Obesity bad for brain by hastening cognitive decline
過胖加速認知退化 對大腦不好
2013-04-11◎國際新聞中心
Being overweight is not just bad for waistlines but for brains too, say researchers who have linked obesity to declining mental performance.
將過胖與心智表現衰退連結的研究人員說，過重不只對腰圍不好，對大腦也不好。
Experts are not sure why this might be, but say metabolic changes such as high blood sugar and raised cholesterol are likely to be involved.
專家並不確定原因，但表示代謝的改變，例如高血糖與膽固醇升高，可能有關係。
The work, published in Neurology, tracked the health of more than 6,000 British people. The participants, who were aged between 35 and 55, took tests on memory and other cognitive skills three times over a 10-year period.
這份刊登在「神經科學」的研究，追蹤超過6000名英國人的健康狀況。參與者年齡在35歲到55歲之間，他們在10年間接受3次記憶力或其他認知技巧測試。
People who were both obese and who had unhealthy metabolic changes showed a much faster decline on their cognitive test scores compared to others in the study.
過胖且有不健康的代謝改變者，認知測試分數衰退的速度，要比其他參與研究者快。
新聞辭典
hasten：動詞，加快。例句：There is little doubt that poor medical treatment hastened her death.（醫療不佳無疑加速她的死亡。）
declining：形容詞，衰退的，來自動詞decline，衰退、下跌。例句：The party’s popularity has declined in the opinion polls.（這個政黨的人氣在民調中下滑。）
raised：形容詞，升高的，來自動詞raise，增加、調高。例句：The government is planning to raise taxes.（政府計畫增稅。）
2014年9月29日 星期一
Waitress asks patron for ID, gets own stolen driver’s license in return 女服務生要求顧客出示身分證件，反而拿到自己的遭竊駕照
Waitress asks patron for ID, gets own stolen driver’s license in return
女服務生要求顧客出示身分證件，反而拿到自己的遭竊駕照
2013-04-08◎管淑平
A restaurant server was confronted with the woman accused of stealing her identity.
一名餐廳服務生遇上被控偷了她的身分的女子。
Brianna Priddy’s wallet was stolen on Feb. 13 during a night out with friends.
布瑞娜．普雷迪的錢包在2月13日晚上與朋友出去玩時被偷。
On Feb. 25, a customer came to the Applebee’s in Lakewood where Priddy works as a server.
2月25日那天，一名顧客到位於雷克伍德鎮、普雷迪任職服務生的「蘋果蜂」餐廳。
At first, they looked like any other customers but Priddy soon learned who they really were.
一開始他們看起來就如同其他顧客，但普雷迪很快地知道他們是誰。
"Four people come in, walk in, sit down. They start ordering drinks. This girl hands me my ID as a fake ID," Priddy said.
「4個人走進來，坐下，開始點飲料，這個女孩用我的身分證件當假身分，把證件拿給我」，普雷迪說。
It had been a rough couple of weeks for Priddy. "My wallet was stolen. It was a pain in the butt," she said.
對普雷迪來說，那幾週很不好過。她說，「我的錢包被偷了，很煩。」
Someone was using her identity, writing hundreds of dollars in bad checks. Now that someone, was sitting in Priddy’s section.
有人利用她的身分，開出數百美元的空頭支票。現在這個人坐在普雷迪負責服務的區域。
"But I didn’t say anything. I handed it back to her.... [I] went straight to the phone, called the cops," Priddy said.
「但是我當時不動聲色，我把證件交還給她…。（我）直接去打電話報警」，普雷迪說。
"Dumb criminal! That’s the first [word] that comes to mind," police spokesman Steve Davis said, "we found some narcotics in this woman’s possession, so she’s in quite a bit of hot water."
「笨賊！這是我第一個想到的（字眼）」，警方發言人史提夫．戴維斯說，「我們在這名女子的所有物中發現一些毒品，所以，她麻煩大了。」
新聞辭典：
rough：形容詞，在本文意思為辛苦的、受苦的。例句：The new country had a rough time during the civil war.（這個新國家在內戰時期備受苦難。）
a pain in the butt：俚語，非常惱人的事或人。例句：My brother keeps asking me for money. He is really a pain in the butt.（我弟一直伸手向我要錢。他真是討厭鬼。）
be in hot water：片語，遭遇或陷入困境、麻煩。例句：You will be in hot water if the project failed.（若這個案子失敗，你就慘了。）
女服務生要求顧客出示身分證件，反而拿到自己的遭竊駕照
2013-04-08◎管淑平
A restaurant server was confronted with the woman accused of stealing her identity.
一名餐廳服務生遇上被控偷了她的身分的女子。
Brianna Priddy’s wallet was stolen on Feb. 13 during a night out with friends.
布瑞娜．普雷迪的錢包在2月13日晚上與朋友出去玩時被偷。
On Feb. 25, a customer came to the Applebee’s in Lakewood where Priddy works as a server.
2月25日那天，一名顧客到位於雷克伍德鎮、普雷迪任職服務生的「蘋果蜂」餐廳。
At first, they looked like any other customers but Priddy soon learned who they really were.
一開始他們看起來就如同其他顧客，但普雷迪很快地知道他們是誰。
"Four people come in, walk in, sit down. They start ordering drinks. This girl hands me my ID as a fake ID," Priddy said.
「4個人走進來，坐下，開始點飲料，這個女孩用我的身分證件當假身分，把證件拿給我」，普雷迪說。
It had been a rough couple of weeks for Priddy. "My wallet was stolen. It was a pain in the butt," she said.
對普雷迪來說，那幾週很不好過。她說，「我的錢包被偷了，很煩。」
Someone was using her identity, writing hundreds of dollars in bad checks. Now that someone, was sitting in Priddy’s section.
