Test: B5 L3 - L5

Test based on 雲林縣私立揚子中學九十七學年度第二學期高二英文科期末考

1. The little boy showed no signs of w____ from playing his video game.


2. This job i____ helping the elderly to use the online community services.


3. That chocolate bar really ruined my a____ for dinner.


4. Do you have any s____ plan for the weekend?


5. A mousetrap is a useful d____ for catching rats in the house.


6. Because of the p____ of the instructions, she had no idea what to do next.


7. I really a____ your help during my troubled period.


8. The serial killer is so v____ that the police have vowed to hunt him down.


9. My friend bought the house on an i____.


10. The MRT blue line has been e____ to Nangkang and Tucheng.


11. ____ it is sunny or rainy, Jack has his head buried in books.
    (a)No wonder (b)Whether (c)No matter (d)When


12. I found ____ difficult to communicate with the visitors.
    (a) it (b) that (c)this (d)there


13. ____ is that such a primitive society would design these magnificent structures.
    (a)What amazes (b)More amazing (c)More amazed (d)To our amazement


14. He grabbed me ____ the arm.
    (a)on (b)across (c)by (d)in


15. Only ____ there is a will ____ a way..
    (a)by... is there (b)where... is there (c)with... does there (d)which... has there been

(a)a number of (b)back to dust (c)deserting (d)faith (e)fear (f)the love of ease(g)the love of wonder (h)the soul (i)timidity (j)unfailing

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind. It means there predominance of courage over <16>, of adventure over <17>. This is often exists in a man of sixty more that in a boy of twenty. Nobody grows old merely by <18> years. We grow old by <19> our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles <20>. Worry, doubt, self-distruction, and <21> --- these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit <22>. Sixty or sixteen, there is in every human being's heart <23>, the sweet amazement of the stars and the undaunted challenges of events, the <24> child-like curiosity about what comes next, and the joy of the game of living. You are as young as your <25>, as old as your doubt.

(a)disappointed (b)enjoyed (c)favorite (d)happily (e)merely
(f)noisy (g)paycheck (h)promised (i)reward (j)run out of

An old man lived in a small side street of Mumbai had to put up with the nuisance of boys playing cricket and making a lot of noise outside his house every night.
One evening when the boys were particularly <26>, he went out to talk to them. He explained that he had just retired and was happiest when he could see or hear boys playing his <27> game, cricket. He would therefore give them 25 rupees each week to play in the street at night. The boys were thrilled, for they could hardly believe that they were being paid to do something they <28>!
At the end of the first two weeks, the boys came to the old man's house and went away <29> with their 25 rupees. The third week when they came back, the old man said he had <30> money and sent them away with only 15 rupees. The forth week, the man said he had not yet received his <31> from the government and gave them only 10 rupees. The boys were very <32>, but there was not much they could do about it.
At the end of the fifth week, the boys came back again and knocked at the old man's house, waiting for their <33>. Slowly, the door opened and the old man appeared. He apologized that he could not pay them 25 rupees as he had <34>, but said he would give them five rupees each week without fail.
This was really too much for the boys. "You expect us to play seven days a week for <35> five rupees!" they yelled. "No way!" They stormed away and never played on the street again.

(a) E-mail is different.
(b) I can zap a message to Kenya whenever I want to, and it gets there almost in a second.
(c) The time and distance, as a matter of fact, influence the letter-writer.
(d) The downside is, I might be less likely to say something deeper.
(e) I will also take more care with my style, trying to write in a way that is interesting and worth reading.

Many people say that email is just a faster way to deliver letters. The fact is that letter writing and email are completely different processes. Handwritten or typed, letters travel in envelopes through actual space and time getting from one place to another. <36> If I am writing on paper to my brother in Kenya, I will be less likely to complain about the breakfast I had this morning. I will probably write about my relationships and some things that I've been thinking about. <37> People tend to regard letters as important. My brother might save my letter; he might read it back to me years from now.
<38> It is instant, traveling from point to point. If you don't print it out, the message doesn't physically exist. With email, geography is no obstacle and time is not important. <39> The ease of this kind of writing and sending probably makes for a different kind of communication. I can complain about the breakfast I had this morning or rattle on about friends and movies. That is because I am not so focused on style and profundity. <40> My brother might glance at my mail, have a laugh, and then delete it.

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Test: B5 L3

I. 文意字彙

1. We all reguard the general as a n____ and courageous leader.


2. People are disappointed at the government's t____ on social reform.


3. The company received great f____ for its excellent products. It is well-known for its manufacturing quality.


4. What annoys me is that the boys keep s____ trash all over our classroom.


5. A lot of our silverware is in s____.


6. We couldn't but m____ at the view from the mountain top.


7. The thief made a d____ attempt in escaping but failed. He was surronded by hundreds of police.


8. B____ is in the eye of the beholder.


9. A good friend can broaden our h____ and lift us above ourselves.


10. People are worried about the p____ of sex and violence on TV shows.

II. 翻譯

1. 閱讀之於心靈，猶如運動之於身體。


2. 我會幫你，但你必須先向Ruby道歉。(on condition that)


3. 我寧可親一隻青蛙也不願和他見面。


4. 貨物需要送到機場。(transport)


5. Linda對於各式音樂有極大的喜好。(appetite)


6. 方便的話，請回電至我的辦公室。(convenience)


