Luis國際資訊事務所

by Caleb Paul
Stare in amazement at the Gothic buildings from Europe's past.
以驚奇的眼光欣賞歐洲古老的哥德式建築。

　　Gothic architecture was most often used for religious buildings. If you stand before a famous Gothic building such as Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral in France, you'll see that the style wasn't meant to create simple buildings that _(1)_ people from wind and rain. Pointing sharply into the sky, Gothic architecture is meant to make people tremble _(2)_ at the power of God.
　　The Gothic style was based on medieval innovations in engineering technology that allowed buildings to be created taller than _(3)_. Gothic buildings are famous for their pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, and flying buttresses. These developments made it possible to build stronger and taller buildings, and they gave the building a _(4)_ appearance as well. Because of the structure of Gothic buildings, artists had more _(5)_ to create huge stained glass windows on the walls. The artists would carefully cut and _(6)_ different sections of colored glass, making them into windows that filled the interiors of the buildings with colored light. Often the windows were designed to _(7)_ a religious scene or story. Like paintings that glow magically, these works of art add a lot to the overall power and beauty of Gothic buildings.
　　　The _(8)_ of Gothic buildings are also impressive. Their stony spires look stern and chilling, and many of the buildings feature strange stone statues called gargoyles. These scary-looking statues take water away from the roof and _(9)_ it out of their mouths. In addition, their features are said to _(10)_ evil spirits.
Gothic architecture, which was designed to be noticed, is just as awesome today as it was when it was created hundreds of years ago.

(A) spit　(B) room　(C) protected　(D) striking(E) ward off　(F) depict　(G) assemble　(H) ever before　(I) exteriors(J) in awe

1. ..., you'll see that the style wasn't meant to create simple buildings that protected people from wind and rain.
理由:
a. 空格位於形容詞子句中，空格前的關係代名詞 that 為此形容詞子句的主詞，空格後有名詞 people（人們），且根據子句前的時式，可知空格應置入過去式及物動詞。
b. 符合上述的選項僅有 (C) protected（保護），且置入後與其後的介詞 from 形成下列固定用法：
protect sb/sth from + N/V-ing　　保護某人∕某事物免於……
例: This helmet protects me from getting hurt in a bike accident.
（這頂安全帽使我在騎自行車發生意外時，不至於受傷。）
c. 根據上述，故選 (C)。

2. Pointing sharply into the sky, Gothic architecture is meant to make people tremble in awe at the power of God.
理由:
a. 空格所在的句子結構完整，可知空格內應置入副詞或副詞片語以修飾空格前的動詞 tremble（發抖）。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (H) ever before（較早之前）和 (J) in awe（敬畏地），然僅 in awe 置入後符合語意，表高聳的尖塔直指蒼穹，哥德式建築在在使人『敬畏』於上帝之力，故選 (J)。
c. in awe　　敬畏地
awe n. 敬畏
例: I stared at the painting in awe. It was beautiful.
（我以崇敬的眼光看著這幅畫。它真是美極了。）

3. The Gothic style was based on medieval innovations in engineering technology that allowed buildings to be created taller than ever before.
理由:
a. 本空格測試以下固定用法：
含比較級形容詞∕副詞的主要子句 + than ever before　　比以前任何時候更……
例: That day, it rained harder than ever before.
（那一天的雨下得比以往任何時候都來得大。）
b. 根據上述，故選 (H)。

4. These developments made it possible to build stronger and taller buildings, and they gave the building a striking appearance as well.
理由:
a. 空格前後有不定冠詞 a 和名詞 appearance（外觀），可知空格內應置入形容詞。
b. 符合上述的選項僅有 (D) striking（驚人的），置入後亦符合語意，故選之。
c. striking a. 驚人的；顯著的
例: There is a striking difference between Jack's and Diane's writing styles.
（傑克和黛安的寫作風格有著明顯的差異。）

5. Because of the structure of Gothic buildings, artists had more room to create huge stained glass windows on the walls.
理由:
a. 空格前有及物動詞 had（有）以及比較級形容詞 more（較多的），可知空格內應置入名詞。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (A) spit（口水）、(B) room（空間）和 (I) exteriors（外部、外觀），然僅 room 置入後符合語意，表哥德式建築的結構給了藝術家更多創作的『空間』，讓他們在牆上打造彩色玻璃窗，故選 (B)。
c. room n. 空間（不可數名詞）
make room for...　　騰出空間給……，讓出地方給……
例: Can you move over to make room for me?
（你可以移過去一點讓個位子給我嗎？）

6. The artists would carefully cut and assemble different sections of colored glass, making them into windows that filled the interiors of the buildings with colored light.
理由:
a. 空格前有原形動詞 cut（切割）以及對等連接詞 and，空格後有名詞詞組 different sections of colored glass（各色的玻璃片），可知空格應置入原形及物動詞或及物動詞片語。
b. 符合上述條件的選項有 (A) spit（吐出）、(E) ward off（避開）、(F) depict（描述）和 (G) assemble（裝配），然僅 assemble 置入後符合語意，表他們仔細切割各色的玻璃，再將玻璃片『拼貼』成彩色玻璃窗，故選 (G)。
c. assemble vt. 裝配，組合
例: I tried to assemble the table by myself, but I needed help.
（我試著自己組合這張桌子，不過還是需要有人來幫我。）

7. Often the windows were designed to depict a religious scene or story.
理由:
a. 空格前有不定詞 to，之後有名詞詞組 a religious scene or story（宗教場景或故事），可知空格內應置入原形及物動詞或及物動詞片語。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (A) spit（吐出）、(E) ward off（避開）和 (F) depict（描述），然僅 depict 置入後符合語意，表這些玻璃窗上的圖案設計通常都是『描繪』和宗教有關的場景或故事，故選 (F)。
c. depict vt. 描述；描繪
例: The painting depicted a man sitting by the window.
（這幅畫描繪一名坐在窗邊的男子。）

