第 37 題至第 41 題為題組

        Until recently, most American school textbooks told only part of Columbus’ story, and that part made him look like a brave hero. He was presented as the man who discovered the “New World.” But a more balanced presentation would have shown another side to the story: it would have described some values and beliefs that Columbus shared with most European travelers of that time and with the kings and queens of their nations in the “Old World.” First of all, they were 

hungry for gold, and were willing to do anything to get it. Second, they believed that they had the right to claim other people’s land for their own nations (especially if the inhabitants there were not Christians, were uncivilized, and looked very different from them). Finally, they believed that they had a right to do anything they pleased with the native inhabitants of those lands. 

        On his first voyage, Columbus claimed all the lands that he found for the king and queen of Spain. He gave Spanish names to many of the islands that he discovered. He took ten native Indians captives and forced them to return to Spain with him, but four of them died on shipboard. During their captivity the remaining six were taught Spanish, and Columbus took them back to America on his second voyage to serve as interpreters. 

        From the very first voyage, Columbus suggested the possibility of making the Indians slaves to the king and queen of  Spain. On the second voyage, he put this idea into practice in the most brutal way possible. 

第 42 題至第 45 題為題組

        People have always told stories that explain how the world came to be and how people arrived on it. On the Northwest Coast of North America, Native Americans tell about Raven. Raven is a giant bird that can 42 human form by pushing up his beak and shrugging off his wings, which then become a coat. According to tradition, the universe 43 a wide ocean that covered swampy ground. Birds and sea creatures lived in and around it. Raven made the earth by picking up stones with his beak and dropping them into the ocean. When the earth was big enough, Raven flew down and walked 

on the shore, looking out at the vast ocean and feeling lonely. Then he began to hear tiny voices, 44 seemed to be coming from a clam shell at his feet. Raven pried open the clam shell with his mighty claws and peered in. Inside the clam shell 45 people. As the story goes, Raven coaxed them out of the shell and set them on the land, and they were the first people of the Haida tribe of the Northwest Coast. 

第 46 題至第 50 題為題組

        The term “First Lady” is used to refer to the wife of an elected official. In many countries, it is usually 46 for the wife of the President. The term is also used to describe the leading woman of a certain profession, which is 47 Martha Graham, the great American dancer, is often referred to as the first lady of modern dance. 

        Though the term has been adopted by countries all over the world, it is commonly 48 back to Dolley Madison, wife of the fourth U.S. President, James Madison. While her husband was serving as Secretary of State for third President Thomas Jefferson, Dolley was often asked by Jefferson, a widower, to serve as his First Lady for official ceremonial functions. She then continued her service through her husband’s two 49 as President. When she died in 1849, legend  50 it that then-President Zachary Taylor called her “First Lady” in his eulogy. However, no record of this speech has 

ever been found.