News For Kids

Whoa! Hey, look out! Ouch! Boxing looks like it really hurts! 拳擊比賽看起來好痛！ Have you ever seen a boxing match? It's a sport where two people fight with their fists. 你看過拳擊比賽嗎？兩個很強壯的人，會在擂台上用拳頭打架！ They're always very fit, strong, healthy people, who are really REALLY well trained! Taiwan's Chen Nien-Chin is a boxer from Hualien. Because she has trained so well, and has won so many times, people now call her "Taiwan's Boxing Queen"! 陳念琴是一個來自花蓮的拳擊手。她很強、贏過很多比賽，被大家叫做「拳擊女王」。 In 2016 she won a bronze medal at the Olympics, when she was only 19 years old! 2016年，她在奧運得到銅牌，當時她才19歲！ Then in 2018, when she was 21, she won the Women's World Boxing Championship, making her one of the best female boxers in the whole world! 2018年，她21歲的時候，贏得全世界女子拳擊錦標賽的金牌，成為世界最頂尖的女拳擊手！ Last month she won yet another gold medal! This time it was at the Asian Elite Boxing Championship. Chen beat a boxer from Thailand, and is now one of the best boxers in all of Asia! 她在這一次的亞洲拳擊錦標賽，打敗泰國的拳擊手，又拿到了一面金牌，成為全亞洲最厲害的拳擊手之一！ Today is Games Day, a holiday for sports of all kinds! So let's all cheer for Chen Nien-Chin, Taiwan's Boxing Queen! ________________________________ Vocabulary 台灣拳擊好手陳念琴過關斬將，一路贏得世界冠軍頭銜。 1. boxing 拳擊 My father doesn't want me to learn boxing. 我爸爸不要我學拳擊。 Because he thinks it's not for girls? 因為他覺得不適合女孩子？ He thinks there's no money to be made. 他覺得沒有錢賺。 2. medal 獎牌 If you win an Olympic gold medal, you can get 20 million NT! 你要是贏得奧運金牌，可以獲得兩千萬！ I know. There's even 5 million for a bronze medal. 我知道，就算銅牌也有五百萬獎金。 3. train 訓練 So will you box? 所以你會去打拳嗎？ No, I'm thinking of golf. 不會，我在考慮高爾夫。 Training for golf is not that hard. 高爾夫球訓練沒那麼難。 4. win 贏得 And you may win the U.S. Open! 你有可能贏得美國公開賽！ Yeah, wouldn't that be great? 對，那不是棒呆了？ 我們一起來讀單字。 boxing 拳擊 medal 獎牌 train 訓練 win 贏得 ________________________________ Quiz 1. Who is Chen Nien-Chin? A: Taiwan's Skipping King B: Taiwan's Hopping Prince C: Taiwan's Boxing Queen 2. What did Chen Nien-Chin win in 2018? A: The Women's World Boxing Championship B: The Asian Elite Boxing Championship C: The Olympics 3. Who did Chen Nien-Chin beat last month? A: A beagle from Swaziland B: A bulldog from Ireland C: A boxer from Thailand Answers 1. C 2. A 3. C -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Christmas is almost here! For many people, it is the best time of year. It's a bit like Chinese New Year in Taiwan. Christmas in Western countries is a time to visit with your family and friends. 聖誕節要到囉！西方國家在聖誕節的時候，會跟家人還有朋友團聚，有一點像台灣的過年。 You also get to eat tasty food - like roast turkey, and lots of great desserts! And, of course, there are presents! Everyone loves getting presents, right? It makes you feel good. 還會有烤火雞跟很多好吃的甜點！當然還有禮物！ Do you know what else makes people feel good? Buying presents for other people. 收禮物的感覺很好，但是買禮物給別人，感覺也很棒！ Experts have done some research, and found that buying Christmas presents is really good for your health. That's because it makes you feel happy. 有專家做了研究，發現買聖誕禮物給別人對健康很好，因為它讓你很開心。 You feel happy when you get a good deal. When you get a good deal, you feel like you've won something. I love winning! 買到很划算的東西也會覺得很開心，好像贏了比賽一樣。 When people feel happier, they are healthier. 