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2009年4月9日 星期四

[澎湖民宿。夏天來了民宿] A Day of Dominoes 變化萬千的推骨牌遊戲

 
每週 四 出刊.2009.04.09
 
本 期 目 錄 簡介/舊報明細
A Day of Dominoes 變化萬千的推骨牌遊戲
原來如此
精解字詞片語
單字小舖
片語小舖
客人永遠是對的嗎?
消費意識抬頭的迷思
中文翻譯&標準答案

文意選填 

A Day of Dominoes 變化萬千的推骨牌遊戲



Every year, domino enthusiasts congregate to break world records.
熱愛骨牌的粉絲每年齊聚一堂,試圖打破世界紀錄。

  When the click-clack sounds of shuffling tiles are heard, most people in Asia automatically think of Mahjong. But there is another game—dominoes—that is a Chinese invention, and it _(1)_ AD 1120. Initially, dominoes only had 21 tiles, each of which _(2)_ a result of throwing two six-sided dice. The tiles are mostly made of plastic now, but they used to be carved from ivory or bone, which _(3)_ the game's nickname, "bones." The game went through many changes as it was passed on from China to India to Europe, and now modern sets of dominoes have seven _(4)_ tiles with blanks on them.
  There are _(5)_ ways to play the game of dominoes, but what they are mostly known for is being lined up and knocked down. Every year in the middle of November, domino enthusiasts from around the world _(6)_ together in the Netherlands to try to break world records for Domino Day. They methodically line up millions of dominoes front to back and then push one over to start a chain _(7)_. Soon, dominoes are flying left and right as well as up and down ladders, stairs, and swings.
  Every year, Domino Day has to up the ante with over-the-top theatrics to keep viewers interested, and 2008 was no _(8)_. The goal of last year's Domino Day was to _(9)_ a world record by toppling more than 4.3 million dominoes within a two-hour TV program. Eighty-five people from 13 different countries spent a greater part of the year planning this feat, and then eight weeks setting up the dominoes. When the program _(10)_, a former Miss Finland was suspended from the ceiling. She was lowered down to flick over the first domino, and soon another world record was knocked down.

(A) set (B) exception (C) gather (D) led to (E) commenced (F) reaction (G) represented (H) additional (I) dates back to (J) a variety of
原來如此 


1. But there is another game—dominoes—that is a Chinese invention, and it dates back to AD 1120.
理由:
a. 空格前有代名詞 it(= the game),空格後有 AD 1120(西元 1120 年),可知空格內應置入第三人稱單數及物動詞或及物動詞片語。
b. 符合上述條件的選項有 (A) set(設定)、(D) led to(導致,造成)、(E) commenced(開始)、(G) represented(代表)和 (I) dates back to(追溯至),然僅 (I) 置入後符合語意,表骨牌遊戲的歷史可『追溯』到西元 1120 年,故選之。
c. date back to + 時間  追溯至……(時間)
例: According to scientists, these fossils date back to 2000 BC.
(根據科學家的說法,這些化石可追溯至西元前兩千年。)

2. Initially, dominoes only had 21 tiles, each of which represented a result of throwing two six-sided dice.
理由:
a. 空格前有 each of which(21 張骨牌中的每一張),空格後有名詞詞組 a result of throwing two six-sided dice(擲兩個 6 面的骰子所得的組合),且根據此處的時態,可知空格內應置入及物動詞或及物動詞片語的過去式。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (A) set(設定)、(D) led to(導致,造成)、(E) commenced(開始)和 (G) represented(代表),然僅 represented 置入後符合語意,故選 (G)。
c. represent vt. 代表
例: The picture that looks like a steamy bowl of soup represents a hot spring.
(看起來像一碗冒煙的湯的圖示代表溫泉。)

3. The tiles are mostly made of plastic now, but they used to be carved from ivory or bone, which led to the game's nickname, "bones."
理由:
a. 空格前有作主詞用的關係代名詞 which,用來表示前句中 they used to be carved from ivory or bone 的概念,空格後有名詞詞組 the game's nickname(這個遊戲的稱呼),且根據空格前的過去式動詞片語 used to,可知空格內應置入及物動詞或及物動詞片語的過去式。
b. 符合上述條件的選項有 (A) set(設定)、(D) led to(導致,造成)和 (E) commenced(開始),然僅 led to 置入後符合語意,故選 (D)。
c. lead to + N/V-ing  導致……,造成……
例: The meeting led to a brand-new business opportunity.
(這場會議開啟了新的生意契機。)

