The Truth about Our Leisure Time
「閒暇時間」的真相

語音播放:

As citizens of the 21st century, it is a very interesting time for us to be alive. Technology is advancing faster than ever before. We are the first generation to grow up with smartphones, iPads, digital cameras, and so on. These devices make our lives more convenient and save us a lot of time.

身為21世紀的公民,對我們而言,這是段非常有趣的時代。科技發展的速度前所未見地快速。我們是第一批與智慧型手機、iPads、數位相機等等電子產品一起成長的世代。這些電子裝置讓我們的生活更加便利,也節省我們許多時間。

語音播放:

But wait a minute. Is that really true? If all this technology is supposed to save us time, then we should have more leisure time than all of our ancestors did. But we don’t. It actually seems that the opposite is true.

但等一下。這是真的嗎?假如這些科技應該為我們節省時間,那我們應該比先祖們有更多的休息時間。但我們並沒有。事實上似乎還相反。

語音播放:

Compare yourself to someone who lived 500 years ago. That person didn’t have to reply to emails, answer telephone calls, take photos and post them on social media, watch the latest TV series, and the list goes on. The truth of the matter is that we modern people spend A LOT of time dealing with our technologies, at the sacrifice of our leisure time. In other words, using technology is dominating our leisure time.

將自己與活在500年前的古人相比。那人不需要回電子郵件、不用接電話、不用拍照後還要在社交媒體上發文出去、不用觀看最新的電視影集諸如此類。真實情況是,我們現代人花了很多很多時間使用科技產品,這都犧牲了我們的閒暇時間。換句話說,使用科技產品佔住我們的休閒時光。

What will this mean for future generations?
這對未來世代來說意味著什麼?

Vocabulary 好字精選

1. leisure (n) free time 空閒,閒暇,休閒
What do you usually do in your leisure time? 
你有空閒的時候通常都在做什麼?

2. citizen (n) a person of a certain country, time period, or of the world  市民,公民
All citizens have the right to apply for a passport. 
全體公民都有權利申請護照。

3. century (n) 100 years  (一)世紀
How many people alive today are more than a century old? 
現代有多少人活過一百歲?

4. digital (adj.) electronic  數位的
“No digital devices are allowed in my classroom,” said the teacher.
老師說:「我的課堂上不准使用數位裝置」。

5. device (n) a small (usually handheld) electronic machine  (小型)電子裝置
This device can check your heart rate.
這項裝置可以查看你的心跳數。

6. ancestor (n) people in your family who lived before you  祖先,祖宗
Nick’s ancestors came from Germany and France. 
Nick的祖先來自德國與法國。

7. dominate (v) control, have power over  支配,統治,控制,佔…主要地位
The boss loves the feeling of dominating his workers.
老闆喜歡支配員工的感覺。

Phrases and Sentence Patterns 句型解析

1. (and) the list goes on (phr) etc., and so on  之類等等
Jimmy can play the saxophone, trumpet, guitar, drums, and the list goes on.
Jimmy會吹薩克斯風、小號、吉他和其他的。

2. the truth of the matter is (that) (phr) the true thing is (that)  真實情況是…
The truth of the matter is that I don’t even want a girlfriend.
真實情況是,我甚至不想要交女朋友。

3. to do A at the sacrifice of B (phr) to do A means B will be negatively impacted  犧牲B…去做A
John continues to smoke, at the sacrifice of his health.
John犧牲健康繼續抽菸。

4. in other words (phr) said differently  換句話說
Brett is half fish, half man. In other words, he’s a really good swimmer.
Brett可真是半人半魚。換句話說,他真的很會游泳。

Exercise 課後練習題

1. Ice skating is Malinda’s favorite ____________ activity.
溜冰是Malinda最喜歡的休閒活動。

2. Only _______________ of English-speaking countries can apply for the position.
只有英語系國家的市民可以申請這個職位。

3. Our country has been independent for more than one ______________ .
我們國家獨立已經超過一百年了。

4. The great thing about ______________ cameras is that you can see the photo right away.
數位相機最棒的是你可以看到立即看到照片。

5. The smartphone is currently the most popular digital ______________.
智慧型手機目前是最受歡迎的數位裝置。

6. Our ______________ came here from China.
我們的祖先來自中國大陸。

7. The team in the red uniforms is really _______________the game!
身穿紅色制服的隊伍佔住比賽優勢。

8. Amy loves traveling. She’s been to Thailand, Japan, America, France, Mexico, and _____________.
Amy最愛旅行。她曾去過泰國、日本、美國、法國、墨西哥以及其他的。

9. _____________ that I’m glad my date didn’t show up.
真實情況是,我很高興我的約會對象沒有出現。

10. Timothy always works overtime at _____________ his leisure time.
Timothy一直都在犧牲他的休閒時間來加班。

11. I can’t get enough of Emily. ____________, I really enjoy being with her.
和Emily相處再久都不嫌多。換句話說,我真的喜歡和她在一起。

解答:
1.leisure
2.citizen
3.century
4.digital
5.device
6.ancestors
7.dominate
8.the list goes on
9.The truth of the matter is
10.the sacrifice of
11.In other words

Comprehension Questions 閱讀理解

1. What is the purpose of the article?
a. To argue that we have less leisure time nowadays.
b. To prove that we have more leisure time than our ancestors.
c. To convince readers to give up their digital devices.
d. To introduce better ways to use your leisure time.

2. What does the author imply about people in the future?
a. They will learn to balance technology and leisure time.
b. They may sacrifice even more of their leisure time for technology.
c. They may rely less on their digital devices.
d. They may learn how to dominate their devices.

1. 這篇文章的目的為何?
a. 認為現代人擁有的休閒時間較少。
b. 證明我們比先祖擁有的休閒時間更多。
c. 說服讀者放棄他們的數位裝置。
d. 介紹更好的方法利用休閒時間。

2. 作者暗示未來的人們將會如何?
a. 他們會學習在科技及休閒時光中取得平衡。
b. 他們可能會犧牲更多的休閒時間來使用科技產品。
c. 他們可能會少用數位裝置。
d. 他們可能會學習如何支配他們的裝置。

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