Ireland’s Contribution to English

Nearly everyone knows that countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are primarily English-speaking countries; that is, English is the mother tongue used in these countries. What is less well known is that English is also the mother ==tongue== in countries such as the Republic of Ireland (officially called Eire), Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Guyana. Among these latter few, the Irish have made contributions to the English language in both its ==lexicon== and literature which can ==be considered second to none== .

==Virtually== every aspect of English literature has been graced by the writings of the Irish. This fact is all the more amazing because Ireland is a relatively small country, with never more than four million people throughout its long history. Yet many great “English” writers were indeed born and often raised in Ireland, though many, too, immigrated to the United Kingdom at some point in their lives. Among these pillars of English literature were Jonathan Swift, William Butler Yeats, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, and Edmund Burke. Many other lesser-known figures have ==punctuated== English literature as well. These men’s contributions to the English language and to Western thought in general are ==immeasurable== . A review of two of these writers’ major works will reveal why.

Jonathan Swift (1667 -1745) by most reckoning is the best English-language satirist ever, and one of the world’s greatest as well. Born in Ireland of English parents, Swift went to school there through his bachelor’s degree (Trinity College, Dublin, capital of Ireland). Thereafter he frequently Traveled between England and Ireland, including years spent at Oxford College, where he earned his master’s degree. Swift wrote a great deal of poetry, but he is best regarded as a ==prose== ==satirist== . He wrote ==prolifically== both in Ireland and England, nearly constantly shuttling from one to the other. In Ireland he worked on Gulliver’s Travels, which he later had published in England in 1726. Already famous by that time, Swift would become ==immortalized== with this last great work. What child does not know the story of the brave sailor Gulliver as he travels through lands in which he is at turn both a giant and a ==midget== ? Yet most readers are not aware of Swift’s intent to satirize the political, academic, and religious leaders of his time. Read either way, Swift’s genius as a writer of English cannot be denied.

A giant of English Theater was George Bernard Shaw(1856 - 1950) . Born in Dublin, Shaw moved to England with his family when he was 20 and stayed there for most of the rest of his long life. His early fiction writing was so poor that he could not find a publisher. Only when he began to work as a ==playwright== did his ==fortunes== improve. Among the many, many plays for which Shaw is famous, perhaps his most lasting (though not his most critically acclaimed) is Pygmalion (1916), the story of a language teacher who attempts to” civilize” a young ==prostitute== by training her to speak correctly. If this story sounds familiar, it should: ==Pygmalion== was later filmed winning on Oscar for Shaw and later again transformed into the highly popular Broadway musical My Fair Lady (1956). A good story never dies: the original Pygmalion has since been updated in the hit movie Pretty woman (1990) starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. As with Shakespeare, many of Shaw’s plays are continually restaged or rewritten into new media because Shaw wrote on many themes which touch on the human condition, ==independent of time and space== .

Among the ==constellation== of Irish talents, perhaps Swift and Shaw are two among the more brilliant stars, but much more could be written of those mentioned above and many others. Though English literature written by the British suffices as an eternal and shining ==canon== of literature, it would be nonetheless ==dimmer== without the considerable talents of its Irish contributors

Vocabulary & Idioms

• tongue——语言
• lexicon——全部词汇
• be second to none——无人出其右
• virtually——几乎
• punctuate——不时打断
• immeasurable——不可估量的
• prose——散文
• immortalize——永垂不朽
• midget——侏儒
• playwright——剧作家
• fortune——前途
• prostitute——妓女
• Pygmalion——《茶花女》
• independent of time and space——独立于时间和空间
• constellation——星座
• canon——精品
• dimmer——暗淡的

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The Delights of South Island

One of the odder coincidences of physical geography is the fact that there are two double islands, roughly the same size, positioned at each other’s antipodes, or farthest-distant point. The islands of England and Ireland in the Northern Hemisphere and the islands of North Island and South Island in the southern Hemisphere are just such a coincidence. The first two islands comprise the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (or Eire), and the second two islands comprise New Zealand. Among these four islands, there can be no doubt that South Island is the least polluted and most spectacularly scenic of them all.

There is much competition to make such a claim. The island of England, politically constituting England, Scotland, and Wales of the United Kingdom, is dotted with country villages set alongside rivers and lakes. There are not very tall but nonetheless rugged mountains in the north, and endless miles of rocky coastline that seem mystical. Ireland, too, is a paradise of greenery, with far fewer people than populous England and even more quaint villages scattered among its low-lying hills and forever green fields. North Island in New Zealand sports a balmy climate and the beaches to make use of it; one beach alone is more than 150 kilometers long and with relatively few people on its shores, one can pretend one is at the very end of the earth. Volcanoes, large lakes, and quickly flowing rivers traverse the land. Given the beauty of these three islands, what makes South Island so special?

Plenty. For those who like mountains, South Island is sure to please. Mt. Cook at 3764 meters is its highest peak, with 16 others above 3000 meters. Naturally, many local and foreign mountain climbers come here for the challenge of these Southern Alps. In addition, there is an extensive glacier system, endless forests, and innumerable lakes throughout this highland area. Some of the world’s best mountain scenery is available within the 500-kilometer long chain of the Southern Alps.

Perhaps you prefer the sea? South Island is not only an island, but many tiny islets can be found off its coastline. Great deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling can be had, though the waters here are cooler than those of North Island. (Remember, in the Southern Hemisphere, as we go north, it gets warmer.)As fewer people live on South Island than on North Island, those who crave solitude and pristine beaches will be amazed at their luck here. With almost no heavy industry on South Island, the air, water, and land are all free of pollution. The Local seafood is therefore clean, plentiful, and never-ending.

Do healthful climates interest you? South Island is the place to be. Its temperate climate sees little snow except in the highlands and mountainous areas. Like Ireland and England, there are no extremes of temperature, either. Summers are warm, not hot, and winters are brisk rather than freezing. The fresh air is sometimes humid from the abundant rainfall of this area. Every season invites the nature lover to get out and be active in the countryside.

Of course, South Island is not for everyone. For those who need busy, crowded, noisy, and polluted cities, this Southern outpost will surely disappoint. For those who enjoy pressure and stress, South Island will leave them empty-handed. And for those who would rather stay at home or in an office in front of a computer screen or in the thumping, smoke-filled dance floors of discos, some of the world’s best natural scenery will never entice them away. For the rest of us, though, South Island is the world’s best kept secret. If Nature’s paradise sounds alluring, make a point of visiting South Island.