4. The game went through many changes as it was passed on from China to India to Europe, and now modern sets of dominoes have seven additional tiles with blanks on them.
理由:
a. 空格前有主詞 modern sets of dominoes(現代每套骨牌)和及物動詞 have(有),空格後有名詞 tiles(牌),可知空格內應置入形容詞。
b. 在選項中,可作形容詞的有 (A) set(固定的;指定的)和 (H) additional(額外的),然僅 additional 置入後符合語意,表現代每套骨牌則『多』了 7 張,故選 (H)。
c. additional a. 額外的
例: If there are additional people coming to the dinner, let me know so I can change the reservation.
(晚餐如果還有人要加入,請告知我,以便更改訂位的人數。)

5. There are a variety of ways to play the game of dominoes, but what they are mostly known for is being lined up and knocked down.
理由:
a. 空格前有 There are(有),空格後有名詞 ways(方式),可知空格內應置入形容詞或介詞片語。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (A) set(固定的;指定的)和 (J) a variety of(各式各樣的),然僅 (J) 置入後符合語意,表骨牌的玩法有『很多種』,故選之。
c. a variety of...  各式各樣的……
例: My aunt cooks a variety of pasta.
(我嬸嬸會煮許多口味的義大利麵。)

6. Every year in the middle of November, domino enthusiasts from around the world gather together in the Netherlands to try to break world records for Domino Day.
理由:
a. 空格前有主詞 domino enthusiasts(骨牌迷),空格後有副詞 together(一起),且根據此處時態,可知空格內應置入現在式不及物動詞。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (A) set(著手)以及 (C) gather(齊聚),然僅 gather 置入後符合語意,表世界各地的骨牌迷『齊聚』荷蘭,故選 (C)。

7. They methodically line up millions of dominoes front to back and then push one over to start a chain reaction.
理由:
a. 空格前有不定冠詞 a 和形容詞 chain(連鎖的),可知空格內應置入名詞。
b. 在選項中,可作名詞的有 (A) set(一套)、(B) exception(例外)和 (F) reaction(反應),然僅 reaction 置入後符合語意,a chain reaction 表『連鎖反應』,故選 (F)。
c. reaction n. 反應
a chain reaction  連鎖反應
例: Once the first student in the class got the chicken pox, there was a chain reaction. By the end of the week, the whole class had it.
(這個班上出現第一個長水痘的學生時,便引發了連鎖反應,到該星期結束時,全班都感染了。)

8. Every year, Domino Day has to up the ante with over-the-top theatrics to keep viewers interested, and 2008 was no exception.
理由:
a. 空格前有否定形容詞 no(沒有),可知空格內應置入名詞。
b. 選項中的名詞尚有 (A) set(一套)以及 (B) exception(例外),然僅 exception 置入後符合語意,表每年的世界骨牌日必須加碼推出誇張的舞台效果來一饗大眾,2008 年自然也不『例外』,故選 (B)。
c. exception n. 例外
be no exception  不例外
例: Everyone was glad to leave the office on Friday evening, and the boss was no exception.
(每個人在星期五傍晚下班時都很高興,老闆也不例外。)

9. The goal of last year's Domino Day was to set a world record by toppling more than 4.3 million dominoes within a two-hour TV program.
理由:
a. 空格前有不定詞 to,空格後有名詞詞組 a world record(世界紀錄),可知空格內應置入原形及物動詞。
b. 符合上述的選項僅有 (A) set(創立),且置入後符合語意,表去年世界骨牌日的目標是『創下』世界紀錄,在兩小時的電視節目中推倒 4 百 30 多萬張骨牌,故選之。
c. set a world record  創世界紀錄
set a/the record  創紀錄
例: The Jamaican athlete set a record in the 100-meter dash at the Olympics.
(那名牙買加運動選手在奧運 100 公尺短跑中創下大會紀錄。)

10. When the program commenced, a former Miss Finland was suspended from the ceiling.
理由:
a. 空格前有名詞 the program(節目),空格後為逗點,可知空格內應置入不及物動詞。
b. 符合上述的選項僅剩 (E) commenced(開始),置入後亦符合語意,表節目一『開始』,前芬蘭小姐便從天花板倒吊而下,故選之。
c. commence vi. 開始
例: As soon as David arrives, the meeting will commence.
(大衛一抵達,會議就開始。)
精解字詞片語 


