What started off as a joke may actually be a serious problem.
那些一開始被當作玩笑話的事，實際上可能是個嚴重的問題。
It's likely you are familiar with some of the special days, weeks, and months created by organizations around the world to spread awareness of important concerns. Some examples of this include Earth Day, AIDS Awareness Month, and World Poverty Day. But have you ever heard of National Anti-Boredom Month in the US? Anything designed to _(1)_ boredom must be interesting, so read on to discover the origins of this special month.
世界各地的組織為了傳揚對重要且引人關注事項的認知而創建了特別日子、星期及月份，其中一些日子、星期及月份你很可能已經很熟悉了。這方面的一些例子包括地球日、愛滋病宣傳月、世界貧困日。但你可曾聽過美國的全國反無聊月？任何旨在克服無聊的活動都一定要很有趣，那麼就繼續往下看來發掘這個特殊月份的起源。
What is National Anti-Boredom Month and how did it start? The answers _(2)_ in understanding the mindset of a New Jersey public relations expert named Alan Caruba. The initiative grew out of Caruba's 1984 spoof that involved _(3)_ a fake organization called The Boring Institute. His _(4)_ came about while he was watching the famed Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. _(5)_ that the parade always seemed the same year after year, he decided to have a bit of fun by developing a press release claiming it was actually a hoax. _(6)_ from his newly created institute, the release stated that what was shown on TV was actually a video of the parade from a decade earlier. This _(7)_ to other spoofs on celebritydom, and National Anti-Boredom Month was born.
全國反無聊月是什麼，又是如何開始的？這些問題的答案在於要先了解新澤西州一位名為艾倫‧卡魯巴公關專家的心態。全國反無聊月的創始源自克魯巴在 1984 年的一次整人計劃，在該計劃中，他創立了一個叫作『無聊協會』的假機構。克魯巴在觀賞梅西百貨感恩節遊行時產生了這個動機。他觀察到那場遊行似乎年年都是相同的活動，便決定擬一份新聞稿，聲稱那場感恩節遊行其實是場騙局，藉此來獲得一點兒樂趣。他利用新成立的協會來發佈新聞稿，聲稱電視上所呈現的遊行其實是 10 年前的錄影節目。這也造成日後對名人界出現了一些整人活動，全國反無聊月於焉誕生。
While Caruba's organization and Anti-Boredom Month started as a joke on the media, there is a serious _(8)_ message to it all. Caruba wrote in an Internet article in 2008 that boredom was a precursor to _(9)_ and suicide and that it may lead to crime. He also stated boredom was the cause of some divorces and that it was trouble. _(10)_ National Anti-Boredom Month might be a joke, boredom can be a serious problem, so find something fun to do right now.
雖然克魯巴的組織和全國反無聊月起初對媒體開了一個玩笑，這一切卻帶有一個嚴肅的基本訊息。克魯巴在 2008 年的網路文章上寫道，無聊是憂鬱症和自殺的前兆，同時無聊亦可能會導致犯罪。他還指出，無聊是一些人離婚的原因，並表示那會造成麻煩。雖然全國反無聊月可能是個笑話，無聊還是可能會成為嚴重的問題，所以現在就去找些樂事做做吧。
(A) underlying (B) lie (C) motivation (D) Observing (E) depression
(F) While (G) Issued (H) conquer (I) led (J) creating
@原來如此
1. Anything designed to conquer boredom must be interesting, so read on to discover the origins of this special month.
理由
a. 原句實等於：
Anything which is designed to _______ boredom must be interesting,...
b. 得知本題測試下列固定句構
be designed to V 被設計來……
This book is designed to teach students how to write.
這本書旨在教導學生如何寫作。
c. 根據上述，空格內應置原形及物動詞，使 boredom 作其受詞。選項中僅(B) lie（躺、說謊、在於）、(H) conquer（克服）為原形動詞。但 (B) 為不及物動詞。根據語意，僅 (H) 為正選。
2. The answers lie in understanding the mindset of a New Jersey public relations expert named Alan Caruba.
理由
a. 本句句首以複數名詞 The answers（這些答案）作為主詞，得知空格內應置複數動詞，且為現在式，因為空格前的句子 "What is National Anti-Boredom Month...?" 為現在式。
b. 選項中僅 (B) lie（說謊、躺、在於）為現在式動詞，且因為空格後有介詞 in，形成下列固定用法：
lie in... 在於……
In my view, success lies in hard work.
