通勤學英語 15Mins Today

Summary:

Japan is a pioneer in cashless technology, but now it is one of the countries in the world that is lagging behind in the adoption of electronic payments. Four out of five purchases are made with cash, while 90% of the payments in Korea are digital. Japanese elders feel more comfortable to use cash, since counterfeiting is non-existent. 

In November, Japanese lawmakers giggled during a drill to practice using the disaster prevention helmets. People took to Twitter and questioned the parliament for making light of a life and death matter.

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Life-and-death adj. – vitally important

• It is a life-and-death matter, we need to deal with it very seriously.

Unfold v.– open or spread out from a folded position / information or sequence that is revealed

• We would have to wait for Gavin to finish the story to understand how it unfolds.

Off-key adj – not appropriate or not having the correct pitch

• He was singing off-key, and it was painful for us to hear.

Get 70% off NordVPN! Only $3.49/mo, plus you get an additional month FREE at https://nordvpn.org/fifteenmins

Coupon Code 折扣碼: fifteenmins

用email訂閱就可以收到最新通勤學英語節目通知。

每日英語跟讀 Ep.788: Japanese billionaire’s girlfriend entrants top 20,000

Applications to become Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa’s girlfriend have topped 20,000, streaming service AbemaTV said on Thursday, ahead of its documentary on his search for a “life partner” to take on his moon voyage.

串流服務「Abema電視」週四說，申請成為日本億萬富翁前澤友作女友的數目已突破2萬大關，就在他拍攝尋求「人生伴侶」展開月球之旅的紀錄片之前。

Maezawa, who will be the first private passenger on Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has already generated huge social media buzz with a $9 million giveaway to his followers that secured his position as Japan’s foremost Twitter celebrity.

將成為伊隆．馬斯克「太空探索科技公司」第一位私人乘客的前澤，憑著對跟隨者送出900萬美元大禮，早已在社群媒體引發熱議，並保住了他身為日本第一推特名人的地位。

The show’s application site now includes a “love diagnostic test” where potential entrants can test their compatibility with the entrepreneur.

這場演出的申請網站現在包含「愛情診斷測驗」，可能的參賽者在上頭可以測試他們和這名企業家的合適度。

Multiple-choice questions include “If you rode in a private jet where would you go?” and “If Maezawa farted in front of you what would you say?”, with users presented with a photo of the billionaire varying from happy to sad depending on their score.

多選題包括「如果搭私人飛機，你會去哪裡？」以及「如果前澤在你面前放屁，你會說什麼？」並根據用戶得分，發給他們這名億萬富翁開心或難過等不同表情的照片。

Next Article:

Sapporo snow fest organizers fretting over very low snowfall 降雪量非常低 札幌雪祭主辦單位很傷腦筋

The one thing this northern city is normally not short of at this time of year is snow, lots of it.

這座（日本）北方城市每年此時通常最不虞匱乏的一樣東西，就是雪，而且會有很多雪。

But just 54 centimeters fell in December in Sapporo, 41 percent of average, causing alarm bells to ring for organizers of the 71st Sapporo Snow Festival, which starts Feb. 4 and draws many visitors from overseas.

但札幌（去年）12月的降雪僅54公分，為平均值的41%，讓2月4日揭幕、吸引許多海外遊客的第71屆札幌雪祭的主辦單位警覺大事不妙。

Ski resorts in Sapporo have also had to scale back their activities, and festival organizers are struggling to secure sufficient snow to ensure that there will be the usual range of magnificent ice sculptures.

（降雪量稀少讓）札幌的各滑雪場也得縮減營業，雪祭主辦單位則努力設法取得足夠雪量，以保障能與往年一樣有一整排壯觀的雪雕。

At a ceremony held Jan. 7 to haul in snow to Odori Park, the main venue, Ryu Shibata, president of the organizing committee, tried to put on a brave face, saying, "We are determined to overcome difficulties and make the festival a success."

1月7日在雪祭主會場大通公園舉行的一場輸雪典禮上，企圖強裝不在乎雪少困境的雪祭

執委會會長柴田龍說，「我們決心要克服困難，把雪祭辦成功。」

December’s snowfall was below the monthly average at all major 22 observation points in Hokkaido, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Sapporo Regional Headquarters.

