A: Actually, according to government data, Taiwan’s economic growth reached 6 percent last year.
B: Then, how come salaries have seen negative growth?
A: That’s because the economic growth is concentrated among only a few industries: the semiconductor industry alone accounts for nearly one-fifth of the nation’s GDP.
Photo: Tsai Shu-yuan, Liberty Times 照片︰自由時報蔡淑媛
B: No wonder everyone is so indifferent toward the economic growth.
A: 其實根據政府的統計，台灣去年經濟成長率高達百分之六耶。
B: 那薪水怎麼會負成長？
A: 因為經濟成長過度集中在某些產業上，光是半導體業就佔了台灣的GDP將近五分之一。
B: 難怪大家對所謂的經濟成長這麼無感。
（Translated by Edward Jones, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
Audio recordings for Speak Up! dialogues will be suspended until further notice due to the pandemic.
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
Bilingual Story is a fictionalized account. 雙語故事部分內容純屬虛構。 Echo pulled out a worn and tattered shoe box under father’s large oak desk. “Mariko, what should we do with these family photos?” Mariko stared at the old box with a slightly hurt expression, and then blankly at the photos. “Throw them in the garbage pile. . . along with that old, ratty box,” she murmured. She resented that her father had not cared enough to find a nicer home for the family photos. “Father never really cared about me anyway.” Echo’s emotion sensor detected sorrow. ”Mariko, that is
In the vast landscapes of Australia, a unique and charming creature roams — the “wombat.” These round, adorable animals possess surprising abilities and fascinating traits that never fail to amaze. Let’s explore the world of this remarkable creature. Wombats are marsupials native to Australia, measuring around one meter in length and weighing between 20 and 35kg. Their fur varies in color, ranging from brown to gray to black. As herbivores, they primarily feed on grass, bark and roots. To adapt to Australia’s weather conditions, wombats have developed a slow metabolism and a leisurely pace. However, despite their bulky appearance,
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
RSS