English Recordings

42.
If we want to describe our society in terms of age, we may come up with four age groups—childhood, adolescence, maturity, and old age. We take it for granted that people of different ages behave differently. For example, we feel that a man in his thirties should act his age and not behave like an adolescent or an old man. Equally, we expect that, as they go through life, people of the same age will in some ways understand each other better than people of different ages. All this is part of expected ways of behaving in our social life, but it is not something that we can apply in formal institutions governed by hard-and-fast rules.

43.
I knocked at the door and was told to enter. I found myself in a large room, where the curtains were closed to allow no daylight in, and the candles were lit. In the center of the room, sitting at a table, was the strangest lady I had ever seen. She was wearing a wedding dress made of rich material. She had a bride’s flowers in her hair, but her hair was white. She only had one white shoe on. Then I realized that over the years the flowers in her hair had died, and the bride inside the dress had grown old. Everything in the room was ancient. The only brightness in the room was in her dark old eyes that stared at me.

44.
One of the toughest parts of isolation is a lack of an expressive exit. With anger, you can get mad at someone and yell. With sadness, you can cry. But isolation feels like being in a room with no way out.
And the longer you get stuck there, the harder it becomes to share the pain and sorrow. In isolation, hope disappears, despair rules, and you can no longer see a life beyond the invisible walls that imprison you.
Some people find it helpful to work gently at driving themselves back into the world. In one case, a woman reported that after four miserable forced lunches with friends, she suddenly enjoyed the fifth one as she found herself laughing at a joke.
For people who cannot push themselves, however, support groups are a good cure for isolation. They offer the opportunity for connection in a safe and controlled way.

39.
The ability to sympathize with others reflects the multiple nature of the human being, his potentialities for many more selves and kinds of experience than any one being could express. This may be one of the things that enable us to seek through literature an enlargement of our experience. Although we may see some characters as outside ourselves—that is, we may not identify with them completely—we are nevertheless able to enter into their behavior and their emotions. Thus, the youth may identify with the aged, one gender with the other, and a reader of a particular limited social background with members of a different class or a different period.

40.
Why is it that if you tickle yourself, it doesn’t tickle, but if someone else tickles you, you cannot stand it?
If someone was tickling you and you managed to remain relaxed, it would not affect you at all. Of course, it would be difficult to stay relaxed, because tickling causes tension for most of us, such as feelings of unease. The tension is due to physical contact, the lack of control, and the fear of whether it will tickle or hurt. However, when you try to tickle yourself, you are in complete control of the situation. There is no need to get tense and therefore, no reaction. You will notice the same effect if you close your eyes, breathe calmly, and manage to relax the next time someone tickles you.

41.
Newton was the first to point out that light is colorless, and that consequently color has to occur inside our brains. He wrote, “The waves themselves are not colored.” Since his time, we have learned that light waves are characterized by different frequencies of vibration. When they enter the eye of an observer, they set off a chain of neurochemical events, the end product of which is an internal mental image that we call color. The essential point here is: What we perceive as color is not made up of color. Although an apple may appear red, its atoms are not themselves red.

36.
Located 1,100 feet above the tiny coastal town of Amalfi, Ravello has been described as closer to heaven than to the sea. Two irresistibly romantic gardens—the Villa Rufolo and the Villa Cimbrone—justify its reputation as ‘the place where poets go to die.’ Hotel guests can hope to experience breathtaking views of the deep blue sea from Palazzo Sasso. Constructed in the 12th century, now a deluxe hotel, Palazzo Sasso is all about the view. Richard Wagner found inspiration on this site in 1880, penning a part of Parsifal during a stay here. Every summer an internationally famous classical Wagner music festival takes place in the garden of the Villa Rufolo.

37.
Recreational tree climbing is an evolving sport. It got its start in 1983, when Peter Jenkins began teaching all sorts of people, including children, how to climb trees safely using a rope and a harness and the recreational tree climbing technique. In the United States, it is now practiced by a thousand or so people but is rapidly growing in popularity. However, those who study rare plants are worried about recreational tree climbers. They fear that these climbers may try to climb the biggest and tallest trees if they learn their exact locations. Any contact between humans and rare plants can be disastrous for the plants.