One of the odder coincidences of physical geography is the fact that there are two double islands, roughly the same size, positioned at each other’s antipodes, or farthest-distant point. The islands of England and Ireland in the Northern Hemisphere and the islands of North Island and South Island in the southern Hemisphere are just such a coincidence. The first two islands comprise the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (or Eire), and the second two islands comprise New Zealand. Among these four islands, there can be no doubt that South Island is the least polluted and most spectacularly scenic of them all.

自然地理中一个较为奇特的巧合是，世界上存在着两组大小相近的双岛，它们分别位于彼此的对映点，也就是地球的两极。北半球的英格兰和爱尔兰群岛以及南半球的新西兰南北二岛就是这样的巧合。前两者构成了联合王国和爱尔兰共和国，后两者则组成了新西兰。在这四个岛屿中，南岛无疑是污染最少且风景最为秀丽的。

对于谁才是风景最秀丽的岛屿，各方竞争激烈。政治上构成英国的英格兰岛，遍布着点缀在河流和湖泊之畔的乡村。北部有虽不高耸却崎岖的山脉，以及绵延无尽、神秘莫测的岩石海岸线。爱尔兰也是一片绿意盎然的乐土，人口远少于人口密集的英格兰，其低洼的丘陵和终年翠绿的田野间散布着更多古雅的村落。新西兰的北岛气候宜人，还有诸多可供享受的海滩；仅一个海滩就长达150多公里，而且海岸线上人相对较少，让人仿佛置身于世界尽头。岛上有火山、大湖泊和湍急的河流。鉴于这三个岛屿的美丽，那么南岛究竟有何特别之处呢？

特别之处可多了。对于喜爱山脉的人来说，南岛绝对会让他们心满意足。库克山海拔3764米，是其最高峰，还有另外16座山峰海拔超过3000米。自然而然地，许多国内外的登山者都来到这里挑战南阿尔卑斯山脉。此外，这片高地地区还有广阔的冰川系统、无垠的森林和无数的湖泊。在长达500公里的南阿尔卑斯山脉中，能领略到一些世界上最棒的山地风光。

或许你更喜欢大海？南岛不仅是一个岛屿，其海岸线外还有许多小岛屿。这里有绝佳的深海捕鱼、水肺潜水和浮潜条件，尽管这里的海水比北岛的海水更凉爽。（记住，在南半球，越往北走，气候越温暖。）由于南岛的人口比北岛少，那些渴望独处和纯净海滩的人会在这里惊喜地发现自己运气真好。南岛几乎没有重工业，空气、水和土地都没有污染。因此，当地的海鲜干净、丰富且源源不断。

有益健康的气候吸引你吗？南岛就是这样的地方。除了高地和山区，这里气候温和，降雪很少。和爱尔兰、英格兰一样，这里也没有极端的气温。夏天温暖但不炎热，冬天凉爽但不寒冷。这片地区充沛的降雨有时会让新鲜空气变得湿润。每个季节都吸引着热爱大自然的人到户外去，在乡村尽情活动。

当然，南岛并非适合所有人。对于那些需要繁忙、拥挤、嘈杂和污染城市的人来说，这个南方前哨肯定会让他们失望。对于那些喜欢压力和紧张的人来说，南岛也不会给他们带来满足感。而对于那些宁愿待在家里或办公室对着电脑屏幕，或者在迪斯科舞厅震耳欲聋、烟雾弥漫的舞池里的人来说，世界上一些最棒的自然风光永远无法吸引他们离开。然而，对于我们其余的人来说，南岛是世界上最隐秘的瑰宝。如果大自然的天堂听起来很诱人，一定要去游览一下南岛。

自然地理中一个较为奇特的巧合是，世界上存在着两组大小相近的双岛，它们分别位于彼此的对映点，也就是地球的两极。北半球的英格兰和爱尔兰群岛以及南半球的新西兰南北二岛就是这样的巧合。前两者构成了联合王国和爱尔兰共和国，后两者则组成了新西兰。在这四个岛屿中，南岛无疑是污染最少且风景最为秀丽的。 ## Vocabulary & Idioms - odder——奇怪的 - physical geography——自然地理学 - there are two double islands——有两对岛屿 - antipodes——对跖地 - hemisphere——半球 - be dotted with——点缀着 - rugged——崎岖的 - mystical——神秘的 - quaint——古雅的 - low-lying——低洼的 - balmy——温和的 - traverse——穿过 - Alps——阿尔卑斯山 - islet——小岛 - scuba——水肺 - snorkeling——潜水 - never-ending——永无止境的 - brisk——轻快的 - outpost——边远地区 - empty-handed空手 - thumping——砰砰响的 - entice——引诱 - make a point of + V-ing——必定，总是要做 - On the first day of each month I make a point of paying my rent in person.

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Table Manners in Anglo-America

“Oh, no! Here I am at an American family’s home at the dinner table. There are all kinds of plates, saucers, cups, and silverware at my place. Which should I use for which food? Should I sit down first or wait for the host to invite me? Should I have brought a gift? Someone please tell me what to do!”

Have you ever been in or had a nightmare about this situation? Don’t worry! This article will help ==steer== you through ==the rocks and reefs== of Anglo-American table manners so that if you are ever abroad in Canada or the United States, or at someone’s home from one of those countries, you will feel right at home.

It is important to distinguish what kind of occasion you will be attending before you plan for a pleasant evening. Most Anglo-Americans enjoy entertaining at home, but they don’t enjoy ==stuffy== , formal dinners. They invite their friends over for a fun evening, not as a test of one’s knowledge of cultural traditions. If, however, you are invited to a formal affair, such as a so-called “sit-down” dinner, you may want to know in advance some basic rules of “black tie” ==etiquette== .

The first thing to remember when attending a dinner at a Western home is that you are the guest and that you are a foreigner. No one will invite you if he does not really want you to enter his “castle;’ so you can be sure that you are wanted. Additionally, as you do not come from the same country or culture as your host, he or she or they will surely be aware of this, and will be very ==forgiving== if you ==unintentionally== do or say something which would otherwise offend them .Keeping these two simple tips in mind should greatly ease your concern about being present at a dinner in someone else’s home.