7. 不管你喜歡中式餐點還是日本料理，今天晚餐吃中華料理。


8. 他沒有心情寫書。

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Test: B5 L3+4 vocabulary

1. Many scientists think the Stonehenge was built for a_____ purposes.
2. Creators of the giant stone statues on Easter Island were wiped out in battles with another t_____.
3. In his b_____, George wrote about how his childhood affected his ideas and career choices.
4. Ancient Chinese based their activities on l_____ calendar. It is still practiced by many farmers today.
5. Billy and Bob are i_____ twins. They look exactly the same.
6. It is a wonder that the ancient Egyptians built the Pyramids with such p_____ tools.
7. I was suddenly struck by a v_____ of emotions and began crying.
8. After her parents died, she was in a state of d_____. She lost all her hope in life.
9. I don’t have the a_____ for beef tonight. I just ate pounds of meet yesterday at the barbeque.
10. Many airplane crashes have shown that f____ may have affected pilots’ ability in making correct decisions.
11. Mary never throws anything away. She just a_____. She even has newspapers dated back to 1985!
12. My parents’ belief in me made me un_____ about my future.
13. Maybe one day, future mankind will look at the buildings we e____ today and wonder why we build them.
14. During earthquake, you should shelter beside a strong c_____. Sheltering underneath a table is not a good idea.
15. Every year on April 5, Taiwanese people visit tombs of their a_____ to pay respect to them.
16. The thought of her children is her only i_____ to work in the States. She works day and night so that her kids back home can go to school and have a comfortable life.
17. Summer in Taiwan is fun in general. I just don’t like the v_____ mosquitoes.
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Test: Earthships

In the middle of the d__1__ near Taos, New Mexico, visitors will find a number of very o__-l__2__ houses. Some are e__3__ structures, covered on one side with a long row of s__4__ glass p__5__. Others are topped with d__6__ that are topped with flat windows like the e__7__ to a flying s__8__ from out/ outer/ outside space. But no! They are not spaceships. They are Eearthships.

An Earthship is a relatively/ relate/ related new type of house that is e__-f__11__ and s__-s__12__. It is build with many recycle/ recycling/ recyclable materials both inside and out, p__14__ used tires and a__15__ cans. The s__16__ allow light into the house without allowing too much heat. E__17__ for lights comes from wind or s__18__ power. Its own water system recycles waste water and s__19__ for gardening. The home only needs to be h__20__ up to a phone line.

Earthships were first created in the 1970s by a man named Michael Reynolds. Reynolds also runs w__21__ so that owners can be involved in building their own Earthships. The building process is relatively simple, though it does require a lot of p__22__ work.

Finished Earthship homes are often very beautiful. They are built in many unusual and creative designs. The people who live in Earthships seem to be very happy with their lifestyle. They pay hardly any u__23__ bills. Many also get a great sense of s__24__ from using their own hands to help build the house. Many owners add special touches to the i__25__, such as carved doors, stone floors and even handmade furniture.

26. 我父母不允許我們晚上在外遊蕩(hang out)到太晚。
27. 老師說他不允許班上有作弊行為。
28. 從去年聖誕節起，我們就一直在進行這個計畫。
29. 我好久沒見到妳了。
30. 紙是由木材做的。



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Earthships: A New Way of Building and Living

originally published in The English Reader for Senior High School: Book Three by The Far East Books Co., Ltd. 原文引自遠東高中英文第四冊課文。



In the middle of the desert near Taos, New Mexico, visitors will find a number of very odd-looking houses. Some are elongated structures, covered on one side with a long row of slanted glass panels. Others are topped with domes and the domes are topped with flat windows. The windows look almost like the entrance to a flying saucer. Indeed, when you see these houses, you might think for a moment that they are ships from outer space. But no! They are not spaceships. They are Eearthships.

An Earthship is a relatively new type of house that is eco-friendly and self-sufficient. It is build with many recyclable materials both inside and out, primarily used tires and aluminum cans, and it is heated and cooled using solar power. The glass panels help to collect heat, and the flat windows are called skylights. They allow light into the house without allowing too much heat. Electricity for lights also comes from wind or solar power. An Earthship has its own water system as well. The system collects rainwater for household use, and recycles waste water and sewage for gardening. The home does not need to be hooked up to any electricity, water, or sewage systems. It only needs a phone line.

Earthships were first created in the 1970s by a man named Michael Reynolds. Reynolds built the first such homes in Taos, but since then his designs have been used in many other locations, including Mexico, Europe and Japan. Reynolds also runs workshops so that owners can be involved in building their own Earthships. The building process is relatively simple, though it does require a lot of physical work. The outside walls are made by lining and piling up old tires and then packing them with earth. The earth must be pounded until it is very hard in order to make the walls stable. The tires are then covered with cement or adobe. The walls inside the house are made in the similar way with aluminum cans. The result of this design is that the house has extra thick walls, and this helps to control the temperature indoors. Even without air-conditioning, an Earthship will stay cool during the day. At night, as heat transfers from the walls, the house warms up, so that everyone can sleep comfortably.

