You have probably enjoyed watching a film on the silver screen at some point, but how often have you gone in the past year? Across the world, the number of people going to movie theaters has decreasedsignificantlydue to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading many people to worry about the future of movie theaters. These publicvenues were once an inseparable part of the cinema industry, but in the 21st century, that may be changing.
The first movie theater opened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1905. It wasvery different fromthe theaters we know today. The first films were only 15 or 20 minutes long and used lights to cast shadows of the film onto white sheets. These silent, black-and-white films continued to amaze crowds for over 20 years.
In 1927, The Jazz Singer was the first full-lengthfilm with spoken dialogue and a soundtrackto hit the theaters. It marked the end of silent films and the rise of “talkies.” After a few decades, especially in the 1950s, movies filmedin colorwere popularized as they became more affordableto produce. By the 1960s, almost every medium-sized city in the US had its own movie theater. The theater became a place for young people to gather and for families to spend an evening on the weekends.
Over the next 50 years, people around the world shared the cultural experience of the modern movie theater. People sat in crowded theaters surrounded bystrangers while theylaughed and cried at the stories on the screen. It was a way to share entertainment among friends and the broader community. However, due to social and technological changes, this kind of public entertainment experience is on the decline. In the future, “going to the movies” may become an act of 20th-century nostalgia.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
evolution
[͵ɛvəˋluʃən]
n. 進化 ; 發展
=
development
=
progress
We learned about Darwin’s theory of evolution in today’s biology class.
我們在今天的生物課學了達爾文的進化論。
The twentieth century witnessed the evolution of computer technology.
二十世紀見證了電腦科技的進展。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 5
●
decrease
[dɪˋkris]
vt. & vi. 減少
Mary’s fear decreased as she calmed down.
瑪莉鎮定下來時，就不那麼害怕了。
The company has decreased the number of its staff members because of the recession.
因為經濟不景氣，公司已裁減了員工人數。
多益綠色
英檢初級
高中 Level 3
●
significantly
[sɪgˋnɪfəkəntlɪ]
adv. 顯著地
Our profits have increased significantly over the past year thanks to the new strategies.
過去一年來多虧全新的策略，我們的獲利明顯增加了。
Profits in our company have increased significantly for the past five years.
我們公司過去五年來獲利顯著增加了。
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
venue
[ˋvɛnju]
n. ( 舉辦) 場所，地點
The venue for Mike’s birthday party was a hotel with a swimming pool and an outdoor bar.
麥克生日派對的地點是在一間附有游泳池、室外吧檯的飯店。
高中 Level 5
●
inseparable
[ɪnˋsɛpərəb!]
a. 不可分割的，分不開的
n. 不可分離的事物；形影不離的朋友
●
amaze
[əˋmez]
vt. 使驚訝
=
surprise
=
astonish
=
astound
Joe’s violin-playing skills amazed everyone at the concert.
喬的小提琴演奏技巧讓演奏會上的所有人大吃一驚。
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
technological
[tɛknəˋlɑdʒɪk!]
a. 科技的
The steam engine was a major technological breakthrough of the 19th century.
蒸氣引擎是 19 世紀一項主要的科技突破。
高中 Level 4
●
pandemic
[pænˋdɛmɪk]
n. （範圍廣大的）流行病，疫情
●
nostalgia
[nɑsˋtældʒɪə]
n. 懷舊之情
●
community
[kəˋmjunətɪ]
n. 社區；界，共同利益團體、社會
The medical community is sparing no effort to promote human health.
醫學界正不遺餘力提升人類的健康。
高中 Level 4
●
entertainment
[͵ɛntɚˋtenmənt]
n. 娛樂，樂趣（不可數）；娛樂節目（可數）
The old man found entertainmentin reading.
這位老先生從閱讀中找到樂趣。
The food was great, but the entertainment was lousy.
食物很棒，但娛樂節目很糟。
高中 Level 4
●
affordable
[əˋfɔrdəb!]
a. 負擔得起的
The store emphasized that they sell quality
products at affordable prices.
該商店強調他們以負擔得起的價格販售高品質的商品。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
popularize
[ˋpɑpjələ͵raɪz]
vt. 使普及
●
mark
[mɑrk]
vt. 標示
n. 汙點；痕跡；記號
=
spot
=
stain
There are some dirty marks on your white dress.
妳的白洋裝上有些髒髒的汙點。
The factory fire left a burn mark on Willy’s face.
工廠火災在威利的臉上留下一道燒傷疤痕。
Don’t make marks on the pages.
別在頁面上做記號。
The lawyer has marked the pages you need to sign.
律師標示了需要你簽名的頁面。
多益棕色
英檢初級
高中 Level 1
Practical Phrases
●
at some point
在某個時候 在特殊情況下
At some point tonight, I would like to stop by my mother's house for a while.
今晚找個時間我想順道去我媽家待一會兒。
●
be different from
與⋯⋯不同，不同於⋯⋯
Pentatonix, a band which uses no musical instruments, is refreshingly different from everyone else.
五聲音階是一個不使用樂器的樂團，與其他樂團截然不同。
●
in color
（電影、照片等）彩色
Peter made two copies of the photo, one in color and the other in black and white.
彼得把這張照片複印兩份，一張印彩色，另一張印黑白。
●
be surrounded with / by...
被……所環繞
I live in a small village which is surrounded bylush hills.
我住在青山環繞的一座小村莊裡。
●
be on the decline
下降中
Street violence seems to have been on the decline ever since the new mayor was sworn in.
新市長上任後，街頭暴力事件似乎已在減少中。
