Living in a Bubble 住在泡泡裡

by Olivia Wycech
Forget pitching tents; the French have taken to camping in bubbles.
　　Sleeping under the stars, with nothing between you and nature, can be truly serene. In fact, sleeping in woods devoid _(1)_ car horns, pollution, and obnoxious people is exceptionally peaceful that is, until pesky insects decide to make a meal out of you, and rodents and whatever else lives in the great outdoors disturb you while you try to sleep. Now, instead of a _(2)_ scenario, imagine taking in nature's beauty but from the comfort and safety of a king-sized bed inside an enclosed yet transparent bubble. These inflatable bubble hotels that offer patrons see-through sleeping experiences were created by a company called Attrap'Reves, which means dream catcher in French. Their _(3)_ must have been bitten by too many mosquitoes while camping.
　　The clear plastic bubbles, which _(4)_ four meters in diameter, are designed using entirely recyclable materials and are equipped with electricity and a silent blower providing fresh air continuously. They have all been _(5)_ placed in forested areas with spectacular views but are only a stroll away from the nearest village and a main building where there is access to telescopes with star charts. Guests need not worry about sharing the view with their neighbors since each bubble is accessible only by its own private road that helps _(6)_ total seclusion. For those that desire even more _(7)_, partially opaque bubbles are also available instead of the standard fully transparent ones. Guests need to keep _(8)_ mind, however, that while the stars and moon are the only things that illuminate the night, the sun is strong during the daytime. Therefore, the hotels may be _(9)_ for night owls who wake up late when the sun is already hot. In any event, sleeping in a bubble hotel is an experience to be _(10)_ by those who love the outdoors but don't love sharing it with a forest full of creepy critters.

(A) designers　(B) strategically　(C) uncomfortable　(D) typical　(E) ensure
(F) coveted　(G) of　(H) in　(I) methods　(J) privacy
(K) measure　(L) artificially
@原來如此
1. In fact, sleeping in woods devoid of car horns, pollution, and obnoxious people is exceptionally peaceful...
理由:
a. 本題測試下列固定用法：
be devoid of...　　缺乏……
devoid a. 缺乏的
Hans thinks that the movie was devoid of any action or romance.
漢斯認為那部電影缺乏動作或浪漫的劇情。
b. 根據上述，(G) 項應為正選。

2. Now, instead of a typical scenario, imagine taking in nature's beauty but from the comfort and safety of...
理由:
a. 空格前有不定冠詞 a，空格後有名詞 scenario （可能發生的情況），得知空格應置子音開頭的形容詞以修飾 scenario。
b. 選項中符合上述的僅 (D) typical（典型的），置入後亦符合語意，故為正選。
c. typical a. 典型的；特有的
be typical of...　　是……的典型特性
My dog's behavior is typical of this particular breed.
我家狗狗的行為正是牠這品種的特性。

3. Their designers must have been bitten by too many mosquitoes while camping.
理由:
a. 空格前有代名詞所有格 Their（他們的），空格後有助動詞 must（必須），得知空格應置名詞以作本句的主詞。
b. 選項中為名詞的有 (A) designers（設計師）、(I) methods（方法）、(J) privacy（隱私）及 (K) measure（措施），惟 (A) 項置入後符合語意，故為正選。
c. designer n. 設計師
Lucia has just started out on a career as a interior designer.
露西亞剛剛開始她室內設計師的職業生涯。

4. The clear plastic bubbles, which measure four meters in diameter, are designed using entirely recyclable materials...
理由:
a. 空格前有關係代名詞 which 作主詞，空格後有作動詞補語的 four meters（四公尺），得知空格應置不及物動詞。
b. 選項中為不及物動詞的僅有 (K) measure（量起來有……），置入後亦符合語意，故為正選。
c. measure vi. 量起來有……
This room measures 20 square meters.
這個房間量起來有二十平方公尺。

5. They have all been strategically placed in forested areas with spectacular views but are only a stroll away from...
理由:
a. 空格前有 be 動詞 been，空格後有過去分詞 placed（被安置），得知空格應置副詞修飾 placed，並形成被動語態。
b. 選項中為副詞的有 (B) strategically（策略性地）及 (L) artificially（人為地），惟 (B) 項置入後符合語意，故為正選。
c. strategically adv.
策略上地；戰略性地
Turkey is strategically located between Europe and Asia.
土耳其在歐洲及亞洲之間的戰略地位舉足輕重。

6. ...since each bubble is accessible only by its own private road that helps ensure total seclusion.
理由:
a. 空格前有動詞 helps（幫助），空格後有作受詞的名詞詞組 total seclusion（完全的隱密性），得知空格應置原形及物動詞。
b. 選項中符合上述的僅有 (E) ensure（確保），置入後亦符合語意，故為正選。此處 ensure 亦可改為 to ensure，因 "help to V" 等於 "help V"。
c. ensure vt. 確保
The company took many measures to ensure its product's success.
該公司採取了很多措施以確保其產品大賣。

7. For those that desire even more privacy, partially opaque bubbles are also available instead of...
理由:
a. 空格前有動詞 desire（渴望）及比較級形容詞 more（較多的），得知空格應置名詞以作 desire 的受詞。
b. 選項中為名詞的有 (I) methods（方法）及 (J) privacy（隱私），惟 (J) 項置入後符合語意，故為正選。
c. privacy n. 隱私
It's rude to invade people's privacy by entering rooms without knocking.
沒敲門就進別人房間會侵犯別人隱私，而且很無禮。

