NPR_Cities Take On Kyoto Challenge to Cut Emissions

Cities Take On Kyoto Challenge to Cut Emissions

by Kathleen Schalch

All Things Considered, July 31, 2007 · Mayors across the nation are trying to do something meaningful in their communities to address climate change. More than 600 have pledged to try to meet the target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions set by the Kyoto Protocol, even though the federal government won't make the commitment.

One city not waiting on Washington is Boulder, Colo., a sunny college town with lots of bike paths, mountain vistas and activists. Mayor Mark Ruzzin says residents are alarmed about global warming and want to take action.

"We don't need to study it for another five years. We don't need to play politics for another five years," he says.

So Boulder has created the nation's first carbon tax — a charge that's added to electric bills because the electricity comes from coal-fired power plants.

more info:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12375985

A letter to an Italian restaurant owener

Last Saturday night, you took your date to an Italian restaurant for a romantic dinner. You were very disappointed by its food and service. Write a letter of complaint of 150-180 words to the restaurant’s foreign owner. In your letter, provide the following information:

Why you are writing this letter?
What happened and when?
What complaint you had about the food?
What you think the owner should do and why?

Dear the owner of the restaurant,
The letter I wrote is about my unpleasant experience in your restaurant last week. That was my first time to try Italian food in your place. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a miserable memory. The day we went was for the date with my girlfriend. Although I made the reservation about two week ago, we had still waited for one hour to get in. When I was walking in, the carpet was slippy and I almost stumbled on the staircase. In addition, the silverwares were full of scratch and looked like hundred years old. The light was dim and blinking. I couldn’t feel any romantic atmosphere a good restaurant supposed to have.
The services were poor either. We finally got the order after a continuous calling. Again, we were disappointed to the over-cooked meats and wrong orders.
The food didn’t satisfy us either. How could the bland soup tasted like water? And the steak was too hard to chew. It tasted just like a flat tire. The desert was the only thing we didn’t complain about. I insist your reply to my complaints. I suggest you should really consider the improvement of both the food and service of the restaurant. By doing so, you will have more customers and I’d like to come back sometimes in the future.

article sharing --Freedom from Fear-- Declaring War on Extortion Rings

Dear all,

There's the article I'd like to share to you folks. It's about the news of 詐騙集團. There are some useful vocabs we can learn from. Check out and enjoy it. One thing to remind, for the terrible mistake on the pre-test been made last week. We have to take it AGAIN ! It's on tomorrow morning at 11:00. Hopefully you all get the information. For more info, please call KO-JEN.

good day

robin

Freedom from Fear-- Declaring War on Extortion Rings

In the middle of April when Su Jia-chyuarn became the new interior minister, he immediately put primary emphasis on a full-fledged assault on extortion rings that fake kidnappings to extort ransoms. He invited the heads of the High Court Prosecutors' Office, the National Police Administration, the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Bureau of Investigation, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Directorate-General of Telecommunications, and the Ministry of Finance's Bureau of Monetary Affairs to attend a focus meeting on the issue. A nationwide sweep will aim to restore to the public lives free of fear.

for more:

http://www.taiwan-panorama.com/en/show_issue.php?id=200459305062E.TXT&table=2&cur_page=1&distype=

you can also have the Chinese version !

picture description -- garden

There's a woman in the picture picking flowers in an indoor garden. Although I don't the name of flowers, they are beautiful. It's getting more and more popular for people live in a city to have a small garden to grow something they like. They may not really have it, yet they rent it from landowners. It's a trend that people want to grow vegetable or fruits their own which without the worry of chemical remains toward those they buy in stores. Also, some love the way to be a farmer and specialize the farming stuff.
It's hard to make a farmer dream come true in a city. However, there has been a change these years. Many people are willing to rent a little farm and take care of it. For them, there's a fun to dig and seed. The triumph of having their crops grow through their cares is tremendous. It requires a great effort to grow crops. First, you need to water them and arrange/set a well-organized place for them to grow. To fertilize crops from time to time is necessary for them need enough nutrients to grow well. Once you reap your crops well-grown, you would be in love to be a farmer. --city farmer

picture description --gift unwrapping

The two kids in the picture seems to unwrap their gifts in boxes. It's always exciting to open a gift for a surprise. We give the gift for someone we admire or love and appreciate his or her goodness. Parents might have many chances to buy gifts for their children. Kids love the gifts! The secret in a gift is always worth to wait and look forward to. Although some don't indulge children with fancy gifts, others feel positive to give the gifts as a reward.

