(名詞) 將某唱片或專輯的封套 (封面最好有該歌手的圖片，情況大多如此) 遮住臉部或其他某個身體部位後所拍攝的照片。這個字亦可當形容詞和動詞用，其中 sleeve 意為「(唱片或專輯的) 封套」，但這是英式英語，同義的美式英語叫做 jacket。不過，當名詞用的 sleeveface 和動名詞 sleevefacing 似乎最常見。

根據「維基百科」，sleeveface 是由英國人 Carl Morris 在 2007 年 4 月所創造，但其他網站則指是由一位名叫 John Rostron 的仁兄所創造。但不管誰才是這個新字的真正創造者，sleeveface 這種巧妙地將歌手影像與個人身體集合在一起、讓人產生錯覺的花招正在網路上流行，同名或名稱相近的網站相繼成立；尤有甚者，sleeveface 在社群網站 (social networking sites) 更是大行其道，Facebook 就有個同名團體，頗具知名度。(圖片：sleeveface.com)

引句：
Just when you thought your old LPs were worthless, along comes the incredible photo genre called “sleeveface.” Take an old album cover, preferably with a picture of the artist on it, and then pose with it, merging the album sleeve and background together into a fun — and often unforgettable — photograph.
—John Campanelli, “Download,” Plain Dealer, January 3, 2010

A sleeveface is an image created by holding an album cover over someone’s face or another body part, and snapping a photo of the subject. The selected record cover is generally a photo of someone’s face so the result is in an illusion….The fad has been sweeping the Internet, with sleevefaces popping up on Facebook and art sites. Groups hold parties and workshops to create sleevefaces.
—Debby Abe, “Sleevefacing: Using music albums with everyday bodies,” The News Tribune, December 13, 2009

本文亦刊載在下列網址：
http://www.cybertranslator.idv.tw/comp_cont3.htm

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形容詞測驗3

文法能力測驗目錄

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Varsha Vinod, 5, the girl from Allappuzha, India, is the world’s youngest female karate black belt. In May, Varsha became the youngest ever girl to get an officially recognized black belt.

Varsha, who is a student at the KoInChi Academy of Martial arts in Allappuzha, India, has to train for a gruelling two and half hours a day to keep her skills fresh. Varsha has been training since she was just two years old.

The five-year-old’s talents are so amazing computer game makers and creators of the Lara Croft Tomb Raider series, Eidos, have taken notice.

Her skills have been replicated in the software houses’ latest computer game Mini Ninjas.

She said: “I hope I can get better and I want to keep doing karate.”

The Guinness Book of Records and India’s own record book Limica are now looking into Varsha’s achievement to create a new world record. (Telegraph)

《字詞解析》

karate — (n.) 空手道。

black belt — (n.) (柔道、空手道等上段的) 黑帶。

the youngest ever — (adj.) 歷來最年輕的。the youngest ever girl = the youngest girl ever。「最高級形容詞-ever + 名詞」(最高級形容詞和 ever 之間一般都有連字號) 這種句型相當常用，亦可寫成「最高級形容詞 + 名詞 + ever」，如 ” worst-ever disaster = worst disaster ever ” (歷來最為慘重的災難)。

officially recognized — (adj.) 正式承認的；正式認可的。

martial arts — (n.) 武術。

grueling — (adj.) 令人受不了的。

skills — (n.) 搏鬥技巧。

Lara Croft Tomb Raider — (n.)《古墓奇兵：風起雲湧》(電腦遊戲名稱)。

Eidos — (n.) 一家電腦遊戲開發商。

take notice — (v.) 注意。

replicate — (v.) 複製。

Mini Ninjas — (n.)《迷你忍者》(電腦遊戲名稱)。

do karate — (v.) 打空手道；練空手道。

Guinness Book of Records — (n.) 金氏世界記錄大全。

Limica — (n.) 印度記錄大全。

延伸閱讀：新聞英語的語法結構

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(名詞) 挨家挨戶推銷。這是 door-to-door 或 door to door 的縮寫。

door-to-door 亦可當形容詞用，但僅用於名詞前，意為「挨家挨戶的；送貨到府的」：a door-to-door salesman (挨家挨戶兜售的推銷員)；a door-to-door delivery service (送貨到府服務)。

引句：
“It’s missionary work turned into a business,” said Cameron Treu, 30, who served his mission in Chile and was recruited into D2D (that is door-to-door in sales lingo) by another former missionary.
—Kirk Johnson, “Door to Door as Missionaries, Then as Salesmen,” New York Times, June 11, 2009

