Jailbreak! (1)

Nearly everyone likes customizing their phone. Most people change the wallpaper - or background - and their ring tone. Some people, however, really want to fiddle with their operating system. Maybe they don't want to use the default programs set by the device manufacturer. Or they just want to modify the way the user interface works. Modifying these things is normally not allowed unless you jail break your device.

Jailbreaking is a general term for unlocking the operating software of an electronic device. It commonly refers to unlocking iOS for iPhones and iPads.

Apple is well known for its great designs and easy-to-use products. Apple is also famous for forcing users to use Apple programs by default. Those settings are locked and not changeable. Apple Maps is the default map app on the iPhone. You can install and use Google Maps, but you can't set it as the program that automatically opens every time you click on an address. That seems like a small thing, but some people find it very annoying. With a jailbroken phone, you have numerous ways to change any setting to suit your needs. You can even install apps not offered in Apple's App store.


Info Cloud
fanboy and fangirl

Hello, and welcome to Info Cloud, friends. Everyone has an interest they love. Maybe it's a video game, a brand or an actor or singer.

The word fanboy or fangirl is the word we use to describe someone who is extremely excited about or into something to the point of being obsessive.

I have some students who really love K-pop. They are K-pop fangirls. They have K-pop singers' pictures on their desks, and they always host about their favorite idols on social media.

Guys can be fanboys, too. I have a friend who loves Apple products so much, he would never dream of using anything else. His phone is Apple, his watch is Apple, his computer is Apple, too. He's a total Apple fanboy.

Rex, I thought you really loved Apple. Are you talking about yourself here?

Well... yes, I am. I guess you could say I'm an Apple fanboy.

You know, this word is interesting. You may think that the proper way to say it is girl fan or boy fan, an adjective describing a noun. However, the words have swapped places to make one noun.

Fangirling or fangirl are the verb forms of this word. Ever since her favorite actor's new movie came out, she's been completely fangirling. How about you? Are you a fangirl or a fanboy of anything?


相信大家對粉絲這個名詞相當熟悉，其實是從英文的fans衍生而來的外來語。除了fans之外，你還可以用fanboy來形容男生粉絲，還有fangirl 就是女生粉絲。Some of my students are K-pop fangirls. 我的一些學生是韓國流行音樂的女生粉絲。

除了流行界的明星之外，你也可以是一些熱門商品的fanboy或fangirl，John is a total Apple fanboy. John是不折不扣的蘋果粉絲。你也可以把fangirl 當作動詞，代表你變成粉絲。She’s been fangirling since the actor’s movie came out. 那位演員的電影推出後，她就開始變成粉絲了。


Language Lab
fiddle n. 用來拉民俗或鄉村曲的小提琴
violin
- Samuel will perform an old Irish song with his fiddle.
Samuel 會用小提琴來表演一首古老的愛爾蘭民謠。
fiddle v.  用很不專業的方法來修理或調整東西
to change or handle (something, such as the controls of a machine) in a way that shows you are not sure what to do
- After fiddling with the broken washing machine for over an hour, Ted finally decided to call a repairman.
Ted 試著自己一個人修理洗衣機，但過了一個小時後，還是打了電話，請了專業的人員來幫忙。
fiddle v.  因為感到緊張而隨便摸或拉扯東西
fiddle with (something) : to move or handle (something) with your hands or fingers in a nervous way
- Tommy was very nervous about giving a speech, and he began to fiddle with his tie.
Tommy 因為要演講而感到緊張，並且開始亂拉領帶。
fiddle v.  干涉、胡弄
to change (something) in a harmful or foolish way
- The police ordered the private detective to stop fiddling with the evidence.
警察叫私家偵探不要在胡弄證據。

modify v.稍微地調整、稍微地修改
to change some parts of (something) while not changing other parts
- The original song is very complicated, so the music teacher modified the song so that the child could play it on the piano.
原本的歌曲很複雜，所以音樂老師把它修改一下，好讓小朋友們能用鋼琴彈奏。
- The dance team modified some of their moves so that their injured teammate could be part of the dance performance.
舞蹈團把一些動作調整一下，好讓他們受了傷的團員能夠跟大家一起表演。
modification n. 修改
the act or process of changing parts of something : the act or process of modifying something
- This plan is too difficult and will need a lot of modifications.
這個計劃太艱難了，會須要一些修改。
- Russel has fixed up his old house, and a lot of modifications have been made.
Russel 整修了他的舊房子，而且做了很多的修改。

