Luis國際資訊事務所

by Owain Mckimm
Along with Christmas, Easter is one of the most important times of the year for Christians.
　　Most people associate Easter with Christianity in the West. The festival centers around the Christian belief that Jesus Christ was crucified on Good Friday and then rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. The exact date of Easter varies from year to year, although it almost _(1)_ falls between March 22 and April 25.
　　On Easter, parents often give their children baskets of delicious candy or arrange egg hunts. These hunts involve children searching outdoor areas _(2)_ the make-believe Easter Bunny has hidden eggs. In Greece, eggs are dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ. In some Eastern European countries, they are painted with intricate and beautiful designs. Easter follows Lent, a 40-day period of _(3)_ eating, prayer, and contemplation. During this time, some Christian groups abstain from eating any animal _(4)_ altogether. For many, Easter is a time for feasting and celebrating because Lent is over.
　　Many of the things associated with Easter are, _(5)_, linked to pagan traditions that preceded the coming of Christianity. The origins of Easter can actually be found far away in the wintry lands of Northern Europe. The ancient Saxon tribes of Europe celebrated the coming of spring by _(6)_ their fertility goddess, ?ostre. The rabbit or hare was her symbol because these creatures were known to be _(7)_ fertile. Exchanging eggs was a common ancient tradition that represented the beginning of a new life in the springtime.

1. (A) usually　　(B) similarly　　(C) seldom　　(D) always
2. (A) why　　(B) where　　(C) how　　(D) when
3. (A) disciplined　　(B) paralyzed　　(C) conserved　　(D) loosened
4. (A) productivity　　(B) production　　(C) produces　　(D) products
5. (A) in case　　(B) in order　　(C) in fact　　(D) in turn
6. (A) offending　　(B) worshiping　　(C) abandoning　　(D) convincing
7. (A) scarcely　　(B) instantly　　(C) particularly　　(D) deliberately

1. The exact date of Easter varies from year to year, although it almost always falls between March 22 and April 25.
理由:
a. 因空格前有副詞 almost，故其後所修飾的形容詞或副詞須有完全性和絕對性之概念，如：all, no, every, any, always, perfectly 等，而不可接表不完全概念的形容詞或副詞，如：most, many, often, usually, broadly, partly 等。
We almost often have dinner at home. (╳)
→We almost always have dinner at home. (○)
我們幾乎總是在家吃晚餐。
Ted works overtime almost every day.
泰德幾乎每天加班。
b. 根據上述用法，可知 (D) always 應為正選。此外，副詞連接詞 although, though, because 等引導的副詞子句置於主要子句之後時，其前通常不置逗點，但有時會用逗點，為停頓之意，為強調用法。

2. These hunts involve children searching outdoor areas where the make-believe Easter Bunny has hidden eggs.
理由:
a. 空格前有表『地方』的先行詞 outdoor areas（戶外），空格後為完整的句子，可知空格應置入可修飾地方的關係副詞 where 來引導形容詞子句，修飾 outdoors areas，故選 (B)。
Jill bought a washing machine at the shop where she usually gets her electronics.
吉兒在她常採購電器的那家店買了 1 台洗衣機。
b. why 作關係副詞時，其所引導的形容詞子句只可用來修飾其前表『原因』的先行詞，置入後不符合用法，故 (A) 不可選。
c. how 作關係副詞時，其所引導的形容詞子句只用以修飾 the way，但 how 和 the way 只能擇一使用，因此 (C) 用法不合而不可選。
d. when 作關係副詞時，其所引導的形容詞子句只可用來修飾其前表『時間』的先行詞，故 (D) 用法不合而不可選。