本文亦刊載在下列網址：
http://www.cybertranslator.idv.tw/comeco.htm

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economic 源自 economics (經濟學) 和 economy (經濟)，意為「經濟 (上) 的，與經濟有關的，與金錢有關的；經濟學的；有利可圖的，賺錢的」：Economic growth is slowing down. (經濟成長正在減緩中)；The government’s economic policies are often attacked. (政府的經濟政策常遭抨擊)；Such projects offer social and economic benefits to our local communities. (這樣的計畫為我們本地社區帶來社會和經濟效益)；The airline says this route is no longer economic, so they’re going to discontinue it. (航空公司說這條航線不再賺錢，因此他們準備裁撤)。

economical 源自 economy，意為「經濟的，省錢的，經濟實惠的，便宜的；節約的，不浪費的；(人) 節儉的」：It would be more economical to switch the machine off at night. (晚上把機器關掉會比較省錢)；an economical small car (省油的小汽車)；The material is an economical substitute for plastic or steel. (這種材料是塑膠或鋼鐵的低價替代品)；a beautifully economical process (非常節約的過程)；He always was economical when it came to buying presents. (說到買禮物，他總是很節儉)。

從上述可知，在大多數的應用中，這兩個形容詞都不是同義詞。所以，an economic price 是對賣方有利的價格，即「有利可圖的價格；賺錢的價格」，而 an economical price 則是對買方有利的價格，即「經濟實惠的價格；便宜的價格」。然而，有些字典仍列出 economic 也有「節約的，省錢的」(= economical) 的意思，如 We must assist our clients in the most economic way. (我們必須以最省錢的方式協助我們的客戶)。同樣地，economical 有時亦被用來表示「經濟 (上) 的；經濟學的」(= economic) 的意思，如 They bought an old house for economical reasons. (基於經濟上的原因他們買了一間舊房子)。但這樣的用法畢竟不多見，相信總有一天會銷聲匿跡。

economic 和 economical 的反義字都是在其前加上 un-，即 uneconomic 和 uneconomical。再者，由於 economic 和 economical 的副詞都是 economically，所以 economically 兼具它們兩者的意思，意為「在經濟 (學) 上；節約地；節儉地；省錢地；便宜地」：economically active people (賺錢的人)；Mary dresses very economically because she makes all her clothes herself. (瑪麗穿著節儉，因為衣服都是她自己做的)；Economically (speaking), the country is in a very healthy state. (從經濟學的觀點來說，這國家處於非常興盛的狀態)；The project is both technically and economically feasible/viable. (這計畫無論在技術上還是在經濟上都是可行的)。顯然地，economically 是個相當常用且實用的字。

本文亦刊載在下列網址：
http://www.cybertranslator.idv.tw/confusables/confusables5_text.htm#economic

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17世紀的罪犯綁架或誘拐小孩到美國農場和農園擔任僕役或苦力。這就是 kidnapping 這個字的起源，其中 kid 當時是個俚語，意為「小孩」(child)，而 napping 意為「偷」(stealing) — napping 是 nab (偷竊，盜竊) 的相關字。kidnapping 的後遺症歷久不衰，napping 的觀念一直流傳下來，這期間出現不少以 napping 所構成的字，最有名的是 dognapping (偷狗 — 為取得贖金或轉售給實驗室所進行的偷竊狗隻行為)。

時序推移至2009年4月初，一種新的 napping 型態翩然出現，原因是法國公司的員工為抗議大量裁員而孤注一擲地強行監禁他們的外籍老闆、主管或上司。在這些 bossnapping (挾持或監禁老闆、主管或上司) 的事件中，3M法國公司的負責人被囚禁兩天兩夜，索尼 (Sony) 法國公司的執行長被監禁一個晚上，英國膠帶製造商「司卡帕」(Scapa) 公司的三名高階主管被堵在辦公室內動彈不得，而全球最大礦業與營建設備製造廠美國的「卡特彼勒」(Caterpillar) 公司的四名高階主管則遭到挾持。

這種作法在法國可謂歷史悠久，是員工尋求與老闆談判的一種手段。法國人稱之為 sequestration (隔離)，但英語國家則以 bossnapping 稱之。自此之後，bossnapping 這個新字新詞立即快速蔓延，隨處可見，並幾乎同時出現它的變體，如動詞 bossnap (挾持或監禁老闆、主管或上司)，名詞 bossnapper ( (挾持或監禁老闆、主管或上司的人) 和形容詞 bossnapped ([老闆、主管或上司] 被挾持或監禁的) — 顯示這個字被接受的程度很高。