Before arriving at your host’s home, you may want to make sure of three things. First, be a few minutes late, say, about five to ten minutes if possible. Never be early, as the host may not have everything prepared yet. Nor should you be more than 20 minutes late. Your host may begin to worry about whether you are able to attend the dinner or not. Next, as to whether to bring a gift, in most informal gatherings, it is not necessary. If you like, you can bring some fruit or sweets, or, especially if there is a hostess, some flowers. These are ==thoughtful== cheerful gifts sure to please. Do not bring alcoholic beverages unless you are sure of your host’s or hostess’s preferences in drinks. Above all, do not spend a lot of money, and never give money. As we say in English, ” ==it’s the thought that counts== !’ finally, wear comfortable clothing. One can overdress as well as appear ==sloppy== . For a special occasion or religious holiday, such as a retirement party or Christmas, a tie and jacket would be suitable for the gentlemen and a dress or sweater and skirt for the ladies.

For more formal affairs, you will probably be told what to wear, such as “formal dress requested,” etc. A tie and jacket or ==tuxedo== for the gents and an evening gown for the ladies would be in order here. If you are unsure what to wear, you can always ask the host. Gifts are seldom appropriate for these affairs, unless for a wedding reception, at which gifts are more ==customary== than cash.

Your host in his home will usually ==motion== you where to sit. At formal gatherings, name cards are sometimes provided, or you will be told where to sit. Do not be alarmed by a great deal of ==cutlery== : simply start from the outside and work your way in. Formal affairs often have several courses of food with the appropriate cutlery for each dish. There is no harm in checking with your neighbor to see what ==implement== he is using. After all, ” ==When in Rome, do as the Romans do== :’ It is customary to ask others to pass dishes to you for self-serving; at a formal dinner party, there is usually catering (service). Again, do not hesitate to ask others for information or advice. They are usually pleased to help you.

The most important piece of advice is this: enjoy yourself. No host enjoys seeing nervous or fearful guests who are struggling to “do the right thing” at his home or expensive formal dinner party. Watch others or ask for their advice, and join in the conversation and good times as best you can .If you do, after the first such evening out, you will certainly look forward to the next!

“哦，不！我现在身处一个美国家庭的餐桌旁。我面前摆放着各种各样的盘子、茶碟、杯子和银餐具。吃不同的食物该用哪件餐具呢？我应该先坐下还是等主人邀请呢？我该带个礼物来吗？谁能告诉我该怎么做啊！”

你是否曾经历过这种情况或者做过关于它的噩梦呢？别担心！本文将帮助你避开英美餐桌礼仪的暗礁险滩，这样一来，如果你身处加拿大或美国，或者在来自这两个国家之一的某个人家里，你会感觉宾至如归。

在你为一个愉快的夜晚做准备之前，区分你要参加的是哪种场合很重要。大多数英美人士喜欢在家招待客人，但他们不喜欢古板、正式的晚宴。他们邀请朋友来共度欢乐时光，而不是来考验某人对文化传统的了解。然而，如果你被邀请参加一个正式活动，比如所谓的“坐下来吃”的晚宴，你可能想提前了解一些“黑领结”礼仪的基本规则。

当你在西方人家中参加晚宴时，首先要记住的是你是客人，而且你是个外国人。如果主人不是真心想邀请你进入他的“城堡”，就不会邀请你，所以你可以确定你是受欢迎的。此外，由于你和主人来自不同的国家或文化，他或她或他们肯定会意识到这一点，如果你无意中做了或说了某些否则会冒犯他们的事情，他们会非常宽容。记住这两个简单的要点应该会大大减轻你对在别人家参加晚宴的担忧。

在到达主人家之前，你可能想确认三件事。首先，稍微迟到几分钟，比如说，如果可能的话，大约迟到五到十分钟。绝不要早到，因为主人可能还没有把一切都准备好。你也不应该迟到超过二十分钟。你的主人可能会开始担心你是否能来参加晚宴。其次，关于是否带礼物，在大多数非正式聚会上，这不是必需的。如果你愿意，你可以带些水果或糖果，或者，特别是如果有女主人的话，带些花。这些都是贴心又讨喜的礼物。除非你确定主人或女主人对饮品的喜好，否则不要带酒精饮料。最重要的是，不要花很多钱，而且绝对不要给钱。就像我们在英语里说的，“心意最重要！”最后，穿舒适的衣服。一个人既可能穿得过于讲究，也可能显得邋遢。对于特殊场合或宗教节日，比如退休派对或圣诞节，男士穿领带和夹克会很合适，女士穿连衣裙或毛衣加裙子。

对于更正式的活动，你可能会被告知该穿什么，比如“要求着正装”等等。这里男士穿领带和夹克或无尾礼服，女士穿晚礼服。如果你不确定穿什么，你总是可以问主人。在这些活动中，礼物很少合适，除非是婚礼招待会，在婚礼上送礼物比送现金更常见。

在他家，主人通常会示意你坐在哪里。在正式聚会上，有时会提供名片，或者会告诉你坐在哪里。不要被大量的餐具吓到：只需从外面开始，按顺序往里用。正式活动通常有好几道菜，每道菜都配有合适的餐具。向你的邻座询问他正在使用什么餐具并无坏处。毕竟，“入乡随俗”。按习俗，人们会请别人把菜递给自己以便自取食物；在正式晚宴聚会上，通常会有餐饮服务（侍者服务）。同样，不要犹豫向别人寻求信息或建议。他们通常很乐意帮助你。

最重要的一条建议是：尽情享受。没有哪个主人喜欢看到紧张或害怕的客人在他家里或昂贵的正式晚宴聚会上努力“做对事情”。观察别人或者向他们请教，尽你所能加入谈话并享受美好时光。如果你这样做了，在第一次这样的外出晚宴之后，你肯定会期待下一次！

Vocabulary & Idioms

• suacer——小茶碟
• steer——引导
• the rocks and reefs——重重障碍
  • rock——岩石
  • reef——暗礁
• distinguish——辨别
• stuffy——沉闷的
• in advance——提前
• etiquette——礼仪
• some basic rules of “black tie” etiquette——黑领带礼仪的一些基本规则
• be aware of——意识到
• thoughtful——体贴的，周到的
• It’s the thought that counts——心意最重要
• overdress——过度打扮
• appropriate——合适的
• customary——惯例的
• motion——以姿态或手势示意
• cultery——刀叉类餐具
• There is no harm in + V-ing——做……无妨
• implement——器具
• hesitate——犹豫
• look forward to——盼望

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Hot Animals Around the World: Chameleons

Every few months this program will ==feature== an animal which has caught the eye of the world’s public to become a favorite or “hot” animal. In the first of this unusual series, we will look at the chameleon, one of nature’s strangest creatures.

