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臺大外語教學暨資源中心英語學習報第 433 期 (月中更新最新消息)  發行日期 2022-11-15
臺大外語教學暨資源中心

 

  臺大外語教學暨資源中心英語學習報自 111 年 1 月起,改採月刊發行方式。將於每月 1 日出刊,並於每月 15 日更新本中心最新活動消息與活動花絮集錦。每期除介紹本中心最新活動訊息、E-freeway 軟體與館藏資訊外,亦提供英語學習資源與新聞時事練習,內容十分豐富多元,歡迎免費線上訂閱

 

 

◎ 中心活動集錦

【周老師英語學習聊天室】
歡迎來到舒適、溫暖、優雅的周樹華老師英語學習聊天室。本學期已有 10 位同學參加,並和老師分享了英語學習路上的酸、甜、苦、辣。周老師也傾囊相授,以數十年的經驗、提供各種資源與學習技巧,讓參與的同學滿載而歸。 剩餘場次、名額所剩不多,報名請上臺大活動報名系統

 

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【短期課程:高理解英文速讀 (初級)】
這門課程由外文系周昱翔老師負責教授。許多同學們學了許多單字卻常常無用武之地,周老師在課程中教導英語閱讀理解的技巧,協助同學可以在有限的時間內快速閱讀完一篇文章且能確保對內容的理解正確無誤。透過在課程中學習如何解析文章,同學們對英語閱讀的理解力正逐漸提升。

 

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【短期課程:國際要聞英語討論及聽力加強課】
這門課程由徐維娟老師帶領同學了解國際要聞,不只增進英語聽力和閱讀技巧,也有助於拓展國際視野。課堂中藉由討論各種國際上的重要議題,培養英語口說及思辨的能力。徐老師也鼓勵同學們踴躍發言、參與跨文化的各項議題,以充實個人口說題材的深度與廣度。

 

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【線上英語學習資源工作坊2:多益金牌就是我】
在此次工作坊中,中心英語專員不只介紹多益測驗的考試技巧,也提供了許多線上學習資源;不僅有助於多益測驗的準備,對於整體語言能力的提升也頗有助益。例如本中心的 EasyTest 模擬測驗練習平台,以及其他可增進聽力、閱讀、單字、文法的英語學習網站如 YouGlish、CNN10 和 Taipei Times 等。

 

◎ 悅讀角:Recommendations for the Month

 

 

更多詳情:請點擊

 

 

◎ 椰林菁英計畫英語學習系列活動,歡迎報名

English Listening


【線上英語學習資源工作坊】

中心英語專員將根據不同主題介紹實用的英語學習技巧及策略,
同時提供線上學習資源,現場並提供實機操作。
週三 14 : 00~15 : 00,共 3 場
1. 我與播客的邂逅 10 月 12 日
2. 多益金牌就是我 11 月 9 日
3. 托福大補帖 12 月 7 日

報名活動:請點擊

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

English Listening


【111-1 英語口語訓練工作坊】

想提升英語口說能力嗎?想要流利地使用英語發表感想嗎?
想在教室與課本外增加練習英語的機會?想結交可以一起練
習英語口說的好伙伴?快來參加 外語教學中心
【英語口語訓練工作坊】!本活動是由專業口說訓練團隊
不藏私分享英語口說秘訣,並透過各式口說練習活動:有經驗分享、
腦力激盪、小遊戲、角色扮演等,讓你在輕鬆有趣的氣氛下無壓力
地開口說英文。本學期每場次各有特色主題,在與小老師和學習
伙伴的互動過程中,透過充分練習來減低口說焦慮,讓英語表達
力與溝通力自然提升!結合「外語樂學.學習集點」活動,只要
參加活動就能累積點數,期末換獎品,這麼「好康」的事,怎能
錯過?*本活動名額非常有限,請確認能夠出席再報名。報名後
不克參加請務必取消報名,如報名未到 1 次以上,將取消本學
期後續場次的報名資格。

報名活動:請點擊

 

 

 

 

 

 

English Listening


【111-1 周老師英語學習聊天室】

舒適、溫暖、優雅的周樹華老師英語學習聊天室歡迎您的蒞臨。
在這裡,你可以和周老師分享您在英語學習上遇到的各種疑難雜症,
也可以向老師請教英語學習方法和策略,如果只是單純想用英語
聊聊天,也非常歡迎。經驗豐富的周老師可以讓您在學習英語的
路上能更有效率、更有信心。

報名活動:請點擊

 

 

   

 

 
Efreeway Software                       

GEPT

線上英語自學認證:高階英語字彙達人認證

高階英語字彙達人認證共有三個主題,可依個人興趣選擇要自學的課程。
主題一:( The body、You and other people、Leisure and lifestyle)
主題二:(A changing world、Institutions、News and current affairs )
主題三:( Concepts、Spoken English、Written English ) 學習完成後,還可以報名認證考試,過關後可以獲得證書與贈品,讓您收穫滿滿,英語更上一層樓!

