英语博客(A cup of English):002 Chicken soup

　　Advanced.
As the seasons change from Summer to Autumn, a certain recipe that I use starts to appear more often. Chicken soup. Ah, what a concept¹! It has been used for centuries by people who are ill; runny noses, coughs, and aches and pains disappear as this special liquid is digested. It's simple, hot deliciousness warms up our bones and makes us feel comforted, like babies being wrapped in warm blankets. In fact, comfort is exactly what it is, a comfort food, like macaroni and cheese, or meat and potato pie. But there is something extra special about this soup. Grandmothers swear by it; some even say that it has magical powers. All I know is that the combination² of chicken stock³ and thin pasta noodles is an endearing childhood memory.
Grammar notes.
Autumn is replaceable with Fall(americanism).
Useful expressions: aches and pains, exactly, extra special.
Verbs with prepositions⁴: to swear by, to warm up.
All I know is that (colloquial) = in conclusion, as a summary, to sum up.
Beginners.
When it is cold outside, I feel like having something warm to eat. Many people get coughs and colds when the weather changes from warm to cold. Sometimes, children have to miss school for a day or two because they are sick. There are medicines that you can buy to help you feel better. One thing that always makes me feel better is a bowl of chicken noodle soup. It is magic! I feel warm and happier when I eat it. You can buy it in cans, or packets, or you can make it yourself. Either way, it is delicious, natural medicine that chases⁵ away our colds and flus.
Grammar notes.
Opposites: cold/ hot, warm/ cool.
To feel ill = to feel sick(americanism)
Common illnesses: cough, cold, runny nose, sneezes, fever, aches.
Useful expressions for writing: sometimes, either way.

1 concept   

n.概念，观念，思想

参考例句：

• A small baby has no concept of right and wrong.婴儿没有是非概念。
• He was asked to define his concept of cool.他被要求说明自己关于“酷”的定义。

2 combination   

n.组合，合并，联合；

参考例句：

• He carried on the business in combination with his friends.他与朋友们合伙做生意。
• The materials can be used singly or in combination.这些材料可以单独使用也可以混合用。

3 stock   

n.存货，储备；树干；血统；股份；家畜；adj.存货的；平凡的，惯用的；股票的；畜牧的；vt.进货，采购；储存；供给；vi.出新芽；进货

参考例句：

• The shop takes stock every week on Friday mornings.这家商店每星期五早晨盘点存货。
• Experts have forecast an upturn in the stock market.专家已预测股票市场价格有上升趋势。

4 prepositions   

n.介词( preposition的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She lays a lot of emphasis on the usage of prepositions. 她把重点放在介词的使用上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Prepositions and conjunctions are particles. 介词和连词是小品词。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 chases   

n.打猎( chase的名词复数 )；猎物 （指鸟兽等）；槽

参考例句：

• When Bull and his men rob the payroll, Gene chases them down. 当公牛和他手下抢夺工资后，基尔追踪他们。 来自互联网
• It was one of these boring films with endless police chases. 这是那种乏味的电影，尽是没完没了的警察追击的场面。 来自互联网