Perhaps no other group of animals has caught mankind’s imagination like ==reptiles== . Among the several ==subclasses== (or “orders” in biology) of reptiles are snakes and ==lizards== , ==turtles== and ==tortoises== , ==crocodiles== and ==alligators== , and the ==tuatara== , a marine lizard in New Zealand. The dinosaurs, too, belonged to the class of reptile. Was it a snake, lizard, or crocodile that caught the fancy of some Chinese in times gone by to create the dragon? A ==perennial== theme, reptiles have been featured over the past ten years in ==box-office== hits and bombs alike as dinosaurs (Jurassic Park and The lost World), crocodiles, and snakes (Anaconda). Though not nearly as large as these mighty reptiles, the lowly chameleon nonetheless has amazed countless generations with its special talents and skills.

What is a chameleon? Its unusual name fits this unusual animal perfectly, for it translates from the ancient Greek as “lion on the ground.’ This is unexpected, since chameleons spend most of their time in trees, and as for looking like a lion, a chameleon looks like a … well, a chameleon! No other animal in Nature’s zoo looks quite as bizarre as they do. Where do they live? True chameleons are found only in the tropical forests and jungles of the Old World, and nearly half of its species live on the African island of ==Madagascar==.

What’s special about the chameleon? Plenty! From its tongue to its tail the chameleon offers a ==storehouse== of specialties. The tongue of this ==modem-day== dinosaur look-alike can be extended more than twice the length of its body. This type of tongue, also present in frogs and ==toads== , is called an ==extensile== tongue. The eyes of the chameleon are even more remarkable. Its eyes are ==turreted== and can be moved independently so that it can view two different objects simultaneously! This comes in especially handy as it is tree dwelling. The chameleon can keep one eye on its prey and the other on its footing. Its head is often helmet-shaped, and some species have horn-like structures growing out of this ==scaly== helmet.

The feet and tail of the chameleon are also special. Both are ==prehensile== ; that is, they are both perfectly adapted to their ==sylvan== environment. The toes of the chameleon’s feet are bunched into inside and outside groups of two or three to enable this reptile to grasp tree branches tightly. The chameleon can thus climb extraordinarily well while using its tail to grab objects for further balance.

The above ==inventory== of natural selection specializations would be remarkable enough, but what really separates the chameleon from its fellow reptiles is the fact that its scales contain the ability to change color, Though many people think the chameleon can change its color at will and that it can blend into any color, these are misconceptions. In fact, chameleons can blend into many natural colors and even patterns, but they cannot do this at will. Instead, this happens naturally according to temperature, emotional state of the animal, and the triggering of certain hormones within its body.

It is hard to imagine an animal more interesting than the chameleon, with its weird appearance and special abilities. We should always remember, however, that these animals require their native habitat to flourish in, not zoos or individuals’ ==terrariums== . If you want your grandchildren to see this gift of nature, do not collect it as a pet. These natural treasures evolved over millions of years without mankind’s help; they will continue to survive better if left alone.

每隔几个月，这个节目就会 ==推出== 一种吸引了全球公众目光、成为人们喜爱的或 “热门” 的动物。在这个不同寻常的系列节目的第一期中，我们将介绍变色龙，自然界最奇特的生物之一。

也许没有其他动物群体能像 ==爬行动物== 那样激发人类的想象力。在爬行动物的几个 ==亚纲== （或生物学中的 “目”）中，有蛇和 ==蜥蜴== 、==龟== 和 ==鳖== 、==鳄鱼== 和 ==短吻鳄== ，还有新西兰的一种海蜥蜴 ==楔齿蜥== 。恐龙也属于爬行动物类。过去是哪种蛇、蜥蜴或鳄鱼引起了一些中国人的喜爱从而创造出了龙呢？作为一个 ==永恒的== 主题，爬行动物在过去十年里出现在了 ==票房== 大卖和惨败的影片中，比如恐龙题材的（《侏罗纪公园》和《失落的世界》）、鳄鱼题材的以及蛇题材的（《狂蟒之灾》）。尽管变色龙远没有这些强大的爬行动物那么大，但这种不起眼的动物却以其特殊的才能和技能让无数代人惊叹不已。

什么是变色龙？它不同寻常的名字与这种不同寻常的动物完美契合，因为它从古希腊语翻译过来是 “地上的狮子”。这很出人意料，因为变色龙大部分时间都待在树上，而且要说看起来像狮子，变色龙看起来像…… 嗯，一只变色龙！在大自然的动物园里，没有其他动物看起来像它们这么怪异。它们生活在哪里？真正的变色龙只在东半球的热带森林和丛林中被发现，而且几乎一半的变色龙物种生活在非洲的 ==马达加斯加== 岛上。

变色龙有什么特别之处？太多了！从它的舌头到尾巴，变色龙浑身都是特点。这种看起来像 ==现代== 恐龙的动物，它的舌头能伸出超过身体长度的两倍。这种舌头在青蛙和 ==蟾蜍== 身上也有，被称为 ==可伸展== 舌头。变色龙的眼睛更了不起。它的眼睛是 ==炮塔状== 的，可以独立移动，这样它就能同时看到两个不同的物体！这在它树栖生活时特别有用。变色龙可以一只眼睛盯着猎物，另一只眼睛留意脚下。它的头部通常呈头盔形状，有些物种在这个 ==有鳞片的== 头盔上还长有角状结构。

变色龙的脚和尾巴也很特别。它们都具有 ==抓握能力== ；也就是说，它们都完美地适应了它们的 ==森林== 环境。变色龙脚上的脚趾分成内侧和外侧两组，每组两三个，这样这种爬行动物就能紧紧抓住树枝。这样，变色龙就能非常出色地攀爬，同时用尾巴抓住物体以保持更好的平衡。

