美國職棒大聯盟解封！去年十二月二日開始，大聯盟因勞資談判破局，未能簽下新的勞資集體協約，球隊聯盟展開長達九十九天的封館（lockout）。今年三月在球團和球員公會（MLBPA）勞資雙方同意新版協議後，為封館危機劃下句點，新球季終於在四月八日開打 ，棒球迷們也終於可以觀賞期盼已久的球賽了。本次就讓我們從新聞報導，來認識多益測驗相關字吧！
lockout 封館、lockdown 封城
lockout是由lock、out兩個字組成，意思即是「鎖在外面」，在本次情境中就是「不允許員工進入工作場合（除非同意某些條件）」，lock (v)也可跟其它單字搭配，如新冠肺炎爆發時政府下令封城lockdown (n)；另外lock someone up指的是「把人關進監獄」。
Photo: USA Today 照片：今日美國
The lockout finally came to end when the two sides reached a deal.
（當雙方達成協議，封館也終於結束了。）
John was locked out of the house because he left without his keys in the morning.
（約翰今早忘了帶鑰匙出門，所以他被鎖在屋外。）
People spent more time on the Internet during lockdowns.
（封城期間人們花更多的時間在網路上。）
Some people think that sex offenders should be locked up indefinitely.
（部分人認為性侵犯應該被永久監禁。）
negotiate、bargain 協商
In a startling turnabout after more than three months of largely stagnant negotiations, Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players’ Association reached agreement Thursday on a new collective bargaining agreement that will significantly impact the game, capping a five-day stretch of lengthy bartering that resulted in the chance to salvage a full, 162-game season. (USA Today)
（長達三個多月膠著談判後有驚人的轉圜，大聯盟球團和球員工會終於在星期四達成了新版勞資協議，結束了長達五天的協商，新的協議對未來球賽有相當大的影響，但在新的協議下，球季也將繼續維持一百六十二場。）
MLB勞資雙方在三月初展開了密集談判協商(negotiate)，這詞另外還可以用bargain (v)「討價還價」來形容，兩個字都是多益測驗高頻出現的單字，bargain當名詞時還可解釋為「便宜、划算的東西」，也就是a good deal。
The negotiation hit a deadlock since neither side wanted to give in.
（因為雙方都不願讓步，協商陷入僵局。）
You can usually find some good bargains during the clearance sale.
（你通常可以在清倉拍賣時找到一些便宜的東西。）
這段報導還用了形容詞stagnant「停滯的」來形容協商，要表達薪水停滯很多年沒增漲時，就可以用stagnant來形容，動詞為stagnate (v)。
According to the report, surging gas prices and stagnant wages will have a great impact on the middle class.
（根據報導，油價上漲和薪水停滯將對中產階級造成巨大的衝擊。）
agreement (n)「 「協議、同意」也是多益常見的單字，職場生活中有不少場合需要簽署同意書和合約，類似的單字還有pact (n)「合約、協議」。
After five days of tough negotiations, the delegates from both countries have signed a trade pact.
（在五天的艱困談判後，兩國代表簽署了貿易協定。）
The season will for the first time include a full-time designated hitter in the National League and conclude with expanded playoffs.
（本賽季將首次在國家聯盟全面實施代打制度並擴大到季後賽。）
designate (v)「指定，指派」也可以用在designated driver「指定代駕」。expand (v)則是「擴大」的意思，經常形容擴展店面、擴大服務等情境。
Visitors to the company should park their cars in the designated area only.
（訪客只能將車停在指定的區域。）
A&G, the chain convenience store, is planning to expand its services to attract more customers.
（A&G連鎖便利商店計畫擴展服務來吸引更多的顧客。）
【多益模擬試題】
1. ________ the economic slowdown, the company decided to proceed with their expansion plan.
(A) Despite
(B) Although
(C) Because
(D) However
2. In the meeting, Sarah Langston _______to organize the workshops on “Digital Revolution.”
(A) designates
(B) is designating
(C) was designated
(D) designated
【解析】
1. 正解為(A)。本題為文法題，「公司決定進行辦公室擴充計畫」和前面「______經濟成長減緩」有非預期的關係，因此表示「因果」關係的副詞如because並不符合句意。副詞「儘管」符合語意，但although後面需要接子句，故(A)「儘管」為正確答案。
2. 正解為(C)。本題為文法題，Sarah在句中是「被指派來辦工作坊」，因此要選擇被動式，故(C)為正確答案。
文章由 English OK 授權使用: www.englishok.com.tw
A: And how about the other star signs? B: Libras can benefit from multiple perspectives, Scorpios will be tough as steel and Sagittariuses may travel around. A: Cool, what’s next? B: Capricorns may take the lead, Aquarius may start a new life and Pisces should be well prepared for action. A: I hope we’ll have a lot of good fortune in the Year of the Snake. A: 其他的星座運勢如何？ B: 「天秤座」左右逢源、「天蠍座」百煉成鋼、「射手座」志在四方。 A: 還有呢？ B: 「摩羯座」一馬當先、「水瓶座」脫胎換骨、「雙魚座」蓄勢待發。 A: 希望大家在蛇年能好運旺旺來！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
Despite advancements in bicycle security, millions of bicycles are stolen every year. A revolutionary bicycle lock, called “SKUNKLOCK,” takes a proactive approach to deterring thieves. __1__, SKUNKLOCK releases a noxious chemical that could cause would-be thieves to vomit and effectively discourages them from continuing their efforts to steal the bicycle. While conventional locks can be defeated by determined thieves using specialized tools, SKUNKLOCK’s dual approach of physical resistance and chemical deterrence is highly effective, making it a formidable __2__ against bike theft. The U-lock is made of high-tensile carbon steel, which can withstand attempts to break it using brute
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