解析英語 2022.03.18 閱讀測驗 Bangkok's COVID-Era Taxi Rooftop Gardens
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand's taxi trade played a major role in the country's tourism industry, which the Thai economy relies on heavily. When the pandemic first began to spread around the world in 2020, Thailand was one of the countries that was relatively successful at keeping the virus at bay. However, major outbreaks in 2021 have led to new regulations, and the country's taxi drivers in particular have been hit hard.
In early 2021, as tourism ground to a halt and restrictions on residents movements were imposed, many taxi drivers found themselves out of work. Furthermore, taxi companies struggled to stay afloat financially. Hundreds of taxis throughout Bangkok were abandoneds and left to rust, resulting in the emergence of so-called taxi graveyards. Two Bangkok-based taxi firms, Ratchapruk and Bovorn Taxi, had only around 500 taxis between them operating on the city's streets, while more than 2,000 cars were left to sit in the graveyards unused.
Nevertheless, these problems have led to an unexpected phenomenons. Out-of-work taxi drivers have begun using the roofs of these abandoned taxis as platforms to set up small vegetable gardens. They do so by using a combination of bamboo frames and large garbage bags to hold soil. Unfortunately, these gardens are no solution to the problem of lost earnings; however, the food they produce can be used to feed both the drivers and their family members. In addition, the gardens serve as a means of peaceful protest, given that the city's taxi service providers are receiving no financial support from the government.
Although the world now appears to be slowly recovering from the worst phases of the pandemic, the taxi trade in Thailand has never been hit so hard before, and thus the impact will likely be felt for years to come.
◎ 閱讀測驗
1. Which of the following is NOT true, according to the passage?
(A) The pandemic has led to a decline in Thailand's tourism.
(B) Tourism has been very important to Thailand's economy.
(C) Taxi drivers in Thailand didn't receive help from the government.
(D) Thailand failed to get COVID-19 under control in the very beginning.
2. Which of the following is closest in meaning to "emergence" in the second paragraph?
(A) Unexpected destruction.
(B) Dangerous situation.
(C) Appearance.
(D) Capacity.
3. Which of the following is NOT true about the taxi rooftop gardens?
(A) They help to feed the drivers' families.
(B) They offer a source of income.
(C) They are a method of protest.
(D) They provide food.
4. Which of the following best describes the author's attitude toward the future of Thailand's taxi industry?
(A) Negative.
(B) Neutral.
(C) Optimistic.
(D) Indifferent.
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◎ Words for Reference
ㆍ pandemic n.(範圍廣大的)疫情,流行病
ㆍ outbreak n.(疾病、戰爭等)爆發
ㆍ resident n.居民
ㆍ afloat a.經濟上可周轉的
ㆍ stay afloat 經濟上勉強維持下去
ㆍ rust vi.生鐵
ㆍ graveyard n.墓地
ㆍ firm n.(小型)公司·商行
ㆍ frame n.框架
ㆍ protest n.抗議
ㆍ phase n.階段,時期
ㆍ decline n.下降
◎ 片語參考 Phrases for Reference
ㆍout of work 失業
ㆍfor+一段時間 ome
在未來的⋯⋯(一段時間)
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◎ Practical Phrases
1. play a... role in... 在⋯⋯扮演⋯⋯的角色
ㆍThe leading actor played a key role in the success of the show.
那位男主角在演出成功中扮演了關鍵性的角色。
2. keep sb/sth at bay 不讓某人靠近;防止某事發生
ㆍA healthy diet can keep high blood pressure at bay.
健康的飲食可以讓你遠離高血壓。
3. in particular 特別地(置於名詞後,強調該名詞)
= particularly adv. 特別地(置於名詞前,強調該名詞)
ㆍEveryone in our company works very hard, Mark in particular.
= Everyone in our company works very hard, especially Mark.
我們公司每個人都很努力工作,尤其是馬克。
4. grind to a halt 逐漸停擺;慢慢停下
＊ grind vi. & vt. 磨碎
三態為 grind, ground, ground
＊ halt v. & n. 停擺停頓停下
ㆍThe city's bus service ground to a halt during the strike.
這次罷工期間,市內的公車服務都停擺了。
5. serve as... 充當·⋯之用
ㆍThis big box can serve as a temporary dog house.
這個大箱子可以當作暫時的狗屋。
6. recover from... 從⋯ ⋯復原
ㆍIt will take Mr. White some time to recover from the death of his wife.
懷特先生需要一些時間才能從喪妻之痛中平復。
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◎ Words in Use
1. regulation n.規定
ㆍThere is a clear regulation regarding how much time off we can take.
關於我們可以請多少假有個明確的規定。
2. restriction n.限制
ㆍThe government imposed restrictions on smoking in public places.
政府下達禁令,禁止在公共場所抽。
3. impose vt.強加於
impose sth on sb 將某事強加於某人
ㆍCindy is a harsh mother and imposes severe discipline on her children.
辛蒂是位嚴厲的母親,她對小孩強加嚴格的紀律。
4. financially ad.財務上·經濟上
ㆍAmy hopes she can be financially independent of her family by the time she is 20.
艾咪希望二十歲時就能在經濟上不再依靠家庭。
5. abandon vt.拋棄,遺棄
ㆍDon't abandon your pet just because you are too lazy to care for it.
不要只因為你懶得照顧你的寵物就拋棄他。
6. emergence n.出現・浮現
ㆍThe emergence of video conferencing apps has made remote working easier.
視訊會議應用程式的出現讓遠距工作更容易了。
＊ emergency 緊急狀況
＊ emergence of ~ 的出現
7. operate vi.營運;經營
ㆍOur company has been operating well recently.
