Solar Eclipses: When the Sun Disappears
日蝕:當太陽消失時

語音播放:

Once in a while, the Sun seems to totally disappear behind a large black ball in the sky. That large black ball is in fact the Moon, and this peculiar natural phenomenon is called a solar eclipse.
偶爾,太陽似乎會完全消失在天空中的一個大黑球後方。這個大黑球實際上是月球,而這種奇特的自然現象叫做日蝕。

語音播放:

Solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and blocks the Sun from our view. Usually it takes about two hours for them to cross paths, but the total eclipse, when the Moon totally blocks the Sun, lasts for about 7.5 minutes. Partial eclipses usually occur up to five times per year, but only two of those will usually be total eclipses. What’s more, they can only be seen in certain parts of the world, making a solar eclipse a rare sight to behold for most people.
日蝕發生在月球通過太陽和地球之間,從我們的視野中阻擋了太陽。通常,大約需要兩個小時它們才會通過交集點,但是月球完全阻擋太陽的日全蝕,持續約7.5分鐘。日偏蝕通常每年發生多達五次,但通常只有其中兩次會發生日全蝕。更重要的是,只能在世界上的某些地方看見,對大多數人來說日蝕是一種罕見的景象。

語音播放:

If you are lucky enough to catch a solar eclipse, don’t forget that you can easily damage your eyes by looking directly at the Sun, even when the sun is partially blocked by the Moon. Therefore, it is advised that you use special eye protection or an indirect viewing technique.
如果你夠幸運能看到日蝕,不要忘記即使太陽已被月球部分遮住,直盯著太陽看很容易傷害你的眼睛。因此,建議你使用特殊的眼睛保護措施或間接觀察方式。

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Some people are so obsessed with seeing solar eclipses that they will travel to remote locations just to try to witness every solar eclipse. These people are referred to as ‘eclipse chasers’.
有些人對於看日蝕很著迷,以致於他們會旅行前往偏遠的地方只為了見證每一次日蝕,這些人被稱為「日蝕獵人」。

Vocabulary 好字精選

1. peculiar (adj) strange 奇特的
The peculiar thing is that nobody knew what time it was.
奇怪的是,沒有人知道幾點了。

2. phenomenon (n) a fact or situation that can be observed but is difficult to explain 現象
The Northern and Southern Lights are one of nature’s most beautiful phenomena.
北極光和南極光是大自然中最美的現象之一。

3. partial (adj) not complete 部分的
The student was only able to provide a partial answer to the question.
那名學生只能夠提供問題的部分答案。

4. advise (v) recommend/suggest 建議
It is advised that you start this assignment ASAP.
建議你盡快開始做這個作業。

5. technique (n) method/way 技術、方式
Advanced scientific techniques were used to open the ancient dinosaur egg.
先進的科學技術被用來打開這個古老的恐龍蛋。

6. remote (adj) distant, far away from everything 遙遠的、偏遠的方式
The lost boaters got stranded on a remote island.
失踪的船民被擱淺在偏遠的島上。

Phrases and Sentence Patterns 句型解析

1. once in a while (phr) something similar to 偶爾、有時候
Once in a while, Jacob forgets how old he is.
Jacob有時會忘記他的年紀多大了。

2. S + V, making + S + ADJ (sentence pattern) 使+受詞(人)+形容詞br> Pete got 99% on the test, making him the top-scoring student in the class
Pete在考試中得到99分的成績,使他成為班上得分最高的學生。

3. a sight to behold (idiom) something very impressive to see 令人印象深刻的景象
This waterfall is a sight to behold after heavy rain.
這個瀑布在大雨後真是一個令人印象深刻的景象。

4. sb. + obsessed with V-ing (sentence pattern) (人)對…著迷
Grant is obsessed with photographing every dish that he eats.
Grant著迷於拍攝他所吃的每一道菜。

Exercise 課後練習題

1. Tania called the police because a _______________-looking man was hanging out in her front yard.
Tania因為一個奇怪的男人正在她的前院裡閒逛打電話報警。

2. Scientists are still trying to explain this unusual _______________.
科學家們還在試圖解釋這個不尋常的現象。

3. A _______________ explanation is not good enough. I want to know everything.
部分的解釋不夠,我想知道所有的一切。

4. Could you please ______________ me on how to submit my application?
可否請你建議我如何繳交我的申請表?

5. Every hair stylist has his or her own unique _______________ for cutting and styling hair.
每位髮型師都有自己獨特的剪髮及造型技術。

6. People in that _______________ village don’t have adequate medical facilities.
那個偏遠村莊的人們沒有足夠的醫療設施。

7. ______________ Terry likes to get an ice cream cone on the way home from work.
偶爾,Terry喜歡在下班回家的路上買一支冰淇淋。

8. The blue whale can weigh up to 180,000kg, _______________ it the heaviest animal on earth.
藍鯨可重達十八萬公斤,是世界上最重的動物。

9. The Eiffel Tower in Paris is truly a _______________.
巴黎的艾菲爾鐵塔是一個真正令人印象深刻的景象。

10. Connie is _______________ finding her long lost real parents, since she was adopted when she was really young.
Connie著迷於尋找她長期失散的親生父母,因為她很小時就被領養了。

解答:
1. peculiar
2. phenomenon
3. partial
4. advise
5. technique/techniques
6. remote
7. Once in a while
8. Making
9. sight to behold
10. obsessed with

Comprehension Questions 閱讀理解

1. Why is it uncommon to see a total solar eclipse?
a. We never know when they will happen. 
b. They can’t be seen everywhere, and only happen a few times per year.   
c. The vast majority of solar eclipses are partial eclipses, not total eclipses.
d. The techniques for viewing solar eclipses are really difficult to learn.

2. How many partial or total solar eclipses might an eclipse chaser be able to see in one year?
a. 0-1.  
b. 2-5.
c. 5-10.
d. More than 10.

解答:

1. 為什麼日全蝕很不常見?
a. 我們永遠不知道它們什麼時候會發生。  
b. 它們不能在每個地方被看見,每年只會發生幾次。
c. 日蝕絕大多數是日偏蝕,而不是日全蝕。
d. 查看日蝕的技術真的很難學。

2. 日蝕獵人可能可以在一年內看到幾次日偏蝕或日全蝕?
a. 0-1次。
b. 2-5次。
c. 5-10次。
d. 超過10次。

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