糖飲料殺手

糖飲料殺手
consuming sugar-sweetened beverages causes chronic diseases

a postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and lead author of the study presented today at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting in New Orleans.

Singh and colleagues spent five years putting the pieces together. Using data from national health surveys around the world, the team tied sugar-sweetened beverages to 133,000 deaths from diabetes, 44,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases and 6,000 deaths from cancer in 2010.

The study adds to mounting evidence that sugar-sweetened beverages, loaded with calories that carry little nutritional value, are a public health hazard.

“I think our findings should really impel policymakers to make effective policies to reduce sugary beverage consumption since it causes a significant number of deaths,” said Singh, adding that she thinks “cause” is an appropriate word despite the limitations of the association study.

The American Beverage Association criticized the study, which has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, calling it “more about sensationalism than science.”

“It does not show that consuming sugar-sweetened beverages causes chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease or cancer – the real causes of death among the studied subjects,” the industry group said in a statement. “The researchers make a huge leap when they take beverage intake calculations from around the globe and allege that those beverages are the cause of deaths which the authors themselves acknowledge are due to chronic disease.”

The study comes one week after a judge blocked New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed ban on supersized sodas, and one day after Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill preventing municipalities from setting limits on soda and salt content.

Questions:

1. What are the health effects of drinking soda and sugary drinks?

2. Why sugary drinks are really bad for us?
3. Do you know how much sugar you're eating?
4. Do you have a sugar addiction?
5. Ways to reduce obesity?
6. Do you know any other harmful foods to health?

I.             Words

1.   consume 喝     2. chronic 慢性的      3. postdoctoral 博士學位取得後的     4. fellow 夥伴

5. annual 每年的    6. colleague 同事      7. cardiovascular 心血管的     8. mount 上升 

9. evidence 證據     10. nutritional 營養的     11. hazard 危險     12. impel 推動；迫使

13. significant 重要的     14. appropriate 適當的     15. limitations 限制     

16. sensationalism 譁眾取寵     17. diabetes 糖尿病     18. beverage intake 攝取飲料

19. allege 宣稱；提出      20. propose提議      21. ban 禁令      22. municipality 自治市

II.           Grammar

1.   Singh and colleagues spent five years putting the pieces together.

 ** 花費~

    人 + spend + 時間/金錢 + V-ing

2.   Using data from national health surveys around the world, the team tied sugar-sweetened beverages to 133,000 deaths from diabetes, 44,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases and 6,000 deaths from cancer in 2010.

 ** 分詞構句

    連接詞 + S + V ~ , S + V ~

(1)          主詞相同， 刪除從屬子句的主詞(即連接詞之後的主詞)

(2)          主詞若不同，兩邊主詞皆留下(稱之為獨立分詞構句)

(3)          連接詞可省略，之後再把動詞變回原形，加上ing(若是being，可省略)

3.   I think our findings should really impel policymakers to make effective policies to reduce sugary beverage consumption since it causes a significant number of deaths.

 ** 迫使/激勵~人去做~事

    S + impel + sb. + to + V ~

 ** since(連接詞) 因為

   S + V ~ since + S + V ~

 ** ~數量: a number of + 複數名詞  /  an amount of + 不可數名詞

Clean hands are key to cutting infections 洗手防流感

Clean hands are key to cutting infections, say experts

If everyone were to wash their hands the risk of colds, flu and even bird flu would be much less, say UK experts. Professor John Oxford, of London's Queen Mary's School of Medicine, warns many people are failing to do so and are complacent about personal hygiene.

His team looked at the most effective methods to prevent the transmission of colds and flu, including bird flu.

Rather than relying on products such as antiviral tissues, personal cleanliness should be a priority, they say.

Hand cleaning came out top, followed by disinfecting surfaces.

Personal cleanliness and hygiene levels have dropped steadily over the last decades. Attention must be paid to hand washing

Professor John Oxford

The least effective way to prevent transmission of the common cold is through the use of virucidal nasal tissues, Professor Oxford and colleague Dr Rob Lambkin, also from Queen Mary's, concluded.

Studies have shown that viruses can survive on human hands for several hours and that they can be spread by direct contact.

