英文的學習不能等

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     Talented people and a lot of money have given Pixar an advantage, but their success has come from their creative ideas. Pixar is known for being at the forefront of innovation by using the latest technology to develop its concepts. While many other animators were still illustrating traditionally, Pixar was taking chances on young college graduates that were skilled in computer animation. They set up a base in San Francisco, far from California's animation capital, Los Angeles, and it didn't take long before the magic started happening.

　　Pixar's risks and business strategies paved the way for a new generation of animation. Their movies are made using CGI, a special type of computer graphics. Unlike regular movies, Pixar creates locations in computers instead of on land. Actors come into the studio to voice the characters, and the illustrators rely on them for inspiration when animating characters. Pixar movies have also inspired others to follow suit, such as DreamWorks Animation. Although their first release was in 1998, DreamWorks has released nearly double the movies compared with that of Pixar. Regardless, Pixar has changed the way children and adults all over the world watch movies and has consistently offered everyone something to enjoy.

(反服貿現場的美女帥哥)

let it go

這首歌是2013年動畫作品《冰雪奇緣》當中的歌曲
第86屆奧斯卡金像獎最佳原創歌曲獎
非常的朗朗上口
當然也非常適合拿來學英文囉!

In Hot Water　水深火熱

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Dialogue A
Laura: How was work today?
Ben: It was awful. I was very stressed.
Laura: Why? What happened?
Ben: My boss was a bit hot under the collar.
Laura: Why?
Ben: He doesn't think the new product I designed will sell like hot cakes.
Laura: You're in hot water now.
Ben: I know. He wants me to come up with a new design as soon as possible.
Laura: Well, there goes our vacation plans.

Dialogue B
Ben: My boss really put me in the hot seat. I'm at a loss for ideas.
Laura: When does he want to see the new design?
Ben: Within the next couple of days.
Laura: Is that enough time?
Ben: No, probably not. I guess I will have to work all weekend.
Laura: What if you can't finish it?
Ben: Let's hope that won't happen. My boss is such a hot-tempered man.
Laura: You'd better get busy.

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Body-Made Music　人體交響曲

by Jason Alloy

When we think of historical days that sum up the concept of freedom, many dates come to mind. One in _(1)_ was when Roman Emperor Claudius officially stated that all Roman citizens would be allowed to pass gas whenever it was necessary. Back then, _(2)_ one's gas was seen as a serious health risk.

To find out _(3)_ causes the fart, you have to start in the stomach. The stomach is _(4)_ your food is broken down into nutrients and then moved into the small intestine. However, some foods that are _(5)_ pass into the large intestine. Here, bacteria break down the material and create either odorless gases or the infamous _(6)_ gas.

As gases exit the rectum, the vibration of the anal opening produces a sound. The volume of the sound _(7)_ the exit speed of the gas and content of the gas bubble. The fewer bacteria, the larger the bubble and thus the louder the fart is. However, the volume is inversely _(8)_ odor, so a loud fart is not likely to smell, while the silent ones can be "deadly."

Eating foods high in carbohydrates or complex sugars like beans increases the _(9)_ of farting. Most people fart 10 times per day and _(10)_ about 1.12 liters of gas. The longest fart reported was two minutes and 42 seconds. Monitoring the diet or swallowing excess air can treat excessive gas.

Freedom of passing gas didn't last long in ancient Rome. In 315 BC, Emperor Constantine overturned Claudius's law, and we've been cautious about our body-made music ever since.

(A) release (B) smelly (C) frequency (D) where (E) what
(F) related to (G) indigestible (H) particular (I) depends on (J) holding in

Wireless Charging 神奇的無線充電器

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by Owain Mckimm

There are wireless ways to keep phones charged.

　　Our world is filled with wireless technology that is capable of transferring complex digital information to and from smartphones, GPS devices, and all other manner of gadgets. Now, there is a new wireless approach to charging these devices that is quickly becoming a _(1)_ for the modern consumer. Who could have ever thought being able to transfer power from one device to another was possible? 

　　Wireless charging means that you will no longer have to _(2)_ getting tangled up in a mass of cords when you want to charge up your phone, PlayStation Portable (PSP), or electric toothbrush. This technology was actually first _(3)_ in the 19th century by the famous electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. Recent advances in miniaturizing technology, improving its efficiency, and honing its applications have finally made Tesla's dream _(4)_ in our wireless 21st century. 

