英倫翻譯社/ Trsmaster

技職生接受密集式英語課程 (Intensive English Program)，英文能力大躍進。教育部為北區 30 校 170 名技職生舉辦 4 周的密集英語營，其中 123 位多益成績進步 100 分以上，還有人一口氣進步 340 分。教育部表示，短期密集班成效顯著，明年將再成立「全英語學區」。

教育部去年起在北、中、南 3 區分別針對大學和科大學生開辦暑期英語密集班，以「魔鬼訓練班」方式，讓學生在 30 天內，每周 5 天，一天 13 小時，從上午 7 點到晚上 8 點，以住宿方式打造全英語環境。

為學生施行前、後測的多益測驗台灣區代表王星威表示，這項計畫證明英語密集訓練比傳統中小學一周只上幾堂課的成效好，「語言是本能能力，像游泳、騎腳踏車一樣，一旦學會，很難忘記。」

昨天北區成績出爐，英語教學資源中心主持人、台科大應外系主任王世平說，今年共有 170 名學生參加，其中有 123 名多益成績進步超過 100 分，通過率 72%，遠勝於去年 38% 通過率；進步最多的是台科大機械系學生楊富程，從 355 進步到 695 分，一口氣進步 340 分。

楊富程說，明年想出國念書，但英語口說能力一直不好，才想透過密集訓練，強迫自己學習。每天早上 7 點開始訓練聽力，一直到晚上，他坦言，第一周都聽不懂，覺得「又累又自卑」，但認識朋友後，同儕互相鼓勵，就撐到最後。

楊富程表示，除了課程很多元，密集的考試能立即測驗自己當天的學習成果，為了成績不要太難看，每晚課程結束後，他會繼續複習當天的內容，終於從只聽得懂單字，「句子也漸漸聽懂了。」

亞東技術學院電子工程系學生李彥，也從 440 進步到 670 分，他說，在學校無論是寫專題或是參加國際性的研討會，要用到英文的機會很多，但學校的英語課程不夠，這次透過密集課程，文法和口說都變強，非常值得。

教育部技職司司長李彥儀表示，這次成績顯示密集訓練班成果，下學期將檢討技職英語教學的教材及教學方式，讓學生在專業科目以外，也能練習生活英語。

李彥儀表示，除了密集訓練班，最快明年將成立「全英語學區」，規畫讓技職生每周五、六、日接受英語加強班，學習良好者，還可抵免學分。(聯合報 2012/07/27)

Official disclosure of extraterrestrial life is imminent 

官方公佈外星生命已是迫在眉睫

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Michael Salla, Ph.D.,

譯者按：麥可‧莎拉博士（Michael Salla. Ph.D）在10月21日發表的一篇〈官方揭密外星人迫在眉睫〉（Official disclosure of extraterrestrial life is imminent）的一篇文章中，詳細論述了自2008年初聯合國召開30國秘密會議討論公佈外星生命實情的會議中，以來的過程。

【單字註解】

1. disclosure: n. 公佈
2. extraterrestrial: adj. 地球之外的
3. imminent: adj. 即將來到的
4. deliberate: v. 仔細考慮

A plan to create temporary housing for children critically ill with cancer was opposed by some residents of Taipei’s Daan District. The residents wrongly feared they too could become infected. News of the opposition drew harsh public criticism, including strong words from Mayor Hau Lung-bin. 

第二座的麥當勞叔叔重症兒童中途之家，將落腳在台北市大安區錦安里，部分里民揚言抵制''不惜流血''，還有人質疑癌症"會傳染",引發網友批評，太沒同理心,錦安里長出面哽咽解釋,那只是部份里民的意見,台北市長郝龍斌則親自視察,強調一定會蓋

This four-story building is located in Daan District’s Jinshan South Road, prime real estate that is destined to become a temporary residence for children critically ill with cancer and their family. However, a few residents of the area oppose the plan, wrongly fearing that they could be infected by the cancer.