setting n. 電子產品或是機器的調控設定
a particular way of positioning the controls of a machine, system, etc., in order to produce a desired result
- I have already adjusted the setting on my TV screen, but things keep changing every time I turn the TV on.
我又把電視螢幕設定好，但是每次打開電視，設定就會變不一樣。
- The refrigerator isn’t very cold, so I think there is something wrong with the setting.
冰箱不夠冷，我想是設定有問題。
setting n. 故事背景
the time, place, and conditions in which the action of a book, movie, etc., takes place
- Sarah became interested in the book when she heard that the setting of the story was in fifteenth century.
Sarah 一聽到故事的背景是在15世紀的蘇格蘭，她就立刻對那本書產生興趣。
setting n. 環境地點
the place and conditions in which something happens or exists
- Anthony proposed to his girlfriend on the beach, and it was the perfect setting.
Anthony 在海灘上向他女友求婚，而那個地點非常完美。

find v. 尋找
a : to discover (something or someone) without planning or trying to : to discover (something or someone) by chance
- I can’t find my keys!
我找不到我的鑰匙。
find v. 認為 find oneself (yourself, myself, himself, herself) : 發覺自己在某一個情況中\
to become aware that you are doing something or that you are in a particular place or situation
- Nathan found the meat to be rather hard to chew.
Nathan 覺得這個肉很難嚼。
- Teresa found the speaker to be rather funny.
Teresa 覺得這個演講者很風趣。
- After talking on the phone and not paying attention to where she was going, Irene suddenly found herself in the middle of the train station.
Irene 忙著講電話，而且都沒有注意她走路的方向，結果她後來發覺她人在火車站裡。



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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。



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Tech Neck (2)

It's probably not realistic to expect people to give up their phones to avoid tech neck. But giving up technology altogether isn't necessary. You can do things to avoid tech neck even while keeping your smartphone.

First you can hold your phone up so you don't have to bend down to look at it. But this can be tiring for your arms. So keep your head upright, and look only with your eyes. Try to sit up straight as well. Slumping in front of a screen can hurt your back.

Also, take breaks. Once in a while, look up from your screen, and roll your shoulders back. If you've been sitting, stand up and walk around. Moving your body will help relax your muscles.

If you continue experiencing tech neck, you can do exercises to strengthen your neck muscles.

Tech neck is a common result of using today's technology, but it doesn't have to be. If you're aware of the problem, you can take measures to avoid it.


Info Cloud
technobabble 技術語言

Welcome to Info Cloud. Hey, Rex. You're a professional singer. Can you share with us the secret to singing really well?

Oh, sure. When you sing, the thyroarytenoid muscle and the cricothyroid muscles in your throat need to be in a balanced mode. As you ascend in pitch, the cricothyroid muscle needs to be the dominant...

Oh, wow, Rex! You are losing me with all the technobabble about singing. Can you talk in simple language?

Oh, OK. When you sing high, your throat needs to be a little bit more relaxed in order to hit the high notes.

Thank you, Rex.

Sorry about that technobabble. Maybe we should explain what that is.

Technobabble is just a very technical language that ordinary people cannot understand, like what you just demonstrated.

Techno implies things that are technological. And babble is when someone is talking in a fast and unclear way that nobody understands.

When we communicate with friends and family, it's important that we avoid technobabble and talk in simple terms to make it easier for people to understand what you're saying.

