish cook a little longer on the stove will intensify the flavor.
讓這道菜在瓦斯爐上繼續烹煮，會讓味道更香濃。
intense adj. 很強烈
very great in degree : very strong
- I couldn’t finish the movie because the emotions were too intense for me.
我無法把影片看完，因為故事裡的情感太強烈了。
- When Frankie visited Alaska, the intense cold was something he had never experienced.
Frankie 在阿拉斯加旅遊時，那極度寒冷的氣候是他從未經歷過的。

frequency n.  頻率、次數 
the fact or condition of happening often : common occurrence
- The student has been going to the bathroom almost every twenty minutes, and the frequency is making his teacher suspicious.
那位學生幾乎每二十分鐘就會跑一趟洗手間，那樣的次數讓老師感到很懷疑。
- Cherry used to make two business trips each month, but the frequency has increased ever since she got promoted.
Cherry 本來是每一個月會出差兩次，但是自從她升遷後，每個月出差的次數就增加了。
frequent adj. 常常發生的、常常會看到的
happening often
- The frequent trips to the local grocery store to buy candy or soda are a part of Elva’s happy childhood.
經常去雜貨店買糖果或是汽水，是Elva兒時快樂回憶的一部分。
- The actress couldn’t handle the frequent criticisms, so she decided to quit the entertainment business. 那位女演員對於常遭指責無法招架，所以決定離開演藝圈。

bound adj. 前往
/ˈbaʊnd/
going or planning to go to a specified place
- He caught a train bound for Chicago.
他搭上前往芝加哥的火車。
- This plane is bound for Singapore.
飛機是要前往新加坡。
bound adj. 某事絕對會發生
very likely or certain to do or to be something
- Riley can’t keep a secret and is bound to tell us the truth.
Riley 是無法守密的，他肯定是會把事情告訴我們的。
bound adj. 道德或法律方面約束的
required by law or duty to do something
- The doctor is bound by law to not tell anyone what her patient had said to her.
醫生因為法律的約束，而不會跟別人講她的病人對他所說的話。
- The students refused to say anything about the accident because they were bound to secrecy.
學生們拒絕透露任何關於車禍的細節，因為他們承諾會保守秘密。

The Book Thief (1)

Books change lives during World War II 
偷書賊 文字的力量， 能在戰時撫慰人心

The Book Thief begins with a twist. The story is narrated not by a person, but by Death. Death tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a 9-year-old German girl. It begins in 1939, shortly before the start of World War II. Liesel's mother is taking her and her brother, Werner, to live with Hans and Rosa Hubermann in the small twon of Molching. On the way Werner dies; this horrifies Liesel so much that she has nightmares for months. Hans tries to comfort and console Liesel and teaches her to read.

They begin with a book that Liesel stole from the men who buried her brother. Times are very tense in Germany. As the war gets worse, so do the food and work shortages. At a book burning to celebrate Hitler's birthday, Liesel pilfers another book.

Rosa, Liesel's foster mother, does laundry for others. One of her customers is IIsa Hermann, the wife of the town's mayor. When delivering laundry to her, Liesel stares in astonishment at all the books in her study. IIsa invites her to read there.


Info Cloud
to death

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Rex, I heard you were sick and stayed home for a few days. Are you OK?

I'm OK now. But I stayed home by myself for three days, and it was bored to death.

Well, I know how you feel. And that's a very interesting expression you used, to death.

When Rex said he was bored to death, he didn't mean that he actually died because he was bored.

No. I'm still here. I meant I was extremely bored. We use the expression "to death" to emphasize an extreme level or state.

We usually use this expression with worried, scared or what you just said, bored. After John's accident, Sara was worried to death.

Although this expression is often used in a negative way, there's a way to use it positively: to love someone to death.

For me personally, I could say I love my baby to death or I love my family to death, which basically means I love them very much.

