Pet Influencers (2)

Mr. Bagel was adopted from a shelter. Now he's Instagram's favorite chinchilla! Mr. Bagel has sweet black eyes, big gray ears and soft white fur. He is often seen posing with tiny furniture or pushing a tiny shopping cart. Though he isn't Instagram's biggest influencer, this little guy has more than 100,000 followers. 

Mr. Bagel encourages his followers to say "no" to wearing fur. Chinchilla fur is very soft, and it is often used to make coats. 

Around 150 chinchillas must be killed to make one fur coat. It is no wonder that MR. Bagel feels strongly about this cause! 

Then there is Hamlet the Piggy, who boasts more than 300,000 Instagram followers. Hamlet is famous for her unique sense of fashion. Her online posts are a joy to many people. But Hamlet focuses on helping one person. Her main job is being her owner's therapy pig.

Social media followers can't get enough of these animal celebrities. They can't wait to see what they will post next!

Info Cloud

go down the rabbit hole 形容這件事情迷到無法自拔的情況

Welcome back to Info Cloud, friends. Growing up, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland sparked my imagination. In that book, Alice falls down a rabbit hole and finds herself in Wonderland. 

"Going down the rabbit hole" now has a different meaning because of the story. This concept means to go on a strange, illogical journey. It can be literal or in your mind. 

While daydreaming during class, Isaac fell down the rabbit hole of imagining what would happen if aliens took over the world. 

This phrase is commonly used in reference to the Internet. In Alice's story, she fell through the hole for a long time. 

That's why when someone goes down the rabbit hole on the Internet, they're spending a lot of time reading or researching things that they didn't mean to. Sometimes I go down the rabbit hole researching idioms for Info Cloud. I get lost reading so many different articles online that I can't even remember what I was looking for in the first place. 

You might even hear someone ask, "How far down the rabbit hole are you willing to go?" or say: "Don't go down the rabbit hole." This means they are warning you not to go on a crazy journey because you may discover things you didn't want to know in the first place. 

在網路時代，人們經常不經意地被某些內容吸引，一看就是幾個小時，浪費了許多時間，英文有一句諺語 go down the rabbit hole，就是用來形容這件事情迷到無法自拔的情況。Don’t go down the rabbit hole of the Internet. 不要被網路迷惑到無法自拔。go down the rabbit hole 這句諺語是源自於經典名作《愛麗絲夢遊仙境》裡的情節，女主角愛麗絲掉進 rabbit hole 兔子洞裡，不停地向下墜落，到了一個令她困惑又驚奇的地方。down the rabbit hole 通常是用來形容一種越陷越深的情況，像是看電視或是跟人展開一場激烈的討論，讓你一頭栽進去。

Language Lab

shelter n. 庇護所、收容所  
a place that provides food and protection for people or animals that need assistance
- We want to get a dog, so we will take a trip to the animal shelter to adopt one.
我們想要一隻狗，所以會去動物收容所領養一隻。 
shelter n. 遊民的收容所 
a structure that covers or protects people or things
- A lot of people donate food to local shelters during the holiday season.
很多人會在佳節期間為當地收容所捐食物。 
shelter n. 受虐者的庇護所
- The counselor helps out at the women’s shelter.
那位輔導員會到婦女受虐者的庇護所幫忙。 
shelter n. 遮蓋、提供遮蓋的地方
the state of being covered and protected from danger, bad weather, etc.
- Let’s try to find some shelter before it starts raining hard.
在雨還沒有下很大之前，我們趕緊找個可以遮雨的地方吧。 

pose v. 擺姿勢   
to stand, sit, or lie down in a particular position as a model for a photograph, painting, etc.
- Gloria wanted to pose next to the boat but then she fell into the water.
Gloria 想要站在船邊擺姿勢，結果不小心掉入水裡。
pose v. 引起問題
/ˈpoʊz/
to be or create (a possible threat, danger, problem, etc.)
- Making sure the boss’s young son was doing his job posed a problem for the manager.
要一直確認老闆的兒子有在工作，造成經理的困擾。
pose v. 提出問題
to ask or suggest (a question)
- The delegate posed a question during the conference.
那位代表在大會中提出了一個問題。
pose v.  假裝、冒充 
pose as [phrasal verb] pose as (someone or something)
to pretend to be (someone or something) in order to deceive people
- In the movie, a police officer posed as a drug dealer and got himself into trouble.
在電影裡，一位警察冒充毒販，結果碰到麻煩。 

