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2013年11月5日 星期二

雙語導讀:亞馬遜CEO Jeff Bezos 在普林斯頓大學的演講

Cleverness is a gift, kindness is a choice. Gifts are easy -- they're given after all. Choices can be hard. You can seduce yourself with your gifts if you're not careful, and if you do, it'll probably be to the detriment of your choices.
聰明是一種天賦,而善良是一種選擇。天賦得來很容易——畢竟它們與生俱來。而選擇則頗為不易。如果一不小心,你可能被天賦所誘惑,這可能會損害到你做出的選擇。

I didn't think I'd regret trying and failing. And I suspected I would always be haunted by a decision to not try at all.
我認為自己不會為嘗試過後的失敗而遺憾,倒是有所決定但完全不付諸行動會一直煎熬著我。

Will inertia be your guide, or will you follow your passions?
Will you follow dogma, or will you be original?
Will you choose a life of ease, or a life of service and adventure?
Will you wilt under criticism, or will you follow your convictions?
Will you bluff it out when you're wrong, or will you apologize?
Will you guard your heart against rejection, or will you act when you fall in love?
Will you play it safe, or will you be a little bit swashbuckling?
When it's tough, will you give up, or will you be relentless?
Will you be a cynic, or will you be a builder?
Will you be clever at the expense of others, or will you be kind?

你們是被慣性所引導,還是追隨自己內心的熱情?
你們會墨守陳規,還是勇於創新?
你們會選擇安逸的生活,還是選擇一個奉獻與冒險的人生?
你們會屈從於批評,還是會堅守信念?
你們會掩飾錯誤,還是會坦誠道歉?
你們會因害怕拒絕而掩飾內心,還是會在面對愛情時勇往直前?
你們想要波瀾不驚,還是想要搏擊風浪?
你們會在嚴峻的現實之下選擇放棄,還是會義無反顧地前行?
你們要做憤世嫉俗者,還是踏實的建設者?
你們要不計一切代價地展示聰明,還是選擇善良?


雙語導讀:國外旅行中需要支付的種種的小費


Hotel workers depend on tips to augment their usually small salaries. Rather than being annoyed at having to tip the doorman who greets you, consider it part of the cost of travel and be prepared with the dollar bills you will need to hand out before you even get to your room.
  飯店的工作人員主要靠小費來增加他(她)們平時微薄的收入。不要對付給服務員小費感到憤憤不平,而應該把它看作是旅遊消費的一部分,並應做好準備在進入飯店之前就隨時掏出鈔票。

  Doormen
  Depending on the amount of luggage, tip $ 1 to $ 2 to the doorman who takes your bags and turns them over to a bellman. If you are visiting and have no luggage, you naturally do not tip him for simply opening the door for you. Tip him again when you leave with your luggage as he takes it from the bellman and assists you in loading it in your car or into your taxi. When the doorman obtains a taxi for you, tip him $1 to $3 (the higher amount if he must stand in the rain for a period of time to get it).
  門衛
  給門衛的小費數目取決於行李的多少,為你拿行李並把它遞給行李員的門衛要付給12美元的小費。如果你沒有行李,通常就不必為他們只為你開門這樣簡單的服務付費。當你帶著行李準備離開飯店而門衛從行李員手中接過行李並幫你把它放入你的車子或計程車裡時,你還應該付給他小費。當門衛為你叫了一輛計程車時,你應該付他13美元(如果他為了叫輛計程車而不得不在雨中站著時,你的小費應該給得更多些。)

  Bellman
  Tip $1 a bag but not less than $2 to the bellman who carries or delivers your luggage to your room. When the bellman does something special for you, such as make a purchase or bring something you have requested to your room, but not room service deliveries, he or she should be tipped $ 2 to $ 3 for every service, at the time it is provided.   
        行李員
  一個行李包要付1美元的小費,但對於把行李送到客房的行李員要付給2元以上的小費。當行李員為你做了一些特殊的事情,比如替你購物或把你需要的東西送到客房(但不屬於客房服務範疇)等,他應該得到23美元的小費。

        Maid
  For stays of one night or more, the maid should be tipped $2 per night per person in a large hotel; $ 1 per night per person in a less expensive hotel. Give the maid her tip in person, if she can be found. If not, put it in a sealed envelope marked "chambermaid".
  清理房間的女服務員
  在一個較大、較豪華的飯店,清理房間的女服務員每人每天應得到2美元的小費;檔次次之的飯店的服務員每人每天可得1美元小費。你可以親自給她們小費,也可以把錢裝在信封裡封好,上面寫明"送給清理房間的服務員"

