________________________________

Bees Like to Play

Hi, students! Have you ever heard of the phrase, "Busy as a bee?" If someone
is "Busy as a Bee," it means he or she is really busy.
你們有聽過「跟蜜蜂一樣忙」這種講法嗎？意思是這個人非常忙。

Bees are busy insects. They go to many flowers and collect pollen. That's
good for flowers. Bees also build hives.
The hives are their homes. And, of course, bees make honey. That's good for
us.
蜜蜂是很忙碌的昆蟲。他們要蒐集花粉，要蓋蜂窩，也就是他們的家。蜜蜂還會做蜂蜜！

Here's something you probably didn't know about bees. They like to play! Some
people at a university in London proved that. They taught bees to roll small
balls. How did the researchers teach the bees to roll little balls?
They gave them food when they rolled the balls.
但你可能不知道，蜜蜂也喜歡玩耍！倫敦一所大學的研究人員教蜜蜂滾小球，只要蜜蜂滾動小球，就給牠們食物。

But the researchers found something else really interesting. They saw the
bees playing with balls even when they didn't get food.
但是研究人員發現，就算沒有食物，蜜蜂還是會去玩球。

Researchers also found that younger bees played with the balls more than
adult bees. Hey, that's just like humans. Kids like to play more than their
parents, right? 他們還發現年輕的蜜蜂更愛玩球。跟人類很像，小孩也比大人愛玩！

One young bee played with a ball a 117 times. Wow - a 117 times! I guess that
bee was having a ball. "Having a ball" means to have a good time. I hope you
kids are having a ball, too, today!
________________________________________

Vocabulary

蜜蜂不是應該整天辛勤工作嗎? 但是有機會時牠們也會玩。
1. hear 聽到。
I've never heard such a thing! 我從來沒有聽過這種事!
What? 什麼事? Bees playing with balls? 蜜蜂會玩球嗎?
Yeah, bees are insects. 對啊，蜜蜂是昆蟲。
They make honey. 牠們製造蜂蜜。
They don't play. 牠們不玩耍。

2. mean 意思。
You mean insects don't know how to have fun? 你的意思是昆蟲不懂怎麼玩?
Right. They must think the ball is food. 對。牠們一定以為球是吃的東西。

3. food 食物。
No, their food is pollen.不對，牠們的食物是花粉。
Well, to a young bee, balls probably look like pollen.
對小蜜蜂來說，球可能看起來像花粉。

4. prove 證明。
You can't prove that. 你沒辦法證明。
You're right. I can't. 你說對了，我沒辦法。
I wish I were a bee. 我希望我是一隻蜜蜂。

來讀讀今天的單字。
hear聽到
mean意思
food食物
prove證明

________________________________________

Quiz

1. What did the bees play with?
A: Flowers
B: Balls
C: People

2. What is true about young bees?
A: They like to play more than adults.
B: They don't like to play much.
C: They like to play as much as adults do.

3. What does the phrase, "Having a ball," mean?
A: Being busy
B: Throwing a ball
C: Having fun

Answers

1. B
2. A
3. C

 

________________________________

Leather from Mushrooms

Mushrooms are part of a group of amazing living things that are not really an
animal and not really a plant. 香菇不是動物也不是植物，它們是菇類！

You can eat some mushrooms, and they're super yummy. But you can also make
leather from them. 它們不只很好吃，還可以做成皮革！

We use leather for many things. I have a leather belt and leather shoes.
皮革可以做成很多東西，像是我自己有皮帶或跟皮鞋。

But some people say we should try to stop making things with leather.
有人說我們不應該再用皮革做東西。

Why? Well, two big reasons …

One, to make leather you need a lot of chemicals. Those chemicals can be bad
for people, and they are bad for the earth - they cause pollution.
第一個原因是，做皮革要用很多化學藥劑，對人跟地球都不好。

And number two: Leather comes from animals - mostly cows. Many people think
we need to stop eating so much meat and stop using things made from animals.
第二個原因是，很多皮革都是用牛做的。有人覺得我們不要再吃這麼多肉，也不要再用動物做東西！

That's why scientists are making leather from mushrooms! It looks almost
exactly like leather from animals, and it's strong too.
所以科學家要用菇類做皮革！它很像用動物做的皮革，也是很堅固！

Many companies are interested in this new mushroom leather.

