▍原文 Chinese influencer and beauty queen Athena Liya was allegedly kidnapped and murdered after being lured to the Philippines by a close friend pretending to organise a luxury getaway. Athena, whose real name was Kong Limei, vanished after travelling to Manila in June 2023. The alleged gang mastermind was extradited from the US to China on July 20. Athena's close friend, who reportedly lured her to the Philippines, remains at large. ▍語言點 1. allegedly /əˈledʒɪdli/ adv. 涉嫌地，據稱 He allegedly stole the money. 他據稱偷了這筆錢。 2. lure /lʊr/ v. 引誘 與 attract（中性）不同，lure強調“誘捕、設餌引誘”，常帶危險或欺騙的意味。 lure someone into a trap 引誘某人落入圈套 3. getaway /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/ n. 短途旅行、度假 4. vanish /ˈvænɪʃ/ v. 突然消失，毫無蹤跡（比disappear更有衝擊感） vanishing act 魔術師的消失戲法 5. gang /ɡæŋ/ n. 犯罪團夥，幫派 6. mastermind /ˈmæstərmaɪnd/n. 幕后策劃者，主腦 7. extradite /ˈekstrədaɪt/ v. 引渡 8. at large 在逃...
▍原文 Chinese influencer and beauty queen Athena Liya was allegedly kidnapped and murdered after being lured to the Philippines by a close friend pretending to organise a luxury getaway. Athena, whose real name was Kong Limei, vanished after travelling to Manila in June 2023. The alleged gang mastermind was extradited from the US to China on July 20. Athena's close friend, who reportedly lured her to the Philippines, remains at large. ▍語言點 1. allegedly /əˈledʒɪdli/ adv. 涉嫌地，據稱 He allegedly stole the money. 他據稱偷了這筆錢。 2. lure /lʊr/ v. 引誘 與 attract（中性）不同，lure強調“誘捕、設餌引誘”，常帶危險或欺騙的意味。 lure someone into a trap 引誘某人落入圈套 3. getaway /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/ n. 短途旅行、度假 4. vanish /ˈvænɪʃ/ v. 突然消失，毫無蹤跡（比disappear更有衝擊感） vanishing act 魔術師的消失戲法 5. gang /ɡæŋ/ n. 犯罪團夥，幫派 6. mastermind /ˈmæstərmaɪnd/n. 幕后策劃者，主腦 7. extradite /ˈekstrədaɪt/ v. 引渡 8. at large 在逃...
▍原文 For the first time, an artificial intelligence system has created a series of previously unknown viruses capable of infecting and eliminating certain types of bacteria. US researchers said they successfully directed an AI model to create a collection of simple viruses that only infect bacteria and pose no threat to humans. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for combating bacterial resistance. However, it also raises concerns about the potential misuse of this technology to design biological weapons. ▍語言點 1. artificial intelligence 人工智能（AI） 2. previously unknown 前所未見的，自然界原本不存在的 3. capable of doing something 能夠做某事，具備……的能力 4. infect /ɪnˈfekt/ v. 感染 5. eliminate /ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/ v. 消滅，清除 6. direct /dɪˈrekt/ /daɪˈrekt/ v. 操控，指引 7. a collection of 一系列，一批 8. pose no threat to 對……不構成威脅 9. breakthrough /ˈbreɪkθruː/ n. 重大突破 10. combat /ˈkɒmbæt/ /kəmˈbæt/ v. 對抗，攻克...
▍原文 For the first time, an artificial intelligence system has created a series of previously unknown viruses capable of infecting and eliminating certain types of bacteria. US researchers said they successfully directed an AI model to create a collection of simple viruses that only infect bacteria and pose no threat to humans. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for combating bacterial resistance. However, it also raises concerns about the potential misuse of this technology to design biological weapons. ▍語言點 1. artificial intelligence 人工智能（AI） 2. previously unknown 前所未見的，自然界原本不存在的 3. capable of doing something 能夠做某事，具備……的能力 4. infect /ɪnˈfekt/ v. 感染 5. eliminate /ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/ v. 消滅，清除 6. direct /dɪˈrekt/ /daɪˈrekt/ v. 操控，指引 7. a collection of 一系列，一批 8. pose no threat to 對……不構成威脅 9. breakthrough /ˈbreɪkθruː/ n. 重大突破 10. combat /ˈkɒmbæt/ /kəmˈbæt/ v. 對抗，攻克...
▍原文 The iconic wrapper of White Rabbit creamy candy—instantly recognizable to most Chinese people—has recently gone viral on X. One user posted a photo of the candy and its wrapper laid out flat, and the post has since amassed over 5.8 million views. The user described the wrapper as an “absolute masterstroke of graphic design.” Many people shared their love for it in the comments. Some showed their collections of the candy in different flavours, while others shared creative ways to use the wrapper. ▍語言點 1. iconic /aɪˈkɑːnɪk/ adj. 標志性的，符號性的 ·iconic building 地標建築 ·iconic movie scene 經典的電影橋段 2. wrapper /ˈræpər/ n. 包裝紙 3. instantly recognizable to somebody 讓某人一眼就能認出來 ·instantly adv. 立刻，馬上 ·recognizable adj. 可以辨認的 4. go viral 刷屏，爆紅，瘋傳 5. lay out flat 被平鋪開來的 ·lay out 鋪開，展開 ·flat adj. 平的 6. amass /əˈmæs/ v. 積聚，收集 ·amass a fortune 積聚財富 ·amass evidence 收集證據 ...
