1
-THE FIRST-
Books, money are good gifts
送禮，錢書最爲實用！
Researchers from the National University of Singapore and the University of Chicago conductedsix experiments asking people about giving and receiving gifts. They found gift-givers prefer those expected to produce smiles or gasps of joy, but people receiving them prefer gifts that will make them happy over the long-term.
新加坡國立大學和芝加哥大學的研究人員開展了六項實驗，詢問人們贈送與收到禮物的經曆。他們發現，送禮者更喜歡那些能讓人露出笑容或驚喜的禮物，但收禮者更偏愛那些能讓他們開心很長時間的禮物。
When the researchers asked 80 people for their favorite gifts, books and money came out among the top for satisfaction, despite causing little in the way of smiles or squeals. Further analysis of 198 people and 600 Christmas gifts found tools like acordless drilloften get little reaction but provide high satisfaction.
研究人員向80人詢問他們最喜歡的禮物時發現，盡管不太會令人露出笑容或發出尖叫，書籍與金錢卻在最令人滿意的禮物之列。他們對198人以及600件聖誕禮物進一步分析後發現，收禮者往往對像無線電鑽這樣的工具反應平淡，但滿意度卻很高。
Frivolousitems like cupcakes produce a good reaction but low satisfaction. Another experiment found gift-givers preferred personalized mugs but people given them preferred less thoughtfulergonomicones designed to be easy to use.
紙杯蛋糕等不實用物品雖然會激起不錯的反應，但收禮者的滿意度卻很低。另一項實驗發現，送禮者更喜歡贈送定制的杯子，但收禮者更喜歡雖不貼心但易于使用的人體工學杯子。
重點詞彙
1、conducted
英 /ˈkɒndʌktid/ 美 /ˈkɑndʌktid/
v. 管理（conduct的過去分詞）；引導；指揮
2、squeal
英 /skwiːl/ 美 /skwil/
vt. 告密；長聲尖叫
vi. 告密；尖聲地說
n. 尖叫聲
3、cordless drill（英 /drɪl/ 美 /drɪl/ ）
無線電鑽
4、frivolous
英 /’frɪv(ə)ləs/ 美 /’frɪvələs/
adj. 無聊的；輕佻的；瑣碎的
5、ergonomic
英 /,ɜːɡəʊ’nɒmɪk/ 美 /’ɝgə’nɑmɪk/
adj. 人類環境改造學的；人類工程學的
2
-THE SECOND-
Flight times extended
航企故意拉長航班時間
Plane journeys are taking longer than a decade ago, according to a report that claims the change is down to airlines “padding” their schedules to create the impression passengers were reaching their destinations on time.
與10年前相比，坐飛機出行的時間變長了。一份報告聲稱，這一變化是因爲航空公司拉長飛行用時，以制造乘客按時抵達目的地的印象。
Carriers are adding extra time to flight schedules, in some cases up to 30 minutes, to ensure they maintain punctualityand are therefore less likely to be liable forcompensationpayouts, the investigation by UK consumer group Which? claimed. Researchers examined average flight times for 125 routes operated by large airlines in 2009 and compared them with last year.
英國消費者組織Which?進行調查後聲稱，航空公司延長航班的計劃飛行時間，有時多達30分鍾，以確保能保持准點，由此，它們對乘客承擔賠償責任的幾率也降低了。研究人員分析了2009年大型航空公司運營的125條航線的平均飛行時間，並將它們與2017年的數據進行對比。
They found that 76 routes, or 61%, were now slatedto take longer. Airlines said their aircraft were flying at slower speeds to reduce fuel consumption and this allowed them to offer cheaper fares. British Airways also told Which? that air traffic congestion was a factor, with European skies now much busier than 10 years ago.