Using mushroom leather means we can say goodbye to bad chemicals, and it
means we don't need to use animals.
這樣子我們可以遠離化學藥劑，也不用動物做東西。
_______________________________
Vocabulary
生活中有哪些東西是皮革做的，你可知道?

1. leather 皮革。
I don't wear leather shoes any more.我不再穿皮鞋了。
Why not? 為什麼不呢?

Because I'm wearing cotton shoes now. 因為我現在都穿棉布鞋。
They are light and comfortable. 它們很輕，又很舒服。

2. strong 堅固耐用。
But they are not as strong as leather. 但是它們沒有皮革堅固。
That's true. So I don't wear them on rainy days. 這是真的，所以我雨天不穿。

3. use 使用。
You use cotton for your bags too? 你也用棉布做包包嗎?
Yeah, look at my book bag. 對啊，你看我的書包。
Very cute! 很可愛呢!
Yeah, I use cotton for many things. 我用棉布做很多東西。

4. company 公司。
A lot of companies are making these products. 很多公司也在做這些產品
I know. But I prefer to do it myself. 我知道，不過我喜歡自己動手。

這些字簡單好用，來一起讀一遍。
leather皮革
strong堅固耐用
use使用
company公司
________________________________
Quiz

1. How does animal leather hurt the earth?
A: Making it uses bad chemicals.
B: Making it takes 100 years
C: Making it means bigger typhoons

2. What are scientists using to make new leather?
A: Mushrooms
B: Fried rice
C: Frogs

3. Where does leather come from?
A: Mostly cows.
B: Mostly clouds.
C: Mostly clowns.

Answers
1. A
2. A
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

 

________________________________

Bird Spikes Help Birds Make More Birds

Birds are beautiful in the sky! They have beautiful colors! They make
beautiful songs! 天上的鳥很漂亮! 牠們的叫聲也很優美!

Many birds live in cities. And every year, they make a nest. But some people
don't like birds. Why?
很多鳥類都會在城市築巢，但有一些人不喜歡牠們。為甚麼呢?

Well, birds are loud in the morning and at night. And they make places dirty.

People keep birds away with bird spikes. A spike is long and thin. The spike
end is sharp. OUCH! 人們用長而細的防鳥刺趕走鳥類，哎喔! 那些刺很尖銳。

People put bird spikes on top of walls and buildings. Birds can't sit on
spikes. They can't make nests on them.
人們在牆壁和屋頂上放防鳥刺，鳥類就不會在上面築巢。

Crows and magpies are strong birds. Some of these birds take spikes! They
like shiny things. Metal spikes are shiny.
烏鴉和喜鵲是強壯的鳥類。牠們有一些會叼走防鳥刺，牠們喜歡發亮的金屬。

But, that's not why they take them. Crows and magpies are smart. Scientists
say the birds use the spikes. They put the sharp ends outside their nests.
These bird spikes stop other birds and animals.
但是這不是烏鴉和喜鵲叼走的原因。牠們很聰明，會用防鳥刺築巢，阻止其他鳥類和動物靠近。

Taiwan has crows and magpies. They're strong and smart. Maybe you'll see a
nest with spikes one day!

****************************************************************************************************
Vocabulary
這些喜鵲自己不怕尖刺，有夠神奇!

