________________________________

Man Cleans Clothes for People with No Home

Clean clothes make us feel good. They smell good. They make us look good. And
they feel good on us!
穿著乾淨的衣服會讓人心情變好。乾淨的衣服既舒服又好看！

An American man was a police officer. He helped people. He is not a police
officer now. But he wants to keep helping people. The man helps people who do
not have a home. It is hard for them to wash their clothes.
有一名退休的美國警察喜歡幫助有需要的人，尤其是無家可歸的人，因為他們沒有辦法洗衣服！

The man has a bus. He put three washing machines and three clothes dryers in
the bus. He drives to the same places every week. People know when and where
to find him.
於是，他在一輛巴士上裝了三台洗衣機跟三台烘衣機。每個星期，他都會把公車開到固定的地點，方便大家找他洗衣服。

The man washes, dries, and folds these people's clothes for free! In about
three months, the man washed more than nine hundred kilograms of clothes! And
these clean clothes helped some people find a job.
他會免費為那些無家可歸的人洗衣服、烘乾，然後摺好！在短短的三個月內，他洗了超過九百公斤的衣服。穿上乾淨的衣服之後，有一些人甚至找到了工作！

Now the man wants another bus. He wants more washing machines and clothes
dryers. He needs people to drive the bus. They will wash clothes for
schoolkids who do not have a home.
現在，他希望有第二輛公車放更多洗衣機跟烘衣機，也想找司機來幫忙開公車。這樣一來，就能為無家可歸的學童洗衣服。

Everyone feels good wearing clean clothes. This man's idea helps many people
feel good!
________________________________________

Vocabulary
能夠穿乾淨的衣服是很大的福氣，一名好心人免費幫街友洗衣。

1. wash 洗。
I have so many clothes to wash! 我有好多衣服要洗!
That’s exactly what a washing machine is for. 洗衣機正是做這件事用的。

2. dry 弄乾。
I know, but I still have to dry them and fold them.
我知道啊，可是我還得把它烘乾，摺起來。
Come on, let me give you a hand.來吧，我來幫你忙。

3. clean 乾淨的。
Aw, that’s so nice of you! 你真好!
I’m happy to help. 我很樂意幫忙。
Clean clothes always smell and feel good. 乾淨衣服好聞又舒服。

4. job 工作。
Come to think of it, maybe I should find a job that has something to do with
clothes. 想來我也許應該找一個 跟衣服有關的工作。

還記得今天的單字嗎?
wash洗 dry弄乾 clean乾淨的 job工作
________________________________________

Quiz

1. Who does the man help?
a. Police officers who have a home
b. People who do not have a home
c. People who have a home

2. Where did the man put the washing machines and clothes dryers?
a. Under the bus
b. On top of the bus
c. In the bus

3. What does the man want now?
a. A job
b. Free clothes
c. Another bus

Answers
1. b
2. c
3. c
 

________________________________

Crabs Make Octopus Play Piano

A Swedish musician bought a live octopus. He did not take it to his kitchen.
He took it to his music studio! He put it in a big fish tank.
一位瑞典的音樂家買了一隻活章魚。他沒有把章魚拿去廚房，而是把牠帶到工作室，放進大水族箱裡。

The musician wanted to teach the octopus how to play music! He made a small
piano. He put it in the tank. But the octopus did not play the piano.
音樂家想教章魚彈奏音樂。他做了一架小鋼琴，放進魚缸裡，但章魚完全不理這台鋼琴。

So the musician used bubbles. The octopus had to play a musical note. Then
bubbles came out of the piano! Oooo! Soon, the octopus started to play one
note. Then it played two notes.
音樂家想到可以用氣泡來訓練章魚。只要按下琴鍵，就會冒出氣泡。章魚覺得很有趣，於是慢慢學會按一兩個琴鍵。

But the musician wanted the octopus to play more notes. Now he uses small
crabs. The octopus loves to eat them!
但音樂家希望章魚彈更多音符！章魚非常愛吃螃蟹，所以音樂家改用小螃蟹當做獎勵。

