英倫翻譯社/ Trsmaster

The sound of jazz music fills the air. A warm breeze blows through the crowd, as people of all ethnic backgrounds dance and clap their hands to the beat of the music. Vendors shout out to advertise their goods, and the smell of grilled shrimp stirs the appetite. This is the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, better known to most as simply “Jazz Fest.”

Jazz Fest is a celebration of New Orleans and Louisiana, and in particular, their music. Held every year in late April, it's a major event for music lovers everywhere. Though officially called a “jazz fest,” the event actually includes a wide variety of musical styles, including blues, gospel, folk, rock, and rap. Each of the festival's twelve stages offers a specific type of music.

Jazz Fest is more than just music, however. It also features a market where crafts and handmade local items are sold. There are dozens of food stands, with many selling spicy Cajun food as well as Native American food. Festivalgoers can bite into an alligator sausage po'boy or enjoy boiled crawfish, fried bread, or a plate of jambalaya as they listen to live music.

爵士樂的樂音瀰漫在空中。不同民族背景的人隨著音樂節奏起舞並打著拍子時，一陣溫暖的微風吹過人群。小販大聲叫賣他們的商品，而烤蝦的香氣激起大家的食慾。這就是紐奧良爵士與傳承音樂節，較為多數人所知的簡稱是「爵士音樂節」。

爵士音樂節是紐奧良市和路易斯安那州的慶典活動，尤其是頌揚他們的音樂。這個活動在每年四月底舉辦，對各地的音樂愛好者來說是重要的盛事。雖然正式名稱是「爵士音樂節」，這個活動其實包含了各式各樣廣泛的音樂類型，包括藍調、福音音樂、民謠、搖滾樂和饒舌樂。活動的十二個舞台各呈現一種特定的音樂類型。

然而，爵士音樂節不只有音樂而已。其特色還包括販賣手工藝品和當地手工商品的市集。裡頭有很多小吃攤，其中許多賣著辛辣的卡津食物以及美洲原住民美食。參加音樂節的人在聆聽現場音樂之際，可大口享用鱷魚肉腸潛艇堡或水煮小龍蝦、油炸麵包或一盤什錦飯。

文章出處：Live互動英語雜誌

Life in the modern world makes it hard for us to avoid noise pollution. Often, environmental sounds are so loud that they become more dangerous than we think. Ten million Americans suffer from noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). One in six American teenagers suffers from noise-induced hearing disorder. Since hearing problems caused by noise occur gradually and often go unnoticed, we must actively take steps to prevent this silent threat.

How can loud noise damage hearing? Our inner ear has a snail-like structure lined by cells with fine hairs. Loud noise can kill hair cells and harm the hearing nerve. Once the hair cells are destroyed, no current treatment exists to repair them. The result is permanent hearing loss.

NIHL can result from a one-time exposure to a loud sound, like a gunshot or fireworks. It is also caused by repeated exposure to sounds over an extended period. This means listening to music on our phones and MP3 players for a long time and at high levels is unhealthy for our ears.

Even if we avoid fireworks and earphones, everyday urban sounds can also lead to NIHL. Sirens, garbage trucks, jackhammers, and loud music blasting from shops cause havoc on our hearing. At home, vacuum cleaners, blow-dryers, and TVs also produce potentially harmful noises.

生活在現代社會讓我們很難避免噪音汙染。很多時候，周遭環境的聲音十分吵雜，變得比我們認為的更加危險。有一千萬名美國人身受「噪音性聽力損失」之苦。每六個美國青少年就有一個罹患噪音性聽力疾病。由於噪音造成的聽力問題是逐漸產生的，且通常不會被注意到，因此我們必須積極採取行動來預防這個無聲的威脅。

強烈噪音是如何傷害聽力的呢？我們的內耳有一個長得像蝸牛的構造，上頭排列著長了細毛的細胞。強烈的噪音會殺死毛細胞，並損害聽覺神經。一旦毛細胞受損，目前並沒有能修復的治療方法。結果就是永久性的聽力損失。

It's a common belief that creative people have some sort of gift. The rest of us, many think, will never have what it takes to write a song, paint a beautiful artwork, or design the next hot product. The truth is anyone can develop creativity. The key is knowing how to spark new ideas in our minds.

