MORE THAN A MEAL: HOW YOU EAT MATTERS (1)

Is eating alone bad for you?
不只是一頓飯 獨自一個人吃飯不好嗎？

When I was growing up, my family shared a home-cooked dinner every night. We would catch up on each other’s days and make plans together. Scarcely a dinner went by without a guest joining us, which added to the fun. Now, I prioritize dinnertime with my own family. By setting our cellphones aside, we strengthen our connection over a meal.

Studies confirm that shared family meals have physical and emotional benefits for children and youth. They reduce unhealthy eating habits, eating disorders, substance use, and depression. The benefits of communal eating aren’t just confined to family meals. A University of Oxford study found that people who place an emphasis on eating with others tend to feel happier and less alone. They feel better connected to their community and experience greater life satisfaction than those who usually eat alone.

Yet, modern culture has shifted away from communal meals and toward eating alone as people move farther from home, live alone and work at jobs with varying hours. According to Psychology Today, Americans are eating nearly half of their meals alone! East Asian countries like Japan and Korea are also experiencing this trend toward eating solo.

Language Lab
dinnertime n. 晚餐時間；吃晚餐的時候
the time of day when people usually eat dinner
- The children rushed inside as soon as they heard their mother call out that it was dinnertime.
孩子們一聽到媽媽喊說是晚餐時間，就立刻衝進屋裡。

dinner guest n phrase. 晚餐客人；一起來吃晚餐的客人
a person who is invited to someone’s home for dinner
- Each dinner guest brought a favorite dish from his home country to share at the potluck.
每一位晚餐客人都從自己的國家帶來一道拿手菜，和大家一起在聚餐中分享。

dinnerware n. 餐具；餐桌用具
plates, bowls, cups, and other items used for serving and eating meals
- She carefully set the table with her finest dinnerware for the holiday meal.
她為了節日大餐，小心地用最精緻的餐具把桌子擺好。

growing up verb phrase 成長過程中；從小到大的時候
- When I was growing up, my family shared a home-cooked dinner every night.
在我成長的過程中，我的家人每天晚上都會一起吃家裡煮的晚餐。

home-cooked adjective
prepared at home, especially food cooked by someone in their own kitchen
- My family enjoyed a home-cooked dinner together every night.
我的家人每天晚上都一起享用家裡煮的晚餐。

scarcely adverb 幾乎不；很少；難得
/ˈskɛrsli/
almost not; only just; very rarely
- Scarcely a dinner went by without a guest joining us.
幾乎沒有哪一頓晚餐是沒有客人一起參加的。

strengthen one’s connection verb phrase 加強彼此的連結；增進關係；拉近感情
to make a relationship or bond between people stronger
- By setting our cellphones aside, we strengthen our connection over a meal.
把手機放在一旁，我們在用餐時加深彼此的連結。

confine v. 限制；使（人或動物）待在某個範圍內；拘禁
/kənˈfaɪn/
to keep someone or something within limits or in a particular place
- They had to confine the dog to the backyard during the party.
派對期間，他們不得不把狗限制在後院。
- The prisoners were confined to their cells during the lockdown.
封鎖期間，囚犯被限制待在自己的牢房裡。

confinement n. 限制；拘禁；被迫待在某個地方的狀態
/kənˈfaɪnmənt/
the state of being kept within limits or in a particular place, often for a long period of time
- The patient’s long confinement to bed made her eager to walk again.
病人長時間臥床受限，讓她非常渴望再次走路。

disorder n. 失調；混亂；疾病（尤指身心方面的障礙）
/dɪsˈɔːrdər/
a condition in which something is not working properly, or a state of confusion or lack of order, especially related to health or behavior
- Eating disorders can have serious physical and emotional effects.
飲食失調可能對身體和心理造成嚴重影響。

depression n. 憂鬱；憂鬱症；情緒低落（尤指長期、嚴重的）
a mental health condition marked by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest
- Depression can affect both a person’s mental and physical health.
憂鬱症會同時影響一個人的心理和身體健康。

communal adj. 共同的；共享的；社群的
/kəˈmjuːnəl/
shared by a group of people; relating to a community or shared activity
- Communal eating helps people feel more connected to others.
一起吃飯的共享用餐方式，能幫助人們感覺與他人更有連結。
- The dormitory had a communal kitchen where all the students cooked their meals. 
那棟宿舍有一間公共廚房，所有學生都在那裡煮飯。

commune (with) v. 與……深度交流、沉澱、連結
/kəˈmjuːn/
- She spent time in nature to commune with her thoughts.
她花時間待在大自然中，與自己的想法對話、沉澱心情。

emphasis n. 重視；強調；著重點
/ˈɛmfəsɪs/
special importance that is given to something
- The school places an emphasis on healthy eating habits.
這所學校很重視健康的飲食習慣。

modern culture noun phrase 現代文化；當代生活方式與價值觀
指的是現代社會中人們的生活型態、習慣、觀念與行為
（常用來對比 traditional culture 傳統文化）
the beliefs, customs, lifestyles, and values of people in today’s society
- Modern culture has changed the way people eat and socialize.
現代文化改變了人們用餐和社交的方式。

shift away from + (n.) verb phrase 逐漸遠離……；不再以……為主；從……轉變開來
to move gradually away from something, such as an idea, habit, or way of life
- Modern culture has shifted away from communal meals.
現代文化已逐漸遠離共同用餐的方式。

varying adj. 不同的；變動的；不固定的
/ˈveriɪŋ/
changing or differing from time to time or in different situations
- She works at a job with varying hours.
她從事一份工時不固定的工作。

trend toward + (V-ing / N.) noun phrase 走向……的趨勢；朝向……發展的現象 (通常用來描述社會、文化、行為的長期改變)
a general direction in which something is developing or changing
- Many countries are experiencing a trend toward eating alone.
許多國家正經歷走向獨自用餐的趨勢。

scarcely + 動詞 + without + V-ing / 幾乎沒有不做某件事的時候
- He scarcely passes a mirror without looking at himself.
他幾乎每次經過鏡子，都會看自己一眼。


Deep Dive
catch up phrasal verb
to talk with someone you haven’t seen for a while, or to reach the same level or state as others after being behind
① catch up (with someone)
- I called my cousin to catch up.
我打電話給我的表哥（表妹）敘敘舊。 

② catch up on (something)  補進度、補回缺的事情
- I stayed up all week studying. I need to catch up on sleep this weekend.
我整個星期都熬夜念書，這個週末需要補眠。

③ Let’s catch up! 找時間聊聊
- Let’s catch up over lunch!
我們找時間一起吃午餐聊聊吧！

SIT TO REST, AND STAND TO FEEL BETTER! (2)

The more you move, the healthier both your mind and body will likely be. Sitting, of course, is not always bad. Sitting is one of our bodies' modes of rest, like lying down. Sitting for short periods of time isn't a cause for concern. The problems come when you sit for hours on end. So how can you avoid sitting for extended periods of time?

