Luis國際資訊事務所

by Rebecca A. Fratzke

Need to gripe? National Pet Peeve Week gives you an excuse to complain.
想要一吐怨氣嗎？『國定惱人小事週』給你不吐不快的理由。

　　We all have them. Some of them are simply annoying. Some of them can actually give us violent urges. _(1)_ Merriam-Webster.com, a pet peeve is a "frequent subject of complaint." While this is a simple description, pet peeves are more than just complaints. Pet peeves are actions or situations that _(2)_ us crazy. Examples include incorrect train schedules, people chewing food with their mouths wide open, or little dogs that _(3)_ bark at anything and everything. In truth, a pet peeve can be anything that someone finds annoying. Moreover, if we were all honest, we could quickly _(4)_ a long list. Although complaining is usually something to be avoided, the second week in October has become a time to honor these annoyances. In the US, this is National Pet Peeve Week, a time for people to complain freely about the things that irritate them.
　　The idea of having a whole week to complain seems odd. However, there could actually be something important behind it. National Pet Peeve Week has allowed people to vent their _(5)_ that they usually keep bottled up. Allowing oneself to speak truthfully can reduce tension and increase calmness. _(6)_, National Pet Peeve Week does not give you a free pass to be rude. Hurting someone else's feelings _(7)_ is never a good thing. That said, helping a friend correct a bad habit or reminding someone of their social responsibilities can create a better world even if it's only in a small way.

1. (A) Owing to　　　　(B) In case of(C) According to(D) By means of
2. (A) pull　　　　(B) drive(C) cause　　　　(D) bring
3. (A) constantly(B) popularly(C) narrowly　　　　(D) traditionally
4. (A) break up with(B) put up with(C) keep up with(D) come up with
5. (A) imaginations(B) expectations(C) frustrations(D) reactions
6. (A) Consequently(B) Even so(C) In other words(D) For the time being
7. (A) on purpose(B) on call(C) in demand　　　　(D) in advance

1. According to Merriam-Webster.com, a pet peeve is a "frequent subject of complaint."
理由:
a. (A) owing to...　　因為……，由於……
例: Owing to Dr. Wang's devotion, the medical treatment in this remote village has improved.
（由於王醫師的奉獻投入，這偏遠村落的醫療得以改善。）
(B) in case of...　　萬一……，倘若……
= in the event of...
例: In case of an earthquake, don't use the elevator.
（萬一發生地震，別搭乘電梯。）
(C) according to...　　根據……
例: According to the survey, half the employees would take a pay cut just to keep their jobs.
（根據這份調查，有一半員工願意接受減薪來保住飯碗。）
(D) by means of...　　藉由……
例: He achieved his success by means of hard work.
（他藉由努力獲致成功。）
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (C)，置入後表『根據』線上韋氏字典的解釋，pet peeve 是指『經常抱怨的事物』。

2. Pet peeves are actions or situations that drive us crazy.
理由:
a. 本空格在測試以下固定用法：
drive sb crazy　　讓某人生氣∕抓狂
例: The constant noise from my upstairs neighbors really drove me crazy.
（樓上鄰居不斷發出的噪音讓我很抓狂。）
b. 根據上述，可知應選 (B)。

3. ..., people chewing food with their mouths wide open, or little dogs that constantly bark at anything and everything.
理由:
a. (A) constantly adv. 不斷地
例: Law school was so difficult that Leo had to study constantly just to keep his head above water.
（法學院很難混，里奧得不斷用功才能勉強過關。）
(B) popularly adv. 普遍地；大眾化地
例: It is popularly believed that printing was first invented by the Chinese.
（一般相信印刷術最早是由中國人發明的。）
(C) narrowly adv. 勉強地；狹窄地
例: Tommy narrowly escaped being trapped in the fire.
（湯米差一點就被困在火場。）
(D) traditionally adv. 傳統上
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (A)。