For a while, little research was done on creativity, but that has changed in recent years. Scientists have discovered that the ability to produce those flashes of insight that lead to innovative ideas comes from a specific part of our brain. This part of our brain, they also found, is the most active when we are relaxed or tired. Therefore,mind-relaxing activities such as watching comedy video clips and daydreaming can produce innovative thoughts. This discovery also explains why creative ideas often come to us when we're just about to fall asleep.

Not all creative ideas derive from flashes of insight, though. Sometimes, they're simply a result of long, hard work. In either case, there's no need for us to worry about which type of brain activity to engage in. Our mind naturally determines whether a relaxing bath or continued focus can better help us reach our creative goals.

人們普遍認為有創意的人具有某種天賦。許多人認為，我 們其他人永遠不會有寫歌、畫一幅美麗的藝術品，或設計出下 一個熱門商品所需的能力。事實是任何人都可以培養創意。關 鍵在於知道如何在腦中激發出新的點子。

有一陣子，針對創意所做的研究少之又少，但這幾年情況 有所改變。科學家發現產生誘發創新點子的突發見解的這種能 力來自於我們大腦的特定部位。他們也發現大腦的這個部位在 我們放鬆或疲倦時最為活躍。因此，看喜劇片和做白日夢這類 讓頭腦放鬆的活動可以產生創新的想法。這項發現也解釋了為 什麼創意點子常在我們快睡著時出現。

不過，並不是所有的創意點子都來自於突發見解。有時 候，它們只是長時間努力的成果。不論是哪種狀況，我們都沒 必要煩惱要從事哪一種大腦活動。我們的大腦自然會決定是令 人放鬆的泡澡或持續的專注較能幫助我們達到創意目標。

文章出處：Live互動英語雜誌

Everyone has good and bad moods, but for some, feeling happy or sad seems to be linked to the weather. According to one common theory, the more sunlight people get, the better they feel. Are theories such as this one backed up by science, though?

One way in which weather seems to affect mood is seen in those who suffer from a type of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). People with SAD feel bad during the same season each year—usually in the winter. Psychologists aren’t sure what causes SAD, but they think that it could be brought on by a lack of sunlight. Not getting enough sun interferes with one’s pattern of sleep and affects the brain chemical that controls one’s mood.

To better understand the relationship between weather and mood, scientists from various parts of the world have studied the effects of a variety of weather types. A 1980s study conducted in the United Kingdom found that of all the ways to measure weather, humidity affected mood the most by making people feel sleepier and less able to concentrate. Since then, however, other studies have drawn different conclusions.

每個人的心情都有好有壞，但對某些人來說，感覺快樂或悲傷似乎和天氣有關。根據一個常見的理論，人接觸陽光愈多，感覺就愈好。不過，像這樣的理論有科學支持嗎？

天氣似乎會影響心情的一種方式在那些罹患一種稱為「季節性情緒失調」憂鬱症的人身上可看到。有季節性情緒失調的人每年到了同樣的季節心情就不好，通常是在冬天。心理學家並不確定是什麼造成季節性情緒失調，但他們認為有可能是缺乏日光照射所引起的。日照不足會妨礙人的睡眠模式並且影響腦中控制情緒的化學物質。

為了更了解天氣和情緒的關係，世界各地的科學家研究了各種天氣類型造成的影響。一份一九八○年代在英國所進行的研究發現在所有測量天氣的方法中，濕度讓人昏昏欲睡且較無法專心，對心情影響最大。然而在那之後，其他的研究則得出不同的結論。

文章出處：Live互動英語雜誌

Milan is known as the international capital of fashion, but it is also a city with many ancient treasures. With narrow, winding streets and large squares containing breathtakingu buildings, Milan is a joy to explore by foot on sunny days.

At the heart of the city is the Duomo, the third largest cathedral in Europe. It holds up to forty thousand people and is decorated with over three thousand statues.The cathedral dates back to the late 1300s, but the entire structure took around five centuries to build. The Duomo is especially beautiful during the late summer afternoon, when the setting sun brings out the marble statues' pink and white colors.

Besides the Duomo, the Sforza Castle, a huge red-brick structure with four towers, is another one of Milan's top attractions. It was built in the fifteenth century and became the home of the duke of Milan. Today, the castle houses many museums and exhibitions and, from June to August, it also hosts a series of open-air concerts.

