高中(學測,指考)◆英文自由測驗(難度:隨機)-阿摩線上測驗

阿摩：人生是可以逆轉勝的

8分

(1 分)

模式:自由測驗
科目:高中(學測,指考)◆英文
難度:隨機

1(B).

10. Sorry for being late. Someone gave me______directions and I got totally lost.
(A) dreary
(B) faulty
(C) handy
(D) steady

2(A).

7. A human body usually has a ______ temperature of about 37 degrees C.
(A) steady
(B) various
(C) gradual
(D) precious

3(　).

五、閱讀測驗

第 35 至 38 題為題組

The Swiss army knife is a popular device that is recognized all over the world. In Switzerland, there is a saying that every good Swiss citizen has one in his or her pocket. But the knife had humble beginnings.

In the late nineteenth century, the Swiss army issued its soldiers a gun that required a special screwdriver to dismantle and clean it. At the same time, canned food was becoming common in the army. Swiss generals decided to issue each soldier a standard knife to serve both as a screwdriver and a can opener.

It was a lifesaver for Swiss knife makers, who were struggling to compete with cheaper German imports. In 1884, Carl Elsener, head of the Swiss knife manufacturer Victorinox, seized that opportunity with both hands, and designed a soldier’s knife that the army loved. It was a simple knife with one big blade, a can opener, and a screwdriver.

A few years after the soldier’s knife was issued, the “Schweizer Offizier Messer,” or Swiss Officer’s Knife, came on the market. Interestingly, the Officer’s Knife was never given to those serving in the army. The Swiss military purchasers considered the new model with a corkscrew for opening wine not “essential for survival,” so officers had to buy this new model by themselves. But its special multi-functional design later launched the knife as a global brand. After the Second World War, a great number of American soldiers were stationed in Europe. And as they could buy the Swiss army knife at shops on military bases, they bought huge quantities of them. However, it seems that “Schweizer Offizier Messer” was too difficult for them to say, so they just called it the Swiss army knife, and that is the name it is now known by all over the world.

【題組】35. What is the main purpose of the passage?
(A) To explain the origin of the Swiss army knife.
(B) To introduce the functions of the Swiss army knife.
(C) To emphasize the importance of the Swiss army knife.
(D) To tell a story about the designer of the Swiss army knife.

4(　).

三、文意選填

第 21 至 30 題為題組

In the traditional religions of Africa, life does not end with death. After death, humans continue to __21__ as spirits. Some African groups believe these spirits dwell underground in a world much like that of the living—but upside down. Other groups believe the sky is the permanent __22__ place of the dead. For instance, the Bushmen of southern Africa believe that the spirits of the dead go up to the sky and become stars.
Among the spirits, the ancestors __23__ a special category of their own. As ancestors, they have some extra powers. To become an ancestor is the best that one can __24__ after death. However, not everyone who dies will turn into an ancestor. For one to become an ancestor, there are __25__ to be fulfilled while the person is alive—living an upright life and fulfilling all social and religious duties, for example.
Many African groups believe that the spirits of ancestors remain near their living descendants as __26__ of the family and their traditions. They help in times of trouble as long as their descendants perform proper rituals and pay them __27__ respect. But they punish people if certain ceremonies have not been performed properly or if there are some __28__ of community laws.

Ancestor worship also plays a very __29__ role in the mythologies of some African peoples. For example, the people of Buganda in present-day Uganda say that their first ancestor was Kintu, who came from the land of the gods and married Nambe, daughter of the king of heaven. Another example is the Dinkas of Sudan, who believe they are descended from Garang and Abuk, the first man and woman created by God as tiny clay figures in a pot. For these Africans, the honored dead have become not only objects of worship but also __30__ of tales and legends.

(AB) due (AC) subjects (AD) guardians (AE) conditions (BC) live on (BD) resting (BE) hope for (CD) significant (CE) violations (DE) comprise

【題組】26.

5(　).

