在全球化的影響外，歐美知名新聞媒體亦會報導與亞洲文化有關的重點新聞。
今天在瀏覽Scientific American（科學人）網站時，意外看到一篇有關農曆蛇年的英文文章。
農曆年假期間，閱讀西方人如何解讀華人的蛇年，感覺很有趣。
節錄Scientific American（科學人）網站標題及前兩段，幫助華人春節期間不間斷地學英文。
圖片及新聞英文原文出處https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/snake-facts-for-the-lunar-new-year/
January 28, 2025
Celebrate Lunar New Year with 7 Snake Facts
（蛇年慶典：7個蛇的趣聞）
In honor of the Year of the Snake, let’s appreciate the strange anatomy and evolution of these slithery reptiles
（為了慶祝蛇年的到來，讓我們來了解這些滑行爬行動物奇特的解剖結構和演化歷程）
作者By Allison Parshall
編輯者edited by Dean Visser
As the new moon rises this week, it ushers in a new year on the lunar calendar used by many cultures across East and Southeast Asia. On the Chinese zodiac’s 12-year lunar cycle, 2025 is the Year of the Snake—an animal that symbolizes wisdom and change. （本週新月升起之際，標誌著東亞和東南亞許多文化所使用的農曆新年的開始。在中國生肖十二年循環中，2025年是蛇年——蛇象徵著智慧和變化。）
These limbless reptiles can be found on every populated continent, thanks to an evolutionary “big bang” some 125 million years ago. There are more than 3,000 snake species, with incredible variation among them. Some of the animals are smaller than an earthworm, while others are longer than a pickup truck. Some are harmless to humans, whereas others are venomous. And the ecological roles they play as critical pest controllers and nutrient cyclers are often underappreciated. So as we look to the year ahead, let’s give our odd, wriggly friends some appreciation.（這些無肢的爬行動物可以在每個有人類居住的大陸上找到，這要歸功於大約1.25億年前的演化「大霹靂」。全世界有超過3,000種蛇類，它們之間存在著令人難以置信的差異。有些蛇比蚯蚓還小，而有些則比一輛小貨車還長。有些對人類無害，而有些則具有劇毒。而且，它們作為重要的害蟲控制者和營養循環者所扮演的生態角色往往被低估。因此，在展望新的一年之際，讓我們好好欣賞這些奇特、蜿蜒的朋友吧。）
1. **celebrate (verb) 慶祝**
People around the world **celebrate** New Year's Eve with fireworks and parties.
世界各地的人們用煙火和派對來**慶祝**新年前夜。
2. **in honor of (phrase) 為了紀念**
The school held a special assembly **in honor of ** their retiring principal.
學校**為了紀念**即將退休的校長舉行特別的集會。
3. **appreciate (verb) 感謝**
I really **appreciate** all the help you've given me with this project.
我真的**感謝**你在這個專案中給予我的所有幫助。
4. **anatomy (noun) 解剖學**
She studied **anatomy** in college to understand the structure of the human body better.
她在大學學習**解剖學**以更好地了解人體的結構。
5. **evolution (noun) 進化，演化**
Darwin's **theory of evolution** revolutionized our understanding of biological diversity.
達爾文的**演化論**革新我們對生物多樣性的認識。
6. **slithery (adjective) 滑溜的**
The children were fascinated by the **slithery** movements of the snake in the zoo.
孩子們著迷於動物園裡蛇的**滑溜的**移動。
7. **lunar (adjective) 月亮的**
The Chinese New Year is based on the **lunar** calendar.
中國新年是根據**月亮的**曆法來計算的。
8. **zodiac (noun) 黃道十二宮**
Each sign of the **zodiac** has its own unique characteristics and traits.
**黃道十二宮**的每一個星座都有其獨特的特徵和性格。
9. **symbolize (verb) 象徵**
In many cultures, doves **symbolize** peace and harmony.
在許多文化中，鴿子**象徵**和平與和諧。
總結：在農曆年大年初二回娘家日，祝福大家在新的一年，蛇麼都好，蛇麼都順，蛇麼都大吉。悠遊自在、閃閃亮亮、開開心心。
圖片及新聞英文原文出處https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/snake-facts-for-the-lunar-new-year/
