1. One unusual use for these machines is to hand out short stories—really short ones.
這些機器的其中一個特別用途是發送短篇小說 ── 真的很短的故事。 理由:
a. (A) bring about... 造成／導致……
同: give rise to...
The bad economy brought about more unemployment in the country.
惡劣的經濟情況導致這個國家更多人失業。
(B) put off... 拖延……，將……延期
同: postpone vt.
Due to the typhoon, we've decided to put off our trip until next week.
因為颱風的緣故，我們決定將旅行延到下週。
(C) call for... 要求……
People are calling for the senator involved in the scandal to step down.
民眾要求涉及該醜聞的參議員下臺。
＊senator n. 參議員
(D) hand out... / hand... out 發放……，分發……
Jimmy got a part-time job handing out flyers in front of the store.
吉米找到一份在商家前發傳單的兼職工作。
b. 根據語意，(D) 項應為正選。 2. A French company named Short Edition... has developed stylish, cylindrical, black and orange dispensers that allow people to select free works of fiction according to length.
一家名為 Short Edition 的法國公司……開發了時尚、圓柱形、黑橙配色、能讓大家根據小說長度來選擇免費小說作品的自動販賣機。 理由:
a. (A) concept n. 概念，觀念
It is hard to define a concept as abstract as beauty.
要替像美麗這種抽象的概念下定義是很困難的。
＊abstract a. 抽象的
(B) length n. 長度
Do you want to keep your hair shoulder length?
您的頭髮要剪到齊肩嗎？
(C) trend n. 趨勢
Nina always pays close attention to the latest fashion trends.
妮娜隨時密切注意服裝的最新流行趨勢。
(D) version n. 版本；譯本
Jeremy thought the movie version was nothing like the novel.
傑若米認為那部小說的電影版本完全比不上小說本身。
b. 根據語意，(B) 項應為正選。 3. Three buttons on the devices let the public choose from stories that take one minute, three minutes, or five minutes to finish.
裝置上的三個按鈕讓大眾可以選擇需要花一分鐘、三分鐘或五分鐘讀完的故事。
理由:
a. (A) choose vi. & vt. 選擇（三態為：choose, chose, chosen。）
衍: 複數名詞 + to choose from 有……從中選擇
There were many kinds of dessert to choose from on the menu.
菜單上有許多甜點可供選擇。
The little girl chose the largest apple in the basket.
這小女孩挑了籃中最大的蘋果。
(B) suffer vi. 受苦；患（病）
衍: suffer from... 遭受……；罹患……（疾病）
Iris suffers from insomnia because of her high-pressure job.
艾莉絲因為工作壓力大而罹患失眠。
＊insomnia n. 失眠
(C) vanish vi. 消失
衍: vanish from... 從……消失
= disappear from...
Many animal species have already vanished from the face of the Earth.
許多物種已從地球表面消失。
(D) escape vi. & vt. 逃離；逃避
衍: escape from... 從……逃脫
Luckily, we were able to escape from the burning building.
很幸運地，我們能逃離那棟失火的房子。
The travelers escaped the herd of elephants by hiding behind some rocks.
那群旅人躲在一些岩石後面以避開象群。
b. 根據語意及用法，(A) 項應為正選。 4. ... which they can then stuff into their pockets, purses, or whatever else they want, and read at their leisure.
……接著可以將這張紙塞進口袋、錢包或其他任何想要塞入的東西中，並在閒暇時閱讀。 理由:
a. (A) whatever pron. 任何東西 & a. 不管什麼樣的 & conj. 無論什麼
I believe whatever Judy says.
我相信茱蒂所說的任何話。
If you can't come for whatever reason, please let us know as soon as possible.
如果你不能來，不管是什麼樣的原因，都請儘快讓我們知道。
Whatever happens, I'll back you up.
不論發生什麼事，我都會支持你。
(B) anyway adv. 不論如何，到底（強調用，置於疑問句或感嘆句句尾）
Who wants to go to your stupid party anyway!
到底有誰會想要去你那個愚蠢的派對啊！
(C) whenever conj. 每當 & adv. 無論何時
Whenever I was on stage, my hands couldn't stop shaking.
每當我上臺表演時，我的手就抖個不停。
I'll be home tonight. You can stop by whenever you want.
我今晚在家。你隨時都可以來拜訪我。
(D) anyhow adv. 不管如何
同: anyway
= at any rate
Anyhow, we can give it a try.
不管怎樣，我們可以試試看。
b. 根據語意及用法，(A) 項應為正選。 5. ... the idea behind the vending machines is to provide people with a convenient way to kill time when they are bored...
……自動販賣機背後的想法是提供人們一個能在無聊時打發時間的簡便方法…… 理由:
a. 本題測試以下固定用法：
kill time 打發時間
Listening to music is a good way to kill time.
聽音樂是消磨時間的好方法。
b. 根據上述用法，(D) 項應為正選。 6. At present, all the stories are written by French authors and available in French and, through translation, English.
目前，所有的故事均由法國作家撰寫，有法文和英文翻譯版。 理由:
a. (A) eligible a. 有資格的，合格的
衍: be eligible for sth 有資格得到某物
Anyone who finds my lost dog will be eligible for a cash reward.
任何人找到我走失的小狗都有資格獲得一筆獎金。
(B) tolerable a. 可忍受的
The pain from the needle going into my arm was tolerable.
針筒打入我手臂的這種痛還可以忍受。
(C) available a. 可用的；可得到的
Are there any seats available on the afternoon flight?
下午的班機還有沒有空位？
(D) sensible a. 明智的，合理的
It was sensible of you to quit that awful job.
你辭掉那份糟糕的工作是個明智的做法。
b. 根據語意，(C) 項應為正選。 7. "The feedback we got has been overwhelmingly positive, (and) we are thrilled to see it working so well," Pleplé said.
普萊普利說：「我們得到的回饋一直都極為正面，我們很高興看到它運作得這麼好。」 理由:
a. (A) ironically adv. 諷刺地
Ironically, the more water I drink, the thirstier I get.
諷刺的是，我水喝得越多，口就越渴。
(B) scarcely adv. 幾乎不
同: hardly adv.
Mary was so surprised that she could scarcely speak.
瑪麗驚訝得幾乎說不出話來。
(C) overwhelmingly adv. 壓倒性地
None of the other ideas seemed to be so overwhelmingly convincing.
似乎沒有其他觀點具有如此壓倒性的說服力。
＊convincing a. 令人信服的
(D) reluctantly adv. 不情願地
Dora reluctantly explained to me why she broke up with her boyfriend.
朵拉不情不願地跟我解釋她和男友分手的原因。
b. 根據語意，(C) 項應為正選。 | 