根據日本氣象廳札幌管區氣象台，北海道全部22個主要觀測點在（去年）12月的降雪量，都低於月平均值。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1348065 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1347995

每日跟讀練習，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

用email訂閱就可以收到最新通勤學英語節目通知。

每日英語跟讀 Ep.787: About Korea: Furlough threat hangs over US military bases in S. Korea

The US is warning it will send furlough notices within weeks to almost 9,000 South Korean workers at US bases if the two countries don’t reach agreement on President Donald Trump’s demand for Seoul to increase dramatically what it pays for American troops.

美國正提醒南韓，若兩國未能就總統川普要求首爾應大幅增加其負擔的駐韓美軍經費達成協議，它將在幾週內，向將近9000名美軍基地的韓籍工作人員，寄發無薪假通知。

"Cost-sharing negotiations with allies are tough, whether it’s Korea, Japan or others," said Rexon Ryu, a former White House official and Pentagon chief of staff. "But a penny-pinching approach risks weakening fundamental strength of the alliance."

前白宮官員及前五角大廈參謀長雷克森．柳說，「與盟邦的經費分攤談判很棘手，不管是南韓、日本或其他國家」，「但斤斤計較的態度，會有削弱同盟的根本實力之風險」。

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is facing parliamentary elections in April and is wary of the political fallout if he agrees to a hefty increase, which has little support in his camp and among the general public.

南韓總統文在寅正面臨4月舉行的國會選舉，一旦他同意大幅增加（韓方的負擔費用），恐會遭受到政治後果，而在他的陣營內與社會大眾間，對此幾乎無人支持。

Next Article:

Seoul saw increase in eco-friendly vehicles 首爾環保車增加

The total number of vehicles licensed in Seoul last year saw a decrease for the first time in seven years while the number of eco-friendly cars increased, government data showed Thursday.

政府數據週四顯示，首爾去年領有牌照的車輛總數，7年來首次減少。但環保車的數量則增加。

The number of hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles in Seoul skyrocketed by 21 percent, 56 percent and 613 percent, respectively, last year from the previous year.

首爾去年的（油、電）混合動力車、電動車與氫動力車數量，相較於前年，分別暴增達21%、56%及613%。

By district, the largest number of cars was registered in Songpa with 240,559 （87.7 percent）, followed by Gangnam with 235,415 （7.54 percent）.

按區劃分，以登記在松坡區的汽車數量最多，達24萬0559輛（增幅87.7%）。其次為江南區的23萬5415輛（增幅7.54%）

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1348959;https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1348141

每日跟讀練習，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

用email訂閱就可以收到最新通勤學英語節目通知。

每日英語跟讀 Ep.786: Brexit ‘done’ at last: Now for the hard part

The United Kingdom left the EU on Friday, its most significant change of course since the loss of its empire — and a major blow to 70 years of efforts to forge European unity from the ruins of two world wars.

英國上週五脫離了歐盟，這是自大英帝國解體以來英國最重大的改變，這對自兩次世界大戰廢墟中重建、經七十年整合努力的歐洲來說，也是重大的打擊。

After the numerous twists and turns of a three-and-a-half-year crisis, the final parting is an anticlimax of sorts: Britain steps into the twilight zone of a transition period that preserves membership in all but name until the end of this year.

這場危機歷時三年半、經過無數迂迴曲折，最後的脫歐似乎有些太過平靜：英國進入了過渡期的模糊地帶，雖名義上已脫離歐盟，但到年底前這段過渡期仍享有原先歐盟成員國之待遇。

At a stroke, the EU will lose 15 percent of its economy, its biggest military spender and the world’s international financial capital — London.

“This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act,” said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, one of the leaders of the “Leave” campaign in the 2016 referendum. “It is a moment of real national renewal and change.”