很多人常用中文說: 「我擔心死了」，或是「嚇死我了」，英文有幾乎一模一樣的表達方式-- to death，字面上的意思就是到死亡的程度，用來形容一些比較極端的狀況，像是After John's accident, Sara was worried to death. John 出車禍之後，Sara擔心死了。當然，Sara沒有擔心到死，她只是非常非常地擔心。to death通常會跟 bored, scared 或是 worried 一起使用，不過也有一種正面用法，那就是: I love my family to death. 我愛死我的家人，或是我非常愛我的家庭。


Language Lab
narrate v. 敘述、講故事
to tell (a story)
- The play begins with an introduction that is narrated by a male actor.
這齣戲一開始由一位男演員敘述背景故事。
narrator n. 敘述故事的人
- The student will each play a part in the play and their teacher will be the narrator.
每位學生在戲劇裡都會擔任一個角色，而旁白者會由他們的老師擔任。
narration n. 敘述的那一段話
the act or process of telling a story or describing what happens
- Instead of playing the lead role, the famous actor will be doing the narration.
那位名演員這次不會擔任男主角，而是負責旁白敘述。

console v. 安慰 (重音第二音節)
/kənˈsoʊl/
to try to make (someone) feel less sadness or disappointment
- We all went to console Wanda but she just wanted to be by herself.
我們大家都去找Wanda 安慰她，但是她卻想要單獨一個人。
- William tried to console Laura by taking her to an ice-cream shop.
William 為了安慰Laura，而帶她去一下冰淇淋店。
console n. 電子設備的控制台或是遊戲主機 (重音第一音節)
/ˈkɑːnˌsoʊl/
a flat surface that contains the controls for a machine, for a piece of electrical equipment, etc.
- I think there is something wrong with the console, and we need to ask a technician to come and fix it.
我認為控制台有問題，而且需要請技術人員來修理。
- Shamus’ father promised him that if he did well in school, he will get a new video console.
Shamus 的父親答應他如果在學校表現優異，就可以拿到新的遊戲主機。

pilfer v. 竊取、偷 (很少量的)
 /ˈpɪlfɚ/
to steal things that are not very valuable or to steal a small amount of something
- The grocery store’s owner saw a small child pilfering pieces of candy from the candy barrel.
雜貨店老闆看到一位小孩，從糖果桶子內偷拿了幾塊糖果。
- These apps on your phone might look harmless, but they are actually pilfering your personal information.
你手機上的這些App 也許看起來無害，但是他們實際上在偷取你的個資。
pilferage n. 竊取的行為
/ˈpilf(ə)rij/
the action of stealing things of little value
- The grocery store owner has decided to keep the candy barrel behind the counter to prevent pilferage.
雜貨店老闆決定把糖果桶子放在櫃台後面，以防止小偷偷拿。
- Although security cameras have been set up around the store, the pilferage continues.
店裡雖然有安裝監視器，但是還是持續發生竊案。

astonishment n. 驚訝
 /əˈstɑːnɪʃmənt/
a feeling of being very surprised : amazement
- To everyone’s astonishment, Gary suddenly announced his getting married.
Gary 突然宣佈要結婚，讓大家感到驚訝。
- People didn’t know Irene could dance, and when they saw her performance, they were in absolute astonishment.
很多人不知道Irene會跳舞，所以當他們看到她的表演時，都感到非常驚訝。
astonishing adj. 非常驚人的
so surprising that it is difficult to believe
- The ending of the movie was very astonishing.
電影的結尾非常驚人。
astonish v. 讓人驚訝
to surprise someone very much
- Everyone thought the intern was a quiet guy until he astonished them all with a lively presentation.
實習生的生動報告，讓大家感到驚訝，因為大家都以為他是一位很安靜的人。



👀watch video

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2)

Charlie's beloved Grandpa Joe goes with him to the factory. Inside, everyone marvels at the sights, sounds and delicious smells. They meet the Oompa-Loompas who work there. Charlie and Grandpa Joe listen carefully and follow the instructions. But the other children leave the tour one by one for failing to do the same. While attempting to drink from the chocolate river, greedy Augustus Gloop falls in and gets sucked up a glass pipe. Veruca Salt is judged to be a bad nut and is thrown into the garbage.

After grabbing a piece of experimental gum, Violet Beauregarde chews it and turns into a giant blueberry. Mike Teavee shrinks himself and must be carried out in his father's pocket.

When only Charlie is left, Willy Wonka congratulates him. Charlie has won! The tour had been a contest - and the prize is the chocolate factory! Charlie, Grandpa Joe and Willy Wonka enter the Great Glass Elevator which breaks through the factory roof and crashed down into Charlie's home. The rest of the Bucket family is pushed into the elevator and taken back to the chocolate factory, their new home.