　　Wireless chargers work by transferring energy over a short distance using an electromagnetic field. To charge a device, you need both a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is plugged _(5)_ a power source and creates an electromagnetic field which induces a charge in the receiver placed in the vicinity.

　　Companies like Powermat Technologies and WiTricity have already developed such devices to be used with mobile phones and to power kitchen _(6)_. There are even bigger plans to develop devices which can _(7)_ power to an entire roomful of machines like TVs, lights, and laptops from a single source. In the future, even electric cars could be completely charged by wireless units embedded in the roads.

1. (A) attitude　　(B) guidance　　(C) election　　(D) reality
2. (A) worry about　　(B) run into　　(C) take over　　(D) pick up
3. (A) pretended　　(B) removed　　(C) imagined　　(D) switched
4. (A) courteous　　(B) feasible　　(C) faithful　　(D) offensive
5. (A) into　　(B) on　　(C) for　　(D) at
6. (A) blossoms　　(B) landmarks　　(C) appliances　　(D) nightmares
7. (A) bless　　(B) deliver　　(C) honor　　(D) mend 

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The Reunion　同學會

Lisa Smith jumped up from her nightmare. In the dream, a boy on the high school football team was making fun of her thick glasses and greasy hair. As soon as she opened her eyes, Lisa had butterflies in her stomach. She realized today was her 10-year reunion.

For Lisa, high school wasn't all bad. She got great grades and learned a lot about many different things. She even kept in touch with some of her friends from that time. But it was him, Jim Cower, that she still felt angry at. Even though she had gone through college and medical school, Lisa was very upset about the way Jim treated her every morning in high school. He would make fun of her, and all of his friends would laugh in her face. These bad memories were still fresh in her mind even after 10 years. But Lisa has blossomed into a beautiful lady since she graduated from high school. Her glasses have been replaced by contacts and her hair is now long and flowing.

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下載

　　Every four years, the world stops what it is doing and turns its attention to an event so spectacular that billions of people tune in to see what happens. If you guessed that this is the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, then you are right. This summer, the Olympic Games will be held in London, England from July 27 to August 12. Athletes from 205 nations around the world will be competing in feats of strength, speed, and accuracy. Overall, there will be 300 events at the Olympics this year, with women's boxing making its debut.

　　London is the only city ever to host the games three times. It is home to many famous sporting venues like Wimbledon, Wembley Stadium, Lord's Cricket Ground, Millennium Stadium, and Hyde Park, which will all be hosting events. The newly built Olympic Stadium will also feature many of the events, along with the opening and closing ceremonies that will be watched by billions worldwide. The Olympic organizers are making a big effort to go green this year. Everything is designed to have low carbon emissions, produce little waste, and involve green technology wherever possible.

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by Jerri Graham

As Harry Potter's beloved pet, Hedwig, a Snowy owl, is probably the most famous bird in the world. Snowy owls are just one of the more than 200 species of owls. Owls _(1)_ size and can be as little as the 31-gram Elf owl and as large as the Blakiston's Fish Owl, which can weigh almost five kilograms. Owls are actually very different from other birds.

Owls are nocturnal animals, which means that they sleep during the day and hunt at night. They are known both for their unique call, or hoot, and their extremely good sight. They use these features to navigate and hunt in the dark. They are far-sighted and use this vision to track and target their prey _(2)_ a distance.

_(3)_ pigeons and sparrows can exist on seeds and grains, this would not satisfy most owls. Instead, they prefer to eat small mammals such as moles, mice, and rabbits. _(4)_ these warm-blooded creatures, they will also feed on insects and other birds when hunger strikes. Like other birds of prey, owls have sharp beaks and claws that they use to tear their food to pieces before eating it.

Sometimes they do swallow larger chunks of bone, feathers, and other things that are indigestible. What their bodies don't digest is thrown up _(5)_ owl pellets. These lumps of bone and other bits are collected because they are _(6)_ for studying the habits and diet of owls.

Owls serve man by _(7)_ some of the pests that would make life unbearable. Protecting their habitat is, in a sense, a way of protecting our own.