Feature of the Week

Word Hippo

 

Top 7 horror movies to learn English

萬聖節剛過,你有被朋友的裝扮嚇到嗎?延續這股恐怖的氣氛,小編今天要來介紹恐怖電影!恐怖電影的第一條規則就是:引起公眾的情緒反應。無論電影的故事情節是否基於現實生活事件,這類電影的真正目的就是要喚醒我們最深的恐懼。此網站共列出了 7 部恐怖電影,讓你在沈浸恐怖氣氛外,順便來練習英語。現在就關上燈,關上門,準備尖叫吧!

Apps for Learning English

 

Memrise

背單字對你很困擾嗎?已經背很多遍還是記不起來嗎?今天要推薦的這款 APP,可以解決您的困擾。Memrise 提供學習者上千個影片說明日常英語的用法,由母語使用者設計課程教你實用短語,搭配遊戲測試來提升你的語言技巧。深度體驗的學習方式讓你感到當地人即近在呎尺,趕快下載來試用吧!

English Learning Video
English Learning Video 

Why a sausage can do what your gloves cannot

2010 年南韓經歷了一個特別寒冷的冬天。戴著手套的通勤族無法操作他們的智慧型手機螢幕。無意中人們突然發現香腸也能模擬手指的活動並藉此滑動手機,這導致一家公司的香腸銷量增長了 40%。那麼,香腸究竟能做到哪些手套不能做的事呢?觸控螢幕實際上究竟如何運作的?此 TED Ed 影片藉由專家的解說及風趣的動畫,為大眾解析觸控螢幕背後的運作方式。

 
周樹華老師英語學習 Q&A

善用圖書館英文有聲書 Naxos Spoken Word Library,提升口語表達和聽力!

有讀者詢問社科院圖書館舉辦的「英語精進淬鍊坊」演講活動,有沒有直播影片可在臉書上觀看?正好我主講的一場演講:「善用圖書館英文有聲書 Naxos Spoken Word Library,提升口語表達和聽力!」,有直播影片上傳至辜振甫先生紀念圖書館的臉書專頁,歡迎讀者們前往觀看指教。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 常用英語新聞單字

掌握 NEWS 關鍵字:透析英文報導的要訣

讀英文新聞時,是不是常會被一些關鍵字搞得一頭霧水呢?本書精心規劃四大主題:政治 、財經、民生、綜合,收錄 70個常見、常用以及必備的 News 關鍵字,包含最新相關字彙及用語;並且依字母排序,能快速找到關鍵字,無論是:學校報告、公司簡報、生活交流,使用不打結。豐富您個人的單字庫,為英語力加分! !

 
 

 

'Best Before' Labels Scrutinized as Food Waste Concerns Grow
VOA News|SCIENCE & HEALTH
October 10, 2022 11:51 AM (source)

'Best Before' Labels Scrutinized as Food Waste Concerns Grow

檢視「保鮮期」標籤,食物浪費成隱憂

October 10, 2022 11:51 AM

Associated Press

 

  VOA News 搶先看 

據美國非營利剩食組織 ReFED 統計,國內每年約有多達400萬噸的食物浪費,主因為消費者對食品「保鮮期」的日期存有誤解。保鮮期限(best before)並不代表保存期限(use by),即使過期也能安心食用。業者也呼籲政府立法統一食品日期的標籤,並教導大眾重視食物浪費的問題,如此也能將保存期限內的食品捐給非營利機構,杜絕食物浪費。非營利組織 Food Shift 的經理 Patty Apple(派蒂‧艾波)指出,制定標準化的日期標籤看起來似是微小的舉動,卻對剩食議題有深遠的影響。

As awareness grows around the world about the problem of food waste, one culprit in particular is drawing scrutiny: "best before" labels.

Manufacturers have used the labels for decades to estimate peak freshness. Unlike "use by" labels, which are found on perishable foods like meat and dairy, "best before" labels have nothing to do with safety and may encourage consumers to throw away food that's perfectly fine to eat.

"They read these dates and then they assume that it's bad, they can't eat it and they toss it, when these dates don't actually mean that they're not edible or they're not still nutritious or tasty," said Patty Apple, a manager at Food Shift, an Alameda, California, nonprofit that collects and uses expired or imperfect foods.

To tackle the problem, major U.K. chains like Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer recently removed "best before" labels from prepackaged fruit and vegetables. The European Union is expected to announce a revamp to its labeling laws by the end of this year; it's considering abolishing "best before" labels altogether.

In the U.S., there's no similar push to scrap "best before" labels. But there is growing momentum to standardize the language on date labels to help educate buyers about food waste, including a push from big grocers and food companies and bipartisan legislation in Congress.

"I do think that the level of support for this has grown tremendously," said Dana Gunders, executive director of ReFED, a New York-based nonprofit that studies food waste.

The United Nations estimates that 17% of global food production is wasted each year; most of that comes from households. In the U.S., as much as 35% of food available goes uneaten, ReFED says. That adds up to a lot of wasted energy — including the water, land and labor that goes into the food production — and higher greenhouse gas emissions when unwanted food goes into landfills.

