The port of Kaohsiung never sleeps. Day and night, ships arrive from every corner of the world, and cranes lift steel boxes of 11 onto waiting trucks. A modern container 12 may carry twenty thousand boxes, yet fewer than thirty people work on board. Most of the crew spend the whole 13 far from their families, sometimes for eight months at a time. When a ship finally reaches the 14, the sailors often have only a few hours ashore before loading starts again. Bad weather remains their greatest fear, since one storm can 15 a ship and its entire load.
Questions 11–15
11
Adose
Bwax
Ccargo
Dpeel
✔ 正確答案：(C) cargo
解析steel boxes of ____ 被吊上卡車，指船上裝載的「貨物 cargo」。dose 一劑、wax 蠟、peel 果皮皆不合。
Few jobs sound more exciting than that of an airline 16. The truth, however, is quieter than films suggest. Modern aircraft fly themselves for most of the trip, and the crew on the flight 17 spend their time watching screens and speaking to control towers. Training is long and expensive: students must train on a small single-engine 18 for months before they may touch a jet. They practice for emergencies again and again, though almost none of them will ever open a 19. Most say the greatest 20 of the job is watching the sun rise above the clouds.
Your cargo of 240 boxes left Keelung Port on 3 October on board the vessel Blue Star.
The ship is expected to reach Rotterdam on 28 October. Because of repair work at the harbor there, unloading may begin one day later than planned.
Please send the customs papers to our Amsterdam office before 20 October. Without them, your boxes cannot leave the dock.
You can follow the whole voyage on our website by entering the booking number BS-4471.
Best regards, Karl Meyer, Ocean Line
全文中譯
親愛的阿爾瓦雷茲女士：
您那批 240 箱的貨物已於十月三日搭乘「藍星號」貨船離開基隆港。
該船預計於十月二十八日抵達鹿特丹。由於當地港口正在整修，卸貨可能比原訂晚一天開始。
請於十月二十日前將報關文件寄到我們的阿姆斯特丹辦公室。少了這些文件，您的貨物無法離開碼頭。
您可以在我們的網站輸入訂艙編號 BS-4471，追蹤整段航程。
敬祝安好 海洋航運 卡爾‧邁爾
Questions 21–24
21Why did Mr. Meyer write this email?
ATo sell space on a new ship
BTo cancel an order of boxes
CTo report news about a shipment
DTo ask for a lower price
✔ 正確答案：(C) To report news about a shipment
中譯邁爾先生為何寫這封信？
解析信中報告貨物何時開航、何時抵達與注意事項，屬於出貨通知。
22Why might unloading be late?
AIcy weather has closed the port
BThe ship left Keelung late
CThe boxes are too heavy
DRepair work is going on at the harbor
✔ 正確答案：(D) Repair work is going on at the harbor
中譯卸貨為何可能延遲？
解析Because of repair work at the harbor there, unloading may begin one day later than planned。信中說延誤是因為港口整修，並未提到 icy 結冰的、冰冷的天氣。
23What must Ms. Alvarez do before 20 October?
APay for the shipping
BVisit the Rotterdam dock
CSend the customs papers
DChange the booking number
✔ 正確答案：(C) Send the customs papers
中譯阿爾瓦雷茲女士必須在十月二十日前做什麼？
解析Please send the customs papers to our Amsterdam office before 20 October。
24How can Ms. Alvarez check where the ship is?
ABy emailing the captain
BBy calling the Amsterdam office
CBy waiting at the dock
DBy using the booking number online
✔ 正確答案：(D) By using the booking number online
中譯阿爾瓦雷茲女士如何得知船隻位置？
解析follow the whole voyage on our website by entering the booking number BS-4471。
NOTICE
Island Ferry: Please Read Before Sailing
Island Ferry — Please Read Before Sailing
Life jackets are stored under every seat on the lower deck.
When the sea is rough, the upper deck is closed and all passengers must stay inside.
Bicycles travel free, but they must be tied to the rail at the rear of the vessel.
The crossing takes 45 minutes. Hot drinks are sold at the little shop near the stairs.
In an emergency, follow the crew and go to the meeting point at the front of the ship. Do not return to your car.
全文中譯
離島渡輪 —— 開航前請詳閱
救生衣放在下層甲板每個座位下方。
海象不佳時，上層甲板將關閉，所有乘客必須留在室內。
腳踏車免費載運，但必須綁在船尾的欄杆上。
航程需時四十五分鐘。樓梯旁的小商店有販售熱飲。
發生緊急狀況時，請跟隨船員前往船首的集合點。請勿返回您的車輛。
Questions 25–28
25Where can passengers find life jackets?
AUnder the seats on the lower deck
BAt the little shop
CAt the rear rail
DAt the meeting point
✔ 正確答案：(A) Under the seats on the lower deck
中譯乘客可以在哪裡找到救生衣？
解析Life jackets are stored under every seat on the lower deck。
26When is the upper deck closed?
AAt night
BWhen the sea is rough
CWhen the shop is open
DDuring the last 45 minutes
✔ 正確答案：(B) When the sea is rough
中譯上層甲板什麼時候會關閉？
解析When the sea is rough, the upper deck is closed。
27What is true about bicycles?
AThey must be tied at the rear
BThey cost the same as a seat
CThey stay on the upper deck
DThey are not allowed
✔ 正確答案：(A) They must be tied at the rear
中譯關於腳踏車，何者正確？
解析Bicycles travel free, but they must be tied to the rail at the rear of the vessel。
28What should passengers do in an emergency?
AGo back to their cars
BGo to the meeting point at the front
CJump into the sea at once
DBuy a hot drink and wait
✔ 正確答案：(B) Go to the meeting point at the front
中譯發生緊急狀況時乘客該怎麼做？
解析go to the meeting point at the front of the ship. Do not return to your car。
ARTICLE
Still Talking After Fifty Years
In 1977 two small spacecraft left Earth to study the outer planets. Nobody expected them to work for more than five years.
Almost fifty years later, both are still sending signals from beyond our solar system, though each message now takes more than twenty hours to arrive. Their power comes from heat rather than sunlight, and it grows weaker every year.
Engineers therefore switch off one instrument at a time. They believe the last instrument will fall silent around 2030. Even then the two craft will travel on, each carrying a gold record of human music and greetings.