There are many ways to break up your sitting time. If you can, get up and move every 30 minutes, or stand rather than sit. 

Walk around whenever possible. When you go places in your building, take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you have a job where you sit at a desk, consider getting a standing desk. When you are chatting on the phone, stand or walk around while talking. If you spend all day sitting at school, leave your classroom and stretch between classes. The more you move, the better you will probably feel. So why are you still sitting? Get up and move! 

Info Cloud

Topic: sit still, sit through

Welcome to Info Cloud! Rex, as a dad are there certain phrases that you say again and again to your kids?

Oh, yes. Phrases like "Use your manners”, "Finish your food", and "Get ready to go!"

Now those are important phrases. Another one I often hear parents use is SIT STILL.

Ah, that's a good one to talk about. When you SIT STILL you sit without moving a lot. It's hard to expect younger kids to sit still for a long time.

You are right. It can be hard for adults, too. Kids might hear their teachers say SIT STILL in class. Sometimes I have to tell myself these words - just to find a moment to rest. So sometimes it’s a good thing.

That's true. It's good to sit still and rest. It can help you reflect and then move ahead with the rest of your day.

Another phrase with SIT is SIT THROUGH.

When you SIT THROUGH something like a meeting or a long class, you stay until the end - even if it is hard to do that.

You can say Sara sat through a three hour meeting and finally got to share her part at the very end.

Or Leo had to sit through four speeches until it was the speakers turn who he really wanted to hear.

Well friends, thank you for sitting through Info Cloud today! We hope it wasn't hard. Now don't sit still - go and practice these phrase with a friend!

Language Lab

concern n.
a feeling of worry usually shared by many people
- Tommy's behavior was the cause of his parents' concern when he was little, but now he is a polite young man.
- The decline in the number of bees in the world is causing a lot of concern for scientists. 
- Sharon turned her concern for the lost boy into action, and she finally located his parents.

(to) break up [phrasal verb]
to separate into parts or pieces or cause (something) to separate into parts or pieces
- When I want to break up my work, I go for a short walk and drink a cup of coffee. 
- I can't hear you because your voice is breaking up, so I'll call you back.
break up : to end a romantic relationship, marriage, etc.
- Everyone was shocked when Brady and Jasmine broke up.

to + (v) + for hours on end

(to) chat v.
to talk with someone in a casual way
- Whenever Grace and Lily get together, they chat for hours.
- Mary always chats with her mother as they cook dinner together. 
chat n.
to talk with someone in a casual way
- Bob and I had a long chat last night and caught up on what's been happening the past few months.

probably adv.
very likely : almost certainly
- If you would get some exercise, you would probably feel better.
- Arthur and his friends will probably go to Sweden this summer.
- "Lord of the Rings" is probably the best movie I've ever seen.

to pace v.
to walk back and forth across the same space again and again especially because you are nervous
- He paced the floor/room.

sedentary lifestyle 
/ˈsɛdn̩ˌteri/
doing or involving a lot of sitting : not doing or involving much physical activity
- Editing the dictionary is a sedentary job.
- The work is very sedentary.
- Their health problems were caused by their sedentary lifestyles/lives.

SIT TO REST, AND STAND TO FEEL BETTER! (1)

If you are sitting, you might want to think about standing
別久坐，站起來！ 如果能站著，那就不要坐著

If I asked you to guess how long you sit each day, what would you say? Three hours? Maybe four? More? Would it take you by surprise to know that the average adult sits about 6.5 hours daily? The average teenager sits for eight hours a day. Does that seem disturbing? Now think about that first question again.

Would your answer be greater than you said at first? Does that make you uneasy? It should. 

You likely spend a lot of time sitting down during the day. That should disturb you because sitting appears to be directly connected to several health problems. Sitting for long periods of time can result in high blood pressure and weight gain. 

Sitting for too long can also affect your mental health. People who spend most of their day sitting are likely to be depressed. They are also more likely to have problems with anxiety. Luckily, there is a way to avoid the negative effects of long-term sitting. The solution is movement. 

Info Cloud

Topic: sit tight, sit on the fence 坐著不動/左右為難

Welcome to Info Cloud Friends! I hope you’re sitting down for this lesson!

Why Andrea? Are you going to give us some bad news?

No! But we are going to share a few idioms using the verb “sit”.

Before we do, let’s talk about what you just said, I hope you’re sitting down.

If someone is going to say something shocking, they might be afraid the other person could faint. So they will suggest sitting down first.

Nowadays we might use this phrase to prepare someone to hear a surprise, but we probably don’t really expect them to fall over!

What if we ask someone to SIT TIGHT?

That just means remain in one place, or don’t move.

For example, a waiter might say, I’ll be right back with your change, sit tight.

I’ve also heard of someone SITTING ON THE FENCE. That sounds uncomfortable!

If someone is sitting on the fence that means they’re having trouble deciding between two things. Maybe they want to delay making their choice.

Riley was accepted by two universities, so now she’s sitting on the fence about which one to attend.

We hope you’re not sitting on the fence when it comes to learning more English! Sometimes it’s hard, but just sit tight and keep practicing!

Language Lab

average adj.
ordinary or usual
- The average first grader in America spends 10 minutes a day on homework.
- This winter is colder than average.
- Bill is about 25 and of average height and weight. 