Info Cloud
itchy fingers

Welcome to Info Cloud, everyone. I'm so excited to tell you about today's tip.

Wow, Anne Marie, you really sound enthusiastic.

Well, we have some great information to share, so I've got itchy fingers.

But we don't use our fingers to teach Info Cloud.

You're right. But if we say someone has itchy fingers, that means they're very eager to do something.

By the second day of his vacation, Jeff started getting itchy fingers to do something.

A lot of people have trouble relaxing on vacation.

But we should mention that if we use this phrase with another part of the hand, the meaning is totally different.

What do you mean?

If we say someone has an itchy or itching palm, that means they're greedy.

Oh. I've seen that before when someone is expecting a tip, they may hold the palm of their hand up waiting for money.

Yes. But this is seen as a negative thing in many places. It might also mean that someone wants a bribe. The greedy mayor was known for his itchy palm.

It would be better if he had itchy fingers to improve his city.

當我們用中文說有人手癢的時候，那就代表他們很想做某件事情，英文是用 itchy fingers來表達，itchy fingers 字面上是手指頭在癢，Jeff started getting itchy fingers on his vacation. Jeff 在休假期間又開始手癢，想做事情了。

除了itchy fingers之外，還有 itchy palm 的說法，意思跟itchy fingers完全不一樣，代表貪心、手拿了不該拿的東西。The greedy official was known for his itchy palm. 那位貪心的官員是出了名的手不乾淨，這種說法通常是指收了不該收的錢。itchy fingers跟itchy palm之間的差別，不曉得你清楚了嗎?


Language Lab
beloved adj. 心愛的 
very much loved : dearly loved
- All Elva wanted was to see her beloved grandchildren again.
Elva 唯一想要的就是能夠再一次見到她心愛的孫子們。
- The king was selfish and not liked by the people, but the queen was kind and beloved by everyone in the kingdom.
國王很自私又不受歡迎，而皇后很仁慈又受到人民的熱愛。
beloved n. 心上人、愛人
a much loved person.
- Although Tiffany was sick, getting a call from her beloved made her feel much better.
Tiffany 雖然病了，但是接到心上人的電話讓她感覺好很多。
- Delfina couldn’t believe that her beloved would do such a terrible thing to her.
Delfina 無法相信她的愛人會對她做出這種事情。

marvel v. 因為某人事物而感到驚奇或讚嘆  (n) 讓人感到驚奇的東西、狀況、人
/ˈmɑɚvəl/
to feel great surprise, wonder, or admiration
- Whenever Edward goes to the aquarium, he always marvels at the variety of sea creatures.
每次Edward 再參觀水族館，他都會因為海底生物的種類居然如此多樣而感到驚奇。
- After teaching children for so many years, Harriet continues to marvel at how quickly children imitate adults.
Harriet 當了兒童老師那麼多年，他還是對小朋友那麼快速就能模仿大人感到驚奇。
marvel n. 讓人感到驚奇的東西、狀況、人
someone or something that is extremely good, skillful, etc. : a wonderful or marvelous person or thing
- Egypt is full of ancient marvels such as the pyramids, and millions of tourists go to see them every year.
埃及擁有諸如金字塔等令人讚嘆的古蹟，因此每年都會有好幾百萬的觀光客前往一睹風采。 - It is a marvel how Christie was able to finish college in three years while working a full-time job.
Christie 能夠全職工作而且還一邊僅用三年的時間把大學念完，真讓人感到驚奇。

experimental adj. 實驗性的、試驗性的
/ɪkˌsperəˈmɛntl̟/
relating to a scientific experiment or to scientific experiments in general
experiment n.實驗、試驗
/ɪkˈsperəmənt/
a scientific test in which you perform a series of actions and carefully observe their effects in order to learn about something
- After several experiments, the scientists strongly believe the chemical is too dangerous to be sold to the public.
經過幾次實驗後，科學家認為那個化學物品絕對不可以公開販售，因為實在太危險了。
- Let’s do an experiment to see which brand of laundry soap is the best.
我們來試驗看看哪一牌的洗衣皂最好用。
- The professor was very impressed with the two students’ experimental research.
教授對那兩位同學的實驗性研究感到欽佩。
- All the machines made by this company are still in the experimental stage.
所有來自那家公司的機器都還在試驗期中。