Finished Earthship homes are often very beautiful. They are built in many unusual and creative designs. The sloping roofs and glass skylights give them a natural but elegant look. Inside, sunlight streams in throughout the day, creating a bright and cheerful atmosphere. Many owners add special touches to the interior, such as carved doors, stone floors and even handmade furniture. In one design, pieces of recycled glass bottles add colorful decorations to the walls and doorways.

The people who live in Earthships seem to be very happy with their lifestyle. Their homes are not only much cheaper to build but also cheaper to live in than ordinary houses. They pay hardly any utility bills. Many also get a great sense of satisfaction from using their own hands to help build the house. Most important of all, they know that their homes do little damage to the environment. They can feel that they are no longer part of the problem, but part of the solution.

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Test: Only 17

A__1__ c__2__ my mind. I am a s__3__. When I first got here I felt very much alone. I was o__4__ by grief.

I found no s__5__. I saw only thousands of others whose bodies were as badly m__6__ as mine. I was given a number and placed in a c__7__ called "Traffic F__8__."

It doesn't matter how the accident happened. I was g__9__off --- going too fast, taking crazy chances. But I was enjoying my freedom and having fun. Glass and steel flew everywhere. My whole body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard myself scream.

Suddenly, I awakened. I was s__10__ with blood. Later I was placed in a drawer. My f__11__ came to identify me. Why did they have to see me like this? Why did I have to look at Mom's eyes when she faced the most terrible o__12__ of her life?

The f__13__ was weird. I saw all my r__14__ and friends walk toward the c__15__. They Some of my buddies were crying. A few of the girls touched my hand and s__16__ as they walked by. My brother and sister are like z__17__.

Please, don't b__18__ me! I'm not dead! IAll I want is one more chance. Please, God, I'm only 17.


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Test: Has the Cat Got Your Tongue?

It’s a classic image—a child hiding her heard in her mother’s skirts when she meets a s__1__, or a student b__2__ and s__3__ when the teacher asks his name. Shyness probably a__4__ 40 to 50 percent of all people in North America. It’s just that most people appear c__5__ on the surface, and in social situations they seem well a__6__. Only 15 to 20 percent of us fit the s__7__ of the shy person.

What exactly is shyness? “It’s a feeling of self-c__8__,” says Rita Clark, a p__9__. “Shy people feel nervous and ill at ease. They may t__10__, and have b__11__ in their stomach. They worry about making a bad i__12__ on people.” Shyness doesn’t necessarily show on the surface. In fact, people sometimes think that shy people are s__13__ and uninterested in other people when really they are just afraid to make c__14__.

You may be s__15__ to know who is actually very shy. One well-known talk-show host, whose show is watched by millions of viewers, has to plan p__16__ down to the last detail—in order to appear s__17__. “Other ‘private shy’ people include p__18__, teachers, and entertainers,” says Clark. “These people act outgoing when they’re doing their jobs, but they’re very i__19__ socially. You’d be amazed how many public figures fit into this c__20__.”

Research shows that some people are born with a shy t__21__. About 20 percent of babies show a__22__ signs of distress when they see strangers or e__23__ unfamiliar situation. Some scientists feel that such shyness is i__24__.

If 15 to 20 percent of shyness is innate, how do other people become shy? Children may become shy when they enter school or meet new challenges. A__25__ may suffer from an i__26__ crisis and become shy. Whatever the reasons, shy people suffer from t__27__ and from well-meaning c__28__.

- Don’t be a p__29__. It’s better to set r__30__ goals.
- Learn to take r__31__. It’s not your fault. It’s part of life.
- Smile and look at people. If you smile and show you’re interested, people will r__32__ and conversation will be easier.

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Test: Giant Pandas

Many animals today are facing e__1__. One very special animal that needs our protection is the giant panda. Pandas are clearly an e__2__ species.

The biggest problem that pandas face today is the loss of their natural h__3__(H). This loss is due mainly to d__4__(DF). Because of the rapid growth of p__5__ in the past century, large areas of natural forest have been cleared for a__6__, timber and human habitation. As s__7__ push higher up the mountain slopes, panda H i__8__ disappears.

DF also t__9__ the pandas' food supply. Pandas feed mainly on/ at/ to bamboo, c__11__ up to 38 kilograms a day. Without enough forest area, the pandas will s__12__. To make matters worse, every 60 years or so the bamboo in a certain area may naturally b__13__ and die on/ off/ in.

When people cut down trees, the forest is broken into small areas. In these areas, the pandas can only live in small groups. Within these small groups, it is difficult for them to find a__15__ m__16__. As a result, they are facing a greater risk of i__17__. The younger pandas may get sick more often and become less a__18__ to changes in the environment.

Another problem that pandas face is that young cubs are v__19__ and require a great deal of care. It has no fur and is b__20__for the first six weeks. During this time the mother does not leave the cub's side. She has to spend much time l__21__the cub so that it will not have any smell that might a__22__ p__22__.


F__24__, m__25__ are being taken to help the pandas. Zoos are having some success in breeding pandas. The best thing we can do to help pandas is to p__26__their H and take a__27__to protect their lives.

28. King正跑步離開教室，找同學打球。
29. 老師堅持King要寫完作業才能離開。
30. King持續寫作業直到下課時間結束。
31. 全班除了King，作業都沒寫完。
32. 老師很高興，因為King停下打球。


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Test: Going Home

Three boys and three girls are going to Florida and when they boarded the bus, they were carrying sandwiches and wine in paper bags, dream/ dreaming/ to dream of golden beaches and sea tides as the gray cold of New York v__2__ behind them.