上述这些自然选择的特殊适应性已经足够引人注目了，但真正让变色龙与其他爬行动物区分开来的是，它的鳞片具有变色能力。尽管很多人认为变色龙可以随意改变颜色，并且能融入任何颜色，但这些都是误解。事实上，变色龙可以融入许多自然颜色甚至图案，但它们不能随意这样做。相反，这是根据温度、动物的情绪状态以及其体内某些激素的触发而自然发生的。

很难想象有比变色龙更有趣的动物了，它有着怪异的外表和特殊的能力。然而，我们应该始终记住，这些动物需要它们的原生栖息地才能繁荣，而不是动物园或个人的 ==玻璃容器== 。如果你想让你的孙辈看到这种大自然的馈赠，就不要把它当作宠物收集起来。这些自然宝藏在没有人类帮助的情况下经过数百万年的进化而来；如果不打扰它们，它们会继续更好地生存下去。 ## Vocabulary & Idioms

Word	Chinese Definition	Phonetic Symbol
feature	特征；特色；容貌	/ˈfiːtʃə(r)/
reptile	爬行动物	/ˈreptaɪl/
subclass	亚纲；子类	/ˈsʌbklɑːs/
lizard	蜥蜴	/ˈlɪzəd/
turtle	龟；海龟	/ˈtɜːtl/
tortoise	乌龟；陆龟	/ˈtɔːtəs/
crocodile	鳄鱼	/ˈkrɒkədaɪl/
alligator	短吻鳄	/ˈælɪɡeɪtə(r)/
tuatara	楔齿蜥	/ˌtuːəˈtɑːrə/
perennial	多年生植物；常年的	/pəˈreniəl/
box-office	票房	/ˈbɒks ɒfɪs/
Madagascar	马达加斯加	/ˌmædəˈɡæskə(r)/
storehouse	仓库；宝库	/ˈstɔːhaʊs/
modern-day	现代的	/ˈmɒdn deɪ/
toad	蟾蜍	/ˈtəʊd/
extensile	可伸展的	/ˈekstensl/
turret	炮塔；角楼	/ˈtʌrɪt/
scaly	有鳞的	/ˈskeɪli/
prehensile	能抓握的	/ˈpriːhensəl/
sylvan	森林的；树木繁茂的	/ˈsɪlvən/
inventory	清单；存货	/ˈɪnvəntri/
misconception	误解；错误观念	/ˌmɪskənˈsepʃn/
terrarium	玻璃容器；饲养箱	/ˈterəriəm/
catch the fancy of sb	吸引某人；使某人喜欢	/ˈkætʃ ðə ˈfænsɪ əv ˈsʌmbədi/
come in handy	迟早有用；派上用场	/ˈkʌm ɪn ˈhændi/
at will	随意；任意	/ˈæt wɪl/

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Indoor Pollution

So you think that by staying at home you are safe from all the terrible kinds of pollution present outdoors, such as in or near factories, roads, and garbage ==dumps== ? Do you think that by staying in your office you are breathing cleaner, safer air than when you go outside for lunch or are on the way back home from work? Think again. Recent research done at the University of Texas has shown that staying indoors may actually be more harmful to one’s health than being outdoors even in smoggy cities.

Apparently, we are safe neither at home nor in the business office. We use water in both places, but the above-mentioned research shows that chemicals added to our local water supply to kill harmful bacteria can have unwanted side effects. These chemicals can cause potential harm through drinking and in seemingly harmless activities as cleaning one’s house. These ==additives== are released from water by daily actions like water running out of ==faucets== , ==spraying== from garden ==hoses== , or ==splashing== in dishwashers and washing machines. As the water is ==agitated== , these chemicals are released into the air and then breathed in. Once inside our bodies, they start to affect our health ==adversely== .

Does this mean we should stop bathing? No, say the scientists, but we should put ==all pollution into perspective== . Activities at home such as the burning of propane, coal, cooking oil, or even candles and ==incense== release carbon monoxide and particulates such as ==soot== which have been proven as harmful to health as working or living near high density traffic. New ==rugs== , ==bedding== , and even clothing give off that “new smell“ which is a sure sign of chemicals. In the office, newly applied ==paint== , newly purchased telephones and other telecommunications equipment, and computers and their ==peripherals== release polluting chemicals, too. As offices and homes often have inadequate ==ventilation== , these chemicals can build up to become health ==nuisances== . Their toxic effects are only now being slowly recognized.

These facts suggest that, at a minimum, proper airing of newly purchased goods with an obvious chemical smell is a wise precaution. Home and office windows should be opened during good weather to allow a flushing of ==stale== air. Even one’s car need to be ventilated as well as the garage.

We need further research to understand better other potential health hazards, too. For example, the effect of overcrowding of schools (carbon dioxide build up), factory work environments (an endless list of potentially dangerous substances), and even home heating and cooling (the furnace and air conditioner may be our enemies, not our fiends) have only recently started to come to light. Until we understand the effects of our new technological environment better, we can only hope that ” there is no place like home”

那么你是否认为待在家里就能免受户外存在的各种可怕污染，比如工厂内或附近、道路以及垃圾场的污染呢？你是否觉得待在办公室里呼吸的空气比出去吃午饭或下班回家路上的空气更清洁、更安全呢？再好好想想吧。德克萨斯大学最近的研究表明，待在室内实际上可能比待在户外对健康更有害，即便在烟雾弥漫的城市也是如此。

显然，我们在家里和办公室都不安全。我们在这两个地方都用水，但上述研究表明，添加到当地供水系统中用以杀死有害细菌的化学物质可能会产生意想不到的副作用。这些化学物质会通过饮用以及诸如打扫房屋这类看似无害的活动造成潜在危害。这些添加剂会通过水龙头流水、花园水管喷水或者洗碗机和洗衣机的水花飞溅等日常行为从水中释放出来。随着水的搅动，这些化学物质被释放到空气中，然后被吸入体内。一旦进入我们的身体，它们就开始对我们的健康产生不利影响。