4. Moreover, if we were all honest, we could quickly come up with a long list.
理由:
a. (A) break up with...　　和……分手
例: Alice refused to let her boyfriend break up with her.
（愛麗絲拒絕男友和她分手。）
(B) put up with...　　忍受……
= tolerate vt.
例: I can't put up with Nick's rudeness any longer.
（我再也無法容忍尼克的無禮了。）
(C) keep up with...　　趕上……，跟上……
例: The injured wolf had a hard time keeping up with the rest of the pack.
（這隻受傷的狼很難跟上其他同伴的腳步。）
(D) come up with...　　想到……，提出……
例: I can't come up with any more ideas. Can you guys think of anything?
（我想不出任何點子了。你們有人想得出來嗎？）
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (D)。

5. National Pet Peeve Week has allowed people to vent their frustrations that they usually keep bottled up.
理由:
a. (A) imagination n. 想像力
(B) expectation n. 期望，期待
live up to one's expectations 　　達到某人的期望
例: Jack's performance didn't live up to my expectations; he only won third prize in the speech contest.
（傑克的表現沒達到我的期望，因為他在演講比賽只得到第 3 名。）
(C) frustration n. 挫敗，沮喪
例: Unhappy children often act out their frustrations in the classroom.
（不快樂的小孩常會在課堂上表現出挫折感。）
(D) reaction n. 反應（其後常與介詞 to 並用）
例: We were all surprised by Helen's reaction to her husband's affair.
（海倫對她先生有外遇的反應讓我們很驚訝。）
b. 空格前有及物動詞 vent（發洩），其後接的多是表怒氣或負面情緒等的名詞，故根據語意，可知應選 (C)。

6. Even so, National Pet Peeve Week does not give you a free pass to be rude.
理由:
a. (A) consequently adv. 因此
例: Paul overslept and consequently missed the train to work.
（保羅睡過頭，因此沒趕上火車上班。）
(B) even so　　即使如此
例: I was charmed by the idea. Even so, I turned down his offer.
（那個想法很吸引我。即使如此，我還是拒絕他的提議。）
(C) in other words　　換言之，換句話說
= that is (to say)
例: The land is barren; in other words, nothing can grow on it.
（這塊地很貧瘠；換言之，它長不出任何東西來。）
(D) for the time being　　目前，暫時
注意:
for the time being 為時間副詞片語，與現在式、現在進行式或現在完成式並用。
例: You can leave your suitcase here for the time being.
（你可以暫時把你的行李箱放在這裡。）
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (B)，表直言不諱有助減少精神緊張，同時帶來心靈的平靜。『即使如此』，國定惱人小事週並不允許你隨便對人無禮。

7. Hurting someone else's feelings on purpose is never a good thing.
理由:
a. (A) on purpose　　故意地，蓄意地
= deliberately adv.
例: Are you trying to make me angry on purpose?
（你是故意要惹我生氣的嗎？）
(B) on call　　隨時待命
例: Fire fighters are on call for any emergency.
（消防隊員隨時為緊急情況待命。）
(C) in demand　　有需求；廣受歡迎
例: Digital cameras are in demand these days.
（現今數位相機很搶手。）
(D) in advance　　事先，提前
= beforehand adv.
例: If you'd told me in advance, I could have gotten you a ticket.
（如果你事先告訴我，我就能幫你弄張票。）
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (A)。

1. honor vt. 表彰，表揚；紀念
例: We set up a monument to honor the fallen soldiers.
（我們豎立一座紀念碑，以紀念陣亡的將士。）

2. urge n. 強烈的慾望，衝動
have an urge to V　　想要……
例: Peggy had an urge to cry when her teacher scolded her.
（當佩姬被老師責罵時，她有股想哭的衝動。）

3. description n. 描述，敘述
beyond description　　無法言喻，難以形容
例: The scenery there is beautiful beyond description.
（那裡的風景美得難以形容。）

