Luis國際資訊事務所

by Rebecca A. Fratzke

Bowlingual is taking the pet-owner relationship to the next level through translation.
犬語翻譯機透過翻譯狗狗的叫聲讓主人與寵物的感情增溫。

　　Animal lovers today explore every option for building a better relationship with their pets. Some examples include pet spas or travel agencies that _(1)_ pets. Therefore, it is not surprising that during this pursuit of pet-owner bliss, owners would want insight into their pets' emotions. In 2002, Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy came up with a way to make this _(2)_ by creating Bowlingual, a device that translates a dog's vocal sounds into emotions and phrases.
　　Made up of two parts, Bowlingual includes a receiver and a microphone. The microphone is attached to the dog's collar, _(3)_ the receiver is a hand-held sound analyzer. The receiver determines which of six emotional states the dog is _(4)_, ranging from happy to sad to frustrated to asserted. Then, it chooses a phrase from a database of around 200 possibilities to express more _(5)_ what the dog is trying to communicate. The phrase, the emotional state, and a cartoon face are displayed on the receiver's LCD screen. An example of such a display would be the word "Needy" _(6)_ the phrase "Please play with me some more!" and a cartoon dog face with its tongue sticking out.
　　Although some people are _(7)_ of Bowlingual's actual translating abilities, Takara Tomy has taken it another step further and released Meowlingual, a similar single-component device for cats. Now, whether your best friend barks or meows, you'll know exactly what it's trying to say.


1. (A) rule out (B) single out (C) cater to (D) apply to
2. (A) possibly (B) possible (C) to be possible(D) as possibility
3. (A) instead (B) despite (C) while (D) once
4. (A) in (B) up to (C) on (D) out of
5. (A) regularly (B) arrogantly (C) roughly (D) accurately
6. (A) removed from(B) followed by (C) informed of (D) mistaken for
7. (A) skeptical (B) enthusiastic(C) ambitious (D) passionate

1. Some examples include pet spas or travel agencies that cater to pets.
理由:
a. (A) rule out...　　排除……
例: You can rule out the possibility of going on vacation unless your grades improve.
（除非你的成績進步，否則你別想要去渡假。）
(B) single out...　　挑選出……
例: Who do you think will be singled out as the athlete of the year?
（你認為誰會被挑選為年度的最佳運動員？）
(C) cater to...　　迎合∕滿足……
例: The good thing about five-star hotels is that they cater to your every need.
（五星級飯店的好處在於他們會滿足你每一種需求。）
(D) apply to...　　向（學校∕公司等）提出申請；適用於……
例: Sherry applied to five universities but was only accepted by one.
（雪莉向 5 所大學提出入學申請，但只有一所錄取她。）
例: The no-smoking rule applies to everyone in the office.
（這項禁菸規定適用於辦公室的所有人。）
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (C)。

2. In 2002, Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy came up with a way to make this possible by...
理由:
a. 空格前的 make 為不完全及物動詞，譯成『使……成為∕變成……』，加受詞後，之後要接名詞或形容詞作主詞補語，句型如下：
make + 受詞 + 形容詞∕名詞　　使……成為……
例: Your timely help made it possible for us to finish the work on schedule.
（你及時的幫助使我們能如期完成工作。）
例: Our teacher made Tim the class leader because he is the best student in class.
（我們老師讓提姆當班長，因為他是班上最好的學生。）
b. 根據上述，可知 (B) 為正選。

3. The microphone is attached to the dog's collar, while the receiver is a hand-held sound analyzer.
理由:
a. (A) instead adv. 反而；代替
例: I don't want to go to the mall. Let's go to the movies instead.
（我不想去逛購物中心，咱們改去看電影吧。）
(B) despite prep. 儘管……
例: Despite all our efforts, we couldn't save the dog's life.
（儘管我們盡了全力，還是無法挽救那隻狗狗的生命。）
(C) while conj. 而，然而
例: Eating fruit is good for your health, while smoking is not.
（吃水果對健康有益，抽菸則不然。）
(D) once conj. 一旦
b. 空格前後為完整的句子，可知空格應置入連接詞，故 (A)、(B) 不可選。while 和 once 均為連接詞，然根據語意，可知應選 (C)，表麥克風繫在狗狗的項圈上，『而』接收器則是手持的聲音分析器。

4. The receiver determines which of six emotional states the dog is in, ranging from...
理由:
a. state n. 狀態（其前通常與介詞 in 並用）
in a/an...state　　處於……的狀態
例: The patient is in a good state of health.
（病人的健康處於良好的狀態。）
b. 根據上述用法，可知應選 (A)。

5. ...it chooses a phrase from a database of around 200 possibilities to express more accurately what the dog is trying to communicate.
理由:
a. (A) regularly adv. 定期地，規律地
例: My mother regularly takes our blankets to the roof to air them out.
（我媽媽會定期把毯子拿到屋頂上晾一晾。）
(B) arrogantly adv. 自大地
(C) roughly adv. 大約
(D) accurately adv. 精確地
例: The report presented the facts accurately.
（那份報告正確地呈現出事實。）
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (D)，置入後表示接收器會從資料庫中挑出一串詞組，更『明確地』表達出狗狗想溝通的意思。