boast v. 擁有值得驕傲的東西 
to have (something that is impressive)
- The town boasted one of the best universities in the country.
在那座城市，擁有全國最好的大學之一。
- That restaurant may not have the best food, but it sure boasts a great view.
那家餐廳的菜雖然不怎麼樣，但是它卻有超級無敵的景觀。
boast v. 誇耀、吹牛
to express too much pride in yourself or in something you have, have done, or are connected to in some way
- Nobody really wants to work with Sammy, because he is always boasting about his past achievement.
沒有人想跟Sammy 一起工作，因為他老是在誇耀他以前的成就。
- The king got very drunk and started boasting about his riches.
國王喝醉酒，開始誇耀自己的財富。 

unique adj. 獨一無二的、獨特的 
used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else
- The artist was known for his unique painting style.
那位藝術家因為他的畫風很獨特而出名。
unique adj. 獨有的
very special or unusual
- Each piece of jewelry was hand-made and every single one of them was unique.
每一件首飾都是手工的，每一件都很獨特。
- Sumo Wrestling is unique to Japan.
相撲摔角是日本獨有的。 
unique adj. 難得的事情 
belonging to or connected with only one particular thing, place, or person — + to
- It is such a unique opportunity for these children to participate in an international tournament.
這些小朋友能夠參加國際比賽，真的是一個很難得的機會。

Seven Habits of the Happiest People (2)

4. They express gratitude.

Several research studies indicate that a deep sense of gratitude can increase happiness levels by up to 25 percent and help reduce anxiety and depression. The evidence also shows that grateful people  are more resilient and sleep better.

5. They are generous. 

In one study of more than 600 Americans, "happiness was predicted by the amount of money they gave away: The more they invested in others, the happier they were." Science also confirms that giving is good for our health and evokes gratitude. 

6. They exercise patience. 

In one 2012 study, researchers found that people exhibiting the rare trait of patience made more progress toward their goals and were more satisfied when they achieved them. Other research also found that patient people tend to experience less depression and negative emotions and can cope better with stressful situations. Additionally, they feel more gratitude, more connection to others and experience a greater sense of abundance. 

7. The deep a gratitude journal.

Science says you can train your brain to be happy and optimistic if you journal three things daily for which you are grateful. And you do it for 21 days in a row. 

Info Cloud

chasing paper  形容人們追求金錢

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Recently, I have been thinking about the role of money in our lives. Is it wrong for people to be chasing paper? 

Well, I think you should explain what chasing paper means before we continue this deep discussion on money. 

Oh, sorry. Chasing paper means to be only interested in making money or chasing money, you know, because money is made of paper and ink. 

Chasing paper is often used in a negative way to describe someone loving money too much that they put too much effort into making it. 

Because the word paper tends to remind us what money really is, and there are more important things in life worth our attention. On the other hand, chasing paper can be used in a neutral way. 

For example, if someone is trying to support their family, the person would do any kind of work, you could say: She doesn't really like her job. She's just chasing paper. 

今天跟大家分享的用語相當有趣，那就是 chasing paper，字面上是「跟著紙後面跑」，這是什麼意思? chasing paper 是形容人們追求金錢。例如，John is just chasing paper at work. John 在工作上只是追求金錢，可能他根本不喜歡那份工作。雖然 chasing paper 通常是負面的使用，但他也可以客觀的形容賺錢這件事情。例如，一個人為了養家，他願意做任何工作，他可以說: I’m chasing paper to support my family. 我要賺錢養家。

Language Lab

resilient adj. 很有適應能力  
 /rɪˈzɪljənt/
able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens
- Although the job was difficult, the worker was resilient and able to get everything done.
工做雖然艱難，但是那位工人適應能力很強，並且能夠把該做的事都做完。
- The manager noticed how resilient the intern was and offered him a full-time job.
經理注意到實習生的適應能力很強，所以給他一份全職的工作。
resilient adj. (東西)很有彈性的、可以恢復到原來的狀態的 
able to return to an original shape after being pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, etc.
- The company has a new product, but the material isn’t very resilient.
那家公司有新的產品，但是產品質料的彈性不夠好。
- The inventor is trying to come up with a fabric that is both resilient and 100 percent natural.
發明家想發明一種有彈性的純天然布料。

evoke v. 引起   
to cause (a particular reaction or response) to happen
- The king’s many foolish decisions have evoked a series of protests across the country.
國王的這些愚昧的決定，已經引起全國各地的抗議。
- The actor played the villains so well that it evoked a feeling of disgust within me.
那位演員演壞人演得非常好，看了會引起我內心的一種厭惡感。
evoke v. 想起、喚起 
to bring (a memory, feeling, image, etc.) into the mind
- Listening to that song on the radio evoked ugly memories of the past.
在廣播中聽到那首歌，就想起一些過去很不好的回憶。
- It’s amazing how the food in this restaurant evokes the flavors of my grandmother’s cooking.
這家餐廳的菜很神奇地讓我想起我祖母煮飯的味道。