8. Guests need to keep in mind, however, that while the stars and moon are the only things...
理由:
a. 本題測試下列固定用法：
keep in mind + that 子句　　牢記……
= bear in mind + that 子句
Keep in mind that Jimmy is only 10 years old and can't handle a lot of responsibility.
要記得吉米只有十歲，無法承擔太多責任。
b. 根據上述，(H) 項應為正選。

9. Therefore, the hotels may be uncomfortable for night owls who wake up late when the sun is already hot.
理由:
a. 空格前有 be 動詞的原形，空格後有介詞 for，得知空格應置形容詞或作形容詞用的分詞。
b. 選項中符合上述的有 (C) uncomfortable（不舒服的）及 (F) coveted（渴望），惟 (C) 項置入後符合語意，故為正選。
c. uncomfortable a. 不舒服的
John feels uncomfortable wearing a suit to work every day.
約翰對於每天穿西裝上班感到不自在。

10. In any event, sleeping in a bubble hotel is an experience to be coveted by those who love the outdoors...
理由:
a. 空格前有 be 動詞的原形，空格後有引導被動語態的介詞 by，得知空格應置過去分詞。
b. 選項中符合上述的僅 (F) coveted（渴望），置入後亦符合語意，故為正選。
c. covet vt. 貪圖；渴望
Coveting what other people have will only make your life bitter.
貪圖他人所擁有的東西只會讓你的生活更痛苦。
@單字小舖

1. pitch a tent　　紮營，搭帳篷
2. serene a. 寧靜的
3. obnoxious a. 討厭的
4. exceptionally adv. 格外地，非常
5. pesky a. 討厭的
6. rodent n. 齧齒目動物
7. scenario n. 可能發生的情況
8. transparent a. 透明的
9. inflatable a. 充氣的
10. patron n. 顧客
11. see-through a. 透明的
12. diameter n. 直徑
13. recyclable a. 可回收的
14. forested a. 樹木叢生的
15. spectacular a. 壯觀的
16. stroll n. 散步
17. accessible a. 可到達的；可接近的
18. seclusion n. 隔絕；隱居
19. opaque a. 不透明的
20. creepy a. 令人毛骨悚然的
21. critter n. 動物
@精解字詞片語
1. take to V-ing　　開始從事……
My sister has taken to wearing a lot of makeup recently.
我妹妹最近開始化濃妝。

2. take in...　　欣賞……
Let's rest for a while and take in the beauty of the sunset.
咱們休息一下來欣賞日落的美景吧。

3. enclosed a. 密閉的
enclose vt. 圍住
The prison yard is enclosed within high walls.
這座監獄四周圍著高牆。

4. be equipped with...　　配備有……
Police headquarters has decided to equip their officers with a new kind of pistol.
警察總局決定給警員配備新式手槍。

5. continuously adv. 連續地
continuous a. 連續的
The couple that won the dance marathon was on their feet continuously for 50 hours.
那對贏得舞蹈馬拉松的搭檔連續跳了五十個小時。
Astronauts require a continuous supply of oxygen while in space.
太空人在太空時需要不斷的氧氣供應。

6. access n. 通道，接觸
have access to...　　有取得……的管道
Only our VIP members have access to that dinner party with the famous author.
只有我們的頂級會員可以參加那場名作家的晚宴。

7. illuminate vt. 照亮
= light up...
My living room is illuminated by three lamps.
我的客廳有三盞燈來照明
@中文翻譯&標準答案
住在泡泡裡
別再搭帳篷了，法國人已經開始在泡泡裡露營了。
　　睡在滿天星斗之下，和大自然間沒有任何隔閡，這可能真的很寧靜。事實上，睡在沒有車子喇叭聲、沒有污染也沒有討厭的人的樹林裡真的格外平靜 也就是說，這種情形會一直維持到討人厭的昆蟲決定從你身上飽餐一頓，還有那些齧齒目動物以及任何棲息在戶外的生物在你打算入睡時打擾你為止。現在，你不用再面對這種情況了，想像一下你睡在密閉而透明的泡泡裡，並從舒服又安全的特大號床上欣賞大自然的美景。這些提供顧客透明睡覺經驗的充氣泡泡旅館是由一家叫 Attrap'Reves 的公司所打造，這個名稱在法文中是『捕夢者』的意思。它的設計師以前在露營時一定被太多的蚊子叮過。
　　這些透明的塑膠泡泡直徑有四公尺，設計時完全採用可回收的材質，並配備有電力及持續提供新鮮空氣的安靜風扇。這些泡泡都策略性地被安置在有壯觀景色的樹林區域，但只要散步就可到達最近的村落以及可以使用望遠鏡觀星的主建築物。顧客們不必擔心要和鄰居共享視野，因為每個泡泡都只有一條私人的道路可以進入，這有助於確保完全的隱密性。對於那些對個人隱私的要求更高的顧客而言，也可以入住不完全透明的泡泡來取代標準的完全透明泡泡。然而，顧客們必須牢記，雖然晚上只有星光和月光會照射進泡泡裡，但白天時陽光也是非常強烈的。因此，這種旅館對於那些睡到日上三竿才起床的夜貓子而言可能是很不舒服的。在任何情況下，睡在泡泡旅館對於那些熱愛戶外活動，但又不喜歡和充滿令人毛骨悚然小動物的森林分享的人而言，都是一種渴望能擁有的經驗。

答案：1. G　2. D　3. A　4. K　5. B　6. E　7. J　8. H　9. C　10. F