"Curiosity killed the cat" is an old English saying. It is a warning not to be too curious. According to Greek mythology, too much curiosity can lead to more serious results than a dead cat.
「好奇心殺死貓」是一句英國俗諺。這是不要太過好奇的警語。根據希臘神話，過度好奇的結果可能比貓沒命還嚴重。
Epimetheus and Prometheus were brothers. They angered Zeus, the king of the gods, and Zeus decided to punish them. He created a beautiful woman, called her Pandora, and sent her to Epimetheus as a gift. Prometheus warned his brother not to accept gifts from the gods, but Epimetheus fell in love with Pandora and married her.
伊皮米修斯和普羅米修斯是兄弟。他們惹怒了眾神之王宙斯，而宙斯決定懲罰他們。祂創造了一名美女，取名為潘朵拉，並將她當作禮物送給伊皮米修斯。普羅米修斯警告他弟弟不要接受神的禮物，但是伊皮米修斯愛上了潘朵拉並娶了她。
Zeus gave Pandora a beautiful box as a wedding gift. However, she had to promise one thing: never to open the box. Pandora was so curious that she couldn't stop thinking about what was inside it. Why would someone give her a box if she was not allowed to open it? Her curiosity grew stronger every day. She badly wanted to know the secrets of the box. Zeus's plan was working.
宙斯給潘朵拉一個漂亮的盒子作為結婚禮物。然而她必須答應一件事：絕不打開那個盒子。潘朵拉好奇得不得了，忍不住一直想著盒子裡是裝著什麼東西。如果不准她打開，為什麼要給她一個盒子呢？她的好奇心日益增加。急切想知道盒子的祕密。宙斯的計畫奏效了。
Finally, Pandora couldn't stand it anymore. One day, when Epimetheus was out, she found the key and unlocked the box. At the last moment, she almost changed her mind because she knew how angry her husband would be. In fact, she unlocked and relocked the box three times before she finally opened the lid.
最後，潘朵拉再也無法忍耐。有一天，趁伊皮米修斯不在，她找到鑰匙，打開盒子的鎖。就在最後一刻，她幾乎要改變心意，因為她知道丈夫會有多生氣。事實上，在最後打開蓋子前，她開開關關了三次。
Right away, lots of buzzing creatures came flying out. These were the terrible evils that Zeus had put in the box—disease, poverty, famine, and so on. The creatures stung Pandora over and over before they flew out to attack the world. She quickly closed the lid.
當下許多嗡嗡作響的生物飛了出來。這些是宙斯放在盒子裡的禍害－－疾病、貧窮、飢荒等等。這些生物飛出去攻擊世界前，反覆叮咬潘朵拉。她迅速地闔上蓋子。
Then Pandora heard a tiny voice calling out from inside the box. She opened it again, and saw the last creature left inside. It was Hope, and it flew out of the box to help heal the wounds that the evil creatures caused. Even though Pandora had released pain and suffering upon the world, she had also allowed hope to follow these troubles.
然後潘朵拉聽到盒子裡傳來微弱的喊叫聲。她再次打開盒子，看見留在裡面的最後一個生物。那是「希望」，它飛出盒子來治癒禍害所造成的傷害。即使潘朵拉放出了痛苦和苦難到這個世界，她也讓希望跟隨著這些禍害而去。
The story of Pandora's box was originally a warning—people should not let their curiosity go too far. These days, "to open a Pandora's box" means to begin something that might lead to many problems. Before you make any decision, it is a good idea to consider the possible results, and not just do things out of curiosity.
「潘朵拉的盒子」這個故事原本是個警告－－人們不應該放任好奇心過盛。現今，「打開潘朵拉的盒子」意味開啟一段可能導致問題排山倒海而來的過程。做決定前，最好思量可能的後果，而且不要只憑好奇心行事。
- curiosity [͵kjʊrɪˋɑsətɪ] n.
