★Continued from yesterday(延續自昨日):
Contrary to how they are viewed in the East, dragons in Western cultures are often seen as evil, fire-breathing beasts associated with greed and chaos. Typically, Western dragons are depicted as two-winged, four-legged lizards with sharp teeth and claws, unlike Asian dragons that normally do not have wings or breathe fire. However, early Western dragons, including those from Norse and Mediterranean traditions, were often portrayed as large snakes. This is no surprise given that the word “dragon” comes from a Greek term that means “serpent” or “giant sea fish.”
Western dragons are frequently featured in myths and legends. One of the most famous dragons in Western mythology is the European dragon. This type of dragon is a common theme in medieval legends and fairy tales. In many of these stories, the evil beasts are often killed by heroes in the end.
Photo: AdobeStock 照片:AdobeStock
The significance of Western dragons isn’t limited to folktales. They also play important roles in religious and cultural traditions. For example, in parts of the Bible, dragons represent the devil. Meanwhile, in Norse mythology, dragons are said to be a symbol of vast destruction. However, the Vikings saw dragons as symbolic of wealth and power, similar to how the Asian dragons are viewed.
Dragons are fascinating mythical creatures that have captured the imagination of people worldwide for many centuries. Despite the difference in their perception between Eastern and Western cultures, they all share a common sense of mystery and wonder. Even today, dragons continue to be frequent characters in books, movies, TV shows, video games and various other forms of media.
與東方對龍的看法相反,西方文化中的龍通常被視為邪惡、會噴火的野獸,與貪婪和混亂聯想在一起。一般而言,西方龍被描繪成長著兩隻翅膀、四條腿、有著鋒利牙齒和爪子的蜥蜴,與通常沒有翅膀、不會噴火的亞洲龍不同。不過,西方早期的龍—包括北歐和地中海傳統中的龍—常常被描繪成大蛇。這並不意外,因為「龍」這個字來自希臘語,意思是「蛇」或「巨大的海魚」。
西方龍經常是神話和傳說中的要角。西方神話中最有名的龍之一是歐洲龍。這種龍是中世紀傳說和童話中常見的主題。在許多的這些故事中,這種邪惡的野獸最後往往會被英雄殺死。
西方龍的重要性不僅限於民間故事。牠們在宗教和文化傳統中也扮演著重要的角色。例如,在聖經的部分章節中,龍代表魔鬼。同時,在北歐神話中,據說龍是巨大毀滅的象徵。不過維京人認為龍象徵財富和權力,這和對亞洲龍的看法類似。
龍是一種迷人的神話生物,幾個世紀以來引起了世界各地人們的想像。儘管東西方文化對龍的看法不同,但牠們都有一種共同的神祕和驚奇感。甚至到了今日,龍依然是書籍、電影、電視節目、電玩遊戲和其他各種形式的媒體中經常出現的角色。
What Did You Learn?
1. How are Japanese dragons different from Chinese ones?
(A) They have longer, more colorful tails. (B)They have bigger wings and breathe fire. (C) They have bodies that are more similar to snakes. (D) They have thinner bodies and larger heads.
2. Which of the following statements is true about dragons in the West?
(A) Norse dragons are usually shown as winged lizards.
(B) They have been vital figures in literature and religion.
(C) They are always regarded as friendly and gentle creatures.
(D) European dragons are often connected with heroes who try to capture them.
3. How are dragons similar in both the East and the West?
(A) They use wings to fly. (B) They are symbols of peace.
(C) They are seen as dangerous and evil. (D) They are associated with mystery and wonder.
4. Four people are talking about dragons. Which of the following is NOT correct?
(A) “Dragons play a crucial role in traditional festivities of the East.”
(B) “The emperor’s throne can be referred to as the dragon chair in English.”
(C) “Dragons symbolize wealth and power in certain sections of the Bible.”
(D) “Kids born in the Year of the Dragon are thought to be wise and natural leaders.”
答案: 1. C 2. B 3. D 4. C
Words in Use
1. beast n. 野獸
Lions are referred to as the king of beasts in the animal kingdom. 獅子被稱為動物界的野獸之王。
2. greed n. 貪婪,貪心(不可數)
Endless greed for wealth drove the man to take illegal actions.
對財富無止盡的貪婪驅使那名男子採取非法行動。
3. claw n.(動物的)爪
A bear’s powerful claws are suitable for digging and catching fish. 熊強而有力的爪子很適合挖掘和抓魚。
4. frequently adv. 經常地,頻繁地
frequent a. 常見的
It’s important to water the plants frequently to help them thrive. 重要的是,要常常幫這些植物澆水以讓它們枝繁葉茂。
Extreme weather is becoming frequent in recent years.
近年來,極端天氣變得越來越常見。
5. legend n. 傳說
Legend has it that there are mysterious creatures inhabiting the nearby forest. 傳說有神祕的生物居住在附近的森林內。
6. religious a. 宗教的
Many people find peace in their religious beliefs.
許多人在自己的宗教信仰裡找到平靜。
7. meanwhile adv. 同時;在此期間
The construction of the building is progressing. Meanwhile, the interior design team is finalizing their drafts.