Today's teen consumer market is the most profitable it has ever been. Even though 65% of teens claim that they rely on themselves for their fashion ideas, it is estimated that less than 20% of the teen population is innovative enough to drive fashion trends, according to a recent study by a marketing firm. Marketers recognize this fact and often use elements of youth culture to promote their products. Perhaps one of the best examples is their use of hip-hop culture. It is reported that hip-hop fashion alone generates $750 million to $1 billion annually. Sales of rap music and videos each exceed that amount. Rap's rise and sustained global popularity is a good illustration of how influential youth culture is on youth attitudes and behavior. Remember when Madonna hit the charts with her bra in full view while singing about "virginity"? Soon after that, adolescent girls around the world began wearing their underwear outside their clothes. Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger was fully aware of the power of youth culture. He marketed his brand by giving clothes to famous MTV stars and featuring teen stars in his print ads. Picking up on teens' interest in computer games, Hilfiger sponsored a Nintendo competition and installed Nintendo terminals in his stores. The payoff? Teens rated Hilfiger jeans as their number one brand in a survey in 2000.
【題組】52. What is the best title for this passage?
(A) The Importance of Marketing
(B) The Power of Youth Culture
(C) The Popularity of Hip-hop Fashion
(D) The Success of Tommy Hilfiger

6(　).

說明：第31至40題，每題一個空格，請依文意在文章後所提供的
(A) 到 (J) 選項中分別選出最適當者，並將其英文字母代號標示在答案卡之「選擇題答案區」。每題答對得1分，答錯不倒扣。 Can young people really improve the world by influencing their elders to change a policy? Read this story and decide for 31 . Dolphins, like most of us, love to eat tuna. So in many parts of the world dolphins and fishermen are in 32 for tuna. In the past, there wasn’t much conflict 33 dolphins and fishermen, because the numbers of tuna in the ocean were enormous. Now, however, men have developed huge fishing nets that form underwater “walls” that 34 for miles. They can catch thousands of tuna at one time. Unfortunately, they 35 catch many dolphins at the same time. Dolphins, like us, have to breathe air. When they are 36 in the nets too long, they cannot breathe. By the time they are brought 37 the ship, they will be dead. Many children were upset to hear about the 3 8 death of these wonderful sea creatures and decided to help 39 them. They wrote letters to the tuna companies and supermarkets asking them to find a way to spare dolphins. Eventually their hard work paid 40 . Now you can buy tuna with the label “dolphin-free tuna.” So you see, everyone can make a difference. (AB) also (AC) trapped (AD) between(AE) stretch (BC) save (BD) senseless (BE) competition (CD) aboard (CE) yourself (DE) off
【題組】34

7(　).

第 11 至 15 題為題組
We all know that too much stress is not good for our health, but too little is not ideal, either. While __11__ stress can be dangerous to the body, short-term stress is actually healthy.
Short-term stress triggers the production of protective chemicals in our body and strengthens the body’s defenses. __12__ our body is in a vulnerable situation, a burst of stress will quickly mobilize the body’s own repair system to defend the damaged areas. This __13__ us from physical discomfort and sickness. Small amounts of stress hormones may even sharpen our memory. A recent study found that when rats were forced to swim—an activity that places them under stress for a short while—they remembered their way through mazes far __14__ than rats that were in a relaxed state.
The key to a healthy lifestyle is to keep our stress level __15__ . Too much stress will make us cranky and sick. Too little stress, on the other hand, will lead to boredom and low motivation.
【題組】15.
(A) balanced
(B) balancing
(C) balances
(D) to balance

8(　).