4. in truth　　事實上
= in fact
例: Ted never goes to the movies. In truth, he prefers to watch DVDs at home.
（泰德從不去電影院。事實上，他比較喜歡待在家看 DVD。）

5. complain vi. 抱怨，發牢騷
complain about...　　抱怨……
complain of...　　訴說有……病痛
例: Sarah always complains about how unromantic her husband is.
（莎拉總是抱怨她的丈夫多麼不浪漫。）
例: My father has been complaining of a bad back recently.
（我爸爸最近老是說他的背痛。）

6. irritate vt. 激怒，惹惱
例: Billy loves irritating his older sister by repeating everything she says.
（比利喜歡學他姊姊說話來激怒她。）

7. vent t. 發洩（怒氣、負面情緒等）
vent one's anger on sb　　對某人發火，把氣出在某人身上
例:Hold on. There is no need to vent your anger on me.
（等等。你沒有必要對我發火。）

8. bottle up.../bottle...up壓抑∕抑制（情感等）
例: It's not healthy to bottle up your emotions, so just tell me what's on your mind.
（壓抑情緒是不健康的，所以跟我說說你的心事。）

9. That said, S + V　　話雖如此，……
例: Tom is rather lazy. That said, he's the only one available to work tonight.
（湯姆蠻懶的。話雖如此，他卻是今晚唯一能上工的人。）

10. remind vt. 提醒；使想起
remind sb of...　　提醒某人……；使某人想起……
例: The new ad campaign is trying to remind us of the importance of recycling.
（那則新的宣傳廣告試圖提醒我們回收的重要性。）
例: The lyrics of that song remind me of my ex-girlfriend.
（那首歌的歌詞讓我想起了前女友。）

1. annoying a. 討厭的，惱人的
the annoying　　惱人的事物
= annoying things
2. violent a. 強烈的，極度的
3. pet peeven. 令人生氣或討厭的小事情
4. frequent a. 時常發生的，頻繁的
5. complaint n. 抱怨
6. schedule n. 時間表
a train schedule　　火車時刻表
7. chew vt. 咀嚼
8. bark vi. 吠叫
bark at...　　對……吠叫
9. annoyance n. 惱人的人或事物（可數）；惱怒（不可數）
10. odd a. 奇特的，古怪的
11. truthfully adv. 誠實地，說實話地
12. tension n.（精神上的）緊張
13. calmness n. 平靜；冷靜
14. pass n. 准許；通行證
15. rude a. 無禮的，粗魯的
16. responsibility n. 責任

　　我們都有討厭的事物。有些單純只是惱人，有些卻真的能夠讓我們有發飆的衝動。根據線上韋氏字典的解釋，pet peeve 是指『經常抱怨的事物』。雖然這不過是個簡單的描述，但它們絕非僅止抱怨而已。惱人的小事是讓我們生氣的舉動或情況。舉例來說，不準的火車時刻表、張大嘴 巴咀嚼食物、或是小狗一直胡亂吠叫都是惱人的小事。事實上，惱人的小事可以是任何令人討厭的東西。此外，如果我們夠誠實的話，我們馬上就能想出一長串可以 抱怨的名單。雖然抱怨的行為通常不受到鼓勵，但 10 月的第二週卻是一段表揚它的時間。這就是美國的『國定惱人小事週』，一個讓人們能大肆抱怨惱人事物的時刻。
　　將整個星期做為抱怨之用似乎有點奇怪，然而這背後其實有其重要的意涵。國定惱人小事週使人們平日壓抑的挫折得以抒發。直言不諱有助減少精神緊張，同時 帶來心靈的平靜。即使如此，國定惱人小事週並不允許你隨便對人無禮。蓄意傷害別人的感情絕非好事。但若是藉由抱怨進而幫助朋友改掉壞習慣，或者提醒他們應 肩負的社會責任，即便改善的程度不大，卻能創造出更美好的世界。

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


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