2009年4月10日 星期五
2009年3月26日 星期四
#03 Course Material (Mar. 26th)
Puzzle 1
A ship is docked in the harbour. Over the side hangs a rope ladder with rungs a foot apart. The tide rises at a rate of 9 inches per hour. At the end of six hours, how much of the rope ladder will still remain above water, assuming that 9 feet were above the water when the tide began to rise?
Ans: Still 9 feet because the ladder will rise with the ship!
Puzzle 2
I went on a trip last week. The traffic was moderate and the journey took two and a half hours. On the return journey, the traffic was similar, but I made it back in 150 minutes. How come?
ANS: The times are the same!
Puzzle 3
Three people check into a hotel. They pay £30 to the manager and go to their room. The manager suddenly remembers that the room rate is £25 and gives £5 to the bellboy to return to the people. On the way to the room the bellboy reasons that £5 would be difficult to share among three people so he pockets £2 and gives £1 to each person. Now each person paid £10 and got back £1. So they paid £9 each, totalling £27. The bellboy has £2, totalling £29. Where is the missing £1? (£: pound)
ANS: We have to be careful what we are adding together. Originally, they paid £30, they each received back £1, thus they now have only paid £27. Of this £27, £25 went to the manager for the room and £2 went to the bellboy.
Puzzle 4
Polly Perkins was after a talking parrot, so she went to the local pet shop in the hope of securing such a find. She was in luck. The shop assistant assured her that the parrot would learn and repeat any word or phrase it heard. Polly was delighted. However, a week later, the parrot still hadn't spoken a word. Polly returned to the shop to complain, however, it appeared that the assistant was accurate in what he had said, and refused a refund. Why didn't the parrot talk?
ANS: The parrot was deaf and as such couldn't repeat a single word it had heard!
Puzzle 5
Change the position of just one of the words below so that all the words are in an alphabetical sequence:
llama phoenix hyena alligator beaver elephant tortoise antelope
Antelope: move it from the end to the beginning, the initial letters will then spell ALPHABET.
Puzzle 6
Can you name four days which start with the letter "T"?
ANS: Tuesday, Thursday, today, and tomorrow!
Puzzle 7
Assume that penguins live with a density of 1,000 penguins per square mile and can run at an average speed of 7 miles per hour on land and swim at 20 miles per hour. Also assume that a polar bear has a territory of 10 square miles, can run at 25 miles per hour and swim at 10 miles per hour, how many penguins will an average polar bear eat in any given month, remembering that a polar bear could, as a maximum, only eat one penguin per hour and 7% of the land is next to the sea.
ANS: None: polar bears live at the north pole and penguins live at the south pole!
Puzzle 8
A prisoner is enclosed in a room. This room has no doors, no windows and no other hole large enough for the prisoner to escape via. He has no tools, he has no assistance. He does have a table and a chair in the centre of the room. The room is quite large, walls are two foot thick. How can the prisoner escape?
ANS: First he rubs his finger on the table until it is sore, cuts the table in half with the saw. Puts the two halves of the table together to make it whole. Climbs in the hole and shouts until he is hoarse. Climbs on the horse and rides away.
Puzzle 9
Which of these is correct:
Six and six IS eleven or six and six ARE eleven?
ANS: Neither: the answer is twelve!
Puzzle 10
According to the American Constitution, in order to became President of the United States there are only five pre-requisites. The candidate must:
1. be at least 35 years old.2. be a citizen of the United States.3. have resided in the United States for at least 14 years.4. have been born in the United States.
What is the fifth requirement?
ANS: The person must be elected!
Puzzle 11
How should GHOTI be pronounced?
FISH: the GH as in ENOUGH, the O as in WOMEN, the TI as in MOTION.
A ship is docked in the harbour. Over the side hangs a rope ladder with rungs a foot apart. The tide rises at a rate of 9 inches per hour. At the end of six hours, how much of the rope ladder will still remain above water, assuming that 9 feet were above the water when the tide began to rise?
Ans: Still 9 feet because the ladder will rise with the ship!
Puzzle 2
I went on a trip last week. The traffic was moderate and the journey took two and a half hours. On the return journey, the traffic was similar, but I made it back in 150 minutes. How come?
