The Eurovision Song Contest, often referred to as Eurovision for short, is an annual competition among musical artists who are specially selected to represent their countries. Every May, the event rounds off with a grand finale◆, where each artist is invited to perform one __1__ song. The winner is then selected through a voting process that totals up votes from television viewers and those from professional juries◆ for each participating country. However, neither the viewers nor the juries can select their own country’s artist. This year, the grand finale will take place in the Netherlands. With Dutch singer-songwriter◆ Duncan Laurence winning last year’s competition, the country __2__ became the host nation for the 2020 contest. This year’s contest __3__ the 65th time the event has been held. Of the over 50 countries that are __4__ for participation, 41 will participate. Eurovision has been broadcast on television and radio ever since its first edition in 1956. With audience numbers having __5__ 600 million, Eurovision is one of the most widely viewed programs worldwide that does not center on sports. Although participation is __6__ to Eurasian◆ nations, some exceptions do exist. For example, the North African country of Morocco joined the event in 1980, and Australia has been allowed to __7__ since 2015. Topping the Eurovision leaderboard with the most wins is Ireland, with a total of seven __8__. The country famously won four out of five contests from 1992 to 1996 and became the first country to win three times __9__. Over the years, the Eurovision Song Contest has kick-started the __10__ of many artists who have gone on to greater success. Examples include Swedish pop group ABBA, who won in 1974, and Canadian singer Celine Dion, who was victorious for Switzerland in 1988 after performing a song written by a Swiss songwriter. (A) marks (B) compete (C) original (D) serves (E) in a row (F) victories (G) eligible (H) surpassed (I) restricted (J) volunteer (K) careers (L) automatically
◆ springboard n.（有助於開展某事的）開端∕出發點；（跳水、體操等運動的）跳板 ◆ a grand finale 總決賽；大結局
finale n. 終場，結尾 ◆ jury n.（競賽的）評審團；陪審團 ◆ singer-songwriter 創作歌手
songwriter n. 詞曲作家 ◆ Eurasian a. 歐亞大陸的；與歐洲和亞洲有關的 ◆ leaderboard n. 排行榜
(A) mark vt. 標誌，代表 &
vt. & vi.（使）留下痕跡 & n. 記號；汙點
• The signing of that peace treaty marked a milestone in the relations of the two countries.
那項和平協定的簽署標誌著這兩國關係的里程碑。
(B) compete vi. 比賽，競爭
compete with sb 與某人競爭
• Jane had to compete with six other people for the job.
阿珍必須和其他六個人競爭這份工作。
(C) original a. 原創的；原來的 &
n. 原作，原版，原稿
• Is this design your original idea? I seem to have seen something similar.
這個設計是你獨創的點子嗎？我似乎看過類似的東西。
(D) serve vi. 服務；盡職責 &
vt. 供應（飯菜、食物）& n.（網球、排球等）發球
• Peter has been serving in the army for 10 years.
彼得在軍中服役已有十年之久。
(E) in a row 連續地（與數字並用）
• That famous singer’s new single has topped the charts three weeks in a row.
該知名歌手的新單曲連續三週高居排行榜冠軍。
(F) victory n. 勝利
declare (a) victory 宣告勝利
• The candidate declared (a) victory two hours after the election.
選舉結束兩小時後，這位候選人就宣告勝利。
(G) eligible a. 有資格的，合格的
be eligible for sth 有資格得到某物
• Anyone who finds my lost dog will be eligible for a cash reward.
任何找到我走失小狗的人將有資格獲得一筆獎金。
(H) surpass vt. 超過，勝過
• Emmy surpassed her parents’ expectations by getting accepted into a national university.
艾美被國立大學錄取，超出了父母的期望。
(I) restricted a. 限定的，限制的
be restricted to N/V-ing 僅限於……
restrict vt. 限制，約束
• Entrance into this fancy social club is restricted to members only.
