通勤學英語 15Mins Today

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Topic: The Old Pop Music Is Over. Introducing a Playbook for Pop 2.0.

What pop means changes depending on what angle you’re looking from. It can be a descriptor of audience size, indicating something that’s popular, or it can be a genre tag, specifying a sound. But for much of the past three decades, these two definitions have effectively been one and the same.

「流行音樂」一詞的定義取決於從什麼角度去看它。它可以是界定受眾多寡的符號，顯示某樣東西是否熱門，也可以是一張類型標籤，用來指特定的音樂類型。然而卅年來在頗長的時間裡，這兩個定義幾乎合為一體。

You know the sort: Katy Perry’s confetti cheer, Justin Timberlake’s feather-light chirps, Lady Gaga’s exorbitant theater, Taylor Swift’s guileless guile. Music that strives for gloss, pep, ecstasy, spectacle. Often an expression of whiteness, too. A one-size-fits-all solution.

你絕對熟悉那種音樂，凱蒂佩芮五彩碎紙般的奔放歡呼，賈斯汀輕如羽毛的滑音尖唱，女神卡卡隆重奢華的戲劇效果，和泰勒絲看似無邪的使壞。那種試圖營造光鮮亮麗、活力充沛、極度狂喜，和壯觀場面的樂曲。這種音樂往往也以白人為主要受眾。一體適用的解決之道。

For a time, in the 1980s, this kind of pop music — think of Michael Jackson and Madonna — was effectively monoculture, which is why the two meanings of pop have been so tightly tethered and so difficult to disentangle.

一九八○年代有段時間，這一種流行樂——想想麥可傑克森和瑪丹娜就好——基本上完全同質。這也是流行樂兩種意義緊密相連、難捨難分的原因。

But in the past couple of years, this framework has been almost completely dismantled, owing in large part to the widespread adoption of streaming. What were once regarded merely as pop subgenres — K-pop, Latin trap, melodic hip-hop and more — have become the center of the conversation.

然而在過去這幾年裡，這個框架幾乎完全被打破，這與串流音樂廣為普及大有關係。過往僅被視為次類型的南韓流行歌、拉丁曲風、旋律嘻哈等樂種，儼然成了舞台上的主角。

This is not an arbitrary agglomeration of styles. This is Pop 2.0 — music that comes from several different scenes but works with its own distinct set of rules. It is the first time in decades that the playbook for pop success has been updated, and it has profoundly reshaped the sound of America.

這可不是武斷的類別區分。這是全新一代的流行樂。音樂來自不同文化背景，卻自有一套清楚的運作規矩。這是數十年來流行音樂的致勝攻略首度更新，而這也大大重塑了美國樂壇。

Previously, when artists from hip-hop, country or hard rock were said to be going pop, that implied they were sacrificing something essential about themselves in exchange for something plastic and transitory. Pop was a softening. A compromise.

在過去，外界若說某一嘻哈、鄉村，或硬式搖滾樂手轉向流行樂風，往往暗指他們犧牲了自己的核心特質，換取更人工化而短暫的東西。流行樂過去是軟化、妥協的同義詞。

Now, thanks to the largely frictionless internet, and the evolution in how Billboard calculates its charts — accounting for streaming data in addition to sales and radio play — these styles top the charts in unfiltered fashion. Hip-hop almost completely dominates streaming. Latin trap and reggaeton thrive on YouTube.

K-pop, the dominant sound of young South Korea, has become a live-concert blockbuster and outrageously popular online worldwide.

而現在，由於網路幾乎暢行無阻，告示牌也改變了排行榜的計算方式——除唱片銷售和電台點播數字外，也計入串流量。上述的幾種音樂直截了當地名列前茅。嘻哈樂幾乎獨霸串流樂。拉美和雷鬼音樂在Youtube上隨處可見。南韓流行樂——來自南韓新生代的主流聲音，不僅橫掃全球演唱會票房，在網路上更是紅到不行。

All of that has made for Billboard charts that look vastly different than they did a decade ago and sets the template for how all of pop music will sound moving forward.

凡此種種，都使現在的告示牌排行榜和十年前看來大不相同，也替整體流行樂的前行之路定好了調。Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/335845/web/#2L-14007387L

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Topic: Australia wins AI ’Eurovision Song Contest’

Dutch broadcaster VPRO decided to organise an AI Song Contest after the country won the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. The aim was to research the creative abilities of AI and the impact it has on us, as well as the influence it could have on the music industry, according to the official Eurovision website.

荷蘭廣播公司VPRO決定舉辦一場AI歌曲大賽，在這個國家贏得2019年歐洲歌唱大賽後。歐洲歌唱大賽官方網站指出，（比賽的）目標是研究AI的創意能力、對我們的衝擊，以及它對音樂產業的影響。

Thirteen teams entered the contest, with Australia beating out Sweden, Belgium, the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands to take home the title, giving fans a taste of Eurovision after 2020 contest was cancelled due to COVID-19.

共有13組人馬參賽，最後由澳洲擊敗瑞典、比利時、英國、法國、德國、瑞士與荷蘭等對手，將冠軍頭銜帶回家，在2020年歐洲歌唱大賽因為2019冠狀病毒流行病（COVID-19）疫情取消後，讓歌迷一嚐大賽的滋味。

The winning song, titled Beautiful the World, includes audio samples of koalas, kookaburras and Tasmanian devils, and was made by music-tech collective Uncanny Valley as a response to the Black Summer bushfires.

獲勝曲的題目為「Beautiful the World」，含有無尾熊、笑翠鳥與袋獾的聲音樣本，由音樂技術團體「恐怖谷」製作，回應黑暗夏日的叢林大火。

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Topic: Slow music- Chord change in Germany of 639-year organ piece

Hundreds of fans attended a special kind of musical happening on Sept. 5 at a church in Germany: a chord change in an organ piece that is supposed to last for an entirety of 639 years. The performance of the ORGAN2/ASLSP, or As Slow As Possible, composition began in September 2001 at the St. Burchardi Church in the eastern town of Halberstadt and is supposed to end in 2640 if all goes well.