The octopus plays notes. It sees a crab. The crab slowly comes down a tube.
Then the crab comes out!
只要章魚按下幾個琴鍵，就會有螃蟹從管子慢慢下來出現在牠面前，然後被章魚吃掉！

The musician taught the octopus for six months. It can play a song with him
now!
章魚的鋼琴訓練持續了六個月。現在，章魚已經可以和音樂家合奏一首曲子了！

Does the octopus love to play the piano? Nobody knows. But it loves to eat
crabs!
我們沒有辦法知道章魚到底喜不喜歡彈鋼琴，但可以確定的是，章魚真的很愛吃螃蟹！

Hmmm. What else can people teach an octopus?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vocabulary
章魚據說有高智商，吸引很多人來研究。

1. music 音樂。
An octopus knows how to play music. 有一隻章魚知道怎麼玩音樂。
Can you believe that? 你相信嗎?
No, I can't. 我不信。
It's like saying a fish can play the flute. 那就好像說魚會吹笛子.

2. teach 教導。
But it's true! 是真的啊!
A musician taught an octopus to play the piano. 一名音樂家教會了章魚彈鋼琴。
I know octopuses are smart. 我知道章魚很聰明。

3. piano 鋼琴。
Exactly! So why not the piano? 是啊，那為什麼不能彈鋼琴?
I'll believe it when I see it. 我要看到才會相信。

4. love 喜愛。
You love playing the piano. 你喜歡彈鋼琴。
I do. 對。
And even with eight arms, it's not that easy! 就算有八隻手臂，它也不簡單!

這些單字短而常用。
music音樂 teach教導 piano鋼琴 love喜愛
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quiz

1. Where did the musician take the octopus to?
a. His kitchen
b. His music studio
c. His bathroom

2. Which does the octopus play?
a. Piano
b. Drum
c. Guitar

3. What does the octopus love to eat?
a. Bubbles
b. Tubes
c. Crabs

Answers
1. b
2. a
3. c
 

Good afternoon, and welcome to today's episode of News Bites!

I'm Philip Brossard, and I'm Eric Gau

First up, we talk about how a sweet fruit brought a herd of customers to a
store in Taipei over the weekend.

Then we learn about Mexicans standing up to fight for the safety of women in
their country.

And finally, we hear of an idea here in Taiwan to make some train cars into
spaces where people can bring their pets along for the ride.

Stay tuned to hear all about it.

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

Customers Rush to Buy Imported Mangosteens 人潮湧向市場買山竹

Customers in Taipei lined up Sunday morning to buy the first mangosteens 山竹
imported into Taiwan in 16 years.

To import, 進口, means to buy products or materials from another country.

The government stopped imports of Thai mangosteens in 2003 because of fruit
fly 果蠅 problems.

But after meeting related quarantine 隔離檢疫 requirements, that import ban
was lifted in April this year.

Quarantine is when you keep something away from other things to protect them.

The first batch 第一批 of mangosteens was sold only at one store in Neihu
District.

Even before the store opened, a long line of over 100 customers had formed
outside.

People were given numbers and each one was limited 受限 to two boxes of
mangosteens.

"To be limited" means to have only a certain amount of power to do something.

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

Mexicans March to Demand Justice for Violence Against Women
墨西哥人為婦女伸張正義

Hundreds of women have taken to the streets 走上街頭 of Mexico City to demand
justice for themselves.

"To take to the streets" is an expression that means to gather in protest.

They are fighting for young girls and countless 無數 women who have been
attacked, murdered, or gone missing.

"Countless" means there are so many of something that it is hard to know the
exact number.

Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a female.

The coordinator of a Mexican group against femicide 殺害婦女 says Sunday's
march was to point out the government's inability 無能 to prevent, to attend
to or to punish this violence.

"Femicide" is a special word that means to kill women. "Fem" means women and
"-icide" means to kill.

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

Petition for Pet-Friendly Train Cars Takes Off 開放寵物友善車廂連署

A petition in support of pet-friendly train cars is taking off.

Thousands of people have signed on to the proposal on a government suggestion
website.

Friendly, 友善, means to be good to someone or something.