exercise  v. 運動  
to do physical activities in order to make yourself stronger and healthier
- As we walked into the jungle, our guide told us to exercise caution.
當我們進入叢林時，我們的嚮導警告我們一定要非常小心。
exercise  v. 使用
to use (an ability, power, etc.)
- It is sad how these people do not know how to exercise their right to free speech.
這些人不懂得如何行使他們的言論自由，真是很悲哀。
exercise  n. 運動 
physical activity that is done in order to become stronger and healthier
- The young king was eager to exercise his power.
年輕的國王迫不期待地要行使他的權力。

trait n. 特質、特徵
a quality that makes one person or thing different from another
- David has so many wonderful traits, but patience is not one of them.
David 有很多很棒的特質，但是耐性不是其中一個。
- When a girl was asked to list all the positive traits of her boyfriend, she couldn’t think of any.
當那位女孩被問到她男朋友有那些好的特質時，她想不出任何一個。
- Beatrice knew Clancy was dishonest, and that was a trait she could not accept.
Beatrice 知道Clancy 人不老實，而那是一個她無法接紹的特性。

Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons (1)

Press
集合啦！動物森友會按下A鍵就能打造自己的專屬島嶼

This past spring Nintendo released a new version of its popular Animal Crossing game. It was an instant hit. People loved the open-ended game play. They also loved the chance to share their in-game work with friends. It was perfect for people stuck at home because of the coronavirus. 

The game begins with a loan from Tom Nook, owner of Nook, Inc. He wants your help exploring a deserted island. The loan covers your trip to the island and a few basic things to use there. 

Once you arrive, you must make your own equipment such as shovels, fishing poles and ladders. Then you can go fishing, catch bugs, collect fruit and explore. Everything you find you can sell to Tom Nook. Within a few days, you should have earned enough to pay back the loan.

Tom Nook decides that you are just the person to help develop the island. He gives you a bigger loan to build a house. You become the island representative in charge of making all the decisions. 

Info Cloud

Lend me your ears. 請聽我說

Welcome to Info Cloud, everyone. Lend me your ears, and I will share some wonderful English idioms with you. 

I'm glad you said this is an idiom because I don't really want to borrow anyone's ears.

Me, either. This idiom is a way to ask someone to listen to you or pay attention to what you have to say. 

Are there other things we can lend beside our ears? 

Yes. You can lend your name to something or someone. That means you give it public support or you officially associate your name with it. 

Oh, like if a celebrity lends his or her name to a political campaign. 

Yes. People who are fans of that person might be influenced to vote for the candidate they support. 

You can also lend weight or support to something. Both of these words mean making an idea appear more true or correct. 

In this case, it doesn't have to be a person. For example, that research paper lends weight to her theory; or he found several books to lend support to his thesis. 

今天要跟大家介紹跟lend有關的流行用語，lend 是借東西給別人，Lend me your ears. 就是把你的耳朵借給我，意思就是請聽我說。如果你要支持某個行動，你可以lend your name，把你的名字借給別人，他們就可以說你是支持他們的，明星代言也是這個意思。另外，lend weight to something 代表讓一件事情更有正當性和真實性，That research paper lends weight to her theory. 那份研究報告更加證實她的理論。

Language Lab

loan n. 貸款、借款 
an amount of money that is given to someone for a period of time with a promise that it will be paid back : an amount of money that is borrowed
- Vivienne has paid back her school loan.
Vivienne 已還清她的助學貸款。
- Ronald is going to the bank to apply for a loan.
Ronald 要去銀行，申請貸款。
on loan ph.  東西被借出、人才暫時效勞於另外一個單位
borrowed from someone or something for a period of time
- These ancient manuscripts are on loan from a private collector.
這些古卷是從一位私人收藏家借來的。
- Sullivan is working with human resources, but he’s actually on loan from the finance department.
Sullivan 在人力資源部工作，他其實是從財務借來的人才。

deserted adj. 空無一人的
/dɪˈzɚtɪd/
there were no people
- The hikers found a deserted cabin in the mountains.
登山客在山裡找到一間空無一人的小屋。
- Jacob often goes to a deserted beach to be by himself.
Jacob 常常會去某個空蕩的海灘，好獨自一人。
deserted adj. 被離棄、撇掉的
abandoned
- In the movie, a fisherman finds a deserted ship in the middle of the ocean.
在影片裡，一位漁夫在大海中找到一個被遺棄的船。
- The deserted soldier had to find a way to survive in enemy territory.
這名被拋下的軍人，得想辦法在敵區存活下來。 