一個人心情好，就會更健康。 Shopping for Christmas presents helps people in other ways, too. It can make them forget about their problems. And seeing someone enjoying your gift feels great! 買聖誕禮物也會讓人忘記煩惱，而且看別人開心，我們也會開心！ Some experts say that going Christmas shopping is like taking a vacation! 有的專家說，去大採購一番，就像是去度假一樣！ So, if you want to feel good, and be healthy, go Christmas shopping. I think I'd better go now, too. I still have to buy some Christmas presents for people! Yay! ________________________________ Vocabulary 現在我們有更好的理由去買禮物，因為可以促進身心健康。 1. gift 禮物 What gifts are you planning to give your daughter? 你打算送妳女兒什麼禮物？ For Christmas? 為了耶誕節嗎？ She's 12, so maybe a pair of sunglasses. 她十二歲了，所以也許送她一副太陽眼鏡。 That's cool. 很酷。 2. happy 高興的 How about you? 你呢？ Hmmm, I'll just give my son a simple set of tools. 我就給我兒子一套簡單的工具。 Oh, he will be very happy about that! 他會很開心的。 3. family 家人 Isn't it great to buy gifts for family? 給家人買禮物很棒吧？ It's great, but it also takes a lot of time. 是很棒，不過也很花時間。 4. deal 交易 There are a lot of good deals online. 網站上有很多好東西。 I know. But they often sell out fast. 我知道，不過它們經常很快賣完。 你想好要送家人什麼禮物了嗎？ gift 禮物 happy 高興的 family 家人 deal 交易 ________________________________ Quiz 1. What "tasty food" can you eat at Christmas? A: Oolong tea B: Beef jerky C: Roast turkey 2. Why is Christmas shopping good for your health? A: It makes you happy B: It gets you friends C: It gives you exercise 3. What is a "good deal"? A: A great present B: A healthy feeling C: A low price Answers 1. C 2. A 3. C -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

At this time of year, people like to send special cards to their family and friends! There are "Happy New Year" cards, 'Merry Christmas' cards… and there are "Happy Hanukkah" cards, too! 過節的時候，很多人會送卡片！有新年賀卡、有聖誕賀卡，還有光明節賀卡！ Hanukkah is an 8 day Jewish holiday, based on a story from long ago… 光明節是一個八天的猶太節日。這個節日源自於一個古老的故事… After a big fight, the Jewish people had to rebuild a temple. Inside the temple was a lamp, with only enough oil to burn for one evening, but it stayed lit for 8 whole nights! 在一場大戰後，猶太人要重建他們的聖殿。聖殿裡面的油燈原本只能燒一天，但最後竟然燒了整整八天！ Jewish people believe that God must have helped keep the lamp lit. That's why they light candles during Hanukkah, using a special candlestick called a "menorah". It has 8 branches for all the candles to go in, one for every night. 在光明節的時候，他們會用一種特殊的燭台【menorah】，上面可以插8支蠟燭。他們每一晚都會點一支蠟燭。 This year, a new stamp has been made to celebrate Hanukkah in the U.S. On it is a picture of a beautiful, colorful menorah. They're printing over 10 million Hanukkah stamps, and one of them will even be hung in a museum! 今年美國為了慶祝光明節，做了一款新的郵票！上面的圖案就是光明節燭台。他們做了一千萬張郵票，其中有一張郵票會掛在博物館！ Hanukkah starts this weekend, so why not send your friends and family a lovely holiday card this winter! Happy Hanukkah everyone! ________________________________ Vocabulary 猶太人的光明節，起源自古老的傳說。 1. temple 聖殿，寺廟 This is a very cool temple. 這座廟好酷！ Yeah, I think it was built 200 years ago. 對，我想是兩百年前建的。 2. lamp 燈 And look at all those little lamps. 你看那些小燈。 Every one of them has a name. 每一盞都有名字。 Those are for peace and a bright future. 那些是為了祈求平安和光明未來。 3. stamp 郵票 I'm going to Family Mart. 我要去全家。 Do you need anything? 