數百名樂迷在九月五日齊聚德國一間教堂，參加一場特別的音樂活動：預計持續演奏整整六百三十九年的一首管風琴作品，在當天改變了和弦。這首名為《ORGAN2/ASLSP》，又名《愈慢愈好》的作品，從二○○一年九月開始在德國東部小鎮哈柏斯塔的聖布爾夏迪教堂演奏。如果一切順利，演奏將會於二六四○年結束。

The music piece by the American composer John Cage is played on a special organ inside the medieval church. The last sound has been the same one for the last six years and 11 months, and therefore the chord change on Saturday last week was a big event among fans of the John Cage Organ Project.

這首樂曲是由美國作曲家約翰‧凱吉所作，在這座中世紀教堂內由一台特製管風琴演奏。在過去六年又十一個月之間，這首樂曲一直持續著相同的聲音，也因此上週六轉換和弦，對「約翰‧凱吉管風琴計畫」的樂迷而言堪稱一大盛事。

A chord change means that the sound of the organ pipes changes either because new sounds are added or existing sounds end. On Sept. 5, two new organ pipes were added. Organizers say the performance is “one of the slowest realizations of an organ musical piece.”

轉換和弦意味著管風琴音管的聲音改變，變化來自於新聲音加入，或是原本持續的聲音停止。在九月五號當天，管風琴裝上了兩根新的音管。主辦單位則表示，這場演出是「實現一部最慢的管風琴音樂作品。」

A compressor in the basement creates energy to blow air into the organ to create a continuous sound. When a chord change happens, it’s done manually. On Sept. 5, soprano singer Johanna Vargas and organist Julian Lembke changed the chord. The new sound reminded some listeners of the metallic buzz inside a big ship’s engine room.

教堂地下室有一台壓縮機製造出動能，將氣體吹入管風琴，創造出持續不斷的聲音。當和弦改變時，這個任務則是以手動完成。當天，女高音喬安娜‧瓦加斯以及管風琴演奏家朱利安‧藍布克一起改變和弦。新的聲音讓某些聽眾聯想到大船引擎室裡帶有金屬感的嗡嗡聲。

The next chord change is planned for Feb. 5, 2022, the German news agency DPA reported. When the piece officially started on Sept. 5, 2001, it began without any sound. It was only on Feb. 5, 2003, the day of the first chord change, that the first organ pipe chords could actually be heard inside the church.

根據德國新聞媒體《德新社》報導，下一次的和弦改變預計於二○二二年二月五日進行。這首樂曲最初在二○○一年九月五日正式開演，開始時沒有聲音。一直到二○○三年二月五日，也就是第一次改變和弦那天，第一個管風琴和弦才真正能在教堂中聽到。

Cage was born in Los Angeles in 1912 and died in New York in 1992. He’s known not only as a composer, but also as a music theorist, artist and philosopher.

約翰‧凱吉於一九一二年生於洛杉磯，一九九二年於紐約逝世。他不只是以作曲家的身分聞名，同時也是一位音樂理論家、藝術家和哲學家。

The St. Burchardi church has a long, checkered history. It was built around 1050, and was used for more than 600 years as a Cistercian monastery. It was partially destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War, later rebuilt, at some point secularized and over the centuries also served as a barn, a distillery and a pigsty, the John Cage Organ Project said on its website.

聖布爾夏迪教堂有著悠久而興衰無常的歷史。教堂大約是在一○五○年間建造，六百多年來被用作天主教熙篤會的修道院。根據「約翰‧凱吉管風琴計畫」網站的介紹，該教堂在三十年戰爭期間部分遭到摧毀，後來經過重建，從某個時間點開始作為世俗用途。好幾個世紀以來，建築被用來作為穀倉、釀酒廠、豬舍。

Chord changes usually draw several thousand visitors to Halberstadt, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of guests allowed into the church was limited this year.

和弦改變通常會吸引數千名觀眾前往哈柏斯塔朝聖，然而因為武漢肺炎（新冠病毒，COVID-19）全球大流行，今年獲准進入教堂躬逢其盛的觀眾人數受到限制。

Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/09/13/2003743299

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Topic: Paul McCartney's Tip to Michael Jackson Pays Off

It is one of the twice-told tales of the music business: Decades ago, Michael Jackson received some sound investment advice from Paul McCartney.

這是個音樂事業圈中人盡皆知的故事：數十年前，麥可傑克森從保羅麥卡尼那兒獲得一些很好的投資建議。

Back in the early 1980s, McCartney showed his friend a notebook full of songs he owned, by artists like Buddy Holly. The real money, McCartney suggested, was in music publishing, the side of the business that deals with the songwriting rights for big catalogs of songs. As McCartney himself has told it, Jackson perked up and said, "I'm gonna buy your songs."

He did. And it was the smartest deal Jackson ever made.

早在1980年代初期，麥卡尼向朋友出示一本筆記簿，上面盡是他所擁有，出自巴迪霍利等眾多歌手的歌曲曲目。麥卡尼當時表示，真正能賺大錢的是音樂出版，亦即這行業裡處理大規模歌曲曲目創作權的一方。正如麥卡尼本人所說的，傑克森興奮地說：「我會買下你的歌。」

他的確買了，而這也是傑克森一生之中所做過的最聰明的交易。

In 1985, Jackson bought the ATV catalog, which included 251 Beatles songs, along with a few thousand others, for $47.5 million. It proved to be Jackson's most valuable asset, helping to finance a lavish lifestyle even as Jackson's own musical career reached a low point in the years before his death in 2009.

傑克森在1985年時以4750萬美元買下了聯合電視台（ATV）所擁有歌曲的版權，包含251首披頭四的歌曲，以及幾千首其他歌曲。後來證明這是傑克森手中最有價值的資產，儘管傑克森在2009年過世前的最後幾年裡，自身的音樂事業陷入了低潮，這筆資產仍然支撐著他奢華的生活。

Now those songs have helped provide a windfall for his estate. On Monday, Sony said it had agreed to pay $750 million for the Jackson estate's share of what is now Sony/ATV — a collection of more than 1 million songs, with hits by Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga, chestnuts like "Moon River" and "Mona Lisa," and of course the Beatles songs.