  Valet
  Valet services are added to your bill, so there is no need to tip for pressing or cleaning when items are left in your room. If you are in when your cleaning and pressing is delivered, however, tip $ 1 for the delivery for one or two items, more when several items are being delivered.
  清洗、熨燙衣服的服務員
  清洗、熨燙衣服的服務費用被加到你的帳單中,因此如果在你外出的時候衣服被放在房間內你就無需付小費。如果服務員在送衣服時,你在房間內,可以為他們的送衣服務付1美元,如果衣服較多就應付更多的小費。

  Dining Room Staff
  Tips for dining room staff are exactly the same as they are in any other restaurant -15 to 18 percent except in the most elegant dining rooms where tips are 18 to 20 percent. If you are staying in an American -plan hotel where your meals are included in your total bill, tips are as usual, and an additional tip should be given to the maitre d' who has taken care of you during your stay. This tip ranges anywhere from $ 10 to $ 15 for a weekend for a family or group of four people to $ 20 to $ 30 for a longer stay or larger group.
  餐廳服務員
  付給飯店餐廳服務員的小費數目與其他餐館服務員所得小費的數目不相上下,都是15-18%,而一些非常豪華、檔次最高的餐廳小費要高達18-20%。如果你入住的飯店是餐費已包含于總帳單的美式飯店,小費還是15-18%,且要直接付給那位從頭至尾一直服侍你的服務員。如果一個家庭或一行四人要在此飯店住一星期的話,他們付出的小費從10美元至15美元不等,而在住宿的時間更長或人數更多的情況下,小費要達到20美元甚至30美元之多。


雙語導讀:求職者必看 -- 四大招數挽救你失敗的面試

 There are many ways for an interview to go wrong. You show up late. There's a stain on your shirt. You accidentally insult the interviewer's mother. All avoidable mistakes

  搞砸一個面試的方法有很多。你遲到了,你把襯衫弄髒了,你無意中侮辱了面試官的媽媽。所有這些都是可以避免的錯誤。

  Sometimes, however, there simply isn't a clear explanation for why an interview isn't going well. Sometimes, no matter what you do or say, an interview just fizzles

  但是有時候,並沒有一個清楚的理由來解釋為什麼面試會變得很失敗。有時候,不管你做什麼或是說什麼,面試就是失敗了。

  Don't panic--you can save this interview

  別驚慌失措--你還能把面試挽救回來。

  The first step: Smile

  第一步:微笑。

  Body language plays an important part in an interview. If you relax your shoulders and give a big ol'grin, you'll feel more comfortable ... and so will the interviewer. Smiling also helps increase your energy and project confidence -- all plusses in an interview

  肢體語言在面試中能起到非常大的作用。如果你放鬆你的雙肩加上一個大大的笑容,你會覺得更舒服。面試官也一樣。微笑能夠提升你的能量,增強你的自信--這在面試中都會被加分。

  While smiling is a good start to turning an interview around, there are other steps you can take

  微笑是轉變面試方向的一個好的開始,下面還有一些你能採取的步驟:

  Ask the Interviewer Questions 

  向面試官提問

  This is known as the “switcheroo.” 

  這叫做"突變"

  If you feel that you just aren't giving the right answers to an interviewer's questions, try changing tactics--and ask the interviewer a few questions of your own

  如果你感覺對於面試官的提問你就是不能做出正確的回答,試試換個策略--問面試官一些你自己的問題。

  If you momentarily switch the focus from yourself to the interviewer, it will give you a chance to regroup and compose yourself. Also, it will make the interviewer do some talking, perhaps giving you a clue to what he or she is looking for

  如果你能暫時性的把焦點從你自己這裏轉移到面試官那邊,你就有機會重新理清思路。同時,還能讓面試官說說話,也許能給你一點有關面試官在尋找什麼特質的人的提示。

  Be sure to prepare your questions in advance and make sure they are appropriate. Some examples: 

  一定要提前準備好問題,並且確定這些問題問得合適。這裏有一些例子:

  What's your favorite thing about working at this company? 

  在這家公司工作你最喜歡什麼?

  How would you describe the working environment here? 

  你覺得這裏的工作環境怎麼樣?

  What's a typical day like in the department? 

  這個部門通常一天是怎麼過的?

  Get Feedback 

  尋求反饋

  If an interviewer seems bored or cold while you're answering a question, all is not lost

  如果面試官在你回答一個問題的時候看上去很不耐煩冷冰冰的,你還沒有失去一切。

  Stop and ask if your answer is going in the direction they're looking for. That way, you can avoid talking about the wrong things and begin talking about the right things

  停下來然後詢問你的回答是否是他們想要的。這樣你可以避免在錯誤的答案上越走越遠,並重新回到正確的一邊。

  Maybe you misunderstood the question. Or maybe the question wasn't phrased clearly. That doesn't mean you have to struggle--just ask the interviewer for some clarification

  也許你誤解了這個問題,或者這個問題沒有問得很清楚。這不意味著你要苦思冥想--直接讓面試官做個進一步的說明就行了。

  If you still feel like the interview is going poorly, ask if the interviewer has any concerns or questions regarding you as a candidate. That way, you can respond to any worries directly