引句：
Bossnapping is not new in France but the growing number of corporate restructurings and rising unemployment have fuelled growing militancy in labour protests. A poll this week showed almost half of those interviewed believed that actions such as bossnapping were acceptable. [金融時報 (Financial Times)，8 Apr. 2009]

Bossnappers struck again in France today as four executives of Caterpillar, the heavy equipment manufacturer, were detained by their employees in a protest over redundancy plans. [泰晤士報 (The Times)，31 Mar. 2009]

本文亦刊載在下列網址：
http://www.cybertranslator.idv.tw/quotables/qb1.htm#bossnapping

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This construction worker wasn’t going to let the small matter of not having adequate safety equipment get in the way of his job. Instead, the resourceful Chinese gentleman appears to have used two everyday objects to ensure he can complete his fiery task – sunglasses and a sheet of paper.

The employee at a construction site in Xiangfan, Hubei province, China, seems to be utterly unconcerned about the likelihood of a nasty burning incident. (Metro)

這位建築工人不想讓沒有適當安全裝備這種小事阻礙他的工作。反之，這位中國男子急中生智，利用兩樣日常用品 — 一副太陽眼鏡和一張紙 — 來確保他能完成他「火燒般的」工作。

這位在中國湖北省襄樊市一處建築工地工作的男子似乎一點都不擔心可能發生嚴重的著火事故。

《字詞解析》

the small matter of not having adequate safety equipment — (phr.) 沒有適當安全裝備這種小事。the small matter = not having adequate safety equipment。

get in the way (of) — (v.) 妨礙，阻礙；阻擋。亦可寫成 to stand in the way (of)。

resourceful — (adj.) 機智的；足智多謀的；急中生智的。

appear to have used — (v.) 「主動詞 + 不定詞完成式」表示不定詞完成式的動作比主動詞的動作更早發生。

utterly — (adv.) 完全地。修飾形容詞 unconcerned。

(be) unconcerned about — (phr.) 對…不擔心。

nasty — (adj.) 嚴重的 (serious)；危險的 (dangerous)。nasty accident：嚴重事故；nasty injury：嚴重傷害。

本文亦刊載在下列網址：
http://www.cybertranslator.idv.tw/bilingual/shortoddness/short_odd-11.htm#Chinese-style-safety-equipment

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A Chinese new mother is producing so much breast milk that she baths her baby in the excess each day.

Mrs Luo, of Chongqing, says she is producing two liters of milk more than she needs to feed her six-week-old daughter Shan Shan.

Mother, husband and her mother-in-law had all been drinking the extra milk but she says they still have plenty left over.

Luo’s mother-in-law said they were all beginning to feel like they were drinking too much milk: “Then I suggested why not give the baby a breast milk bath, and they took my advice,” she said.

Luo said the milk bath makes her Shan Shan’s skin really smooth and white.

But she is looking for someone to donate her extra breast milk to as she feels that bathing her baby in breast milk is too much of an indulgence. (Chongqing Times – 重慶時報)

《字詞解析》

breast milk — (n.) 母奶。breastfeed (v.)：餵母奶。breastfeeding (n.)：餵母奶。

so…that — (phr.) 如此…以致於。在這個超常用的表示因果 (cause and effect) 關係的句型中 (其中 that 為附屬連接詞)，so 後面原本只能接形容詞和副詞，但若 so 和 that 中間有 few, little, many 和 much 等字，則此句型可寫成 so + few/little/many/much + 名詞 + that。

bath — (v.) 洗澡；給…洗澡。別以為 bath 僅當名詞用，在英國 bath 也用作動詞，其意思和用法跟 bathe 完全相同；美國通常使用 bathe。所以，標題的 bathes 和第一段的 baths 都正確，都是單數動詞。

excess — (n.) 過剩的奶水。

(be) left over — (v.) 剩下。

someone to donate her extra breast milk to — (phr.) 把她多餘的母奶捐給某人。特別注意：這句如果沒有後面的介系詞 to，那麼整句的意思就完全相反了，變成「某人捐出她多餘的母奶」，這顯然與事實不符。這句是 She is looking for someone who she will donate her extra breast milk to. 或 She is looking for someone to whom she will donate her extra breast milk. 的減化 — 由此可知，someone 是 to 的受詞。同樣地，在 There’s a big swimming pool for us to swim in. (有個大游泳池可讓我們游泳) 和 I gave her a chair to sit on. (我給她一張椅子坐) 這兩句中，介系詞 in 和 on 都不可省略，因為 swim 和 sit 皆為不及物動詞，而 swimming pool 和 chair 是受詞，所以不及物動詞和受詞之間必須要有介系詞。

too much of an indulgence — (phr.) 太多的嬌縱，即太過嬌縱。在英文中，too much of a/an + 名詞 (太過…，太多…)，a bit of a/an + 名詞 (有點…)，something of a/an + 名詞 (有幾分；可說是；算得上) 等這種片語或句型屢見不鮮。例如：She’s always been a bit of a mystery to me. (她對我來說總是有點神秘)；He’s something of an expert on growing vegetables. (他可說是位種植蔬菜的專家)。

