每日英語跟讀 Ep.K450: About Mexico - In age-old ritual, Mexican mayor weds alligator to secure abundance A small town Mexican mayor married his alligator bride in a colorful ceremony as traditional music rang out and revelers danced while imploring the indigenous leader to seal the nuptials with a kiss. 墨西哥一個小鎮市長在一場多采多姿的儀式中，迎娶了他的鱷魚新娘，現場演奏傳統音樂、狂歡者翩翩起舞，同時懇求這位原住民領袖用一個吻來為婚禮封印。 San Pedro Huamelula Mayor Victor Hugo Sosa obliged more than once during Thursday’s wedding, bending down to plant his lips on the small alligator’s snout, which had been tied shut presumably to avoid unwanted biting. 在週四的婚禮上，聖．佩德羅．瓦米魯拉的市長維克多．雨果．索薩不只一次答應要求，彎腰把嘴唇湊上這隻小鱷魚的鼻子，而小鱷魚的鼻子被緊緊綁住，大概是為了避免不必要的咬傷。 The ritual marriage likely dates back centuries to pre-Hispanic times among Oaxaca state’s Chontal and Huave indigenous communities, like a prayer pleading for nature’s bounty. 在墨西哥瓦哈卡州Chontal及Huave的原住民社會中，這種婚禮儀式就像是一個祈禱，祈求大自然的恩賜，可能可以追溯好幾個世紀，一直到前西班牙時代。 Oaxaca, located in Mexico’s poor south, is arguably the country’s richest in indigenous culture and home to many groups that have stubbornly maintained their languages and traditions. 瓦哈卡州位在墨西哥貧窮的南部地區，可說是墨國原住民文化最豐富的地區，也是許多堅持維護他們的語言和傳統的群體的家鄉。 Next Article In Mexico, those searching for missing relatives can vanish too 在墨西哥，尋找失蹤親友的人也會跟著消失 70-years-old Maria Herrera is scraping at the earth on a hill in the town of Huitzuco, in southern Mexico, looking for the mounds that indicate a decaying corpse. 70歲的瑪莉亞．赫雷拉在墨西哥南部威特蘇科鎮的山上四處挖掘，希望找到代表埋有腐爛屍體的土堆。 Digging in the dirt with a group of 100 other activists in the violent state of Guerrero, she wants to find her four missing son. 在暴力事件頻傳的格雷羅州，赫雷拉與100名行動人士一起挖土，想要找到4名失蹤的兒子。 More than 40,000 people are missing in Mexico, which has been swept by a wave of violence since the government declared war on the country’s powerful drug cartels in 2006. 2006年，墨西哥政府向勢力龐大的販毒集團宣戰後，這個國家就被暴力事件肆虐，目前已有逾4萬人失蹤。 At first, Herrera and her husband used the profits gained by selling household goods door to door to launch gold exchange business, which involved traveling the country to buy and sell gold. 起初，赫雷拉和丈夫用挨家挨戶賣居家用品的收入，展開黃金兌換生意，包括全國走透透買賣黃金。 They did not realize a bloody cartel turf war was just breaking out in the state. They believe a local cartel mistook the brothers, Jesus and Raul, for members of a rival group and were captured. Two more brothers started looking for them but disappeared too. 但他們沒料到，一場腥風血雨的毒梟地盤之爭已在國內爆發。他們相信，自家兒子赫塞斯和羅爾，是被一個地方販毒集團誤認為敵營的人，才被俘虜。另外2名兒子開始尋找兩人後，也下落不明。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1539233 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1292410 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Summary: 相關文章：https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/09/28/2003786058 This year we are seeing a rise in human trafficking scams from Cambodia. According to government data, 250 people returned and another 393 people are stuck in Cambodia. Scammers prey on people's needs and greed. From love scams to job scams, scammers target all walks of life to find the right audience. In this episode, Angel and I talk about the latest job scams from Cambodia and the different businesses they run. Have you received any scam calls before? Comment down below! Vocabulary: 1. Scam n. v. 詐騙 Job scams are the latest way people are scammed. 工作詐騙是現在看到最新詐騙人的方法。 2. Human trafficking ring n. 人蛇集團 Human trafficking rings are now abundant in Southeast Asia. 現在人蛇集團多數都在東南亞。 3. Lure v. 吸引 More and more people are lured to Cambodia by different scams. 越來越多人被不同的詐騙吸引到柬埔寨。 更多Vocab Podcast節目: https://www.15mins.today/vocab 歡迎主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K449: Passage of Climate Bill Sparks a Surge in Clean Energy Projects In the weeks since President Joe Biden signed a comprehensive climate bill devised to spur investment in electric cars and clean energy, corporations have announced a series of big-ticket projects to produce the kind of technology the legislation aims to promote. 自從美國總統拜登簽署一項全面性氣候法案，擬定刺激電動車和潔淨能源投資，數周以來企業已宣布一系列大規模計畫，大量研發法案設定要推廣的科技。 Toyota said it would invest an additional $2.5 billion in a factory in North Carolina to produce batteries for electric cars and hybrids. Honda and LG Energy Solution announced a joint venture to build a $4.4 billion battery factory at a location to be named. 豐田說，將在北卡羅來納州一間製造電動車和油電車電池的工廠，追加投資25億美元。本田和愛爾集新能源宣布一項合資案，以44億美元建造電池工廠，地點之後公布。 Piedmont Lithium, a mining company, said it would build a plant in Tennessee to process lithium for batteries, helping to ease America’s dependence on Chinese refineries — a key aim of the Biden administration. First Solar, a big solar panel manufacturer, said it would invest up to $1.2 billion to build its fourth factory in the United States, probably somewhere in the Southeast, largely because of renewable energy incentives in the climate bill. 礦業公司Piedmont Lithium說，將在田納西州建造工廠，加工用於電池的鋰，協助減少美國對中國精煉廠的依賴，這是拜登政府的一項主要目標。大型太陽能板製造商第一太陽能說，將投資高達12億美元，在美國建造第四座工廠，可能將在東南部，主因是氣候法案中的再生能源獎勵措施。 But those projects also illustrate how much work remains to be done. Factories take time to build, and until then electric vehicles are likely to remain scarce and expensive. Toyota’s factory in North Carolina and Honda’s venture with LG will not produce batteries until 2025. 但那些計畫也闡明了有多少工作等待完成。工廠要花時間建造，直到完工前，電動車可能仍然稀少且昂貴。豐田的北卡工廠和本田與愛爾集新能源的合資案，直到2025年才會開始製造電池。 Some of the projects were in the works before the federal legislation passed, and before California added an extra push by banning sales of new gasoline cars by 2035. The big climate bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, is the latest in a series of policy moves and geopolitical developments that have pushed automakers and suppliers to invest in the United States. The trade war with China, disruption of supply chains by the pandemic, changes in free-trade agreements with Canada and Mexico, and the bipartisan infrastructure law last year have all had a powerful impact on where companies decide to build factories. 這些計畫中的一些，早在聯邦法案通過前就已經開始作業了，並且也在加州追加「2035年之前禁止銷售新汽油車」的法令之前。這項巨大的氣候法案「降低通膨法」是一系列政治動作和地緣政治發展的最新舉措，催促汽車製造商和供應商在美國投資。和中國的貿易戰，疫情造成的供應鏈中斷，與加拿大及墨西哥的自由貿易協定更動，以及去年兩黨通過的基礎建設法案，全都對企業決定建造工廠有著強大影響。 At a time of economic uncertainty, the legislation gives companies more confidence that they can earn a return on their bets. The investments serve as affirmation of political leaders’ intent: to further accelerate America’s transition away from fossil fuels and to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, especially those in China. 在經濟不確定的時期，這項立法讓企業更有信心，認為他們的賭注能有回報。這些投資對於政治領袖的意圖如同一種肯定，更進一步加速美國從化石燃料轉型，並且減少對於外國供應商的依賴，特別是中國。 Investment in renewable energy will total $1.2 trillion by 2035, analysts at Wood Mackenzie estimate, substantially more than would have been the case without the legislation. 伍德麥肯茲公司分析師估計，2035年之前投資再生能源總額將達到1.2兆美元，比沒有這項立法的情況下多很多。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6636221 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K448: What to know about ‘buy now, pay later’ Since the start of the pandemic, the option to “buy now, pay later’” has skyrocketed in popularity, especially among young and low-income consumers who may not have ready access to traditional credit. If you shop online for clothes or furniture, sneakers or concert tickets, you’ve seen the option at checkout to break the cost into smaller installments over time. Companies like Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna, and Paypal all offer the service, with Apple due to enter the market later this year. 自疫情開始以來，「先買後付」的選項變得大受歡迎，尤其對可能無法獲得傳統信貸的年輕及低收入消費者而言更是如此。若上網購買衣服或家具、運動鞋或音樂會門票，會在結帳時看到分期付款的選項。Afterpay、Affirm、Klarna和Paypal等公司都提供這種服務，Apple將於今年稍晚進軍此市場。 But with economic instability rising, so are delinquencies. Here is what you should know: 但隨著經濟不穩定的狀況加劇，拖欠率也在上升。以下是該知道的幾件事： HOW DOES BUY NOW, PAY LATER WORK? 「先買後付」如何運作？ Branded as “interest-free loans,” buy now, pay later services require you to download an app, link a bank account or debit or credit card, and sign up to pay in weekly or monthly installments. Scheduled payments are then automatically deducted from your account or charged to your card. The services generally don’t charge you more than you would have paid up front, meaning there’s technically no interest, so long as you make the payments on time. 被「先買後付」標榜「無息貸款」，要求使用者下載應用程式，綁定銀行帳戶或借記卡，或者信用卡，並註冊以每週或每月分期付款。然後，預定的付款會自動從您的帳戶中扣除或記入您的卡。這些服務通常不會收取比您之前所付款項更多的費用，這表示只要您按時付款，從技術上來講是沒有利息的。 But if you pay late, you may be subject to a flat fee or a fee calculated as a percentage of the total you owe. If you miss multiple payments, you may be shut out from using the service in the future, and the delinquency could hurt your credit score. 但若逾期付款，可能會需要支付一筆金額固定的費用，或是按欠款總額百分比所計算的費用。如果有多筆款項未繳，未來可能無法使用該服務，且拖欠可能有損您的信用評分。 ARE MY PURCHASES PROTECTED? 我的購買有保障嗎？ In the US, buy now, pay later services are not currently covered by the Truth in Lending Act, which regulates credit cards and other types of loans (those paid back in more than four installments). 在美國，「先買後付」服務目前並不在《誠實貸款法》的管轄範圍內，該法所監管的是信用卡和其他類型的貸款（分四期以上還款的借貸）。 That means you could find it more difficult to settle disputes with merchants, return items, or get your money back in cases of fraud. Companies can offer protections, but they don’t have to. 這表示您可能會發現要解決與商家的糾紛、退貨，或遇到詐欺要把錢取回來會更難。公司可以提供保障，但並無此義務。 WHY DO RETAILERS OFFER BUY NOW, PAY LATER? 零售商為何提供「先買後付」？ Retailers accept the backend fees of buy now, pay later services because the products increase cart sizes. When shoppers are given the option to pay off purchases in installments, they’re more likely to buy more goods in one go. 零售商接受先買後付的後端費用，因為先買後付增加了顧客的購物量。若購物者有分期付款的選項，就更可能一次購買更多商品。 WHO SHOULD USE BUY NOW, PAY LATER? 誰該使用「先買後付」？ If you have the ability to make all payments on time, buy now, pay later loans are a relatively healthy, interest-free form of consumer credit. 若您有能力按時支付所有款項，現在購買，以後支付貸款是一種相對健康、免息的消費信貸形式。 But if you’re looking to build your credit score, and you’re able to make payments on time, a credit card is a better choice. The same goes if you want strong legal protections from fraud, and clear, centralized reporting of loans. 但是，如果您希望建立自己的信用評分，且有能力按時付款，那麼信用卡會是更好的選擇；若您想要強有力的法律保障以避免詐欺，以及清楚、集中的借貸報告，也是如此。 If you’re uncertain whether you’ll be able to make payments on time, consider whether the fees charged by buy now, pay later companies will add up to higher charges than the penalties and interest a credit card company or other lender would charge. 如果您不確定是否能按時付款，請考慮先買後付公司所收取的費用是否會比信用卡公司或其他貸方收取的罰款和利息加起來更高。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2022/09/20/2003785582   歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Topic: Ukrainian military long on morale but short on weaponry When Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and threw its support behind separatists in the country’s east more than seven years ago, Kyiv’s underfunded and disorganized armed forces struggled to mount a credible response. 七年多前，當俄羅斯吞併烏克蘭的克里米亞半島並支援該國東部的分離主義分子時，基輔資金不足且組織混亂的武裝部隊努力做出可信的回應。 Now, amid fears that a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine’s border could signal a possible attack, military experts say Moscow would face stronger resistance this time. 現在，由於擔心俄羅斯軍隊在烏克蘭邊境附近的集結可能預示著可能的襲擊，軍事專家表示，莫斯科這次將面臨更強的抵抗。 But they emphasize that Ukraine would be well short of what it needs to counter Russia’s overwhelming superiority. 但他們強調，烏克蘭遠遠達不到對抗俄羅斯壓倒性優勢所需的水準。 Years of fighting the separatists have given Ukrainian veterans like Col. Viacheslav Vlasenko the battlefield experience for such a fight. "We Ukrainians are defending our land, and there is no place for us to retreat,’’ said Vlasenko. 分離主義分子多年的戰鬥為像維亞切斯拉夫·弗拉森科上校這樣的烏克蘭退伍軍人提供了這種戰鬥的戰場經驗。"我們烏克蘭人正在保衛我們的土地，我們沒有地方可以撤退，"弗拉森科說。 Next Article Topic: Russia, US square off at UN over Ukraine crisis 俄美在聯合國就烏克蘭危機展開對決 Russia and the United States face off Monday at the UN Security Council over Moscow’s troop buildup on the Ukrainian border, as Western nations intensify their high-stakes diplomatic push to avert open conflict in Europe. 俄羅斯和美國週一在聯合國安理會就莫斯科在烏克蘭邊境的部隊集結對峙，因為西方國家加強了他們高風險的外交努力，以避免歐洲的公開衝突。 With tensions soaring, the United States has declared itself ready to push back against any "disinformation" Moscow put forward in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched United Nations sessions in years. 隨著緊張局勢的飆升，美國已宣佈準備反擊莫斯科在預計將是多年來最受關注的聯合國會議之一中提出的任何「虛假資訊」。 The US-requested Council meeting, at 1600 GMT, comes as fears grow of an imminent incursion into Ukraine, despite Kremlin denials. 美國要求在格林尼治標準時間1600點召開的安理會會議之際，儘管克裡姆林宮否認，但人們對即將入侵烏克蘭的擔憂日益加劇。 Russia was expected to try to block the 15-member Council from holding the meeting at all － with its envoy to the UN on Monday calling it part of a US bid to whip up "hysteria" over Ukraine. 預計俄羅斯將試圖阻止由15個成員組成的理事會舉行會議 - 其駐聯合國特使週一稱這是美國試圖煽動烏克蘭"歇斯底裡"的一部分。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1494094 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1499125 Next Article Topic: Enemy at the gates: The background to the Ukraine crisis At the core of the Ukraine crisis is a puzzle: Why would Russian President Vladimir Putin push Europe to the brink of war to demand the West not do something that it has no plan to do anyway? Russia says NATO, the American-led alliance that has on its hands the biggest European crisis in decades, must never offer membership to Ukraine, which gained independence as the Soviet Union broke apart about 30 years ago. Ukraine has long aspired to join NATO, but the alliance is not about to offer an invitation, due in part to Ukraine’s official corruption, shortcomings in its defense establishment and lack of control over its international borders. 烏克蘭危機的核心是一個謎：為什麼俄羅斯總統弗拉基米爾·普京（Vladimir Putin）要把歐洲推向戰爭的邊緣，要求西方不要做一些它無論如何都沒有計劃做的事情？俄羅斯表示，北約是美國領導的聯盟，幾十年來最大的歐洲危機，絕不能向烏克蘭提供成員資格，烏克蘭在大約30年前蘇聯解體時獲得了獨立。烏克蘭長期以來一直渴望加入北約，但該聯盟不打算發出邀請，部分原因是烏克蘭官員腐敗，國防機構存在缺陷以及缺乏對其國際邊界的控制。 Putin’s demands go beyond the question of Ukraine’s association with NATO, but that link is central to his complaint that the West has pushed him to the limits of his patience by edging closer to Russian borders. He asserts that NATO expansion years ago has enhanced its security at the expense of Russia’s. 普京的要求超出了烏克蘭與北約的聯繫問題，但這種聯繫是他抱怨西方通過靠近俄羅斯邊境將他推向耐心極限的核心。他斷言，北約多年前的擴張以犧牲俄羅斯為代價加強了其安全。 Why is Putin worried about Ukraine joining NATO? The stated reason is that a further eastward expansion of NATO would pose a security threat to Russia. Washington and its allies deny this is a valid worry, since no NATO country is threatening to use force against Russia. 普京為什麼擔心烏克蘭加入北約？聲明的原因是北約進一步東擴將對俄羅斯構成安全威脅。華盛頓及其盟國否認這是一個合理的擔憂，因為沒有北約國家威脅要對俄羅斯使用武力。 More broadly, Putin wants NATO to pull back its existing military presence in Eastern Europe, which includes a regularly rotating series of exercises in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, all former Soviet states. 更廣泛地說，普京希望北約撤回其在東歐的現有軍事存在，其中包括在立陶宛，拉脫維亞和愛沙尼亞等所有前蘇聯省份定期輪換的一系列演習。 Putin also opposes NATO’s missile defense presence in Romania, a former Soviet satellite state, and a similar base under development in Poland, saying they could be converted to offensive weapons capable of threatening Russia. 普京還反對北約在前蘇聯衛星國羅馬尼亞的導彈防禦存在，以及在波蘭正在開發的類似基地，稱它們可以轉化為能夠威脅俄羅斯的進攻性武器。 Ukraine has deep historical and cultural ties to Russia, and Putin has repeatedly asserted that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people.” He has said that large chunks of Ukrainian territory are historical parts of Russia that were arbitrarily granted to Ukraine by communist leaders under the Soviet Union. 烏克蘭與俄羅斯有著深厚的歷史和文化聯繫，普京一再斷言俄羅斯人和烏克蘭人是"一個民族"。他曾說過，烏克蘭的大部分領土是俄羅斯的歷史部分，是蘇聯領導下的共產主義領導人任意授予烏克蘭的。 Putin’s own actions, however, have served to strengthen Ukrainians’ sense of national identity. After Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula and instigated a rebellion in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Ukraine’s desire to align itself with the West and join NATO only grew. 然而，普京自己的行動有助於加強烏克蘭人的民族認同感。在俄羅斯佔領克里米亞半島並於2014年在烏克蘭東部煽動叛亂后，烏克蘭與西方結盟並加入北約的願望只會增長。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2022/02/15/2003773113 Next Article Topic: In Europe, Doors Shut to Mideast Migrants Are Flung Open for Ukrainians Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed tens of thousands of people out of their homes and fleeing across borders to escape violence. But unlike the refugees who have flooded Europe in crises over the past decade, they are being welcomed. 俄羅斯對烏克蘭的入侵已將數萬人趕出家園，並越過邊境逃離暴力。但與過去十年來湧入歐洲危機的難民不同，他們受到了歡迎。 Countries that have for years resisted taking in refugees from wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are now opening their doors to Ukrainians as Russian forces carry out a nationwide military assault. More than 2.4 million refugees have left Ukraine, according to United Nations estimates, and at least half of them have crowded onto trains, jammed highways or walked to get across their country’s borders in what officials warn could become the world’s next refugee crisis. 多年來一直拒絕接收來自敘利亞，伊拉克和阿富汗戰爭的難民的國家現在正在向烏克蘭人敞開大門，因為俄羅斯軍隊在全國範圍內進行軍事攻擊。據聯合國估計，已有超過240萬難民離開烏克蘭，其中至少有一半擠在火車上，堵塞高速公路或步行到烏克蘭。越過他們國家的邊界，官員們警告說，這可能成為世界上下一個難民危機。 U.N. and U.S. officials described their concerted diplomatic push for Ukraine’s neighbors and other European nations to respond to the outpouring of need. President Joe Biden “is certainly prepared” to accept refugees from Ukraine, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said Thursday, but she noted that the majority of them would probably choose to remain in Europe so they could more easily return home once the fighting ended. 聯合國和美國官員描述了他們協調一致的外交努力，要求烏克蘭的鄰國和其他歐洲國家應對大量的需求。 白宮新聞秘書珍·普薩基（Jen Psaki）週四表示，總統喬·拜登（Joe Biden）"當然準備"接受來自烏克蘭的難民，但她指出，他們中的大多數人可能會選擇留在歐洲，這樣一旦戰鬥結束，他們就可以更容易地返回家園。 That means thousands will end up in countries led by nationalist governments that in past crises have been reluctant to welcome refugees or even blocked them. 這意味著成千上萬的人最終將進入由民族主義政府領導的國家，這些國家在過去危機中一直不願歡迎難民，甚至不願阻止他們。 In Poland, government officials assisted by American soldiers and diplomats have set up processing centers for Ukrainians. The Polish government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a border wall, a project it began after refugees and migrants from the Middle East tried to reach the country last year but ended up marooned in neighboring Belarus. 在波蘭，政府官員在美國士兵和外交官的協助下，為烏克蘭人建立了處理中心。波蘭政府正在花費數億美元修建邊境牆，該專案始於去年來自中東的難民和移民試圖到達該國，但最終被困在鄰國白俄羅斯。 The military in Hungary is allowing in Ukrainians through sections of the border that had been closed. Hungary’s hard-line prime minister, Viktor Orban, has previously called refugees a threat to his country, and his government has been accused of caging and starving them. 匈牙利軍方允許烏克蘭人通過已經關閉的部分邊界。匈牙利強硬派總理維克多·歐爾班（Viktor Orban）此前曾稱難民是對其國家的威脅，他的政府被指控將他們關在籠子里，使他們挨餓。 Farther west, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said that “of course we will take in refugees if necessary” in light of the crisis in Ukraine. 在更遠的西部，奧地利總理卡爾·內哈默爾（Karl Nehammer）表示，鑒於烏克蘭的危機，"如有必要，我們當然會接納難民"。 As recently as last fall, when he was serving as interior minister, Nehammer sought to block some Afghans seeking refuge after the Taliban overthrew the government in Kabul. 就在去年秋天，當他擔任內政部長時，內哈默爾試圖阻止一些阿富汗人在塔利班推翻喀布爾政府后尋求庇護。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6158664 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