  如果你仍然然感覺面試不太順利,問問面試官對於你應聘這個職位有什麼顧慮或者疑問,這樣你可以直接對這些擔憂做出回應。

  The key point to remember: If an interviewer is getting bored or appears distracted, cut your answer short and get some feedback

  要記住的關鍵問題:如果一位面試官看上去很不耐煩或者很無聊,你要趕快長話短說然後尋求一些反饋。

  Flattery Will Get You Everywhere 

  拍拍馬屁會讓你心想事成

  Everyone likes to feel good about themselves. Even interviewers

  所有人都是自我感覺良好,即便是面試官也是如此。

  So to put an interviewer in a better mood, offer a compliment

  所以,給面試官一個好心情,說點稱讚的話。

  Say a nice word or two about the company, the office's location, the view from the window -- something that will make the interviewer feel good. Paying a compliment also indicates you are a positive person, an attitude many hiring managers seek in candidates

  對面試的公司說一兩句好話,比如辦公地址很好啦,從窗子往外看風景不錯啦,說說這些會讓面試官感覺很好。稱讚的同時也暗示出你是一個積極的人,這是很多面試官希望從求職者身上看到的品質。

  Giving a compliment about the company is especially useful, since it will offer you a chance to show that you did research on the company before the interview, proving you're well prepared

  讚美公司特別有用,因為這給了你一個展示的機會表明你在面試前對公司做了些研究,說明你對面試準備得很好。

  A note of caution: Your compliments should not be too numerous, too obvious or too personal. If you suddenly begin gushing about how GREAT the interviewer's haircut is, the interviewer will see right through your charade. Better to keep your compliment simple and safe, such as saying how friendly everyone seems to be

  提醒:你的讚美不能太多、太明顯或者太私人。如果你突然大談特談面試官的髮型多麼好,面試官馬上就能看穿你的小心思。讚美的話最好說的簡單安全,比如說,這裏的每一個人看上去都很親切和善。

  You May Not Be the Problem 

  也許問題不在你

  If you feel like you've done everything possible to succeed in your interview but you're still getting the cold shoulder, then follow this advice: Just do your best and move on

  如果你覺得自己在面試中盡了一切努力卻仍然得到輕視,聽從這個建議:盡力表現繼續前進。

  Perhaps the interviewer fought with his or her spouse that morning, or perhaps the interviewer is sick. Or perhaps, for no reason, the interviewer is just in a foul mood

  也許面試官今天早晨和另一半吵架了,或者面試官生病了。甚至可能什麼原因都沒有,面試官今天就是心情不好。

  There are innumerable reasons why an interviewer may have been in a bad mood ... many of which have nothing to do with you. Interviewers are people too and everyone has bad days

  面試官可能心情不好的原因有千千萬,其中一些和你根本沒關係。面試官也是人,是人就有不太順的時候。

  So remember to trust yourself and not let it get you down. Just do the best you can and try not to worry about things you can't control

  所以,要記得相信自己,別讓這些狀況打擊到你。你要做的就是盡自己的全力去表現,不要擔心那些你不能控制的事情。 

雙語導讀:老闆讓你取消度假該怎麼辦?

 Planning a vacation trip for the whole family-lining up plane tickets, time off work on a school break, pet care or a house sitter-is a major undertaking. What would you do if, just a few days before you were scheduled to depart on such a trip, your boss told you to cancel the whole thing?

If you refused, you just might be out of a job. In most circumstances, employees can be fired for refusing an order to work, regardless of pending vacation plans. Few bosses would do such a thing; if you are needed, most supervisors would just ask you to call in while you are away, says John J. Myers, an employment attorney for Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott. After all, vacation is valuable to your health. Research has shown that people who fail to take vacations have a higher risk of death from any cause, but particularly from heart disease, than those who take regular vacations.

Nevertheless, employers generally aren't obligated to provide paid vacation, and they have the right to set the terms when they do, Mr. Myers says.

The issue arose in an unusual case earlier this year at a bank in Everett, Wash. The bank's president, John Dickson, was fired by the CEO after he refused to cancel a spring-break vacation to Hawaii with his wife and kids. Dickson told a reporter that he had made the vacation plans months earlier and informed his boss well in advance. When the CEO ordered him to cancel it, Mr. Dickson said, he told his boss, 'My family and my marriage are very important to me. I really don't want to cancel this vacation.' He also said he intended to continue working by phone and email while in Hawaii
.

It was clearly a tough time for the bank; officials had been warned by federal regulators to secure more assets or face a forced sale. 'A leader doesn't leave the battlefield and abandon troops when they're under fire,' the CEO reportedly said, adding that he didn't believe either 'of the top two leaders in a company can be basking in the sun while the troops are laboring hard in a high level of anxiety.' He didn't want people to think the president was 'basking poolside with a Mai Thai' during a crisis.