38.
A status symbol is something, usually an expensive or rare object, that indicates a high social status for its owner. What is considered a status symbol will differ among countries, based on the states of their economic and technological development, and common status symbols will change over time. Status symbols can indicate the cultural values of a society. Let’s take some examples. In a society that cherishes honor or bravery, a battle wound would be more of a status symbol. In a commercial society, where having money or wealth is most important, things that can be brought by wealth, such as cars, houses, or fine clothing, are considered status symbols. And in a society where people craze for beauty, the condition of one’s skin and body can be a status symbol.

33.
There is healing power in flowers—and in trees, fresh air, and sweet-smelling soil. Just walking through a garden or, for that matter, seeing one out your window, can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and ease pain. Get out there and start digging, and the benefits multiply. While it may be basic and even old-fashioned, using gardening as a health care tool is blossoming. New or remodeled hospitals and nursing homes increasingly come equipped with healing gardens where patients and staff can get away from barren, indoor surroundings. Many also offer patients a chance to get their hands dirty and their minds engaged in caring for plants.

34.
Most of us buy our food from supermarkets. In fact, many of us don’t even get as far as the supermarket but make our choices at the click of a mouse. We have abandoned our relationship with the food we eat and with the people who produce our food. Is it any wonder that our children don’t know where food comes from? Is it any wonder that we’re tired, overweight, irritable, and low? It is important to be mindful about every single aspect of purchasing food. Try not to race through your shopping. In my hometown, nobody would buy a melon without feeling it and smelling it; and nobody would dream of buying a chicken without knowing which farm it came from and what it ate.

35.
The above chart shows the top five preferred factors for male and female job seekers aged 55 to 79 in 2006. ‘Payment’ is the most preferred factor for both male and female job seekers in this age group. As for men, ‘sustainability’ is the second most favored factor in choosing a job. As for women, ‘workload and time’ is preferred to ‘sustainability’ in their job seeking. The percentage of women who tend to choose a job based on ‘past experience’ is higher than that of men.‘Commuting’ is the least considered factor for both among the top five, but still it is a more favored factor for women than for men.

King James I of Scotland was a strict, but fair king. He had many enemies, though, and some high-class families wanted to take over control of Scotland.

One winter, the King, the Queen and her maids were staying in the Abbey in Perth, while the King's soldiers were far away, scattered around the town.

Some traitors decided that this was a good chance to kill the king. They paid some servants to take off the bolts and bars from doors, so that only the rings remained.

One night, as the King and the Queen were having dinner, they heard the noises of the armed men outside their door. They dropped their knives and forks and ran to a secret room where they hid.

The traitors burst in and searched high and low. They found nothing and went away. The King and his group came out of their hiding place. Unfortunately, the traitors suddenly returned. This time, there was no time to hide.

One of the Queen's maids was a woman named Katherine Douglas. She said, "There are no bars to slide through the rings on the door. I will put my arm through, to bar the door." She did this, and, for a while, the door held. She called out, "There is no one in the room." Eventually, the men outside pushed the door open and poor Kate's arm was snapped in half. Her brave act was all in vain. The traitors found the King and killed him.

News of Kate's brave deed spread through out the land. The Scottish word for girl is lass, and so she became known as Kate Barlass - the lass who barred the door with her arm!

Six hundred years ago, a girl named Joan was born in the French village of Domremy, in the Arc district. At that time, France and England were fighting a war. France was losing badly. The English had entered France and taken most of the land, including Paris. The King of France escaped and was in hiding.

Joan came from a peasant family, doing housework and looking after animals. When she was 13 years old, she heard a mysterious voice. She believed it was God talking to her. "God told me to ask the King's son for an army," she said. "He told me to fight the English at Orleans and help the French King return to France."

Though poorly educated, the French leaders liked her honest manner. They gave her an army. For safety, she started to dress as a man.

She became a great general. She carried only a white flag and worked as a nurse for both the French and the British soldiers. She defeated the English at Orleans and other places. Thanks to Joan, the King could return to France.