即刻加入15Mins通勤學英語直播室，每週一9pm等你來說英文 : https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 主題: 英語慣用語系列 – 死亡相關慣用語 Death related Idioms 1. A brush with death  與死神擦肩而過 If someone has a brush with death, they survived a situation where they could have died. Example: Paulo had a brush with death when he drove his car off the road. 2. One foot in the grave 一隻腳在墳墓裡 A less formal way to say that someone’s close to death is to say that they have one foot in the grave. Example: I wasn’t really surprised to hear that our neighbour had passed away; he’d had one foot in the grave for years. 3. Six Feet Under 六尺以下 It is customary to bury a coffin six feet in the ground. So when we say someone is six feet under, it means he/she is dead and buried. Example: Even though Michael Jackson is six feet under, his recordings are still making money. 4. Kick the bucket 翹辮子 From the people standing on buckets to commit suicide – the moment of death. Example: Sam achieved his goal of climbing Mount Everest before he kicked the bucket. 5. On your last legs 奄奄一息 Someone or something that is on its/their last legs is close to dying or failing to work. Example: I thought Granddad was on his last legs but he seems determined to stick around for a while!” 6. Over My Dead Body 除非我死了 It shows resistance in doing/ allowing to do something - under no circumstances. Example: You’re only 17! You’ll go to that party over my dead body! 練習時間: 請使用二到三個慣用語來分享自身小故事 Use two to three idioms to share a personal story about death. 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K447: About Switzerland - Swiss ’zero star hotel’ offers sleepless nights to ponder world’s crises "I couldn’t sleep," and "my room was too noisy," may be complaints hoteliers dread from guests, but for the Riklin brothers that is the entire point of their latest ’zero star hotel’ art installation. 「我睡不著」及「我房間太吵」可能是旅館業者害怕客人提出的抱怨，但對瑞克林兄弟來說，這正是他們的最新裝置藝術「零星級飯店」的重點。 The Swiss concept artists’ hotel room is essentially a double bed on a platform, with two bedside tables and lamps. There are no walls, ceiling or doors to provide any privacy or shelter. 這對瑞士概念藝術家的飯店房間，基本上是在一個平台上擺放一張雙人床，以及兩組床頭櫃和檯燈。房間沒有牆壁、天花板或門，毫無隱私或遮蔽。 The project to set up the zero star suite on a roadside next to a petrol station in the village of Saillon in the southern Swiss has been developed with hotelier Daniel Charbonnier 在瑞士南部薩永一間加油站旁設立這個零星級套房的企劃，是與旅館業者丹尼爾‧夏布尼的合作。 The intention is to make guests think about the problems in the world, like climate change and war, the twin brothers said, and inspire them to act differently. 這對雙胞胎兄弟說，目的是讓房客思考全球性問題，像是氣候變遷和戰爭，並啟發他們採取不同行動。 Next Article Swiss Artist Sculpts Sprawling Model Castle on Dried River Bank瑞士地景藝術家在乾枯河岸雕塑散亂蔓延的城堡模型 Swiss artist Francois Monthoux’s annual project to build clay sculptures on the banks of Switzerland’s Toleure river has sprawled into a captivating castle complex this year as the drought afflicting Europe allows him to extend his dream world. 瑞士藝術家弗蘭索瓦．蒙圖在瑞士托勒爾河畔建造泥土雕塑的年度計畫，今年已經擴展成一座迷人的城堡群，因為折磨歐洲的乾旱使他得以擴張他的夢想世界。 Monthoux began this year’s project with modest ambitions six weeks ago but the drought allowed him to build an entire city of spires. 蒙圖六周前開始今年的計畫，原本野心不大，但是乾旱使他得以建造一整座尖頂城市。 Now he has mixed feelings: he wants it to rain, but is sad at the thought of his dream world disappearing when it does. 現在他的心情是複雜的：他希望能夠下雨，但是一想到他的夢想世界會因此消失就感到難過。 "I imagine the life of the people walking under the arches, under the bridge, looking at the monuments, looking at the city, so I enter a bubble, and I become a dreamer ... I see their world being created under my fingers " said Monthoux. 蒙圖說：「我想像民眾在橋下走過拱門，在橋下，看著紀念碑、看著這個城市的生活，所以我進入一個泡泡然後成為一位夢想家…我看見他們的世界在我的手指下被創造出來」。 Visitors to the sculpture are enjoying it while it lasts. 在這件雕刻還存在時，參觀的訪客都很喜歡它。 "I don’t have words to say what I feel, because it’s ... it’s just sublime," said Heidi Butty, a Vaud resident. 一位沃州居民海蒂．巴提說，她的感受難以言喻，因為它是…它是極美的。 Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1542772 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1535534   歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K446: About the UK - UK bakery banned from using sprinkles which are legal in the US The owner of a bakery in northern England has been left with a bitter taste in his mouth after authorities told him he had to stop using banned sprinkles sourced from the US. 在被當局告知必須停止使用來自美國的遭禁糖粉屑後，英格蘭北部的1家烘焙坊的老闆感到不悅。 West Yorkshire Trading Standards said the sprinkles contained an artificial coloring which isn’t approved for use in sprinkles in the UK. 西約克郡貿易標準局說，這些糖粉屑含有1種在英國未獲准可用於糖粉屑的人工色素。 But the owner of the bakery isn’t happy that his most popular product has lost out on its prize topping. 但這家烘焙坊的老闆很不滿，因為這讓他最暢銷的產品少了最完美的配料。 Rich Myers, director and founder of Get Baked bakery in Leeds, told CNN he had been using the sprinkles since opening the business in July. （位於該郡的）里茲市的Get Bake烘焙坊的執行長與創辦人瑞奇˙邁爾斯告訴美國有線電視新聞網，他打從7月開業以來就一直用這種糖粉屑。 Myers said he bought the offending sprinkles from a UK wholesaler, and said he had no idea there was any issue until West Yorkshire Trading Standards visited the business on September 30. 邁爾斯說，他向1名英國批發商買來這些違規的糖粉屑，完全不曉得會有什麼問題，直到9月30日西約克郡貿易標準局找上門來。 "I thought it was a joke at first, I thought it was someone pulling a prank," he said on Thursday. 「我一開始以為這是玩笑，我以為有人在惡搞，」他週四如是說。 Next Article Researcher defends weight-loss device after it sparks ridicule on social media 研究人員為減重裝置辯護，在它於社群媒體上引起嘲笑後 Otago University and United Kingdom researchers developed the world-first device, which uses magnets to lock the mouth almost shut, to help fight the global obesity epidemic. 奧塔戈大學與英國研究人員研發了世界首款裝置，使用磁鐵鎖住嘴巴至幾乎閉上，幫助對抗全球肥胖流行。 DentalSlim Diet Control is an intra-oral device fitted by a dental professional to the upper and lower back teeth. 「牙科瘦身飲食控制」是一種口內裝置，會由牙科專業人員安裝至上下臼齒。 The device was being widely ridiculed after being shared on social media, with Twitter users calling it "creepy" and "bizarre". 這款裝置被分享至社群媒體後，受到大量嘲笑，推特用戶稱它「令人毛骨悚然」且「怪異」。 But Dunedin researchers who developed the device are defending the invention, saying those panning the weight loss tool have misunderstood its intention. 但開發這款裝置的達尼丁研究員為這項發明辯護，表示斥責這款減重工具的人們誤解了它的本意。 Lead researcher Prof Paul Brunton said it was not intended to be used for general weight loss purposes, but instead for specific cases where there was a clinical need to lose weight quickly. 首席研究員保羅．布倫頓教授表示，它不是為了用於普通的減重目的，而是針對臨床上需要快速減重的特殊案例。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1537773 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1460024 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Summary: Every year from September through November, Department stores in Taiwan will have their year-end anniversary sale. These sales offer the biggest deals in the year where all the customers flock together in one place. In this episode, Angel and I talk about the anniversary sales and our previous shopping experience. What are you going to buy during the anniversary sale this year? Comment down below! Vocabulary: 1. Anniversary sale n. 百貨週年慶 Anniversary sale of different department stores run from September through November. 不同百貨的週年慶從九月開始到十一月。 2. Brochure n. 宣傳本 Promotional material like brochures and pamphlets are called DM in Taiwan. 在台灣宣傳冊跟活頁傳單都叫DM。 3. NTx for every X dollar purchased n. 買X送X活動 Shinkong Mitsukoshi is going to offer NT300 cash voucher for every NT5000 purchased. 新光三越今年週年慶會提供買五千送三百活動。 更多Vocab Podcast節目: https://www.15mins.today/vocab 歡迎主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K445: After Big Gains, Ukrainians Face Critical Choices After Ukraine’s stunning offensive in its northeast drove Russian forces into a chaotic retreat and reshaped the battlefield by hundreds of miles, Ukrainian leaders were weighing critical gambles that could determine the near-term course of the war. 在烏克蘭於東北部展開驚人攻擊，讓俄國軍隊混亂撤退數百哩並重新開闢戰場後，烏克蘭領袖正慎重考慮可能決定近期戰爭走向的重大賭注。 Stretching the Ukrainian forces too far could leave the troops vulnerable to attack. Moving too slow, or in the wrong place, could leave an opportunity squandered. And waiting too long could allow the front lines to freeze as winter sets in. 讓烏軍前進太遠，可能讓部隊難以抵禦攻擊。移動太慢或方向錯誤，可能錯失良機。還有待命太久，可能在冬季將臨之際讓前線受凍。 By expelling Russian troops from a large slice of strategic territory in the northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian forces are now positioned to make a move on the Donbas, the industrialized eastern territory that President Vladimir Putin of Russia has made central to his war aims. Just before flooding troops across the border in February, Putin declared the Donbas independent from Ukraine, and he held up the region’s sovereignty as a key justification for the invasion. 在東北部哈爾科夫地區的一大片戰略領土上驅逐俄國部隊後，烏軍現在準備要在東部工業地區的頓巴斯採取行動，此處是俄國總統普亭戰爭目標的中心。就在大批俄國部隊今年2月跨越邊境之前，普亭宣稱頓巴斯從烏克蘭獨立，而且他將這個地區的主權作為正當化侵略行動的一項關鍵。 Russia now has control of nearly 90% of the Donbas, where its military shifted much of its focus after a staggering defeat around the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in the spring. If Ukraine were to retake even a part of the region, it would be an embarrassing blow to the Kremlin. 俄國目前控制近九成頓巴斯地區，今年春季在烏克蘭首都基輔附近遭遇停滯的挫敗後，俄軍轉移大部分的焦點到此處。如果烏克蘭未來奪回這個地區，即使是一部分，也將是對克里姆林宮的一記難堪重擊。 Western analysts, including at the Pentagon, said that the Ukrainians were overall making gains as quickly as Russian forces were falling back. 包括五角大廈在內的西方分析家說，整體而言，烏克蘭有所斬獲的速度和俄軍節節敗退的速度一樣快。 But Ukraine faces potentially serious pitfalls if it pushes any farther. 但若烏克蘭向前推進，就會面臨潛在的巨大陷阱。 Any future advances would mean that Ukrainian forces would further extend their supply lines, straining convoys of fuel, ammunition and reinforcements as they have to move farther away from their established logistics hubs. 未來任何的推進，意味著烏軍需要進一步延伸他們的補給線，讓運送燃料、彈藥和援軍的車隊更吃力，他們必須從已經建立的後勤據點推進更多。 That could leave Ukrainian units vulnerable, said John Blaxland, a professor of security and intelligence studies at the Australian National University in Canberra. Although he added that a Russian counterattack was “not necessarily going to happen,” in part because the morale of Moscow’s troops appears to be foundering. 坎培拉的澳洲國立大學安全與情報研究教授布雷斯藍說，那可能讓烏克蘭部隊容易遭遇攻擊。他補充說，雖然俄國的反擊「不一定會發生」，部分是因為莫斯科的部隊士氣明顯受挫。 Russian officials face their own hard questions, especially with a growing backlash to their “special military operation” from pro-war voices at home. 俄國官員也面臨自家的艱難問題，特別是在家鄉支持戰爭的言論中，對於「特殊軍事行動」的反彈聲浪逐漸增加。 The current Ukrainian offensive “was a rapid breakthrough designed to take advantage of favorable positions and thinly manned Russian defenses,” said Michael Kofman, the director of Russian studies at CNA, a research institute in Arlington, Virginia. 美國維吉尼亞州阿靈頓的研究機構「海軍分析中心」俄國研究主任考夫曼說，現階段烏克蘭的攻擊「目的是利用有利位置和俄國防衛兵力薄弱，取得快速突破」。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6636218   歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K444: Taiwan set for modest rate hike as growth slows Taiwan’s central bank increased its benchmark interest rate by a modest amount on Thursday last week, the third hike this year, as it tries to battle inflation without further weighing down its slowing economy. 台灣中央銀行上週四小幅調升基準利率，此為今年第三次升息，因央行試圖對抗通貨膨脹，但同時不讓趨緩的經濟雪上加霜。 The central bank raised its policy rate by 12.5 basis points to 1.625 percent, in line with forecasts of most economists surveyed by Bloomberg. The bank also raised its reserve requirement ratios by 0.25 percentage points. 央行將政策利率上調12.5個基本點至百分之1.625，與彭博社所調查大多數經濟學家之預測一致。央行還將存款準備率上調1碼（0.25個百分點）。 The central bank’s decision came hours after the US Federal Reserve hiked interest rates by 75 basis points, the fifth increase this year, to tame rampant inflation. Taiwan’s policy makers have been able to be more flexible in their rate hikes, with inflation peaking in the second quarter amid a slowdown in the economy. The central bank raises its rate by a smaller-than-expected 12.5 basis points in June and by 25 basis points in March. 台灣央行做出此決定，是在美國聯準會將利率提高75個基本點──今年以來的第五次升息以抑制猖獗的通貨膨脹──的數小時後。台灣在經濟放緩的情況下，通貨膨脹在第二季達到頂峰；台灣的政策制定者能夠更靈活地升息，央行六月升息12.5個基點，三月升息25個基點，幅度小於預期。 Higher interest rates may help to bolster Taiwan’s dollar, which has slumped this year on the back of a stronger US currency, weaker export demand and rising geopolitical tensions. The local dollar was down 4.8 percent against the greenback in the past month, the third-worst performer among Asian currencies. 由於美元走強、出口需求疲軟與地緣政治緊張局勢加劇，台幣今年已經下跌，利率的調升或能有助提振台幣。過去一個月，台幣兌美元下跌了百分之4.8，在亞洲貨幣中表現第三差。 Taiwanese officials have sought to balance tempering inflation without hurting its economy, which has been weighed down by sluggish demand from China, the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on supply chains, and other global headwinds. The government has already cut its 2022 growth forecast twice this year to 3.76 percent. 台灣官員試圖在不損害其經濟的情況下平衡緩和的通貨膨脹，台灣的經濟受到中國需求低迷、新冠疫情限制對供應鏈之衝擊，以及其他全球不利因素的拖累。台灣政府今年已將二○二二年的成長預測下修兩次，至百分之3.76。 “Taiwan’s economic slowdown is very apparent, with export growth only in the single digits and manufacturing PMI shrinking,” Ma Tieying, an economist at DBS Group Holdings Ltd, said before the rate decision. “The risk of Taiwan’s economic downturn is very high, so from this point of view, increasing by 12.5 basis points is a compromise option and the best option.” 「台灣經濟放緩非常明顯，出口成長只有個位數，製造業採購經理人指數（PMI）萎縮」，星展集團控股有限公司經濟學家馬鐵英在利率決定前表示。「台灣經濟下滑的風險很高，所以從這個角度來看，升息12.5個基點是個折中的選擇，也是最好的選擇」。 Economists surveyed by Bloomberg have also revised down Taiwan’s GDP to 3.2 percent for this year. Those polled also expect that Taiwan will raise interest rates again in the fourth quarter to 1.75 percent. 彭博社所訪問的經濟學家也將台灣今年的GDP下調至百分之3.2。受訪者還預計台灣將在第四季再次升息，至百分之1.75。 Export orders from the island have started to slow, gaining 2 percent in August from a year earlier, with orders from China and Hong Kong falling more than 25 percent. Manufacturing is also coming under pressure, with the purchasing managers index dropping in August to 42.7 — its lowest reading since May 2020. 來自台灣的出口訂單開始放緩，八月份比去年成長百分之2，其中來自中國大陸和香港的訂單減少超過百分之25。製造業也面臨壓力，採購經理人指數八月降至42.7，為二○二○年五月以來最低。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2022/09/27/2003785961  歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Topic: Filipino salon owner uses own hair to create portraits Every few months when Jesstoni Garcia takes electric clippers to his head, he’s not just giving himself a haircut, he’s also harvesting art materials. 每隔數月，當傑斯托尼‧賈西亞拿電剪推自己的頭時，不僅在為自己理髮，也在收集藝術材料。 Using a thin brush and clear, sticky resin, the co-owner of a Manila hair salon sprinkles these strands and clippings on a blank canvas, taking two to five hours to arrange them into striking images of musicians and actors. 這名馬尼拉一家美髮沙龍的共同老闆，用細刷子和透明、富黏性的樹脂，把剪下來的髮絲刷在空白的畫布上，再花2至5小時調整成惹人注目的音樂家和演員肖像。 The 32-year-old’s main job as a seaman involves spending up to eight months a year on cruise ships, and lacking adequate art supplies like paint and sketchpads at sea, Garcia in 2021 turned to using his own hair to create images. He started with self-portraits and eventually moved on to depicting celebrities. 32歲的賈西亞本職是航海員，一年有多達8個月在遊輪上，航海期間欠缺顏料和畫板等藝術材料，所以在2021年轉而用自己的頭髮創作肖像。他從自畫像著手，逐漸開始描繪名人。 Next Article Topic: Top Philippine presidential candidates oppose legalising divorce 菲律賓主要總統候選人反對離婚合法化 The Philippines looks likely to remain one of the few countries where divorce is illegal, based on a survey of the four leading presidential candidates on Sunday. 根據週日一項針對排名領先的4名總統候選人進行的調查顯示，菲律賓看起來可能仍是離婚違法的極少數國家之一。 Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe, veteran mayor Rodrigo Duterte and former interior secretary Mar Roxas were asked during a presidential debate to raise their hands if they favoured legalisation of divorce. 副總統畢乃、參議員柏吾、經歷豐富的市長杜特爾特，以及前內政部長羅哈斯，在總統候選人辯論會上被要求，若支持離婚合法化則舉手。 Not one raised a hand in the brief segment. They were not given time to explain their stance. 在這簡短片段中無人舉手，他們也沒獲得時間解釋立場。 The overwhelmingly Catholic Philippines is the only country aside from the Vatican that bans divorce. 絕大多數人口為天主教徒的菲律賓，是梵蒂岡以外唯一禁止離婚的國家。 Strong pressure from the Catholic church has stymied previous attempts to pass a divorce law even though a survey last year showed that about 60 percent of adult Filipinos support such a measure. 來自天主教教會的強大壓力，阻礙了此前試圖通過離婚法的努力，即使去年一項調查顯示，約60％菲律賓成人支持這類措施亦然。 In another portion of the debate, the four candidates were asked who supported restoration of the death penalty. 在辯論會的另一部分，4名候選人被問及誰支持恢復死刑。 Poe and Duterte, who openly boasts about killing criminals, both raised their hands despite the Catholic church’s opposition to capital punishment. 公開讚揚處決罪犯的柏吾與杜特爾特舉起手，儘管天主教會反對死刑。 The death penalty was abolished in the Philippines in 2006, partly due to lobbying by the church. 2006年菲律賓廢除死刑，部分原因在於教會的遊說。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1529737 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/971329 Next Article Topic: Growing ‘mermaiding’ subculture makes a splash There was a pivotal moment in Queen Pangke Tabora’s life that eclipsed all others: It was the moment, she says, when she first slid her legs into a mermaid tail. 在潘奇．塔波拉皇后的生命中，有一個關鍵時刻令其它時刻都黯然失色：她說，就是當她第一次把雙腳滑進一個美人魚尾巴的時刻。 For the transgender Filipina woman approaching middle age, seeing her legs encased in vibrant, scaly-looking neoprene three years ago was the realization of a childhood dream. And it marked the beginning of her immersion into a watery world where she would find acceptance. 對這位即將步入中年的菲律賓跨性別女性來說，三年前看到她的雙腿被包覆在充滿活力、鱗片狀的紐普韌橡膠中，是兒時夢想的實現。代表著她開始沉浸在一個自己能夠獲得接受的水世界。 The former insurance company worker described the experience of gliding under water, half-human and half-fish, as “meditation in motion.”“The feeling was mermai-zing,”Tabora said one recent morning while lounging in a fiery red tail on a rocky beach south of Manila, where she now teaches mermaiding and freediving full-time. 這位保險公司前員工把在水下滑行、半人半魚的經驗描述成「運動中的冥想」。最近一個早晨在馬尼拉南方一處礁石海灘休息時，身著火紅魚尾服的塔波拉說，「這種美人魚的感覺太驚人了」，她在這裡全職教授如何像美人魚般游泳和自由潛水。 In recent years, a growing number have gleefully flocked to mermaid conventions and competitions, formed local groups called“pods,” launched mermaid magazines and poured their savings into a multimillion-dollar mermaid tail industry. 在最近幾年，越來越多人歡喜地湧向美人魚大會和競賽，形成各個叫做「pods」的地方團體，發行美人魚雜誌，把他們的積蓄投入這個價值數百萬美元的美人魚尾巴行業。 Next Article Philippine collector amasses super-sized collection of fast-food restaurant toys 菲律賓收藏家蒐集極大量速食餐廳玩具 From the age of 5, Filipino graphic artist Percival Lugue has had a passion for collecting toys from fast-food restaurant chains like McDonald’s, Burger King and home-country favorite Jollibee. 菲律賓平面設計師帕西瓦爾‧魯格，從5歲開始就滿腔熱血地蒐集麥當勞、漢堡王及當地人最愛的快樂蜂等速食連鎖餐廳的玩具。 Now, the 50-year-old has about 20,000 toys packed from floor to ceiling in his home and holds a Guinness World Record from 2014, when his collection reached more than 10,000 items. 現在，50歲的魯格擁有約2萬組玩具，在家裡從地板堆到天花板，且2014年起持續保持金氏世界紀錄，當時他收藏的玩具已超過1萬組。 Lugue built his home especially to house his collection. He likens the excitement that getting new toys gives him to Christmas morning. "The toy is like a storyteller in itself." 魯格蓋了自己的房子就是為了放藏品，他把得到新玩具的興奮感比擬成耶誕節早晨，「玩具本身就像個說故事的人。」 While most of his toys were obtained through personal purchases, some were donated by friends and family. 儘管大部分玩具都是他自己花錢買的，但也有朋友和家人送的。 His dream now is to eventually put his collection on display for the public or even open a museum to "give others a chance to revisit their own childhood memories." 他現在的夢想是，最終可以向大眾展示他的藏品，甚至開一間博物館，「讓其他人有機會重溫自己的童年記憶。」Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1529024 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1464916 Next Article Topic: Philippines Returns to School, Ending One of World’s Longest Shutdowns Millions of students throughout the Philippines headed to school Monday as in-person classes began to fully restart for the first time in more than two years, ending one of the world’s longest pandemic-related shutdowns in a school system already plagued by severe underinvestment. 全菲律賓數以百萬計的學生周一重新上學，這是兩年多來菲律賓首度全面恢復實體課程。原本就投資嚴重不足的學校系統，遭逢新冠疫情開始封校，時間之長在全球數一數二，現在終於結束了。 “We could no longer afford to delay the education of young Filipinos,” said Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also the education secretary, as she toured schools in the town of Dinalupihan, about 40 miles northwest of Manila. 副總統兼教育部長薩拉．杜特蒂到首都馬尼拉西北方65公里處的迪納路匹罕市巡視學校時表示：「我國年輕人的教育再經不起耽擱」。 Even before the pandemic, the Philippines had among the world’s largest education gaps, with more than 90% of students unable to read and comprehend simple texts by age 10, according to the World Bank. 甚至在新冠疫情爆發前，菲律賓的教育落差跟各國相比就十分巨大。世界銀行調查發現，菲國超過九成學童到了10歲仍無法閱讀和理解簡單的課文。 Schools in the Philippines have long suffered from shortages of classrooms and teachers, whose pay is low, leaving the vast numbers of poor children who cannot afford private schools and rely on the public system with inadequate teaching. 菲律賓的學校長期缺乏教室和師資。老師薪水低，導致念不起私立學校只能讀公立學校的眾多窮人家子女，無法接受適合的教導。 Now, after losing more than two years of in-person instruction, schools face the challenge of educating many students who have fallen even further behind. Although the Philippines offered online instruction during the pandemic, many students lacked access to computers or internet connections, and overburdened parents often found it hard to keep tabs on their children’s remote learning. 如今，在面對面授課停擺兩年多後，學校面臨的挑戰是學習進度落後更多的學生。雖然菲國政府在疫情期間提供線上課程，許多學生卻沒有電腦或網路連線，負擔過重的父母親經常發現付不起子女遠距學習費用。 In some cases, students’ already tenuous connection to school may have been severed entirely after so long away. 在某些個案，學生和學校的聯繫原本就斷斷續續，經過疫情封校這麼久的折騰，學生跟學校可能完全失聯。 In many other countries, as the negative effects of online learning became well documented, governments elected to send children back to classrooms even as the coronavirus continued to circulate widely. 在許多其他國家，線上學習的負面效應已經被詳細記載。縱然新冠疫情持續散布，政府仍決定讓學生返回教室。 But in the Philippines, government officials and parents remained hesitant, with fears that schoolchildren could bring the virus to homes crowded with multiple generations of family members, potentially overtaxing a creaky health care system. 但是在菲律賓，政府和父母親仍猶豫不決，擔心子女會把病毒從校園帶回家，殃及數代同擠一堂的家人，可能會讓已搖搖欲墜的健康照護體系負擔過重。 Starting in late 2021, the government began to experiment with conducting in-person classes in about 300 schools, but has begun expanding it to cover all primary and secondary schools. Currently only some schools are in-person all five weekdays; by November, all of the country’s roughly 47,000 schools will be. 從2021年晚期起，菲國政府從300間學校開始實驗師生面對面上課，現已擴及到全國小學和國中。目前只有部分學校一周五天都是實體上課。到11月的時候，菲律賓全國約4萬7千所學校都會恢復實體上課。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6567634 Powered by Firstory Hosting