For me, I sometimes buy gifts for kids as birthday present or prize when they perform excellent. Kids are sensitive to be aware what gifts they have from the one who gives them. While they are unwrapping a gift, there are different reactions there. While some tear it carefully and preserve the gift well, others are hunger to dig the gift out without a mercy. (the opener)

picture description --escalator

escalator
In the picture, there are two men on a escalator. You can see the equipment set in places such as department stores and MRT stations. It's a thoughtful design for people to get upward and downward with less effort. Also, it provides efficiency for busy and lazy people. Although some argue that it could be dangerous to hurt people when they accidentally fall on the stairway, many experience its benefits for most of time.
The escalator in the picture is long and deep. It saves time to go down from the other end above through a escalator. There's a rule when people take the escalator. It's polite to stand on the right side and make the room for someone who can move through on the left. For a security concern, people are not allowed to run or jump on the moving stairs. I enjoy taking the escalator. I like the feeling it moves me from up and down in a stable way.

good stuff sharing !!!

有一本書或許對寫作考試有幫助
大家可以參考看看
雖然書名是針對托福考試
但我覺得此書對寫作可以建立概念
且有100篇作文可以參考
而且是外國老師編寫的
句子用法或會更貼切
書名是電腦考托福寫作突破2003-2005 哈佛留學書店
ps我不知近年是否有出新版的(如2006-........)
有興趣的同學可以去書店找找
From Crystal

1、美國托福名師親自撰寫的寫作步驟、策略與忠告。

2 、考前準備的關鍵單字、句子與片語。

3、100篇托福寫作範文。

4、了解電腦考托福寫作4大類型。

5、了解電腦考托福寫作5大準則。

6 、了解最佳的電腦考托福寫作文章結構。

more info:

http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=0010267970

writing practice for GEPT --animals in zoos

Animals in a zoo

I think most of people have experience to visit a zoo and surprised how cute and different they are from mankind. For safety concern, animals in a zoo were limited in a cage or a closed space. There always have pros and cons about the limit of wild animals in zoos. While some think it’s worth to sacrifice a few animals freedom and bring the most benefits for mankind to visit them, others protest against this kind of torture to animals. In my opinion, I think people shouldn’t locate animals in zoos for their convenience to visit animals.

If you enough attention to animals in zoos, you can find their boring faces and gestures. They were forced to leave the forest they supposed to stay and brought to the world we live. Although they are treated well in zoos, all they can do is just move back and forth around their tiny space. For our convenience to get close to them, animals in zoos become victims in jails. In a long run, I think this is some kind of torture to those animals. They should release to the jungle they suppose to be and enjoy their lives.

For people’s need to watch animals, there are many excellent animal films made by expert can to use for educational purposes. People don’t have to grab animals into zoos. They can go to the mountains or national parks to experience the wild animals. Once we can show our respect toward animals from not getting them in zoos, we become mature and intelligent. (animal lover)

山崩（Landslide）

I think this may help you folks a bit to get the idea of landslide.

山崩（Landslide）

山崩通常指的是快速的塊體運動，亦即土石或岩塊因為重力作用以及常因水的潤滑而發生快速的下滑移動或墜落。山崩的種類依運動的形 式可分為：岩石墜落（rock fall）、岩屑墜落（debris fall）、岩石滑動（rock slide）、岩屑滑動（debris slide）、崩移（slump）、泥流（mud flow, 即一般所稱的土石流）、土流（earth flow）或岩屑流（debris flow）、岩石崩瀉（rock avalanche）、岩屑崩瀉（debris avalanche）、及雪崩（snow avalanche）。

此圖片為山崩示意圖，由左至右可看見岩（土、泥）流、岩石（屑）滑動、岩石（屑）墜落。 圖片出處：Plummer et al. (1991) Physical Geology.

picture description -- environmental study

In the picture, there are people in mountains to collect something. It looks like teachers bring students for some kind of wild field study. For this kind of study, people may collect leaves or insects, or observe creatures in a ecology system. It's always has an educational meaning for students. By observing the beauty of nature, students learn the treasures we have needed more protections. Also, the result of collect in a wild field study could be made for materials for more people to learn.
I have a such experience from my junior high. The teacher brought us to Dan-shui river bank to observe the ecology system. We saw the forest of mangrove growing along the river and mud skippers and crabs living there. It was a great chance to learn so much from the trip and the concept of environmental protection sprouted from then on. -- Friday night

department stores in Taipei --1:30 speaking presentation

There are many department stores in Taipei. What do you think of these department stores? Do you ever go to them? Are there too many department stories?

I think these department stores bring the fashion and high-quality of products in Taiwan. Those department stores are usually well-designed to stimulate purchases. Although some think the prices they provided are too expensive to accept, they do offer luxurious and high-end products to satisfy certain rich people.

