#9 What makes a good life? ( Vocaroo )

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Q:
     1. Briefly introduce the Harvard study on happiness.
     2. Are you surprised by Dr. Robert’s findings?
     3. According to your opinion, what makes a good life?

A:

     The Harvard said the study showed that good relationships keep us happier and healthier. And We've learned three big lessons about relationships. The first is social connections are really good for us. The second is that it's not just the number of friends you have, and it's not whether or not you're in a committed relationship, but it's the quality of your close relationships. And the third big lesson is good relationships don't just protect our bodies, they protect our brains.

     I don't think I'm too surprised by Dr.Robert’s findings because I think if you ask me what can make life better before watching Ted, I will also answer family and friends, but I won’t say it's as in-depth as Dr. Rebort's researches.

     According my opinion, my answer is still family and friend because they can give me advice or listen to me when I'm frustrated or sad. They make me feel I'm not just alone and also make me feel relaxed. I think this is more important than being rich and powerful.

#8 Inside the mind of a master procrastinator ( Vocaroo )

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Q:
     Do you procrastinate sometimes? Why do you procrastinate? How to stop procrastinating?


A:
     I was a procrastinator before, but I think I am not now. Although I still want to procrastinate sometimes, I still urge myself to get things done as soon as possible.
     
     Why did I procrastinate? I often got lazy or thought I have enough time to do something, but sometimes when I encountered unexpected situations, I accumulated things together, causing myself to become very busy and do nothing to my satisfaction.

     Therefore, I slowly quit this bad habit, urge myself at any time and do something when I have time. Not only can I make things better, but I can also avoid unexpected things to make me more busy.

#7 TED Talk ( Inside the mind of a master procrastinator )

🔆Keywords

1. procrastination (n.) 耽擱；拖延
Definition: to delay doing something that you ought to do, usually because you do not want to do it

Ex: This is no time for procrastination - we need decisive action.

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2. perplex (v.) 使複雜化；使困惑
Definition: to confuse and worry someone slightly by being difficult to understand or solve

Ex: The symptoms of the disease have continued to perplex her doctors.

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3. hypothesis (n.) 假設；前提

Definition: an idea or explanation for something that is based on known facts but has not yet been proved

Ex: Several hypothesis for global warming have been suggested.

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🔆Summarize the talk

     The speaker explaind why the procrastinators was procrastinating. When things are coming to the deadline, the rational decision-makers in the mind will remind us to do things, but when there is no deadline, the procrastinators will continue to delay, causing it to regret. Therefore, we need to think about what we're really procrastinating on, because many things are not always delayed.

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🔆Video 

#6 TED Talk ( The power of passion and perseverance )

🔆Keywords

1. demanding (adj.) 要求高的；吃力的
Definition: needing a lot of ability, effort, or skill

Ex: Being a nurse in a busy hospital is a demanding job - you don't get much free time.

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2. stratospheric (adj.) 同溫層的 / (adj.) 極高的；非常的

Definition: relating to the outer part of the air surrounding the Earth

Ex: It's an amazing camera, but the price is stratospheric!

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3. grit (n.) 決心；勇氣；毅力
Definition: courage and determination despite difficulty

Ex: It takes true (= real) grit to stand up to a bully.

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4. stamina (n.) 耐力；耐性；持久力
Definition: the physical and/or mental strength to do something that might be difficult and will take a long time

Ex: Brooks just doesn't have the stamina to play the whole game.

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5. mindset (n.) 心態；精神狀態 / (n.) 思想傾向；思維方式；觀念模式

Definition: a person's way of thinking and their opinions

Ex: It's extraordinary how hard it is to change the mindset of the public and the press.

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🔆Introduce the talk

     Success wasn't because of social intelligence, good looks, physical health or IQ, but because of grit. Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Therefore, people who can succeed are because they have to be willing to fail, to be wrong, to start over again with lessons learned.

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🔆Video

#5 Can we trust a smart speaker? (Six Minute English)

Q: Do you have a smart speaker at home? 

A: No, I don't have the habit of using a smart speaker.

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Q: What is a smart speaker? 

A: Smart speaker is a kind of wireless speaker and voice command device with an integrated virtual assistant. Common examples in life are Google Assistant, Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri. 

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Q: How does a smart speaker work? 

A: If people want to check the information on the Internet, they can give smart speaker a voice instructions and it will show what they want, such as news and weather. 

#4 Hyperloop system and transport system in Taiwan

     I think Hyperloop system is a cool technology and invention. Through magnetic levitation and mag-lev technology, the train was successfully advanced at about 600 kilometer on the test track. I also believe that the improvement and progress in the future can bring more benefits to people and reduce the obstacles in time.

     As for Taiwan's transportation system, I feel it is very convenient nowsadays because people have a lot of vehicles to choose, such as high-speed rail, trains and buses. People can also use these systems to travel to and from hometown during continuous holidays, but the faster the speed, the more expensive it is. Therefore, in order to save money, many students will sacrifice their time and face the possibility of traffic jams.

#3 Transport of the future (Six Minute English)

1. prevalent (adj.)流行的；普遍的
Definition: common at a particular time, in a particular place, or among a particular group of people

Ex: These diseases are more prevalent among young children.

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2. freight (n.)運費；貨物 (V.)運送
Definition: goods that are carried by ship, train, or aircraft, and the system of moving these goods

Ex: We’ll send your personal belongings by air freight and your furniture by sea freight.

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3. prototype (n.)原型；標準
Definition: the first example of something, such as a machine or other industrial product, from which all later forms are developed

Ex: The prototype of this particular computer was developed by an American in 1975.

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4. far-fetched (adj.)牽強的；難以置信的
Definition: very unlikely to be true, and difficult to believe

Ex: The idea of travelling to other solar systems may sound far-fetched but scientists now see it as a real possibility.

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5. levitation (n.)漂浮；升空
Definition: the act of rising and floating, or making someone rise or float, in the air without any physical support

Ex: There are many supernatural motifs such as flying carpets and levitation in the book.