我認為成功全在於努力。
c. 根據上述，(B) 項應為正選。
3. The initiative grew out of Caruba's 1984 spoof that involved creating a fake organization called The Boring Institute.
理由
a. 空格前有 that 引導的形容詞子句，此處 that 等於 which，之後的動詞 involved 表『包括』，得知之後須接名詞或動名詞作受詞，形成下列固定用法：
involve vt. 包括，包含
The test involves answering a series of questions about a photograph.
這項考試包含回答一張照片的幾個問題。
Many of the crimes in the city involve drugs.
該城市中的許多犯罪都和毒品有關。
c. 然而因為空格後有名詞詞組 a fake organization（假組織），得知空格應置動名詞，使該名詞作動名詞的受詞，形成的動名詞片語同時作 involved 的受詞。選項中僅 (A) underlying（凸顯……的重要）、(J) creating（創造）為動名詞。根據語意，僅 (J) 為正選。
4. His motivation came about while he was watching the famed Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV.
理由
a. 空格前有所有格 His，得知空格內應置名詞作主詞，使空格後有動詞 came about（發生）作動詞。
b. 選項中，僅(C) motivation（動機）、(E) depression（憂鬱症）可作名詞。根據語意，僅 (C) 為正選。
c. motivation n. 動機
His biggest problem is his lack of motivation.
他最大的問題便是他缺乏動機。
5. Observing that the parade always seemed the same year after year, he decided to have a bit of fun by developing a press release claiming it was actually a hoax.
理由
a. 由於空格位於句首，故應選單字開頭字母為大寫的選項，選項中 (D) Observing（觀察）、(G) Issued（被發佈）、(F) While（當、而、雖然） 均為大寫開頭單字。然而，空格後有 that 子句，勢必作為動詞的受詞。
b. 原句實等於：
He observed that the parade..., he decided to...(×)
此時兩句皆為主要子句，中間無連接詞連接，屬錯誤句構。因此第一個主要子句須改成分詞片語，步驟如下：
(1) 刪除相同主詞；
(2) 將動詞改為現在分詞，此處 observed 改為 observing。
c. 根據上述，(D) 項應為正選。
6. Issued from his newly created institute, the release stated that what was shown on TV was actually a video of the parade from a decade earlier.
理由
a. 空格在句首，得知只能選開頭字母大寫的答案，且因為空格後並不是完整子句，故空格不得置連接詞。(G) 及 (F) 項為大寫開頭，而 (F) While 為連接詞，故僅 (G) 為正選。
b. 原句實等於：
The release was issued from his newly created institute, the release stated that...(×)
此時兩句皆為主要子句，中間無連接詞連接，屬錯誤句構。因此第一個主要子句須改成分詞片語，步驟如下：
(1) 刪除相同主詞；
(2) 將動詞改為現在分詞，此處 was issued 改為 being issued，且 being 可以省略。
c. 根據上述，僅 (G) 項為正選。
d. issue vt. 發佈
They issued a joint statement denying the charges.
他們發佈了聯合聲明，否認那項指控。
7. This led to other spoofs on celebritydom, and National Anti-Boredom Month was born.
理由
a. 空格前有主詞 This，得知空格應置動詞，且此動詞可與介詞 to 搭配形成下列固定用法：
lead to... 造成……
The driver's carelessness led to the accident.
那位駕駛的粗心導致了這場車禍。
b. 由於空格前句子為過去式，得知空格也須置過去式動詞，以形成時態一致，選項中僅 (I) 符合上述條件，故為正選。
8. While Caruba's organization and Anti-Boredom Month started as a joke on the media, there is a serious underlying message to it all.
理由
a. 空格後為名詞 message（訊息），空格前為形容詞 serious（嚴肅的），得知空格就算不加字也合乎語法。若此處要加字，則須加形容詞，使該形容詞與 message 搭配成為複合字，被 serious 修飾。
b. 選項中僅剩 (A) underlying（根本的）為形容詞，故為正選。
c. underlying a. 根本的
Unemployment is the underlying cause of the rising crime rate.
失業問題是犯罪率不斷上升的根本原因。
9. Caruba wrote in an Internet article in 2008 that boredom was a precursor to depression and suicide and that it may lead to crime.
理由
a. 空格後有對等連接詞 and，之後有名詞 suicide（自殺），得知空格須置名詞以作空格前介詞 to 的受詞。此外，由於是對等連接詞連接兩屬性相同的詞或片語，故此處應選 (E) depression（憂鬱症）。
b. depression n. 憂鬱症
John has been suffering from depression since 2008.