shovel n. 鏟子 v. 用鏟子移動東西
a tool with a long handle that is used for lifting and throwing dirt, sand, snow, etc.
- We want to move this pile of dirt, but we need to get some shovels.
我們要把這堆土移掉，是必須先拿幾把鏟子來。
- The children are playing in the sand with their toy shovels.
小朋友拿著玩具鏟子在沙堆裡玩耍。
shovel v. 用鏟子移動東西 
to lift and throw (dirt, sand, snow, etc.) with a shovel
- Snow is pretty to look at, but shoveling it is not fun.
雪看起來很美，但是你要剷雪可就不好玩了。
- Allen hurt his back while he was shoveling dirt.
Allen 在鏟土的時候，傷到他的背。 

representative n. 代表  adj. 代表的、典型的
someone who acts or speaks for or in support of another person or group
- A representative from the company was sent to the overseas factory to inspect the work there.
公司派一位代表去海外的工廠，檢查那邊的工作。
- Please call this phone number if you wish to speak to a customer service representative.
如果跟我們的客服代表聯絡，請撥打這個電話號碼。
representative adj. 代表的、典型的 
typical of a particular group of people or of a particular thing
- The painting is not representative of the artist’s work.
這幅畫不代表那位藝術家的傑作。
- The clothing worn by our tour guide is representative of what the women wear in that region.
我們導遊穿的衣服，是當地婦女們典型的衣著。

ARE ALL NIGHTERS ALL RIGHT? (2)

What? You're going to stay up all night?

Yes! I'm one of the top 10 students in the class. I don't want to lose my place! 

But Max, skipping sleep is bad for your health. 

On a regular basis, sure, but it's OK once in a while. And I have a pretty good system for pulling all nighters. 

Really? What do you do to stay awake? Do you drink coffee and eat candy all night? 

No. I usually snack on fruit and food with a lot of protein. Apples with peanut butter is my favorite!

Sleeping helps your brain retain things. What good is memorizing facts if you're too tired to remember them the next day? 

I just take a few naps throughout the night. Thirty minutes here and there makes a big difference. 

It sounds like you're good at this. But I still think it's important to get enough rest. 

I can catch up on sleep tomorrow. Tonight, I'm going to get ready for my A-plus! 

Well, I hope that works. But try to get a little rest, OK?

We'll see. See you tomorrow!

Bye, Max. Good luck!

Info Cloud

rack your brain 很用力地思考、絞盡腦汁地要擠出一些創意

Hi, everyone. Welcome to Info Cloud. I'm sorry, everyone, but I'm just not sure what to talk about today. I've been racking my brain trying to come up with something. 

Rex, that's the perfect expression to talk about. We use it all the time when we are trying really hard to think of something or to remember something. 

Oh, of course. The idea is you stretch your brains to the point of racking them because you are thinking so hard about something. 

There have been times when I lost my keys and had to rack my brains to try and remember where I left them. 

I think we have all experienced that. Now sometimes you see wracks spelled W-R-A-C-K, and another time just R-A-C-K. Both spellings are OK. 

Both words mean roughly the same in this case. You are torturing or ruining your brain trying to think of something. 

Anyone who is thinking really hard under pressure understands it's not exactly a pleasant feeling. 

Yes. So we all appreciate Rex working so hard to come up with such an interesting lesson. 

當我們很用力地思考、絞盡腦汁地要擠出一些創意，你可以用今天分享的用語 rack your brain 來形容這樣的狀況，I’m racking my brain trying to come up with ideas. 我很努力地在思考，希望可以想出一些點子。rack 這個字有折磨的涵義，它可以拼成 rack 或是 wrack，看起來像是不同字，但意思和唸法都完全相同。rack your brain 就代表你正在折磨自己的大腦，希望想出一些事情。

Language Lab

skip v. 輕快地跳(單腳起步) 
to move forward in a light or playful way by taking short, quick steps and jumps
- You can tell the child is in a good mood because she is skipping around.
你可以看出這個小朋友心情很好，因為他一直在跳來跳去。
skip v. 跳過去
to not discuss, read, do, or deal with (something) and go instead to the next thing : to pass over or leave out (something)
- The speaker was running out of time, so he decided to skip the middle section of his talk.
演講人因為時間不夠，只好跳過他演講裡的中間部分。
skip v. 省略掉、故意不做
to not do (something that is usual or expected)
- Trent was running late for work and had to skip breakfast.
Trent 因為工作快遲到，只好不吃早餐。
- We decided to skip the movie and just go to the restaurant for dinner.
我們決定不去看電影了，就直接去餐廳吃飯就好。 

