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People Borrow People at New Taipei's Human Library

We borrow books from the library. We can borrow all kinds of books! At New
Taipei's Human Library, we can borrow "human books" … People are the human
books!
我們可以從圖書館借到各式各樣的書，但在新北市的「真人圖書館」，大家借的不是書，而是人！

Human Libraries started in Denmark. They help us meet new people, share
stories, and understand each other. New Taipei's Human Library has 133 human
books. Last year, 207 people borrowed one!
真人圖書館最早出現在丹麥，目的是讓大家認識不同的人，分享經驗，促進了解。新北市的真人圖書館現在有
133 本「人類書」，去年有207個人登門借書！

You can borrow a dinosaur bone expert, or a chess teacher. You can borrow
someone who loves to play games, or someone who cannot see. People borrow one
human book a lot. She helps people understand their feelings.
你可以在圖書館借一位研究恐龍骨頭的專家，或是西洋棋老師，你也可以借一位電動高手或看不見的人。其中有個人特別受歡迎，因為她很會幫助大家了解自己的感受！

You can borrow a human book for thirty minutes. If you are under twelve years
old, your mom or dad go with you. You sit down together. You listen to the
human book's story. You can ask questions. You can share your story.
一本人類書可以借30分鐘，12歲以下，需要家長陪同。借出來之後，你可以跟人類書一起坐下來，聽他分享他的故事，也可以提問或是說說自己的想法。

People's stories are real and exciting! What kind of human book do you want
to borrow?
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Vocabulary
在人類圖書館借書，借出來的是真人，而不是一本書。

1. question 問題。
Isn't it a good idea? 這可不是個好主意?
To borrow a book who can talk and answer your questions? 借一本會講話又可以回答問題的書?
For 30 minutes only. 只有三十分鐘。
That seems too short. 似乎太短了。
 

2. story 故事。
You can borrow "it" again! 你可以再借。
Like borrowing a real book. 就跟借真正的書一樣。
What if I don't like the story they share? 要是我不喜歡他們分享的故事呢?
Just return it. 就還回去。
 

3. feeling 情感，感覺。
But people have feelings! 不過真人是有感情的。
Books don't. 書可沒有。

4. kind 種類。
Some kinds of real books never get borrowed. I guess it's the same with humans. 有些種書從來沒有人借，人類書也一樣吧。

請跟我一起讀單字。
question問題 story故事 feeling情感、感覺 kind種類
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Quiz

1. What can you do at New Taipei's Human Library?
a. Read books
b. Borrow people
c. Watch videos

2. Where did Human Libraries start?
a. Denmark
b. New Taipei
c. Japan

3. How many human books does New Taipei's Human Library have?
a. 30
b. 133
c. 207

Answers
1. b
2. a
3. b

________________________________

Hello and welcome back to a new episode of News Bites!

I'm Nancy Sun.

And I'm Allie Highsmith.

In this episode of News Bites, another kind of delivery at the post office,
and another kind of chess that tests your brains and lungs!

And in this episode's News Flash, a word for getting to the truth.
________________________________

男嬰在彰化郵局誕生
Baby Boy Born in Changhua Post Office

What happens at post offices?

You mail letters and packages there.

Or you buy stamps.

But at one post office in Changhua, something else happened.

Something MAJOR.

A pregnant woman (孕婦) was waiting in line when...

Her baby decided it was time to come out!

The baby was coming fast.

So post office workers had to act fast.

They helped the mom sit down.

They made sure it was safe.

And they quickly called an ambulance.

When the helpers got to the post office...

They said that there was no time to go to the hospital.

So guess what?

The baby was born right there, in the post office lobby (大廳)!

救護人員到達後發現情況緊急，因此決定直接在郵局內進行接生。

Kind people in the post office helped.

They made a "human wall" around the mom.

They did this to protect her privacy.

And this also helped medical workers concentrate.

多位民眾用床單圍成一個「人牆」，幫忙遮擋視線、保護這位媽媽的隱私，也讓醫護人員能專心接生。

About 20 minutes later...

A baby boy was born!

Soon after, the mom and her new baby were taken to the hospital.

And doctors say both are healthy and doing well!

The head of the Changhua Post Office visited the mom in the hospital.

He said congratulations (恭喜) from everyone at the post office.

And he brought gifts.

So with quick helpers, caring neighbors, and a lot of teamwork, a little baby
arrived safely.

And that's how an ordinary (普通的) post office became the place of a
brand-new beginning.
________________________________

水下西洋棋考驗棋藝跟體能
Hold Your Breath and Make a Move! Chess Goes Underwater

Sports is not just about being strong.

Many people say the best players are also smart.

Well, there is one surprising sport that really mixes brawn (力量, 體力) and
brains.

In fact, it's all about brains and breath-holding!

Welcome to the World Diving Chess Championship.

The what?

What is diving chess?

Well, it's chess (西洋棋/國際象棋), but underwater!

棋手們挑戰「水下西洋棋」，必須憋氣來完成比賽。

Players take turns holding their breath.

Then they dive down into the water.

At the bottom, they move a chess piece on a board.

The board is a special board.

It's extra heavy, so it stays down at the bottom of the water.

And the chess pieces are magnetized (磁化的).

So they stay on the board, and don't float away.

After the players move a piece, they swim back up for air.

It's all about thinking fast, staying calm, and holding your breath.

An American chess player named Etan Ilfeld came up with the idea in 2012.

In diving chess, you don't just play against your opponent (對手)...

You also play against time...and oxygen!

You can only think as long as you can hold your breath.

And as soon as the other person comes up, you have to dive down again.

This really changes the game.

Sometimes, people make their move really fast...

This way, their opponent doesn't have time to catch their breath!

Whew!

The World Diving Chess Championship was recently held in the city of
Groningen.

That's a city in the Netherlands.

This was the largest diving chess game ever.

Players came from all over the world.

A chess player from the Netherlands named Zyon Kollen won for the men's games!

Josephine Damen, also from the Netherlands, won for the women's games!

And Josephine is just 17 years old!

There were other young players too.

In fact, three players who were just 10 years old competed too.

But there were many grownups as well.

So everyone could join the fun!
________________________________

So, in today's News Bites:

A baby boy was born in a Changhua post office lobby!

A pregnant woman was waiting in line when...

Her baby decided it was time to come out!

Kind people at the post office and medical workers helped.

Soon after, the mom and her new baby were taken to the hospital.

And doctors say both are healthy and doing well!
________________________________

And…

The World Diving Chess Championship was recently held in the city of
Groningen.

This was the largest diving chess game ever.

An American chess player named Etan Ilfeld came up with the idea in 2012.

In diving chess, you don't just play against your opponent...

You also play against time...and oxygen!

A chess player from the Netherlands named Zyon Kollen won for the men's games!

Josephine Damen, also from the Netherlands, won for the women's games!

And Josephine is just 17 years old!
________________________________

News Flash

In this episode's News Flash, a word for getting to the truth.

"Debunk" means to show that something is not true.

It's like popping a balloon that is full of wrong ideas.

When you debunk something, you prove a story, rumor, or idea is false.

For example, "Scientists debunked the myth that people only use 10% of their
brain."

We might see this word in the news about disinformation, or something new in
science.

And now you know.
________________________________

If you have a fun fact or a joke you'd like to share with us, record your
message and send us your Bite-Sized Break to newsbites@icrt.com.tw, and you
might hear it in an episode!

We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!