四、文意選填(10%) 說明：第31至40題，每題一個空格，請依文意在文章後所提供的
(A) 到 (J) 選項中分別選出最適當者，並將其英文字母代號標示在答案卡之「選擇題答案區」。每題答對得1分，答錯不倒扣。 Amir tied two sacks of salt to the back of his donkey and headed for the market to sell the salt. On (31) , Amir and the donkey passed a stream. The donkey jumped into the stream to cool (32) . As a result, much of the salt melted in the water, ruining the salt for Amir but (33) the load for the donkey. Amir tried to get to the market on the following days, but the donkey (34) the same trick and ruined the salt. Amir was very much (35) by the donkey’s trick, but did not know what to do. So he stopped going to the market for three days and tried to think of a way to (36) the donkey a lesson. On the third day, he (37) came up with a good idea. The next day, Amir loaded the sacks (38) with salt but with sand. When the donkey jumped into the stream and got the sacks wet, they became much (39) . The donkey was so much weighed down by the wet sand that he could hardly get out of the stream. From then on, the donkey learned the lesson, and (40) carried Amir’s salt to the market without ruining it. (AB) dutifully (AC) played (AD) heavier (AE) the way (BC) not (BD) lightening (BE) finally (CD) himself (CE) teach (DE) troubled
【題組】40

9(　).

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is a very beautiful city. Situated on both banks of the winding River Vltava, Prague is like one big open-air museum. 26 some six hundred years of architecture nearly untouched by natural disaster or war, the city retains much of its medieval appearance. ＿27＿ you go, there are buildings in Romanic, Baroque, and Rococo styles that were popular hundreds of years ago. All of them successfully 28 the destruction of postwar redevelopment and remained unchanged. While the Iron Curtain was still in place under the communist government, Prague was ＿29＿ visited by foreigners. Since the 1990s, 30 , all that has changed. Prague is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe.
【題組】26.
(A) For
(B) With
(C) Upon
(D) Along

10(　).

說明︰第21至30題，每題一個空格，請依文意選出最適當的一個選項，標示在答案卡之「選擇題答案區」。每題答對得1分，答錯不倒扣。 Now that you are planning to go to college, how can you select an ideal college for yourself? (21) its reputation or the test scores it requires for admission? In fact, it is not (22) simple as that. College education is far more complicated than (23) the reputation of a college or the test scores it requires. In addition to these two factors, you should also have (24) important information. Finding out which college suits you involves time and energy, but (25) more than those you might spend on buying a motorcycle or a computer. Here are some tips (26) choosing an ideal one from a number of colleges. 1. Visit the websites of these colleges and find out which college has departments (27) courses that interest you or will help you prepare for your future career. 2. Are the professors in the departments you plan to (28) into experts in their own fields? 3. Do the colleges allow you to participate in activities (29) will help you develop yourself intellectually and emotionally? I hope the (30) advice is helpful to you in selecting the right college.
【題組】22.
(A) as
(B) too
(C) still
(D) quite

11(　).

第 48 至 51 題為題組

Gunter Grass was the winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Literature. His talents are revealed in a variety of disciplines: He is not only a novelist, poet and playwright, but also a renowned painter and sculptor. As he himself stresses, his creations are closely related to his unique personal history. His father was a German who joined the Nazi party in World War II, while his mother was Polish. As a result, he constantly suffered contradictory feelings: as a Pole who had been victimized, and as someone guilty of harming the Poles. The torment in his heart led him to denounce the Nazis and his political activism has continued throughout his career. His commitment to the peace movement and the environmental movement as well as his unfailing quest for justice has won him praise as “the conscience of the nation.”

In the spring of 1996, he was inspired during a trip to Italy to write a poem with his watercolor brush directly on one of his paintings. Before long, a collection of his “water poems” was born. Painting and literature have become his major forms of creativity. For him, painting is a form of creation with concrete, sensual elements, while writing is a hard and abstract process. When he cannot find words to convey his thoughts, painting helps him find the words to express himself. In this way, Grass not only creates simple depictions of the objects he is fond of in life, such as melons, vegetables, fish, and mushrooms, but also uses them as symbols for mental associations of various kinds. For example, to express the complexity of reality, he sometimes places unrelated objects in the same painting, such as a bird and a housefly, or amushroom and a nail. Grass has depicted a wide variety of natural scenes, animals and plants, and even human artifacts of the German countryside, portraying them in poems, and allowing words to make the paintings rich in literary value.