這棟位於大安區金山南路、黃金地段的四層樓國有閒置建築，將成為重症病童中途之家，但卻引起所在地的錦安里部份里民心生反感，還擔心癌症會"傳染"。

A few days ago, someone in the community posted these anonymous leaflets criticizing the plan. This led to lots of online criticism accusing residents of the area for being privileged and insensitive to others. This led the Jinan neighborhood chief to come forward to clarify these comments, saying they were made by a few residents who do not properly understand the situation. 

Elections are over for the DPP’s Central Standing Committee, the party’s top decision-making body. Among the biggest winners was the former New Tide faction along with former Premiers Frank Hsieh and Yu Shyi-kun. 

民進黨昨天召開全代會，並進行中常委改選，前新潮流這回拿下3席中常委，是最大贏家，謝系和游系也都有斬獲，分別拿下兩席，蘇系也有蔡憲浩這一席，值得注意的是，蔡英文並未推派人馬，這是否意味她淡出權力核心？外界倒是有不同解讀。

After the votes for Central Standing Committee were counted, current member Trong R. Chai found himself in an awkward position. He was tied with Rosalia Wu and Yen Hsiao-ching, both members of the former New Tide faction. Three nominees were vying for two spots. Party rules called for lots to be drawn. Chai was the only one present, but came up short.

民進黨中常委投票結果出爐，這回現任中常委蔡同榮，正好和前新系的吳思瑤，以及顏曉菁開出同樣票數，按照黨規，大會直接宣布用抽籤決生死，3個人有2人能出線，唯一人在現場的蔡同，親自上陣。

Trong R. Chai
Standing Committee Nominee

The bribery investigation continues into former cabinet member Lin Yi-shih and his family. Prosecutors today questioned his mother, Shen Juo-lan, a second time. She apparently managed the graft funds taken by her son. 

It was a striking image on July 4 when Lin Yi-shih’s mother, Shen Juo-lan, arrived at the Special Investigation Division. She had brought NT$18 million in cash. Prosecutors quickly listed her as a suspect for corruption, money laundering and concealing evidence. Today they questioned her a second time.

Last time Shen Juo-lan had millions, hoping to save her son. This time she had no wads of cash.

Prosecutors have found NT$75 million tucked away in Lin family accounts, safe deposit boxes and other repositories. Lin only admits to accepting a bribe of NT$63 million.

◎陳成良

Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt predicted Tuesday that rapid advances in technology will soon transform science fiction into reality – meaning people will have driverless cars, small robots at their command and the ability to experience being in another place without leaving home.

Google執行董事長艾瑞克．施密特週二預測，隨著技術迅速進步，不久將會使科幻成真——這意味人們將擁有無人駕駛汽車、聽從他們指示的小型機器人，並且能夠在足不出戶前提下，體驗身處他方的感受。

Schmidt said the introduction of books available online, Internet translation of languages and voice recognition for computers all happened much faster than anyone envisioned and that technological research into even more previously unheard of advances is progressing at a fast clip.

施密特說，引進可線上查閱的圖書、網路的語言翻譯和具備語音辨識能力的電腦，所有這些發展比任何人設想的快上許多，針對更前所未聞的進展所投入的技術研究，刻正快速進行中。

"People who predict that holograms and self-driving cars will become reality soon are absolutely right," Schmidt told thousands of attendees at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the planet’s largest cell phone trade show.

在巴塞隆納舉行的全球行動通訊大會，即世界上最大的手機貿易展上，施密特告訴數千出席者說：「人們預測全像術和自駕汽車將很快成為現實這件事，是絕對正確的。」

Google has been testing driverless cars for years, and Schmidt noted that several U.S.states are already drawing up regulations so they can be used on the road. The technology took a big step forward earlier this month when Nevada became the first state to spell out requirements for the testing of driverless cars on state roads.（AP）

Google多年來一直在測試無人駕駛汽車，施密特指出，美國數個州已經制定相關法規，好讓這種車子能夠在道路上行駛。這項技術又前進了一大步，就在本月初，內華達州成為第一個定出在州公路測試無人駕駛汽車相關規定的州。（美聯社）

新聞辭典

◎國際新聞中心

Adding enzymes from seaweed microbes to toothpaste and mouthwash could provide better protection against tooth decay, a team of UK scientists have said.

