Cock-a-Doodle-Doo! 猴年過，雞年到 (2005-02-24)
The monkey has climbed out of his tree and now another animal is on the scene. It is the year of the Rooster. Roosters are the life of the party. _(1)_ Unfortunately, they sometimes like to brag about what they have around others that may not be as well off. _(2)_ Roosters are excellent with their finances and are good providers for their families.
Men born in the year of the Rooster can be extremely attractive. _(3)_ Like a rooster in a barnyard, the man born in this year will strut around with his chest thrust out in an effort to show the world his beautiful "feathers."
For the most part, there are two distinct types of Roosters. _(4)_ They are not ignoring what is going on around them, just quietly interpreting their surroundings. Then there are the Roosters that are constantly talking. _(5)_ Roosters have many good qualities such as being organized, precise, alert, and direct. Just as human beings are unique, so are the 12 animals of the Chinese horoscope.
──by Jerri C. Graham
(A) Their good looks, which they are quite aware of, can help them stand out in a crowd.
(B) They may brag, but they usually have a lot to brag about.
(C) The first kind of Roosters can be quiet observers who just look on and barely get involved with others.
(D) Their talkative nature makes them excellent in fields of work where their gift of gab is appreciated and necessary.
(E) They are popular and have a tendency to want to be the center of attention, especially in social situations.
猴子爬下樹，另一個生肖隆重登場。今年是雞年。屬雞的人常是團體中最活躍的分子。他們不只受歡迎，在社交場合更總是想要吸引大家的目光。遺憾地是，他們喜歡在經濟狀況不如他們的人面前吹噓自己的財富。雖然他們喜歡自吹自擂，但通常他們的確擁有許多值得自誇的地方。屬雞的人很會理財，同時也是家裡不可或缺的經濟支柱。
雞年出生的男人十分有魅力。他們自知外貌佼好，而這也令他們豔冠群『雄』。就像在穀倉院子裡的公雞一樣，屬雞的男人會昂首闊步，向全世界的人展示他美麗的『羽毛』。
大體上，屬雞的人有兩種鮮明的典型。第一種是靜默的觀察者，他們通常只旁觀，而很少參與其中。他們並不是漠視身邊的事，只不過是靜靜地分析週遭環境。另一種屬雞的人則是喋喋不休。在必須能言善道的職業領域中，口若懸河的本領使他們表現傑出。屬雞的人有許多優點，像是有條理、做事明確、有警覺性和直截了當。就如同人各有不同，中國的十二生肖也各有其特色。
標準答案: 1. (E) 2. (B) 3. (A) 4. (C) 5. (D)
1. cock-a-doodle-doo n. 咕咕叫 (公雞叫聲)
2. rooster n. 公雞
3. finance n. 財務, 經濟
4. barnyard n. 穀倉前的院子
5. strut vi. 昂首闊步地走
6. distinct a. 截然不同的
7. surroundings n. 四周環境 (恆用複數)
8. constantly adv. 經常地
9. organized a. 有組織的
10. precise a. 精確的
11. aler a. 警覺的
12. horoscope n. 占星術, 天象觀測
1.be on the scene 登場, 出現; 在現場
例:Whenever there's trouble, I know that Mike will be on the scene.
（每當有麻煩出現，我就知道麥可一定會在場。）
2.be the life of the party 是聚會/團體中最活躍的人
例:Jane is always the life of the party wherever she goes.
（阿珍不論走到哪都十分活躍。）
3.brag about/of... 吹噓/自誇……
=boast about/of...
例:That man is always bragging about his children. He's very proud of them.
（那男人不斷地誇耀他的孩子。他十分以他們為傲。）
4.be well off (經濟狀況) 好的, 富裕的
例:It is said that people in this area of town are very well off.
（聽說鎮裡這區的人都很富有。）
5.thrust vt. 挺起 (胸膛); 插進
例:The boy thrust his hands into his pocket and pulled out a ten-dollar coin.
（那男孩把手伸進口袋，掏出一個十塊硬幣。）
6.in an effort to V 為了 (做)……
例:In an effort to pass the test, Tom burnt the midnight oil.
（為了通過考試，湯姆整晚熬夜讀書。）
7.for the most part 大體/致上
例:For the most part, the classes have been going very smoothly.
（課程大致上進行得很順利。）
8.interpret vt. 解析, 詮釋
例:Susan interpreted the meaning of what her professor said and began to cry.
（蘇珊自行解讀她教授話中之意而哭了起來。）
9.Just as + S + V, so + 倒裝句 就如同……
例:Just as this piece of music is soothing, so are most of the composers' other works.
（就像這首曲子一樣，那位作曲家大部分其他作品也一樣聽起來很舒服。）
from 常春藤解析英語
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