Sony's buyout caps an extraordinary turnaround in Jackson's finances that began after his death. Jackson died more than $500 million in debt, having drawn on his share of Sony/ATV as a lifeline through a $270 million loan in 2006, years after his last hit but shortly after he was acquitted of child molestation in a trial that damaged his public image around the world.

如今，這些歌曲為他的遺產管理委員會增添了一筆意外之財。索尼周一說，已同意支付7.5億美元買下傑克森遺產管理委員會所擁有的Sony/ATV股權。Sony/ATV手中擁有超過1萬首歌曲，有泰勒絲跟女神卡卡的熱門歌曲、老歌如「月河」和「蒙娜麗莎」，當然還有披頭四的歌曲。

索尼的這項收購使得傑克森死後開始的財務狀況有了不尋常的轉變。傑克森去世時負債超過5億美元，曾利用他的Sony/ATV股權當成救命索，在2006年時貸款了2.7億美元。當時距他上次推出轟動歌曲已過數年，但離他在一場猥褻兒童審判中被判無罪的時間點並不久，而那一場審判也損壞了他在全球各地的公眾形象。

The Jackson estate has long since paid off most of Jackson's personal debts. But the latest deal will allow it to clear its last obligation, a $250 million debt that was tied to Jackson's holdings in Sony/ATV.

The deal for the song catalog could now push those earnings above $1 billion, a big return for a financial move that began as a simple conversation between two music legends.

傑克森的遺產管理委員會早已還清他大部分的個人債務。不過，這個最新交易將讓他償清最後債務，一筆與傑克森在Sony/ATV中股份相關的2.5億美元債務。

這筆歌曲版權交易現在可能會將獲利數字推高至10億美元以上，而這對以兩位音樂傳奇人物之間簡單對話為起頭的財務行動來說，是個很大的回報。Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/295664/web/

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Summary: 

Taiwan’s role in the world economy largely existed below the radar until recently. With the auto industry suffered shortage in computer chips used for everything from parking sensors to reducing emissions, TSMC the world’s biggest semiconductor foundry semiconductors came under the spotlight.

原跟讀文章: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-k057-the-world-is-dependent-on-taiwan-for-semiconductors?categoryId=89454

Vocabulary and sample sentences: 

Court v. – to be involved romantically / pay special attention to win support 

• Taiwan is being courted for its capacity to make leading-edge computer chips 

• My father courted my mother for six months before they started dating officially. 

  Under the radar id. – to go unnoticed 

• Taiwan’s significance in the world economy was under the radar for many years. 

• I didn’t want to get noticed in school, so I stayed under the radar most of the time. 

  Monopoly n. – have dominance in the market, supply or trade. 

• ASML Holding NV of the Netherlands has a monopoly on the machines needed to fabricate the best chips. 

• Major tech companies in the world are being investigated for monopolistic business practices.

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K105: Hides that reveal: DNA helps scholars divine Dead Sea Scrolls

Genetic sampling of the Dead Sea Scrolls has tested understandings that the 2,000-year-old artefacts were the work of a fringe Jewish sect, and shed light on the drafting of scripture around the time of Christianity’s birth. The research — which indicated some of the parchments’ provenances by identifying animal hides used — may also help safeguard against forgeries of the prized biblical relics.

科學家日前對「死海古卷」進行基因採樣，檢驗人類對於這份兩千年歷史工藝品的理解──之前，死海古卷被認為是一個猶太教非主流教派的作品。這份研究也提供線索，讓人一窺基督教誕生前後期間經文起草的過程。藉由辨識出抄寫時使用的動物皮革，該研究指出部分死海古卷的起源，或許也能協助防止這個深受重視的聖經文物遭到偽造。

The Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of hundreds of manuscripts and thousands of fragments of ancient Jewish religious texts, were discovered in 1947 by local Bedouin in the cave-riddled desert crags of Qumran, about 20km east of Jerusalem. Many scholars believed the scrolls originated with the reclusive Essenes, who had broken away from the Jewish mainstream. But some academics argue the Qumran trove had various authors and may have been brought from Jerusalem for safekeeping.

死海古卷由數百份手稿和數千片斷簡組成，是一批古老的猶太宗教文獻。一九四七年，昆蘭沙漠的貝都因人在布滿洞穴的峭壁中發現這些經卷，當地位於耶路撒冷東方約二十公里。許多學者相信這些卷軸來自脫離主流猶太教後，離群索居的艾賽尼教派。不過，有些學者則主張昆蘭沙漠的這些寶藏其實來自多名不同作者，而且可能是為了妥善保管才從耶路撒冷帶來當地。

DNA sequencing conducted by Tel Aviv University and the Israel Antiquities Authority has allowed for finer matching or differentiation among the scrolls. While the sheepskin of some of the scrolls could be produced in the desert, cowskin — found in at least two samples — was more typical of cities like Jerusalem, where Jews, at the time, had their second temple and were under Roman rule.

由台拉維夫大學和以色列文物管理局進行的DNA定序，讓卷軸之間得以進行更精確的配對或區分。有些卷軸寫在羊皮上，是可以在沙漠中生產出來的材料，但是有兩份以上的受測樣品被發現以牛皮製成，比較屬於像是耶路撒冷等城市的特徵。當時，耶路撒冷的猶太人處於「第二聖殿期」，並且受羅馬人統治。

“The very material, the biological material of which the scrolls are made, is as telling and as informative as the content of the text,” Noam Mizrahi, Bible studies professor at Tel Aviv University, told Reuters. The Israeli researchers, assisted by a Swedish DNA lab, determined that two textually different copies of the Book of Jeremiah were brought to Qumran from the outside.

台拉維夫大學的聖經研究教授諾姆‧米茲拉希向路透表示：「這種材質，也就是製作古卷的生物性材料，跟上面所記載文本的內容一樣深具說服力，而且充滿豐富資訊。」藉由一間瑞典DNA實驗室的協助，這些以色列科學家判斷兩份不同版本的《耶利米書》經卷是從外界帶入昆蘭沙漠。

Such findings, the researchers say, indicate that the wording of Jewish texts was subject to variation and interpretation — contrary to later views of holy writ as fixed. The lesson, Mizrahi said, is that “Second Temple Jewish society was much more plural and multifaceted than many of us tend to think.”

