The Sea in a Glass 鱼儿鱼儿水中游
From the ocean comes a lively kind of decoration.
来自海洋，活生生的居家装饰。
Keeping ornamental fish as pets is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. Millions of people keep beautiful fish for their amazing shapes and colors, as well as for the peaceful aura they bring to an outdoor garden or a living room.
The breeding of fish specifically for use as pets has its _(1)_ in ancient China. Around 2,000 years ago, farmers would raise silver crucian carp for food in ponds and rice paddies. The farmers noticed that some carp _(2)_ bright golden and orange scales. They began to selectively breed those mutated carp to enhance the bright colors, and a hobby was born.
In the 17th century, Chinese goldfish made their way _(3)_ Japan and Europe, and the Japanese quickly mastered the art of fish breeding. From the early 19th century, they started breeding the common carp, creating beautiful nishikigoi (锦鲤), better known as koi (鲤). Europeans, _(4)_, experimented with keeping other varieties of fish in glass containers. The hobby became popular among wealthy Europeans in the 1850s after special equipment was developed. Articles written by fishkeeping enthusiasts appeared, _(5)_ an influential article entitled "The Sea in a Glass."
At first, only the very wealthy _(6)_ afford equipment, and only local varieties of fish were easily available. Later, advancements _(7)_ electricity, water filtration systems, plastic bags, silicone, and air travel greatly reduced the price of equipment and increased the varieties of fish available. Now, beautiful fish from all corners of the world can be found in your local pet shop.
1. (A) organs (B) originals (C) origins (D) organizations
2. (A) disclosed (B) displayed (C) disguised (D) distributed
3. (A) to (B) in (C) with (D) upon
4. (A) by the way (B) in the long run (C) as a result (D) on the other hand
5. (A) regarding (B) including (C) considering (D) providing
6. (A) might (B) would (C) could (D) ought
7. (A) such as (B) up to (C) no less than (D) as many as
原来如此
1. The breeding of fish specifically for use as pets has its origins in ancient China.
理由:
a. (A) organ n. 器官
(B) original n. 原著 & a. 最初的
(C) origin n. 起源，由来
(D) organization n. 组织，团体
b. 根据语意，可知应选 (C)。
2. The farmers noticed that some carp displayed bright golden and orange scales.
理由:
a. (A) disclose vt. 揭露，透露；公开
例: Did the newspaper disclose the name of the victim?
（报纸有没有刊出受害者的姓名？）
(B) display vt. 展现，显示
(C) disguise vt. 假扮，乔装
disguise oneself as...
某人假扮∕乔装成……
例: Sam disguised himself as a knight and then proposed to Jane.
（山姆打扮成武士，然后向珍求婚。）
(D) distribute vt. 分发，分配
b. 根据语意，可知应选 (B)。
3. In the 17th century, Chinese goldfish made their way to Japan and Europe...
理由:
a. 本空格测试下列固定用法：
make one's way to + 地方 前进至某地
例: The practice of eating tofu has finally made its way to America.
（食用豆腐的习惯终究传到了美国。）
b. 根据上述，可知应选 (A)。
4. Europeans, on the other hand, experimented with keeping other varieties of fish in glass containers.
理由:
a. (A) by the way 对了，顺便一提
例: By the way, do you know your zipper is open?
（对了，你知道你的拉炼没拉吗？）
(B) in the long run 到头来；从长远来看
例: In the long run, Edward was the best man for the job.
（到头来，爱德华才是最适合那份工作的人。）
(C) as a result 结果
(D) on the other hand 另一方面（来说）
例: Ben wants to be a reporter. On the other hand, he also thinks he would make a fine chef.
（班想当记者。另一方面，他又认为自己可以成为一名出色的厨师。）
b. 根据语意，可知应选 (D)。
5. Articles written by fishkeeping enthusiasts appeared, including an influential article...
理由:
a. (A) regarding prep. 关于
= concerning prep.
例: I always take notice of news regarding my hometown.
（我总是会注意有关家乡的消息。）
(B) including prep. 包含
例: All the students are going on the field trip, including Mike.
（所有的学生都要去校外教学，包括麦克在内。）
(C) considering prep. 考虑到，有鉴于
例: Considering her age, my grandma is very active.
= In view of her age, my grandma is very active.
（就我祖母的年纪来说，她算是很活跃的了。）
(D) providing conj. 假如（= if）
= provided conj.
例: We can go to Penghu providing/provided (that) airplane tickets are still available.
（要是还买得到机票的话，我们可以去澎湖。）
b. 根据语意，可知应选 (B)。
6. At first, only the very wealthy could afford equipment, and...
理由:
a. afford vt. 负担得起
注意:
afford 其前通常与助动词 can 或 can't 并用，而不可单独使用，其后则可接名词或不定词作受词。
can/can't afford + N/to V
负担得起∕不起……
例: Even if you don't get a raise, you'll be able to afford (to buy) a new car.
