2xOnline Class Notes (Mike)

以近期的疫情为主题，写一篇你和父母的对话。

We’ve all been there. One minute you’re searching for something serious, like a recipe for dinner, or something for work, and the next you’ve been sucked in by endless videos of cats doing funny things after seeing a catchy title in your suggested videos column. They’re compelling, engrossing and captivating, and you can end up spending hours watching kittens make funny noises or mistiming jumps. But why do these videos so often end up going viral? What makes them so enthralling? And why are they more popular than dog videos?

First, let’s talk about stereotypes. When many of us think about dogs, we imagine them rolling over onto their backs, tongues hanging out, or making a mess. They seem trusting and innocent – and they do silly things. Cats, on the other hand, seem somewhat more refined and independent. There’s a reason we have an expression ‘cool cat’. In short, cats seem more serious – and savvy. If we can get one over on a cat and make them do something like get in a box that slides down a hill, it’s comical. But with a dog, it’s not as funny because they trust you – and it’s easier. Tricking a cat, due to their wiliness, has more payoff.

The internet is filled with videos of cats making funny faces or reacting strangely. But why are they so funny? Well, simply – it’s unexpected. If you saw a cat walking down the street coolly or observing and preparing to attack a mouse, it wouldn’t be funny. But if that cat was walking sideways, wearing a silly costume, or becoming best friends with the mouse, suddenly we might start to laugh. Watching a cat that is normally majestic walk clunkily or pull a bizarre face is hilarious because it’s not something we would normally associate with that animal. It’s like watching someone who is normally very serious get the giggles. In some ways, we’re all laughing at their fall from grace.

So the next time you see one of those many memes of cats in awkward situations or videos that make you chuckle, try to remember why it’s so funny. And spare a thought for all those dogs that are trying to entertain us too.

For many of us, online shopping has made the process of purchasing goods a far simpler and more fluid process. No longer do we have to head to the shops to browse and peruse various objects, wandering round endless aisles, before finally settling for the first thing we saw. These days, we find the item we want or need online, click on it, and check out its description and user reviews. If it fits the bill, we send it to our basket and pay. There seems to be a wealth of options at our fingertips. But how do we know the options that pop up in front of us really are the best deals. And how might algorithms help or hinder us?

Algorithms, simply put, are mathematical instructions which tell the computer how to solve problems. When shopping is involved, what is the problem they solve? Well, the algorithms instruct the computer which adverts to show and which products a user is most likely to splash the cash on. By analysing things we’ve previously bought or looked at, the algorithm can predict what goods we’re most likely to be enticed by. For some people, the idea of something guessing your preferences could sound a bit intimidating. But first, let’s look at the positives.

Time is an important thing – something we don’t want to waste too much of. By telling the computer to show us adverts for things we are interested in, it can save us a lot of time sifting through things or services that don’t match our criteria. They can also help us find the best deals.

However, there are some people who have concerns about the impact of algorithms on our shopping experience. It is possible that algorithms may only select options from a limited number of brands, or may favour products from certain companies. There are also concerns that we aren’t always shown the cheapest or best deal, even though that’s what we’re searching for. Finally, some algorithms generate ads which tell you there are only a limited number of items you’re interested in left. They might just be there to manipulate you.

So, the takeaway from this is that algorithms are here to stay, and it’s wise to know they exist. Whenever you’re shopping, be it online or off, make sure to shop around for the best deals. The first thing you see might not always be the best for you.

write this next to dates:

prying eyes: 偷窥的目光

keep away from: 保持距离
keep far from: 离得远

when it comes to: 涉及，提及，关于，谈论到
When it comes to money, he became silent. 一谈到钱，他就沉默了。

putting pen to paper： 付诸笔下，化为文字

most annoying things to you could be best summed up ….大多数让你烦的事

get us down 让我们感到低落

For many of us, a work diary is a practical thing. We use them for work to make a note of appointments or meetings, scribbling words next to dates to remind us of something we have to do in the future. But journalling is more about feelings. It’s a personal diary, often kept far from prying eyes, sometimes detailing our secrets and desires. But, when it comes to feelings, what are the benefits to writing things down?