有人利用她的身分，開出數百美元的空頭支票。現在這個人坐在普雷迪負責服務的區域。
"But I didn’t say anything. I handed it back to her.... [I] went straight to the phone, called the cops," Priddy said.
「但是我當時不動聲色，我把證件交還給她…。（我）直接去打電話報警」，普雷迪說。
"Dumb criminal! That’s the first [word] that comes to mind," police spokesman Steve Davis said, "we found some narcotics in this woman’s possession, so she’s in quite a bit of hot water."
「笨賊！這是我第一個想到的（字眼）」，警方發言人史提夫．戴維斯說，「我們在這名女子的所有物中發現一些毒品，所以，她麻煩大了。」
新聞辭典：
rough：形容詞，在本文意思為辛苦的、受苦的。例句：The new country had a rough time during the civil war.（這個新國家在內戰時期備受苦難。）
a pain in the butt：俚語，非常惱人的事或人。例句：My brother keeps asking me for money. He is really a pain in the butt.（我弟一直伸手向我要錢。他真是討厭鬼。）
be in hot water：片語，遭遇或陷入困境、麻煩。例句：You will be in hot water if the project failed.（若這個案子失敗，你就慘了。）
2014年9月27日 星期六
Amputee dog gets four prosthetic legs 截肢狗獲4義肢
Amputee dog gets four prosthetic legs
截肢狗獲4義肢
2013-05-01◎魏國金
A mixed-breed puppy had a tough start to live after losing all four of his paws and the tip of his tail to frostbite.
一隻混種幼犬在凍傷喪失所有4個腳掌與尾巴的尾端後，展開艱困的生活。
Naki’o was left abandoned at a foreclosed Nebraska home when he was a young and was found alone, frozen into a puddle of icy water in the cellar.
納基歐幼年時被遺棄在內布拉斯加州一間喪失抵押贖回權的房子裡，牠被發現時，獨自在地下室一個結冰的水坑中。
He was taken to an animal rescue center and under their care his paws healed to rounded stumps.
牠被送到一個動物救援中心，在他們的照料下，牠的腳掌治療後剩下圓形殘肢。
It was a tough existence for Naki’o, he couldn’t walk and play with other dogs due to the pain it caused him and instead had to crawl along on his belly.
對納基歐來說，這是艱困的生存，因為引發的疼痛讓牠不能走、不能與其他狗狗玩，牠必須靠著肚子爬行。
Fortunately for Naki’o he meet veterinarian assistant Christie Pace. She adopted Naki’o when he was 8-weeks-old and then set about organizing a fundraiser to pay for him to have his two back legs fitted with prosthetics.
納基歐幸運地遇上獸醫助理克莉絲蒂．佩斯。納基歐8週大時，她收養牠，然後著手募款，以支付牠兩條後腿裝設義肢的費用。
He took to these so enthusiastically, that the company who fitted them decided to complete the process free of charge.
牠熱切地適應這兩個義肢，以致為牠裝義肢的公司決定免費完成整個過程。
’When we saw how good he was doing with his back leg prosthetics and how he was struggling to use his front legs it was very simple to say, "He could do much better with all four prosthetics on."’ said Martin Kaufmann, owner of Orthopets, a Denver company that specializes in pet prosthetics.
「當我們看到牠使用後腿義肢的情況良好，而牠又是如何掙扎地使用前腿時，非常單純地就說，『裝上所有4個義肢牠會表現得更好。』」專門從事寵物義肢的丹佛公司Orthopets老闆馬丁．考夫曼說。
Naki’o is the first dog to be fitted with a complete set of bionic paws that work naturally to allow him to run, jump and even swim.
納基歐是第一隻裝上全套仿生腳掌的狗，這套裝置運作自然，讓牠可跑、跳，甚至游泳。
新聞辭典
set about︰開始、著手。例句︰After breakfast, she set about her household duties.（早餐後，她開始做家務。）
take to︰開始從事、形成…習慣、適應。例句︰He took to studying English with great zeal.（他開始以極大的熱情學習英文。）
free of charge︰免費。例句︰If the material is found faulty, we shall replace it free of charge.（如果材料發現有缺點，我們將免費更換。）
截肢狗獲4義肢
2013-05-01◎魏國金
A mixed-breed puppy had a tough start to live after losing all four of his paws and the tip of his tail to frostbite.
一隻混種幼犬在凍傷喪失所有4個腳掌與尾巴的尾端後，展開艱困的生活。
Naki’o was left abandoned at a foreclosed Nebraska home when he was a young and was found alone, frozen into a puddle of icy water in the cellar.
納基歐幼年時被遺棄在內布拉斯加州一間喪失抵押贖回權的房子裡，牠被發現時，獨自在地下室一個結冰的水坑中。
He was taken to an animal rescue center and under their care his paws healed to rounded stumps.
牠被送到一個動物救援中心，在他們的照料下，牠的腳掌治療後剩下圓形殘肢。
It was a tough existence for Naki’o, he couldn’t walk and play with other dogs due to the pain it caused him and instead had to crawl along on his belly.
對納基歐來說，這是艱困的生存，因為引發的疼痛讓牠不能走、不能與其他狗狗玩，牠必須靠著肚子爬行。
Fortunately for Naki’o he meet veterinarian assistant Christie Pace. She adopted Naki’o when he was 8-weeks-old and then set about organizing a fundraiser to pay for him to have his two back legs fitted with prosthetics.
納基歐幸運地遇上獸醫助理克莉絲蒂．佩斯。納基歐8週大時，她收養牠，然後著手募款，以支付牠兩條後腿裝設義肢的費用。
He took to these so enthusiastically, that the company who fitted them decided to complete the process free of charge.
牠熱切地適應這兩個義肢，以致為牠裝義肢的公司決定免費完成整個過程。
’When we saw how good he was doing with his back leg prosthetics and how he was struggling to use his front legs it was very simple to say, "He could do much better with all four prosthetics on."’ said Martin Kaufmann, owner of Orthopets, a Denver company that specializes in pet prosthetics.