延伸閱讀：新聞英語的語法結構

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這三個形容詞在拼字、發音或意思上都會讓人搞混。complacent 是個貶抑之詞，意為「自滿的，自鳴得意的，沾沾自喜的，洋洋得意的」：”She had a complacent smile on her face.” (她臉上露出洋洋自得的微笑)。complacent 的名詞是 complacence 或 complacency。complaisant 意為「親切的；殷勤的；討好的；順從的」：”He is complaisant to her.” (他對她百依百順)。complaisant 的名詞是 complaisance。compliant 意為「溫順的；服從的；順從的」：”A compliant person gives in easily to other people’s views.” ( 一個溫順的人很容易順從別人的意見)。compliant 的名詞是 compliance。在「順從的」意思上，complaisant 和 compliant 可視為同義字。

除了拼字相近外，complacent 和 complaisant 幾乎完全相同的發音也很容易讓人混淆。至於 compliant，雖然重音節亦是在第二音節，但發音則有明顯的不同。

本文亦刊載在下列網址：
http://www.cybertranslator.idv.tw/confusables/confusables5_text.htm#complacent

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The world’s first ever sand hotel has been made in Dorset and is accepting its first guests for £10 a night.

It took 1,000 tonnes of sand and a team of four sculptors working 14 hours a day for seven days to build the structure on Weymouth beach.

Guests can book to stay in the hotel, which includes beds made out of sand, until the rain washes it away.

The structure was created by a hotel company to celebrate a resurgence of holidaymakers flocking to the seaside.

The sand hotel offers a twin and double bedroom, while the roofless structure gives guests the chance to “star-gaze” at night, the firm said.

But there are no toilet facilities and people were warned the sand “gets everywhere”.

Mark Anderson, creator of the sand hotel, said: “It is the biggest sandcastle-like structure ever in the UK.

“Four of us worked hard and with the help of a JCB we got it built. The beds are made of sand so it can get everywhere, especially between the toes.

“But the best thing is in the morning the tide laps through the door, what a great way to wake up.” (BBC)

《字詞解析》

first ever/biggest… ever — (adj.) 歷來第一的/歷來最大的。最高級形容詞後面的 ever 意為「在任何時候；至今」，可放在該形容詞所修飾的名詞之前 (如第1段的 the first ever sand hotel) 或名詞之後 (如第7段的 the biggest sandcastle-like structure ever)。

Dorset /Weymouth — (n.) Dorset 是英國西南部的一個郡，而 Weymouth 是該郡的一個鎮。

resurgence — (n.) 再起；再現。

holidaymaker — (n.) 假日遊客。

flock — (v.) 蜂擁到；成群地去。

twin and double bedroom — (n.) 兩張單人床和一張雙人床的房間。twin beds 為成對的單人床，而 double bed 為雙人床。

stargaze — (v.) 觀星，看星星，眺望星星。stargazer (n.)：看星星的人；占星師；天文學家；夢想家；空論家。

toilet facility — (n.) 衛浴設施。

“gets everywhere”. — (v.) get everywhere 原意為「到各個地方」，在此指沙是鬆軟的，不固定的，腳一踩下去就垮掉了，弄得到處都是。這裡之所以將引號和句號列出，是要說明英美標點符號的差異：在美式用法中，逗號和句號 (又稱逗點和句點) 是位在引號內，而在英式用法中，逗號和句號除非是引言的一部份才位在引號內，否則位於引號外。由於本文是英國 BBC 的報導，所以句號位在引號外，但在本文最後一段，由於是引用整句話，所以句號是位在引號內。

JCB — (n.) 工程車 (engineering vehicles)。這是英國一家名為 J. C. Bamford (Excavators) Ltd. 的公司所出產的工程車 (J. C. Bamford 為該公司的創辦人)，並非日本信用卡組織 JCB。英文中這種以公司名來稱呼其產品而使「專有名詞通俗化」的例子不少，這些商標名雖仍維持大寫，但已被當作一般用語，泛指各該用品、食品等，例如「冰棒」叫做 Popsicle (這是一家生產冰棒的公司名稱)。

lap — (v.) (波浪) 輕輕拍打。

延伸閱讀：新聞英語的語法結構

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