ANS: The times are the same!
Puzzle 3
Three people check into a hotel. They pay £30 to the manager and go to their room. The manager suddenly remembers that the room rate is £25 and gives £5 to the bellboy to return to the people. On the way to the room the bellboy reasons that £5 would be difficult to share among three people so he pockets £2 and gives £1 to each person. Now each person paid £10 and got back £1. So they paid £9 each, totalling £27. The bellboy has £2, totalling £29. Where is the missing £1? (£: pound)
ANS: We have to be careful what we are adding together. Originally, they paid £30, they each received back £1, thus they now have only paid £27. Of this £27, £25 went to the manager for the room and £2 went to the bellboy.
Puzzle 4
Polly Perkins was after a talking parrot, so she went to the local pet shop in the hope of securing such a find. She was in luck. The shop assistant assured her that the parrot would learn and repeat any word or phrase it heard. Polly was delighted. However, a week later, the parrot still hadn't spoken a word. Polly returned to the shop to complain, however, it appeared that the assistant was accurate in what he had said, and refused a refund. Why didn't the parrot talk?
ANS: The parrot was deaf and as such couldn't repeat a single word it had heard!
Puzzle 5
Change the position of just one of the words below so that all the words are in an alphabetical sequence:
llama phoenix hyena alligator beaver elephant tortoise antelope
Antelope: move it from the end to the beginning, the initial letters will then spell ALPHABET.
Puzzle 6
Can you name four days which start with the letter "T"?
ANS: Tuesday, Thursday, today, and tomorrow!
Puzzle 7
Assume that penguins live with a density of 1,000 penguins per square mile and can run at an average speed of 7 miles per hour on land and swim at 20 miles per hour. Also assume that a polar bear has a territory of 10 square miles, can run at 25 miles per hour and swim at 10 miles per hour, how many penguins will an average polar bear eat in any given month, remembering that a polar bear could, as a maximum, only eat one penguin per hour and 7% of the land is next to the sea.
ANS: None: polar bears live at the north pole and penguins live at the south pole!
Puzzle 8
A prisoner is enclosed in a room. This room has no doors, no windows and no other hole large enough for the prisoner to escape via. He has no tools, he has no assistance. He does have a table and a chair in the centre of the room. The room is quite large, walls are two foot thick. How can the prisoner escape?
ANS: First he rubs his finger on the table until it is sore, cuts the table in half with the saw. Puts the two halves of the table together to make it whole. Climbs in the hole and shouts until he is hoarse. Climbs on the horse and rides away.
Puzzle 9
Which of these is correct:
Six and six IS eleven or six and six ARE eleven?
ANS: Neither: the answer is twelve!
Puzzle 10
According to the American Constitution, in order to became President of the United States there are only five pre-requisites. The candidate must:
1. be at least 35 years old.2. be a citizen of the United States.3. have resided in the United States for at least 14 years.4. have been born in the United States.
What is the fifth requirement?
ANS: The person must be elected!
Puzzle 11
How should GHOTI be pronounced?
FISH: the GH as in ENOUGH, the O as in WOMEN, the TI as in MOTION.
#02 Course Material (Mar. 5th)
1. 33 Pigs are standing in a field, when suddenly a bolt of lightning kills all but 9 of them. How many are left?
a) 0 b) 9 c) 24 d) 33
2. Lee's parents emigrated from China. They have 5 kids. The kids' names are La, Le, Li, and Lo. What did they name the 5th?
a) Not enough information b) Le c) Lu d) Lee
3. You only have a match when you enter a dark and cold room. You come across an oil lamp, an oil heater, and a candle. Which do you light first?
a) Oil lamp b) Oil heater c) Candle d) None of the above
4. Some months have 30 days, and some have 31 days. How many months have 28 days?
a) 6 b) 1 c) 12 d) 3
5. If there are 14 apples and you take away 9, how many do you have?
a) 5 b) 9 c) 8 d) None of the Above
6. A doctor gives you three pills with instructions to take one every half hour. How many minutes would the pills last?
a) 60 b) 30 c) 90 d) 120
7. The Smith family has a Mother, Father and 7 daughters. Each daughter has 1 brother. How many people are in the family?
