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基於道德理由 底特律動物園還象自由（2004/5/21）
Detroit zoo to free elephants on ethical grounds |
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美元失守 日圓、歐元上揚 （2004/5/24）
Dollar loses ground to yen, euro |
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高球生涯歷低潮 選手韓盼東山再起（2004/5/20）
Han looking to jump-start her golf game |
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全台地院完成驗票（2004/5/19）
District courts wrap up recount |
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米開朗基羅大衛像清洗完畢 生日前清新亮相（2004/5/25）
Michelangelo's David spruced up ahead of birthday |
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福斯相中《歡樂一家親》主角新節目 （ 2004/5/20 ）
Fox picks up "Frasier" star's new show |
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| on... grounds
基於……的理由 |
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| ground 除了「範圍；領域；基礎」的意思外，亦可表「理由；動機」，而 on... grounds 就是在說明某事物是「基於……的原因」。較常見的有 ：on ethical/moral/religious grounds（基於倫理／道德／宗教的理由）等。 |
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Bob would not serve in the military on religious grounds.
基於宗教的理由，鮑伯拒服兵役。 |
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| lose ground to 失守 |
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| 此語源自軍事用語，指部隊「失守」，領土被敵人佔領，後來可被引申用在不同的領域，通常指在商場上「失利；失守；表現不如……對手」，相反詞為 gain ground on/upon（有所進展；攻克某地）。 |
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In recent years, U.S. manufacturers have been losing ground to Asian manufacturers.
近幾年來，美國的製造商已不敵亞洲的製造商。 |
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| jump-start
緊急充電；刺激 |
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| jump-start 原指汽車電瓶沒電時，以 jumper cable（跳接線）「緊急充電」的動作，目的在使汽車恢復電力。後來亦可被用來指「刺激；啟動；發動」的意思。 |
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The government decided to reduce interest rates as a way to jump-start the economy.
政府決定降息，以刺激經濟成長。 |
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| wrap up 結束 |
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| wrap up 的字面意思是「（將某物）包裹起來」，其實就是指某事物「結束；定案」的意思。相反詞為 open up。 |
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The speaker wrapped up his presentation by thanking those in attendance.
該名演說者以感謝與會者結束他的演講。 |
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| spruce up 打扮整齊 |
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| spruce 當動詞用時可表「打扮整齊」，可用來指人或建築物等修飾整齊。 |
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Many buildings on the waterfront have been spruced up.
濱水區有許多大樓都已修飾完畢。 |
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| pick up
挑選 |
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| pick up 有「拾起」的意思，此外，也可指在眾多選擇中「挑選」出一項的意思。 |
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The network did not pick up the new show.
該電視網沒有挑選那個新的節目。 |
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Ultimate Frisbee
飛盤爭奪賽 |
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If you
think Frisbees are limited to a day
at the beach or a game of fetch with
your dog, a couple of hours of playing
ultimate Frisbee will free
you of your misconceptions. |
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如果你認為飛盤是只能在海灘或是拿來和狗狗玩拋接把戲的遊戲，你只要花幾個小時參與「飛盤爭奪賽」就能破除你的錯誤觀念。 |
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Ultimate Frisbee
is a fast-paced, noncontact
sport, which mixes the best features of soccer,
basketball, and football. |
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You need speed,
stamina, and the ability to think
on your feet to move the disc down
the field. |
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所謂的「飛盤爭奪賽」是一種快速、選手不須身體碰觸的運動，它融合了以下幾種運動的精髓：足球、籃球和美式足球。你要講究的有速度、體力和反應要靈敏，才能順利地傳送飛盤。 |
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Few sports provide
as good of a workout as this one does and
as much fun. |
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Ultimate players
emphasis sportsmanship over competition, and
even at the international level, all games
are self officiated. |
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很少有運動和「飛盤爭奪賽」一樣，既有很好的運動效果，又能提供許多樂趣。「飛盤爭奪賽」玩家強調的是競賽中的運動家精神，甚至連國際級的比賽都是自我評判的。 |
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So for a good
workout and a lot of fun, give
Ultimate Frisbee a shot. |
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For more information
check out www.whatisultimate.com. |
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如果你想要運動，又想要找樂子，不妨試試「飛盤爭奪賽」。欲知詳情，請查詢網站：www.whatisultimate.com。 |
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| free someone of one's misconception
破除某人的錯誤觀念 |
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| free 當動詞用時，有「釋放；解除」的意思，而 misconception 就是「誤解；錯誤觀念」之意，free someone of one's misconception 整句的意思是「破除某人的錯誤觀念」的意思。 |
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The article freed many people of the misconception that "cancer equals death."