這家高檔的社交俱樂部只有會員能進入。
(J) volunteer n. 志工，義工 & vi. 做志工；自願做 & vt. 主動提供 & a. 自願的；志工的
• Being a volunteer is one way to contribute to society.
當志工是對社會有所奉獻的一種方法。
(K) career n. 職涯，（終身）職業
• Lucy started out with a career as an interior designer.
露西一開始的職業是室內設計師。
(L) automatically adv. 自動地
• The device can be programmed to record all the TV shows you like automatically.
這個裝置可以設定成自動錄下所有你喜歡的電視節目。
1. Every May, the event rounds off with a grand finale, where each artist is invited to perform one original song. 理由 a. 空格前有數量形容詞 one（一首），而空格後有名詞 song（歌曲），故知空格應置入形容詞以修飾 song。
b. 選項中有 (C) original、(G) eligible、(I) restricted 及 (J) volunteer 符合條件，根據語意，每位歌手在總決賽時會被邀請表演一首「原創」歌曲，可知答案應選 (C)。
2. With Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence winning last year’s competition, the country automatically became the host nation for the 2020 contest. 理由 a. 空格前有名詞詞組 the country（該國），而空格後有連綴動詞 became（成為）及名詞詞組 the host nation（主辦國），故知空格應置入副詞或副詞片語以修飾 became。
b. 選項中有 (E) in a row 及 (L) automatically 符合條件，根據語意，在荷蘭創作歌手鄧肯．勞倫斯贏得去年的比賽後，該國「自動」成為 2020 年歐洲歌唱大賽的主辦國，可知答案應選 (L)。
3. This year’s contest marks the 65th time the event has been held. 理由 a. 空格前有名詞詞組 This year’s contest（今年的比賽），而空格後有名詞詞組 the 65th time（第六十五次），故知空格應置入第三人稱單數及物動詞。
b. 選項中有 (A) marks、(D) serves、(H) surpassed 及 (I) restricted 符合條件，根據語意，今年的比賽是該賽事的第六十五屆，也就是今年的比賽「標誌」該賽事已舉辦了第六十五次，故答案應選 (A)。
4. Of the over 50 countries that are eligible for participation, 41 will participate. 理由 a. 空格前有 be 動詞 are，而空格後有介詞 for，故知空格應置入形容詞、分詞、名詞或介詞片語。
b. 剩餘選項除了 (B) compete 外皆符合條件，根據語意，在五十多個「擁有」參賽「資格的」國家中，有四十一國將會參加，且符合 “be eligible for sth” 的用法，可知答案應選 (G)。
5. With audience numbers having surpassed 600 million, Eurovision is one of the most widely viewed programs worldwide that does not center on sports. 理由 a. 空格前有完成式助動詞 having，而空格後有數量詞 600 million（六億），故知空格應置入及物動詞的過去分詞形。
b. 選項中有 (H) surpassed 及 (I) restricted 符合條件，根據語意，歐洲歌唱大賽的觀眾人數已「突破」六億人，可知答案應選 (H)。
c. 本句中 that 引導的形容詞子句修飾的先行詞為前面的 one。
6. Although participation is restricted to Eurasian nations, some exceptions do exist. 理由 a. 空格前有 be 動詞 is，而空格後有介詞 to，故知空格應置入形容詞、分詞、名詞或介詞片語。
b. 剩餘選項除了 (B) compete 外皆符合條件，根據語意，歐洲歌唱大賽「僅限」歐亞大陸國家參賽，且符合 “be restricted to N/V-ing” 的用法，可知答案應選 (I)。
7. For example, the North African country of Morocco joined the event in 1980, and Australia has been allowed to compete since 2015. 理由 a. 空格前有引導不定詞片語的 to，而空格後有介詞片語 since 2015（自 2015 年），故知空格應置入原形不及物動詞。
b. 選項中有 (B) compete 及 (J) volunteer 符合條件，根據語意，北非國家摩洛哥於 1980 年參賽，澳洲自 2015 年起也被允許「參賽」，可知答案應選 (B)。
8. Topping the Eurovision leaderboard with the most wins is Ireland, with a total of seven victories. 理由 a. 空格前有數量形容詞 seven（七次），故知空格應置入複數名詞。