Some go to department stores simply for experiencing its atmosphere. They cannot afford most of products in stores. Others go visiting there once in a while when they need some fancy gifts for love ones or important customers. Within the on-sale season, many people flock there for a real bargain.

I seldom go to department stores for my little interest in shopping. I don’t admire branded commodity, especially with super-high prices. I’d like to window-shop rather then purchase there. Also, I do think it’s a waste of money to spend so much money in department stores.

The department store satisfies people admires to dream about international branded products and have chances to get one. It provides options for people who are wiling to pay money to get high quality and branded products.

Crystal

英文笑話兩則 與您們分享
衝刺GEPT時 偶爾也需休息一下

英語課本其恐怖之一頁
用普通話讀D中文

y e s － 爺 死

n i c e － 奶 死

b u s － 爸 死

M a r s － 媽 死

g o s h － 哥 死

c h e e s e － 姊 死

t h i s － 弟 死

m a i d s － 妹 死

w a s － 我 死

y e a s t － 姨 死

g o e s － 舅 死

t r e m b l e s － 全 部 死

s e a l s － 笑 死

h a m s － 喊 死

m o l l u s c － 無 聊 死

h a r s h e n s － 開 心 死

f a i l u r e s － 快 樂 死

b e a r s － 悲 哀 死

K i s s － 激 死

d o s e － 都 死

他爸爸看完立刻死亡~~~



I’m sorry

好學的小明,什麼時候都找機會跟人講英文練習練習.

一天,小明不小心在街上撞到了一個外國人.

小明立即把握機會:"I'm sorry!"

外國人:"I'm sorry too!"

小明不甘示弱"I'm sorry three!"

外國人:"What are you sorry for?"

小明:"什麼!Four我呀!I'm sorry five!"

外國人:"Are you sick?"

小明:"Six我!I'm sorry seven.."

外國人:"$%*%#%

Dear all,
This website allows you read the well-written articles in English and Chinese translation is available. The best part is that you can learn vocabs in English by simply click the color-marked words. Give it a try and you'll love it. robin

女鑑識員、男芳療師，只是職場上性別板塊大挪移的小縮影。近3年，包括國軍戰鬥部隊第一位女上校丁良箴、首位領有專業證照的奶爸吳奕樟、調查局第一位高階女性首長吳莉貞、販售調整型內衣的男性林志全、台電首位女總工程師杜悅元、急診室裡的男護士高瑞良……，「超性別演出」每天在職場舞台上不停展現，後現代「職變」成形，一場內爆革命已然掀起。


http://www.taiwan-panorama.com/index.php


:::

:::

Chinese-English translation

學習英文需要很大的努力。想要學習英文像大衛王一樣好的人必須花很多時間接觸英文。較重要的是，他們不可恥於大庭廣眾下說英文，即使他們所能說的是些破英文。畢竟，他們不被要求說得像以英文為母語的人那樣流利和正確。










the sample answer:
It takes great effort to learn English. Those who wish to learn English as well as David Wang have to spend a lot of time exposed to English. More importantly, they should not feel ashamed to speak English in public even if they can only speak some fractured English. After all, they are not required to speak as fluently and accurately as a native speaker of English.

picture description --dog park a

In the picture, there are people walking dogs in a park. It's a must for pet owners and dogs to find a place for both of them to relax. Today, more and more people having dogs as companions. They treat dogs like family and take good care of them. Like us, dogs need to release their energy through enough running and playing. Therefore, the park becomes the perfect place providing a broad green grass land and fresh air for them.

In some parks, for example, the one near my place, has a ban for walking dog inside parks for sanity and safety concern. Some pet owners left pets' excrement in a park without throwing them away. This kind of behavior makes park guardians to do something to keep the park clean. Although most of pet owners bring plastic bags or paper to clean feces from their dogs, a few owners don't care too much about it.

Usually dog lovers gather together in a park and let dogs meet new friends and playmates. I think both dogs and their masters are happy with that. Although having a dog requires enough money and energy to take care of them, some treat them like their children and be willing pay more attention on them. -- a dog lover

picture description --cafe

The picture shows two people sitting and having a talk. It's quite often I ask my friends out to have a talk. The places to meet are various. Sometimes we go to fast food restaurant such as McDonald or KFC, other time we spend time at teashops. In my opinion, it's necessary for me to talk and drink with friends. That's the way I maintain the the friendship.
Usually, we are busy for each own business and have no time to hang out on weekdays. We may sometimes talk through a phone. Rather than hearing voices through machine, I'd like to meet friends face to face. I like the feeling that we can share not only food but stories happened around us. Where we stay and talk is not the point, I want the real atmosphere with real person. Although some may think I am too picky about the way to talk to friends, I do insist it's the best way to keep in touch with my friends. --nibor

picture description --bride

This is a picture of bride with a wedding suit/dress. This is the most beautiful moment for women. Although it costs a lot to have one or rent one, it’s a dream for many women to wear it. I think the white wedding suit has its magical power attracts girls attention. The broad and long skirt part of a wedding gout surrounds the one who wearing it is full of romantic feelings.

