Have you ever had an imaginary friend? Imaginary friends are often peculiar beings that can take shape as humans, animals, or even scary monsters. An imaginary friend doesn’t have to be invisible. It could be a stuffed toy or a robot that’s been given a personality by its creator.
Experts say that imaginary friends reflect children’s fears, goals, and understandings of the world. Many people consider imaginary friends to be childish, but studies have shown that having imaginary childhood friends is completely normal and even has benefits. In fact, some adults even maintain friendships with their imaginary friends from their childhood.
What’s more, imaginary friends have long been a part of human history. Famous writers, including William Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and J.D. Salinger, wrote plays and novels featuring characters that had imaginary friends. Since ancient times, humans have seen faces in mountains, trees, and clouds and created stories about brave and magical heroes in order to describe what they saw. Many people talk about having guardian angelswatching over them. These can be defined as imaginary friends, too.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
imaginary
[ɪˋmædʒə͵nɛrɪ]
a. 想像的，虛構的
=
fictional
All the events described in the story are imaginary.
這故事所描述的所有事件都是虛構的。
As far as I’m concerned, real stories are much more fun to read than imaginary ones.
就我個人而言，閱讀真實的故事要比虛構的故事有趣多了。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
peculiar
[pɪˋkjuljɚ]
a. 奇特的，特異的
=
strange
=
weird
=
unusual
=
odd
Don’t you think that Kelly is a little bit peculiar today?
你不覺得凱莉今天有點兒怪怪的嗎？
This kind of bird is peculiar to that island.
這種鳥是該島所獨有的。
This kind of bird is native to that island.
這種鳥是該島所獨有的。
This kind of bird is indigenous to that island.
這種鳥是該島所獨有的。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
take shape
成形，形成
Our plans to build a house started to take shape last spring.
我們的建屋計畫在去年春天開始成形。
●
invisible
[ɪnˋvɪzəb!]
a. 無形的
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
normal
[ˋnɔrm!]
a. 正常的
It’s normal to feel nervous before a test.
考前會感到緊張是正常的。
多益棕色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
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
●
define
[dɪˋfaɪn]
vt. 下定義，解釋；界定
It is difficult to define the word“ love.”
要為『愛』這個字去下定義是很困難的。
The dictionary defines this word as a vulgar word.
字典把這個字定義為粗俗不雅的字。
The rules of conduct are clearly defined in the school handbook.
這些行為守則在學校手冊中都有明文規定。
高中 Level 1
●
guardian
[ˋgɑrdɪən]
n. 守護者，保衛者；（法定）監護人
=
defender
The US views itself as the guardian of the values of democracy.
美國自許為民主價值的捍衛者。
Nancy’s uncle became her guardian after her parents died in an airplane crash.
父母死於空難之後，南希的叔叔成了她的監護人。
高中 Level 4
Practical Phrases
●
watch over
照顧、監視／看守⋯⋯
The rich man has two security guards watching over him at all times.
這名富翁有兩個保鑣隨時貼身照護。
The lifeguard watched over the people in the pool to make sure they were safe.
救生員監視著泳池裡的人以確保他們安全。