當我們聽到身旁有人用很艱澀的語言，來解釋一個非常技術性的問題，這就是 technobabble 技術語言。techno 就是科技的，babble 是指含糊不清的說話方式， technobabble 很容易讓聽的人感到很混亂，造成溝通不順暢，你也會失去聽眾的注意力，除非是跟技術人員討論，要不然應該盡量避免。

- I can’t understand Peter’s technobabble about how the computer works.
我聽不懂Peter一連串的技術語言，解釋電腦如何運作。


Language Lab
realistic adj. 符合現實狀況、務實的 
able to see things as they really are and to deal with them in a practical way
- I don’t think you’re being realistic, your plan is too complicated!
我不認為你夠務實，你的計畫真的太複雜了。
- It’s not realistic to expect all the workers to finish their work within an hour.
要求員工在一個小時內把他們的工作做完，是不切實際的。
realistic adj.  (東西)很逼真的
showing people and things as they are in real life
- The sound effects in the show made the whole experience more realistic to the audience.
對觀眾而言，節目裡的音效為觀賞整個節目的感覺更逼真。
- I didn’t like the movie because it didn’t look realistic, and the actors all wore cheap costumes.
我不喜歡那部電影，因為看起來非常不逼真，而且演員都穿著廉價戲服。

slump v. 彎腰駝背地坐著 
 /ˈslʌmp/
to move down or forward suddenly
- The student was slumping in his seat as he wrote his essay.
這位學生彎腰駝背坐在位子裡寫作文。
- At the end of the day, Edward was still slumping at his desk with a pile of work to do.
下班時，Edward 還塌坐在位置上，忙著一堆事。
slump v. 沉重地坐下
- When Jerry returned home, he slumped into his favorite chair and sighed.
Jerry 回到家後，就垮在他最愛的椅子上，然後嘆了氣。
slump n. 價格暴跌
a sudden decrease in prices, value, amount, etc.
- A lot of houses were sold in this area a few years ago, but then there was a slump.
幾年前這裡有很多房子賣出，但是隨後突然出現蕭條期。

relax v. 放鬆
to become or to cause (something) to become less tense, tight, or stiff
to spend time resting or doing something enjoyable especially after you have been doing work
- Being on the beach always relaxes Paul.
去海灘總是會讓Paul感到放鬆。
- Having a nice cup of tea always relaxes me.
喝一杯熱茶會讓我感到放鬆。
- Relax, we still have enough time to finish this assignment.
放輕鬆，我們還是有足夠的時間來完成這項功課。
relax v. 放寬、減輕
to become or to cause (something, such as a rule or law) to become less severe or strict
- Victor used to be very serious about completing this job, but now he has relaxed his efforts.
Victor 原本很努力想把工作完成，但是現在沒有那麼嚴苛了。

measure v. 量、測量
to find out the size, length, or amount of (something)
- How high is this table, can we measure it?
這張桌子有多高，我們能不能量一下?
measure n. 措施、方法
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
- Today’s meeting will be about the new security measures that the company is adopting.
今天的會議是關於公司將採取的新安全措施。
- All the new workers have to learn about the factory’s emergency measures.
所有新進員工都必須瞭解工廠的緊急措施。
measure n. 程度
an amount or degree of something
- After discussing for several hours, Rob and Clint finally agreed to some measure.
經過幾小時的討論後，Rob跟Clint 在某程度上有達到共識。

Tech Neck (1)

Your use of technology may be causing you pain 
科技頸 不當使用3C 會讓你腰痠背痛

Have you ever bent your head down to look at a screen until your neck muscles hurt? If so, you've experienced tech neck. Tech neck occurs when the use of phones, computers and other technology causes neck pain. It's a common problem, and it's on the rise.

Your neck muscles are designed to hold your head upright. They can also move your head around and even crane it forward for a short amount of time.

But bending your head forward for long periods of time can strain your muscles. That can make them sore.

In the past people spent most of their time looking up. But now people spend significant amounts of time looking down at their phones. They often hold them at waist or chest level. This causes people to crane their necks to see the phone, which, in turn, causes teach neck. Bending over to view the screen of a computer on a desk can have a similar effect.


Info Cloud
to stick your neck out for someone 就代表為了支持某人，甘心冒險。

Welcome to today's Info Cloud, friends. Rex, I wanted to say thank you for sticking your neck out for me in the meeting yesterday. I know my idea was a little unusual, but I appreciate your support.

No problem, Anne Marie. And, hey, let's share with our friends what it means to stick your neck out.