研究人員指出，這些發現顯示，猶太教文本的用字遣詞會受到變動和詮釋的影響──此論點和後世認為聖經文字是固定不變的看法相反。米茲拉希表示，這給我們的教訓是：「第二聖殿期的猶太社會，比我們許多學者想像的還要多元而且多面向。」

Tiny slivers of parchment — or just dust — were taken for testing. The process could prove a godsend for spotting counterfeits, such as five supposed Dead Sea Scrolls that were removed from the Museum of the Bible in Washington in 2018. “Since we can distinguish scrolls that originated from Qumran from other scrolls, we think that maybe in the future it could help identify real versus false scroll pieces,” said Oded Rechavi, neurobiology professor at Tel Aviv University.

羊皮紙的極小碎片──或是塵埃──也被送去檢驗。這個過程日後可望成為及時雨，協助科學家發現贗品，就像是華盛頓的聖經博物館在二○一八年撤出展覽的五塊偽造死海古卷殘片。台拉維夫大學的神經生物學教授歐迪‧雷查維表示：「既然我們現在能夠區別源自昆蘭沙漠的古卷軸跟其它卷軸，我們認為這項技術未來也許能幫助學者鑑別卷軸碎片的真偽。」Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/06/07/2003737755

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K104: How Big Is Amazon, Really?

I’m fond of repeating a shopping statistic that often surprises people. In the United States — even during the pandemic — only about $14 out of each $100 worth of stuff we buy is spent online. Amazon is responsible for roughly $5 of that.

我喜歡重述一個常讓人吃驚的購物統計數字。在美國，即便是疫情期間，我們每購買100美元商品，僅14美元是在網上消費，其中亞馬遜約占了5美元。

So is Amazon a giant that dominates our internet spending or a blip in America’s shopping universe? It depends on how you look at the numbers. Amazon is huge in internet sales, but puny relative to all the goods Americans buy.

所以，亞馬遜究竟是主宰我們網路消費的巨人，還是美國購物世界乍現的一個小光點呢？端視你如何看待這些數字。亞馬遜網路銷售金額龐大，但跟美國人總體商品購買額相比卻微不足道。

Our perception of Amazon’s size influences how the public and policymakers think about the company. And yet while the company’s share of spending matters, it also doesn’t tell us everything.

我們對亞馬遜規模的感受，影響著民眾和決策者對該公司的看法。然而，該公司在消費者支出中所占比率固然重要，卻並不代表一切。

Permit me to get a little nerdy about numbers. Without a doubt, Amazon is the king of online shopping in the United States. Research firm eMarketer estimated that Amazon will be responsible for more than 40% of Americans’ e-commerce spending this year. The second-largest internet store, Walmart, is far behind at about 7%.

且允許我在數字上再多著墨些。無疑地，亞馬遜是美國網路購物之王。研究公司eMarketer估計，亞馬遜將占今年美國民眾電子商務支出的40％以上。第二大網路商店沃爾瑪則以7%左右遠遠落後。

Back to my point, though, that internet shopping remains relatively small. The picture is a little different depending on how you count.

不過，回到我原先談到的重點，網路購物規模仍相對較小。隨著計算方式的不同，情況也會有些差異。

U.S. government data on online shopping plus those eMarketer estimates put Amazon at about 5% of all U.S. retail sales.

根據美國政府有關網路購物的數據及eMarketer的估計，亞馬遜約占美國零售總額的5%。

(And there’s a wrinkle: A trade group for retailers recently told me that there could be inaccuracies in the government counting of shopping that blurs the line between stores and online, such as picking up online orders in person.)

（還有一個小問題是，一個零售業的同業組織日前告訴我，政府對購物數字的統計可能不準確，因為模糊了實體商店和網路商店的界限，例如在網路下單卻親赴實體商店取貨。）

Data can be a weapon. Amazon often uses a version of the 5% sales figure to counter critics who say the company is too big and powerful. But government investigations into big technology companies are looking at the behavior of Big Tech, not just their size. They’re trying to answer whether companies abuse their power to get advantages over competitors and hurt us.

數據可以是一種武器。亞馬遜經常用5%的銷售比率來反駁那些認為該公司太強大的批評者，但政府對大型科技公司的調查不僅關注其規模，還關注行為。他們正嘗試查明這些公司是否濫用權力來獲得超越競爭對手的優勢，並對我們造成傷害。

Amazon has had a profound influence on people’s behavior, the strategies of entire industries and our communities no matter what the numbers say.

無論這些數字代表什麼，亞馬遜對人們的行為、各種產業的整體策略，以及我們的社群，都有著深遠影響。

What we’re seeing in real life from Amazon and beyond are big ripple effects from a small market share.

我們在現實生活中從亞馬遜及其他公司身上看到的是，來自低市占率的巨大連漪效應。

So, is Amazon big? Yes and also no. And the reality is that no matter what the numbers say, Amazon commands the attention of people, other companies and governments because it’s influential in reshaping the world.

那麼，亞馬遜很大嗎？是，也不是。現實的情況是，不管這些數字代表什麼，亞馬遜都吸引著人們、其他企業和政府的注意，因為它在重塑這世界上具有影響力。

Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5379685

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K103: Breathe Deeply : Workplaces Embrace Wellness 

On a rainy Thursday afternoon, in a plush pink conference room in Manhattan, a group of colleagues formed a meditation circle. As they sat in their own silence, sirens and traffic wailed below. “Bathe in the joy of truly loving yourself,” a former Tibetan Buddhist monk advised them.

一個下雨的周四午後，在曼哈頓一間體面而舒適的粉紅色會議室，一群同事圍成圈打坐。他們各自靜坐，警笛聲和車流聲在樓下嗡嗡作亮。「沉浸在真正愛你自己的喜悅中。」一名前西藏僧侶提醒他們。

Over the course of an hour, the participants — co-workers at WayUp, a company that matches employers with recent college graduates and students — were guided through deep breaths, spoke to one another about “flow” and “powerful creative states,” and completed a self-hypnosis exercise.

在一個小時的過程中，參加者－－媒合雇主和甫畢業大學生與在校生的WayUp公司的員工，在引導之下做了深呼吸，討論了「心流」和「有力的創造狀態」，並且完成了自我催眠練習。

They bonded over their challenges with sleep and overworking. At the end of the session, one employee mentioned his chest feeling less tight; another described a pinch in her back dissipating.

