News Corner﹕What time is it？
【明報專訊】"What time is it now?" was trending on Twitter in Turkey (土耳其) because the Turkish government had postponed time change for the national election that took place on November 1. People were confused because digital clocks automatically change the time regardless of the government's decision.
Like some of its neighbours including Bulgaria (保加利亞), Greece (希臘) and Romania (羅馬尼亞), Turkey was supposed to fall back an hour at the end of daylight saving time. However, since the government wanted more daylight for the voting in the evening on polling day, it postponed the time change by two weeks. This move bewildered the public.
Electronic devices like smartphones adjusted the time automatically. Commenting on the decree made by the President of Turkey, a British expatriate said, "While he can hold back time, he can't hold back automatic clocks, which have gone ahead and changed the hour regardless." (source: Ming Pao, BBC, The Independent)
■Photo story
The Turkish government sparked confusion of time by delaying the end of summer time. A Twitter user said mockingly it was the first time the people of Turkey had been united about an issue.
■Words
national election 全國選舉
daylight saving time 日光節約時間
summer time 夏令時間
■Quiz
Choose the correct answers. (answers on next text)
1. What was the people of Turkey confused about?
a. date
b. time
c. government decision
2. Which of the following country is near Turkey?
a. Britain
b. Bulgaria
c. Italy
3. Why did the Turkish government delay the time change?
a. It wanted to have more daylight in the evening of the polling day.
b. It wanted to store up more solar energy for winter.
c. It followed what other countries had done.
4. A reason why people were confused is that...
a. all clocks had been broken in Turkey
b. the president kept changing his decision
c. digital clocks had automatically adjusted the time
■Glossary
regardless of (prep phr) 不顧
bewilder (v) 使……迷惑
adjust (v) 調整
expatriate (n) 僑民