congratulate v.祝賀
to tell (someone) that you are happy because of his or her success or good luck
- When the champion returned to his hometown, everyone went to congratulate him.
當冠軍得主回到家鄉時，大家都跑去為他祝賀。
- I heard you got the promotion so I came to congratulate you.
我聽說你升遷了，所以我特別來跟你道賀。
congratulations n. 恭喜 (= congrats)
a message telling someone that you are happy because of his or her success or good luck : words that congratulate someone
- Congratulations on passing the exam!
恭喜你通過考試!
- Congrats on winning the race!
恭喜你贏了比賽!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1)

An unbelievable adventure in a chocolate factory 
查理與巧克力工廠 巧克力工廠上演驚奇大冒險

Willy Wonka owns the world's greatest chocolate factory. But it's a very mysterious place. The factory produces all kinds of chocolate, but no one ever goes in or out! Each day Charlie Bucket walks by it and smells the delicious scent of melting chocolate. Charlie's family is very poor. He lives with his parents and two sets of grandparents in a tiny house. One day Charlie hears a surprising announcement. Willy Wonka has decided to allow five children and their parents to enter his factory and see its delights.

The lucky five will be the ones who find a Golden Ticket hidden under the wrapper of a Wonka candy bar. The first ticket is found by Augustus Gloop and the second by Veruca Salt. The third is found by Violet Beauregarde and the fourth by Mike Teavee. On a cold winter day, Charlie finds a dollar bill in the snow, so he buys two Wonka bars. Under the second bar's wrapper shines the fifth Golden Ticket! And just in time. The next day is the date of the visit to the chocolate factory.


Info Cloud
sweet tooth

Hello, friends. And welcome to Info Cloud. Rex, why are you holding your face like that?

I have a terrible toothache. I think I have a cavity, and my sweet tooth is all to blame.

You need to get to the dentist as soon as possible. But while we're on the topic, let's talk about that phrase you just used: sweet tooth.

Well, even though they hurt, I'm not really talking about my teeth here. I'm talking about how much I like to eat sweet, sugary foods.

The word tooth actually has another meaning besides the white things in your mouth. It also means taste or appetite. To have a tooth for something means to have an appetite for it.

When someone has a sweet tooth, it means they have a big appetite for sugary foods. Anne Marie, can someone have a sour tooth or a bitter tooth?

Hmm. I've never heard it used in that way before. What are you doing now?

Oh. I'm thinking about what kind of dessert I want to eat after lunch today.

Rex, we need to get that sweet tooth of yours under control, or else you're going to have too many cavities to deal with.

很多人喜歡吃甜食，你可以用今天介紹的sweet tooth來形容熱愛吃甜食的人。My sweet tooth is to blame for my cavity. 我喜歡吃甜食，讓我有了一顆蛀牙。tooth是牙齒，sweet 是甜的，sweet tooth 不是指甜的牙齒，而是喜歡吃甜食的癮。We need to get your sweet tooth under control. 我們須要控制一下你吃甜食的量，要不然可能會有更多蛀牙或是其他的後遺症。


Language Lab
mysterious adj. 神秘的、讓人無法理解或猜測
 /mɪˈstirijəs/  (重音在第二音節)
strange, unknown, or difficult to understand
- Everyone at the banquet noticed a mysterious woman walking around in a strange outfit.
大家在晚宴中有注意到一位穿著奇怪衣服的神祕女郎。
- It is very mysterious how the expensive painting just disappeared from the museum in the middle of the night.
那幅畫很離奇地在深夜裡從博物館裡消失無蹤。
mystery n. 神秘、離奇的事情
/ˈmɪstəri/  (重音在第一音節)
something that is not known
- Why the ancient people put these stone carvings in the jungle is a mystery to us all.
古人為何在叢林裡放置這些石雕對我們來說是一件很神祕的事。