Pet friendly, 寵物友善, generally refers to stores or public spaces that
allow people to bring their pets, or that have special services for pets.

The proposal lays out several suggestions, including allowing small pets on
trains as long as they are in strollers, that pets be charged half-price or
have a special pet ticket, and that the owners must carry their pet's
registration and rabies vaccination information on them.

The cars should also be clearly marked as pet-friendly ones so that people
who don't like animals or are allergic to them will know not to enter.

The petition has gathered nearly 3 thousand signatures in ten days.

It requires 5 thousand within 60 days to get an official response.

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

Now to review what we've learned today.

Taiwan's first mangosteens 山竹 in over 10 years caused a massive line up at
a store this weekend.

The tropical fruit from Thailand were banned after it was found they had
problems with fruit flies 果蠅.

But they started importing 進口 mangosteens again after meeting requirements
for quarantine 隔離檢疫.

"To import" means to buy things from another country.

Quarantine is when you keep something away from other things to protect them.

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

Second, women in Mexico took to the streets 走上街頭 to protect women.

"To take to the streets" means to gather in a group to say an opinion on
something.

Mexico is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a women.

These women want the government to do more to protect women from femicide
殺害婦女.

"Femicide" is a special word that means to kill women.

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

Lastly, people in Taiwan are calling for pet-friendly train cars.

Friendly, 友善, means to be good to someone or something.

So here, "pet-friendly" means to make trains that are suitable for pets.

They want train cars where people can bring their pets with them if they meet
certain requirements.

If enough people sign up for this idea, the government will have to talk
about it and make a decision.

And that's it for today!

Catch you all again tomorrow for another episode of News Bites.

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

主播每周一問Have Your Say

This week, we want you to have your say about school uniforms.

School uniforms have been part of the Taiwan education system for a long
time.

Some believe they help students feel like a part of the school, but some say
they are more harmful than helpful.

Do you think schools should have uniforms for students?

Record your message and send it to newsbites@icrt.com.tw with your name and
age, and if you like, the name of your school.

And you might hear your message on our show on Friday.


 

Hello everybody, and welcome to a new episode of News Bites!

I'm Trevor Tortomasi...

And I'm Ryan Drillsma.

In today's news:

The last "English Schweitzer" teacher leaves Taiwan, a potato isn't a potato,
and Ukrainian circus performers find home in Hungary.

All that and more, coming up next.
________________________________

最後一個 「英語史懷哲」老師離開金門
Last "English Schweitzer" Teacher Leaves Kinmen

Andrew Steward was 23 when he and his younger brother Lucas moved to Kinmen
to teach English.

The two of them were recruited by the English Schweitzer social welfare
program in 2004.
他們兩人在2004年應徵「英語史懷哲」社會福利計劃。

Now, he is moving back to the U.S. after 18 years.

Although the English Schweitzer program ended in 2013, Andrew continued to
teach in Kinmen.
雖然「英語史懷哲」計畫2013 年結束，但 史安竹 繼續留在金門教書。

While in Taiwan he met his wife who is also from America and they had a
daughter.

They will move back to their home state of Ohio in the Midwest (中西部).

Originally, they planned to stay in Taiwan for at least four more years.

But they changed their mind last summer, when they visited their hometown
(家鄉).

They saw their daughter adapt (適應) to life in the U.S. very well.

The principal (校長) of Andrew's school said everyone was sad to see him
leave.

Andrew said he appreciated (感謝) being accepted by the people of Kinmen.

And he loved the island's natural beauty.

After the pandemic is over he plans to bring his wife and daughter back to
visit Kinmen.
他打算在疫情結束後，帶著太太和女兒回來金門拜訪。
________________________________

破紀錄的馬鈴薯 不是馬鈴薯
Record-Breaking Potato Isn't a Potato

A husband and wife in New Zealand found an eight-kilogram potato in their
garden last year.
去年紐西蘭有一對夫妻在他們的菜園裡，發現一顆重達八公斤的馬鈴薯。

They gave the potato the name "Doug" and he became famous.

