Two of the most popular themes in science fiction movies are space travel and time travel, and a 2014 film called Interstellar makes use of both ideas. It is about a scientist who travels to a distant place in outer space, leaving his young daughter behind on Earth. When he next meets her, on a space station orbiting Saturn, she is a very old woman. The scientist, on the other hand, is only a few months older. This phenomenon is explained by Albert Einstein's theories of relativity. Thanks to Einstein, scientists know that time slows as moving objects approach the speed of light. Moving at such speeds would make time travel theoretically possible.
科幻電影最受歡迎的兩個主題是太空旅行和時光旅行，而 2014 年一部叫做《星際效應》的電影同時採用了這兩個概念。電影是關於一位科學家去了遙遠的外太空，獨留他的小女兒在地球。當他在繞著土星運行的太空站上再次見到她時，她已成了一個老婦人。另一方面，科學家只老了幾個月而已。這種現象可以用愛因斯坦的相對論來解釋。多虧了愛因斯坦，科學家瞭解當物體以接近光速移動時，時間會變慢。用這樣的速度移動，會讓時光旅行在理論上成為可能。
As countless movies and novels have demonstrated, people love the idea of traveling through time. They like to imagine themselves seeing what the world is like in the years to come, and then coming back to the present with knowledge that nobody yet possesses. Likewise, the possibility of going to the past is equally attractive. We could prevent disasters from happening in our lives, or stop terrible events from taking place. Returning to the present, however, we would undoubtedly find things changed.
如同無數電影和小說所呈現的，人們喜愛穿越時空的概念。他們喜歡想像自己看見未來世界的模樣，並且掌握著尚未有人知道的知識回到現在。同樣地，回到過去的可能性也同樣吸引人。我們能夠預防災害在生活中發生，或是阻止可怕的事件發生。然而，回到現在之後，我們肯定也會發現一切都被改變了。
Imagine you could travel to the past. You would discover what really happened in events that historians can only theorize about. Think how amazing it would be to witness Cao Cao's fleet set ablaze by the fire ships in the Battle of Red Cliffs in AD 208. You could also meet important historical figures, like Christopher Columbus. You might join his great voyages across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World. You would have to be careful, though. Getting involved in past events and changing them would in turn affect the present, and maybe not in a good way.
想像你能回到過去。你就能一窺那些歷史學家僅能以理論推測出的事件的真實面貌。試想若能目睹曹操的艦隊在西元 208 年的赤壁之戰中被火船燒成烈焰，那該有多麼驚人。你也可以和重要的歷史人物見面，像是哥倫布。你或許可以加入他橫越大西洋到新世界的偉大航程。不過，你得小心。捲入過去的事件，然後改變它們，可能會反過來影響現在，而且可能是不好的影響。
In that case, you might prefer to go forward in time. You could observe the long-term effects of climate change, for instance. Then you could come back and advise the rest of us what to do and what to avoid doing. What's more, you could find out whether humans or machines rule the world, or whether humans even exist anymore. Perhaps people would have made contact with intelligent alien life. You could tell everyone what aliens look like on your return. Or, you could just take a look at your future self, as well as your wife or husband and kids.
既然如此，你可能比較偏好前往未來。舉例來說，你可以觀察氣候變遷的長遠影響。然後你可以回來建議我們其他人什麼該做，什麼不該做。此外，你也可以知道是人類還是機器在統治世界，或是否人類仍然存在。也許人類已經和有智慧的外星生物接觸了。你可以在回來後告訴大家外星人的樣子。或者，你可以只看看未來的自己，還有你未來的老婆或是老公以及孩子。
It's fun to speculate about time travel. If it really were possible, however, the effects could be chaotic. The fact that we could travel without restriction to the past or the future would change life beyond our imagination or even threaten our existence. For the time being, we can only make movies that guess at the consequences.
臆測時光旅行很有趣。然而，如果時光旅行成真了，結果將可能很混亂。若是我們能毫不受限地穿越到過去或是未來，那將會對我們的生活造成難以想像的改變，或甚至威脅到我們的生存。目前我們就只能拍電影來揣測後果。
- journey [ˋdʒɝnɪ] n.
旅程，旅行
The journey took us a whole day because all flights were canceled and we had to travel by train.
這趟旅程花了我們一整天，因為所有的班機都被取消了，而我們得搭火車過去。 - orbit [ˋɔrbɪt] v.
繞軌道運行
The spaceship orbited the planet three times before landing on it.
太空船在著陸前繞了行星三圈。 - theory [ˋθiərɪ] n.
理論，學說
Professor King's theory about the beginnings of life on Earth has not been accepted by most other scientists.
