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Japan's Magic Umbrellas

Everyone wants an umbrella on rainy days. But did you know umbrellas can have
magic? They do in Japan!
你知道在日本雨傘是有魔法的嗎？

A long time ago, umbrellas were for very important people there. Workers held
the umbrellas high over these people! This showed these people had power in
their country, or with spirits.
很久以前，在日本只有重要人物才有人幫他們撐傘。這個象徵他們在國內或者在神鬼之間有權有勢。

So everyone thought umbrellas had magic. They thought spirits came down to
Earth and lived in umbrellas!
因此，大家認為雨傘有魔法，神鬼會降臨到世間，住在雨傘裡！

Today, everyone can use umbrellas. And in Japan, the magic stays!
如今大家都能用傘，但是雨傘在日本的魔力仍然不減！

At one festival there, people spin beautiful umbrellas. They say these
umbrellas take away sickness!
在日本的一個祭典上，大家會旋轉漂亮的雨傘。據說這些雨傘可以帶走病痛！

At another festival, big floats drive in a parade. The floats have umbrellas
on them. People walk under the umbrellas. They say this brings good luck!
另一個祭典會有插滿雨傘的花車。參加祭典的人會從雨傘下走過，祈求平安。

On one island in Japan, people do a dance every two years. They dance with
colorful umbrellas for one night. This helps spirits go home safely!
在日本的一個島上，人們會在某一天晚上拿著色彩繽紛的雨傘跳舞。他們每兩年舉行一次這種舞蹈，希望島上的鬼魂可以平安回家。

So, when you open an umbrella, look at it. Is it full of magic and good luck
too?
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Vocabulary
日本人相信雨傘很神奇，可以帶來好運。

1. parade 遊行。
There's a big parade in Keelung this weekend. 這周末基隆有大遊行。
And you plan to go? 你計畫要去?

2. a long time ago 很久以前。
Yeah, I saw it once a long time ago.對，很久以前我看過一次。

3. think 認為，或是以為。
I thought you don't like crowded places.我以為你不喜歡擁擠的地方。
I don't, but that one was fun. 是不喜歡，不過那次很好玩。

4. colorful 五顏六色的。
The floats were colorful and beautiful! 花車五顏六色，好漂亮!
Some had dancers on them! 有的上面還有人跳舞!
I'll go with you. 我跟你一起去!

今天的單字你記住了嗎?
parade遊行 a long time ago很久以前 think認為，或是以為
colorful五顏六色的

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Quiz

1. Who were umbrellas for a long time ago in Japan?
a. Everyone
b. Very important people
c. Dancers

2. A long time ago in Japan, where did everyone think spirits lived?
a. On parade floats
b. In umbrellas
c. On an island

3. Why do people walk under umbrellas at one parade?
a. To see spirits
b. To keep dry
c. To bring good luck

Answers
1. b
2. b
3. c
 

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

I’m Allie Highsmith.

And I’m Nancy Sun.

In this episode of News Bites: Taipei Zoo finds new ways to keep animals cool

And, Chile blocks smart phones in one middle school

And in this episode’s news flash: candidate!
________________________________

臺北動物園給動物們吃冰
Taipei Zoo finds new ways to keep animals cool

Taiwan summers are sooo hot.

I know! But at least we have air conditioning 冷氣 and fans 電風扇 to keep us
cool 涼涼的.

That’s right. Although, not everyone can use things like that.

What do you mean?

Well not everyone spends the whole day inside.

For example, zoo animals!

Oh yeah… it must be pretty hot being at the zoo all day every day-
especially for animals like polar bears 北極熊 that are supposed to be in
colder places.

Well, the Taipei Zoo is trying to find new ways to keep animals cool and
comfortable.

Before, the zoo gave animals fruit and vegetables frozen in ice.
之前呢，動物園會把蔬菜和水果凍在冰塊裏面。

For example, maybe animals could eat a banana that’s frozen inside ice.

應該蠻好吃的吧。。。

But freezing the fruits and vegetables still takes a long time, and it’s not
very convenient.