1. in the morning 在早上
I really need a vacation! 我真的需要度假!
I'd like to hear birds in the morning, and frogs at night.
我想要早上聽到鳥鳴，晚上聽到青蛙叫。

2. on top of 在上面。
Where can you find a place like that? 你哪裡可以找到那種地方?
A homestay in Taitung, perhaps. 也許台東的一家民宿吧?
I stayed one before. Next to the cafe?, on top of the hill.
我以前住過一家。在小山丘上面，一家咖啡館旁邊。
3. smart 聰明的
You can just sit in a cafe here and listen to birds and frogs on your cell
phone. 你可以就坐在這裡的咖啡館，聽手機上的鳥叫青蛙叫。
That's a smart idea, you know. 真是聰明主意呢。

今天的單字和片語都很好用喔。
In the morning在早上
on top of在上面。
smart聰明的

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

1. Why don't some people like birds?
a. They're loud.
b. They're strong.
c. They're smart.

2. Why do some people use bird spikes?
a. They're shiny.
b. They keep birds away.
c. They keep nests safe.

3. What birds use bird spikes?
a. Ducks and magpies
b. Crows and geese
c. Crows and magpies








Answers:
1. a
2. b
3. c
 

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Cactuses Can't Stand the Heat

Scientists say climate change is making this year hot. This July was the
planet's hottest month in 120,000 years!
科學家說氣候改變讓今年變得很熱，今年七月是地球12萬年來最熱的月份!

Cactuses like hot weather. They don't need much water. They live in deserts.
Deserts are hot and dry.
仙人掌喜歡熱的天氣，也不需要很多水分，它們長在沙漠裡。

Phoenix is a city in a desert. This July, Phoenix was the hottest city in the
USA. Phoenix was very hot in August and it's hot now in September too.
今年七月鳳凰城是美國最熱的城市，八月和九月的天氣也非常炎熱。

Phoenix has many saguaro cactuses. Some are 12 meters tall! They have
branches called arms. These cactuses can live for 200 years!
鳳凰城有很多巨人柱，這種仙人掌可以長到12公尺高，它們還可以活兩百年!

But in Phoenix, saguaro cactuses are getting sick! They're turning yellow.
Their arms are falling off! Some cactuses are falling down!
但是鳳凰城的巨人柱生病了! 它們開始變黃，也開始倒塌。

People worry about their sick saguaro cactuses. What do these cactuses need?
They need water! The cactuses can't stand the heat! 連仙人掌都熱得受不了!
它們需要水!

Heavy rain comes to Phoenix every year. People hope the rain can save the
cactuses. But can it? 鳳凰城每一年都會下大雨，人們希望這些雨可以拯救仙人掌。

It's too hot for cactuses! Now we need to do more than hope. We need to fight
climate change together. We need to save the planet!
________________________________________

Vocabulary
天氣太熱，連沙漠植物仙人掌都快活不下去了。

1. fall 掉落
I'm going to try riding a unicycle tomorrow. 我明天要試著騎獨輪車。
What? You'll fall off and hurt yourself.什麼啊，你會掉下來受傷。

2. arm 手臂
No, I won't. I'm good at riding a bike. 才不會，我很會騎腳踏車的。
A unicycle is different. 獨輪車不一樣。
You need to stretch out your arms. 你的手臂要伸出去。

3. hottest 最熱的
Wouldn't that be fun? 那不是很好玩?
You just like to do crazy things. 你就是喜歡瘋狂的事。Remember when you ate
chili in the hottest weather? 你記得你在天氣最熱的時候吃辣椒吧?

4. water 水
Yeah, my tongue felt like it was burning! 記得，我的舌頭好像燒起來了。
I had to drink tons of water. 不得不喝大量的水。

我們來讀今天的單字。
fall掉落
arm手臂
hottest最熱的
water水
________________________________________

Quiz

When was the planet's hottest month in 120,000 years?
a. This July
b. This August
c. This September

What is Phoenix?
a. A kind of cactus
b. A city in a desert
c. Heavy rain

What do the sick cactuses need?
a. Arms
b. Water
c. Climate change













Answers:
1. a
2. b
3. b