Sticking your neck out has the idea of putting yourself in harm's way. You could be criticized, make yourself vulnerable or be rejected.

When you stick your neck out, you are taking a risk. Think of a turtle. When he's in his shell, he's safe. But when he sticks his neck out, he becomes vulnerable to the outside world.

Good example. You can also stick your neck out for someone.

This means to be supportive of them even though it could get you in trouble. I think it's worth it to stick my neck out for my friends sometimes. That's what friends are for.

Great point. And I think that taking risks is an important part of life. Sticking your neck out is a great way to grow.

人與人之間都需要互相支持，今天要跟大家介紹: stick your neck out for someone，字面上就是: 為了某人把脖子伸出去，也就是情義相挺的意思，當你聽到 stick your neck out 把脖子伸出去，應該可以嗅出有某些風險存在。

stick your neck out for someone 就代表為了支持某人，甘心冒險。Thank you for sticking your neck out for me in the meeting. 謝謝你在開會中很勇敢地支持我。通常，stick your neck out 可能會讓你受到批評、懲罰，或是某種傷害，所以願意這樣做的人，真的是情義相挺。



Language Lab
muscle n. 肌肉 
a body tissue that can contract and produce movement
- Elaine went to exercise at the gym, and now every muscle in her body is sore.
Elaine 去健身房運動，結果現在她全身每一塊肌肉都很痠痛。
- Stephen is lifting wrights because he wants his muscles to become stronger.
Stephen 在舉重，因為他希望他的肌肉可以壯一點。
muscle v. 迫使、強行做一件事
to move (something) by using physical strength and force
- With so many people in the train station, Theodore had to muscle his way to the train platform.
火車站因為擠滿人，Theodore 必須在人群中強行前進走到月台。
- Everyone couldn’t believe how Carl just muscled into the meeting like that.
大家無法相信Carl 竟然就這樣強行進入會議室。

on the rise ph. 在增加、增長
increasing in amount, number, level, etc.
rise v.  升起來
to move upward
- We are waking up early to see the sun rise.
我們早起是為了看日出。
- The politician claims that crime is on the rise, but he has no evidence to support this.
那位政客聲稱犯罪活動有增加的趨勢，但是他卻沒有證據可以拿出來證明他所說的是真的。
- The number of households switching to solar energy is on the rise.
選擇改用太陽能的住戶數量再增加。
- The number of people moving out of California is on the rise.
搬離美國加州的人數正在增加。

sore adj. 痛、痠痛
feeling or affected by pain : painful
- Jerry went for a hike yesterday, and now his legs are sore. Jerry
昨天去健行，今天他兩條腿都很痠。
- Mark had a sore throat and knew he was getting sick.
Mark 喉嚨痛，他知道他生病了。
sore n. 瘡、潰瘍
sore or painful spot on the body
- The doctor found an open sore in Adam’s stomach.
醫生在Adam的胃裡發現到潰瘍。
- Ellie wan’t feeling well, and there were sores all over her body.
Ellie 身體不舒服，她全身都是瘡。

significant adj.  很明顯的、顯著的
large enough to be noticed or have an effect
- Darren didn’t buy his girlfriend a ring, but he did spend a significant amount of money on her birthday.
Darren 沒有給他女朋友買戒指，但是他在女朋友生日那天倒是花了一大筆錢。
- The designer completely changes the look of the room, and the difference was significant.
設計師徹底地改變房間的樣貌，而且是很明顯地不一樣。
significant adj.  重要的
very important
- Although the actor did not have a lead role in the play, his part was very significant.
那位演員雖然沒有擔任主角，但是他演的角色很重要。
significant adj.  特別意義的
having a special or hidden meaning
- The eighth of September might be an ordinary day to most people, but to Mrs. Harriet, it is a significant day.
九月八號對一般人而言也許只是一個普通的一天，但是對Harriet太太可是一個特別的日子。

The Taj Mahal (1)

In India, see one of the most beautiful buildings in the world 
泰姬瑪哈陵 全世界最美的建築之一

Shah Jahan, a 17th-century Indian emperor, surely loved his wife. When she died, he had a great mausoleum, the Taj Mahal, built to hold her remains. Construction took 22 years, more than 20,000 workers and 1,000 elephant. Materials from all over India and Asia, including white marble, gold and semi-precious stones, were used. The total cost exceeded, in today's terms, US$800 million! In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage site. According to many people, it's one of the world's most beautiful buildings, and millions visit this attraction every year.