1. (A) vary in (B) range from (C) cover up (D) yield to
2. (A) upon (B) beyond (C) from (D) among
3. (A) Since (B) Whether (C) Unless (D) While
4. (A) Except for (B) In addition to (C) Rather than (D) In spite of
5. (A) in the form of (B) for the sake of (C) at the sight of (D) on the verge of
6. (A) costless (B) invalid (C) worthless (D) invaluable
7. (A) promoting (B) eliminating (C) attracting (D) neglecting

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Once upon a time, an old man lived by himself up in the mountains above a village. His wife had died of a terrible illness years before and everyone thought he was very lonely. All of the townspeople liked the old man. He was very friendly with everyone whenever he came down and fetched supplies to care for his garden. Sometimes people from the town would come up to visit the old man. They also expressed their sympathy for him because his son went so far away to study. They were even concerned about whether his son would ever return to their humble village.

The old man, a firm believer in fate, would give them a simple answer, "Everything always works out in the end." The old man would thank the people for worrying about him. Then he would explain to them that everything in the universe affects everything else. If something was meant to be, then it was meant to be.

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by Rachel Black

For ages, sailors have said that it is good luck to see dolphins swimming alongside boats. Their presence meant that land was near, which would be vital information if a boat and her crew were in danger. Some dolphins have even protected shipwrecked sailors from sharks. It is no wonder that these unique and fascinating creatures have long been known as our friends.

You may think dolphins are fish, but they are actually mammals. They are related to whales and porpoises, and they evolved around 10 million years ago. Dolphins breathe air, give birth to live young, and feed them milk. They are social animals, living together in groups called pods or schools that range in size of up to 12. In places rich in food, many schools can combine together to form pods of up to 1,000 dolphins.

Dolphins are thought to be intelligent animals because of their playfulness, curiosity, and quick ability to learn. They seem to communicate with each other through a combination of squeaks, whistles, and clicks. While scientists don't know what they are going on about, it is thought that dolphins are telling each other that food is nearby, or warning each other of approaching danger. Dolphins use sonar to discover an object's size, shape, and location. By sending out a series of clicks and receiving the echo that bounces off the object, they can differentiate between a shark and a boat.

Unfortunately, dolphins have faced increasing danger in recent years. Fishermen in pursuit of profitable tuna may accidentally trap dolphins in their nets, killing them in the process. These intelligent mammals of the sea deserve our protection and respect.

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In 1948, the Drexel Institute of Technology in America got a call from a local storeowner asking for help. He wanted the school to invent a machine that would help keep track of inventory as well as speed up the checkout process. Drexel asked two of their brightest students, Joe Woodland and Bernard Silver, to find a solution. 

Woodland was fascinated by this problem and his idea was to use ultraviolet ink. He had difficulty with the first model because it was unstable and expensive. In 1952, the team came up with a new method and a patent was approved. The first barcode looked like a bull's-eye and was made up of many small circles. The barcode we know and see today looks very different; however, its purpose is still the same. When a barcode is scanned, data is collected and the product is immediately identified. The first product to have a barcode on it was a pack of Wrigley's gum. Today, that pack of gum is on display at the National Museum of American History.

馬英九 蔡英文 宋楚瑜 換個髮型就可以打趴一票型男美女了吧!

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本週話題焦點：籌備新進人員面試(預訂安排面試場次)

Mike: How many interviews do you have scheduled for today?
Mike：你今天預定有幾場面試？

Janice: Let me see... I have three in the morning and six in the afternoon. How about you?
Janice：我看一下... 早上會有三場，下午有六場。你呢？

Mike: I have four this morning and seven later on in the afternoon.
Mike：我早上有四場，待會下午還有七場。

Janice: We'll both have our hands full this week! Our deadline is Monday, so we'll have to make our final decisions by the end of the week.
Janice：這禮拜我們兩個會忙到不可開交！我們的期限是禮拜一，所以我們得在這禮拜以前做出最後的決定。

Mike: Yeah, I know. My schedule is totally full. I've received so many resumes and CVs, and I've had a really difficult time deciding which applicants I wanted to interview.
Mike：是啊，我知道。我的計劃表都排滿了。我收到好多履歷表和個人簡歷，真的很難決定我該面試哪些應徵者。

Janice: I understand what you mean. We're in the same boat!
Janice：我了解你的意思。我們現在處境相同啊！

Mike: How many did you receive?
Mike：你收到多少份履歷？

Janice: I received about twenty-five by mail and another fifteen by e-mail. That's not to mention the old ones that I've kept on file.
Janice：我收到大概二十五封郵寄的，另外還有電子郵件的有十五封。更不用提之前那些我已經存放在檔案裡的。

