by Rachel A. Black
Modern readers of fantasy know the phoenix as a bird that lives a long time and then bursts into flames. From the ashes, it rises again. This winged creature _(1)_ reincarnation and immortality. Many legends say the phoenix lights itself _(2)_ using fragrant wood such as cinnamon to create a sweet-smelling funeral fire. When it _(3)_ from the ashes, it collects its predecessor's remains and protects them in an egg. It then flies to Heliopolis, the city of the sun, in Egypt and lays the ashes on the altar of Ra, the sun god.
_(4)_ the ancient Greeks, the phoenix lived in Arabia near a cool well. Every morning at dawn, it would dip in the clear water and sing an _(5)_ song. It was so delightful that Ra would stop his chariot and listen as the bird bathed and sang.
In Chinese fables, there is a bird _(6)_ to the phoenix called fenghuang. It is one of the four lucky creatures _(7)_ the points of the compass. The dragon rules the east; the fenghuang marks the south; the tiger occupies the west; and the tortoise can be found in the north. Fenghuang was an _(8)_ of good fortune. He had a beautiful song and remarkable plumage.
_(9)_ you to look in the sky during a solar eclipse, you would see what looks like the wings of a phoenix spread out across the sky. In its center is the sun, a disc that could be its egg full of ashes from its _(10)_ life. The bird is seemingly in flight, on its way to Ra's altar.
(A) emerges (B) indication (C) similar (D) Were (E) on fire
(F) enchanting (G) symbolizes (H) representing (I) previous (J) According to
1. This winged creature symbolizes reincarnation and immortality.
理由:
a. 空格前後分別為單數名詞 creature（生物）以及 reincarnation（再生），而本句尚缺動詞，由此可知，空格應置入第三人稱單數及物動詞。
b. 在所有選項中，僅 (A) emerges（出現）和 (G) symbolizes（象徵）為第三人稱單數動詞。但 emerges 是不及物動詞，故不可選。symbolizes 為及物動詞，且填入後符合語意，故選 (G)。
c. symbolize vt. 象徵
例: The ring symbolizes my love for you.
（這枚戒指象徵我對你的愛。）
2. ...the phoenix lights itself on fire using...
理由:
a. 本空格測試下列固定用法：
light...on fire 將……點火（燃燒）
例: In anger, I lit all of his love letters to me on fire.
（一氣之下，我把他寫給我的情書全燒了。）
b. 根據上述，故選 (E)。
3. When it emerges from the ashes, it collects...
理由:
a. 空格前是代名詞 it，空格後是介詞 from，可知本空格應填入第三人稱單數不及物動詞。
b. 符合上述條件的只有 (A) emerges（出現），填入後亦形成下列固定用法：
emerge from... 從……出現
例: The fin of a shark emerged from the ocean, causing swimmers to panic.
（一隻鯊魚的鰭從海中冒出來，引起泳客一陣驚慌。）
c. 根據語意與用法，故選 (A)。
4. According to the ancient Greeks, the phoenix...
理由:
a. 空格位於句首，故應填入首字母大寫的選項。
b. 符合上述條件的選項只有 (D) Were 以及 (J) According to（根據……）。空格後只有名詞 the ancient Greeks（古希臘人），由此可知，應置入片語介詞 According to，故選 (J)。
c. according to... 根據……
例: According to the new school regulations, those who arrive at school after 7:30 are considered late.
（根據新校規，七點半以後到校就算遲到。）
5. ...it would dip in the clear water and sing an enchanting song.
理由:
a. 空格前有不定冠詞 an，空格後是名詞 song，可知空格應填入一母音開頭的形容詞，以修飾之後的名詞。
b. 選項中，只有 (F) enchanting（迷人的）為母音開頭的形容詞，填入後亦符合語意，故選之。
c. enchanting a. 迷人的
6. In Chinese fables, there is a bird similar to the phoenix called fenghuang.
理由:
a. 本空格測試下列固定用法：
be similar to... 和……相似
例: The watch you are wearing is similar to the one I lost last week.
（你現在戴的那支錶和我上星期掉的那支好像。）
b. 原句實為：
In Chinese fables, there is a bird which/that is similar to the phoenix called fenghuang.
c. 根據上述，故選 (C)。
7. It is one of the four lucky creatures representing the points of the compass.
理由:
a. 空格前是名詞 creatures，空格後也是名詞，但本句已有動詞 is，因此空格應置入一現在分詞或過去分詞，以形成分詞片語，修飾之前的名詞。
b.選項中，僅 (H) representing（代表）為現在分詞，置入後亦符合語意，故選之。
c. 原句實為：
It is one of the four lucky creatures which/that represent the points of the compass.
