全通翻譯/翻譯社

When singers seem to achieve success quickly, journalists are fond of saying that they “came out of nowhere.” Being an “overnight success” gets used a lot, too, but that usually misses the mark as well. Both of these terms have been used to describe UK singing superstar Adele. As usual, though, these cliches ignore the real story behind her emotional songs of love and heartbreak.

在歌手看似很快就成名時，記者喜歡形容他們是「不知從哪裡冒出來的」。「一夕成名」也常被用來形容他們，但那往往有失偏頗。這兩種措辭都被拿來形容英國大咖歌手愛黛兒。然而，像往常一樣，這些陳腔濫調忽略了在她傾訴愛與心碎之動人歌曲背後的真實故事。 

快樂的秘訣就是有事情可做。

The secret of happiness is something to do.

In late 2017, the world was amazed when Sophia, a human-like robot, made the news again. Developed by Hong Kong's Hanson Robotics, she was designed to work with humans and adapt to their behavior. She was interviewed by the press and was even given Saudi Arabian citizenship. Sophia sparked wonder, but she also caused worries that in the future even more jobs will be lost to our robot competitors. After all, machines don't have to be fed or paid.

2017年底，類人的機器人索菲亞又上新聞時，全世界都驚嘆不已。她是由香港的漢森機器人技術公司所研發，被設計與人類一起工作，並適應人類的行為。她接受媒體的採訪，甚至還獲得了沙烏地阿拉伯公民身分。索菲亞引起了驚嘆，但她也造成了在未來將會有更多的工作被機器競爭對手搶走的擔憂。畢竟，機器不需要被餵食或付薪水。 

Computer scientists began finding ways to program machines so that they could solve simple problems on their own. They could learn by analyzing data and taking steps to increase their chances of success. A program in the 1960s called Dendral could help chemists identify unknown molecules. Still, it was only an electronic assistant. In 1989, though, two AI programs, HiTech and Deep Thought, showed advanced problem-solving skills after they defeated human masters in the game of chess.

電腦科學家開始尋找為電腦編寫程式的方法，以便讓它們能自行解決簡單的問題。它們可以透過分析數據來學習，並採取措施來增加它們成功的機率。一個在六○年代名為 Dendral 的系統程式能幫助化學家辨識未知的分子。雖然如此，它在當時僅僅是一個電子助手。然而在 1989 年，兩個人工智慧程式，HiTech 及 Deep Thought，在一場西洋棋大賽中擊敗人類西洋棋大師時，顯現出了高度的問題解決能力。 

It's no secret that modern cat owners are crazy about their furry friends. This is nothing compared to Ancient Egypt, though. In fact, just dreaming about a cat was a lucky sign back then. Cats were so valued that they were treated like gods and symbols of good fortune. At that time, cats were used to protect farms and stored food from mice and snakes. As a way to say thanks, Egyptians made cats an important part of their religion. They prayed to Bast, a cat goddess that represented motherhood and protection.

現代的貓主人都為他們的愛貓瘋狂，這不算是什麼祕密。不過跟古埃及比起來，可說是小巫見大巫。事實上，在古埃及光是夢到一隻貓就是幸運的徵兆了。貓十分受到當代人的珍視，甚至還受到神明級的禮遇以及被視為好運的象徵。在當時，貓被用來保護農田及存糧不受老鼠和蛇的侵襲。埃及人將貓列為他們宗教裡重要的一份子，以此做為感謝牠們的一種方式。他們信奉芭絲特，也就是代表母親身分和保護的貓女神。

Before the turn of the 20th century, Americans had to rely on horse-drawn carriages or steam trains to travel long distances. But with the invention of the automobile, they began setting out on long drives in the early 1900s. Route 66, a road that stretches from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, was one of the country's first highways. It came to represent America's love of the automobile and checking out the huge country. As the decades rolled on, Route 66 found its way into American culture.