Not far from the Sforza Castle is the church and convent Holy Mary of Grace. This UNESCO World Heritage site contains Leonardo da Vinci's painting, The Last Supper, one of the most important works of art in the world..

米蘭被視為國際時尚之都，不過它也是擁有許多古老寶 藏的城市。米蘭有狹窄蜿蜒的街道以及有著壯觀建築物的大廣 場，晴天時徒步探訪米蘭是件樂事。

米蘭大教堂位於市中心，是歐洲第三大教堂。它最多可容 納四萬人，並且有超過三千座用來裝飾的雕像。這座大教堂可 追溯至十四世紀末，不過整棟建築物花了大約五個世紀才建造 完成。夏日午後向晚時分的米蘭大教堂尤其美麗，此時夕陽將 大理石雕像的粉紅色和白色色澤突顯出來。

The world of fashion is constantly changing. New styles and trends can be hot one day and gone the next. One of the more interesting trends in recent years, known as "eco-fashion," is slowly working its way into clothing stores and fashion shows around the world.

Eco-fashion, also called "sustainable fashion," comes in many forms. In general, it takes into account the health of the environment, the health of consumers, and the well-being of designers and factory workers. Eco-fashion companies might use recycled materials to make their products. While other companies throw away tons of scrap material each year, eco-companies turn these scraps into usable fabrics for their designs. Some designers take secondhand clothes and turn them into 'new" garments. There are also those who incorporate things like recycled rubber, recycled plastic, and even coffee grounds into their clothing.

If wearing recycled clothing doesn't suit you, you'll be happy to learn that some eco-clothing companies use original materials that are both natural and sustainable. From underwear made from bamboo to dresses made from banana leaves, these products contain no harmful dyes and bleaches or materials that pollute the environment.

時尚界不斷地在變化。新的流行樣式和潮流可能今天還很熱門，但下一刻就退流行了。近年來有一種比較有趣的潮流稱為「環保時尚」，正慢慢地走進全球各地的服裝店和時裝秀中。

環保時尚又稱為「永續時尚」，有多種形式。大致來說，它將環境健康、消費者健康以及設計師和工廠工人的福祉列入考量。環保時尚公司可能會利用回收材料來製作產品。其他公司每年丟棄好幾噸的廢棄布料，而環保公司把這些碎布變成設計圖案可用的布料。有些設計師會把二手衣變成「新的」服飾。也有些人會將回收橡膠、回收塑料，甚至是咖啡渣這類物品加入衣物中。

如果你不喜歡穿回收衣服，你會很開心得知有些環保服飾公司使用天然且具永續性的原始材料。這些產品從竹製的內衣褲到香蕉葉製成的洋裝都有，它們不含有害的染料和漂白劑或污染環境的材質。

文章出處：Live互動英語雜誌

For some adults, chasing fireflies and watching them light up the hills on summer nights are fond childhood memories. Unfortunately, fireflies may become part of the past since they are at risk of disappearing in Taiwan as they are in other parts of the world.

Taiwan is home to more than fifty of some two thousand firefly species around the world. Fireflies thrive in humid, warm areas, and they can be found in forests and fields as well as near lakes, rivers, and streams. They glow at night to find mates, but the presence of artificial light prevents fireflies from seeing each other, so they cannot reproduce. Water pollution, the use of chemicals on plants, and the mismanagement of rivers and streams have also contributed to the firefly's decreasing numbers. 

The Taiwanese government and various local organizations have now taken steps to protect these magical creatures. Fireflies are being bred and released into the wild. Ponds and grasslands are also being developed to create favorable environments for snails and earthworms, which are a main food source for firefly larvae. Through the hard work of some conservationists, firefly numbers have increased in certain mountain areas.