In this picture, the mild shining light through window confers viewers. The blurry, smoky atmosphere is quite romantic.

It’s a dream for many girls and women to decorate themselves with a pure-white wedding suit. The suit goes perfect with pure-white color and no one would argue with that. since I am a guy with on chance to wear it, I admire women have this privilege.

I think this is all about romance. People celebrate marriage through fancy dresses and create wonderful atmosphere for wedding couples. The pure-white of dresses presents beauty and romance. In this picture, the photographer tries to create a warm, cozy feeling with blurry focus. The light shines through windows make the room alive and vivid. I like this photo for its lights setting and feelings. It’s not easy to take a good quality photo of brides. Every bride has her beauty that is different from each other. A good photographer needs to get to know brides before taking their photos. Once they feel comfortable in front of the camera and around with photographers, they behavior themselves naturally. That one quite different from someone who just pose and smile.

In Taiwan, people prefer to take pre-wedding shoots for their life-long memory. Although the price for this luxury service is expensive, people are more willing to pay for the dresses on this important event in life. (159 words --robin)

picture description --bookstore

This picture looks like a bookstore and there are two people looking for books. I think it’s a big-scale and fancy bookstore. For today’s bookstores, bookstore owners need to provide a great number of books for readers’ various interests. Readers today buy all kinds of books. In addition, they know well to compare prices and quality and that makes books selling more fun and interesting. For today’s bookstores, they should not only sell books, but their services too. What I mean is that a well-designed bookstore produces the fine atmosphere for reading. For example, the arrangement/array of book-display is important part to evoke consumers’ desires to stay longer, therefore, could even shop/buy more. Like any business mode, bookstore owners need to provide better and thoughtful services for booklovers. Also, it’s a long-term idea to hold consumers loyalty to come back to shop again.

I do sometimes check new books from a bookstore. I often ask clerks to guide me their best sellers. The attitude is the key to the reason whether I’ll comeback or not. I think the clerk need to know their products well. A good bookstore clerk can help consumers find the books they need.

Talking about the bookstores, I have my ideal bookstore request. It must provide comfortable reading spaces for readers such as a cozy sofa or public seated place. I am tired of visiting a bookstore without any moment to have a seat and rest. It’s a significant factor to keep readers in a bookstore as much longer as they could. As long as they tend to stay longer and enjoy their readings in the bookstore, consumers are more willing to pay for books they really love. --robin

picture description --biking

In this picture, people are riding bicycles in a wild field. It’s a trail specially design for bikes. There are many bike trails in Taipei country. The well-designed tracks allow people to enjoy riding and sightseeing. People can rent bikes with a reasonable price at certain stops along trails. Usually it takes 20 dollars for an hour, and various prices for different kind of bikes. It’s a really good place to hang out with friends and family. I usually bring my camera with a bike riding. Some trails go along a river, so sometimes you can enjoy the bird watching near the river bands. The trails are so popular that they are full of people on weekends. The trail has its recreation and sports function that attracts many residents to experience their bike adventures.

(134 words-robin)

picture description --award

In the picture, there is one athlete and a soldier holding a medal together. It seems like the athlete won a medal in a valley ball game. I can tell that from the net behind. Maybe the soldier is his friend or brother to celebrate this moment. It’s a memorable moment that people tend to take pictures to keep it in mind. This picture reminds me the one I had with my father when I graduated from college. He went to attend my graduation ceremony and I was so touched for what my father had done for me. Also, this picture brings back my memory to my young age. Although I didn’t win any medal in any game, I do love sports. It’s good to refresh my memories through pictures. (130 words --robin)

Hello, you folks, here is our place to share and learn

Dear all,
It's glad to have chance to gather together with you folks for the same learning goal --GEPT. Since we all have various resources each own, it's great idea we can share each other with what we have and put it on here. The one brilliant idea is that we collect and categorize vocabulary we may need in the test. Each collects parts of vocabs from the materials you could find. We can get details after more discussions. You boys and girls free free to add any idea here. Remember, it's out place that we share anything here.

good day

robin