As the bus r__3__ south, they began to notice Vingo. He c__4__ the inside of his lip a lot, frozen into some personal c__5__ of silence.

Deep into/ at/ on the night, outside Washington, the bus pulled into/ at/ on a roadside restaurant, and everybody got off except Vingo. He sat rooted in his seat, and the young people began to wonder about him, trying to imagine his life: perhaps he was a sea c__8__, a r__9__ from his wife, an old s__10__ going home. When they went back to the bus, one of the girls sat beside him and i__11__ herself.

“Want some wine?” she said. He smiled and took a s__12__. He thanked her and r__13__ again into his silence. After a while, she went back to the others, and Vingo nodded in sleep.

In the morning, they awoke outside another restaurant, and this time Vingo went in. The girl i__14__ that he join them. He seemed very shy, and ordered black coffee and smoked nervously as the young people c__15__ about sleeping on beaches. When they returned to the bus, the girl sat with Vingo again, and after a while, slowly and painfully, he told his story. He had been in jail in New York for the past four years, and now he was going home.

“When I was in the can I wrote to my wife,” he said. “I told her that I was going to be away a long time, and that if she couldn’t stand it, she could just forget me. I told her she didn’t have to write me. And she didn’t. Not for three and a half years.”

"Last week, when I was sure the p__16__ was coming through, I wrote her again. There’s a big oak tree just as you come into town. I told her that if she’d take me back, she should put a yellow h__17__ on the tree, and I’d get off and come home. If she didn’t want me, forget it—no handkerchief, and I’d go on through.”

She told the others, and soon all of them were in it, caught up/ at/ on in the approach of Vingo’s hometown, looking at the pictures he showed them of his wife and three children—the woman handsome in a p__19__ way, the children still unformed in the cracked, much-handled s__20__.

Now they were 20 miles from the town, and the young people took over window seats on the right side, waiting for the a__21__ of the great oak tree. The bus a__22__ a dark, h__23__ mood, full of the silence of a__24__ and lost years. Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face into the ex-con’s mask, as if f__25__ himself against still another disappointment.

Suddenly, all of the young people were up out of their seats, screaming and shouting and crying, doing small dances of e__26__. All except Vingo.

The Oak tree was covered with maybe hundreds of yellow handkerchiefs. As the young people shouted, the old con rose from his seat and made his way to the front of the bus and go home.

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Going Home

by Pete Hamill


They were going to Florida—three boys and three girls—and when they boarded the bus, they were carrying sandwiches and wine in paper bags, dreaming of golden beaches and sea tides as the gray cold of New York vanished behind them.

As the bus rumbled south, they began to notice Vingo. He sat in front of them, dressed in a plain, ill-fitting suit, never moving, his dusty face masking his age. He chewed the inside of his lip a lot, frozen into some personal cocoon of silence.

Deep into the night, outside Washington, the bus pulled into a roadside restaurant, and everybody got off except Vingo. He sat rooted in his seat, and the young people began to wonder about him, trying to imagine his life: perhaps he was a sea captain, a runaway from his wife, an old soldier going home. When they went back to the bus, one of the girls sat beside him and introduced herself.

“We’re going to Florida,” she said brightly. “I hear it’s beautiful.”
“It is,” he said quietly, as if remembering something he had tried to forget.
“Want some wine?” she said. He smiled and took a swig. He thanked her and retreated again into his silence. After a while, she went back to the others, and Vingo nodded in sleep.

In the morning, they awoke outside another restaurant, and this time Vingo went in. The girl insisted that he join them. He seemed very shy, and ordered black coffee and smoked nervously as the young people chattered about sleeping on beaches. When they returned to the bus, the girl sat with Vingo again, and after a while, slowly and painfully, he told his story. He had been in jail in New York for the past four years, and now he was going home.

“Are you married?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” she said.
“Well, when I was in the can I wrote to my wife,” he said. “I told her that I was going to be away a long time, and that if she couldn’t stand it, if the kids kept asking questions, if it hurt too much, well, she could just forget me. I’d understand. Get a new guy, I said—she’s a wonderful woman, really something—and forget about me. I told her she didn’t have to write me. And she didn’t. Not for three and a half years.”

“And you’re going home now, not knowing?”
“Yeah,” he said shyly. “Well, last week, when I was sure the parole was coming through, I wrote her again. There’s a big oak tree just as you come into town. I told her that if she’d take me back, she should put a yellow handkerchief on the tree, and I’d get off and come home. If she didn’t want me, forget it—no handkerchief, and I’d go on through.”

Wow,” the girl said. “Wow.”
She told the others, and soon all of them were in it, caught up in the approach of Vingo’s hometown, looking at the pictures he showed them of his wife and three children—the woman handsome in a plain way, the children still unformed in the cracked, much-handled snapshots.

Now they were 20 miles from the town, and the young people took over window seats on the right side, waiting for the approach of the great oak tree. The bus acquired a dark, hushed mood, full of the silence of absence and lost years. Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face into the ex-con’s mask, as if fortifying himself against still another disappointment.