他們同心一意面對睡眠障礙和工作過勞帶來的挑戰，在課程的尾聲，一名員工提到胸口感覺沒那麼悶了，另一人則說背部的擰痛感消失了。

“That was awesome,” said Brandon Santulli, the office manager at WayUp. It was his first time meditating. “I feel very energized now,” he said, “and that’s not usually how I feel until I get another cup of cold brew.”

「這太棒了。」WayUp行政主管布蘭登．桑都利說。這是他第一次打坐，「我現在覺得活力充沛。」他說，「通常要到我再喝一杯冰釀咖啡後才會有這種感覺。」

As companies have stressed the importance of work-life balance and mental health, and a younger, more open-minded workforce has joined their ranks, wellness initiatives have ramped up nationwide.

隨著企業界強調工作與生活的平衡及心理健康的重要性，一批年輕、想法更開放的勞動力也加入他們的行列，身心靈安適計畫在全美各地已更受重視。

These optional activities, often scheduled during company hours, include basic meditation and yoga, as well as vision-boarding (creating a collage, essentially), energy consulting, sound baths and hypnotherapy. They are meant to be restorative and instructive, without veering too didactic. And they’re not peculiar to millennial-led startups: Multinational corporations, restaurant owners and federal government agencies are among the employers calling for more wellness in the workplace.

這些自願性的活動通常安排在上班時間，包括基礎打坐和瑜伽，以及夢想願景（基本上就是製作拼貼圖），活動力諮詢，聲音靈浴和催眠療法。它們旨在修復與啟發，而不流於過度說教。而且它們並不專屬於千禧世代領軍的新創企業：跨國公司，餐廳老闆和聯邦政府官署，也都在呼籲為職場注入更多身心靈安適感的雇主之列。

“No one wants to sit down for an hour and be lectured about stress management,” said Cassandra Bianco, the founder of Wellbeings, a network of corporate wellness consultants who, in addition to leading the meditation workshop at WayUp, have performed cacao ceremonies for Spotify and hosted an intuitive eating course at the Wing, a co-working space and social club for women. “They want to sit for an hour and feel de-stressed.”

「沒有人想要坐著聽一小時關於壓力管理的演講。」Wellbeings創辦人卡珊德拉．畢昂可這麼說。Wellbeings是個由企業安適問題顧問構成的網絡，他們除了在WayUp帶領打坐課程外，也曾為Spotify舉辦可可儀式，在為女性提供共享工作空間及社交俱樂部的Wing開過一堂直覺飲食課。「他們想要坐下來一小時並擺脫壓力。」

The ultimate purpose is to encourage a corporate culture that takes a more holistic approach to employee well-being and embraces imperfection in the daily grind.

“I’ve seen firsthand what five deep belly breaths before a meeting can do,” Bianco said.

其最終目的是促成以更全人方式觀照員工安適感，並且接受日常單調工作中的不完美的企業文化。

「我親眼見過，在一場會議前做五個腹式深呼吸可以產生的可觀效用。」畢昂可說。

Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/4433226

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K102: About Earth Science - World’s oldest DNA sequenced from million-year-old mammoths

Teeth from mammoths buried in the Siberian permafrost for more than a million years have yielded the world’s oldest DNA ever sequenced, according to a study published on Wednesday, shining the genetic searchlight into the deep past.

據週三公布的研究，埋在西伯利亞永凍土層超過100萬年的猛獁象牙齒，提供全球最古老的去氧核醣核酸（DNA）定序，讓基因研究的探照燈指向遙遠的過去。

Researchers said the three specimens, one roughly 800,000 years old and two over a million years old, provide important insights into the giant Ice Age mammals, including the ancient heritage of the woolly mammoth.

研究人員表示，這3個樣本，一個約有80萬年歷史，另2個來自超過100萬年前，為現代人瞭解冰河時代猛獁象，包括「真長毛象」（woolly mammoth）的古老傳承，提供重要觀察角度。

The genomes far exceed the oldest previously sequenced DNA － a horse dating between 780,000 to 560,000 years ago.

此前，最古老的DNA定序來自78萬年前到56萬年前的一匹馬，而這些猛獁象基因組的年代更久遠得多。

The mammoths were originally discovered in the 1970s in Siberia and held at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow.

這幾頭猛獁象起初於1970年代在西伯利亞地區被發現，由莫斯科的俄羅斯科學院保管。

Next Article

Comet from edge of solar system killed the dinosaurs: study 研究：來自太陽系邊緣的彗星讓恐龍滅絕

Sixty-six million years ago, a huge celestial object struck off the coast of what is now Mexico, triggering a catastrophic "impact winter" that eventually wiped out three-quarters of life on Earth, including the dinosaurs.

6600萬年前，一個巨大星體撞上現在的墨西哥外海，引發釀成巨災的「衝擊性寒冬」，最後導致恐龍在內的地球上4分之3物種滅絕。

A pair of astronomers at Harvard say they have now resolved long standing mysteries surrounding the nature and origin of the "Chicxulub impactor."

哈佛大學2位天文學家表示，他們已經解開長久以來關於「希克蘇魯伯衝擊體」（Chicxulub impactor）的本質和來源之謎。

Their analysis suggests it was a comet that originated in a region of icy debris on the edge of the solar system, that Jupiter was responsible for it crashing into our planet, and that we can expect similar impacts every 250 million to 750 million years.

他們的分析顯示，這是源自太陽系邊緣冰冷碎片區域的一顆彗星，且木星也要為此彗星撞上地球負責。類似規模的彗星撞地球頻率為每2億5000萬年到7億5000萬年。

The duo’s paper, published in the journal Scientific Reports this week, pushes back against an older theory that claims the object was a fragment of an asteroid that came from our solar system’s Main Belt.

