Luis國際資訊事務所

On a hot summer's day, nothing beats relaxing or exercising in cool waters

　　It is boiling hot outside, and swimming is the only way to beat the heat. Jumping into the nearest pool is a perfect way to relax as well as get some exercise. When people first learn to swim, they usually do what is known as the doggy paddle. This may come from children watching their dogs or other animals in the water and imitating them.

　　The main swimming style is called the freestyle stroke or the front crawl. This is when swimmers put their faces in the water and move their arms in turn. In the meantime, they kick their feet while turning their heads to breathe. The freestyle stroke is the fastest.

　　On the other hand, the breaststroke is the slowest because of its movements. People swimming in this style stretch their arms in front of them with their heads in the water. When they drag their arms backwards, their faces lift out of the water and their legs do a frog kick. The hardest style to perfect is the butterfly stroke. The difficulty lies in lifting the arms, shoulders, head, and part of the chest out of the water while doing a dolphin kick. Finally, the backstroke is where people swim while floating on their backs. It is relatively simple because of the ease of breathing.

　　外頭正是炙熱難耐，唯一的消暑涼方就是去游個泳。往離您最近的泳池中一跳，是放鬆心情以及運動身體的一種絕佳方法。當人們最先開始學習游泳時，他們通常會做的是所謂的狗爬式。這個名稱很可能是源自小孩子一邊看著他們的狗或其他動物在水中划動，一邊模仿牠們的姿勢而來。

　　自由式，或稱爬泳，是最主要的一種游法。游泳者在游自由式時，會將他們的臉浸在水中，然後輪流擺動手臂。在此同時，他們會一邊用腳踢水、一邊轉動頭部來呼吸。自由式是速度最快的泳姿。

　　另一方面，蛙式因為動作上的關係而使它成為速度最慢的泳姿。游蛙式的人會在頭沉入水中時將雙手往前伸展。當他們將手臂往後拉回時，臉則會抬出水面，雙 腳則做出青蛙踢腿的樣子。蝶式是最難練得好的泳姿。其難度在於當您像海豚般打水的同時，還要將手臂、肩膀、頭部及部分的胸膛抬離水面。最後，仰式則是人們 背朝下漂浮在水面所做的泳姿。仰式相對來說較為簡單，因為這種游法在呼吸上比較容易。

1. imitate　vt. 模仿
Benson was upset when his new classmates started imitating his British accent.
班森氣壞了，因為他的新同學開始模仿他的英國腔。

2. in turn　　輪流地，依次地
The club's leaders introduced themselves in turn at the first meeting.
在首次的會議中，該社團的幹部依序自我介紹。

3. in the meantime　　在此期間
My wife went grocery shopping. In the meantime, I picked our kids up from school.
我太太去買日用品。在此同時，我去接小孩放學。

4. movement　n. 動作
The dancers amazed the audience with their highly skilled movements.
那些舞者以高難度的動作讓全場觀眾為之驚艷。

5. backwards　adv. 向後地；倒退地
The figure skater moved backwards over the ice in preparation for his jump.
那位花式滑冰選手在冰上倒退溜以準備進行跳躍。

6. perfect　vt. 使完美，使完善
The actor took lessons from a kung fu master to perfect his fighting skills.
那名演員為了精進武藝而向一位武術大師拜師學藝。

7. lie in...　　在於∕存在於……
The difficulty of the project lies in getting thousands of people involved.
這個計畫的困難之處就在於要想辦法讓上千人配合參與。

8. relatively　adv. 相對地，比較
The test was relatively easy, so all the students passed.
這個考試相對來說較為簡單，因此所有學生都考過了。

1. doggy paddle　n. 狗爬式游法
2. stroke　n.（游泳的）游法
3. ease　n. 容易，不費力

自由式與捷泳的差別為何？
　　相信大家對『自由式』都不陌生，不過嚴格說來，自由式並非一種游泳的姿勢，而是指可以用任何姿勢來游泳的競賽。為了爭取好成績，幾乎所有參加自由式的選手都會選用捷泳這種速度最快的游法來比賽。久而久之，捷泳就與自由式劃上等號了。

現在分詞作副詞用
有些現在分詞可作副詞用，有 very 的意味，修飾其後的形容詞。常見的此類現在分詞用法有boiling/scorching hot（極熱的）、biting/freezing cold（極冷的）、soaking wet（溼透的）等。

例: The man was soaking wet because he had been standing out in the rain without an umbrella.
（那名男子因為站在雨中沒有撐傘而全身濕透。）