 by Rebecca A. Fratzke A computer game gives players a chance to build or destroy the world's future. 地球命運 由你決定！ 一個電腦遊戲讓玩家有機會開創或毀滅地球的未來。 Everyone has at one time or another wondered what it would be like to control the world. People may imagine themselves as omnipotent, a nurturing spirit, or somewhere _(1)_ between. A new game called Fate of the World gives players an opportunity to make the fantasy come true. There's just one catch. The challenges plaguing the players are the same problems that we are _(2)_ facing as a planet in real life.
每個人都曾想過掌控地球的命運會是什麼滋味。人們或許會想像自己法力無邊，是個能夠孕育眾生的精靈，或是擁有介於兩者之間的能力。有個名為『世界命運』的新遊戲讓玩家有機會夢想成真。不過事情沒那麼簡單。這些考驗玩家的挑戰也就是現實生活中我們所面臨的地球問題。
From rising oceans to the loss of rainforests, global warming has caused a lot of trouble for Mother Earth. As a player of Fate of the World, you are put _(3)_ global, political, and scientific policies affecting global warming. Using strategy, players must strike a balance between the needs of humans and _(4)_ of the planet. Scenarios in the game are based on real scientific studies, which have made predictions about environmental changes for the next 200 years. The company Red Redemption created this strategy game, but this was not their first time using scientific data for entertainment purposes. In 2006, they launched Climate Challenge, which is also a game that looks at global warming and has had over one million players since its _(5)_.
從日益上升的海洋到雨林的消失，地球暖化為大地之母帶來了許多問題。身為世界命運的玩家，要負責主導會影響地球暖化問題的全球、政治和科學政策。玩家必須利用謀略，在人類和地球的需求之間取得平衡。遊戲中的情境是根據真實的科學研究，這些研究對未來兩百年的環境變化作了預測。這個策略遊戲是由 Red Redemption 公司所研發，但這並不是他們首次利用科學資料作為娛樂用途。他們在 2006 年推出了『氣候挑戰』，這款遊戲也在關注地球暖化問題，自發行後已累積超過 100 萬名的玩家。
Some of the challenges awaiting Fate of the World players include more than 1,000 disasters, _(6)_ floods, famines, and political scandals. Fifty specific animal species must be saved from extinction, and six tipping points must be avoided in order for society to _(7)_. Perhaps Fate of the World will inspire more people to take action for the planet and battle the negative impacts of global warming. 世界命運玩家所面臨的挑戰包括一千多種的災難，像是洪水、飢荒和政治醜聞等。玩家需要讓 50 種特定的動物物種免於滅絕的命運，並要避免 6 個臨界點的發生好讓社會能生存下去。或許世界命運遊戲可以啟發更多人為保衛地球而努力，致力對抗地球暖化的負面影響。 1. (A) at (B) on (C) in (D) by 2. (A) scarcely (B) actually (C) hopefully (D) deliberately 3. (A) in charge of(B) in regard to(C) at the cost of(D) at the risk of 4. (A) which (B) what (C) that (D) those 5. (A) response (B) release (C) recovery (D) repair 6. (A) far from (B) rather than (C) such as (D) except for 7. (A) survive (B) volunteer (C) perish (D) retreat
1. People may imagine themselves as omnipotent, a nurturing spirit, or somewhere in between.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 理由: a. 本空格在測試以下固定用法： in between 在其間，在中間 例: Some people support the Democrats, while others support the Republicans. My political views fall somewhere in between. （有些人支持民主黨，而有些人支持共和黨。我的政治觀則落在兩者之間。） b. 根據上述，可知應選 (C)。 2. The challenges plaguing the players are the same problems that we are actually facing as a planet in real life. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 理由: a. (A) scarcely adv. 幾乎不，幾乎沒有 例: Ted scarcely stays up late because he has to go to work early. （泰德很少熬夜，因為他很早就要出門上班。） (B) actually adv. 實際上；其實 例: Drinking in moderation is actually beneficial to your health. （適量飲酒其實有益健康。） (C) hopefully adv. 懷抱希望地；但願 (D) deliberately adv. 故意地 = on purpose 例: I didn't knock over the vase deliberately. It was an accident. （我不是故意要撞倒花瓶，那是個意外。） b. 根據語意，可知 (B) 應為正選。 3. As a player of Fate of the World, you are put in charge of global, political, and scientific policies affecting global warming. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 理由: a. (A) be put in charge of... 被指派（全權）負責…… 例: Damon was put in charge of the new project. （戴蒙被指派全權負責那項新專案。） (B) in regard to... 關於…… = with regard to... 例: In regard to the book you wrote, it wasn't very interesting. （關於你寫的那本書，並不太有趣。） (C) at the cost of... 以……的價格∕代價 例: Al won the furniture design contest at the cost of losing a lot of sleep. （艾爾犧牲許多睡眠時間來贏得傢俱設計大賽。） (D) at the risk of... 冒著……的風險 例: I took up the challenge even at the risk of losing my job. （即便冒著丟掉飯碗的風險，我仍接下這項挑戰。） b. 根據語意及用法，可知應選 (A)，置入後表世界命運的玩家要『負責』主導會影響地球暖化問題的全球、政治和科學政策。 4. Using strategy, players must strike a balance between the needs of humans and those of the planet. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 理由: a. 