2008年2月28日星期四

Similar Fridends or Disimilar Friends

Do you have many friends? Are they similar to you or different from you? Which kind of friends do you prefer?

Having friends whose characters, hobbies and social conditions are similar to yous can be very advantageous. Maybe you are fond of collecting stamps, then what a pleasure it is to have a friend with the same taste and to get to exchange the little "treasures" with him. Or maybe you are interested in playing tennis then how wonderful it is to compete with your friend, who is a well-matched tennis parter, on a green court. Similar friends are easy to get along with, and between you and your friends, there are always something that all of you are familar with. Because of the similarity, they can see something in your opinions, and understand you well.

But how about making different friends? They may have not what you have, but they have what you don't have. The dissimilar friends are like the protagonists in the scientific novel "Around the World in Eighty Days". Mr Fogg, and his ardent, humorous and talktive servent, Jean, who was not a bit like her old-fashioned master. But who would say that Mr. Fogg's courage and braveness during the great trip, and his compassion towards Mrs. Aouda were not partly from the influence and help of Jean? A dissimilar friend is a mirror which can reflect your virtues and shortcomings. From him, you can find what you lack and you can learn what you need. When viewed from these perspectives, different friends may have more to do with shaping you than the similar ones do.

No matter how similar they are, every two friends have differences, and no matter how different they are, as friends, they have at least one similarity: the sincerity towards the friendship. In sincere friendship, you can find shelter from danger, courage in need, and willing hands to help. Open your heart to your friends, whether they are similar to or different from you, and you may become the happiest man in the world.

2008年2月19日星期二

What's in a Name

CON
What's the big deal about name brands? One term used for products that aren't name brands is generic, which means common. Sometimes I get the feeling that the only reason people buy name brand products is because they fear being labeled "common". Generic products have the stigma of being boring and ugly while name brand products are exciting and stylish. Well, I'm not buying it. I'm buying generic. Why?

Cost Generic products can be from a quarter up to even half off the price of the comparable name brand product. Check for yourself. The next time you're in a drug store, find the generic medicines or store brands and compare them with their name brand counterparts. The generic brands have the same active ingredients as the name brands but are considerably less expensive. Buying them instead is a no-brainer!

The same stuff, only in a different disguise
Sometimes, discount brand companies manufacture similar - if not identical - products for the more famous label companies. What that means is the quality of the less expensive brand products is about the same as the name brand products - it's just the label that's different! So, save some money and go with the less famous brand, or go generic! Now what's your viewpoint?

2008年2月18日星期一

Impression's of St. Peter's school

Impressions of St. Peter's School (1)
St. Peter's School, Cambridge
Insights into life at a New Zealand boarding school
Located on a beautiful 100-acre campus. St. Peter's is an independent, coeducational school with students from grades 7 to 13. Of the 1000 students who attend this school, 430 of them board here, and 60 students come from abroad.

Diary
As my host drove me through the gate at St. Peter's School, my first thought was that this must be a school for royalty! Fields of green grass surrounded us as we made our way up the long driveway lined with gigantic trees.

As I walked around the school, the different colored shirts of the school uniforms(according to grade)caught my attention. Both the boys and the girls looked very smart.

The international student manager, Rosanne, tole me that the rules for both dress and behavior are very strict. No form of physical contact between boys and girls is allowed on campus. I think this rule is great because students come to learn, not socialize. The boys' boarding houses are across the campus from the girls' houses. The younger students share bedrooms while students in years 12 and 13 have their own rooms. I feel the design is really good because younger students need support and older students need their space.

Impressions of St. Peter's School (2)
At St. Peter's, a holistic style of teaching is emphasized with the goal to develop and strengthen students' minds and bodies and spirits. They teach the students how to learn, which develops and broadens their minds. The school also requires that students participate in two PE classes per week and extracurricular sports to help their bodies become strong . In addition, the school enriches students' spirits through teaching about Christianity.

For many classes, students are grouped together based on similar academic performance, an approach called streaming. When observing an English class, I discovered three major differences between the classrooms at my school and those at St. Peter's. First, the classes at St. Peter's are small with an average of 12 students. Second, I was struck by how eager the students were to answer questions or voice their opinions. The interaction was excellent, and the students participated enthusiastically in class activities. Third, the teacher gave a lot of class time for finishing homework and a lot of individual assistance to students as they worked. This was a valuable learning expericence for me, and I plan to incorporate what I learned at St. Peter's into my own classes.

Holistic: holistic medicine, holistic ecology.
Steaming: the students are grouped together based on similar academic performance, the
appoach is called streaming
Steamlining: The company or organization often needs streamlining. The boss may let some people go to save on expense and make operation more efficiently. This practice of reorganizing or simplifying the organization is also called streamlining.
Steamline design

2008年2月14日星期四

What's in a Name

substandard: below standard, sub: below or less than something. subtract, subtiles, submarine, subway

apparel

What's in a Name
Name brands are cool, but are they really worthe the extra money?

