________________________________

A Water Festival in Taiwan

Hi there! Have you ever been to a water festival? People throw lots of water.
Everyone gets very wet! It sounds like fun!
你參加過潑水節嗎？大家都會全身濕淋淋的，很好玩！

There is a water festival in a country called Myanmar. The festival is called
Thingyan. It celebrates Myanmar's New Year. Their New Year is in April.
緬甸的潑水節在四月舉辦，叫做 Thingyan，是緬甸的新年。

Many people from Myanmar live in Taiwan. Many of them live in New Taipei
City. New Taipei City has a "Little Myanmar". Little Myanmar has many shops
and restaurants.
很多緬甸僑胞住在台灣的新北市，新北有個地區綽號叫做小緬甸，有很多商店跟餐廳。

Every year, people from Myanmar have a big water festival there. But this
year, there was a problem. There wasn't much rain. And now it is important to
save water in Taiwan. What happened to the water festival this year?
每一年，緬甸人都會在小緬甸舉辦潑水節，但今年台灣的雨太少了，需要節約用水，怎麼辦呢？

They still had the festival. They celebrated their culture and traditions.
They shared them with festival visitors too. But they used very little water!
They sprinkled some drops of water on people. Their tradition says this water
washes away bad luck.
他們還是舉辦了潑水節，慶祝傳統文化，不過只撒一點點水在身上。他們相信潑水可以洗去厄運。

People from Myanmar had their water festival with very little water! Let's
help Taiwan save water too!
________________________________

Vocabulary
新北市的小緬甸，每年都會慶祝潑水節。

1. celebrate 慶祝
My friend has just returned from Thailand. 我的朋友剛從泰國回來。
He says he had the best time celebrating the Water Festival there.
他說他在那裏的潑水節玩得非常開心。

2. everyone 每個人
What did they do? 他們做了什麼？
He and his friends bought big water guns… 他跟他的朋友買了大水槍...
And they shot water at each other? 然後互相射擊？
Yeah, and everyone they saw on the street. 對，並且也針對路上看到的每個人。

3. year 年
That does sound like a lot of fun! 聽起來真好玩！
Yeah, I want to go, but it's too late now. 我很想去，但是現在太遲了。
You can go next year. 你可以明年去啊。
They have this festival every year. 他們每年都有這個節日。

你想慶祝潑水節嗎？
celebrate 慶祝
everyone 每個人
year 年
________________________________

Quiz

1. When is Myanmar's water festival?
A: January
B: April
C: August

2. What do people do at water festivals?
A: Make other people wet
B: Swim
C: Drink a lot of water

3. How much water did this year's water festival use?
A: A lot
B: Very little
C: No water

Answers
1. B
2. A
3. B
 

________________________________

Scientists Grow Gardens Underwater

Happy World Reef Day!

The world's most famous coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
It's the world's biggest reef too.
全世界最大的珊瑚礁在澳洲的大堡礁。

Coral reefs are very important for life underwater. Many kinds of fish live
in them. They're like apartment buildings for fish! Some people fish there.
They sell or eat the fish.
很多魚類住在珊瑚礁裡面，牠們就像魚的公寓。有一些人會捕魚來自己吃或拿去賣。

Taiwan's biggest coral reef is by Lamay Island. But more than half of Lamay
Island's reef died in 2020. This is because the ocean is getting warmer. It's
sometimes too warm for coral reefs.
台灣最大的珊瑚礁在小琉球，但是 2020
年，小琉球的珊瑚死了一半以上。因為海洋溫度升高。

Coral reefs are made of millions of very small coral animals. Reefs take
thousands of years to grow. But we need them now.
珊瑚礁是由數百萬極小的珊瑚蟲組成，要好幾千年才形成。

Scientists are working to save coral reefs. Last year, they tried a new idea.
They planted new coral on reefs. These scientists are underwater gardeners!
科學家正在努力拯救珊瑚礁，他們在珊瑚礁上種新的珊瑚，他們是海底的園藝師！

The idea worked! The new coral grew. More fish came every day!
這個計畫成功了！新的珊瑚長了出來，更多魚來到珊瑚礁附近！

Scientists gardening underwater, saving reefs and protecting ocean life! Far
out, dude!
________________________________

Vocabulary
氣候暖化造成很多地方的珊瑚礁大量死亡，科學家忙著搶救。

1. underwater 在水下
It's so hot today! 今天好熱喔！
Yeah, I wish I could go diving underwater. 對啊，真希望潛到水裡。

2. ocean 海洋
In the ocean? 潛到海裡？
In the ocean, with colorful fish, turtles and coral reefs around me.
在海裡，四周都是繽紛的魚、烏龜和珊瑚礁。
Where can you find such a place? 哪裡可以找到這種地方？
Xiao-liu-qiu. 小琉球。

3. warmer 更溫暖的
But it's in Pingtung. 不過那在屏東。
It maybe even warmer there. 那裡可能更熱。

4. die 死亡
You're right. 你說得對。
But I'd die if I didn't go swimming somewhere.
但是假如我不去哪裡游泳我就會熱死。

今天的單字你可記住了？
underwater 在水下
ocean 海洋
warmer 更溫暖的
die 死亡
________________________________

Quiz

1. What is the world's most famous coral reef?
A: The Belize Barrier Reef
B: The Great Florida Reef
C: The Great Barrier Reef

2. Where is Taiwan's biggest coral reef?
A: Orchid Island
B: Green Island
C: Lamay Island

3. What is making coral reefs die?
A: Warmer oceans
B: Too many fish
C: New coral

Answers
1. C
2. C
3. A
 

Scientists Zap Clouds with Electricity

________________________________

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. (SFX: electric zap) 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. (SFX: heavy
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

 