「當我們看到牠使用後腿義肢的情況良好，而牠又是如何掙扎地使用前腿時，非常單純地就說，『裝上所有4個義肢牠會表現得更好。』」專門從事寵物義肢的丹佛公司Orthopets老闆馬丁．考夫曼說。
Naki’o is the first dog to be fitted with a complete set of bionic paws that work naturally to allow him to run, jump and even swim.
納基歐是第一隻裝上全套仿生腳掌的狗，這套裝置運作自然，讓牠可跑、跳，甚至游泳。
新聞辭典
set about︰開始、著手。例句︰After breakfast, she set about her household duties.（早餐後，她開始做家務。）
take to︰開始從事、形成…習慣、適應。例句︰He took to studying English with great zeal.（他開始以極大的熱情學習英文。）
free of charge︰免費。例句︰If the material is found faulty, we shall replace it free of charge.（如果材料發現有缺點，我們將免費更換。）
NBA：In landmark for US sports, Collins says he’s gay NBA球員出櫃 美國體壇里程碑
NBA：In landmark for US sports, Collins says he’s gay
NBA球員出櫃 美國體壇里程碑
2013-05-07◎陳維真
NBA center Jason Collins became the first active player in a major professional American team sport to reveal that he is gay, doing so to Sports Illustrated in a major cover story released on Monday.
美國職籃NBA中鋒傑森．柯林斯在週一出版的「運動畫刊」（Sports Illustrated）封面故事中大方出櫃，成為全美主要職業團隊運動中，首位承認自己是同性戀的現役球星。
Collins, who is now a free agent, has played in the NBA for 12 seasons with six teams, spending this past campaign with the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. He helped the New Jersey Nets reach the 2002 and 2003 NBA Finals.
柯林斯目前是自由球員，過去曾披上6個球隊的戰袍出戰12個球季。在剛結束的球季中，先後為「波士頓塞爾提克」和「華盛頓巫師」效力。他曾幫助「新澤西籃網」闖進2002年和2003年總決賽。
"I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black and I’m gay," began the story that Collins penned for the magazine with writer Franz Lidz.
他和作家立茲為運動畫刊撰寫的文章開宗明義就說：「我是個34歲的NBA中鋒，我是黑人，而且是同志。」
The landmark revelation will now focus attention on Collins and any club that decides to sign him as well as the attitudes of his new teammates.
這種破天荒的告白，將使外界注意力集中在柯林斯身上，以及決定簽下他的球隊和新隊友們的態度。
Among the messages of support Collins received for his admission were those from former US president Bill Clinton, whose daughter Chelsea was a college friend of Collins at Stanford, and NBA commissioner David Stern.
包括前總統柯林頓和NBA執行長史騰都留言對柯林斯表示支持。柯林頓的女兒雀兒喜是柯林斯的史丹佛大學同學 。
Stern praised Collins for the courage and leadership of his admission. "Jason has been a widely respected player and teammate throughout his career and we are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue," Stern said. （AFP）
史騰讚揚柯林斯出櫃的勇氣與領袖風範。「傑森在他的生涯中，一直是廣受尊敬的球員和隊友，在這個非常重要的議題上，他承擔領導的職責，我們引以為傲。」史騰說。（法新社）
新聞辭典
landmark：名詞，重大事件、里程碑。例句：The vaccine is a landmark in the history of preventive medicine. （疫苗是預防醫學的里程碑。）
set out：片語，計畫或有意做什麼事。例句：She drew up a grandiose statement of what her organization should set out to achieve. （對於她的組織應該計畫做什麼事情，她擬定浮誇的宣言。）
mantle：名詞，（職業或工作的）職責或責任。例句：The second son has now assumed his father’s mantle. （次子繼承父親的衣缽。）
NBA球員出櫃 美國體壇里程碑
2013-05-07◎陳維真
NBA center Jason Collins became the first active player in a major professional American team sport to reveal that he is gay, doing so to Sports Illustrated in a major cover story released on Monday.
美國職籃NBA中鋒傑森．柯林斯在週一出版的「運動畫刊」（Sports Illustrated）封面故事中大方出櫃，成為全美主要職業團隊運動中，首位承認自己是同性戀的現役球星。
Collins, who is now a free agent, has played in the NBA for 12 seasons with six teams, spending this past campaign with the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. He helped the New Jersey Nets reach the 2002 and 2003 NBA Finals.
柯林斯目前是自由球員，過去曾披上6個球隊的戰袍出戰12個球季。在剛結束的球季中，先後為「波士頓塞爾提克」和「華盛頓巫師」效力。他曾幫助「新澤西籃網」闖進2002年和2003年總決賽。
"I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black and I’m gay," began the story that Collins penned for the magazine with writer Franz Lidz.
他和作家立茲為運動畫刊撰寫的文章開宗明義就說：「我是個34歲的NBA中鋒，我是黑人，而且是同志。」
The landmark revelation will now focus attention on Collins and any club that decides to sign him as well as the attitudes of his new teammates.
這種破天荒的告白，將使外界注意力集中在柯林斯身上，以及決定簽下他的球隊和新隊友們的態度。
Among the messages of support Collins received for his admission were those from former US president Bill Clinton, whose daughter Chelsea was a college friend of Collins at Stanford, and NBA commissioner David Stern.
