每日口說挑戰為什麼全世界就美國最特立獨行？美國堅持不採用公制的原因（Why Doesn't the US Just Use the Metric System? - Cheddar Explains）

☺In 1793, France sent botanist and aristocrat, Joseph Dombi, with a meter long rod and a one kilogram copper cylinder, to demonstrate the system for Jefferson in the US.
1793 年時，法國派遣了既是植物學家又是貴族的 Joseph Dombi，帶著一條一公尺長的棒子與一顆一公斤重的銅製圓柱體，向在美國的傑佛遜說明公制系統。
【心得】不只是英制公制的轉換麻煩，華氏攝氏的轉換也很麻煩。
■botanist [ˋbɑtənɪst] (n.C)植物學家；專門研究植物的人
■aristocrat [æˋrɪstə͵kræt] (n.C)貴族；貴族成員；具貴族氣派的人；持貴族觀點的人、主張貴族統治者；(同類事物中的)佼佼者
■demonstrate [ˋdɛmən͵stret] (vt.)論證、證明[+(that)]；(用實驗、實例等)說明、教[+wh-]；示範操作(產品)、展示；表達、顯示、顯露
(vi.)示威、舉行遊行示威[(+against)]

"Thus the metric system did not really catch on in the States, unless you count the increasing popularity of the nine millimeter bullet" - Dave Barry

What’s going on, Voicetube listeners! Welcome to the Pronunciation Challenge. My name is Hubert and I’ll be hosting today’s episode of the Pronunciation Challenge. For today’s topic, I decided to talk about an issue that has always bothered me for so long. I’m sure a lot of other Canadians feel this way too. Other countries probably wouldn’t be as bothered by this because you guys aren’t situated right next to America. What I’m referring to is how we measure things! Unless you’re from America, Liberia, and Myanmar, we all use the metric system to measure things in life. For example, on the highway, speed is listed as 100km/h but in America, it would be 60mph. It’s so confusing especially if you’re doing a road trip in America! When I’m filling up my car with gas, I’m used to liters but in America, it’s gallons! What about your weight? I actually learned pounds and not kilograms (kg) growing up in Canada, which means I learned the American system without realizing it! So confusing. Turns out I was using the imperial system for my height and weight and it wasn’t until I moved to Asia that I made the switch to the metric system. I’m constantly going on google converting these numbers. Let’s get to the featured sentence before I tell you how my friend got out of a speeding ticket in America using the metric system!

In 1793, France sent botanist and aristocrat, Joseph Dombi, with a meter long rod and a one kilogram copper cylinder, to demonstrate the system for Jefferson in the US.

I’ll say that again.

In 1793, France sent botanist and aristocrat, Joseph Dombi, with a meter long rod and a one kilogram copper cylinder, to demonstrate the system for Jefferson in the US.

Ok, now time for the Pronunciation Tips.


For the first word, we have
Botanist
3 syllables.
Ok, this is a tricky one. For the first syllable “bot”, we use a short O sound and forget the T here. For “AN” use the short U sound and “NIST” is simply how it’s spelt. No special exemptions there. Botanist.

Next up, we have
Aristocrat
Four syllables
“A” has a short U sound. “RI” has a short i sound. “STO” has a short U sound and “CRAT” is just the word “rat” with a C in front. Aristocrat.

Lastly, we have,
Kilogram
Three syllables.
“KIL” sounds exactly the way it’s spelt. “O” has a short U sound and “GRAM” as in “Instagram”. Kilogram.


Moving onto Vocabulary!

The first word is:
1. botanist
Definition
a scientist who studies plants
Used in a sentence you could say,
“Matt Damon played a botanist in the movie, The Martian.”

Next word,
2. aristocrat
Definition
a person of high social rank who belongs to the aristocracy
Used in a sentence, you could say:
“Centuries ago, silk fabric was only available to royalty and aristocrats.”

And lastly,
3. demonstrate
Definition:
to show or make something clear
Used in a sentence, you could say:
“I will not demonstrate the correct shooting form for a jump shot.” (basketball)


Are you confused yet? When I say this always bothered me, I meant it was more of an annoyance. However, this did benefit my friends one time when we drove for many hours to Chicago. My friend was going over the speed limit and we were pulled over by the cops. The police officer mentioned to my friend that he was speeding and my friend quickly responded and told the officer that we were all Canadian. My buddy then went on to say that he was so sorry and that he was confused by the imperial system so we miscalculated the differences. We were used to kilometers and not miles when driving. The police officer took a deep breath and told us to pay more attention to the differences and let us go! That was quick thinking on our friend’s part.

Alright, time to end it here folks. If you want to see what I’m up to, follow my Instagram at hughtran_. Make sure you get your recordings in and I’ll see everyone again in the next episode! Bye!

In 1793, France sent botanist and aristocrat, Joseph Dombi, with a meter long rod and a one kilogram copper cylinder, to demonstrate the system for Jefferson in the US.