As well as through coughs and sneezes, a person may pick up the virus on their fingers by touching an infected object or person.

Breaking the chain

If they then rub their nose or eyes with their virus-contaminated fingers they can become ill themselves and spread the infection to others, leading to a vicious cycle.

The UK experts say the best way to break the chain is for people to wash their hands.

This is a very sensible precaution that should be taken, especially as we approach winter and colds and viruses are likely to be emerging

Dr Mark Britton, chairman of the British Lung Foundation

Professor Oxford said: "Unfortunately, personal cleanliness and hygiene levels have dropped steadily over the last decades with many microbes, as never before, using the opportunity to spread.

"First and foremost to reduce virus transmission attention must be paid to hand washing and then when this is satisfactory, focus on cleansing surfaces and equipment shared by others such as desks, tables, telephones and door knobs."

He said it was important that people did not come to rely on antiviral tissues to reduce the spread of viruses and then reduce hand washing as this could lead to an increase in infection of what could be very serious respiratory viruses.

"Quite rightly for influenza, great reliance continues to be placed on vaccines and antiviral drugs, but still virus destruction on surfaces and hand washing continues to be an important adjunct."

Dr Mark Britton, chairman of the British Lung Foundation, said: "It is absolutely reasonable what they are saying. People need to be reminded about the importance of basic hand hygiene.

COMMON HOME SURFACES THAT CAN HARBOUR VIRUSES (in descending order of risk)

Phone receiver

Light switches

Door knobs

Toilet flush handle

Source: Journal of Infection, August 2005, pages 103-9

"This is a very sensible precaution that should be taken, especially as we approach winter and colds and viruses are likely to be emerging."

Dr Graham Archard, of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said improved hygiene would help prevent flu, but added that it was also important for those at high risk - such over 65 years old - to be vaccinated against the influenza virus.

Professor Ron Eccles of the Common Cold Centre in Cardiff said: "The only way to avoid catching a cold is to become a hermit.

"If you are in contact with other people you are likely to get a cold as the viruses are so common."

He said the best way a person could reduce the risk of catching a cold was to:

•wash hands regularly, especially after being in crowded places

•use a tissue thick enough so that it won't break apart when blowing their nose and dispose of it after use

I.            Words

1.   infection 感染       2. expert 專家     3. risk 風險     4. warn 警告

5. complacent 滿意的       6. hygiene 衛生     7. effective  有效的

8. transmission 傳送        9. rely on 依賴        10. antiviral 抗病毒的

11. priority 優先         12. disinfect 消毒         13. surface 表面

14. steadily 穩定        15. virucidal 殺濾過性病毒的      16. nasal 鼻的

17. virus 病毒        18. spread 散佈        19. virus-contaminated 病毒汙染的

20. vicious 惡性的      21. sensible 察覺到的       22. precaution 預防

23. approach接近       24. microbe 微生物        25. foremost 最先的

26. door knob 門把        27. respiratory 呼吸的        28. influenza 流行性感冒

29. reliance 信賴          30. vaccines 疫苗             31. adjunct  附屬物

II.          Grammar

1.   If everyone were to wash their hands the risk of colds, flu and even bird flu would be much less.

 ** 假設語氣

a)   與現在事實相反

S + were/Ved + ~ , S + would/could/might/should + V ~

b)   與過去事實相反

S + had +pp ~ , S + would/could/might/should + have + pp ~

c)   未來不可能發生的事

S + were to + V ~ , S + would/could/might/should + V ~

d)   未來可能發生的事

S + should(萬一) + V ~ , S + will/would/can/could/may/might/should + V~

2.   Rather than relying on products such as antiviral tissues, personal cleanliness should be a priority, they say.

 ** rather than 而不是~

   寧願~ 也不願~ : would + V rather than + V

                 = would rather + V than + V

3.   Personal cleanliness and hygiene levels have dropped steadily over the last decades.

 ** 現在完成式(從過去某刻持續到現在為止的狀態)

   S + have/has + pp ~ since + S + Ved ~/過去式時間點

                         for/in/during/over the past/last + 一段時間

4.   Studies have shown that viruses can survive on human hands for several hours and that they can be spread by direct contact.

