文:蘇正隆/Christopher Shrimpton
台灣多年來考試領導教學,因此考過的題目往往會成為教材,社會大眾也也不去細究裡面的英文是否都是地道的講法。為免學校、補習班以訛傳訛,把考題當成範本來教學,我們針對今年科技校院二年制統測英文試題,循例仔細檢查,發現有以下問題。
I.字彙測驗:共有15題,請選擇一個最適合的答案,以完成該句。
6. Our art class this week is to create a _________ of one of Claude Monet’s masterpieces. |
(A) flame |
(B) calculation |
(C) nourishment |
(D) duplicate |
本句 “Our art class this week is to create” 不合文法及英文邏輯,art class不是人,無法create東西。
找不到 "our art class this week is" 的結果
找不到符合搜尋字詞「"Our *class this week is to"」的文件。
英文習慣會說:
"In this week's art class we have to create"
"In my art class this week, we have to"
見以下Google統計
"in my art class this week, we" 約有 3,000 項結果
"in my art class we have to" 約有 6,040 項結果
"in * art class we have to" 約有 466,000,000 項結果
此外,(D)duplicate雖然是較佳答案,但不很合適,宜用copy或replica。
15. To get his mother’s attention, the boy has been _________ throwing the toys on the floor. |
(A) deliberately |
(B) decently |
(C) accidentally |
(D) attentively |
本句 "deliberately throwing the toys on" 定冠詞the應刪去。
找不到 "deliberately throwing the toys on" 的結果。
"deliberately throwing the *on the floor" 約有 2 項結果
"deliberately throwing *on the floor" 約有 64,400 項結果
II. 對話測驗:共有10題,為第16 −25題,請依對話內容,選出一個最適合的答案,使其成為有意義的對話。
20. Mary: I think I heard the door.
George: That must be the Chinese take-out.
Mary: Great! I am starving. _______________
George: Yeah, it’s got everything including utensils. |
(A) Have you found your wallet yet?
(B) Have you taken out my Chinese homework?
(C) Have you seen a fortune teller?
(D) Has it got fortune cookies in there? |
it’s got everything including utensils. 不太自然,英文習慣上會說 it’s got utensils and everything. 或 It has utensils and everything.
找不到 "it's got everything including utensils" 的結果
找不到 "got everything including utensils" 的結果。
"has utensils and everything" 9 項結果
"everything including utensils" 約有 9,600 項結果
"utensils and everything" 約有 141,000 項結果
24. Clerk: May I have your ID to verify your traveler’s checks?
Customer: Of course. Would you need my passport or driver’s license?
Clerk: _______________
Customer: There you go. |
(A) Neither passport nor driver’s license.
(B) You should have a passport renewal.
(C) Your driver’s license is invalid.
(D) Either passport or driver’s license. |
t Would you need my passport or… 本句英文習慣上會說 Do you need my passport or…? Would you 開頭的句子,是拜託人家「是否願意…」的禮貌講法。這裡是問人家「是否需要」,不是「是否願意」。
找不到 "Would you need my passport or" 的結果。
"do you need my passport or" 約有 26,600 項結果
III. 綜合測驗:下面三篇短文共有15個空格,為第26 − 40題,請依各篇短文文意,選出 一個最適合該空格的答案。
▲ 閱讀下文,回答第26 − 30題
There are several ways to preserve natural resources on earth. 26 environmental pollution and global warming are concerned, taking public transportation, such as the MRT, buses and trains, is one of the feasible measures to 27 the emission of greenhouse gases. Planting more trees is also an effective way, which can absorb carbon dioxide and slowdown the speed of global warming. To reduce energy consumption, people need to make a habit of turning off the water faucets and plugging off all the electrical 28 when they are not in use. Turn on air conditioners only when needed.29 is also a crucial measure; containers like glass bottles, plastic bottles and aluminum cans can be reused. The more we recycle, the less trash we will make. To protect the 30 species on earth, we can stop buying products that harm the animals, for example leather bags or clothing, and stamps or ornaments that are made of elephant tusks. Without the purchases of the valuable merchandises,manufactures would cut down the production, and slaughter less precious animals.