Unfortunately, she was captured by the English. They said, "She must be a witch. How else could a woman be such a great army general?" Her trial lasted a year. She was found guilty and was burnt alive.

Inspired by Joan, the French began to win their battles immediately. The English were driven out of France. France became a great and powerful nation.

Later, her case was reopened and she was found not guilty of witchcraft. She was also made a Christian Saint. Joan of Arc was a truly great woman in history - the peasant girl who saved her country!

Title< Memory of a Rainy Summer Night>
Jun 06th 2010 17:50

How can I tell my story in my poor English?
I am afraid that my poor English will give you (lang-8 friends) a headache
sigh! *___*;;;;
But I will try !I will write! bravely!
Maybe reading my journal will take a lot of patience. (OR: You will need a lot of patience to read my journal. )
I'm asking for your consent.^. ^';;;;;

아, 이 이야기를 내 형편 없는 영어로 어떻게 써야 할런지?
내 형편 없는 영어를 읽으려면 여러분 (lang-8친구들) 이 머리가 아파질까 봐 걱정됩니다.
휴유~*___*;;;; 그래도 써야겠지요! 용감하게!
Just a moment ago I read a lang-8 friend's journal.
She wrote about her sister's graduation ceremony,
that day, it rained, but she took off closed her umbrella and walked under the rain.
she said it gave her a good feeling,( OR: she said it felt good.)
so suddenly one of my rainy day memories occurred to
I have quite a few funny rainy day memories
( OR: I have a lot of funny rainy day memories. )
방금 전에 a lang-8친구의 일기를 읽었습니다..
그 친구는 여동생 졸업식에 대해 썼네요..
그날은 비가 왔지만 우산을 접고 빗속을 걸었다고 했습니다..
그렇지만 기분이 좋았다고 합니다.
그래서 갑자기 나도 옛날의 비와 관련된 추억이 떠올랐습니다.
흠….나에게는 비와 관련 된 이야기가 꽤 있지요.
OK! GOOD !
좋아요! 그럼, 이제부터 내 이야기를 해 주겠습니다.
From now on, I will write my story.
I will try to share my rainy day memory with you.
Today, I will not care about my English grammar mistakes.
Therefore, please correct my many mistakes as much as you can.(^. ^
^(Even though there may be many mistakes, I won`t be disappointed, I will keep on writing bravely ^___^// Hahaha~~~ )
( OR: No matter how many mistakes there may be, I will not be disappointed. I will keep on writing bravely.)
나의 비 오는 날 추억을 여러분과 함께 나누겠습니다.
오늘은 문법이 대해 신경 안 쓰고 그냥 쓰겠어요.
(그러니까, 문법이 무척 많이 틀릴 거예요.
많이 틀려도 고쳐 주고 싶은 만큼 고쳐 주셔요!
많이 틀려도 실망 하지 않고, 계속 쓸 거니까요. ^__^//하하))
* Oh, I guess everyone has their own rainy day memory.
(NOTE: "everyone" = singular subject; so you must use singular verb -- "has". Use "have" when you use a plural subject. ex.: The kids have their own special rainy day memories.)
if you have special rainy day memories, would/could you share them with us ?
*참! 여러분 모두에게 비와 관련된 추억이 있을 것 같아요.
만약 있으면 우리 함께 나누는 건 어때요?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I lived in Beijing, my friend stayed at my house for 3 weeks.
She was a Korean student, and had been studying for a master's degree.
Fortunately, during summer vacation my son returned to Korea,
my husband went on a business trip.
Therefore, the two of felt very free and comfortable.
내가 북경에 살고 있을 때 내 친구 하나가 우리집에 3주간 같이 있었어요.
그 친구는 한국학생인데 석사 과정을 공부하고 있는 중이었어요.
다행히, 아들은 마침 여름 방학이어서 한국 부모님께 갔고, 남편은 출장 중이어서
우리 둘은 여유로움을 만끽 하고 있었답니다.
One of hot summer evening, it rained heavily.
The pouring summer rain gave me a really nice feeling.
It made me very delighted.
In a summer night, looking through the dark window at the rain falling was Sooooo~~ GREAT!
어느 더운 여름날 저녁, 비가 심하게 내리기 시작했어요.
쏟아 붓는 여름비에 정말 기분 좋아졌어요.
쏟아지는 비는 나는 너무 기분이 좋아졌답니다.
어두운 창 밖을 통해서 여름 밤비는 정~~말~~~ 굉장했어요.
The sound of the heavy rain pouring made me feel so wonderful, it felt like my whole heart and body were washed clean. .
When I was enjoying that sound, I suddenly suggested to my friend to go out to jump and run under the pouring summer rain .
As soon as she answered, we rushed out at the same time.
We jumped, ran and enjoyed a water fight. We looked like kids.
힘찬 빗 소리는 정말 굉장히 좋았는데, 마치 내 마음과 몸을 깨끗하게 씻어 주는 듯 했습니다.
그 소리를 듣고 있다가 갑자기 나는 친구에게 밖에 나가 빗속에서 달리기를 하면 어떨까 물어 보았어요.
친구가 대답하자마자 ,우리응 동시에 밖으로 뛰쳐 나갔습니다.
우리는 아이들처럼 달리고 뛰며 물싸움을 즐겼습니다.
It must have been a really strange sight .
In the dark night, two adult women were having a water fight
Doesn't it seem crazy?
someone must have seen two crazy women in the dark summer night through the window.
Probably they guessed ' How pitiful those women are! –
They are totally out of line.
"They were totally wrong"?
Haha ,~~~ When I think about that time again, I miss that moment. It was so fun.
Waha.......
Time is flying!
Today, she is a mom and already has two kids.

