Luis國際資訊事務所

by Leigh Goldberg

Instead of throwing your old Apple computers away, why not turn them into aquariums?

　　What do you get when you combine an outdated Macintosh computer with a tank full of colorful fish? You come out with a living screensaver, _(1)_ known as a Macquarium. Derived from the words Macintosh and aquarium, Macquariums are old Apple computers that have been _(2)_ into working fish tanks. The word was first coined back in the early 1990s by computer writer Andy Ihnatko as a joke. He suggested that the best way to upgrade a Macintosh computer was to turn it into an aquarium. Surprisingly, Ihnatko put his money _(3)_ his mouth was and built his own working model.
　　Macquariums are actually quite easy to construct. First, the _(4)_ of any Macintosh computer are taken out of their hard plastic outer shells. An epoxy is then _(5)_ the seams of the shells to make them waterproof. Last, custom-made glass fish tanks are inserted into the cavities to complete the finished products. For those who can't do everything themselves, prefabricated kits and ready-to-use Macquariums are available on the Internet.
　　One man who has made it his mission _(6)_ discarded Macintosh computers is Jake Harms. His model of choice is the iMac G3 because its translucent shell _(7)_ a range of vibrant hues and adds a colorful dimension to the overall effect. Macquariums are just one way Apple fans have followed the immortal words of its founder, Steve Jobs, to "Think Different."
1. (A) therefore　　(B) however　　(C) otherwise　　(D) likewise
2. (A) designated　　(B) converted　　(C) eliminated　　(D) appointed
3. (A) which　　(B) what　　(C) where　　(D) when
4. (A) facilities　　(B) extensions　　(C) boundaries　　(D) components
5. (A) applied to　　(B) described as　　(C) composed of　　(D) replaced with
6. (A) saves　　(B) save　　(C) saved　　(D) to save
7. (A) stands for　　(B) comes in　　(C) relies on　　(D) takes over

1. You come out with a living screensaver, otherwise known as a Macquarium.
理由:
a. 本空格在測試以下固定用法：
otherwise known as + 身分
又稱∕也叫……
Otto von Bismarck, otherwise known as the Iron Chancellor, was an important German politician.
俾斯麥，又稱鐵血宰相，是位德國重要的政治人物。
b. 根據上述，可知應選 (C)。

2. Derived from the words Macintosh and aquarium, Macquariums are old Apple computers that have been converted into working fish tanks.
理由:
a. (A) designate vt. 指派
designate sb to V　　指派某人從事……
The teacher designated the students who misbehaved in class to clean up the classroom after school.
老師指派上課調皮搗蛋的學生放學後打掃教室。
(B) convert vt. 改造；轉變，轉換
be converted into...　　改造∕轉變為……
= be turned/transformed into...
The hotel was converted into a luxurious apartment building five years ago.
這家飯店在 5 年前被改建成一棟豪華公寓大樓。
(C) eliminate vt. 消除
I think we can eliminate those people from our list.
我認為我們可以把這些人從名單上除名。
(D) appoint vt. 委派，任命
b. 根據語意及用法，可知 (B) 應為正選。

3. Surprisingly, Ihnatko put his money where his mouth was and built his own working model.
理由:
a. 本空格在測試以下固定用法：
put one's money where one's mouth is
某人用行動證明自己的話，某人身體力行
You say you care about the environment, but you never put your money where your mouth is.
你說你關心環境，但你從未用行動證明自己的話。
b. 根據上述，可知應選 (C)。

4. First, the components of any Macintosh computer are taken out of their hard plastic outer shells.
理由:
a. (A) facilities n. 設施，設備（恆為複數）
That university is top-notch in terms of its faculty and facilities.
那所大學就師資及設備而言堪稱一流。
(B) extension n. 延長；增設部分
Helen requested an extension on the deadline of her student loan.
海倫要求延長她償還就學貸款的期限。
(C) boundary n. 邊界；範圍
Scientists continue to push through the boundaries of human knowledge.
科學家不斷在拓展人類知識的範圍。
(D) component n. 零件；成分
The researchers analyzed the moon rocks to determine their components.
研究人員分析那些月球岩石以確定它們的成分。
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (D)。

5. An epoxy is then applied to the seams of the shell to make them waterproof.
理由:
a. (A) be applied to...　　被塗抹於∕運用在……
This ointment needs to be applied to the wound every four hours.
這藥膏必須每 4 小時塗在傷口上。
(B) be described as...
= be depicted as...
被描述成∕形容為……
The writer's first book is described as the best of the year.
該作家的第 1 本書被描述成該年度最棒的作品。
(C) be composed of...　　由……組成
= be made up of...
= consist of...
Our dragon boat team is composed of both men and women.
我們龍舟隊上的成員有男也有女。
(D) be replaced with...　　被……取代
Many of the factory workers were replaced with robots.
這家工廠的許多員工都被機器人取代了。
b. 根據語意及用法，可知 (A) 應為正選。