在邁入二十世紀之前，美國人長途旅行必須仰賴馬車或是蒸氣火車。但隨著汽車的發明，人們在二十世紀初開始動身踏上長途旅行。66號公路是全國最早的公路之一，它是一條從伊利諾州芝加哥市延續到加州聖塔莫尼卡市的公路。它象徵了美國人對汽車以及欣賞這個泱泱大國的熱愛。幾十年過去了，66號公路就變成了美國文化的一部分。 

S: Stan　　C: Coraline
Coraline and Stan are getting ready to leave work.

A single human finger bone from at least 86,000 years ago points to Arabia as a key destination for Stone Age excursions out of Africa that allowed people to rapidly spread across Asia.

至少8萬6000年前的一件人類手指骨骼顯示，阿拉伯半島是石器時代人類遷出非洲的重要地點，人類藉此迅速擴散至亞洲。

Excavations at Al Wusta, a site in Saudi Arabia’s Nefud desert, produced this diminutive discovery. It’s the oldest known Homo sapiens fossil outside of Africa and the narrow strip of the Middle East that joins Africa with Asia, based on dating of the bone itself, says a team led by archaeologists Huw Groucutt and Michael Petraglia.

A: Ashley　　V: Veronica

The British Open is the world's oldest Major championship event in professional golf. It is also the only one played outside of the United States. This tournament rotates between nine courses in England and Scotland, with a different one every year. All of these courses are links, so they have very few trees and are played on the coasts. This can make for some very interesting weather conditions. The players who play in the morning sometimes have a different experience from those who tee off later in the afternoon due to changing winds.

英國公開賽是全球最古老的職業高爾夫球錦標賽事。這也是唯一在美國境外打的賽事。這個比賽在英格蘭與蘇格蘭的九個球場間輪替，每年都在不同的場地比賽。所有的球場都是濱海球場，所以沒有太多的樹，而且是在海岸邊進行。這會造成某些很有趣的天氣狀況。由於風向的改變，在早上打的球員有時會有與那些下午才開打的選手完全不一樣的體驗。

The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, visited by as many as 14 million people a year, is falling apart. The gargoyles are losing their teeth, and their claws are coming off. The beautiful Gothic arches are in danger of falling, too. What can be done to save this aging monument? According to the Archbishop of Paris, money is the only answer. He's asking for 100 million euros to help bring the cathedral up to code. The 850-year-old building is showing its age.

每年有一千四百萬人參觀的巴黎聖母主教座堂（編按：這是巴黎聖母院的正式名稱）正在崩壞中。滴水嘴獸（又稱雨漏）的牙齒沒了，它們的爪子也脫落了。

When Japan became a more peaceful, modern country in the 1800s, ninjas weren’t needed anymore. Although they had disappeared from the battlefield, ninjas stayed alive in people’s minds. Artists wrote about them in plays, comic books, and TV shows. The love of ninjas eventually spread to the US and other countries. Ninjas were used as the main characters in classic video games like Shinobi and Mortal Kombat. Their popularity continued to rise after the popular cartoon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, introduced ninjas to millions of children around the world.

In war, ninjas were the perfect killing machines. These spies and assassins from ancient Japan were masters at surprising the enemy. Dressed in all black, they hid and waited in the shadows. When the time was right, they would attack and then disappear back into the night. In the end, their poor victims never knew what hit them.

在戰爭時，忍者是完美的殺人機器。這些來自日本古代的間諜和刺客是令敵人出其不意的高手。他們穿著一身黑衣裳，在暗處藏匿、等待。時機一到，他們會出招然後便消失在夜色中。最後，他們可憐的受害者永遠都不會知道自己被什麼東西所襲擊。 

Ke: Kevin　　D: Dan　　Ka: Kate
Kevin walks downstairs to find Dan and Kate at the table eating breakfast.
D: Morning, Kevin. Come join us for breakfast.

The lakes and rivers dry up, the grasses die, and most of the animals move on in search of food. This month, National Geographic follows one pride of lions that has managed to live in this harsh land on Desert Lions. The pride is led by two male lions that have ruled the area for almost 10 years. However, they are getting older, and the next dry season is just beginning. Will the kings of the Nxai Pan be able to survive another dry season, or will they finally give in to the heat? Tune in to Desert Lions on National Geographic to find out how their story ends.

