________________________________

Scientists Study Seabird Safety

I'm eating lunch at the beach! Now, where are my sandwiches? ..... Hey!!!!
That seabird took my lunch! It's very smart! Now scientists want to see just
how smart seabirds are, to keep them safe.
海鳥偷走了我的午餐，牠們好聰明。科學家想要知道海鳥到底有多聰明，好保護牠們。

Scientists want to keep seabirds safe from wind farms. Wind farms make
electricity from the wind. They have big machines called 'turbines'. Turbines
have three blades. The wind spins the blades around and around.

There's lots of wind at sea. Turbines make the most electricity there. So
companies put wind farms there.
海邊風很強，所以風力發電渦輪機都蓋在海邊，上面有三片葉片，風會吹動扇葉來發電。

Scientists are worried about seabirds. Seabirds might fly into a turbine's
blades and die. So scientists studied seabird safety at a wind farm.
科學家擔心海鳥會飛進發電機轉動的扇葉而死亡，於是開始研究風力發電場的海鳥安全。

The study took two years. They watched 10,000 videos of the turbines. They
saw four kinds of seabirds come and go. And they found … nothing!

Zero seabirds flew into the turbine blades. Zero seabirds died! They all flew
far away from the spinning blades. Scientists don't know why. But those
seabirds are very smart indeed!
科學家研究了兩年，看了一萬多支發電機的監視器影片，發現有四種海鳥來來去去，但是這些海鳥就是很聰明，沒有一隻海鳥被撞死，科學家也不知道為甚麼。

Scientists need to study other kinds of seabirds. Maybe now they will find
how to save thousands of other seabirds too!
Bravo birdies!
________________________________________
Vocabulary
海鳥跟風力發電渦輪機相安無事，讓科學家有些意外。
1. fly 飛翔。
Fly, kite, fly! 飛呀，風箏，飛吧。
Look how high it is! 你看它飛得多高!
Yeah, it's beautiful against the blue sky.對啊，襯著藍天真好看。

2. spin 轉圈。
Oh no, it's spinning around. 糟了，它在轉圈圈。
It's just the wind. 只是風的關係。
It'll steady once the wind weakens. 風變小就穩定了。

3. far away 很遠的。
Now it's flying too far away. 現在它飛得太遠了。
It'll take an hour to bring it back. 要一個鐘頭才收得回來。
That's okay. We have a lot of time. 沒關係，我們有的是時間。

4. beach 海灘。
This is really a nice beach. 這真是個美好的海灘。
It is. We should come back more often. 真的，我們應該常回來。

你有在海邊放風箏過嗎?
fly飛翔
spin轉圈
far away很遠的
beach海灘

________________________________________
Quiz
1. What are wind farms for?
A: Studying seabirds
B: Watching videos
C: Making electricity

2. What machines have three spinning blades?
A: Videos
B: Scientists
C: Turbines

3. How many seabirds flew into the machines?
A: Zero
B: Two
C: Four

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

 

________________________________

Kaohsiung Students Build a Car That Runs on Sunlight

In Australia, there's a race. It's very tough. 澳洲有一場艱難的比賽。

The drivers drive 3,000 kilometers. They cross a hot desert. Not all cars can
do it. Only the toughest cars try.
賽車手要開3000公里跨越炎熱的沙漠，只有最堅固的汽車才有辦法。

A Taiwanese team is racing this year. They're National Kaohsiung University
of Science and Technology students!
台灣有一支團隊會參加今年的比賽。他們是國立高雄科技大學的學生。

These students want to help change the world. They built a special car. It's
called Apollo IX. ("nine")
這些學生想要改變世界。他們打造一台特別的車子，叫做阿波羅九號。

It's an electric car. That's nothing special, right?

Most cars run on gas, but some cars run on electricity. Well, this car has
solar panels. It runs on sunlight! 這是一台電動車，並不特別，對不對?
但它可是一台用太陽能發動的車子。

Apollo IX's hood and roof have solar panels. In sunny weather, they take in
sunlight. The solar panels turn sunlight into electricity.

The electricity fills the car's battery.
這台車的車頂跟前面的引擎蓋有太陽能板。晴天的時候，它可以吸收陽光轉化成電力。

The race is a big test for Apollo IX. It can go 518 kilometers with a full
battery. But it needs sunlight.
這個比賽是阿波羅九號的大挑戰。它充飽電可以跑518公里，但是它需要陽光。

The car needs to go 3,000 kilometers! In bad weather, can Apollo IX win the
race? 如果天氣不好，阿波羅九號能贏得比賽嗎?

These students are doing important work. Cars that run on sunlight can change
the world. Let's hope they win!
________________________________________

Vocabulary
台灣學生製造的賽車，是否經得起澳洲沙漠的考驗?

1. desert 沙漠
Why would anyone want to drive a car across the desert?
為什麼有人會想開車橫越沙漠?
Why not? 為什麼不呢?
Didn't you want to challenge yourself when you were younger?
難道你年少時沒想過挑戰自己?

2. sunlight 陽光
I did try to stay in bed for 24 hours.我有嘗試躺在床上24小時。
Away from the sunlight.並且遠離陽光。
Wow. That's…uh, that's really something. 那真不簡單。

3. change 改變
It didn't change the world, I know.我知道那沒有改變世界。
But it helped me win a race. 不過有幫我贏得比賽。

4. race 比賽
The race of who can sleep longer? 看誰睡得比較久的比賽?
Yes! How did you know? 對啊，你怎麼知道的?

Let's read today's vocabulary.
desert沙漠
sunlight陽光
change改變
race比賽

________________________________________

Quiz

1. How many kilometers in this race?
a. 9
b. 518
c. 3,000

2. What did the students name their car?
a. Sunny IX
b. Solar IX
c. Apollo IX

3. What does the car run on?
a. Gas
b. Sunlight
c. Australia
















Answers:
1. c
2. c
d. b
 

________________________________

This Ferryboat Flies

People in Sweden made a flying ferryboat! Wait... what's a ferryboat?