(to) disturb v.
to worry or upset (someone)
disturbing adj.
- Many parents find it disturbing to see how much time their kids spend playing video games. 
disturb v.
to stop (someone) from working, sleeping, etc. : to interrupt or bother (someone or something)
- Brett disturbs anyone who sits near him in class by continually talking to them. 
- The dogs outside Melanie's window were so noisy that they disturbed her sleep.

depressed adj.
feeling sad
- Eva was depressed for days after she failed her biology test, but then she determined to study harder. 
depressed adj.
having little economic activity and few jobs : suffering from economic depression
- The northern part of the state is a very depressed area with a lot of poverty and lack of opportunity. 
depressed adj.
凹陷的
- This depressed area of the Earth is full of hot rocks.

anxiety n.
/æŋˈzajəti/
fear or nervousness about what might happen
- Many children experience a lot of anxiety at the start of a school year. 
- Dylan's anxiety was so severe that his doctor put him on medication. 
social anxiety n. 
- Social anxiety is becoming more common in some societies. 

Does Birth Order Determine Your Personality? (2)

Youngest child - The "Baby" 

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

Only child - The "King of the Castle"

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

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

Info Cloud

I wasn’t born yesterday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Language Lab

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

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

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

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

Does Birth Order Determine Your Personality? (1)

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

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

Firstborn - The "Boss"

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

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

Middle child - The "Peacemaker"

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

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

Info Cloud

third wheel / fifth wheel 指那個多餘的人

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Language Lab

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

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

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

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

A WARNING FROM SCIENCE (2)

Equally unsurprising was the second finding: The more tired we are, the more likely we are to reach for our phones. The real kicker was the final finding. While we look to our phones to relieve fatigue and boredom, screen time seemed to modestly increase feelings of boredom.

"Participants actually reported higher levels of boredom after having used their smartphones," notes BPS. 

Take a better break 

The research team speculated why this might be so. Switching from work to your phone and back may end up being more mentally tiring than stimulating. In other words, that baby goat video was nice, but not worth the cost to your brain in effort and concentration. Alternately, picking up your phone might serve as a reminder of all the things out there you could be doing if you didn't have to fill out paperwork.

This one study can't definitively say if either of these explanations is right, but the takeaway is clear. You think a glance at your phone is going to make you feel less bored, but it's actually going to make your brain feel more fired. 

What should you do instead?

• Take a walk
• Doodle or draw
• Call someone. Connection is the best mood booster out there
• Read a book

Info Cloud

Internet meme 網路迷因

Ha... that's so cute. Oh ... hi, everyone. It's time for Info Cloud. Ha, ha, ha. 

Yes. Rex, we've already started filming. 

What were you looking at, anyway? 

It was a video about a puppy. Do you want to see it? 

Maybe after the show. But right now we're talking about Internet memes. 

Exactly. I was just doing some research. Sure you were. 

So can you tell us what a meme is, Rex? 

A meme is defined as an element of culture or behavior that is passed on to others. 

Internet memes are passed around a lot. 

Yes. An Internet meme is often a humorous image with a funny caption. 

Maybe a picture of a crying baby or a woman yelling at a cat that will be used over and over again. 

So then it becomes highly recognizable. But the words on the picture will be changed to make fun of different situations. 

Internet memes spread really fast, and they are often related to pop culture. 

That's probably why they are most popular with young people. 

The use of social media like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok has only increased the speed at which Internet memes spread, whether they are phrases, videos or pictures. 

我們經常看到一些圖片或是影片在網路上瘋傳，這些內容就統稱為 Internet meme，所謂的網路迷因。Internet meme 有可能是一張相當好笑的合成照片，上面加了某種標語，或是惡搞的Kuso影片，Po上網之後，像病毒一樣，在很短的時間內傳播出去。通常這些 Internet meme 都是跟流行文化有關係，所以特別受到年輕人的喜愛，在臉書、 Instagram、TikTok 等等的網路平台發表。除了照片和影片之外，Internet meme 也有可能是一個標語或是流行用語。

Language Lab
speculate v. 推測、猜測  

 /ˈspɛkjəˌleɪt/

to think about something and make guesses about it : to form ideas or theories about something usually when there are many things not known about it

- Maggie can only speculate what had happened between her brother and his friends. 

Maggie 只能猜測她的哥哥和他的朋友之間發生了什麼事。

- There is no need to speculate; just wait and see how things happen. 

沒必要推測，就等著看事情如何發展就是了。 

speculation n. 某個人的推測、猜測

/ˌspɛkjəˈleɪʃən/

ideas or guesses about something that is not known

- What I’m about to tell you is not a solid fact; it’s just a speculation. 

我要跟你說的不是確定的事實，而只是一個推測。

- There is no need to be nervous; what the doctor just said was only a speculation. 

不需要緊張，醫生剛剛說的話只是一個推測而已。 

stimulate v. 刺激、讓人覺得興奮  

 /ˈstɪmjəˌleɪt/

to make (a person) excited or interested in something

- Theo thinks the discussion was rather stimulating. 

Theo 認為那個討論讓他非常感興趣。 

- The show was supposed to be stimulating, but it ended up putting people to sleep. 

那場節目應該讓觀眾很興奮，可是卻讓大家睡著了。 

stimulate v. 激發、促進

to cause or encourage (something) to happen or develop

- The political candidate talked about his views on how to stimulate the economy. 

政治候選人分享他對如何促進經濟的看法。

stimulation n. 刺激 

- Brenda doesn’t want her kids to watch too much TV because she thinks there is too much stimulation. Brenda 不要她的孩子們看太多電視，因為她認為那樣會太刺激小朋友。 

definitively adv. 明確地、決定性地 (用來下結論或是表達事情是不是會改變的) 

definitive adj. 最終的、決定性的 

/dɪˈfɪnətɪv/

not able to be argued about or changed : final and settled

definitely adv. 肯定地 

/ˈdɛfənɪtli/

- We don’t know if Mr. Gates is going to sell his farm or not; he hasn’t given us a definitive answer. 

