「孤獨大臣」讓你不再孤軍奮戰 The Global Fight to Help the Lonely
感到孤單或獨自一人是比我們所想的還嚴重的問題。
目錄 / Tips in Use 重點解析 / You Can Do This 英文試金石 / 中文翻譯
生活快遞 | 本集 精彩教學影片（講解老師：Shane & Bernice 老師）
Feeling lonely or being alone is bigger problem than we think.
Today, many countries are facing the problem of loneliness. According to a British commission, more than nine million UK citizens feel lonely some, or even all of the time. Reports from other countries like the US and Australia suggest similar findings. Young people may experience loneliness due to the popularity of social media, while the elderly may live alone and have no one to talk to.
Loneliness can have negative effects on people's health. A study showed that feeling lonely or being alone for a long time could reduce an individual's lifespan by 15 years. To address this problem, the UK appointed the world's first Minister for Loneliness in 2018. Since then, the UK government has proposed some strategies to improve the situation. These include holding events to raise public awareness and building new transportation lines for people who are at the highest risk of isolation.
>> 替別人加油打氣，千萬別再說 You’re tired 啦，來學「辛苦了! 」英文該怎麼說！
Apart from the UK, Japan also has its own Minister for Loneliness. In 2021, as the suicide rate rose because of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan appointed a Minister for Loneliness to cope with the mental health crisis. With reports of increased loneliness around the world, the need for loneliness ministers becomes ever clearer.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
address [ ˈædrɛs / əˋdrɛs ]
n. 地址；網址；電子郵件地址；演說
vt. 探討；處理
●
crisis [ˋkraɪsɪs]
n. 危機
●
situation [͵sɪtʃʊˋeʃən]
n. 處境，情勢
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commission [kəˋmɪʃən]
n. 佣金；委任
vt. 委任
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appoint [əˋpɔɪnt]
n. 贊成，同意
vt. 任命
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isolation [͵aɪs!ˋeʃən]
n. 孤立，隔絕
●
transportation [͵trænspɚˋteʃən]
n. 交通運輸（工具）（不可數）
●
citizen [ˋsɪtəzn]
n. 公民；市民
●
lifespan [ˋlaɪfˋspæn]
n. 壽命
●
finding [ˋfaɪndɪŋ]
n. (調查或研究)結果(常用複數)
Practical Phrases
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due to + N/V-ing 因為……；由於……
= because of...
Jim was absent from work yesterday due to illness.
吉姆昨天因生病而沒來上班。
●
cope with... 處理……
This problem is hard to cope with.
這個問題很難處理。
●
have positive / negative effects on... 對⋯⋯產生正/負面影響
Violent movies have negative effects on kids.
暴力電影會對孩子產生負面影響。
Tips in Use 重點解析
♦ 「the + 形容詞」用法
「the + 形容詞」可用來泛指全體，表「某一類或具有某種特性的人」，視為複數名詞。
本文中的 the lonely 及 the elderly 分別等於 lonely people 及 elderly people，泛指「孤單的人」和「老年人」。其他例子如下：
the poor = poor people 窮人
the rich = rich people 富人
the sick = sick people 病人
the homeless = homeless people 無家可歸的人
例: Elizabeth is a kind person who always helps the poor.
伊莉莎白是個善良的人，總是幫助窮人。
例: This organization is raising money to help the homeless.
這個機構正在募款幫助無家可歸的人。
You Can Do This 英文試金石
請將下列字詞組合成一正確通順的句子
❶ Jim canceled our date ___ .
due / family emergency / some / to
❷ Smoking___ your health.
negative / has / effects / on
❸ Gina came up with a way___ .
address / problem / the / to
答案:
1. Jim canceled our date due to some family emergency.
2. Smoking has negative effects on your health.
3. Gina came up with a way to address the problem.