【題組】51. Which of the following correctly characterizes Grass’s poems, according to the passage?
(A) Most of his poems depict the cruelty of the Nazis.
(B) The theme of his poems won him the Nobel Peace Prize.
(C) The poems on his paintings are often not related to objects in the real world.
(D) The ideas in his poems are expressed more thoroughly with the help of his paintings.

12(　).

二、綜合測驗（20%）說明：第21至40題，每題有一個空格。請依文意選出最適當的一個選項，標示在答案卡之「選擇題第一部分」。每題答對得1分，答錯不倒扣。 21-30題為題組 There was once a man in Puerto Rico who had a wonderful parrot. The parrot was (21) , there was no other bird like him in the whole world. He could learn to say any word-- (22) one. He could not say the name of his native town, Catano. The man (23) everything he could to teach the parrot to say “Catano,” but he never (24) . At first he was very gentle with the bird, but gradually he lost his (25) . “You stupid bird! (26) can’t you learn to say that one word? Say ‘Catano’ or I’ll kill you!” But the parrot would not say it. Many times the man screamed, “Say ‘Catano’ or I’ll kill you!” But the bird would not (27) the name. Finally the man gave up. He picked up the parrot and threw the bird into the chicken house. In the chicken house, there were four old chickens, waiting to be killed (28) Sunday’s dinner. “You are even more stupid than the chickens,” the man said as he was leaving. The next morning, the man went out to the chicken house. When he opened the door, he was (29) by what he saw. He could not believe his eyes and ears! On the floor (30) three dead chickens. The parrot was screaming at the fourth, “Say ‘Catano’ or I’ll kill you!”
【題組】22.
(A) without
(B) beyond
(C) except
(D) despite

13(　).

第 48 至 51題為題組 In the Spartathlon, one of the world’s toughest ultra-marathons, runners run 245 km, about six marathons, within 36 hours. The runners start in Athens, and run all the way to historical Sparta. The Spartathlon’s heritage goes back to 490 B.C., when Pheidippides, an Athenian, made the journey to Sparta to ask the Spartans for help in fighting the invading Persians. It is recorded that he reached Sparta on the day after he left Athens. In 1982, this story sparked the interest of a British air-force officer and long-distance runner called John Foden, who wondered if it really was possible to run from Athens to Sparta and arrive the next day. With four other officers, Foden decided to see for himself; after a 36-hour slog they arrived in Sparti, as the town is now called. That achievement inspired the organization of the first Spartathlon a year later. The Spartathlon’s attraction has two sources. The first is the difficulty of finishing it. The Spartathlon is not the most difficult race, but it combines lots of different tests. There is the heat of the Greek day, and then the plunge in temperatures when darkness falls. There are climbs: the route includes a series of ascents, among them a 1,200-meter mountain pass in the dead of night. Above all, there is the relentless pressure of the clock. The second reason is that the idea of retracing Pheidippides’s footsteps still grips many participants. It feels like racing in history, passing through places where history began. 第 7 頁 102 年指考共 7 頁英文考科 - 7 - As finishers receive a laurel wreath and water from schoolgirls, many are overjoyed with emotion. However, the euphoria is fleeting. Within a few minutes, their joints and muscles start to seize up: after the race, Sparti resembles the set of a zombie film as participants lumber slowly around on legs that will not bend. But the itch to do it all over again soon appears.
【題組】48. What is the second paragraph mainly about?
(A) The background of John Foden.
(B) The route of an ultra-marathon.
(C) The origin of the Spartathlon.
(D) The story of Pheidippides in ancient Athens.

14(　).

五、閱讀測驗（占 32分）說明︰第36題至第51題，每題請分別根據各篇文章之文意選出最適當的一個選項，請畫記在答案卡之「選擇題答案區」。各題答對者，得2分；答錯、未作答或畫記多於一個選項者，該題以零分計算。

第 36 至 39 題為題組

A sense of humor is something highly valued. A person who has a great sense of humor is often considered to be happy and socially confident. However, humor is a double-edged sword. It can forge better relationships and help you cope with life, but sometimes it can also damage self-esteem and antagonize others.

