Pour oil on troubled waters

According to scientists, an oil spill in the sea is one of the worst forms of pollution. Oil cannot dissolve in water and forms a thick layer in the water which suffocates fish and stops marine birds from flying. In 2004, a hurricane toppled an oil rig into the Gulf of Mexico（墨西哥海灣）in the USA. The oil is still leaking and it is the longest ongoing oil spill in USA history. 

What is your understanding of the expression “pour oil onto troubled waters”in the following sentence? Did John make the situation better or worse? 

Santa Claus

Christmas Eve（24th of December）is approaching. While Catholics attend Midnight Mass（子夜彌撒）to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, children hang Christmas stockings up to await Santa Claus to fill them with gifts. 

What is your image of Santa Claus? It is deep rooted in people’s minds that Santa Claus is a jolly old man with a white beard and white hair, and dressed in a red suit with white fur trim. 

In fact, this grandfatherly image was developed in the United States. In 1822, Clement Clark Moore wrote a popular poem for his children. 

Comfort food

We all know that food is an essential thing because it provides human beings with the nutrients and energy to grow. Food is not only necessary for our body's health but also beneficial to our mental well-being. Thus, some people take “comfort food” to make themselves feel better when they are in a bad mood. The authoritative Oxford English Dictionary added a definition for this modern term in 1997: 

The ball is in someone's court

The trade war between China and the United States has been ongoing for more than a year. While both countries are negotiating a deal, you may hear the following comments made by either side from time to time. 

USA’s delegate: “The ball is in China’s court.” 

China’s delegate: “The ball is in the United States’ court.”