Then it was ten miles, and then five. Then, suddenly, all of the young people were up out of their seats, screaming and shouting and crying, doing small dances of exultation. All except Vingo.

Vingo sat there stunned, looking at the oak tree. It was covered with yellow handkerchiefs—20 of them, 30 of them, maybe hundreds, a tree that stood like a banner of welcome billowing in the wind. As the young people shouted, the old con rose from his seat and made his way to the front of the bus and go home.
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Test: Our Global Village

Ring ... ring ... ring ... My day today, as u__1__, started at 6 a.m., when the alarm went _2_ on the old Swiss clock at my bedside. I d__3__ s__4__ out from b__5__ the s__6__ Thai silk sheets, and then r__7__ out of the bed I had just bought two weeks before from Ikea. By 7 o'clock, even before I left the house for work, I had already received two business calls on my Nokia cellphone, one from a French c__8__ at work and the other from a business a__9__ calling from Canada.

As I left the house, I suddenly thought for/ to/ at myself how g__11__(G1) my life had become.

On the way to work, I thought about the a__12__ ways that life has changed with the r__13__ growth of g__14__(G2) over the last couple of d__15__. Some people d__16__ these changes because they think these changes will lead to the slow d__17__ of many a__18__ of their culture. Others, however, r__19__ how much more interesting things can become with the greater v__20__ these changes give their lives. Being a Westerner who lives in Taipei, I think G2 is great because it gives me so much more a__21__ to things, p__22__ and people from around the world, that it seems, for/ to/ at times, like I haven't left my hometown of London.

Once I got to work, I s__24__ on my IBM computer, while drinking a cup of b__25__ coffee from Brazil and f__26__ on French bread sandwiches. Later in the morning, I had v__27__ meetings with c__28__ from Germany and Korea to d__29__ our new line of products.

During our relaxing lunch, I slowly looked a__30__ the restaurant and realized I could have been anywhere in the world. There were other Western people at the table next for/ to/ at us all c__32__ noisily in languages that I wasn't able to understand. The Taiwanese waiter then greeted us in f__33__ English, with only a s__34__ Taiwanese a__35__. The G2 of this city, though, is most o__36__ in its y__37__ culture. While we were eating, three teenagers with d__38__ hair walked past our window drinking Starbucks coffee, laughing and high-fiving one another. This look and type of b__39__ was not c__40__ in Taiwan until a few years ago.

At the end of work, after such a m__41__ day, I was ready to try something different. So at home tonight I ate a good, old-fashioned Taiwanese bian-dang, which I bought at the local restaurant on my street, and I followed this up/ to/ for with clam soup and a big cup of high mountain oolong tea.


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Our Global Village

originally published in The English Reader for Senior High School: Book Three by The Far East Books Co., Ltd. 原文引自遠東高中英文第三冊課文。

Ring ... ring ... ring ... My day today, as usual, started at 6 a.m., when the alarm went off on the old Swiss clock at my bedside. I drowsily slid out from beneath the smooth Thai silk sheets, and then rolled out of the bed I had just bought two weeks before from Ikea. By 7 o'clock, even before I left the house for work, I had already received two business calls on my Nokia cellphone, one from a French colleague at work and the other from a business associate calling from Canada.

As I left the house, I suddenly thought to myself how globalized my life had become. In one hour this morning, I had already used a clock from Switzerland, slipped out of sheets made in Thailand, climbed out of a bed from Sweden, answered calls on a phone made in Finland, and spoken to people from two other countries. And that wasn't all. I was about to drive to work in my new Toyota.

On the way to work, I thought about the amazing ways that life has changed with the rapid growth of globalization over the last couple of decades. Some people dislike these changes because they think these changes will lead to the slow disappearance of many aspects of their culture. Others, however, realize how much more interesting things can become with the greater variety these changes give their lives. Being a Westerner who lives in Taipei, I think globalization is great because it gives me so much more access to things, pastimes and people from around the world, that it seems, at times, like I haven't left my hometown of London.

Once I got to work, I switched on my IBM computer, and read the New York Times and the Sydney Morning Herald online, while drinking a cup of brewed coffee from Brazil and feasting on French bread sandwiches. Later in the morning, I had videoconference meetings with customers from Germany and Korea to discuss our new line of products. By 12 o'clock, I was really hungry, and my colleague and I discussed whether to have our lunch at the Indian restaurant up the road, the Italian pasta bar on the next street, or the new Mexican place because they make great burritos.

During our relaxing lunch, I slowly looked around the restaurant and realized I could have been anywhere in the world. There were other Western people at the table next to us, and a group of African people on the other side of the restaurant, all chatting noisily in languages that I wasn't able to understand. The Taiwanese waiter then greeted us in fluent English, with only a slight Taiwanese accent. Looking out the window, I noticed that every one of the shops along the street outside the restaurant had an English name written in large letters on its shop sign. The globalization of this city, though, is most obvious in its youth culture. While we were eating, three teenagers with dyed hair and wearing baggy, hip-hop style pants walked past our window drinking Starbucks coffee, laughing and high-fiving one another. This look and type of behavior was not common in Taiwan until a few years ago.

At the end of work, after such a multicultural day, I was ready to try something different. So at home tonight I ate a good, old-fashioned Taiwanese bian-dang, which I bought at the local restaurant on my street, and I followed this up with clam soup and a big cup of high mountain oolong tea.


