Unit 1 The First Day of School Around the World

Read About It
1 For two months every summer, many high school buildings around the world are quiet. You can
walk down an empty hallway, and the only sound that you hear is your own footsteps.
在夏天有兩個月，世界各地許多高中的大樓都安靜無聲。你可能會走過一條淨空的走廊，
而你聽見的唯一聲響是你自己的腳步聲。
2 However, this changes when a new school year begins, and these buildings are filled with
activity once again. At this time, students return to school, talk with their friends, meet their new
teachers, and get ready to learn again. Indeed, the first day of high school is a fresh start for
everyone. For most students, it’s exciting.
然而，這情形在新的一學年開始時改變了，這些大樓再次充滿了活躍的氣息。在這個時
候，學生們返回學校，和他們的朋友聊天、和他們的新老師碰面，並準備開始學習。的確，
高中的第一天對每個人而言是個嶄新的開始。對多數的學生來說，這是令人興奮的。
3 But for first-year students, the first day of high school can be a challenge because they are given
a new class schedule in an unfamiliar building. This can be a little scary. After all, not everyone
can easily fit in at a new school. Due to these concerns, teachers around the world try to make their
new students feel welcome on the first day of high school.
但是對一年級生而言，高中的第一天可能是個挑戰，因為他們會在一棟陌生的大樓拿到一
份新的功課表。這可能有點可怕。畢竟，並非每個人都可以輕易地適應新學校。由於這些憂
慮，世界各地的老師便試著使他們的學生在上學的第一天感受到歡迎。
4 The following are some examples of this from the United States. At a high school in Arizona, for
example, students get to walk down a red carpet as they enter the school on the first day, just like
celebrities at an awards ceremony. In 2016, a math teacher in Michigan sang pop songs to her
students, but replaced the old lyrics with her own about classroom rules. This method definitely
caught her students’ attention and helped them know the rules. And in California, a teacher asked his
students a simple question about their futures: “What is your hope?” Then, he had them write down
their answers and talk about them in groups. All of these experiences above can help to bring the new
students together and raise everyone’s spirits.
下列是一些來自美國的例子。在亞利桑那州的一所高中，舉例來說，學生在他們入學的第
一天會走過一道紅地毯，就像名人參加頒獎典禮時那樣。在 2016 年，一位密西根州的數學老
師為學生演唱流行歌曲，但是將熟悉的歌詞代換為她自己的、與班規有關的歌詞。這樣的方
法毫無疑問地吸引了她學生的注意力，且幫助他們瞭解班規。而在加利福尼亞州，一位老師
問了他的學生們一個關於他們未來的簡單問題：「你的志願是什麼？」然後，他要他們寫下
自己的答案並分組討論。以上這些經驗都能幫助這些新學生凝聚，並激勵每個人。
5 The United States is not the only country with such interesting traditions. In India, for instance, the
beginning of the school year often falls during the monsoon, so students exchange umbrellas to stay dry
and make new friends. In Russia and some countries in eastern Europe, the first day of school is called
“Knowledge Day,” and seniors often perform songs to encourage the new students. Also, in New
Zealand, students perform a war dance that is called “the haka” on the first day of school. This gets the
students there excited to learn.
美國並不是擁有這樣趣味傳統的唯一國家。在印度，舉例來說，一學年的開始通常落在雨
季期間，所以學生們會交換雨傘以保持乾爽，並交到新朋友。在俄羅斯和一些東歐國家，上
學的第一天被稱為「知識日」，而高年級生常常表演歌曲來鼓勵新生。此外，在紐西蘭，學生
會在上學第一天表演名為「哈卡舞」的戰鬥舞蹈。這讓那裡的學生對學習感到興奮。
6 These are just some of the many firstdayofschool traditions around the world. Does your school
have any such traditions? We wish you a great start of a new school year!
這些只是世界各地眾多上學首日傳統中的幾個例子。你的學校有任何這樣的傳統嗎？祝你
新學年有個很棒的開始！
—Jacob Roth

