▍原文 Boiling lobsters while they are alive and conscious will be banned as part of a government strategy to improve animal welfare in England. Government ministers say that "live boiling is not an acceptable killing method" for crustaceans and alternative guidance will be published. Animal welfare charities say that stunning lobsters with an electric gun or chilling them in cold air or ice before boiling them is more humane. ▍語言點 1. lobster /ˈlɒbstə/ n. 龍蝦 2. alive and conscious 不光活著，意識也很清醒 · Fortunately, the patient is now alive and conscious after the surgery. 幸運的是，病人不僅順利存活，而且術后也很清醒。 3. government strategy 政府戰略方針 4. animal welfare 動物福利 5. minister /ˈmɪnɪstə/ n.（某個部門）部長 6. crustacean /krʌˈsteɪʃn/ n. 甲殼類動物 7. acceptable /əkˈseptəbl/ adj. 可以接受的；替代的，非傳統的 8. guidance /ˈɡaɪdns/ n. 指導；指南 9. stun /stʌn/ v.（本文）使昏迷；擊暈；使……震驚 · I was stunned by the ...
▍原文 Boiling lobsters while they are alive and conscious will be banned as part of a government strategy to improve animal welfare in England. Government ministers say that "live boiling is not an acceptable killing method" for crustaceans and alternative guidance will be published. Animal welfare charities say that stunning lobsters with an electric gun or chilling them in cold air or ice before boiling them is more humane. ▍語言點 1. lobster /ˈlɒbstə/ n. 龍蝦 2. alive and conscious 不光活著，意識也很清醒 · Fortunately, the patient is now alive and conscious after the surgery. 幸運的是，病人不僅順利存活，而且術后也很清醒。 3. government strategy 政府戰略方針 4. animal welfare 動物福利 5. minister /ˈmɪnɪstə/ n.（某個部門）部長 6. crustacean /krʌˈsteɪʃn/ n. 甲殼類動物 7. acceptable /əkˈseptəbl/ adj. 可以接受的；替代的，非傳統的 8. guidance /ˈɡaɪdns/ n. 指導；指南 9. stun /stʌn/ v.（本文）使昏迷；擊暈；使……震驚 · I was stunned by the ...
▍原文 Just when you thought precious metals had hit their peak, prices have soared even further. Gold and silver both reached record highs on Monday, as reported by Reuters. Gold climbed 1.9 percent to $4,428.92 an ounce, surpassing the previous record of $4,381 an ounce set in October. Silver, meanwhile, soared 3.4 percent to $69.44 an ounce. The prices for both metals are expected to continue on an upward trajectory in 2026. ▍語言點 precious metals 貴金屬 peak /pi:k/ n. 最高點 · hit one’s peak 達到頂峰，觸頂 soar /sɔːr/ v.（價格、數量等）猛增、飆升、飛漲 · 辨析：soar vs. increase / rise · 區别：soar相比increase或rise，程度更強烈，速度更快，帶有“急劇、迅猛”的意象，常用於描述金融市場。 reach record highs 達到創紀錄的高位 · hit record lows 跌至創紀錄的低位 · set a new record 創下新紀錄 ounce /aʊns/ n. 盎司，英制重量單位（貴金屬領域，1金衡盎司約等於 31.1035克） previous /ˈpriːviəs/ adj. 先前的，以前的 · previous experience 以往的經驗 · the previou...