Nevertheless, Mr. Dickson refused to yield, saying he had been working very hard before his vacation and would continue to do so while away. The bank has since been seized by regulators and sold. Mr. Dickson has a position at another bank.

The idea of calling an employee back from vacation crossed my mind once when I was a manager years ago. We were competing hard on a story, on the beat of a reporter who was vacationing with his family. We badly needed his expertise and sources. I got a grip on myself, though, and called on back-ups instead.

Readers, when is it OK for a boss to require an employee to cancel vacation plans? What circumstances would warrant that, if you were the boss? Would you ever refuse to cancel a vacation if your boss asked you to do so? What would it take to get you to refuse?

為全家安排度假是一項艱巨的任務,要買機票,算好學校放假期間哪幾天不工作,照顧好寵物,找人看家……要是在離既定出發時間僅有幾天的時候,老闆突然叫你取消這一切,你會怎麼做?

如果拒絕,或許飯碗就丟了。在多數情況下,員工不管有什麼即將實施的度假安排,如果違抗命令不去工作,都是有可能遭到解雇的。Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott 勞動法律師邁爾斯(John J. Myers)說,很少有老闆會做這種事情,如果需要你,多數上級只會讓你在離開的時候打電話聯繫。畢竟度假是有益人的健康的。研究顯示,不度假的人因為各種原因死亡的風險都比經常度假的人高,而因心臟病死亡的風險還要高出更多。

但邁爾斯說,雇主一般沒有提供帶薪休假的義務,如果提供帶薪休假,它們也有權規定具體條款。

這個話題起源於今年早些時候一個不常見的案例。華盛頓州一家銀行的總裁迪克森(John Dickson)拒絕取消春假,和妻子、孩子一起去了夏威夷,結果被首席執行長炒掉。迪克森對一位記者說,他在幾個月前就已經做好了度假安排,而且提前很久告訴了老闆。迪克森說,當首席執行長命令他取消休假時,他對老闆說,家庭和婚姻對我非常重要,我真的不想取消這次度假。他還說他打算在夏威夷期間通過手機和電子郵件繼續工作。

當時這家銀行顯然過得很不順利,聯邦監管機構已經警告管理層要保留更多資產,要不然就把銀行強制賣掉。據報導,首席執行長多次說,當部下身陷槍林彈雨之時,一個首領是不會離開戰場、拋棄他們的,他不相信部下都在高度緊張地艱苦工作時,一家公司的兩個帶頭人還有誰可以是在沐浴陽光。他不希望人們以為危機期間總裁是在泳池邊一邊曬太陽一邊喝熱帶雞尾酒。

但迪克森沒有讓步,說他在度假前工作非常努力,度假外出時也會繼續努力工作。後來這家銀行被監管機構接管、出售,迪克森則在另一家銀行謀得了職位。

幾年前當經理的時候,我也曾閃現過把度假的員工叫回來工作的念頭。當時我們正在激烈地搶一條新聞,而跑口記者正在跟家人一起度假。我們急需他的專業經驗和資源。但我還是克制了自己,沒有叫這位記者,而是讓其他記者來支援。

讀者朋友,你覺得老闆在什麼時候要求員工取消度假計畫是沒有問題的呢?如果你是老闆,那麼在什麼情況下才必須要這樣做?如果老闆要你取消休假計畫,你會不會拒絕呢?在什麼情況下你才會拒絕?  
 

來源:《華爾街日報》

雙語導讀:美國人越來越覺得讀大學沒用

 As the price of higher education continues to rise through a shaky economic recovery, fewer Americans are considering college a good investment, especially compared to other needs for savings.

In a survey of 3,000 people, 63.5% said a college education is still a good financial investment for young adults given rising costs, compared to 79.1% last year and 80.9% in 2008. The declining sentiment is reflected across all age groups - 63.5% of those aged 18-29 said college is a good investment, compared to 76.7% last year. Just 61.5% of those over 65 years old said it is a good investment - 82.1% said the same in 2009.

A separate study released last month by Payscale, an online salary and compensation information company, ranked 852 institutions across the country by the colleges' returns on investment over 30 years.

The July priorities survey, released Tuesday by financial services group COUNTRY Financial, shows a shift in saving priorities through an uncertain economy.

Most Americans - 42.8% - said this year that saving for their own retirement was more important than saving for their child's college education, indicating an increase from last year's 40.7%. Consequently, the proportion of those who prioritized saving for their child's education decreased - to 40.7% this year from 47% last year. This year, 16.5% said they were not sure, marking the greatest uncertainty over the last four years.