a) 9 b) 16 c) 10 d) 15
8. Take 1000 and add 40 to it.. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000 Now add 10. What is the total?
a) 4500 b) 5000 c) 4100 d) None of the Above
9. Divide 50 by half and then add ten. What do you get?
a) 110 b) 75 c) 35 d) None of the Above
10. A jet traveling from the United States to Mexico, carrying 200 Mexican passengers, crashes EXACTLY on the U.S. and Mexico border. Where would you bury the survivors?
a) Mexico b) United States c) Exactly on the Border d) None of the Above
a) 0 b) 9 c) 24 d) 33
2. Lee's parents emigrated from China. They have 5 kids. The kids' names are La, Le, Li, and Lo. What did they name the 5th?
a) Not enough information b) Le c) Lu d) Lee
3. You only have a match when you enter a dark and cold room. You come across an oil lamp, an oil heater, and a candle. Which do you light first?
a) Oil lamp b) Oil heater c) Candle d) None of the above
4. Some months have 30 days, and some have 31 days. How many months have 28 days?
a) 6 b) 1 c) 12 d) 3
5. If there are 14 apples and you take away 9, how many do you have?
a) 5 b) 9 c) 8 d) None of the Above
6. A doctor gives you three pills with instructions to take one every half hour. How many minutes would the pills last?
a) 60 b) 30 c) 90 d) 120
7. The Smith family has a Mother, Father and 7 daughters. Each daughter has 1 brother. How many people are in the family?
a) 9 b) 16 c) 10 d) 15
8. Take 1000 and add 40 to it.. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000 Now add 10. What is the total?
a) 4500 b) 5000 c) 4100 d) None of the Above
9. Divide 50 by half and then add ten. What do you get?
a) 110 b) 75 c) 35 d) None of the Above
10. A jet traveling from the United States to Mexico, carrying 200 Mexican passengers, crashes EXACTLY on the U.S. and Mexico border. Where would you bury the survivors?
a) Mexico b) United States c) Exactly on the Border d) None of the Above
2009年2月19日 星期四
Course Guidelines #01 (Feb. 23rd)
How to introduce (describe)
1. your basic information (name, age, ...)
2. your hobbies
3. your school (environment, location, ...)
4. your personalities (positive, neutral, negative)
5. your families (relatives)
6. your friends (classmates)
7. your teachers
Useful words:
Positive personality characteristics
1. your basic information (name, age, ...)
2. your hobbies
3. your school (environment, location, ...)
4. your personalities (positive, neutral, negative)
5. your families (relatives)
6. your friends (classmates)
7. your teachers
Useful words:
Positive personality characteristics
- brave, courageous
- hardworking
- ambitious
- intelligent
- bright
- genious
- witty; amusing; humorous
- open-minded
- stylish
- humorous
- easy-going
- wise
- considerate
- kind
- generous
- patient
- tolerant
- polite, courteous
- trustworthy
- reliable
- responsible
- optimistic
- outgoing
- charismatic
- modest
- talented
- loyal
- knowledgeable
Neutral personality characteristics
- broad-minded
- a celebrity
- hot-shot, big-shot, somebody, big wig
- adventurous
- active
- energetic
- independent
- sensitive
- rebellious
- talkative
- flirtatious
- conservative
- serious
- shy
- strict
- a transvestite
- assertive
- aggressive
Negative personality characteristics
- pessimistic
- a couch potato
- womanizer
- a peeping Tom
- nosy (poke one's nose into)
- possessive, controlling (a control freak)
- stingy
- vain
- selfish
- stuck-up
- stubborn
- pushy
- bossy
- a geek, a nerd,
- coward, chicken (to chicken out)
- a wimp (tend to whine)
- a sissy
- idiot, moron, retard, know-nothing
- a know-all
- cocky
- a pervert
2009年2月18日 星期三
學習英語口說第一步
使用英語思考的幾個方法
這聽起來也許不可思議，不過只要從最簡單最基本的開始就不會覺得難。
用直述句描述生活作息中的細節，藉以訓練基礎造句能力。
例如：
1. I get up at six-thirty.
2. After pushing (pressing) down the switch button of alarm clock, I went to bathroom (or washroom).
3. I wash my face to refresh myself.
4. I put on school uniform.
.....