Other ways to say: HELP (v.)Assist 協助These measures were designed to assist people with disabilities.Support 支援My friends have supported me through the entire trial.Reach out to 提供援助/伸出手We are reaching out to the most vulnerable members of the community.Give (lend) a hand 提供援手I'll be happy to lend a hand.Guide 引導She guided her team to victory.Aid 協助A list of technical terms is included here to aid the reader. Other ways to say: SCARY (adj.)Frightening 可怕的The number of youngsters involved in crime is frightening.Creepy 怪異的，讓人毛骨悚然This place is really creepy at night.Shocking 驚嚇I must have been in a shocking state last night.Chilling 令人恐懼的，令人不寒而慄The chilling truth is that the killers are still out there.Alarming 令人驚恐/震驚The disease has spread at an alarming rate.Hairy (slang) 驚險的His driving was a bit hairy.Spooky 陰森可怕的The whole place had a slightly spooky atmosphere. 分享時間:Tell a personal experience related to help and scaryPick 4 words and make sentences 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K443: About Japan - Japan’s cats and dogs get wearable fans to beat scorching heat A Tokyo clothing maker has teamed up with veterinarians to create a wearable fan for pets, hoping to attract the anxious owners of dogs - or cats - that can’t shed their fur coats in Japan’s blistering summer weather. 一間東京製衣廠與獸醫組隊為寵物製造一款穿戴式風扇，希望能吸引焦慮不安的狗狗或貓咪飼主，因 為牠們無法在日本炎熱的夏季脫下毛皮大衣。 The device consists of a battery-operated, 80-gramme fan that is attached to a mesh outfit and blows air around an animal’s body. 這款裝置由電池供電運作，80公克重的風扇附著在網格服裝上，在動物的身體周圍吹風。 Rei Uzawa, president of maternity clothing maker Sweet Mommy, was motivated to create it after seeing her own pet exhausted every time it was taken out for a walk in the scorching summer heat. 成衣製造商Sweet Mommy負責人鵜澤璃看見她自己的寵物每次在炎熱夏天高溫下的戶外散步之後筋疲力盡，因而有了製作這款衣服的動機。 After the rainy season in Tokyo ended in late June, the Japanese capital suffered the longest heatwave on record with temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius for nine days. 東京雨季在6月底結束之後，日本首都迎來史上最久的熱浪，連續9天氣溫高達攝氏35度。 "I usually use dry ice packs. But I think it’s easier to walk my dog if we have this fan," said Mami Kumamoto, 48, owner of a miniature poodle and a terrier. 飼養一隻迷你貴賓和一隻梗犬的48歲熊本麻美（譯音）說「我通常使用冰袋。但是我認為有了這款風扇，遛狗會比較輕鬆。」 Next Article World’s oldest person dies in Japan aged 119 全球最年長人士在日本過世 享年119歲 A Japanese woman believed to have been the world’s oldest person has died aged 119, public broadcaster NHK said on Monday, reporting the death of Kane Tanaka. 公共廣播機構「日本放送協會」週一報導田中加子的死訊說，據信是全球最年長者的一位日本女性以119歲過世。 Born on Jan. 2, 1903 - the year of the Wright Brothers’ first controlled flight of their motor-driven airplane - Tanaka was confirmed by Guinness World Records in 2019 as the oldest living person. 田中生於1903年1月2日──萊特兄弟以他們的引擎驅動的飛機進行首次受控飛行的那年──在2019年獲金氏世界紀錄證實為還活著的最年老人士。 She died of old age at a hospital in Fukuoka city, western Japan, on April 19, NHK said. During her life, she had been partial to chocolate and fizzy drinks, NHK said. 日本放送協會說，她於4月19日在日本西部福岡市一家醫院因年邁過世。她這輩子特別喜歡巧克力和氣泡飲料。 Japan has a dwindling and rapidly ageing population. As of last September, the country had 86,510 centenarians, and nine out of every 10 were women. （Reuters） 日本人口不斷減少並快速老化。截至去年9月，該國有8萬6510名人瑞，而且每10人中有9人是女性。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1538125 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1514547 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K442: About Cambodia - Dozens of casino workers flee Cambodia by swimming to Vietnam Dozens of Vietnamese casino workers allegedly forced to toil without pay in Cambodia have fled back to their homeland by swimming across a river, authorities in Phnom Penh said Friday. 金邊政府週五表示，數十名據稱被迫在柬埔寨賭場無薪工作的越南員工，游泳渡河逃回家鄉。 About 40 staff with the Golden Phoenix Entertainment Casino in Kandal province － which neighbours Vietnam － fought off security guards to escape, leaving one missing after being swept away by the current, Vietnamese state media reported. 越南國營媒體報導，毗鄰越南的柬國甘丹省金鳳娛樂城賭場約40名員工擊退守衛逃走，1人在渡河時被水流沖走失蹤。 "These people might have been here working illegally," Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng told reporters. 柬國內政部長紹肯向記者說，「這些人或許是在這非法打工」。 "They were promised salaries, but they did not get what they were promised... They crossed back to Vietnam because they could not reach a deal. They fled the place." 「他們獲得承諾有薪水，但實際上沒有拿到…因為無法達成協議，就逃離這裡，渡河回去越南。」 He said Cambodian police had detained a casino manager and were investigating the incident. 他說，柬國警方已經拘押一名賭場經理，正在調查此事。 Next Article Cambodia to ban elephant rides at Angkor Wat 柬埔寨禁止在吳哥窟騎大象 Following pressure from animal activist groups, Apsara, the management authority for the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap, Cambodia announced in June 2019 it would ban elephant rides in early 2020. 在許多動物活動組織的施壓下，負責管理吳哥遺址的暹粒地區「阿帕薩拉」保護管理局2019年6月表示，他們將從2020年初起禁止大象騎乘。 Local outlet the Khmer Times reports that on November 15, two of the 14 elephants currently at the park, have been relocated to the nearby Bos Thom community forest. An Apsara press representative told the Khmer Times that the remaining dozen animals would be relocated to the same forest by "early next year." 本地媒體「高棉時報」11月15日報導，該園區的14隻大象中，有2隻被重新安置在附近的「Bos Thom」社區森林。1名「阿帕薩拉」的發言人告訴「高棉時報」，剩下的12隻會在明年初被安置到同座森林。 In 2016, an elephant named Sambo died at Angkor, drawing worldwide attention. Her death was blamed on a combination of heat stroke and exhaustion from ferrying so many human beings around. 2016年，1隻名為珊寶的大象死在吳哥窟，引起了全世界的矚目。牠的死因被歸咎於因為載運了太多人而導致的中暑與過度勞累。 Two years later, the World Wildlife Fund published an in-depth look at the dwindling populations of the Asian elephant, noting that the species’ population had declined by 50% in just three generations. 兩年後，世界自然基金會發布關於亞洲大象數量減少的深入調查，發現該物種現今的數量比3代之前少了50%。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1539968 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1334758 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Summary: For the first time in history, this year FIFA World Cup is going to be held in Qatar. Once every four years, soccer fans around the world gather and watch as the soccer titans around the world clash for the championship title. In this episode, Angel and I talk about the football stars and when the World Cup will take place. Who's your favorite team or player? Comment down below! Vocabulary: 1. Bet n. & v. 賭注/打賭 My group of friend likes to make bets during FIFA World Cup. 我的一群朋友喜歡在世足賽時打賭。 2. Root for sb. phr. 替某人加油 If I am going to root for Lionel Messi this World Cup, who are you going to root for? 如果我這次世足賽替梅西加油，那你想替誰加油？ 3. Go down in history phr. 留名青史 Qatar will go down in history as the first Middle East country to host the FIFA World Cup. 卡達是這次名留青史成為第一個主辦世足賽的中東國家。 更多Vocab Podcast節目: https://www.15mins.today/vocab 歡迎主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K441: NASA tests new moon rocket, 50 years after Apollo Years late and billions over budget, NASA’s new moon rocket makes its debut this week in a high-stakes test flight before astronauts get on top. 遲來數年、預算超出數十億美元的美國太空總署（NASA）新型登月火箭，本週將首次啟航，進行一次高風險的試飛，以便為搭載太空人做準備。 The 98m (322ft) rocket will attempt to send an empty crew capsule into a far-flung lunar orbit, 50 years after NASA’s famed Apollo moonshots. If all goes well, astronauts could strap in as soon as 2024 for a lap around the moon, with NASA aiming to land two people on the lunar surface by the end of 2025. Liftoff is set for Monday morning at 8:33am to 10:33am EDT from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. 在NASA著名的阿波羅登月計畫五十年後，這九十八公尺（三百二十二英尺）長的火箭，將嘗試把一個空的載人太空艙送入環月軌道遠端。如果一切順利，太空人最早可在二〇二四年啟程，環繞月球一圈；NASA的目標是在二〇二五年底前，將兩個人送上月球表面登陸。火箭預定在美東時間週一上午八點三十三分至十點三十三分之間自NASA甘迺迪太空中心發射。 ROCKET POWER The new rocket is shorter and slimmer than the Saturn V rockets that hurled 24 Apollo astronauts to the moon a half-century ago. But it’s mightier, packing 4 million kilograms (8.8 million pounds) of thrust. 火箭動力 新型火箭比半世紀前將二十四名阿波羅計畫太空人送上月球的火箭農神五號更短、更細，但更強大，具有四百萬公斤（八百八十萬磅）的推力。 Unlike the streamlined Saturn V, the new rocket has a pair of strap-on boosters refashioned from NASA’s space shuttles. The boosters will peel away after two minutes, just like the shuttle boosters did, but won’t be fished from the Atlantic for reuse. The core stage will keep firing before separating and crashing into the Pacific in pieces. Two hours after liftoff, an upper stage will send the capsule, Orion, racing toward the moon. 與流線型的農神五號不同，新型火箭有一對安裝在外的推進器，是由NASA太空梭改造而來的設計。推進器將在升空後兩分鐘脫落，如同太空梭的推進器，但不會再把它從大西洋打撈上來重複使用。核心節則將繼續前進，然後分離、墜入太平洋碎裂。升空兩小時後，火箭的上節將全速把獵戶座太空船送往月球。 MOONSHIP NASA’s high-tech, automated Orion capsule is named after the constellation, among the night sky’s brightest. At 3m (11ft) tall, it’s roomier than Apollo’s capsule, seating four astronauts instead of three. For this test flight, a full-size dummy in an orange flight suit will occupy the commander’s seat, rigged with vibration and acceleration sensors. Two other mannequins made of material simulating human tissue — heads and female torsos, but no limbs — will measure cosmic radiation, one of the biggest risks of spaceflight. One torso is testing a protective vest from Israel. 登月船 NASA的高科技自動化太空船獵戶座，是以夜空最亮的星座為名。它高三公尺（十一英尺），比阿波羅計畫的太空艙更寬敞，可乘坐四名太空人，而非三名。這次的試飛中，一個身著橙色飛行服的真人尺寸假人將置於指揮官座位，配備振動與加速度感測器。另外還有兩個以仿人體組織材料所製成的假人──有頭部和女性軀幹，但沒有四肢──將用來測量宇宙輻射；宇宙輻射是太空飛行最大的風險之一。另一軀幹則是測試一件以色列製的防護背心。 FLIGHT PLAN Orion’s flight is supposed to last six weeks from its Florida liftoff to Pacific splashdown — twice as long as astronaut trips in order to tax the systems. It will take nearly a week to reach the moon, 386,000km away. 航行計畫 獵戶座太空船預計航行六週，始自佛羅里達升空，終至濺落太平洋，是太空人旅行時間的兩倍，以便檢驗及評估系統。到達三十八萬六千公里外的月球，需要將近一週的時間。 The big test comes at mission’s end, as Orion hits the atmosphere at 40,000 kph on its way to a splashdown in the Pacific. The heat shield uses the same material as the Apollo capsules to withstand reentry temperatures of 2,750 degrees Celsius. But the advanced design anticipates the faster, hotter returns by future Mars crews. 大考驗是在任務結束時，獵戶座太空船會以每小時四萬公里的速度撞擊大氣層，掉落在太平洋。隔熱罩所使用的材料與阿波羅計畫的太空船相同，可承受再進入大氣層的高溫攝氏兩千七百五十度。但此先進的設計已預想了未來火星任務人員返回時更快的速度，以及更熱的溫度。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2022/08/30/2003784369 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

史考特給自己的筆記,一個出生平凡的台灣人,在34歲那年,接觸到靈修和量子物理之後,在美國成為上市企業裡的最高業績團隊,同行業績全球冠軍,管理百人團隊,來聽聽看他是怎麼從平庸匱乏的日子走到幸福富足的生活 https://fstry.pse.is/6mq3m7 —— 以上為 Firstory Podcast 廣告 —— 即刻加入15Mins通勤學英語直播室，每週一9pm等你來說英文 : https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K440: How to Get Heart Patients to Take Their Pills? Give Them Just One. Heart disease kills more people than any other condition, but despite advances in treatment and prevention, patients often do not stick to their medication regimens. Now researchers may have found a solution: a so-called polypill that combines three drugs needed to prevent cardiovascular trouble. 死於心臟病的人比死於其他任何疾病的人都多，儘管在治療和預防上取得進展，患者往往不能堅守他們的藥物治療方式。現在，研究人員可能已經找到一個解決方法：一種混合三種預防心血管疾病所需藥物的所謂複方製劑。 In what is apparently the largest and longest randomized controlled trial of this approach, patients who were prescribed a polypill within six months of a heart attack were more likely to keep taking their drugs and had significantly fewer cardiovascular events, compared with those receiving the usual assortment of pills. 在明顯是這種方法規模最大、時間最長的隨機對照試驗中，心臟病發作後6個月內服用複方製劑的患者，跟服用常規藥物患者相比，更有可能繼續服用藥物，心血管事件明顯減少。 The participants also experienced one-third fewer cardiovascular deaths, although their overall risk of death from all causes was not significantly changed. 參與者因心血管疾病死亡人數也減少三分之一，即便他們因為各種原因死亡的總體風險沒有顯著改變。 The study of more than 2,000 heart patients, who were followed for three years, was published Friday morning in The New England Journal of Medicine, as the findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona, Spain. 這項研究對2000多名心臟病患者進行三年追蹤調查，研究結果周五上午發表在《新英格蘭醫學雜誌》，並在西班牙巴塞隆納舉行的歐洲心臟病學會年會上發表。 The study is the culmination of 15 years of work by researchers led by Dr. Valentin Fuster, director of Mount Sinai Heart at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and general director of the National Center for Cardiovascular Research in Spain. 這研究是紐約市西奈山醫院西奈山心臟中心主任、西班牙國立心血管研究中心總監瓦倫丁．福斯特博士帶領研究人員研究15年的結晶。 “Combination pills are easier for the physician and for the patient, and the data are pretty clear — it translates into a benefit,” said Dr. Thomas J. Wang, chair of the department of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, who was not involved in the research but wrote an editorial accompanying the study. 未參與研究但為研究報告撰寫社評的德州大學西南醫學中心內科系主任湯瑪斯．王博士說：「複方藥物對醫生和病患來說更簡便，數據非常清楚，它轉化為一種好處。」 The polypill combines a blood-pressure medication, a cholesterol-lowering drug and aspirin, which helps prevent blood clots. 這種複方製劑結合了降壓藥、降膽固醇藥和阿斯匹林，有助防止血栓。 The polypill used in the study has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is not available to patients in the United States right now. Fuster said the results of the new trial would be submitted to the agency shortly in an effort to obtain approval. 這項研究使用的複方製劑還未獲得美國食品藥物管理局批准，目前在美國還不能給患者使用。福斯特 說，這項新試驗結果很快會提交給該機構，以爭取獲得批准。 And since participants became even more likely to keep taking the polypill over time, he said, “The potential results could be even better with more follow-up.” Several studies have shown that only about half of patients, or even less, take all their medications as instructed. 他說，由於參與者會逐漸的更可能繼續服用複方製劑，「若有更多後續研究，潛在結果可能更好」。數項研究顯示，只有大約一半甚至更少患者按照指示服用所有藥物。 The new study, a randomized controlled clinical trial, enrolled just under 2,500 patients at 113 sites in Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. 這項研究是一項隨機對照臨床試驗，在西班牙、義大利、法國、德國、波蘭、捷克和匈牙利的113個地點招募到近2500名患者。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6601708 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Topic: Coronavirus Is Battering Africa’s Growing Middle Class 新冠重創非洲新興中產階級 As the coronavirus surges in many countries in Africa, it is threatening to push as many as 58 million people in the region into extreme poverty, experts at the World Bank say. But beyond the devastating consequences for the continent’s most vulnerable people, the pandemic is also whittling away at one of Africa’s signature achievements: the growth of its middle class. 世界銀行專家指出，新冠肺炎疫情在非洲多國急遽加重，恐將使多達5800萬人陷入極端貧窮（赤貧）。而且疫情除了給非洲大陸最弱勢者帶來毀滅性後果之外，還逐步削弱非洲一項指標性成就，也就是中產階級的成長。 For the last decade, Africa’s middle class has been pivotal to the educational, political and economic development across the continent. New business owners and entrepreneurs have created jobs that, in turn, gave others a leg up as well. 過去這十年，非洲中產階級在非洲大陸全境教育、政治和經濟的發展上，扮演著關鍵性的角色。新的企業主和創業者創造出就業機會，也從而幫了別人一把。 Educated, tech-savvy families and young people with money to spare have fed the demand for consumer goods, called for democratic reforms, expanded the talent pool at all levels of society, and pushed for high-quality schools and health care. 受過教育、熟諳現代科技且有閒錢的家庭和年輕人支撐了消費品的市場，提出了對民主改革的要求，擴大了社會各層次的人才庫，並鼓吹高品質的學校和醫療照護服務。 About 170 million out of Africa’s 1.3 billion people are now classified as middle class. But about 8 million of them could be thrust into poverty because of the coronavirus and its economic fallout, according to World Data Lab, a research organization. 非洲13億人口中，約有1.7億人現在被歸類為中產階級，不過，根據研究機構「世界資料實驗室」的說法，其中約800萬人可能因新冠肺炎疫情及其經濟衝擊而淪為窮人。 It’s a setback that may be felt for years to come. 這個挫敗可在未來幾年內感受到。 “The tragedy is that because Africa is not growing fast, this collapse of the middle class could take several years to recover,” said Homi Kharas, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the co-founder of the World Data Lab. 華府智庫布魯金斯研究所高級研究員兼世界資料實驗室共同創辦人卡拉斯說：「不幸的是，非洲成長速度並不快，中產階級的潰縮可能得花上幾年才能恢復。」 Africa’s middle class tripled over the past 30 years, by some estimates, spurred by job opportunities in sectors like technology, tourism and manufacturing. 一些估計顯示，在科技、觀光和製造業等領域的就業機會帶動下，非洲中產階級人數過去30年間增為三倍。 But now that the region is facing its first recession in 25 years, millions of educated people living in urban centers could fall victim to the extreme income inequality that has defined Africa for decades. 不過，由於非洲遭逢25年來首次經濟衰退，數以百萬計住在都會區的受過教育者可能淪為極端收入不平等的受害者。極端收入不平等數十年來一直是非洲的特徵。 Kharas defined the middle class in Africa as households that spend anywhere between $11 and $110 per capita per day. 卡拉斯把非洲中產階級定義為，平均每人每天花費11美元到110美元（約台幣330元到3300元）的家庭。 The rising middle class has been “critical for the future prospects of African economies as they stimulate long-term growth, social progress, an inclusive and prosperous society and effective and accountable governance,” said Landry Signé, author of “Unlocking Africa’s Business Potential.” The coronavirus “will drastically delay wages and hold back the dreams of Africa’s middle class,” he said. 