2人的論文本週在《科學報告》期刊發表，推翻了之前認為這個物體是來自太陽系「主小行星帶」小行星碎片的理論。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1435663 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1437161

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K101: About Japan - Japanese parents baffled by no-underwear rule in elementary school’s PE class

日本神奈川縣川崎市議員近日提出，有部分市立小學規定女學生體育課不准穿內衣，必須在上課前將內衣脫下，針對此爭議，教育委員會回應校方考量「怕學生著涼」才定下此校規。

A city councilwoman in Kawasaki, Japan recently questioned the reason why some municipal elementary schools would require students to take off their underwear prior to the physical education (PE) classes. In response to the controversy, the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education argued that students should not wear their sweaty and wet underwear after their class or they might get a cold.

根據日媒《東京新聞》報導，川崎市議會3月9日指出，部分小學禁止孩童在體育課穿內衣，有不少孩童反應對於此規定「感到不舒服」。

According to the Japanese media Tokyo Shimbun, the councilwoman, Eri Yamada, contended on March 9 that the move has made many children feel uncomfortable while practicing sports.

然而，校方稱，學生汗水若附在身體上會使他們著涼，以衛生健康角度為考量，建議低年級學生上體育課時不需穿內衣，以「避免孩童著涼」。

Contrary to all expectations, the schools stressed that younger students should not wear their underwear during sports classes for some health and hygiene reasons.

根據川崎市教育委員會，截自目前，已在多所學校發現禁穿內衣規定，且校方並未通知學生家長。

According to the Board of Education, the no-underwear rule has been found in several schools so far, even though the school authorities did not notify parents first.

Next Article

毛小孩遇地震怎麼辦？日發明「狗狗專用避難包」 | Japanese pet shop creates emergency kit for dogs

大部分人家裡都會準備一份緊急避難包，以備不時之需，那麼家裡有毛小孩的人，若遭逢天災該怎麼辦呢？日本一間寵物用品店推出「狗狗專用避難包」，主人可以將避難包綁在狗狗身上，若不幸遭逢意外，裡面的求生用具不但可以救狗狗、也能救主人一命。

Most people have an emergency kit at home in case of emergencies, so what should people with pets do when a natural disaster occurs? In Japan, a pet shop launched a survival bag for dogs that can be tied to the dog’s body if any emergency happens. The survival gear inside can not only save the dog but also save the owner’s life.

根據SoraNews24報導，在過去，毛小孩遭逢意外、遇到天災，沒辦法成功脫困、甚至失蹤的案例層出不窮，有鑑於此，日本寵物用品店Pet Memorial Shops設計一款防水、防火以聚氨酯、聚酯纖維所製成的狗狗專用避難包。

According to SoraNews24, many cases of dogs fail to escape from the tragedy in an accident or natural disaster. With this observation in mind, the Japanese pet store Pet Memorial Shops designed evacuation life bags made of waterproof, fireproof polyurethane and polyester.

Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210318-2211416 ; https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210319-2226006

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Topic: Madrid bans ‘manspreading’ on public transport馬德里向公共運輸工具上的「開腿族」下禁令

Madrid, Spain’s capital, has taken a stand against manspreading – banning men from indulging in the rude leg extending move on its trains and buses.

西班牙首都馬德里向「開腿族」下禁令，男性將不得在火車和公車上，隨意且無禮地張開雙腿。

The city’s Municipal Transportation Company （EMT） plans on installing new signs in all its carriages and vehicles, which they hope will stop the personal space encroaching practice.

該城市的交通運輸局計畫在所有車廂和車輛上設置新標示，希望這種侵擾他人空間的習慣從此不再出現。

EMT released a statement saying:“It’s to remind transport users to maintain civic responsibility and respect the personal space of everyone on board.” At this stage it is unclear whether or not a fine will be levied at offenders.

該局發布聲明指出：「這項作法在於提醒交通工具使用者維持公民責任，尊重車上每個人的個人空間。」不過，現階段還不清楚是否會向違規者罰款。

The hashtag #MadridWithoutManspreading went viral on social media earlier this year and a petition was thus presented to Madrid’s Mayor.

「#沒有開腿族的馬德里」標籤，今年初開始在社群媒體上瘋傳，之後馬德里市長便收到相關請願。

The petition stated, “It’s not difficult to see women with their legs shut and very uncomfortable as long as there is a man next to them who is invading their space with his legs.”

請願書上寫道，「只要有一名男性坐在女性旁邊，而且他們的腿侵占女性的空間，就不難看見女性非常不舒服地縮著雙腿的畫面。」Source article: http://iservice.ltn.com.tw/Service/english/english.php?engno=1123967&day=2017-08-03

Topic: Sheep take over streets of Madrid for annual migration

Sheep replaced traffic on the streets of Madrid on Sunday as shepherds steered their flocks through the heart of the Spanish capital, following ancient migration routes.

綿羊週日取代了馬德里街上的車輛，當牧羊人沿著古老遷徙路線，引領羊群穿越西班牙首都心臟地帶。

The annual event, which started in 1994, allows shepherds to exercise their right to use traditional routes to migrate their livestock from northern Spain to more southerly pastures for winter grazing.

這項始於1994年的年度活動，允許牧羊人使用傳統路線的權利，把羊群從西班牙北部遷到比較南邊的牧場進行冬季放牧。

The route would have taken them through undeveloped countryside a few centuries ago, but today it cuts through Madrid’s bustling city center and along some of its most famous streets.

這條路線幾世紀前帶牠們通過尚未開發的鄉間，但它今日穿越馬德里繁華熱鬧的市中心，途經一些名氣最響亮的街道。

Sheep farmers pay a nominal charge in symbolic acknowledgement of a 1418 agreement with the city council that set a fee of 50 maravedis - medieval coins - per 1,000 sheep brought through the central Sol square and Gran Via street.

牧羊人支付了名義上的費用，象徵性地認可1418年與市議會達成的收費協議，每引領千頭綿羊穿越市中心太陽門廣場和格蘭大道，付費50枚馬拉維第—一種中世紀硬幣。

The herd includes 2,000 merino sheep and 100 goats.

這獸群包括2000頭美麗諾綿羊和100隻山羊。

Topic: ‘All of Africa Is Here’: Hopes of Climbing to Spain

For most migrants from Africa, the last stage of their trip to Europe involves some sort of perilous sea crossing. At the border in Ceuta, there is just a fence.

