________________________________

Learning How to Use a Phone

What did you do when you got your first smartphone? Did you read about how to
use it? Did you ask someone for help?
第一次有智慧型手機時，你做了什麼？有人教你嗎?

Or, maybe you didn't need any help! Maybe you saw your mom or dad use their
phones and learned.
還是你看爸媽怎麼用就學會了呢?

But many older people don't know how to use smartphones. They don't know
about apps. Their children and grandchildren can't text or video call them.
This makes them sad.
但是，很多長輩不知道怎麼使用手機。不會用手機講話或跟家人視訊，讓他們很難過。

But India has a program. It teaches people how to use smartphones.
印度現在有一堂課在教大家怎麼用手機！

The oldest student is 105 years old. He started one year ago. Before, he
read the news in newspapers. And he could not video call his family.
有一位學生已經105歲了！他一年前才開始上這堂課，他以前沒辦法在手機上看新聞或是跟家人視訊。

Now he watches the news online. And he knows how to video call his family!
This makes him happy!
上了這堂課之後，他不但能跟家人視訊，也會上線看新聞！

Using a smartphone helps this man. Can you teach someone how to use one?
Share what you know and help them!
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Vocabulary
智慧型手機功能眾多，其實大家都需要學習。

1. newspaper 報紙。
My newspapers didn't arrive this morning. 我的報紙今天早上沒來。
You're still reading print newspapers?! 你還在看紙本的報紙喔?
Yeah, it's easier for me.是，對我來說比較簡單。

2. online 線上。
But you can read news online. 但是你可以上網看新聞。
Just get an app. 下載一個應用程式。

3. need 需要。
I tried but I needed help from my children. 我有試，但是需要孩子幫忙。
Did they help? 他們有幫上忙嗎?
No, they said I could ask my grandchildren. 沒有，他們說我可以去問孫子孫女。

4. learn 學習。
You know you can learn from AI, right? 你知道可以跟AI學吧?
Will it teach me step by step? 會一步一步教我嗎?
Yeah, it will. 會。

今天的單字很簡單。
newspaper報紙 online線上 need需要 learn學習
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Quiz

1. How old is the oldest student in India's program?
a. 75
b. 100
c. 105

2. When did the man start the program?
a. One week ago
b. One month ago
c. One year ago

3. Where does the man get the news from now?
a. Newspapers
b. Online
c. Radio

Answers
1. c
2. c
3. b
 

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Hi there! Welcome back to a brand new episode of News Bites.

I'm Allie Highsmith.

And I'm Jacob Ingram.

Coming up today:
Tracking stray dogs and a cow that uses tools!

And in today's News Flash: verification.

Keep on listening to learn more, coming up next.
________________________________

用手機定位流浪狗
Lost Dogs, Found by Phone

Taiwan has a new way to help track stray dogs (流浪狗).
The Ministry of Agriculture launched a new app called the "Dog Tracking Map."
農業部推出了一款新 App，叫做「犬蹤地圖」。

The app lets people report stray dogs they see.
Users can take a photo of a dog and mark the location on a map
(在地圖上標記位置).
The app uses AI to help count (計算) the dogs in the photo.

After taking a picture, users add simple details.
They can say how many dogs they saw.
They can also note if the dogs wear collars (項圈).
If they know, they can add the dogs' gender (性別), too.

All this information goes into one big system.
The government will use it to find stray dog hotspots (流浪狗熱點).
These are places where many stray dogs often appear.

The goal is safety and better planning.
Stray dogs can sometimes bite people.
They can also cause scooter and car accidents.
In some areas, they harm wildlife (野生動物), too.

Since 2017, Taiwan has had a no-kill policy (零撲殺政策) for stray animals.
That me ans dogs are not put down (被安樂死).
But it also means the number of stray dogs is harder to control.

Before, each city handled (處理) stray dogs in its own way.
There was no shared system across Taiwan.
That made planning slow and uneven.

Now, this app brings all the data together.
It helps the government decide where help is needed most.
It also lets regular people take part.

The app is free to download now.
Anyone can join after phone number verification (手機號碼驗證).
One photo at a time, Taiwan hopes to make streets safer for everyone.

________________________________

BITE SIZE BREAK
________________________________

配備搔癢器具的牛
The Cow Who Brought Her Own Back Scratcher

Scientists in Austria (奧地利) just saw something very unusual.
A cow named Veronika was seen using tools (工具).

Yes, a cow using tools.
Veronika lives in a mountain village in the Austrian countryside.
She has spent years learning how to scratch herself (幫自己抓癢) with objects.

She uses sticks, rakes, and even brooms.
她會用木棍、耙子，甚至是掃把。

Researchers in Vienna studied her behavior (行為).
They say this is the first time tool use has been clearly recorded in cattle
(牛).

Veronika does not use the tool in only one way.
She uses different parts of the same object for different jobs.
她會用同一個物品的不同部分，做不同的事。
That surprised the scientists.

For a hard-to-reach place (比較難搆到的地方), like her back, she uses the
bristle end of a broom (有刷毛的一端).
The bristles give a stronger scratch.

But for a softer place, like her belly (肚子), she uses the smooth handle end
(用掃把比較光滑的把手部分).
It is gentler (比較溫和) and safer.

Tool use like this is rare (很少見) in animals.
Scientists often see it in chimpanzees (黑猩猩).
Chimpanzees use sticks to get insects and stones to crack nuts (敲開堅果).

The research team says this may mean cows are smarter than people think
(比人們想像中更聰明).
They believe other cows might learn similar skills, if they get the chance.

Veronika's owner is an organic farmer named Witgar Wiegele.
He hopes her story helps people respect nature more.
________________________________

So, in today's News Bites:

The Ministry of Agriculture launched a new app called the "Dog Tracking Map"
to help track stray dogs.

People can take a photo, mark the location on a map, and add simple details
like the number of dogs and whether they wear collars.

The government plans to use this data to find hotspots and focus resources
where stray dog risks are higher.

________________________________

And,

Scientists in Austria studied a cow named Veronika after she was seen using
tools to scratch herself.

She uses objects like sticks and brooms, and she can use different ends of
the same tool for different body parts.

The discovery suggests cows may be smarter than people thought.

________________________________

NEWS FLASH
In today's News Flash, our word of the day is "verification" (驗證)!

Verification is a noun.
Verification means checking that something is true, correct, or real.

People use verification to make sure information is right.
For example, an app may ask for phone number verification.
This means the app checks that the phone number belongs to you.

Verification often uses a code, a message, or an ID.
If the code matches, the information is verified.

Schools use verification to check test results.
Banks use verification to protect accounts.
Websites use verification to stop fake users.

In short, verification helps build trust.
It makes sure people and information are real.

________________________________

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 upcoming episode!

We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!