Ferryboats are buses on water. They carry many people. People use them to go
to work or school. Some ferries carry cars too.
Ferryboat渡輪就像水上的公車，載人上班、上學，也可以載車子。

Ferries need to push lots of water so they can move. That takes a lot of
energy. All that water makes ferries slow. It also makes ferries move side to
side and up and down. Many people feel seasick.
渡輪需要很大的動力才能往前走。水流會讓渡輪的速度變慢，也會搖晃。很多人會因此暈船。

The flying ferry from Sweden can carry thirty people. It doesn't carry cars.
It starts in the water. Then it flies close above the water!
瑞典的飛行渡輪可以搭載30個人，它不載車子。它從海上起飛並在海面上飛行。

This flying ferry doesn't need to push water to move, so it doesn't use a lot
of energy. It's very fast. And it doesn't move side to side or up and down.
People don't get seasick.
這艘飛行渡輪速度非常快，而且不需要消耗很多的動力，也不會搖晃。

And this ferry is electric! That helps the Earth. Electricity costs ninety
percent less than the fuel for other ferries. What a huge saving! That helps
ferry companies.
這艘渡輪是電動的!
電力的花費比燃油便宜九成，所以電動飛行渡輪幫助地球也幫助渡輪公司。

Electric flying ferries are good for people, ferry companies, and the Earth!
Can we have them in Taiwan?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vocabulary
瑞典的飛行渡輪解決了許多問題。

1. seasick 暈船
A flying ferryboat. 一艘飛行渡輪。
What a good idea! 好棒的主意!
Yeah, I've never liked taking boats. 對啊，我從來就不愛搭船。
They make me feel seasick. 會讓我暈船。

2. carry 搭載
But this one seems different. 但是這艘好像不一樣。
I just hope it can carry my bike, too. 我只希望它也能載腳踏車。

3. need 需要
Why do you need your bike? 為什麼需要腳踏車?
I need it to go to school. 我需要騎車上學啊。

4. water 水
It lands on water… 它降落在水上...
So how do you ride your bike? 所以你要怎麼騎車?
It should get close to a dock. 它應該會靠碼頭。
Then I can ride it down the ramp. 然後我就可以騎車下坡道。

你有搭過渡輪嗎? 來讀單字。
seasick暈船
carry搭載
need需要
water水
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quiz

1. What does the flying ferry carry?
a. Cars and people
b. Cars
c. People

2. What is good about the flying ferry?
a. It's very fast.
b. It moves side to side.
c. It makes people seasick.

3. What makes the flying ferry fly?
a. Water
b. Electricity
c. Wind

Answers:
1. c
2. a
3. b

 

________________________________

Clean-Air Heroes on Wheels

Narrator: Around the world, millions of buses make lots of smoke. The smoke
makes air pollution. Countries are trying to make their air cleaner. How is
China fighting air pollution?
世界各地的公車排放很多廢氣。很多國家想要更乾淨的空氣，中國是如何對抗空氣污染呢?

China's cities are using many electric buses, or e-buses. E-buses don't make
smoke! They charge their batteries at their bus garage. Then they all drive
to their bus stops. They drive about two hundred kilometers a day!
中國用很多電動公車。他們先充電，再前往各個車站，每天大約行駛200公里。

China has the most e-buses in the world.

Voices: REALLY?!

Narrator: Shenzhen, a big city there, is the first city in the world to have
all e-buses!
中國有全世界最多的電動公車。深圳是第一個全面使用電動公車的城市。

E-buses are easy to use in China. They are everywhere! And in L?li?ng, a
small city, e-bus rides are free!
中國到處都是電動公車。在呂梁市還可以免費搭乘。

But e-buses also have problems. Making batteries and buses also makes
pollution. And batteries don't work well in cold weather.
但是電動公車也有缺點。製造電池跟公車會造成汙染。天氣冷的時候，電池也沒辦法運作。

China is working on these problems. Other countries are watching and learning.
中國正在改善這些問題，其他的國家都很注意，同時也在學習。

Here in Taiwan, all buses will be electric by 2030. Will Taiwan be the first
country to have all e-buses?
2030年所有本地公車都會變成電動，這會不會讓台灣成為世上第一個完全使用電動公車的國家?

Electric buses help us fight air pollution. Let's ride these clean-air heroes
on wheels!

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

Vocabulary
越來越多城市，打算擴大使用電動公車。

1. electric 電動的
Oh, my, I can hardly breathe! 天啊，我幾乎沒辦法呼吸!
Yeah, it really smells bad. 對啊，好難聞喔。
They should switch to electric buses. 他們應該換成電動公車。

2. air 空氣
I agree. 我同意。
It would be so much quieter.會安靜好多。
And much cleaner air. 空氣也乾淨得多。

3. smoke 煙霧
Nowadays I don't take the bus any more.現在我都不搭公車了。
Because of the smoke from traffic? 因為汽車排出來的煙霧嗎?
Exactly! 正是!

4. drive 駕駛
Also because I've learned to drive. 也是因為我學會了開車。
Oh no, more pollution. 糟糕，更多污染了。

請跟我讀單字。
electric電動的
air空氣
smoke煙霧
drive駕駛
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quiz
1. Why is China using e-buses?
a. For more smoke
b. For free rides
c. For cleaner air

2. Where do the e-buses charge?
a. Any charging place
b. Their bus garage
c. A big city park

3. When will Taiwan have all e-buses?
a. 2030
b. 2040
c. 2050

Answers:
1. c
2. b
3. a