樹懶也能快

一般人都認為樹懶動作很慢, 但遇到生死關頭, 牠快得起來嗎? 

雖然很難想像, 但生命交關, 牠也得快起來!

這段影片是由位於厄瓜多亞馬遜雨林區內的一個研究靈長類動物機構的監測相機所拍到. 

影片一開始是樹獺平靜地躺在鹽沼裡, 突然一隻美洲豹出現, 想要咬樹獺, 接下來就不多說了;從影片, 你可以看到樹獺以難得的快動作擊退了美洲豹.

以往從動物頻道看到美洲豹追逐獵物的畫面都很激烈, 這段影片卻出奇平靜, 感覺有點不真實.(哈)

巧合街景

 今天只看相片...(看到第5張我笑了出來)

以上相片摘自這裡.

史上最短智力測驗

 

如題, 這個智力測驗只有3題, 真的很短, 但很容易讓人太快回答, 而且答錯.

其實這個測驗是一個認知反應測試(Cognitive Reflection Test), 是在 2005 年由心理學家 Shane  Frederick 所設計, 旨在測試你 能有條不紊地處理資訊的能力, 而不是像一般智力測驗那樣快速回答. 當年經過測驗許多學校(包含一流學府如哈佛, 耶魯等)的學生, 統計出只有 17% 的學生全答對. 來測一下吧!

第一題:

A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?

一根球棒與一顆球的總價是1.1元, 球棒比球貴1元, 請問這顆球多少錢?

第二題:

If it takes 5 machines 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets?

五台機器用 5 分鐘做岀 5 個小部件, 請問100 台機器要做出100個小部件要多少時間?

第三題:

In a lake, there is a patch of lily pads. Every day, the patch doubles in size. If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take for the patch to cover half of the lake?

湖面上有一撮水蓮葉, 水蓮葉每天會擴增一倍(也就是面積變double), 如果蓮葉用了48天把整片湖面佈滿, 請問它要佈滿半片湖面要幾天?

答案在下面

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第一題: 5分(5 cents)

很多人答10分(也就是 0.1 元), 如果是10分的話, 球棒就會是 1.1 元, 球棒加球就會是 1.2 元而不是1.1元.

If you guessed 10 cents, you’re not alone. However, if that were the case, the bat and ball would cost $1.20—not $1.10. On the other hand, a 5-cent ball and a bat priced at $1.05 (which is $1 more than 5 cents) would total $1.10.

第二題: 5分鐘.

五台機器用了5分鐘做岀5個部件, 所以一台機器做出1個部件是 5 分鐘, 於是100 台機器也是用5分鐘做出100 個部件.

Although you might have answered 100 minutes, the actual time is less than that. Since the question reveals that it would take 5 minutes for 1 widget machine to make 1 widget, you can determine that it would also take 5 minutes for 100 widget machines to make 100 widgets.

第三題: 47天.

很多人答24天, 不對喔! 記住, 蓮葉每天倍增, 既然它佈滿整片湖是 48 天, 那麼長滿一半湖面只要再減一天即可, 所以答案是47天.

Although you might have answered 100 minutes, the actual time is less than that. Since the question reveals that it would take 5 minutes for 1 widget machine to make 1 widget, you can determine that it would also take 5 minutes for 100 widget machines to make 100 widgets.

員工

最近在看"Get to the point!"這本書時看到 staffer 這個字, 書裡面講到開會或宣導時主事者必須力求簡潔(brevity)...

Brevity is a virtue, and most staffers want to go back to their work quickly after attendng a meeting.

這裡的 staffers 指的是員工, 它是由 staff 沿伸出來的, 不過 staff 是集合名詞, 指的是整體員工, 不能用在指單一一個員工, 也不能加"s". 而 staffer 則是可數名詞, 可以指單一員工, 也可以加"s".

例句

The entire staff did a great job this year.

It was probably to be expected that the most senior staffers would go.

同樣是指員工/工作人員, staff 與 employee 又有什麼差呢?

staff 通指不管有沒有給薪的工作人員

employee 則是有給薪的員工, 是可數名詞, an employee, employees...