~~It was corrected by 'lalaland'. Thank you very much!~~~~

네, 그건 정말 이상한 모습이였겠지요?
어두운 밤, 두 여자가 물놀이를 하고 있다니, 미친것 처럼 보이지 않았을까요?
분명히 누군가가 어두운 여름밤 창문을 통해서 미친 두여자를 보고 있었을 겁니다.
아마도, 그들은 '얼마나 불쌍하냐?
분명히 완전히 제정신이 아닐거야!' 라고 여겼을겁니다.
하하~~그 순간을 생각하니 너무재미있고 또 그 순간이 그리워집니다.
와`~ 시간이 얼마나 빠른지!
그 친구는 지금 아이가 둘 있는 엄마가 되었답니다.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
刚才,我读了一个lang-8朋友的日记。
她写的是关于他妹妹毕业典礼当天发生的事情。
我在这儿先简单地介绍她的事情, 然后，再写我的回忆（有关下雨的回忆）。
哇～～～　关于下雨我有不少的回忆。
突然一下子想起来了，好想念那些时光啊！
先说说她，
昨天是她妹妹的毕业的日子，所以她没上班，去参加妹妹的毕业典礼。
不过因为挑选鲜花耽误了很多时间，而且又穿着高跟鞋不方便赶路，结果她迟到了很长时间。（很晚才到）
虽然到了学校，不过因为人太多她找不着妹妹。
而且更糟糕的是开始下雨了。
可是她觉得带着雨伞太麻烦，所以干脆把伞收起来开始到处找妹妹。
（她觉得打雨伞太累／麻烦，所以干脆把雨伞叠后开始找妹妹。）
不过按照她的话来说，在雨中走感觉却很好。
过了一会儿，她妹妹的一个朋友突然在身后叫她。
我想这天她们一定玩得很开心

哈哈～～ 这个日记突然让我回想起发生在过去夏天夜里的一段小事情。
哈哈～～这个日记突然让我回头想起来过去夏天夜里的一件小事
。 你们读了以后，说说你们的回忆也挺好！
我想每个人应该都有自己有关下雨的各种各样的回忆吧。

……︿Ｏ︿／
请你们讲讲自己对于下雨的回忆.大家一起来分享吧！
～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～
那么－－现在开始谈谈我的有关下雨有关的回忆吧
（现在开始谈谈我对下雨有关的回忆吧）
我有不少有关下雨的回忆
其中今天说说其中的一个吧。

