Miao U11

Apple is rolling out something big this year—bigger than any of its smartphones or gadgets. The imminent launch is their new     16    , a huge circular office building close to their existing one. Some are already calling it the “spaceship”      17     its science-fiction-like design and technical complexity. It’ll include offices for the business, research, and design arms of the company. There’ll also be a     18     for Apple’s product presentations and major events.

The diameter of the circle is just about the height of the Empire State Building. The inside of the ring is about one mile in circumference. Inside the ring lies an immense courtyard planted with Californian fruit trees. Apple’s founder Steve Jobs personally     19     the design process until his death in 2011. The whole project aims to have offices for 12,000 people. It     20     US$5 billion by the time the construction is finished.

   16. (A) politics            (B) consonant          (C) headquarters             (D) percentage

   17. (A) on behalf of    (B) in contrast to     (C) on account of            (D) in favor of

   18. (A) theater             (B) subway              (C) canyon                      (D) journal

   19. (A) polluted           (B) managed           (C) emerged                    (D) adopted

   20. (A) has cost           (B) was to cost        (C) is going to cost          (D) will have cost

Engineers have begun installing an advanced new wind power plant off the coast of Scotland. Hywind, as the new wind farm is called, is going into deeper water than ever before. What enables it to do so is that the wind turbines used aren’t planted in the seabed.    21    , they float on top of the waves.

Hywind is the first of its kind, considered a trial run of offshore wind farms. The winds out at sea are often stronger than on shore,    22     better power generation, and there’s plenty of space there for wind turbines. These new turbines, built by Norwegian state oil company Statoil, have weights that    

    23     under the water to keep themselves balanced. They’re also     24     to the sea floor by long anchor cables.

The project is being funded with     25     from the British government, but Statoil predicts that with more experience, the cost of building floating wind turbines will go down. If Hywind is a success, floating wind farms might come to other markets that have the right conditions for the technology, such as the US or Japan.

   21. (A) Instead            (B) Thus                  (C) Furthermore      (D) Still

   22. (A) to promise       (B) promised           (C) promising          (D) but promise

   23. (A) blank out         (B) throw up           (C) take flight         (D) hang down

   24. (A) aroused           (B) secured              (C) yielded              (D) branded

   25. (A) slices               (B) grants                (C) filters                 (D) gowns

Many races test the limits of human potential and pit the world’s best athletes against each other. An event in Wales, however, puts a special twist on this     26    : it tests human runners against some of the animal kingdom’s best racers—horses.

In 1980, a bar owner named Gordon Green overheard two men arguing about     27     a man could triumph over a horse in a marathon. Everyone knows that horses are faster over short distances, but a human actually has greater endurance than many animals. Deciding to     28     for real, Green created the Man vs Horse Marathon, taking place in the hills near the town of Llanwrtyd Wells.

The race runs an abbreviated course     29     a normal marathon, covering only 22 miles instead of 26.2. The results are often close, but the horse usually wins. Cyclists can also compete and beat the horses more often than the runners. A human runner first won in 2004, as the uneven roads and frequent hills can give humans the     30    . Another human won again in 2007, by a whole 11 minutes, but horses have dominated again for the past ten years.

   26. (A) property          (B) technique          (C) psychology        (D) formula

   27. (A) why                 (B) whether             (C) that                    (D) whatever

   28. (A) bring it out      (B) look it up           (C) turn it down      (D) test it out

   29. (A) owing to          (B) except for          (C) compared to      (D) along with

   30. (A) advantage       (B) standard            (C) selection            (D) procedure

In Amish Country, the Future Is Calling

In Amish Country, the Future Is Calling

In Amish Country, the Future Is Calling

A young woman, wearing a traditional full-length Amish dress and white bonnet, stepped away from a farmers market, opened her palm and revealed a smartphone. She began to scroll through screens, seemingly oblivious to the activity around her.

Not far away, a man in his late 60s with a silvery beard, wide-brimmed straw hat and suspenders adjusted the settings on a computer-driven crosscut saw. He was soon cutting pieces for gazebos that are sold online and delivered around the country.

The Amish have not given up on horse-drawn buggies. Their rigid abstinence from many kinds of technology has left parts of their lifestyle frozen since the 19th century: no cars, TVs or connections to electric utilities, for example.

But computers and cellphones are making their way into some Amish communities, pushing them — sometimes willingly, often not — into the 21st century.