英國科學家團隊說，牙膏和漱口水中加入海藻微生物的酵素，可能會更有效預防蛀牙。

Researchers at Newcastle University had been studying Bacillus licheniformis to see if it could clean ships’ hulls. But the scientists now believe it could protect the areas between teeth where plaque can gather despite brushing. Their lab tests suggest the microbe’s enzyme cuts through plaque, stripping it of bacteria that cause tooth decay.

新堡大學研究人員一直在研究腸道分離菌，觀察是否能清潔船殼。不過現在科學家相信，即便在刷了牙也可能積累牙垢的牙縫間，它也能形成保護。實驗結果顯示，微生物酵素穿透牙垢，移除造成蛀牙的細菌。

Dr Nick Jakubovics, of the university’s school of dental sciences, said: "Plaque on your teeth is made up of bacteria which join together to colonise an area in a bid to push out any potential competitors. "Traditional toothpastes work by scrubbing off the plaque containing the bacteria - but that’s not always effective - which is why people who religiously clean their teeth can still develop cavities.

新堡大學牙醫系的賈庫波維克斯博士說：「牙齒的牙垢是由細菌組成，結合起來佔據一個區域，試圖趕走可能的競爭者。傳統牙膏之所以有效，是刷掉含有細菌的牙垢，不過並非絕對有效，這就是為何固定刷牙的人還是會蛀牙。」

"We found this enzyme can remove some of these undesirable bacteria from plaque."

「我們發現這種酵素能移除牙垢中一些討厭的細菌。」

Instead of removing the plaque entirely, Dr Jakubovics believes the treatment could strip away the harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay.

◎陳維真

A museum in Italy has started burning its artworks in protest at budget cuts which it says have left cultural institutions out of pocket.

義大利一家美術館開始燒毀館藏藝術品，抗議政府削減預算，讓文化機構賠錢經營。

Antonio Manfredi, of the Casoria Contemporary Art Museum, set fire to the first painting on Tuesday."Our 1,000 artworks are headed for destruction anyway because of the government’s indifference," he said.

卡索利亞當代美術館的安東尼歐曼佛萊帝，週二點火焚燒第一幅畫作。「我們的1000件館藏，無論如何都要燒毀，都是政府漠視造成的。」

The work was by French artist Severine Bourguignon, who was in favour of the protest and watched it online.

這幅畫作是法國藝術家布赫吉農的作品，他支持抗議行動，並在線上觀看抗議過程。

Mr Manfredi plans to burn three paintings a week from now on, in a protest he has dubbed "Art War".

曼佛萊帝計畫從現在開始，在他稱為「藝術之戰」的抗議活動中，一週燒3幅畫。

Artists from across Europe have lent their support, including Welsh sculptor John Brown, who torched one of his works, Manifesto, on Monday.

◎俞智敏

Facebook’s $1 billion gobbling up of Instagram has sent disgruntled fans of the photo-sharing app to the delete button.

臉書以1億美元價格吃下Instagram公司，已促使這個照片分享應用程式的眾多不滿粉絲們選擇按下刪除鍵。

Twitter and other online platforms recently buzzed with depictions of Facebook as a corporate monster trampling over a defenseless community of creative, free-spirited types. "Guess it’s time to delete my instagram app before Facebook ruins it," griped a Twitter user.

推特及其他網路平台最近充滿著把臉書描繪為一隻企業怪獸，專門踐踏無助的創意、崇尚自由社群的討論。「我想現在該是在instagram被臉書破壞前，先刪除這個程式的時候了，」一名推特用戶抱怨說。

For Instagram’s 30 million users, the cult-status app has a very different identity to the mass market Facebook. Unlike Facebook, there is no advertising, and certainly no selling of users’ personal details to advertisers.

對Instagram的3000萬用戶而言，這個受人崇拜的應用程式與大眾市場導向的臉書完全不同。相較於臉書，這個程式沒有廣告，更不會把用戶的個人資料賣給廣告商。

"Its ability to let its users delicately toe the line between public and private gave us a little breathing room from the all-pervasiveness of Facebook, and to see it whisked away feels like a tangible loss," wrote Jenna Wortham on The New York Times tech blog.