我們公司近來營運良好。
8. phenomenon n.現象 (單數形)
phenomena n.現象(複數形)
ㆍGlobal warming is a curious phenomenon.
地球暖化是一個不尋常的現象。
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◎ More to Learn ◎
＊earnings n. (公司、國家的)收益(恆用複數); (全部的)收入
ㆍIn this country, over 80% of export earnings come from timber.
這個國家80%上的外銷收益來自木材。
◎ 以下介紹其他與「收入,薪資」相關的單字:
a. wage n. (通常指以小時/日/週計算的)工資
ㆍThe wages of waiters at this restaurant are not high.
這間餐廳的服務生時薪不高。
b. salary n.(通常指按月發放的)薪水
ㆍTo help the poor, Ron donates 5% of his salary to charity every month.
為了幫助窮人,朗恩每個月捐出5%薪資做慈善。
c. income n.收入,所得
ㆍThere are many families struggling to survive on low incomes.
有許多家庭靠著微薄的收入努力過活。
d. pay n.報酬,工資
ㆍYou should put half of your pay in the bank to have savings in case of any emergency.
你應該把薪水的一半存進銀行,這樣萬一有緊急狀況時才有存款。
＊ emergency 緊急狀況
＊ emergence of ~ 的出現
e. revenue n. (國家、公司)財政收入,營收
ㆍOur total revenue amounted to US$3million this year.
我們今年的總營收是三百萬美元。
＊ amounted to v.達到
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◎ Grammar Tips
In addition, the gardens serve as a means of peaceful protest, given that the city's taxi service providers are receiving no financial support from the government.
介紹表「考慮到⋯ ⋯」、「有鑑於⋯⋯」的副詞片語或子句:
※given 為介詞,表「考慮到,有鑑於」,其後除了可以接名詞外,可接that引導的子句(如本文用法):
＊given + N
ㆍGiven his age and his past injuries, Tom decided to retire from baseball.
考慮到年紀及舊傷,湯姆決定從棒壇退休。
＊given+ (that)子句
ㆍGiven that the Earth is running out of natural resources, we should all conserve energy.
有鑑於地球的自然資源已經要耗盡了,我們全都應該節約能源。
※ considering + N/(that) + S + V
ㆍConsidering Anna's background, I think she is more suitable to be a reporter.
考慮到安娜的背景,我覺得她比較適合當記者。
ㆍConsidering that she's 80 years old, my grandmother is still very active.
考慮到我奶奶已經八十歲了,她還算非常活躍。
※ seeing (that) + S + V
ㆍSeeing that it is supposed to rain, we won't go to the beach.
考慮到可能會下雨,我們就不去海邊了。
※ in view of ...
ㆍIn view of Henry's great performance, we have decided to give him a raise.
有鑑於亨利的好表現,我們決定要替他加薪。
※ in (the) light of..
ㆍIn light of the high cost of gasoline, I've decided to sell my car.
考慮到油的高成本,我決定要賣掉我的車。
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題目～精選試題
ㆍ ＿＿＿＿ the typhoon is fast approaching, we should postpone the picnic.
(A) In light of (B) In view of (C) Even though (D) Given that
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答案～精選試題：
D
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中文翻譯
泰國計程車菜園
在新冠疫情之前,泰國的計程車業在該國的觀光業中扮演重要的角色,而泰國在經濟上相當仰賴觀光業。當疫情最先在2020年開始於全球散時,泰國是其中一個在抵擋病毒上相對成功的國家。然而,2021年疫情重爆導致了新的規範,而該國的計程車司機尤其受到嚴重打擊。
2021年初期,觀光業停擺,還實行了限制居民活動的禁令,許多計程車司機陷入了失業的困境。此外,計程車公司難以在經濟上勉強維持營運。曼谷數以百計的計程車被棄置,任其生,導致出現了所謂的計程車場。兩間曼谷的計程車行(拉差魯克車行博文車行)計剩大約五百輛計程車在該城市的街上營運,而其餘兩千多輛車就被留在墳場裡無人使用。
然而,這些問題造就了一個意料之外的現象。失業的計程車司機開始使用這些棄置計程車的車頂,將它們作為平臺,在上頭設置小蔬菜園。他們結合了竹框和大垃圾袋來盛放泥土。不幸的是,這些菜園無法解決失去收入的這個問題;不過,他們種的這些食物可以用來餵飽司機和其家庭成員。此外,這些菜園也作為一種和平抗議的方式,因為該城市的計程車行並未從政府方取得資金協助。
雖然目前全球似乎正從疫情最糟糕的階段慢恢復中,但泰國的計程車業過去從來沒遭受過這麼嚴重的打擊,因此在未來的幾年可能都還會感受到這個衝擊
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1.根據本文,下列何者錯誤?
(A)疫情導致泰國觀光業下滑。
(B)一直以來,觀光業都對泰國經濟很重要。
(C)泰國的計程車司機未得到政府援助。
(D)泰國在最一開始無法控制新冠疫情。
2.下列何者意思最接近第二段中的“emergence"?
(A)意料之外的毀滅。 (B)危險的情況。
(C)出現。 (D)能力。
3.關於計程車車頂菜園,下列何者錯誤?
(A)它們協助餵飽司機的家庭。
(B)它們提供了一種收入來源。
(C)他們是一種抗議的方式。
(D)它們提供了食物。
4.下列何者最能描述作者對泰國計程車業未來的態度?
(A)負面的。 (B)中立的。(C)樂觀的。 (D)冷淡的。
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答案：
D, C, B, A
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