2011年11月8日 星期二

Helping Hands 伸出『猿』手,助人一生

 Guide dogs help the visually impaired1 get around. Cats and dogs help hospital patients relax. Now, another kind of animal is making the news. These are specially trained capuchin monkeys2 that help people with spinal cord3 injuries and those who have trouble moving. They respond to a wide range of instructions, from the simple like opening and fetching things to the more complicated like operating electronics4 or calling 911. With training, there is no end to what the monkeys can do.
導盲犬幫助視障朋友四處行走。貓咪和狗狗協助醫院病患放鬆心情。現在又有另一種動物上新聞了。這些受過特別訓練的捲尾猴能向脊髓傷患和行動不便者伸出『猿』手。牠們聽得懂各式各樣的指令,像是開東西和拿東西這類簡單的動作、一直到操作電子產品或打九一一等較為複雜的命令都能聽從(編按:美國的緊急電話號碼為九一一)。只要透過訓練,猴子能辦到的事簡直不可限量。
  Monkeys have small, human-like hands, so it is not a problem for them to complete common, everyday tasks or those that require more specialized training. What's more, these animals make great companions5 since monkeys generally show a lot of emotion to their masters. There are strong connections between them, and some monkeys even show their love by kindly scratching their owners' heads.
猴子有一雙和人類很像的小手,所以要完成日常生活中的一般差事或是那些需要進一步特訓才能辦到的動作對牠們來說都不成問題。此外,由於猴子一般都會對主人表達豐沛的情感,因此牠們能成為很棒的夥伴。牠們與主人之間有很密切的關係,有些猴子甚至會體貼地搔抓主人的腦袋來表達牠們的愛。
  The US organization that trains these capuchin monkeys is proud of its success. Although it is expensive to raise and train these monkey helpers, giving disabled6 people back their independence as well as a reason for living is well worth it.
訓練這些捲尾猴的美國組織對自身的成就感到相當驕傲。儘管飼養和訓練這些猿猴小幫手所費不貲,但是還給身障朋友獨立自主的能力以及一個活下去的理由絕對是值得的。
1. What are the monkey helpers NOT able to do?
(A) Pick a cellphone up off the ground.
(B) Operate the remote control7 for a TV.
(C) Put food into a refrigerator.
(D) Guide visually impaired people.
1. 猿猴小幫手無法做到下列哪件事?
(A) 從地上撿起一隻手機。
(B) 操作電視遙控器。
(C) 把食物放進冰箱裡。
(D) 引導視障朋友行走。
2. What is the article mainly about?
(A) Introducing a kind of animal that can help disabled people.
(B) Giving disabled people advice on how to keep a pet monkey.
(C) The process of training capuchin monkeys for a show.
(D) How people get spinal cord injuries.
2. 本文主旨為何?
(A) 介紹一種能幫助身障朋友的動物。
(B) 建議身障朋友如何飼養猴子作為寵物。
(C) 訓練捲尾猴進行表演的這段過程。
(D) 人們的脊髓是如何受傷的。
答案:1. (D) 2. (A)






@Building Your Vocabulary
1. instruction n. 指示,命令(常用複數)
Before filling out this form, read the instructions on the attached sheet.
在填寫這張表格之前,請先閱讀附件上的指示說明。
2. fetch vt. 取來,拿來
Melissa couldn't stop coughing, so I fetched her a glass of water.
瑪莉莎咳個不停,所以我幫她拿了一杯水來。
3. operate vt. 操作(機器)& vi. 經營,運作
The illegal casino is operating in a residential area.
那間違法的賭場開在某個住宅區內。
4. specialized a. 專門的
Doctors are experts with highly specialized skills and knowledge.
醫生是具有高度專業技術和學問的專家。
5. scratch vt. 搔,輕抓
Jack kept scratching the mosquito bite on his neck.
傑克不停地抓他脖子上被蚊子咬的地方。






@Phrases for Learning
1. get around  四處走動
My grandfather gets around with the help of a cane.
我爺爺得杵著柺杖來行走。
2. make the news  上新聞,被報導
After our efforts made the news, donations started pouring into the charity.
在我們努力的成果上新聞後,許多善款就開始湧入那間慈善機構。
3. respond to...  對……作回應∕回覆
Anita responded to my compliment with a smile.
安妮塔對我的讚美報以一個微笑。






@Extra Words
1. visually impaired a. 視力受損的
 impaired a. 受損的
2. capuchin monkey n. 捲尾猴
3. spinal cord n. 脊髓(本文中作形容詞用)
4. electronics n. 電子產品(恆用複數)
5. companion n. 同伴,夥伴
6. disabled a. 殘疾的
7. remote control n. 遙控器






@Tips In Use
...help the visually impaired get around.(……幫助視障朋友四處行走。)
  某些形容詞前置定冠詞 the 時,可將其視為複數名詞,用來泛指某一類的人事物。如本文的"the visually impaired"即為"visually impaired people"(視力受損的人);"the simple"和"the more complicated"則分別表示"simple things"(簡單的事情)以及"more complicated things"(較為困難的事情)。以下為各位列舉其他常見的用法:
the rich = rich people 富人
the poor = poor people 窮人
the sick = sick people 病人
the elderly = elderly people 老年人

Robin Hood is a legendary figure that robs the rich and gives to the poor.
(羅賓漢是一位劫富濟貧的傳奇人物。)

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