你需要什麼嗎？ Please buy stamps for me. 請幫我買郵票。 Stamps? Nobody uses stamps now. 郵票?現在沒有人用郵票了。 I do. 我用。 4. card 卡片 What for? 為什麼呢？ For sending Christmas cards, of course. 當然是為了寄耶誕卡。 You can always send e-cards. 你可以寄電子卡啊。 今天的單字很有趣。 temple 聖殿，寺廟 lamp 燈 stamp 郵票 card 卡片 ________________________________ Quiz 1. How long is Hanukkah? A: 88 days B: 8 days C: 18 days 2. What is a menorah? A: An oil lamp B: A Happy New Year card C: A special candlestick 3. How many Hanukkah stamps will be printed? A: Over 10 million B: Over 10 billion C: Over 10 trillion Answers 1. B 2. C 3. A -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Oh yeah! I love dancing! Feel the beat, woo! Do you like to dance? It's a lot of fun, but you use a lot of energy, too. 跳舞很好玩，但也是很花體力。 When we dance, our bodies make more heat. If lots of people dance together, the dance floor will also warm up! 我們跳舞的時候，身體會變熱。如果大家一起跳舞，地板的溫度會升高！ Now, a dance club in Scotland wants to use all that heat. They have invented a dance floor that turns body heat into energy. 蘇格蘭的一家舞廳發明了一種地板，可以把身體的熱變成能量。 How does it work? Under the dance floor there are pipes to suck up the heat. Those pipes send the heat deep down into the earth. There, they put the heat into a battery. 怎麼做到的呢？地板下面會有管子可以吸熱，然後把熱送到地下的電池裡面。 Later, the dance club can use that heat to warm up on a cold day. They can even use it to heat water. 這個舞廳會用這些熱當作暖氣，或是把水加熱。 This technology helps the dance club save money. They don't need to buy heat, because they have this battery. What's more, it is good for the environment. 這樣可以幫舞廳省錢！他們就不用去買瓦斯了。而且，這樣對環境很好。 That's great news. It makes me want to dance some more. If we keep dancing, we can make more heat, and this technology can use that heat energy. Everybody get onto the dance floor! ________________________________ Vocabulary 跳舞可以發電，你可知道？所以來跳舞吧！ 1. dance 跳舞 Listen to that music! 你聽這個音樂！ It just makes me want to stand up and dance. 讓我真想站起來跳舞！ 2. heat 加熱 That's a good idea. 好主意。 Dancing can heat up this place. 跳舞可以讓這裡熱起來。 It's so cold here. 這兒好冷。 Now I feel hot! 現在我覺得好熱！ It's a lot of fun, isn't it? 很好玩吧？ 3. energy 能源 Scientists can even turn this heat into energy. 科學家甚至可以把這些熱氣變成能源。 Energy that powers our heater? 可以供應我們暖氣機的能源嗎？ I think so. 我想是的。 4. club 俱樂部 Then let's invite more people to dance here. 那我們邀請更多人來跳舞。 We can even turn our house into a club! 我們甚至可以把房子改裝成俱樂部！ 今天我們學到哪些單字？ dance 跳舞 heat 加熱 energy 能源 club 俱樂部 ________________________________ Quiz 1. What do we call the place where people dance? A: Dance door B: Dance floor C: Dance wall 2. Where in the world is this dance club? A: Scotland B: Sweden C: Singapore 3. How can the dance club use the heat? A: To sell to other clubs B: To make people dance more C: To warm up on a cold day Answers 1. B 2. A 3. C -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Phew! I made it! I live on the fifth floor, and there's no elevator! I have to walk up the stairs every day! 我住在沒有電梯的五樓，每天都要爬樓梯。 But at least my building is not very tall, and it's not getting any taller! 至少我這個公寓大樓沒有很高，也不會再更高。 Did you know there's a building in Taoyuan that's been slowly growing taller for 33 years?! 你知道桃園有一棟樓，已經連續長高33年了嗎？ Some call it "Taiwan's Weird Building". Locals say they've been watching it grow since they were kids. 有人叫他「龍潭怪怪屋」。當地的居民說，這棟樓從他們小時候就在蓋了。 It has crazy stairs and big tall towers … One man said it looked so spooky, he thought it was haunted! 裡面還有怪怪的樓梯跟高塔，有人以為它是鬼屋。 Some people on the internet have started calling it "Howl's Moving Castle". They say it looks really crazy, like it could just stand up and walk away! 網路上有人叫它「霍爾的移動城堡」，覺得它好像可以站起來走動！ The owner saved his money. And, when he was 35, he finally had enough to begin building his "dream castle in the sky", like he always wanted. 35 歲的時候，他終於存到足夠的錢讓房子開工！ 33 years later, he's still building! Every year he adds something new, and every year it gets taller and taller! 33 年過去，房子還在蓋！每一年他都在上面蓋新的東西，越蓋越高！ Right now it's 9 floors high, but it could one day become 19 floors, or 90 floors! Who knows if it will ever be finished! Taiwan's Weird Building, the castle that keeps on growing! ________________________________ Vocabulary 怪怪屋越蓋越高，現在已經有九層樓那麼高。 1. castle 城堡 I enjoy visiting castles when travelling in Europe. 我在歐洲旅行時喜歡拜訪城堡。 They have high towers and many stairs. 它們有高塔，還有很多樓梯。 2. haunted 鬧鬼的 And many of them are haunted. 很多還鬧鬼呢。 Exactly! I like that spooky feeling. 沒錯，我就喜歡那種詭異的感覺。 You are weird, you know. 你很奇怪耶，你知道嗎。 3. crazy 瘋狂的 Yeah, sometimes I feel I'm crazy. 我有時候也覺得我瘋了。 You are not crazy. 你不是瘋。 You just need a friend like me. 你只是需要我這種朋友。 A friend that calls me weird. 一個說我很奇怪的朋友。 你有什麼樣的夢想？來讀讀今天的單字。 castle 城堡 haunted 鬧鬼的 crazy 瘋狂的 ________________________________ Quiz 1. Where is Taiwan's "Weird Building"? A: Tainan B: Taoyuan C: Taipei 2. How old was the owner when he began building? A: 33 B: 34 C: 35 3. Right now, how tall is the building? A: 19 floors B: 90 floors C: 9 floors Answers 1. B 2. C 3. C -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Have you ever seen a shark? It's a scary fish with lots of sharp teeth. 你看過鯊魚嗎？他們有讓人害怕的尖銳牙齒。 Recently, sharks have helped scientists find a forest on the ocean floor. 但是最近，鯊魚幫助科學家找到一個海底森林！ Scientists were looking for seagrass in the ocean. Seagrass is a plant that grows deep underwater. That means it's not easy to study. 科學家當時在尋找海草，海草長在深海中，要研究它很不容易。 But the scientists had an idea. They caught some sharks and put cameras on them, so they could see what the sharks saw. Then they let the sharks go in the ocean. 他們在鯊魚身上裝上攝影機，這樣子他們就可以看到鯊魚看到的東西，然後把鯊魚放回海中。 When the scientists watched the videos, they were amazed. They saw a huge forest of seagrass on the ocean floor, the largest seagrass forest in the world. 結果，他們在海底找到了一個全世界最大的海草森林！ Seagrass is important because it can absorb lots of CO2. Too much CO2 in the air and water is the main cause of global warming. 海草很重要，因為他們可以吸收二氧化碳。太多二氧化碳會讓地球暖化。 If we can learn more about seagrass, we can better understand how to fight climate change. Now that we have found this seagrass forest, we can learn a lot, all thanks to those helpful sharks! ________________________________ Vocabulary 鯊魚能夠潛入深海，在鯊魚身上裝上攝影設備，可以幫助科學家探索海洋。 1. shark 鯊魚 I'd sure like to swim. 我真想游泳。 There are no sharks in this part of the ocean, right? 這邊的海裡沒有鯊魚，對吧？ Right. At least I've never heard of it. 對，至少我沒有聽說過。 Okay, I'm going in. 