Mike: Well, I guess we've got our work cut out for us. Time to get a large cup of Joe...it's going to be a long day.
Mike：嗯，我想我們的工作很不簡單喔。該是時間來杯濃咖啡啦 …今天將會是漫長的一天。

Janice: Yeah, a long day and a long week! Have a nice day.
Janice：是呀，漫長的一天，而且也是漫長的一個禮拜！祝你今天一切順利啊！

Mike: You, too. Don't work too hard!
Mike：你也是。別工作過頭啊！

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You're Into What?　戀物癖

by Marcus Maurice

During the Tang Dynasty, girls as young as five had bandages wrappedund their feet to inhibit the growth to no longer than six inches. _(1)_ Later in their lives, women who had endured foot binding suffered from terrible infections or were unable to walk even short distances. Women with bound feet wore lotus shoes. These delicate shoes were embroidered by the woman and attested to the smallness of her feet. Many men became fascinated with these small-footed women. _(2)_

Fetishes have been around forever. However, it wasn't until the late 1800s that it was identified and named. _(3)_ Since then, people who have serious fetishes for strange things have been thought of as mentally ill. Most people with fetishes believe they have had them since they could remember, but some can trace it back to a certain date or event. Psychologists have varying theories about why some people develop fetishes, _(4)_.

To treat people with severe fetishes, doctors use cognitive therapy and psychoanalysis. The former focuses on suppressing the patient's present-day desires, _(5)_. Prescription drugs that limit the amount of testosterone in males and estrogen in females also help. These medications enable patients to ignore their fetish and regain control of their lives.

Fetishes are normal as long as they don't cross the line. When it rules a person's life and puts others in danger, professional help is the answer.

(A) As a result, bound feet and lotus shoes became a fetish for some men.
(B) while the latter tries to figure out what caused the problem during childhood
(C) In 1877, French psychologist Alfred Binet introduced the word fetish to the world meaning admiration of an inanimate object.
(D) but most believe that imprinting, an event during childhood that has stayed in the mind, is to blame
(E) This barbaric process became popular all over China because people believed that the smaller the foot, the more beautiful the girl.

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本週話題焦點：職務轉調與薪事 (業績獎金)

Lisa: Good morning, Dan. Please take a seat.
Lisa：Dan，早安。請坐。

Dan: So what can I do for you this morning?
Dan：早上要我為你做些什麼嗎？

Lisa: Well, I just wanted to talk to you about your sales performance this month and to congratulate you on being the top salesperson again this month.
Lisa：這個嘛，我只是想跟你討論你這個月的銷售表現，並且恭喜你又蟬連本月的超級銷售王了。

Dan: Thank you. The big order from that German company really helped me this month.
Dan：謝謝你。那份德國公司客戶的大訂單真的在這個月幫了我大忙。

Lisa: You have been the top salesperson for six months in a row, and I would like to give you a twenty thousand dollar bonus, which will be added to your next pay.
Lisa：你已經連續六個月都是超級銷售王，所以我想要給你二萬塊的獎金，獎金會加在你下個月的薪水裡。

Dan: Wow! I'm speechless! Thanks a lot.
Dan：哇！我不知該說些什麼！真的謝謝你！

Lisa: I have one more bit of good news for you. Our sales department will be expanding and I would like to offer you an assistant manager position. You can think it over for a couple of days. You don't need to give me an answer today.
Lisa：我還有另一個好消息要給你。我們銷售部門即將要拓展，而我想要請你當助理經理。你有幾天的時間可以好好考慮一下。不必今天就給我答案。

Dan: This must be my lucky day! I don't have to think about it. I accept!
Dan：今天一定是我的幸運日！我不用考慮了。我接受啊！

Lisa: But we haven't discussed the remuneration package yet. Come by my office this afternoon at 3:00 and we'll discuss it in further detail.
Lisa：但我們還沒談到薪水的部分耶。今天下午三點來我的辦公室，我們再更進一步詳細地討論薪水的事。

Dan: Great. Thanks again and have a wonderful day!
Dan：太好了。再一次謝謝你，祝你有愉快的一天！

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本週話題焦點：職務轉調與薪事 (新職位 vs.舊職位)

Dan: Hi, Kathy. How was your first day in the marketing department?
Dan：嗨，Kathy。你在行銷部的第一天都還好嗎？？

Kathy: It went pretty well. We all have to work in a team, and all of my new colleagues are very nice. The atmosphere is a lot better here than it is in the sales department.
Kathy：很順利啊。我們得團隊合作，而我的新同事們人都很好。這裡的氣氛比在銷售部門時好多了。