我住在北京的时候，有一个年轻的朋友（韩国研究生）来我家住了２～３个星期。
当时因为已经开始放暑假了，我儿子回国住在我父母家，我先生又长期出差在外
当时一整天都很热 到了晚上就突然开始下了大雨，感觉非常痛快！
看着窗外的雨我心情痛快极了
哇～～～好痛快呀！
多么痛快地下呢！
ｓｈｕａ　－ｓｈｕａ－－唰－－唰－－下雨的声音真好听真让人心情舒畅！
就像把我心理的杂念全都洗掉的感觉！
这场雨一下子把这一天的热气都化解了

我给我朋友提了一个建议，“我们出去雨里跑步（散步）怎么样？
我们两个女人，竞争地赶紧 跑出去黑黑的深夜里下雨当中。（争相跑进黑夜的雨中。）
跳着跑着，互相向对方踢着水，泼着雨水，太高兴了！
哈哈~~~也许也有人（/别人/人家 ）通过窗户看得见我们两个人蹦跳的样子。
‘那么他们肯定会担心我们起来了
哎呀~~ 她们是不是刚刚从神经医院里跑出来的呀？"
看起来没什么毛病的人怎么会这样？"
真可怜的！！
哈哈~~现在回想起来真有意思！
她，，，，， 现在她也已经结婚，当了两个女儿的妈妈了！

时间----------过得---------真快！！！！！！
阿哈~~~~夏天夜里的梦！
－－－－－－－－－－－－－
好！ 今天是星期天！
大家好好休息吧！
-------written written Bangbang1----------
Ah~~ How can I explain/describe my story by/in/through my poor English?
I am afraid that you(lang-8 friends) should be got a headache caused (/cause? ) reading my poor English.
sigh! *___*;;;;
But I will try ! I will write! bravely!
May be reading my journal needs a lot of patience.
Ask for your consent. ^.^';;;;;

Just moment ago I read a lang-8 friends`s journal.
She wrote about her sister`s graduate ceremony,
that day had rained, but she took off her umbrella walked under the rain.
she said it was a good feeling,
so suddenly it occurred to me my past one memory of raining. /(one of my raining memory? ) .
I have not a few funny memories about raining.

From now I will write, just try to let you know/
Try to share my memory of raining with together,
this day I will not mind my English grammar mistakes.
(Therefore, please correct my many mistakes just as much as you would/can.(^.^(Even though how many mistakes, I won`t be disappointed, will keep on bravely write ^___^// Hahaha~~~ )

* Oh, I guess everyone have own memory about raining.
if you have would/could you share with us together?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I live in Beijing, my friend had stayed at my house for3 weeks.
She was a Korean student, and had been studying for a master's degree.
Fortunately, during summer vocation my son returned Korea,
my husband went to business trip,
two of us were felt very free and easy.

One of hot summer evening, it became a heavy rainfall.
Pouring summer rain gave me a really nice feeling.
The pouring rainfall made me highly delighted.
Through of dark window summer night rain falling is Sooooo~~ GREAT!

Pouring heavy rain sound, it made me so wonderful, it looked like washing clean my whole heart and body .
When I was enjoying that sounds, I suddenly suggested her going out for jumping and running under the pouring summer rain' .
As soon as she answered, we rushed out at the same time.
We jumped and ran, had enjoyed water fighting as looks like kids.

I know It must be a really strange sight/(view?) .
In the dark night, two adults women were playing water playing.
Doesn`t seem crazy?
It must be there were someone who saw that crazy two women in the dark summer night through window.
Probably they guessed ' How poor those women are! They are totally out of line. '
Haha ,~~~ when I think about that time view again, it was so fun and missing that past memment.

Waha.......Time is flying!
Today, she is a mom has two kids now, already.