對大多數非洲移民而言，前往歐洲的最後階段涉及某種危險萬狀的渡海。但在西屋達的邊界，它僅是一牆之隔。

Ceuta (pronounced say-YOU-tah) is one of the two Spanish communities on the north coast of what otherwise would be Morocco, the only places where Europe has land borders with Africa.The other enclave is Melilla, farther east along the same coast.

西屋達是非洲北岸的兩個西班牙自治社區之一，為摩洛哥所包圍，兩地也是歐洲與非洲陸地接壤的唯二地點。另一個飛地是美利亞，在同一海岸，更向東些。

Here, all that separates Europe from migrants is a double fence, 20 feet high and topped with barbed wire, stretching the 4 miles across the peninsula and dividing tiny Ceuta from Morocco — plus 1,100 Spanish federal police and Guardia Civil officers, a paramilitary police force.

在西屋達，隔著歐洲與移民的只有兩道圍籬，圍籬頂端有帶刺鐵絲網，高20呎，橫跨半島4哩，將西屋達與摩洛哥分開，另外還有1,100名西班牙聯邦警察以及準軍事警察「西班牙國民警衛隊」的警察。

They patrol a crossing point that has come under growing pressure.

他們巡邏的一個過境點正遭受越來越大的壓力。

After Italy’s new government closed the door to migrants, efforts to cross into Spain have more than quadrupled in 2018, making it the No. 1 European destination for migrants from Africa.

義大利新政府對移民緊閉大門後，2018年，移民越界入境西班牙的嘗試增加了四倍有餘，西班牙因此成為非洲移民的頭號目的地。

In the week ending Aug. 12, according to the International Organization for Migration, 1,419 migrants reached Spain, compared with 359 to Italy and 527 to Greece.

根據國際移民組織的數據，截至8月12日的一周，有1,419名移民抵達西班牙，抵達義大利的有359人，希臘的有527人。

But the sea crossing to Spain, through the narrow straits of Gibraltar, is more dangerous than other passages, because of strong currents where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic.

不過，渡海抵達西班牙─穿越狹窄的直布羅陀海峽，因會遭遇地中海與大西洋交會處的強大海流，比其他路線都來得危險。

Through June, 294 migrants drowned in the western Mediterranean, compared with 224 in all of 2017 in that area.

今年截至6月底，已有294名移民在地中海西部溺斃，而2017年一整年才224人。

That has made trying to breach Ceuta’s heavily guarded fence an increasingly attractive proposition, a way to enter Spain without crossing the water. On any given day, young migrant men can be seen prowling on the Moroccan side, looking for an opportunity.

這使得設法突破西屋達高戒備圍籬的選擇，變得越來越有吸引力，它是進入西班牙的途徑之一，但不必飄洋過海。 任何一天，在摩洛哥的一方，都可看到年輕的移民男子徘徊，尋找機會。

As often happens, successful tries are made by what locals call “mobbing,” when hundreds of migrants surge over the fence in a large group. Salif’s group came on June 6, when 400 young men began climbing the fence at sunrise.

這是常見的情景，移民透過當地人所說的「圍攻法」，也就是數百人集體朝圍籬一擁而上，最後有人成功入境。沙利夫的這一團人是在6月6日行動，有400名年輕人於日出時分開始攀爬圍籬。

Two were seriously injured on the barbed wire, and hospitalized in Ceuta. Eight, including Salif, managed to get over, and were then allowed to stay in a reception center in Ceuta, awaiting transfer to the mainland.

其中兩人因帶刺鐵絲網而受重傷，在西屋達住院治療。包括沙利夫在內的八人翻牆成功，獲准留在西屋達的接待中心，等待移送本土。

There, they can apply for asylum, a process that can take many months or even years. Most will be turned down, and the deportation process is slow and difficult.

到了本土，他們可以申請庇護，這個過程可能費時數月甚至數年。大多數人會被打回票，但遣返過程緩慢且困難。

While people often do get hurt trying to pierce the fence, deaths are rare.

雖然經常有人在試圖穿越圍籬時受傷，但死的很少。

“All of Africa is here,” said Salif, ticking off migrants he has met from Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal — and even some from Bangladesh and Pakistan.

沙利夫說：「非洲人全在這兒。」接著他點名遇見安哥拉、貝寧、布吉納法索、象牙海岸、奈及利亞以及塞內加爾等國的移民，甚至有些來自孟加拉、巴基斯坦。And they keep coming.而且他們仍接踵而至。　Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/331466/web/

Topic: In Spain, Nourishing the Body and the Soul

Angel Castillo once worked as a restaurant cook. But after losing his job and struggling with alcoholism, he has been sleeping on the streets for most of the last 16 years. It has been a while since he has worked in a restaurant, let alone eaten at one.Yet there he was one recent evening, among the diners who crowded into a new restaurant in Madrid. It was a simple space, with red-tiled walls and paper napkins, but there were tablecloths, chandeliers and water glasses, and even someone to serve you.“It’s special to get your food in a restaurant,” Castillo said, satisfied.

卡斯提約曾在餐館當廚師。在他失業且為酗酒所困之後，16年來大多露宿街頭。距離他上回在餐館工作已有好一陣子了，更別說進到餐館裡用餐了。然而，就在最近的一個傍晚，他和其他用餐者擠進馬德里一間新餐廳。這是個有紅色磁磚牆面、使用紙餐巾的簡樸空間，不過桌上可舖了桌布，還放著玻璃杯，屋頂有枝形吊燈，甚至還有人為你服務。卡斯提約滿足地說：「在餐廳裡享用食物很不一樣。」

The restaurant is one of four named Robin Hood that opened in the last November in Spain to serve those who cannot afford to dine out.The minichain’s novel business model is not to steal from the rich, but rather to use revenues made by serving breakfast and lunch to paying customers to cover the costs of preparing free evening dinners for homeless people.

這間餐廳是去年十一月在西班牙開張的四家「羅賓漢」餐館之一，專門招待吃不起館子的人。這個迷你連鎖的新奇產業模式不是劫富濟貧，而是為付費客人供應早餐與午餐，以營收支應提供遊民免費晚餐的費用。

It is the brainchild of the Rev. Angel Garcia Rodriguez, 79, one part clergyman, one part innovator and nonprofit entrepreneur, who has spent a lifetime working with the needy.Unconventional down to his attire, Father Angel, as he is universally called, prefers a suit and loose tie to a collar, unless he is saying Mass, and is just as likely to hand out his business card as communion. “The priest habit is like my gala outfit,” he said with a chuckle.

