The Man, The Bug, The Legend
甲蟲．作家．卡夫卡　
by Levi King

Imagine going to bed one night as usual and waking up the next morning as a giant insect. Your family is frightened and embarrassed, and you are unable to speak or live a normal life. This is the premise of Franz Kafka''s short novel The Metamorphosis. First published in German in 1915, The Metamorphosis has become one of the most famous stories of the last century and an icon of modern literature. The main character, Gregor Samsa, wakes one morning to find he has been transformed into an insect one meter tall. Horrified, Gregor wants to explain the situation to his family, but is unable to speak. Gregor''s parents and sister have relied on him to support the family. Since he can no longer work, they are forced to find jobs. Gregor spends his time in his bedroom, and the isolation wears down his mind and health. In addition, his family soon becomes resentful of their burden. In a moment of anger, Gregor''s father throws an apple and hits Gregor on the back. The apple gets stuck in his cracked shell and slowly rots, eventually killing the broken-hearted Gregor. Gregor''s metamorphosis has been interpreted countless ways. However, most scholars agree that it symbolizes the loneliness and alienation of the modern world. There is even debate about Gregor''s form because the author never tells readers what kind of insect he is. Gregor is commonly depicted as a giant cockroach, but Kafka''s own descriptions make this unlikely. In fact, Kafka demanded that publishers not add illustrations of the insect, leaving Gregor''s appearance to each reader''s imagination.

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1.This artical is about an author who writes the book is very famous. And the writting is debated by a lot of people.

2.

a.

metamorphosis n. 變形；蛻變

rot vi. 腐壞

alienation n. 疏離

b.

get stuck in...　　陷在……之中

leave...to one''s imagination 將……留給某人自己去想像

wear down...　　 削弱（人的志氣或健康）；使……磨薄

3.

I choose this artical because his writting is attracting me very much. When I first saw his writting was translated to the cartoon on the bus. Different bus had different parts.So that days I very like to take bus.And it gave me a lot of creations. If I was the writter , I cannot write it. Because I didn't have the inspiration. This book is very good for me.

Owls

貓頭鷹　
by Jerri Graham
As Harry Potter's beloved pet, Hedwig, a Snowy owl, is probably the most famous bird in the world. Snowy owls are just one of the more than 200 species of owls. Owls vary size and can be as little as the 31-gram Elf owl and as large as the Blakiston's Fish Owl, which can weigh almost five kilograms. Owls are actually very different from other birds. Owls are nocturnal animals, which means that they sleep during the day and hunt at night. They are known both for their unique call, or hoot, and their extremely good sight. They use these features to navigate and hunt in the dark. They are far-sighted and use this vision to track and target their prey from a distance. while pigeons and sparrows can exist on seeds and grains, this would not satisfy most owls. Instead, they prefer to eat small mammals such as moles, mice, and rabbits. In addition tothese warm-blooded creatures, they will also feed on insects and other birds when hunger strikes. Like other birds of prey, owls have sharp beaks and claws that they use to tear their food to pieces before eating it. Sometimes they do swallow larger chunks of bone, feathers, and other things that are indigestible. What their bodies don't digest is thrown up in the form of owl pellets. These lumps of bone and other bits are collected because they are invaluable for studying the habits and diet of owls. Owls serve man by eliminating some of the pests that would make life unbearable. Protecting their habitat is, in a sense, a way of protecting our own.

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1.This artical is about owls. The owls's habits and what it eat.
2.
a.
nocturnal a. 夜行性的
hoot n. 貓頭鷹的叫聲
pest n. 害蟲
strike vi. 來襲 & vt. 侵襲
b.
be different from...　　與……不同
throw up...　　嘔吐∕吐出……
in a sense　　就某種意義來說
3.I choose this artical because when I first saw the owls in the harry potter , I think that it was very cute. They are very beautiful. But my mom was afraid of the owls. She though that the owls were devil and their squeal was very terrible. Although it was terrible, I still love it. When I was a child, I saw it in the mountain. They were very small so not really terrible. Now I don't see the owls again. They were just disappear. If I want to see the owls , i have to go to the zoo.

The Sinful Centaur 神話中的人馬

It is speculated that in ancient Greece, before horses became common, invaders from the north rode on horseback and attacked villages. To the Greeks, these horsemen looked like monstrous half-men and half-animals. It seemed as if the horse and the man were both one creature. The Aztecs in the Americas felt the same way when they first Over time, many stories developed about these beasts with the head, body, and arms of a man but the legs, back, and tail of a horse. They were said to be lustful, drunken creatures that savagely interrupted life wherever they turned up. According to legend, the centaurs were the grandsons of Ixion, the king of Thessaly. When Ixion died, King Pirithous inherited part of Thessaly. The centaurs then claimed Thessaly as their birthright. The centaurs fought Pirithous, but eventually peace was secured. The centaurs were invited to Pirithous'' wedding as a gesture of goodwill. Unfortunately, they got drunk and tried to carry off Pirithous'' bride and the other women. Naturally, Pirithous wouldn''t stand for this, and a battle ensued. The centaurs lost the fight and were exiled. This famous battle is depicted on earthenware in museums across the globe. History has forever judged them as drunken, violent, lustful monsters without honor. But there is a constellation in the heavens that tells a different tale, and the Harry Potter books cast them in a better light, too.

