2015.10.15 - Week 5

A. Vocabularies to Know
1) ambidextrous: able to use both hands equally well
2) enemy: a person who hates or opposes another person and tries to harm them or stop them from doing something
2-1) rivals: a person, group, etc. competing with others for the same thing or in the same area
2-2) foe: an enemy
3) equa: equal
4) vok: say
5) ate: verb
6) tri: three
6-1) triangle: a flat shape with three straight sides
6-2) triplets: one of three children born to the same mother at the same time
7) fort: before
8) pec: 無庸置疑的
9) pre: 之前
10) dis: 不喜歡
11) pro: many, much; in favor of
12) op, ob: 反對者常用字首
12-1) opponent: a person who disagrees with something and speaks against it or tries to change it
12-2) obstacle: something that blocks you so that movement, going forward or action are prevented or made more difficult
13) re: 再一次
14) inspector: someone whose job is to officially inspect something (to look)
14-1) audience:  the group of people together in one place to watch or listen to a play, film, someone speaking, etc. (to listen)
15) speculate: to guess possible answers to a question when you do not have enough information to be certain
16) filthy: extremely or unpleasantly dirty
B. Rip Van Winkle

“Rip Van Winkle” is an American masterpiece of the short story. It is based on local history but is rooted in European myth and legend. Irving reportedly wrote it one night in England, in June, 1818, after having spent the whole day talking with relatives about the happy times spent in Sleepy Hollow. The author drew on his memories and experiences of the Hudson River Valley and blended them with Old World contributions.
“Rip Van Winkle” is such a well-known tale that almost every child in the United States has read it or heard it narrated at one time or another. Rip is a simple-minded soul who lives in a village by the Catskill Mountains. Beloved by the village, Rip is an easygoing, henpecked husband whose one cross to bear is a shrewish wife who nags him day and night.