好奇心
David loves to learn and asks many questions out of curiosity.
David 熱愛學習，而且因為好奇心旺盛而不斷發問。 - curious [ˋkjʊrɪəs] adj.
好奇的
I am curious about this dish and would like to know how it is made.
我對這道料理很好奇，想知道要怎麼做。 - warning [ˋwɔrnɪŋ] n.
警告
The earthquake gave us a strong warning about Mother Nature's strength.
那次地震給我們一次強烈的警告，不要輕忽大自然的力量。 - warn [wɔrn] v.
警告，告誡
Emily warned her son about managing his money well, but he paid no attention. Now he is totally broke.
Emily 警告兒子要好好理財，但是他不放在心上。現在他身無分文。 - result [rɪˋzʌlt] n.
結果，後果
Sharon cannot walk as a result of an accident she had three years ago.
Sharon 因為三年前的一場事故而不良於行。 - result [rɪˋzʌlt] v.
結果，造成
Losing his job resulted in serious problems for Brian and his family.
失去工作給 Brian 和他的家庭帶來嚴重的問題。 - punish [ˋpʌnɪʃ] v.
處罰
Tom won't play video games at home because his father will punish him.
Tom 在家不會打電動，因為他爸爸會處罰他。 - punishment [ˋpʌnɪʃmənt] n.
處罰
My punishment for coming home late was to wash the dishes for a week.
我太晚回家的懲罰就是洗一個禮拜的碗。 - create [krɪˋet] v.
創造
The new shopping mall created 200 new jobs in the town.
新的購物中心為城裡創造了兩百個新工作。 - creation [krɪˋeʃən] n.
創造；作品
This is a traditional Native American story about the creation of the world.
這是一個關於世界誕生的傳統美國原住民故事。
The designer will have a new fashion show to introduce his latest creations.
那位設計師將舉辦一場新的時裝秀來展示他的最新作品。 - creative [krɪˋetɪv] adj.
有創意的，有創造力的
Amy wants her children to develop their creative abilities.
Amy 希望她的孩子培養創造能力。 - accept [əkˋsɛpt] v.
接受
When Mike got a job offer from a bigger company, he was happy to accept it.
當 Mike 收到來自一家更大的公司提出的工作機會，他欣然地接受了。 - acceptance [əkˋsɛptəns] n.
接受
The politician forgot that his acceptance of the gift might get him into trouble.
那名政客忘了收受禮物會讓他惹上麻煩。 - acceptable [əkˋsɛptəb!] adj.
可接受的；差強人意的
The salary the company offered was not only acceptable, but actually better than my expectations.
那家公司開出的待遇不只可接受，還超過我的預期。
Your work is acceptable, but I feel sure you can do better.
你的工作勉強過關，但我相信你可以做得更好。 - badly [ˋbædlɪ] adv.
很，非常；差勁地；嚴重地
Naomi badly wants to be a singer and practices every day.
Naomi 一心想當歌手，每天都努力練唱。
Linda is not a good student, and she often behaves badly in class.
Linda 不是什麼好學生，而且她常常在課堂上亂來。
The table is so badly damaged that it cannot be used.
這張桌子已經毀損到不堪使用的地步。 - work [wɝk] v.
起作用，成功
Dora and Sam are so different from each other, yet their relationship works.
Dora 和 Sam 簡直就是南轅北轍，但他們的關係卻能維持下去。 - stand [stænd] v.
承受，忍得住
I took a taxi because I can't stand waiting for buses.
我因為受不了等公車而搭了計程車。 - unlock [ʌnˋlɑk] v.
打開，開（鎖）
You can't unlock this door without the key.
你沒有鑰匙是打不開這扇門的。 - evil [ˋiv!] n.
邪惡之事，禍害；邪惡
Stress is one of the most common evils of modern life.
壓力是現代生活最常見的痛苦之一。
The bad guy in the movie had a look of pure evil.