「這個程式能讓使用者在公開與私人領域間巧妙地維持分際，讓我們在無孔不入的臉書之外能有一點喘息的空間，現在卻看著它被一下子買走，讓人覺得彷彿遭受了具體的損失，」紐約時報科技網誌作者沃翰寫道。

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg went out of his way to reassure Instagram purists that they needn’t get their hands dirty. On his own Facebook page, Zuckerberg noted that users can maintain their Instagram photos off Facebook and also keep their Instagram followers separate. （AFP）

◎管淑平

Zeddie Little, who became an Internet sensation after being dubbed ’Ridiculously photogenic guy’, is in a serious relationship. He is ’very committed’ to his girlfriend of five years and is overwhelmed by all the attention he has been receiving, his father said.

被暱稱為「上相得不像話的傢伙」、在網路上爆紅的柴迪．利托，已經有認真交往的對象了。柴迪的父親說，他對交往5年的女友「非常死心塌地」，外界對他的注意讓他受寵若驚。

Speaking from his home in South Carolina, Zeddie’s father also revealed his son has spent years trying to break into the PR business--only to become famous overnight.

住在南卡羅萊納州的柴迪父親也透露，兒子幾年來一直想進公關界，沒想到卻一夕出名。

’What’s happened is crazy... my son is such a hard-working and unassuming guy,’ he said, ’this is totally unexpected and has just happened--he was in the right place at the right time with the right smile.’

「這件事很瘋狂…我兒子是很努力工作、又不喜歡出鋒頭的人」，他說，「完全沒料到會這樣。他是在對的時間、帶著對的微笑，出現在對的地方。」

Zeddie Little was photographed when he went home to compete in the 10km Cooper Bridge run in Charleston.

柴迪．利托是回家參加在查爾斯頓舉行的庫柏橋10公里路跑時被拍到。

Amateur photographer Will King took the picture of Zeddie with his beaming smile. King tagged it on his Flickr account as ’Ridiculously Photogenic Guy’.

◎張沛元

So you want to hang out with a bunny?

那麼，你想跟兔子玩嗎？

Look no further than Candy Fruits Usagi no Yakata（Rabbit Hall）in Tokyo’s bustling Akihabara, a district known as much for its maid cafes now as it was for stores selling electronic gadgetry in days gone by.

那就鎖定位於熙來攘往的東京秋葉原區的「糖果水果 兔之館」。秋葉原區過去以販賣各種電子零組件的商店打響名號，如今則以許多女僕咖啡店聞名。

"Welcome!" A woman in a pink outfit replete with rabbit ears says in greeting.

「歡迎光臨！」一名戴著兔耳朵、一身粉紅色裝束的女子上前迎賓。

The staff members are known as "ko-usagi"（rabbit girls）, but they are not the main attraction：Here, it’s the rabbits.

這些工作人員被稱為「娘兔」（兔女孩），但她們並不是最大賣點：在這裡，最大賣點是真的兔子。

There’s a basic charge for admission. It is 1,600 yen for an hour. Coffee and tea are all-you-can-drink, but there’s no food for people on the menu：only "rabbit snacks." These cost an additional 200 yen and consist of finely chopped carrots, apples and turnip leaves--in other words, rabbit food. Visitors are allowed to play with the rabbits.

◎陳成良

Japanese researchers on Friday unveiled a population clock that showed the nation’s people could become extinct in 1,000 years because of declining birth rates.

日本研究人員週五發布了一個人口時鐘，該時鐘顯示，由於出生率持續下降，日本人恐怕將於1000年內滅絕。

Academics in the northern city of Sendai said that Japan’s population of children aged up to 14, which now stands at 16.6 million, is shrinking at the rate of one every 100 seconds.

北部城市仙台的學者稱，日本14歲或以下兒童人口目前為1660萬，正在以每100秒1個的速度減少。

Their extrapolations pointed to a Japan with no children left within a millennium.

他們的推斷指出，日本在1000年之內將沒有兒童。

"If the rate of decline continues, we will be able to celebrate the Children’s Day public holiday on May 5, 3011 as there will be one child," said Hiroshi Yoshida, an economics professor at Tohoku University.

