Garfield 加菲貓魅力無法擋

He is grouchy, lazy, and opinionated, and he loves to eat lasagna. Who could this fat, orange cat be? Garfield, of course! Created by Jim Davis, Garfield started out as a character in a comic strip in 1978. Today, he has been in everything from newspapers to movies to theme parks. His TV specials have won Emmys, and he and his friends have become internationally successful. Currently, over 2,600 newspapers run the Garfield comic strip every day.
他脾氣暴躁、懶惰又固執，而且喜歡吃義大利千層麵。這隻渾身橘色的肥貓會是誰呢？當然是加菲貓囉！加菲貓是吉姆‧戴維斯的筆下創作，在1978年以某個連環漫畫的小角色開始登場。時至今日，不論是在報紙、電影，還是主題樂園中，隨處都可以看見他的身影。他的電視特輯曾贏得艾美獎，而他與他的朋友們也揚名國際。目前全球每天都有超過兩千六百份報紙刊載加菲貓的連環漫畫。
Garfield has been around for over 30 years and is still adored by fans of all ages. Sales of classic and new Garfield merchandise remain high. Some of the most popular are collections of the comic strips, movies, and how-to drawing books. To keep up with the times, Garfield has also become computer animated. In this way, he has reached a whole new group of children and adults who find his bad manners and grouchy personality irresistible. Garfield and his creator Jim Davis have come a long way since the first comic strip. However, one thing has remained the same－they always have a lot of fun.
加菲貓已陪伴我們度過了三十餘年，而且至今仍深受各個年齡層粉絲的喜愛。無論是經典或新推出的，加菲貓的周邊商品都持續熱銷。當中最受歡迎的商品當屬一系列的漫畫、電影和素描本。為了跟上時代，加菲貓也以電腦動畫的形式登場。如此一來，他的觸角得以延伸至一群新的小孩和大朋友，他們會覺得他的粗魯無禮和暴躁個性令人難以抗拒。自第一部連環漫畫發行以來，加菲貓及其創作者吉姆‧戴維斯都已蛻變許多。然而，永遠不變的一點是——他們總是為人們帶來無限歡樂。
C 1. Which of the following is true about Garfield?
(A) He started out as a character in a movie.
(B) He and his friends have only been successful locally.
(C) People can't get enough of his bad manners and grouchy personality.
(D) He failed to make a profit with his merchandise.
1. 關於加菲貓的敘述，下列何者正確？
(A) 他一開始是以電影中的一個角色登場。
(B) 他和他的朋友們只有在國內成名。
(C) 人們很喜愛他粗魯無禮和暴躁的個性。
(D) 他的各種商品無法獲利。
B 2. According to the article, where would you NOT see Garfield?
(A) On DVDs.
(B) In textbooks.
(C) In newspapers.
(D) At amusement parks.
2. 根據本文，您無法在何處看到加菲貓？
(A) DVD中。
(B) 教科書中。
(C) 報紙上。
(D) 遊樂園裡。


@Words & Phrases
1. start out　　開始某事（工作、事業等）
When our company first started out, there were only four employees.
我們公司剛成立時只有四名員工。
2. run vt.（在報章雜誌上）刊登（三態為：run, ran [ rAn ], run。）
The editor-in-chief decided at the last minute not to run the story.
總編輯直到最後一刻才決定不刊登這則報導。
3. adore vt. 愛慕，敬慕
Jenny is very popular. People adore her for her warm personality.
珍妮非常受歡迎。大家都因為她熱情的個性而喜歡她。
4. keep up with the times　　跟上時代
keep up with...　　跟上……
Some people don't bother trying to keep up with technology because it is always changing.
由於科技總是日新月異，所以有些人從不想費心跟上它的腳步。
5. irresistible a. 無法抗拒的，充滿誘惑力的
After trying on the shoes for fun, I had an irresistible urge to buy them.
在為了好玩而試穿那雙鞋之後，我竟有種克制不住的慾望想買下它。
6. have come a long way　　變化∕進步很大
Information technology has come a long way since the 1980s.
自1980年代以來，資訊科技已經有了長足的進步。
7. can't get enough of...　　很喜愛……
People all over the world can't get enough of Kate Middleton's classic and elegant style.
全世界的人都很喜歡英國凱特王妃的典雅風格。
8. make a profit　　獲利
Jack is considering closing his restaurant because it hasn't been making a profit.
傑克的餐廳一直都沒賺什麼錢，因此他考慮要把它收起來。



@Extra Words

1. grouchy a. 脾氣壞的；愛抱怨的
2. opinionated a. 固執己見的，武斷的
3. lasagna n. 義大利千層麵
4. comic strip n. 連環漫畫（本文中亦作形容詞用）
5. merchandise n. 商品