King 教授的地球生命起源理論尚未被大多數的其他科學家接受。 - theoretically [͵θiəˋrɛtɪk!ɪ] adv.
理論上
Theoretically your suggestion can work, but it will cost a lot of money.
你的建議理論上可行，但會花上一大筆錢。 - theorize [ˋθɪə͵raɪz] v.
用理論說明
In his latest book, the economist theorizes about the possibility of a major financial crisis in the near future.
在他的最新著作中，那名經濟學家以理論說明不久的將來發生重大金融危機的可能性。 - approach [əˋprotʃ] v.
近乎；接近
The unemployment rate is approaching ten percent in this part of the country.
在這個國家的這個區域，失業率有將近百分之十。
Our final exams are approaching, so we need to start preparing for them seriously.
我們的期末考試快到了，所以我們必須開始認真準備。 - approach [əˋprotʃ] n.
靠近，接近；方式，方法
With the approach of summer, Celine put her coats and other warm clothing away.
隨著夏天接近，Celine 將她的外套和保暖衣物收了起來。 - countless [ˋkaʊntlɪs] adj.
數不盡的，無數的
The most popular social media sites have countless users in almost every country of the world.
最受歡迎的社群媒體網站在全世界幾乎每個國家都有無數用戶。 - demonstrate [ˋdɛmən͵stret] v.
顯示，證明
Howard brings his girlfriend flowers every week to demonstrate his love for her.
Howard 每週都會拿花給他女友來證明他對她的愛。 - demonstration [͵dɛmənˋstreʃən] n.
證明
Please accept this gift. It is a demonstration of our appreciation for your help.
請接受這份禮物。這是我們表達謝意的方式。 - possess [pəˋzɛs] v.
擁有，具備
My neighbor, Mr. Wang, possesses another house in the country, where he likes to go on weekends.
我的鄰居王先生在鄉下還有一棟房子，他喜歡在週末時過去。 - possession [pəˋzɛʃən] n.
擁有，佔有；所有物，財產
When Amanda's parents died, the farm came into her possession.
Amanda 的父母去世時，這座農場便歸她所有。
The homeless man carried all his possessions in one plastic shopping bag.
那名無家可歸的男人將所有財產都裝在一個塑膠購物袋裡。 - undoubtedly [ʌnˋdaʊtɪdlɪ] adv.
無疑地，肯定地
This restaurant is expensive, but the food is undoubtedly good, so I can recommend it for a special occasion.
這餐廳很貴，但食物毫無疑問非常棒，所以特殊場合要去的話我會推薦它。 - historian [hɪsˋtorɪən] n.
歷史學家
Professor Mason is a historian who specializes in the Middle Ages in Europe.
Mason 教授是專門研究中世紀歐洲的歷史學家。 - historical [hɪsˋtɔrɪk!] adj.
歷史上的
This book describes the lives of some important historical figures in China.
這本書描述了中國一些重要歷史人物的生活。 - amazing [əˋmezɪŋ] adj.
極好的；令人驚訝的
The train passes by some amazing scenery along the way to Hualien.
火車開往花蓮的途中經過一些令人讚嘆的風景。
Alex sat with his mouth open as he listened to his wife's amazing news.
Alex 張嘴坐著，同時聽著妻子的驚人消息。 - amazed [əˋmezd] adj.
吃驚的
The children were amazed at the magician's wonderful skills.
孩子們對魔術師的精湛技藝感到驚奇。 - witness [ˋwɪtnɪs] v.
目擊
It was Frank who witnessed the accident and called an ambulance.
是 Frank 目擊這起事故，並叫來救護車。 - witness [ˋwɪtnɪs] n.
目擊者
Because there were no witnesses to the crime, the police are having great difficulty finding out who did it.
因為這起犯罪案沒有目擊者，警方很難找出兇手。 - fleet [flit] n.
艦隊
My brother is in the navy; he is on a ship in the American Pacific Fleet.
我哥在海軍服役；他現在在美國太平洋艦隊的一艘船上。 - ablaze [əˋblez] adj.
起火的，熊熊燃燒的
The fire quickly spread in the dry heat, and soon the whole hillsidewas ablaze.
乾燥炎熱的天氣下火勢迅速蔓延，很快整個山坡就燒起來了。 - blaze [blez] n.
火焰，烈火
Several fire engines raced by on their way to a blaze at a clothing factory.
幾輛消防車疾馳而過，朝著一家服裝工廠的大火奔去。 - voyage [ˋvɔɪɪdʒ] n.
航海，乘船旅行
A sea voyage from Taiwan to California will take at least ten days.
從台灣到加州的航海之旅至少需要十天。 - affect [əˋfɛkt] v.
影響
It is believed that rising global temperatures are affecting the strength of storms.