▍原文 The iconic wrapper of White Rabbit creamy candy—instantly recognizable to most Chinese people—has recently gone viral on X. One user posted a photo of the candy and its wrapper laid out flat, and the post has since amassed over 5.8 million views. The user described the wrapper as an “absolute masterstroke of graphic design.” Many people shared their love for it in the comments. Some showed their collections of the candy in different flavours, while others shared creative ways to use the wrapper. ▍語言點 1. iconic /aɪˈkɑːnɪk/ adj. 標志性的，符號性的 ·iconic building 地標建築 ·iconic movie scene 經典的電影橋段 2. wrapper /ˈræpər/ n. 包裝紙 3. instantly recognizable to somebody 讓某人一眼就能認出來 ·instantly adv. 立刻，馬上 ·recognizable adj. 可以辨認的 4. go viral 刷屏，爆紅，瘋傳 5. lay out flat 被平鋪開來的 ·lay out 鋪開，展開 ·flat adj. 平的 6. amass /əˈmæs/ v. 積聚，收集 ·amass a fortune 積聚財富 ·amass evidence 收集證據 ...
▍原文 Europe’s rivers frequently plunge to low levels in summertime — but this year they have reached unprecedented levels in places. Two of the continent’s most critical waterways, the Danube and the Rhine, have been particularly badly affected. The impacts are huge. Europe’s rivers are vital arteries transporting goods, cooling power plants, generating hydroelectric energy, drawing in tourists and providing a vital habitat for wildlife. As they shrink, people, economies and ecosystems are suffering. ▍語言點 1. plunge /plʌndʒ/ v. 突然下降，驟降 2. frequently /ˈfriːkwəntli/ adv. 頻繁地，經常性地 3. unprecedented /ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/ adj. 史無前例的，空前的 4. critical waterways 關鍵河道，水運干線 ·critical adj. 重要的，關鍵的 5. the Danube n. 多瑙河（歐洲第二長河，流經10個中東歐國家） 6. the Rhine n. 萊茵河（西歐工業運輸核心航道） 7. vital /ˈvaɪtl/ adj. 至關重要的，生死攸關的 8. artery /ˈɑːrtəri/ n. （本文）重要通道、生命線；動脈（人體血管） 9. transport /t...
▍原文 Europe’s rivers frequently plunge to low levels in summertime — but this year they have reached unprecedented levels in places. Two of the continent’s most critical waterways, the Danube and the Rhine, have been particularly badly affected. The impacts are huge. Europe’s rivers are vital arteries transporting goods, cooling power plants, generating hydroelectric energy, drawing in tourists and providing a vital habitat for wildlife. As they shrink, people, economies and ecosystems are suffering. ▍語言點 1. plunge /plʌndʒ/ v. 突然下降，驟降 2. frequently /ˈfriːkwəntli/ adv. 頻繁地，經常性地 3. unprecedented /ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/ adj. 史無前例的，空前的 4. critical waterways 關鍵河道，水運干線 ·critical adj. 重要的，關鍵的 5. the Danube n. 多瑙河（歐洲第二長河，流經10個中東歐國家） 6. the Rhine n. 萊茵河（西歐工業運輸核心航道） 7. vital /ˈvaɪtl/ adj. 至關重要的，生死攸關的 8. artery /ˈɑːrtəri/ n. （本文）重要通道、生命線；動脈（人體血管） 9. transport /t...
▍原文 China’s AI-generated character, Fang Taozi, has started selling products, with reported ad rates ranging from 168,000 to 258,000 yuan per video, exceeding those of many human influencers with millions of followers. The virtual star from the AI short drama The Laid-off Girl gained over 400,000 followers within one month of launching onsocial media. AI actors are becoming independent IPs. Some fans call Fang Taozi "the first AI idol". ▍語言點 AI-generated character AI生成的角色 sell products 帶貨，推銷產品 ad rate 廣告報價 exceed /ɪkˈsiːd/ v. 超越，超過 short drama 短劇 laid-off /leɪd ˈɒf/ adj. 被裁掉的，被解雇的 IP（intellectual property的縮寫）知識產權；文娛行業里指一個有商業價值的原創內容資產 idol /ˈaɪdl/ n. 偶像 搜索【友鄰優課】微信小程序，收聽晨讀即可領取：《晨讀短文100篇電子資料》 關注公眾號【教書匠小夏】，夏鵬老師送你2份見面禮：《英語學習小傳》 共100篇文章，英語學習經驗獨家分享 《英文學習方法論》共72節視頻課，英語學習的答案之書 【教書...
▍原文 China’s AI-generated character, Fang Taozi, has started selling products, with reported ad rates ranging from 168,000 to 258,000 yuan per video, exceeding those of many human influencers with millions of followers. The virtual star from the AI short drama The Laid-off Girl gained over 400,000 followers within one month of launching onsocial media. AI actors are becoming independent IPs. Some fans call Fang Taozi "the first AI idol". ▍語言點 AI-generated character AI生成的角色 sell products 帶貨，推銷產品 ad rate 廣告報價 exceed /ɪkˈsiːd/ v. 超越，超過 short drama 短劇 laid-off /leɪd ˈɒf/ adj. 被裁掉的，被解雇的 IP（intellectual property的縮寫）知識產權；文娛行業里指一個有商業價值的原創內容資產 idol /ˈaɪdl/ n. 偶像 搜索【友鄰優課】微信小程序，收聽晨讀即可領取：《晨讀短文100篇電子資料》 關注公眾號【教書匠小夏】，夏鵬老師送你2份見面禮：《英語學習小傳》 共100篇文章，英語學習經驗獨家分享 《英文學習方法論》共72節視頻課，英語學習的答案之書 【教書...