这是否意味着我们应该停止洗澡呢？科学家们说不，但我们应该正确看待所有污染。在家里，诸如燃烧丙烷、煤炭、食用油，甚至蜡烛和香等活动会释放一氧化碳和颗粒物，比如煤烟，这些已被证明与在高密度交通区域工作或生活一样对健康有害。新的地毯、床上用品，甚至衣服都会散发出“新气味”，这无疑是化学物质的迹象。在办公室里，新刷的油漆、新购置的电话和其他电信设备，以及电脑及其周边设备也会释放污染性化学物质。由于办公室和家庭通常通风不足，这些化学物质会积聚起来，成为健康隐患。它们的毒性作用直到现在才逐渐被认识到。

这些事实表明，至少，对有明显化学气味的新购置物品进行适当通风是明智的预防措施。天气好的时候，家里和办公室的窗户应该打开，让污浊的空气流通出去。甚至汽车和车库也需要通风。

我们还需要进一步研究，以便更好地了解其他潜在的健康危害。例如，学校过度拥挤的影响（二氧化碳积聚）、工厂工作环境（潜在危险物质数不胜数），甚至家庭供暖和制冷（炉子和空调可能是我们的敌人，而非朋友），这些直到最近才开始被发现。在我们更好地了解新技术环境的影响之前，我们只能寄希望于“没有地方比得上家”

Vocabulary & Idioms

• dump——倾倒
  • garbage dump——垃圾场
• additive——添加剂
• spray——喷
• hose——软管
• faucet——水龙头
• splash——泼洒，飞溅
• adversely——不利的
• incense——熏香
• rug——小地毯
• bedding——床上用品
• peripheral——外围设备
• ventilation——通风
  • Open the window so that we can ventilate this room we are painting
• nuisance——麻烦事
• stale——不新鲜的
• agitate——搅动
• put something in perspective——合理地看待某事
• particulate——微尘
• come to light——显露，被发现
• There is no place like home——世上无处比家好

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Pizza, Please!

One of the world’s most popular foods along with the hamburger, fried chicken, and ==milk shakes== is pizza. Although the origin of the first three foods is well understood, ==that== of pizza until recently, anyway was for along time an international controversy.

The word pizza has always been known to mean pie or cake, and is an Italian word. This ==fad== alone might suggest pizza’s origins. However, some years ago in New York City, a Chinese restaurateur challenged the Italian ==ethnicity== of pizza by declaring that pizza was originally a Chinese food. ==But was then taken along with pasta by Marco Polo back to Italy== . It seemed the question would never be solved.

The case actually made itself into court (only in America!). Italian ==restaurateur== challenged the Chinese businessman’s view, but when all the evidence was in, the result was announced by a judge, as early as the Roman Empire, pizza was baked in ovens there and eaten. Chinese normally steam or fry their foods, not bake them. Bread and other baked goods to which pizza belongs were developed from India through Europe where they are still enjoyed today. Besides, cheese is an essential element of pizza, and the Chinese traditionally did not produce cheese. The case was closed, and pizza’s ==paternity== has now been established.

For pizza lovers, of course, their favorite food might have been invented in Argentina or Indonesia. Who cares? Indeed, pizza has changed as it has spread around the globe, so that when ordering a pizza in Honolulu, New York, Paris, Istanbul, New Delhi, or Tokyo, you are sure to receive a slightly different version in each city or country. Pizza known to Italians and New Yorkers (Where pizza was first introduced into the United States by the many Italian Americans living there) is a round, thin ==crusted== baked dish covered with tomato ==sauce== and cheese. To improve the taste, pieces of Italian sausages such as ==pepperoni== and ==salami== , and vegetables like onions, green ==peppers== and olives are added. Occasionally, ==anchovies== , small, salty fish, are also used. However, Asians enjoy pizza with ==corn== , cucumbers, and other vegetables, not to mention assorted seafood. Hawaiians, perhaps predictably, developed a pizza with a ==pineapple== and ==ham topping== . Today, nearly every country has its favorite local variety of pizza. Worldwide, there must be more than 1000 varieties of pizza.

Some people are not so fond of pizza. They classify it as a junk food, along with greasy French fries, potato chips, and hamburgers. On the contrary, said defenders of pizza, it is indeed a healthful food. Carefully chosen fresh ingredients can ensure the quality of any food we eat, and pizza is no exception. Others protest that pizza is too fattening to be eaten regularly. Not true, respond those ==enamored== of pizza’s charms. It all depends on the ingredients and how well they are prepared. For example, the meats which are used as toppings on pizza are often first fried to remove excess fat. The cheeses used can be selected for their high protein but low milk fat. Sparse rather than generous addition of spices such as salt ensure that pizza need not be considered junk food. A well-made pizza not only looks, smells, and tastes great, but it is a wise choice for everyone as a regular food source. Indeed, It seems the only disadvantage to pizza is that when dropped, it causes a mess!

Children enjoy pizza because it’s fun to eat and delicious. Workers enjoy it because it is inexpensive and quick to order, too. Families enjoy the convenience of carrying home a whole meal from the many ==vendors== of this world famous food. With its many advantages, no one needs to resist the allure of one of the world’s most popular foods. Come to think of it, let’s have pizza for dinner tonight!

Vocabulary & Idioms

• milk shake——奶昔
• fad——狂热
• ethnicity——种族渊源，血统
• restaurateur——餐馆老板
• paternity——父亲的身份，身份起源
• crust——面包皮
• sauce——酱汁
• pepperoni——意大利腊肉肠
• salami——萨拉米香肠
• pepper——辣椒
• anchovy——鳀
• corn——玉米
• pineapple——菠萝
• ham topping——火腿配料
• be enamored of——迷恋的……
• vendor——小贩

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The Amish

==In the land of rock and roll== , the space shuttle, and computerized living, who could imagine that about 50,000 Americans do not use telephones, electric lights, or cars, not because they are poor, but ==out of choice== ? ==As hard as this may be to imagine== , the Amish, or more properly, the Amish Mennonites, still live a traditional, rural lifestyle direct from 17th century Europe!

To understand these unique Americans better, it is necessary to understand their history. Beginning with the revolution started by Martin Luther, leader of the ==Protestant== Reformation in Germany in the 16th century, Europe was ==wracked== by religious wars for several hundred years. Modern Europe is a product of these wars and of the political and religious philosophies of those times. The main figures in this tragic period were the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestants, those who rebelled against ==papal== rule from Rome. Among the thousands of ==splinter== groups formed outside of Rome’s religious rule were the Mennonites, a group of particularly conservative, rural Christians situated in what is today Switzerland, part of eastern France, and southern Germany.