本空格在測試以下用法： 在英文中，相同的名詞在同一句中出現時，為避免重複，故改用代名詞 that 或 those，若為單數名詞或不可數名詞，以代名詞 that 替代，若是複數名詞，則以 those 代替。 例: Students at this school study harder than those at that school. （這所學校的學生比那所的學生用功。） b. 此處空格前的 needs 為複數名詞，可知應以代名詞 those 替代，故選 (D)。 5. In 2006, they launched Climate Challenge, which is also a game that looks at global warming and has had over one million players since its release. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 理由: a. (A) response n. 回應；回答 in response to... 回應……；回答…… 例: In response to your letter, I'm sorry we don't have any job openings now. （敬覆來函，很抱歉我們目前沒有任何職缺。） (B) release n. 發行，發表 例: After the release of her latest CD, the singer's popularity shot through the roof. （那位歌手的最新 CD 發行後，人氣直線上升。） (C) recovery n. 恢復，復元 make a full recovery 完全康復 (D) repair n. 修補，修理 b. 根據語意，可知應選 (B)。 6. Some of the challenges awaiting Fate of the World players include more than 1,000 disasters, such as floods, famines, and political scandals. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 理由: a. (A) far from... 距離……很遠；一點也不…… 例: What Nick said was far from the truth. （尼克所說的一點也不屬實。） (B) rather than... 而非……；代替…… = instead of... 例: You need to deal with your problems rather than running away from them. （你要設法處理自己的問題而不是逃避它們。） (C) such as... 諸如∕像……之類 例: I like fruits, such as mangos and apples. （我喜歡像芒果和蘋果之類的水果。） (D) except for... 除了……之外 = with the exception of... 注意: except for 使用時，必須與表完全概念的形容詞 all, every, any, no 等並用。 例: Paul ate nothing for lunch except for a sandwich. （除了一個三明治，保羅午餐什麼也沒吃。） b. 根據用法及語意，可知 (C) 應為正選。 7. Fifty specific animal species must be saved from extinction, and six tipping points must be avoided in order for society to survive. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 理由: a. (A) survive vi. 存活；生存 例: This kind of plant doesn't need a lot of water to survive. （這種植物不需要很多水就能存活。） (B) volunteer vi. 自願 例: Sam volunteered to help the police officer find the missing child. （山姆自願協助員警尋找那名失蹤兒童。） (C) perish vi. 死去；枯萎 例: Several people perished in the factory fire. （工廠大火造成數人死亡。） (D) retreat vi. 撤退 例: Attacks from enemy aircraft forced the troops to retreat from the frontline. （敵機的空襲迫使部隊自前線撤退。） b. 根據語意，可知應選 (A)。
1. at one time or another 在某個時候
例: Everyone has told a white lie at one time or another. （每個人都曾經有過說善意謊言的時候。） 2. wonder vt. 想知道；納悶 例: I wonder what Tommy said to make his mother so angry. （我很納悶湯米到底說了什麼讓他媽媽那麼生氣。） 3. make...come true 使……成真 例: In order to make her dream of becoming a writer come true, Jenny gave up her job. （為了實現成為作家的夢想，珍妮辭掉了工作。） 4. plague vt. 使苦惱 例: David's company was plagued with financial problems, so he declared bankruptcy. （大衛的公司遭遇財務困難，所以他宣告破產。） 5. strike a balance between A and B 在 A 與 B 間維持∕取得平衡 例: To lead a happy life, you should strike a balance between work and play. （你想生活愉快，就應該在工作及玩樂之間取得平衡。） 6. be based on/upon... 根據…… 例: The movie was based on a true story. （這部電影是根據一個真實故事拍攝而成。） 7. launch vt. 發行，推出 例: The new video game will be launched at the end of the year. （這款新電玩將在年底發行。） 8. await vt. 等候（= wait for...） 例: Gail awaited the call from the vet regarding the condition of her cat. （蓋兒等著獸醫打電話來告訴她貓咪的情況。） 9. be saved from... 從……被解救出來 save sb/sth from... 從……解救某人∕某物 例: The lifeguard saved the little girl from drowning. （這名救生員拯救小女孩脫離溺水的險境。） 10. inspire sb to V 鼓舞∕激勵某人（做）…… 例: The musician inspired Jack to be a songwriter. （這名音樂家激勵傑克成為一名作曲人。） 11. take action (to V) 採取行動（做……） 例: The government has announced that it will take action to eliminate corruption. （政府宣布將採取行動肅清貪污。） 注意: 凡表『採取措施∕方法∕步驟∕行動』時，動詞用 take 來表示，常見者尚有下列： take measures (to V) 採取措施（做……） take steps (to V) 採取措施∕步驟（做……） take precautions (to V) 採取預防措施（做……） 例: The police took measures to reduce crime. （警方採取措施以減少犯罪。） 12. impact n. 影響 have an impact on... 對……有影響 = have an influence on... = have an effect on... 例: Newspaper editorials sometimes can have an impact on government policy. （報紙上的社論有時對政府的政策會有所影響。） |
| 單字小舖 |
2. nurturing a. 養育的，培養的
3. fantasy n. 幻想
4. catch n. 隱藏的困難；圈套
5. challenge n. 挑戰
6. affect vt. 影響
7. strategy n. 策略，計謀
8. scenario n. 劇情；情節
9. prediction n. 預測，預報
10. redemption n. 贖回；贖救
11. data n. 資料，數據（複數形）
＊ 本字現今多視為不可數名詞。
datum n. 資料，數據（單數形）
12. entertainment n. 娛樂
13. famine n. 飢荒
14. scandal n. 醜聞
15. extinction n. 絕種，滅絕
16. tipping point n. 臨界點
17. battle vt. 與……作戰
答案：1. (C) 2. (B) 3. (A) 4. (D) 5. (B) 6. (C) 7. (A)
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