| |  | Was Purple Unpatriotic◆? 國旗五彩繽紛 為何獨缺紫色 by William Ryan |  | Despite its popularity, the color purple has hardly ever been used on the flags of nations. With nearly two hundred national flags __1__, the virtual absence of purple from the scene is apparent. One might wonder, then, if there is some little-known historical reason for this lack of purple. Was purple somehow considered unpatriotic? Not at all. It was just impractical.
For centuries, a single species of Mediterranean sea snail was the only known __2__ of purple dye◆. Merchants◆ sold it in Tyre, a Phoenician trading city in present-day Lebanon. Ten thousand snails had to be harvested to produce a single gram of the substance, making it rare and unaffordable to all but the super-rich. Until the end of the 19th century, purple dye was literally worth more than its weight in gold. __3__ its scarcity, purple naturally became associated with royalty and the imperial◆ classes of Egypt, Persia, Rome, and England. Even so, it wasn't worth __4__ that kind of money on a flag; purple was never used to represent an empire or civilization. Purple was also considered a spiritual color because people who wore it seemed somehow godlike.
In 1856, William Henry Perkin, a British chemist◆, accidentally created the first synthetic◆ purple dye. By the end of the century, it was being mass-produced. Since then, a few countries have __5__ purple in their national banners◆: Nicaragua in 1908, the Second Republic of Spain from 1931 to 1939, and Dominica in 1967. Who knew this calming hue◆, so easy on the eyes, was once only for civilization's elite?
1. (A) on occasion (B) in existence(C) by definition(D) at random
2. (A) capacity (B) request (C) source (D) matter
3. (A) Due to (B) Far from (C) On behalf of (D) In contrast to
4. (A) spent (B) of spending (C) spending (D) to spend
5. (A) declared (B) attracted (C) transferred (D) included 
西班牙第二共和國國旗 |  |  | |  | ◆ unpatriotic a. 沒有愛國心的
patriotic a. 愛國的
◆ dye n. 染料
◆ merchant n. 商人；批發商
◆ imperial a. 帝國的
◆ chemist n. 化學家
◆ synthetic a. 人造的；合成的
◆ banner n. 旗幟
◆ hue n. 顏色
| |  | 1. With nearly two hundred national flags in existence, the virtual absence of purple from the scene is apparent.
理由
a. (A) on occasion 偶爾
= from time to time
= (every) now and then
= once in a while
• Bess visits her grandparents in the country on occasion.
貝絲偶爾會去鄉下探望她的祖父母。
(B) in existence 存在的，現有的
existence n. 存在，存活
• The museum is home to the oldest Hebrew manuscript in existence.
這間博物館保存現今最古老的希伯來文手稿。
(C) by definition 就定義而言
definition n. 定義
• A citizen is by definition someone who lives in a particular town, state, or country.
公民的定義就是住在某個城市、州郡或國家的人。
(D) at random 隨機地，隨意地
• All of the winners were selected at random.
所有的贏家都是隨機選出的。
b. 根據語意，在「現存」近兩百面的國旗中，就能明顯看出幾乎沒有紫色，故 (B) 項應為正選。 2. For centuries, a single species of Mediterranean sea snail was the only known source of purple dye.
理由
a. (A) capacity n. 容量；能力
beyond one's capacity
超過某人的能力，某人沒有能力
• The capacity of the auditorium is 2,000 people.
這間大禮堂可容納兩千人。
• At the moment this scientific textbook is beyond my 10-year-old son's capacity.
目前我十歲的兒子還沒有讀這本科學教科書的能力。
(B) request n. 要求，請求
make a request 請求
• Sam made a request for a raise after working at the company for two years.
山姆在公司任職兩年後要求加薪。
(C) source n. 來源，源頭
• A major source of stress for most people is their finances.
大多數人主要的壓力來源之一是他們的財務狀況。
(D) matter n. 事件；問題
• Sally consulted a lawyer over the matter.