In 1793, France sent botanist and aristocrat, Joseph Dombi, with a meter long rod and a one kilogram copper cylinder, to demonstrate the system for Jefferson in the US.
1793年，法國派出貴族植物學家Joseph Dombi，帶著一公尺長的桿子和一個一公斤重的銅製圓柱體到美國去為Jefferson 說明這個系統。
◆ France [fræns] (n.)法國
◆ botanist [ˋbɑtənɪst] (n.)植物學家,專門研究植物的人
◆ aristocrat[æˋrɪstə͵kræt] [əˈrɪstəkræt] (n.)貴族(指個人);具貴族氣派的人;持貴族觀點的人,主張貴族統治者;(同類事物中的)佼佼者
◆ rod [rɑd] (n.)棒,桿,竿;枝條,柳條;(拷打用的)荊條,棍棒;拷打,懲罰;桿(長度單位,等於5.5碼);權杖;權力,權威,專制統治
◆ copper [ˋkɑpɚ]
(n.)銅;銅製品;[英]銅幣;紅銅色
(adj.)銅的,銅製的,紅銅色的
(vt.)鍍銅於,覆以銅皮
◆ cylinder [ˋsɪlɪndɚ] (n.)圓柱,圓筒,圓柱狀物;(發動機的)汽缸;(印刷機的)滾筒;圓筒容器;(裝液化氣等的)鋼瓶;(左輪槍的)旋轉彈膛;[數]柱,柱面
◆ demonstrate [ˋdɛmən͵stret]
(vt.)論證,證明;(用實驗,實例等)說明,教;示範操作(產品),展示;顯示,表露
(vi.)示威,舉行遊行示威

"Thus the metric(公制的) system did not really *catch on(變得流行,變得受歡迎) in the States, unless you count the increasing popularity(普及n.) of the nine millimeter bullet" - Dave Barry
What’s going on, Voicetube listeners! Welcome to the Pronunciation Challenge. My name is Hubert and I’ll be hosting today’s episode of the Pronunciation Challenge. For today’s topic, I decided to talk about an issue that has always bothered(困擾v.) me for so long. I’m sure a lot of other Canadians feel this way too. Other countries probably wouldn’t be as bothered by this because you guys aren’t situated(位於的) right next to America. What I’m referring to is how we measure(測量,計量v.) things! Unless you’re from America, Liberia( [laɪˋbɪrɪə]賴比瑞亞), and Myanmar([ˋmjænmɑr]緬甸), we all use the metric system to measure things in life. For example, on the highway, speed is listed as 100km/h(=kilometer an hour) but in America, it would be 60mph(=miles per hour). It’s so confusing especially if you’re doing a road trip in America! When I’m filling up my car with gas, I’m used to liters(公升) but in America, it’s gallons(加侖)! What about your weight? I actually learned pounds(磅) and not kilograms (kg) growing up in Canada, which means I learned the American system without even realizing it! So confusing. Turns out I was using the imperial([ɪmˋpɪrɪəl]大英帝國) system(英制系統) for my height and weight and it wasn’t until I moved to Asia that I made the switch(轉換n.) to the metric system. I’m constantly going on google converting(變換v.) these numbers. Let’s get to the featured sentence before I tell you how my friend got out of a *speeding ticket(超速罰單) in America using the metric system!

1. botanist [ˋbɑtənɪst] (n.) 植物學家,專門研究植物的人 a scientist who studies plants
☻ Matt Damon played a botanist in the movie, The Martian.

2. aristocrat [æˋrɪstə͵kræt] [əˈrɪstəkræt] (n.) 貴族 a person of high social rank who belongs to the aristocracy([͵ærəsˋtɑkrəsɪ] 貴族,特權階級,上層社會)
☻ Centuries ago, silk(絲綢) fabric(布料) was only available to royalty(皇室) and aristocrats.

3. demonstrate [ˋdɛmən͵stret] (v.)顯示,表露,示範to show or make something clear
☻ I will not demonstrate the correct *shooting form(投籃方式) for a *jump shot(跳投). (basketball)

Are you confused yet? When I say this always bothered me, I meant it was more of an annoyance(煩惱n.). However, this did benefit(使得益處v.) my friends one time when we drove for many hours to Chicago. My friend was going over the speed limit and we were *pulled over(路邊停車) by the cops. The police officer mentioned to my friend that he was speeding(超速) and my friend quickly responded and told the officer that we were all Canadian. My buddy then went on to say that he was so sorry and that he was confused by the imperial system so we miscalculated(錯誤計算v.) the differences(差異n.). We were used to kilometers(公里) and not miles(英哩) when driving. The police officer took a deep breath and told us to pay more attention to the differences and let us go! That was quick thinking(腦筋動得快) on our friend’s part.

DAY 1184
In 1793, France sent botanist and aristocrat, Joseph Dombi, with a meter-long rod and a one-kilogram copper cylinder, to demonstrate the system for Jefferson in the US.

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