觀察日常生活中的點點滴滴，並思考如何用英語表達。
例如：
1. 糾察隊: Student Patrol (source: http://www.rowan.edu/safety/patrol/)
2. 在捷運車廂內遇到火警時應該如何處置?
3. 牆壁上的對講機的英文怎麼說?
唱英文歌
找幾首自己喜歡的英文歌曲練習，學唱節奏快速的歌曲有助於口說的流利度。把歌詞背熟，當碰到班上有才藝表演機會時還可以秀一下。
這聽起來也許不可思議，不過只要從最簡單最基本的開始就不會覺得難。
用直述句描述生活作息中的細節，藉以訓練基礎造句能力。
例如：
1. I get up at six-thirty.
2. After pushing (pressing) down the switch button of alarm clock, I went to bathroom (or washroom).
3. I wash my face to refresh myself.
4. I put on school uniform.
.....
觀察日常生活中的點點滴滴，並思考如何用英語表達。
例如：
1. 糾察隊: Student Patrol (source: http://www.rowan.edu/safety/patrol/)
2. 在捷運車廂內遇到火警時應該如何處置?
3. 牆壁上的對講機的英文怎麼說?
唱英文歌
找幾首自己喜歡的英文歌曲練習，學唱節奏快速的歌曲有助於口說的流利度。把歌詞背熟，當碰到班上有才藝表演機會時還可以秀一下。
免費的英語聽力訓練
這些是免費的英語聽力訓練藥方
服用方法：
1. 準備一台收音機 (最好有定時啟動功能, 可以當作鬧鐘用)。如果沒有定時功能，可以找個定時器(電器行皆有賣)。
2. 每天早晚定時收聽 (當作鬧鐘，讓英國人喚您起床)。
3. 持之以恆：長期(至少一年以上)服用必可見效 (省了遊學移民的錢)。
4. 聽英語電台的要領：放鬆心情，不用太集中精神，甚至可以做別的事，例如：讀數學。
5. 不可拿著當期雜誌邊聽邊閱讀，因為眼力會搶走耳力的學習機會。
6. 準備一本精美筆記本，隨時記下自己聽得似懂非懂的單字，並每天寫下自己的學習心情。
7. 聽不懂沒關係，就是持續聽，半年後就會有不同的感受。
教育廣播電台: FM101.7(台北頻率)
21:00~21:30 空中英語教室 (經典)
台北廣播電台: FM93.1
06:00~07:00 BBC World Service (新聞廣播，必聽！)
22:00~23:00 BBC World Service (新聞廣播)
這些節目伴隨了我20多年，尤其是空中英語教室。我都還記得聽懂第一個字的那種喜悅。
服用方法：
1. 準備一台收音機 (最好有定時啟動功能, 可以當作鬧鐘用)。如果沒有定時功能，可以找個定時器(電器行皆有賣)。
2. 每天早晚定時收聽 (當作鬧鐘，讓英國人喚您起床)。
3. 持之以恆：長期(至少一年以上)服用必可見效 (省了遊學移民的錢)。
4. 聽英語電台的要領：放鬆心情，不用太集中精神，甚至可以做別的事，例如：讀數學。
5. 不可拿著當期雜誌邊聽邊閱讀，因為眼力會搶走耳力的學習機會。
6. 準備一本精美筆記本，隨時記下自己聽得似懂非懂的單字，並每天寫下自己的學習心情。
7. 聽不懂沒關係，就是持續聽，半年後就會有不同的感受。
教育廣播電台: FM101.7(台北頻率)
21:00~21:30 空中英語教室 (經典)
台北廣播電台: FM93.1
06:00~07:00 BBC World Service (新聞廣播，必聽！)
22:00~23:00 BBC World Service (新聞廣播)
這些節目伴隨了我20多年，尤其是空中英語教室。我都還記得聽懂第一個字的那種喜悅。
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