莎莉向律師諮詢這件事。
b. 根據語意，有好幾個世紀的時間，只有一種地中海海螺是唯一已知的紫色染料「來源」，故 (C) 項應為正選。 3. Due to its scarcity, purple naturally became associated with royalty and the imperial classes of Egypt, Persia, Rome, and England.
理由
a. (A) due to... 由於／因為……
= because of...
• Due to some health problems, my father retired early.
我爸因為一些健康問題而提早退休。
(B) far from... 不但不……（反而……）
• Far from being the truth, Jane's story was nothing but a pack of lies.
小珍的故事非但不是事實，反而還是漫天大謊。
(C) on behalf of... 代表……
• On behalf of the entire student body, I'd like to thank you for your generosity.
我謹代表全體學生感謝您的慷慨。
(D) in contrast to / with... 與??成對比
• The actor's life in Hollywood is in sharp contrast to his impoverished childhood.
這位演員童年的貧困與現今在好萊塢的生活成了鮮明對比。
＊impoverished a. 窮困的，赤貧的
b. 根據語意，「由於」紫色的稀少性，它自然而然就變得與皇室及埃及、波斯、羅馬和英格蘭帝王階級有關，故 (A) 項應為正選。 4. Even so, it wasn't worth spending that kind of money on a flag; purple was never used to represent an empire or civilization.
理由
a. 本題測試下列固定用法：
be worth N/V-ing 值得（做）……
• This song is worth listening to again and again.
這首歌值得一聽再聽。
b. 根據上述用法，本題應選 (C) spending 以形成 "be worth V-ing" 之固定用法。 5. Since then, a few countries have included purple in their national banners...
理由
a. (A) declare vt. 宣布；宣稱
declare A (to be) B 宣布 A 為 B
• The mayor declared the city a disaster zone after the earthquake.
地震過後，市長宣布該市為災區。
(B) attract vt. 吸引
• The exhibition attracted a large number of visitors from around the world.
這場展覽吸引來自世界各地的許多訪客。
(C) transfer vt. 轉移；調動
• Ron's boss decided to transfer him to Japan.
朗恩的老闆決定把他調職到日本。
(D) include vt. 納入；包含
• All completed applications must include a personal essay.
完整的申請皆需附上個人陳述。
b. 根據語意，自那時起，有些國家將紫色「納入」國旗上，故 (D) 項應為正選。 | | | |  | 1. virtual a. 幾乎……的；實質上的；（電腦）虛擬的
• Eddie's room was a virtual pigsty, with dirty clothes scattered everywhere on the floor.
艾迪的房間跟豬窩沒兩樣，地板上到處丟滿了髒衣服。
＊pigsty n. 非常凌亂的地方；豬舍 2. absence n. 缺乏；缺席
in the absence of... 缺乏／沒有……
• In the absence of evidence, we couldn't prove the man's guilt.
由於缺乏證據，我們無法證明該男子有罪。 3. historical a. 與歷史有關的
historic a. 有歷史性的；歷史上著名的
• Watching that historical film sparked Annie's interest in studying British history.
觀賞那部歷史電影激發安妮想研究英國歷史的興趣。
• That cathedral is of great historic significance to this city.
那座大教堂對這座城市而言有重大的歷史意義。 4. harvest vt. 收獲；收割
• The farmers harvest their crops several times a year.
這些農民們一年收割作物好幾次。 5. substance n. 物質
• This sort of chemical substance cannot withstand high temperatures.
這種化學物質無法抵擋高溫。
＊withstand vt. 抵擋 6. unaffordable a. 負擔不起的
affordable a. 負擔得起的
• Medical care has become unaffordable for most people in that country.
在該國，醫療費用已變得大多數人都負擔不起。 7. literally adv. 的確／真的（強調語氣用）；照字面上地
• The snake we saw was literally two meters long.
我們看見的那條蛇確實有兩公尺那麼長。
• The teacher warned us not to translate the article literally.