著有「解放非洲商業潛力」一書的賽恩說，中產階級崛起「對非洲的經濟前景至關重要，因為中產階級能促進長期成長、社會進步，造就具包容性且繁榮的社會，以及有效率且可問責的治理」。他說，新冠肺炎「將大幅延後薪水發放，並讓非洲中產階級難以圓夢」。 What distinguishes the middle class from the poor, said Razia Khan, chief economist for Africa and the Middle East at Standard Chartered bank, is the ability to earn a steady income. But because of the pandemic, many more people across Africa are at risk of being “knocked back into poverty” because of lack of jobs, unemployment benefits or any social safety net, she said. 渣打銀行非洲中東首席經濟學家拉奇雅．卡恩說，中產階級與窮人不同之處在於，他們有賺取穩定收入的能力。不過她說，由於疫情大流行，非洲各地有更多人可能因為缺乏就業機會、失業救濟金或任何社會安全網而被「打回貧窮」。 The pandemic is also posing a threat to nascent industries supported by governments in Africa in recent years to boost the number of middle-income earners. 疫情大流行還威脅到剛起步的一些產業。非洲各國政府近年來支持這些產業，冀以促進中所得人數的成長。 Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/4712407 Next Article Topic: South Africa is considering letting women have multiple husbands South Africa’s government is considering allowing women to have multiple husbands, a possibility that has thrown the country’s conservatives into uproar. 南非政府正在考慮允許女性擁有多名丈夫，這種可能性使該國保守派一片譁然。 The proposal to allow polyandry was included in a green paper from South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, which hopes to make marriage more inclusive. 這項允許一妻多夫的提議已經被納入南非內政部的綠皮書中，希望使婚姻更具包容性。 South Africa has one of the world’s most liberal constitutions, embracing same-sex marriages for all and polygamy for men. 南非有世界上最自由的憲法之一，接受所有性別的同性婚姻與男性的一夫多妻。 Businessman and TV personality Musa Mseleku - who has four wives - is among those opposed to polyandry. 有四名妻子的企業家兼電視名人穆薩．姆斯萊庫是反對一妻多夫制的其中一人。 ’’This will destroy African culture.’’ Mseleku said. ’’The woman cannot now take the role of the man. It’s unheard of.’’ 「這會摧毀非洲文化。」姆斯萊庫說。「女性不能扮演男性的角色。這是前所未聞的。」 The idea that polyandry is not African was also prevalent among religious leaders, the Department of Home Affairs found. 內政部發現，一妻多夫「不非洲」的想法也流傳於宗教領袖中。 Next Topic: S.African miners rescued, none still trapped 11 名南非礦工獲救，已無人受困 Eleven men who became trapped in an illegal gold mine in South Africa were rescued on Sunday, but an unknown number remained underground fearing arrest. 受困於南非非法金礦的11名男子在週日獲救，但仍有數目不詳的礦工因害怕被捕而待在地底。 The men, who were all uninjured, were immediately handed over to police. Rescue officials said many others were now able to leave the mine but had refused to come out while officials were present. 這些男子都未受傷，隨即轉交警方處理。救難人員說，其他許多人現在有能力自己離開礦井，但拒絕在警方在場的時候出來。 "We managed to retrieve 11 young men. We believe they are South Africans, they have been treated and handed over to the police," municipal emergency and rescue services official Rogger Mamaila told AFP. 「我們設法營救出11名年輕男子，我們認為他們是南非人，他們已經接受治療並轉交給警方。」緊急搜救官員馬梅拉告訴法新社。 Police spokesman Mack Mngomezulu told AFP a number of men remained in the abandoned mine east of Johannesburg and were refusing to come out. 警局發言人門戈彌祖魯告訴法新社，有一些男子還待在約翰尼斯堡東邊的廢棄礦井，而且拒絕出來。 The number of people still down there remains unclear -- around 30 miners who were trapped at a shallow level had earlier told rescuers from a private operator ER24 that there were 200 others stuck at a level underneath them. 仍待在地下的人數依舊不清楚--約30名受困在淺層地底的礦工早先告訴民營緊急救難隊ER24的救難人員，還有兩百人困在更下層。 That was never confirmed, however, with local municipal officials insisting there were only around 30 people trapped. 這項消息一直未獲證實，當地官員堅持只有大約30人受困。 Mamaila declared the rescue operation closed around two hours after the 11 were brought to the surface. 馬梅拉宣稱搜救行動在11名礦工被帶上地面後2小時結束。 Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1458633; http://iservice.ltn.com.tw/Service/english/english.php?engno=781592&day=2014-05-24 Next Article Topic: South Africa launches the world’s biggest hydrogen-fueled truck Mining giant Anglo American on Friday unveiled the world’s largest hydrogen-powered truck, a monster weighing in at 220 tonnes, at a platinum mine in northern South Africa. 礦業巨擘英美資源集團週五在南非北部一座白金礦場展示了全球最大的氫動力卡車，此一龐然巨獸重達220公噸。 Billed as the first of a fleet that will replace the firm’s diesel-powered trucks, the vehicle uses two-megawatt hydrogen fuel cells to haul up to 290 tonnes of ore. 它被宣傳為將取代該公司柴油動力卡車的車隊先鋒，該車使用2百萬瓦的氫燃料電池，來拖動多達290公噸的礦石。 "What we are launching is not merely an impressive piece of machinery, it is the genesis of an entire ecosystem powered by hydrogen," President Cyril Ramaphosa said. 南非總統西里爾．拉瑪佛沙說，「我們推出的不僅僅是一部令人印象深刻的機器，它是一個由氫氣驅動的完整生態系的起源。」 Comparable in size to a small house, the behemoth was shown off at Mogalakwena mine, about 250 kilometres from Johannesburg. 這部龐然大物的大小可匹敵一間小屋，在距離約翰尼斯堡約250公里處的莫加拉奎納礦場展示。 "This is a gigantic leap for South Africa’s hydrogen future economy," Ramaphosa declared. 拉瑪佛沙說，「對南非的氫能源未來經濟來說，這是一個巨大的跨越」。 Next Article Topic: 潛逃中的獅子被關進南非大牢 Lion on the lam locked-up in South African jail A young lion captured after being on the run for almost a month spent the night in a South African police cell before being moved back to its national park home. 一頭在逃將近一個月後被捕的幼獅，被運回位在國家公園的故鄉以前，先在南非一處警察局的拘留室度過長夜。 The juvenile male apparently escaped from the Karoo National Park through a hole in a perimeter fence. He was eventually tracked and darted on Wednesday before being moved by helicopter to the Sutherland police station where he ended up alone in a holding cell. 這個小男生明顯是從「乾旱台地高原國家公園」周邊圍欄一處洞口逃跑。牠最終還是在週三被發現蹤跡並遭標槍射中，後來被直升機運到薩瑟蘭警察局，獨自待在拘留室裡。 "I am sure this is the first time in the world that a lion is put in jail," said police station commander Marius Malan. 警局大隊長馬略斯‧馬蘭說：「我確定這是全球第一次獅子入獄。」 Curious residents of the village of Sutherland thronged outside the police station to catch a glimpse of the locked-up lion. 薩瑟蘭村好奇的居民們，在警局外爭相一窺這頭被囚禁的獅子。 "He is safe and healthy. We didn’t give him breakfast because he had enough to eat along the road," Malan told Reuters. 馬蘭告訴路透：「牠安全又健康。我們沒給牠早餐，因為牠一路上已經有足夠的東西可吃。」Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1518702 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1274469?fbclid=IwAR0GOlDHNx4EL-iF8U3qURZl9hlX0ub6M5HGc7BDwb3IJcdbf0xDlnPNDeI 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Article from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/during.html Drop. Cover. Hold on.  趴下、掩護、穩住 In most situations, you can protect yourself if you immediately: DROP down onto your hands and knees before the earthquake knocks you down. This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) underneath a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, get down near an interior wall or next to low-lying furniture that won’t fall on you, and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around. If you are inside, stay inside. 在室內時，待在室內DO NOT run outside or to other rooms during an earthquake. You are less likely to be injured if you stay where you are.DO NOT stand in a doorway. You are safer under a table. In modern houses, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house. Doorways do not protect you from the most likely source of injury − falling or flying objects. If you are in a high-rise building, drop, cover, and hold on. 在高樓時，趴下、掩護、穩住Move away from windows and outside walls.Stay in the building.DO NOT use the elevators. The electricity may go out, and the sprinkler systems may come on. If you are outside, stay outside. 在戶外時，待在戶外Move away from buildings, utility wires, sinkholes, and fuel and gas lines. The greatest danger from falling debris is just outside doorways and close to outer walls of buildings.Go to an open area away from trees, telephone poles, and buildings. Once in the open, get down low and stay there until the shaking stops. If you are in a moving vehicle, stop as quickly and safely as possible. 在行車時，立刻停下找安全地方Move your car to the shoulder or curb, away from utility poles, overhead wires, and under- or overpasses.Stay in the car and set the parking brake. A car may jiggle violently on its springs, but it is a good place to stay until the shaking stops.Turn on the radio for emergency broadcast information. 隨堂考 What should you do when an earthquake hits ?When you are in your bedroom?When you are in the mall?When you are in your car?  歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K439: About Spain - Wine theft of the century A former Mexican beauty queen and a Romanian-Dutch accomplice have been arrested in Croatia over the theft of $1.7 million worth of prestige bottles of wine in Spain after a nine-month chase across Europe, police said on Wednesday. 警方週三表示，歷經9個月橫跨歐洲的追捕後，一位墨西哥前選美皇后和一位羅馬尼亞裔的荷蘭共犯因為在西班牙竊取價值170萬美元的高檔紅酒，在克羅埃西亞被捕。 In a statement, Spanish national police said that on Oct. 27, 2021 in the western city of Caceres, 45 wine bottles worth a total of 1.65 million euros, including one "unique" 19th-century vintage worth 310,000 euros, were spirited away in a meticulously planned theft from the cellars of the famous hotel-restaurant El Atrio. 西班牙國家警察在聲明中說，2021年10月27日在西部城市卡塞雷斯，45瓶價值165萬歐元的紅酒，當中包括一瓶「獨一無二」、要價31萬歐元的19世紀佳釀，在一場精心策劃的竊案中從知名旅店餐館El Atrio的酒窖中被竊走。 Next Article Can I talk to a human? Spain presents customer service bill （我可以跟真人談嗎？西班牙提出客服法案） Tired of speaking to a machine when you call the bank or power company? 對於打電話到銀行或電力公司，卻總是跟機器說話感到厭倦了嗎？ Spain’s government wants to end those nerve-shattering, one-sided conversations with a computerized answering service by making it obligatory for companies to offer a real, flesh-and-blood customer service worker when so requested by a caller. 西班牙政府希望終止那些單方面溝通、令人神經疲勞的機械化應答服務，要求企業必須在致電者請求下，提供真正有血有肉的顧客服務人員。 "Customer service far too often causes endless headaches for Spanish families because far too many companies create bureaucratic labyrinths to stop you from exercising your right to service," said Consumption Minister Alberto Garzón. 消費者事務部長阿爾貝托．加爾松說：「客服電話實在太常讓西班牙家庭頭痛不止，因為實在太多企業創造出官僚迷宮，阻止你行使接受服務的權利。」 The bill would also seek to do away with long wait times by forcing companies to answer calls within three minutes. 該法案也希望廢除久候的情況，要求企業在3分鐘內回應致電。 It will apply to all utility providers regardless of their size and all other companies with more than 250 workers or whose business exceeds 50 million euros a year. 法案將適用所有公用事業，不分規模大小；以及所有員工超過250人或1年營業額高於5000萬歐元的企業。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1540527 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1539968 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K438: About Florida - Hotter summers mean Florida’s turtles are mostly born female Florida’s sea turtles are grappling with a gender imbalance made worse by climate change. 佛羅里達海龜奮力解決因氣候變遷導致惡化的性別失衡。 Recent heat waves have caused the sand on some beaches to get so hot that nearly every turtle born was female. 近期熱浪導致一些沙灘的沙粒變得過熱，以至於幾乎每隻新生海龜都是雌性。 "The frightening thing is the last four summers in Florida have been the hottest summers on record," said Bette Zirkelbach, manager of the Turtle Hospital. 海龜醫院經理貝特．齊克爾巴赫說，可怕的是，佛州過去4年夏天是有紀錄以來最熱的夏天。 "Scientists that are studying sea turtle hatchlings and eggs have found no boy sea turtles, so only female sea turtles for the past four years," Zirkelbach said,. 齊克爾巴赫說，研究海龜孵化和蛋的科學家已經發現過去4年沒有雄性海龜，只有雌性海龜。 Instead of determining sex during fertilization, the sex of sea turtles and alligators depends on the temperature of developing eggs. 海龜和鱷魚的性別取決於蛋孵化的溫度，而非受精。 When a female turtle digs a nest on a beach, the temperature of the sand determines the gender of the hatchlings. 當母海龜在沙灘上挖了一個巢穴，沙子的溫度決定孵化出殼的海龜性別。 If a turtle’s eggs incubate below 27.7 Celsius, the turtle hatchlings will be male, whereas if they incubate above 31C, they will be female. 一旦海龜蛋孵化的溫度低於攝氏27.7度，海龜就會是雄性；反之當溫度高於攝氏31度，就會是雌性。 Next Article A Florida man paid off the past dues for 114 families at risk of having their utilities shut off 佛州男子為有斷水斷電斷瓦斯之虞的114個家庭繳逾期帳單 A Florida business owner who was once down on his luck is giving back by covering the utility bills of 114 families who were facing disconnection. （美國）佛羅里達州1名曾經時運不濟的老闆，以幫助114個有斷水斷電斷瓦斯之虞的家庭支付水電費，做為回報。 Michael Esmond’s generosity started in 2019 when he paid the utility bills of 36 households in his community of Gulf Breeze. Last year, with both Hurricane Sally and Covid-induced economic turmoil hitting the city, he thought he needed to up the ante. 邁可．艾斯蒙德的慷慨之舉始於2019年，他當時為微風灣社區的36個家戶繳納水電瓦斯費。去年，該市受到「莎莉」颶風與武漢肺炎所導致的經濟動盪之雙重夾擊，他覺得他必須加碼助人。 Esmond donated $7,615.40 to pay for the past-due bills of 114 households, according to Joanne Oliver, the city’s utility billing supervisor. 該市水電瓦斯帳單稽查員瓊安．奧利佛說，艾斯蒙德捐款7615.40美元，為114個家戶繳納逾期帳單。 While Esmond’s donation increased from the $4,600 he paid in 2019, he says he was able to help about three times as many households. 艾斯蒙德的捐款額高於2019年時的4600美元，他說，他能幫助到的家戶數量是（是2019年時）的3倍。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1539454 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1459618 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Summary: Every year in September, Apple fans around the world gather online, hoping to witness the launch of another iPhone that would change the world. This year, Apple rolled out its first purple colored iPhone for its high-end model, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. In this episode, Angel and I talk about how much of a fan I am and also whether the new phone is worth the upgrade. Are you going to upgrade to the new iPhone 14 ? Comment down below! Vocabulary: 1. In the market for...sth idiom. 有興趣購買 If you are in the market for the new iPhone 14 Pro, you should buy the Deep Purple-colored iPhone. 如果你有興趣買新的iPhone14 Pro，你應當買深紫色的iPhone。 2. Mobile carrier n. 電信業者 Chungwha Telecom was the first mobile carrier to offer the iPhone 3GS back in the day. 中華電信當年是第一個電信業者提供iPhone 3GS。 3. Preorder n. 預購 iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max make up of 80% of the preorders. iPhone 14 Pro與Pro Max佔據8成iPhone預購。 更多Vocab Podcast節目: https://www.15mins.today/vocab 歡迎主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K437: Philippines Returns to School, Ending One of World’s Longest Shutdowns Millions of students throughout the Philippines headed to school Monday as in-person classes began to fully restart for the first time in more than two years, ending one of the world’s longest pandemic-related shutdowns in a school system already plagued by severe underinvestment. 全菲律賓數以百萬計的學生周一重新上學，這是兩年多來菲律賓首度全面恢復實體課程。原本就投資嚴重不足的學校系統，遭逢新冠疫情開始封校，時間之長在全球數一數二，現在終於結束了。 “We could no longer afford to delay the education of young Filipinos,” said Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also the education secretary, as she toured schools in the town of Dinalupihan, about 40 miles northwest of Manila. 副總統兼教育部長薩拉．杜特蒂到首都馬尼拉西北方65公里處的迪納路匹罕市巡視學校時表示：「我國年輕人的教育再經不起耽擱」。 Even before the pandemic, the Philippines had among the world’s largest education gaps, with more than 90% of students unable to read and comprehend simple texts by age 10, according to the World Bank. 甚至在新冠疫情爆發前，菲律賓的教育落差跟各國相比就十分巨大。世界銀行調查發現，菲國超過九成學童到了10歲仍無法閱讀和理解簡單的課文。 Schools in the Philippines have long suffered from shortages of classrooms and teachers, whose pay is low, leaving the vast numbers of poor children who cannot afford private schools and rely on the public system with inadequate teaching. 菲律賓的學校長期缺乏教室和師資。老師薪水低，導致念不起私立學校只能讀公立學校的眾多窮人家子女，無法接受適合的教導。 Now, after losing more than two years of in-person instruction, schools face the challenge of educating many students who have fallen even further behind. Although the Philippines offered online instruction during the pandemic, many students lacked access to computers or internet connections, and overburdened parents often found it hard to keep tabs on their children’s remote learning. 如今，在面對面授課停擺兩年多後，學校面臨的挑戰是學習進度落後更多的學生。雖然菲國政府在疫情期間提供線上課程，許多學生卻沒有電腦或網路連線，負擔過重的父母親經常發現付不起子女遠距學習費用。 In some cases, students’ already tenuous connection to school may have been severed entirely after so long away. 在某些個案，學生和學校的聯繫原本就斷斷續續，經過疫情封校這麼久的折騰，學生跟學校可能完全失聯。 In many other countries, as the negative effects of online learning became well documented, governments elected to send children back to classrooms even as the coronavirus continued to circulate widely. 在許多其他國家，線上學習的負面效應已經被詳細記載。縱然新冠疫情持續散布，政府仍決定讓學生返回教室。 But in the Philippines, government officials and parents remained hesitant, with fears that schoolchildren could bring the virus to homes crowded with multiple generations of family members, potentially overtaxing a creaky health care system. 但是在菲律賓，政府和父母親仍猶豫不決，擔心子女會把病毒從校園帶回家，殃及數代同擠一堂的家人，可能會讓已搖搖欲墜的健康照護體系負擔過重。 Starting in late 2021, the government began to experiment with conducting in-person classes in about 300 schools, but has begun expanding it to cover all primary and secondary schools. Currently only some schools are in-person all five weekdays; by November, all of the country’s roughly 47,000 schools will be. 從2021年晚期起，菲國政府從300間學校開始實驗師生面對面上課，現已擴及到全國小學和國中。目前只有部分學校一周五天都是實體上課。到11月的時候，菲律賓全國約4萬7千所學校都會恢復實體上課。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6567634   歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

