Week4-台灣霸王寒流

Cold weather brings snow to nationMon, Jan 25, 2016, Staff Writer, with CNARECORD LOWS:With thermometers registering just 4ºC in Taipei, it was the lowest temperature recorded in the capital in 44 years and the second-lowest ever.

A rare sight of snow wowed people nationwide yesterday, from Taipei to Pingtung County.

Under the influence of a strong cold air mass, many places in Taiwan — even those located at an altitude of only 400m to 500m — received a covering of snow or soft hail overnight, exciting locals, who likely have never seen snow in real life since they were born.

Despite low temperatures, people were seen swarming to elevated areas, including Keelung’s 726m-high Jiangziliaoshan (姜子寮山), Taipei’s Yangmingshan (陽明山) and New Taipei City’s Linkou (林口) and Pinglin (坪林) districts, to appreciate the natural beauty of the snow.

As of yesterday morning, the accumulated snow had reached 20cm in Taoyuan’s Lalashan (拉拉山) Forest Recreation Area.

The Motian (摩天嶺-) mountain area along the Southern Cross-Island Highway also reported showers of snow started at 4am yesterday, as well as on Yunlin County’s Jiananyun Peak (嘉南雲峰), where snow began falling at about 11am yesterday at an altitude of about 1,500m.

Under the influence of a cold air mass, the outlying island group of Penghu experienced soft hail yesterday morning.

Pingtung County’s Dawushan (大武山) also reported soft hail from halfway up the mountain to the summit at midnight on Saturday.

The Central Weather Bureau said 27 weather stations in different parts of Taiwan registered their lowest temperatures yesterday.

The temperature in Taipei fell to 4ºC, the lowest level detected in the capital in 44 years and the second-lowest since 3.2 degrees was recorded in 1972.

It was minus-3.1ºC in the Yangmingshan area, 5.8ºC in Yilan County’s Suao (蘇澳), and 4.2ºC in Taoyuan’s Sinwu District (新屋) — all new lows for these places. In New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋), it was 3.8ºC yesterday morning — the second-lowest level in history.

The temperature in Taipei is forecast to dip to 3ºC early today, while central and southern regions are expected to experience temperatures of 4ºC and 6ºC respectively, the bureau said.

Chances of precipitation are expected to be low across the nation today, apart from in mountainous regions higher than 600m.

The bureau urged people to be aware of icy road conditions.

The bureau has issued special warnings for low temperatures and heavy rain across Taiwan, urging the public to take precautions and keep warm before the cold wave leaves Taiwan tomorrow, when temperatures across the nation are expected to rebound noticeably.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/01/25/2003637998

Structure of the Lead：

WHO- not given

WHEN- 2016/01/25

WHAT- The low temperature brings snow to Taiwan.

WHY- not given

WHERE- Taiwan

HOW- not given

Keywords：

 1. thermometer：溫度計

 2. altitude：海拔

 3. swarm：一群；人群

 4. accumulate：累積

 5. summit：頂峰

 6. register：登記

 7. bureau：處；署

 8. precaution：預防

 9. rebound ：彈回

10. noticeably：明顯地

Week5-神鬼獵人

Leonardo DiCaprio Wins His First Oscar for 'The Revenant'By JOI-MARIE MCKENZIE, Feb 28, 2016, 11:55 PM ET

After five Oscar nominations, Leonardo DiCaprio finally walked off the stage Sunday night with the coveted gold trophy.The actor, who was a favorite to win, took home the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "The Revenant," and was overwhelmed by the public's support of him."It all feels incredibly surreal," he told reporters backstage of the online push for him to win. "It's surreal because you can't reach out and physically meet everybody. You hear it on the Internet, you hear it from other people and the truth is, we always strive for the best of what we do and this year in particular I've been overwhelmed with such support."The actor added that he's filled with gratitude.DiCaprio also said that he was thrilled to get the opportunity to highlight global warming."Making 'The Revenant' was about man's relationship to the natural world...climate change is real," he said in his acceptance speech. "It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating."The actor concluded his speech by saying, "I do not take this night for granted.""The Revenant" led in Oscar nominations this year with 12. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu also took home an award Sunday.DiCaprio, 41, has already racked up tons of awards for the role in which he portrays the real-life frontiersman Hugh Glass, who was attacked by a bear then left in the wilderness, trekking about 200 miles to find the men who deserted him.When DiCaprio's nomination was announced in January, the actor was gracious."I am so grateful to the Academy for their recognition of this film. Making 'The Revenant' was one of the most rewarding and collaborative experiences of my life," he said in a statement. "None of this would have been possible without Alejandro's talent, vision and determination. Our dedicated crew also deserves to share in this moment. Together, they have created a truly unique cinematic experience. Congratulations to all of my fellow nominees this season. Thank you to the Academy."Previously, DiCaprio scored Oscar nominations for his roles in "What’s Eating Gilbert Grape," "The Aviator," "Blood Diamond," and "The Wolf of Wall Street."http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/leonardo-dicaprio-wins-oscar-revenant/story?id=37221983Structure of the Lead： WHO- Leonardo DiCaprioWHEN- 2016/02/28WHAT- Leonardo DiCaprio Wins Oscar for 'The Revenant'WHY- not givenWHERE- not givenHOW-not given
Keywords：  1. coveted：想望 2. trophy：紀念獎 3. overwhelme：壓倒 4. surreal：超現實主義 5. acceptance：承諾 6. urgent：迫切 7. procrastinate：拖延 8. frontiersman：拓荒者 9. cinematic：電影10. nominees：被提名人

