Turning a novel into another language is harder than most readers imagine. A good 11 does not simply replace one word with another. First she reads the whole book, listens to the voice of the 12, and marks every joke that will not travel well. Then she must decide how much of the original 13 she may change without losing the meaning. A long English 14 often becomes two short ones in Chinese. Publishers usually allow six months for a full 15, and many say the second half of that time is spent reading the text aloud.
Questions 11–15
11
Agambler
Bmessenger
Ctranslator
Dpublisher
✔ 正確答案：(C) translator
解析下一句 does not simply replace one word with another（不是單純換字）說明這是「譯者 translator」。gambler 賭徒、messenger 信差皆無關；publisher 出版商不做逐字轉換的工作。
12
Aopponent
Bauthor
Cowl
Dpoet
✔ 正確答案：(B) author
解析reads the whole book 之後聆聽「作者 author」的語氣最合理。owl 貓頭鷹、opponent 對手皆不合；poet 詩人與 novel（小說）不搭。
13
Aprocess
Bgrammar
Cberry
Dcostume
✔ 正確答案：(B) grammar
解析the original ____ she may change without losing the meaning，指原文的「文法 grammar」結構。process 過程、costume 戲服、berry 莓果皆與語言結構無關。
14
Aradar
Bladder
Cstrength
Dsentence
✔ 正確答案：(D) sentence
解析A long English ____ often becomes two short ones，能被拆成兩個短的只有「句子 sentence」。ladder 梯子、strength 力氣、radar 雷達皆不合。
15
Atranslation
Bsuspension
Cisolation
Drelaxation
✔ 正確答案：(A) translation
解析allow six months for a full ____ 指完成整部「翻譯 translation」。relaxation 放鬆、suspension 暫停、isolation 隔離，都不是出版社給期限要完成的工作。
Some students groan when the teacher opens a book of 16. Poems look short, yet every line seems to hide something. Their teachers answer that a poem trains the ear: it teaches you to hear whether a 17 sound is long or short, and why one word feels heavier than another. A famous 18 once said that he wrote in order to slow his readers down. That is also why many schools ask students to write a short 19 about a poem they dislike. Explaining your own taste, teachers say, is the fastest way to 20 new ideas.
Questions 16–20
16
Asilk
Byogurt
Cestate
Dverse
✔ 正確答案：(D) verse
解析下一句 Poems look short 點明主題，a book of ____ 指一本「韻文、詩作 verse」。silk 絲、yogurt 優格、estate 地產皆不成書。
17
Aberry
Bvowel
Cton
Dcostume
✔ 正確答案：(B) vowel
解析sound is long or short（音的長短）是「母音 vowel」的特性。berry 莓果、costume 戲服、ton 噸，都不會有長短音。
18
Agambler
Bpoet
Chairdresser
Dmessenger
✔ 正確答案：(B) poet
解析後面 said that he wrote（他寫作）且全文談詩，故為「詩人 poet」。gambler 賭徒、hairdresser 美髮師、messenger 信差皆不寫詩。
19
Afantasy
Bladder
Cradar
Dessay
✔ 正確答案：(D) essay
解析write a short ____ about a poem 指寫一篇「論說文、短文 essay」。fantasy 奇幻作品不是評論；radar、ladder 更不可能被寫出來。
20
Astarve
Bfetch
Cabsorb
Dscatter
✔ 正確答案：(C) absorb
解析the fastest way to ____ new ideas 指「吸收 absorb」新想法。starve 挨餓、scatter 使分散、fetch 去拿來，皆無法與 ideas 搭配。
Thank you for sending us your novel. Our readers enjoyed the first hundred pages, and we would like to publish the book next spring.
Before we sign anything, two points must be settled. First, the middle section moves slowly; we suggest cutting about forty pages. Second, your English is clean, but several very long sentences will be hard to translate, and we plan to sell the book in Japan as well.
Could you come to our office at two o'clock on 12 May? Our chief editor and one translator will join us.
21What does the publisher want to do with the novel?