New technology has created fresh opportunities for prosperity among the Amish, just as it has for people in the rest of the world. A contractor can call a customer from a job site. A store owner’s software can make quick work of payroll and inventory tasks. A bakery can take credit cards.

But for people bound by a separation from much of the outside world, new tech devices have brought fears about the consequence of internet access. There are worries about pornography; about whether social networks will lead sons and daughters to date non-Amish friends; and about connecting to a world of seemingly limitless possibilities.

“Amish life is about recognizing the value of agreed-upon limits,” said Erik Wesner, an author who runs a blog, Amish America, “and the spirit of the internet cuts against the idea of limits.”

John, who works a computerized saw at Amish Country Gazebos near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, likened it to the prohibition on automobiles.

“Not using cars is a way of keeping us together,” he said. (Like most of the people interviewed for this article, he declined to give his surname, out of an Amish sense of humility; many refrained from having their faces photographed for the same reason.)

“There’s always a concern about what would lead our young folk out of the church and into the world,” John added.

The internet also threatens another Amish bonding agent: For a society in which formal education ends after eighth grade, youngsters learn a trade or craft alongside a relative or other member of the community.

Blank Filling 06

Test 16

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

_l_ newspapers have in _2_ recent years reported _3_ rapid rise in a number of _5_ climbing accidents. It is not only _6_ increase in _7_ number of climbers that has led to this rise; _8_ eve n more serious factor has been _9_ failure of _10_ new generation to establish --- as their more experienced predecessors established _11_ firm tradition of _12_ good and _13_ safe behaviour on _14_ mountains.

1.The   2. X     3. a      4. the   5. X     6. the   7. the   8. an    9. the   10. the  11. A

12. X   13. X   14. the

Test 17

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

To be a good teacher, you need some of the gifts of a gifts good actor; you must be able to _1_ the attention and admiration of your audience; you must be a good speaker, with a good, strong, resounding voice which is fully your control. You must be able to act _3_ you are talking in order to make its meaning clear.

A really good teacher does not sit long before his class; _4_ the whole time he is teaching, he walks about, using his arms, hands and fingers to help him in his explanation and his face to express his feelings. Listen to him and you will hear the loudness, the quality and the musical note of his voice always change according _5_ what he is talking about.

The fact _6_ a good teacher has some of the qualities of a good actor does not mean that he will indeed be able to act well on the _7_ for there are very important differences _8_ the teacher's work and the actor’s.

1. attract    2. under     3. what      4. during   5. to     6. that 7. stage      8. between

Test 18

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

They decided to go _l_ the station _2_ bus instead of _3_ car. They got _4_ the bus _5_ the bus stop outside their house and got _6_ _7_ the station. The train was just coming _8_ the station. “I don't know if you'll get _9_ this train; it's very full," said the porter. But they managed to get into the last carriage. When they got _10_ Hwalien they decided to go _11_ foot to the Chungs' house instead of _12_ taxi as it was not far _13_ the station. They got there _14_ ten minutes _15_ exactly four o'clock.

1. to     2. by    3. by    5. at     4. on    6. off   7. at     8. into 9. on    10. to   11. on

12. by 13. from     14. in   15. at

Blank Filling 05

Test 13

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

It is a simple matter to acquire postage stamps. Friends and relatives will often give you stamps from letters they receive. Or _1_ may buy packets of stamps for very little money in many department or stationery stores. Ask _2_ a packet containing about a hundred different _3_. You will sometimes find stamps stuck to pieces of the envelope or wrapper in _4_ they were carried through the mail. _5_ general, these stamps can be removed from the attached paper by water. _6_ spoiling the colour or the design. Simply place a stamp face upward _7_ a saucer of lukewarm water. In a few minutes _8_ will be free of the paper. Do _9_ try to force it loose or you may damage the stamp. Once you _10_ begun your collection, you will need an album in which to put your stamps.

1. you 2. for 3. stamps 4. which 5. In 6. Avoid 7. in 8. it 9. not 10. have

Test 14

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

Games are good for all people. They _1_ the body. _2_ a hard day's work, one should have some kind of _3_. One important _4_ of exercise is games. Games can be divided _5_ outdoor games and indoor games. Outdoor games are played outside while indoor games are played indoors. In one sense, it may be generally said that outdoor games require more physical activity than indoor games. The _6_ requires more _7_ ability than physical strength. Games are essential particularly _8_ those who work in offices. They have no form of physical exercise in those _9_. It is important _10_ they should have physical exercise in the evening.