A personal visit
My son, Benjamin, and his wife, Priscilla, visited the Taj in April 2019. As they recount, "We arrived at the gates well before opening time, so we were able to take photos without crowds in the background. Also, it was cooler." Having visited in 2013, Priscilla saw distinct improvements on this trip.

"Environmental rules now protect the Taj," she says. "For example, only electric vehicles are allowed near it. This reduces destructive air pollution. It's now even more stunning than it was then. The marble is cleaner and whiter. The nearby river is also much cleaner than 2013."



Info Cloud
wearing white

Hello, friends. Welcome back to Info Cloud. Hey, Anne Marie, I see you have a new pair of white pants on today.

Oh. Well, actually, these aren't new. I just hadn't worn them in a while. You know, some people in the States only wear white during certain times of the year.

Really? That's super interesting. Can you tell us more about that?

Traditionally, Americans follow a fashion rule that white should only be worn between Memorial Day in May and Labor Day in September.

What is their reason for this rule?

No one knows for sure. In the past, wearing white was linked to how wealthy you were. But white clothing does become impractical during many states' cold winters.

Do people still follow this rule today?

Some people do, some people don't. Actually, there's another time you're not supposed to wear white in America because it's considered rude. Do you know when that is?

I do. It's at weddings. In American culture, wearing white to someone else's wedding is rude. They like to let the bride be the only one wearing white on her special day. That way, she can stand out.

Well, for me, I don't wear white very often. You never know when you might spill something on yourself, and that's a bad time to stand out.

我們身上穿的衣服，有些顏色有它特別的意思，今天要跟大家分享穿白色的衣服，在美國人的眼裡，有什麼特別意義。一般來說，美國人只會在五月的 Memorial Day 陣亡將士紀念日和九月的 Labor Day 勞工節，穿白色的服裝。真正的原因眾說紛紜，不過傳統上，穿白色的衣服跟你擁有的財富有關係。特別要注意的是，在美國最好不要穿白色參加婚禮，因為不太禮貌，他們會覺得你在搶新娘的風采，所以最好是穿其他顏色，讓新娘可以成為婚禮的單一焦點。


Language Lab
construction n. 建造
the act or process of building something (such as a house or road)
- The construction of the new library will begin next month.
新的圖書館要在下個月開始建造工程。
- All construction had to stop when the rainy season began.
雨季的來臨時，所有的建築工程必須停下來。
construct v. 建造
to build or make (something physical, such as a road, bridge, or building)
- George hired a group of workers to help him construct a new house.
George 請了一群工人來幫他蓋新房子。
constructive adj. 建設性的、有益的
 /kənˈstrʌktɪv/
helping to develop or improve something : helpful to someone instead of upsetting and negative
- Pamela had wanted her comments to be constructive, but her choice of words was not the best.
Pamela 原本希望她的評語是有建設性的，但他所選的詞語卻不是很妥當。

exceed v. 超過、超越
 /ɪkˈsiːd/
to be greater or more than (something)
- Andrew did a great job in the show, and his performance exceeded everyone’s expectations.
Andrew 在節目裡表現非常好，超出大家的期望。
- Dorothy didn’t think she spent a lot of money, but her credit card bill showed that her purchases exceeded ten thousand dollars.
Dorothy 不認為她花了很多錢，但是她的信用卡帳單顯示她所花的錢超過一萬塊。
exceedingly adv. 非常 (較正式)
very, extremely
- After Grandpa Harold joined the community program, he became exceedingly active in the senior classes.
自從Harold 的爺爺加入社區活動後，他在長青班中變得非常活躍。
- Jerry is an exceedingly thoughtful person, and is always taking care of her neighbors.
Jerry 是一位做事體貼的人，他常常照顧他的左鄰右舍。