（即使没加薪，你还是买得起新车。）
b. 根据上述和前后文的过去式时态，可知应选 (C)。
7. Later, advancements such as electricity, water filtration systems, plastic bags, silicone, and air travel greatly reduced the price...
理由:
a. (A) such as... 诸如…… ，像……之类
例: I like fruits such as mangoes and apples.
（我喜欢像芒果和苹果之类的水果。）
(B) up to + 数字 + 复数名词 多达……
(C) no less than + 数字 + 复数名词
= at least + 数字 + 复数名词
至少有……那么多
no more than + 数字 + 复数名词
= at most + 数字 + 复数名词
最多不超过……
例: There are no less than 300 actors in this play.
（这出剧中的演员起码有 300 名之多。）
例: There were no more than 50 people at the party.
（这场派对最多不超过 50 人来参加。）
(D) as many as + 数字 + 复数名词
（数目）多达……
例: It is estimated that as many as two hundred people died as a result of the terrible mudslides.。
（据估计，有多达 200 人在那场严重的土石流中罹难。）
b. 根据语意及用法，可知应选 (A)。
精解字词词组
1. keep...as pets/a pet 饲养……当作宠物
例: We keep cats as pets, but only a few people have pet tigers.
（我们通常养猫当宠物，只有少数人会养老虎当宠物。）
2. specifically adv. 特别地
specific a. 特定的
be specific about... 详细说明……
例: Could you be specific about what you're planning to do?
（可否详细说明你计划做些什么？）
3. selectively adv. 选择性地
selective a. 精挑细选的
例:Tony is very selective about the stocks he invests in.
（东尼在投资股票时都会仔细挑选。）
4. enhance vt. 提高，提升
例: In order to enhance his strength, Jamie works out four times a week.
（为了增强体力，杰米一周运动四次。）
5. experiment vi. 进行实验 & n. 实验
experiment with + 事物 用……做实验
= do an experiment with + 事物
experiment on + 动物或人 对……做实验
= do an experiment on + 动物或人
例: He experimented with the manager's advice about changing his attitude toward his job.
（他试用那位经理的建议，想改变自己的工作态度。）
例: Scientists have to be careful when they do experiments on people.
（科学家用人体做实验时必须非常小心。）
6. entitle vt. 为（书、戏剧等）命名（常用被动）
注意:
entitled 可作形容词，表『有资格的』，常用于下列句型中：
be entitled to sth 有资格获得某物
be entitled to V 有资格从事……
例: In democratic societies, people are entitled to freedom of speech.
（在民主社会中，人民享有言论的自由。）
例: The winner of the contest is entitled to have lunch with the mayor.
（这场比赛的冠军可以跟市长共进午餐。）
单字小铺
1. ornamental a. 装饰用的
ornamental fish 观赏用鱼
2. aura n. 气氛；气息
3. breeding n. 饲养，繁殖
breed vt. 饲养，繁殖
三态为：breed, bred, bred。
4. crucian carp n. 鲫鱼
5. rice paddy n. 稻田
= paddy field
6. scale n. 鳞片
7. mutated a. 突变的
mutation n. 突变
8. master vt. 掌握，精通
9. common carp n. 鲤鱼
10. variety n. 种类
11. container n. 容器（箱、盒、罐等）
12. equipment n. 设备（不可数）
13. enthusiast n. 狂热者，热爱……的人
14. influential a. 有影响力的
15. available a. 可取得的
16. advancement n. 进步，进展
17. filtration n. 过滤
18. silicone n. 硅胶
中文翻译＆标准答案
饲养观赏鱼当宠物是世上最受欢迎的嗜好之一。数百万人饲养美丽的鱼儿是因为牠们令人惊奇的外型和颜色，也为了牠们能为庭院或厅堂增添静逸的气氛。
养鱼当宠物源自中国古代。2,000 多年前，农夫在池塘或稻田中饲养银白色的鲫鱼来食用。他们注意到有些鲫鱼带有金黄色和橘色的鳞片，便开始选择这些突变种来养殖，让这些耀眼的色泽更加明显，养鱼当宠物的嗜好便蕴育而生。
17 世纪中国的金鱼传到了日本和欧洲，日本很快就掌握养鱼的技巧。自 19 世纪起，他们就开始饲养鲤鱼，进而培育出美丽的锦鲤（nishikigoi），或通称为鲤（koi）。另一方面，欧洲人则尝试在玻璃容器中饲养其它鱼种。在发展出特别的设备之后，这种嗜好在 1850 年代富有的欧洲人家中非常盛行。养鱼的爱好者开始发表文章，其中包括一篇影响力十足的文章 "The Sea in a Glass"。
一开始，只有非常富有的人才买得起设备，而且只有当地的鱼种才容易取得。之后，诸如电力、过滤系统、塑料袋、硅胶以及空运等发展降低了设备的价格，也使不同鱼种更容易取得。现在，你可以在住家附近的宠物店看到来自世界各地的美丽鱼儿。
标准答案: 1. (C) 2. (B) 3. (A) 4. (D) 5. (B) 6. (C) 7. (A) |