結果發現，有76條航線，即61%的航線現在的飛行時間更長了。航空公司稱，它們的飛機飛行速度變慢是爲了減少燃油消耗，這使它們可以提供更便宜的機票。英航還對Which?表示，空中交通擁堵也是一個因素，歐洲空域現在要比10年前繁忙得多。
重點詞彙
1、padding
英 /’pædɪŋ/ 美 /’pædɪŋ/
n. 填料；墊料
v. 填補（pad的ing形式）
2、punctuality
英 /,pʌŋktjʊ’ælɪtɪ/ 美 /ˌpʌŋktʃʊˈælətɪ/
n. 嚴守時間；正確；規矩
3、compensation
英 /kɒmpen’seɪʃ(ə)n/ 美 /,kɑmpɛn’seʃən/
n. 補償；報酬；賠償金
4、slate
英 /sleɪt/ 美 /slet/
n. 板岩；石板；藍色；石片
vt. 鋪石板；嚴厲批評某人；計劃
adj. 板岩的；石板色的
3
-THE THIRD-
Berlin Wall to be ‘rebuilt’
德藝術家擬’重建’柏林牆
A group of artists said Tuesday they’re planning to build a facsimileof the Berlin Wall around a downtown Berlin block in mid-October. Visitors to the artinstallationmust buy “visas” online starting at 15 euros.
一群藝術家28日表示，他們計劃10月中旬在柏林市中心的一個街區周圍建造柏林牆的複制品。前往這一藝術設施的遊客必須在網上購買”簽證”，起價15歐元。
When entering the walled area, they’ll have to exchange their cellphones for a smartphone which will provide individual instructions for a tour including documentaries, exhibits or concerts. The artists’ group DAU, which is behind the project, says it wants to distribute between 1,500-3,000 “visas” per day.
進入這個圍牆內的區域時，遊客需用自己的手機換取一部智能手機，這部智能手機將爲他們提供個人參觀指南，包括紀錄片、展覽或音樂會。此項目背後的藝術團體DAU表示，希望每天發放1500至3000份”簽證”
Inside the walled block, there also will be viewing platforms from which visitors can peer outside into Berlin – in contrast tothe Cold War platforms where people could peek into East Berlin from the West. The wall will betorn downon Nov 9 – 29 years after the original Berlin Wall came down.
。這個有圍牆的街區內還設有觀景台，遊客可以從觀景台向外眺望柏林——這與冷戰時期的觀景台不同，當時人們可以從西柏林窺視東柏林。這個柏林牆的複制品將于11月9日被推倒，這距離真正的柏林牆倒塌已有29年時間。
重點詞彙
1、facsimile
英 /fæk’sɪmɪlɪ/ 美 /fæk’sɪməli/
n. 傳真；複寫
adj. 複制的
vt. 傳真；臨摹
2、installation
英 /ɪnstə’leɪʃ(ə)n/ 美 /’ɪnstə’leʃən/
n. 安裝，裝置；就職
3、in contrast to
與……形成對照
4、torn down
v. 扯下；诋毀；拆卸；逐條駁斥
4
-THE FOURTH-
Repellents not working
50款驅蚊産品無一有效
Fifty mosquito repellentproducts, including mosquito repellent patches and wristbands, prove to be of little help, Beijing quality supervision authorities said after conducting recent sample tests.
北京市質監局近日對包括驅蚊貼和驅蚊手環在內的50款驅蚊産品進行抽樣檢測後發現産品無一有效。
Bought from online and offline stores, these new mosquito repellent products, with price tags varying from 5.2 to 66 yuan, all boasteda plant-based formula with a long effective duration for babies and pregnant women. The test result is disappointing.
這些新型驅蚊産品是從線上和線下商店購買的，價格從5.2元至66元不等，均號稱采用植物配方，驅蚊效果持久，兒童和孕婦適用。檢測結果令人失望。
Scientists noted that the dose of citronellol, an oil used for keeping insects away, in mosquito repellent products is the key factor in assessing its effectiveness. Among the 50 samples, 14 of them did not have citronellol, while the rest reportedly had the ingredient but at amounts below the standard.
科學家們曾指出，驅蚊産品中的香茅醛(一種被用來驅蟲的油劑)的劑量是評估其驅蚊有效性的關鍵因素。據報道，50份樣品中的14份根本不含香茅醛，其他樣品中雖然含有香茅醛，但劑量低于標准。
重點詞彙
1、repellent
英 /rɪ’pel(ə)nt/ 美 /rɪ’pɛlənt/
adj. 排斥的；防水的；彈回的；令人討厭的
n. 防護劑；防水布；排斥力
2、boast
英 /bəʊst/ 美 /bost/
vt. 誇口說，自吹自擂說；以有…而自豪
n. 自誇；值得誇耀的事物，引以爲榮的事物
vi. 自吹自擂
3、citronellol
/,sɪtrə’nɛlɔl; ,sɪtrə’nɛlol; ,sɪtrə’nɛlɑl/
香茅醇；香料；香茅醇香料；芳樟醇