對有些成年人來說，在夏夜裡追逐螢火蟲以及觀賞牠們照亮山丘是愉快的童年回憶。可惜的是，螢火蟲可能會成為過去式，因為牠們在台灣正面臨消失的危機，如同在世界其他地方一樣。

在全世界約莫兩千種的螢火蟲中，有超過五十種螢火蟲棲息在台灣。螢火蟲在潮濕溫暖的地區茁壯生長，在森林、田野以及湖泊、河川、溪流附近都看得到牠們的蹤影。牠們在夜晚發光尋找配偶，但是人造光的出現讓螢火蟲看不見彼此，因此無法繁殖。水汙染、用於作物的農藥、河川與溪流的不當管理也都造成螢火蟲的數量逐漸下降。

台灣政府以及許多地方機構現在已採取行動來保護這些神奇的生物。螢火蟲經人工飼育後釋放到野外。有人也正在復育池塘和草原來創造出適合蝸牛和蚯蚓生長的環境，牠們是螢火蟲幼蟲的主要食物來源。透過某些環保人士的努力，在某些山區，螢火蟲的數量已經增加了。

文章出處：Live互動英語雜誌

Food brings joy to many people, but for some, it can be an object of passion. Those who truly love food—eating it, preparing it, creating new dishes with it—may become chefs, thus turning their passion into a career.

You might think that a chef's job is only to cook, but in reality, chefs do much more than that. Cooks spend their time cooking in a restaurant's kitchen. Chefs, however, are in charge of the kitchen. Chefs hire and manage kitchen workers, plan menus, create recipes, and decide which food suppliers to order products from. They taste foods to check flavors and examine dishes to see if all of the items are well arranged.

Good chefs are also skilled in time management. They make sure that each course of a meal is served neither too slowly nor too quickly. This may sound simple, but when dozens of tables must be served at once, managing time can be hard. In the end, chefs direct all of their efforts towards one goal—to give customers a delicious and memorable meal.

食物帶給許多人歡樂，但對有些人而言，它可能是一種讓人投入熱情的事物。那些真心喜愛食物──喜愛享用、準備、用它創造新菜餚的人或許會成為主廚，由此將他們的熱情變成一項事業。

你可能認為主廚的工作只是在烹調，但實際上，主廚做的事遠不只做菜。廚師花時間在餐廳廚房煮東西。而主廚卻是負責管理整個廚房。主廚負責雇用和管理廚房的工作人員、規畫菜單、設計食譜，還要決定向哪家食物供應商訂貨。他們要品嚐食物確認味道，並檢查菜餚，看看是否所有東西都安排妥當。

好的主廚對時間管理也很有一套。他們要確保每道菜的上菜速度不會太慢也不會太快。這聽起來或許容易，但當有許多桌必須同時上菜時，時間的管理可能不容易。最終，主廚一切的努力都朝著一個目標──給顧客美味又難忘的一餐。

文章出處：Live互動英語雜誌

A picture is worth a thousand words, and this is true for the 365 Project. This new trend encourages people to take a photo a day for a whole year. Already, more than 80,000 people have taken part in this project. For some, it's an easy way to remember what they did that year. For others, it's a challenge that helps them become better photographers.

The 365 Project isn't just about improving your camera skills, though. An originator of the project said that it helped her see things in her life that would otherwise have gone unnoticed. She also learned to appreciate the people and things around her more. 

If you're interested in giving this project a go, all you need is a camera, but remember to always carry it with you. Also, make sure that you have an easy way to upload your pictures to the Internet. 

It might be hard to take a photo every day. However, at the end of a year, you'll be glad that you can look back at a year of your life in pictures.

一張照片抵得上千言萬語，而在「三六五計劃」中確實如此。這個新潮流鼓勵人們一天拍一張照片，持續一整年。已經有超過八萬人參與了這項計劃。對有些人來說，這是一個簡單的方法，讓自己記得那一年做了什麼事。對有些人來說，這是個幫助自己成為更優秀的攝影者的挑戰。

不過三六五計劃不只是關於提升攝影技巧而已。這項計劃的一位發起人說這讓她看到生活中一些沒有拍照可能就不會注意到的事。她也學會更為欣賞身旁的人事物。

如果你對這個計劃有興趣、想試試看，你只需要一台相機，但記得要隨身攜帶。而且，要確保自己方便將照片上傳至網路。

Traditionally, printers have been used to make copies of information on paper. These days, however, a new type of printing is making actual three-dimensional objects, and it is opening the door to an exciting world of possibilities.