People who use bonding humor tell jokes and generally lighten the mood. They’re perceived as being good at reducing the tension in uncomfortable situations. They often make fun of their common experiences, and sometimes they may even laugh off their own misfortunes. The basic message they deliver is: We’re all alike, we find the same things funny, and we’re all in this together.

Put-down humor, on the other hand, is an aggressive type of humor used to criticize and manipulate others through teasing. When it’s aimed against politicians, as it often is, it’s hilarious and mostly harmless. But in the real world, it may have a harmful impact. An example of such humor is telling friends an embarrassing story about another friend. When challenged about their teasing, the put-down jokers might claim that they are “just kidding,” thus allowing themselves to avoid responsibility. This type of humor, though considered by some people to be socially acceptable, may hurt the feelings of the one being teased and thus take a toll on personal relationships.

Finally, in hate-me humor, the joker is the target of the joke for the amusement of others. This type of humor was used by comedians John Belushi and Chris Farley—both of whom suffered for their success in show business. A small dose of such humor is charming, but routinely offering oneself up to be humiliated erodes one’s self-respect, and fosters depression and anxiety.

So it seems that being funny isn’t necessarily an indicator of good social skills and well-being. In certain cases, it may actually have a negative impact on interpersonal relationships.

【題組】36. According to the passage, which group is among the common targets of put-down humor?
(A) Comedians.
(B) People who tell jokes.
(C) Politicians.
(D) People who are friendly to others.

15(　).

第 16 至 20題為題組 The U.S. Postal Service has been struggling financially for some time. It plans to stop delivering mail on Saturdays, 16 Aug. 1 this year. This decision was announced on Wednesday without congressional approval. 17 forbidden to do so by the Congress, the agency for the first time will deliver mail only Monday through Friday. It is expected that this 18 will save about $2 billion a year. In recent years, the postal service has suffered tens of billions of dollars in losses 19 the increasing popularity of the Internet and e-commerce. The postal service plans to continue Saturday delivery of packages, which remain a profitable and growing part of the delivery business. Post offices would remain open on Saturdays 20 customers can drop off mail or packages, buy postage stamps, or access their post office boxes. But hours would likely be reduced at thousands of smaller locations.
【題組】17.
(A) When
(B) Unless
(C) Once
(D) Lest

16(　).

第 44 至 47 題為題組

Spider webs are one of the most fascinating examples of animal architecture. The most beautiful and structurally ordered are the orb webs. The main function of the web is to intercept and hold flying prey, such as flies, bees and other insects, long enough for the spider to catch them. In order to do so, the threads of the web have to withstand the impact forces from large and heavy prey as well as environmental forces from wind and rain for at least a day in most cases.
The orb web is found to have two main characteristics. The first is its geometry, which consists of an outer frame and a central part from which threads radiate outward. Enclosed in the frame are capture spirals winding round and round from the web center out to the frame. The whole web is in tension and held in place by anchor threads, which connect the frame to the surrounding vegetation or objects. The second and perhaps most important characteristic is the material with which it is built. Spider silk is a kind of natural composite that gives this lightweight fiber a tensile strength comparable to that of steel, while at the same time making it very elastic. Two types of silk threads are used in the web. One is highly elastic and can stretch to almost twice its original length before breaking and, for most types of spiders, is covered in glue. This type is used in the capture spiral for catching and holding prey. The other is stiffer and stronger, and is used for the radius, frames and anchor threads, which allows the web to withstand prey impact and to keep its structural strength through a wide range of environmental conditions.

【題組】46. Which part of the web is used for supporting the web itself ?
(A) The center of the web.
(B) The glue on the lines.
(C) The anchor threads.
(D) The capture spiral.

17(　).