該篇文章破除了許多人認為「癌症等同死亡」的錯誤觀念。 |
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| noncontact
不須相互碰觸的 |
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| 所謂的 noncontact 就如同字面意思所表示的「不須接觸、碰觸」，也就是指運動員或參賽者不須相互接觸的比賽。相反的，也有所謂的 contact sport，如：籃球、橄欖球、足球等，都屬此類，且由於所謂的「碰觸」，通常指力道較大的衝撞，因此也有相當的危險性。 |
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As people age, they become increasingly interested in noncontact sports.
人隨著年齡增長，就會變得比較喜歡不須相互碰觸的運動。 |
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| think on one's feet 反應靈敏 |
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| on one's feet 就是指某人「站著」，而 think on one's feet 就是指某人可以一邊行動、一邊思考，也就是指其「反應靈敏」的意思。 |
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My boss is looking for someone who can think on his feet to take over the Beijing office.
我老闆正在找一個反應靈敏的人來接管北京分公司。 |
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| give something a shot 試試看 |
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| shot 在口語用法中有「嘗試」的意思，在這裡當名詞用，常與動詞 give 合用，表「試試看」的意思。另一個類似用法為 give something a try。 |
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May usually doesn't eat seafood, but she decided to give it a shot today.
梅通常是不吃海鮮的，但她今天決定小小嘗試一下。 |
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| pick up after oneself 物歸原位 |
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| pick up 有「撿起來」的意思，而 pick up after oneself 就是東西使用完後歸回原位的意思。 |
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My husband is very messy. He never picks up after himself.
我老公很邋遢，他從不把東西歸回原位。 |
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Nigel is arguing with his wife, Trisha, about housework.
耐裘正在和他太太翠莎為了家務而爭執。 |
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I am sorry for not picking up after myself, but I'm so tired when I get home from work. |
耐裘： |
很抱歉我沒有把東西放回原位，但我下班回到家已經很累了。 |
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You're not the only one who has a job! You may be busy at work, but you certainly aren't pulling your weight around the house. |
翠莎： |
你並不是這個家裡唯一有工作的人！你的工作也許很忙，但你不能不盡家裡應盡的責任。 |
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OK, here's the deal. I promise to put all my books and magazines back on the shelf when I'm finished with them. |
耐裘： |
好，不如這樣吧，我答應妳，我以後看完書和雜誌後，一定會把它們放回書架上。 |
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You said that the last time, and you went back to your old ways after three days. |
翠莎： |
你上次也是這麼說的，但三天後你就故態復萌了。 |
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I know, but this time, I promise to change my ways. I know how much it bothers you. |
耐裘： |
我知道，但這一次我一定會改的。我知道這件事非常困擾妳。 |
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It does, Nigel. It really does. Anyway, I am glad we can talk about these things without having a fight. |
翠莎： |
確實是，耐裘。總之，我很高興我們是好好地談這件事，而不是用吵架的方式。 |
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Me too, Trisha. |
耐裘： |
我也這麼認為，翠莎。 |
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| pull one's weight
盡自己的本分 |
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| 此語的字面意思是把自己的重量加諸在自己身上，源自於划船 (rowing) 活動，因為在划船時，如果有人沒有盡力划，就沒有「盡到自己的本分」，也就會造成其他人的負擔。常用於否定句。 |
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The young man was asked to leave the company because he wasn't pulling his weight.
那年輕人被要求離開公司，因為他沒有盡自己的本分。 |
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| here's the deal 不如這樣吧 |
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| 此語常用在提出某提議時，表示「不如這樣吧；這樣約定吧」，其後接上所提出的建議或想法。 |
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Here's the deal -- I'll wash the dishes, and you dry them.
我們這樣約定吧，我來洗碗盤，你來擦乾它們。 |
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| go back to one's old ways 故態復萌 |
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| old ways 在這裡指某人原本的態度或行為，而 go back to one's old ways 就是中文所謂的「故態復萌」，也就是恢復了原本的壞習慣。相反詞為 turn over a new leaf、next line change one's ways 等。 |
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It wasn't long after Bill got a ticket that he was back to his old ways -- speeding down the highway.
比爾接到罰單後不久就故態復萌，又在高速公路上超速了。 |
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| True
or False |
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If you "pull your weight," you work as hard as everyone else. |
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2.
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Football
is a "noncontact" sport. |
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If you "give something a shot," you shoot it with a gun. |
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You can improve the appearance of something by "sprucing it up." |
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When a TV network "picks up" a new show, they never broadcast it. |
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| Choose
the best word or phrase to complete each sentence.
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| a.
lost ground to
b.
wrapped up
c. went back to his old ways
d. picking up after himself
e. jump-start
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The woman said she was tired of her husband not __________. |
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Tom __________ and started to smoke again. |
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The man __________ the meeting with a joke. |
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The NT dollar has ________ the British pound over the past few years. |
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The government offered a tax rebate to _________ the economy. |
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