包括前總統柯林頓和NBA執行長史騰都留言對柯林斯表示支持。柯林頓的女兒雀兒喜是柯林斯的史丹佛大學同學 。
Stern praised Collins for the courage and leadership of his admission. "Jason has been a widely respected player and teammate throughout his career and we are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue," Stern said. （AFP）
史騰讚揚柯林斯出櫃的勇氣與領袖風範。「傑森在他的生涯中，一直是廣受尊敬的球員和隊友，在這個非常重要的議題上，他承擔領導的職責，我們引以為傲。」史騰說。（法新社）
新聞辭典
landmark：名詞，重大事件、里程碑。例句：The vaccine is a landmark in the history of preventive medicine. （疫苗是預防醫學的里程碑。）
set out：片語，計畫或有意做什麼事。例句：She drew up a grandiose statement of what her organization should set out to achieve. （對於她的組織應該計畫做什麼事情，她擬定浮誇的宣言。）
mantle：名詞，（職業或工作的）職責或責任。例句：The second son has now assumed his father’s mantle. （次子繼承父親的衣缽。）
Being good looking can earn you 20 percent more - but only if you’re a man 帥哥多賺兩成薪 美女無優勢
Being good looking can earn you 20 percent more - but only if you’re a man
帥哥多賺兩成薪 美女無優勢
2013-05-18◎陳成良
A handsome man can earn a fifth more than a plainer colleague but a beautiful woman is not paid a penny more than her average-looking colleague, new research has shown.
俊男能比長相較平凡的同事薪水多出5分之1，但美女賺的錢卻不會比相貌平平的同事更多，一項新研究顯示。
The study by senior economists found that being good-looking meant male workers could earn 22 percent more than average-looking colleagues.
資深經濟學家的研究發現，男員工長得帥意味著能比相貌普通的同事多賺22%。
Researchers said good looks did not give women a similar advantage.
研究人員稱，長得漂亮卻不會讓女人擁有同樣的優勢。
Andrew Leigh, the former economics professor at the Australian National University who co-authored the report, said： "Beauty can be a double-edged sword for women.
共同撰寫這份研究報告的前澳洲國立大學經濟學教授安德魯‧雷說：「美麗對於女士而言是一把雙刃劍。」
"Some people still believe good looks and intelligence are incompatible in women so a good-looking woman can’t be that productive, but there’s no dumb-blonde syndrome affecting men’s pay."
「一些人仍然相信女人的智慧及美貌不可兼得，導致認為美女的工作能力較差，但無腦金髮美人症候群的看法卻不會對男人的薪水造成影響。」
The research found that handsome men in all jobs, from manual labour to highly-paid professional careers, can earn 22 percent more than their colleagues doing an identical role.
該研究發現，從體力勞動到高薪專業領域的各行各業俊男，所賺的薪水能比同一職位的同事多出22%。
Men with below-average looks face an uphill battle in the office, with ugliness reducing a man’s earnings by 26 percent compared to an average-looking worker.
其貌不揚的男人在職場則會面臨艱鉅挑戰，長得醜更會讓男人比長相平平的同事少賺26%。
新聞辭典
double-edged：形容詞，雙刃的；兩可的；意義雙關的。例句：Workplace friendships are like a double-edged sword.（職場友誼就像一把雙面刃。）
identical︰形容詞，完全相同的、完全相似的。例句：The two words are identical in meaning.（這兩個字的字義完全一樣。）
an uphill battle/fight/struggle：片語，苦戰。uphill，形容詞，上坡的，艱困的。
帥哥多賺兩成薪 美女無優勢
2013-05-18◎陳成良
A handsome man can earn a fifth more than a plainer colleague but a beautiful woman is not paid a penny more than her average-looking colleague, new research has shown.
俊男能比長相較平凡的同事薪水多出5分之1，但美女賺的錢卻不會比相貌平平的同事更多，一項新研究顯示。
The study by senior economists found that being good-looking meant male workers could earn 22 percent more than average-looking colleagues.
資深經濟學家的研究發現，男員工長得帥意味著能比相貌普通的同事多賺22%。
Researchers said good looks did not give women a similar advantage.
研究人員稱，長得漂亮卻不會讓女人擁有同樣的優勢。
Andrew Leigh, the former economics professor at the Australian National University who co-authored the report, said： "Beauty can be a double-edged sword for women.
共同撰寫這份研究報告的前澳洲國立大學經濟學教授安德魯‧雷說：「美麗對於女士而言是一把雙刃劍。」
"Some people still believe good looks and intelligence are incompatible in women so a good-looking woman can’t be that productive, but there’s no dumb-blonde syndrome affecting men’s pay."
「一些人仍然相信女人的智慧及美貌不可兼得，導致認為美女的工作能力較差，但無腦金髮美人症候群的看法卻不會對男人的薪水造成影響。」
The research found that handsome men in all jobs, from manual labour to highly-paid professional careers, can earn 22 percent more than their colleagues doing an identical role.
該研究發現，從體力勞動到高薪專業領域的各行各業俊男，所賺的薪水能比同一職位的同事多出22%。
Men with below-average looks face an uphill battle in the office, with ugliness reducing a man’s earnings by 26 percent compared to an average-looking worker.
其貌不揚的男人在職場則會面臨艱鉅挑戰，長得醜更會讓男人比長相平平的同事少賺26%。
新聞辭典
double-edged：形容詞，雙刃的；兩可的；意義雙關的。例句：Workplace friendships are like a double-edged sword.（職場友誼就像一把雙面刃。）
identical︰形容詞，完全相同的、完全相似的。例句：The two words are identical in meaning.（這兩個字的字義完全一樣。）
an uphill battle/fight/struggle：片語，苦戰。uphill，形容詞，上坡的，艱困的。
City of Pied Piper faces rat problem again 魔笛手城市再度面臨鼠患
City of Pied Piper faces rat problem again
魔笛手城市再度面臨鼠患
2012-09-14◎張沛元
The German city of Hamelin may be in need of another Pied Piper -- it seems the rats are back.