我們不知道Gates 先生是否會把他的農場賣了，他還沒給我一個最後決定答案。
- After a long civil war, a new government was definitively established.
多年的內戰後，一個新的政府最後終於被成立。
- The player made a beautiful penalty kick and definitively ended the game.
那位球員的一個漂亮的罰球，就這樣決定性地結束了球賽。

doodle v. 很隨意地畫圖

to draw something without thinking about what you are doing

- Kenny was doodling on the newspaper while he was waiting. 

Kenny 在等待的時候，就在報紙上隨便畫畫。 

- The student was doodling in class and wasn’t paying attention to his teacher. 

學生在課堂中隨便畫圖，沒有專心聽老師講課。 
doodle n. 隨意畫出來的圖 

- I’ve seen Pete’s doodles, and he is a very creative guy. 

我看過Pete隨意畫的一些圖，他很有創意。 

- We were surprised that Jackie’s doodle actually won an award in the art contest. 

Jackie隨便畫的一張圖，竟然在美術比賽裡得獎，我們都感到很驚訝。

A WARNING FROM SCIENCE (1)

You think your phone will relieve your boredom, but science shows it’s more likely to increase it
來自科學的「警告」 倚靠手機解悶 小心適得其反

When you're bored of some mind-numbing task, what do you do? If you're like many, the answer is a no brainer: You reach for your phone. Five minutes of Facebook or kitten pictures can seem like the perfect break. 

If that sounds familiar, a new unpublished study has bad news. Reaching for your phone is likely to leave you feeling more bored. 

The boredom machine

The problem isn't taking a break. Previous studies show that we get more done overall if we take regular, short breaks. The problem is your phone. Dutch research shows most of us carry around a boredom- boosting machine in our pockets.

To figure out the relationship between phones and boredom, [a Dutch] research team installed an app on the phones of 83 volunteers to track how often they used their devices. They also asked these volunteers to keep diaries for three days, recording their level of fatigue and boredom every hour. 

The researchers' first discovery was no shocker. "Phone breaks were frequent: In the 20 minutes following each questionnaire, participants picked up their phones 52 percent of the time. [They spent] an average of around 90 seconds on it each time," reports the findings on the British Psychological Society Research Digest blog. 

Info Cloud

decision fatigue 決策疲乏

Welcome to Info Cloud. Do you ever struggle with willpower? 

I know I do. Sometimes I plan to exercise after work. But when the day is over, I'd rather sit on the couch. That happens a lot. 

When thinking about changing your clothes or choosing a route, you might start to suffer from decision fatigue. 

Decision fatigue. I think that describes it very well. Fatigue is a word we use to talk about being extremely tired. 

And we make a lot of decisions or choices in a day. Before we start work, we've already decided what to wear, eat, watch and more. 

It's no wonder we don't have much energy left for healthy decisions later on. 

There are ways to fight decision fatigue, though. I can plan something in advance like if I set out my exercise equipment ahead of time. 

Yes. Setting up routines reduces the number of new decisions you need to make. 

That reminds me of how Steve Jobs would always wear the same outfit. 

Exactly. The black turtleneck became like a uniform for him. 

And not thinking about what to wear means he had brainpower left for creative decisions he needed to make when running his company, so he avoided decision fatigue. 

很多人不喜歡做決定，因為必須深思熟慮，做錯決定又要承擔後果，今天要跟大家介紹 decision fatigue 決策疲乏，也就是做決定所帶來的疲乏，例如，今天要穿什麼衣服，晚餐要準備什麼食物，要選什麼禮物等等，這些選擇都很令人傷腦筋，為了要避免 decision fatigue，很多人會選擇簡化自己的生活，像是以前的賈伯斯，每次出現都會穿相同的衣服，有些人可能每天早上都會吃一樣的早餐，這樣就不用想了，要把腦子留給更重要的事情做出更重要的決定。

Language Lab

boredom n. 無聊的感覺或狀態
 /ˈboɚdəm/
the state of being bored
- Bobby was not happy about his trip because it was full of boredom.
Bobby 的那趟旅行很不開心，因為實在是太無聊了。
- The children really need to get out of the house: they’re suffering from boredom.
小朋友們需要到戶外去玩，他們現在非常無聊沒事做。
- When Mark complained about boredom, his dad told him to go clean the backyard.
Mark 抱怨說他很無聊，他爸爸就叫他去整理後院。 

mind-numbing adj. 極其乏味、非常枯燥的  
very dull or boring
mind n. 腦子
- My heart says “yes” to the decision, but my mind says “no”.
對於那個決定，我的心裡是贊同，但是我的腦子卻不同意。
numbing adj. 變麻木
unable to feel anything in a particular part of your body because of cold, injury, etc.
- I could feel the ice-cold water numbing my feet.
我可以感受到冰水讓我的雙腳都麻了。
- Ricky quit his job because he was tired of the mind-numbing assignments. 
Ricky 辭職，因為他受不了那些極其無聊的差事。
- That TV show is so boring; I’m not watching another mind-numbing episode.
那個電視節目有夠無聊，我不會再看超級無聊的另一集了。 

boost v.  增強、提高  
to increase the force, power, or amount of (something)
- William is careful with his diet because he wants to boost his immune system.
William 很重視他的飲食，因為他想增強免疫力。
- Having a nice letter of recommendation might boost my chances of getting the job.
擁有好的推薦函，也許可以增加我拿到那份工作的勝算。
boost n. 增強、提高、推動 
an increase in amount; help or encouragement; a push upward
- Parker was afraid of failing and his confidence really needed a boost.
Parker 很擔心會失敗，他的自信心真的很需要被提高。
- The company needs a big boost in their sales.
公司需要大量地提升他們的銷售量。

questionnaire n. 問卷 question n. 問題 
a written set of questions that are given to people in order to collect facts or opinions about something
- The company will ask all its customers to fill out a questionnaire.
公司會請他們所有的顧客來填一份問卷調查表。
- After you turn in your questionnaire, you will receive a free gift.
當你把問卷交回去，會收到一份贈品。
- The questionnaire was hard to fill out because the questions were strange.
問卷很難填寫，因為問的問題都很奇怪。

Perfectionism (1)

How to overcome perfectionism without lowering your standards
完美主義 簡單步驟 讓你戰勝完美主義

Pursuing perfection in your work may seem noble. After all, many would attribute part of Steve Jobs' legacy to his refusal to accept anything short of perfection. But for the average professional, an unrelenting drive for perfection can create significant inefficiencies.