約翰自從 2008 年以來一直受憂鬱症所苦。
10. While National Anti-Boredom Month might be a joke, boredom can be a serious problem,...
理由
a. 由於空格後為一完整子句 "National Anti-Boredom Month might be a joke"（全國反無聊月可能是個玩笑話）空格後又有一完整子句 "boredom can be a serious problem"（無聊可能會是個嚴重的問題），得知空格應置連接詞以連接兩個完整子句，故僅 (F) 為正選。
b. while conj. 雖然
While Tom's very good at science, his brother is absolutely hopeless.
雖然湯姆很擅長科學，他弟弟卻完全不在行。
@單字小舖
1. boredom n. 無聊
2. mindset n. 心態
3. spoof n. 欺騙，愚弄
4. famed a. 知名的
5. parade n. 遊行；閱兵典禮
6. press release n. 新聞稿
7. hoax n. 欺騙，愚弄
8. institute n. 協會
9. celebritydom n. 名人界
10. precursor n. 前兆
@Usage Tips
a. celebritydom, kingdom, stardom
以-dom結尾的單字有『界』的意思，如：kingdom（王國）、celebritydom（名人界）、stardom（明星界）。
b. 比較 year after year / day after day / year by year / day by day。
year after year 表『年復一年』；day after day 表『日復一日』；day by day 表『一天一天地（強調情況在漸漸地變化）』。
Kevin studied day after day for the exam.
凱文日復一日唸書準備那次的考試。
My grandfather's health is improving day by day.
我爺爺的健康漸漸在改善中。
@難句分析
Issued from his newly created institute, the release stated that what was shown on TV...
= Issued from his newly created institute, the release stated that the thing which was shown on TV...
他利用新成立的協會來發佈新聞稿，聲稱電視上所呈現的遊行……
@精解難字片語
1. It's likely (that)... 很可能……
It is likely that the economy will improve this year.
今年的經濟很有可能會改善。
2. be familiar with sth 熟悉某事
be familiar to sb 對某人而言很熟悉
I won't get lost because I'm familiar with this part of town.
我不會迷路，因為我對這個地方很熟悉。
3. awareness n. 體認
aware a. 了解的，知道的
Are you aware of the fact that you are making me angry?
你知不知道你令我生氣了？
4. concern n. 關懷；關心的事
The rich man showed no concern for the poor.
這有錢人對窮人一點都不關切。
5. initiative n. 主動行動；進取心
on one's own initiative 主動地
Richard showed a lot of initiative and was promoted to manager after only a year.
理查展現強烈進取心，僅一年後就獲得升遷為經理。
The rookie cop disobeyed the captain's orders and acted on his own initiative.
那位菜鳥警察不服從隊長的命令，擅自行動。
6. come about 發生
= come to pass
= happen
Can you tell me how the accident came about?
你可以告訴我那件意外是如何發生的嗎？
7. state vt. 聲明（之後接 that 子句作受詞）
Al stated that he would be running for president.
艾爾聲稱他會參選總統。
It is likely that the economy will improve this year.
今年的經濟很有可能會改善。
2. be familiar with sth 熟悉某事
be familiar to sb 對某人而言很熟悉
I won't get lost because I'm familiar with this part of town.
我不會迷路，因為我對這個地方很熟悉。
3. awareness n. 體認
aware a. 了解的，知道的
Are you aware of the fact that you are making me angry?
你知不知道你令我生氣了？
4. concern n. 關懷；關心的事
The rich man showed no concern for the poor.
這有錢人對窮人一點都不關切。
5. initiative n. 主動行動；進取心
on one's own initiative 主動地
Richard showed a lot of initiative and was promoted to manager after only a year.
理查展現強烈進取心，僅一年後就獲得升遷為經理。
The rookie cop disobeyed the captain's orders and acted on his own initiative.
那位菜鳥警察不服從隊長的命令，擅自行動。
6. come about 發生
= come to pass
= happen
Can you tell me how the accident came about?
你可以告訴我那件意外是如何發生的嗎？
7. state vt. 聲明（之後接 that 子句作受詞）
Al stated that he would be running for president.
艾爾聲稱他會參選總統。
答案：1.(H) 2.(B) 3.(J) 4.(C) 5.(D) 6.(G) 7.(I) 8.(A) 9.(E) 10.(F)
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