德國城市哈梅林可能需要另一名魔笛手，因為看似老鼠回來了。
City officials say a popular fountain has been put out of service after the rodents gnawed through a power cable, according to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
根據南德意志報，市府官員表示，在鼠輩咬穿了一條電纜線後，一座廣受歡迎的噴泉已停止運作。
The Lower Saxony city is where, legend has it, the Pied Piper led all the rats out in 1284 with his magic pipe into the Weser River, where they drowned.
這座位於下薩克森的城市，就是傳說中魔笛手在1284年利用他的魔笛，將所有老鼠引領出城，並溺死在威悉河之地。
But more than 700 years later, city officials say such drastic measures may not be necessary. The fountain was due to be permanently closed anyway because of the high upkeep costs.
但在700多年後，市府官員說，也許沒有必要採取這類（意指溺死老鼠）激烈手段。反正這座噴泉原本就因為維修經費太高而得永久關閉。
And the solution in the fictitious Piper story isn’t practical anyway：rats are actually pretty good swimmers.（AP）
而且，不管怎麼說，虛構的魔笛手故事中的解決鼠患之道並不實際：老鼠其實是游泳健將。（美聯社）
新聞辭典
in need（of something）：慣用語，某人需要（某物）。例句：We are in need of a new leader.（我們需要一名新領導人。）
out of service：慣用語，暫停使用，暫停服務；相反詞，in service，使用中，運行中。例句：All elevators in the office building had been put out of service, so I had to use the stairs.（辦公大樓內的所有電梯都暫停服務，我只好爬樓梯。）
rodent：名詞，齧齒目動物，本文中指老鼠。
魔笛手城市再度面臨鼠患
2012-09-14◎張沛元
The German city of Hamelin may be in need of another Pied Piper -- it seems the rats are back.
德國城市哈梅林可能需要另一名魔笛手，因為看似老鼠回來了。
City officials say a popular fountain has been put out of service after the rodents gnawed through a power cable, according to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
根據南德意志報，市府官員表示，在鼠輩咬穿了一條電纜線後，一座廣受歡迎的噴泉已停止運作。
The Lower Saxony city is where, legend has it, the Pied Piper led all the rats out in 1284 with his magic pipe into the Weser River, where they drowned.
這座位於下薩克森的城市，就是傳說中魔笛手在1284年利用他的魔笛，將所有老鼠引領出城，並溺死在威悉河之地。
But more than 700 years later, city officials say such drastic measures may not be necessary. The fountain was due to be permanently closed anyway because of the high upkeep costs.
但在700多年後，市府官員說，也許沒有必要採取這類（意指溺死老鼠）激烈手段。反正這座噴泉原本就因為維修經費太高而得永久關閉。
And the solution in the fictitious Piper story isn’t practical anyway：rats are actually pretty good swimmers.（AP）
而且，不管怎麼說，虛構的魔笛手故事中的解決鼠患之道並不實際：老鼠其實是游泳健將。（美聯社）
新聞辭典
in need（of something）：慣用語，某人需要（某物）。例句：We are in need of a new leader.（我們需要一名新領導人。）
out of service：慣用語，暫停使用，暫停服務；相反詞，in service，使用中，運行中。例句：All elevators in the office building had been put out of service, so I had to use the stairs.（辦公大樓內的所有電梯都暫停服務，我只好爬樓梯。）
rodent：名詞，齧齒目動物，本文中指老鼠。
Man shoots tree, tree fires back 男子射樹，樹反擊
Man shoots tree, tree fires back
男子射樹，樹反擊
2013-05-17◎張沛元
Using a tree for target practice sounds harmless enough, right? That wasn’t the case for an Iowa man who is recovering at a hospital after the tree he aimed his gun at fired back.
拿樹當目標練習聽起來很無害，不是嗎？但對一名（美國）愛荷華州男子來說，可不是這麼一回事。該名男子目前正在醫院休養，因為他遭到自己拿槍瞄準的樹反擊。
The Iowa man is expected to survive but will have one heck of a story to tell after he fired his pistol at a tree only to have the shot ricochet and impact upon himself.
這名愛荷華州男子應該能保住小命，但關於他用手槍對一棵樹開槍，結果跳彈反而打中自己（這件事），日後可有好一番故事可說了。
27-year-old Logan Bunn transported himself to a nearby hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened at about 4：30am on Sunday morning.
27歲的羅根˙邦恩自行前往附近一家位於威斯康辛州拉克羅斯的醫院。（愛荷華州）阿勒馬基郡警長辦公室表示，此事發生在週日清晨4時30分左右。
In the ongoing war between man and nature, many more trees have fallen at the feet of their human counterparts. But there have been notable exceptions. Last month, an Illinois man was killed when a tree he was attempting to cut down fell upon him.
在人類與大自然之間持續不斷的戰爭中，有更多樹淪為人類的手下敗將。但也有值得注意的例外。上個月，伊利諾州一名男子企圖砍倒一棵樹時，被倒下的樹壓死。
And on Christmas Day 2012, a Houston man was killed when he was attempting to clear a fallen tree from the street outside his home. During the removal effort, a second tree fell on him, causing the fatality.
2012年耶誕節當天，休士頓一名男子在企圖清除一棵倒在他家外面的街上的樹時喪生。男子在清除倒塌的樹時，第二棵樹倒在他身上，導致死亡。
新聞辭典
fire （something） back （at someone or something）：慣用語，開槍回擊。例句：The soldiers in the fort did not fire back at the enemies.（要塞內的士兵並未開槍回擊敵人。）
it is the case/it is not the case：慣用語，就是這樣／並不是這樣。
counterpart：名詞，對應人或物。例句：Chinese President Xi Jinping held telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on the expansion of cooperation and mutual respect between the two countries.（中國國家主席習近平與美國總統歐巴馬通電話，論及拓展兩國合作與相互尊重。）
男子射樹，樹反擊
2013-05-17◎張沛元
Using a tree for target practice sounds harmless enough, right? That wasn’t the case for an Iowa man who is recovering at a hospital after the tree he aimed his gun at fired back.
