The largest cash prize for first place in contests being held across the nation for throwing divination blocks, or jiao, will be given at Greater Tainan’s Matsu Temple in Luermen, with a NT$2 million (US$67,751) cash prize for the champion in its “Enterprise Fund Divination Block Throwing Contest,” in which a total of NT$3 million (US$101,606) will be given away. Starting on the first day of the Lunar New Year, more than 12,000 people had already participated in the contest as of last Tuesday, 500 of whom are already qualified to participate in the finals. The winner last year beat a total of 14,000 contestants, throwing a total of seven shengjiao, or divine answer positions, meaning the querent receives a “yes” answer to their question.
The temple’s committee chairman, Wang Tseng-jung, said this is the temple’s third year of holding the contest, which began on the first day of the Lunar New Year, or Jan. 23, and will last until the last day of the first lunar month, or Feb. 21. After paying NT$300 (US$10) to participate in the contest, you can then compete to see who throws the most shengjiao. If you throw five or more, you are allowed to participate in the finals, which will be held on the second day of the second lunar month, or Feb. 23. First prize is NT$2 million, the second prize is NT$500,000 (US$16,938), and the third prize is NT$300,000 (US$10,163). There will also be two lucky draws of NT$100,000 (US$3,388) each.
(LIBERTY TIMES, TRANSLATED BY KYLE JEFFCOAT)
南市土城鹿耳門聖母廟三百萬元(十萬一千六百零六美元)「創業基金擲筊大賽」,第一名獎金兩百萬元(六萬七千七百五十一美元),是全台第一大獎。大年初一至上週二已有一萬兩千多人參加,已逾五百人取得決賽權。去年冠軍打敗一萬四千人,以七聖筊脫穎而出。
Photo: Tsai Wen-cheng, Liberty Times
照片:自由時報記者蔡文正
主委王增榮表示,聖母廟「創業基金擲筊大賽」今年是第三年,從農曆大年初一進行到月底,參加民眾繳了三百元後(十美元),就可以比誰擲出的聖筊最多,凡擲出五杯以上者均可參加農曆二月二日的決賽,頭獎兩百萬元、貳獎五十萬元(一萬六千九百三十八美元)、參獎三十萬元(一萬一百六十三美元),另有開運獎二名十萬元(三千三百八十八 美元)。
(自由時報記者孟慶慈、蔡文居)
Photo: Yang Yi-min, Liberty Times
照片:自由時報記者楊宜敏
Photo: Su Fu-nan, Liberty Times
照片:自由時報記者蘇福男
Photo: Tsai Wen-chu, Liberty Times
照片:自由時報記者蔡文居
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