Week3-12夜

Film Triggers Debate on Plight of Taiwan’s Homeless Dogs

By

 

JENNY W. HSU

A new documentary about the plight of animals in Taiwan’s shelters has sparked a public discussion about the treatment of stray dogs and cats on the island, prompting the government to amend its policies.

“Twelve Nights,” shot almost entirely inside a government-run animal shelter in southern Taiwan, follows the fate of several stray dogs, starting from their initial capture on the streets. After 12 days in the shelter, the animals are destroyed, have died of disease, or, if they are lucky, end up in the arms of a new owner.

Although the problem of street dogs isn’t a fresh one in Taiwan, the movie has attracted a throng of animal lovers. As of the beginning of this week, “Twelve Nights” had pulled in more 30 million New Taiwan dollars (US$1 million) since its release on Nov. 29, according to the film’s distributor, a considerable amount for a documentary in Taiwan.

The film opens with a black-and-white puppy named Jumpy prancing happily in a well-manicured neighborhood and other harmless-looking dogs wandering the streets.

The scene quickly changes. Animals — including a kitten and a basket full of puppies — are jerked and tossed around by workers as they are taken to the shelter.

At the shelter, the camera pans across rows of rusty metal cages crowded with dogs, some of which try to gnaw their way out of confinement. Feeble dogs curl up in the corners, watching their peers being dragged around the shelter by their metal collars.

The film shows many dogs entering the shelter looking healthy but later falling ill or dying due to the rampant transmission of canine distemper and other diseases inside the facility.

Some critics of the film say producer Giddens Ko, a popular author and filmmaker, should have used his influence to highlight social problems affecting humans before helping stray animals. It’s the first documentary produced by Mr. Ko, whose 2011 coming-of-age comedy “You Are the Apple of My Eye”, which he directed, found commercial success and critical acclaim.

“I will be the first to admit to my own imperfections,” Mr. Ko, the owner of a rescued labrador, said in an interview. “However, I had no idea that I had to be a flawless saint and make sure all the children in the world have enough to eat before I can speak up for animals.” He said that he had also been called a hypocrite because he’s a meat-eater, and intends to remain so.

“I have no good rebuttal about my meat-eating habit, except to say, ‘Who set the rule that one has be a perfect vegetarian saint before he can save animals?’ ”

The film has done what Mr. Ko and the movie’s director, who goes by just the name of Raye, say it set out to do — stir up discussion about Taiwan’s stray animals and influence the government to address the problem.

Many Facebook users have joined Mr. Ko’s cause by adding the movie’s logo to their profile pictures. Several veterinarians have also publicly expressed their indignation over how the shelters are managed.

Raye said that her goal isn’t to condemn the shelter workers, because they, too, are victims of the system. The purpose of the film, she said, is to influence policy makers with more effective solutions on reducing the stray-animal population, including adoption, laws requiring pet owners to implant microchips in their pets for ID purposes, and neutering or spaying animals.

Since the film’s release, Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture has announced plans to implement new programs starting next year to promote responsible pet ownership, such as additional subsidies for neutering, free vaccinations, and gifts for animals that are adopted from a public shelter.

Taiwan’s public animal shelters took in more than 11,400 animals last year, during which time 50% were destroyed and 29% were placed in new homes, according to the Council of Agriculture. (Most of the remaining 21% died while in the shelter.)