To make a long story short, the Mennonite Amish were so conservative that they made more enemies than friends. In order to preserve their ==peculiar== lifestyle, they began to immigrate to the British colonies in North America in about 1720 (before Canada and the United States were formed as independent countries). There they found the religious freedom they had sought. Amish settlements ==sprang up== in the colonies and territories of Pennsylvania, Ohio & Indiana as well as in Ontario, in what is today Canada. Surprisingly, there are no Amish groups today in Europe.

Little has changed about their lifestyle since then. Just how conservative are the Amish? A group of Amish looks like a ==cast== from a ==biblical== movie set. All the men wear large ==brimmed== black hats, beards (but not mustaches), and clothes made by their wives. The women wear a hair covering called a ==bonnet== , long dresses, and black shoes. Even though all Amish men and women marry, you will not see a wedding ring, for even this simplest type of jewelry is banned among them. The Amish are primarily farmers, and good ones, despite the fact that they do not use modern farm machinery. Their children are educated in local primary schools, but secondary education is in the home. Sundays are spent mostly in church. An old dialed of German mixed with English is used in church and at home. Their lives are uncomplicated and few Amish leave their homes to enter the mainstream American society.

Rural Pennsylvania where most of the Amish live is beautiful countryside. If you have the opportunity to drive through the gentle, rolling hills amidst lush farmlands, perhaps you will see a horse and buggy driven by a family dressed mostly in black. These are the Amish, an ==enduring== and ==endearing== people.

在摇滚、航天飞机和计算机化生活的时代 ，谁能想象约5万美国人不使用电话、电灯或汽车，并非因为他们贫穷，而是出于选择？尽管这可能很难想象 ，阿米什人，或者更确切地说，阿米什门诺派，仍然过着直接源自17世纪欧洲的传统乡村生活！

为了更好地了解这些独特的美国人，有必要了解他们的历史。从16世纪德国新教改革领袖马丁·路德发起的宗教改革开始，欧洲被宗教战争折磨了几百年。现代欧洲就是这些战争以及当时政治和宗教哲学的产物。这一悲剧时期的主要角色是罗马天主教会和新教徒，即那些反抗罗马教皇统治的人。在罗马宗教统治之外形成的数千个分裂团体中，门诺派是其中之一，这是一群特别保守的乡村基督徒，分布在今天的瑞士、法国东部部分地区和德国南部。

长话短说，阿米什门诺派非常保守，以至于树敌众多。为了维持他们独特的生活方式，他们大约在1720年（在加拿大和美国成为独立国家之前）开始移民到北美的英属殖民地。在那里，他们找到了他们一直寻求的宗教自由。阿米什定居点在宾夕法尼亚、俄亥俄和印第安纳的殖民地和地区以及今天加拿大的安大略省如雨后春笋般出现。令人惊讶的是，如今欧洲没有阿米什群体。

从那时起，他们的生活方式几乎没有改变。阿米什人有多保守呢？一群阿米什人看起来就像是从圣经电影片场出来的演员阵容。所有男性都戴着宽边黑帽子、留着胡须（但不留小胡子），穿着他们妻子制作的衣服。女性戴着一种叫做 无边女帽 的发饰、穿着长裙和黑色鞋子。尽管所有阿米什男性和女性都结婚，但你不会看到结婚戒指，因为即使是这种最简单的首饰在他们中间也是被禁止的。阿米什人主要是农民，而且是优秀的农民，尽管他们不使用现代农场机械。他们的孩子在当地小学接受教育，但中学教育是在家里进行。星期天大多在教堂度过。在教堂和家里使用一种夹杂着英语的古老德语方言。他们的生活简单，很少有阿米什人离开家园进入美国主流社会。

大多数阿米什人居住的宾夕法尼亚乡村风景秀丽。如果你有机会驾车穿过郁郁葱葱的农田间起伏平缓的山丘，也许你会看到一辆由大多穿着黑色衣服的一家人驾驶的马车。这些就是阿米什人，一个经久不衰且可爱的群体。 ## Vocabulary & Idioms - out of choice——出于选择/别无选择 - as hard as this may be to imagine——这可能很难想象 - =Though/Although this may be as hard as to imagine - protestant——新教 - wracked——折磨 - papal——教皇 - splinter group——从大团体中分裂出来的小团体 - peculiar——特有的 - cast——演员 - biblical——圣经的 - brim——边缘 - bonnet——阀盖 - enduring——持久的 - endearing——可爱的，讨人喜欢的 - rebel against——反抗 - Teenagers often rebel against their parents’ authorit - Among the thousands of splinter groups formed outside of Rome’s religious rule were the Mennonites,a group of…… - =The Mennonites,a group of……were among the thousands of splinter groups formed outside of Rome’s religious rule - spring up——兴起

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Let’s Visit New York!

New York, New York. The city so nice they named it twice.

These words were used to describe New York when it was by far the largest, richest, and most developed city in the United States. New York still remains the largest and most famous city in the U.S. today, but some of its “nice” reputation has fallen over the past thirty years with stories of ==rampant== crime making headlines around the world. How true are these stories? Is New York still a “nice” place to visit? If so, what can a tourist do in New York? Let’s take a closer look at America’s premier city.

First, as personal and social security are always ==uppermost== in the minds of travelers, just ==how “dangerous” a city is New York?== Despite the glaring headlines, New York, located in the northeastern U.S., is one of the safest cities in the U.S.. In fact, New York state (which includes New York city—thus, ” New York, New York, the city so nice they named it twice” ) ranks below other big-population states like California in both violent crime( of much concern to the tourist)and property crime. Other major cities have higher crime rates, too. Thus, the foreign traveler to New York city can feel more secure here than in most other large ==metropolitan== areas of the U.S..

Besides safety, why do more foreigners visit New York than any other American city? The answer lies in the character of New York itself. No other city in the world is more ==cosmopolitan== . A walk through its hundreds of residential neighborhoods is like walking around the world itself. Place names like Chinatown and little Italy can be found on any map of New York, but smaller ethnic neighborhoods also ==abound== . Also, all these groups sponsor annual or seasonal festivals, so that nearly every week one or more of these peoples will share their cultural experiences (and food!)with other New Yorkers.

