Britain is the least energy-efficient country in Europe, according to an NGO survey of the habits of 5,000 people across the continent published last week.
The Energy Saving Trust (EST) found that Germany was the nation most conscious about saving energy. They reported this based on the average number of wasteful acts committed each week. The Germans were followed in order by Spain, France, Italy and Britain.
Germany scored 14, Spain scored 16, France scored 19, Italy scored 25 and the UK scored a very high 32.
PHOTO: EPA
EST singled out for criticism the British people's over-dependence on tumble dryers, with 32 percent of them avoiding using a washing line to dry clothes altogether.
Italians are the worst in Europe at remembering to turn off the standby button on electrical appliances — 80 percent do this on a regular basis, according to the trust — while the French are willing to wear a sweater instead of turning up the heating.
Only 16 percent of them turn up the heating at least once a week, the EST said.
It praised the Spanish people for their conscientious use of heating systems, with only 12 percent leaving air-conditioning or heating on when they go out, compared to 28 percent in Britain.
Germans, meanwhile, are virtual paragons of good behavior. Some 78 percent always turn off their car engines when sitting in traffic jams and 60 percent regularly wash their clothes at an economical temperature of 60 degrees Celsius.(AFP)
根據一個非政府組織在上週發表的問卷調查顯示，英國是歐洲最浪費能源的國家。這項問卷調查全歐洲五千名受訪者的用電習慣。
節能基金會（EST）的報告是以每週浪費能源行為的平均值為基礎，發現德國是最有節能意識的國家，德國之後依序是西班牙、法國、義大利和英國。
德國得14分；西班牙16分；法國19分；義大利25分，而英國是最高分32分。
節能基金會特別點名英國，批評英國人過度依賴烘衣機，有32%的民眾不願意用晾衣繩一次曬乾衣物。
全歐洲就屬義大利人最記不得關掉電器用品的待機開關，基金會表示有80%的人經常忘記，而法國人則選擇穿上毛衣而不開暖氣。
節能基金會表示只有16%的人每星期至少會開一次暖氣。
節能基金會對於西班牙人節制地使用暖氣設備表示讚賞，只有12%的民眾會在出門時開著冷氣或暖氣，相較之下有28%的英國人會這麼做。
德國同時也是行為良好的模範生，約78%的民眾困坐車陣時一定會關掉引擎，而60%的民眾會固定在經濟溫度攝氏60度洗衣服。
（法新社╱翻譯︰鄭湘儀）
A: Yet another shopping mall has just opened in Taipei. B: Do you mean the Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Nangang? A: Yeah, the shopping mall run by Japanese Mitsui & Co. opened last week. B: I hear the mall features about 300 stores, Vieshow Cinemas and Japanese Lopia supermarket. A: With the opening, a war is breaking out between Taipei’s department stores. A: 台北又有新的購物商場可逛啦。 B: 你是說Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport 南港？ A: 對啊這家日本三井集團旗下的商場上週開幕。 B: 聽說商場有威秀影城、樂比亞日系超市，還有多達300家專櫃。 A: 新商場一開幕，看來又要掀起一場百貨大戰啦！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
A: Hey, didn’t you go to the opening of the Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Nangang last week? B: Yeah, there are about 300 shops, including the first overseas branch of Japan’s Mahou Dokoro — a famous Harry Potter-themed store. A: Wow, I’ve always wanted to get a magic wand. B: There are also a bunch of great restaurants, such as Smart Fish hotpot restaurant. A: I wish I had Harry Potter’s “apparition” and “disapparition” magic, so I could teleport to the mall right now. A: 你上週不是有去LaLaport南港的盛大開幕嗎？有什麼特別的？ B: 那裡有多達300家專櫃，包括魔法之地的海外首店——它可是日本知名的《哈利波特》專賣店。 A: 哇我一直想買根魔杖。 B: 另外還有各式各樣的美食，像是林聰明沙鍋魚頭。 A: 真希望我也有哈利波特的「現影術／消影術」魔法，能瞬間移動到商場去！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
When it comes to movies, some people delight in watching spine-chilling horror films. Surprisingly, apart from containing a few scares, horror movies may also offer an unexpected __1__. According to a study, watching 90 minutes of a scary movie can burn an average of 113 calories, which is roughly __2__ to taking a 30-minute walk. Researchers from the University of Westminster carried out an experiment in which they __3__ participants’ oxygen intake, carbon dioxide output, and heart rates while they were watching horror movies without any distractions. The results revealed that physiological responses to fear play a crucial role
Dos & Don’ts — 想想看，這句話英語該怎麼說？ 1. 你覺得這部電影怎樣？ ˇ What do you think of the movie? χ How do you like the movie? χ How do you think of the movie? 註︰What do you think of ＝ What is your opinion of。 think 的受詞是 what，不能用 how。 2. 你認為哪一個歌星唱得最好？ ˇ Which singer do you think is the best? χ Do you think which singer is the best? 註︰英語中 which singer 似乎是 do you think 的受詞，實則 do you think 是插入語，其他例子如下： 你以為他喜歡誰？ Who do you think he likes? 你以為我住在哪裏？ Where do you think I live? 你想我昨天在公園裏碰到了誰？ Whom/Who do you think I met in the park yesterday? 3. 他不論到什麼地方，總是帶著一把雨傘。 ˇ No matter where he goes, he
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