distinct adj. 明顯的
different in a way that you can see, hear, smell, feel, etc. : noticeably different;
easy to see, hear, smell, feel, etc.
- Although the twins may look the same on the outside, there are distinct differences in their personalities.
那對雙胞胎外表或許長得一模一樣，但是他們的個性卻是明顯地不同。
- If you look at the chart, you will see that there was a distinct increase in sales during the month of December.
如果你看一下圖表，你會發現十二月的銷售量有明顯地增多。
distinctly adv. 明顯地、清楚地
- The language professor pronounced each vocabulary word slowly and distinctly for her students.
語言教授慢慢有很清楚地把每個生字唸給他的學生聽。
- The word “poison” was written distinctly on the bottle.
瓶子上很清楚寫著"毒藥"。

destructive adj. 有破壞性的
causing a very large amount of damage : causing destruction or harm
- The little girl’s destructive behavior surprised her teacher.
小女孩的破壞性行為讓她的老師感到驚訝。
- The destructive typhoon brought so much damage to the town.
那個極具破壞力的颱風，給鎮裡帶來很多損害。
destruction n. 毀滅、破壞 
the act or process of damaging something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired : the act or process of destroying something
- The destruction caused by the tornado was something Gabby had never seen before.
龍捲風造成的破壞是Gabby從沒見過的。
construction n. 建造
the act or process of building something (such as a house or road)
- The movie is about a team of scientists’ race against time to save earth from destruction.
那部電影是關於一群科學加分秒必爭地搶救地球，好讓它不至毀滅。

Tokyo Olympics 2020 (2)

• In addition to all the usual sports at the Olympics, Tokyo 2020 will feature five more: sport climbing, surfing, karate, skateboarding and baseball/softball.
• Baseball/ softball has appeared at the Olympics before; the last time was in Beijing in 2008. But the other four sports have never been seen at the Olympics before!
• This will be the first Olympics after both Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt retired. Super swimmer Phelps is the most successful Olympic athlete in history.
  Bolt is a track star and the fastest runner on earth. These two have dominated at the Olympics since 2004 and 2008.
• The opening and closing ceremonies will likely be spectacular. The final details are still top secret. One possibility is a man-made meteor shower! ALE, a satellite company, is hoping to launch small satellites designed to make an amazing display over Tokyo.

No matter what happens, this year's Summer Olympics is sure to be an unforgettable event!

Info Cloud
baseball = America’s pastime 美國國民娛樂

Welcome back to Info Cloud, friends. Rex, what song were you singing a minute ago?

Take Me Out to the Ball Game. "Take me out to the ball game" is a really famous song in the States, isn't it?

It sure is. We sing it at baseball games. When I lived in Ohio, I used to love going to baseball games, eating popcorn and hot dogs, cheering for the home team and watching the fireworks at the end. I really miss that.

Anne Marie, you can go to baseball games here in Asia, too.

I know. But did you know that baseball originated in the USA? We even call it "America's pastime."

Hey, let's share a little bit about baseball history with our students today.

OK. Well, the origins of baseball can be traced back to other ball-and-bat games such as rounders and cricket. As immigrants came to the U.S. from Canada and Great Britain, they brought these games with them.

By the 1830s, different versions of these games began appearing. Finally, in 1845, set rules were established. By the late 1800s, baseball had really grown in popularity. In 1903, the first World Series was held.

That's a lot of history. When I think of baseball, I usually just think of wearing my team's colors and eating good food.

如果你生活在亞洲，對棒球運動 baseball 應該不會太陌生，今天要跟大家分享baseball 的發展史，由於這項運動源自於美國，baseball 也被稱為是 America’s pastime 美國國民娛樂。很多人不知道，baseball 其實是從 cricket 板球的一種叫 rounders 的繞圈球的運動發展而來。cricket 跟rounders 都是英國和加拿大移民帶到美國的英式運動，比賽中都是用棒子和板子擊球，到了1830年代，已經出現不同版本，1845年制訂正式的規則，到了19世紀末，棒球運動已經受到大眾歡迎。1903年，第一屆棒球運動的世界大賽 The World Series 正式舉行。講到棒球，一般人都不會想到它的發展史，而是一種可以跟親人一起到球場吃熱狗、看球賽的親子運動，或是一種能夠激發士氣的國民運動。