這部電影的反派長得一副邪惡的嘴臉。 - evil [ˋiv!] adj.
邪惡的
This ancient custom was believed to protect people against evil forces.
這個古老的習俗被認為能保護人們不受邪惡力量侵襲。 - disease [dɪˋziz] n.
疾病
Cancer is a common disease in most modern countries.
癌症是多數現代國家的常見疾病。 - poverty [ˋpɑvɚtɪ] n.
貧窮
Ninety percent of people in the country are living in poverty.
這個國家有百分之九十的民眾生活在貧窮之中。 - sting [stɪŋ] v.
叮，刺，螫
One of my earliest memories from childhood is being stung by a bee.
我對童年最早的記憶之一就是被蜜蜂叮。 - sting [stɪŋ] n.
螫傷，刺傷
The sting made the skin on my arm feel painful for a couple of days.
這個被叮咬的傷口讓我手臂的皮膚痛了兩三天。 - heal [hil] v.
治療；癒合
My dad says this medicine will heal a sore throat.
爸爸說這種藥能治療喉嚨痛。
The injury will heal by itself in a few days.
這個傷過幾天就會自行癒合。 - wound [wund] n.
傷，傷口
I waited at the hospital until a nurse showed up and treated the wound.
我在醫院等到護士來幫我處理傷口。 - wound [wund] v.
使受傷
Lionel was badly wounded in the war, but he is still able to walk.
Lionel 在戰爭中受了重傷，但他還能走。 - release [rɪˋlis] v.
釋放，放出
The police really messed up when they released the wrong person from jail.
警方從監獄釋放錯人而陷入一陣大亂。 - suffering [ˋsʌfərɪŋ] n.
苦難，折磨
The lack of food caused a lot of suffering in some parts of the country.
缺乏糧食讓這個國家部分地區民不聊生。 - suffer [ˋsʌfɚ] v.
受苦；經歷（壞事）
Though Chris was suffering from a cold, he hasn't taken a day off.
雖然 Chris 患了感冒，卻一天假也沒請。
Our team suffered a bad loss in yesterday's game.
我們隊在昨天的比賽中慘敗。 - originally [əˋrɪdʒən!ɪ] adv.
原先，起初
The building was originally a place to keep food.
這棟建築物本來是儲放食物的地方。 - original [əˋrɪdʒən!] adj.
原先的，最早的
The original box was made of wood, but I changed it for a metal one.
原本的盒子是木製的，但我換成金屬的。 - consider [kənˋsɪdɚ] v.
認為；考慮
I know Lucas well, but I don't consider him to be a close friend.
我相當了解 Lucas，但我不將他視為一個關係親近的朋友。
Please consider my offer and give me an answer tomorrow.
請考慮一下我的提議，並在明天給我個答案。 - consideration [kənsɪdəˋreʃən] n.
考慮
After serious consideration, Steven decided not to join the army.
在謹慎的考慮之後，Steven 決定不從軍了。 - according to
根據，依照
According to the TV news, there's going to be a big storm on the weekend.
根據電視新聞，週末將有暴風雨。 - lead to
導致
The disease has led to almost fifty deaths so far.
這種疾病目前已經導致近五十人喪生。 - right away
立刻
The car has a serious problem and I'm going to have it fixed right away.
這輛車出現嚴重的毛病，我要立刻送修。 - and so on
等等，諸如此類
You had better put the milk, butter, and so on in the fridge.
你最好把牛奶、奶油之類的東西放進冰箱。 - over and over
一次又一次
Cedric asked his mother over and over until she finally let him go out.
Cedric 問了媽媽一遍又一遍，直到她最後放他出門。 - even though
即便
Even though it's only February, the weather is quite warm.
儘管現在才二月，天氣卻已經相當暖和了。 - go too far
做得過份，過火
Mark was just trying to amuse his friends, but he went too far.
Mark 只是想在朋友面前搞笑，卻做得過火了。