人們相信全球氣溫上升正在影響風暴的強度。 - contact [ˋkɑntækt] n.
聯繫；觸碰
I haven't been in contact with Erica since we graduated from high school.
自從高中畢業之後，我跟 Erica 就沒有聯繫了。
If this liquid comes into contact with your skin, you must wash it off immediately.
如果這個液體接觸到你的皮膚，你一定要馬上沖掉。 - contact [kənˋtækt] v.
聯絡
Margaret will be taking an exam all morning, so you won't be able to contact her until noon.
Margaret 要考一整個早上，所以你要到中午才能聯絡到她。 - alien [ˋelɪən] adj.
外星人的；外來的
I watched a movie about alien visitors to the earth.
我看了一部有關外星訪客來地球的電影。
This plant is alien to this environment and can damage the local ecosystem.
這種植物對這個環境來說是外來種，可能會對當地生態系統造成破壞。 - alien [ˋelɪən] n.
外星人
Edward keeps saying he was taken away by aliens once, and they did strange experiments on his body.
Edward 一直說他有被外星人帶走過一次，而且他們有對他的身體做奇怪實驗。 - speculate [ˋspɛkjə͵let] v.
推斷，猜測
Sandra and her friends like speculating about their future lives in college.
Sandra 跟她朋友喜歡猜測她們以後上大學的生活。 - speculation [͵spɛkjəˋleʃən] n.
推斷，猜測
There is no evidence for what this website claims about UFOs; it's only speculation.
沒有證據佐證這個網站所講的幽浮；這只是臆測而已。 - chaotic [keˋɑtɪk] adj.
混亂的，無秩序的
Queenie's childhood was very difficult because of her parents' chaotic, drug-taking lifestyle.
Queenie 的童年很難熬，因為她父母生活既混亂又嗑藥。 - chaos [ˋkeɑs] n.
混亂，混亂狀態
Everyone reacted with fear to the noise of the gunshot, and the street was in chaos for a while.
大家聽到槍聲都很害怕，街上還混亂了好一陣子。 - restriction [rɪˋstrɪkʃən] n.
限制，約束
With this ticket, you can go on any ride in the theme park without restriction.
有了這張票，你可以無受限地搭乘樂園裡任何設施。
There is a restriction on the amount of money you can get from an ATM each day.
你每天能從自動提款機領出的金額是有限制的。 - restrict [rɪˋstrɪkt] v.
限制，限定
Helena restricts her son's computer use to three hours a week.
Helena 限制她兒子一週只能使用三小時的電腦。 - threaten [ˋθrɛtn] v.
危害；威脅，恐嚇
Some small island nations are being threatened with severe flooding due to rising sea levels.
某些小島國深受海平面上升而造成的嚴重淹水威脅。
Bobby reported to his teacher that an older boy at school had threatened him.
Bobby 跟老師說學校有個比較大的男孩威脅了他。 - threat [θrɛt] n.
威脅
The biggest threat to Adam's health is the pack of cigarettes he smokes every day.
Adam 健康最大的威脅是他每天所抽的香菸數。 - existence [ɪgˋzɪstəns] n.
生存，存在
The company has been in existence for almost two hundred years, and it is a huge international organization now.
這間公司已經存在將近 200 年了，現在是一間國際級大機構。 - exist [ɪgˋzɪst] v.
生存，存在
We can't say for sure that ghosts don't exist, but I don't believe in them.
我們無法肯定地說鬼魂不存在，但我不相信有鬼。 - consequence [ˋkɑnsə͵kwɛns] n.
結果，後果
Tommy's car accident was a consequence of careless driving.
Tommy 出車禍是因為沒有小心駕駛。 - make use of
利用，使用
Mr. King made use of his many connections to develop his business overseas.
King 先生利用他的許多人脈來發展海外事業。 - leave ... behind
留下
Amy left her smartphone behind so that she could really enjoy her vacation.
Amy 留下了她的手機，好讓自己能真正享受假期。 - thanks to
多虧，由於
Thanks to the driver's quick reaction, the bus didn't hit the old lady crossing the street.
多虧駕駛的迅速反應，公車沒有撞到過馬路的老太太。 - in turn
因此，結果
I told David the news, and he in turn let everyone else know
我把這消息告訴 David，結果他把消息告訴了其他人。 - beyond one's imagination
超乎想像的
The suffering caused by war is beyond the imagination of most people in modern countries.
戰爭所造成的痛苦對生活在現代國家的大多數人來說很難想像。 - for the time being
目前，暫且
I might try to find a bigger apartment next year, but this one is OK for the time being.
我明年可能會試著找一間大一點的公寓，但這間目前 OK。