awake adj. 醒著的  
not asleep
- Were you awake during the earthquake?
地震的時候，你是醒著的嗎?
- The mother was trying to be very quiet, but her baby was already awake.
那位媽媽盡可能保持安靜，但是她寶寶已經醒了。
awake to [phrasal verb] v. 意識到、領悟到 
to become aware of (something)
- The spy’s report awoke the king to the possible threat of an invasion.
密探的報告讓國王意識到國家被入侵的可能性。
- Brian was sore from playing basketball, and it awoke him to the truth that he was getting older.
Brian 因為打籃球而全身痠痛，他領悟到他人漸漸老了。

retain v. 記住 
to keep (something) in your memory especially for a long period of time
- When Aimee is very busy, it’s harder for her brain to retain information.
Aimee 忙起來的時候，她的腦子很難記住東西。
- Now that we have cellphones, my head cannot retain one single important phone number.
現在有了手機，我的頭腦連一個重要的電話號碼都記不住。
retain v. 保留、保住
to continue to have or use (something) : keep
- Although Timothy had a pretty rough day, he was still able to retain a cheerful attitude.
雖然有很多不順的事情發生，但是Timothy 還是能夠保持一個愉悅的態度。
- Isaac’s family wants to sell their farmland, but Isaac is hoping to retain the farmhouse.
Isaac 的家人想把農地賣了，但是他希望農舍可以保留下來。 

memorize v. 背起來、熟記  
to learn (something) so well that you are able to remember it perfectly
- Katherine memorized the multiplication table when she was in second grade. 
Katherine 二年級的時候，把九九乘法表背起來。
- Tony is trying to memorize every word in the dictionary.
- Tony 試著把字典裡的每一個字背下來。
memorization n. 記住、背起來的過程
/ˌmɛməˌraɪˈzeɪʃən/
- There seems to be no other way to learn this difficult material but to commit it to memorization.
好像沒有別的辦法可以搞懂這個很難的資料，只能把它死背起來。
- Some students have incredible memorization skills and have no trouble preparing for tests.
有些學生背誦的技巧就是那麼厲害，準備考試都難不倒他們。

ARE ALL NIGHTERS ALL RIGHT? (1)

Is a good night’s sleep the best study habit?
通宵熬夜OK嗎？ 一夜好眠才是學習 的王道嗎？

Oh no! You have a big test tomorrow, and you're not ready for it! Should you get a good night's rest and hope for the best? Or should you pull an all nighter and study? Some would argue that staying up late makes your brain less efficient. It can be hard to recall anything when you're tired. Others say pulling an all nighter now and then doesn't do you much harm. And if it helps you pass a test or finish a project, maybe it's worth it! 

Max and Luke have a history exam tomorrow. Luke feels prepared for the test. He's going to the night market before reviewing. But Max wants to get the best score he can. So he plans to stay up all night and cram. Luke runs into Max as he is walking home. 

Hey, Max! I'm going to the night market on my way home. Want to come? 

Sorry, Luke, I need to go home and study for the history exam. 

We won't stay long. I need to review as well. 

I need to do more than review. I haven't studied at all! I'm going to pull an all nighter. 

Info Cloud

brain dead / brain fog

Hi. Thanks for joining us on Info Cloud. I hope that everyone is ready for another lesson. But I did work late last night, so I'm still a little brain dead. 

When you are feeling brain dead, it means that you are so tired that you can't think. 

If you're having a hard time focusing or remembering things, you can also say that your brain is foggy or that it feels foggy. 

Both of these expressions are used to describe when you feel like you aren't thinking clearly, but usually people include a reason why. 

I'm sorry. Could you say that again? My brain is a bit foggy right now. I'm still thinking about the project I was working on last night. 

That's a great example of when someone would use this expression because they are feeling distracted and can't focus. 

Of course, there are ways to clear our heads so we can think normally again in various ways. 

If I'm feeling brain dead in the morning, the best way for me to clear my head is to do some exercise, or just go out and get some fresh air. 

That's a great idea and a great suggestion if studying makes your brain feel foggy. 

當你感到很疲累的時候，腦子突然變得無法正常思考，這個時候你就可以用 brain dead 或 brain fog 來形容這種狀況，這兩個用語都是比較幽默的表達方式。首先，brain dead 就是所謂的腦死狀態，當你累到腦子沒有辦法再想事情的時候，你可以說: I feel brain dead because I worked so late last night. 我的大腦停止運轉，因為昨晚工作到太晚了。如果你只是注意力不集中，沒辦法想起一些事情，你可以說: My brain is a little foggy right now. 我的腦子現在不太清楚，因為 foggy 字面上是起霧，會讓你看不清楚。