日本東北大學的經濟學教授吉田宏（譯音）說：「如果這種下降速度持續下去，3011年5月5日我們仍能慶祝兒童節，因為還剩下一名兒童。」

"But 100 seconds later there will be no children left," he said. "The overall trend is towards extinction, which started in 1975 when Japan’s fertility rate fell below two."

◎陳維真

They are designed to reduce stress and improve well-being, but one laughing yoga club in Mumbai has been ordered to stop its early morning giggling sessions after complaints from grumpy neighbours.

大笑瑜伽的原意是要減輕壓力並提高福祉，但一家位於孟買的瑜伽俱樂部，遭到脾氣暴躁的鄰居投訴，被要求停止晨間的咯咯笑課程。

The Bombay High Court told police to clamp down on the laughing yoga group after a 78-year-old resident complained it caused "mental agony, pain and public nuisance", the DNA newspaper reported on Tuesday.

DNA日報週二報導，一名78歲的居民抱怨大笑瑜伽造成他「精神上極大的痛苦、煩惱，與公害」後，孟買高等法院要警察取締大笑瑜伽俱樂部。

"It is not proper to gather outside somebody’s house and laugh," judges said while hearing the public interest lawsuit filed by Vinayak Shirsat from the Kurla suburb of Mumbai. According to Shirsat’s petition, 10 to 15 members of the group gather at 7：00 am to sing, clap and indulge in "loud and vigorous spells of laughter".

來自孟買克拉郊區的瑟沙特提出公共利益訴訟，法官審訊時表示，「聚集在別人家外面然後大笑並不適當。」根據瑟沙特的訴狀，早上7點時，該團體有10至15名會員聚集在一起，唱歌、拍手、放縱地發出「大聲且精力充沛的笑聲」。

Laughing yoga was made popular as an exercise routine by Indian physician Madan Kataria in Mumbai in 1995, based on the principle that laughter has physiological benefits.

在印度醫師卡塔利亞推廣下，大笑瑜伽在1995年的孟買成為廣受歡迎的運動，這項運動根據的原則是大笑可帶來心理層面的益處。

Laughter clubs, at which members burst into infectious giggles, have since caught on in many cities in India and abroad.The court on Monday gave police a week to inform judges how they planned to restrain the club from causing problems.

Japanese and foreign artists including iconic German group Kraftwerk performed at a mass weekend protest concert against nuclear energy inspired by Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.

日本與包括德國經典團體「電力站樂團」等外國藝人，在奧斯卡得獎作曲家坂本龍一發起的週末群眾反核抗議音樂會上表演。

The "No nukes 2012" event was held in the vast Makuhari Messe exhibition centre close to Tokyo. The concerts were also broadcast on the Internet, accompanied by anti-nuclear messages.

這場「2012無核」活動在鄰近東京、佔地廣大的幕張展覽館舉行。這些音樂會隨同反核訊息，也在網路上播出。

"Over a year has passed since the accident in Fukushima. The electricity company Tokyo Electric Power （TEPCO） and the Japanese prime minister said that the acute crisis is over, but the reality is that the danger has not passed and the real resolution of the accident remains unclear," the organisers said.

「福島事故過去已逾一年，電力公司東京電力（TEPCO）與日本首相表示，這場嚴重危機結束了，但事實是危險未除，事故真正的解決之道仍未明。」主辦單位指出。

The proceeds from the event will be donated to the "Goodbye to nuclear power" movement which is also supported by Nobel prize-winning author Kenzaburo Oe and whistleblowing journalist Satoshi Kamata, as well as Sakamoto, who won an Academy Award for his score for "The Last Emperor".

音樂活動收入將捐助給「再見核電」運動之用，該活動也獲諾貝爾文學獎得主大江健三郎、揭弊記者鎌田慧以及以電影「末代皇帝」配樂而贏得一座葛萊美獎的坂本共同支持。

The movement is behind a petition against nuclear power which has already attracted more than 7.5 million signatures, as well as weekly protests outside the Tokyo residence of the prime minister against the presence of reactors on Japanese territory. （AFP）

該活動訴求反核電，目前已吸引逾750萬人連署，以及在首相東京官邸外每週進行抗議，以反對日本領土上存在反應爐。

◎國際新聞中心

Adding enzymes from seaweed microbes to toothpaste and mouthwash could provide better protection against tooth decay, a team of UK scientists have said.