________________________________

This Shop Turns Into a Turtle Tunnel

Many turtles live in a pond. There's a busy street next to the pond. Every
summer, female turtles cross the street.
池塘裡住著很多烏龜，旁邊有一條繁忙的馬路。每一年夏天，母龜都會穿越這條馬路。

There's a shop across the street. Some turtles walk into the shop. What?! Why?
街道對面有一間店，這些烏龜會爬進店裡。

They want to go to a wet, grassy marsh. It's great for turtle nests. It's
behind the shop. 因為那間店的後方有一片沼澤，適合烏龜棲息。

The shop workers are kind. They open the front door and back door all day.
The shop turns into a turtle tunnel! The turtles in the shop can walk to the
marsh. 店員會把前後門打開，讓這些烏龜能夠直接走到沼澤。

Every fall, baby turtles come from the marsh. Some walk into the shop.
They're the size of NT$10 coins. The workers walk very carefully! They pick
up the turtles.
每年秋天，烏龜寶寶會從沼澤裡爬出來。牠們只有十元硬幣大，店員都會注意不要踩到。

The turtles want to go to the pond. But the busy street is bad for baby
turtles. Drivers cannot see them. So the workers take them across the street.
They put the baby turtles down by the pond.
烏龜寶寶想要穿越馬路，但是這非常危險，所以店員會直接送牠們到池塘旁邊。

Pond to marsh, marsh to pond: that's what the turtles want. The kind workers
help the turtles safely go where they want. Great job, workers! Go, turtles!

************************************************************************************************
Vocabulary
烏龜過馬路，人類來幫忙。

1. pond 池塘
Isn't this a perfect spot for a summer picnic? 這可不是夏日野餐的完美地點?
The pond, the grass, and it's all so quiet. 有池塘，草地，而且這麼安靜。

2. carefully 小心的
Yeah, but what about mosquitoes and the heat? 是沒錯，但是蚊子跟熱氣呢?
It couldn't be that bad. 不會那麼糟的。
I'll plan carefully. 我會有縝密計畫。

3. next to 在旁邊
We can come here in the late afternoon. 我們可以下午晚一點來。
I'll bring bug spray. 我會帶防蚊噴液。
And we can sit next to this big tree.我們可以坐在這棵大樹旁邊。

4. want 想要
Yeah. 對啊!
Oh, I'm so excited! 我好興奮。
I want to invite everyone in my family to the picnic! 我要邀請所有家人來野餐!

這些單字很好用，你記住了嗎?
pond池塘
carefully小心的
next to在旁邊
want想要

****************************************************************************************************
Quiz

1. Where do the female turtles want to go?
a. the pond
b. the shop
c. the marsh

2. Where do the baby turtles want to go?
a. the pond
b. the shop
c. the marsh

3. Why is the street bad for baby turtles?
a. Drivers pick them up.
b. Drivers cannot see them.
c. Drivers can see them.







Answers:
1. c
2. a
3. b
 

________________________________

Octopuses Use Hot Water For Eggs

Hi everyone. Do you know what an octopus is? It's an animal. It has a big
head and eight long arms. It lives in the ocean. Scientists say octopuses are
smart.
你知道章魚嗎? 這是一種住在海裡的動物，科學家說牠們很聰明。

A scientist wanted to study other animals. She went to the ocean near
California. But she got a big surprise. There were thousands of octopuses
there. It was the biggest octopus group in the world! Many were keeping their
eggs safe.
有一位科學家在加州附近的海域，發現世界最大群的章魚! 這些章魚正在保護牠們的卵。

Another scientist saw the octopuses later. He had a question. Why were so
many octopuses there? Scientists studied the octopuses. They studied the
eggs. They studied the water. They found the answer!
科學家疑惑那裡為什麼有那麼多章魚? 他們研究章魚、章魚卵和海水，他們找到了答案!

Hot springs are there! They're small openings in the earth. Warm water comes
out. So... are the octopuses looking for food? Are they relaxing? Nope!
They're using the warm water to help their eggs!
那裡有溫泉從海底冒出來，章魚利用這些溫泉的水幫助牠們孵化卵。

Oceans are cold … *brrrrr*! Octopus eggs take five to ten years to open in
cold water. But they take about two years to open in warm water! Wow! That's
fast!
章魚卵在寒冷的海水中需要五到十年才會孵化。但是在溫暖的海水裡，只需要兩年!

These octopuses use hot springs for their eggs. See? Octopuses are very smart!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vocabulary

聰明的章魚，懂得利用海底溫泉來孵蛋。

1. octopus 章魚
Who will win the next World Cup? 下次世界盃足球賽誰會贏?
I have no idea. 這我不知道。
You can ask an octopus. 你可以問問章魚。
They usually have the right answer. 牠們通常有正確答案。

2. surprise 驚奇
An octopus is for eating, not for answering questions.
章魚是拿來吃的，不會回答問題。
You're right. But they are full of surprises. 你說的對，但是牠們會讓人很驚訝。

3. arm 手臂
They can use tools, you know. 牠們會用工具呢。
I know they can use their arms to open a jar. 我知道牠們會用觸手打開罐子。

4. use 使用
They also use coconut shells as their home. 牠們還會用椰子殼當作自己家。
I prefer cooking them with soy sauce. 我比較喜歡用醬油來煮章魚。


你喜歡吃章魚嗎?
octopus章魚
surprise驚奇
arm手臂
use使用

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Quiz

1. What did the first scientist see in the ocean?
a. Big animals
b. A big octopus group
c. Big octopus eggs

2. What are the octopuses doing at the hot springs?
a. Looking for food
b. Relaxing in hot water
c. Helping their eggs

3. What takes about two years to open?
a. Openings in the earth
b. Octopuses at hot springs
c. Octopus eggs in warm water











Answers:
1. b
2. c
3. c