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Test: Asking Nature for Advice

I. Fill in the blanks.

Canadian scientists studying f 1 frogs believe these frogs hold the secret for safer o 2 t 3 . Hearts, for example, could be safely frozen and then t 4 ed when needed.

These Canadian scientists aren’t the only ones looking/ look/ looked for/ to/ from nature for/ to/ from i 8 . More and more i 9 are also d 10 that the natural world contains many u 11 d 12 . They are not looking for/ to/ from what they can take, but rather what they can learn, for/ to/ from nature.

Inventions b 15 on/ to/ with nature are nothing new. Over a century ago, the Wright brothers, the inventors of the airplane, studied how birds fly. They watched d 17 such as how flying birds a 18 their wings to turn. By a 19 their o 20 on/ to/ with their new invention, the Wright brothers were able to fly like a bird.

In the 1940s, a Swiss e 22 , George de Mestral, noticed b 23 sticking on/ to/ with his pants. He examined one of these things under his m 25 and found tiny h 26 on the end of it. Based on this c 27 , Mestral invented Velcro.

Today, inventors are still finding great ideas in nature’s designs. Take, for/ to/ from example, the lotus. This plant often grows in m 29 e 30 , but remains dry and clean. G 31 scientists discovered that its leaves are covered on/ to/ with tiny n 33 . D 34 and d 35 fall on the needle tips and readily wash away when it rains. Lotusan, a German company, used this idea to make “self-cleaning” house paint. When dried, the paint s 36 r 37 b 38 on a lotus leaf.

Imagine a s 39 as thick in/ to/ as a pencil stopping a flying j 41 No, it's not a c 42 . In/ To/ As theory, it could work. Spider s 44 is five times stronger than steel.

Spiders, however, can't be f 45 . They'd eat each other. So scientists put spider genes inside goats. Then they c 46 and p 47 the goat's milk. The r 48 ? Spider silk from milk! Its uses may include stronger b 49 v 50 and safer bridges.

Learn from nature. You'll be s 51 by its great designs.


II. Finish the sentence with something, nothing, anything.
52. Their conversation is not important.
>> Their conversation is      (important)

53. I don’t eat weird food, such as chicken feet, bugs and stuff like that.
>> I don’t eat      (weird).

54. Many people found the article inspirational.
>> There is      (inspiring) about the article.


III. Sentence Combination
55. This computer is NT 24,000 dollars.
This camera is NT 8,000 dollars.
>> The computer is       the camara.

56. Lisa studies 6 hours every day.
I only study 2 hours every day.
>> Lisa studies       I do every day.


IV. Complete the sentences with vocabulary provided below
rather, apply, look, base
57. The child       to his parents for toys.
58. The reason why he is not hired is not that he was not good enough, but       he was too full of himself.
59. Most of her research was       on her father's work.
60. You should       what you learn in school to your life.



Stop and review your answers before you check the answer key.
----------------------------------------




Answers:
1. frozen
2. organ
3. transplants
4. thawed
5. looking
6. to
7. for
8. inspiration
9. inventors
10. discovering
11. useful
12. designs
13. for
14. from
15. based
16. on
17. details
18. adjusted
19. applying
20. observations
21. to
22. engineer
23. burs
24. to
25. microscope
26. hooks
27. concept
28. for
29. muddy
30. environments
31. German
32. with
33. needles
34. Dust
35. dirt
36. surface
37. resembles
38. bumps
39. string
40. as
41. jet
42. cartoon
43. In
44. silk
45. farmed
46. collected
47. processed
48. results
49. bulletproof
50. vests
51. surprised

52. nothing important
53. anything weird
54. something inspiring
55. three times more expensive than/ three times the price of
56. three times more than

57. looked
58. rather
59. based
60. apply

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Asking Nature for Advice

originally published in The English Reader for Senior High School: Book Three by The Far East Books Co., Ltd. 原文引自遠東高中英文第三冊課文。

Some frogs naturally freeze solid in winter, then thaw and hop away in the spring. In Ottawa, Canada, scientists are studying these frozen frogs. They believe these frogs hold the secret for safer organ transplants. Hearts, for example, could be safely frozen and then thawed when needed.

These Canadian scientists aren’t the only ones looking to nature for inspiration. More and more inventors are also discovering that the natural world contains many useful designs. These inventors are not looking for what they can take, but rather what they can learn, from nature.

Inventions based on nature are nothing new. Over a century ago, the Wright brothers, the inventors of the airplane, studied how birds fly. They watched details such as how flying birds adjusted their wings to turn. By applying their observations to their new invention, the Wright brothers were able to fly like a bird.

In the 1940s, a Swiss engineer, George de Mestral, noticed burs sticking to his pants. He examined one of these burs under his microscope and found tiny hooks on the end of it. Based on this concept, Mestral invented Velcro.

Today, inventors are still finding great ideas in nature’s designs. Take, for example, the lotus. This plant often grows in muddy environments, but remains dry and clean. German scientists discovered that its leaves are covered with tiny needles. Dust and dirt fall on the needle tips and readily wash away when it rains. Lotusan, a German company , used this same concept to make “self-cleaning” house paint. When dried, the paint surface resembles bumps on a lotus leaf. Scientists are now hoping to create a similar paint for cars.

