Indian Bride Shuts Down Wedding After Groom Fails Her Math Test

 

新郎未通過數學考試印度新娘拒婚

【摘要2021.5.31.自由】◎陳成良

An Indian bride canceled her wedding after her groom recited the multiplication table of two incorrectly.

一位印度新娘因為新郎背錯2的乘法表，當場取消婚禮。

A bride and groom who wish to remain unidentified were supposed to have the wedding for their arranged marriage on May 1 in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.

不願透露姓名的新娘和新郎本應於5月1日在印度北方邦舉行婚禮，這是一樁包辦婚姻。

Skeptical of her future husband’s educational background, the bride decided to test his knowledge during the ceremony.

新娘懷疑未來丈夫的教育背景，因此決定在婚禮上測試他的知識。

When he failed to recite the multiplication table of two, the bride left, "saying that she could not marry someone who did not know basic math," reported INQUIRER.net.

據「菲律賓每日問訊者報」網站報導，當他背不出2的乘法表時，新娘轉身離開了，「說她不能嫁給一個連基礎數學都不懂的人。」

The bride’s cousin stated that the groom’s family did not inform them of his lack of education, adding that the bride was "brave" for leaving the wedding venue.

新娘的表妹說，男方家庭沒有告知新郎教育程度低的事實，並補充道，新娘離開婚禮現場的做法「很勇敢」。

The two families came to a compromise which included returning all gifts and jewelry to the appropriate parties.

這兩個家庭達成妥協，包括同意退還所有的禮物和珠寶給對方。

新聞辭典

shuts down：片語，關閉；停工；歇業。例句： his factory has been shut down.（這間工廠停工了。）

recite：動詞，背誦；朗誦。例句：Her little daugter likes reciting poetry in public.（她的小女兒喜歡當眾背誦詩歌。）

skeptical：形容詞，懷疑的、無神論的。例句：He is skeptical of the new claim.（他對這項新主張抱持懷疑態度。）

 

Seattle startup rolling out new coffee product without coffee beans

 

西雅圖新創公司推出沒有咖啡豆的新咖啡產品

【摘要2021.5.30.自由】◎黃靖媗

There’s a new guilt-free product underway that is planning to perk up the coffee industry.

有個新的無罪惡感產品正在進行，計畫振興咖啡產業。

Seattle-based Atomo Coffee Inc. is grinding up what it dubs as coffeeless coffee - derived from sunflower seed husks and watermelon seeds, which undergo a patented chemical process.

位於西雅圖的「原子咖啡」正在研磨其所稱的無咖啡咖啡，源自葵花籽殼與西瓜籽，並經過專利的化學過程處理。

The processing of such ingredients results into molecules that set out to mimic the flavor and feel of real java.

將這些成分加工會產生一些分子，來模仿真實爪哇（咖啡）的味道與感覺。

The product’s grounds are brewed just like a regular cup of coffee and will still contain caffeine.

這款產品的咖啡渣就像普通咖啡一樣沖泡，並且仍然含有咖啡因。

The company cites the devastating effects of climate change and the deforestation of approximately 250,000 acres of per year as the catalyst behind its ’’naturally derived ingredients’’ delivering ’’the same great coffee experience without the negative environmental impacts.’’

該公司援引氣候變遷的破壞性影響，與每年約25萬畝森林被砍伐為其「天然衍生成分」背後的催化劑，提供「同樣優秀且沒有對環境造成負面影響的咖啡體驗」。

新聞辭典

perk up：動詞，改善、振作。例句：Those skills can perk up your homemade cake.（這些技巧可以改善你的自製蛋糕。）

grind：動詞，把…磨成粉。例句：He grinds a little pepper over his sandwich.（他在他的三明治上磨了一點胡椒粉。）

catalyst：名詞，契機、催化劑。例句：The pandemic acted as a catalyst for change in insurance industry.（這場大流行促成了保險業的變革。）

 

Vax and scratch: NY offers $5M lottery for newly vaccinated

 

接種疫苗刮刮樂：紐約提供500萬美元彩券給最近接種者

【摘要2021.5.29.自由】◎周虹汶

Anyone who gets vaccinated at select state-run vaccination sites in New York next week will receive a lottery scratch ticket with prizes potentially worth millions, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo tries to boost slowing vaccination rates.

由於紐約州長古莫試圖提高趨緩的疫苗接種率，下週在該州選定的州設疫苗接種站施打疫苗者，將會拿到一張可能包含價值高達數百萬美元獎金的刮刮樂彩券。

The pilot program will offer prizes from $20 up to $5 million and run from Monday, May 24 to Friday, May 28 at 10 state-run sites.