b. 選項中尚有 (D) serves、(F) victories 及 (K) careers 符合條件，根據語意，愛爾蘭總共贏過七屆歐洲歌唱大賽，亦即該國共得到七次的「勝利」，故答案應選 (F)。
9. The country famously won four out of five contests from 1992 to 1996 and became the first country to win three times in a row. 理由 a. 空格所在之處為一完整子句，故知空格應置入副詞或副詞片語。
b. 選項中僅剩 (E) in a row 符合條件，置入後表愛爾蘭成為第一個「連續」三年獲勝的國家，且空格前有 three times（三次），符合 in a row 與數字並用的用法，可知答案應選 (E)。
10. Over the years, the Eurovision Song Contest has kick-started the careers of many artists... 理由 a. 空格前有定冠詞 the，而空格後有介詞 of，故知空格應置入名詞。
b. 剩餘選項皆符合條件，根據語意，歐洲歌唱大賽開啟了許多歌手的「職業生涯」，故答案應選 (K)。
1. be referred to as... 被稱為……
• The Amazon Rainforest is sometimes referred to as the lungs of the Earth.
亞馬遜雨林有時被稱為地球之肺。
2. for short 簡稱
• My name is Elizabeth, but you can call me Liz for short.
我的名字是伊莉莎白，但你可以簡稱我為莉茲。
3. round off(...) （使……）圓滿結束
• We rounded off the meal with some ice cream.
我們最後吃了一些冰淇淋來為這一餐畫下完美的句點。
4. total up... / total... up
把……相加，計算……的總和
• I totaled up the scores with a calculator.
我用計算機加總分數。
5. neither A nor B A 和 B 都不，既非 A 也非 B
either A or B 不是 A 就是 B
• Neither Al nor Joe went to the party last night.
艾爾和阿喬都沒去昨晚的派對。
• From the menu, you can choose either soup or salad as your side dish.
你可從菜單上選擇湯或沙拉作為配菜。
6. center on... 關於∕著重在……
• This article centers on the importance of preserving our environment.
這篇文章是關於維護我們環境的重要性。
7. a total of + 數字 總共……（數目）
• The company lost a total of US$2 million last year.
那家公司去年總共虧損兩百萬美元。
1. contest n. 比賽，競賽
• Mary aims to win the English speech contest.
瑪莉的目標是要贏得英語演講比賽。
2. participating a. 參加的
participation n. 參加，參與
participate vi. 參加，參與
participate in... 參加∕參與……
• Schedules were sent to each participating team a week prior to the competition.
賽程表在比賽前一週就已寄送給每支參賽隊伍。
• Our teacher said the grades are partly based on participation.
我們老師說成績的計算有部分是根據出席率。
• In order to participate in the competition, Rex trained for one year.
為了要參加那場比賽，雷克斯訓練了一年。
3. exception n. 例外
• It’s our duty to observe the law. No one should be an exception.
遵守法律是我們的職責。沒有人可以例外。
4. top vt. 居……之首；超過
• When it comes to hazardous careers, firefighters, police officers, and coal miners top the list.
談到危險職業，消防員、警察及礦工名列前茅。
＊hazardous a. 有危險的
5. famously adv. 出名地，有名地
infamously adv. 聲名狼藉地
• As Patrick Henry famously said, “Give me liberty, or give me death.”
派翠克．亨利說過這句名言：「不自由，毋寧死。」
• This factory was infamously known for using child labor.
這間工廠因使用童工而惡名昭彰。
6. kick-start vt. 啟動；促進
• The government hopes to kick-start the economy by drastically cutting taxes.
政府希望透過大幅減稅來刺激經濟。
7. victorious a. 勝利的
• The victorious team received a hero’s welcome when they returned home.
這支勝利隊伍凱旋歸來時，受到英雄式的歡迎。
