Watch Out!  手錶的演進

Some are plastic and cost less than a hundred dollars. Others are practical, inexpensive, and will last for years. _(1)_ are made of the finest gold and cost more than some people make in a decade. These are all different types of watches. Most people have one, with some watch enthusiasts _(2)_ dozens of their favorite brand name. People love their watches. Have you ever wondered why a watch is called a "watch?" According to behavioral scientists, the average person consults his watch 50 times a day. _(3)_ these timepieces became known as "watches."

The history of the watch is interesting, too. Though various kinds of clocks have been _(4)_ for thousands of years, the modern watch was not made possible until the introduction of the spring mechanism in Europe in the 15th century. _(5)_ the 18th century, Switzerland had emerged as the kingdom of clock- and watch-makers, a _(6)_ it still holds to this day. In the 19th century, craftsmen from the region began introducing watches to the world. By the end of that century, watches could be wound by a small stem at the side of the timepiece rather than with a key. It was also around this time _(7)_ German naval officers started wearing wristwatches. Today, most people in the world watch their watch from time to time.

——by Bruce Bagnell

1. (A) Another ones (B) Quite others (C) Still others (D) Some others
2. (A) collects (B) collected (C) collect (D) collecting
3. (A) In addition (B) No wonder (C) At random (D) In doubt
4. (A) around (B) across (C) away (D) along
5. (A) For (B) In (C) By (D) At
6. (A) opponent (B) position (C) suppression (D) destination
7. (A) until (B) in which (C) which (D) that

 

1. 第一題空格應選 (C) Still others
理由:

a. 本空格測試代名詞作主詞的用法:
some...others...still others...
一些……另一些……還有一些……
(用於非限定的三個群體)
例: Hobbies vary with people. Some like to read comic books, others like photography, and still others enjoy swimming.
(嗜好因人而異。有些愛看漫畫,有些喜歡攝影,而還有些喜歡游泳。)

b. 在原句中,空格前兩句的主詞分別為 Some(一些)和 Others(另一些),得知空格應置入 Still others(還有一些),故 (C) 應為正選。

2. 第二題空格應選 (D) collecting
理由:

a. 空格前有介詞 with,譯為『有了……』,且其後有 watch enthusiasts(熱衷於手錶者)作為受詞,故其後不可能接動詞。(A)、(C) 分別是現在式第三人稱動詞及原形動詞,因此均不可選。

b. 本空格測試 with 引導的『情狀介詞片語』之用法,句型如下:
with + 受詞 + 現在分詞/過去分詞
*用現在分詞作受詞補語時,表主動狀態,用過去分詞時則表被動狀態。
例: He talked to me with his hands moving in front of him.
(他跟我說話時,兩手在自己面前動來動去。)

*兩手主動揮動,故用現在分詞 moving。
Sitting in the living room with the curtains drawn, I felt all alone.
(坐在客廳,窗簾拉下來,我覺得好孤單。)

*窗簾被拉下來,故用過去分詞 drawn。

c. 根據上述用法,空格內應置入現在分詞 collecting,表示熱衷手錶者主動收集名牌錶,故 (D) 為正選。

3. 第三題空格應選 (B) No wonder
理由:

a. (A) in addition  此外
例: We'll take a week off. In addition, everyone will get a large bonus.
(我們將放一星期假。此外,大家都會拿到一大筆獎金。)
(B) no wonder  難怪(置於句首)
例: She's been dieting for months. No wonder she lost weight successfully.
(她節食好幾個月了,難怪能順利減重。)
(C) at random  隨意
例: My parents chose my sister's name at random.
(我父母隨便取我妹的名字。)
(D) in doubt  (受)質疑
例: His ability to deal with unexpected problems has never been in doubt.
(他危機處理的能力未曾受過質疑。)

b. 空格前提及人們一天看手錶五十次,根據語意與前後文,可知應選 (B)。

4. 第四題空格應選 (A) around
理由:

a. have been around for + 一段時間
=have been in existence for + 一段時間
已存在若干時間
例: Cell phones have been around for less than 50 years.
(手機問世不到五十年。)

b. 此為固定用法,可知應選 (A)。

5. 第五題空格應選 (C) By
理由:

a. 本空格測試下列時間副詞片語與過去完成式的關係,句型如下:
By + 過去某時, S + 過去完成式  
到某時為止,……已經……
例: By midnight, I had finished ten pages of the assignment.
(到午夜時,我已經完成了十頁作業。)

b. 根據上述,原句有過去完成式 had emerged,可知應置入介詞 By,故選 (C)。

6. 第六題空格應選 (B) position
理由:

a. (A) opponent n. 對手
(B) position n. 地位
例: Jack's position in his company was high until he made a big mistake.
(在犯下大錯前,傑克在公司的地位很高。)
(C) suppression n. 壓制
例: The suppression of the riots took more than a month.
(歷經一個多月才將暴動鎮壓下來。)
(D) destination n. 目的地
例: We can reach our destination by either bus or MRT.
(我們可以搭公車或捷運到目的地。)

b. 根據語意,可知應選 (B)。

7. 第七題空格應選 (D) that
理由:

a. 空格前有 It was 加時間副詞片語 around this time,得知本空格測試強勢句構,句型如下:
It is/was + 介詞片語/副詞子句/時間副詞(片語)+ that 引導的名詞子句
就是……,……
例: It was yesterday that we finished our group report.
(我們就是在昨天完成了小組報告。)

b. 根據上述,可知應置入 that 以引導名詞子句,故選 (D)。

1. plastic a. 塑膠的

2. enthusiast n. 熱衷者

3. brand name n. 名牌

4. behavioral a. 行為的

5. timepiece n. 計時器

6. spring n. 彈簧

7. mechanism n. 機制

8. wind vt. 上(……的)發條
三態為 wind、wound、wound。

9. stem n.

10. naval a. 海軍的

11. wristwatch n. 腕錶

這些東西有些是塑膠作成的,花費不到一百元。有些很實用、不昂貴,還能用很久。還有些是純金打造,有些人工作十年也買不起。這些東西就是各式各樣的錶。多數人都有一錶在手,而且有些熱衷手錶的人會收集他們最喜歡的名牌手錶,一收集就是好幾十支。人們都喜歡錶。你可曾想過為什麼錶被稱作 "watch"(看)嗎?根據行為學家的說法,一般人每天平均會『看』錶五十次。難怪這些計時器會被稱為 "watches" 了。

手錶的歷史也蠻有趣的。雖然各式鐘的存在已有好幾千年之久,現今的手錶卻到15世紀彈簧的機制在歐洲問世後才蘊育而生。到了18世紀,瑞士已成為鐘錶業王國,直到今日仍是業界龍頭。19世紀時,瑞士的工匠開始將錶推廣到全世界。到了該世紀末,手錶便能以側邊的一個小柄而非鑰匙來上發條。也大約在這時期,德國的海軍軍官開始戴起腕錶。今天,全世界的人都依賴手錶來看時間。

標準答案: 1. (C) 2. (D) 3. (B) 4. (A) 5. (C)
   6. (B) 7. (D)

 

1. dozens of...  數十個……

2. rather than...  而非……

1. be made of...  由……(材料)製成
例: My grandfather's little house in the country is made of wood.
(我爺爺的鄉下小屋是木造的。)

2. wonder vt. 納悶,感到奇怪
例: I wonder how Brenda knows about the surprise party next week.
(我納悶為何布蘭達會知道下星期的驚喜派對。)

3. consult vt. 查看;參考
例: When you have questions, please consult this manual.
(有問題時請參考這本說明書。)

4. make...possible  使……有可能
例: Your devotion to this research will make this project possible.
(你對該研究的貢獻使這項計劃有可能實現。)

5. from time to time  不時
例: I think about my old friends from time to time.
(我不時會想起我的老朋友。)

FROM 常春藤解析英語雜誌

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