delight n. 讓人感到高興愉快的人事物
a strong feeling of happiness : great pleasure or satisfaction
- Having dinner with my aunt was a delight.
能夠跟我的姑姑一起吃飯是多麼愉快的事情。
- The new volunteer is a very friendly person, and such a delight to everyone.
新的志工人很友善，是一個讓大家都很開心的人。
something that makes you very happy : something that gives you great pleasure or satisfaction
愉快又滿意的感覺
- The little girl opened her present with great delight.
小女孩很開心地打開她的禮物。
delight v. 讓人覺得開心愉快
to make (someone) very happy : to give (someone) great pleasure or satisfaction
- Joe delighted everyone with a wonderful musical performance.
Joe 的音樂表演很棒，讓大家很開心。

lucky adj. 幸運的
having good luck : fortunate
luck n. 幸運
the things that happen to a person because of chance : the accidental way things happen without being planned
- He was a lucky man. = He had a lot of luck.
他是一個幸運的人。
- Some people feel it is lucky to wear a cross. = Some people feel it is good luck to wear a cross.
有些人認為身上穿戴十字架是幸運的事。=有些人認為身上穿戴十字架會帶來好運。
- Brent got off work late, but he was lucky enough to catch the last bus.
Brent 工作到很晚，但他還是很幸運地趕上最後一班車。
- Craig thinks he is a lucky man for being able to have a job that he loves.
Craig 覺得他是一位很幸運的人，因為他有一份他非常摯愛的工作。

wrapper n. 包裝、包裝紙
/ˈræpɚ/
a thin piece of paper, plastic, etc., that covers or surrounds something to protect it
wrap v.包裝、包起來
 /ˈræp/
to cover (something) by winding or folding a piece of material around it
- Angela is wrapping a present for her friend.
Angela 再為她的朋友包一份禮物。
- The wrapper makers it hard for the customer to see the product inside.
這個包裝讓顧客很難看到裡面的產品。
rapper n.饒舌歌手
/ˈræpɚ/
a person who performs rap music or speaks the words of a rap song
- The famous rapper will appear in tonight’s program.
那位有名的饒舌歌手會在今晚的節目中出現。

in the nick of time
just before the last moment when something can be changed or something bad will happen
- He decided to go just in the nick of time.
- The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (2) [8/29/2019]

Muff Potter's trial begins. Tom finds the courage to testify against Injun Joe. Muff is acquitted, and Injun Joe jumps out a window and escapes.

Tom and Huck go treasure hunting in a haunted house. While there, they see Injun Joe and a companion. As Tom and Huck watch, the two dig and find a box of gold! They carry it away with them. Huck begins to follow Injun Joe every night, looking for a chance to steal the gold.

Meanwhile, Tom, Becky and their classmates go on a picnic to McDougal's Cave. Tom and Becky get lost in the cave and soon run out of food and candles.

Tom desperately searches for a way out. As he searches, he sees Injun Joe who is using the cave for a hideout. Thankfully, Injun Joe doesn't see Tom. Tom finally finds a way out of the cave, and the town celebrates the pair's return. Becky's father, Judge Thatcher, locks up the cave. Injun Joe is trapped inside and starves to death. A week later, Tom shows Huck the hole where he escaped from the cave. They go in and find the gold.


Language Lab
testify v.
to talk and answer questions about something especially in a court of law while formally promising that what you are saying is true
- The witness didn't show up at the court to testify.
testify against
- The witness testified against the thief saying that she had seen him take the victim's wallet.
testimony n.
something that someone says especially in a court of law while formally promising to tell the truth
- The eye witness's testimony was important evidence in the case.

acquit v.
/əˈkwɪt/  acquits; acquitted; acquitting
to decide that someone is not guilty of a crime
- The defendant was acquitted of all the charges against her and was released by the court.
- The CEO was acquitted of misconduct and kept his job.
acquit oneself
- Even though the quarterback's knee is hurt, he acquitted himself very well today.

desperately adv. 拼命的
- The gazelle ran desperately trying to escape from the cheetah.
非常的
- These refugees need food and medical supplies desperately.
desperate adj.
having a strong need or desire for something or to do something
- Tom is penniless, and he is desperate to find a job a place to stay.

hideout n.
a place where someone (such as a criminal) hides to avoid being found or captured
- The leader of the Mafia retreated to his hideout after the gang fight.
- The abandoned house was the hideout of a group of professional pickpockets.
- Several hideouts of the rebels were discovered and destroyed.


Info Cloud
Topic: no picnic 

Hello and welcome to info cloud. Today I want to share with you some tips on giving presentations to your peers.