The couple thought the giant potato broke the world record, so they contacted
the Guinness Book of World Records.
這對夫妻以為那顆巨大的馬鈴薯，打破了世界紀錄，於是打電話給金氏世界紀錄。

They sent some of the potato to Guinness, to confirm (確認) their record.

But after several months they got some bad news...

Doug was not a potato, after all!

Guinness said they had found the tuber (塊莖) of a gourd (葫蘆).

They used a DNA test to confirm Doug's species (種類).

Unfortunately, Guinness disqualified (取消資格) Doug because it isn't a
potato.

So, the record for the biggest potato hasn't been broken yet.

The current record holder is still a potato that was found in Britain in 2011.

That potato weighed over 5 kilograms.

The couple are disappointed (失望), but they will try to break the record
again next year.

And this time, it will definitely be a potato!
________________________________

烏克蘭馬戲團成員 在匈牙利找到家
Ukrainian Circus Performers Find Home in Hungary

There is still a lot of danger (危險) in Ukraine right now.

Most people in Ukraine are staying in their country, but there are also many
people fleeing (逃離) to other countries nearby.

And now, two Hungarian circus schools have opened their doors to Ukrainian
students.
兩所匈牙利馬戲學校歡迎烏克蘭學生就讀。

There was a group of around 100 students, who left their homes in Ukraine, to
find safety (安全).

They are between the ages of 5 and 20 years old, and they are from the cities
of Kyiv and Kharkiv.

The city of Budapest and one of the schools arranged for students to come to
the country of Hungary.
布達佩斯市安排學生來匈牙利。

That group of Ukrainian students will be provided with food and housing.

And they will be able to continue their training (訓練) at the schools in
safety.

We can be grateful that there are so many people ready to help those people
in need!
________________________________

So in today's news bites:

The last English teacher from a social welfare program has left Kinmen.

Andrew Steward and his family moved back to their home state of Ohio.

He lived in Taiwan for 18 years and he appreciated being accepted by the
people of Kinmen.
________________________________

A couple in New Zealand found a giant potato, which they named Doug.

It weighed 8 kilograms, so they thought it broke the world record.

But after Guinness did a DNA test on Doug, they found out it was not a
potato, so it was disqualified!
________________________________

Two Hungarian circus schools have opened their doors to Ukrainian students.

Around 100 students had to leave their homes in Ukraine, because of the war
in their country.

They will be given food and housing, and will continue their training.
________________________________

And that's today's episode of News Bites!
________________________________

主播每周一問
Have Your Say

This week, we want you to have your say about acting in a movie.

Watching TV and movies can be fun and relaxing. But have you ever thought…
wow, this movie is so cool! I wish I was in it! Action, adventure, comedy and
horror…

There are lots of different movies out there, but if you could choose one
movie to be in, which would it be, and why?

Record your message and send it to newsbites@icrt.com.tw with your name and
age, and if you like, the name of your school.

Make sure to send us your recording by Thursday at noon, and you might hear
your message on our show on Friday!
 

Hello everybody, and welcome to a new episode of News Bites!

I'm Trevor Tortomasi...

And I'm Clifford Chu.

In today's news:

A boat gets burned to the ground, British people are mad at their Prime
Minister, and an old painting gets a new name.

All that and more, coming up next.
________________________________

東港迎王平安祭典
Donggang's King Boat Burning Festival

The years of the Bull, Dragon, Goat, and Dog are auspicious (吉祥) for the
people of Donggang (東港).

These are the years they get to take part in a special ceremony for "Wangye"
(溫王爺), also called the god of plague (瘟疫之神).

The celebration is called the Wangye Worshipping, or the Donggang Boat
Burning Ceremony, and takes place over eight days.

The celebration dates back to the Qing Dynasty, or about three centuries
(世紀) ago, and to the days when Donggang attracted migrants (移民) from the
Fujian province.

Those migrants often prayed to Wen Wangye to make sure he protected them from
getting sick from different plagues.
移民經常祈求溫王爺保佑，避免得到各種瘟疫。

The biggest part of this eight day celebration is the burning of a
beautifully painted wooden boat.