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1.This artical is about The Sinful Centaur . Introducing the centaur how them become drunken creatures that savagely interrupted life wherever they turned up.

2.
a.
sinful a. 有罪過的
cavalryman n. 騎兵
savagely adv. 野蠻地
over time　　隨著時間流逝
b.
carry off...　　劫持……
cast...in a...light　　從……的角度詮釋……
aggression n. 侵略
constellation n. 星座
3.I choose this artical because I love to read about the constellations. I think the constellation is very charming. And I still don't know a lot of stars. When I found other stars I feel that I learn more things about the cosmos. That is very delicious for me.

Out with the Old, In with the New Year
除舊佈新迎新年　
by Levi King

　
"Three, two, one, Happy New Year!" Most people are familiar with the dropping of the ball of lights in New York City, along with the famous fireworks displays in Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and Taipei. But here are a few lesser-known New Year''s Day traditions from around the globe. In Japan, people send postcards to friends and family. They also fly kites, play games, and read poetry. Some traditions related to Chinese New Year are banging gongs to drive away bad luck and spirits and giving money to children on January In Spanish-speaking countries around the world, wearing red underwear on New Year''s Day is thought to bring good luck in love. In Ecuador, people burn dummies stuffed with paper and firecrackers to symbolize the death of the old year. In Spain and Mexico, people eat 12 grapes to ensure 12 lucky months. In Scotland, home of the famous New Year song, "Auld Lang Syne," people bring gifts to neighbors just after midnight. In Denmark, people smash old plates to attract new friends. Dutch people believe that doughnuts are good luck because their ring shape symbolizes a complete year. Around the world, it''s common practice to give a loved one a kiss at midnight on New Year''s Day. People of many countries also make resolutions, believing that the new year is a good time to leave bad habits behind. Common resolutions include dieting, exercising, or quitting smoking. Throw a party, watch some fireworks, eat a special food, or make a resolution. No matter where you are, there are plenty of great ways to welcome the New Year.


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1.This artical is about different country how to greet the new year. Someplace singing the song or fling the kites etc. It was really different from Taiwan.

2.
a.
lesser-known a. 較不為人知的
dummy n. 假人
Auld Lang Syne n. 驪歌
smash vt. 砸碎
b.
make a resolution　　下決心
throw a party　　舉行派對

3.I choose this atical because the chinese new year is coming soon. i am really happy to welcome this day cause my friends and I decide to cerebrate the chinese new year together. I thing this will be a good momery to me. And I also make a resolution like studing harder and going on a diet without break.The best is that my parents will give me
red package. I am so expectant.

2007/11/01

Audrey Hepburn—Beauty,Style, and Grace
奧黛麗‧赫本—
　
美麗、風格與優雅的化身　
by Jerri Graham
　
Audrey Hepburn's legendary beauty has been an inspiration for fashion and style for years. There has never been another actress like her and most likely there never will be. Born in May of 1929, the beautiful actress was a major star during the 1950s and 60s and was the epitome of glamour. Her tale is one of struggle, triumph, blessings, and courage. In the film Roman Holiday, Audrey portrayed a princess. In real life, she wasn't exactly a princess, but she was a descendant of French nobility and English kings. In 1935, Audrey's father left the family, and her mother decided to move the family to Arnhem, the Netherlands. Events here would forever change Audrey's life. In 1940, the Nazis invaded the city of Arnhem. The world as everyone knew it changed overnight. War ripped the world apart, and in Arnhem, Audrey saw its destruction firsthand. She witnessed people being shot, and as a child, she had no way of doing anything about these horrible crimes. Despite the ugliness of what she witnessed, the dark-haired girl still found beauty in dancing. Having trained as a ballerina prior to and during the war, Audrey kept up her studies and was moving towards a career as a ballerina. She even used her gifts as a dancer to raise money to fight the Germans. Devastation struck in 1944, the year of the Dutch famine. The Nazis had cut the city off, taken the food and fuel supply for themselves, and left thousands of people to starve. It is estimated that 10,000 people died as a result of the Nazi blockade



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1.This artical is about Audrey Hepburn whom background.
2.
a.portray vt. 飾演 epitome n. 縮影 descendant n. 子嗣，後代
b.. rip...apart　　將……撕裂 It is estimated + that 子句　　據估計……
3.I chose this artical because Audrey Hepburn was very beautiful.and my mom loves she,too.My mom has a lot of her movies in the house.Sometimes I could saw her on the tv.Although she had died for a long time much people still loved her.