6. An example of such a display would be the word "Needy" followed by the phrase "Please play with me some more!"
理由:
a. (A) be removed from...　　從……中移除
例: The sofa was removed from the living room because it took up too much space.
（這張沙發被搬離客廳，因為它佔去太多空間。）
(B) be followed by...　　之後跟著∕接著就是……
例: The storm was followed by beautiful weather.
（這場暴風雨過後接著就是晴朗的好天氣。）
(C) be informed of...　　被通知……
例: Kent got excited after he was informed of his promotion.
（肯特被通知升職後，心情很興奮。）
(D) be mistaken for...　　被誤認為……
mistake A for B　　誤認 A 為 B
例: Jim mistook sugar for salt when he was cooking the soup last night.
（吉姆昨晚煮湯時，誤將糖當成鹽。）
b. 根據上下語意，可知應選 (B)。原句的 followed by 之前省略了 which is。

7. Although some people are skeptical of Bowlingual's actual translating abilities, ...
理由:
a. (A) skeptical a. 懷疑的，多疑的
be skeptical of...　　懷疑……
例: Mr. Lin is skeptical of the fortune teller's ability to predict the future.
（林先生對那位算命師預測未來的能力深感懷疑。）
(B) enthusiastic a. 熱切的
be enthusiastic about...　　對……熱衷
例: John is enthusiastic about movies.
（約翰對電影非常狂熱。）
(C) ambitious a. 有企圖心的
(D) passionate a. 熱情的
be passionate about...　　熱衷於……
例: That young man is very passionate about traveling.
（那位年輕人熱愛旅行。）
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (A)，置入後表示儘管有些人『質疑』犬語翻譯機的真實翻譯能力，Takara Tomy 卻更進一步推出了貓語翻譯機。

1. pursuit n. 追求
in pursuit of...　　追求∕找尋……
例: In pursuit of fame and fortune, the actress neglected her old friends.
（這名女演員為了追求名利而疏忽了老朋友。）

2. insight n. 洞悉，深入了解（常與介詞 into 並用）
例: This movie gives insight into Taiwan's culture.
（這部電影使人對台灣文化有深入的了解。）

3. come up with...　　提出∕想出……
例: Our group came up with new ideas for the class play.
（我們這組想到一些關於班上戲劇演出的新點子。）

4. translate A into B　　將 A 翻譯成 B
例: The historian translated the ancient Egyptian manuscript into English.
（那名歷史學家把古埃及文的手稿翻成英文。）

5. be made up of...　　由……組成；包含……
= be composed of...
= consist of...
例: Grandma's garden was made up of different sections for plants and vegetables.
（祖母的花園包含各個不同種植樹木及蔬菜的區域。）

6. be attached to...　　附在……上
例: The picture you wanted is attached to the email I sent you.
（你想要的那張照片附在我寄給你的電子郵件中。）

7. determine vt. 確定，判定
例: Doctors couldn't determine whether John's illness was caused by allergies.
（醫生無法確定約翰的病是否因過敏而引起。）

8. range from...to...　　範圍從……到……都有
例: The products in this store range from socks to washing machines.
（這家店的商品從襪子到洗衣機都有。）

9. express vt. 表達
express oneself　　表達自己的想法、情感等
例: The artist expressed herself through her wonderful paintings.
（那位畫家藉由她絕妙的畫作表達自我。）

10. communicate vi. 溝通
communicate with...　　與……溝通
例: We also use body language to communicate with people.
（我們也會用肢體語言與人溝通。）

11. stick vi. 伸出，突出
三態為：stick, stuck , stuck。
例: The yoga teacher asked us to stick out our chests when doing certain poses.
（瑜珈老師要我們在做某些姿勢時要挺胸。）

1. option n. 可選擇的東西
2. spa n. 水療館；水療
3. agency n. 代理機構
a travel agency　　旅行社
4. bliss n. 極樂，至喜
5. device n. 裝置，儀器
6. vocal a. 聲音的
7. microphone n. 擴音器，麥克風
8. collar n. 頸圈
9. hand-held a. 手持的
10. analyzer n. 分析器
11. asserted a. 堅持的
12. database n. 資料庫
13. display vt. 展現 & n. 展示，呈現
14. needy a.（感情方面）渴望的；貧困的
15. single-component a. 單一元件的
16. bark vi.（狗）吠叫
17. meow vi. 貓叫

　　現今，熱愛動物的人士探索各種能和寵物建立更加美好關係的方法。有些例子包括 迎合寵物的寵物水療中心或是寵物旅行社。因此，主人在追求與寵物同樂的過程中，會想要深入了解寵物的情緒並不令人意外。在 2002 年，日本的玩具製造商 Takara Tomy 想出了一個可能讓這種想法實現的方式，那就是製造出犬語翻譯機（Bowlingual），這是一種能夠將狗狗發出的聲音翻譯成情緒和詞組的裝置。
　　犬語翻譯機包含接收器和麥克風兩個部分。麥克風繫在狗狗的項圈上，而接收器則是手持的聲音分析器。接收器會判定出 6 種狗狗的情緒狀態，從快樂、悲傷、挫敗到堅定的情緒都含括在內。然後，接收器會從含有大約 200 種可能狀況的資料庫中挑出一串詞組，更明確地表達出狗狗想溝通的意思。這個詞組、情緒的狀態和一個卡通表情都會呈現在接收器的液晶螢幕上。這樣所呈現出來 的例子像是『渴望的』這個字會緊接著『請多跟我玩！』，還有一個卡通狗狗舌頭伸出來的臉。
　　儘管有些人質疑犬語翻譯機的真實翻譯能力，Takara Tomy 卻更進一步推出貓語翻譯機（Meowlingual），也就是為貓咪所設計的類似單一元件裝置。現在，不管你的寵物麻吉汪汪叫或喵喵叫，你都能確切知道牠想說什麼了。

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