Imagine a string as thick as a pencil stopping a flying jet. No, it's not a cartoon. In theory, it could work. Spider silk is five times stronger than steel. It's even stronner than Kevlar---the toughest man-made material.

Spiders, however, can't be farmed. They'd eat each other. So scientists put spider genes inside goats. Then they collected and processed the goat's milk. The result? Spider silk from milk! Its uses may include stronger bulletproof vests and safer bridges.

Learn from nature. You'll be surprised by its great designs.

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Test: The Owl Who Was God

I. Fill in the blanks

Once upon/ in/ at a starless midnight there was an owl who sat on the b 2 of an oak tree. Two ground moles tried to slip quietly by/ in/ out, unnoticed. "You!"said the owl. "Who?" they q 4 , in fear and a 5 , for they could not believe it was possible for anyone to see them in that thick darkness. The moles h 6 back to the other c 7 of the f 8 and forest r 9 that the owl was the greatest and wisest of all animals because he could see in the dark and because he could answer any question. "I’ll see about that," said a secretary bird, and he called on/ in/ at the owl one night when it was again very dark. "How many c 11 am I holding up?"

"Can he see in the d 12 , too?" asked a red fox. "Yes," answered a dormouse and a French poodle. "Can he see in the daytime, too?" All the other creatures laughed loudly at/ in/ on this silly question, and they set up/ upon/ out the red fox and his friends and drove them out of the forest. They sent a m 15 to the owl and asked him to be their leader.

When the owl a 16 among the animals it was high noon and the sun was shining brightly. He walked very slowly, which gave him an appearance of great d 17 , and he p 18 about him with large, staring eyes, which gave him an air of t 19 importance. "He’s God!" screamed a Plymouth rock hen. And the others took at/ in/ up the cry "He’s God!" So they followed him wherever he went and when he b 21 into things they began to do that, too. Finally he came to a c 22 h 23 and he started up the middle of it and all the other creatures followed him. They were still crying "He’s God" when the truck hit them and ran them d 24 . Some of the animals were m 25 i 26 , but most of them, including the owl, were killed.


II. Combine sentences with ..., for...; ..., so...; or ..., which...

27. The final exam is next week. We can't party all day. (so/ for)
28. He kept looking at his watch. His girlfriend is late. (so/ for)
29. Mrs. White threw all her hudsband's luggages out of the window. That scared their children. (which)
30. Mr. Henderson is handsome. He is very popular. (which)
31. She doesn't want to stay at home. She doesn't want to be alone. (so/ for)


IV. Combine or rewrite the sentences using the hints provided.
32. Mike is my friend, but he is more like a brother to me. (... not so much... as...)
33. Lisa is more friendly than helpful. (Lisa is not so much ... as ...)
34. I love American fastfood. My favorite is fried chicken wings with barbeque sauce. (One of... )
35. Both Sally and Billy love to play basketball. (Like Billy, Sally...)
36. Both Indians and Koreans enjoy spicy food. (Like ..., ...)
37. His dream came true because of his hard work. (His hard work made ...)
38. Other creatures in the forest thought the owl is God because of his ability to answer all questions. (... make ...)
39. To study all day long is tiring. (It is...)
40. Leanring different languages is useful. (It is...)


Stop and review your answers before you check the answer key.
----------------------------------------


Answers:
1. upon
2. branch
3. by
4. quavered
5. astonishment
6. hastened
7. creatures
8. field
9. region
10. on
11. claws
12. daytime
13. at
14. upon
15. messenger
16. appeared
17. dignity
18. peered
19. trememdous
20. up
21. bumped
22. concrete
23. highway
24. down
25. merely
26. injured

27. The final exam is next week, so we can't party all day.
We can't party all day, for the final exam is next week.
28. His girlfriend is late, so he kept looking at his watch.
He kept looking at his watch for his girlfriend is late.
29. Mrs White threw all her hudsband's luggages out of the window, which scared their children.
30. Mr. Henderson is handsome, which makes him very popular.
31. She doesn't want to be alone, so she doesn't want to stay at home.
She doesn't want to stay at home, for she doesn't want to be alone.

32. Mike is not so much a friend as a brother to me.
33. Lisa is not so much helpful as friendly.
34. One of my favorite American fastfood is fried chicken wings with barbeque sauce.
35. Like Billy, Sally loves to play basketball.
36. Like Koreans, Indians enjoy spicy food.
37. His hard work made his dream came true.
38. His ability of answer all questions made other creatures thought the owl is God.
39. It is tiring to study all day.
40. It is useful to learn different languages.

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The Owl Who Was God

by James Thurber


Once upon a starless midnight there was an owl who sat on the branch of an oak tree. Two ground moles tried to slip quietly by, unnoticed. "You!"said the owl. "Who?" they quavered, in fear and astonishment, for they could not believe it was possible for anyone to see them in that thick darkness. "You two!" said the owl. The moles hurried away and told the other creatures of the field and forest that the owl was the greatest and wisest of all animals because he could see in the dark and because he could answer any question. "I’ll see about that, "said a secretary bird, and he called on the owl one night when it was again very dark. "How many claws am I holding up?" said the secretary bird. "Two," said the owl, and that was right. "Can you give me another expression for ‘that is to say’ or ‘namely’?" asked the secretary bird. "To wit," said the owl. "Why does the lover call on his love?" "To woo," said the owl.