Joe is a member of toastmaster’s international, a group that work to perfect the art of public speaking.

Toastmasters is an international organization with a long history of helping people of all backgrounds become confident public speakers.

That reminds me, I forgot to ask about your speech competition last week. How did you do?

Actually, I didn’t compete because I was one of the organizers of the event. I love competing but organizing such a large event, whew, is no picnic.

I can imagine there are a lot of details to deal with. Joe used a great expression here, organizing a large event is no picnic.

I used this phrase because people think of a picnic something easy and enjoyable. When something is no picnic, it means it was hard or challenging or even unenjoyable.

But since Joe has been working hard with toastmasters for years now, I take what he said to mean that organizing a contest was challenging.

That’s exactly right. I love working with toastmaster members, I love participating in the contest but organizing everything really is no picnic.

- It is no picnic. 一件辛苦困難的事。

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1) [8/28/2019]

Making mischief in a small town on the Mississippi

Tom Sawyer lives with his Aunt Polly and his half brother, Sid, in the Mississippi River town of St. Petersburg, Missouri. Sid is a very good boy, but Tom would rather play and make mischief than go to school. One Friday, Tom plays hooky from school and gets his clothes dirty in a fight. Tom has to paint the fence as punishment. But Tom is tricky. He soon convinces his friends to trade him their treasures for the privilege of painting the fence for him!

There is a new girl in town. Her name is Becky Thatcher. Tom persuades her to get "engaged" to him. But when she finds out Tom has been "engaged" before, she breaks up with him. After this heartbreak, Tom and his friend Huckleberry Finn visit the graveyard at night. There they witness the murder of Dr. Robinson by Injun Joe, a mean man who is part Native American. Joe blames his drunken friend Muff Potter for the crime, so Muff is arrested and put in jail. Tom is scared of Injun Joe, so he doesn't say what he knows. But he feels very guilty.


Language Lab
mischief n. [mischievous]
/ˈmɪstʃəf/
behavior or activity that is annoying but that is not meant to cause serious harm or damage
- Ryan gets into mischief when he's bored.
- Peter's eyes twinkled with boyish mischief when he did behind his wife trying to scare her.
- Those children are always up to some mischief. = Those children are always getting into mischief.
harmful behavior
- The flood caused serious mischief in the area.

privilege n.
/ˈprɪvlɪʤ/
a right or benefit that is given to some people and not to others
- Our VIP customers enjoy the privileges of extra discounts and special promotions.
- Frank is a son of privilege and wealth, so he never has to worry about money.
a special opportunity to do something that makes you proud
- It's such a privilege to be the student of such a prestigious professor!

witness v.
to see (something) happen
- A woman who witnessed the robbery called 911.
- George witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall when he was traveling in Germany.
to be the time or place when (something) happens
- The signing of the contract was witnessed by the lawyers of both parties.
law : to be present at (an event) in order to be able to say that it happened : to act as a legal witness of (something)
- The witnesses of the crime were students of a nearby college.

guilty adj.
showing that you know you have done something bad or wrong
- Gloria feels guilty about lying to her parents.
responsible for committing a crime or doing something bad or wrong
— often + of
- The jury found the defendant guilty of fraud.
guilt n.
responsibility for a crime or for doing something bad or wrong
- The girl is full of strong feelings of guilt because she changed her grades.


Info Cloud
Topic: indigenous people

Hello and welcome to info cloud. I recently attended a leadership conference. Joe, have you ever heard of the phrase, “your vibe attracts your tribe”?

Hum, I have, it means that your personality will attract the group of people who were similar to you.

One of my friends mentioned that using the word tribe might be a little bit offensive to aboriginal people.

I’ve heard the same, Rex. Terms related to indigenous peoples can be difficult. Let’s look at some terms commonly used in North America.

In the US, people used to refer to native peoples as Indians or American Indians which came from explorers, believing, they were in the East Indies.

Over time this term has replaced with Native American. But you’ll find people who still use American Indian.

Notice that aboriginal is never used to describe Native Americans. This term is typically limited to native peoples outside of the Americas.

There are also some different terms using Canada. Native peoples in Canada are called indigenous peoples.

This includes 3 different people groups, First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples.

Although the word Indian is not as common, both the US and Canada still use in legal documents related to native people groups.