t plugging off all the electrical appliances 句中plugging off一般會用unplugging。
"plugging off all the electrical appliances" 1 項結果
"unplugging all the electrical appliances" 約有 466 項結果
t stop buying products that harm the animals 句中定冠詞the宜刪去。
"buying products that harm the animals" 2 項結果(1項是出自本測驗)
找不到 "products that will harm the animals" 的結果。
"products that harm animals" 約有 12,100 項結果
"buying products that will harm" 約有 2,600 項結果
t Without the purchases of the valuable merchandises 宜改為 without a market demand。
找不到 "Without the purchases of the valuable merchandises" 的結果。
(as of May 7, 15 on Google)
"Without the purchases of the valuable" 1 項結果 (Google May 9, 15)
“without a market demand” 約有 206,000 項結果
t manufactures would cut down the production 宜改為 manufacturers would reduce production
找不到 "manufacturers would cut down the production" 的結果
找不到 "would cut down the production and" 的結果。
"would reduce production and" 約有 1,020,000 項結果
t manufactures 應為manufacturers
t slaughter less precious animals 這句讀起來似乎意味著「少殺不太珍貴的動物」,應改為 slaughter fewer precious animals 或 slaughter less/fewer animals。
"slaughter less precious animals" 1 項結果(出自本測驗)
▲ 閱讀下文,回答第36 − 40題
Becoming a top candidate for promotion does not happen overnight. You have to build a track record of 36 performance and demonstrate the skills required for the job. Consider the following strategies to 37 yourself to the top of the list. Gather information. Find out which factors the decision makers consider 38 judging an employee for promotion. Make sure you can display the 39 capabilities in your current position. If not,work with your boss to develop a needed skill. Get feedback on your presence. Ability to project 40 is a key factor in promotion decisions. Seek candid feedback to understand how others perceive you.
本題出自:business.time.com/.../position-yourself-for-that-promotion/
2012年4月6日 - Get feedback on your presence. Ability to project confidence is a key factor in promotion decisions. Seek candid feedback to understand how...
t Get feedback on your presence. 語意含糊,比較好的講法是 get feedback on your presentation.
"get feedback on your presence" 6 項結果(皆引自網站該文)
"get feedback on your presentation" 約有 19,500 項結果
IV. 閱讀測驗:下面兩篇短文共有10題,每篇各有5 題,為第41 − 50題,請閱讀短文後,選出最適當的答案。
▲ 閱讀下文,回答第 41− 45 題
Ebola virus disease ( EVD ) is a highly contagious disease of humans and other animals caused by Ebola virus (EBOV). Direct contact with blood or other body fluids of the infected helps spread the virus. It is believed that African fruit bats are the carriers in nature, which are able to transmit EBOV to humans, or living or dead animals which have been infected by the bats. After human infection happens, the disease maybe come an epidemic, spreading among humans.
There are a variety of symptoms, such as sore throats, headaches, muscle pains, vomiting,diarrhea, rashes, and fevers. The symptoms normally begin between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus. When the worse worst symptom of diminished function of the kidneys and liver occurs, some infected humans might bleed both internally and externally. This is a highly deadly disease, able to kill between 50 percent and 90 percent of those infected with the virus. The causes of death mainly result from stroke, myocardial infarction, or organ failure. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment or confirmatively confirmed effective vaccine available for the virus.
Medical services and prevention are needed to control EVD outbreaks. The medical services consist of swift quarantine of EVD cases, tracking those who have come into contact with infected people, appropriate care of the infected, and cremation or burial of the dead. Prevention requires how to restrain EVD spreading stopping the spread of EVD from infected animals to humans. This can be achieved by wearing protective clothing when humans handle handling possibly infected wild animal meat. It is crucial to wash hands with disinfectants when humans stay come to contact with those who have contracted the disease. In addition, body fluids and tissues from the infected individuals have to be dealt with cautiously.
41. Which of the following is NOT one of the symptoms of EVD according to the passage?
(A) Diarrhea. (B) Poor digestion. (C) Muscle pains. (D) Sore throats.
找不到 "restrain *spreading from infected animals to humans" 的結果。
"stop the spread of * from * to humans" 約有54,400,000 項結果
l 本文改寫自Wikipedia等材料,有些英文表達方式不太自然(紅色部分、劃線部分),建議的寫法則以藍色標示。
評述者:
蘇正隆
台灣翻譯學學會前理事長,《麥克米倫高級英漢雙解詞典》總編輯,在師大翻譯研究所講授「筆譯專業」。
Christopher Shrimpton
為倫敦大學英美文學學士,比較文學碩士。