1. exercise   2. After       3. relaxation           4. form       5. into   6. latter      7. mental

8. for   9. places     10. that

Test 15

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

Précis is nothing other _l_ the summary of a passage given to us. How can we write the summary unless we read it over and over _2_ till we understand it? Our main idea must be to get _3_ the central fact of the passage. _4_ is irrelevant to the central idea is unimportant for the exercise. In the final draft of our précis, these irrelevant ideas will be discarded. Whatever is _5_ to the central idea must find a place in the précis. This we write down in our own _6_. A précis exercise implies the suggestion of a title. The _7_ of the resulting passage will be about one-third of the original size. _8_ long practice a normal passage could be reduced to a proper size.

l. than 2. again     3. at     4. Whatever      5. relevant 6. words     7. size 8. By

Blank Filling 04

Test 10

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

Without soil, man cannot grow most plants. It is not possible for man to make _1_. It is formed by nature from rock, very slowly. It _2_ hundreds of years for a few inches of soil to be formed. _3_ it takes a long time to form, soil can be lost very quickly. It has three main enemies. They are running water, wind and _4_ himself. Streams and rivers _5_ away large amounts of soil every year. The wind blows soil from _6_ place to another. It often drops the soil in places where the _7_ can wash it away, plants and trees cover _8_ ground. These keep the soil in place. Man _9_ the ground for farming or building houses. This makes it easier _10_ wind and water to carry the soil away. In the end the moving soil is carried to the sea.

1. soil   2. takes       3. Though (or Although)     4. man  5. wash       6. one   7. water

8. the    9. clears      10. for

Test 11

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

Paper is made _1_ wood, and many of the world's paper mills are found in those countries _2_ have great forests, such as Canada, Sweden and Finland. The newly cut _3_ are usually stripped of their bark, branches _4_ foliage where they have fallen, so that by the time they arrive _5_ the paper mill, they are ready for processing. The tree trunks are first cut _6_ thin strips, _7_ with water, and ground to a heavy, sticky pulp. This wood pulp is then cleaned of dirt and other impurities, and also chemically bleached _8_ remove the brownish colour of the wood. The cleaned and bleached pulp next _9_ through special rollers which flatten it and draw it out _10_, at last, it begins to look like sheets of rather soggy paper.

1. from 2. which (or that)    3. trees  4. and   5. at      6. into   7. mixed      8. to

9. passes     10. until

Test 12

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

All people, however simply they live, require at least food, clothing, and shelter. To some extent we can satisfy our wants _1_ growing, for example, our own food, but for the most part we rely _2_ others to provide our wants in return for money. Those _3_ satisfy wants by providing goods and services are producers, and those who _4_ these goods and services are consumers. Producers include not _5_ workers who make goods or grow crops, but also those who _6_ services in offices, banks, hospitals, etc. A factory worker _7_ think clerks and engine drivers are not producers _8_ they do not make goods which can be _9_ for the money required to pay their wages. But _10_ the railway men, the lorry drivers, the typists, and many others, the factory would soon come to a standstill.

1. by     2. on     3. who  4. use    5. only  6. provide    7. may  8. because   9. sold  10. without

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Test 7

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

Scientists have _1_ for years that some diseases are caused by germs or bacteria. Many scientists have attempted _2_ find substances that would _3_ these disease-producing bacteria, and several _4_ them have been successful in their attempts. _5_ the more recently discovered germ killers are the so-called "wonder drugs". Scientists _6_ these drugs antibiotics. An antibiotic _7_ a chemical substance produced by a living thing _8_ can stop the growth of or even destroy bacteria and other disease germs. The _9_ known of these antibiotics is penicillin, which was _10_ by Dr. Alexander Fleming.

1. known    2. to      3. kill (or destroy)    4.of             5. Among   6. call   7. is

8. which (or that)    9. best   10. discovered (or found)

Test 8

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

Coin collecting is _1_ interesting hobby. Like all hobbies, it can cost little or a very great _2_ of money and time. Most enthusiasts _3_ both new and old coins. People who collect old coins _4_ called numismatists. Most libraries have several books on numismatics, which give information on the value of _5_ throughout the world. Making a coin is called minting. Often the year _6_ which a coin was minted is stamped _7_ it. Usually the older a coin is, the _8_ likely it is to be worth keeping. But this is not always _9_. The main factor affecting the value of a coin is the number of such coins minted in _10_ year.