那我下水了。 2. ocean 海洋 So how's the water? 海水怎麼樣？ It's good, but there's something on the ocean floor. 很好，但是海床上有東西。 3. scary 讓人害怕的 You mean like shells? 你是說貝殼之類的嗎？ No, it's big and moving around. 不是，它很大，會動來動去。 Sounds scary. 聽起來有點可怕。 4. plant 植物 But it could be a plant. 但是有可能是植物。 I'm pretty sure it's an animal. 我很確定是動物。 鯊魚也可以做科學家的嚮導。 shark 鯊魚 ocean 海洋 scary 讓人害怕的 plant 植物 ________________________________ Quiz 1. Where does seagrass grow? A: In the ocean B: On mountains C: On trees 2. Why is seagrass important to study? A: It's interesting B: It's delicious C: It absorbs CO2 3. What does CO2 cause? A: Seagrass B: Global warming C: Sharp teeth Answers 1. A 2. C 3. B -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Egypt is a country in the north of Africa. It has sandy deserts, a big river called the Nile, snappy crocodiles, and lots of huge pyramids! 埃及有沙漠、尼羅河、鱷魚，還有超大的金字塔！ Most of their pyramids were made long ago, in ancient times, out of big stone bricks. 金字塔是古時候的埃及人用大石塊建造的。 But now, a new pyramid has been built in Egypt. One that is quite different… 現在，埃及蓋了一座新的，很特別的金字塔！ The bricks are big, but they're not made of stone. Instead, they're made of trash! It's taller than a three-story building! 蓋這座金字塔的磚塊很大，但不是石頭，而是由垃圾做成的！高度比三層樓還高！ It weighs 20 tons… that's the same as three elephants! 它有 20 噸重，跟三頭大象差不多！ All the trash used to make these bricks was taken from the river Nile. Sadly, the Nile is filled with trash. It's very polluted. 這些垃圾都是從尼羅河裡面撿來的。尼羅河現在污染很嚴重。 The pyramid's builders don't just want to clean the Nile, they want to clean the whole planet… 蓋金字塔的人不只是想要把尼羅河清乾淨，還想要把全世界清乾淨！ They hope to put teams of cleaners all over the world. Their job will be to clean the earth five days a week, every week, every year, for the next 100 years! 他們希望派清潔隊伍到世界各地，每一個星期花五天，持續一百年清理環境！ A huge pyramid made of trash, and cleaners for 100 years! I wonder if they'll clean my bedroom for me too… ________________________________ Vocabulary 埃及蓋了寶特瓶金字塔，來提醒世人污染的嚴重。 1. trash 垃圾 I used to swim here. 我以前在這裡游泳。 But look how dirty it is now! 但是你看它現在多髒！ Yeah, it's filled with trash. 對啊，滿滿都是垃圾。 2. clean 清理 I wonder if anyone will come and clean it up. 不知道會不會有人來清理。 I doubt it. 我很懷疑。 Would you clean it? 你會清理嗎？ Me? No! I didn't grow up here. 我？不會。我又不是在這裡長大的。 3. building 建築物 Who built this house? 誰蓋了這棟房子？ I think Norman Foster did. 我想是 Norman Foster 蓋的。 He built many famous buildings. 他蓋了很多有名的建築。 4. made of 用某種材料做。 Is it made of steel? 是用鋼鐵做的嗎？ I believe so. 應該是的。 今天學到哪些單字？ trash 垃圾 clean 清理 building 建築物 made of 用某種材料做 ________________________________ Quiz 1. What is Egypt's big river called? A: The Vile B: The Nile C: The Style 2. How much does 20 tons weigh? A: The same as three elephants B: The same as three crocodiles C: The same as three pyramids 3. How long do they want teams cleaning the earth? A: 100 days B: 100 months C: 100 years Answers 1. B 2. A 3. C -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Yep, this rocket is going to the moon. The rocket is called "Artemis 1". It is the most powerful rocket ever! 這個火箭叫做阿提米絲一號，是有史以來最強而有力的火箭。 Artemis 1 is so strong because it must go very far. It will take nearly a month to get to the moon and come back again. Even now, Artemis 1 is far from Earth, deep in outer space. 