Around the world, different cultures have their own ways of observing the loss of children’s teeth. Many of these traditions are associated with a mouse instead of a fairy.
In France, La Petite Souris is a tiny mouse that collects children’s lost baby teeth in exchange for small gifts. In Spain and Latin America, the mouse is called El Ratoncito Pérez. The character became famous in 1894, when a story about the mouse was written for the young King of Spain, who had just lost his first tooth. Similar to La Petite Souris, El Ratoncito Pérez also takes the tooth that children place under their pillow and leaves a small gift in place of the tooth.
In Japan, people focus on the direction in which the tooth grows. If you lose a lower tooth, you should throw it into the air or onto the roof. If you lose an upper tooth, you should throw it down to the ground. This is supposed to help the new tooth grow straight. In Mongolia, a lost tooth should be wrapped in meat and fed to a dog because they hope the child’s teeth can be as strong as the dog’s. These various traditions highlight the universal importance of healthy teeth and celebrate this important period in a child’s life.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
observe
[əbˋzɝv]
vt. 觀察；遵守
=
obey
Have you observed any changes in Sam’s behavior?
你觀察到山姆的行為有所改變嗎？
A good citizen should always observe the law.
好國民應始終守法。
A good citizen should always abide by the law.
好國民應始終守法。
A good citizen should always comply with the law.
好國民應始終守法。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
tiny
[ˋtaɪnɪ]
adj. 微 / 極小的
=
little
The tiny little baby cried for milk. 小嬰兒哭著要喝奶。
高中 Level 2
●
roof
[ruf]
n. 屋頂
vt. 給……蓋屋頂
We need to get someone to fix the roof as soon as possible.
我們得盡快找人來修理屋頂。
When you’re under my roof, you follow my rules.
你住我家時，就要遵守我的規定。
The shed is roofed with bamboo.
這棚屋的屋頂是用竹子做的。
高中 Level 2
●
wrap
[ræp]
vt. 包裝，包
n. 覆蓋物（不可數）；披肩
三態
wrap / wrapped [ræpt] / wrapped [ræpt]
The little girl wrapped some coins in her handkerchief.
小女孩用手帕包了一些硬幣。
Hannah covered the sandwiches in plastic wrap to keep them fresh.
漢娜用塑膠膜包好三明治為了讓它們保鮮。
Claire likes to wear a wrap in the office to keep herself warm.
克萊兒喜歡在辦公室披著披肩來保持自身溫暖。
Can you wrap up the food so we can take it home?
你可以把食物包起來好讓我們帶回家嗎？
Peter was so wrapped up in his work that he didn’t notice me coming.
彼得非常專心地在工作，因此沒發現我的到來
Peter was so absorbed in his work that he didn’t notice me coming.
彼得非常專心地在工作，因此沒發現我的到來。
The speakerwrapped up his speech with a joke.
演講人說了一個笑話就結束演講了。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
various
[ˋvɛrɪəs]
a. 各式各樣的
There have been various solutions to the problem.
這個問題有各式各樣的解決辦法。
多益棕色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
Extra Words
●
highlight
[ˋhaɪ͵laɪt]
n. 最精彩的部分
vt. 突顯，強調
=
emphasize
Our stay in Paris was certainly the highlight of our trip.
我們在巴黎停留的期間絕對是此行最精彩的部分。
You should highlight your work experience in the resume.
你應該在履歷表中突顯你的工作經驗。
多益藍色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
universal
[͵junəˋvɝs!]
a. 普遍的，全宇宙的；全世界的
n. 眾人皆知的概念或特色
=
international
It’s a universal truth that people need to be loved.
人人皆需要愛，舉世皆然。
Smiling is a universal expression.
微笑是全世界共通的語言。
The philosophy professor talked about universals, such as the need to feel loved.
哲學教授談到了一些普遍的概念，如被愛的需要。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
Practical Phrases
●
in exchange for...
交換……
I gave Allen a pen in exchange for his watch.
我用一支筆和艾倫換一只手錶。
●
in place of...
代替⋯⋯
Our boss sent Bess to attend the meeting in place of Chris.
我們的老闆派貝絲代替克理斯出席這場會議。
●
focus... on N/V-ing
專注於…… 將⋯⋯集中在⋯⋯
Don't bother Al. He is focused on his work.
別打擾艾爾。他正專心工作。
在法國，La Petite Souris 是一隻小老鼠，牠會收集孩子們掉落的乳牙並以小禮物交換。在西班牙和拉丁美洲，這隻老鼠被稱為 El Ratoncito Pérez。這個角色於 1894 年成名，當時有一則關於老鼠的故事為剛掉第一顆牙的年幼西班牙國王而寫。與 La Petite Souris 類似，El Ratoncito Pérez 也會拿走孩子們放在枕頭下的牙齒，並留下一份小禮物來代替牙齒。