3-D printers produce three-dimensional objects based on a design by a computer program. The computer reads the design and then lays down layer after layer of powder, liquid, or other materials to build the model. This process cuts down on material waste and high costs, which are usually linked to traditional manufacturing methods. It also saves time and allows for greater customization, since computer designs can be changed and printed again. 

Already, 3-D printing is being used in a variety of fields. Artists are using it to make sculptures and jewelry. Industrial designers are using it to produce models, while auto mechanics are using it to create hard-to-find parts. Someday, 3-D printers may enable doctors to make replacement organs for people. 

We are just beginning to understand how 3-D printing will impact the world. Clearly, it will be one of the most important technologies of this century.

傳統上印表機一直都是用來複製紙上的資訊。然而，時至今日，一種新型態的列印技術能製作真實的立體物體，為一個令人興奮的世界開啟各種可能性。

3-D印表機能根據電腦程式的設計來製造立體物品。電腦會讀取設計，然後鋪上一層又一層的粉末、液體或其他材料來建立模型。這種製造過程能減少材料的浪費與高額成本，而這兩者通常和傳統的製造方法有關。它也能節省時間，容許更多客製化的可能，因為電腦設計可以修改及重複列印。

Their rainbow colors draw your eye. As you lift one to your mouth, you smell almonds. When you bite into the cookie, your teeth break through the thin shell into a soft center. Your mouth is filled with delicious flavor. This is the sweet experience of eating a macaron.

Macarons are one of the latest dessert crazes to sweep the world. This treat is basically two cookies that are stuck together with a sweet filling. The cookies are very light. That’s because they are made with little more than egg white, almond flour, and sugar. This gives the outside of the cookie a crisp shell. The filling is usually frosting, chocolate ganache, or a kind of jam. It melts into the cookies and makes their centers soft.

Interesting flavors are also added to the cookies and the fillings. The standard flavors are chocolate, vanilla, and raspberry. These days, though, you can buy ones that taste like flowers, peanut butter, green tea, and even liver. With bright colors and a variety of different tastes, macarons are a feast for the senses.

它們彩虹般的色彩吸引你的目光。你拿起一個到嘴邊時，聞到了杏仁味。當你咬一口這種餅乾時，你的牙齒會穿透薄薄的外皮，觸及柔軟的餅心。你的口腔裡充滿美味的滋味。這就是吃馬卡龍的甜蜜體驗。

馬卡龍是最近橫掃全世界的甜點風潮之一。這道小點心基本上是兩片以甜內餡黏在一起的餅乾。餅乾非常清爽，因為它們的原料只有蛋白、杏仁粉和糖。這讓餅乾的外皮酥脆。內餡通常是糖霜、巧克力甘那許或某種果醬。它會溶入餅乾中，讓中心部份變得柔軟。

餅乾和內餡還會加入有趣的口味。標準的口味有巧克力、香草和覆盆莓。不過現今你可以買到嚐起來像花香、花生醬、綠茶、甚至肝醬的馬卡龍。由於有著鮮亮的色彩和豐富多樣的口味，馬卡龍是一種感官的饗宴。

Did you know that your cells would die without salt? This simple seasoning lets us stay alive. It also helps make medicine and keep food fresh. In fact, there are thousands of ways to use salt to improve our lives.

One of the first uses of salt was to keep food from going bad. Salt can stop cut fruit from turning brown and help milk stay fresh for longer. It can also be used to remove a coffee stain from a cup and to get rid of rust. The usefulness of salt doesn't stop here. If a sore throat is bothering you, try cleaning your throat with warm salt water. A paste made from salt and water can also ease the pain from a bee sting.

These are only a few of the thousands of uses for salt. The next time you have a problem around the house, see if it can be solved with salt. This wonderful item makes life possible, and it also makes many things in life much easier.