Perfectionism causes you to spend time on work that has little impact, particularly in three parts of your workflow:

1. Getting started on work

2. Reviewing and advancing others' work

3. Finishing work

To overcome these sinkholes of inefficiency, adopt some new practical tools:

Avoid empty-handed thinking

If you have a desire for perfection, you probably don't share your opinion until [it's] fully formulated. 

To avoid getting stuck, avoid empty-handed thinking. Adopt some system for capturing what you're thinking at all times whether that be a notebook or a voice recorder. To overcome the psychological resistance to allowing ideas out of your mind, don't expect too much of your thoughts in their earliest forms.

Give feedback based on best practices, not preferences

If you have perfectionist tendencies, your team likely finds it frustrating for you to review their work. When giving feedback to your team, you may struggle to articulate what was wrong because your changes are driven more by a feeling than a clear gap between their work and expectations. 

Info Cloud

Practice makes perfect. 苦練可以帶來完美

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Rex, have you ever heard the expression: Practice makes perfect? 

Oh, yeah, I heard it all the time from my music teacher since I was really young. But I don't really believe it because nothing is perfect. 

Well, "Practice makes perfect" is a saying that is used to encourage people to work hard at practicing some kind of skill. It's unusually said when someone is learning something new. 

This expression implies that if you practice a lot, you will become really, really good at what you do. People say that all the time. It's nice to hear... 

Rex, since you don't really believe in it, what do you believe? 

I believe that practice makes permanent. It means that whatever you practice, either right or wrong thing, it will become a habit or you will get used to doing it all the time. 

I see what you're saying. Sometimes we practice the wrong things, such as playing the piano the wrong way. Then you get used to it, and it gets really hard to correct later on. 

Exactly. You know, this applies to learning a new language, too. 

Oh, good point. Practice may not make perfect. But remember, students, keep working on your English because practice makes permanent. 

今天要跟大家分享一個用語是西方人經常用到的 Practice makes perfect. 苦練可以帶來完美。這一句話通常是用來鼓勵年輕人在學習某種技能的時候，要勤奮練習，最後一定可以帶來很棒的成果。雖然這一句話不一定完全正確，因為沒有什麼事情是完美的。但 Practice makes perfect. 卻是一句非常正面積極的精神喊話。我自己是相信 Practice makes permanent. 練習會帶來長久的習慣，不管好或不好。例如，用錯誤的方法練鋼琴，也會帶來某種彈奏的習慣。

Language Lab

attribute v.認為是某人事物造成的；歸因於  
 /əˈtrɪˌbjuːt/
to say that (something) is because of (someone or something)
- Annette’s stomach bug was attributed to the street food she had eaten earlier.
Annette的腸胃不舒服歸因於她之前所吃的路邊小吃。
- The sales team’s failure to reach their goal was attributed to the team members’ lack of teamwork.
業務團隊沒有達標，歸因於隊員們沒有團體合作。
attribute  v.. 歸功於、承認某作品的創造者
to think of (something) as being made or created by (someone)
- No one knew where the painting came from, but it was attributed to Picasso by some people.
沒有人知道那幅畫從哪來，但是有些人認為它是畢卡索的傑作。
attribute  n. 屬性、特質 
/ˈætrəˌbjuːt/
The office assistant doesn’t always do a perfect job, but his coworkers do appreciate his many attributes. 辦公室助理也許不一定做事完美，但是他的同事們很欣賞他的許多特質。

inefficiency n. 低效率、沒有效率  
the lack of ability to do something or produce something without wasting materials, time, or energy : the quality or state of being inefficient
- The inefficiency of the customer service department drove a lot of customers crazy.
客服部的低效率讓很多顧客抓狂。
- One of the first things the new manager wants to figure out is the cause of his department’s inefficiency.
新經理想了解的其中一個首要事項，就是他的部門為何效率那麼低。
efficiency n. 效率
the ability to do something or produce something without wasting materials, time, or energy : the quality or degree of being efficient
- The boss praised his workers for their efficiency.
老闆稱讚他的員工的效率。
- That sales team is always number one in the company because of their efficiency.
那個業務團隊在公司裡一直是第一名，因為他們的效率高。

preference n. 偏好  
something that is liked or wanted more than another thing : something that is preferred
- Our dinner choices are Italian, French, or Japanese; do you have a preference?
我們的晚餐可以選義大利料理、法式料理或是日本料理，你喜愛哪一個呢?
- I don’t know Valerie very well, so I wouldn’t know her preferences.
我不太認識Valerie，所以我不太清楚她個人的愛好。
prefer v. 比較喜歡、偏愛於...
to like (someone or something) better than someone or something else
- Delores prefers to stay at home on weekends.
Delores 比較喜歡在家裡度過周末。
- Most of the committee members prefer having the meeting at the beginning of the month.
委員會裡大部分的成員比較喜歡在月初開會。

articulate v. 表達清楚、清楚說明  
 /ɑɚˈtɪkjələt/
able to express ideas clearly and effectively in speech or writing
- Matthew was very interested in Sabrina, but he didn’t know how to articulate his feelings.
Matthew 對Sabrina很有興趣，但是他不知道如何對她表達他的感情。
articulate v. 咬字清楚、字正腔圓
clearly expressed and easily understood
- You need to articulate when you make an announcement over the intercom.
你透過內部通話設備宣布事情時，必須字正腔圓。
articulate adj. 很有口才、表達得很清楚  
to express (something, such as an idea) in words
- The speaker was very articulate, and his information was very interesting.
演說家的口才非常好，他分享的內容也很有意思。

The Fear of Taking Risks May Be Holding You Back (1)

These mental strength exercises will help you conquer your fear
別讓恐懼阻止你向前 有效鍛鍊心智強度 有助克服恐懼冒險

Your brain will try to convince you to play it safe. It will tell you that you can't succeed or that you shouldn't bother trying something new.