PRO
There are hundreds of them. Well-known appliances, electronics, footwear, apprael and computers. The famous brands - they are what we call name brands. These products are not necessarily successul because companies pour millions of dollars into promoting them - though that certainly doesn't hurt. People spend money on name brand products for several reasons:

1.Quality
A name brand can't become name brand without qualiy. If it's a food, the ingredients are wholesome; if it's a machine, quality parts are a must. Quality attracts customers and keeps them coming back.
2. Consistency
Over time, customers grow to expect a certain level of quality and performance from a product or service. If I'm in a foreign country and need shampoo, I'm going to buy a name brand product because I know it will be good. Name brands deliver quality consistency, regardless of time or location.
3.Customer services
Admittedly, some substandard name brand products occasionally get shipped out. To deal with this inevitability, smart companies help to support customers. For name brand companies, customer satisfaction is a priority. These three qualities give name brand products longevity. And that's worth a little extra money, right?

2008年2月13日星期三

Lunar New Year (1)

Lunare New Year
---Gather with family and eat some holiday treats and celebrate

Every year about this time, the same things happen: Busy cities empty, traditional markets fill with holiday shoppers, and people journey home. Many Lunar New Year traditions, like giving red envelopes and having family reunions, have been going on for years. Yet the way people celebrate this traidional holiday has also changed over time.

Holiday travel
During Lunar New Year , also called Spring Festival, people return to their hometowns, often in the countrysie, to gather with their extended families. In China, the massive migration of people from city to countryside has a special name: chunyun, which means "spring transportation." Around two billion train, bus, boat or plane trips are made within China each holiday season. For these travelers, the long wait to buy tickets and the even longer rides on crowded buses and trains are worth it.

In recent years, however, some urban families have decided to avoid the holiday crowds altogether by going abroad. In 2006, some 35 million trips were made overseas durg the holiday period. Popular destinations included Thailand, malaysia and Australia.

hometown: a place he is very familiar with.
ancestral home: a place where the ancestors live.

migration from the city to the countryside.
massive migration: huge. enormous.
spring transportation
signify

Dumplings,Dumplings and Dumplings

In western Europe, they have potatoes inside. Korea ones are filled with spicy, pickled cabbage. And in America, they're filled with nothing at all.

Dumplings exist in some form in almost every cluture. They usually consist of an outer layer of dough and different fillings. These can be meat, vegetables, rice, cheese or even fruit. The fillings, can be salty or sweet, vary depends on cultural traditons. Dumpling wrappings vary too. For example, bamboo leaves surround zongzi, which are known as Chinese rice dumplings.

While dumplings probably weren't invented in China, the Chinese have certainly made them their own. Chinese dumplings, called jiaozi, are one of the most celebrated Chinese foods. Although the exact history is unclear, the Chinese have likely been enjoying them since around the first century. One folktale claims that jiaozi were created to treat frostbitten ears!

Whatever the origin, these dumplings are typically filled with pork, shrimp or beef. And a dip made of soy sauce mixed with other ingredients usually accompanies these tasty delights.

filling:
stuffing: for meat or vegatable
filler: for funiture

Strictly speaking, there are only two kinds of jiaozi: boiled and steamed. While not classified as jiaozi, other kinds of dumplings are also enjoyed by Chinese. Guo tie, pan-fried dumplings known as potstickers in North America, are a popular snack. Wontons, dumplings with a very thin outer layer, are often found in soup. Some dumplings can even have soup inside of them, like mouthwatering xiaolongbao.

To many families, dumplings are a must-have part of Chinese new year celebrations. Family memebers often prepare together jiaozi before the meal. The shape is similar to a gold ingot. a kind of ancient money. So jiaozi have become a symbol of wealth. Some families hide a coin in one of the dumplings. They believe that the person who finds the coin will have good fortune in the coming year.

Despite the world's wide range of dumplings, jiaozi are the most loved at Chines new year.

2008年2月11日星期一

Ski Korea

lodge
sip a cup of Swiss Coffe
join the fun and ski Korea
nestle: she nestled her head on his shoulder.


acre
hectare
panoramic photo. panoramic
panorama

2008年2月7日星期四

a popluar winter sport ski korea

You whiz past alpine forests on a snow-covered trail that curves down the mountainside. The only sound you hear is our skis swishing through the snow. Surpringly, you're not in Switzerland or Canada, which are famous for skiing: This idyllic scene can be found as close as Korea.
Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korea Peninsula. Over the past 30 years, these mountains have been opened up to skiing with the construction of 13 ski resorts. As a result, not only skiing but also other winter sports have become increasingly popular.
Now thousands of tourists throughout Asia head to Korea every winter, making it a top skiing destination in the region.