There are many reasons food gets wasted, from large portion sizes to customers' rejection of imperfect produce. But ReFED estimates that 7% of U.S. food waste — or 4 million tons annually — is due to consumer confusion over "best before" labels.

Date labels were widely adopted by manufacturers in the 1970s to answer consumers' concerns about product freshness. There are no federal rules governing them, and manufacturers are allowed to determine when they believe their products will taste best. Only infant formula is required to have a "use by" date in the U.S.

Since 2019, the Food and Drug Administration — which regulates around 80% of U.S. food — has recommended that manufacturers use the labels "best if used by" for freshness and "use by" for perishable goods, based on surveys showing that consumers understand those phrases.

But the effort is voluntary, and the language on labels continues to vary widely, from "sell by" to "enjoy by" to "freshest before." A survey released in June by researchers at the University of Maryland found at least 50 different date labels used on U.S. grocery shelves and widespread confusion among customers.

"Most people believe that if it says 'sell by,' 'best by' or 'expiration,' you can't eat any of them. That's not actually accurate," said Richard Lipsit, who owns a Grocery Outlet store in Pleasanton, California, that specializes in discounted food.

Lipsit said milk can be safely consumed up to a week after its "use by" date. Gunders said canned goods and many other packaged foods can be safely eaten for years after their "best before" date. The FDA suggests consumers look for changes in color, consistency or texture to determine if foods are all right to eat.

"Our bodies are very well equipped to recognize the signs of decay, when food is past its edible point," Gunders said. "We've lost trust in those senses and we've replaced it with trust in these dates."

Some U.K. grocery chains are actively encouraging customers to use their senses. Morrisons removed "use by" dates from most store-brand milk in January and replaced them with a "best before" label. Co-op, another grocery chain, did the same to its store-brand yogurts.

It's a change some shoppers support. Ellie Spanswick, a social media marketer in Falmouth, England, buys produce, eggs and other groceries at farm stands and local shops when she can. The food has no labels, she said, but it's easy to see that it's fresh.

"The last thing we need to be doing is wasting more food and money because it has a label on it telling us it's past being good for eating," Spanswick said.

But not everyone agrees. Ana Wetrov of London, who runs a home renovation business with her husband, worries that without labels, staff might not know which items should be removed from shelves. She recently bought a pineapple and only realized after she cut into it that it was rotting in the middle.

"We have had dates on those packages for the last 20 years or so. Why fix it when it's not broken?" Wetrov said.

Some U.S. chains — including Walmart — have shifted their store brands to standardized "best if used by" and "use by" labels. The Consumer Brands Association — which represents big food companies like General Mills and Dole — also encourages members to use those labels.

"Uniformity makes it much more simple for our companies to manufacture products and keep the prices lower," said Katie Denis, the association's vice president of communications.

In the absence of federal policy, states have stepped in with their own laws, frustrating food companies and grocers. Florida and Nevada, for example, require "sell by" dates on shellfish and dairy, and Arizona requires "best by" or "use by" dates on eggs, according to Emily Broad Lieb, director of the Food Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School.

The confusion has led some companies, like Unilever, to support legislation currently in Congress that would standardize U.S. date labels and ensure that food could be donated to rescue organizations even after its quality date. At least 20 states currently prohibit the sale or donation of food after the date listed on the label because of liability fears, Lieb said.

Clearer labeling and donation rules could help nonprofits like Food Shift, which trains chefs using rescued food. It even makes dog treats from overripe bananas, recovered chicken fat and spent grain from a brewer, Apple said.

"We definitely need to be focusing more on doing these small actions like addressing expiration date labels, because even though it's such a tiny part of this whole food waste issue, it can be very impactful," Apple said.
 

Language Notes

註 1:culprit:意指問題的起因;罪魁禍首

註 2:edible:意指(無毒而)可以吃的;適宜食用的

註 3:revamp:意指修改;改進

註 4:formula :意指(嬰兒)配方奶

註 5:liability :意指 (法律上對某事物的)責任,義務
 

BACK TO CONTENT

Check your comprehension!

Choose the BEST answer to each of the questions below. After you finish, highlight the parentheses to reveal the hidden answers.

1. ( C )  What would be a possible date label wording on dairy products from a UK chain store?
            (A) Use by
            (B) Sell by
            (C) Best before
            (D) Best if used by                   
2. ( B ) What is FDA's (Food and Drug Administration) suggestion to consumers when judging food quality?
            (A) They should sample the food themselves.                                                                                         
            (B) They should rely more on their senses than date labels.
            (C) They should examine the "best if used by" labels instead of "use by" labels.
            (D) They should consult the food seller to check its freshness.
3. ( D ) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about food labeling mentioned in the article?
            (A) Date labels on infant formula are mandatory in the US.
            (B) It would be troublesome for staff if date labels were removed.
            (C) Food labeling regulations vary among US states.
            (D) Standardized date labels might lead to higher food production costs.

編譯:外語教學暨資源中心 編輯小組

 

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