第 11 至 15 題為題組

In certain forests, when you look up you will see a network of cracks formed by gaps between the outermost edges of tree branches. It looks like a precisely engineered jigsaw puzzle, each branch growing just perfectly so it almost, 11 , touches the neighboring tree. This beautiful phenomenon is called crown shyness.

Scientists have been discussing crown shyness since the 1920s, proposing 12 explanations for the phenomenon. Some researchers point out that as trees often grow close together, treetops can easily collide and break when swayed by the wind. In order to protect their branches from breakage, trees maintain “shyness gaps”—spaces large enough to prevent them from touching their neighbors.

Other scientists suggest that plants, like animals, 13 resources—nutrients, water, space, and light. In forested areas with thick tree crowns, there is intense struggle for these resources. Gaps in the treetops resulting from crown shyness may allow trees to increase their 14 light and enhance photosynthesis. Additionally, by having branches that do not touch those of their neighbors, trees may be able to limit the spread of leaf-eating insects, and potentially also the transmission of diseases from tree to tree. 15 decades of investigation, there is no consensus on exactly what causes the beautiful and mysterious phenomenon of crown shyness.

【題組】13.
(A) get over
(B) compete for
(C) give way to
(D) make up for

18(　).

The fashion industry in Africa has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years. African fashion design has caught the eyes of international celebrities including former US first lady, Michelle Obama, Rihanna, and Beyoncé, 11 . Global demand for African-inspired fashion has led to incredible sales for some African designers and brands. Folake Folarin–Coker, founder of Tiffany Amber, is one of the best-known fashion designers in both the African and global fashion industry. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, she received her education in Europe, 12 she got an opportunity to interact with various cultures at a young age. 13 , she has a master’s degree in law from Switzerland, but as fate would have it, her passion for fashion led her into fashion design. Folake’s tasteful and colorful creations have earned her global 14 , making her the first African fashion designer to showcase her talent at the New York Mercedes Fashion Week for two consecutive years. She has also been widely 15 in international media such as CNN. In 2013, she was listed as one of the Forbes Power Women in Africa.
【題組】11.
(A) if any
(B) among others
(C) in short
(D) at best

19(　).

第53至56題為題組 The majority of Indian women wear a red dot between their eyebrows. While it is generally taken as an indicator of their marital status, the practice is primarily related to the Hindu religion. The dot goes by different names in different Hindi dialects, and “bindi” is the one that is most commonly known. Traditionally, the dot carries no gender restriction: Men as well as women wear it. However, the tradition of men wearing it has faded in recent times, so nowadays we see a lot more women than men wearing one. The position of the bindi is standard: center of the forehead, close to the eyebrows. It represents a third, or inner eye. Hindu tradition holds that all people have three eyes: The two outer ones are used for seeing the outside world, and the third one is there to focus inward toward God. As such, the dot signifies piety and serves as a constant reminder to keep God in the front of a believer’s thoughts. Red is the traditional color of the dot. It is said that in ancient times a man would place a drop of blood between his wife’s eyes to seal their marriage. According to Hindu beliefs, the color red is believed to bring good fortune to the married couple. Today, people go with different colors depending upon their preferences. Women often wear dots that match the color of their clothes. Decorative or sticker bindis come in all sizes, colors and variations, and can be worn by young and old, married and unmarried people alike. Wearing a bindi has become more of a fashion statement than a religious custom.
【題組】54. What is the significance of the third eye in Hindu tradition?
(A) To stay in harmony with nature.
(B) To observe the outside world more clearly.
(C) To pay respect to God.
(D) To see things with a subjective view.

20(　).

第 21 至 30 題為題組

Textese (also known as chatspeak, texting language, or txt talk) is a term for the abbreviations and slang most commonly used among young people today. The __21__ of textese is largely due to the necessary brevity of mobile phone text messaging, though its use is also very common on the Internet, including e-mail and instant messaging.