But even when these thoughts lack a rational basis, we sometimes allow our anxiety to prevail. Instead of thinking about what could be, we focus on "what if?"

But risks don't have to be reckless.

The problem is that we often base our decisions on emotion rather than logic. We incorrectly assume that there's a direct correlation between our fear level and the risk level.

But more often than not, our emotions are just not rational.

Weather you are afraid to take a leap with your career, or you're terrified to take a small social risk like inviting an acquaintance out for coffee, learning to take healthy risks can improve your life.

Sometimes, you need to take risks, challenge yourself and try harder at things, if you want to grow stronger and become better.

You only want to take the calculated risks that can truly improve your life (not just the risks that feel good now).

If you find yourself fearing to take healthy, calculated risks, there are two strategies that can help.


Info Cloud
adrenaline junkie 腎上腺素上癮的人

Welcome to Info Cloud, friends. Today we want to talk about the phrase, adrenaline junkie.

A junkie is defined as a person with a compulsive habit or obsessive dependency on something. This word is commonly used to describe someone who is addicted to drugs.

However, there are other things you can be addicted to, like if you are a news junkie, you can't get enough of reading or watching the news.

The kind of junkie we want to talk about today is an adrenaline junkie. Adrenaline junkies are obsessed with the feeling of an adrenaline rush.

Adrenaline is a hormone our bodies produce in response to excitement or stress. Do you know that exciting feeling you get when you are high up on a roller coaster and it suddenly drops? That's an adrenaline rush.

An adrenaline junkie is someone who is always seeking out this feeling. They love exciting or even dangerous activities.

Bungee jumping, roller coasters and driving fast vehicles are all activities many adrenaline junkies like. I've heard that some adrenaline junkies are really into horror movies because they like the feeling of feeling scared.

Not me. I don't like horror movies at all, and I'm definitely not an adrenaline junkie.

大部分的人都有 adrenaline rush 腎上腺素高漲的經驗，如果是去高空彈跳、做雲霄飛車，或是開快車，這些都會刺激人的腎上腺素。有些人對於這一種adrenaline rush 幾乎到了上癮的程度，經常喜歡做一些危險刺激的活動，讓自己極度亢奮，你可以稱呼這樣的人是 adrenaline junkie 腎上腺素上癮的人。junkie 是對一件事情極度著迷，迫使自己反覆不斷地做一些事情的人，這個字經常用來形容吸毒上癮的人。Bob is an adrenaline junkie who loves to race cars. Bob是熱愛賽車的腎上腺素上癮者。junkie 也可以用來形容對其他事情上癮的人，像是如果你喜歡看新聞，你就是一個 news junkie。


Language Lab
rational adj. 理智的 
based on facts or reason and not on emotions or feelings
- Peter has always been a rational person, why would he suddenly make such a crazy decision?
Peter 平常都很理智，為什麼會突然做出這麼瘋狂的決定呢?
rational adj. 頭腦清楚的
having the ability to reason or think about things clearly
I don’t think you’re being rational, the things you’ve said just don’t make any sense to me.
我不認為你現在頭腦清楚，我完全無法理解你所說的話。
rationalize v. 合理地解釋
to think about or describe something (such as bad behavior) in a way that explains it and makes it seem proper, more attractive, etc.
- Susie tried to rationalize her decision, but her mother wouldn’t accept it.
Susie 試著為她的決定做出合理的解釋，但是她媽媽就是不肯接受。
- Howard’s parents tried to rationalize Howard’s aggressive behavior by saying it was all because of stress.
Howard的父母試著合理化Howard挑釁的行為，說是因為壓力很大。

prevail v. 戰勝、占優勢
/prɪˈveɪl/
to defeat an opponent especially in a long or difficult contest
- There is a lot of misinformation going around, but I believe the truth will prevail.
錯誤的資訊到處都是，但是我相信真理絕對會得勝。
- Mr. Lawson’s opponents have said many terrible things about him but none of their accusations will prevail.
Lawson先生的對手們對手說了他很多壞話，但是他們的控告不會占優勢。
prevail v. 普遍
to be usual, common, or popular
- That superstition still prevails among the tribes in the jungle.
這個迷信在叢林的部落中還是很普遍。
prevailing adj. (東西、狀況) 很普遍
 /prɪˈveɪlɪŋ/
usual, common, or popular
- According to historical documents, prevailing corruption was one of the reasons why the people rose up against the government.
根據歷史記載，普遍的貪污是導致人們起來反抗政府的原因之一。

leap n. 跳起來的動作
to jump from a surface
- The dog made a leap into the air and caught the Frisbee.
小狗跳到空中，並接到飛盤。
leap n. 大的改變(有增加或增進的關係)
to suddenly increase by a large amount
I don’t think you are ready to take that leap in your relationship.
我不認為你預備好要對你們的關係做一個大改變。
leap v.  跳起來
a long or high jump
- To open the garage door, just push that button on the wall, but you have to leap if you want to reach the button.
要打開車庫門，就只要按牆上的按鈕，但是你得跳得很高，才能碰得到按鈕。
leap v.  動作很快
a great and sudden change, increase, or improvement
- When Edgar saw that his girlfriend had arrived at his house, he leaped to the front door to greet her. 當Edgar 看到他的女朋友剛到她家，她快速地到門口去迎接他。

calculated adj. 計畫好的、蓄意的
calculator n. 計算機
a small electronic device that is used for adding, subtracting, etc.
- I need a calculator to figure out how much everything is going to cost.
我需要計算機來算這一切需要多少錢。
calculate v.計算
to find (a number, answer, etc.) by using mathematical processes
- I think you didn’t calculate correctly, these numbers are not right.
我認為你計算錯了，這些數字都不對。
calculated adj. 計畫好的、蓄意的
carefully planned for a particular and often improper purpose
- The suspect said everything had happened by accident, but in reality, it was a carefully calculated scheme.
嫌犯聲稱所有的事情都是意外的發生，但是實際上這一切都是仔細計畫好的陰謀。
- The wedding coordinator had a very calculated approach to planning her client’s wedding.
婚裡秘書有一個精心計畫的安排，來籌備她客戶的婚禮。

Fear of Missing Out (2)

It's important to remember that what people choose to post on social media does not necessarily reflect their life overall. People tend to pick and choose the things they share, so we only ever know a small part of anyone else's life.