這是79歲的羅德里格茲神父想出來的點子，他既是神職人員，也是富創意的非營利創業家，他這一生都在幫助窮人。大家都叫他天使神父，他不遵從傳統，連穿著都不例外，除非他在主持彌撒，否則他偏愛穿西裝並打上寬鬆領帶，勝過神父的白領圈。他宛如發放聖餐般遞出名片，咯咯笑說：「神職人員的服裝就像我的節慶服。」

Rodriguez has had long experience finding new ways that sometimes push the boundaries of how to serve the poor.He is president of Messengers of Peace, a nongovernment organization that employs 3,900 people and 5,000 volunteers. It runs homes for older people, orphanages, centers for drug addicts and other social services.

羅德里格茲對於尋找新方式來服務窮人很有經驗，有時會挑戰極限。他是非政府組織「和平使者」的會長，該組織有3900名員工，5000名志工，經營老人院、孤兒院、戒毒中心，並提供其他社會服務。

But what all of his projects have in common is that they have helped sustain the most vulnerable Spaniards at a time of near-record unemployment and deep public spending cuts amid the lingering economic crisis. His organization also runs projects in about 50 developing countries.These days, it is his budding string of Robin Hood restaurants that animates Rodriguez. On top of receiving basic help, he said, poor people need to regain a sense of dignity and purpose that is hard to achieve when eating in a soup kitchen.“To get served by a waiter wearing a nice uniform and to eat with proper cutlery, rather than a plastic fork, is what gives you back some dignity,” he said.

不過他這一切計畫有個共通點，就是在這經濟危機徘徊不去，以致西班牙失業率逼近紀錄且政府大砍公共開支之際，協助西班牙那些最脆弱的人活下去。他的機構另在約50個開發中國家經營多項計畫。這些日子，羅德里格茲草創未久的羅賓漢連鎖餐館讓他充滿活力。他說，窮人除接受基本協助，還需重拾尊嚴與人生目標，這是在慈善廚房用餐很難做到的。他說：「接受穿著整齊制服的侍者服務並用適當的餐具用餐，而非塑膠叉子，能夠還給你一些尊嚴。」Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/309696/web/

Summary:

In order to improve pedestrian safety, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications passed the amendment to raise the current penalty from NT1200 ~ NT3600 to NT1200 to NT6000. Although pedestrians have absolute right of way when walking on a crosswalk, accidents still happen from time to time caused by vehicles not stopping or giving way to pedestrians.

原跟讀文章: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-k052-fine-for-not-yielding-to-pedestrians-raised-to-nt-6-000?categoryId=89454

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Amendment n. - a minor change to improve a text or legislation

MOTC passed the amendment to the Road Traffic and Penalty Act last week.

Civil groups and lobbyists proposed for the amendment of the Traffic and Penalty Act.

Give way (to) ph.v. – to yield or surrender / to give precedence to other road users

Drivers often forget to give way to pedestrians in the narrow alleys of Taipei.

Peter gave way to his shopping desires and bought a ton of candies for Christmas.

Fined v. – to charge someone as punishment

Pedestrians are fined for j-walking.

You will get a fine if you drive too fast.

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K100: About Europe - Spain will experiment with four-day workweek, a first for Europe

For years, advocates for a four-day workweek have argued that a compressed schedule could lead to more productivity and a better work-life balance — a perspective that has gained credence in some countries amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has wrought drastic changes to the way people work.

多年來，提倡每週工作4天的人一直主張，緊湊的日程可以提高生產力，改善工作與生活之間的平衡。在冠狀病毒大流行使人們工作方式發生劇烈改變的背景下，這種觀點已在某些國家獲得認可。

Spain is about to find out firsthand whether it works. The country is poised to become one of the first to experiment with a 32-hour workweek, which would allow workers to spend less time at the office without any change in pay.

西班牙將直接了解它是否奏效。該國準備成為第一批實驗每週工作32小時的國家之一，在這種工作制度下，員工上班時間減少，但工資不變。

Exactly what the pilot program will look like is unclear, nearly every detail was still up for negotiation, including how many companies will be involved and how long the experiment will last.

這一試驗性計畫的確切樣貌尚不清楚，幾乎每個細節都有待協商，​​包括將有多少公司參與、試驗將持續多久。

Next Article

Monkeys in Finland zoo prefer traffic noises over nature sounds 芬蘭動物園猴子喜歡交通噪音勝過自然聲響

White-faced saki monkeys at Korkeasaari Zoo of Finland have shown a "significant" preference for traffic sounds over jungle noises, researchers have found.

研究員發現，芬蘭赫爾辛基動物園的白面狐尾猴，相較於叢林聲響，對交通聲音表現出「顯著的」偏好。

A tunnel fitted with sensors was installed in a monkey enclosure. This allowed the monkeys to choose whether they listened to a playlist of traffic noises, nature and falling rain - or a choice of either zen music and dance music.

猴園內設有一個配置感應器的地道，猴子可從播放清單中選擇要聽交通噪音、自然聲響和雨聲，或禪修音樂、舞蹈音樂等。

Dr. Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas said："We thought they would enjoy more calming sounds, such as zen music, but actually they triggered the traffic sounds more."

耶娜．希爾斯基—道格拉斯博士說：「我們以為牠們會喜歡和緩的聲音，像是禪修音樂，但其實牠們更常觸動交通聲響。」

The monkeys also groomed themselves or each other and sometimes slept with the sounds playing - something they did not do for any of the other noises.

在聲音播放時，猴子也會清理自己或同伴的身體；有時睡覺時也會聽，這是牠們在其他任何聲響下都不會做的事。

Kirsi Pynnonen, the zoo’s research coordinator, said the sounds of the road mimic some of the ways in which the animals naturally communicate.

動物園研究協調員基爾希．皮諾農說，道路的聲音與這種動物天生溝通的某些方式很相似。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1439968 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1440509

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