APublish it next spring
BReturn it to the writer
CPrint only one hundred pages
DSell it in Japan first
✔ 正確答案：(A) Publish it next spring
中譯出版社想對這本小說做什麼？
解析第一段明說 we would like to publish the book next spring。文中並未說要退稿或只印一百頁。
22What problem does the letter mention about the middle section?
AIt is too short
BIt moves too slowly
CIt has too many characters
DIt was written in Japanese
✔ 正確答案：(B) It moves too slowly
中譯信中提到中段有什麼問題？
解析the middle section moves slowly; we suggest cutting about forty pages，問題在節奏太慢。
23Why are the long sentences a problem?
AThey break the rules of grammar
BThey will be hard to translate
CThe chief editor cannot read them
DReaders in Japan dislike novels
✔ 正確答案：(B) They will be hard to translate
中譯為什麼長句子是個問題？
解析several very long sentences will be hard to translate，因為書還要賣到日本。文中並未說長句違反文法。
24Who will attend the meeting on 12 May?
AThe chief editor and a translator
BA poet and a designer
COnly Ms. Farrell
DThe whole sales team
✔ 正確答案：(A) The chief editor and a translator
中譯五月十二日的會面有誰會出席？
解析Our chief editor and one translator will join us。
NOTICE
Notice: Evening Reading Club
Rooms 3 and 4, Central City Library
Tuesday 7 p.m. - Fiction: one novel a month, chosen by the members themselves
Thursday 7 p.m. - Fantasy and science fiction, for readers aged 15 to 20
Saturday 10 a.m. - Writing group: bring one page of your own work
Members must return each borrowed book within three weeks. Anyone who keeps a book longer than that faces a two-month suspension from the club.
The Thursday group is full until September. Add your name to the waiting list at the desk on the second floor.
全文中譯
中央市立圖書館 3 號與 4 號室
週二晚間七點－ 小說組：每月一本長篇小說，由成員自行選書
週四晚間七點－ 奇幻與科幻組，適合 15 至 20 歲的讀者
週六上午十點－ 寫作組：請帶一頁自己的作品前來
成員必須在三週內歸還每一本借出的書。逾期未還者將被停權兩個月，不得參加社團。
週四組的名額已滿至九月。請到二樓櫃檯登記候補。
Questions 25–28
25Which group meets on Thursday evening?
AReaders of fantasy and science fiction
BThe writing group
CMembers over sixty
DReaders of essays and news
✔ 正確答案：(A) Readers of fantasy and science fiction
中譯週四晚上是哪一組聚會？
解析Thursday 7 p.m. - Fantasy and science fiction, for readers aged 15 to 20。寫作組是週六。
26What happens to a member who keeps a book for over three weeks?
AHe must buy the book
BHe must leave the library
CHe is suspended from the club for two months
DHe pays a small fee each day
✔ 正確答案：(C) He is suspended from the club for two months
中譯成員把書借超過三週會怎麼樣？
解析Anyone who keeps a book longer than that faces a two-month suspension from the club，是停權兩個月，不是罰錢。
27Which group cannot take new members at the moment?
AThe Thursday group
BThe Saturday group
CAll three groups
DThe Tuesday group
✔ 正確答案：(A) The Thursday group
中譯目前哪一組無法接受新成員？
解析The Thursday group is full until September，只有週四組額滿。
28What should members bring to the Saturday meeting?
AA library card and a photo
BA novel chosen by the club
CNothing at all
DOne page of their own writing
✔ 正確答案：(D) One page of their own writing
中譯成員週六聚會要帶什麼？
解析Writing group: bring one page of your own work。
ARTICLE
Does Grammar Still Matter?
Every few years a newspaper announces that grammar teaching is dead. Language, such writers argue, is picked up the way music is: by listening, and by reading enough literature.
The truth is less tidy. Beginners really do learn many patterns without being taught. Yet adults who never study the rules often stop improving after two or three years. Their speech stays clear but simple, and their real strength, a large vocabulary, is wasted.
A short weekly lesson on one point, say the auxiliary verbs used in questions, seems to work best. What fails is a whole term spent naming parts of speech while nobody writes a single paragraph.