忽遠忽近 驗光儀小房子的秘密

Q:自動驗光儀的視窗裡，常常會看見一間房子或一顆熱氣球。為什麼他們會出現在機器中呢？

A) 它會檢測你雙眼的視力。

(B) 它有助於防止你的眼睛移動。

(C) 不同的顏色能使我們的視覺更為活躍。

答案是(B)，醫生使用這類圖片幫助你的視線集中於一個地方；那樣一來，自動驗光儀便能正確地測量數據。此外，注視著一個遙遠的物體能幫助你的眼睛放鬆，這也有助於自動驗光儀發揮效用。偶爾，圖片看起來不清晰，這不是因為你視力不佳，而是能讓你的眼睛更為放鬆的方法。

The House in the Eye Doctor's Machine

Q: When you look into the autorefractor, you often see a faraway house or balloon. Why do they use this kind of picture in the machine?

(A) It checks the sight in both of your eyes.

(B) It helps keep your eyes from moving.

(C) The different colors make our sight more active.

Doctors use these kinds of pictures to help your eyes focus on one place. That way, the autorefractor can take measurements correctly. Looking at a faraway object helps your eyes relax. This also helps the autorefractor do its job. Sometimes, the picture doesn't look clear. It's not because you can't see well. It's another way to make your eyes relax more.

亞洲第一！臺灣同性婚姻合法化

今年五月，全世界都為臺灣喝采，因為臺灣讓同性情侶結婚！這是一項很大的改變。臺灣是亞洲第一個讓同性結婚的國家。這代表了一件很重要的事：同性戀愛關係可以是任何一種文化的一部分。

然而，在臺灣同性伴侶仍然沒有完整且平等的權利。例如，大多數的孩子都不符合同性伴侶能領養的條件。此外，他們也無法和來自某些國家的人結婚。但是，臺灣不會放棄。有人曾經說過：「我們會慶祝今時今日，並為明日奮鬥。

First in Asia: Taiwan Lets Same-Sex Couples Marry

In May, people around the world cheered for Taiwan. They were cheering because the country did something exciting. It let same-sex couples marry.

This change is very big. Taiwan is the first country in Asia to have same-sex marriage. This shows something important: same-sex relationships can be part of any culture.

However, same-sex couples do not have full, equal rights in Taiwan yet. For example, they can't adopt most children. What's more, they can't marry people from some countries. However, Taiwan won't give up. One person said, “We will celebrate today and fight tomorrow.”

拖延137年　聖家堂終於取得建照

今年六月，聖家堂終於獲得了建築許可證！為何這座聞名於世的教堂長久以來未獲許可依舊不是很明確。建築師安東尼．高第曾向聖馬爾蒂申請建照，也就是聖家堂先前的所在地，但是建照卻從未核發，後來在1897年，該鎮被併入了巴塞隆納，直到最近申請案才有新進展。

據報導聖家堂將在2026年，也就是高第死後的一百年完工。不過，聖家堂建案的進度是出了名的緩慢。因此，數以百萬的遊客非要親眼看見它如期完工才會相信。

Spain's Most Famous Church Finally Gets a Building Permit

Something surprising has happened to Barcelona's most iconic building—and no, it's still not finished. This June, the Sagrada Familia finally got a building permit, 137 years after its first bricks were laid.

It isn't clear why the world-famous church didn't have permission for so long. Its architect, Antonio Gaudí, applied for one from Sant Martí de Provençals, where the Sagrada Familia was previously located. However, a permit was never given, and in 1897, the town became part of Barcelona. Not much happened with the application until recently. Then, last year, the church was forced to pay US$46.1 million to Barcelona's government to correct the problem.

For now, the Sagrada Familia's legal troubles haven't delayed any work on the building. It is reported that it will be completed in 2026, a century after Gaudí's death. However, the project is known for its extremely slow progress. With that in mind, its millions of visitors will have to see that deadline be met to believe it.

人魚傳說裡的幻想與真實

幾百年來，許多文化的故事都有提到美人魚。第一個美人魚傳說出現在公元前1000年，講述了一位亞述女神跳進湖水時腳變成了魚尾。荷馬的《奧德賽》中還有提及類似的生物叫做海妖。這些生物會利用優美的歌聲吸引水手們走向死亡。你也可以在非洲或加勒比海地區的文化中找到人魚以水精靈模樣呈現的傳說。

人們至今還是很喜歡看有關人魚的故事。當中最受歡迎的就是安徒生於1837年寫的《美人魚》。在這故事裡，美人魚因為愛上了一名王子，並用她的聲音交換使自己成為人類。而人魚傳說裡很常出現人魚變成人類與人類男子結婚的劇情。

Mermaid Legends and Manatee Facts

Work is going brilliantly, but you certainly don't feel brilliant. You're tired, exhausted even, and you're always getting sick. The doctors say nothing is wrong with you, but you certainly don't feel that way. What could possibly be the matter?

