The Sea in a Glass 魚兒魚兒水中游
From the ocean comes a lively kind of decoration.
來自海洋,活生生的居家裝飾。
Keeping ornamental fish as pets is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. Millions of people keep beautiful fish for their amazing shapes and colors, as well as for the peaceful aura they bring to an outdoor garden or a living room.
The breeding of fish specifically for use as pets has its _(1)_ in ancient China. Around 2,000 years ago, farmers would raise silver crucian carp for food in ponds and rice paddies. The farmers noticed that some carp _(2)_ bright golden and orange scales. They began to selectively breed those mutated carp to enhance the bright colors, and a hobby was born.
In the 17th century, Chinese goldfish made their way _(3)_ Japan and Europe, and the Japanese quickly mastered the art of fish breeding. From the early 19th century, they started breeding the common carp, creating beautiful nishikigoi (錦鯉), better known as koi (鯉). Europeans, _(4)_, experimented with keeping other varieties of fish in glass containers. The hobby became popular among wealthy Europeans in the 1850s after special equipment was developed. Articles written by fishkeeping enthusiasts appeared, _(5)_ an influential article entitled "The Sea in a Glass."
At first, only the very wealthy _(6)_ afford equipment, and only local varieties of fish were easily available. Later, advancements _(7)_ electricity, water filtration systems, plastic bags, silicone, and air travel greatly reduced the price of equipment and increased the varieties of fish available. Now, beautiful fish from all corners of the world can be found in your local pet shop.
1. (A) organs (B) originals (C) origins (D) organizations
2. (A) disclosed (B) displayed (C) disguised (D) distributed
3. (A) to (B) in (C) with (D) upon
4. (A) by the way (B) in the long run (C) as a result (D) on the other hand
5. (A) regarding (B) including (C) considering (D) providing
6. (A) might (B) would (C) could (D) ought
7. (A) such as (B) up to (C) no less than (D) as many as
原來如此
1. The breeding of fish specifically for use as pets has its origins in ancient China.
理由:
a. (A) organ n. 器官
(B) original n. 原著 & a. 最初的
(C) origin n. 起源,由來
(D) organization n. 組織,團(tuán)體
b. 根據(jù)語意,可知應(yīng)選 (C)。
2. The farmers noticed that some carp displayed bright golden and orange scales.
理由:
a. (A) disclose vt. 揭露,透露;公開
例: Did the newspaper disclose the name of the victim?
(報紙有沒有刊出受害者的姓名?)
(B) display vt. 展現(xiàn),顯示
(C) disguise vt. 假扮,喬裝
disguise oneself as...
某人假扮∕喬裝成……
例: Sam disguised himself as a knight and then proposed to Jane.
(山姆打扮成武士,然后向珍求婚。)
(D) distribute vt. 分發(fā),分配
b. 根據(jù)語意,可知應(yīng)選 (B)。
3. In the 17th century, Chinese goldfish made their way to Japan and Europe...
理由:
a. 本空格測試下列固定用法:
make one's way to + 地方 前進(jìn)至某地
例: The practice of eating tofu has finally made its way to America.
(食用豆腐的習(xí)慣終究傳到了美國。)
b. 根據(jù)上述,可知應(yīng)選 (A)。
4. Europeans, on the other hand, experimented with keeping other varieties of fish in glass containers.
理由:
a. (A) by the way 對了,順便一提
例: By the way, do you know your zipper is open?
(對了,你知道你的拉煉沒拉嗎?)
(B) in the long run 到頭來;從長遠(yuǎn)來看
例: In the long run, Edward was the best man for the job.
(到頭來,愛德華才是最適合那份工作的人。)
(C) as a result 結(jié)果
(D) on the other hand 另一方面(來說)
例: Ben wants to be a reporter. On the other hand, he also thinks he would make a fine chef.
(班想當(dāng)記者。另一方面,他又認(rèn)為自己可以成為一名出色的廚師。)
b. 根據(jù)語意,可知應(yīng)選 (D)。
5. Articles written by fishkeeping enthusiasts appeared, including an influential article...
理由:
a. (A) regarding prep. 關(guān)于
= concerning prep.
例: I always take notice of news regarding my hometown.
(我總是會注意有關(guān)家鄉(xiāng)的消息。)
(B) including prep. 包含
例: All the students are going on the field trip, including Mike.
(所有的學(xué)生都要去校外教學(xué),包括麥克在內(nèi)。)
(C) considering prep. 考慮到,有鑒于
例: Considering her age, my grandma is very active.
= In view of her age, my grandma is very active.
(就我祖母的年紀(jì)來說,她算是很活躍的了。)
(D) providing conj. 假如(= if)
= provided conj.
例: We can go to Penghu providing/provided (that) airplane tickets are still available.
(要是還買得到機票的話,我們可以去澎湖。)
b. 根據(jù)語意,可知應(yīng)選 (B)。
6. At first, only the very wealthy could afford equipment, and...
理由:
a. afford vt. 負(fù)擔(dān)得起
注意:
afford 其前通常與助動詞 can 或 can't 并用,而不可單獨使用,其后則可接名詞或不定詞作受詞。
can/can't afford + N/to V
負(fù)擔(dān)得起∕不起……
例: Even if you don't get a raise, you'll be able to afford (to buy) a new car.
(即使沒加薪,你還是買得起新車。)
b. 根據(jù)上述和前后文的過去式時態(tài),可知應(yīng)選 (C)。
7. Later, advancements such as electricity, water filtration systems, plastic bags, silicone, and air travel greatly reduced the price...
理由:
a. (A) such as... 諸如…… ,像……之類
例: I like fruits such as mangoes and apples.