6. One man who has made it his mission to save discarded Macintosh computers is Jake Harms.
理由:
a. 本空格在測試以下固定用法：
make it + N/adj. + to V
使做∕從事……成為……
注意:
此處的 make 為不完全及物動詞，譯成『使……成為……』。make 之後不得用不定詞片語作受詞，一定要用虛受詞 it 取代，接名詞或形容詞作受詞補語後，再接不定詞片語。
Charles has made to get into Oxford University his goal. (╳)
→Charles has made it his goal to get into Oxford University. (○)
查理斯以進入牛津大學就讀為目標。
The thick cloud of smoke made it difficult to see and breathe.
這團濃密的煙霧令人難以看見東西和呼吸困難。
b. 根據上述，可知應選 (D)。

7. His model of choice is the iMac G3 because its translucent shell comes in a range of vibrant hues and adds a colorful dimension to the overall effect.
理由:
a. (A) stand for...　　代表……
The V you make with your first two fingers stands for victory.
用食指和中指比出的 V 字代表勝利。
(B) come in...　　有……款式∕尺寸∕顏色等
The dress only comes in two colors, light blue and dark purple.
這洋裝只有 2 個顏色，淡藍色與深紫色。
(C) rely on...　　依賴∕依靠……
= depend on...
= count on...
Humorous people rely on being witty and amusing to break the ice and have conversations with strangers.
幽默的人靠著說話風趣與詼諧打破僵局，與陌生人對話。
(D) take over...　　接管……
The new manager is going to take over our department next week.
新任經理將於下星期接管我們的部門。
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (B)。

1. be derived from...　　源自於……
The princess' name is derived from the Egyptian word for beauty.
這位公主的名字源自於埃及文，意思是『美麗』。

2. upgrade vt. 使升級
downgrade vt. 使降級
We upgraded our computers to improve their speed and memory.
我們將電腦升級以加快速度和記憶體。

3. construct vt. 建造
The government constructed the MRT to help people get around the city.
政府建造捷運以便利民眾在市區內到處走動。

4. waterproof a. 防水的
I can swim with my watch on because it is waterproof.
我可以戴著手錶游泳，因為那是防水的。

5. insert vt. 插入
The miner carefully inserted the explosives into the hole.
那名礦工小心翼翼地將炸藥放入洞孔中。

6. prefabricated a. 預製的
fabricate vt. 生產，製造
The company said it could fabricate the goods for us within three weeks.
該公司說他們可以在 3 個星期內幫我們把貨趕出來。

7. discarded a. 被丟棄的
discard vt. 丟棄；拋棄
The beach became polluted as people discarded their garbage in the sand.
這片沙灘因為人們亂丟垃圾而遭到污染。

8. translucent a. 半透明的
transparent a. 透明的
The windows to the shop are translucent, so people have to go inside to get a better look.
這間商店的窗子是半透明的，所以人們必須進去才能看得比較清楚。

9. a range of...　　各式各樣的……
= a variety of...
The restaurant offers a range of authentic Spanish dishes.
這家餐廳供應各式各樣道地的西班牙菜。

10. vibrant a.（顏色）鮮豔的；生動的
The room was decorated in vibrant colors.
這房間用鮮艷的色彩裝飾。

1. screensaver n.（電腦）螢幕保護程式
2. outdated a. 過時的
3. tank n.（儲存液體或氣體的）箱
a fish tank　　魚缸
4. aquarium n. 水族箱；水族館
5. coin vt. 創造（新詞）
6. working model n.（和實物有相同功能的）工作模型
7. shell n. 外殼
8. epoxy n. 環氧樹脂
9. seam n. 縫
10. custom-made a. 訂製的，訂做的
11. cavity n. 洞
12. kit n. 配套元件
13. available a. 可得到的；可用的
14. hue n. 顏色，色彩；色調
15. dimension n. 方面，部分
16. overall a. 全面的，整體的
17. immortal a. 不朽的，不滅的

活跳跳的魚兒螢幕保護程式
與其把舊蘋果電腦丟掉，何不把它變成有活魚的水族箱？
　　結合 1 台過時的蘋果電腦與 1 個充滿五顏六色魚兒的魚缸，這樣你會得到什麼？你會得到 1 個活體螢幕保護程式，又稱為『蘋果水族箱』（Macquarium）。Macquarium 源自於 Macintosh（蘋果電腦的麥金塔系列電腦）與 acquarium（水族箱）這 2 個字，也就是將舊的蘋果電腦改造成可使用的魚缸。『蘋果水族箱』是撰寫關於電腦文章的作家安迪‧伊納克在 1990 年代初期開玩笑創造出來的字詞。他認為將麥金塔電腦升級最好的方式是把它變成水族箱。令人驚訝的是，伊納克真的身體力行，自己做了一個活動模型出來。
　　做 1 個『蘋果水族箱』其實很容易。首先，將零件自任 1 種麥金塔系列電腦的塑膠硬殼中取出。然後，在外殼縫隙塗上環氧樹脂以求防水。最後，將訂做的玻璃魚缸放進凹洞中就完成了。如果不會自己做，網路上有販售預製的成套配件和可立即使用的『蘋果水族箱』。
　　傑克‧哈姆斯把挽救麥金塔的廢電腦視為己任。他首選的型號是 iMac G3，因為它半透明的外殼有各種鮮豔的顏色，使整體效果更加色彩豐富。『蘋果水族箱』是蘋果迷將蘋果創辦人史蒂夫‧賈伯斯不朽名言『創意思維』發揚光大的方式之一。
答案：1. (C)　2. (B)　3. (C)　4. (D)　5. (A)　
6. (D)　7. (B)