Language Lab
surfing n. 衝浪
the activity or sport of riding ocean waves on a special board (called a surfboard)
- Abel wants to live near the beach because he enjoys surfing a lot.
Abel 想要住在海灘附近，因為他喜歡衝浪。
Surfing is not allowed on this beach because there have been too many accidents before.
這個海灘禁止衝浪，因為以前發生太多意外。
surf v. 衝浪
to ride on ocean waves using a special board (called a surfboard)
- When Jason went to Bali, he learned how to surf.
Jason 去了峇厘島時有學會衝浪。
surf v. 上網
to look for information or other interesting things on the Internet
- Marc decided to surf the Internet because he was bored and had nothing else to do.
Marc 決定上網看看，因為他無聊沒事做。

retire v. 退休 
to stop a job or career because you have reached the age when you are not allowed to work anymore or do not need or want to work anymore
- Sandy has worked for this company for thirty years, and she will retire next year.
Sandy在這家公司三十年了，而她明年就要退休。
- After Jim retires, he will travel through Europe with his wife.
Jim 退休後，就會帶著妻子到歐洲旅遊
retire v. 從一個人比較多的地方退到另外一個比較安靜一點的地方 。
to move to a different place
- After the noisy dinner banquet, some of us retired to a balcony to enjoy the view of the city at night. 熱鬧的晚宴後，我們幾個人退到陽台去欣賞城市的夜景。
retire v. 就寢
to go to bed
- Our guest was very tired from his trip and decided to retire early.
我們的客人因為旅遊勞累，而決定早一點睡。

dominate v. 最大、最有優勢的
to be the largest or most noticeable object in (a place)
 - Ever since the cartoon character became very popular, its products have dominated every toy store.
自從那個卡通人物開始受歡迎後，它的商品佔據了每一家玩具店。
- With its fuel efficiency and modest price tag, the car quickly dominated the auto market.
因為省油，價錢又很親民，因此這款車很快就在汽車市場裡佔了優勢。
dominate v. 控制、霸佔
to have control of or power over (someone or something);
- Nobody wanted Kevin to come because he always dominates the conversation.
沒有人要Kevin來，因為他老是主導控制話題。

satellite n. 衛星、人造衛星
a [count] : an object (such as a moon) that moves around a much larger planet
b : a machine that is sent into space and that moves around the earth, moon, sun, or a planet
- Although we didn’t have cable TV, we were able to watch the program by satellite TV.
我們雖然沒有有線電視，但是我們還是能透過衛星電視看節目。
- We have an image of the storm thanks to the weather satellite.
我們有暴風雨的影像，因為有氣象衛星的關係。
- Earth has only one natural satellite.
地球只有一個天然衛星。
- Jupiter has over seventy satellites.
木星有超過七十個衛星。

Tokyo Olympics 2020 (1)

Fast facts about the 2020 Summer Olympics 
二○二○東京奧運 夏季奧運 重點整理

Are you excited about this year's Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan? The world will be sending some of its best athletes to compete! And people everywhere will be following all the action. Here are some facts about this year's Olympics to help you get ready. Share them with your friends!

• This will be the 32nd Summer Olympics, also called the Games of the XXXII Summer Olympiad of the modern era.
• Tokyo is hosting the Summer Olympics for the second time. The first time was in 1964. 
• The vision for this Olympics is: Achieving Personal Best, Unity in Diversity and Connceting to Tomorrow.
• In the spirit of Connecting to Tomorrow, the Olympics will be high-tech. There will be robots at the airport ready to assist people. Also, security at the Games will be aided by dozens of drones.
• One more feature looks toward a clean, environmentally friendly future. Every medal awarded to athletes is made from metal taken from items such as old cellphones. 

Info Cloud
medal 跟 metal 的分別

Hi, everyone. And welcome to Info Cloud. Anne Marie, have you ever won a medal in a competition?

That's a great question. I once won a gold medal in a writing contest in high school.

Was it really made of gold?

I doubt it. But once upon a time, gold medals people won at places like the Olympics were really made of precious metals like gold.

