eading a good book has been compared to going scuba diving for the first time. Once a reader dives in, the brain swims in all kinds of new knowledge or interesting stories. This feels just like being at the bottom of the ocean and seeing all of the amazing creatures1 everywhere. Reading like this opens up the mind and leads the reader to a whole new world. Reading on the Internet is much different. It has been compared to riding a jet ski2. It is fun to do, but it is really just skimming3 across the top of the water.

Recent studies suggest that we are gradually changing our reading habits. Researchers have found that people read no more than two pages on the Internet before skipping to something else. Book lovers who used to read for hours at a time now have a problem. Because they use the Internet so much, they find it harder to concentrate for a long period of time.

With emails, blogs, and forums4, we are reading much more now than people did in the 1970s and 1980s. However, reading online is different from enjoying books. Apparently, what we have today is a case of quantity over quality. Skimming the surface of the water is nice, but diving in deep is something special.

by Jeremy Beacock
For a small country, Denmark has had a big influence on the world.
丹麥這個國家雖小，卻影響力十足。

　　The small European kingdom of Denmark has a population of only 5 million, but it has a long and influential history. Denmark is made up of a large peninsula and a group of islands _(1)_ in the northeastern seas of Europe. Its people have always been skilled sailors and fishermen, and this strong _(2)_ with the sea was the source of Denmark's early power.

by Matthew Brown
With its spice, sun, and spectacle, Mexico is a country that really shines.
香料、陽光和美景讓墨西哥發光發熱。

　　Mexico, the US's warm neighbor to the south, is a favorite destination for many travelers. Modern-day Mexico has some things in common with the US, but for such a close neighbor, it is also surprisingly unique.

The Historian　　歷史學家

5/22

Vampires don't exist. Or do they? Perhaps that mysterious-looking stranger you saw on the train home last night could be Dracula himself. Maybe your neighbor you only see at night has a secret he's been keeping for centuries. Is it possible that the blood-sucking beast did once exist and continues to live among us? In Elizabeth Kostava's The Historian, this isn't just a possibility but a reality.

Weaving the present with centuries of history and involving three different storylines, The Historian leads readers throughout Europe, where different events in history coincide with the hunt for Dracula. The discovery of an evil little book sets the story in motion. Save for a sinister woodcarving of a dragon and one single word "Drakulya," the pages of the ancient book are blank. Eventually, the narrator is led to important letters that help unravel a mystery that might have been better left unsolved.

While other books in the vampire genre tend to be full of violence, The Historian takes a more intellectual approach that is based on actual events. Even though it is jam-packed with in-depth detail, it's still a page-turner that will send chills up your spine and make you fear venturing out at night alone. The Historian and other books about vampires, Dracula in particular, are based on a man that actually lived, Vlad "Tepes" Dracula. This real-life monster once roamed the earth, quenching his thirst with blood.

A Turn of the Deck　　揭開塔羅牌的神秘面紗

Surrounded by mystery and magic, tarot cards have an unclear history that is the cause of much debate. Some say the tradition of tarot _(1)_ from ancient China, India, and Egypt. _(2)_ claim these theories are pure nonsense. _(3)_ we do know begins in 15th century Italy, in the court of Ferrara. Like playing cards of the time, the first tarot deck included number and face cards in four suits. The new deck added a set of queens as well as 22 special trump cards.

Although used _(4)_ entertainment, the cards themselves are quite interesting. Each of the special cards contains a _(5)_ and thought-provoking image. The Magician represents the conscious mind. The man on the card is _(6)_ various tools to tinker with reality. The Justice card depicts a figure holding a balance, showing us that every action has an effect _(7)_ that we must undo wrong actions of the past. The Hanged Man dangles upside down, reminding us that situations can always be turned around and everything isn't always as it appears to be.

Bestsellers on the Small Screen　　小螢幕裡的暢銷書

Technology improves daily, giving us exciting products that let us do things we may have thought impossible. One of those things might be reading entire books on your cell phone. _(1)_ to your phone's email box via the Internet, cell-phone novels were first seen in Japan back in 2003, and they're now a multi-million-dollar industry.

In Japan's fast-paced society, cell-phone novels allow people to catch up on some of the classics that they may have missed or read books that may be _(2)_ too embarrassing to buy. It is also a convenient way to read since people always carry their cell phones with them but rarely have a book handy. _(3)_ a backlit display being standard on all new phones, users are able to read their novel in the dark. This works out well especially for parents _(4)_ a sleeping infant or for roommates with opposite sleeping patterns.

