Vocab List 5 Currently reading: From Dead to Worse Chapter 17 in which Sookie and her two witch friends tries to reprogram Tanya and erase her hatred for the telepath. 1. sabotage (v) / (n) to injure or attack any underhand interference 破壞 2. gadfly (n) a person who persistently annoys or provokes others 有意困擾他人者 3. sideswipe (v)/(n) to strike with a sweeping stroke or blow along the side 側擊 '' I was feeling a little sideswiped on the domestic front.'' 4. plonk (v)/(n) 撥(吉他等)的弦 / 用力丟下 5. pernicious (adj) causing insidious harm or ruin deadly, wicked 致命的/邪惡的

Vocab List 4 Currently reading: From Dead to Worse Chapter 8-11 in which Sookie is involved in a were parley-turn-into-battle, and a battle between vampires from two states is provoked. 1. botch (v) to spoil by poor work 糟蹋 2. breather (n) a short break 休息 3. parley (v) [+ with] / (n) an informal conference between enemies under a truce, especially to discuss terms, conditions of surrender, etc. 會談; (與敵方的)談判 4. inundate (v) flood, overwhelmed (洪水般的)撲來, 泛濫 5. eviscerate (v) disembowel 取出...的內臟 or to deprive of vital or essential parts 除去...的精華 6. fastidious (v) excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please 講究的 7. vehement (adj), vehemently (adv) violent, strongly emotional 激烈地 8. concoct (v) make up (eg a story) 捏造

Vocab List 3 Currently reading: From Dead To Worse by Charlaine Harris Chapter 4-5 in which Sookie gets to know her fairy great-grandpa and nearly gets shot (Eric does) by a pseudo cop on the way home. 1. epicene (adj) belonging to, or partaking of the characteristics of, both sexes. 屬於兩性的 or effeminate; unmasculine 女性化的 (((Sookie learns it from the Word of the Day. I don't think I could find a way to use this word...))) 2. distraught (adj) distracted; deeply agitated. 極煩惱的 or + with: crazed. 幾乎要發狂的 3. articulate (adj)/(v) capable of speech. 口才好的 or uttered clearly in distinct syllables. 發音清晰的 or expressed with effectiveness 表達得清楚有力的 (eg artculate argument) 4. snippy (adj), snippily (adv) sharp or curt. (XXX says snippily) 5. effeminate (adj) (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy.女人氣的 6. flonder (v) to struggle clumsily or helplessly 掙扎 / 錯亂地做事(或說話) (flonder through sth) 7. rain check (n) a ticket for future use (((given to spectators at an outdoor event, as a baseball game or concert, that has been postponed or interrupted by rain.))) 8. ferocious (adj) savagely fierce. 兇猛的 9. have the upper hand 10. miraculously (adv) 11. conspicuous (adj) easily seen or noticed 明顯的 or (+ for) attracting special attention 引人注目的 12. tacit (adj) understood without being openly expressed 默示的 or silent 緘默的 13. expedient (adj)/(n) fit or suitable for the purpose or conducive to advantage or interest, as opposed to right. 出於便利的 or noun: 權宜之計 14. beaucoup (adj) [informal] numerous, many. 15. indignation (n), indigant (v) (+about/at/over/with) anger 憤慨 16. vigilant (adj) alert 警戒的 17. toothsome (adj) yummy ((( Claude was one of the toothsome guys Sookie has met.))) In my imagination, yeah, he is. 18. Stratosphere (n) 同溫層/最上層 ((( He was in the Brad Pitt stratosphere of male beauty. Of course, he was gay. ))) The logic is weird here, haha. 19. treacherous (adj) deceiving, two-faced 奸詐的/ 不可靠的