10/25

From Tramp to Champ—Charlie Chaplin
默劇之王卓別林　
by Julia Koprak
As a young man on stage, few knew that Charlie Chaplin would become one of the most important people in movie history. Born in London in 1889, Charlie was a natural talent since both of his parents had been actors. In fact, his skills as a performer helped him survive the hardships of a very difficult childhood. His father died when Charlie was a child and his mother suffered from a mental illness that left her incapable of caring for her children. After the hospitalization of their mother, Charlie and his brother were forced to fend for themselves. They did so through performing on the stage. Chaplin''s comedic personality took him to America, where he became a great star of the silent screen in 1914. His signature character was the Tramp, a pauper with a little moustache, cane, and bowler hat. He paraded around as a gentleman, landing himself in all kinds of interesting situations. As the character of the Tramp, Chaplin made a stream of successful silent films. In 1927, talkies, or films with synchronized sound, were introduced. Nevertheless, Chaplin continued to make silent films, and in fact, some of his best. He had an amazing ability to blend humor with a bit of emotion without uttering a single line of dialogue. Moreover, although seemingly simple on the surface, Chaplin''s films had strong political undertones. In Modern Times, a movie filmed during the Depression, the Tramp is a factory worker struggling in an industrial society. In The Great Dictator, Chaplin made an even bolder move by taking on the role of a leader similar to Adolf Hitler and speaking on film for the first time.


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1.The artical is talking about Chaplin's background. And how he survived in his childhood.
2.
a. moustache n. 八字鬚 talkie n. 有聲電影 pauper n. 乞丐；窮人
fend for...　　供養∕照料……
b.specialize in...　　專精於…… blend A with B　　融合 A 與 B
3.I chose this artical because I sometimes could saw him on the TV. He was very funny in the movie. And when I was in senior high school,my teacher had told me about his story. So I have deep impresstion of him. When he was a child,he was very hardworking. So I hope if I happen to difficult things, i will be hardworking just like him.

2007.10.18

Quieting the Mind

　
by Marcus Maurice
　
Meditation is an exercise in quieting the mind. Meditation can help restore mental balance leading to a feeling of happiness and contentment.
Think of the brain as a faucet where the water is constantly flowing. The flowing "water" is our thoughts about such things as the never-ending list of tasks that we have to do, should do, didn''t do, and might do. Stopping the flow of these thoughts and slowing down the mind is the goal of meditation. By turning off the faucet, a person who practices meditation can attain clearer thinking, improved health, and a greater understanding of their own goals.
When one first sits down to meditate, it may seem as though one''s mind is racing at 100 miles a minute. One thinks of the report that needs to be turned in, the dishes that haven''t been done, and the countless other problems in life that unconsciously stream in. This is because when meditating, one finally realizes how active the mind actually is. The focus must then be taken away from these thoughts and centered instead on breathing in deeply through the nostrils and out through the mouth. Although it seems simple to "just breathe," in reality, it is easier said than done. Blocking out external thoughts takes a great deal of effort. By sitting in an upright position with legs folded and thumbs just barely touching the index fingers, meditation can bring relaxation and inner peace. All thoughts of the things that should, could, and would be fade away as the mind is quieted.

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1.This artical is talking about the meditation can bring benefits to us.

2.stream in 湧入 meditation 冥想 be centered on...　　集中於……

take effort 努力　unwind 放鬆

3.I chose this artical because I often cannot sleep well at night.My mom said it's

msut you were not calm dowm.Then when I do the meditation I felt that my heart was very peace.So this artical is very useful for me even for all people.

2007/09/27

Finding Himself

印度之旅
by Marcus Maurice

In the rural city of Kochi in Kerala, India, Michael Cheng felt that he wasn''t experiencing the real India. He was far away from the comfort and technology of his home in Taiwan. Yet, he was staying at a house that had a car and a driveway. These are luxuries that only a few can afford in India. He kindly asked the family he was with if he could live as most Indians live. They consented to his request and Michael got to live with a new family who made a living by fishing. Every day, Michael would go with them to work and do what they did, catching and cleaning fish. He would bathe in the river because that was the only water they had. When he had the soap on his body, a lot of small fish would come bite him and Michael said it felt like a massage. Inside their house, everyone slept on mats that were on a dirt floor. However, there was one thing that looked out of place—a big recliner in the middle of the living room. Michael asked one of the kids, "Why do you have such a nice chair when all of the other things in the house are old?" One of the sons answered, "My father said that we have to have something nice in case we ever have a visitor. Would you please honor our family and sit in the chair?" At that moment, Michael learned that in India, a guest is a god.

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1. It's talking about a man who went to India. And he known something about the local's life.

2.

a. driveway 私人車道

b. consent 同意

c. out of place 不適當的；格格不入的

d. make a living by

e.recliner 躺椅

3.I chose this artical because the content can make me know other contry's lifestyle.

After reading the article,I feel that I'm so happy because I can sleep on the bed and wash in the bath.And by the content I also know that in the India ,a guest is a god.