Muju Resort
Within a national park south of Seoul lies Muju Resort. Among Muju's 30 slopes is Korea's longest ski run the 6.2-km-long Silk Road, which suits both beginning and intermediate skiers. Muju also boasts the Raider Course, Korea's steepest ski run.
many vistors take time away from skiing to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. If he weather permits, they hike through Muju Cucheondong Valley. A trail leads past 33 scenic points, including streams, waterfalls, rock formations and a 400-meter-deep valley.

idyllic

head : go? where are you heading?
head out we'll head out this morning.
head out after: following
head off someone

have you ever been downhill skiing?
I’ve been water skiing and cross-country skiing, but never downhill skiing

identity theft

undo the damage
employment fraud
People are stealing identity not only for money but also for jobs. One fugitive created 33 different identities from a stolen secuirty number. He used them to land jobs such as head of security for a fair and fire department chief for a town and also to avoid being arrested.
Some immigrants to the United States are also guilty of employment fraud. In 2004, one American woman learned that her social secuirty number had been used, mostly by illegal immigrants, for 38 different employers. Thousands of other American citizens' identity are used in the same way. But most of the people won't know until they are asked to pay taxes on wages they never earned or repay loans taken out by the imposter.
colledge loans
Students who need financial aid are often the victims of identity theft. Until recently, fifty percent of American colledges and universities used Social Secuirty numbers to post students' grades. This made many students easy targets for imposters to use their personal information to apply for financial aid -- and avoid repaying colledge loans. Although the threat of identity theft is growing, there is still hope. Consumers can learn safeguard their information and protect themselves. Be one of them!

national identification number

Personal Safety

We are going to talk about accidents that can happen at your home. Rachel, have you ever had accident in your home? yes, i have had some minor accidents.
A lot of accidents can happen at the places that you won't expect.
I hope today's lesson helpful and useful.
Home is where the heart is. But home is also where a vast amount of accidents take place every year. For example, more accidental deaths occur in British homes than on British roads. And experts agree that most of these home accidents were preventable.
One of the most common causes of household injuries is falls, but they can be prevented quite easily.

Stairs:
Remove all loose rugs or carpets from stairs, or glue them firmly into places. Tightly fastened banisters should run the entire length of staircases. Use a safety gate at the top of stairs to protect children, and always make sure the stairs are well-lit.

Windows:
when living above ground floor, window guards should always be attached to the outside of the windows. Never assume that children will stay away from open windows.

Bathrooms:
Most falls occur in the bathroom due to slippery floors, tubs and showers. Non-slipper mats should be used inside and outside tubs and showers. And grab bars should be attached to the tub or shower walls.

vast: big, huge, enormous. a vast amount of accidents.
banisters
grab bars
window gards

2008年2月4日星期一

Ice Hockey

hard-hitting:言辞激烈的,直截了当的,effective, reporters are hard-hitting
trophy
hunger for speed
rink
face-off: the two opposing teams shouted at each other at the face-off.
protective gear
roughness, violence
rough up someone 修理某人
slam:
in the quest of something, the goaling for trophy
ice hockey is hard-hitting and fast-action.
Ice hockey consists of 3 periods.
in the quest for something
puck: 冰球

The game consists of 3 periods. a team with the most goals at the end of those periods
wins. Players slam into each other, trip each other
large audiences as many people hunger for speed.

Speed on Ice
speed skatin and ice hockey
Ice hockey
Hard-hitting and fast-action decribe ice hockey, where two opposing team use curved hockey sticks to hit the puck into their opponent's goal. A game consists of 3 periods and the team with the most goals at the end of those periods wins. At the start of the game, one player from each team goes to the center of the rink for a face-off to gain control of the puck. Once the puck is in play, skaters can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h when chasing after it. A lot of protective gears are worn by the players because of the roughness during the game. Players slam into each other, trip each other and even get into fights, which often earns them a seat in the penalty box. Teams dream of winning the renowned Stanley Cup, which is the championship trophy of the National Hockey League in Canada and the United States.

Speed skating and ice hockey attract large audiences as many people hunger for speed. If you'are among them, watch these sports as speed skaters set new speed records and ice hockey players skim over the ice in the quest for control of the puck.

2008年2月3日星期日

Changing worlds

living arrangement
like-colored buildings
like-minded, have similar thinking
laylike: she is like a lay.
flu-like symptom , the symptom is like flu.
stir 激动
rhythmic, get into rhythm, things become a routine
make a lot of adjustments
explore new territories
this community swarmed with many foreigners
pore over
meditation 考虑; 沉思冥想; 沉思; 冥想;
mediation 调停; 调解; 仲裁;
subdued受抑制的,被压制的 含蓄的,文静的
the way he looks at life from a different perspective

Dumplings

wonton 混沌
Chinese new year is drawing near.
boiled steamed 煮饺和蒸饺
one of the most celebrated Chinese food
soy 酱油
vinegar 醋
dough 面
pickle 泡菜
frostbitten 冻伤的
in western , dumplings are filled with potatoes.
Chinese rice dumplings: bamboo leaves surround rice 粽子
filling 馅 a pie filling
stuffing 添加物,在蔬菜和肉中
filler building material and furniture
cabbage:园白菜
Chinese made them their own. using their own ingredients and styles.
celebrated
so many people around the world love them.
a folktale
hot pepper