拿樹當目標練習聽起來很無害，不是嗎？但對一名（美國）愛荷華州男子來說，可不是這麼一回事。該名男子目前正在醫院休養，因為他遭到自己拿槍瞄準的樹反擊。
The Iowa man is expected to survive but will have one heck of a story to tell after he fired his pistol at a tree only to have the shot ricochet and impact upon himself.
這名愛荷華州男子應該能保住小命，但關於他用手槍對一棵樹開槍，結果跳彈反而打中自己（這件事），日後可有好一番故事可說了。
27-year-old Logan Bunn transported himself to a nearby hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened at about 4：30am on Sunday morning.
27歲的羅根˙邦恩自行前往附近一家位於威斯康辛州拉克羅斯的醫院。（愛荷華州）阿勒馬基郡警長辦公室表示，此事發生在週日清晨4時30分左右。
In the ongoing war between man and nature, many more trees have fallen at the feet of their human counterparts. But there have been notable exceptions. Last month, an Illinois man was killed when a tree he was attempting to cut down fell upon him.
在人類與大自然之間持續不斷的戰爭中，有更多樹淪為人類的手下敗將。但也有值得注意的例外。上個月，伊利諾州一名男子企圖砍倒一棵樹時，被倒下的樹壓死。
And on Christmas Day 2012, a Houston man was killed when he was attempting to clear a fallen tree from the street outside his home. During the removal effort, a second tree fell on him, causing the fatality.
2012年耶誕節當天，休士頓一名男子在企圖清除一棵倒在他家外面的街上的樹時喪生。男子在清除倒塌的樹時，第二棵樹倒在他身上，導致死亡。
新聞辭典
fire （something） back （at someone or something）：慣用語，開槍回擊。例句：The soldiers in the fort did not fire back at the enemies.（要塞內的士兵並未開槍回擊敵人。）
it is the case/it is not the case：慣用語，就是這樣／並不是這樣。
counterpart：名詞，對應人或物。例句：Chinese President Xi Jinping held telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on the expansion of cooperation and mutual respect between the two countries.（中國國家主席習近平與美國總統歐巴馬通電話，論及拓展兩國合作與相互尊重。）
Images of tiger abuse at China zoos upset public 中國動物園虐虎影像引發眾怒
Images of tiger abuse at China zoos upset public
中國動物園虐虎影像引發眾怒
2013-05-14◎陳維真
A video and photos of tigers being abused in a pair of incidents during China’s May Day holiday have caused public condemnation, prompting apologies and promises that such incidents would not recur.
中國五一假期時，兩起老虎遭虐事件的影片和照片引發民眾譴責，促使動物園道歉，承諾這類事件不會再發生。
In the video, two uniformed men are shown slapping and shaking the head of a lethargic tiger and energetically jumping on its back.
在影片中，2名穿著制服的男子拍打搖晃有氣無力的老虎，2人還精力十足地在老虎背上跳動。
The state-run China News Service said late Monday that the men were employees of a performance troupe that staged tiger shows at Wenling Zoo in eastern China’s Zhejiang province during the May Day holiday. It said the men abused the tiger after a show featuring the animal.
國營媒體中新社週一稍晚表示，男子是表演劇團的員工，五一假期時在中國東部浙江省溫嶺市的動物園表演老虎秀。中新社表示，男子在老虎表演後虐待老虎。
In a separate incident, a tiger tethered with a rope was offered as a prop to photo-taking tourists during the holiday at a tiger park in northeastern Jilin province. One photo showed a person straddling the tiger’s back.
在另一起事件中，中國東北吉林省一家老虎園區在假期期間，將老虎用繩子拴住，讓觀光客當做拍照道具。其中一張照片中，有個人跨坐在老虎身上。
Wang Haijun, a park official, told China News that a tiger tamer made the unauthorized decision to allow tourists to take photographs with the animal and that the park management immediately halted the act after hearing about it.
園方人員王海軍（譯音）向中新社表示，馴獸師未經授權就決定讓觀光客和老虎合照，園方管理單位聞訊後馬上制止行動。
Mistreatment of captive or tamed wild animals is an issue in China. Earlier this year, visitors to the city zoo of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province were caught pelting two lions with snowballs.（AP）
不當對待遭捕或馴養的野生動物是中國一大問題。今年稍早，浙江省杭州市動物園的遊客被抓到朝2頭獅子丟雪球。（美聯社）
新聞辭典
recur：動詞，再發生、復發。例句：When the symptoms recurred, the doctor diagnosed something different. （症狀復發時，醫生做出不同的診斷。）
lethargic：形容詞，不活潑的、無生氣的。例句：I felt tired and a little lethargic. （我覺得累累的，有點沒精神。）
straddle：動詞，跨坐。例句：He turned the chair round and straddled it. （他把椅子轉過來，跨坐上去。）
中國動物園虐虎影像引發眾怒
2013-05-14◎陳維真
A video and photos of tigers being abused in a pair of incidents during China’s May Day holiday have caused public condemnation, prompting apologies and promises that such incidents would not recur.
中國五一假期時，兩起老虎遭虐事件的影片和照片引發民眾譴責，促使動物園道歉，承諾這類事件不會再發生。
In the video, two uniformed men are shown slapping and shaking the head of a lethargic tiger and energetically jumping on its back.
在影片中，2名穿著制服的男子拍打搖晃有氣無力的老虎，2人還精力十足地在老虎背上跳動。
The state-run China News Service said late Monday that the men were employees of a performance troupe that staged tiger shows at Wenling Zoo in eastern China’s Zhejiang province during the May Day holiday. It said the men abused the tiger after a show featuring the animal.