But now, the zoo bought a new machine to make shaved ice 刨冰!

So now, they can make more cool treats for their animals.

好涼爽喔！

Workers at the zoo say that animals will get shaved ice with their frozen
food.

For example, the zoo says that its Asiatic black bear “Hei-lun” 黑輪 got
bananas, apples, watermelon, and pineapple covered in shaved ice.

Workers said that Hei-lun smelled the fruit in the ice and found the fruit
inside, and then sat down on the ground to eat.

And Asian small-clawed otters 亞洲小爪水獺 named Tangerine and Ace got pieces
of fish with shaved ice.

They ate the snack in their pool.

很贊的一天！

Workers say that the snacks help the animals stay cool, plus they give the
animals a fun activity to do, when they get to dig 挖 through the ice to find
their snack.

They emphasize ?調 that giving animals fun activities like these to do helps
increase their quality of life 增加生活品質.

But remember, always check with a veterinarian before you give your pet any
new foods.
大家請記得，要給寵物吃人類食物的話，要先跟獸醫確定寵物能不能吃喔!

Some foods that people eat can be very dangerous to pets!
________________________________

智利創新減少學生上課時用手機
Chile uses new way to limit smartphone use in schools

In Chile 智利, a school is using a new way to get students to not use their
phones in class.

It works like this: students put their phones in a special case and they
don’t work!

But how?!

Cell phone signal is blocked in the cases. 在那個袋子裏面，手機收不到訊號。

That means, students can’t text, call, or scroll online when they’re inside
the school.

They line up 排隊 to put their phones in a black case that blocks cell phone
signal using a magnet 磁鐵.

The only people who can turn it off are school workers.

This way, students can keep their phones with them, but can only use them
when school is over.

Students at the school, called Lo Barnechea Bicentenario, in the capital city
of Santiago 聖地牙哥, now can spend more time trying new activities and doing
their hobbies.

Students are spending more time at the library and cafe on campus, talking to
each other and studying.

The school even put more games in areas that the students can use.

The decision to block phone signals is the first program in Chile and one of
the first in South America.

Right now, they’re only testing 測試 the method at Lo Barnechea Bicentenario
school for 13 and 14 year olds.

But, it will spread 拓展 to all levels and other schools in one year.

At first, students didn’t like the new rule because they weren’t used to it.

But after only a few weeks, students, teachers, and parents are satisfied
滿意 with the new measures 措施.

Students say they feel more free 自在, and spend more time with classmates.

Plus they say they spend more time playing sports, but before, they spent a
lot of time on social media 社群媒體.

One student, Francisca Susarte, says that it helps a lot that the students
get to keep their phones with them, instead of giving them to a teacher.
其中一名學生說，他很喜歡手機可以留在身上而不用交給老師。

People at the school say that students in Chile spend a lot of time on
screens 螢幕.

Researchers say that young people who say they have cell phone addictions
上癮 were more likely to have mental health problems 心理健康問題.
________________________________

So, in today's News Bites:

Taipei Zoo is finding new ways to keep animals cool.

The summers are very hot, and the animals outside can get too warm.

So the zoo bought a shaved ice machine.

Now, it can give the animals fruit and fish with ice.

They also have fun digging in the ice.
________________________________

And,

In Chile, a new program in a middle school is blocking cell phone signals so
that students can’t use their phones in school.

The students put their phones in a black case that uses a magnet to block the
signal.

The students like the rule because they get to keep their phones with them
and they get to spend more time playing sports and talking to friends.
________________________________

News Flash

In today’s News Flash, our vocab word is “candidate.”

That’s a noun, and it’s spelled C-A-N-D-I-D-A-T-E.

A candidate is a person who is running for 參選 something like president,
lawmaker, or other positions.

Candidates are all the people who are trying to become that thing.

For example, there were three candidates in Taiwan’s last presidential
election.

And a candidate is called a 候選人 in Mandarin.

And now you know!
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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!