Language Lab

recall v. 記得、回想起 
to remember (something) from the past
- I know Patrick cancelled our meeting, but I don’t recall him rescheduling another one.
我知道Patrick 取消了我們的會議，但是我不記得他有重新安排另外一個會議。
recall v. 讓人聯想到 
to cause (something) to be thought of : to bring (an image, idea, etc.) into your mind
- The design of the new museum recalls the Palace of Versailles.
新的博物館的設計讓人聯想到法國的凡爾賽宮。
recall v. 召回
to ask or order (someone) to return
- The soldiers were suddenly recalled to the base.
士兵們突然被召回基地。 
recall v. 如果某產品出了問題，需要被廠商收回去
to ask people to return (a product with a defect or problem)
- A lot of cars have faulty airbags and had to be recalled.
很多車子因為安全氣囊有問題，而被廠商召回。 

harm n. 傷害、壞處  
physical or mental damage or injury : something that causes someone or something to be hurt, broken, made less valuable or successful, etc.
- Steward was just trying to play a joke, but it caused a lot of harm to other people.
Steward 只想開個玩笑，卻造成很多人的傷害。
- The dog is guarding the sheep, keeping them from harm.
狗守護著羊群，並保護牠們不遭受傷害。
harm v. 傷害
to cause hurt, injury, or damage to (someone or something) : to cause harm to (someone or something)
- I know the kids want to play with the kitten, but they’re actually harming it.
我知道小朋友想跟小貓玩，但是他們其實在傷害小貓。
- Animal rights activists want to make sure animals aren’t harmed when they’re used in movies.
動保人士要確認動物在拍戲過程中，不會被傷害到。 

cram v. 塞滿  
to fill (something) so that there is no room for anything else : to fill (something) completely
- Julie was able to cram all her clothes into one carry-on bag.
Julie 能夠把她所有的衣服都塞進一個隨身行李箱裡。
- How is Maya going to cram everything into her small bedroom? 
Maya 要如何把她所有的東西塞進她的小臥房呢?
cram v.  在考試前趕緊地死背 
to prepare for a test, exam, etc., by learning a lot of information quickly — usually + for
- Greg never pays attention in class, but he’s very good at cramming before a test.
Greg 上課都不專心，但是他在考試前努力死背就很行。
- This test allows students to prove what they have learned and not what they have crammed.
這個考試能夠讓學生證明他們所學到的，而不是他們臨時死背的。 

run into [phrasal verb] 無意間碰見某個人   
to meet (someone) by chance
- Carol was taking her kids to school when she ran into an old classmate from high school. 
Carol 帶小孩去上學時，偶然碰到她高中同學。
- Rene ran into her neighbor while she was shopping in the store.
Rene 在店裡買東西時，恰巧碰到她的鄰舍。
run into [phrasal verb] 碰到狀況
to experience (something that is unpleasant or difficult) : encounter
- Jeremy and his friends were having fun together, but then they ran into a problem.
Jeremy 跟他的朋友在一起玩耍，結果他們碰到了一些問題。
run into [phrasal verb] 撞到   
to move into (someone or something) in a sudden or forceful way
- While Max was skiing, he ran into a tree and really hurt himself.
Max 滑雪時，撞到了一棵樹而受傷了。

BINDI IRWIN, A NATURAL TALENT (2)

Bindi continued to make TV appearances. At the age of 10, she won an Emmy Award for her outstanding performance in a children's series. She also appeared in a number of movies for children.

In 2015, Bindi competed on the popular American TV show Dancing With the Stars. Her high energy, precise footwork and beautiful smile wowed the audience. She and her partner dazzled the judges and won the competition!

More than just a celebrity or performer, Bindi works hard to help wildlife. She supports Wildlife Warriors, which protects animals that are in danger. In 2014, the Australian Geographic Society named her Young Conservationist of the Year. 

In March of 2020, Bindi married American Chandler Powell. The two met in 2015 at the Australia Zoo, the huge wildlife reserve founded by Bindi's grandfather. Very appropriately, the wedding took place at the zoo. However, only family attended because of the coronavirus. Afterward Bindi wrote, "Right now we're encouraging the world to hold onto hope and love, which will carry us forward during this profound time in history."

Info Cloud

Write your own story 鼓勵人們要努力活出燦爛的人生

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. I'd like to start off today's lesson by asking Rex an interesting question. Have you ever been told to write your own story? 

Yeah, but not from another person. I told myself all the time to write my own story as I was growing up. 

Really? Why is that? 

Well, my father was a very successful businessman. I was always compared with my dad growing up. But I did not want to follow my dad's footsteps. I decided to become a professional singer instead. 

I'm glad you made that decision. When someone writes their own story, it means that they are not trying to be someone else or imitate another's lifestyle. Instead, they are trying to live out a life that's unique, not following the path that others have walked on. 

Since every person is different, we're all living an unique life whether we know it or not. When someone says, "Write your own story," it serves as an encouragement for you to work hard and live your life to the fullest. 

