VIP Class Notes (Raph)[R]

Vocabulary

Costume (n): 1- the set of clothes typical of a particular country or period of history, or suitable for a particular activity. 2- costume a set of clothes worn in order to look like someone or something else, especially for a party or as part of an entertainment.
E.g.: Singers performing Mozart’s (莫扎特) operas often wear historical costumes.
E.g.: The dancers leading the procession were in colorful and elaborate costumes.
E.g.: Our host was wearing a clown (小丑) costume.
E.g.: The children were dressed in Halloween costumes.

Historical (n): 1- connected with studying or representing things from the past:
E.g.: Many important historical documents were destroyed when the library was bombed.
E.g.: She specializes in historical novels set in 18th-century England.

Pleasant (adj): 1- enjoyable, attractive, friendly, or easy to like:
E.g.: a pleasant climate/smile/person
E.g.: a pleasant day/surprise
E.g.: Harold did his best to be pleasant to the old man.
E.g.: It was pleasant to sit down after standing for hours.

Stand in (v): 1- to do the job that another person was going to do or usually does, or to take that person’s place at an event, because they cannot be there.
E.g.: Paula stood in for Jane, while Jane was on holiday.

Inundate (v ): 1- to give someone so much work or so many things that they cannot deal with it all:
E.g.: We have been inundated with requests for help.

Astounded (adj): 1- very surprised or shocked:
E.g.: I was astounded to hear that Tina had left.

Pastor (n): 1- a religious leader in certain Protestant (新教) Christian Churches
E.g.: Her father was a pastor, so they were always very traditional.

Inspire (v): 1- to make someone feel that they want to do something and that they can do it.
E.g.: His confident leadership inspired his followers.
E.g.: After her trip to Venezuela (委内瑞拉), she felt inspired to learn Spanish.

Liaison (n): 1- someone who works as a link of communication, helping different groups to work effectively with each other.
E.g.: She served as a liaison between the different groups.

Awe (n): 1- a feeling of great respect sometimes mixed with fear or surprise.
E.g.: I’ve always held musicians in awe.
E.g.: As children we were rather in awe of our grandfather.
E.g.: You can’t help but stand in awe of (= respect greatly and fear slightly) powerful people.

Awesome (adj): 1- very great, extremely good. 2- causing feelings of great admiration, respect, or fear.
E.g.: You look totally awesome in that dress.
E.g.: An awesome challenge is ahead of them.

Astonishing (adj): 1- very surprising.
E.g.: Her first novel enjoyed an astonishing success.
E.g.: It’s astonishing to think that only a few years ago he was a completely unknown actor.

Swamp (v): 1-  If something swamps a person, system, or place, more of it arrives than can be easily dealt with. 2- to have too much of something.
E.g.: Foreign cars have swamped the UK market.
E.g.: I’m swamped with work at the moment.
E.g.: Don’t let feelings of depression swamp you.

Swamp (n): 沼泽

Religion (n): 1- 宗教

Christian (adj/n): 1- 基督教

Nearly 600 Volunteer to be Absent Father
(Source: www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1801/180110-absent-fathers.html)

A junior high school in Texas, USA was pleasantly surprised after being swamped by volunteers to stand in for absent fathers. Billy Earl Dade Middle School, in the city of Dallas, posted on Facebook asking for 50 male volunteers to substitute for absent fathers in an event called “Breakfast with Dads”. Event organizers were inundated with replies. They said they were astounded after nearly 600 men responded to the request and turned up at the event. The school’s inaugural “Breakfast with Dads” event was to enhance community spirit. Around 90 per cent of the children come from low-income families. Many of the students did not have a father who was able to participate in the event.

The school said the “Breakfast with Dads” event was part of an overall plan to improve its academic position. Community leaders, mentors and local organizations have combined to implement various projects to increase test scores. There has been some academic improvement at the school as a result of their efforts. A local pastor, the Reverend Donald Parish Jr, said: “When a young person sees someone other than their teacher take interest in them, it inspires them.” A school liaison officer, Ellyn Favors, commented on the success of the event. She said: “The look of awe, even disbelief, in students’ eyes as they made their way through the crowd of “Dads” was astonishing.”

Grammar

I was attracted in him – I was attracted to him.

Pronunciation

During: /ˈdʊr.ɪŋ/

Historical: /hɪˈstɔːr.ɪ.kəl/

Clown: /klaʊn/

Diabetes: /ˌdaɪ.əˈbiː.t̬əs/

Participant: /pɑːrˈtɪs.ə.pənt/

Procrastinate: /proʊˈkræs.tə.neɪt/

This: /ðɪs/

These: /ðiːz/

Injure: /ˈɪn.dʒɚ/

Injured: /ˈɪn.dʒɚd/

Case: /keɪs/

Cases: /ˈkeɪs.əz/

Annual: /ˈæn.ju.əl/

Novel: /ˈnɑː.vəl/

Doctor: /ˈdɑːk.tɚ/

Daughter: /ˈdɑː.t̬ɚ/

Serious: /ˈsɪr.i.əs/

Seriously: /ˈsɪr.i.əs.li/

Protester: /prəˈtes.tɚ/

Problem: /ˈprɑː.bləm/

Pleasant: /ˈplez.ənt/

Volunteer: /ˌvɑː.lənˈtɪr/

Substitute: /ˈsʌb.stɪ.tʃuːt/

Event: /ɪˈvent/

Inundate: /ˈɪn.ʌn.deɪt/

Astounded: /əˈstaʊn.dɪd/

Implement: /ˈɪm.plə.ment/

Project (n): /ˈprɑː.dʒekt/

Project (v): /prəˈdʒekt/

Interest: /ˈɪn.trɪst/

Inspire: /ɪnˈspaɪr/

Venezuela: /ˌven.əˈzweɪ.lə/

Liaison: /liˈeɪ.zɑːn/

Awe: /ɑː/

Astonishing: /əˈstɑː.nɪ.ʃɪŋ/