Ladybug 瓢蟲
Have you ever looked down at your clothes or skin and seen an insect like this? Most people think of these little bugs as signs of good luck. Their bright red color, black spots and shiny shells make them many people's favorite bug. In fact, in many parts of the world, people think it is bad luck to kill them.
In the US, this bug is called a ladybug. In the UK and some other English-speaking countries, it's called a ladybird. Scientists have their own name for it: lady beetle. Ladybugs actually are beetles, although many people think of beetles as black and little bit ugly.
The next time a ladybug lands on you, make a wish. Then carefully blow the ladybug away. Do you think your wish will come true?
A ladybug takes flight in New York in the US.
美國紐約一隻瓢蟲展翅起飛。 (照片：美聯社)
PHOTO : AP
(Kayleen Hartman, Staff writer)
你可曾低頭看見衣服或皮膚上有過這樣的昆蟲？多數人認為這種小蟲象徵著好運氣，紅底黑點的閃亮外殼，讓牠成為許多人最喜愛的昆蟲。事實上，世上許多國家的人都認為撲殺瓢蟲會帶來厄運。
在美國，這種蟲叫做「ladybug」。在英國和部分其他英語系國家又叫「ladybird」，科學家也自己給牠取名字︰「lady beetle」。瓢蟲其實是甲蟲的一種，只不過許多人認為甲蟲又黑又醜。
下次有瓢蟲飛到你身上，許個願，然後小心吹走牠。你認為你的願望會實現嗎？ （翻譯：鄭湘儀）
For your information
Today's Words 今天單字
1. sign n.
象徵 (xiang4 zheng1)
例：When the bus arrived right when I got to the bus stop this morning, I took it as a sign that everything was going to go well today.
（今早我一到公車站牌巴士就抵達，我認為那象徵著今天將一切順利。）
2. luck n.
運氣 (yun4 qi4)
例：I couldn't believe my bad luck when my mom told me I would have to take extra math classes over the summer.
（我媽告訴我暑假必須修額外的數學課時，我真不敢相信自己的運氣這麼背！）
3. land v.i./v.t.
降落 (jiang4 luo4)
例：When the pilot got sick in the middle of the flight, the copilot had to land the plane.
（駕駛若在飛行途中生病，副駕駛就得降落飛機。）
For your information
Quick Quiz 複習測驗
1. What are ladybugs called by scientists in England?
a. Ladybugs.
b. Ladybirds.
c. Lady beetles.
d. Beetlebugs.
2. Ladybugs ...
a. are ugly.
b. are considered good luck by some people.
c. are all-black.
d. have red spots.