國營媒體中新社週一稍晚表示，男子是表演劇團的員工，五一假期時在中國東部浙江省溫嶺市的動物園表演老虎秀。中新社表示，男子在老虎表演後虐待老虎。
In a separate incident, a tiger tethered with a rope was offered as a prop to photo-taking tourists during the holiday at a tiger park in northeastern Jilin province. One photo showed a person straddling the tiger’s back.
在另一起事件中，中國東北吉林省一家老虎園區在假期期間，將老虎用繩子拴住，讓觀光客當做拍照道具。其中一張照片中，有個人跨坐在老虎身上。
Wang Haijun, a park official, told China News that a tiger tamer made the unauthorized decision to allow tourists to take photographs with the animal and that the park management immediately halted the act after hearing about it.
園方人員王海軍（譯音）向中新社表示，馴獸師未經授權就決定讓觀光客和老虎合照，園方管理單位聞訊後馬上制止行動。
Mistreatment of captive or tamed wild animals is an issue in China. Earlier this year, visitors to the city zoo of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province were caught pelting two lions with snowballs.（AP）
不當對待遭捕或馴養的野生動物是中國一大問題。今年稍早，浙江省杭州市動物園的遊客被抓到朝2頭獅子丟雪球。（美聯社）
新聞辭典
recur：動詞，再發生、復發。例句：When the symptoms recurred, the doctor diagnosed something different. （症狀復發時，醫生做出不同的診斷。）
lethargic：形容詞，不活潑的、無生氣的。例句：I felt tired and a little lethargic. （我覺得累累的，有點沒精神。）
straddle：動詞，跨坐。例句：He turned the chair round and straddled it. （他把椅子轉過來，跨坐上去。）
Beer-glass shape alters people’s drinking speed - study 研究：啤酒杯形狀改變喝酒速度
Beer-glass shape alters people’s drinking speed - study
研究：啤酒杯形狀改變喝酒速度
2013-05-23◎國際新聞中心
The shape of your glass is probably the last thing on your mind when you are down the pub. However, researchers at the University of Bristol believe the shape of beer glasses affects the speed people drink.
玻璃杯形狀，可能是你去酒吧時最不會想到的事情，不過布里斯托大學研究人員認為，啤酒杯形狀影響喝酒速度。
Their study suggests people drink more quickly out of curved glasses than straight ones. They argue that the curvy glassware makes pacing yourself a much greater challenge.
這份研究顯示，人們用有弧度的酒杯喝酒時，會比用直線條的酒杯時喝得快，他們認為，彎曲的玻璃器皿對放慢步伐帶來更大挑戰。
A group of 159 men and women were filmed drinking either soft drinks or beer as part of the study. The glasses all contained around half a pint of liquid, but some of the glasses were straight while others were very curved.
159名參與研究的男女，被拍攝喝軟性飲料或啤酒時的畫面，玻璃杯裡都放大約半品脫的液體，不過有些酒杯是直線型，其他則是非常有曲線。
There was no difference in the drinking time for soft drinks. People drinking from both straight and curved glasses finished after around seven minutes. However, for the beer drinkers there was a large difference between the two groups. While it took around seven minutes for people drinking from a curved glass to polish off their half pint, it took 11 minutes for those drinking from a straight glass.
喝軟性飲料的時間沒有差別，用直線型或曲線型玻璃杯喝，大概都花了7分鐘喝完。不過喝啤酒時，兩組就有很大的區別。用曲線型杯子喝的人，花大約7分鐘把半品脫喝光光，用直線型杯子的人花了約11分鐘。
新聞辭典
alter：動詞，改變。例句：We’ve had to alter some of our plans.（我們必須變更一些計畫。）
down：介系詞，向下，往下方，沿著。在英國的非標準用法時，指「去」。例句：I went down the pub with my mates.（我跟兄弟們去酒吧。）
pace oneself：片語，放慢步伐，慢慢來。例句：No more soup, thank you. I’m pacing myself so that I have room for a dessert.（不要再給我湯了，謝謝。我要慢慢吃，這樣才有肚子吃甜點。）
研究：啤酒杯形狀改變喝酒速度
2013-05-23◎國際新聞中心
The shape of your glass is probably the last thing on your mind when you are down the pub. However, researchers at the University of Bristol believe the shape of beer glasses affects the speed people drink.
玻璃杯形狀，可能是你去酒吧時最不會想到的事情，不過布里斯托大學研究人員認為，啤酒杯形狀影響喝酒速度。
Their study suggests people drink more quickly out of curved glasses than straight ones. They argue that the curvy glassware makes pacing yourself a much greater challenge.
這份研究顯示，人們用有弧度的酒杯喝酒時，會比用直線條的酒杯時喝得快，他們認為，彎曲的玻璃器皿對放慢步伐帶來更大挑戰。
A group of 159 men and women were filmed drinking either soft drinks or beer as part of the study. The glasses all contained around half a pint of liquid, but some of the glasses were straight while others were very curved.
159名參與研究的男女，被拍攝喝軟性飲料或啤酒時的畫面，玻璃杯裡都放大約半品脫的液體，不過有些酒杯是直線型，其他則是非常有曲線。
There was no difference in the drinking time for soft drinks. People drinking from both straight and curved glasses finished after around seven minutes. However, for the beer drinkers there was a large difference between the two groups. While it took around seven minutes for people drinking from a curved glass to polish off their half pint, it took 11 minutes for those drinking from a straight glass.
