They are something that we take for grantedbut generally don’t talk about much— except when they are out of order. However, toilets are an essential part of our lives, and along with the rest of civilization, they have evolvedover millennia. Here is a brief history of these devices.
The Early Days Prior toroughly 10,000 years ago, no urgency existed to build toilets. Back then, people were hunter-gatherers, nomadsroamingin search offood. Once people started forming civilizations, though, they couldn’t just poopin fields and move on—they had to live with the stinky stuff! Historians tell us that the Mesopotamians created the first simple toilets about 4,500 or more years ago. These were brick chairs coated with a water-repellentmaterial. The toilets were situated over pits, where human wastewas held. Toilets incorporating the use of water are believed to have appeared in the Indus Valley and on the island of Crete 1,000 years or more later.
Water and air are essential to us.
水和空氣對我們而言都是不可或缺的。
The teacher taught us the essentials of good health.
老師教導我們健康的要素。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
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civilization
[͵sɪv!əˋzeʃən]
n. 文明（不可數）
These books are about the history of Western civilization.
這些書談的是西方文明史。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
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evolve
[ɪˋvɑlv]
vi. 進化 ; 發展為
The artist ’s idea for the masterpiece evolved from a casual conversation with a neighbor.
這名藝術家對這傑作的構想是從他和鄰居一段隨興的對話演變來的。
Through months of teamwork, our idea finally evolved into a feasible plan.
藉由數個月的團隊合作，我們的想法終於化為可行的計畫。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 5
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urgency
[ˋɝdʒənsɪ]
n. . 緊急（不可數）
Please get Mr. Johnson on the phone right now. It’s a matter of great urgency.
麻煩請強生先生聽電話。這是件十萬火急的事。
高中 Level 6
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roam
[rom]
vt. & n. & vi. 漫步
=
wander
My father always says that the best way to experience
a new city is to simply roam.
我父親總是說，體驗一座新城市最好的方式就是去漫遊。
Every afternoon, the philosopher would roam about
the lake, contemplating life.
每天下午，這位哲學家會在湖邊散步，思考人生。
Betty and her friends roamed the streets of the new
city, wondering where they should go next.
貝蒂和她的朋友在新城市的街道上漫步，在想他們下個地方
要去哪裡。
I’m going for a roam around the village before
dinner. Would you like to join me?
晚餐前我要在村子裡晃晃。你想一起去嗎？
高中 Level 6
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stinky
[ˋstɪŋkɪ]
a. 臭的
Many foreigners in Taiwan are afraid to try stinky tofu.
許多在臺灣的外國人很害怕嘗試吃臭豆腐。
高中 Level 5
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incorporate
[ɪnˋkɔrpə͵ret]
vt. 使結合，合併
I was glad that our ideas had been incorporated into the project.
我很高興我們的構想被融入本企畫案中。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
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flush
[flʌʃ]
.vt. 沖（馬桶）
vi. 沖（馬桶）；臉紅
n. 沖（馬桶）；紅暈
=
blush
Don’t forget to flush the toilet after use.
使用廁所後別忘了要沖馬桶。
Don’t forget to give the toilet a flush after use.
使用廁所後別忘了要沖馬桶。
The toilet isn’t working properly; it keeps flushing.
馬桶不能正常運作；它一直在沖水。
Anna flushed when Charles touched her hand.
查爾斯碰她的手時，安娜臉紅了。
Anna blushed when Charles touched her hand.
查爾斯碰她的手時，安娜臉紅了。
I had to give the toilet another flush.
我得要再沖馬桶一次。
Rudy felt a flush of anger when he saw the man yell at his mother.
魯迪看到那男子對他母親大叫時感到一陣憤怒。
高中 Level 4
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manually
[ˋmænjʊəlɪ]
adv. 手動操作地
This machine is operated automatically, not manually.
這個機器是自動操作，而非手動操縱。
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mechanism
[ˋmɛkə͵nɪzəm]
n. 機械裝置；制度，體制；機制
This watch is equipped with a delicate timing mechanism.
這只手錶配備有精細的計時機械裝置。
Government officials are setting up new mechanismsto help the unemployed.
政府官員正在建立新制度來幫助失業民眾。
Government officials are setting up new mechanisms for helping the unemployed.
政府官員正在建立新制度來幫助失業民眾。
A feeling of physical pain serves as a natural defense mechanism.
肉體的痛覺是天生的防衛機制。
高中 Level 5
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container
[kənˋtenɚ]
n. 容器
You should store these cookies in a container with a tight lid.
你應該把這些餅乾保存在一個有密閉蓋子的容器裡。
高中 Level 4
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portable
[ˋportəb!]
a. 可攜帶的，手提的
=
potable
=
potable water
Portable stereos used to be quite expensive back in the 1970s.
1970 年代手提音響相當昂貴。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
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odor
[ˋodɚ]
n. （不好的）氣味
=
smell
The pile of garbage in front of the traditional market emitted a pungent odor.
傳統市場前面那堆垃圾發出了刺鼻的臭味。
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
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wash
[wɑʃ]
n. 洗濯（常用單數）
vt. 清洗；沖走
Wash your hands thoroughly before you eat dinner.
晚餐前把手徹底洗乾淨。
My car was washedawayby the flood.
我的車被洪水沖走了。
My sneakers need a good wash.
我的球鞋需要好好洗一洗了。
The rich woman washed her steak and lobster meal down with a glass of wine.
這位貴婦喝一杯紅酒將吃下的牛排和龍蝦大餐沖下肚。
高中 Level 2
Practical Phrases
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take (sb/sth) for granted
認為（某人 / 某事物）是理所當然的
Larry thought he had been working hard all year round, so he took it for granted that he would get a year-end bonus at work.
賴瑞認為他一年到頭都很努力，因此他認為自己會拿到年終 獎金是理所當然的事。
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prior to
在……之前
Make sure you have the report ready prior to the meeting.
務必確定你在會議之前要把報告準備好。
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go in search of...
去搜尋 / 尋找……
Sean went in search ofa good doctor to treat his father’s illness.
尚恩到處去尋找能治療父親疾病的良醫。
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catch on
流行起來
This new fashion trend is starting to catch on among teenagers.
這種新的時尚趨勢開始在青少年之間流行起來。
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provide / lay a foundation for...
為……打好地基 / 奠下基礎
First the workers laidthefoundation. Then they built the walls.
首先工人們打好地基，然後把牆砌起來。