1. an     2. amount (or deal) 3. collect     4. are    5. coins       6. in      7. on     8. more

9.so            10. that

Test 9

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

A newspaper's task is to provide people _1_ news in words and photographs. The most important newspapers are _2_ daily in the morning or evening, some newspapers _3_ published weekly or fortnightly. Newspapers also contain material other _4_ news. This _5_ leading articles or editorials, which comment _6_ the most important items in the news, and special articles, which explain or discuss aspects _7_ the news. A variety of other items which are of interest to _8_ are also included. These normally consist _9_ reviews of books, plays, films, and radio and television programs. _10_ may also include cartoons, crossword puzzles, fashion notes, and features on many other subjects.

1. with  2. published            3. are    4. than 5. includes  6. on     7. of      8. readers    9. of

10.They

Blank Filling 02

Test 4

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

Teaching machines present the learner _l_ a teaching program. The student _2_ the machine in order to follow the program. Some programs are in the form of a text. Some _3_ are audio-visual.

Teaching machines have been successful in many areas of education. _4_ some cases they have replaced teachers and conventional courses. The advantage of a teaching machine lies in the skillful breakdown and organization of a course into a _5_ of steps. With a teaching machine the individual student is responsible for his own education _6_ in a class the instruction is controlled by the teacher. A machine forces him to be more _7_ than he is in an ordinary classroom, where a pupil plays a passive listening role most of the time. Machines also _8_ the teacher from routine work and enable him to _9_ time on more creative work. And _10_ an ordinary teacher, teaching machines do not get tired or impatient.

1. with  2. operates  3. programs            4. In     5. series       6. while 7. active            8. free

9. spend            10. unlike

Test 5

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

Doctors at a local hospital made history when they sewed _l_ a worker's hand which was almost severed _2_ a cutting-machine recently. The worker had accidentally slipped his right hand _3_ the machine. He screamed out _4_ pain and fainted instantly. The night supervisor rushed the worker _5_ his hand dangling _6_ the arm to the hospital. The doctors went to work _7_ the severed hand immediately. After a long operation, they succeeded _8_ reattaching it. The next day _9_ the worker regained consciousness, he was in good spirits. He was full _10_ praise for the doctors.

1. back 2. by     3. under      4. in      5. with  6. from 7.on      8. in      9. when             10. of

Test 6

※ 將最適當的字塡入空格中，使語法正確，文意清楚。(每格限塡一字)

First and foremost, I would like to thank all of _1_ you putting your faith in me. I must say that I am greatly honoured to be _2_ to serve you. My first duty will be to call for a committee meeting _3_ as to draw _4_ a program me for the club this year. In _5_ meantime, if you have any suggestions or complaints, please do 6 hesitate to write to us _7_ your earliest convenience, we pledge to do _8_ utmost. We also hope that you will give us your kind cooperation and take _9_ in the activities of the club. Once _10_ thank you very much for your support.

1. for    2. able  3. so     4. up     5. the    6. not    7. at      8. our   9. part  10. again

Test 7

Unit 6: Asian Cuisine

Ginseng

Ginseng has always been an important part of Chinese medicine. In the past, only royal families and the rich could afford it. Ginseng roots have a pleasant smell and a bitter taste. The roots cannot be harvested until they are six years old. The value of ginseng depends on its shape, color, taste, feel and the place it is grown. Generally, wild ginseng is considered superior to ginseng grown in fields. People used to believe that heavenly spirits planted the ginseng plant giving it a soul. Thus people were not allowed to talk when they went to pick ginseng fearing it might hear them and hide. Then people put up poles around the ginseng to make sure it did not run away.

(   ) 1. What do ginseng roots taste like?

(A) Sweet.               (B) Bitter.                (C) Sour.                 (D) Salty.

(   ) 2. Which of the following aspects would increase the value of ginseng?

(A) Its moisture.            (B) Its leaves.          (C) How dry it is.    (D) Its location.

(   ) 3. Which of the following is NOT true about ginseng?

(A) Ginseng is a kind of plant.

(B) Ginseng used to be very expensive.

(C) Ginseng grown in fields is better than wild ginseng.

(D) It takes more than five years for ginseng to become mature.

Garlic

Many Taiwanese people use garlic when they cook food. Does garlic only _1_ you of food and vampires? According to the _2_ Preventive Medicine, a 3500-year-old Egyptian document claimed that the Egyptians thought that garlic was a useful for treating _3_ diseases. It was said that the slaves who worked for the _4_ ate a great _5_ of garlic to keep fit and healthy. Romans regarded garlic as a _6_ that could change people's moods.