I heard that the Nobel Peace Prize is a medal made of real gold.

That's right. As for the Olympic gold medal, today they are required to contain at least six grams of real gold but are actually mostly another metal: silver.

The word medal and metal sound pretty similar. But one has a D, and the other has a T. Medals are usually made of metal.

That's tricky. A medal is usually seen hanging around someone's neck.

And it is usually given for an achievement.

But in the military, it might be pinched to a uniform instead.

And in the military, someone might be awarded a Medal of Honor. It often looks like a star.

In sports, there are traditionally three medals: gold for first place, silver for second place, and bronze for third. These medals are made of different kinds of metal.

今天要跟大家討論一下 medal 跟 metal 的分別。這兩個字的美式發音是一樣，拼字的方法也很像，一個是 medal，另一個是metal。

我們先說 medal，這是獎牌的意思，像是金牌就是 gold medal、銀牌是silver medal、而銅牌是 bronze medal。

在軍隊裡的榮譽勳章就是 Medal of Honor，這些 medal 大部分都是用 metal 製作而成的。metal 就是金屬，這兩個字 medal 和 metal 在美式英文裡的發音都是/ˋmɛd!/，如果是英式英文就不一樣了，獎牌是 /ˋmɛd!/、金屬是/ˋmɛt!/ 比較好分辨。



Language Lab
action n. 動作; 作為
something that a person or group does
- All the child’s actions can be seen on the video.
影片裡可以看到小孩所有的動作。
- Although James says he loves his girlfriend, his actions don’t show it.
James 雖然嘴巴上說很愛他的女朋友，但是行為卻看不出來。
action n. 讓人興奮的大事
the action : the most exciting or interesting activities that are happening in a particular place
- Every year, the government chooses a town to host the fall festival celebration, and this year, the action is taking place in our town.
每一年政府會選一座城市來舉辦秋季慶典，而今年的慶典在我們的城市裡舉行。
- All the action at the birthday party made Timmy so excited.
生日會中所有好玩有趣的事讓Timmy感到非常興奮。

era n.年代、時代
 /ˈerə/
a period of time that is associated with a particular quality, event, person, etc.
- After the two nations signed an agreement, an era of peace began.
兩個國家簽了條約後，一個和平的時代就開始了。
- The professor looked at the old coin and guessed it was probably from the Roman era.
教授瞧了瞧這枚老舊的錢幣，然後猜它是古羅馬時代的錢幣。
- The golden era of that dynasty was during the reign of its third king.
那個朝代的黃金時代，是在第三位國王的統治下。

assist v. 幫助、協助
to give support or help : to make it easier for someone to do something or for something to happen : help
- If you need any help, please ring the bell and someone will assist you.
如果你需要幫忙，請按一下鈴，然後就會有人來協助你。
- During the presentation, the professor asked for two student volunteers to assist him in a little demonstration.
教授在發表時有做了一個小示範，並請了兩位自願的同學來協助他。
assistance n. 援助、幫助、協助
 /əˈsɪstəns/
the act of helping or assisting someone : help or support
- Nate had a lot of trouble getting his work done, but none of his coworkers offered any assistance.
Nate 費了好一番功夫才把他的工作完成，而他的同事們都沒有提供他任何的協助。
- Matthew doesn’t have enough money, but he is unwilling to accept any financial assistance.
Matthew 的錢不夠，但是他又不肯接受任何經濟援助。

award v. 獎品、金錢的頒發或授予
to give (a reward or prize) to someone or something
- Hetty did so well in the competition, and was awarded first place.
Hetty 在比賽裡表現地非常好，所以獲得了第一名。
- Denise is a very good student, so the school is awarding her a scholarship.
Denise 是一位傑出的學生，學校因此頒發獎學金給她。
award v. 裁定
to officially decide that someone should get (something)
- The judge awarded the family one million dollars.
法官判定那一家人應該獲得一百萬元。
award n. 獎品、獎金
something (such as a prize) that is given to someone or something for being excellent or for doing something that is admired
- When Trent received the award for first place, his mother took a picture of him.
Trent 獲得第一名的獎項時，他的母親有替他拍照。



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