When large ships carry a lot of cargo, they sit quite low in the water. However, if a ship is __1__, you’ll likely be able to see its lower hull, which will probably be painted red. There are several reasons why special paint of this color is used for marine vessels.
First and foremost, the red paint shields the underside of the ship. __2__, the hull will eventually become covered with marine organisms such as barnacles, algae, and mollusks, which will cause damage to the metal in the long run. Red marine paint gets its red color from copper oxide. This material __3__ a biocide, a chemical compound that repels and prevents the growth of organisms. In addition, the paint guards the metal of the hull against corrosion from salt water, which can greatly weaken the structure and cause leaks.
Another reason for the red color is to indicate a vessel’s load status. The more the red paint is visible above the waterline, the lighter the load is. Having the hull painted red can also be helpful in case of an __4__ by increasing a ship’s visibility. If a ship has capsized or is sinking, the red color of the hull contrasts with the blue or green color of the water. This gives other ships or rescue aircraft a better chance of __5__ it.
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An underlying historical tradition further contributes to the preference for the color red. With its origins dating back over 2,000 years and popularity to this day, we are likely to continue seeing hulls painted red for a long time to come.
1. (A) humid (B) external (C) scarce (D) empty
2. (A) Once raised high (B) If left unprotected (C) After found flooded (D) When kept balanced
Photos: Shutterstock I 照片: Shutterstock
3. (A) acts as (B) occurs to (C) calls for (D) gives away
4. (A) adjustment (B) opportunity (C) emergency (D) investigation
5. (A) repairing (B) locating (C) disguising (D) surrounding
Photos: Shutterstock I 照片: Shutterstock
當大型船隻乘載許多貨物時,它們在水中會沉得相當深。然而,如果船隻是空的,你可能會看到船身的下半部,它大概會被漆成紅色。有幾個原因解釋為什麼海洋船隻要使用這種顏色的特殊塗料。
首先,紅色塗料保護著船的底部。如果不受保護,船底(編按:此處及之後出現的hull皆是指前一段提過的lower hull,為避免重複,因此只用hull)最終將會被像是藤壺、藻類和軟體動物等海洋生物所覆蓋,到頭來會對金屬造成損壞。紅色海洋塗料的紅色來自於氧化銅。這種原料作為生物滅除劑 ── 一種驅趕並防止生物生長的化學化合物。此外,該塗料能保護船底的金屬免受鹽水的腐蝕,腐蝕可能會大大地使結構變得不結實並導致漏水。
使用紅色的另一個原因是要顯示船隻的載荷狀態。在吃水線以上可見的紅色塗料越多,表示該船的負載越輕。將船底塗成紅色在緊急情況下也很有幫助,可以增加船隻的能見度。如果一艘船翻覆或正在下沉,船底的紅色會與藍色或綠色的海水形成對比。這提高了其他船隻或救援飛機找到它的機會。
一項潛藏的歷史傳統進一步促成了對紅色的偏好。有著能追溯至兩千多年前的歷史,且至今仍相當受歡迎,我們很可能會在未來很長一段時間內繼續看到船底被塗成紅色。
答案:
1. D 2. B 3. A 4. C 5. B
Words in use
1. cargo n. (船、飛機、車輛裝載的)貨物
The tea merchants tried to transport their cargo as fast as possible.
那些茶葉商希望能儘快將貨運送出去。
2. shield vt. 保護
shield A from B 保護A免受B所害
The ozone layer shields the Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
臭氧層保護地球免受太陽的紫外線所害。
3. compound n. 化合物
Ethanol is a chemical compound with the formula C2H5OH.
乙醇是一種化學化合物,其化學式為C2H5OH。
4. repel vt. 驅除
This spray is effective in repelling mosquitoes.
這種噴劑對驅除蚊子非常有效。
5. corrosion n. 腐蝕
The corrosion on the old pipes caused a water leak in the basement.
老水管上的腐蝕導致地下室漏水。
Practical Phrases
1. First and foremost, S + V 首先,……
There are many steps in baking a pie. First and foremost, you need a good crust.
烤派時有許多步驟。首先,你需要一個好的麵皮。
2. cause damage to... 對……造成損害∕損失
The accident caused serious damage to my car.
這場車禍對我的車造成嚴重的損害。
3. in the long run 到頭來,終究
Edward was the best man for the job in the long run.
到頭來,愛德華才是最適合那份工作的人。
4. guard A against 保護 A 免受 B 的傷害
Mina used sunscreen to guard her skin against the harmful effects of the sun.
蜜娜使用防晒霜來保護皮膚免受陽光的有害影響。
5. The + 比較級形容詞∕副詞..., the + 比較級形容詞∕副詞... 越……,就越……
The more I practice, the better I become at playing the piano.
我練習得越多,鋼琴就彈得越好。
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: Yet another shopping mall has just opened in Taipei. B: Do you mean the Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Nangang? A: Yeah, the shopping mall run by Japanese Mitsui & Co. opened last week. B: I hear the mall features about 300 stores, Vieshow Cinemas and Japanese Lopia supermarket. A: With the opening, a war is breaking out between Taipei’s department stores. A: 台北又有新的購物商場可逛啦。 B: 你是說Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport 南港? A: 對啊這家日本三井集團旗下的商場上週開幕。 B: 聽說商場有威秀影城、樂比亞日系超市,還有多達300家專櫃。 A: 新商場一開幕,看來又要掀起一場百貨大戰啦! (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張迪)
A: Hey, didn’t you go to the opening of the Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Nangang last week? B: Yeah, there are about 300 shops, including the first overseas branch of Japan’s Mahou Dokoro — a famous Harry Potter-themed store. A: Wow, I’ve always wanted to get a magic wand. B: There are also a bunch of great restaurants, such as Smart Fish hotpot restaurant. A: I wish I had Harry Potter’s “apparition” and “disapparition” magic, so I could teleport to the mall right now. A: 你上週不是有去LaLaport南港的盛大開幕嗎?有什麼特別的? B: 那裡有多達300家專櫃,包括魔法之地的海外首店——它可是日本知名的《哈利波特》專賣店。 A: 哇我一直想買根魔杖。 B: 另外還有各式各樣的美食,像是林聰明沙鍋魚頭。 A: 真希望我也有哈利波特的「現影術/消影術」魔法,能瞬間移動到商場去! (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張迪)
When it comes to movies, some people delight in watching spine-chilling horror films. Surprisingly, apart from containing a few scares, horror movies may also offer an unexpected __1__. According to a study, watching 90 minutes of a scary movie can burn an average of 113 calories, which is roughly __2__ to taking a 30-minute walk. Researchers from the University of Westminster carried out an experiment in which they __3__ participants’ oxygen intake, carbon dioxide output, and heart rates while they were watching horror movies without any distractions. The results revealed that physiological responses to fear play a crucial role
Dos & Don’ts — 想想看,這句話英語該怎麼說? 1. 你覺得這部電影怎樣? ˇ What do you think of the movie? χ How do you like the movie? χ How do you think of the movie? 註︰What do you think of = What is your opinion of。 think 的受詞是 what,不能用 how。 2. 你認為哪一個歌星唱得最好? ˇ Which singer do you think is the best? χ Do you think which singer is the best? 註︰英語中 which singer 似乎是 do you think 的受詞,實則 do you think 是插入語,其他例子如下: 你以為他喜歡誰? Who do you think he likes? 你以為我住在哪裏? Where do you think I live? 你想我昨天在公園裏碰到了誰? Whom/Who do you think I met in the park yesterday? 3. 他不論到什麼地方,總是帶著一把雨傘。 ˇ No matter where he goes, he