即刻加入15Mins通勤學英語直播室，每週一9pm等你來說英文 : https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K436: Britain’s rules of succession for a new sovereign Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s monarch for more than seven decades, died on Thursday last week aged 96. 英國在位逾七十年的君主伊麗莎白女王於上週四逝世，享耆壽九十六歲。 The following is an explanation of the rules of the British court regarding the accession of a new sovereign and a description of the powers and responsibilities of the monarch. 以下說明英國皇室新君主即位之規則，以及君主之權責。 Under the British constitution, a sovereign succeeds to the throne the moment his or her predecessor dies, before even being proclaimed to the people, and there is no interregnum.The new monarch is officially proclaimed king or queen by a special body called the Accession Council, to which members of the Privy Council — a group of several hundred selected royal advisers including members of the cabinet — are summoned. 根據英國憲法，君主在其前任去世的那一刻即繼承王位，沒有過渡期，即便尚未向人民宣布。新君主由名為「登基會議」的特殊機構正式宣佈為國王或女王，英國樞密院成員——包括內閣成員在內的數百名選定之皇家顧問——將出席。 A full Privy Council session is only called on the accession of a new sovereign or when the monarch announces an intention to marry, an event of great importance given the hereditary basis of the monarchy. 完整的樞密院會議只有在新君主即位或君主宣布結婚計畫時才會召開；君主制是以世襲為本，因此該會議非常重要。 Also invited to attend the Accession Council which proclaims the new sovereign are the Lords Spiritual and Temporal (that is bishops of the Church of England who sit in the House of Lords, together with the secular peers of the realm) and high commissioners from Commonwealth nations. 亦受邀出席宣布新君主之登基會議的，還有屬靈及世俗的上議院（即坐在上議院的英國國教會主教，以及上議院議員），和來自大英國協國家的政府高層。 The sovereign’s coronation, in effect just a formal ratification procedure, follows the accession after an interval of mourning. Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in June 1953, 16 months after George VI died. The coronation takes place at London’s Westminster Abbey in the presence of politicians, eminent public figures, and representatives from countries around the world. 君主的加冕典禮，實際上只是一個正式的批准程序，是在新君主即位後，經過一段哀悼期後才舉行。一九五三年六月舉行之伊麗莎白二世女王加冕，是在喬治六世去世十六個月後。加冕典禮在倫敦西敏寺教堂舉行，政治家、知名公眾人物和世界各國代表出席。 The sovereign reigns by grace of the 1701 Act of Settlement, which lays down the rules of succession, decreeing that only Protestant descendants of a granddaughter of James I of England (Princess Sophia the Electress of Hanover) can take the throne. 一七〇一年的《王位繼承法》制定了繼承規則，規定只有英格蘭詹姆斯一世孫女（漢諾威選帝侯夫人索菲亞公主）的新教徒後裔才能繼承王位。 Until a new law in 2013, being married to a Roman Catholic also barred a royal from a place in the line of succession. However, a Catholic can still not become monarch. 在二〇一三年一部新法律頒布前，與羅馬天主教徒結婚之皇室成員也被禁止繼承王位。然而，天主教徒仍無法成為君主。 The 2013 legislation also removed precedence being given to the male line, meaning that any royal born from Oct. 28, 2011, would not be discriminated against in succession to the throne based on gender. 這項二〇一三年的立法還取消了男性血統的優先權，這表示二〇一一年十月二十八日之後出生的任何皇室成員，其王位之繼承都不會受到性別歧視。 Traditionally, the sovereign is held to personify the state, which he or she heads, and to symbolize a common link between the countries making up the United Kingdom. In law, the sovereign is head of the executive, an integral part of the legislature, head of the judiciary, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and supreme governor of the Church of England. 傳統上，君主被認為是所領導國家的人格化，並象徵大不列顛及北愛爾蘭聯合王國組成國家間的共同聯繫。在法律上，君主是行政首腦、立法機關的一部分、司法機關首腦、武裝部隊總司令，以及英國國教之最高領導人。 In reality, he or she rubber stamps government decisions and reigns through the will of parliament. The monarch summons and prorogues parliament, and invites the leader of the political party which has won a general election to be prime minister and form a government. 實際上，君主是在政府決策上蓋橡皮圖章，透過議會的意志進行統治。君主召集議會、休會，並邀請在大選中獲勝的政黨領袖出任首相並組建政府。 The British sovereign is also head of the Commonwealth of nations which grew out of the British empire and head of state of 14 other countries. 英國君主也是大英國協國家及其他十四個國家的元首。大英國協是由大英帝國發展而來。 These are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. 這十四個國家為安地卡及巴布達、澳洲、巴哈馬、貝里斯、加拿大、格瑞納達、牙買加、紐西蘭、巴布亞新幾內亞、聖克里斯多福及尼維斯、聖露西亞、聖文森及格瑞納丁、所羅門群島，以及吐瓦魯。 The monarchy is Britain’s oldest secular institution, with the royal family tracing its ancestry back to William the Conqueror in 1066 and even to Egbert of Wessex, generally recognized as the first king of the English, in the year 829. 君主制為英國最古老的世俗制度，王室之祖先可以追溯到西元一〇六六年的征服者威廉，甚至可追溯到西元八二九年威塞克斯的埃格伯特國王——咸認為英格蘭第一位國王。 The sovereign is addressed as “Your Majesty.”Queen Elizabeth’s official title was “Her Most Excellent Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.” 到西元八二九年威塞克斯的埃格伯特國王——咸認為英格蘭第一位國王。 對君主之稱呼為「陛下」。 伊麗莎白女王之官方頭銜為「承蒙上帝恩典，大不列顛及北愛爾蘭聯合王國及其其他領土之女王、大英國協元首、信仰之捍衛者伊麗莎白二世女王卓越的陛下」。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2022/09/13/2003785250 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Topic: JR East to raise fares by 10 yen to improve disabled accessibility East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) will become the first railway operator to hike passenger fares and use the funds to improve accessibility for the disabled. 東日本旅客鐵道公司（JR東日本）將成為第一家調漲客運票價，並將這筆資金用來改善供殘障人士使用的無障礙設施的鐵道業者。 The plan is to tack on 10 yen (8 cents) to a ticket for JR East’s 16 major lines, including the Yamanote, Chuo and Keihin-Tohoku lines. The increase will go into effect from spring 2023. 該計畫是要將包括山手線、中央線與京濱東北線等16條JR東日本主要路線的票價調漲10日圓（8美分）。新的票價將自2023年春天起生效。 The transport ministry in December 2021 created a new system of adding fares to a ticket to pay for the installation of platform safety doors and elevators at train stations. （日本）國土交通省在2021年12月創設一項新制度，將調漲的票價金額用來支付在車站設置月台安全門與電梯的費用。 Ministry officials said JR East is the first railway company to announce a specific plan. 國土交通省官員說，JR東日本是第一個（因應該制度）宣布明確計畫的鐵道業者。 Next Article Topic: Tasty TV: Japanese professor creates flavorful screen 美味的電視：日本教授發明有滋味的螢幕 Japan’s Meiji University professor Homei Miyashita has developed a prototype lickable TV screen that can imitate food flavors, another step towards creating a multi-sensory viewing experience. 日本明治大學教授宮下芳明發明出一款可舔式原型電視螢幕，具有模仿食物味道的功能，朝創造多感官收視體驗邁進另一步。 The device, called Taste the TV (TTTV), uses a carousel of 10 flavor canisters that spray in combination to create the taste of a particular food. The flavor sample then rolls on hygienic film over a flat TV screen for the viewer to try. 這個名為「品嚐電視」的裝置內部設置裝有10種口味的罐子，可噴出調製成特定食物的味道，再輸送到平面電視螢幕的衛生薄膜上，讓觀看者品嚐。 In the COVID-19 era, this kind of technology can enhance the way people connect and interact with the outside world, said Miyashita. 宮下說，在新冠肺炎流行時期，這樣的科技可改善人們與外界連結和互動的方式。 "The goal is to make it possible for people to have the experience of something like eating at a restaurant on the other side of the world, even while staying at home," he said. A commercial version would cost about 100,000 yen to make. 他說：「目標是讓人們即使待在家，也能擁有類似於在世界另一端上餐廳吃飯的體驗。」商業機製作成本約為10萬日圓（約2萬4300台幣）。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1510384 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1510139 Next Article   Topic: Shinzo Abe - Japan’s longest-serving prime minister Shinzo Abe smashed records as Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, championing ambitious economic reform and forging key diplomatic relationships while weathering scandals. 安倍晉三打破了日本首相任期的最長紀錄，他支持雄心勃勃的經濟改革，並在經歷醜聞的同時建立了關鍵的外交關係。 Nearly two years after poor health forced him to leave office, the 67-year-old was shot during a campaign event in the western region of Nara on Friday last week. 在他因健康狀況不佳而被迫下台後兩年，六十七歲的他上週五在奈良西部地區一場競選活動中被槍殺。 Abe was a sprightly 52 when he first became prime minister in 2006, the youngest person to occupy the job in the postwar era. 安倍在二○○六年首次擔任首相時年僅五十二歲，是戰後日本最年輕的首相。 He was seen as a symbol of change and youth, but also brought the pedigree of a third-generation politician groomed from birth by an elite, conservative family. Abe’s first term was turbulent, plagued by scandals and discord, and capped by an abrupt resignation. 他被視為變革與年輕的象徵，但他也是出身精英保守家庭的政治家族第三代。 安倍的第一個任期動盪不安，飽受醜聞與不和的紛擾，並以突然辭職告終。 - They called it ‘Abenomics’ - He ran again, and Japan’s revolving prime ministerial door brought him back to office in 2012. It ended a turbulent period in which prime ministers sometimes changed at a rate of one a year. With Japan still staggering from the effects of the 2011 tsunami and subsequent nuclear disaster at Fukushima — and a brief opposition government lashed for flip-flopping and incompetence — Abe offered a seemingly safe pair of hands. 他再次參選，日本的首相旋轉門讓他在二○一二年再度擔任首相。 這終結了日本首相更替頻繁（有時只做了一年便下台）的動盪時期。 當時日本仍因二○一一年海嘯及之後福島核災的影響而步履蹣跚，以及短暫執政、被批評為政策出爾反爾及無能的反對黨政府——在此情況下，安倍看來是穩健的選擇。 And he had a plan: Abenomics. The scheme to revive Japan’s economy — the world’s third-biggest, but more than two decades into stagnation — involved vast government spending, massive monetary easing and cutting red tape. Abe also sought to boost the country’s flagging birth rate by making workplaces more friendly to parents, particularly mothers. 而且他有個計畫：「安倍經濟學」。 重振日本——這世界第三大經濟體，但已陷入停滯二十多年——經濟的計畫，有賴大量政府支出、大規模貨幣寬鬆，以及削減繁文縟節。 He pushed through controversial consumption tax hikes to help finance nurseries and plug gaps in Japan’s overstretched social security system. While there was some progress with reform, the economy’s bigger structural problems remained. Deflation proved stubborn and the economy was in recession even before the coronavirus struck in 2020. Abe’s star waned further during the pandemic, with his approach criticized as confused and slow, driving his approval ratings down to some of the lowest of his tenure. 安倍還試圖營造對父母，尤其是對母親更友善的工作環境，來提高日本不斷下降的出生率。 他推動調高消費稅這具爭議性的政策，以資助托兒所並補強日本負擔過重的社會福利系統。 雖然改革取得了一些進展，但更大的經濟結構性問題依然存在。 事實證明，通貨緊縮很頑強，甚至在二○二○年冠狀病毒來襲之前，經濟就已陷入衰退。 安倍的光環在疫情期間變得更加黯淡，他的做法被批評為混亂及緩慢，讓他的支持率降至任期內最低。 - Political storms - - 政治風暴 - On the international stage, Abe took a hard line on North Korea, but sought a peacemaker role between the US and Iran. He prioritized a close personal relationship with Donald Trump in a bid to protect Japan’s key alliance from the then-US president’s “America First” mantra, and tried to mend ties with Russia and China. 在國際舞台上，安倍對北韓採取強硬立場，但又想在美國和伊朗之間扮演和平推手的角色。 他優先考慮跟美國總統唐納‧川普建立密切的個人關係，以保護日本的關鍵同盟免受當時川普口號「美國優先」的影響，並試圖修補與俄國及中國的關係。 But the results were mixed: Trump remained eager to force Japan to pay more for US troops stationed in the country, a deal with Russia on disputed northern islands stayed elusive, and a plan to invite Xi Jinping for a state visit fell by the wayside. Abe also pursued a hard line with South Korea over unresolved wartime disputes and continued to float plans to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution. 但結果好壞參半：川普仍急於迫使日本為駐紮在日本的美軍支付更多費用，日本與俄國對北部島嶼主權之糾紛仍難以達成協議，邀請習近平進行國事訪問的計畫也被擱置。 日本與南韓間懸而未決的戰時爭端，安倍也採強硬立場，並繼續提出修改日本和平憲法的計畫。 Throughout his tenure, he weathered political storms including cronyism allegations that dented approval ratings but did little to affect his power, in part thanks to the weakness of the opposition. Abe had been due to stay on until late 2021, giving him an opportunity to see out one final event in his historic tenure — the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games.But in a shock announcement, he stepped down in August 2020, with a recurrence of ulcerative colitis ending his second term, too. 在他整個任期內，他經受住了政治風暴，包括裙帶關係的指控，這些指控讓他的支持率降低，但對他的權力幾乎沒有影響，部分原因是反對派的軟弱。安倍原定留任至二○二一年底，讓他有機會在史上最長任期內看見最後一件大事——延期的二○二○年東京奧運。 然而，他令人震驚地宣布在二○二○年八月下台，潰瘍性結腸炎的復發也結束了他的第二個任期。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2022/07/12/2003781569 Next Article Topic: Tokyo June heatwave worst since 1875 as power supply creaks under strain Japan baked under scorching temperatures for a fourth successive day on Tuesday, as the capital’s heat broke nearly 150-year-old records for June and authorities warned power supply remained tight enough to raise the spectre of cuts. 日本週二連續第4天受炙熱高溫所苦，首善之地打破將近150年來的6月高溫紀錄，政府警告電力供應依然吃緊，增加斷電之虞。 Temperatures in Tokyo hit 35.1 C by 1 p.m local time on Tuesday. For a second day, authorities asked consumers in the Tokyo area to conserve electricity to avoid a looming power cut - but in moderation. 東京氣溫在週二下午1點達到攝氏35.1度。政府連續第二天要求東京地區用戶節約用電—但是適度地—以避免可能的斷電。 "Apparently there are some elderly people who have turned off their air conditioners because we are asking people to save energy, but please - it’s this hot - don’t hesitate about cooling off," trade and industry minister Koichi Hagiuda told a news conference. 經濟產業大臣萩生田光一在記者會上說，「顯然有一些老人因為我們要求民眾節約能源而關掉空調，但是，拜託，天氣這麼熱，請不要猶豫涼快一下」。 Next Article Topic: Penguins at a Japanese aquarium are being fed cheaper fish - and they aren’t happy 日本水族館的企鵝被餵食較便宜的魚—牠們不開心 An aquarium employee waves a mackerel near a penguin － but there’s no reaction. When she moves the fish closer to its beak, the penguin turns away haughtily. An otter sniffs the fish, then runs away. 一名水族館員工拿著鯖魚在一隻企鵝身邊揮舞，但是企鵝沒反應。當她把魚靠近企鵝嘴邊，這隻企鵝倨傲地別過頭。一隻水獺聞了聞這隻鯖魚，然後游走。 Before, the Hakone-en Aquarium offered penguins and otters "aji," or Japanese horse mackerel, which the animals readily ate. 箱根園水族館之前給企鵝和水獺吃日本竹筴魚，牠們很樂意吃。 The price of aji has increased by 20% to 30% since last year, the aquarium said. So to cut costs, in May the aquarium switched to a cheaper alternative － "saba," or mackerel. 水族館說，自去年以來，竹夾魚價格已經上漲20%到30%。因此，為了削減成本，館方五月改用較便宜的替代品：鯖魚。 It has not been well received. The aquarium says penguins and otters have their preferred type of fish and the aquarium tries its best to accommodate their needs. 但是此舉並不很受到歡迎。水族館說，企鵝和水獺都有牠們偏好的魚種，館方設法盡量滿足他們的需要。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1530996 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1532193 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Pubu x 通勤學英語 飽讀電子書一分鐘跟讀挑戰 愛看英語學習雜誌的你不需看預算只買一兩本了！John老師今天來跟大家推薦一個能夠解決你困擾的強大電子書平台 Pubu Pubu 「飽讀電子書方案」，我認為就是英語學習雜誌的Netflix！只要每日不到3塊錢就可以讓你把書店裡的熱門英文雜誌像CNN互動英文、空中美語、長春藤、LiveABC等都讀到飽！無限暢讀，把你的學習一站隨身帶著走～ Pubu平台重點特色：熱門雜誌、暢銷書籍應有盡有書籍類別保括英語學習、財經、新聞、時尚、親子語音功能能將電子書變成有聲書一個帳號可以登入七個裝置 Pubu X 通勤學英語 飽讀電子書優惠：點此訂閱半年方案(原價$894 )打59折，只要$529 - 每日不到三塊一年方案(原價$1,788 )打55折，只要$999 - 每日不到兩塊半 即日起到2022/08/30 申辦半年或年方案，Pubu會加碼送: 福利1: 送購書金$50，購書即可立享折扣!! 福利2: 申辦年方案， 可以再抽五台P47 耳罩式藍牙耳機。 --------------------------- 跟讀挑戰規則： 每組挑戰有個別文章 (於CNN互動英語 No.263 八月號)，需透過跟讀聽力來完美詮釋 1. Rhythm 語速 2. Tone 語調 3. Pronunciation 發音 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K435: About Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe to introduce gold coins as local currency tumbles   Zimbabwe’s central bank said it would start selling gold coins this month as a store of value to tame runaway inflation, which has considerably weakened the local currency. 辛巴威中央銀行本月即將開始販賣金幣作為價值儲存，以抑制失控的通貨膨脹，通膨已大幅削弱當地貨幣。 The central bank governor John Mangudya said in a statement that the coins will be available for sale from July 25 in local currency, U.S. dollars and other foreign currencies at a price based on the prevailing international price of gold and the cost of production. 央行行長強．曼谷迪亞在聲明中說：7月25日起，金幣將可以使用當地貨幣、美元和其他外幣來出售，價格則是基於當時的國際黃金價格和生產成本。 The "Mosi-oa-tunya" coin, named after Victoria falls, can be converted into cash and be traded locally and internationally, the central bank said. 央行表示，以維多利亞瀑布命名的莫西奧圖尼亞金幣可兌換成現金，並在當地和國際間交易買賣。 The gold coin will contain one troy ounce of gold and will be sold by Fidelity Gold Refinery, Aurex and local banks, it added. 央行補充說明，金幣含有一金衡盎司黃金，由Fidelity黃金鑄造廠、奧瑞和當地銀行出售。 Gold coins are used by investors internationally to hedge against inflation and wars. 金幣被國際投資客用來作為抵擋通膨和戰爭的避險手段。 Zimbabwe more than doubled its policy rate to 200% from 80% and outlined plans to make the U.S. dollar legal tender for the next five years to boost confidence. 辛巴威將其政策利率調整了一倍以上，從80%調升到200%，初步規劃五年內讓美元成為法定貨幣以提升信心。   Next Article   In Zimbabwe, a cemetery has become an exercise hotspot 在辛巴威，墓地成為運動熱門地點   Caroline Vumbunu believes that exercising among the dead helps prolong her life. 卡洛琳．馮布努相信在死人群中運動能夠幫助延長壽命。 Every morning, the 59-year-old takes power walks in the Warren Hills cemetery in Zimbabwe’s capital. 每天早上，59歲的馮布努在辛巴威首都的華倫丘墓地健走。 She’s not alone. The cemetery has become a workout site for dozens of other Zimbabweans due to a lack of gyms and other exercise venues in many Harare neighborhoods. 她並不孤單。由於在哈拉雷許多社區缺乏健身房與其他運動場所，墓地成為數十名辛巴威人的健身地點。 The dozens of men and women broke up into groups for routines led by instructors. Dressed in colorful tracksuits, they did pushups and crunches on a cemetery road bordered by countless graves. 數十名男女在教練的帶領下，分成幾隊進行例行訓練。他們身著五顏六色的運動服，在一條與數不清的墳墓接壤的墓地小徑上，做伏地挺身及仰臥起坐。 Those who come here in search of fitness among the more than 20,000 graves enjoy the serene environment. There are few distractions besides the occasional service vehicles or people driving by to visit the final resting places of their loved ones. 這些在超過2萬個墳墓間尋求健身的人，享受這種安詳的環境。除了偶爾經過的服務工作車或是前來至親愛人最後安歇地悼念的民眾外，很少有令人分心的事物。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1530346 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/922698 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K436: About movies - Top Gun: Maverick Flies Past Titanic as Paramount’s Highest-Grossing Movie at Domestic Box Office   Top Gun: Maverick has officially become Paramount Pictures’ highest-grossing movie in the United States and Canada, surpassing Titanic. 「捍衛戰士：獨行俠」，正式成為派拉蒙影業在美加地區最高票房電影，超過「鐵達尼號」。 While the 1997 romance-disaster epic technically racked up close to $660 million at the domestic box office including both its original run and several subsequent re-releases, it earned $600.8 million on its first run — a number that has now been surpassed by Maverick. 儘管這部1997年的浪漫災難鉅作包括首輪上映和之後幾次重新發行，在國內的實際票房累計達到接近6億6000萬美元，但該片首輪上映賺進6億零80萬美元—這個數字現在被「獨行俠」超越了。 The sequel to 1986’s Top Gun has raked in $601.9 million domestically to date since its May 27 release, according to Box Office Mojo. 根據票房統計網站「票房魔酒」，這部1986年電影「捍衛戰士」的續集，自5月27日上映至今，國內票房累積達6億零190萬美元。 Internationally, the action flick has earned $587.9 million, for a global total of $1.19 billion. 在國際市場，這部動作片已賺進5億8790萬美元，全球總票房為11億9000萬美元。   Next Article   ’The Wizard of Oz’ Is the Most Influential Movie of All Time－《綠野仙蹤》是史上最具影響力電影   The Wizard of Oz is the most influential film of all time, followed by Star Wars, Psycho and King Kong, according to a study. 一項研究顯示，《綠野仙蹤》是史上最具影響力的電影，其次是《星際大戰》、《驚魂記》及《金剛》。 Researchers at the University of Turin in Italy calculated an influence score for 47,000 films listed in the internet movie database (IMDb). The results showed that the top 20 most influential films were all produced before 1980, mostly in the US. 義大利都靈大學研究人員計算4萬7000部電影的影響力評分，這些作品列於網路電影資料庫（IMDb）。結果顯示，最具影響力的20部電影，都是在1980年前製作，主要集中在美國。 The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland and premiered in 1939, topped the list. It has been referenced in almost 3000 other movies, including its iconic songs like Over The Rainbow, and its most famous line ’I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.’ 1939年首映由茱蒂‧嘉蘭主演的《綠野仙蹤》高居榜首。該片在近3000部其他電影中被引用，包括〈彩虹之上〉等經典歌曲，以及最著名的台詞「我有預感，我們已經不在堪薩斯州了。」 Applying the same algorithm to actors, it found that Samuel Jackson, Clint Eastwood and Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Wayne made up the top five. 這項研究對演員應用相同的演算法，發現山繆傑克森、克林伊斯威特、湯姆克魯斯、阿諾史瓦辛格及約翰韋恩為最具影響力的五大演員。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1537363 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1256544 歡迎留言告訴我們你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Summary: Around the world, there are many foods that has nothing to do with their names. Some are based on place, and some are based on the food paired. In this episode, Angel and I chat about food trivia and go through the foods that have nothing to do with their names. Do you know of any foods like that Comment down below!   Vocabulary: Trivia n. 不重要的知識/冷知識 Food trivia can be used as an interesting conversation starter. 食物相關冷知識可以當作開啟話題的有趣議題。 Filling n. 內餡/填充物 Sun cake does not come from the sun and has no sun as its filling. 太陽餅不是從太陽來的，也不是把太陽當內餡。 Pomme frites n. 炸薯條(比利時) Pomme frites are just plain fries with a Belgian origin. Pomme frites是緣起比利時的炸薯條。   更多Vocab Podcast節目: https://www.15mins.today/vocab 歡迎主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K434: Stars Return to Fill the Stage, But Gaze at Many Empty Seats   Patti LuPone, Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig came back to Broadway. Dancers filled stages, symphonies reverberated in concert halls and international theater companies returned to American stages. 佩蒂盧彭、休傑克曼、丹尼爾克雷格回到百老匯。舞者登上舞台，交響樂在音樂廳內迴盪，國際劇團重返美國舞台。 The resumption of live performance after the long pandemic shutdown brought plenty to cheer about over the past year. But from regional theaters to Broadway, and from local orchestras to grand opera houses, performing arts organizations are reporting persistent drops in attendance. 經歷長時間疫情封鎖後，現場演出得以恢復，這在過去一年裡帶來很多歡呼，但從地方劇院到百老匯，從地方管弦樂隊到大型歌劇院，演藝組織均報告說，觀眾人數持續下滑。 Many presenters anticipate that the softer box office will extend into the upcoming season and perhaps beyond. And some fear that the virus is accelerating long-term trends that have troubled arts organizations for years, including softer ticket sales for many classical music events, the decline of the subscription model for selling tickets at many performing arts organizations, and the increasing tendency among consumers to purchase tickets at the last minute. 許多出品人預期，疲弱票房將延續到下一季，甚至更久。一些人擔心，病毒正讓困擾藝術機構多年的長期趨勢加速，包括許多古典音樂活動門票銷售疲軟，許多演藝團體銷售門票的訂閱模式正逐步下滑，以及消費者愈來愈傾向於最後一刻購票。 The concert industry, which attracts younger patrons than many other performing arts sectors, has been a real bright spot. Live Nation, the global concert giant, recently reported that it had sold 100 million tickets for the full year, more than in 2019. 與其他表演藝術領域相比，吸引更年輕顧客的演唱會產業一直是個真正亮點。全球演唱會產業龍頭Live Nation近來公布財報表示，該公司全年賣出1億張門票，比2019年多。 But scattered hits and crowded concerts can distract from the reality that, for most classical and theatrical institutions and shows, attendance is down, ticket prices are depressed, productions are fewer, and memberships or subscriptions have fallen. 然而，零星的叫座演出和擁擠的演唱會，可能會分散人們對現實的注意力。對大多數古典和戲劇單位及秀場來說，觀眾數下跌、票價下降、製作減少、會員或訂閱人數下滑。 