每個人的生命故事都不太一樣，今天要分享一句相當勵志的流行用語 Write your own story 寫下你專屬的人生故事，意思就是要鼓勵人們不要盲目地跟從別人的腳步，要走出一條屬於自己的人生道路。例如，很多人活在家人的期待中，或是企圖去模仿自己很崇拜的人，這個時候很可能會聽到有人說: Write your own story，其實每個人的生活一定會不一樣，這句話的目的是在鼓勵人們要努力活出燦爛的人生，讓自己的潛能盡量發揮出來。

Language Lab

number n. 數字、數目  
a word or symbol (such as “five” or “16”) that represents a specific amount or quantity
number n. 幾個
the total amount of people or things
- I don’t have time to go see a movie; there are a number of things I must do today.
我沒有時間去看電影，我今天要辦幾件事情。
- Beatrice went to the store and bought a number of things.
Beatrice 到店裡買了幾樣東西。
number  v. 編號碼 
to give a number to (someone or something in a series) : to label or identify (people or things in a series) with a number
- The secretary spent about an hour numbering all the files.
秘書花了大約一個小時給所有的檔案編號。
number  v. 數量共計有多少
used to indicate a total amount
- The survivors of the Titanic numbered 706.
鐵達尼號的生還者共計有706位。 

dazzle v. 讓人感到刺眼 (因為看到閃亮亮的東西或是發光的東西)
of a bright light : to cause (someone) to be unable to see for a short time
- We were dazzled by the light reflecting off the surface of the water.
從水面反射的光讓我們感到刺眼。
dazzle v. 讓人非常欣賞、讓人傾倒
to greatly impress or surprise (someone) by being very attractive or exciting 
- The beautiful movie star dazzled everyone when she stepped onto the red carpet.
美麗的影星一踏上紅毯時，就讓眾人為之傾倒。
dazzling adj. 很炫的  
The concert was very cool, but the dazzling lights gave me a headache.
演唱會是很酷，但是炫目的燈光看了讓我頭很痛。
dazzling adj. 非常迷人的 
We often see actors with dazzling smiles on toothpaste commercials.
- 我們常常在牙膏廣告裡看到有燦爛笑容的演員。 

warrior n. 武士
a person who fights in battles and is known for having courage and skill
- These swords were carried by warriors a long time ago.
這把劍在好久以前是由武士們配戴。
- The chief sent out the warriors to go fight against their enemies.
酋長派出他們的武士們去攻打他們的敵人。
warrior n. 勇士、在辛苦的狀況中奮發圖強的人
- The coach called his players warriors because they had worked very hard to win the tournament.
教練稱每位球員為勇士，因為他們勇於爭奪比賽冠軍。
- Gilbert is preparing for a triathlon; he is quite the warrior when he is in training.
Gilbert 要準備參加鐵人三項，他在訓練體能時，像一位勇士一樣。 

profound adj. 深遠的、廣大的 
having or showing great knowledge or understanding
- No one could have predicted the scientist’s invention would have such a profound effect on society.
沒有人預料到那位科學家的發明，會給社會帶來這麼深遠的影響。
profound adj. 很深、極度的
very great
- Ivan lost his mother when he was very young, and he experienced profound sadness.
Ivan 很小的時候就失去母親，他為此感受到極度的憂傷。
profound adj. 深奧的 
difficult to understand : requiring deep thought or wisdom
- It’s interesting to chat with Pinky; she always has very profound things to say.
跟 Pinky 聊天很有意思，他都會說一些很深奧的話。

BINDI IRWIN, A NATURAL TALENT (1)

She loves nature, and people love her
賓蒂．厄文──稟賦天成 她繼承父親衣缽 她熱愛野生自然

Some children of well-known people never emerge from their parents’ shadow. Bindi Irwin, daughter of world-famous “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, doesn’t have that problem. Although she was gifted with her father’s name and legacy, this talented young woman has earned her own place in the spotlight.

Born in Queensland, Australia, in 1998, Bindi began appearing on TV with her father at the age of 2. By 2006 she was hosting a TV wildlife show for kids, Bindi the Jungle Girl. In September of that year, her father died in an encounter with a stingray. At his funeral, Bindi gave a speech she wrote herself. The 5,000 attendees gave her a standing ovation. Hundreds of millions of TV viewers, many seeing her for the first time, fell in love.

Overcoming her loss, Bindi soon began pressing ahead in her father’s footsteps. In 2007, she hosted a TV show about him called My Daddy the Crocodile Hunter. This was followed by appearances on popular American talk shows. The same year she was named a tourism ambassador for Australia.

Info Cloud

a chip off the old block 形容一個人的外型和個性很像自己的父親

Welcome, friends. It's great to have you with us on Info Cloud today. Rex, I have a question for you. Would you say you are like your parents in any way? 