(我喜歡像芒果和蘋果之類的水果。)
(B) up to + 數(shù)字 + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞 多達(dá)……
(C) no less than + 數(shù)字 + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞
= at least + 數(shù)字 + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞
至少有……那么多
no more than + 數(shù)字 + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞
= at most + 數(shù)字 + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞
最多不超過……
例: There are no less than 300 actors in this play.
(這出劇中的演員起碼有 300 名之多。)
例: There were no more than 50 people at the party.
(這場派對最多不超過 50 人來參加。)
(D) as many as + 數(shù)字 + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞
(數(shù)目)多達(dá)……
例: It is estimated that as many as two hundred people died as a result of the terrible mudslides.。
(據(jù)估計,有多達(dá) 200 人在那場嚴(yán)重的土石流中罹難。)
b. 根據(jù)語意及用法,可知應(yīng)選 (A)。
精解字詞詞組
1. keep...as pets/a pet 飼養(yǎng)……當(dāng)作寵物
例: We keep cats as pets, but only a few people have pet tigers.
(我們通常養(yǎng)貓當(dāng)寵物,只有少數(shù)人會養(yǎng)老虎當(dāng)寵物。)
2. specifically adv. 特別地
specific a. 特定的
be specific about... 詳細(xì)說明……
例: Could you be specific about what you're planning to do?
(可否詳細(xì)說明你計劃做些什么?)
3. selectively adv. 選擇性地
selective a. 精挑細(xì)選的
例:Tony is very selective about the stocks he invests in.
(東尼在投資股票時都會仔細(xì)挑選。)
4. enhance vt. 提高,提升
例: In order to enhance his strength, Jamie works out four times a week.
(為了增強體力,杰米一周運動四次。)
5. experiment vi. 進(jìn)行實驗 & n. 實驗
experiment with + 事物 用……做實驗
= do an experiment with + 事物
experiment on + 動物或人 對……做實驗
= do an experiment on + 動物或人
例: He experimented with the manager's advice about changing his attitude toward his job.
(他試用那位經(jīng)理的建議,想改變自己的工作態(tài)度。)
例: Scientists have to be careful when they do experiments on people.
(科學(xué)家用人體做實驗時必須非常小心。)
6. entitle vt. 為(書、戲劇等)命名(常用被動)
注意:
entitled 可作形容詞,表『有資格的』,常用于下列句型中:
be entitled to sth 有資格獲得某物
be entitled to V 有資格從事……
例: In democratic societies, people are entitled to freedom of speech.
(在民主社會中,人民享有言論的自由。)
例: The winner of the contest is entitled to have lunch with the mayor.
(這場比賽的冠軍可以跟市長共進(jìn)午餐。)
單字小鋪
1. ornamental a. 裝飾用的
ornamental fish 觀賞用魚
2. aura n. 氣氛;氣息
3. breeding n. 飼養(yǎng),繁殖
breed vt. 飼養(yǎng),繁殖
三態(tài)為:breed, bred, bred。
4. crucian carp n. 鯽魚
5. rice paddy n. 稻田
= paddy field
6. scale n. 鱗片
7. mutated a. 突變的
mutation n. 突變
8. master vt. 掌握,精通
9. common carp n. 鯉魚
10. variety n. 種類
11. container n. 容器(箱、盒、罐等)
12. equipment n. 設(shè)備(不可數(shù))
13. enthusiast n. 狂熱者,熱愛……的人
14. influential a. 有影響力的
15. available a. 可取得的
16. advancement n. 進(jìn)步,進(jìn)展
17. filtration n. 過濾
18. silicone n. 硅膠
中文翻譯&標(biāo)準(zhǔn)答案
飼養(yǎng)觀賞魚當(dāng)寵物是世上最受歡迎的嗜好之一。數(shù)百萬人飼養(yǎng)美麗的魚兒是因為牠們令人驚奇的外型和顏色,也為了牠們能為庭院或廳堂增添靜逸的氣氛。
養(yǎng)魚當(dāng)寵物源自中國古代。2,000 多年前,農(nóng)夫在池塘或稻田中飼養(yǎng)銀白色的鯽魚來食用。他們注意到有些鯽魚帶有金黃色和橘色的鱗片,便開始選擇這些突變種來養(yǎng)殖,讓這些耀眼的色澤更加明顯,養(yǎng)魚當(dāng)寵物的嗜好便蘊育而生。
17 世紀(jì)中國的金魚傳到了日本和歐洲,日本很快就掌握養(yǎng)魚的技巧。自 19 世紀(jì)起,他們就開始飼養(yǎng)鯉魚,進(jìn)而培育出美麗的錦鯉(nishikigoi),或通稱為鯉(koi)。另一方面,歐洲人則嘗試在玻璃容器中飼養(yǎng)其它魚種。在發(fā)展出特別的設(shè)備之后,這種嗜好在 1850 年代富有的歐洲人家中非常盛行。養(yǎng)魚的愛好者開始發(fā)表文章,其中包括一篇影響力十足的文章 "The Sea in a Glass"。
一開始,只有非常富有的人才買得起設(shè)備,而且只有當(dāng)?shù)氐聂~種才容易取得。之后,諸如電力、過濾系統(tǒng)、塑料袋、硅膠以及空運等發(fā)展降低了設(shè)備的價格,也使不同魚種更容易取得。現(xiàn)在,你可以在住家附近的寵物店看到來自世界各地的美麗魚兒。
標(biāo)準(zhǔn)答案: 1. (C) 2. (B) 3. (A) 4. (D) 5. (B) 6. (C) 7. (A)