'It's understandable why Americans are questioning how to prioritize college education and retirement funding, particularly with the skyrocketing costs in both areas. But with graduates likely to earn $1 million more in their lifetime than non-grads, college remains an important investment in a family's future despite the rising price tag,' said Keith Brannan, vice president of Financial Security Planning for COUNTRY Financial. 'The good news, however, is that people are putting their retirement savings first. You can always borrow to pay for college, but you can't borrow for retirement. With the proper planning, Americans can achieve their financial goals for both.'

This year's proportion of those who prioritize retirement savings, however, is in line with the 43% surveyed in 2007. There was least uncertainty in 2008, and 47.1% prioritized saving for their own retirement, the greatest proportion over the last four years.

Whereas those in the lower-income bracket tended to save for their child's education over their own retirement - 53.2% versus 23.8% for people making less than $20,000 - those on the other end who make more than $100,000 a year erred toward prioritizing retirement savings - 38% said saving for their child's education was more important, 52.5% prioritized retirement.

Almost 31% of those surveyed took out loans to pay for college, and 64.3% of those who borrowed have paid them off. Of those who took out loans, about half said their loans had little to no impact on life decisions like getting married, buying a home or saving for retirement.

But younger respondents reflected greater loan burdens. Of the 18-29 year-olds who took out loans, 40% said education loans have significantly impacted their life decisions, 37.7% have been somewhat impacted, and 14.4% have been affected, but not much. Just 7.9% said loans have not affected their decisions at all.

Younger Americans, however, were also most likely to say parents shouldn't have to pay for any college costs for their children. Of those ages 18-29, 15.2% said students should be the ones to pay for their own education. Across all age groups, more than half of the respondents said parents and children should share higher education costs.

在經濟復蘇緩慢的背景下,高等教育的價格仍然呈上漲趨勢,越來越多的美國人認為大學並不是一個好的投資,尤其相對於其他儲蓄的需求來說更是如此。

在一個針對 3,000 人的調查中,63.5% 受訪者認為,雖然大學教育費用上漲,但是對年輕人來說仍是好的金融投資,去年和 2008 年持此意見的受訪者百分比分別為 79.1% 和 80.9%。百分比下降的趨勢在各個年齡群都有體現──18 到 29 歲的受訪者有 63.5% 認為大學是好的投資,去年為 76.7%。而 65 歲以上的受訪者只有 61.5% 認為大學是好的投資,2009 年持相同意見者則占 82.1%

網上薪酬調查公司 Payscale 上月發佈了一個研究報告,將美國 852 家大學按照過去 30 年內的投資回報進行排序。

金融服務機構 COUNTRY Financial 週二發佈的七月儲蓄優先順序調查(July priorities survey)顯示,在經濟前景不明朗的環境下,人們的儲蓄選擇的優先順序發生了變化。

大多數美國人(占 42.8%)表示,今年退休儲蓄比孩子的大學教育儲蓄重要,相比去年的 40.7% 有所增加。同時,以孩子教育儲蓄為先的比例就下降了,從去年的 47% 降至今年的 40.7%。今年,16.5% 的人持不確定的態度,是過去四年來比例最大的一年。

美國人對於如何安排大學教育和退休儲蓄的疑惑是可以理解的,尤其當兩部分的費用都在迅速增長。但是大學畢業生一生中比非畢業生能多賺 100 萬美元,從這點來看,雖然費用上漲,大學對於一個家庭的未來依然是很重要的投資。”COUNTRY Financial 金融安全計畫副總裁布萊南(Keith Brannan)說,但是好消息是,人們正把退休儲蓄放在首位。你可以為大學借錢,而不能為退休借錢。有了合理的計畫,美國人可以兼顧兩者。

今年把退休儲蓄放在首位的人數比例與 2007 年的 43% 一致。2008 年,持不確定態度的人數比例最少,47.1% 將退休儲蓄放在首位,是過去四年來比例最大的一年。

然而,低收入人群更傾向于為孩子的教育儲蓄,年收入在2萬美元以下的人群有 53.2% 將教育儲蓄放在首位,23.8%將退休儲蓄放在首位。而高收入人群,也就是年收入10萬美元以上的人群則相反,38% 認為孩子的教育儲蓄更重要,而 52.5% 將退休儲蓄放在首位。

大約 31% 的受訪者靠借貸支付大學費用,64.3% 的借貸者已還清借款。半數的借貸者表示他們的貸款對結婚、買房或退休儲蓄等生活決策有很少或沒有影響。

但是較年輕的受訪者似乎承擔著更大的貸款負擔。借貸者中1829歲的受訪者有 40% 表示教育貸款對他們的生活決策有很大影響,37.7% 表示有一些影響,14.4% 表示有影響但不大。只有 7.9% 表示貸款對他們的生活決策毫無影響。

然而,較年輕的美國人也表示父母不該為孩子支付大學費用。18 到 29 歲的受訪者中,15.2% 表示學生應該自己支付教育費用。所有受訪者中有多半人表示父母和孩子應分擔高等教育費用。
                                                                                              源自《華爾街日報》

雙語導讀:耶魯研究 --「飽足感」滯後是肥胖的元兇


Some people find it more difficult to stay slim than others because their brains are slow at recognizing when they are full, a study claims.