這項試行計畫將提供從20美元到上看500萬美元的獎金，從5月24日週一到5月28日週五，在10個州設站點執行。

The governor said there’s a one in nine chance of winning a scratch ticket prize in New York, which is joining other states, including Ohio, with similar lottery incentives. Only residents 18 and older are eligible.

包括俄亥俄等其他州也提供類似的彩券誘因，這位州長說，紐約刮刮樂中獎機率為9分之1。僅18歲及以上居民有資格。

New York also plans to set up pop-up vaccination sites at seven airports across the state for U.S. residents, including airport workers. （AP）

紐約州也打算在該州境內7處機場為包含機場工作人員在內的美國居民設立臨時接種站。（美聯社）

新聞辭典

scratch：動詞，指抓、搔、擦、劃、使退賽、取消原計畫。例句：They scratched the horse from the race because he had become lame.（這匹馬因為跛了腳，他們讓牠退出比賽。）

boost：動詞，指改善、提高、增強、推動。例句：Passing the driving test was such a boost to her confidence.（通過駕駛執照考試讓她信心大增。）

pop-up：形容詞，指機器或圖書等有部分構造可從內向外推出的、在臨時地點快速設置，只短期運作的（商店和餐館等）。pop up為片語動詞，指突然出現、突然發生。例句：He is popping up everywhere.（他到處露臉。）

 

Matthew McConaughey, governor of Texas? Voters seem all right with the idea, a poll found.

 

馬修麥康納當德州州長？民調發現選民看似覺得這主意很可以

【摘要2021.5.28.自由】◎張沛元

A new poll may put some wind in the actor Matthew McConaughey’s sails as he considers whether to run for governor of Texas.

一份新民調或許能助正在考慮是否要競選（美國）德州州長的男星馬修．麥康納一臂之力。

Forty-five percent of the state’s voters said that they would vote for Mr. McConaughey if he were to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott next year, according to the poll, conducted by The Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas, Tyler.

根據這份由達拉斯晨報與德州大學泰勒分校進行的民調，45%的德州選民說，倘若麥康納明年出來挑戰州長葛雷格．阿波特，他們會把票投給麥康納。

An additional 33 percent of voters said they would support the incumbent.

另外33%的選民說，會支持現任州長。

The actor has repeatedly flirted with running for governor, though he has not said whether he would run as a Republican or a Democrat.

這名男星曾多次不經意地表示要選州長，可是他迄今未表態是要以共和黨人或民主黨人的身分參選。

新聞辭典

all right with someone or something：慣用語，同意、接受某人或某事；對某人或某事感到滿意。例句：It’s all right with me if you want to go out with my ex-husband.（你要跟我前夫約會，我OK啊。）

put wind in someone’s sails：慣用語，給某人的帆加一陣風，意指讓某人有信心去做某事，助某人一臂之力。反面用法為take the wind out of someone’s sails，（通常是藉由做些出乎意料的事來）讓某人更沒信心或更無法堅定意志去做某事。例句：It took the wind out of her sails to learn that her internet romance was a scam.（她發現她的網戀是一場騙局後大為洩氣。）

incumbent：形容詞，現任的，在職的。名詞，現任者，在職者。

 

Scientists have taught bees to smell the coronavirus

 

Scientists have taught bees to smell the coronavirus

科學家教導蜜蜂嗅出冠狀病毒

【摘要2021/05/24 自由】◎陳成良

Scientists in the Netherlands have trained bees to identify COVID-19 through their sense of smell, according to a press release from Wageningen University.

瓦赫寧恩大學發布新聞稿聲稱，荷蘭科學家已訓練蜜蜂透過嗅覺，識別2019冠狀病毒病（COVID-19，武漢肺炎）。

The research was conducted on more than 150 bees in Wageningen University’s bio-veterinary research laboratory.

這項研究是在瓦赫寧恩大學生物獸醫研究實驗室對150多隻蜜蜂進行的。

The scientists trained the bees by giving them a treat — a sugar-water solution — every time they were exposed to the scent of a mink infected with COVID-19. Each time the bees were exposed to a non-infected sample, they wouldn’t get a reward.

科學家透過獎勵糖水溶液來訓練蜜蜂，每次蜜蜂在聞到感染COVID-19的貂身上氣味時，都會獲得獎勵。如果蜜蜂聞到的是沒被感染病毒的氣味樣本，則不會獲得獎勵。

Eventually, the bees could identify an infected sample within a few seconds — and would then stick out their tongues like clockwork to collect the sugar water.

最終，這些蜜蜂可以在幾秒鐘內識別出感染的樣本，而且牠們的舌頭會像發條一樣，伸出來吸取糖水。

Bees aren’t the first animals to detect COVID-19 by scent. Researchers have also trained dogs to distinguish between positive and negative COVID-19 samples from human saliva or sweat with fairly high levels of accuracy.