1. automatically adv. 自動地;不自覺地
例: This device automatically disconnects the alarm system once you enter the room.
(你一進房間,這個裝置就會自動切斷警報系統。)

2. initially adv. 起先,最初
例: Einstein's research was initially ignored by scientists.
(科學家們起初都不把愛因斯坦的研究當一回事。)

3. line up...  使……排成行
line up  排隊
例: Hundreds of people lined up outside the store before the sale started.
(好幾百人在商店外頭排隊等待特賣開跑。)

4. break world records  打破世界紀錄
break the record  打破紀錄
keep the record   保持記錄
例: The athlete broke the record in the long jump.
(這名運動員打破了跳遠的紀錄。)

5. up the ante  加碼
ante n. 賭注;賭金
例: New magicians must up the ante because audiences have seen almost everything.
(新進的魔術師得加碼演出才行,因為所有類型的魔術觀眾幾乎都看過了。)

6. topple vt. 推倒,使倒塌
例: My brother enjoys toppling his blocks after stacking them into a big pile.
(我弟弟很喜歡把積木疊高後再推倒。)

7. suspend vt. 懸吊;懸掛
例: A huge chandelier is suspended from the ceiling.
(一盞大吊燈懸掛在天花板上。)
* chandelier n. 吊燈

8. flick vt. 輕彈
flick on/off...  按鈕啪地開啟/關閉……
例: Tom flicked off the light and went to bed.
(湯姆啪地一聲關上電燈後就睡覺去了。)
單字小舖 


1. dominoes n. 骨牌遊戲
domino n. 骨牌
2. click-clack a. 喀哩喀啦響的
3. shuffle vt. 洗(牌)
4. tile n.(麻將等的)牌;瓷磚
5. dice n. 骰子(複數)
die n. 骰子(單數)
6. ivory n. 象牙
7. nickname n. 綽號;暱稱
8. blank n. 空白
9. enthusiast n. 熱衷者
10. methodically adv. 有條不紊地
11. swing n. 鞦韆
12. over-the-top a. 誇張的
13. theatrics n. 戲劇演出,戲劇效果
14. feat n. 壯舉;功績
片語小舖 


1. be passed on from A to B  從 A 地流傳到 B 地
2. knock down...  使……垮掉;將……擊倒
3. set up...  豎立……
中文翻譯&標準答案 


在亞洲,大多數人聽見喀哩喀啦響的洗牌聲時,自然而然會想到麻將。但另一種同樣由中國人發明的『骨牌』遊戲,其歷史可追溯到西元 1120 年。骨牌最初只有 21 張,這些牌是擲兩個 6 面的骰子所得的 21 種組合。現今大部分的骨牌是塑膠材質,但從前則是用象牙或骨頭刻製而成,於是才有『骨牌』這個稱呼。骨牌遊戲從中國傳到印度、歐洲後幾經變革,現代每套骨牌則多了 7 張,每張骨牌上面都有一邊是空白的。
  
骨牌的玩法有很多種,但最廣為人知的玩法則是將排好的骨牌推倒。每年 11 月中旬,世界各地的骨牌迷齊聚荷蘭,試圖在『世界骨牌日』打破世界紀錄。他們將數百萬張骨牌有條不紊地由前到後排好,然後將一張骨牌推倒,開始一連串的骨牌效應。骨牌飛速地左右來回倒下,在梯子、階梯與鞦韆之間上下穿梭。
  
每年的世界骨牌日都必須加碼推出誇張的舞台效果來一饗大眾,2008 年自然也不例外。去年世界骨牌日的目標是創下世界紀錄,在兩小時的電視節目中推倒 4 百 30 多萬張骨牌。85 名來自 13 個國家的人馬花了近一年的時間籌劃這項壯舉,並花了 8 個星期把骨牌立好。節目一開始,前芬蘭小姐從天花板倒吊而下,用手彈倒第一張骨牌,不久後就打破了另一項世界紀錄。

標準答案: 1. (I) 2. (G) 3. (D) 4. (H) 5. (J) 6. (C) 7. (F) 8. (B) 9. (A) 10. (E)
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由 澎湖民宿。夏天來了民宿 於 4/08/2009 01:50:00 上午 張貼在 澎湖民宿。夏天來了民宿

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