氣質姐與可愛可

　　For many people, the winter months are a time to stay inside where it is warm and cozy. For others, it is a chance to hit the slopes and have some fun. Winter sports have been popular since the beginning of time. Two of the top winter sports are skiing and snowboarding. While both involve snow, hills, and speed, they are rather different. In fact, many skiers and snowboarders do not get along because both sides think they have the coolest way to get downhill.
　　The oldest evidence of skiing can be found in Sweden and Norway. Ancient people used skis to help them while hunting and traveling over snow. Interestingly, Norse mythology even talks about gods who used skis to sneak up on people. Skiing for fun developed in more modern times thanks to improvements made to traditional equipment. Being able to move better on the skis meant people would dare to try new things. The first recreational ski club was formed in Australia in 1861.
　　Greats like Stein Eriksen pioneered freestyle skiing, which involves performing daring stunts like flips and twists in the air. Today, top skiers participate in the Winter Olympics and the X-Games while continuing to push the limits of skiing.

1. cozy　a. 溫暖舒適的；愜意的
   My room in the attic is not big, but it is nice and cozy.
   我在閣樓裡的房間雖然不大，但卻很溫馨舒適。
   
2. rather　adv. 頗，相當
   Jason was rather surprised to see his sister dating a much older man.
   約翰很驚訝看到他妹妹和一個年紀大她很多的男子約會。
   
3. get along　　相處融洽
   Amanda and I don't have much in common, but we still get along quite well.
   亞曼達和我並沒有太多共通點，不過我們還是處得蠻好的。
   
4. sneak up on...　　偷偷地靠近……
   Vivian's little brother snuck up on her while she was reading and scared her half to death.
   薇薇安的弟弟趁她在看書時偷偷溜到她身邊，把她嚇個半死。
   
5. dare to + 原形動詞　　膽敢（做）……
   Tim must have been lying to me because he didn't dare to look me straight in the eye.
   提姆當時一定在對我說謊，因為他不敢直視我的眼睛。
   
6. recreational　a. 娛樂的，休閒的
   The school offers a variety of recreational activities for its students.
   這間學校為學生提供了各式各樣的休閒活動。
   
7. pioneer　vt. 開創；倡導
   The surgeon pioneered the first successful heart transplant, which changed the medical world.
   那位外科醫生進行了第一例成功的心臟移植手術，顛覆了整個醫學界。
   
8. daring　a. 大膽的；勇敢的
   The fire fighter's daring rescue effort resulted in many lives being saved.
   那位消防員英勇救人的行為拯救了許多生命。

1. slope　n. 坡
   
2. downhill　a. 下坡的 & adv. 向下坡地
   
3. Norse　a. 挪威（人）的
   
4. mythology　n. 神話
   
5. stunt　n. 特技動作∕表演
   
   

hit 可用來表示『去……』
本文標題的 hit the slopes 意指『到雪坡滑雪』。除了表『擊，打』之外，hit 也常用來作『去……』之意，例如 hit the gym 即為『上健身房』、hit the mall 則是『去購物中心』，或 hit the bookstore 為『去逛書店』的意思等。
A: I've gained so much weight that I can't even put on my jeans.
B: Me, too. It's time to hit the gym.
（甲：我最近胖了好多，甚至連牛仔褲都穿不下了。）
（乙：我也是。是該上健身房的時候了。）

　　對許多人來說，冬天的幾個月份是溫暖舒適地待在室內的時節。對其他人而言，這卻是個痛快滑雪的好機會。冬季運動自古以來都相當盛行。其中兩種最受歡迎的冬季運動分別為滑雪和滑雪板。雖然這兩者皆與白雪、山坡及速度有關，但它們卻大不相同。事實上，許多滑雪者和玩雪板的人怎樣也處不來，因為兩邊都認為自己滑下坡的方式是最酷的。
　　最早的滑雪證據是出現在瑞典與挪威。古代人無論是打獵或是在雪上通行都會借助滑雪板。有趣的是，挪威神話中甚至有天神會藉由滑雪來偷溜到人類身旁。多虧了傳統器材上的改良，滑雪在近代發展成為一種消遣。人們使用滑雪板能移動得更靈活，也意謂著他們會大膽嘗試新的事物。1861年時，第一個滑雪的休閒俱樂部便於澳洲成立。
　　諸如斯坦‧艾瑞克森等的傳奇人物開創了自由式滑雪，在當中，滑雪者會展現空中翻身及轉體等大膽特技。如今，頂尖的滑雪選手則紛紛參加冬季奧運及X-Games大賽，不斷挑戰滑雪運動的極限。