对于我们中的大多数人来说，工作日记是一个实用的事情。我们用它们为工作做一个会议记录，在日期旁快速写下一些东西来提醒我们将来必须做的事情。但是日志更多的是关于感情/感觉。它是一个个人的日记，常常是远离别人偷窥的，有时详细记录我们的秘密和欲望。但是它涉及到感情，写下这些事情的好处是什么？

Sometimes it can be difficult to say exactly what we’re feeling. Because of anxiety or frustration, it can be tricky to put your problems into words. For some of us, putting pen to paper and jotting down our thoughts is a much easier process than saying them. But it’s not just about the ease of scrawling words. Writing things down can actually help us to formulate ideas, consolidate emotions, and understand our feelings. There’s something cathartic about making sense of something that is stressing us, annoying us, or getting us down. Writing a narrative of events or a series of words about what is on your mind can help you to focus, and is comparable to a form of meditation. And journalling isn’t just limited to words. Why not include squiggles, doodles or pictures of what’s happening in your life? Maybe the thing that is annoying you most could be best summed up by a caricature. In short, journalling is good for your mental health.

有时它很难精确的表达我们的感受。因为焦虑或沮丧，用文字表达你的问题很棘手。对于我们中的一些人来说，把想法化为文字和快速写下一些想法/速写是一种更容易的过程。但是写日记不仅仅是关于轻松写下文字这么简单。写作实际上能帮助我们形成想法/主意，巩固/稳固情绪，了解我们的感受。理解那些让我们有压力，让我们感到烦恼和低落的事情，有其情感宣泄的一面。写叙事或者连续记录能够帮助你专注，和深思是类似的。日志不仅仅局限于文字。为什么不包括花体，涂鸦或者你生活在发生的图片？也许最让你烦恼的事情能够通过漫画总结。简而言之，日志能够对你的精神健康有好处。

Another thing to consider is that our memories fade over time. What is clear in our minds today may just be forgotten a few years down the line.

另一件需要考虑的事是，我们的记忆随着时间会消失/退化/模糊。现在在我们的脑海中清晰的东西也许过几年就被忘记了。

Logging what’s happening in our lives could trigger memories when we read our diary entries back in years to come, or could act as an insight into our past selves.（当我们阅读多年前写下的日记的时候，我们写下的关于生活的日记可以触发记忆，或者能成为/作为了解曾经的我们的一个很好的观察点/洞察点/）

We can see our development, or be reminded of exciting flashpoints in our lives.

The person who was annoying us and you drew a doodle of five years ago 让我们感到很烦并且在五年前被你画进涂鸦里的人，
may now be a close friend,
or something that you were once scared of may now seem funny. 或者你曾经害怕的事现在可能看起来很搞笑。

我们能够看见我们的成长，回忆起生活中令人兴奋的高光时刻。让我们烦恼的人和你描绘一个五年以前的涂鸦也许现在成为了好朋友，或者某事对你来说是恐惧的也许现在看见了很搞笑。

So, if you have something on your mind, it might be good to get things written down. And if something exciting happens, writing about it may help you to remember that wonderful time!

因此，如果你有什么想法，把他们付诸笔端也许对你有益处。如果有什么兴奋的事发生了，写下它也许能帮助你去记住那美好的时光。

Grammar

exciting:
excitement:
excited:
excite:

inter-nation
inter：跨，际
nation (n)民族，国家
international (adj.)
internationalize (v) 国际化
internationalization (n) 国际化（的过程/事件）

名词： -tion/zation/ture/industry/-logy （sociology）/-tics/-nomy
形容词：-ful/-less/-al/-ing/-ed/-tious/-ous/