蜜蜂不是第一種透過氣味識別COVID-19的動物。研究人員也曾訓練狗區分來自人類唾液或汗液的陽性和陰性COVID-19樣本 ，準確率相當高。

新聞辭典

treat：名詞，招待；獎勵。例句：It’s my treat.（我請客。）

expose：動詞，暴露。例句：He damaged his leg so badly in the accident that the bone was exposed.（他在意外中大腿受重傷，骨頭都露出來了。）

clockwork：名詞，鐘錶裝置；發條裝置。例句：After the clockwork of the watch was cleaned, the watch kept perfect time.（那只手錶的發條裝置擦乾淨後，走起來就非常精確了。）

 

Dracula’s castle’ offers tourists Covid shots

 

「德古拉的城堡」提供觀光客武漢肺炎疫苗接種

【摘要2021/05/23 自由】◎黃靖媗

Visitors to Romania’s forbidding Bran Castle are being jabbed with needles rather than vampiric fangs this weekend in a coronavirus vaccination drive.

造訪羅馬尼亞令人生畏的布蘭城堡的遊客，在本週末的冠狀病毒疫苗接種活動中，將會被針頭而不是吸血鬼的毒牙扎刺。

Those who take the jab are handed a certificate hailing their＂boldness and responsibility＂promising they will be welcome at the castle＂for the coming 100 years＂ － as well as offered a free tour of the＂torture chamber＂.

那些接受施打的人將拿到證書，為他們的「勇氣與責任」喝采，並承諾這座城堡在未來100年都歡迎他們，並提供一次「酷刑室」的免費導覽。

Nestled in a misty valley in the Carpathian mountains, Bran Castle is associated with the 15th-century Romanian prince Vlad Dracula.

布蘭城堡坐落於喀爾巴阡山迷霧籠罩的山谷，與15世紀羅馬尼亞王子弗拉德．德古拉有關。

Dracula author Bram Stoker is believed to have been inspired by Vlad and descriptions of Bran Castle when writing his 1897 novel that helped found the modern vampire genre.

德古拉的作者布拉姆．史托克在撰寫他的1897年的小說時，被認為受到弗拉德與布蘭城堡的描述的啟發，這本小說幫助他奠定現代吸血鬼體裁。

新聞辭典

nestle：動詞，位於、坐落於。例句：The wood cabin nestled between two stunning beaches.（這間小木屋坐落於兩個漂亮的海灘之間。）

misty：形容詞，多霧的、有霧的。例句：She waked up in the misty morning.（她在起霧的早晨中醒來。）

genre：名詞，體裁、風格、類型。例句：My favorite film genre is horror flick.（我最喜歡的電影類型是恐怖片。）

 

Would you wash with snail slime soap?

 

你會用蝸牛黏液皂盥洗嗎？

【摘要2021/05/22 自由】◎周虹汶

Foamy slime bubbles onto Damien Desrocher’s hand as he lightly rubs one of the thousands of snails he keeps in an enclosure in his backyard.

泡沫狀黏液在達米安．德斯侯歇的手上冒泡，當他輕輕摩擦起養在後院一處圍欄裡數千隻蝸牛的其中一隻。

The 28-year-old French artisan began using the gastropod fluid to make soap bars, which he sells in local markets, in December.

12月，這位28歲法國工匠開始拿這種腹足綱動物的體液做起肥皂塊，於當地市集販售。

’’It’s all in the dexterity of how you tickle,’’ Desrocher said as he extracted the slime, noting that the process does not kill the animals.

「完全取決於你是如何搔觸」，德斯侯歇萃取黏液時一邊說，並指出這過程不會殺死這種動物。

He has raised a total of 60,000 snails. A single snail will yield about 2 grams of slime, meaning he needs around 40 snails to produce 80 grams - enough to manufacture 15 100-gram soap bars. （Reuters）

他總共養了6萬隻蝸牛。一隻蝸牛會生產2公克黏液，意謂他約需40隻蝸牛來產出80公克—夠製造15個100公克的肥皂塊。（路透）

新聞辭典

bubble：名詞，指氣泡、泡沫；動詞，指冒泡。例句：I hear the soup bubbling away in the pot.（我聽到鍋裡湯在冒泡的聲音。）

dexterity：名詞，指純熟、嫻熟、靈巧、敏捷。例句：She played the piano with dexterity.（她以純熟指法彈奏鋼琴。）

tickle：動詞，指呵癢、逗笑、使快樂、怕癢、觸、撥、彈、用手抓住、喚起；名詞，指搔癢、癢感、讓人癢的東西。例句：His self-esteem was immediately tickled.（他的自尊心立刻被激起。）