Broadway offers the most obvious (and stark) evidence of diminished attendance and its economic consequences. During the 2021-22 season, which started slow and late as the industry gradually reopened, there were 6,860 performances seen by 6.7 million people, grossing $845 million. By contrast, during the 2018-19 season, the last full season before the pandemic, there were 13,590 performances seen by 14.8 million people, grossing $1.8 billion. 百老匯提供了最明顯（且赤裸裸）的證據，證明觀眾減少及其造成的經濟後果。由於這個產業緩步重啟，2021至22演出季較慢且較晚開始，這一季有6860場演出，670萬人觀看，票房收入8.45億美元。相較之下，2018至19年，也就是疫情爆發前最後一個完整演出季，共有1萬3590場演出，1480萬人觀看，票房收入18億美元。 Even far from Broadway, numbers are mostly down. 即便在遠離百老匯的地方，數字也大多是下滑的。 “I’d be a liar if I said I was happy,” said Brian Kelsey, managing director of Peninsula Players Theatre in Door County, Wisconsin. “I don’t know if people are out of the habit or unaware or if the clientele that had come is now more interested in outdoor beer gardens, I just know that we’re definitely seeing a downturn.” 威斯康辛州多爾郡半島演員劇院總經理布萊恩．凱爾西表示：「如果我說我很高興，那我就是在說謊。我不知道人們是出於習慣還是沒意識到，還是曾來過的客人現在對戶外啤酒花園更感興趣，我只知道我們絕對見證了景氣低迷。」Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6584988 Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K433: The Future of California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant   At a gathering of nuclear professionals and enthusiasts in Anaheim, California, a couple of months ago, the tenor of the conversations about the Diablo Canyon Power Plant — California’s last operating nuclear reactor — turned inconceivably hopeful. 數月前，在加州安那罕一場核專業人士與愛好者的聚會上，關於加州最後一座正在運行的核電廠魔鬼谷電廠的討論基調，變得不可思議地充滿希望。 The American Nuclear Society’s convention, held for four days in the shadow of Mickey Mouse, could not have picked a better venue to uplift spirits. And no one flashed a bigger grin than Gene Nelson, a standout not just for his towering height but also for his signature headbands and his yearslong campaign to keep Diablo Canyon running beyond a planned shutdown by the end of 2025. 這場在米老鼠陰影下舉行4天的美國核子學會大會，沒有比這更好的地方來振奮精神。沒有人比吉恩．尼爾森笑得更開心了。他引人注目，不只因為高大的身材，還有他的招牌髮帶，以及他多年來一直努力，希望讓預計2025年底關閉的魔鬼谷電廠能持續運轉。 “I thought our chances were zero,” Nelson, a government liaison for Californians for Green Nuclear Power, told the conference attendees about the effort to maintain nuclear power in the state. “What has happened since then, it’s been like a snowball.” 尼爾森是「加州人挺綠色核能」組織的政府聯絡員，他向與會者報告加州維持核能的行動說：「我還以為我們沒機會了，從那之後發生的事情就像滾雪球一樣。」 Pushing that snowball is Gov. Gavin Newsom. Although it seemed improbable that Diablo Canyon’s supporters could overcome the numerous challenges to maintain the plant’s operations, a lot has changed and those hurdles appear to be getting swallowed up in the growing clean energy movement. 推動這個雪球的是州長紐森。儘管魔鬼谷的支持者似乎不太可能克服眾多挑戰來維持電廠運作，但很多事情已發生變化，而且那些障礙顯然正被日益增長的清潔能源運動消除。 Last month, Newsom proposed a measure that would provide a forgivable loan of $1.4 billion to the plant’s owner to help resolve permitting, licensing and cost issues. The California Assembly would need to pass the legislation and have it signed in September to make the whole idea possible. 上個月，紐森提出一項措施，將向電廠擁有者提供14億美元可免除貸款，幫忙解決許可、發照及成本問題。加州議會將必須透過這項立法，並於9月簽署，才能讓整個想法成為可能。 In addition, the U.S. Energy Department made $6 billion available to nuclear plant owners to help keep existing facilities operating. 此外，美國能源部向核電廠擁有者提供60億美元，協助維持現有設施運作。 Gunda presented during a public conversation last month about the prospect of continuing the operations at Diablo, which produces about 9% of the state’s electricity. 上月一次公開談話中，加州能源委員會成員之一席瓦．岡達談及魔鬼谷繼續運作的前景。魔鬼谷發電量約占該州發電量的9%。 Even authors of a Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology report supporting the extension of Diablo Canyon noted that one of the two units had to be taken offline in 2020, the last time California experienced rolling blackouts. That has prompted some to urge caution. 就連史丹福大學和麻省理工學院一份支持魔鬼谷延役報告的作者也指出，兩座機組其中之一在2020年必須停機時，就是加州最近一次經歷輪流停電之時。這促使一些人呼籲要謹慎行事。 “I was a little bit heartbroken by the governor’s proposal,” said Najmedin Meshkati, an engineering professor at the University of Southern California who has inspected many nuclear plants throughout the world. “The word safety is only mentioned once in passing. They really need to bend over backward and go the extra mile to ensure the safety and reliability issues.” 曾赴世界許多核電廠視察的南加大工程學教授納吉米丁．梅許卡蒂說：「州長的提議讓我有點心碎。安全這個字只順便提到一次。他們真的必須盡力且付出更多努力，來確保安全性和可靠性的問題。」Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6584967 Powered by Firstory Hosting

Topic: A Monster Wind Turbine Is Upending an Industry Twirling above a strip of land at the mouth of Rotterdam’s harbor is a wind turbine so large it is difficult to photograph. The turning diameter of its rotor is longer than two American football fields end to end. Later models will be taller than any building on the mainland of Western Europe. 鹿特丹港口一處狹長土地上，有座風力發電機在轉動，規模大到難以近距離拍攝，葉片旋轉直徑比兩座美式足球場接起來還長，日後更新版的風機將比西歐大陸上任何建物都高。 Packed with sensors gathering data on wind speeds, electricity output and stresses on its components, the giant whirling machine in the Netherlands is a test model for a new series of giant offshore wind turbines planned by General Electric. When assembled in arrays, the wind machines have the potential to power cities, supplanting the emissions-spewing coal- or natural gas-fired plants that form the backbones of many electric systems today. 這個位於荷蘭的巨型旋轉機器，是奇異公司所規畫新系列巨型離岸風機的測試模型，配備了收集風速、電力輸出及各零件所受應力數據的感應器。這些風機若以陣列布建，具備為城市供電的潛力，取代大量排放廢氣、組成當今許多發電系統骨幹的燃煤或燃氣發電廠。 GE has yet to install one of these machines in ocean water. As a relative newcomer to the offshore wind business, the company faces questions about how quickly and efficiently it can scale up production to build and install hundreds of the turbines. 奇異公司尚未在海上安裝此類機器。奇異在離岸風電業堪稱新兵，面臨的問題是，能多快、多有效地擴大生產規模，以建造並安裝數百座風機。 But already the giant turbines have turned heads in the industry. A top executive at the world’s leading wind farm developer called it a “bit of a leapfrog over the latest technology.” And an analyst said the machine’s size and advance sales had “shaken the industry.” 然而這種巨型風機已在業界引起轟動。全球頂尖風場開發商的一位高管稱其為「超越最新技術的一次飛躍」。一位分析師表示，這款機器的尺寸與預售量「撼動了整個產業」。 The prototype is the first of a generation of new machines that are about a third more powerful than the largest already in commercial service. As such, it is changing the business calculations of wind equipment makers, developers and investors. 這是新世代風機的第一個原型機，新世代風機功能比已在商業運轉的最大風機還要強三分之一左右。因此，它正在改變風力設備製造商、開發商與投資人的盤算。 The GE machines will have a generating capacity that would have been almost unimaginable a decade ago. A single one will be able to turn out 13 megawatts of power, enough to light up a town of roughly 12,000 homes. 奇異的風機將具有十年前幾乎無法想像的發電能力，一座就能產生13百萬瓦電力，足夠點亮約有1.2萬戶家庭的小鎮。 The turbine is capable of producing as much thrust as the four engines of a Boeing 747 jet, according to GE, and will be deployed at sea, where developers have learned that they can plant larger and more numerous turbines than on land to capture breezes that are stronger and more reliable. 奇異表示，這種風機能產生相當於波音747飛機四具引擎的推力，將部署在海上，開發商已經知道在海上能安裝比陸上更大也更多的風機，以捕捉更強也更可靠的風。 The race to build bigger turbines has moved faster than many industry figures foresaw. GE’s Haliade-X generates almost 30 times more electricity than the first offshore machines installed off Denmark in 1991. 建造更大風機的競賽步調比許多業內人士預測的要快。奇異的Haliade-X風機，發電量幾乎是1991年安裝於丹麥近海的第一座離岸風機的30倍。 In coming years, customers are likely to demand even bigger machines, industry executives say. On the other hand, they predict that turbines will reach a point at which greater size no longer makes economic sense. 業界高層表示，未來幾年顧客很可能要求更大的機器。另一方面，他們預測，風機遲早會來到再大就不合經濟效益的時刻。 Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5180307   Next Article   Topic: A Scary Energy Winter Is Coming. Don’t Blame the Greens. Every so often the tectonic geopolitical plates that hold up the world economy suddenly shift in ways that can rattle and destabilize everything on the surface. That’s happening right now in the energy sphere. 有時候，承載世界經濟的地緣政治板塊會突然移動，把地表每樣東西搖得嘎嘎作響。這種事現在就在能源領域發生。 Several forces are coming together that could make Vladimir Putin the king of Europe, enable Iran to thumb its nose at America and build an atomic bomb, and disrupt European power markets enough that the upcoming United Nations climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, could suffer blackouts owing to too little clean energy. 有幾股勢力正在匯聚，能使俄國總統普亭成為歐洲之王，使伊朗有本錢不把美國放在眼裡，進而造出原子彈，並足以打亂歐洲能源市場，讓即將登場的英國蘇格蘭格拉斯哥聯合國氣候大會可能會因為潔淨能源太少而停電。 Yes, this is a big one. 沒錯，問題很大。 Natural gas and coal prices in Europe and Asia just hit their highest levels on record, oil prices in America hit a seven-year high and U.S. gasoline prices are up $1 a gallon from last year. If this winter is as bad as some experts predict — with some in the poor and middle classes unable to heat their homes — I fear we’ll see a populist backlash to the whole climate/green movement. You can already smell that coming in Britain. 歐亞兩洲的天然氣和煤價剛剛達到史上最高，美國原油價格創七年新高，而汽油價格每加侖比去年上漲1美元。如果今年冬天跟一些專家預測的一樣糟，一些貧窮和中產階級人家負擔不起取暖費用，我擔心會出現針對整個氣候和綠能運動的民粹反彈。在英國已經可以嗅到這個跡象。 How did we get here? In truth, it’s a good-news-bad-news story. 我們怎會走到這一步？其實，這是個好消息壞消息都有的故事。 The good news is that every major economy has signed onto reducing its carbon footprint by phasing out dirtier fuels like coal to heat homes and to power industries. The bad news is that most nations are doing it in totally uncoordinated ways, from the top down, and before the market has produced sufficient clean renewables like wind, solar and hydro. 好消息是，每個主要經濟體都已同意，透過逐步淘汰煤炭這類比較髒的燃料給家庭取暖和給產業供電，減少碳足跡。壞消息則是，多數國家這麼做的時候完全沒有互相協調，由上而下執行，而且市場還沒製造出足夠多的風力、太陽能和水力等清潔能源。 But how did the bad-news side of this story emerge so fast? 這個故事的壞消息面為何這麼快出現？ Blame COVID-19. First, the pandemic erupted and signaled to every major economy that we were headed for a deep recession. This sent prices of all kinds of commodities, including oil and gas, into downward spirals. 要怪新冠肺炎。首先，疫情爆發，對每個重要經濟體而言意味我們正走向深度衰退，使原油、天然氣等各類大宗商品價格走軟。 This, in turn, led banks to choke off investment in new natural gas capacity and crude wells after seven years of already declining investments in these hydrocarbons because of lousy returns. 這進而使銀行停止投資擴充天然氣產能和油井。銀行已減少投資這些碳氫化合物達七年，因為報酬率很差。 As Bill Gates points out in his smart book “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster,” the only way to reach our climate targets is to shift production of all the big heavy industries, like steel, cement and automobiles, as well as how we heat our homes and power our cars, to electricity generated from clean energy. Safe and affordable nuclear power has to be part of our mix because, Gates argues, “it is the only carbon-free, scalable energy source that’s available 24 hours a day.” 就像微軟創辦人蓋茲在他那本睿智的書「如何避免氣候災難」指出的，達成氣候目標的唯一方法是，改變所有重工業如鋼鐵、水泥、汽車業等的生產方式，以及我們在家取暖和為愛車提供動力的方式，轉而用潔淨能源發電。蓋茲主張必須接納安全可負擔的核能，因為「這是唯一不產生二氧化碳又能擴增的能源來源，每天24小時供應」。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5820545   Next Article   Topic: Londoners are better off returning to the office as bills soar City of London workers looking to save money may want to embrace the office over winter as the cost of working from home soars alongside energy bills. 在家工作的成本隨著能源費用的飆升一起上漲，因此到了冬天，想要省錢的倫敦城上班族可能會希望進辦公室上班。 Those prepared to go into the office every day could save about €50 (US$60) per week in January 2023 if they can walk, run or cycle into their workplace. That’s thanks to the money they’ve saved by not heating a home for the whole day, according to estimates by price comparison site Uswitch. 公室的人若可以走路、跑步或騎自行車到工作地點的話，在二○二三年一月，每週可節省約五十英鎊（六十美元）。根據價格比較網站Uswitch的估計，他們之所以省下這些錢，是因為家裡整天都不開暖氣。 Those working from home in January could expect to pay around €175 a week in energy costs and other incidentals included in Bloomberg’s calculations such as buying in your own coffee, a freebie in many offices. The combined cost of energy bills — factoring in the lower consumption expected — and five return trips on the Tube from London’s Zone 4 would be about €160 a week in January 2023, a €15 saving. 一月份在家工作的人預計每週要支付大約一百七十五英鎊的能源費用，以及彭博社所計算出的其他雜費，例如自費買咖啡——很多辦公室會免費供應咖啡。二○二三年一月能源帳單的總成本（以預期較低的花費計算），加上由倫敦第四區坐地鐵來上班來回五次，每週將花費約一百六十英鎊，因此跟在家工作相比，到辦公室上班節省了十五英鎊。 For those taking the bus, the total cost is about €140, a €35 weekly saving. In both cases, any rise in the cost of the commute will eat into those savings. 坐公車上班的人，總花費則約為一百四十英鎊，每週可節省三十五英鎊。在坐地鐵和公車這兩種情況下，任何通勤成本的增加都會消耗所省下的錢。 Uswitch estimates that the average monthly energy bill could hit €683 in January for home workers, compared to €492 for those heading to the office. It assumes remote workers use 25 percent more electricity and 75 percent more gas per day including from central heating. Uswitch估計，在家工作的人，一月份的平均能源費用可能會達到六百八十三英鎊，而到辦公室上班的人則為四百九十二英鎊。這是假設遠距上班的人每天多使用百分之二十五的電力，以及多百分之七十五的瓦斯，包括用於中央暖氣。 Coping Mechanism “People are going to be really struggling to heat their own homes and they are going to look for warmth in other places — we know that is a coping mechanism that people use, whether that is going to a public space, such as a library or a church maybe, or whether it’s going to work when you usually would work from home” Matt Copeland, policy officer at National Energy Action said. “Those are the options people will consider and people will take to actually find warmth.” 因應機制 「要把自己家裡變暖將是難以負擔的窘境，所以人們會到其他地方取暖——我們知道這是一種因應機制，無論是去公共場所，比如圖書館或教堂，或是在你通常在家工作的時候到辦公室上班」，國家能源行動組織政策主管馬特‧科普蘭表示。「人們會考慮和採用這些選項，而實際上找到暖源」。 The incentive to come into the office is likely to be welcomed by some in the City of London, where finance bosses have been pushing for a return to the office. Right now less than half of workers in the UK’s banking sector go into the office on an average day, and just 18 percent of insurance sector employees do so, according to a survey by consultancy Advanced Workplace Associates.準備每天去辦 對於這進辦公室的動機，倫敦城某些人可能會樂見其成。這些金融業老闆一直在推動員工重返辦公室。根據諮詢公司Advanced Workplace Associates的一項調查，目前英國銀行業平均只有不到一半的員工進辦公室上班，而保險業只有百分之十八的員工這麼做。source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2022/08/23/2003783959 Powered by Firstory Hosting

即刻加入15Mins通勤學英語直播室，每週一9pm等你來說英文 : https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k   PUT / GET YOUR THINKING CAP ON 認真思考 To engage your mind and think in a serious manner. We need to figure out how we’re going to solve this problem. So, let’s put our thinking caps on! DRAW A BLANK ㄧ無所獲，毫無回應 To fail to get an answer or result / to fail to remember something. He asked me for my phone number and I drew a blank - I just couldn't remember it. COVER A LOT OF GROUND涉及面廣 When a lot of work needs to be completed. If there is a lot of research to be done, or material to get through. Our team have done so well over the past two weeks, we’ve managed to cover so much ground that I feel this programme may be ready by the end of this month! We have to complete our research within the next month. We still have a lot of ground to cover, and I fear we may not get everything done in time.   LEARN (SOMETHING) BY HEART / OFF BY HEART背起來 To memorise something so well, that it can be written or recited without thinking. I can’t believe you learnt the whole Macbeth play by heart! Well done! She learnt all the compositions by Beethoven off by heart!   SCHOOL SOMEONE IN SOMETHING 教育某人某事 To train, discipline or coach someone in something. She schooled her brother in patience.   CUT CLASS / PLAY HOOKY / SKIP CLASS 翹課 When someone does not go to their lessons. David has been cutting class again; I haven’t seen him in any of our French lessons for the past week! They played hooky at college so they could be first in line for the concert tickets. The teacher told his parents that he’d been skipping classes! He’s not allowed to go out with us now.   練習時間: 請使用二到三個慣用語來分享自身校園/學習體驗 Use two to three idioms to share a story about your schooling or studies. Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K432: About SKorea - Cats caused more than 100 house fires in the past 3 years, South Korea officials say   Pet owners in South Korea have been warned to stay on their guard after more than 100 fires were started by cats over the past three years, according to fire officials in the capital Seoul. 南韓首都首爾的消防官員表示，貓在過去3年引發超過100起火災，警告寵物飼主保持警覺。 A statement Thursday from the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Department said cats caused a total of 107 house fires between January 2019 and November 2021. 首爾大都會消防與災難部門週四發表的一份聲明說，從2019年1月到2021年11月，貓總共引發107起住宅火災。 The cats are believed to have started the fires by switching on electric stoves, the department said. Cats can turn electric stoves on by jumping on touch-sensitive buttons – and once overheated, the appliances can catch fire. 該部門說，據信是貓打開電爐開關而引發火災。貓能夠藉由跳上觸動感應式按鈕而打開電爐──而電爐一旦過熱，就會起火。 Four people were injured in the fires, just over half of which started while pet owners were out, the statement added. 該聲明補充說，這些火災中有4人受傷，其中過半數火災發生於飼主不在家之際。   Next Article   ’Silver tsunami’ threatens to wipe out S. Korean rural communities 「銀色海嘯」恐令南韓偏鄉社區滅村   By 2030, a quarter of all South Koreans will be over 65 years old, and the overall population is expected to peak at around 52 million the same year before entering a period of steady decline. 2030年前，南韓總人口的4分之1，年齡將逾65歲，在進入穩定減少期前，總人口預計同年達高峰，約5200萬人。 Nestled among mountains and known for its mushrooms and apples, Gunwi county boasted a population of more than 70,000 in the 1980s. That number now stands at 24,000 with nearly 40 percent over 65 years old － one of the highest ratios in South Korea. （慶尚北道）軍威郡坐落在群山間，以蘑菇和蘋果聞名，1980年代曾擁有7萬多名人口。目前人口為2萬4000，近4成人口逾65歲，係全南韓比例最高的地方之一。 Childbirth has become so rare that there isn’t a single obstetrician or maternity ward in the entire county, and more than 20 elementary, middle and high schools have closed since the 1990s. South Korea has a fertility rate of 1.19 births per woman － the lowest among OECD member nations. 因出生率太低，導致整個軍威郡沒有任何婦產科醫師或產房，且自1990年代以來，20幾間小學、中學及高中已廢校。南韓每名婦女的生育率為1.19個孩子，在經濟合作暨發展組織（OECD）會員國中墊底。 Gunwi officials have done what they can to rejuvenate the county, offering free school lunches and cash incentives for couples having a third child. The central government has launched similar schemes across the country, pumping more than 80 trillion won since 2006 into programmes aimed at encouraging people to marry young and have larger families, according to health ministry data. 為讓軍威郡年輕化，當地官員已盡其所能，提供免費的學校營養午餐和發放現金獎勵予生第三胎的夫妻。根據南韓保健福祉部數據，中央政府已在全國實施類似方案，自2006年以來對該計畫挹注逾80兆韓元，旨在鼓勵民眾早點結婚，並組織較大的家庭。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1535135 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1014153 Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K431: About the Philippines - Growing ‘mermaiding’ subculture makes a splash   There was a pivotal moment in Queen Pangke Tabora’s life that eclipsed all others: It was the moment, she says, when she first slid her legs into a mermaid tail. 在潘奇．塔波拉皇后的生命中，有一個關鍵時刻令其它時刻都黯然失色：她說，就是當她第一次把雙腳滑進一個美人魚尾巴的時刻。 For the transgender Filipina woman approaching middle age, seeing her legs encased in vibrant, scaly-looking neoprene three years ago was the realization of a childhood dream. And it marked the beginning of her immersion into a watery world where she would find acceptance. 對這位即將步入中年的菲律賓跨性別女性來說，三年前看到她的雙腿被包覆在充滿活力、鱗片狀的紐普韌橡膠中，是兒時夢想的實現。代表著她開始沉浸在一個自己能夠獲得接受的水世界。 The former insurance company worker described the experience of gliding under water, half-human and half-fish, as “meditation in motion.”“The feeling was mermai-zing,”Tabora said one recent morning while lounging in a fiery red tail on a rocky beach south of Manila, where she now teaches mermaiding and freediving full-time. 這位保險公司前員工把在水下滑行、半人半魚的經驗描述成「運動中的冥想」。最近一個早晨在馬尼拉南方一處礁石海灘休息時，身著火紅魚尾服的塔波拉說，「這種美人魚的感覺太驚人了」，她在這裡全職教授如何像美人魚般游泳和自由潛水。 In recent years, a growing number have gleefully flocked to mermaid conventions and competitions, formed local groups called“pods,” launched mermaid magazines and poured their savings into a multimillion-dollar mermaid tail industry. 在最近幾年，越來越多人歡喜地湧向美人魚大會和競賽，形成各個叫做「pods」的地方團體，發行美人魚雜誌，把他們的積蓄投入這個價值數百萬美元的美人魚尾巴行業。   Next Article   Philippine collector amasses super-sized collection of fast-food restaurant toys 菲律賓收藏家蒐集極大量速食餐廳玩具   From the age of 5, Filipino graphic artist Percival Lugue has had a passion for collecting toys from fast-food restaurant chains like McDonald’s, Burger King and home-country favorite Jollibee. 菲律賓平面設計師帕西瓦爾‧魯格，從5歲開始就滿腔熱血地蒐集麥當勞、漢堡王及當地人最愛的快樂蜂等速食連鎖餐廳的玩具。 Now, the 50-year-old has about 20,000 toys packed from floor to ceiling in his home and holds a Guinness World Record from 2014, when his collection reached more than 10,000 items. 現在，50歲的魯格擁有約2萬組玩具，在家裡從地板堆到天花板，且2014年起持續保持金氏世界紀錄，當時他收藏的玩具已超過1萬組。 Lugue built his home especially to house his collection. He likens the excitement that getting new toys gives him to Christmas morning. "The toy is like a storyteller in itself." 魯格蓋了自己的房子就是為了放藏品，他把得到新玩具的興奮感比擬成耶誕節早晨，「玩具本身就像個說故事的人。」 While most of his toys were obtained through personal purchases, some were donated by friends and family. 儘管大部分玩具都是他自己花錢買的，但也有朋友和家人送的。 His dream now is to eventually put his collection on display for the public or even open a museum to "give others a chance to revisit their own childhood memories." 他現在的夢想是，最終可以向大眾展示他的藏品，甚至開一間博物館，「讓其他人有機會重溫自己的童年記憶。」Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1529024 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1464916 Powered by Firstory Hosting