老師告誡我們不要逐字翻譯這篇文章。 8. scarcity n. 稀罕，缺乏
• The country has a scarcity of certain natural resources, such as oil.
該國缺乏某些自然資源，例如石油。 9. civilization n. 文明
• Many ancient civilizations have been lost to history.
許多古文明已消失在歷史的長河裡。 10. spiritual a. 精神上的；宗教的
• Mahatma Gandhi was a spiritual leader of India.
聖雄甘地是印度的精神領袖。 11. elite n. 菁英
• The government is secretly controlled by the wealthy elite.
政府被一群富有的菁英從暗地裡控制著。 | | | |  | 1. all but sb 除某人之外
= all except sb
• All but the driver survived the car accident.
除了駕駛，其他人都從那起車禍中生還。 2. be worth one's weight in gold
極有價值的（價值與等量重的黃金相等）
• Judy has a beautiful voice. Therefore, she is worth her weight in gold to the choir.
茱蒂有一副好歌喉。因此，她對該合唱團來說極其重要。
＊choir n. 合唱團 3. become / be associated with...
（變得）和……相關／有關聯
• How did that company become associated with the scandal?
那間公司是怎麼和該醜聞扯上關係的？ | |  | impractical a. 不切實際的
• Fred's business proposal was imaginative but impractical.
弗萊德的商業提案很有想像力，但不切實際。
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字首 im- 有否定之意，表「不、無、非」，常見單字介紹如下：
a. impossible a. 不可能的
• It is next to impossible for Matt to get up on time in the mornings.
要麥特早上準時起床幾乎是不可能的。
b. impatient a. 沒耐心的
• I get impatient easily when I'm under stress.
我處於壓力下時容易失去耐心。
c. impolite a. 不禮貌的；無禮的
• It's impolite to chew with your mouth open while you are eating.
吃東西時嘴巴張開是很不禮貌的。
d. immortal a. 不朽的
• The hero died long ago, but his spirit remains immortal.
這位英雄早就過世，但他的精神卻永垂不朽。
e. immobile a. 不活動的
• William sat there immobile, wondering what to do next.
威廉坐在那裡一動也不動，思考著接下來要做什麼。
f. immoral a. 不道德的
• It's immoral to be unfaithful to your girlfriend.
對女友不忠是不道德的。 | |  | 國旗五彩繽紛 為何獨缺紫色
儘管紫色這個顏色很受歡迎，在國旗上卻幾乎不見其蹤影。在現存近兩百面的國旗中，就能明顯看出幾乎沒有紫色。那麼，你可能會想，在缺少紫色的背後是不是有鮮為人知的歷史原因呢。紫色因某種緣故而被認為是不愛國的嗎？並不是這樣。它只是不切實際。
有好幾個世紀的時間，只有一種地中海海螺是唯一已知的紫色染料來源。商人在泰爾（位於現今黎巴嫩的一座腓尼基貿易城市）販售這種染料。要產出一克染料必須採集一萬隻這種海螺，這使它變得稀有，只有超級有錢人才負擔得起。一直到十九世紀末，紫色染料真真確確地比同樣重量的黃金還貴。由於其稀少性，紫色自然而然就變得與皇室及埃及、波斯、羅馬和英格蘭帝王階級有關。即便如此，花那麼大筆的金額在一面國旗上是不值得的；紫色從未被用來代表一個帝國或文明。紫色也被認為是充滿靈性的顏色，因為穿戴紫色的人不知怎的有種神聖的感覺。
1856 年，一名英國化學家威廉．亨利．珀金意外創造出首批人造紫色染料。到了該世紀末，紫色染料已被大量製造。自那時起，有些國家將紫色納入國旗上：尼加拉瓜於 1908 年納入、西班牙第二共和國於 1931 至 1939 年間納入，而多米尼克則於 1967 年加入。誰能想得到，這種寧靜的色調看在眼中是如此舒服，卻一度只為文明中的菁英所用呢？
答案：1. B 2. C 3. A 4. C 5. D | | | | | | | | |
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