湖泊和河流都乾涸了，青草也枯死，而大多數的動物都為尋找食物而遷徙。本月，國家地理在《沙漠獅群》中跟拍設法在這片嚴峻土地上求生的一個獅群。帶領這群獅子的是兩隻支配此地區將近十年的雄獅。然而，牠們已逐漸年邁，而接下來的旱季才剛剛開始。這些恩克塞鹽沼之王能夠再度過一個旱季，還是終將向熱浪投降呢？收看國家地理的《沙漠獅群》，看看牠們的故事將如何收場吧。 

With the 2018 Winter Olympics already wrapped up, it is only two short years before the next Summer Olympics. These games draw on ancient Greek tradition, but their modern form can be traced back to the Games of the I Olympiad that were held this month in 1896.
Like the ancient Olympics, the first Summer Games was held in Greece. Organizers wanted to make the event the largest international sporting competition in the world. Planning began in 1894, but it was two full years before they got the funding to fix up the stadiums in Athens that were used for the Games. Athletes from 14 countries came to compete in nine different sports.

Therapy dogs can be found in all sorts of places, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and even disaster areas. To put it simply, they are there to help people relax and feel better. As any dog lover knows, and research shows, the presence of a dog can have a comforting effect. At some universities, therapy dogs are brought in to help students feel less stressed out during exams. In hospitals, patients often feel better after petting the dogs and spending time with them. This can even help in the healing process.

Hassan dips his gloves in paint and punches the canvas. His style of painting makes it look like he is training for a boxing match. Critics say that his works seem like a more explosive version of Jackson Pollock's splatter art. Hassan has said that he used to punch to destroy. Now, he punches to create beautiful art. Hassan has proven that by being creative and staying positive, you can overcome personal tragedy.

哈森將他的手套蘸上顏料並揮拳猛擊畫布。他的作畫風格使他看起來像是在為拳擊賽受訓。畫評家說他的作品看起來像是比傑克森•波拉克潑墨藝術更具爆發力的版本。哈森說他以前揮拳是為了擊敗對手。現在，他以揮拳來創造出美麗的藝術。哈森證明了藉由創意並保持正向思考，你可以克服個人逆境。

New Zealander Ellis Emmett lives for adventure. He has conquered every mountain and river in his home country and now has his sights set on the bigger picture, but first he must get a boat. Then, he must learn to sail since he wants to travel in his sailboat around the Pacific Ocean. In My Pacific Quest, on National Geographic, Emmett struggles with the physical and mental challenges of sailing, but he soon learns some lessons from friends and goes off into the deep blue sea.

紐西蘭人艾利斯•艾米特為冒險而活。他征服了他祖國的每座山與每條河，現在他把他眼光放更遠，但首先他必須有一艘船。然後，他必須學駕船，因為他想乘帆船行遍太平洋。在國家地理《太平洋島嶼行》中，艾米特必須對抗航行對身心所帶來的挑戰，但他很快地向朋友學到一些經驗後便出發深入蔚藍的大海。 

In 2008, London’s Peter Bellerby made an unusual decision. He decided to become a globemaker. Bellerby came up with the idea while shopping for his father’s 80th birthday present. First, he needed to find a good map. However, finding one without mistakes that would fit onto a round object took him months. Next, he had to have the globe designed. To get the perfect sphere, he went to a company that designs Formula One cars. What he thought would only take a few months ended up being a two-year project that cost him nearly ₤200,000 to produce.

2008 年，英國倫敦的彼得•貝勒比做了一個與眾不同的決定。他決定親手做地球儀。貝勒比是在挑選父親八十歲生日禮物時想出這個點子。首先，他得找到一張完美的地圖。然而，找尋一張沒有錯誤又可以貼合一個球狀物的地圖就花了他數個月。再來，他必須把球體設計出來。為了取得完美的地球儀球體，他找了一家設計一級方程式賽車的製造商。他原本以為只需幾個月的事情最後卻變成了為期兩年的計畫，還花了他二十萬英鎊來製作。