中國人發明“步行椅”

Chinese Invents “Walking Chair"

Ling-yi Hsieh, David Lee

【新聞關鍵字】

1. retiree: n. 退休者

2. hectic: adj. 忙碌的

3. buzz: n. 嗡嗡聲

4. debut: n.首演

5. disabled people: n. 殘障人士

6. staircases: n. 樓梯

Like many people, 65-year-old Beijing resident Li Rongbiao was looking forward to peace and quiet after he retired from his job a few years ago. But after an accident in his family, this retiree now finds his life more hectic than ever.

住在北京現年65歲的李榮標（音譯）和多數人一樣，自前幾年退休後便開始追尋平和寧靜的生活。但自從家中遭逢變故，他的退休生活面臨前所末有的繁忙

Li is the inventor of what he calls “the walking chair," which has created a buzz after making its debut at China ‘s largest expo for disabled people two months ago.

李榮標是他稱之為「步行椅」的發明者，兩個月前這項發明在中國最大的身障者博覽會亮相時造成不小騷動。

[Li Rongbiao, Walking Chair Inventor]:

“One time, my wife and I were taking a walk. But she fell and broke her leg. It was so difficult for me to get her upstairs. That’s why I decided I should invent a ‘transportation tool’ for staircases."

李榮標說：「有次我太太和我在散步時，她跌倒摔斷了腿。從此我要把她扶上樓是很困難的，所以我決定發明一個上下樓的『交通工具』。」

【新聞關鍵字】

7. crumbling: adj. 破爛的

8. spare: n. 零件

9. wheelchair: n. 輪椅

10. appeal: n. 吸引力

11. innovation: n. 創新

12. pension: n. 養老金

Orders are now flying in and Li’s crumbling workshop in the suburbs of Beijing receives more visitors from across the country.

除了訂單湧入，李榮標在北京郊區殘破的工作室，現在得接待更多自來全國各地的訪客。

The “walking chair" is an electric chair made out of over 1,000 spares. It can take people up and down stairs and also works as a wheelchair on flat ground.

「步行椅」是由一千多個零件組成的電動椅，不只可以帶人上下樓，在平地也可做一般輪椅使用。

Li says part of the appeal of his chair is that it costs much less than similar products in Germany or Japan . It sells for about $1,500.

李榮標說「步行椅」的吸引力之一，是價格遠比同類的德、日產品便宜，約美金一千五百元。

To fund the research and the various drafts of his chair, Li sold his house in Beijing and took out his life’s savings and pension. He then spent two years perfecting his innovation inside a simple workshop some 28 kilometers outside the city.

為了籌措「步行椅」各種不同形式的研究基金，李榮標賣了北京的房子，還領出畢生積蓄及養老金。他接著花了兩年時間，在城外28公里的簡陋工作室內，將他這項創新修飾的更加完美。

Li always kept the door of his workshop closed so he could work in peaceÉ just a little to peaceful for authorities who thought he could be making explosives.

為求寧靜，李榮標的工作室總是大門深鎖，為此當局還懷疑他可能在製造炸彈。

After reassuring police that his inventions were to help, Li was able to hire seven workers from the area.

李榮標向警察解釋他的發明對社會有益後，總算能在當地僱用七名員工。

It takes the workers two and a half days to finish one chair because they are all made by hand.

因為是全手工製作，工人要花兩天半的時間才能完成一輛「步行椅」。

So far, Li has sold 30 chairs, but has orders for over 300 waiting to be filled.

到目前為止，李榮標賣了三十輛「步行椅」，然而還有三百多張訂單在等著他。

本則影音新聞出處：新唐人電視台英語新聞

http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_life/2009-04-02/288463386813.html

【每日一句】

Don’t cross the line.

不要太過份了

【今日諺語】

Seek the truth from facts.

實事求是