那棟建築的建設正在進行。同時,室內設計團隊也即將完成草圖。
8. destruction n. 毀滅,破壞
The flood caused widespread destruction in the area.
那場洪災在該地區造成大範圍的破壞。
9. worldwide adv. 在世界各地
The company’s products are sold worldwide in over 100 countries. 該公司的產品在世界各地一百多國販售。
10. mystery n. 神祕(的事物),謎
Crop circles are a mystery that many think are created by aliens. 麥田圈是個謎,很多人認為它們是外星人製造的。
Practical Phrases
1. contrary to... 與……相反
Contrary to Sherry’s expectations, the cake tasted awful.
與雪莉預期的相反,那蛋糕很難吃。
2. depict A as B 將 A 描繪∕描述∕描寫成 B
= portray A as B
In this novel, the main character is depicted as a courageous and determined individual.
在這本小說中,主角被描寫成一位勇敢又堅決的人。
3. be limited to... 受限於……
Access to the gym is limited to members only.
僅限會員能進入該健身房。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
Instagram is changing the default privacy settings for many US teenagers, part of an effort to keep them safer and give parents more control over how their kids interact online. The new settings will make teen accounts private by default, limit who those users can send private messages to, and put teens in the “most restrictive” tier when it comes to viewing sensitive content. That means the app will block teens from seeing sensitive photos and videos, including posts that show people fighting or certain cosmetic procedures. These more restrictive settings will be turned on automatically for all Instagram users under 18
Located in the picturesque mountains of eastern Spain, the small town of Bunol might appear to be just another idyllic place in the Spanish countryside. However, it is home to one of the world’s most popular food fights. Each August, tens of thousands of people from all around the globe swarm into Bunol to take part in La Tomatina. On the last Wednesday of August, you will find the streets of Bunol full of people eagerly waiting to hear the blast of a cannon. This signifies the start of La Tomatina, an event where participants hurl thousands of pounds of tomatoes
Get ready to spin on your head -- “breaking” is set to make its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games! Often referred to as breakdance or breakdancing, breaking was born in the streets of New York City during the early 1970s. It began as a way for African-American and Latin youths to express their narratives and struggles through astonishing spins and movements. B-boys and b-girls, also known as breakers, frequently compete in cyphers: events where they take turns showcasing their dance moves within a circle of spectators. Breaking comprises four main elements: toprock, downrock, power moves, and freezes. Toprock consists
在 COVID-19 成為全球大流行 (pandemic) 的傳染病後,如何有效篩檢確診病患,一度成為討論的熱點。 疫情爆發初期,國內有些縣市首長主張要普篩(全面篩檢),找出隱藏的新冠肺炎病例,不過,疫情指揮中心說明,全面用聚合?連鎖反應 (polymerase chain reaction, PCR) 檢驗來為全民普篩,將耗費近七百億元公帑和醫療資源,不符合效益。 根據衛福部長陳時中的說法,用準確度高的 PCR 方式對全國 2300 萬人普篩,平均一人 3000 元,總額將高達 690 億元。以當時的盛行率萬分之 18,即使不用人人普篩,以看似健康的人口1800 萬人計算,也需要花費 540 億元,才能找出當中的 3 萬 2577 人無症狀感染者,其中還有 1797 人屬於「偽陽性」,即使沒有得病,還是得將他們隔離、再檢測,才能恢復正常生活。 雖然也可以用價格較低(200 元/人)的快篩做篩檢,但此舉也需花費約 46 億元,且準確度偏低,偽陰和偽陽性機率更高。 (新冠肺炎)「普篩/全面篩檢」的英文是 widespread coronavirus testing 或 community-wide screening/testing。「快篩」是 rapid testing。篩檢中,可能出現「偽陰性」(false negative) 有患病,但篩不出來,和「偽陽性」(false positive)沒患病,卻篩檢出來。 在醫學檢測上「陰性」(negative) 代表沒有(病或病毒),「陽性」 (positive) 代表有(病或病毒),避免患病與否造成污名化,因此用比較中性 (neutral) 的詞彙來稱呼。至於驗孕 (pregnancy test),「陰性」代表未懷孕,「陽性」代表懷孕。 「盛行率」的英文是 prevalence rate,即患病率,在流行病學中指特定時間內總人口中罹患該病的人口所占比例。在新冠肺炎的篩檢中,「咽喉拭子」是目前國內主流採用的方式,「咽喉拭子」英文是 throat swab,就是以棉棒擦拭咽喉部位,取得上皮細胞,並置入病毒收集瓶。如果是採集鼻咽部位,就叫「鼻咽拭子」(nasal swab)。 另外,「靈敏度」(sensitivity) 與「特異度」(specificity) 也是醫學檢測時所使用的術語,用以衡量該檢測的準確度。特異度是不帶原者 (non-carrier) 中採檢陰性的比例,而靈敏度則是帶原者 (carrier) 中採檢陽性的比例,靈敏度、特異度越高,代表準確度越高。 文章由書林出版公司提供: www.bookman.com.tw 蘇正隆 — 台灣翻譯學學會前理事長、師大翻譯研究所兼任副教授; 編著《英語的對與錯》,《世紀病毒:必讀防疫英文知識與詞彙》...等