“Yuichi says your grandmother was very kind.”
“Grandmother was really found of him.”
“That boy. You know, I haven’t been able to devote myself full-time to raising him, and I’m afraid there are some things that slipped through the cracks.”
I smiled.
“Slipped through the cracks?”
“It’s true,” she said with a motherly smile. “He’s confused about emotional things and he’s strangely distant with people. I know I haven’t done everything right.
…But I wanted above all to make a good kid out of him and I focused everything on raising him that way. And you know, he is. A good kid.”
“I know.”
“You’re a good kid, too.” She beamed.

Her power was the brilliance of her charm and it had brought her to where she was now. I had the feeling that neither her wife nor her son could diminish it. That quality must have condemned her to an ice-cold loneliness.

She said, munching cucumbers, “You know, a lot of people say things they don’t mean. But I’m serious: I want you to stay here as long as you like. You’re a good kid, and having you here makes me truly happy. I understand what it’s like to be hurt and to have nowhere to go. Please, stay with us and don’t worry about anything. Okay?”
She emphasized her words by looking deep into my eyes.

“…Naturally, I’ll pay rent and everything,” I said, desperately moved. My chest was full to bursting. “But yes, till I find another place to live, I’d really appreciate your putting me up.”
“Of course, of course, think nothing of it. But instead of rent, just make us soupy rice once in a while. Yours is so much better than Yuichi’s,” she said, smiling.

She attacked the food – cucumber salad and soupy rice with eggs – with gusto.

It was midday. From the building’s garden we could hear the shouts of children playing in the springlike weather. The plants near the window, enveloped in the gentle sunlight, sparkled bright green; far off in the pale sky, thin clouds gently flowed, suspended. It was a warm, lazy afternoon.

I couldn’t have dreamed of this yesterday morning, this scene of having breakfast at the house of someone I had just met, and it felt very strange. There we were, eating breakfast, all sorts of things set out directly on the floor (there was no table). The sunlight shone through our cups, and our cold green tea reflected prettily against the floor.

Suddenly Eriko looked me full in the face. “Yuichi told me before that you reminded him of Woofie, a dog we used to have. And you know – it’s really true.”
“His name was Woofie?”
“Yes, or Wolfie.”
“Hmm,” I said, thinking, “Woofie.”
“You have the same nice eyes, the same nice hair. …When I saw you for the first time yesterday, I had to force myself not to laugh. You really do look like him.”
“Is that right?” Not that I believed I looked like a dog, but I thought, if Woofie was a Saint Bernard, that would be pretty awful.

“When Woofie died I couldn’t get Yuichi to eat a bite, not a grain of rice, nothing. So it follows that Yuichi feels close to you. I can’t guarantee it’s romantic, though!”
Mom shook with laughter.
“Okay,” I said.

30.
A boy entered a coffee shop where I worked as a waitress. He sat at a table and asked me how much an ice cream sundae was. “Fifty cents,” I replied. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. “How much is a dish of plain ice cream?” he inquired. Some people were now waiting for a table, and I was impatient. “Thirty-five cents,” I said angrily. The little boy again counted the coins and he ordered the plain ice cream. I brought the ice cream and walked away. The boy finished, paid the cashier, and departed. When I came back, I swallowed hard at what I saw. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were fifteen pennies—my tip. 

31.
One key social competence is how well or poorly people express their own feelings. Paul Ekman uses the term ‘display rules’ for the social agreement about which feelings can be properly shown when. Cultures sometimes vary tremendously in this regard. For example, Ekman and his colleagues in an Asian country studied the facial reactions of students to a horrific film about a teenage Aboriginal ritual ceremony. When the students watched the film with an authority figure present, their faces showed only the slightest hints of reaction. However, when they thought they were alone (though they were being taped by a secret camera) their faces twisted into vivid mixes of uncomfortable feelings.

32.
We have to ask ourselves a question. What kind of world will our children have to live in? Will they have air to breathe and food to eat? These are among the basic questions that were addressed at the first world meeting on the environment, attended by more than 100 world leaders and 30,000 other scientists, newspeople, and citizens concerned. These complex problems can no longer be solved by individual countries. Nations of the world must act together if we are to develop answers that will give a safe and healthy world to our children. World leaders should have the vision to protect our environment.