People all over the world have a soft spot for cats, and our furry feline friends often need assistance and housing. That’s where animal sanctuaries come in. One famous cat refuge in the Dutch city of Amsterdam sets itself apart by its unique __1__ because it rests on the water in the Herengracht Canal. This __2__ cat sanctuary is known as De Poezenboot, or the Catboat.
The Catboat is the brainchild of Henriette van Weelde, who lived on the canal in 1966. One day, she noticed a cat family taking __3__ under a tree across her house and decided to take them in. This was the beginning of her journey. She then extended her generosity by welcoming more and more strays into her canal-side residence. Soon, she __4__ room for them, leading her to find a solution. In 1968, Van Weelde purchased an old sailing barge and __5__ it into a cat-friendly houseboat. A second boat was eventually commissioned in 1971 to replace the first, and the Catboat __6__ a well-known rescue organization and has taken in hundreds of cats every year.
The Catboat aims to help as many cats as possible, whether they’re strays, abandoned felines, or even cats whose owners can’t __7__ to care for them any longer. The organization cooperates with reputable veterinarians so the cats may receive medical treatment, including vaccines, microchips, spaying and neutering. The organization is also __8__ in Amsterdam as a charity, and all its upkeep and services are paid for by charitable donations. However, it’s no easy task to __9__ a safe and secure cat house on the water due to serious wear and tear on the foundation of the boat. Therefore, the Catboat is raising funds to replace its current barge with a __10__ and newer boat so it can continue its work safely. By keeping the Catboat afloat, donors can help provide Amsterdam’s felines with a safe haven for years to come.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock I 照片： Shutterstock 提供
(A) maintain
(B) location
(C) sturdier
(D) registered
(E) afford
(F) shelter
(G) ran out of
(H) converted
(I) evolved into
(J) floating
世界各地的人們都喜歡貓咪，而我們毛茸茸的貓咪朋友時常需要協助和住所。那就是動物庇護所派上用場的地方了。荷蘭阿姆斯特丹一個有名的貓咪庇護所因地點獨特而與眾不同，因為它就位在紳士運河上。這座漂浮的貓咪庇護所被稱為 De Poezenboot，也就是貓船。
貓船是亨利埃特‧凡‧韋爾德的心血結晶，她於1966年住在該運河上。有一天，她注意到有一個貓咪家族在她家對面的一棵樹下避難，便決定收養牠們。這就是她旅程的開端。她接著接納更多浪貓住進她運河邊的住所，擴展了她的慷慨之舉。很快的，她就沒有足夠的空間給貓咪了，這導致她得找出一個解決方法。1968年，凡‧韋爾德買了一艘舊帆船駁船，並將它改建成一艘貓咪友善的船屋。第二艘船最終於1971年正式啟用，取代了第一艘船，而貓船漸漸變成一個著名的救援組織，每一年收容數百隻貓。
貓船的目標是盡可能幫助越多貓咪越好，無論牠們是浪浪、被棄養的貓咪，或甚至是主人再也負擔不了照顧牠們的那些貓。該組織與有聲望的獸醫合作，如此一來，貓咪們就能獲得醫療處理，包括疫苗、植晶片和絕育。這個組織也在阿姆斯特丹登記為慈善機構，所有的維護費用和服務都是由善款支付的。然而，由於船的根基有著嚴重的磨損，因而要在水上維持一個安全又穩固的貓屋不是簡單的任務。因此，貓船正在募款，想用更堅固、更新的船來取代目前的駁船，這樣它才能安全地繼續它的工作。透過讓這艘貓船浮在水面上，捐款者也為阿姆斯特丹的貓咪們提供了未來幾年的避風港。
答案：
1. B
2. J
3. F
4. G
5. H
6. I
7. E
8. D
9. A
10. C
Words in Use
1. refuge n. 庇護所（可數）
The school became a refuge for the earthquake victims.
這所學校成為地震災民的庇護所。
2. extend vt. 擴展，延伸
The empire extended its power to Asia.
這個帝國將勢力版圖擴展至亞洲。
3. stray n. 流浪動物
Elizabeth opened up her home to numerous strays.
伊莉莎白開放她的家，收容了許多流浪動物。
4. residence n. 住宅
Paul spent two months at his summer residence last year.
保羅去年在自己的夏日住所待了兩個月。
5. commission vt.（船）正式啟用
The ship was commissioned in 2004, embarking on its voyage to navigate the seas.
這艘船於 2004 年正式啟用，踏上航海的旅程。
Practical Phrases
1. have a soft spot for... 喜歡……
I’ve always had a soft spot for kittens.
我一直都很喜歡小貓咪。
2. that’s where sb/sth comes in
那就是某人∕某物派上用場的地方
We’ll need someone capable of running big events, and that’s where Cameron comes in.
我們需要一個會籌辦大型活動的人，那就是卡麥隆派上用場的地方了。
3. take... in / take in... 收留∕收養……
The old couple took the child in after his parents died in the plane crash.
老夫婦在這個孩子的雙親死於空難後收留了他。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
A: Who are nominated for Best Leading Actor at the Golden Horse Awards? B: The nominees are: Jason King, Chang Chen, Neo Yau, Wanlop Rungkumjad and Zhang Zhiyong. A: How about Best Leading Actress? B: The nominees are: Patra Au, Kimi Hsia, Chung Suet-ying, Sylvia Chang and Sandra Ng. A: What are your predictions for the winners this year? A: 本屆金馬獎入圍最佳男主角的有誰啊？ B: 入圍的有：喜翔、張震、游學修、Wanlop Rungkumjad、張志勇。 A: 入圍最佳女主角的呢？ B: 入圍的有：區嘉雯、夏于喬、鍾雪瑩、張艾嘉、吳君如。 A: 今年你預測誰會得獎？ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
In Cape Town, South Africa, a fresh influx of inhabitants is causing a stir. Known as “digital nomads,” these individuals are transforming the city’s environment and sparking debates around urban growth and the welfare of local communities. By definition, digital nomads are professionals who exploit advanced technology to facilitate remote work while embracing a nomadic lifestyle — all without disrupting their careers. Frequently moving between locations, these nomads primarily work in sectors such as technology, creative industries and consultancy, which are particularly conducive to remote operations. This working trend has grown in popularity following the COVID-19 pandemic, with an increasing number
It’s likely that you may know someone who has had their appendix removed, or at least you’ve heard of the operation. An appendectomy is typically performed when the appendix, a small pouch next to the intestines, becomes inflamed or infected, leading to severe pain and potential complications if left untreated. Fortunately, the procedure is very safe today, and patients can go on to live normal lives without their appendix. Yet, it still begs the question of how humans can continue living without an organ. The human body is full of various parts that scientists still don’t completely understand, and
A: And which films are nominated for the Golden Horse Awards’ Best Narrative Feature? B: The nominees are: “All Shall Be Well,” ”Stranger Eyes,” “Dead Talents Society,” “An Unfinished Film” and “Bel Ami.” A: I heard that “Bel Ami” is a great gay-themed comedy from China. B: Yeah, and as many as 276 Chinese movies registered for the competition this year. A: The two sides of the Taiwan Strait have finally resumed exchanges in cinematography. A: 本屆金馬獎入圍最佳劇情片的有哪些？ B: 入圍的有：《從今以後》、《默視錄》、《鬼才之道》、《一部未完成的電影》、《漂亮朋友》。 A: 聽說《漂亮朋友》是一部精彩的中國同志喜劇片。 B: 今年光是中國就有多達276部電影參賽。 A: 海峽兩岸終於恢復電影交流啦！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
RSS