▍原文 Just when you thought precious metals had hit their peak, prices have soared even further. Gold and silver both reached record highs on Monday, as reported by Reuters. Gold climbed 1.9 percent to $4,428.92 an ounce, surpassing the previous record of $4,381 an ounce set in October. Silver, meanwhile, soared 3.4 percent to $69.44 an ounce. The prices for both metals are expected to continue on an upward trajectory in 2026. ▍語言點 precious metals 貴金屬 peak /pi:k/ n. 最高點 · hit one’s peak 達到頂峰，觸頂 soar /sɔːr/ v.（價格、數量等）猛增、飆升、飛漲 · 辨析：soar vs. increase / rise · 區别：soar相比increase或rise，程度更強烈，速度更快，帶有“急劇、迅猛”的意象，常用於描述金融市場。 reach record highs 達到創紀錄的高位 · hit record lows 跌至創紀錄的低位 · set a new record 創下新紀錄 ounce /aʊns/ n. 盎司，英制重量單位（貴金屬領域，1金衡盎司約等於 31.1035克） previous /ˈpriːviəs/ adj. 先前的，以前的 · previous experience 以往的經驗 · the previou...
▍原文 Several of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims said Friday that Justice Department failed them with its partial release of files related to the federal investigations into Mr. Epstein’s decades-long sexual abuse of teen girls and young women. They said the release of thousands of pages of photographs and heavily redacted documents did little to shed new light on the investigations and the scope of Mr. Epstein’s crimes or conspirators. ▍語言點 1. fail someone 没能為某人提供幫助、支持 ·近義表達： let someone down，dissapoint someone 讓某人失望 2. partial US /ˈpɑːʃl/ adj. 部分的，不完整的（incomplete） 3. federal investigations 美國聯邦調查局（FBI）進行的調查 4. sexual abuse 拓展： ·abuse n. 虐待，傷害；濫用 ·abuse of power 濫用權力 ·alcohol abuse 濫用酒精 5. redact /rɪˈdækt/ ：v. 刪減，遮蓋 6. shed light on something 為……提供解釋，讓……更清楚；把光打在…… 7. scope /skəʊp/ n. 範圍 ·the scope of one's crimes 一個人所犯罪行的全部種類 ·the scope of one's conspirators...
▍原文 Several of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims said Friday that Justice Department failed them with its partial release of files related to the federal investigations into Mr. Epstein’s decades-long sexual abuse of teen girls and young women. They said the release of thousands of pages of photographs and heavily redacted documents did little to shed new light on the investigations and the scope of Mr. Epstein’s crimes or conspirators. ▍語言點 1. fail someone 没能為某人提供幫助、支持 ·近義表達： let someone down，dissapoint someone 讓某人失望 2. partial US /ˈpɑːʃl/ adj. 部分的，不完整的（incomplete） 3. federal investigations 美國聯邦調查局（FBI）進行的調查 4. sexual abuse 拓展： ·abuse n. 虐待，傷害；濫用 ·abuse of power 濫用權力 ·alcohol abuse 濫用酒精 5. redact /rɪˈdækt/ ：v. 刪減，遮蓋 6. shed light on something 為……提供解釋，讓……更清楚；把光打在…… 7. scope /skəʊp/ n. 範圍 ·the scope of one's crimes 一個人所犯罪行的全部種類 ·the scope of one's conspirators...
▍原文 Mariah Carey's festive smash-hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has been knocked off the top spot in the race for Christmas No.1 in the U.S. by Wham's "Last Christmas". This marks the first time a Christmas song besides "All I Want For Christmas is You" has topped the chart since its launch in September 2020. ▍語言點 1. festive /ˈfestɪv/ adj. 節日的 2. smash-hit /ˈsmæʃ hɪt/ n.一經推出就取得巨大轟動、商業上極為成功的爆款作品 · smash v. 粉碎，重擊 · hit n. 熱門作品 3. be knocked off the top spot 被拉下冠軍寶座 · knock off 撞擊，擊落 · top spot 榜首位置 4. in the race for something 在爭奪某物的競賽中，為贏得某物而進行的角逐 5. mark /mɑːk/ v. 標志著，是……的象征 6. top the chart 登頂排行榜，成為冠軍 - 搜索【友鄰優課】微信小程序，收聽晨讀即可領取：《晨讀短文100篇電子資料》 關注公眾號【教書匠小夏】，夏鵬老師送你2份見面禮：《英語學習小傳》 共100篇文章，英語學習經驗獨家分享 《英文學習方法論》共72節視頻課，英語學習的答案之書 【教書匠小夏】...