Dan: I'm glad to hear that you are happy in your new stress-free environment.
Dan：很高興聽到你在無壓力的新環境裡過的開心。

Kathy: Enough about me. How are things going with you? Make any big sales this month?
Kathy：對我而言是夠開心的了！那你怎麼樣？這個月有什麼大案子嗎？

Dan: Yeah, I just received a big order today from a German company. They are already one of my clients, but they just tripled their order on a permanent basis.
Dan：有啊，我今天才剛接到一個德國公司的大訂單。他們本來就是我的客戶之一，不過他們剛剛把原來固定的訂單增加為三倍。

Kathy: Wow! So your commission from them has just tripled also?
Kathy：哇！所以你從他們那邊抽取的佣金也變成三倍囉？

Dan: Yeah, and I didn't even have to lift a finger. I love this job!
Dan：是呀，而且這根本不費吃灰之力。我超愛這份工作的！

Kathy: Well, I don't miss it a bit. I remember nights when I couldn't even sleep because I kept thinking about making a sale. I think that you have to have a certain kind of personality to be successful in sales.
Kathy：這個嘛，我一點都不會想念它。我還記得那些我睡不著的夜晚，就是因為我一直想著要有銷售成績。我想你一定是得有某種人格特質才能在銷售業裡成功。

Dan: Well, you can sleep well from now on. I always sleep well. I dream every night about making millions of dollars!
Dan：嗯，從現在起，你就可以好好睡啦。我一直都睡的很好。我每天晚上都在做我賺了幾百萬元的夢！

Kathy: I think that money is all you ever think about! See you tomorrow.
Kathy：我看你滿腦子都是錢耶！明天見囉！

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Last Sunday, I went fishing with my father. Once we got to the dock, we started preparing everything we needed. However, putting worms on the fish hooks was the last thing that I wanted to do. I thought worms were disgusting so I asked my father to do me a favor and put one on for me.

Later on, we walked over to the lake and started fishing. I waited and waited but my fishing rod stood still. Soon, I felt so bored that I actually fell asleep. My father woke me up and told me to be patient.

Suddenly, something tugged hard at my fishing rod and it almost slipped out of my hands. I finally got control of the rod and was surprised. What I caught was a toilet seat instead of a fish. At that moment, I realized how seriously the water had been polluted.

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Dan: Hey! How are you feeling today?
Dan：嗨！今天覺得如何？

Kathy: Hi! I feel a lot better. Thanks for asking. I've scheduled a meeting with the HR manager to discuss the possibility of transferring to the marketing department.
Kathy：嗨！我覺得好多了。謝謝關心。我已經和人事部的經理約了面談時間，討論是不是有可能調到行銷部門。

Dan: That's fantastic. I really hope that you get it. When will you meet her?
Dan：那太好了。我真的很希望妳會得到這個職位。妳什麼時候要去見她？

Kathy: Tomorrow at 11:00. I'm so nervous. She told me that I'm the only one that has shown an interest in transferring to the marketing department, so I think that I have a good chance.
Kathy：明天十一點。我好緊張哦！她說我是唯一有興趣調到行銷部門的人，所以我想我應該挺有機會的。

Dan: What about the salary? You won't be making any commission in the marketing department.
Dan：那待遇呢？你在行銷部門可沒有佣金可以拿哦！

Kathy: Yeah, I know. I'll ask her about the remuneration package tomorrow during our meeting. There is no commission for sure, but the salary will be higher and I won't have to worry about making enough to pay my bills.
Kathy：對啊，我知道。我明天和她談的時候會問她有關薪資的事。雖然是真的沒有佣金，可是薪水比較高，我不用擔心賺的錢不夠付賬單。

Dan: I guess that you're just not cut out to be a salesperson. I don't care about the base salary at all. I'm just here to make big money on commission!
Dan：我想妳不適合當業務。我一點都不在乎底薪，我當業務是要賺大筆的佣金。

Kathy: Then you should give me your base salary if you don't care about it!
Kathy：你要是不在乎底薪，那你應該把你的底薪給我。


Dan: Ha! You must be feeling better now. I see that you've gotten your sense of humor back!
Dan：哈！妳肯定是好多了，我發現你的幽默感又回來了！

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本週話題焦點：退休與面試新人　(一項新挑戰)

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本週話題焦點：退休與面試新人　(了解自我性向)