Today, researchers are still studying the _7_ of garlic for lowering blood pressure and protecting the heart. They are also considering its possibility of being _8_ as a painkiller or to kill germs. Other than _9_ uses, garlic brings out the _10_ of many dishes. In addition, there is no fat in garlic.

(A) drug      (B) used      (C) amount (D) flavors  (E) magazine

(F) king       (G) heart     (H) effects   (I) medical   (J) remind

1. _____ 2. _____ 3. _____ 4. _____ 5. _____

6. _____ 7. _____ 8. _____ 9. _____ 10. _____

(   ) 1. Which of the following is NOT true?

(A) The Egyptians thought it was healthy to eat garlic.

(B) The Romans thought garlic could raise people's blood pressure.

(C) Garlic can be used to add flavor to food.

(D) People do not need to worry about the fat garlic contains.

(   ) 2. According to a 3500-year-old document, what did Egyptians believe about garlic?

(A) It could lower blood pressure.                 (B) It was a pain-killer.

(C) It would leave a sweet smell in one's mouth. (D) It could treat heart diseases.

(   ) 3. According to the passage, what does "fit" (Line 5) mean?

(A) To be suitable.                            (B) To be ready to do things.

(C) To be in good health.                         (D) To try on clothes.

Traditional Chinese Feasts

There are several things to note when attending a traditional Chinese feast. _1_ They are arranged mostly according to one's age, social status, or their position within the family. _2_ Once seated, guests will stand up and hold their drinks with both hands to show their appreciation to the host. _3_ The honored guest is the first to eat. _4_ There is a small bone plate for each guest. _5_ This prevents the food from dropping.

(A) This action is repeated three times.

(B) Seats are arranged in a special order.

(C) When picking up food, a spoon is held under the chopsticks.

(D) The honored guest will take a seat that faces the door.

(E) The dishes will be served from the left side of the honored guest.

(   ) 1. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

(A) To show respect, the host takes the seat next to the door.

(B) The Chinese usually use chopsticks as well as spoons when eating their meals.

(C) Before meals, guests usually hold their drinks to show appreciation to the host.

(D) There is usually a small bone plate on the table for each guest.

(   ) 2. Which of the following is NOT a consideration in deciding seat arrangements?

(A) Age. (B) Social status. (C) Family name. (D) The position within the family.

(   ) 3. Which of the following is TRUE?

(A) The dishes can be served in any way as long as it is convenient.

(B) Any guest can start eating as soon as the dishes are served.

(C) The small plate in front of everyone is used to place chopsticks.

(D) All guests should take their seats in an appropriate order.

Japanese Table Manners

There are certain rules you have to note when you eat meals in Japan. Never use chopsticks to pass food to someone in Japan. You are supposed to pass them the plate instead. If you take food from a shared plate, do not use the ends of your chopsticks that go in your mouth. Eat sushi pieces in one bite. Hands, in addition to chopsticks, can be used to eat sushi. Never leave rice after meals. Leaving any kind of food is considered rude, but leaving rice is especially so. In Japan, you start eating after saying "Itadakimasu (I will receive)" and finish with "Gochiso sama deshita. (Thank you for the feast, when having noodles or soup, one had better slurp. Explanations Burping is considered bad manners. Blowing your nose at the table is also considered very rude.

(   ) 1. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

(A) Japanese people can use chopsticks to eat sushi.

(B) Japanese people usually eat sushi in two bites.

(C) Japanese people encourage burping.

(D) It is considered polite to pass food to someone using chopsticks.

(   ) 2. What do the Japanese think about leaving rice after a meal?

(A) They think it is considerate.

(B) They think that leaving rice is OK, but not the food.

(C) They think it is rude.

(D) They never eat rice, but sushi.

(   ) 3. When should one say "Itadakimasu"?

(A) Before eating.    (B) After dessert.     (C) After eating.             (D) Never.

(   ) 4. Humans are _____ act civilized, but they don't always do so.

(A) supposed to             (B) had better          (C) in addition to

(   ) 5. Judy bought some drinks _____ the food she had bought.

(A) supposed to             (B) had better          (C) in addition to

(   ) 6. You _____ not cheat in your college exam.

(A) supposed to             (B) had better          (C) in addition to