3. Easter follows Lent, a 40-day period of disciplined eating, prayer, and contemplation.
理由:
a. (A) disciplined a. 遵守紀律的
The team's disciplined approach helped them finish the assignment before the deadline.
這個團隊守紀律的態度讓他們在期限前把工作完成。
(B) paralyzed a. 癱瘓的
Linda was paralyzed as a result of an awful car accident.
琳達歷經 1 場可怕的車禍後全身癱瘓。
(C) conserved a. 節省的；保存的
Conserved energy is stored in this device.
省下來的能源被儲存在這個裝置裡。
(D) loosened a. 鬆開的，解開的
loosen vt. 鬆開
Kevin loosened his tie as soon as he left the office.
凱文一下班就鬆開領帶。
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (A)。

4. During this time, some Christian groups abstain from eating any animal products altogether.
理由:
a. (A) productivity n. 生產力
(B) production n. 生產；產量
(C) produce
n. 農產品（集合名詞，不可數）
(D) product n. 產品，產物
The country's main product is timber.
那個國家的主要產物是木材。
b. 根據語意及用法，可知 (D) 應為正選。

5. Many of the things associated with Easter are, in fact, linked to pagan traditions that preceded the coming of Christianity.
理由:
a. (A) in case　　以防萬一
Since the weather forecast is not always reliable, you'd better take an umbrella with you just in case.
由於天氣預報並不總是可靠，所以你最好帶把傘以防萬一。
(B) in order　　按順序
Tom usually puts his CDs in alphabetical order.
湯姆通常按英文字母的順序擺放他的 CD。
(C) in fact 　事實上
Henry loves France. In fact, he's planning on moving to Paris soon.
亨利很喜歡法國。事實上，他打算不久後搬去巴黎。
(D) in turn　　依次，輪流
After lining up, each of the children got to ride the pony in turn.
排好隊後，每位小朋友都得以輪流騎這隻小馬。
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (C)。

6. The ancient Saxon tribes of Europe celebrated the coming of spring by worshiping their fertility goddess, ?ostre.
理由:
a. (A) offend vt. 冒犯，觸怒
I'm sorry if I've offended you.
若有得罪您的地方，我感到很抱歉。
(B) worship vt. 敬奉；崇拜
Mary worships the movie star so much that she has covered every inch of her room with his photos.
瑪麗很崇拜這位電影明星，還把他的照片貼滿整個房間。
(C) abandon vt. 丟棄；遺棄
If the river floods, we'll have to abandon our house.
如果河水氾濫，我們就得棄家。
(D) convince vt. 使信服；說服
convince sb of sth　　使某人相信某事
Bill tried to convince the boss of his ability to deal with the problem.
比爾努力要使老闆相信他有能力處理這個問題。
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (B)。

7. The rabbit or hare was her symbol because these creatures were known to be particularly fertile.
理由:
a. (A) scarcely adv. 幾乎不
= hardly adv.
Terry is scarcely ever late for school.
泰瑞上學幾乎很少遲到。
(B) instantly adv. 立即，馬上
= immediately adv.
I instantly cried out in pain when I stepped on a piece of glass.
我踩到 1 片玻璃，當場痛得哭出來。
(C) particularly adv. 尤其，特別
Do you know why Ed is in a particularly good mood tonight?
你知道為何艾德今晚心情特別好嗎？
(D) deliberately adv. 故意地
= on purpose
Toby deliberately left his wallet at home, hoping his friends would pay for his dinner.
托比故意把錢包留在家裡，希望他朋友會幫他付晚餐錢。
b. 根據語意，可知應選 (C)。

1. associate A with B　　將 A 與 B 聯想在一起
= connect A with B
be associated with...　　與……有關聯
= be linked to/with...
Most people associate red roses with love.
大多數人把紅玫瑰與愛情聯想在一起。
Many crimes committed by teenagers are associated with violence on television.
許多青少年所犯下的罪行都與電視暴力有關。

2. crucify vt. 把……釘在十字架上處死
The slaves were crucified for trying to escape.
這些奴隸因為試圖逃跑而被釘在十字架上處死。

3. vary from year to year　　每年都有所不同
vary from...to...　　從……到……而有所不同
Styles of clothing vary from year to year.
衣服的樣式每年都不同。
Temperatures have varied from hot to freezing over the past week.
過去 1 星期來氣溫變化忽冷忽熱。