_(5)_ your house, there are certainly other places where reading on your cell phone would be ideal. Its convenience makes cell-phone novels a great idea for a long bus ride or subway commute.

It's not just avid readers _(6)_ like cell-phone novels, lesser or unknown writers are finding a new chance at fame through this medium. The previously unknown Japanese writer, Yoshi, authored Deep Love for the small screen. The novel quickly rose _(7)_ popularity to become a TV show, comic book, movie, and a "real" book which has sold some 2.6 million copies.

Orz?　　什麼是orz？

According to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, the Orz are a fictional race of beings that are portrayed on the sci-fi computer game, Star Control.

However, "orz" means something entirely different to an increasing number of people in Asia. Senior high school students in Taiwan even discovered "Martian" words like "orz" and "3Q" on this year's university entrance examination. They are called Martian words because they are not borrowed from any language on earth. One such word is orz, which has gained quite a lot of attention in Japan, China, and now Taiwan.

If you are Net savvy, then you already know that 3Q (pronounced in Chinese as san Q) means thank you and that orz (which is pronounced o-r-z) is a pictogram that is used to show despair or to represent a failed attempt at something. The pictogram is meant to resemble a stick figure on his hands (the r is his arms and back) and knees (the z) with his head (the o) bowed in anguish.

First coming on the scene in Japan late in 2004, it has now become an icon of sorts and can be seen in blogs, as website addresses, on products, in comics, as company logos, and even on road signs throughout the country. OTZ, which is most commonly used as the capitalized version of orz, beat out such alternative forms of the pictogram as OTL, STO, and JTO.

Once Bitten, Twice Shy　　一朝被蛇咬，十年怕草繩

From cute little garden snakes to ones with deadly venom, Taiwan is noted for its large diversity of snakes. Generally speaking, snakes do not attack humans unless they feel threatened first. Snakebites are, however, still a reality.

Few people can recognize whether a snake is poisonous or not, so all snakebites should be treated as if they were poisonous. _(1)_ Driving to the nearest hospital or clinic is your best bet. There are many myths concerning treating victims of snakebites. _(2)_ In actuality, there is nothing that can be done to prevent its spread. If you can't get to the emergency room right away, keep the wound clean, allow the victim to rest, and make sure that he or she drinks plenty of fluids. No matter what, don't take matters into your own hands.

Television shows often depict a person bent over the victim, sucking the venom out of his or her wound. _(3)_ If clean water is available, you should wash the bite and cover it with a sterile dressing to prevent infection later. Attempting to cut off circulation between the bite and the victim's heart could do more harm than good. _(4)_

Should you or someone you know become the victim of a snakebite, get the motor started and get medical treatment at once. _(5)_

  Pursuing Trivia　　小知識　大驚奇

How many bones are there in the human body? How often does the average person laugh in the course of a day? If you know the answers _(1)_ both of these questions, you're either a doctor with a good sense of humor, _(2)_ one of the millions of people with a passion for the insignificant. The little tidbits of information are _(3)_ called trivia.

Random facts and figures in your brain may only be useful if you're competing on a game show, but this knowledge is still fun to have. Why? To _(4)_ it simply, because they're there. Here are a few examples of trivia that may make you the life of the party.

Did you know that an ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain? _(5)_ of feathered friends, the average chicken lays 260 _(6)_ a year. Now, that's a lot of tea eggs. If you happen to be left-handed, there is a bit of bad news: you might die nine years earlier than a right-handed person. But don't despair. When you do die, your ashes will weigh _(7)_ average of nine pounds.

Watch Out!　　手錶的演進

Some are plastic and cost less than a hundred dollars. Others are practical, inexpensive, and will last for years. _(1)_ are made of the finest gold and cost more than some people make in a decade. These are all different types of watches. Most people have one, with some watch enthusiasts _(2)_ dozens of their favorite brand name. People love their watches. Have you ever wondered why a watch is called a "watch?" According to behavioral scientists, the average person consults his watch 50 times a day. _(3)_ these timepieces became known as "watches."