8. The exteriors of Gothic buildings are also impressive.
理由:
a. 空格前有定冠詞 the，空格後有介詞片語 of Gothic buildings（哥德式建築的），且本句的動詞為複數 be 動詞 are，可知空格內應置入複數名詞。
b. 符合上述的選項僅剩 (I) exteriors（外部、外觀），置入後亦符合語意，表哥德式建築的『外觀』一樣令人印象深刻，故選 (I)。
c. exterior n. 外部，外觀

9. These scary-looking statues take water away from the roof and spit it out of their mouths.
理由:
a. 空格前有原形動詞 take 和對等連接詞 and，其後有代名詞 it（= water），可知空格內應置入原形及物動詞或及物動詞片語。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (A) spit（吐出）及 (E) ward off（避開），然僅 spit 置入後符合語意，表這種外表令人生畏的石雕承接屋頂上的雨水，再把水從石獸的嘴裡『排出』，故選 (A)。
c. spit vt. 吐（水、唾液等）& n. 口水
三態為：spit, spat, spat。
例: She spat the watermelon seeds into a white cup.
（她把西瓜的子吐到一個白色杯子裡。）

10. In addition, their features are said to ward off evil spirits.
理由:
a. 空格前有不定詞 to，其後有名詞詞組 evil spirits（惡靈），可知應置入原形及物動詞片語。
b. 符合上述的選項僅剩 (E) ward off（避開、防止），置入後亦符合語意，表滴水石獸的設計據說還有『防止』惡靈的功能，故選 (E)。
c. ward off...　　避開∕防止……
例: People used to believe that garlic would help ward off vampires.
（以前的人們相信大蒜有助於使吸血鬼不敢靠近。）

1. be meant to V　　本意是要……
例: This book is meant to help readers understand the stock market.
（這本書的本意是要教讀者了解股票市場。）

2. be based on/upon...　　以……為根據
例: This movie is based upon events that happened two years ago.
（這部電影取材自兩年前發生的事件。）

3. innovation n. 創新
innovative a. 創新的
例: The innovative new design allows you to use the computer anywhere.
（這種創新的設計可以讓你隨處都能使用電腦。）

4. make it possible to V　　使能夠∕得以……
例: This day off makes it possible for me to go on a trip with my friends.
（這個休假天讓我得以和朋友去旅遊。）

5. fill A with B　　用 B 把 A 裝滿
例: I filled the pitcher with water and then put in ice and lemons.
（我把水壺裝滿水，然後放進冰塊和檸檬。）

6. overall a. 總體的，全盤的
例: The overall idea is good, but there are a few small problems.
（這個點子整體而言很不錯，只不過有一些小問題。）

7. feature vt. 以……為特色 & n. 特色
例: This TV show features a great cast.
（這個電視節目以堅強的卡司為號召。）

1. Gothic a. 哥德式的
2. architecture n. 建築
3. cathedral n. 大教堂
4. sharply adv. 銳利地
5. tremble vi. 發抖
6. medieval a. 中世紀的
7. pointed a. 尖的
8. arch n. 拱門
9. ribbed a. 有稜紋的
10. vaulting n. 拱形圓頂
11. buttress n. 拱壁；扶壁
flying buttress　　拱柱；飛拱；飛扶壁
12. stained glass n. 彩繪玻璃
13. section n. 切下的部分，片，塊
14. interior n. 內部
15. glow vi. 發光
16. magically adv. 不可思議地
17. impressive a. 令人印象深刻的
18. spire n. 尖塔
19. stern a. 嚴厲的；冷峻的
20. chilling a. 令人恐懼的
21. gargoyle n. 滴水嘴獸
22. awesome a. 令人敬畏∕驚嘆的

1. be famous for... 　　以……（事物）而聞名
be famous as + 身分　　因……的身分而聞名
2. add A to B　　把 A 加進 B
3. In addition, S + V　　此外，……

哥德式的建築風格最常用於宗教建築。如果你站在像法國巴黎聖母院這樣著名的哥德式建築前面，你會發現這種建築風格原本就不是為了建造供人遮蔽風雨的普通建築物。高聳的尖塔直指蒼穹，哥德式建築在在使人敬畏於上帝之力。
　　
哥德式建築採用興起於中古世紀的工程技術，將建築物建構得比以往各個時期都來得高大。哥德式建築以其尖拱、肋拱和飛樑扶壁而聞名。這些發展使人們得以建造 更高大堅固的建築，也造就了建築物驚人的外觀。哥德式建築的結構給了藝術家更多創作的空間，讓他們在牆上打造彩色玻璃窗。他們仔細切割各色的玻璃，再將玻 璃片拼貼成彩色玻璃窗，使得建築物的內部得以灑滿各種顏色的陽光。這些玻璃窗上的圖案設計通常描繪和宗教有關的場景或故事。這些藝術作品就像是會發光的神 奇畫作，為哥德式建築更增添了不少整體的力與美。
　　
哥德式建築的外觀一樣令人印象深刻。石造的尖塔看起來屹立不搖，令人望而生懼，許多建築還特別裝置一種叫做『滴水石獸』的怪異石雕。這種外表令人生畏的石雕承接屋頂上的雨水，再把水從石獸的嘴裡排出。此外，滴水石獸的設計據說還有避邪的功能。
　　
哥德式的建築風格就是設計來奪取大眾的目光，即便時至今日，這種風格看起來就像幾百年前剛發展出來時，一樣令人讚嘆不已。