Expand Your Vocabulary

Words for Production
1. empty
The kids enjoyed the meal so much that only empty plates were left on the table.
孩子們是如此地享受這頓飯，所以桌上只剩下空盤子。
empty
You can empty your water bottle here, since you cannot take water on board.
你可以在這裡倒空你的水瓶，因為你登機時不能帶水。
2. activity
In winter, Zermatt is usually full of activity because thousands of people visit this town to go
skiing every year.
在冬天，策馬特通常都很熱鬧，因為每年數千人會造訪這座小鎮來滑雪。
The teacher designed some fun activities for his students in order to get them more interested in
learning.
這位老師為他的學生設計了一些有趣的活動，以使他們對學習更有興趣。
3. indeed
We all like Andy. He is very popular indeed in our class.
我們都喜歡 Andy。他在我們班的確非常受歡迎。
4. challenge
The task is a big challenge for Sandra. She will have to work harder to finish it.
這任務對 Sandra 來說是一大挑戰。她必須更努力工作來完成它。
challenge
These math problems are a piece of cake for me. They don’t really challenge me at all.
這些數學問題對我來說只是小菜一碟。它們真的完全沒考倒我。
The news report challenged many people’s beliefs about the safety of the new factory.
這篇新聞報導挑戰了許多人對新工廠安全性的看法。
5. schedule
Cindy has a busy schedule this week, so she cannot join us for dinner tonight.
Cindy 這週行程很忙碌，所以她今晚不能參與我們的晚餐聚會。
 schedule
The meeting is scheduled for Friday from 10 to 12 o’clock. Be sure to arrive on time.
這場會議預定於星期五早上十點至十二點進行。一定要準時到達。
6. unfamiliar
Most of the time, I feel uneasy when I enter an unfamiliar place.　
大多數時候，當我進入一個陌生場所時，我會感到不自在。
familiar
The musician is so famous that his face is very familiar to the public.
這位音樂家是這麼地有名，所以他的臉對大眾來說非常熟悉。
7. scary
Rita didn’t sleep well last night because she saw a scary movie and had bad dreams.
Rita 昨晚睡不好，因為她看了部可怕的電影，而且作惡夢了。
8. concern
The environmentalist has raised concerns about climate change, so he encouraged people to save
energy.
這位環保人士對氣候變遷表示擔憂，所以他提倡人們節約能源。
concern
Karen has lost a lot of weight recently, and this really concerns her parents.　
Karen 最近體重掉了很多，這真的使她的父母很擔心。
9. following
The following are the books you have to read this semester: War and Peace, Animal Farm, and
Frankenstein.　
以下是這學期你們必須讀的書：《戰爭與和平》、《動物農莊》和《科學怪人》。
following
Mr. and Mrs. Hunter got married in 2001, and their first child was born the following year.
Hunter 夫婦於 2001 年時結婚，而他們的第一個孩子於次年出生。
10. award
The young actress has not won any award yet because she doesn’t have much experience in
acting.
這位年輕的女演員尚未獲得任何獎項，因為她在演戲方面的經驗不多。
award
A plane ticket to London will be awarded to anyone who wins the game.　
飛往倫敦的單人機票會贈送給贏得這場比賽的任何人。
11. replace
My watch doesn’t work anymore. I will have to replace it with a new one.
我的手錶再也不走了。我必須用一隻新錶來取代它。
replacement
The store’s clerk quit last week, so the shopkeeper is looking for a replacement for her.
這間店的店員上週辭職，所以店主正在尋找她的替代者。
12. method
 After hundreds of tests, the scientists have finally worked out a new method for curing the
illness.
在數百次測試後，這群科學家終於找出治療這種疾病的新方法。
13. definitely
Nancy is my best friend; therefore, I will definitely attend her birthday party.　
Nancy 是我最好的朋友；因此，我毫無疑問地會參加她的生日派對。
definite
The designer hasn’t had a definite idea for his new project, so he is looking around for some
ideas.
這位設計師對他的新企劃案尚未有個明確的概念，所以他正到處尋找些構想。
14. attention
Mark wasn’t paying close attention to the teacher; he was thinking about his new mobile game.
Mark 剛剛沒有很注意聽老師說話；他在想他的新款手機遊戲。
15. tradition
Jumping down from a chair on New Year’s Eve has long been a tradition in Germany.
在除夕夜從椅子上跳下來，在德國是長久以來的一項傳統。
traditional
It is traditional for people in Japan to visit temples and shrines during the New Year holidays.
在新年假期間參拜寺廟和神社，對日本人來說是傳統。
16. exchange
Mr. Watson exchanged business cards with Ms. Stone when they first met.
Watson 先生和 Stone 女士在初次見面時交換了名片。
exchange
I helped my brother with his homework, and he cleaned up my room in exchange.　
我協助我的弟弟完成他的家庭作業，而他幫忙打掃我的房間作為交換。
17. eastern
Lisa took a trip to eastern Taiwan last summer. She visited Liyu Lake, Taroko National Park, and
Green Island.
Lisa 去年夏天去東臺灣旅行。她造訪了鯉魚潭、太魯閣國家公園，以及綠島。
18. senior
Every January, most high-school seniors in Taiwan are busy preparing for the college entrance
exam.
每年一月，臺灣大部分的高三生都忙著準備大學入學考試。
senior
Norman is senior to his youngest sister by 15 years. That’s why there is a generation gap between
them.　
Norman 比他的妹妹年長了十五歲。那就是為何他們之間有代溝的原因。
19. perform
Our English teacher asked us to perform a play in her class next month.　
我們英文老師要求我們下個月在她的課堂上表演一齣話劇。
 performance
The famous dance group is going to give ten performances during its visit to Paris.
這支有名的舞團在造訪巴黎的期間，將會有十場演出。
20. encourage
Students are encouraged to ask questions in class. They can ask their teacher questions at any
time if they don’t understand something.
學生被鼓勵於課堂上提問。如果他們有不懂的地方，他們可以隨時向老師發問。
encouragement
The encouragement from the tennis player’s fans helped him finish first in the game.
這名網球選手粉絲們的鼓勵幫助他在比賽中奪冠。

Idioms and Phrases

1. after all　
Don’t be sad about losing the game. After all, we did our best.
不要為輸掉比賽而難過。畢竟我們盡力了。
2. fit in　
Tommy fits in quite well at his new job. He is used to his work and has made a couple of friends.
Tommy對他的新工作適應相當良好。他已經習慣了工作內容，並且交到了幾個朋友。
3. due to . . . 　
Due to the typhoon, the airport was forced to close, and all the flights were canceled.　
由於颱風的關係，機場被迫關閉，而且所有航班都被取消了。
4. raise one’s spirits　
The smile on his daughter’s face always raises Mr. Brando’s spirits and makes him work even
harder.
女兒臉上的微笑總能夠激勵Brando先生，並使他更加努力工作。
5. for instance　
Judy is afraid of several kinds of insects. Cockroaches, for instance, really scare her.　
Judy害怕好幾種昆蟲。比如說，她真的很怕蟑螂。