There are no__ 22__ rules for writing textese. However, the common practice is to use single letters, pictures, or numbers to represent whole words. For example, “i ＜3 u” uses the picture 23 of a heart “＜3” for “love,” and the letter “u” to __24__ “you.” For words which have no common abbreviation, textese users often __25__ the vowels from a word, and the reader is forced to interpret a string of consonants by re-adding the vowels. Thus, “dictionary” becomes “dctnry,” and “keyboard” becomes “kybrd.” The reader must interpret the __26__ words depending on the context in which it is used, as there are many examples of words or phrases which use the same abbreviations. So if someone says “ttyl, lol” they probably mean “talk to you later, lots of love” not “talk to you later, laugh out loud,” and if someone says “omg, lol” they most __27__ mean “oh my god, laugh out loud” not “oh my god, lots of love.”
The emergence of textese is clearly due to a desire to type less and to communicate more __28__ than one can manage without such shortcuts. Yet it has been severely __29__ as “wrecking our language.” Some scholars even consider the use of textese as “irritating” and essentially lazy behavior. They’re worried that “sloppy” habits gained while using textese will result in students’ growing __30__ of proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.

(AB) quickly (AC) criticized (AD) likely (AE) abbreviated (BC) replace (BD) remove (BE) standard (CD) ignorance (CE) popularity (DE) symbol

【題組】24.

21(　).

Below is an excerpt from an interview with Zeke Emanuel, a health-policy expert, on his famous brothers. Interviewer: You’re the older brother of Rahm, the mayor of Chicago, and Ari, an extremely successful talent agent. And you’re a bioethicist and one of the architects of Obamacare. Isn’t writing a book about how great your family is a bit odd? Zeke: I don’t write a book about how great my family is. There are lots of idiocies and foolishness—a lot to make fun of in the book. I wrote Brothers Emanuel because I had begun jotting stories for my kids. And then we began getting a lot of questions: What did Mom put in the cereal? Three successful brothers, all different areas. I: To what do you attribute the Emanuel brothers’ success? Z: I would put success in quotes. We strive. First, I think we got this striving from our mother to make the world a better place. A second important thing is you never rest on the last victory. There’s always more to do. And maybe the third important thing is my father’s admonition that offense is the best defense. We don’t give up. I: Do you still not have a TV? Z: I don’t own a TV. I don’t own a car. I don’t Facebook. I don’t tweet. I: But you have four cell phones. Z: I’m down to two, thankfully. I: Your brothers are a national source of fascination. Where do you think they’ll be in five years? Z: Ari will be a superagent running the same company. Rahm would still be mayor of Chicago. I will probably continue to be my academic self. The one thing I can guarantee is none of us will have taken a cruise, none of us will be sitting on a beach with a pina colada.
【題組】45. What does Zeke Emanuel have in mind when saying “What did Mom put in the cereal?”
(A) The secret to bringing up successful kids.
(B) The recipe for a breakfast food.
(C) The difference among the brothers.
(D) The questions from his kids.

22(　).

To Whom It May Concern:

Your address was forwarded to us by Why Bother Magazine. All of us here think The International Institute of Not Doing Much is the best organization in the world. You know how to avoid unnecessary activities!

We closely followed the advice in your article. First, we replaced all our telephones with carrier pigeons. Simply removing the jingle of telephones and replacing them with the pleasant sounds of birds has had a remarkable effect on everyone. Besides, birds are cheaper than telephone service. After all, we are a business. We have to think of the bottom line. As a side benefit, the birds also fertilize the lawn outside the new employee sauna.

Next, we sold the computers off to Stab, Grab, Grit, and Nasty, a firm of lawyers nearby. Our electricity bill went way down. Big savings! The boss is impressed. We have completely embraced paper technology. Now that we all use pencils, doodling is on the increase, and the quality of pencilwomanship is impressive, as you can tell from my handwriting in this letter. By the way, if you can, please send this letter back to us. We can erase and reuse it. Just tie it to Maggie’s leg and she’ll know where to take it.