英國科學家團隊說，牙膏和漱口水中加入海藻微生物的酵素，可能會更有效預防蛀牙。

Researchers at Newcastle University had been studying Bacillus licheniformis to see if it could clean ships’ hulls. But the scientists now believe it could protect the areas between teeth where plaque can gather despite brushing. Their lab tests suggest the microbe’s enzyme cuts through plaque, stripping it of bacteria that cause tooth decay.

新堡大學研究人員一直在研究腸道分離菌，觀察是否能清潔船殼。不過現在科學家相信，即便在刷了牙也可能積累牙垢的牙縫間，它也能形成保護。實驗結果顯示，微生物酵素穿透牙垢，移除造成蛀牙的細菌。

Dr Nick Jakubovics, of the university’s school of dental sciences, said: "Plaque on your teeth is made up of bacteria which join together to colonise an area in a bid to push out any potential competitors. "Traditional toothpastes work by scrubbing off the plaque containing the bacteria - but that’s not always effective - which is why people who religiously clean their teeth can still develop cavities.

新堡大學牙醫系的賈庫波維克斯博士說：「牙齒的牙垢是由細菌組成，結合起來佔據一個區域，試圖趕走可能的競爭者。傳統牙膏之所以有效，是刷掉含有細菌的牙垢，不過並非絕對有效，這就是為何固定刷牙的人還是會蛀牙。」

"We found this enzyme can remove some of these undesirable bacteria from plaque."

「我們發現這種酵素能移除牙垢中一些討厭的細菌。」

Instead of removing the plaque entirely, Dr Jakubovics believes the treatment could strip away the harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Footlong Inches Ahead of Big Mac

For years, McDonald’s has been the leader of the fast food field. It has had the most franchises, the widest international reach, and the highest profits. Now, however, Subway, the sandwich maker, has nosed ahead of the famous chain. At the end of 2010, Subway had 33,749 restaurants worldwide, whereas McDonald’s had 32, 737. This is a result of Subway’s aggressive expansion strategy. It has broken away from the pack mostly because of its determination to develop world markets. For example, it already has 199 stores in China, and expects to have more than 500 by 2015.

Even so, McDonald’s is far from an also-ran. Its revenues still make it the favourite for most analysts. With 24 billion dollars worth of sales last year to Subway’s 15 billion, it’s still too early to scratch the long-time champion from the race.

潛艇堡微幅領先大麥克

多年以來，麥當勞一直是速食界的龍頭，不僅擁有最多的經銷店、遍及全球的影響力，還有最高的利潤。然而，Subway潛艇堡專賣店卻已微幅領先這家知名連鎖店。截至2010年底，Subway在全球共有33,749家連鎖店，而麥當勞則擁有32,737家店，顯現出Subway積極擴展策略的成果，他們脫穎而出的主要原因是其開發國際市場的決心。例如，Subway在中國已擁有199家店，並預期將在2015年之前達成超過500家店的目標。

即便如此，麥當勞並不是個失敗者，因為它的營收對於大多數的分析師而言仍是最被看好的公司。麥當勞去年總營收達240億美元，而Subway的營收則為150億美元，所以若要判定這名長期的贏家出局，目前還言之過早。

字彙

• franchise 經銷店；經銷權
• chain 連鎖店
• aggressive 積極的
• expansion strategy 擴展策略
• determination 決心
• revenue 營業收入
• analyst 分析師

解讀

Racing metaphors, especially horse racing metaphors, are a popular way of talking about business. Races are often won by inches or a nose, and competing companies are described as a pack or field. Favourites are the gamblers’ choice. An also-ran is a horse that does not come in the top three, and scratch from the race means to drop out.

作者談到商業活動時經常會使用和比賽相關的比喻，尤其是賽馬的用語。比賽常以「幾吋」或相當於「一個鼻子」的差距分出勝負，而互相競爭的公司則被形容為「一組」或「全部的賽馬」。「大家一致看好的熱門馬」是下注者的選擇，「失敗者」則是未擠進前三名的賽馬，而「自比賽中出局」代表退出比賽。

Spiderman does it again!