 ** 名詞子句: that + 完整子句

   此處的名詞子句有二個: that viruses can survive on human hands for several hours 和

    that they can be spread by direct contact。第一個名詞子句的that可以省略，但第二個  

   名詞子句的that則否。

繽紛櫻花

繽紛櫻花
Cherry blossom season to kick off (By Lee Hsin-Yin)

Wuling Farm in Taichung said some of its trees are already in bloom

Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) Many resort areas in Taiwan have reported that their cherry trees are in bud and are anticipating hordes of visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday, resort operators said Wednesday.

Wuling Farm in Taichung, central Taiwan, said some of its trees are already in bloom, adding that the popular scenic area expects to see hectic travel inquiries from the following day, when the farm will start offering tickets for the Feb. 10-March 5 period.

As many as 100,000 tourists packed the area each day during the last Lunar New Year holiday, creating massive traffic jams that took eight hours to clear in a single 8-km stretch.

To prevent similar chaos this year, the farm said a daily tourist capacity of 5,000 people will be set during the cherry blossom season, with traffic controls imposed on part of Provincial Highway No. 9, the main gateway to the park.

In the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village in central Taiwan, a cherry blossom festival will kick off Feb. 1, banking on its recent recognition as a "famous cherry blossom site" by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association.

"We are very proud of the flamboyant, extravagant cherry flowers that can only be found in the park," said Village Manager Richard Huang.

Huang explained that its 5,000 cherry trees, a hybrid strain of the endemic Taiwanese cherry and the Japanese Yae-sakura, will be decorated with lights for the first time to emulate the Japanese tradition of "yosakura," or cherry blossom-watching at night.

In northern Taiwan, cherry blossoms can be found at Wulai and in Sanzhi Township in New Taipei from late January, according to the city government.

Questions:

1. Why do people like cherry blossoms so much?

2. Do you enjoy lovely cherry blossoms?

3. Do you like flowers? What is your favorite?

4. Where are good places to appreciate beautiful cherry blossoms ?

5. What outdoor activities do you like to do during the spring season?

6. Do you enjoy outdoor activities like camping, hiking or fishing?

I.             Words

1.   bloom  開花        2. resort 旅遊勝地    3. in bud 含苞待放     4. anticipate 期待   

5. horde 群         6. operator 經營者      7. scenic 風景的      8. hectic 鬧哄哄的     

9. inquirie 詢問       10. massive 大量的      11. stretch 連綿     12. chaos 混亂     

13. capacity 容納       14. impose 把~強加於     15. gateway 入口     16. aboriginal 原住民的    17. recognition 認可     18. flamboyant 火紅的    19. extravagant 奢華的   20. hybrid 混合的     

 21. strain 品種         22. endemic地方性的      23. emulate 同…競爭

II.           Grammar

1.   Wuling Farm in Taichung, central Taiwan, said some of its trees are already in bloom, adding that the popular scenic area expects to see hectic travel inquiries from the following day.

 ** adding that + 子句: 又說到~

    原句為 and added that  + 子句 ， and為對等連接詞，若所連接的兩個動詞為連續動作 

    的話，可省略連接詞and，並把第二個動詞改為分詞。

 ** that the popular scenic area expects to see hectic travel inquiries from the    

    following day 為名詞子句

2.   As many as 100,000 tourists packed the area each day during the last Lunar New Year holiday, creating massive traffic jams that took eight hours to clear in a single 8-km stretch.

 ** as many as: 多達   pack 擠

 ** creating massive ~ 原句為 and created massive ~，此句文法概念同上句，為分詞的

    概念。

** traffic jams that took eight hours to clear in a single 8-km stretch ，此處的that took eight hours to clear in a single 8-km stretch此處的that是關係代名詞，引導形容詞子句，修飾之前的traffic jams。

 ** 花時間去做~

  Sb. + spend + 時間 + V-ing ~

= Sth.(It) + take + 時間 + to + V ~

3.   "We are very proud of the flamboyant, extravagant cherry flowers that can only be found in the park," said Village Manager Richard Huang.

 ** 此處的that can only be found in the park 為形容詞子句，修飾之前的the flamboyant, extravagant cherry flowers

 ** 被動語態: be動詞 + pp

     can be found 可以被找到