Luis國際資訊事務所

by Rebecca A. Fratzke
The Tournament of Roses is a great way to start the New Year.

　　There is no better way to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another than with a parade. The Rose Parade, which is part of the Tournament of Roses, is held on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. The _(1)_ date back to 1890, when settlers from the East and Midwest decided to celebrate the beautiful weather they were experiencing in their new home. The celebration was _(2)_ by the Valley Hunt Club and included a parade, footraces, and tug-of-war contestscarriages _(3)_ fresh flowers and was the inspiration for the Tournament's name. This first event _(4)_ 2,000 people. More than a century later, the Tournament of Roses attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, and those are just the ones that are there in person.
　　The Rose Parade is _(5)_ of dozens of floats, marching bands, equestrian units, and more. The floats are still decorated with flowers, but the designs have become extremely _(6)_. Everyone from fast food chains to pet food companies to the Boy Scouts of America has had a Rose Parade float. Inspiration comes from the event's yearly theme, with "Just Imagine..." being this year's theme. The best marching bands in the world _(7)_ the parade, providing an exciting show. The equestrian units _(8)_ their skills as well, with riders of all ages. Additionally, the Rose Queen and her Royal Court ride in the parade and promote tournament activities. Competitions for the title are held annually, and winners receive special _(9)_.
　　Besides the Rose Parade, the Tournament also _(10)_ the Rose Bowl Game, the oldest college football competition held at the Rose Bowl Stadium, and other activities. With so much to experience, it's no wonder that the Tournament of Roses keeps the season of celebration going strong.

(A) scholarships　(B) show off　(C) drew in　(D) features　(E) staged　(F) elaborate　(G) festivities　(H) take part in　(I) covered in　(J) composed

1. The festivities date back to 1890, when settlers...the beautiful weather they were experiencing in their new home.
理由:
a. 空格前有定冠詞 The，空格後有片語及物動詞 date back to（追溯到……），可知空格內應置入名詞。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (A) scholarships（獎學金）、(D) features（特色）以及 (G) festivities（慶祝活動），然僅 festivities 置入後符合語意，故選 (G)。
c. festivity n. 慶祝活動（常用複數）

2. The celebration was staged by the Valley Hunt Club and included a parade, footraces, and tug-of-war contests.
理由:
a. 空格前有 be 動詞 was，空格後有介詞 by，可知空格內應置入過去分詞，形成被動語態。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (E) staged（被舉辦）、(I) covered in（被覆蓋）和 (J) composed（被組成），然僅 staged 置入後符合語意，故選 (E)。
c. stage vt. 舉辦，舉行；發動
例: Protestors staged a demonstration outside the American embassy.
（抗議的群眾在美國大使館外發動示威。）

3. The parade was made up of carriages covered in fresh flowers and was the inspiration for the Tournament's name.
理由:
a. 空格前為一完整的子句，空格後有名詞詞組 fresh flowers（鮮花），可知空格應置入分詞，形成分詞片語，作形容詞用，以修飾其前的名詞 carriages（四輪馬車）。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (I) covered in（被……覆蓋）和 (J) composed（被組成），然僅 covered in 置入後符合語意，故選 (I)。本句原為：
The parade was made up of carriages which were covered in fresh flowers...
c. be covered in/with...　　覆蓋著……
例: Ted was covered in mud after he fell into the ditch.
（泰德跌進水溝後全身沾滿了泥巴。）

4. This first event drew in 2,000 people.
理由:
a. 空格前後分別有名詞詞組 This first event（首次遊行）和 2,000 people（2,000 人），且根據時態，可知空格內應置入過去式及物動詞或片語及物動詞。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (C) drew in（吸引）和 (J) composed（組成），然僅 drew in 置入後符合語意，故選 (C)。
c. draw in...　　吸引……
例: The singer's concert drew in 10,000 fans from around this island.
（這名歌手的演唱會吸引全島 1 萬名歌迷前往。）

5. The Rose Parade is composed of dozens of floats...
理由:
a. 空格前有 be 動詞 is，空格後有介詞 of，可知空格內應置入分詞。
b. 選項中僅剩 (J) composed（被組成）符合上述用法，置入後亦符合語意，故選之。
c. compose vt. 組成
be composed of...　　由……組成；包含……
= be made up of...
例: Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
（水是由氫和氧化合而成。）

6. The floats are...but the designs have become extremely elaborate.
理由:
a. 空格前有不完全不及物動詞 become（變成）和副詞 extremely（非常），可知空格內應置入形容詞。
b. 選項中僅 (F) elaborate（精心製作的）符合上述用法，置入後亦符合語意，故選之。
c. elaborate a. 精心製作的，精巧的
例: Guests dressed up in elaborate costumes for the Halloween party.
（賓客穿著精心設計的服裝去參加萬聖夜派對。）

7. The best marching bands in the world take part in the parade, providing an exciting show.
理由:
a. 空格前有名詞詞組 The best marching bands in the world（世界上最棒的軍樂隊），空格後有名詞詞組 the parade（遊行），可知空格內應置入複數形的及物動詞或片語及物動詞。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (B) show off（炫耀）和 (H) take part in（參加），然僅 take part in 置入後符合語意，故選 (H)。
c. take part in...　　參加……
= participate in...
例: My teacher suggested that I take part in some extracurricular activities.
（老師建議我應該參加一些課外活動。）