“We understand that most people who watch this movie already like dogs, and those who should watch it may opt not to,” Raye said. “But that’s fine, because we believe the movie will start a domino effect [of awareness] that begins with the animal lovers.”

Raye, who ended up adopting Jumpy just before he was slated for lethal injection, said that the film’s box office is important because “each ticket represents one person who wants to see the system changed.”

Mr. Ko and Raye said that all proceeds from the movie will be donated to promote animal-protection awareness in Taiwan.

http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2013/12/13/film-triggers-debate-on-plight-of-taiwans-homeless-dogs/

Structure of the Lead：
WHO-not given
WHEN-Nov. 29
WHAT-A movie about homeless dogs
WHY- To pay attention for homeless dogs
WHERE-Taiwan


HOW-not given

Keywords： 1.documentary：紀錄片 2.amend：修改 3.well-manicured：精心修剪 4.rebuttal：反駁 5.veterinarian：獸醫 6.Agriculture：農業 7.vaccination：疫苗接種 8.injection：注射 9.jerked：搐動10.initial：最初的

Week2-緬甸玉石礦山崩

Myanmar jade mine landslide kills around 100

Death toll soars after disaster hits people scavenging through a mountain of waste rubble in search of Myanmar’s most valuable stone

Agence France-Presse in Yangon, Sunday 22 November 2015 06.51 GMT

About 100 people have been killed in a landslide as they picked through mountains of waste rubble in a remote mining area of northern Myanmar searching for precious jade, state media has reported.

Those killed were thought to have been mainly itinerant miners, who make a living scavenging through mountains of waste rubble dumped by mechanical diggers used by mining firms at the center of a secretive multi-billion-dollar industry in the restive Kachin state.

Saturday’s massive landslide crushed dozens of shanty huts clustered on the barren landscape and which were home to an unconfirmed number of people.

The disaster happened at about 3.30am local time (9pm GMT) and lasted just a couple of minutes, according to Zaw Moe Htet, a local gems trader whose village overlooks the devastated area in the Hpakant mining area.

“Even people living in villages further away could hear the cries of those who rushed to the scene,” he said.

Video footage of the area shot on Saturday shows men carrying several bodies slung in blankets watched by a crowd of local people in a dusty plain near the village of Sai Tung.

Nilar Myint, an official from the local administrative authorities in Hpakant, said rescue teams have so far found 97 people killed in the landslide.

Landslides are a common hazard in the area as people living off the industry’s waste pick their way across perilous mounds under cover of darkness, driven by the hope they might find a chunk of jade worth thousands of dollars.

Scores have been killed this year alone as local people say the mining companies, many of which are linked to the country’s junta-era military elite, increase their operations in Kachin.

Myanmar is the source of virtually all of the world’s finest jadeite, a translucent green stone that is prized above almost all other materials in neighbouring China.

In an October report, advocacy group Global Witness estimated that the value of jade produced in 2014 alone was $31bn (£20.4bn), the equivalent of nearly half the country’s GDP.

But that figure is about 10 times the official $3.4bn sales of the precious stone last year, in an industry that has long been shrouded in secrecy with much of the best jade thought to be smuggled directly to China.

Local people in Hpakant complain of a litany of abuses associated with the mining industry, including the frequency of accidents and land confiscations.

The area has been turned into a moonscape of environmental destruction as huge diggers gouge the earth looking for jade.

Itinerant miners are drawn from all parts of Myanmar by the promise of riches and become easy prey for drug addiction in Hpakant, where heroin and methamphetamine are cheaply available on the streets.

“Industrial-scale mining by big companies controlled by military families and companies, cronies and drug lords has made Hpakant a dystopian wasteland where locals are literally having the ground cut from under their feet,” said Mike Davis of Global Witness, calling for companies to be held accountable for accidents.

The group wants the jade industry, which has long been the subject of US sanctions, to be part of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global scheme designed to increase transparency around natural resource management.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/22/at-least-30-killed-in-landslide-at-myanmar-jade-mine

Structure of the Lead：
WHO-not given
WHEN-2015/11/22
WHAT-The jade mine landslide kills around 100
WHY-A natural disaster
WHERE-Myanmar
HOW-not given


Keywords： 1.landslide ：坍塌



 2.itinerant：江湖
 3.mechanical ：機械的
 4.shanty：窩棚
 5.barren：荒蕪的
 6.perilous：險惡的
 7.equivalent：等價物
 8.smuggle：走私
 9.confiscation：徵用
10.methamphetamine：甲基苯丙胺

Week1-台中國家歌劇院

National Taichung Theater starts trial operations

November 24, 2014

President Ma Ying-jeou said Nov. 23 that National Taichung Theater will help attract more performing art groups to Taiwan and boost the country’s cultural profile.