The history of the watch is interesting, too. Though various kinds of clocks have been _(4)_ for thousands of years, the modern watch was not made possible until the introduction of the spring mechanism in Europe in the 15th century. _(5)_ the 18th century, Switzerland had emerged as the kingdom of clock- and watch-makers, a _(6)_ it still holds to this day. In the 19th century, craftsmen from the region began introducing watches to the world. By the end of that century, watches could be wound by a small stem at the side of the timepiece rather than with a key. It was also around this time _(7)_ German naval officers started wearing wristwatches. Today, most people in the world watch their watch from time to time.

——by Bruce Bagnell

1. (A) Another ones (B) Quite others (C) Still others (D) Some others

Tempting Thailand　　魅力泰國

4/10

Water pours from buckets, squirts from water guns, and shoots out of garden hoses. You can't run or hide. All around you, people are being covered from head to toe with water. This is not a nightmare, but part of the annual Songkran Festival in Thailand. Celebrated during what used to be the beginning of Thai New Year, this event begins on April 13 and runs through April 15. Songkran, from the Sanskrit word meaning "a move or change," is a time to get rid of old and useless things such as broken furniture or picture frames. If one fails to throw or wash away the broken and dirty things in their life, these items will do nothing but bring bad luck to their owners.

Since an estimated 95 percent of Thais are Buddhist, religion plays a key role in this festival. On the afternoon of the 13th, images of the Buddha in temples all over Thailand are bathed. In some parts of the country, statues are taken from the wats, or Buddhist temples, and paraded through the streets of the city. As they pass through, people throw water on the statues to help in their cleaning.

Nowadays, the Songkran Festival may be for fun, but many people use it as a time to do some spring cleaning. Homes across the country are given a thorough cleaning from top to bottom. Whether someone is just throwing water for fun, to clean the Buddha, or to get rid of the dirt from their homes, the Songkran Festival is a fantastic event to take part in.

Navigating Nepal　　前進尼泊爾

3/27

The tiny country of Nepal is a land-locked nation that is nearly rectangular in shape and borders on India and China. Having such imposing neighbors hasn't prevented Nepal from developing its own rich and diverse culture. This culture has been traced back to the 7th and 8th centuries, when sheep farmers, known as the Kiratis, settled in the breathtaking mountainous region.
Nepal is the birthplace of the Buddha. For several hundred years after the Buddha lived on earth, Buddhism reigned as the dominant religion of the country. When Indian invaders came from the South, Hinduism eventually replaced Buddhism. It was the Hindus who were responsible for introducing the caste system into the country as well as ushering in the first "Golden Age" of classical Nepalese art and architecture. This was also the beginning of a history that has been marked from time to time by bloody revolutions and disharmony that still plagues the country in this day and age.

Folklore forms an integral part of Nepalese society and there are countless traditional stories based on the realities of day-to-day life. Many Nepalese folk stories are told through dance and music. By using their voices and bodies, folk performers act out tales of love, battles, and demons to reflect and explain the local lifestyle, culture, and beliefs. Despite the political unrest in Nepal, the folklore, combined with a long history of art and architecture, creates an ideal travel destination that attracts visitors from all over the world.

New Age of Terror Week　　恐怖新紀元

Suicide bombers walking into hotels or crowded markets and killing innocent people are on the rise. Larger-scale attacks are also increasing. The attacks on the US in 2001, Bali in 2002, Madrid in 2004, and London in 2005 are still fresh in people's memories. In addition to an increase in frequency, the attacks are becoming more organized and sophisticated. Where is all of this heading? The National Geographic Channel attempts to answer this question, and many more, during New Age of Terror Week.
Reign of Terror steps into the horrifying world of modern mass attacks. By identifying trends and characteristics, authorities are trying to predict the location of the next terror attack. Can they get into the heads of the masterminds behind such attacks?

While most people use the Internet to connect with friends and family or find information, modern terrorists are also computer savvy. Recently, websites have been used to parade hostages that have been taken as well as show their horrible executions. Reign of Terror takes a detailed look into the modern techniques used by hostage-takers from Moscow to the Middle East.

Terrorism isn't just packages and people loaded down with explosives. It can also fit on the head of a pin. This is bioterrorism. Imagine a deadly virus or bacterium in the hands of terrorists. Such a weapon could wipe out millions. Bioterror explores the possibilities and outcomes of a bioterror attack and what can be done to protect people from it.