小宇哥的CS學習筆記

Music

  Each Roma settlement developed its own musical style, combining local music with Roma traditions. These styles often sound similar to the music of the surrounding culture. However, most Roma music shares some characteristics, including the timing of the notes and the harmonies.

  Roma music has also affected the music of other cultures. Roma influences have shaped European folk and classical music and even some American styles.

Stories

  Like people of many cultures, the Roma love to tell stories. Their conversations often include brief references to tales that the entire settlement knows. But they also tell long stories during the evenings or while working. Some stories are funny; others pass down Roma traditions.

    Centuries ago, a group of people left India. No one really knows why. Over time, they journeyed west to Europe, where most have lived ever since.

    These people called themselves the Roma. But Europeans, thinking they came from Egypt, called them "gypsies".

    Many people think of gypsies as wandering groups of people. They are associated with colorful clothing, fortune telling and music. But this is not the real picture of Roma culture.

    In fact, not all Roma are travlers. Those in Western Europe have historically moved from place to place. But others who settled in Eastern Europe built homes and stayed in one place.

    Roma culturevaries among regions. But most speak both the language of the surrounding people and their own language, Romany.

Ann: I guess I don't need a lot of storage space most of the time. But cars also offer more shelter from the rain and other bad weather than scooters do.

Tim: Yeah, it's nice to not have to worry about rain, and air conditioning is a real advantage in the summer.  But cars also have some notable disadvantages.

Ann: Really? Like what?

Tim: Finding a parking space can be difficult, especially in big cities. Scooters are much easier to park.

Ann: I guess you're right.

    So how do you play a jug, anyway? You just hold the jug close to your mouth and blow air through your lips to make them vibrate. The jug helps to make  the sound louder. What about the other homemade instruments? Scrape the washboard with a hard object. Hit the spoons together against your leg or against a cooking pan. Hum into a kazoo made from a comb and wax paper. Early jug band musicians used whatever they had available to make musical instruments. Some of them even make guitars out of cigar boxes.

    You really have to hear the sound of a jug band to appreciate this fascinating style of music. Find some video clips online, or if you like, attend a jug band festival. The National Jug Band Jubilee in Louisville, Kentucky, is just one of the festivals devoted to preserving "America's happiest music." Soon you'll be clapping along with all the other fans of this delightful music. Maybe you'll want to make your own instrument and join in the fun.

vibrate (v) 振動；震動

scrape (v) 刮；擦

cigar (n) 雪茄

     As they say, a good musician plays the music, not the instrument. Never was the truer than in the case of jug bands. Musicians in a jug band use ordinary, homemade instruments (along with some traditional instruments) to make beautiful music. An old-fashioned washboard becomes a rhythm instrument. A pair of kitchen spoons helps to keep the beat. A washtub with a broomstick handle and a piece of cord becomes a string bass. Of course, a jug band always has an empty jug used as a wind instrument.

    Jug bands have long been a part of the world of jazz and blues music. African-American musicians created this style of music around the beginning of the 20 century in Louisville. Later, jug bands became popular in other river town like Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Traditional instruments like the guitar and the violin, or "fiddle", were already popular in southern music. When musicians discovered they could play musical notes with whiskey jugs, the jug band was born.

jug (n) 罐；壺

rhythm (n) 節奏；韻律

fiddle (n) 小提琴

Out of the darkness

     During Cheng's break from performing, her heart was changed. She realized career success could not give her a complete, satisfying life. But she did find something that could - God.

    Cheng came out of her period of darkness as a committed Christian. Faith that God is in control replaced her fears with peace and confidence. Following God became her purpose.

Living in the light

     In 2007 Cheng began performing again, creating songs that reflected her changed life. Her album "Faith" combines pop with gospel music. In it, Cheng uses what she has learned to inspire others.

    Meanwhile, Cheng pursued a separate career in acting. Her first role is in 1991 TV drama Life of His Own. The next year she acted in her first movie, Best of the Best. Algother, she has appeared in 22 films. She won one Best Actress award at the Hong Kong Film Awards. The Hong Kong Film Critics Society gave her another.

