If you’ve ever watched professional baseball, you’ve probably seen players wearing eye black. It is the black substance that athletes smearunder their eyes before they start the game. Many players and spectatorsthink it looks cool, but what exactly is it? Why do players use it while they are on the field?
The origin of eye black in baseball iscommonly traced back toBabe Ruth, a legendary player in the early 1900s. While Babe Ruth was playing for the New York Yankees, he began putting grease mixed withcork ash and shoe polish under his eyes. He claimed this mix helped counteractthe glare caused by the sun and stadium lights. Ruth’s innovative approach soon caught onand was eventually adopted not only in baseball but also in other outdoor sports such as American football.
It is believed that eye black absorbs distracting light more effectively than skin and thus reduces the amount of light that shines directly into players’ eyes. Regarding eye black’s anti-glare properties, studies suggest that it won’t eliminate glare but actually enhances players’ abilities to differentiate betweenlight anddark. As a result, players with eye black can accurately spot a ball flying across a bright sky or under the intense glare of stadium floodlights.
Over the past century, eye black has become a common accessoryin baseball. Although whether it works varies from person to person, the general consensus is that it does help. Psychologists believe eye black can positively impact players’ athleticperformances because they believe their vision is betteredthanks to eye black. More than that, it also has the added effect of looking cool.
These days, eye black is mostly made of paraffin or beeswax and may also include ingredients like aloe, menthol, or skin conditioners. There are also cloth strips and stickers♦ used as eye black substitutes, but most players agree that the traditional wax or grease works best.
1. Where is eye black put, according to the passage?(單選題)
From a(n) ________ aspect, eye black enables players to have better performances because they believe it enhances their vision.
3. Please mark each statement T (for True) or F (for False) based on the information from the passage about eye black.(是非題)
Statements
T /F
(a) It has become a required accessory in baseball these days.
(b) It helps players locate balls under both natural and artificial lights.
(c) Its original ingredients are considered more effective than modern ones.
(d) It first became popular in American football and later spread to baseball.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
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functional
[ˋfʌŋkʃən!]
a. 功用的；實用的
The two machines look alike but have many functional differences.
這兩臺機器看起來很像，但是有許多功用上的不同點。
The design of the chair is beautiful, but it is not very functional.
這張椅子的設計很漂亮，但是卻不很實用。
高中 Level 4
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spectator
[spɛkˋtetɚ]
n. 觀點
From the voter’s viewpoint, the state of the economy is far more important than who is elected president. 從選民的觀點來看，經濟情況遠比誰當選總統來得重要。
From the voter’s point of view, the state of the economy is far more important than who is elected president. 從選民的觀點來看，經濟情況遠比誰當選總統來得重要。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 5
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legendary
[ˋlɛdʒənd͵ɛrɪ]
adj. 傳說的，傳奇的
A fairy tale is a legendary story involving some imaginative characters and is often passed down from one generation to the next.
童話故事是包含一些虛幻角色的傳奇故事，通常會代代相傳。
高中 Level 5
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polish
[ˋpɑlɪʃ]
.vt. 擦亮；改進
n. 磨光，擦亮
=
shine
To protect the leather, I polish my shoes once a month.
為了保護皮革，我每個月會擦一次皮鞋。
To protect the leather, I shine my shoes once a month.
為了保護皮革，我每個月會擦一次皮鞋。
You should polish up your English before traveling abroad.
出國旅遊之前，你應該把英文磨練一下。
Jim polished off his breakfast before he left for school.
吉姆匆匆吃完早餐後便上學去了。
Nick gave his black shoes a polish before the formal dinner.
出席正式晚宴前，尼克把他的黑鞋擦亮。
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
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distracting
[dɪˋstræktɪŋ]
a. 令人分心的
●
property
[ˋprɑpɚtɪ]
n. 財產（不可數）；特性（可數）
=
quality
=
possessions
They lost all their property in the fire.
他們在這場大火中失去了所有財產。
One property of diamonds is hardness.
堅硬是鑽石的一項特性。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
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eliminate
[ɪˋlɪmə͵net]
vt. 消除，排除；殲滅 （敵人）
=
eradicate
=
annihilate
Our troops made a surprise attack and eliminated the enemy.
我軍發動奇襲，把敵人消滅了。
We have to eliminate the losing team from the competition.
我們必須把這支快輸的隊伍從比賽中淘汰掉。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
enhance
[ɪnˋhæns]
vt. . 增強
The teacher tried many ways to enhance his students' enthusiasm for studying.
