B3U7~9課文重點標註

The theory that spoken words account for only about seven percent of communication involving emotions may surprise many people. This was first proposed by Dr. Albert Mehrabian, a famous psychology professor. According to his studies, we achieve about 55% of our emotional communication with our bodies, for they typically demonstrate our true feelings and what we're actually thinking. Therefore, understanding people's body language is an important ability to help us better interpret others' messages.

Being able to read body language well is helpful in determining whether or not someone is telling the truth. When people are lying, there are usually three telltale signs: making stiff body movements, touching or scratching themselves, and making eye movements. Typically, liars exhibit fewer arm and hand gestures. When they do make such gestures, their movements are usually stiff, and their hands tend to stay close to the body rather than move in an outward direction. Moreover, liars often can't help but touch or scratch their faces, their necks, or behind their ears. They sometimes rub their eyes without being conscious of it as well. Whether people are telling falsehoods or not can also be detected by observing how their eyes move as they speak. When right-handed people say true things, their eyes move to their left. In contrast, when they are lying or being "creative" with the truth, their eyes tend to drift toward their right. The reverse is true for left-handed people.

Another significant type of telling body language is connected to love. In the case of romantic feelings, people's bodies subconsciously provide an indication for someone to whom they are attracted. Under the circumstances, their eyes do most of the "talking." Initially, they may glance at a person from a distance and for just slightly longer than normal. Afterward, they may look away and finally rest their eyes on him or her again for an even longer period. Furthermore, they automatically track or repeat his or her actions without even knowing it. If he or she sits back, they will follow suit. If that person takes a sip of water, they will probably do the same. Aside from copying behavior, they often can't help pointing their feet and shoulders toward the one they adore or standing closer to the object of their affection than to others.

All of the previously mentioned points reveal the idea that one of the best methods for interpreting people's thoughts and emotions is to pay attention to their body language. By understanding the signals that people send out with their body language, we may interact in a more meaningful way with our fellow human beings. Best of all, we can do it without even saying a single word!

Every year, Thailand sees millions of tourists, many of whom have a lot of fun riding elephants. In fact, this activity is often the highlight of a visitor's vacation, and these rides bring a lot of money into the Thai economy. However, there is a dark side to elephant tourism that would horrify many travelers.

Due to high demand in Thailand's tourism industry, some young wild elephants are illegally captured and sold to tourist attractions. These young elephants are lured away from their mothers and into traps. Wild elephants live in herds led by females, and it is natural for mothers to protect their babies. Any females from the herd that try to defend their calves may be shot by brutal trappers. Once the captured elephants are sold to tour operators, the real horror begins as they are often violently abused. Confined in small cages, these poor creatures are beaten mercilessly for days and even struck with sharp nails. Such psychological torture and physical abuse, both of which cause extreme suffering, are committed in order to make them obedient to their human trainers.

After the elephants are tamed, they are forced into a life of slavery. Many of them are made to carry people on their backs at tourist attractions and elephant camps. Since an elephant's spine is vulnerable to pressure from above, carrying heavy tourists for hours every day can lead to painful, permanent back injuries. What's more, they are denied an adequate amount of food and water, which further contributes to their exhaustion. Worse still, these elephants are beaten as they work; their flesh is struck with bullhooks. On average, more than 13 million tourists ride elephants in Thailand every year. This puts money in the pockets of those who capture and take advantage of them, which allows the cruel elephant trade to continue.

Supply never comes without demand, so it is high time that we dealt with the roots of this problem. When you visit Thailand, avoid companies profiting from elephant tourism. As an alternative, visit one of Thailand's three national parks where wild elephants roam free. There, you can take pleasure in seeing these complex, intelligent animals as they happily go about their lives in peace.

Every year, more than five million people participate in the Mazu pilgrimage. It is no exaggeration to say that this event might just be the world's largest and wildest birthday party. The festivities do not end until the participants have celebrated for nine days and journeyed over 300 kilometers in central Taiwan. Undoubtedly, the Mazu pilgrimage is a can't-miss event for visitors to Taiwan.

The pilgrimage, which honors the sea goddess Mazu, sets out from Dajia's Zhenlan Temple around her birthday, the twenty-third day of the third month on Taiwan's lunar calendar. The exact date and time, which vary from year to year, are determined earlier. During the Lantern Festival, temple authorities cast two half-moon-shaped wooden blocks to decide the actual schedule. At the chosen time, some 200,000 pilgrims set out from Zhenlan Temple on foot and visit more than 100 temples over the course of nine days. They are accompanied every step of the way by a statue of Mazu, which is carried in a sedan chair. Although the pilgrims' strength may wane during the long journey, never do their passion and dedication fade.

Apart from being a chance for people to show their devotion to the goddess, this annual festival is a spectacular and heart-warming event. The gathering in front of Zhenlan Temple before the pilgrimage begins is a scene like no other. Throngs of people fill the streets, while the explosive sounds of drums, horns, fireworks, and firecrackers pierce the air. When the statue of Mazu finally emerges from the temple in her sedan chair, the crowd surrounds her, excited to send her off on her long journey. Along the route, millions of people also join in the celebration and come out to receive her blessing. Some even kneel or lie face down on the pavement to allow the sedan chair to pass over them, which symbolizes their hope for good luck. In the meantime, locals show their hospitality by enthusiastically offering free food, washing facilities, and accommodations to passing pilgrims. Rarely can such generosity be seen during a religious event. It reflects not only the locals' dedication to Mazu but also the warmth and humanity that are characteristic of the Taiwanese people.

Over the years, the Mazu pilgrimage has transformed into more than just a religious ritual, and every year it attracts all manner of people young and old, foreign and Taiwanese. Thus, the Mazu pilgrimage has been designated as one of Taiwan's important national folk customs. For those who are looking to experience Taiwan's cultural heritage, participating in the Mazu pilgrimage is essential!