Pubu飽讀電子書 通勤家族獨家優惠：點此享有訂閱優惠 Pubu 「飽讀電子書方案」，英語學習雜誌的Netflix！只要每日不到3塊錢就可以讓你把書店裡的熱門英文雜誌像CNN互動英文、空中美語、長春藤、LiveABC等都讀到飽！無限暢讀，把你的學習一站隨身帶著走～ Pubu平台重點特色： 熱門雜誌、暢銷書籍應有盡有 書籍類別保括英語學習、財經、新聞、時尚、親子 語音功能能將電子書變成有聲書 一個帳號可以登入七個裝置 馬上把學習一站隨身帶著走：點此享有通勤學英語 X Pubu飽讀優惠   即日起到2022/09/30 申辦半年或年方案，Pubu會加碼送: 福利1: 送購書金$50，購書即可立享折扣!! 福利2: 申辦年方案， 可以再抽五台P47 耳罩式藍牙耳機。   Summary: Election season is around the corner in Taiwan. This time, we would have to elect our mayors and city councilman. The US, with the mid-terms coming up, is bracing for the social media hype. Social media platforms, since the last election, is now cracking down on misinformation and regulating political advertising. In this episode, Angel and I chat about what the platforms are doing to regulate political ads. Have you seen any political ads and campaign information on your social media platform? Comment down below!   Vocabulary: Municipal election 直轄市長選舉 The municipal election and local election will take place on November 22nd this year. 直轄市與地方選舉會在11月22日舉行。 Sponsored ads / Paid ads 贊助商廣告/付費廣告 Social media platforms are required to mark politically sponsored ads. 社群媒體平台必須標示有政治贊助的廣告。 Clickbait n. 釣魚文 Content farms often use clickbait headlines to get more clicks. 內容農場常常使用釣魚文標題來增加更多點擊。   更多Vocab Podcast節目: https://www.15mins.today/vocab 歡迎主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K430: The Dinosaur Age May Have Ended in Springtime   The dinosaur-killing meteor hit in spring. 殺死恐龍的流星是在春天撞擊地球。 That is the conclusion of scientists who examined the bones of fish that died on that day when a 6-mile-wide asteroid collided with Earth. 這是科學家們研究一顆6英里寬小行星撞上地球當天死亡的魚骨，得出的結論。 “These fishes died in spring,” said Melanie During, a graduate student at Uppsala University in Sweden and lead author of a paper published in the journal Nature. “The reign of dinosaurs ended in spring.” 一篇發表於《自然》期刊論文的主作者、瑞典烏普薩拉大學研究生梅勒妮．杜林說：「這些魚在春天死亡，恐龍的統治在春天結束。」 Scientists have known when the meteor hit — just over 66 million years ago, give or take 11,000 years — and where it hit, off the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. That ended the Cretaceous period of Earth’s geological history, but even though three-quarters or more of the species of plants and animals disappeared in the mass extinction that followed, it has been hard to pinpoint fossils of anything directly killed by the meteor. 科學家們已經知道這顆流星撞擊時間，大約在6600萬年前，誤差頂多11,000年，撞擊地點則在墨西哥猶加敦半島。這起事件結束了地球地質史的白堊紀時期，但儘管四分之三或更多動植物物種在隨後的大滅絕中消失，卻很難精確找到被流星直接殺死的化石。 But in 2019, paleontologists published the discovery in southwestern North Dakota of what appeared to be a mass graveyard of creatures that died hours or days after the impact. Although North Dakota was about 2,000 miles from where the meteor hit, the seismic waves of what was the equivalent of an earthquake with a magnitude of 10 or 11 sloshed water out of the lakes and rivers and killed the fish. Tektites — small glass beads propelled into the air by the impact — rained from the skies. 但在2019年，古生物學家公布一項在北達科他州西南部的發現，當地似乎是一個在撞擊幾小時或幾天後的生物集體墓地。雖然北達科他州離隕石撞擊地約2000英里，但相當於規模10或11的地震波，讓湖水和河水濺出，殺死了魚類。被沖擊拋至空中的小玻璃珠狀玻璃隕石從天而降。 The researchers spent years exploring the site, known as Tanis, which is in the fossil-rich Hell Creek formation that stretches across four states. 研究人員花了數年時間探索這個被稱為塔尼斯的遺址，當地位在橫跨4個州、富含化石的地獄溪地層中。 With the new science results, the fossils now provide insight into the cataclysm that was previously impossible to discern. 有了新的科學成果，這些化石如今讓我們了解到以前無法辨識出的大災難資訊。 “It’s amazing that we can take an event, a single moment that happened 66 million years ago — literally a rock falling down and in an instant striking the Earth — and we can pinpoint that event to a particular time of the year,” said Stephen L. Brusatte, a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh who was not involved in the research. “I think it’s a detective story of the highest caliber.” 未參與研究的愛丁堡大學古生物學家布魯塞特說：「太棒了，我們可將一個發生在6600萬年前某個時刻的事件，即岩石墜落與瞬間撞擊，確認是在一年中的某個特定時間。我認為這是一部最高水準的偵探小說。」 Animals in the Northern Hemisphere — some emerging from hibernation or giving birth to young — might have been more vulnerable to extinction. “If it was spring, then it was not very likely for many organisms to be in hibernation,” During said. 北半球動物有些剛從冬眠中甦醒或剛生下後代，可能更容易滅絕。杜林說：「如果是春天，那麼很多生物不太可能處於冬眠狀態。」 Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K429: Londoners are better off returning to the office as bills soar   City of London workers looking to save money may want to embrace the office over winter as the cost of working from home soars alongside energy bills. 在家工作的成本隨著能源費用的飆升一起上漲，因此到了冬天，想要省錢的倫敦城上班族可能會希望進辦公室上班。 Those prepared to go into the office every day could save about €50 (US$60) per week in January 2023 if they can walk, run or cycle into their workplace. That’s thanks to the money they’ve saved by not heating a home for the whole day, according to estimates by price comparison site Uswitch. 公室的人若可以走路、跑步或騎自行車到工作地點的話，在二○二三年一月，每週可節省約五十英鎊（六十美元）。根據價格比較網站Uswitch的估計，他們之所以省下這些錢，是因為家裡整天都不開暖氣。 Those working from home in January could expect to pay around €175 a week in energy costs and other incidentals included in Bloomberg’s calculations such as buying in your own coffee, a freebie in many offices. The combined cost of energy bills — factoring in the lower consumption expected — and five return trips on the Tube from London’s Zone 4 would be about €160 a week in January 2023, a €15 saving. 一月份在家工作的人預計每週要支付大約一百七十五英鎊的能源費用，以及彭博社所計算出的其他雜費，例如自費買咖啡——很多辦公室會免費供應咖啡。二○二三年一月能源帳單的總成本（以預期較低的花費計算），加上由倫敦第四區坐地鐵來上班來回五次，每週將花費約一百六十英鎊，因此跟在家工作相比，到辦公室上班節省了十五英鎊。 For those taking the bus, the total cost is about €140, a €35 weekly saving. In both cases, any rise in the cost of the commute will eat into those savings. 坐公車上班的人，總花費則約為一百四十英鎊，每週可節省三十五英鎊。在坐地鐵和公車這兩種情況下，任何通勤成本的增加都會消耗所省下的錢。 Uswitch estimates that the average monthly energy bill could hit €683 in January for home workers, compared to €492 for those heading to the office. It assumes remote workers use 25 percent more electricity and 75 percent more gas per day including from central heating. Uswitch估計，在家工作的人，一月份的平均能源費用可能會達到六百八十三英鎊，而到辦公室上班的人則為四百九十二英鎊。這是假設遠距上班的人每天多使用百分之二十五的電力，以及多百分之七十五的瓦斯，包括用於中央暖氣。 Coping Mechanism “People are going to be really struggling to heat their own homes and they are going to look for warmth in other places — we know that is a coping mechanism that people use, whether that is going to a public space, such as a library or a church maybe, or whether it’s going to work when you usually would work from home” Matt Copeland, policy officer at National Energy Action said. “Those are the options people will consider and people will take to actually find warmth.” 因應機制 「要把自己家裡變暖將是難以負擔的窘境，所以人們會到其他地方取暖——我們知道這是一種因應機制，無論是去公共場所，比如圖書館或教堂，或是在你通常在家工作的時候到辦公室上班」，國家能源行動組織政策主管馬特‧科普蘭表示。「人們會考慮和採用這些選項，而實際上找到暖源」。 The incentive to come into the office is likely to be welcomed by some in the City of London, where finance bosses have been pushing for a return to the office. Right now less than half of workers in the UK’s banking sector go into the office on an average day, and just 18 percent of insurance sector employees do so, according to a survey by consultancy Advanced Workplace Associates.準備每天去辦 對於這進辦公室的動機，倫敦城某些人可能會樂見其成。這些金融業老闆一直在推動員工重返辦公室。根據諮詢公司Advanced Workplace Associates的一項調查，目前英國銀行業平均只有不到一半的員工進辦公室上班，而保險業只有百分之十八的員工這麼做。source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2022/08/23/2003783959 Powered by Firstory Hosting

Topic: Spain Turns to Corruption Rehab for Officials Who Can’t Stop Stealing Carlos Alburquerque isn’t your typical rehab candidate. He’s a 75-year-old grandfather living in Córdoba, a city in southern Spain. He was a town notary before he retired in 2015. He hasn’t touched drugs or alcohol in years. 卡洛斯‧阿布奎基不是常人眼中該進勒戒所的人。他住在西班牙南部哥多華市，是個75歲的祖父。2015年退休前他是市鎮公證人。他已多年沒碰毒品和酒。 But his isn’t your typical rehab program: It’s an 11-month boot camp to reform corrupt Spanish officials and “reinsert” them into mainstream society. 但他接受的並非一般勒戒計畫，而是為期11個月的訓練營，目的是改造西班牙的貪官汙吏，並將他們「重新注入」主流社會。 “Repairing the damage is what is left for me in this life,” said Alburquerque, who is serving a four-year prison sentence for stealing around 400,000 euros (nearly $500,000) in his work drawing up contracts and deeds. 阿布奎基說：「這一生只求彌補過錯。」他在草擬合約和地契時私吞約40萬歐元（近50萬美元），被判入獄4年。 Over the course of 32 sessions in an austere conference room in Córdoba’s penitentiary, Alburquerque will be monitored by a team of psychiatrists. He will sit for group therapy sessions with titles like “personal abilities” and “values.” He is, in some ways, the guinea pig of an experiment meant to answer an age-old question: Buried deep in the soul of a swindler like Alburquerque, might there be an honest man? 在哥多華監獄一間簡樸的會議室內進行32次療程期間，阿布奎基將受到一組精神科醫生監控。他將參加「個人能力」和「價值」等團體治療課程。某種程度上，他是一個實驗的白老鼠，實驗旨在回答一個老問題：像阿布奎基這種騙子的心靈深處，會有個誠實的自我嗎？ That such a program exists in Spain may say much about the country’s belief in second chances as it does about how corruption has captured the public imagination here. Flip open a newspaper or turn on the radio: You will hear of schemes, scandals and skulduggery. 西班牙有此計畫，說明該國相信第二次機會，以及貪腐問題受公眾注視。翻開報紙或打開收音機，你會聽到陰謀、醜聞與詐欺。 Ángel Luis Ortiz, a former judge who now runs Spain’s prisons, said the boom-bust cycles of Spain’s economy had led it to a long history of fraudsters and betrayals of public trust. 曾任法官、現在主管西班牙監獄的安赫爾‧路易斯‧歐提茲說，西班牙經濟的盛衰循環，造就了詐欺和背叛公眾信任的悠久歷史。 But at least, corruption rates in Spain were no worse than in other European nations, Ortiz said, just 5% of all crimes.It was Spain’s will to rehabilitate the offenders that set it apart from the rest, Ortiz said. 歐提茲表示，西班牙貪瀆率並不比其他歐洲國家高，僅占所有刑事案件的5%。西班牙想讓罪犯自新，才是它有別於他國之處。 Nine prisons are running programs so far, which began in March. Prisoners don’t get reduced sentences for joining, but officials say participating is looked on favorably when it comes time to request parole. 目前已有9所監獄實施這項從3月開始的計畫。囚犯不會因為加入而獲減刑，但參加者申請假釋時會加分。 Yet for all the volunteers, Ortiz still thinks his biggest challenge may be convincing Spain’s corrupt officials that there actually might be something wrong with them. 雖有不少人自願參加，歐提茲仍認為，最大挑戰可能在於讓西班牙的貪腐官員相信，他們可能真的有問題。 For that, the government turned to Sergio Ruiz, a prison psychiatrist who helped design the program. Ruiz said that in addition to getting participants to recognize their flaws in group therapy, inmates would eventually be asked to participate in “restorative justice” sessions where they would ask for forgiveness from their victims.  政府為此求助於監獄精神科醫生塞吉奧‧魯伊茲，他幫忙設計了這個計畫。他表示除了讓參加者在團體治療中認識到自身缺陷外，最終還會要求他們參加「修復式正義」的課程，請求受害者饒恕。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5495283   Next Article   Topic: ’Best birthday present ever!’ says Spanish diver after saving trapped whale In a gripping underwater rescue, Spanish divers have freed a 12-metre long humpback whale entangled in an illegal drift net off the Balearic island of Mallorca. 在一起扣人心弦的水下營救中，西班牙潛水夫在巴利亞利的馬約卡島外海釋放了一隻纏繞在非法流刺網中的12公尺長的座頭鯨。 One of the divers, 32-year-old marine biologist Gigi Torras, said last Friday’s rescue and a little gesture of appreciation from the giant mammal were also a birthday present for her - the ’best ever’ in her words. 其中一名潛水夫，32歲的海洋生物學家吉吉．托利斯說，上週五的營救和來自這隻巨大哺乳類的一些謝意表現，也是給她的生日禮物－用她的話說就是「歷來最棒」。 The weakened whale had been spotted by a ship about three miles off the eastern coast of Mallorca, prompting Palma de Mallorca’s Aquarium marine rescue centre into action. 一艘船隻在馬約卡東岸外海3英里處瞥見這頭衰弱的鯨魚，促使馬約卡島的水族館海洋營救中心投入行動。 After initial attempts to cut the net from a boat failed, divers plunged into the sea to remove the mesh with their knives in a daring 45-minute operation. 在最初從船上切斷漁網的嘗試失敗後，潛水夫潛入海中，在45分鐘的大膽行動中，用他們的刀子移除漁網。 Nicknamed "walls of death" for the quantity of other sea life they catch in addition to the fish they are set for, drift nets were banned by the United Nations 30 years ago. 流刺網有「死亡之牆」的綽號，30年前就遭到聯合國禁用，因為它們除了捕撈目標魚類之外，還能捕撈其他大量海洋生物。 Next Article Spanish engineers extract drinking water from thin air 西班牙工程師從稀薄空氣中取水 A Spanish company has devised a system to extract drinking water from thin air to supply arid regions where people are in desperate need. 一家西班牙公司設計出一套系統，可從稀薄空氣中提取出飲用水，供應乾旱地區民眾急需的用水。 "The goal is to help people," said Enrique Veiga, the 82-year-old engineer who invented the machine during a harsh drought in southern Spain in the 1990s. "The goal is to get to places like refugee camps that don’t have drinking water." 82歲工程師安立奎‧韋加表示：「我的目標就是幫助別人。」他在1990年代西班牙南部大旱期間，發明這部機器，「目標就是供水給難民營這類缺乏飲用水的地方。」 The devices made by his company, Aquaer, are already delivering clean, safe water to communities in Namibia and a Lebanese refugee camp. 他的公司生產名為「Aquaer」的設備，已在納米比亞和黎巴嫩的難民營投入使用，提供潔淨、安全的飲用水。 The machines use electricity to cool air until it condenses into water, harnessing the same effect that causes condensation in air-conditioning units. 這種裝置的運作原理類似冷氣機的冷凝作用，利用電力將空氣降溫，直到凝結成水。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1521149 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1467078   Next Article   Topic: Spain to make some train journeys free from September Public transport prices on state-owned service across Spain have already been slashed in half in response to rapidly rising energy and inflation rates. Now the government has announced further 100% discounts. 為因應能源價格和通膨率飆升，西班牙各地的國營公共運輸價格已經下調一半，如今近西班牙政府更宣布新的100％減價方案。 As of September, passengers will be able to travel across various trains operated by public train network Renfe for absolutely nothing. 今年9月起，乘客將可完全免費乘坐由西班牙國家鐵路公司（Renfe）營運的多種列車。 Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced that multi-journey tickets for trains operated by the network’s public services Cercanías, Rodalies and Media Distance (equivalent to local and medium-distance journeys) are to be free of charge from September 1 up until the end of the year. 西班牙總理桑切斯宣布，從9月1日到今年年底，西班牙國家鐵路公司將免費提供Cercanías、Rodalies和Media Distance營運的火車聯程車票（相當於本地與中距離旅程）。 The measure excludes single-journey tickets, or long-distance travels, according to public broadcaster TVE. Multi-journey tickets include a minimum of 10 return trips. 西班牙國家電視台報導，聯程票包含至少10次往返旅程，但排除單程票和長途票。   Next Article   Topic: Spain horse whisperer’s animals mirror stress sufferers’ state of mind 西班牙馴馬師的動物反映了壓力患者的心理狀態 In the Guadalix mountains outside Madrid, Argentine horse whisperer Fernando Noailles uses his animals to help people suffering from stress and anxiety. 在馬德里外圍的瓜達利斯山裡，阿根廷馴馬師費爾南多．諾瓦耶斯出動他的動物，來幫助蒙受壓力與焦慮的民眾。 The 57-year-old, who spent many years in the Patagonian wilderness living with horses, uses the animals as a way for patients to interpret and control their emotions. 這位曾在巴塔哥尼亞原野與馬兒生活多年的57歲男子，用這些動物做為病人解讀與控制自身情緒的一種方法。 People who come to his sessions spend time with the horses and learn through the movement of the animal what mental state they themselves are in, says Noailles, who charges up to 120 euros per session. 每堂課收費高達120歐元的諾瓦耶斯說，來到他課堂的民眾和馬兒共度時光，並透過馬兒的動作，來認識自身當下的心理狀態。 "The horse is a mirror," he says. "They are gregarious creatures, born to live in herds." 他說，「馬是面鏡子。」「牠們是群居動物，天生活在馬群裡。」 The therapy consists in monitoring how the horse responds to the client’s moods. From watching the horse’s reaction, the client learns how to identify and control emotions, he says. 這種療法在於監測馬兒如何呼應客戶心情。他說，從觀察馬的反應，客戶學會如何辨識和控制情緒。 "People in the first session, when they are in a difficult state of mind, see a horse that doesn’t stop, that moves, that even gallops. The horse is showing you a mind that doesn’t stop, that is tormented," he says. 他說：「處於困難心理狀態之中時，民眾上第一堂課，看著一匹動不停、甚至狂奔的馬兒。這匹馬對你顯示了一顆受到折磨的不停歇的心。」Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1530547 ; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1205649 Powered by Firstory Hosting