英國一脫歐，歐盟即會損失百分之十五的經濟、其最大的軍事開支國，以及國際金融重鎮──倫敦。

英國首相波里斯‧強生說：「這是黎明破曉、揭開新篇章的時刻」，強生曾是二○一六年公投中「脫歐」派的領導人之一。「這是真正的民族復興與變革的一刻。」

DISUNITED KINGDOM

The EU cautioned that leaving meant losing the benefits of membership, though the US said Britons wanted to escape the “tyranny of Brussels.” While Britons either side of the Brexit (a portmanteau of “British” and “exit”) divide expressed either sadness or delight.

國內嚴重的分歧

歐盟警告說，英國脫歐意味失去歐盟成員國所享有的利益，雖然美國表示英國人想逃離「布魯塞爾的暴政」。而對於脫歐，英國贊成與反對的兩方皆表達出其喜與悲。〔「Brexit」（英國脫歐）一字為「Britain」與「 exit」所合成。〕

For proponents, Brexit is “independence day” — an escape from what they cast as a doomed German-dominated project that is failing its 500 million people.

對脫歐支持者來說，英國脫歐日是「獨立日」──擺脫了他們所認為注定失敗、由德國主導、辜負其五億人民的歐盟。

Opponents believe Brexit is a folly that will weaken the West, shrivel what is left of Britain’s global clout, undermine its economy and ultimately lead to a more inward-looking and less cosmopolitan set of islands in the northern Atlantic.

反對脫歐的人認為，英國脫歐是不智之舉，會削弱西方的力量，也會讓英國所剩不多的全球影響力更無足輕重、破壞英國的經濟，最終會讓英國變成獨善其身、國際化程度較低的北大西洋島嶼。

Brexit was always about much more than Europe. The referendum, which split voters 52 percent to 48 percent, showed up deep divisions and triggered soul-searching about everything from secession and immigration to empire and modern Britishness.

英國脫歐所牽涉的問題絕不止是歐洲。脫歐公投將選民撕裂為百分之五十二贊成與百分之四十八反對的兩方，顯示選民分歧之深，也引發了人民對國家分裂、移民，乃至大英帝國及現代對「英國性」之定義等這一切的深刻反省。

SMALL TIMEFRAME AHEAD

Feb. 1 marks the beginning of a new phase of negotiations between London and Brussels to agree on the shape of their future relationship.

協議談判的緊迫時程

倫敦與布魯塞爾自二月一日起開始新階段的談判，以決定其未來關係的樣貌。

They have until the end of 2020 — a transition period during which Britain will remain an EU member in all but name — to hammer out an agreement on trade and other issues including security, energy, transport links, fishing rights and data flow.

將於二○二○年底屆滿的過渡時期中（在過渡期，英國實質仍為歐盟成員，但名義上不是），英國和歐盟必須就貿易和其他問題（包括安全、能源、交通運輸、漁權及資料流通）達成協議。

Johnson claims 11 months is time enough to strike a “zero tariff, zero quota” trade deal and has vowed — even though the option is there — not to extend the limbo period beyond 2020.

強生聲稱，十一個月的時間足以達成「零關稅、零配額」的貿易協議，並誓言不會把過渡期延長、拖過二○二○年，即便英國有此選項。

If they fail, the legal default will be a potentially crippling no-deal Brexit that would leave trade between Britain and the EU from 2021 onwards based on WTO terms, and see the imposition of import duties and controls.

若未在此期限內達成協議，就會變成無協議脫歐，損害可能非常嚴重，英國和歐盟間之貿易便會在二○二一年起依世界貿易組織（WTO）之規定課徵進口關稅及受管制。

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/02/04/2003730294/1

每日跟讀練習，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

用email訂閱就可以收到最新通勤學英語節目通知。

每日英語跟讀 Ep.785: About Face Masks: Foreigners without Taiwan NHI card can still get masks

中央流行疫情指揮中心於今（4) 公布沒有持健保卡的外籍人士並不因新制受限，仍能購買口罩。

Foreigners without National Health Insurance (NHI) card will still have access to face masks when a new policy goes into effect on Thursday, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC, 中央流行疫情指揮中心) said on Tuesday.

