氣質姐與可愛可

Could you memorize a deck of cards in order in less than 30 seconds?
你可以在 30 秒內記住一副撲克牌的順序嗎？

　　Before books were invented, memory was a big part of education and taught along with math and grammar. Now, modern technology has made remembering things _(1)_. We don't have to recall telephone numbers because they are _(2)_ in our phone. We don't need to _(3)_ important dates in history because we can just google the information anytime we need it. Some people, though, are bringing the art of remembering back when they _(4)_ in the World Memory Championships. This year, mental athletes will be testing the _(5)_ of brain power in London from December 14 to 16.

　　At the World Memory Championships, there are 10 different events ranging from remembering binary digits for 30 minutes and then reciting them _(6)_ trying to recollect the most random names and faces in 15 minutes. The cr?me de la cr?me of the World Memory Championships, though, is speed cards. This is where mental athletes race against the clock to memorize the order of 52 playing cards. The world record for this event is just under 22 seconds.

　　The World Memory Championships are open to anyone regardless of their age, sex, or _(7)_. Contestants claim there is no such thing as photographic memory. Instead, they are _(8)_ people that have learned how to use certain learning tricks to help them remember things. Tony Buzan, one of the _(9)_ of the World Memory Championships and author of more than 100 books about the mind, thinks that memory is a lost art. Buzan said that people should stop relying _(10)_ new technology like cell phones and laptops. Instead, they should be exercising the most important muscle they have in their bodies—the brain.

(A) stored　(B) nationality　(C) limits　(D) outdated　(E) memorize
(F) founders　(G) on　(H) ordinary　(I) to　(J) participate

1. Now, modern technology has made remembering things outdated.理由:
   a. 空格前有主詞 modern technology（現代科技）、
   不完全及物動詞的現在完成式 has made（已經使
   得）及受詞 remembering things（記東西），可知空格應置形容詞作受詞補語。
   b. make 亦可作使役動詞用法，意為『讓；叫』，但其受詞必須為人，以形成下列固定用法：
   sb make + 人 + 原形動詞 　　叫某人做……
   Sam's mother made him take out the garbage.
   山姆的媽媽叫他去倒垃圾。
   c. 原句中受詞 remembering things（記東西）為事物，故不適用上述使役動詞用法。選項中為形容詞的有 (A) stored（貯存的）、(D) outdated（過時的）及 (H) ordinary（普通的），惟根據語意，(D) 項應為正選。
   d. outdated a. 過時的
   The new government has done away with many outdated regulations.
   新政府廢除了許多過時的規定。
   
2. We don't have to recall telephone numbers because they are stored in our phone.理由:
   a. 空格前有 be 動詞 are，可知空格應置形容詞或分詞。
   b. 選項中符合上述的有 (A) stored（貯存）及 (H) ordinary（普通的），惟根據語意，(A) 項應為正選。
   c. store vt. 貯存
   The database is designed to store a large amount of information.
   這個資料庫是設計來儲存大量資料的。
   
3. We don't need to memorize important dates in history because we can just google the information anytime we need it.理由:
   a. 空格前有 need to（需要……），空格後有名詞詞組 important dates in history（歷史上的重要日期），可知空格應置原形及物動詞。
   b. 選項中為原形及物動詞的僅有 (E) memorize（記住），置入後亦符合語意，故為正選。
   c. memorize vt. 記住
   How am I going to memorize all 50 state capitals in one night?
   我要怎麼在一個晚上記住 50 個州的首都呢？
   
4. Some people, though, are bringing the art of remembering back when they participate in the World Memory Championships.理由:
   a. 空格前有主詞 they（他們），且空格後有介詞 in，可知空格應置不及物動詞並形成下列固定片語：
   participate in...　　參加……
   = take part in...
   Are you going to participate in any after-school activities this year?
   你今年會參加任何課外活動嗎？
   b. 根據上述用法，可知 (J) 項應為正選。
   
5. This year, mental athletes will be testing the limits of brain power in London from December 14 to 16.理由:
   a. 空格前有定冠詞 the，空格後有介詞片語 of brain power（腦力的），可知空格應置名詞。
   b. 選項中為名詞的有 (B) nationality（國籍）、(C) limits（極限）及 (F) founders（創始人），惟根據語意，(C) 項應為正選。
   c. limit n. 極限
   Mark has reached the limit of his patience.
   馬克的忍耐已到達極限。
   
6. At the World Memory Championships, there are 10 different events ranging from remembering binary digits for 30 minutes and then reciting them to trying to recollect the most random names and faces in 15 minutes.理由:
   a. 本題測試以下固定用法：
   range from A to B　　範圍從 A 到 B 都有
   Tom's taste in music ranges from classical to heavy metal.
   湯姆喜愛的音樂類型從古典樂到重金屬都有。
   b. 根據上述用法，可知 (I) 項應為正選。
   