8. Fenghuang was an indication of good fortune.
理由:
a. 空格前有不定冠詞 an，空格後是介詞片語 of good fortune，可知空格應填入一名詞。
b. 選項中僅剩 (B) indication 為名詞，填入後亦符合語意，故選之。
c. indication n. 指示，跡象
9. Were you to look in the sky during a solar eclipse, you would see...
理由:
a. 本空格測試下列省略 if 之假設語氣用法：
在假設語氣的 if 子句中，若有 be 動詞過去式 were、表過去完成式的助動詞 had、以及表『萬一』的助動詞 should 出現時，可將上述詞類往前移位置於主詞前，而將 if 省略，其句型如下：If + S + were..., 主要子句
= Were + S..., 主要子句
If + S + had + 過去分詞, 主要子句
= Had + S + 過去分詞, 主要子句
If + S + should + V, 主要子句
= Should + S + V, 主要子句
例: Had Jack told the truth, the police would have solved the case earlier.
（傑克當時要是說出真相，警方早就破案了。）
b. 原句實為：
If you were to look..., you would see...
→ Were you to look..., you would see...
c. 根據上述，故選 (D)。
10. ...a disc that could be its egg full of ashes from its previous life.
理由:
a. 空格前是所有格 its，空格後是名詞 life，可知空格應置入一形容詞，修飾之後的名詞。
b. 選項中僅剩 (I) previous（先前的）為形容詞，填入後亦符合語意，故為正選。
c. previous life 前世
1. burst into flames 突然起火
burst into tears/laughter 突然哭／笑出來
例: The plane crashed into the mountain top and burst into flames.
（那架飛機撞上山頂後，起火燃燒。）
2. at dawn 在破曉
at dusk 在黃昏
例: The farmer works in the field beginning at dawn and ending at dusk.
（農人日出而作，日落而息。）
3. mark vt. 標記
例: We marked the spot with a piece of chalk.
（我們用粉筆在那個地點作記號。）
4. spread out (...) 展開（……）
例: When that bird is flying, it spreads out its wings and sails through the air.
（那隻鳥飛行時，張開翅膀，航向天際。）
5. in flight 飛行中
例: While the plane was in flight, a fire broke out in the cockpit.
（飛機飛行途中，駕駛艙突然起火。）
1. phoenix n. 鳳凰
2. reincarnation n. 轉世，再生
3. immortality n. 不朽
4. cinnamon n. 肉桂
5. predecessor n. 前人
6. altar n. 神壇
7. dip vi. 浸泡
8. chariot n. 馬車
9. fable n. 神話傳說；寓言
10. compass n. 羅盤，指南針
11. tortoise n. 陸龜
12. plumage n.（鳥類的）全身羽毛
13. solar eclipse n. 日蝕
14. disc n. 圓盤物
15. seemingly adv. 似乎
今日的奇幻文學讀者都知道鳳凰是一種會起火燃燒的長生鳥類。牠能從灰燼中重生。這種有羽翼的生物象徵再生與不朽。很多傳說提到鳳凰以肉桂之類的香木自燃，以製造出芬芳的葬禮之火。當牠從灰燼中出現時，會收集先人的遺骨，放在蛋殼中保護著，然後飛往位於埃及的太陽之城希流波利，將骨灰放置在太陽神 Ra 的神壇上。
根據古希臘人的說法，鳳凰居住在阿拉伯一座冷井附近。每天清晨，牠都會浸淫在清澈的水中，唱著美妙的歌。歌聲如此曼妙，讓太陽神每次都會停下馬車聆聽牠沐浴時的歌聲。
中國神話中也有類似鳳凰的鳥類。牠是代表四個方位的祥獸之一。龍雄霸東方，鳳凰在南方稱王，老虎獨占西方，北方則有巨龜。鳳凰象徵吉祥。牠的歌聲美妙，全身披滿華麗的羽毛。
若你在日蝕的時侯抬頭仰望天空，你就可以看到近似鳳凰張開的雙翼橫跨天際。天空的中心點是太陽，而太陽便是裝滿牠前世灰燼的蛋。鳳凰似乎正飛往太陽神的神壇呢。
標準答案:
1. (G) 2. (E) 3. (A) 4. (J) 5. (F)
6. (C) 7. (H) 8. (B) 9. (D) 10. (I)
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每天看美女或者是帥哥圖 有益身心健康!
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