Now it’s very calm and quiet here. You can notice the difference. No more loud chatter on the telephones! All we hear is the scratching of pencil on paper, the sound of pigeons, and the delivery of inter-office correspondence by paper airplane.

Wonderful! I’ve always wanted to work for an insurance company ever since I was a little girl. Now it’s perfect.

Sincerely yours,

Eleanor Lightly

Spokeswoman and Company Hair Stylist

ABC Activity Insurance: Insure against overdoing it

【題組】41. Which of the following best describes the life the author is leading?
(A) A simple, slow-paced life.
(B) A life of hard work and security.
(C) A religious, peasant-like life.
(D) A life away from paper and pencils.

23(　).

European politicians are trying to get the UK Government to make cigarette companies print photos on the packets. These photos will show __(21)__ smoking damages your health. The shocking pictures include images of smoke-damaged lungs and teeth, with reminders in large print that smokers die younger.

The picture __(22)__ have been used in Canada for the last four years. It has been very successful and has led to a 44% __(23)__ in smokers wanting to kick the habit. At the moment EU tobacco manufacturers only have to put written health warnings on cigarette packets __(24)__ the dangers of smoking.

The aim of the campaign is to remind people of the damage the deadly weed does to their body. It is believed that this would be to the best interest of all people, __(25)__ teens who might be tempted to start smoking. These dreadful photos may change the impression among teenagers that smoking is cool and sexy.

【題組】24.
(A) highlight
(B) highlights
(C) highlighting
(D) highlighted

24(　).

Football is more than a sport; it is also an invaluable 31 . In teaching young players to cooperate with their fellows on the practice 32 , the game shows them the necessity of teamwork in society. It prepares them to be 33 citizens and persons.

Wherever football is played, the players learn the rough-and-tumble lesson that only through the

34 of each member can the team win. It is a lesson they must always 35 on the field. Off the field, they continue to keep it in mind. In society, the former player does not look upon himself as a lone wolf who has the right to remain 36 from the society and go his own way. He understands his place in the team; he knows he is a member of society and must 37 himself as such. He realizes that only by cooperating can he do his 38 in making society what it should be. The man who has played football knows that teamwork is 39 in modern living. He is also aware that every citizen must do his part if the nation is to 40 . So he has little difficulty in adjusting himself to his role in family life and in the business world, and to his duties as a citizen.

【題組】31.
(A) cooperation
(B) prosper
(C) teacher
(D) behave
(E) isolated

25(　).

第 48 至 51 題為題組

Scientists are trying to genetically modify the world in which we live. They are even trying to wipe out diseases via genetic modification. For example, researchers have tried to engineer mosquitoes to kill malaria parasites. The malaria parasite is carried by the female Anopheles mosquito. When transmitted to a human, the parasite travels first to the liver and then on to the bloodstream, where it reproduces and destroys red blood cells. An estimated 250 million people suffer from malaria each year, and about one million die—many of them children. There are currently no effective or approved malaria vaccines.

To “kill” malaria, scientists are genetically modifying a bacterium in mosquitoes so that it releases toxic compounds. These compounds are not harmful to humans or the mosquito itself, but they do kill off the malaria parasite, making the mosquito incapable of infecting humans with malaria.

Despite this achievement, scientists are faced with the challenge of giving the modified mosquitoes a competitive advantage so that they can eventually replace the wild population. Complete blockage of the malaria parasite is very important. If some of the parasites slip through the mechanism, then the next generation will likely become resistant to it. And if that happens, the scientists are back where they started.

Another challenge for scientists is to gain public approval for this genetic modification regarding mosquitoes and malaria control. Environmental activists have raised concerns about the release of genetically engineered organisms without any clear knowledge of their long-term effect on ecosystems and human health. There is still a long way to go before genetic modification techniques are put to use in disease control.

【題組】49. Which of the following best shows the organization of this passage?
(A) Introduction => Comparison => Contrast
(B) Problem => Solution => Potential difficulties
(C) Proposal => Arguments => Counter-arguments
(D) Definition => Examples => Tentative conclusions

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