The wooden boat, which is known as the "King Boat" is not a fake (不是假貨).

In fact, organizers say the boat is seaworthy (可以出海), which means it can
travel across the water, and won't sink (沈船).

It takes between 80 to 90 people to build and decorate (裝飾) this boat.

They spend between four and five months from start to finish (從頭到尾).

The last boat may have cost $10 million NT.

But the boat doesn't sit around for very long.

After it is dragged around on a tour to capture (捉住) evil spirits that
cause disease and disasters, it is filled with paper dolls that represent
people.

It is taken to a beach, where it is then burned to the ground (燒得一乾二凈).

The burning symbolises (象徵) Wang Ye's return to heaven, and the casting out
of plagues.

And remember the paper dolls? Those are burned along with the boat.

And that's supposed to help the people they symbolise get rid of the evil
spirits that might be harming them.
________________________________

英國民眾對首相感到不滿
Many British People are Mad at their Prime Minister

A rule is a rule, and no one should be exempted (有豁免權), even if a rule is
difficult to follow.

When the COVID-19 pandemic happened in Britain (英國) in 2020 and 2021, the
British government imposed (強制施行) some very difficult rules.

One of the rules restricted social gatherings (限制社交聚會), like parties.

This meant that two or more people could not get together in an indoor space,
no matter what the reason was.

This meant people couldn't visit family in hospitals.

They couldn't visit healthy relatives.

And they couldn't go to events like funerals (葬禮).

Anyone who broke the law would be fined (罰鍰).

But after the lockdowns ended, British people found out that even if they
were following the law, their Prime Minister Boris Johnson wasn't doing the
same thing.
當封城結束後，英國民眾發現首相強森並沒有像他們一樣遵守規定。

He, and people in his government, were throwing parties (舉辦派對).

The London Police conducted an investigation (進行調查) to be certain that
the parties really happened.

As a result, several people in Johnson's office resigned (辭職下台).

Johnson himself was also found guilty (有罪) of breaking his own rules.

The police asked him and his wife to pay a fine.

Today, Boris Johnson is the first Prime Minister to have broken the law while
serving in office (在職).

And because of that, many people think Johnson should resign.
________________________________

一幅油畫重新命名
An Oil Painting Gets a New Name

An art museum decided to change the name of a painting created by artist
Edgar Degas (竇加).

The painting used to be called "Russian Dancers" (俄羅斯舞者).

But the dancers in the picture were performing a traditional Ukrainian
(烏克蘭) dance.

They even wore ribbons with Ukraine's national colors, yellow and blue.

So the museum said it was time to change the painting's name.
美術館認為，應該要更改畫作名稱。

The painting, which is now called "Ukranian Dancers" was painted during the
time Ukraine was under Russian control (遭俄國掌控).

Degas fans are now wondering if similar paintings in New York and Texas will
have the same name change too.
________________________________

So, in today's News Bites:

The years of the Bull, Dragon, Goat, and Dog are auspicious ones for the
people of Donggang.

These are the years they get to take part in a special ceremony for "Wangye",
or the god of plague.

The celebration takes place over eight days, and dates back to the Qing
Dynasty.
________________________________

And…

Many British people are unhappy with their prime minister, Boris Johnson.

Johnson imposed very strict lockdown rules to keep COVID-19 from spreading.

But he and people in his government broke those rules, by holding parties.
________________________________

And…

An art museum has changed the name of one classic painting.

Instead of being called "Russian Dancers"... the painting is now called
"Ukrainian Dancers."

The dancers in the picture are wearing the national costume and colors of
Ukraine.
________________________________

And that's today's episode of News Bites!
________________________________

主播每周一問
Have Your Say

This week, we want you to have your say about food.

There's a saying in English "It's raining cats and dogs". It means it's
raining really hard. But that idea of strange things raining down from the
sky really makes you think right?

If the sky could rain food, what food would you like to have rain down?

Record your message and send it to newsbites@icrt.com.tw with your name and
age, and if you like, the name of your school.

Make sure to send us your recording by Thursday at noon, and you might hear
your message on our show on Friday!