老師嘗試過很多方法試圖提高學生學習的熱忱。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 6
●
consensus
[kənˋsɛnsəs]
n. 共識
=
agreement
So far we haven’t reached any consensus on that matter.
到目前為止我們尚未就那件事達成任何共識。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
impact
[ɪmˋpækt]
n. 影響，衝擊（常與介詞 on 並用）
vt. 對……產生影響
The writer's style had a deep impact on his literary successors.
這位作家的風格對後世文人有深遠的影響。
Many experts believe the new policy will greatly impact the society.
許多專家都認為那項新政策會對社會帶來巨大衝擊。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
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athletic
[æθˋlɛtɪk]
a. 運動員的，擅長運動的
There was an athletic meet on our campus yesterday.
昨天我們校園有場運動會。
高中 Level 4
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substitute
[ˋsʌbstə͵tjut]
vt. & vi. 代替
n. 代替品 / 者
You can substitute apple sauce for oil when baking a cake.
做蛋糕時，你可以使用蘋果醬替代油。
Who is going to substitute for you while you are on vacation?
你休假時誰來代理你的職位？
Honey is a good substitute for sugar because it is healthier.
蜂蜜是代替砂糖很好的東西，因為它比較健康。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 5
●
mix
[mɪks]
vt. & vi. （使）混合
vi. 打交道，結交
n. 混合
Mix the flour with more water to make a soft dough.
把麵粉混合更多的水，這樣就可做出柔軟的麵團了。
After you add oil and sugar into the bowl, make sure you mix well.
在碗中加入油和糖之後，一定要攪拌均勻。
Becky is always friendly. No wonder she can mix well with everyone.
貝琪總是很友善。難怪她能和大家打成一片。
Chuck thinks life is a mix of misery and sadness.
查克認為人生是摻雜了痛苦與悲傷。
多益棕色
英檢初級
高中 Level 2
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smear
[smɪr]
vt. 塗抹
My daughter took my lipstick and smeared it on her face.
我女兒拿了我的口紅在她臉上亂塗一通。
●
counteract
[͵kaʊntɚˋækt]
vt. 抑制，抵銷
●
anti-
[ˋæntɪ]
pref. 反
●
floodlight
[ˋflʌd͵laɪt]
n. （用於體育場、建築物等室外區域的）泛光燈
●
accessory
[ækˋsɛsərɪ]
n. . 附加物件；衣物配件（皆常用複數）
Gina's accessories matched her purple silk gown perfectly.
吉娜的配件和她的紫色絲質禮服極為相襯。
The boutique around the corner sells jewelry and other fashionaccessories.
街角那家精品店販售珠寶和其他的流行時尚配件。
Liver, a kind of accessory organ, helps the digestive system work properly, but doesn't get access to food.
肝臟是一種輔助器官，它可以幫助消化系統正常運作，但並沒有接觸到食物。
高中 Level 6
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better
[ˋbɛtɚ]
adj. 更好的
adv. 更好地
n. 更好的事物 / 行為
vt. 提升，改善
George wants to buy a better car than his current one.
喬治想買一輛比現在更好的車。
Tony was unhappy because his sister did better than
him on the final exam.
湯尼很不高興，因為他妹妹期末考考得比他好。
Trevor had a hard life, but he wanted better for his kids.
崔佛的生活過得很艱難，但他想讓他的孩子有更好的生活。
Steve decided to better his job opportunities by getting a master’s degree.
史提夫決定去取得碩士學位好來提升自己的工作機會。
Josh knew, for better or worse, he must accept his parents’ decision.
喬許知道，無論好壞，他都得接受他父母的決定。
高中 Level 2
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sticker
[ˋstɪkɚ]
n. 貼紙
Practical Phrases
●
be traced back to + 明確的時間／時期
回溯至⋯(某時)；追溯到⋯(來源)
Henry's fear of dogs could be traced back to an experience in his childhood.
亨利對狗的恐懼可追溯到他孩童時期的一次經驗。
●
mix A with B
將 A 與 B 混合
Mixthe flourwithmore water to make a soft dough.
把麵粉混合更多的水，這樣就可做出柔軟的麵團了。
●
catch on
流行起來
This new fashion trend is starting to catch on among teenagers.
這種新的時尚趨勢開始在青少年之間流行起來。
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differentiate between A and B
區別 A 和 B 的不同
= differentiate A from B
= tell A from B
= tell between A and B
●
vary from person to person
因人而異
Hobbies vary from person to person. Some people enjoy singing, while others like dancing.
嗜好因人而異。有些人喜歡唱歌,而另一些人喜歡跳舞。