For centuries, many cultures have told stories of strange sea creatures. One of these is a half-fish, half-human female creature called a mermaid. The first mermaid legend may have started around 1000 BC. It was about an Assyrian goddess whose legs became a fish tail when she jumped into a lake. Similar creatures called sirens were mentioned in Homer's Odyssey, an ancient Greek tale from the eighth century BC. They attracted sailors to their deaths with their beautiful voices. You'll find mermaid legends in African and Caribbean cultures in the form of water spirits as well.

People still enjoy mermaid stories to this day. One of the best-loved is The Little Mermaid, written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1837. In it, a mermaid trades her voice to become a human because she is in love with a prince. It's common for mermaids in legends to take on a human form and tie the knot with mortal men.

「吃播」潮流，你跟上了嗎？

現代網路文化給予我們許多古怪又有趣的娛樂。對於以前從未看過的人來說，最不尋常的娛樂之一可能就是吃播了。網路使用者上傳他們自己準備餐點以及用餐的影片，通常包含極大量的食物！吃播明星可以擁有數百萬的追蹤人數，但是什麼讓看似平凡的飲食活動，收看起來卻如此有趣？

在南韓，很少看到人們一個人吃飯，而且在公眾場合吃飯就意味著要採用嚴謹的用餐禮儀。所謂的「吃播主」藉由慶祝凌亂的單獨吃飯經驗而打破了這兩個規則。

在更深的層面上，吃播影片的流行可能與抵抗孤獨感有某種程度的關係。現今，越來越多人一個人生活跟吃飯。影片或直播期間內，吃播主可能不只是吃飯也會和觀眾聊天，可以是慰藉的來源與共同用餐的替代。因為食物一直以來都是人們和彼此聯繫關係的一種方法，線上社群支持為觀眾吃飯的活動似乎也是很自然的事了。

Mealtimes Get Mass Appeal with Mukbang

Modern Internet culture has given us many oddly enjoyable forms of entertainment. From short videos of teenage humor to lists of funny Twitter posts, there's no end to the ways we can spend our time online. However, one of the strangest to those who haven't seen it before might be the culture of mukbang. This involves Internet users uploading videos of themselves preparing and eating meals, which commonly include enormous amounts of food—often more than 10,000 calories! Mukbang stars can have millions of followers—but what makes the seemingly mundane activity of eating so fun to watch?

To answer that question, it's important to know where mukbang comes from. The trend and the term came to life on the South Korean streaming site AfreecaTV, combining the Korean words meokneun (eating) and bangsong (broadcast). In South Korea, it's uncommon for people to dine alone, and dining in public means adopting strict meal etiquette. So-called “mukbangers” break both these rules by celebrating messy solo eating experiences.

On a deeper level, the popularity of mukbang videos may have something to do with fighting off loneliness. More and more people live and eat alone these days. The elderly are most affected by this. For example, one in five people over 70 in the UK eat most meals by themselves. Watching mukbang videos or streams, during which mukbangers may not only eat but also chat with viewers, can be a source of comfort and a substitute for shared dining. As food has always been a means for people to bond with one another, it seems natural that online communities also rally around the simple activity of eating for an audience.

遠離塵囂─臺灣離島慢活之旅

如果你渴望逃離都市中的繁忙生活，臺灣的綠島可能會是你下一個旅遊目的地的最佳選擇。

綠島對臺灣政治歷史感興趣的人來說，是很有吸引力的地點。因為在白色恐怖時期，這座島嶼是被用作政治犯的流放地。三十六年間，超過兩萬名犯人被送往綠島。當他們被釋放後，這些積極分子中的許多人合力創立了民主進步黨。現在，島上的監獄設施留存為人權公園，並成為一個熱門景點。

除了這座島嶼意義深長的歷史，另一個景點是其獨特的溫泉。事實上，綠島擁有全球僅有三座海底溫泉的其中一座。溫泉的露天浴池不僅面朝大海讓寧靜的美景伴隨你泡溫泉。在清澈的泉水中，也沒有許多溫泉會產生的硫磺氣味。

Exploring Taiwan's Extraordinary Offshore Islands

If you're keen for an escape from your busy life in the city, one of Taiwan's offshore islands might be the perfect choice for your next travel destination. Two particularly stunning must-sees are Green Island and Orchid Island, which are sure to impress travelers with their rich histories, marvelous natural sites, and cultural artifacts.

Start with Green Island. This lush location is an appealing place for those interested in Taiwan's political past. Well known for its role during the White Terror, the island was once used as a place of exile for political prisoners. Over 36 years, more than 20,000 prisoners were shipped to Green Island. Once released, many of these activists joined forces to establish the Democratic Progressive Party. Today, the island's prison facilities remain as a human rights park and serve as a popular attraction for many of the 300,000 tourists that visit the island annually.

Beyond the island's significant past, another one of its attractions is its unique hot springs. In fact, Green Island boasts one of the only three seawater hot springs across the globe. Not only do the spring's open-air pools face the ocean toward a peaceful view to accompany your soak, but their crystal-clear water lacks the sulfur smell produced by many hot springs, which some guests are sensitive to.

Those seeking adventure shouldn't miss experiencing the Shilang Diving Area. Under the glassy waters, snorkelers and divers can marvel at the world's largest Porites coral, the “Big Mushroom,” believed to be over 1,200 years old. The waters are also home to a number of brightly colored tropical fish.