Vocab List 2 Currently reading: Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris Chapter 21-22 in which a vampire royal party turns into a battle between the king and queen, and Sookie manages to get home with her new witch friend after the incident. 1. runic (adj) Having some secret or mysterious meaning. 2. conjecture (v)/(n) the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence for proof. ~guess 3. patriotic (adj), patriotism (n), patriot (n) devoted love, support, and defense of one's country. 4. primp (v) sb + primp + sb : to dress or adorn with care. sb + primp : to groom oneself carefully 5. garish (adj), garishly (adv) crudely or tastelessly colorful, showy, or elaborate, as clothes or decoration. 6. squawk (v)/(n) a loud, harsh cry or sound. 7. svelte (adj) slender, especially gracefully slender in figure; lithe. 8. attorney (n) a lawyer. 9. cordial (adj)/(n) courteous and gracious; friendly or sincere; heartfelt. or a strong, sweetened, aromatic alcoholic liquor (n)

Writing Exercise 1 This is an attempt to use some, if not all of the vocabulary learnt from reading a chapter of Wilde's novel. (Refer to Vocab List 1) Lying on the bed as she always did, a tremulous finger brushing against the rough bleached sheet, Jane suddenly wondered if it would feel the same in a coffin. Of course, she wouldn't feel anything at that time. But still, she wondered. Miss Old Jane thought about death more often, after she was transfixed on this bed. She counted her days scrupulously, and she waited for that day to come, not unlike a little girl waiting for her knight in shining armor to come and rescue her, out of vanity of a listless life. Her youth passed by like a snap, yet for these recent days time has moved languidly. She could tell that her life itself was exhausted too, as it was at a crawling speed towards the end, a great contrast to the vibrant bolt when the journey started. Her chain of thoughts was interrupted when a nurse trod quickly by her bed. Jane wished that she could raise up a little so to have a glimpse through the gap between hurriedly drawn curtains. But she knew what was going on, which was quite the only thing that commonly happened and anticipated for patients in this room. More people- doctors and nurses, rushed in but Jane knew that it was futile. Death has taken that poor soul away. Please take mine as well, she murmured silently as she closed her eyes. Vocab used: 5 Divan (bed) and dowager are the vocab that inspires this scene, only then I couldn't apply them into it when I switch the background to a hospital. Named the character as Jane after watching Jane Eyre today.

Vocab List 1 Currently reading: Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Chapter 1 in which Basil the painter exposes his secret adoration of Dorian, a gorgeous young lad, to his acquaintance, Henry. Explanation copied from searching results in dictionary.com 1. languid (adj), languidly (adv) lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow: a languid manner. 2. divan (n) a sofa or couch, usually without arms or back, often usable as a bed. 3. cynical (adj), cynicism (v) distrusting or disparaging the motives of others. 4. ensconce (v) to settle (sit) securely or snugly / to hide securely 5. tremulous (adj) vibratory, shaking, or quivering. 6. dowawger (adj) an elderly woman of stately dignity, especially one of elevated social position: a wealthy dowager. 7. cowardice (n) 8. lionize (v) to treat (a person) as a celebrity 9. truculent (adj) fierce; cruel; savagely brutal. 10. auctioneer (n) 11. listless (adj), listlessly (adv) having or showing little or no interest in anything ~ languid 12. enmity (n) a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism. 13. poach (v) to take without permission and use as one's own 13. scrupulous (adj) minutely careful and precise 14. vanity (v) excessive pride on one's abilities/appearance or lack of real value; worthless 15. reproach (V) to find fault with (a person); blame, censure.

'I hope I would' and 'I hope I will' I've just watched an episode of True Blood, in which Sookie says ' I hope I would.' in respond to Eric's question, and a second later she corrects her answer as 'I hope I will.' I wonder what is the difference between the usage of 'would' and 'will', and when to use which is appropriate. Thanks to anyone who could help with my first question here.

First notebook entry: Introducing myself Hello. I'm Anya from Hong Kong, China. I'm here to improve my English as it's crucial in everywhere. And I hope I could bring up my English to a certain fluency level before I start learning a new language( which I'm still not sure). Hope I would find nice and helpful language exchange partners here. :)