四、閱讀測驗【請依照段落上下文意,選出最適當的答案】 It’s only about thirty-six centimeters tall, but to fans throughout the world, it represents the highest achievement
in football. Every four years, teams from all over the globe contend to take home the FIFA World Cup trophy. Yet,
today nobody can take it home because the 18-carat gold trophy is kept under lock by FIFA, the international football
association. The champion teams receive only a replica, in order to protect the valuable prize from thieves, who have
stolen the trophy twice in its nearly 90-year history.
The original trophy was made by a French sculptor and was called “Jules Rimet Cup” in honor of the founder of
the World Cup tournament. During World War II, it was kept in a shoe box hidden under the bed of Dr. Ottorino
Barassi, the Italian vice-president of FIFA, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Nazi army.
In 1966, the trophy was stolen during a public showing prior to the tournament in England. Luckily, it was found
a short time later in a trash container by a dog. Four years later, Brazil earned permanent possession of the original
trophy by winning its third World Cup title. Unfortunately, the trophy was stolen a second time in 1983 and never
came back, so Brazil had to make a duplicate trophy as replacement.
After Brazil’s football association won the honor and right to keep the first World Cup trophy, a new one,
designed by an Italian artist, was introduced in 1974. This trophy cannot be won outright but remains at the hands of
FIFA, which watches it closely. Today, World Cup winners are awarded a replica that is gold-plated, rather than solid
gold like the real one.
This new trophy weighs a little over six kilograms. Its base contains two layers of a stone called malachite, and
has room for seventeen small plaques bearing the names of the winning teams – enough space to honor the champions
up to the year 2038. After that, another new trophy will have to be made.
【題組】50. Why will a new World Cup trophy need to be made after 2038?
(A) Because FIFA and fans worldwide anticipate to see a new design of the trophy.
(B) Because World Cup players have been complaining that the current trophy is too heavy.
(C) Because there is limited space on the current trophy for the names of champion teams.
(D) Because the stone material of the current trophy is gradually worn out by air and humidity