你知道細胞缺乏鹽份的話會死掉嗎？這種簡樸的調味料讓我們維繫生命。它也有助於製作藥物以及讓食物保鮮。事實上，有數千種方法可用鹽來改善我們的生活。

鹽最早的用途之一是讓食物免於腐壞。鹽可以讓切好的水果不會變成褐色，還有助於延長牛奶保鮮的時間。鹽也可用於去除杯子上的咖啡漬，還可用來除鏽。鹽的功用還不只於此。如果你正受喉嚨痛所惱，試試用溫鹽水清洗喉嚨吧。用鹽和水製成的糊狀物還可以減輕蜜蜂叮咬造成的疼痛。

這些只是鹽數千種用途的其中一些。下次你在家中遇到問題時，看看能不能用鹽來解決。這種美妙的物品讓生命成為可能，也讓生活中的很多事情變得容易多了。

文章出處：Live互動英語雜誌

To help save the environment, researchers have gone underwater to find inspiration.
為了幫助拯救環境，研究員已深入水底去尋找靈感。
The scales on sharks are tiny, rough, tooth-like structures. This makes their skin feel like armor and helps the sharks move quickly and gracefully through the water. For many years now, humans have been copying shark skin in different products. Artificial sharkskin fabric is very light and does not wrinkle easily, which makes it ideal for suits, curtains, and tablecloths. Other things that have been made with sharkskin fabric are diving suits and winter coats.
　　The biggest technological advancement that is related to shark skin in recent years is paint. This new kind of paint, which has been inspired by the efficiency of shark skin, can be applied to airplanes, ships, and wind turbines. By doing so, wind drag is reduced. This means that fuel costs for boats and planes are reduced and money is saved. On wind turbines, less air resistance means that more energy is generated, making them more efficient. The best things about sharkskin paint are that very little extra weight is added to the ships, planes, and wind turbines and it can resist ultraviolet radiation and extreme temperatures.
　　There are particles in the paint that recreate the shark-skin like quality, but it needs to be applied properly with stencils. The researchers in Germany who came up with the paint tested it on ships. They found that the paint reduces drag by five percent. On large container ships, this could save 2,000 tons of fuel. If this paint were applied to every plane in the world, 4.48 million tons of fuel would be saved every year. That would reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and when it comes to protecting the environment, every little bit helps.

鯊魚的魚鱗是很小、很粗糙而且像牙齒一樣的構造。這讓牠們的皮膚摸起來像是盔甲，而且幫助鯊魚在水裡快速且優雅地移動。多年來，人類在許多不同產品上都仿照了鯊魚皮膚。人造的鯊魚皮布料非常輕，而且不容易皺，這使得這種材質很適合用來作西裝、窗簾和桌布。其他以鯊魚皮布料製成的還有潛水衣和冬天的外套。
　　近年來和鯊魚皮膚有關的最大科技發展就是塗料。這種新式塗料是以鯊魚皮膚的功能為靈感，它可以運用於飛機、船隻以及風力發電機。塗上這種塗料後，便能減低風阻。這意味著船隻和飛機的燃料費用會減少，同時也省了不少錢。在風力發電機方面，較少的空氣阻力意味著能夠產生更多的能源，也讓機器更有效率。鯊魚皮塗料最棒的就是它幾乎完全不會為船隻、飛機和風力發電機增加額外的重量，同時它還可以抗紫外線和極端的溫度。
　　這種塗料裡有可以重現和鯊魚皮膚類似特性的粒子，但是它必須適當地搭配模版來塗抹。這群想出這種塗料的德國研究員將它塗在船隻上做測試。他們發現這種塗料可以減少百分之五的阻力。以大型的貨櫃船來說，這種塗料可以省下兩千公噸的燃料。如果這種塗料運用在全世界每一艘船隻，那麼每年將可以省下四百四十八萬公噸的燃料。這將會減少二氧化碳的排放量，而且就保護環境而言，這一點一滴都有所幫助。

ideal a. 理想的
It is Jane's view that an ideal husband should always be respectful and truthful.

The Color Run is one of the most memorable experiences you will ever have.
繽紛馬拉松將會是你有生以來最難忘的經驗之一。