Alain Robert, the French urban climber, has scaled the world’s tallest building in Dubai. Known by most as ‘Spiderman’, Robert took over 6 hours to climb more than 820 meters to the top of the skyscraper. Hundreds of people watched and cheered for the real-life superhero as he slowly moved up the Burj Khalifa.

The French daredevil has climbed over 70 of the world’s tallest buildings including Taiwan’s 101. In past challenges he hasn’t used any help to get to the top though on this occasion he did use some safety equipment to comply with the organisers’ requirements. ‘Spiderman’ can now take a well-deserved rest until the world’s next tallest building is completed and another dangerous challenge is set.

「蜘蛛人」再度完成創舉

來自法國的現代建築攀爬家Alain Robert最近登上了位於杜拜的世界第一高樓。Robert以「蜘蛛人」的稱號聞名全球，這次他以超過6小時的時間登上高於820公尺的摩天大樓，當他慢慢地登上「Burj Khalifa哈里發塔」時，數百名群眾見證了這項創舉，並一同為這位真實生活中的英雄歡呼。

這位法籍的勇者已成功登上超過70座世界摩天大樓，其中包括台北101大樓。他在挑戰攀登摩天大樓時從未藉助輔助工具，這次則因為主辦單位的要求而使用安全裝備。「蜘蛛人」目前將充分地休息，直至下一座世界第一高樓完工，並可再度迎向下一個艱鉅挑戰為止。

字彙

• urban 城市的
• scale 攀登
• skyscraper 摩天大樓
• comply 遵從
• daredevil 勇者；鋌而走險的人
• challenge 挑戰
• requirement 要求；規定

解讀

Writers often use certain phrases to make the events they describe more impressive. In the article the writer has used over 6 hours instead of 6 hours 12 minutes, and more than 820 meters instead of 828 meters. This has the effect of dramatising the event.

作者通常會使用特定的片語，使文章中所提到的事件更令人印象深刻。本文作者以「超過6個小時」取代6小時12分鐘，並以「超過820公尺」取代828公尺，使文章中所描述的事件更具有戲劇化的效果。

Kate and Wills Break Tradition

Viewers of today’s royal wedding between Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton may have a feeling of déjà vu. As in previous weddings, the couple will travel to Westminster Abbey in London with a parade and horse-drawn carriages. The ceremony will be attended by heads of state and international royalty.

However, in some ways the wedding will be far from traditional. The wedding is thoroughly connected on facebook, twitter and YouTube. More importantly, for only the second time in British history, an heir to the throne will marry someone from outside the aristocracy. Although the Middletons are now extremely rich, they are nouveau riche. Kate Middleton’s father made a fortune from an on-line business. Kate’s parents met when they were both working in low-paid jobs for British Airways, and Kate’s grandfather was a lorry driver. It seems today’s fairy-tale wedding reflects the changing values of British society.

英國威廉王子與凱特突破王室傳統

民眾在觀看英國威廉王子與凱特於今天舉行的皇家婚禮時，可能會覺得這個場景似曾相識。根據皇家婚禮的傳統，新人通常會搭乘馬車、隨著遊行隊伍前往位於倫敦的西敏寺，國家元首與來自全球的皇家貴賓都將出席典禮。

然而，威廉王子與凱特將突破王室傳統，兩人婚禮的相關消息已遍佈「facebook臉書」、「twitter推特」以及「YouTube」網站；更重要的是，這將是英國史上第二次英國王儲迎娶來自平民階層的準王妃。雖然密道頓家族已相當富有，他們卻是所謂的新貴；凱特的父親因為網路事業而致富，凱特的父母在任職於英國航空的基層工作時認識彼此，且她的祖父只是一名貨車司機。今天，如童話故事一般的幸福婚禮反映出英國社會的價值觀正在改變。

字彙

• parade 遊行
• ceremony 典禮儀式
• head of state 國家元首
• connected 連接的
• heir 繼承者
• aristocracy 貴族
• reflect 反映

解讀

Many French expressions are commonly used in English. They can give the writing style and colour. Here we have déjà vu – to feel you have seen something before, and nouveau riche – newly rich.