    Cheng is also known for setting trends in fashion. She was named one of Hong Kong's Top Ten Fashionable Celebrities. Cheng changes her style with each album she produces. Fan love admiring each look and wondering what she will do next.

The hidden darkness

    But despite her fame, success and attractive image, Cheng was struggling. In 2005, health problems and an emotional crisis forced her to take a break. Cheng was caught in a long period of sadness when as she says, "My heart was empty." She feared that she would never find really happiness.

pursue (v) 進行；從事；追求

Goalball

    Crowds watch this sport in complete silence as players try to roll a ball into opposing team's goal. The players all have impaired vision, so they play by listening for bells that are inside the ball. All players are required to wear eyeshades so that those with some vision don't have an advantage.

The Athletes

    One hundred and forty seven different countries send representatives to the Paralympics. These athletes have a variety of disbilities, which they were born with or acquired through sickness or injury. But in the face of difficult circumstances, they all show amazing determination not only to survive but also to master their sports.

    Paralympic athletes' accomplishments are quite amazing. For instance, Paralympic rower Angela Madsen rowed across the Indian Ocean in 2009. And swimmer Natalie du Toit made history in 2008 by competing in the Olympics as well as the Paralympics.

    The 2012 Paralympics includes 20 different sports. Some are slightly modified Olympics sports; others were designed specially for disabled athletes.

Cycling

    In this sport, you can see Paralympians racing on the bikes modified for them. For example, blind Paralympians ride tandem bikes with a sighted person who sits in front to steer. People who cannot use their leg to pedal use their arms to operate handcycles, and others ride normal bicycles. The sport is divided into two areas - road and track - that are held in different locations.

Wheelchair basketball

    Wheelchair backetball has almost all the same rules as regular basketball, including the size of the court and the height of the hoops. Players are even required to bounce the ball while pushing their wheelchairs. Unlike many Paralympics sports, wheelchair backetball permits participants with different disabilities to play together. Players receive a number from 1 to 4.5, with lower numbers corresponding to more severe disabilities. The sum of the numbers for all players on the court for each team must be 14 or lower.

    Last month, London, England, hosted the Summer Olympics, attracting great athletes from around the world. Now, equally extraordinary athletes are gathering there for the Paralympcs, an international sporting event second only to the Olympics in size.

    Since 1960, the Paralymics has given the people with disabilities an opportunity to demonstrate their athletic ability. These games take place in the same year and in the same city as the Olympics.

    England has a unique historical bond with the Paralympics games. One of the first sports competitions for the disabled began in Stroke Mandeville, England. Surgeon Sir Ludwig Guttman organized the games for World War II veterans with spinal-cord injuries. The competition was first held in 1948 on the opening day as the Olympics.

    In 1952, Dutch participants made the Stroke Mandeville Games an international competition. In 1960 games, held in Rome, included athletes from 23 countries. Considered the first Paralympics, it fulfilled Guttman's dream of creating a "parallel Olympics" for athlete with disabilities. This year's Paralympics mascot is named Mandeville in honor of the Stroke Mandeville Games.

host (v) 主辦；主持

4. Your weight depends on your genes. If you and your family have problems with obesity, you're not destined to be fat. While a "fat gene" does exist, its influence on your size is actually pretty small. Smart eating and exercise have a much greater impact than your genes. Only 25 percent of your weight is controlled by genes, the rest is up to you!

5. Say "no" to junk food - no exceptions. Many people think that the key to losing weight is cutting out all bad food. But the more restrictive your diet is, the more likely you are to break it - and  in a big way. To lose weight and keep it off, eat great 80 percent of the time, but in indulge in a treat or two the other 20 percent.

6. It's OK to splurge on the weekend. Making bad food choices every Saturday and Sunday will have an effect on how much weight you lose. In one study, scientists found that when dieters ate what they wanted on the weekends, they undid all of their healthy progress during the week. Instead of choosing a difficult diet you need a "break" from every week, find one you can manage, and stick to it every day.

destine (v) 命定；註定

restrictive (adj) 限制的；約束的

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