▍原文 Mariah Carey's festive smash-hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has been knocked off the top spot in the race for Christmas No.1 in the U.S. by Wham's "Last Christmas". This marks the first time a Christmas song besides "All I Want For Christmas is You" has topped the chart since its launch in September 2020. ▍語言點 1. festive /ˈfestɪv/ adj. 節日的 2. smash-hit /ˈsmæʃ hɪt/ n.一經推出就取得巨大轟動、商業上極為成功的爆款作品 · smash v. 粉碎，重擊 · hit n. 熱門作品 3. be knocked off the top spot 被拉下冠軍寶座 · knock off 撞擊，擊落 · top spot 榜首位置 4. in the race for something 在爭奪某物的競賽中，為贏得某物而進行的角逐 5. mark /mɑːk/ v. 標志著，是……的象征 6. top the chart 登頂排行榜，成為冠軍 - 搜索【友鄰優課】微信小程序，收聽晨讀即可領取：《晨讀短文100篇電子資料》 關注公眾號【教書匠小夏】，夏鵬老師送你2份見面禮：《英語學習小傳》 共100篇文章，英語學習經驗獨家分享 《英文學習方法論》共72節視頻課，英語學習的答案之書 【教書匠小夏】...
▍原文 McDonald’s China arm has raised prices on most menu items, igniting a social media backlash as consumers grapple with job uncertainty and stagnant wages. While modest, the increase drew attention because the chain's budget combo has long been dubbed the “poor man’s meal” by frugal young adults. Some quipped online that “McDonald’s prices are rising, but my salary isn’t”. ▍語言點 arm /ɑ:m/ n. 分支機構、分公司 ignite /ɪɡ'naɪt/ v. 點燃；引發 backlash /'bæklæʃ/ n. 強烈抵制、負面反響 · ignite a backlash 引發強烈反對、激起強烈不滿 grapple with 努力應對、設法解決 stagnant /ˈstæɡnənt/ adj. 停滯的、不增長的 budget combo 平價套餐 · budget adj. 經濟實惠的、平價的 · combo n. 餐飲語境中特指“套餐”（combination的縮寫） dub /dʌb/ v. 把......戲稱為；給......起綽號（強調非正式的、大眾賦予的稱呼） · be dubbed 被稱為、被冠以……稱號 frugal /'fruːɡəl/ adj. 節儉的、節約的 quip /kwɪp/ v. 打趣、調侃 搜索【友鄰優課】微信小程序，收聽晨讀即可...
▍原文 McDonald’s China arm has raised prices on most menu items, igniting a social media backlash as consumers grapple with job uncertainty and stagnant wages. While modest, the increase drew attention because the chain's budget combo has long been dubbed the “poor man’s meal” by frugal young adults. Some quipped online that “McDonald’s prices are rising, but my salary isn’t”. ▍語言點 arm /ɑ:m/ n. 分支機構、分公司 ignite /ɪɡ'naɪt/ v. 點燃；引發 backlash /'bæklæʃ/ n. 強烈抵制、負面反響 · ignite a backlash 引發強烈反對、激起強烈不滿 grapple with 努力應對、設法解決 stagnant /ˈstæɡnənt/ adj. 停滯的、不增長的 budget combo 平價套餐 · budget adj. 經濟實惠的、平價的 · combo n. 餐飲語境中特指“套餐”（combination的縮寫） dub /dʌb/ v. 把......戲稱為；給......起綽號（強調非正式的、大眾賦予的稱呼） · be dubbed 被稱為、被冠以……稱號 frugal /'fruːɡəl/ adj. 節儉的、節約的 quip /kwɪp/ v. 打趣、調侃 搜索【友鄰優課】微信小程序，收聽晨讀即可...