Are you ready to have the time of your life? If you are, then grab your family and friends and get yourselves out to The Color Run. This is a unique untimed, five-kilometer race that is all about adding color to your life and your clothes. Participants start out wearing completely white outfits at the event. By the end, they are covered from head to toe with different colors. That's because at each kilometer of the race, the runners are dipped with colored powder. The best part, though, is the gigantic Color Festival at the end of the race, where everyone gets to throw colors at the runners crossing the finish line. 
　　There's more to The Color Run than just covering people in colored powder. The event also observes happiness, healthy living, individuality, and giving back to the community. In each city that the event visits, the organizers team up with local and national charities to raise awareness and shed light on important issues. In 2012, more than US$600,000 was raised by The Color Run, and they plan to pass the million-dollar mark in 2013. What's more, the race has become the single largest event series in the US since its first running in January 2012. 
　　The Color Run is open to people of all ages and backgrounds, from first-time runners to professional athletes. Moreover, everyone is a winner because the race is not about who's the fastest. The Color Run will soon be heading to Taiwan, so get ready to take part and become your own moving canvas of color.
　　你準備好要享受人生中最美好的時光了嗎？如果是的話，拉著你的家人和朋友一起去參加繽紛馬拉松吧。這是一場獨特的五公里不計時比賽，一切都只是為了替你的人生和衣服增添色彩。參賽者在這場活動剛開始時會穿著全白的衣服。到了比賽結束時，他們從頭到腳都覆蓋著各種不同的顏色。那是因為在這場比賽中，每隔一公里跑者們就會被浸在色粉當中。然而，這場比賽最棒的部份就是比賽尾聲的巨型色彩慶典，每個人都可以對著穿過終點線的跑者丟色粉。

　　繽紛馬拉松不只是將彩色粉末覆蓋在人們身上而已。這項活動也在慶祝幸福、健康生活、個人獨特性和回饋社會。在該活動造訪的每個城市，主辦單位會和當地及該國的慈善團體合作來喚起大眾意識和闡明某些重要議題。2012 年，繽紛馬拉松籌募了六十多萬美元，他們預計要在 2013 年打破一百萬美元的目標。此外，這項比賽自從 2012 年一月首次開跑以來，便已成為美國最盛大的單一賽事系列。
　　繽紛馬拉松開放給來自各個年齡層和身份背景的人，從第一次參加的跑者到職業運動員都有。此外，每個人都是贏家，因為這場比賽並不是要比誰跑得最快。繽紛馬拉松很快就會來到臺灣，所以準備好參加這項活動，並成為你自己的移動色彩畫布吧。

1. start out　　開始，著手進行
   The project started out on a small scale, but it has since become much larger.
   這個企劃剛開始時的規模很小，但之後就擴大很多。
2. from head to toe　　從頭到腳
   John checked me out from head to toe when he saw my new dress.
   約翰看到我穿了新洋裝，便從頭到腳打量了我一番。
3. dip vt. 浸，泡
   The worker cooled the hot steel by dipping it into water.
   

The human brain is the third largest organ in the body. It weighs an averageof three pounds and is made up of fat and protein. The brain is the control center for the whole body. It has some 100 billion nerve cells and operates other organs, creates thoughts and emotions, controls movement, and gets and keeps information all at the same time. It is what makes us different from other animals. It gives us the means to use language, think rationally, sense the world, and so much more. 
　　The brain is quite flexible and continues to develop even into old age. However, just like the muscles in our bodies, the brain needs care and regularexercise to stay fit. If we don't do this, then our control centers won't be able tomake a decision, keep our fears in check, or remember anything we did. 
　　A good way to keep the brain healthy is to challenge it with clever games and tests, like those found on National Geographic Channel's Brain Games. Each of the 12 episodes reveals more of how the brain works, so don't miss seeing any.

人類的大腦是身體第三大器官。它平均重量是三磅，由脂肪和蛋白質所組成。大腦是全身的控制中心。它有大約一千億的神經細胞、負責運作其他器官、創造思想和情緒、控制動作，並同時獲取和保留資訊。這正是我們人類與其他動物的不同之處。大腦賦予我們能力來使用語言、理性思考、感知世界，並且從事其他許許多多的事。
大腦十分柔韌並且終其一生都會持續發展。然而，就像身上的肌肉一般，大腦也需要照護和定期活動來維持健康。如果我們沒有這麼做，我們的控制中心將無法做決定、抑制恐懼，或是記得曾經做過的任何事。
　　要讓大腦維持健康的一個好途徑就是以益智遊戲或測驗來挑戰腦力，就像國家地理頻道中《大腦遊戲》所做過的那些遊戲和測驗一樣。《大腦遊戲》系列共有十二集，每一集都將揭曉大腦是如何運作的，所以不要錯過任何一集喔。