It's also important to be humble and acknowledge your limitations. You cannot be everywhere and do everything that might be interesting or productive, and that's OK.

It might even be necessary to turn off your phone or log out of social media for a while. Get rid of the constant reminders of everything that's happening in the world.

You can even set particular times in your day to check email and social media. By stepping away for a time, you can help keep other people's lives in perspective.

Finally, focus on the things in front of you. Relish them, and do them well and let everything else go. When you fully engage with life, you'll worry less about what you're not doing.

Don't let the fear of missing out cause you to miss out on the good things you have in life. Relax, enjoy what you do and let other people enjoy their lives without envying them.



Info Cloud
clickbait 誘餌式的標題或連結

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. We have talked a lot about the Internet culture. Today we are going to talk about something we all encounter every day, clickbait.

You know, we are constantly looking at so much clickbait on the Internet every day, it's becoming a problem now.

Clickbait is a link you see on a web page that contains a very provocative title such as "you won't believe this happened!" or "I can't believe this works so well!" that makes you curious and want to click on it to find out more.

There's nothing wrong with that. But the problem is that the title is often misleading and does not contain the content it is hinting to deliver after you click.

Oftentimes you are led to a sales page that prompts you into buying something and spending money that you regret later.

Since most of us are on the Internet every day, clickbait is definitely something we should all watch out for.

今天要分享一個跟所有人都息息相關的生字，那就是clickbait，click是點選連結，bait是誘餌，所以 clickbait 可以說是誘餌式的標題或連結，通常clickbait的字眼都是很聳動或是引起人們好奇心的，像是: 「他天天使用這個產品，沒想到...」之類的廣告詞，讓你很想要去點那個連結。

clickbait 字面上有負面的涵義，因為你通常點進去之後，內容並不如標題精彩，或是根本沒有關係。最慘的是，你點進去的網頁，有可能讓你掏錢買東西，因此，我們在上網的時候，必須對這些clickbait 提高警覺心，以免遭受不必要的損失。


Language Lab
overall adv. 整體來說
as a whole : in general
- I know Jordan and I have had our differences, but overall it has been a good partnership.
我知道Jordan 跟我有些不同的看法，但是整體來說我們的合夥關係還算很好。
- It rained every day while we were in Hawaii, but our trip was still very nice overall.
我們在夏威夷的時候每天都下雨，但是整體來說，那趟旅行還算不錯。
overall adj. 整體的
viewed as a whole or in general
- The professor’s overall impression of the student’s presentation wasn’t very positive.
教授對於學生的報告，整體印象不是很正面。
- Although Kylie did forget some of her dance steps, her overall performance was rather entertaining. Kylie 雖然忘了幾個舞步，但是她整個表演還算有娛樂效果。

acknowledge v. 承認
to say that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something) : admit
- The manager acknowledged his mistakes to the customers and promised to make things right.
經理向客戶承諾過失，也承諾他會把問題處理好。
- Dennis realized he was wrong, but he refused to acknowledge the truth.
Dennis 知道他錯了，但是他不肯承認事實。
acknowledge v. 表揚
to regard or describe (someone or something) as having or deserving a particular status
- The school would like to acknowledge all the wonderful things Mrs. Wilson has done for the students.
學校想要表揚Wilson 女士為學生所做的好事。
- Before the speaker gave his presentation, he took the time to acknowledge all the hard work the students put in to prepare the auditorium.
演講者在他演說之前，特別表揚學生們為了準備好表演廳所做付出的辛勞。

perspective n. 看法、想法
a way of thinking about and understanding something (such as a particular issue or life in general)
keep other people’s lives in perspective
keep something in perspective ph.
保持正確或理性的觀念
- It’s been hard for Joanne to lose weight, and she’s trying to be patient with herself and to keep things in perspective.
減重對Joanne 很難，但是她要對自己有耐心，而且要保持正確的看法。
- Business hasn’t been very good, but we need to keep things in perspective and not give up.
最近生意難做，但是我們要用正確的看法來對待，而且不能放棄。
perspective n. 看法、想法
a way of thinking about and understanding something (such as a particular issue or life in general)
- I think Sandy’s problem is a serious one, but what is your perspective?
我認為Sandy的問題很嚴重，但是你的看法如何呢?
perspective n. 看事情的角度
the angle or direction that a person uses to look at an object
- Jill is mad at her brother, and it is hard for her to see the situation from his perspective.
Jill 在生她哥哥的氣，要她從她哥哥的角度看待事情是很難的。

relish v. 享用、享受
/ˈrɛlɪʃ/
to enjoy or take pleasure in (something)
- When Ron saw the beautiful sunset, he sat down to relish the moment.
Ron 看到美麗的夕陽時，就坐下來享受那一刻。
- James is so happy to have a home-cooked meal, and he relishes every bite.
James 很高興能夠吃到家常菜，而且每一口對他來說都是很享受的。
relish v. 期待、期盼
- Jerry relishes the chance of being able to travel around the world.
Jerry對他環遊世界的機會，感到特別期待。
- Mike relishes the opportunity to beat Bill in a game of basketball.
Mike 很期待能夠在籃球場上打敗Bill。



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Fear of Missing Out (1)

Don’t let thoughts of what you could be doing steal your happiness
錯失恐懼症 別讓「害怕錯過的恐懼」偷走你的快樂

It’s a common experience: You’re scrolling through a social media page, and you see pictures of friends traveling or going to parties. Suddenly you start to wonder why you’re not doing those things. Are you missing out on something fun and exciting because you’re locked into everyday life? This experience has come to be known as the fear of missing out, sometimes abbreviated FOMO. To some extent, people have always worried about missing out on things. But with the rise of social media, FOMO is becoming much more common.