體驗無限英文學習雜誌的閱讀 以及 9/12的15Mins Live Special 快參加Pubu飽讀電子書體驗: 點我填表格   Rise / Rose 上升；升高；升起   If you remember rise with sun, it will be easier for you to distinguish rise from the other two verbs that are going to show up here.   For example, keeping with the sun topic, in the sentence: The sun rises in the east. Rise can also be used to indicate that something abstract is going up, as for example in Gas prices are rising again! This sense can convey a positive meaning when we are speaking, for instance, of moods or expectations. My expectations rose when the pretty blonde girl at the bar looked at me.   Raise / Raised 舉起；提起 ; 增加；提高 You should be able to easily distinguish raise from rise if you just remember raise is transitive, which means it will be followed by a direct object (a WHAT). The student raised his hand to answer the question. Raise can be a noun, too, especially talking about salaries, as in the following example: I hate Pete. He's been given yet another (pay) raise.   Arise / Arose 發生；出現 ; 起身 Last but not least, we have a third verb: arise. And its meaning? While it's true that it can replace rise, meaning "to get up from sitting, lying, or kneeling", this usage is fairly outdated and only used in very formal contexts. "Arise, Lord Snow!" - Said Queen Daenerys after Jon Snow had bent his knee.   When do we use arise, then? Mainly when we want to convey the meaning of something coming into being, originating or occurring. The opportunity arose for Rick to purchase a 1554 Spanish shipwreck gold bar.   分享時間: Tell a personal experience related to rise / raise / arise Make sentences from the words Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K428: About dogs - In Rio, rescue dog watches out for his rescuer   In Rio de Janeiro, one rescue dog has turned local mascot and budding online influencer after joining his rescuer’s ranks. 在里約熱內盧，一隻搜救犬在成為拯救他的警察的一份子後，已變成地方的吉祥物和新進網紅。 Corporal Oliveira, a dog with short brown hair thought to be around four years old, turned up one morning in 2019 at a police station on Rio’s Governador Island, injured and weak. 奧利維拉下士是隻有著棕色短毛的狗狗，年齡約4歲。牠在2019年的一個早晨，出現在里約戈韋納多島一間警察局外，當時身上有傷且虛弱。 "I gave him food, water. It took a while for him to get used to me," said Cpl. Cristiano Oliveira. But within a few days, Corporal Oliveira - the furry animal - started following his new master around the precinct. 克里斯提亞諾．奧利維拉下士說：「我給了牠食物和飲水，牠花了一陣子才習慣我。」幾天後，這隻毛茸茸的狗狗奧利維拉下士，開始跟著牠的新主人巡邏轄區。 Corporal Oliveira has his own Instagram profile with more than 45,000 followers, always hungry for more photos and videos of their mascot in his trademark police uniform, standing on top of police vehicles and motorcycles. 狗狗奧利維拉下士有自己的Instagram帳號，追蹤者超過4萬5000人，且這些粉絲總是熱切期待看到這隻吉祥物的更多照片，包括穿著標誌性的警察制服站在警車和摩托車上。 He even has a miniature toy firearm. 牠甚至配戴迷你版的玩具手槍。   Next Article   Your dog’s personality may have little to do with its breed 你家狗狗的個性可能和品種沒什麼關聯   A new study published in the journal Science confirms what dog lovers know - every pup is truly an individual. 一份刊登於《科學》期刊的新研究，證實了愛狗人士都知道的一件事：每隻狗狗確實都是獨立個體。 The researchers surveyed more than 18,000 dog owners and analyzed the genomes of about 2,150 of their dogs to look for patterns. 研究人員訪查逾1萬8000名狗主人，並分析他們所養的2150隻狗狗的基因組，找尋其中是否有規律。 They found that some behaviors, such as howling, pointing and showing friendliness to human strangers, do have at least some genetic basis. But that inheritance isn’t strictly passed down along breed lines. 他們發現，吼叫、鎖定陌生人並示好之類的行為，的確至少有某種基因依據，但並未完全在各品種間遺傳下來。 For example, they found golden retrievers that don’t retrieve, said co-author Kathryn Lord. Some breeds, such as huskies and beagles, may show a greater tendency to howl. But many of these dogs don’t. 例如，研究共同作者凱瑟琳．羅德說，他們發現有不會狩獵的黃金獵犬。像是哈士奇和米格魯之類的品種，可能具有吼叫的癖性，但其中也有許多不會吼叫的。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1532395 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1534990 Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K427: About Japan - 2-time Olympic champion Hanyu rings down the curtain on career   Two-time Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu announced on July 19 that he was hanging up his skates and retiring from competition after a glorious career that saw his popularity soar worldwide. 兩屆奧運金牌得主羽生結弦7月19日宣布，他在締造享譽全球的輝煌職業生涯後高掛冰刀溜冰鞋，不再出賽。 Hanyu, 27, held a news conference in Tokyo to announce his retirement. 27歲的羽生在東京的記者會上宣布退役。 He won gold medals at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 and the Pyeongchang Games four years later, becoming the first repeat Olympic champion in men’s figure skating in 66 years. 他在2014年的索契冬奧與4年後的平昌冬奧拿下金牌，為男子花式滑冰界66年來首位衛冕奧運冠軍的選手。 Hanyu also won the world championships in 2014 and 2017 as well as four straight Grand Prix Finals from 2013. He also won six All-Japan Championships. 羽生還在2014年與2017年的世錦賽中奪冠，以及自2013年起連續4度在國際滑冰總會花式滑冰大獎賽總決賽中封王。他還6度稱霸全日本花式滑冰錦標賽。 He tried to become the first male figure skater in 94 years to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals, but finished off the podium in fourth at the Beijing Winter Olympics this year. 他曾企圖成為94年來首位連續拿下3面奧運金牌的男子花式滑冰選手，但最後在今年北京冬奧中以第4名作收。   Next Article   日本人在83歲成為獨自航越太平洋的最高齡人士 At 83, Japanese becomes oldest to sail solo across Pacific   An 83-year-old Japanese adventurer returned home Saturday after successfully completing his solo, nonstop voyage across the Pacific, becoming the oldest person to reach the milestone. 一位83歲的日本冒險家成功完成他獨自一人馬不停蹄的跨太平洋之旅後，於週六返家，成為達到此里程碑的最高齡人士。 Kenichi Horie arrived in the Kii Strait off Japan’s western coast, completing his trans-Pacific voyage in 69 days after leaving a yacht harbor in San Francisco in March. 3月離開舊金山一處遊艇港以後，堀江謙一用69天完成他的跨太平洋旅程，抵達日本西岸外的紀伊水道。 It was the latest achievement for the octogenarian adventurer, who in 1962 became the first person in the world to successfully complete a solo nonstop voyage across the Pacific from Japan to San Francisco. 這是這名8旬冒險家的最新成就，他在1962年成為成功完成由日本單獨馬不停蹄橫越太平洋前往舊金山之旅的全球第一人。 Horie has also achieved a number of other long distance solo voyages, including sailing around the world in 1974. His latest expedition was the first since his 2008 solo non-stop voyage on a wave-powered boat from Hawaii to the Kii Strait. 掘江也完成過其他許多長程獨旅，包括1974年環航世界。其最新遠征是他2008年以波浪動力船從夏威夷航向紀伊水道以來，第一趟隻身馬不停蹄之旅。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1529966 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1523550 Powered by Firstory Hosting

精選詞彙播客 Vocab Ep.133: 亞馬遜掃地機器人 Do you need a Roomba or Zoomba?   Summary: Amazon acquired the Roomba recently with the hopes of creating a fully integrated IoT ecosystem for the home. Most people dread house chores because they are boring and tedious. In this episode, Angel and I chat about vacuum cleaners and robots for the home. What's your experience with vacuum robots? Comment down below!   Vocabulary: Vacuum cleaner 吸塵器 One of the most popular vacuum cleaner brands on the market is Dyson. 市場上其中最熱門的吸塵器品牌之一是戴森。 Anniversary sale 百貨週年慶 Department store anniversary sale is the best time to buy home appliances. 百貨週年慶是最好買家電的時機。 House chores 家事 Smart home appliances can help people with their house chores. 智慧家電可以幫助人們處理家事。   更多Vocab Podcast節目: https://www.15mins.today/vocab 歡迎主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] Powered by Firstory Hosting

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K426: Plans to Fight Global Warming Face an Obstacle in Paris: Trees   Long a favorite spot for picnics and sunbathing, the lawns surrounding the Eiffel Tower have recently become the scene of furious protests. First came a social media campaign. Then a rally by dozens of local residents. Before long, a protester had hunkered down in a nearby plane tree for a hunger strike. 巴黎艾菲爾鐵塔周圍的草坪向來是野餐和日光浴首選地點，最近成了憤怒示威的場景。首先是社群媒體發起的活動，接著是數十名當地居民集會。不久之後，一名示威者待在附近一棵法國梧桐下絕食抗議。 The source of their anger? A plan to cut down more than 20 trees, some more than 100 years old, around the tower as part of an effort to build a huge garden and ease tourist congestion. 他們為何生氣？有人計畫砍掉鐵塔周遭20多棵樹，其中有些樹齡超過百年，以便闢建一座大花園並紓解遊客擁擠問題。 The controversy is just the latest in a series that has engulfed Paris City Hall as it tries to green the city, a task that appears all the more urgent as scorching temperatures bear down on the French capital, and on the rest of Europe. 這只是巴黎市政府企圖綠化這座城市之際，捲入的系列爭議最新一起。隨著灼熱高溫襲向這座法國首都和歐洲其餘地方，綠化巴黎的工作更顯迫切。 Local authorities are redesigning Paris’ urban landscape to make it more climate-friendly, but a growing number of residents say the widespread cutting of trees around the capital is paradoxically undermining the city’s environmental ambitions. 地方政府正在重新規畫巴黎市區景觀，好讓巴黎對氣候更為友善，不過愈來愈多居民說，首都到處都有樹被砍，自相矛盾地削弱這城市的環保雄心。 Trees are considered some of the best defenses against the radiation that contributes to the heat waves that are on the rise everywhere because of global warming. 樹木被認為最能防止熱輻射。熱輻射促成因全球暖化而在各處日益頻發的熱浪。 “Without the trees, the city is an unbearable furnace,” said Tangui Le Dantec, an urban planner and co-founder of Aux Arbres Citoyens, a group protesting the felling of trees in Paris. 抗議巴黎樹木被砍的團體「公民樹」共同創辦人、都市規劃師勒丹泰克說：「要是沒有樹，這座城市就成了無法忍受的火爐。」 In recent months, small protests have sprouted across Paris, with residents and activists rallying around trees condemned by the sprawling urban development projects that have at times turned the capital into a giant construction site. 最近數月，巴黎各地湧現小規模抗議，居民和社運人士在樹木周遭集會，這些樹被雜亂擴張的都市發展工程包夾，這些工程不時將巴黎變為巨大的工地。 In April, they filmed the felling of 76 plane trees, most of them decades old, at the Porte de Montreuil on Paris’ northern outskirts. City Hall wants to turn the site into a huge square, part of a project by the mayor, Anne Hidalgo, to create “a green belt” around the capital. 今年四月，他們拍攝巴黎北郊蒙特勒伊門76棵法國梧桐被砍伐的實況，樹齡多半有幾十年。市府想把這個地點改為超大廣場，這是市長安妮．伊達戈在巴黎各處創造「綠帶」計畫的一部分。 “Ms. Hidalgo please stop the massacre,” said Thomas Brail, the founder of the National Group for the Surveillance of Trees, as machines chopped up trees behind him, in a video he shot in April. Brail later staged an 11-day hunger strike in a plane tree near the Eiffel Tower. 「全國看守樹木團體」創辦人布海爾在他4月拍的一支影片中，趁機器在身後砍樹時說：「伊達戈女士，請停止屠殺。」布海爾後來在艾菲爾鐵塔附近一棵法國梧桐下，發動11天絕食抗議。 Yves Contassot, a former deputy mayor of Paris in charge of the environment and a member of the Green party, said cutting down trees had become “a very sensitive question that causes a bit of a scandal at a time when we talk about fighting global warming in big cities.” 曾是負責環境的巴黎副市長、現為綠黨成員康塔索說，砍樹已成了「非常敏感的問題，在我們談論大城市對抗全球暖化時，引發相當的騷動」。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6498712 Powered by Firstory Hosting

Pubu飽讀電子書 通勤家族獨家優惠：點此享有訂閱優惠 Pubu 「飽讀電子書方案」，英語學習雜誌的Netflix！只要每日不到3塊錢就可以讓你把書店裡的熱門英文雜誌像CNN互動英文、空中美語、長春藤、LiveABC等都讀到飽！無限暢讀，把你的學習一站隨身帶著走～ Pubu平台重點特色： 熱門雜誌、暢銷書籍應有盡有 書籍類別保括英語學習、財經、新聞、時尚、親子 語音功能能將電子書變成有聲書 一個帳號可以登入七個裝置 馬上把學習一站隨身帶著走：點此享有通勤學英語 X Pubu飽讀優惠   即日起到2022/09/30 申辦半年或年方案，Pubu會加碼送: 福利1: 送購書金$50，購書即可立享折扣!! 福利2: 申辦年方案， 可以再抽五台P47 耳罩式藍牙耳機。     每日英語跟讀 Ep.K425: How the Kremlin Is Forcing Ukrainians to Adopt Russian Life   They have handed out Russian passports, cellphone numbers and set-top boxes for watching Russian television. They have replaced Ukrainian currency with the ruble, rerouted the internet through Russian servers and arrested hundreds who have resisted assimilation. 他們發出俄國護照、手機門號和觀看俄國電視用的機上盒。他們已用盧布取代烏克蘭貨幣，把網路經由俄國伺服器傳送，並逮捕數百名抵抗同化的人。 In ways big and small, the occupying authorities on territory won by Moscow’s forces are using fear and indoctrination to compel Ukrainians to adopt a Russian way of life. “We are one people,” blue-white-and-red billboards say. “We are with Russia.” 透過各種大大小小的方式，莫斯科部隊占領區的執政當局，正利用恐懼和洗腦，壓迫烏克蘭人接受俄國生活方式。「我們是同一個民族」，藍白紅三色的看板寫道，「我們與俄國同在」。 Now comes the next act in President Vladimir Putin’s 21st-century version of a war of conquest: the grassroots “referendum.” 如今俄國總統普亭的21世紀征服戰願景準備進行下一步：草根式「公投」。 Russia-appointed administrators in cities like Kherson in Ukraine’s south are setting the stage for a vote as early as September that the Kremlin will present as a popular desire to become part of Russia. They are recruiting pro-Russia locals for new “election commissions” and promoting to Ukrainian civilians the putative benefits of joining their country. 俄國在烏克蘭南部刻松等城市指派的官員，正安排一場最快9月舉行的投票，克里姆林宮將此包裝成大眾渴望成為俄國一分子。他們召募親俄的當地人，成立新的「選舉委員會」，並向烏克蘭平民宣傳加入他們國家的潛在好處。 Any referendum would be totally illegitimate, Ukrainian and Western officials say, but it would carry ominous consequences. Analysts in Moscow and Ukraine expect that it would serve as a prelude to Putin’s officially declaring the conquered area to be Russian territory, protected by Russian nuclear weapons — making future attempts by Ukraine to drive out Russian forces potentially much more costly. 烏克蘭和西方官員說，任何公投都是完全不合法，會帶來不良後果。莫斯科和烏克蘭的分析家預估，這會是普亭正式宣布將征服地區納入俄國領土的序幕，在俄國核武保護下，未來烏克蘭要趕走俄軍代價可能會更加慘烈。 Kherson is one of four regions in which officials are signaling planned referendums, along with Zaporizhzhia in the south and Luhansk and Donetsk in the east. While the Kremlin says it will be up to the area’s residents to “determine their own future,” 刻松是官員預告計畫舉辦公投的四個地區之一，其他包括南部的札波羅熱，以及東部的盧甘斯克和頓內次克。雖然克宮說，這些地區的居民「將決定他們自己的未來」。 As a result, a scramble to mobilize the residents of Russian-occupied territories for a referendum is increasingly visible on the ground. 正因如此，匆忙動員俄國占領區居民參加公投的行動，在當地已愈來愈明顯。 The Russian-appointed authorities of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, for instance, announced that they were forming “election commissions” to prepare for referendums, which one official said could happen Sept. 11 — a day when local and regional elections are scheduled to be held across Russia. 例如，札波羅熱和刻松地區的俄國指派當局宣布，他們正籌組「選舉委員會」，為公投作準備，一名官員說可能於9月11日舉行，這天是俄國預定全國舉行地方及區域選舉日。 “Russia is beginning to roll out a version of what you could call an annexation playbook,” John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, said last month. 美國國家安全會議發言人柯比上月表示，「俄國開始大量鋪陳一個你可稱之為併吞劇本的版本」。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6533747 Powered by Firstory Hosting

Topic: 74% of NYC Voters Say Crime Is a Serious Problem in the City, an All-Time High   As much as 74 percent of voters in New York City say crime is a very serious problem in the city, reaching the highest level since the topic was included in the Quinnipiac University Poll in 1999. 紐約市多達74％的選民表示，犯罪是該市一個非常嚴重的問題，這是自1999年昆尼皮亞克大學民意調查納入該主題以來的最高紀錄。 Crime ranks as the most urgent issue facing New York City, according to the survey. As much as 46 percent of respondents say crime is the most urgent issue facing the mega city making it the top issue while affordable housing and homelessness issues have 14 percent and 9 percent in favor, respectively. 根據這項調查，犯罪是紐約市面臨的最緊迫問題。多達46％的受訪者表示，犯罪是這座巨型城市面臨的最緊迫問題，使其成為首要問題，而負擔得起的住房和無家可歸問題，分別有14％ 和9％ 的受訪者表示認同。 Meanwhile, 43 percent of voters say New York City is less safe compared with other big cities, which is the highest level since the question was first asked by Quinnipiac in 2003. 與此同時，43％的選民表示，相較於其他大城市，紐約市更不安全，這是自2003年昆尼皮亞克大學提出這項問題以來的最高紀錄。   Next Article   Topic: 堪薩斯州女子在傳統鬆餅賽贏了英格蘭 Kansas woman wins traditional pancake race against England A woman from Liberal, Kansas, is this year’s champion of the traditional Pancake Day Race against women in Olney, England. 一名來自堪薩斯州利伯勒爾的女性，在傳統「鬆餅日大賽」力抗英格蘭奧爾尼女子組，是今年的冠軍。 Whitney Hay won the U.S. leg of the race in Liberal on Tuesday with a time of 1:07. That beat Katie Godof of Olney, England, who ran her race in 1:10. 惠特尼．海伊週二以1分7秒的時間，在利伯勒爾舉行的美國賽程中獲勝。這擊敗了英格蘭奧爾尼的凱蒂．戈多夫，她以1分10秒完賽。 The race returned after a hiatus in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. 這場比賽在2021年因武漢肺炎大流行喊卡之後重新回歸。 Contestants must carry a pancake in a frying pan and flip it at the beginning and end of the 380-meter race. The event began in Olney in the 15th century. In 1950, Liberal challenged Olney to an international competition. 參賽者必須在煎鍋中攜帶煎餅，並在380米比賽的開始和結束時翻轉。該事件始於15世紀的奧爾尼。1950年，Liberal鎮向奧爾尼鎮發起了國際競爭。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1504336 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1503943   Next Article   Topic: Oklahoma sixth-grader praised for heroism twice in one day   An Oklahoma sixth-grader was honored by law enforcement and school officials for his heroic actions not just once, but twice in the same day. 因為一天之內不僅一次，而是兩次的英勇行為，奧克拉荷馬州一名六年級學生受到執法單位與學校官員的表揚。 Earlier this month, Davyon Johnson used the Heimlich maneuver on a classmate who was choking on a bottle cap at his school in Muskogee. Later that same day, he helped a woman escape from a burning house, the Muskogee Phoenix reported. 馬斯科吉鳳凰報報導，本月稍早，戴維恩．強森在位於馬斯科吉的學校內使用哈姆立克法幫助一名被瓶蓋噎到的同學。當天稍後，他幫助一名婦女逃出起火的屋子。 Last week, Davyon was named an honorary member of the police and sheriff’s departments at the Muskogee Board of Education meeting, the newspaper reported. 上週，戴維恩在馬斯科吉教育委員會會議上，被任命為警察與治安官部門的榮譽成員，據該報報導。 Principal Latricia Dawkins called Davyon a “dual hero” and said the recognition couldn’t have happened to a better person. 校長拉翠夏．道金斯稱讚戴維恩是「雙重英雄」，並說此一褒揚不可能發生在更好的人身上。 Davyon’s mother, LaToya Johnson, said she’s not surprised he behaved the way he did. She said her brother, Wendell Johnson, is an emergency medical technician. 戴維恩的母親拉托雅．強森說，她對兒子的行為不感意外。她說，他的哥哥溫戴爾．強森，就是一位緊急醫療技術員。   Next Article   Topic: Why the Empire State Building, and New York, May Never Be the Same 為何帝國大廈與紐約市可能不再跟以前一樣   It once symbolized an urban way of working, and the city’s resilience. In the pandemic’s second year, the future of the world’s most famous skyscraper is in doubt. 它一度象徵一種都會的工作方式與這座城市的韌性。值此疫情大流行第2年，這座全球最知名的摩天大樓的未來仍在未定之天。 The Empire State Building, like the city it inhabits, relies on a steady stream of tourists, thriving retail businesses and companies willing to lease its vast amount of office space. （美國紐約市）帝國大廈一如其所棲息的城市，仰賴穩定的觀光客流、興旺的零售業，以及願意租賃其大量辦公室空間的公司行號。 The coronavirus pandemic emptied out the attractions, shops and offices, in both the building and the city, for months. 但新冠病毒大流行清空這幢大樓與紐約市的觀光景點、商店與辦公室（的人潮）達數月之久。 Like other tourist attractions around New York City, the famous observatories on the Empire State Building’s 86th and 102nd floors sat nearly empty for months. 一如紐約市各地其他的觀光景點，位於帝國大廈86樓與102樓的知名觀景台，已有數月幾乎空無一人。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1491796   Next Article   Topic: Biden’s right-to-repair order is good news for people who always break their phones After years of petitions and proposals, momentum is building in government to give consumers broader rights to repair products they own ranging from farm tractors to mobile phones. 在多年的請願與提案後，政府正在推動給予消費者更大的權利去維修他們擁有的產品，範疇從農場的曳引機到手機。 The right-to-repair issue has brought farmers in league with electronic and computer enthusiasts, who for years have groused at the thought that they merely licensed software, didn’t own it, and weren’t able to modify it to their liking. 維修權問題讓農民與電子產品及電腦的愛好者結盟，他們多年來一直抱怨自己只獲授權使用軟體，並未擁有它，也無法根據自身喜好調整它。 In a press briefing yesterday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden will issue an executive order directing the US Department of Agriculture to issue rules that "give farmers the right to repair their own equipment how they like." 在昨天的新聞發布會中，白宮新聞秘書珍．莎琪表示，拜登總統將發布一項行政命令，指示美國農業部發布規定，「賦予農民權利，隨他們的喜好修復自己擁有的設備」。 Biden will urge the Federal Trade Commission to press computer and electronics manufacturers and defense contractors to offer additional leeway in how their devices are repaired. 拜登還將敦促聯邦貿易委員會施壓電腦、電子產品製造商與國防承包商，在如何修復他們的裝置上提供更多餘地。   Next Article   Topic: One in five young adults is neither working nor studying in US 美國5名年輕成人就有1人沒在工作，也沒就學 Almost one in five young adults in the U.S. was neither working nor studying in the first quarter as Black and Hispanic youth remain idle at disproportionate rates. 今年第1季美國幾乎每5名年輕成年人中，就有1人沒在工作也沒在就學，非裔與西裔年輕人賦閒率更是不成比例。 In the first three months of the year, about 3.8 million Americans age 20 to 24 were not in employment, education or training, known as the NEET rate, the Center for Economic Policy and Research said in a report. That’s up by 740,000, or 24%, from a year earlier. 「經濟政策與研究中心」在一份報告中說，今年前3個月，約380萬名20歲到24歲的人處於非就業、就學或接受培訓，即所謂「尼特」率，比一年前多出74萬人，或者24％。 Inactive youth is a worrying sign for the future of the economy. Further, high NEET rates may foster environments that are fertile for social unrest. 年輕人閒閒沒事做，是經濟前景一個令人擔心的徵兆。而且，高「啃老」率或許助長醞釀社會不安的環境。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1461413; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1464726   Powered by Firstory Hosting

即刻加入15Mins通勤學英語直播室，每週一9pm等你來說英文 : https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k   Expressions for handling complaints 處理抱怨   Apologize 道歉 I appreciate your letting me know about that. I'm sorry for any inconvenience. Please accept our apologies. I'll let my manager know. I understand your frustration. Resolving the inconvenience 解決對方的不滿 Here's a coupon to make up for your trouble. We'll sort that out for you right away. I'm going to see how we can make this better for you.   Expressions for resolving conflict 解決衝突   Identify disagreement 點出雙方意見不合 I think you may have misinterpreted that. I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot. I don't think we have all the information. Please don't take that the wrong way. I understand where you're coming from. Moving forward 促進下一步溝通 I think we can work this out. I think we can find a compromise. Should we get a third opinion? I'm sure we can reach an agreement. We should revisit this at another time. 雙人對話時間: Complaint : The supplier sent you the right product, but of the wrong size. Complaint : The iPhone you purchased did not come with charging cables as advertised Conflict : Your colleagues accused you of spreading rumours about them. Powered by Firstory Hosting