The secretary bird hastened back to the other creatures and reported that the owl indeed was the greatest and wisest animal in the world because he could see in the dark and because he could answer any question. "Can he see in the daytime, too?" asked a red fox. "Yes," answered a dormouse and a French poodle. "Can he see in the daytime, too?" All the other creatures laughed loudly at this silly question, and they set upon the red fox and his friends and drove them out of the region. They sent a messenger to the owl and asked him to be their leader.

When the owl appeared among the animals it was high noon and the sun was shining brightly. He walked very slowly, which gave him an appearance of great dignity, and he peered about him with large, staring eyes, which gave him an air of tremendous importance. "He’s God!" screamed a Plymouth rock hen. And the others took up the cry "He’s God!" So they followed him wherever he went and when he bumped into things they began to bump into things, too. Finally he came to a concrete highway and he started up the middle of it and all the other creatures followed him. Presently a hawk, who was acting as outrider, observed a truck coming toward them at fifty miles an hour, and he reported to the secretary bird and the secretary bird reported to the owl. "There’s danger ahead," said the secretary bird. "To wit?" said the owl. The secretary bird told him. "Aren’t you afraid?" he asked. "Who?" said the owl calmly, for he could not see the truck. "He’s God!" cried all the creatures again, and they were still crying "He’s God" when the truck hit them and ran them down. Some of the animals were merely injured, but most of them, including the owl, were killed.

Moral: You can fool too many of the people too much of the time.



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Sounds of Moonlight

originally published in The English Reader for Senior High School: Book Three by The Far East Books Co., Ltd. 原文引自遠東高中英文第三冊課文。

In the middle of his life, Ludwig van Beethoven, the German musician, slowly began to lose his hearing. Beethoven was afraid he would have to stop writing music. People tell the following story about how he found the courage to continue. No one knows to this day whether the story is true or not.



It was a cold winter night in 1801. The city of Vienna, Austria, lay sleeping under a full moon.

A young man hurried home through a strange section of the city. He was Ludwig van Beethoven, a famous writer of music.

Suddenly Beethoven stopped. From a nearby cottage came the sound of a piano. In fact, Beethoven recognized one of his own works. But it was not being played very well.

After a moment the music stopped. Then he heard the sound of crying. “I can’t get it right,” sobbed a girl’s voice. “I’ll never get it right.”

Beethoven knocked at the cottage door. A young man opened it. Inside, the room was lit by only a few candles. Beethoven could barely make out an old piano and a girl sitting in front of it.

“I heard music and then crying,” said Beethoven. “Can I help in any way?”

The girl sighed. “I have been trying all night to play this piece of music. But I’m afraid I’ll never get it right.”

The girl was embarrassed. She told Beethoven that she and her brother had little money for music lessons. But she had gone to a concert and had heard this music. She and her brother knew that she would never play well unless she could hear good musicians play.

Beethoven smiled. “Would you like to have a concert now?” he asked. “I am a musician also.”

“That is very good of you, sir,” replied the girl. “But the piano is old and we have no sheet music.”

This surprised Beethoven. “No sheet music?” He asked. “But you were playing…” Then he was silent. He suddenly understood why the piano was in the dark. The girl was blind. She couldn’t read a note from a sheet of music. She was playing his music from memory.

Beethoven’s eyes filled with tears. He sat down at the piano and began to play. He played all the pieces of music that he knew. He played with all the feeling and skill that he had.

Finally the candles burned out. Beethoven went to the window and swept back the curtains. Moonlight flooded the room. It covered the bare floor and furniture with silver light. Then Beethoven started to play something new. He tried to describe for the girl what the moonlight was like. The notes filled the room with flowing sound. He had never played so well. The music grew softer. When it finally stopped, the girl whispered, “You must be Beethoven. No one else could play so well.” Her brother added, “We will never forget this kindness.”

That night Beethoven went home and finished the music he had played. It came to be called the Moonlight Sonata and is still played today. A few years later Beethoven started to grow deaf. Soon he could hardly hear. Sounds seemed to be coming through a blanket that got thicker and thicker.

Finally Beethoven could not hear a single note. But still he kept on writing music. He heard the notes in his head. Some of his greatest works were written after he’d become deaf. It may be that the blind girl’s struggle to play the piano that night gave him the courage not to give up.

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Test: Gen. MacArthur's Prayer for His Son

Try and fill in the blanks with correct vocabulary you learned from the reading, General MacArthur's Prayer for His Son. Pay close attention to subject-verb agreement.



Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and b 1 enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and u 2 in honest d 3 , and h 4 and g 5 in v 6 .

Build me a son whose w 7 will not be where his b 8 should be; a son who will know T 9 —and that to know himself is the f 10 stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the p 11 of e 12 and comfort, but under the stress and
s 13 of difficulties and c 14 . Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn c 15 for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high; a son who will m 16 himself before he s 17 to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to w 18 ; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him h 19 , so that he may always remember the s 20 of true greatness, the open mind of true w 21 , the m 22 of true strength.

Then, I, his father, will dare to w 23 , “I have not lived in v 24 !”

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General MacArthur's Prayer for His Son

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.


Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee—and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.

Then, I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain!”

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