  The team at Yale University found that in rats some have nerve endings which are more sluggish at signaling when your stomach is full than others. This means that they overeat slightly at every meal and eventually this leads to obesity.

  The findings add to the growing evidence that it is not always your diet that leads to being overweight but also your genetic inheritance and pre-birth development of the brain. It also explains why two people – or siblings – can consume the same high fat diet but one remains thin while the other puts on weight.

  "It appears that this base wiring of the brain is a determinant of one's vulnerability to develop obesity," said Professor Tamas Horvath, a neurobiologist at Yale University. "These observations add to the argument that it is less about personal will that makes a difference in becoming obese, and, it is more related to the connections that emerge in our brain during development."

  據英國《每日電訊報》82日報導,最新一項研究稱,一些人比別人更容易長胖,原因在於他們對自己吃飽與否的感覺滯後於別人。

  近日耶魯大學研究小組通過研究小白鼠發現,有些小鼠的神經末梢在發送吃飽信號方面要比其他小鼠慢一些。這就意味著它們每餐都會吃得更多一些,最終導致肥胖。

  研究結果更加證明了飲食並不總是導致身材走樣的原因。基因遺傳、產前大腦發育也是決定人們胖瘦的因素。該研究也說明了為什麼兩個人——或者兄弟姐妹——吃著同樣的高脂肪食品,一個卻還是那麼瘦,另一個卻日漸變胖。

  看來大腦基本構造是人們超重的決定因素,耶魯大學神經生物學教授塔瑪斯說道。研究更進一步證實了,個人意願對減肥的作用並不大,起作用更多的還是大腦發育時產生的各種聯繫。” 

雙語導讀:富人的「名牌」效應

High-end goods with recognizable logos may signal to the less affluent that you have some money, but also to the wealthy that you're not one of them.
購買帶有明顯標誌的高端產品可能會向並不富裕的人顯示出你比較有錢,但是對於那些真正有錢的富人來說,他們會覺得你並不像他們一樣富有。

Fancy Brand Logos Send Mixed Messages

Some people pay big bucks for a designer handbag or a luxury car—and the distinctive logo that goes along with them. Now scientists have learned that other people pay even more to leave the logo behind. The findings appear in the Journal of Marketing.

High-end goods are often ostentatiously labeled. After all, if you spend all that money on a status symbol, you want to make sure that other folks recognize your good taste, even at a distance. But researchers surveying California
consumers found that people who are seriously well-off are willing to pay a premium for items whose branding is more discreet.

These patricians don’t need gaudy symbols to advertise their wealth. Status seekers, on the other hand, are drawn to more obvious logos. These designer items let the less affluent know that they’ve been outclassed. The irony is that the logos mostly serve to alert the patricians that the owner is not one of them. And then there are the posers who buy flashy counterfeit items that for the most part don’t fool anyone.

The lesson for marketers: when it comes to branding, less may be more. And you can charge a higher price for it, too.

奢侈品標識給人印象不一

有些人會花大把大把的錢買名牌手提包或者豪華轎車在購買這些奢侈品的同時,他們也在為這些醒目的產品牌子買單。現在科學家們已經發現,另外有些人甚至會花更多的錢把這些牌子隱藏起來。這些研究發表在《市場雜誌》(Journal of Marketing)上。

高端產品的牌子通常都非常顯眼。畢竟你在這樣一個代表身份的標誌上花錢了,你想確認別人識別出你的高品味,甚至你想讓別人只需遠遠瞟一眼就知道。但是研究人員對加州消費者的調查發現,那些真正很有錢的人卻願意花高價錢買一些標誌更加穩重的產品。
 
這些富人們根本不需要那些花哨的標識來炫耀他們的財富。但是對於那些追求身份的人來說,他們喜歡標誌更加顯眼的奢侈品。這些名牌產品讓並不富裕的人知道自己並不富有。不過具有諷刺意味的是,這些名牌標誌只會讓那些真正富有的人認為這些買名牌的人並不富裕。 同時也有一些喜歡賣弄的人會買一些花哨的贗品,但通常來說沒有人會認不出來。
 
銷售商可以從這些研究中得出一點建議:做品牌的時候,少可能反而有效。而且你還能要一個高價錢。

Vocabulary:

Recognizable
:能認出來的
Logo
:(某公司或機構的)標識,標誌,徽標
Affluent
:富有的
Fancy
:昂貴的;奢華的
Luxury
:奢侈的
Distinctive
:明顯的
Ostentatiously
:顯眼地
Status
:身份
Survey
:調查
Premium
:高價
Discreet
:謹慎的
Patrician
:貴族的;
Gaudy
:花哨的
Outclass
:(超過)對手
Irony
:諷刺
Poser
:裝模作樣的人
Flashy
:俗豔的;顯眼地
Counterfeit
:贗品

英語原文來自SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN《科學美國人》http://www.sciam.com 作者:Karen Hopkin


雙語導讀:閒話端午節的「前世今生」

 端午節,又稱為五五節,因為端午節是在農曆的五月五日,是三個重要的中國節慶之一,其他兩個分別是中秋節和農曆新年。
  這個節日的由來是古代中國有一位博學多聞的官吏屈原,他是一位愛民而且又受到尊崇的官吏,但是由於一位充滿嫉妒的官吏陷害,從此在朝廷中被皇帝所冷落。由於無法獲得皇帝的重視,屈原在憂鬱的情況下投汨羅江自盡。
  由於對屈原的愛戴,汨羅江畔的居民匆忙的划船在江內尋找屈原,並且將米丟入汨羅江中,以平息汨羅江中的蛟龍。即使他們當時並沒有找到屈原,但是他們的行為,直到今天在端午節的時候,仍然被人們傳頌紀念著。

  Officially on falling on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Dragon Boat Festival is also known as Double Fifth Day. While many stories regarding its origin abound, the most popular and widely accepted version regards Qu Yuan, a minister during the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC)

  Legend of the Dragon Boat Festival's Origin

  端午節起源的傳說
  At the end of the Zhou Dynasty, the area we now know as China had fallen into a state of fragmentation and conflict. While the Zhou dynasty had ruled for several centuries, several other states, originally feudal domains, tried to carve out their own kingdoms. The state of Qin would eventually emerge the victor and unify all of China under one rule for the first time in history

  Qu Yuan served as minister to the Zhou Emperor. A wise and articulate man, he was loved by the common people. He did much to fight against the rampant corruption that plagued the court-- thereby earning the envy and fear of other officials. Therefore, when he urged the emperor to avoid conflict with the Qin Kingdom, the officials pressured the Emperor to have him removed from service. In exile, he traveled, taught and wrote for several years. Hearing that the Zhou had been defeated by the Qin, he fell into despair and threw himself into the Milou River. His last poem reads:

  Many a heavy sigh I have in my despair, Grieving that I was born in such an unlucky time. I yoked a team of jade dragons to a phoenix chariot, And waited for the wind to come, to sour up on my journey As he was so loved by the people, fishermen rushed out in long boats, beating drums to scare the fish away, and throwing zong zi into the water to feed braver fish so that they would not eat Qu Yuan's body

  The Modern Dragon Boat Festival

  現代端午節
  Starting from that time to this day, people commemorate Qu Yuan through Dragon Boat Races, eating zong zi, and several other activities, on the anniversary of his death: the fifth day of the fifth lunar month

  Dragon Boat races are the most exciting part of the festival, drawing crowds of spectators. Dragon Boats are generally brightly painted and decorated canoes. Ranging anywhere from 40 to 100 feet in length, their heads are shaped like open-mouthed dragons, while the sterns end with a scaly tail. Depending on the length, up to 80 rowers can power the boat. A drummer and flag-catcher stand at the front of the boat. Before a dragon boat enters competition, it must be "brought to life" by painting the eyes in a sacred ceremony. Races can have any number of boats competing, with the winner being the first team to grab a flag at the end of the course. Annual races take place all over China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and other overseas Chinese communities

  Zong Zi

  粽子
  The traditional food for the Dragon Boat Festival, Zong zi is a glutinous rice ball, with a filling, wrapped in corn leaves. The fillings can be egg, beans, dates, fruits, sweet potato, walnuts, mushrooms, meat, or a combination of them. They are generally steamed

  Talisman and Charms

  符咒
  Another aspect of the Double Fifth Day is the timing: at the beginning of summer, when diseases are likely to strike, people also wear talisman to fend off evil spirits. They may hang the picture of Zhong Kui, guardian against evil spirits, on the door of their homes, as well. Adults may drink Xiong Huang Wine, and children carry fragrant silk pouches, all of which can prevent evil. It is said that if you can balance a raw egg on its end at exactly noon on Double Fifth Day, the rest of the year will be lucky 