“The theater is set to become a new landmark on the local cultural and creative landscape,” Ma said during a ceremony marking the commencement of trial operations at the facility in central Taiwan.“Along with National Theater and Concert Hall in Taipei City and Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts under construction in Kaohsiung City, the facility will help usher in a new era for the performing arts in Taiwan.”Taking five years to complete, the NT$4.36 billion (US$141.56 million) project features a beam less design and irregular curved walls. It is the brainchild of Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Toyo Ito from Japan, whose work on the Kaohsiung Main Stadium attracted worldwide praise.Covering 57,024 square meters in downtown Taichung, the facility includes a 2,000-seat grand performing hall, an 800-seat theater and a 200-seat experimental theater. It will officially open to the public in early 2015 under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture.As part of the celebrations, Taichung City Government is staging dance and theater performances, as well as concerts and light shows, at the site.The inaugural show was a production of “Cat Man” by traditional opera troupe Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group. It is to be followed by performances of “Don Quixote” by the Paper Windmill Theater Nov. 27 and 28. (SFC-JSM)

http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=224373&ctNode=445

Structure of the Lead：WHO-not givenWHEN-November 23WHAT-Taichung Theater starts trial operationWHY-It will boost the country’s cultural profileWHERE-TaichungHOW-not given

Keywords：

1.operation：作業

2.trial：試驗的

3.boost：促進4.landscape：景觀
5.commencement：開始6.construction：施工

7.facility：設施
8.Architecture：建築9.experimental：實驗的

10.inaugural：就職
 

• • 
    

Week6-巴黎恐攻

British Muslim teenager offers free hugs after Paris terror attacks in moving show of unity

12:35, 23 NOV 2015, BY LAURA SAVVAS

Yusef Pirot stood blindfolded with a sign which read: "I trust you. Do you trust me? Give me a hug"

A British Muslim teenager has become an internet sensation after a video of him offering free hugs in the wake of the Paris terror attacks attracted over 2.1 million views.

Yusef Pirot, 16, stood blindfolded in the middle of Nottingham city center for two hours with a sign around his neck saying: "I trust you. Do you trust me? Give me a hug."

Heart-warming footage shows strangers approaching the youngster in their droves to take him up on the offer and embrace him in the middle of the street.

The Kurdish schoolboy then uploaded the video of the touching gesture to social media where it has gone viral with millions of views.

Yusef, of Arnold, Nottingham, said he conducted the social experiment in a bid to stem the tide of anti-Islamic feeling following the Paris atrocity.

He added: "I wanted to combat the stereotype about my religion and prove that not all Muslims are terrorists. We want peace.

"I was shocked by the Paris attacks - why would anyone want to hurt another human being and why would they kill innocent people for no reason?

"The stereotype is not right and these extremists are brainwashed - what they're doing is not what Islam is about.

"I grew up in a society where I was being called a terrorist nearly every day.

"I saw a similar video online of a man doing the same in Paris but I don't think anyone has tried this in Britain."

"I stood in the city centre for about two hours and over 100 people gave me a hug.

"There were businessmen, groups of girls, old ladies, black, white and Asian people. A real mix. I was amazed at the reaction.

"I thought of the idea a long time ago, and I think it's important to send this message out.

"There are 1.7 billion of us in the world that doesn't mean that every single one of us is a terrorist.

"Some brainwashed people think it is OK to go and blow themselves up; not all Muslims think the same way."

"I was really shocked and surprised it went viral. I thought it would be a normal video and not a big deal," he continued.

"When I was blindfolded I heard a few people saying negative things - one person said to his friend what would happen if I punched him in the face?

"But most of the reaction was massively positive and I think all religions need to unite in these difficult times we now face."

Yusf, a sixth form pupil at Bluecoat Beechdale Academy, in Bilborough, Nottingham, arrived with his family from northern Iraq in 2007.

In his video, dozens of people can be seen walking up to the teenager and giving him a hug as he stood with arms outstretched in St Peters Gate on November 16.

The footage has accumulated more than 2.1 million views and almost 50,000 likes after being shared by the popular Facebook page The Lad Bible.