Wanting to be in on the fun when exciting things are happening is completely normal. But for some people, it can lead to an obsession with checking their phones to find out what other people are doing. Even while doing things that are fun or necessary, people can feel like there’s something better going on elsewhere. This urge to connect can ironically lead them to disconnect from the people they are actually with. It prevents them from being satisfied with the good things in their lives. It can even be dangerous; some people try to check messages while driving.


Info Cloud
GIF的正確發音，/gɪf/ or /dʒɪf/?

Hello, and welcome to Info Cloud, friends. Rex, today we have a very controversial lesson.

Oh, no. You're not going to talk about politics, are you?

No, no, no .... I'm going to talk about GIFs /gɪfs/.

Wow, those little moving pictures we send over Line or Facebook? I think you mean GIFs /dʒɪfs/.

See? There's where the controversy comes in. It seems that no one can really agree on how to pronounce this word.

This argument has been going on for so long that earlier this year even Time magazine published an article about it.

GIF /gɪf/ stands for Graphics Interchange Format, which is pronounced with the hard G sound, /g/.

But the inventor of the GIF/dʒɪf/ has announced many times over the years that GIF /dʒɪf/ should be pronounced J-I-F, JIF, like the peanut butter brand.

Exactly. However, here's where the debate gets interesting. A survey was done by a digital marketing company back in 2014. And it turns out more Americans pronounce it with a hard G rather than a soft one.

But if you look GIF /dʒɪf/ up in a dictionary, you'll find both pronunciations are listed as correct. I think I'll stay to pronouncing it with a J sound.

That's fine by me. Anyways, regardless of how you say GIF /gɪf/, /gɪf/ or JIF/dʒɪf/, you'll always find someone to tell you you're saying it wrong.

我們經常會在社群媒體上看到一些會動的圖片，但是它又不是影片，而是一種叫做GIF的動態圖。GIF的完整名稱是 Graphics Interchange Format 圖像互換格式。

其實部份的人都有在網路上看到過，但是關於GIF的正確發音，引起了不少爭議，到底要念 /gɪf/ 還是 /dʒɪf/? 眾說紛紜，因為英文字母 G 有兩種發音，可能你會覺得沒什麼大不了，只是發音的問題而已嘛，但是爭議卻來自於美國白宮和英國牛津辭典都正式地在平台上表示可以唸/gɪf/，但是發明GIF的人卻公開地糾正那是錯誤的，正確的發音是/dʒɪf/，引起外界的熱烈討論。


Language Lab
miss out [phrasal verb] 錯過好機會
to lose an opportunity : to be unable to have or enjoy something
- Chad missed out on all the excitement because he was busy talking on the phone.
Chad 錯過所有精采的部分，因為他忙著講電話。
[很多人都在參加某個生日派對，唯一有一個人還沒出現，你可以跟那個人說]:
- Why are you still at home, you’re missing out on all the fun at the birthday party!
你怎麼還在家? 你這樣會錯過生日派對所有好玩的。
[假設你想說服一個人，希望他也能夠跟大家一起打球，你可以說]:
- Everyone else is playing ball, are you sure you want to stay inside and miss out on all the action?
大家都在打球，你確定你要待在室內，錯過這個充滿刺激的機會嗎?

abbreviate v. 縮寫 (重音在第二音節)
 /əˈbriːviˌeɪt/
to make (something) shorter
- While taking notes, Clara had to abbreviate a lot of the words because she had to write things down fast.
Clara 在寫筆記的時候，縮寫了很多字，因為她得把該寫的東西快速寫下來。
- I got a handwritten message from the secretary, but I can’t understand it because she had abbreviated a lot of words.
我從秘書那邊收到一張紙條，但是我看不懂，因為秘書把很多字都縮寫了。
abbreviation n. 縮寫的字或簡稱 (重音在第四音節)
 /əˌbriːviˈeɪʃən/
a shortened form of a word or name that is used in place of the full word or name
- Mr. is an abbreviation for mister.
Mr. 是英文字mister的縮寫。
- The abbreviation for without is w/o.
英文字without的縮寫是w/o。

obsession n. 一個會讓人一直去想或是忘不掉的人事物
a state in which someone thinks about someone or something constantly or frequently especially in a way that is not normal
- What started out as a simple curiosity for Diana has now become an obsession.
Diana 一開始只是感到好奇而已，但是現在她已經很癡迷了。
- Ralph enjoys collecting stamps and has some very rare ones, but his stamps collection is just a hobby and not an obsession.
Ralph 喜歡收集郵票，而且有幾張非常稀有的，但是他對郵票不是很入迷，只是一個嗜好而已。
obsess v. 一直想或是忘不掉
to be the only person or thing that someone thinks or talks about
- Stop obsessing about the problem, there’s nothing you can do to change the situation.
不要一直去想那個問題，你無法改變現實狀況。
- Nobody wants to work with Maria because she is such a perfectionist and obsesses over little things.
沒有人想跟Maria合作，因為她是一位完美主義者，而且會為小事情放不開。

ironically adv. 出乎意料地、諷刺地
 /aɪˈrɑːnɪkli/
using words that mean the opposite of what you really think especially in order to be funny;
strange or funny because something (such as a situation) is different from what you expected
- A lot of people joined this business to get rich, but ironically most of them end up bankrupt.
很多人加入這一行是為了賺大錢，但是諷刺的是，他們大部分後來都破產了。
- Ironically, this kind of plant grows better in an environment with very little water.
很諷刺的是，這種植物要在一個水很少的環境才會好好生長。
ironic adj. (形容事情很) 諷刺的、出乎意料的
using words that mean the opposite of what you really think especially in order to be funny;
strange or funny because something (such as a situation) is different from what you expected
- Don’t you think it’s ironic that the richest man in the group is the one who drives the oldest and ugliest car?
你會不會覺得很諷刺，我們當中最有錢的人，竟然是開最老舊又最醜的車呢。
- Isn’t it ironic how we have the technology to help us save time but we find ourselves busier than before?
我們擁有可以幫助我們節省時間的科技，但是卻比以前更忙，這不是很諷刺嗎?



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