通常英文的文章中會使用許多法文片語，使文章的寫作風格與內容更加多元化。本文使用「déjà vu」一詞表示「覺得似乎曾經看過某些事物」；「nouveau riche」一詞則代表「新貴」。

How about a holiday in space?

In the 1968 movie, 2001 a Space Odyssey, travelling to the moon is normal. We see a passenger (who may be a scientist) sleeping in a large American spaceship. Soon, this fantasy could become reality; however it will certainly be different. For one thing, it will be in a much smaller spacecraft. One company promising to provide flights is Virgin Galactic, owned by British business man Richard Branson. For another, the flights will be shorter, at around an hour and a half. What’s more, passengers will only travel to the edge of space. There, they will experience three to four minutes of weightlessness before returning to earth. But in another way, the flights may be similar. Scientists are excited that tickets cost just NT$5,756,361. This means they will be able to do cheaper and more frequent experiments in near space than they can now. The day when we can all afford holidays in space may not be far away.

去外太空旅行? 維京航空讓你美夢成真

在1968拍攝的「2001年太空漫遊」電影場景中，到月球旅行是一件很平常的事，片中有一位乘客(可能是科學家)在大型的美籍太空船中呼呼大睡。再過不久，這個美夢或許可以成真，但旅行的方式將稍有不同。首先，你可能會搭乘比電影中所見更小型的太空船，維京航空英籍總裁理查布蘭森正計劃推出太空航程。此外，實際的航程可能較短，大約一個半小時。最主要的不同點是：乘客只能到達太空的邊緣。在返回地球之前，乘客將可以體驗三到四分鐘的無重力感，大致而言，實際的太空航程和電影中的情節相似。科學家們對於票價僅需新台幣$5,756,361元感到非常興奮，這表示他們將可以更便宜的方式在近太空進行更多的實驗，而大眾以負擔得起的價錢到外太空旅行也將指日可待。

字彙

odyssey 漫遊
moon 月球
fantasy 幻想；夢想
spaceship 太空船
flight航行；飛機

◎陳維真

Japan has restarted the first nuclear reactor since the meltdown at the Fukushima power plant last year. Hundreds gathered near the plant in the town of Ohi to protest against the move.

去年福島核電廠熔毀後日本首度重啟核子反應爐。數百人聚集在大飯核電廠附近，抗議重啟反應爐。

Last month, the prime minister urged support, saying a return to nuclear power was essential for the economy. All 50 of Japan’s nuclear plants were shut after the meltdown at Fukushima, which was triggered by a tsunami and earthquake. The crisis was regarded as the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

上月首相呼籲各界支持，表示重新使用核電對經濟很重要。福島核電廠因海嘯與地震熔毀後，全日本50座核電廠停止運轉。福島危機被認為是1986年車諾比事件之後最嚴重的核災。

About 100 of the 650 protesters at the nuclear plant blocked a nearby road overnight, but a Kepco spokesman said the reactivation was not affected.

650抗議民眾中，近百人漏夜封鎖核電廠附近的一條道路，但關西電力發言人表示，重啟工作未受影響。

On Friday, tens of thousands took part in anti-nuclear rallies in Tokyo outside Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s official residence, chanting "Saikado hantai," or "No to nuclear restarts", in what correspondents say was a rare show of dissent in Japan. The BBC’s Mariko Oi says it was one of the largest demonstrations seen since the reactors at Fukushima were damaged in March 2011.

週五，成千上萬的人在首相野田佳彥的官邸外抗議，高喊「反對重啟核能」的口號，在多名特派員看來，這是日本人罕見地展現異議。英國廣播公司（BBC）記者大井真理子表示，這是2011年3月福島核電廠毀損後最大規模的示威行動。

Tokyo-based protester Nobuhiko Shudo told the BBC the problem of disposing of radioactive waste was key. "The most important thing for us is sustainability of the Earth for the next generation so if we have some problems to keep the planet clean and beautiful, then we have to change the industrial structure" to foster alternative energy sources, he said.