Learn all about these curious creatures and where to see them in Taiwan.
There is nothing like watching fireflieslight up the sky on a warm evening. The sight of hundreds of firefliestwinkling in the night can create amagical memory. While the firefly’s ability to produce light may be fascinating, it isn’t actually magic.
People have wondered for a long time how fireflies can light up their bodies. Unlike most types of illumination, the light of a firefly isn’t hot. It is known as “cold light.” Scientists have studied these beautiful insects closely and now have a clear understanding of how they produce light. Fireflies create a special enzyme called luciferase, which they store in their abdomen with some other chemicals. When combined with oxygen, it creates a light that appears green, orange, or yellow.
Amazingly, fireflies can control this chemical reaction, similar to switching a flashlighton or off. They use tiny tubes on their body called tracheoles to collect oxygen. They control their flashes by opening or closing these tubes, which lead to the organ that emits light. Adult fireflies use their flashes to attractmates and communicate with each other. The lights also warnpredators that they won’t taste very good.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
magical
[ˋmædʒɪk!]
a. 魔術的，神奇的
=
magic
No medicine is so magical that it can cure all illnesses.
沒有一種藥神奇到什麼病都能治。
高中 Level 3
●
understanding
[͵ʌndɚˋstændɪŋ]
n. 諒解，體諒
Thank you for your kind understanding.
感謝您的寬容體諒。
英檢中級
●
oxygen
[ˋɑksədʒən]
n. 氧氣
Without oxygen, we would die.
沒有氧氣我們就會死掉。
高中 Level 4
●
reaction
[rɪˋækʃən]
n. 反應（與介詞 to 並用）
What’s Tom’s reaction to my proposal?
湯姆對我的提議有什麼表示？
高中 Level 3
●
flashlight
[ˋflæʃ͵laɪt]
n. 手電筒
=
torch
The flashlight doesn’t work when the batteries are dead.
電池沒電時，手電筒就不亮了。
●
flash
[flæʃ]
vt. & vi. （使）閃光
n. 閃光
=
flesh
=
blaze
The flash of lightning scared those birds away.
那道閃電的閃光把那群鳥嚇走了。
That taxi driver flashed his lights impatiently.
那個計程車司機不耐煩地閃了車燈。
The stars are flashing in the sky.
群星在天空中閃耀著。
高中 Level 3
●
attract
[əˋtrækt]
vt. 吸引；引起……的注意或興趣
The new policy attracted attention from minorities.
這項新政策引起弱勢族群的關切。
I must admit that I’m very attracted to David.
我必須承認我對大衛十分著迷。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
warn
[wɔrn]
vt. 警告；告誡
Our teacher warned us not to cheat on the test.
老師警告我們考試不可作弊。
Our teacher warned usagainst cheating on the test.
老師警告我們考試不可作弊。
The sign warns drivers of a closed road ahead.
該標誌警告駕駛前方道路封閉。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
firefly
[ˋfaɪr͵flaɪ]
n. 螢火蟲
●
twinkle
[ˋtwɪŋk!]
vi. & n. . 閃爍，發光
=
gleam
=
glitter
My girlfriend’s eyes twinkle like the stars in the sky.
我女友的眼睛像天上的星星閃爍發光。
Judy’s eyes twinkled with joy when she saw her
boyfriend.
茱蒂看到男友時兩眼流露出喜悅的光芒。
I like Kate because she is smiling and there is always a twinklein her eye.
我喜歡凱特，因為她總是笑臉迎人，眼神總是流露出開心的 光芒。
高中 Level 6
●
fascinating
[ˋfæsn͵etɪŋ]
a. 迷人的
=
charming
=
appealing
The book had a dull name, but after I read it,
I found it quite fascinating.
這本書的書名很無趣，可是在我讀過之後，我發現它很吸引人。
高中 Level 5
●
illumination
[ɪ͵ljuməˋneʃən]
n. 照明，光亮
Some candles were lit for illumination during the blackout.
在停電期間，點了一些蠟燭來照明。
●
enzyme
[ˋɛnzaɪm]
n. 酵素
英檢中高
●
abdomen
[ˋæbdəmən]
n. 腹部（醫）
●
emit
[ɪˋmɪt]
vt. 排放；散發
I could feel heat emitted from the fireplace.
我可以感受到壁爐散發出來的熱。
多益金色
英檢中高
Practical Phrases
●
light up
發亮，發光
●
have an understanding of...
對⋯⋯有所了解
Before making your decision, itʼs important to have a full understanding of the situation.
在你做決定之前,充分了解狀況是很重要的。
in the night 與 at night 在中文皆表「在夜晚」，但兩者意思有細微的不同，以下分別說明:
1. in the night
通常用來描述在夜晚的某個特定時刻發生了某事，等同於 during the night。
例: John kept waking up in the night.
約翰晚上一直醒來。
2. at night
at night 是更常見的用法，通常用來描述在晚上發生的事情，或者習慣性在晚上做的活動。
例: Itʼll turn cold at night.
晚上會變冷。 ★ 補充用法
1. 介詞 in
可用於表年（in 2024）、月（in May）、上午／下午／晚上（in the morning / afternoon / evening）、季節（in spring / the spring）以及較長的一段時間（in the 19th century）。
2. 介詞 at
一般用來指幾點鐘（at nine o’clock）、確切的時間（at 9:30 a.m.）或某時刻（at dawn / noon / night），且不與定冠詞 the 並用。
請將下列字詞組合成一正確通順的句子 ❶ A single match can ________________________.
a / up / dark room / light ❷ Before starting a new project, everyone needs to have ___________________________ the goals.
clear / of / understanding / a ❸ The smell of bread _________________________________.
to / attracted / the bakery / customers
答案:
1. A single match can light up a dark room.
2. Before starting a new project, everyone needs to have a clear understanding of the goals.
3. The smell of bread attracted customers to the bakery.
