English Reading(A Thank you Letter)

A Thank you Letter

Dear Editor:

  My 21 year-old son,Bill, is mentally handicapped. Earlier this year, a pizza parlor hired him and he has worked there since March.According to his boss,he has been doing very well.The management has made a special effort to help Bill feel comfortable.Because of this ,Bill has learned to fit in with the other employees.As a matter of fact,everyone at the pizza parlor has been trying to help.

This is the first chance that Bill has had to earn his own living.The working experience is simply impressive.What's more important,he is proud of himself because he feels useful and he is financially independent.

The public school special education programs prepared Bill for this job.When he was in school,he had several training jobs.These taught him the skills for his work.

I would like to say thank you to the pizza parlor and the Martin Public Schools.We appreciate your help so much.

mentally----(ad)精神上的

handicapped----(adj)障礙的

parlor----(n)店舖

simply----(ad)實在

make a effort to + V----努力

fit in with----適合;調和

as a matter of fact(=in fact)----事實上

earn one's own living(=make a living)----獨立生存

prepare 人 for-----使(某人)做...準備

English Reading( A Typical Day)

 A Typical Day

  I usually go to work by subway,and I get to work by 8:00 a.m. Before I start my job,I put on my uniform and look at myself in the mirror to make sure that I took neat.At 8:30 in the morning, I go on duty.I usually eat lunch from twelve to one and generally take a fifteen-minute break in the morning and in the afternoon. At 4:30 in the afternoon,I go off duty.

  I enjoy my job very much. I meet all kinds of people and talk to everyone, Many people ask me questions, and I give them the necessary in formation. I try to be very helpful. I always call out floors very clearly, and I am constantly on the move.Most men rake off their hats in my car,and sometimes I have to tell passengers to put out their cigarettes. Some people smile at me, but others just ignore me. In fact, my life can be described as consisting of a series of "ups" and "downs."

neat ----整潔的

constantly ----不斷地

get to work ----到達工作的地方

put on ----穿上

take off----脫掉

go on duty ----開始值勸

go off duty ----下班

put out----熄(煙)

be described as----被描寫成....

consist of----由...組成

a series of ----一連串

English Reading(Hiring Voluntary English Teachers)

Hiring Voluntary English Teachers

The elementary schools in Taiwan have begun teaching English , but it is difficult for those schools in remote,rural areas to hire qualified English teachers.Now the problem seems to be partially solves as forty American-born Chinese will be recruited to teach English in remote or rural areas this coming summer.

  These young American-born Chinese will work as English teachers for nine weeks during their summer vacation. In return they will receive free lessons in Chinese and Chinese literature for their voluntary efforts.

  Any interested individuals who are Chinese Americans aged over twenty and have a college degree are welcome to apply for the job via the Internet at the following email address:

 www.kingcar.com.tw before March 8,2003.

rural----(adj)鄉下的

partially----(ad)部分地

recruit----(v)徵召

literature----(n)文學

voluntary----(adj)自願的

individual----(n)個人

American-born Chinese----美藉華裔

English Reading(Short_term and Long-term Memory)

Short_term and Long-term Memory

  "Memorize these words.""Learn this spelling rule.""Don't forget the quiz tomorrow."You remember things every days, but how do you do it.

  You find a telephone number in the phone book,dial it,and then forget it. This is your short-term memory. It lasts less than 30 seconds. However,you don't look in the phone book for a friend's number.You know it.This is your long-tern memory.Your long-term memory has everything that you remember.

  Why do you forget something? You did not learn it in the beginning. This is the major reason for forgetting. For example, you meet some new people, and you forget their names. You hear the name s, but you do not learn them.Then you forget them.

quiz----測驗

in the beginning----一開始

for the little while----一會兒

come across----遇到

no more than(=only)----只不過

tend to +原V----易於