8. The equestrian units show off their skills as well, with riders of all ages.
理由:
a. 空格前有名詞詞組 The equestrian units（馬術團體），空格後亦有名詞詞組 their skills（他們的技巧），可知空格內應置入複數形的及物動詞或片語及物動詞。
b. 選項中僅 (B) show off（炫耀）符合上述用法，置入後亦符合語意，故選之。
c. show off...　　炫耀……
例: Gary couldn't help but show off his new cell phone to his classmates.
（蓋瑞忍不住向同學炫耀他的新手機。）

9. Competitions for the title are held annually, and winners receive special scholarships.
理由:
a. 空格前有及物動詞 receive（獲得）以及形容詞 special（特別的），可知空格內應置入名詞。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (A) scholarships（獎學金）和 (D) features（特色），然僅 scholarships 置入後符合語意，故選 (A)。

10. Besides the Rose Parade, the Tournament also features the Rose Bowl Game, the oldest college football competition held at the Rose Bowl Stadium, and other activities.
理由:
a. 空格前後分別有名詞 the Tournament（玫瑰選拔賽）及 the Rose Bowl Game（玫瑰盃美式足球賽），可知空格內應置入第三人稱單數的及物動詞或片語及物動詞。
b. 選項中僅剩 (D) features（以……為特色），置入後符合語意及用法，故選之。
c. feature vt. 以……為特色 & n. 特色
例: This exhibition features the Terracotta Warriors.
（兵馬俑是這次展覽的主要特色。）

1. date back to + 時間　　追溯到……（時間）
date back + 一段時間
追溯到……（一段時間）前
例: My grandmother's antique furniture dates back to the early 1800s.
（我祖母的古董傢俱可追溯至 19 世紀初。）
例: The artifacts that were recently discovered here date back thousands of years.
（最近在此處挖掘出的手工藝品可追溯至好幾千年前。）

2. inspiration n. 靈感
例: I couldn't write anything because I lacked inspiration.
（我寫不出任何東西，因為我沒有靈感。）

3. in person　　本人；親自地
例: I've seen the celebrity on TV, but never in person.
（我在電視上看過那位名人，但從沒見過本人。）

4. be decorated with...　　用……裝飾
例: Sally's room is decorated with a lot of beautiful paintings.
（莎莉的房間掛了許多美麗的圖畫做裝飾。）

5. additionally adv. 此外
= in addition
例: The rent for my new apartment is cheap. Additionally, the location is perfect.
（我的新公寓租金便宜。此外，地點更是棒透了。）

6. promote vt. 宣傳
例: The singer has been promoting his new album with TV appearances.
（那位歌手一直上電視宣傳他的新專輯。）

7. annually adv. 每年地
例: Our foundation annually provides homeless shelters with generous donations.
（我們的基金會每年捐不少錢給遊民收容所。）

8. It is no wonder + that 子句　　難怪……
= No wonder + S + V
例: Bobby is naughty. It is no wonder that he is often punished for misbehaving.
= Bobby is naughty. No wonder he is often punished for misbehaving.
（巴比很頑皮，難怪他常會因不乖受到處罰。）

1. tournament n. 比賽
2. parade n.（慶祝）遊行
3. settler n. 開拓者；殖民者
4. footrace n. 競走
5. tug-of-war n. 拔河比賽
6. carriage n. 四輪馬車
7. float n.（遊行用的）花車
8. marching band n. 軍樂隊
9. equestrian n. 馬術的
10. chain n. 連鎖店
11. scout n. 童子軍
a boy scout　　男童軍
a girl scout　　女童軍
12. competition n. 競賽，比賽
13. stadium n. 體育場

玫瑰‧皇后‧花車——美國『玫瑰選拔賽』
『玫瑰選拔賽』是迎接新年的最佳方式。
　　送別舊的一年、迎接新的一年，最好的慶祝方式莫過於遊行了。加州的帕薩迪納市每年元旦都會舉辦『玫瑰花車大遊行』，這是『玫瑰選拔賽』的一部分。這項 慶典始於 1890 年，當時從東部和中西部移居此地的人感受到新家園的好天氣，決定好好慶祝一番。慶祝活動由『山谷狩獵俱樂部』所發起，內容包括遊行、競走和拔河比賽。遊行 隊伍由佈滿鮮花的馬車所組成，這也是『玫瑰選拔賽』名稱的由來。第一年舉辦的遊行就吸引了 2,000 人。一個多世紀以後，『玫瑰選拔賽』吸引了數十萬名親自前往觀賞的遊客。
　　玫瑰花車大遊行的隊伍由數十輛花車、軍樂隊、馬術團體等所組成。花車上雖仍裝飾著鮮花，但花車的設計早已變得非常精緻。從連鎖速食店、寵物食品公司到 美國童子軍等團體，都會出動自己的花車。花車的設計靈感出自每年的遊行主題，而今年的主題是『Just Imagine...』。全世界最棒的軍樂隊也來此共襄盛舉，帶來令人興奮的表演。馬術團體亦不分老少展現他們的馬術技巧。此外，當選的玫瑰皇后和她的宮 廷也會在遊行行列中，藉以宣傳選拔賽的各式活動。這裡每年都會選出玫瑰皇后，獲勝者可以獲得特別的獎學金。
　　除了玫瑰花車大遊行，玫瑰選拔賽的招牌活動尚有歷史最優久的『玫瑰盃美式足球賽』（在玫瑰盃運動場所舉辦的大學美式足球賽）和其他活動。有這麼多活動可以體驗，無怪乎玫瑰選拔賽讓每年這個時候的慶祝活動愈來愈熱鬧。
答案：1. (G)2. (E)3. (I)4. (C)5. (J) 6. (F)7. (H)8. (B)9. (A)10. (D)