雙語導讀:找個「購物男伴」一起逛街 SHOPPING

 很多女人都希望能有一個帥氣、體貼、任勞任怨、精於購物的男人陪伴購物。有這樣一個完美男人陪伴,女人購物一定興致高昂。為了迎合這種需求,現在美國等國家正在興起一種稱為 購物男伴 (shopping boyfriend)” 的職業,據說非常受女主顧的歡迎,提供這種服務的公司自然也生意興隆。
  Shopping boyfriend, a new career, refers to a man who is hired to accompany a lady during shopping
  購物男伴是個新職業,是指那些被女人雇用、陪伴女人購物的臨時男伴。
  Men don't understand why a woman would want a strange man as shopping boyfriend. They might understand if they could see the following answers
  女人為什麼願意讓陌生男人陪伴購物?這一問題讓很多男人困惑,或許下面這些來自于女主顧的答案能讓他們明白其中的究竟。
  A shopping boyfriend is always happy to take his female client around, pick her outfits, and wait patiently throughout the whole shopping trip. Women like this behavior, but real boyfriends don't exhibit it!
  帶著主顧到處逛、拎包、耐心陪站,購物男伴做這些事情總是表現得很開心。女人喜歡男人的這種表現,而正牌男友對此卻沒有興趣。
  你會不會找個購物男伴?你會不會樂意陪女孩子逛街?
  Shopping can make a new relationship
  也許,逛街過後,大家還能發展成為正式的情侶,然後這對情侶就是一對快樂的 Mall Rat,像老鼠一樣在mall 裡面鑽來鑽去。 

雙語導讀:當代年輕人壓力榜 -- 考試壓力位居第三

 調查顯示,考試壓力在年輕人最憂慮的事情中排在了第三位。考生該如何調節情緒,我們該如何提供幫助,這是值得所有老師、家長和社會人思考和思索的問題。
Teachers and parents are being warned to be on the look-out for signs of stress as their children enter the exam period

  老師和家長被告誡,要留心孩子們在考試期間的壓力錶現。
  A survey has revealed that pressure to achieve high marks are one of the biggest worries for nearly a third (30 per cent) of young people aged 18 to 24.
  一項調查顯示,在18歲到24歲的人群中,近1/3(30%)的受訪者表示高分壓力是最讓他們憂心的事情之一。
  It is natural to feel anxious around this time. If you feel alone and are struggling to manage your stress during the exam period, talking about your feelings can help
  特殊時期有緊張情緒是很正常的。如果你在考試期間感到孤獨,並且有壓制緊張的想法,那麼把緊張傾訴出來會對你有所幫助。
  Not only does talking offer emotional relief but it can also help you to gain perspective and clarity before your emotions spiral out of control and become unmanageable
  傾訴不僅可以釋放情感,還有助於在情緒即將失控,變得難以控制的前夕冷靜下來,看清前景以及未來。
  The poll, carried out by YouGov, surveyed 2,082 people and asked the public to identify their five biggest worries over the past year
  由 YouGov 機構發起的這項調查共有2082人參與,問題就是:過去一年你認為最憂心的五件事是什麼。
  For 18-24 year olds top-five sources of anxiety were money and debt (54 per cent) problems in relationships with family and friends (41 per cent) pressure to achieves high marks and exam stress (30 per cent) workplace issues (29 per cent) and not being in a relationship/lack of sex life (23 per cent)
  在 18 歲到 24 歲的人群中,排名前五的憂心事分別是:金錢和債務 54%,家庭和朋友關係 41%,考試的高分壓力 30%,工作問題 29%,無性伴侶/缺少性生活 23%
  Dr Mike Shooter, the Samaritans' trustee and youth mental health expert, has suggested some tips to students on how to survive the current exam period, saying: "Exams can bring with them a whirlwind of emotions: panic, anxiety, fear of failure and fear about the future."
  撒瑪利亞會受託人及青少年心理健康專家麥克·舒特博士給考試期間的學生提出了一些排解壓力的建議,他表示:考試會帶給年輕人強烈的情緒變化:恐慌、焦慮、擔心失敗以及擔憂未來。
  He advises:
  舒特博士建議:
  Plan your revision timetable well in advance, with a comfortable amount of work per day. Leaving everything to the last minute will just increase your stress
  提前做好復習計畫,安排出一個適中的每天學習量。考前臨時抱佛腳只會讓你更加緊張。
  Include in your timetable regular breaks for doing things entirely outside your work. Having time off to socialise with friends and family or just enjoying life by yourself will actually improve your performance when you are working
  計畫表中留出休息的時間,做些與學習完全不相干的事情。與朋友、家人相處,或者自己享受休閒時光,這些活動都可以提升你的學校效率。
  Look after yourself physically--eat healthily, sleep well and get regular exercise. Stress often undermines physical health if you let it, so these things are important
  照顧好自己的身體——吃好、睡好、鍛煉好。緊張會擊垮你的身體,所以身體保養十分重要。
  Try to get things into perspective. Although exams are important, remember they are not your only chance at success in life
  儘量全面合理地看待事情。考試固然重要,但考試並非是人生成功的唯一途徑。
  Don't drink heavily. You may think it will help at the time but it will only make things worse in the longer run
  不要過量飲酒。飲酒也許讓你一時快樂,但長久來看,這只會讓事情更糟。