阿提米絲一號要夠強才能飛很遠，因為它要到月球再回來，需要將近一個月，所以它現在還在太空中。 This rocket has no people. The scientists will stay on Earth, while machines on Artemis 1 will study the Moon. 火箭上沒有載人，科學家待在地球上，阿提米絲一號上面的機器會研究月球。 If Artemis 1 is a success, they will send another rocket. The next rocket will carry people, and it will be called… Artemis 2! 如果這次成功了，下一次他們就會用火箭把人送上太空，這支火箭叫做阿提米絲二號。 Wow, what could people do on the moon? Could we work there? Could we even build a home, and live on the moon? The goal of the Artemis rockets is to answer these questions. 阿提米絲火箭任務的目標是要回答，人類能不能在月球居住的問題。 For now, we can only send a rocket to the moon. But in the future, you might live there. ________________________________ Vocabulary 美國太空總署的月球計畫，阿提米絲一號火箭11月16號發射升空。 1. rocket 火箭 There's something moving in the sky! 天上有東西在動！ Wait, that's Artemis 1! 等等，那是阿提米絲一號！ The rocket that goes to the moon! 那是去月球的那枚火箭。 How can you be so sure? 你怎麼那麼確定？ 2. scientist 科學家 I read a report about it yesterday. 我昨天看到報導。 Scientists want to know if people can live on the moon. 科學家想知道人類能不能住在月球上。 3. live 居住 Living on the moon, wow! 住在月球上，哇！ What would a moon house look like? 月球房屋會是什麼樣子？ 4. success 成功 It may look like a spaceship. 也許像一艘太空船。 That's so cool! 太酷了！ Yes, so let's hope this mission is a success. 對啊，希望這次任務成功。 你也想搭火箭去月球探險嗎？ rocket 火箭 scientist 科學家 live 居住 success 成功 ________________________________ Quiz 1. What is this new rocket called? A: Luna 1 B: Apollo 1 C: Artemis 1 2. How many people are on this rocket? A: Zero B: One C: Three 3. What do scientists want to do with the next rocket? A: Push the moon away B: Bring people to the moon C: Blow up the moon Answers 1. C 2. A 3. B -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Have you ever seen a mermaid? Not in a movie, or a book. I mean a real mermaid! 你有看過真正的美人魚嗎？ Okay, let's be honest… mermaids aren't real. 好啦，美人魚不是真的！ But still, some people like to pretend to be mermaids with their friends. They wear big fake fish tails, and swim together in the ocean, learning cool mermaid moves! It keeps them strong and healthy. They call it "mermaiding". 但還是有很多人會穿上假的魚尾巴，扮成美人魚在海裡游泳！ Two months ago, a group of friends were mermaiding off the coast of California. Suddenly they heard a voice calling for help! The shouting was for a man called Pablo, who had been diving with his friends. He was not feeling well, and had fainted. His friends had tried to help him, but they weren't strong enough! 原來是一個叫做 Pablo 的人，在潛水的時候昏迷。他的朋友想幫忙，但是力氣不夠！ Three mermaids found Pablo and saved his life! One of them, Elaina, was a trained firefighter. She knew exactly how to help: she gave Pablo the kiss of life. 英文裡面有個笑話，人工呼吸也叫做kiss of life生命之吻！這群美人魚救了 Pablo！其中一位美人魚 Elaina 是個訓練有素的消防員，她幫 Pablo 做了人工呼吸！ Imagine waking up to a real mermaid kiss! Pablo must have thought he was in a dream! Pablo is still alive, and all the mermaids now have a cool, fun way of keeping fit and healthy with their friends, all thanks to mermaiding! ________________________________ Vocabulary 像美人魚一樣游泳，可以鍛鍊身體，甚至救人一命。 1. fish 魚 Is that a fish? 那是一條魚嗎？ No, it's a mermaid! 不是，是美人魚！ No, it's a girl wearing a fishtail. 