Because of this ==unsurpassed ethnic diversity== , the restaurant ==goer== will feel that he has died and gone to heaven while in New York. There is hardly a cuisine on the planet that is not represented here. Even better, many of these exotic ==restaurants are reasonably priced== . ==One is never far from a restaurant in New York== . There are thousands of Chinese restaurants alone.

Besides the internationally famous sight-seeing attractions—mostly in the ==borough== (district) of Manhattan—such as the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Center with its two 110-story towers, Wall Street, the United Nations, and ==Broadway== , many other interesting places ==await== the curious traveler. The Bronx Zoo in the northern borough of the Bronx is one of the world’ s best. The borough of Queens offers a great variety of ethnic residential neighborhoods. Brooklyn contains the ==Botanical== Gardens, ==Coney== Island (a beach with an amusement park) and J. F. K. International Airport. Finally, Staten Island, the smallest borough, still ==affords a look== at what New York used to be like,including a farm!

For culture lovers, New York has more museums than any other city, but some of these are not internationally known. A visit to any of these historical, technical, ethnic, or academic museums is well worth the time. New York’s art, music, dance, and fashion scenes are a ==mecca== for the young and professional alike. The Internet website for specific information on New York city and state tourism is www . iloveny.state.ny.us. A ==toll-free== number for tourists already in the U.S. or Canada is also available at 1-800-CALL-NYS.

No matter what your interest is, if it can be found in an urban environment, it can be found in New York. Its eight million citizens ==hail== from ==every corner of the globe== ,but they are ==united in the love of their challenging but rewarding city==. As the locals there say, “Sure,you have to be a little crazy to live in New York, but you’ d be ==nuts== to live anywhere else!”

纽约，纽约。这座城市如此美妙，以至于被命名了两次。

这些词汇曾被用来形容纽约，当时它是美国迄今为止最大、最富有且最发达的城市。如今，纽约仍是美国最大且最著名的城市，但在过去三十年里，随着猖獗犯罪的报道成为全球头条新闻，它的一些“美好”声誉有所下降。这些报道有多真实呢？纽约仍是一个“值得游览”的好地方吗？如果是，游客在纽约能做些什么呢？让我们更深入地了解一下这座美国的首要城市。

首先，由于人身安全和社会安全始终是旅行者最为关心的问题，纽约到底有多“危险”呢？尽管有那些耸人听闻的头条新闻，但位于美国东北部的纽约却是美国最安全的城市之一。事实上，纽约州（包括纽约市——因此有“纽约，纽约，一座如此美好的城市以至于被命名了两次”的说法）在暴力犯罪（这是游客非常关注的）和财产犯罪方面，排名低于加利福尼亚等其他人口众多的州。其他主要城市的犯罪率也更高。因此，前往纽约市的外国游客在这里会比在美国其他大多数大城市感觉更安全。

除了安全因素，为什么来纽约的外国游客比去美国其他任何城市的都多呢？答案在于纽约自身的特点。世界上没有其他城市比纽约更具世界性。漫步在它数百个居民区，就如同环游世界一般。像唐人街和小意大利这样的地名在纽约的任何地图上都能找到，但较小的民族聚居区也比比皆是。此外，所有这些群体都会举办年度或季节性的节日，这样几乎每周都会有一个或多个这样的民族与其他纽约人分享他们的文化体验（还有美食！）。

由于这种无与伦比的种族多样性，在纽约，热衷于去餐厅就餐的人会觉得自己仿佛置身天堂。地球上几乎没有哪种烹饪风格在这里找不到代表。更棒的是，许多这些异国风味的餐厅价格都比较合理。在纽约，人们永远不会远离餐厅。仅中餐馆就有成千上万家。

除了国际知名的观光景点——大多位于曼哈顿区，如自由女神像、拥有两座110层塔楼的世界贸易中心、华尔街、联合国以及百老汇——许多其他有趣的地方也在等待着好奇的游客。位于布朗克斯区北部的布朗克斯动物园是世界上最好的动物园之一。皇后区有各种各样的民族聚居区。布鲁克林有植物园、科尼岛（一个带有游乐园的海滩）和约翰·F·肯尼迪国际机场。最后，斯塔滕岛是最小的行政区，仍然能让人领略到纽约过去的样子，包括一个农场！

对于文化爱好者来说，纽约的博物馆比其他任何城市都多，但其中一些并不为国际所熟知。参观这些历史、科技、民族或学术博物馆中的任何一个都非常值得花时间。纽约的艺术、音乐、舞蹈和时尚领域对年轻人和专业人士来说都是一个圣地。关于纽约市和纽约州旅游业具体信息的互联网网站是www.iloveny.state.ny.us。在美国或加拿大的游客还可以拨打免费电话1 - 800 - CALL - NYS。

无论你的兴趣是什么，只要是能在城市环境中找到的，在纽约都能找到。它的八百万市民来自全球各个角落，但他们都因热爱这座充满挑战却又回报丰厚的城市而团结在一起。正如当地居民所说：“当然，你得有点疯狂才能住在纽约，但要是住在别的地方，你可就疯了！”

Vocabulary & Idioms

• rampant——泛滥的
• by far + the + 最高级形容词 + 名词——最……的
  • This is by far the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me
• over/during/for the past + 数字 + 表时间的名词——过去……（时间）以来
  • We’ re having a drought because over the past seven months it has rained only twice
• headline——(新闻报道等的)标题
  • make(the)headlines/hit the headlines 成为报上的头条新闻
  • The news of the earthquake hit the headlines immediately
• Despite + N/Ving,S + V = In spite of+ N/Ving,S + V
  • Despite the fact + that 子句，S + V —— 尽管/虽然
  • Despite the drizzle,we decided to go for a walk anyway=Despite the fact that it was drizzling,we decided to go for a walk anyway
• cosmopolitan——世界性的，来自世界各地的
• abound——大量存在;充满 ，富于
  • The Great Plains of North America abound in grain crops.
• unsurpassed——无比的，没人胜过的
  • Alexander’ s achievement in anthropology surpassed his predecessors
• One is never far from a restaurant in New York=Restaurants are everywhere in New York
• mecca——向往的地方，希望一游之地
• A and B alike——A 与 B（=both A and B）
  • Juvenile crime is of concern to parents and law enforcement officials alike.
• hail from——（人）来自于 （=come from）
• metropolitan——大都会
• goer——常去的人

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