健保署署長李伯璋在記者會表示，外籍人士必須提供個人身份資料給當地健保特約藥局，藥局人局會以此登記購買紀錄。

Foreigners will be required to provide their own identification information to local pharmacies where staff will make records accordingly, Director General of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration (健保署) Lee Po-chang (李伯璋) said at a press conference earlier today.

至於其他規定則與台灣居民相同。

Lee was unclear as to the type of identification required, adding that relevant authorities are working on the details. Other rules are consistent with those applied to Taiwanese residents, he added.

因此許多沒有醫療險來台旅遊的外籍人士可以放心，同樣可以購買到口罩。

The announcement comes as a relief to many non-nationals visiting Taiwan without health insurance.

移民署資料顯示，截至去年年底在台外來人口停留人數有近20萬名。

Statistics compiled by the Ministry of Immigration (MOI) show that there were almost 200,000 foreigners residing on various types of visas by the end of 2019.

持有外僑居留證、永久居留證的在台外籍人士只要出示健保卡至特約藥局即可買到口罩。

To clarify, foreign residents including those with Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) and Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) will be eligible to masks as long as they provide their NHI cards at pharmacies under the new policy.

至於持商務簽證來台、正在申請居留證的人都可以買到口罩，但是他們必須出示護照等相關身分證明。政府機關仍在研擬相關細節。

Others, including visitors, people on a business visa, those whose residency applications are pending can still buy masks but they will also need to bring identification. Authorities are still working on the details.

食藥署署長吳秀梅表示，拿觀光簽證來台的人則不能購買口罩。

Confusingly, Food and Drug Administration (FDA, 食藥署) Director-General Wu Shou-mei (吳秀梅) said that those in Taiwan on tourist visa cannot get our masks.

衛福部部長陳時中表示，7日起，民眾可以去健保特約藥局購買口罩，每週限購兩個。

According to CECC Chief Commander Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), locals will only be allowed to buy two face masks per week at NHI contracted pharmacies starting on Thursday.

至於代購方面，每人最多僅能為一位親友代購口罩，只要帶著委託人以及本人的健保卡即可購買。

Everyone is allowed to purchase for maximum one friend or family as long as they bring their national health insurance cards along with their own.

為了分散購買人潮，民眾應依身分證或居留證末碼至藥局購買口罩。

In order to avoid long queues, residents should go to pharmacies according to the last digit of their ID number or residency number.

身分證字號尾數為單數者可於週一、週三、週五購買；身分證字號尾數為雙數者，則可在週二、週四、週六購買；週日不設限。

If the latter ends in an odd number, you are eligible to buy masks on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; holders of even NHI numbers should go on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Sundays are open to all.

部長補充道，每個口罩價格調降1元新台幣（約0.33美金），從每個6元（約0.2美金）降至5元（約0.16美金），民眾必須出示健保卡購買口罩。

The flat fee per piece will drop by NT$1 (US$0.33) from NT$6 (US$0.2) to NT$5 (US$0.16), and locals will need to show their health insurance card to make a purchase, the minister added.

Next Article:

2/6口罩新制上路 全台販售口罩藥局看這裡！| Where to buy face masks? Google map of designated pharmacies unveiled

武漢肺炎疫情造成口罩搶購，中央流行疫情指揮中心指揮官陳時中昨(3)日宣布，口罩實名制自2月6日上路，民眾須持健保卡至6000多家健保特約藥局購買，七天可購買兩片，兩片價格10元。

Taiwan residents will only be allowed to buy two face masks per week at over 6,000 designated pharmacies across Taiwan starting from Feb. 6, Health and Welfare Minister (衛福部) Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said late Monday.

以下提供全台「特約藥局及無健保特約藥局鄉鎮衛生所名單」Google地圖，供民眾查詢。

To help you find the precious protection gear for your friends and family, please refer to the link: Google map.

「特約藥局及無健保特約藥局鄉鎮衛生所名單」Google地圖｜Click here for opening the Google Map

Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20200204-947453 ;https://chinapost.nownews.com/20200204-947573

每日跟讀練習，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

用email訂閱就可以收到最新通勤學英語節目通知。