Wendy Feargrieve of Calverton, Notts., who stopped to give Yusf a hug, said: "He was blindfolded and he couldn't see who was going up to him and what they were going to do.

"I walked up to him and he put his arms around me and I told him he was very brave to do what he was doing."

Last week a Muslim man stood in the center of Paris and asked fellow Parisians to hug him.

Similar to Yusef's social experiment, the man held a sign which roughly translates as: ‘I’m a Muslim and I’m told I'm a terrorist. I trust you, do you trust me? If yes, hug me?’

The response was overwhelming as queues of people embraced him in a show of solidarity against terrorist group ISIS.

You can watch the video below.

Paris terror attacks: Blindfolded Muslim man stands in middle of French capital and asks strangers to hug him

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-muslim-teenager-offers-free-6883444

Structure of the Lead：
WHO- British Muslim teenager, Yusef Pirot

WHEN- in November, 2015

WHAT- offering free hugs

WHY- to tell everyone Muslim isn't a terrorism

WHERE- Paris, France

HOW- not given

Keywords：

1. blindfolded：蒙住眼睛的

2. gesture：手勢

3. atrocity：暴行

4. stem：樹幹

5. massively：大量

6. pupil：學生

7. academy：學院

8. outstretch：伸出

9. overwhelming：壓倒性的
10. solidarity：團結

Week5-火星探險

Mars has flowing liquid water, NASA confirms
By James Rogers, Published September 28, 2015

NASA has confirmed the existence of flowing liquid salty water on Mars, fueling the possibility of life on the Red Planet.

“Today, we’re revolutionizing our understanding of the planet,” said Jim Green, director of planetary science at NASA Headquarters in Washington, during a press conference Monday. “Mars is not the dry, arid planet that we thought of in the past - under certain circumstances, liquid water has been found on Mars.”

Speculation has been mounting that NASA’s announcement would involve flowing water. Scientists have long known that there is frozen water at Mars' poles, but they have never discovered liquid water. The discovery could have huge consequences for future expeditions, including NASA's goal of sending a manned mission to Mars by the 2030s.

Scientists have based their findings on an analysis of the mysterious dark streaks on Mars’ surface called Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL). The streaks have intrigued scientists for some time, fading during cooler months and recurring annually at nearly the same locations. “The dark streaks form in late spring, grow through the summer and disappear by the fall,” explained Michael Meyer, lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters.

Using an an imaging spectrometer on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Obiter (MRO), scientists detected signatures of hydrated minerals on slopes where the streaks occur. Experts believe that the hydrated salts are likely a mixture of magnesium perchlorate, magnesium chlorate and sodium perchlorate. 

Mary Beth Wilhelm of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. and the Georgia Institute of Technology said the evidence of salty water could have major implications. “Our results may point to more habitable conditions on the near surface of Mars than formerly thought,” she said.

“This is tremendously exciting,” added Green. “We now have a great opportunity to be in the right locations to investigate that.”

The spectrometer observations show signatures of hydrated salts at multiple RSL locations, but only when the dark features were relatively wide, according to NASA. When the researchers looked at the same locations and RSL weren't as extensive, they detected no hydrated salt.

Armed with the latest RSL findings, scientists are keen to undertake more research over the coming years. "The only way that we will be able to tell if there is life on Mars will be to bring a sample back," said Meyer.

Chris Carberry, executive director of Explore Mars, a non-profit organization that aims to advance the goal of sending humans to Mars within the next two decades, welcomed Monday's NASA announcement. "We've been speculating about whether there is liquid water on Mars for some time, but now that it has been confirmed, it might have some significant implications," he told FoxNews.com. "First, it greatly enhances the chances of past or present life on Mars.  Everywhere there is liquid water on  earth, there is life. Is that true on Mars? We don't know."

Carberry added that water on Mars could also benefit future explorers. "If they can access the water, it will add significantly to the sustainability of human presence on Mars," he said. 

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/09/28/mars-has-flowing-liquid-water-nasa-confirms.html


Structure of the Lead：
WHO- NASA

WHEN- in September, 2015

WHAT- there is some water found on Mars

WHY- not given

WHERE- on Mars

HOW- not given

Keywords：

1. confirm：確認

2. planetary：行星

3. speculation：推測；學說

4. announcement：公告

5. manned：為...配備人手

6. hydrated：水合

7. perchlorate：高氯酸鹽

8. magnesium chlorate：鎂氯酸鹽

9. tremendously：異常地
10.sustainability ：可持續發展