Hmm... great question. Well, I commonly get told that I look a lot like my dad. Some people have said that I'm just a chip off the old block. 

Oh. That means you look just like him. A chip off the old block is a phrase we say to mean that the son or daughter seems like they were made from the same material as their parent. 

In most cases, the old block is the father. This phase can be used to describe the resemblance with either looks or personality. 

Speaking of fathers, I heard that Rex's son recently got a great grade for a project in school. He must be really smart. 

That's right, he's a chip off the old block. Hey, I've heard another phrase to describe looking or acting like your parents, too. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. 

Oh. That's a good one. Apples come from apple trees. And children come from their parents. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree means that you look or are acting just like one of your parents. 

當我們看到一個人在某方面跟他的父母很像，我們會說: 喔~那是遺傳。美國人有一句經典諺語 a chip off the old block，用來形容一個人的外型和個性很像自己的父親，chip 是碎片，old block 是老舊的木塊，a chip off the old block 就是從舊的木塊上掉下來的碎片，它的材料和本質都是跟木塊一樣。通常 a chip off the old block 是形容一個人很像他的父親，因為老舊的木塊用來比喻父親，好像比母親還要適合。另外一個幾乎是一模一樣的諺語，就是: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 蘋果掉下來，不會離樹太遠，因為那棵樹就是生產那顆蘋果的地方。這句諺語可以用來同時形容一個人很像自己的父親或是母親。

Language Lab

gift n. 禮物   
something that is given to another person or to a group or organization
- I love receiving gifts, thank you very much!
我很喜歡收到禮物，謝謝你。
gift n. 天生就擁有的
a special ability
- Mary was gifted with blond curls, and her sister was envious.
Mary 天生就有金色捲髮，而她妹妹非常羨慕她。
- You need to be patient when you’re coaching kids; not everyone is gifted with athletic abilities.
當小朋友的運動教練需要有耐心，不是每一位小朋友天生就是運動員。
gift v. 贈送
to present (someone) with a gift
- Mr. Anderson is gifting each of his grandkids a smartphone.
Anderson 先生贈送給他每個孫子一支智慧型手機。 

spotlight n. 聚光燈 
a device that directs a narrow, bright beam of light on a small area
in the spotlight ph. 備受矚目
the spotlight : public attention or notice
- At the beginning of the play, there was nothing on the stage except for one actor under a spotlight.
戲劇一開始，舞台上什麼都沒有，除了一位站在聚光燈下的演員。
- Although the actress is very popular, she doesn’t enjoy being in the spotlight.
雖然這位女明星非常受歡迎，但是她很不喜歡備受矚目。
- The scandal quickly came in the spotlight.
那件醜聞很快就成為眾所矚目的焦點。
spotlight v. 用聚光燈直接照亮 
to shine a spotlight on (someone or something)
- The director wants to spotlight the door.
導演要聚光燈直接照亮大門。
spotlight v. 把焦點放在某人事物上
to give special attention to (something)
- There is no reason to spotlight local gossip.
沒必要把焦點放在當地的八卦上面。 

standing ovation n. 起立鼓掌  
an occurrence in which the people at a play, speech, sporting event, etc., stand up and applaud to show enthusiastic approval or appreciation
ovation n. 熱烈鼓掌; 熱烈的歡迎
an occurrence in which a group of people at a play, speech, sporting event, etc., show enthusiastic approval or appreciation by clapping their hands together over and over
- The hospital workers received quite the ovation for all their hard work.
人們為醫院人員的辛勞熱烈鼓掌。
- The visitors were surprised to receive such a warm ovation from the villagers.
村民熱烈的歡迎，讓客人感到驚訝。
- When the director won the Best Director of the Year Award, the audience gave him a standing ovation.
當那位導演贏得年度最佳導演獎時，觀眾起立為他熱烈鼓掌。
- The people gave the brave firefighter a standing ovation.
民眾為那位英勇的消防隊員起立鼓掌。

overcome v. 克服、戰勝  
to defeat (someone or something);
to successfully deal with or gain control of (something difficult)
- Because Jacob was determined to reach his goal, he overcame every obstacle along the way.
由於Jacob 下定決心要達到目標，他克服了過程中的每一個障礙。
- Paul was able to overcome the challenges because he had support from his friends and family.
Paul 因為有親朋好友的支持，能夠克服所有的挑戰。
overcome v. 被極度地影響到、承受不了
to affect (someone) very strongly or severely — usually used as (be) overcome
- Allie was overcome with grief and could not go to work.
Allie 因為悲痛到不行，而無法去上班。
- Thomas didn’t say anything because he was overcome by fear.
Thomas 一句話都沒說，因為他完全被嚇壞了。

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。