每日口說挑戰【CNN10】俄烏戰爭與台海情勢 / 航空業復甦人力吃緊 / 21歲の超「吉」老狗勾

[Transcript]

China-Taiwan Military Tensions

Today’s CNN10 begins from our motherland Taiwan, here’s a brief look back at the tensions between China and Taiwan. Taiwan is located about 160 kilometers east of Mainland China and both governments have been at odds for decades since 1949. When China's Communist Party won a civil war in the 1940s, the nation's previous government was forced to flee to Taiwan. Today, the island sees itself as an independent democracy while China sees it as part of the mainland and therefore subject to China's communist government. The two governments are not at war at this point. But after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, some experts have said China might be considering a similar operation in Taiwan.

While no one knows for sure if such action is going to take place, there has certainly been a lot of political and military activity around the island. It is in a time like this when war and invasion are taking place in the world that the international community worries about Taiwan. A group of US lawmakers recently visited Taiwan to show their support, and China called that trip provocative and responded by holding military drills near the island with ships, bombers, and fighter jets. Today’s news story also covers the Japanese perspective on the tension with China over the contested waters of the Senkaku islands, or as we call them in Chinese, the Diaoyu Islands.

Airlines Understaffed as Travel Demands Surge

As demand for airline travel increases this summer along with ticket prices. One challenge airlines are facing is pilot fatigue, an airline pilots association says that's the no. 1 safety threat for Southwest Airlines, but that's not the only company whose employees say they're exhausted. Airline travel hasn't completely recovered from the covid pandemic, but it's surely getting there. Government data shows that as of April 2022, there are about 90% of the travelers there were in 2019. However, there has been an ongoing shortage of pilots, because thousands of them retired during the pandemic. Others have complained of not enough pay, long and expensive training, being put on leave without pay, and covid vaccine requirements.

Understaffed airlines and overworked flight crews have caused carriers to cancel flights. The latest numbers show that airlines are still shy, more than 30,000 workers compared to before the pandemic. And there we have it, folks, pilot shortage is real, and the need to travel is even more real, it is as if everyone wants to scream out “I can’t take it anymore” to this never-ending pandemic.


Folks, have you ever owned a pet? How old were your little friends? Check out today’s CNN10 video to meet Toby Kieth, the oldest dog living in the world. Born in the year 2000, the world’s oldest Chihuahua just celebrated his 21st birthday. It is said that he’s still healthy, just sleeps a lot now. Check out today’s video to meet this cute little furry friend.

[Sentence of the day]

When China's Communist Party won the civil war in the 1940s, the nation's previous government was forced to flee to Taiwan.

[Vocabulary words]

1. civil
relating to citizens of a state or nation

Ex: Helicopters are mainly used for military rather than civil use.
直升機主要用於軍事而非民用。

2. previous
happening or existing before something

Ex: John has two daughters from a previous marriage.
約翰在前次婚姻中育有兩個女兒。

3. flee
to escape by running away, especially because of danger or fear

Ex: In order to avoid being captured, Arthur fled to the mountains.
為了免遭俘虜，亞瑟逃到了山裡。


Alright, folks, that’s all we have time for today.
Question of the day: Are you a dog person or a cat’s slave?
Leave a comment down below and share your love for our furry little friends.
This is Ken Miao. I’ll see you again next week!

When China's Communist Party won the civil war in the 1940s, the nation's previous government was forced to flee to Taiwan.

When China's Communist Party won the civil war in the 1940s, the nation's previous government was forced to flee to Taiwan.

When China's Communist Party won the civil war in the 1940s, the nation's previous government was forced to flee to Taiwan. 中國共產黨在1940年代打贏了內戰，該國前政府被迫逃到了台灣。
◆ flee [fli] 過去式/過去分詞：fled
(vi.)逃,逃走[(+from)];消失,消散
(vt.)逃離,逃避
◆ communist [ˋkɑmjʊ͵nɪst]
(adj.) (常大寫)共產黨的;共產主義的,共產主義者的,支持共產主義的
(n.)共產主義者;(常大寫)共產黨員;[美](常大寫)從事左翼活動的人
◆ party [ˋpɑrtɪ]
(n.) 政黨,黨派;聚會,集會,派對;(共同工作或活動的)一團人,一夥人,一行人;(契約等的)當事人,一方;[口][幽]人
(vi.)狂歡
◆ civil [ˋsɪv!] (adj.) 國內的;市民的,國民的,公民的,民用的;一般平民的,民間的,文職的,世俗的;[律]民事的,法定的;彬彬有禮的,客氣的,文明的
◆ previous [ˋpriviəs]
(adj.)先的,前的,以前的;[口]過早的，過急的
(adv.)在前,在先,在以前

☺When China's Communist Party won the civil war in the 1940s, the nation's previous government was forced to flee to Taiwan.
中國共產黨在1940年代打贏了內戰，於是中國的前政府就被迫撤逃到了臺灣。
【心得】身為平民百姓的我，只希望國泰民安、世界和平，大家互相尊重，和平相處，不要有任何人為了政治權力的角力或利益而犧牲。
■civil [ˈsɪvəl] (adj.) 國內的；{法律}民事的、法定的；市民的、國民的、公民的一般平民的、民間的；民用的；文職的；世俗的；有禮貌的、文明的、客氣的
■previous [ˋpriviəs] (adj.)上一個、以前的、先前的；{口語}過早的、過急的[
(in/about)]
(adv.)在前、在先、在以前
(n.U) {英式俚語}犯罪前科(previous convictions的縮寫)
■flee [fli ] (vt.) (尤指因危險或恐懼而)逃跑；逃離
(vi.)逃、逃走[(+from)]；消失；消散

When China's Communist Party won the civil war in the 1940s, the nation's previous government was forced to flee to Taiwan.

I'm both a dog person and a cat 's slave!
I have a dog and a cat. It's really funny to observe their interactions.

When China's Communist Party won the civil war in the 1940s, the nation's previous government was forced to flee to Taiwan.
中國共產黨在1940年代贏得內戰，而中國的前政府被迫撤逃到臺灣。

When China's Communist Party won the civil war in the 1940s, the nation's previous government was forced to flee to Taiwan.