4. search vt. 搜尋；搜查
search + 地方 + for...　　在某地搜尋∕搜查……
The detectives searched the whole house for clues.
探員們搜查整間屋子，尋找蛛絲馬跡。

5. make-believe a. 虛幻的；假裝的
make believe + that 子句　　假裝……
George made believe that he was sick so that he wouldn't have to go to school.
喬治假裝生病，這樣他就可以不必去上學。

6. symbolize vt. 象徵
= be symbolic of...
symbolic a. 象徵性的
The red rose in this poem symbolizes the man's heart.
這首詩中的紅玫瑰象徵這名男子的心。

7. abstain from...　　戒除……；斷絕……
abstain vi. 戒除；斷絕
John decided to abstain from drinking and smoking for two months.
約翰決定 2 個月不抽菸不喝酒。

8. precede vt.（順序）在……之前
This type of cloud always precedes a heavy downpour.
下傾盆大雨前總會出現這種雲。

9. exchange vt. 交換
exchange sth with sb　　和某人交換某物
I love to exchange music with my friends.
我喜歡和朋友交換音樂來聽。

10. represent vt. 代表
This song represents the pain everyone faces after a breakup.
這首歌代表了每個人在分手後所面對的痛苦。

1. Easter n. 復活節（基督教耶穌復活的紀念日，春分月圓後的第 1 個星期日）
2. Christianity n. 基督教
Christian a. 基督教的 & n. 基督教徒
3. bunny n. 小兔子
4. dye vt. 把……染上顏色
5. intricate a. 複雜精細的
6. contemplation n. 默想，沉思，冥想
7. feast vi. 盡情享用食物 & n. 盛宴
8. pagan a. 異教的
9. wintry a. 冬天般寒冷的；冬天的
10. fertility n.（人）生育力；（動物）繁殖力；（土地）肥沃
11. hare n. 野兔
12. fertile a.（動物）繁殖力強的；（土地）肥沃的

1. center around...　　圍繞著……；以……為主軸
= be centered around...
2. rise from the dead　　復活

彩蛋．野兔．復活節
跟聖誕節一樣，復活節對基督徒來說是一年當中最重要的時刻之一。
　　大多數人會把復活節跟西方的基督教聯想在一起。這個節日圍繞的基督教信仰，就是耶穌在『耶穌受難日』（編按：復活節的前 1 個星期五）這天，被釘在十字架上處死，然後在『主復活日』（編按：每年春分月圓之後第 1 個星期日）這天復活。復活節的確切日期每年都不相同，但它幾乎總是落在 3 月 22 日到 4 月 25 日之間。
　　復活節當天，父母通常會給家中的小孩一籃美味的糖果，或是安排尋蛋活動。活動包括小朋友在戶外尋找假裝是復活節兔所藏起來的蛋。在希臘，蛋被染成紅 色，象徵基督寶血。一些東歐國家會用繁複精美的設計來彩繪復活節彩蛋。復活節之前是為期 40 天的大齋期，有嚴格的飲食、祈禱和默想必須遵守。這段期間，一些基督教團體完全禁止食用任何動物產品。對許多人來說，復活節是盡情享受食物和慶祝的時刻， 因為大齋期已經結束。
　　事實上，許多復活節的相關事物都跟異教傳統有關，這些傳統早在人們信奉基督教前就已存在。復活節的起源實際上可見於天寒地凍且遙遠的北歐。古代歐洲的 撒克遜部落藉由敬奉掌管繁殖的女神 ?ostre 來慶祝春天降臨。兔子或野兔是祂的象徵，因為大家都知道牠們的繁殖能力特別強。交換蛋的行為也是常見的古老傳統，代表春天新生命的開始。
答案：1. (D)　2. (B)　3. (A)　4. (D)　5. (C)　6. (B)　7. (C)