7. The World Memory Championships are open to anyone regardless of their age, sex, or nationality.理由:
   a. 空格前有名詞詞組 their age, sex（他們的年齡、性別）及對等連接詞 or（或），可知空格應置名詞。
   b. 選項中為名詞的有 (B) nationality（國籍）及 (F) founders（創始人），惟根據語意，(B) 項應為正選。
   c. nationality n. 國籍
   One shouldn't discriminate against others because of their nationality.
   一個人不應該因為國籍而歧視別人。
   
8. Instead, they are ordinary people that have learned how to use certain learning tricks to help them remember things.理由:
   a. 空格前有 be 動詞 are，空格後有名詞 people（人們），可知空格應置形容詞。
   b. 選項中的形容詞僅剩 (H) ordinary（普通的），置入後亦符合語意，故為正選。
   c. ordinary a. 普通的，平常的
   Billy wants to experience more because he thinks his life is ordinary.
   比利想要多些體驗，因為他覺得他的生活很平凡。
   
9. Tony Buzan, one of the founders of the World Memory Championships and author of more than 100 books about the mind, thinks that memory is a lost art.理由:
   a. 空格前有定冠詞 the，空格後有介詞片語 of the World Memory Championships（世界記憶錦標賽的），可知空格應置名詞。
   b. 選項中的名詞僅剩 (F) founders（創始人），置入後亦符合語意，故為正選。
   c. founder n. 創始人，創立者
   A statue of the country's founder was erected in the new park.
   新公園裡豎立了一座該國開國者的雕像。
   
10. Buzan said that people should stop relying on new technology like cell phones and laptops.理由:
    a. 本題測試以下固定用法：
    rely on...　　依賴∕依靠……
    Don't rely on Ted for everything. He won't always be there for you.
    別事事都倚賴泰德。他不會永遠都在你身邊。
    b. 根據上述用法，可知 (G) 項應為正選。

1. bring back... / bring...back　　恢復……
   The fashion industry has brought back bell-bottom jeans.
   時尚圈又開始重新流行喇叭褲。
   
2. recite vt. 背誦；朗誦
   David's parents forced him to recite the poem until he remembered it.
   大衛的父母強迫他背那首詩，直到他記住為止。
   
3. recollect vt. 記住；想起
   That man looks familiar, but I can't recollect where I met him before.
   那男人看起來很面熟，但我想不起來曾在哪裡見過他。
   
4. against the clock　　分秒必爭
   Everyone in that company is working against the clock.
   那家公司每個人都在分秒必爭地工作。
   
5. be open to...　　對……開放
   Night clubs are only open to adults.
   夜店只開放給成人。
   
6. regardless of...　　不論∕不管……
   Gary is going to buy that car regardless of the price.
   不管售價多少，蓋瑞都會買那輛車。
   

1. athletics n. 競賽
   
   
2. deck n. 一副（牌）
   a deck of cards　　一副牌
   
   
3. recall vt. 回想
   
   
4. google vt. 上網搜尋
   
   
5. championship n. 錦標賽
   
   
6. binary a. 二進位的
   
   
7. digit n. 數字
   
   
8. cr'eme de la cre'me　　（法文）精華
   
   
9. contestant n. 參賽者
   
10. photographic a. 攝影的

1. in addition to...　　除了……之外
   
   
2. pose as...　　裝作……
   

　　在書籍發明以前，記憶力是教育中很重要的一環，它和數學及文法一起被教導。時至今日，現代科技已經使得記東西變得過時。我們無需回想電話號碼，因為這些號碼就儲存在我們的電話中。我們不必記住歷史上的重要日期，因為我們有需要時隨時都可以去上網搜尋相關資訊。然而，有些人卻藉由參加世界記憶錦標賽而將這項技藝重新發揚光大。今年，12 月 14 到 16 日在倫敦舉行的腦力競賽將會考驗人們的腦力極限。

　　世界記憶錦標賽共有 10 種不同的比賽項目，範圍從在 30 分鐘內記住二進位的數字然後背出來，到在 15 分鐘內記住最多隨機的名字和臉孔都有。然而，世界記憶錦標賽中的精華就是快速撲克牌。這是一種分秒必爭，要記住 52 張撲克牌順序的腦力競賽。這項比賽的世界紀錄不到 22 秒。

　　世界記憶錦標賽開放給任何人參加，不論年齡、性別及國籍。參賽者宣稱根本沒有過目不忘的記憶力這回事。相反地，他們都是普通人，只是學會了如何利用一些學習技巧來記東西。世界記憶錦標賽的創始人之一湯尼．布贊，同時也是 100 多本和智力有關書籍的作者，他認為記憶力是一種消失的藝術。布贊說人們應該停止依賴諸如手機和筆記型電腦等新科技。反之，他們應該要去活動身上最重要的肌肉，那就是大腦。

答案：1. D　2. A　3. E　4. J　5. C
6. I　7. B　8. H　9. F　10. G
引用自：長春藤英語

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