錯了，是一個女生穿著魚的尾巴。 2. together 一起 She swims so well! 她游泳游得真棒！ Yeah, and she's swimming together with another mermaid. 沒錯，而且她在跟另外一條美人魚一起游。 3. swim 游泳 You are a good swimmer too. 你也很會游泳。 Would you like to dive in and swim with her? 想不想跳進水裡跟她一起游？ No, I'm fine here. 不要，我在這裡很好。 4. pretend 假裝 I don't want to pretend to be a mermaid. 我可不想假裝成美人魚。 You want to be a shark, right? 你想當鯊魚，對不對？ Exactly! 正是！ Would you read the words with me? fish 魚 together 一起 swim 游泳 pretend 假裝 ________________________________ Quiz 1. What is a mermaid? A: Half human, half cow B: Half cow, half fish C: Half fish, half human 2. Where was Pablo diving with his friends? A: California B: Corsica C: Krakatoa 3. Which mermaid was also a trained firefighter? A: Elaina B: Ariel C: Pablo Answers 1. C 2. A 3. A -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Summers in Taiwan can be very hot! When the sun comes out, everyone feels warm. And sometimes, it's too dry. Isn't there any way to make it rain?! 台灣的夏天很熱，有時候也很乾！有沒有甚麼方法可以讓天空下雨呢？ In the past, we could not change the weather. But scientists have had an idea. They have found a way to make it rain, using electricity. 現在，科學家發現一種用電讓天空下雨的方法。 We know where rain comes from. It falls from clouds in the sky. 我們知道雨水是從天上的雲落下來。 Clouds are made of water. When the water gets too heavy, the clouds start to rain. 雲是水構成的，當這些水太重，就會開始下雨。 Sometimes there is not enough rain. That is not good. When the rain is too little, people have no water to drink, and plants become too dry. So how can we make it rain more? 如果雨水太少，我們就會沒有水喝，植物也會乾枯。 Recently, scientists did a test. They used a little robot to zap a cloud with electricity. The electricity made the drops of water stick together. 科學家做了一個實驗，他們電擊一朵雲，讓雲層中的水滴黏在一起。 When the drops of water come together, they get heavier. Then they fall to earth. So when the cloud is zapped with electricity, it turns into rain. 水結成大水滴之後會變得更重，然後變成雨，落到地面。 What a useful idea. Scientists think it can help people. When the weather is too hot or dry, people can use this technology to make rain. All it takes is a cloud and a little electricity! ________________________________ Vocabulary 給雲層通上電，就有可能製造出雨水。 1. cloud 雲 How's the weather? 天氣怎麼樣？ A gray sky with lots of thick clouds. 灰色天空，有很多厚厚的雲。 Uh oh, that doesn't sound good. 糟糕，聽起來很不好。 No. I think it's going to rain very soon. 是不好，我想很快就會下雨。 2. rain 下雨 It rained all day yesterday. 昨天就下了一整天的雨。 But it's better than a hot and dry day. 但是總比又熱又乾好。 I prefer a dry day. 我比較喜歡乾燥的天氣。 3. electricity 電力 What's happening? 怎麼回事？ The light won't come on. 電燈不亮。 Because there's no electricity. 因為停電了。 4. in the past 從前 What should we do? 我們怎麼辦？ In the past we would light candles. 以前我們會點蠟燭。 No, I don't want to stay here. 不了，我不要待在這裡。 一起來讀讀單字吧。 cloud 雲 rain 下雨 electricity 電力 in the past 從前 ________________________________ Quiz 1. Where does rain come from? A: The sun B: The moon C: The clouds 2. How can we make clouds rain? A: Burn them with fire B: Tell them "more rain please" C: Zap them with electricity 3. When do clouds become rain? A: When they get too heavy B: When they get too light C: When they get too sad Answers 1. C 2. C 3. A -- Hosting provided by SoundOn