喝軟性飲料的時間沒有差別，用直線型或曲線型玻璃杯喝，大概都花了7分鐘喝完。不過喝啤酒時，兩組就有很大的區別。用曲線型杯子喝的人，花大約7分鐘把半品脫喝光光，用直線型杯子的人花了約11分鐘。
新聞辭典
alter：動詞，改變。例句：We’ve had to alter some of our plans.（我們必須變更一些計畫。）
down：介系詞，向下，往下方，沿著。在英國的非標準用法時，指「去」。例句：I went down the pub with my mates.（我跟兄弟們去酒吧。）
pace oneself：片語，放慢步伐，慢慢來。例句：No more soup, thank you. I’m pacing myself so that I have room for a dessert.（不要再給我湯了，謝謝。我要慢慢吃，這樣才有肚子吃甜點。）
Playing Tetris video game ’fixes lazy eye’, doctors say 醫師說，玩俄羅斯方塊電玩「矯正懶惰眼」
Playing Tetris video game ’fixes lazy eye’, doctors say
醫師說，玩俄羅斯方塊電玩「矯正懶惰眼」
2013-05-20◎管淑平
Canadian doctors say they have found an inventive way to treat lazy eye - playing the Tetris video game.
加拿大醫師說，他們發現一項治療懶惰眼的創新方法：玩俄羅斯方塊電玩遊戲。
An estimated one in 50 children has lazy eye, known medically as amblyopia.
估計每50名兒童中就有1人有懶惰眼，醫學上名為弱視。
Normally, the treatment is to cover the good eye with a patch to make the weak one work harder.
通常治療方式是用眼罩遮住視力良好的那隻眼，以加強使用視力弱的那一眼。
Dr Robert Hess of the McGill University set out to investigate whether a different approach might work.
麥吉爾大學的羅勃．海斯博士要了解採用不同方式是否有效。
Armed with a special pair of video goggles they set up an experiment that would make both eyes work as a team.
他們使用一副特殊眼鏡安排一項可讓兩眼如團隊般分工合作的實驗。
Nine volunteers with amblyopia were asked to wear the goggles for an hour a day over the two weeks while playing Tetris, the falling building block video game.
9名患有弱視的自願者被要求在2週期間內，每天戴著這種眼鏡玩俄羅斯方塊1小時。
The goggles allowed one eye to see only the falling objects, while the other eye could see only the blocks that accumulate on the ground in the game.
這種眼鏡能讓使用者的一眼只看遊戲畫面中正在掉落的方塊，另一眼看著底下累積的方塊。
Another group of nine volunteers with amblyopia wore similar goggles but had their good eye covered, and watched the whole game through only their lazy eye.
另一組9名弱視患者也戴著類似眼鏡，但遮住視力良好的眼睛，遊戲時只靠弱視的那眼看。
At the end of the two weeks, the group who used both eyes had more improvement in their vision than the patched group.
2週結束時，兩眼並用那組人的視力，比遮眼那組進步得多。
The researchers then let the patched group have a go at using the goggles with both eyes uncovered. Their vision then improved significantly.
接著研究人員讓遮眼那組試著使用兩眼都沒遮著的眼鏡。之後，他們的視力也顯著改善。
新聞辭典：
set out to：動詞片語，著手、展開做某事。例句：They set out to prove their theory.（他們著手證明他們的理論。）
fix：動詞，整理、修理，吸引注意，賄賂（口語）。例句：That old woman crying for help fixed our attention.（那名哭求幫助的老婦吸引我們注意。）
have a go：動詞，嘗試、企圖做。例句：Why not let him have a go. He will do better this time.（何不讓他放手一試。他這次會表現得更好。）
醫師說，玩俄羅斯方塊電玩「矯正懶惰眼」
2013-05-20◎管淑平
Canadian doctors say they have found an inventive way to treat lazy eye - playing the Tetris video game.
加拿大醫師說，他們發現一項治療懶惰眼的創新方法：玩俄羅斯方塊電玩遊戲。
An estimated one in 50 children has lazy eye, known medically as amblyopia.
估計每50名兒童中就有1人有懶惰眼，醫學上名為弱視。
Normally, the treatment is to cover the good eye with a patch to make the weak one work harder.
通常治療方式是用眼罩遮住視力良好的那隻眼，以加強使用視力弱的那一眼。
Dr Robert Hess of the McGill University set out to investigate whether a different approach might work.
麥吉爾大學的羅勃．海斯博士要了解採用不同方式是否有效。
Armed with a special pair of video goggles they set up an experiment that would make both eyes work as a team.
他們使用一副特殊眼鏡安排一項可讓兩眼如團隊般分工合作的實驗。
Nine volunteers with amblyopia were asked to wear the goggles for an hour a day over the two weeks while playing Tetris, the falling building block video game.
9名患有弱視的自願者被要求在2週期間內，每天戴著這種眼鏡玩俄羅斯方塊1小時。
The goggles allowed one eye to see only the falling objects, while the other eye could see only the blocks that accumulate on the ground in the game.
這種眼鏡能讓使用者的一眼只看遊戲畫面中正在掉落的方塊，另一眼看著底下累積的方塊。
Another group of nine volunteers with amblyopia wore similar goggles but had their good eye covered, and watched the whole game through only their lazy eye.
另一組9名弱視患者也戴著類似眼鏡，但遮住視力良好的眼睛，遊戲時只靠弱視的那眼看。
At the end of the two weeks, the group who used both eyes had more improvement in their vision than the patched group.
2週結束時，兩眼並用那組人的視力，比遮眼那組進步得多。
The researchers then let the patched group have a go at using the goggles with both eyes uncovered. Their vision then improved significantly.
接著研究人員讓遮眼那組試著使用兩眼都沒遮著的眼鏡。之後，他們的視力也顯著改善。
新聞辭典：
set out to：動詞片語，著手、展開做某事。例句：They set out to prove their theory.（他們著手證明他們的理論。）
fix：動詞，整理、修理，吸引注意，賄賂（口語）。例句：That old woman crying for help fixed our attention.（那名哭求幫助的老婦吸引我們注意。）
have a go：動詞，嘗試、企圖做。例句：Why not let him have a go. He will do better this time.（何不讓他放手一試。他這次會表現得更好。）
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