VIP Class Notes (Raph)[R]

Vocabulary

Rarely (adv): 1- not often.
E.g.: We rarely see each other now.
E.g.: I rarely have time to read a newspaper.
E.g.: Rarely have I seen such a beautiful sunset. (formal)

Barely (adv): 1- by the smallest amount; only just.
E.g.: There was barely enough room for the two of them.
E.g.: The dark line of the mountains was barely visible against the night sky.
E.g.: They have barely enough (= no more than what is needed) to pay the rent this month.
E.g.: She was barely (= only just) 15 when she won her first championship.

Well-being (n): 1- the state of feeling healthy and happy.
E.g.: People doing yoga benefit from an increased feeling of well-being.

Respondent (n): 1- a person who answers a request for information.
E.g.: Most of the respondents disapprove of the current government.
E.g.: In a recent opinion poll, a majority of respondents were against the project.

Quiz (v): 1- to ask someone questions about something.
E.g.: She spent an hour being quizzed by journalists.

Offspring (n): 1- a person’s children.
E.g.: Tom’s sister came over on Saturday with all her offspring.

Fatigue (n): 1- extreme tiredness.
E.g.: She was suffering from fatigue.

Anxiety (n): 1- an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about something that is happening or might happen in the future. 2- 焦虑
E.g.: Children normally feel a lot of anxiety about their first day at school.
E.g.: Her son is a source of a lot of anxiety.

Symptom (n): 1- any feeling of illness or physical or mental change that is caused by a particular disease. 2- 症状
E.g.: He’s complaining of all the usual flu symptoms – a high temperature, headache, and so on.
E.g.: He’s been HIV-positive for six years, but just recently he’s started to develop the symptoms of AIDS.

Depression (n): 1- a mental illness in which a person is very unhappy and anxious (= worried and nervous) for long periods and cannot have a normal life during these periods. 2- 萧条
E.g.: Tiredness, and sleeping problems are symptoms of depression.
E.g.: If you suffer from depression, you should get professional help.

Caregiver (n): 1- someone who takes care of a person.
E.g.: Now that his parents are older, he is their main caregiver.

Outweigh (v): 1- to be greater or more important than something else.
E.g.: The benefits of this treatment far outweigh any risks.

Means (n): 1- a method or way of doing something.
E.g.: They had no means of communication.
E.g.: We need to find some other means of transportation.

Stave sth off (v): 1- to stop something bad from happening, or to keep an unwanted situation or person away, usually temporarily:
E.g.: We were hoping to stave off these difficult decisions until September.

Podcast (n): 1- 播客

Parents Happier After Their Children Leave Home
(Source: www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1908/190823-having-children.html)

Many of us believe that having children is the key to happiness and a perfect family life. Naturally, this idealistic image is true for some, but researchers say that in reality, children make us happiest when they fly the nest – when they have grown up and left home. Researchers in Germany looked at data from a survey of 55,000 over 50-year-olds living in Europe. The survey respondents were quizzed about their emotional wellbeing. The researchers discovered that most parents were happier with life after their offspring had left home and started making their own way in life. Researchers say this could be because raising children creates financial worry, stress, fatigue and anxiety.

The research was led by Christoph Becker at Heidelberg University. He concluded that a big reason for parents being happiest when their children leave home is that the tables are turned and the children provide more support to their parents. He said parents whose children no longer live with them suffer from fewer symptoms of depression and have a more positive outlook on life. Regarding the role reversal in providing support, Mr Becker said: “Children’s roles as caregivers, providers of financial support or simply as a means of social contact might outweigh the negative aspects of parenthood.” He added that maintaining family relationships may stave off loneliness in ageing parents.

Grammar

Raph is 31 years old. = Raph is a 31-year-old man.

The building is 20 meters tall. = This is a 20-meter tall building.

Because of my English is not very well. – Because my English is not very good.

I barely write something. – I rarely write something.

Pronunciation

Bent: /bent/

When: /wen/

Win:  /wɪn/

Environment: /ɪnˈvaɪ.r^ən.mənt/

Create: /kriˈeɪt//kree.ate/

Fatigue:  /fəˈtiːɡ/

Anxiety: /æŋˈzaɪ.ə.t̬i/