Human hair comes invarious sizes, lengths, colors, and textures. Some people grow long, straight hair, while others havehair that is curly and short. However, there is one group of people known for having hair that shares particular characteristics.
A definingtrait of people with African ancestryis having a head of thick hair that grows in tight coils. While features such as curls or thickness are found in people all around the world, it is the combination of these two traits that makes Africans relatively unique. However, thick and curly hair is actually quite fragile. The scalpproduces natural oil called sebum, which keeps our hair healthy. The tight curls on African people’s hair make ithard forthe oil tospread evenly. Thus, hair strands become dry and more brittle.
You might be wondering why people of African descent have such unique hair. The answer to this is all related to thehair follicle. A hair follicle is a tube-like structure (pore) in the top two layers of the skin that hair grows out of. The size, shape, and texture of a person’s hair arewholly determined bytheir hair follicles. For example, the larger the hair follicles, the thicker a person’s hair. Hair follicles with perfectly round openingsproducestraight hair. The more oblongthe openings of the hair follicles are, the curlier the hair will be. Thus, African people tend to have large hair follicles with very flat, ellipticalopenings.
Regardless ofwhether a person has hair that’s short, long, curly, or straight, we can all admire the beauty in the diversity of hair around the world.
1. Which are the hair characteristics associated with people of African descent?
(A) Long and thinhair.
(B) Thick and curly hair.
(C) Thin and light-colored hair.
(D) Long and dark-colored hair.
2. According to the passage, what are hair follicles?
(A) They are oils that coat hair.
(B) They are the pores that cause hair to grow.
(C) They are the organs that hair grows out of on the skin.
(D) They are the hormonesthat determine the color of hair.
3. What type of hair would a person with small oval-shaped hair follicles have?
(A) Fine and curly hair.
(B) Thick and curly hair.
(C) Fine and straight hair.
(D) Thick and straight hair.
4. What can we infer about hair characteristics from the passage?
(A) The amount of sebum the scalp produces depends on the diameter
(B) It is the flat follicles that make African people’s hair delicate.
(C) Straight hair allows sebum to spread more evenly.
(D) Hair follicles play a vital role in protecting hair.
This scarf is made of 100 percent cashmere and has a very smooth texture.
這條圍巾是 100% 喀什米爾毛料做成，觸感非常柔軟。
The baker used a knife to texture the icing on the cake into an unusual pattern.
烘焙師傅用刀子將蛋糕上的糖霜刷成不尋常的紋路。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
curly
[ˋkɝlɪ]
a. 捲曲的
多益綠色
●
curl
[kɝl]
n. （一根）捲髮
vt. 使捲曲
One colleague of mine has nice, long curls.
我的一位同事有一頭漂亮的長捲髮。
The hairdresser curled Kathy’s hair and styled it for the wedding.
髮型師為凱西的婚禮將她的頭髮弄捲並做造型。
高中 Level 4
●
characteristic
[͵kærəktəˋrɪstɪk]
a. 典型的（皆與介詞 of 並用）
n. 特徵
Genes determine the characteristics of every living thing.
基因決定了每樣生物的種種特徵。
This usage is characteristic of American English.
這種用法是美式英語的特徵。
This kind of hot and spicy food is very characteristic of the food in the country.
這種辛辣食物是該國非常典型的食物。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
defining
[dɪˈfɑɪnɪŋ]
adj. 關鍵的，決定性的
This significant event will be a defining one in our history.
這個意義重大的事件會是我們歷史上的關鍵事件。
●
trait
[tret]
n. 特質，特點
=
attribute
=
characteristic
Arrogance and laziness are two of Bill’s most annoying personality traits.
傲慢和懶散是比爾最令人討厭的其中兩項人格特質。
高中 Level 5
●
combination
[͵kɑmbəˋneʃən]
n. 結合，聯合
This accident resulted from a combination of errors.
許多錯誤的結合導致了這個意外。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
fragile
[ˋfrædʒəl]
n. 優先考慮的事（可數）；優先權（不可數）
You need to get your priorities right / straight so you can get things done on time.
你得搞清楚事情的優先順序，以便能把事情準時完成。
Our top priority is to improve quality control on the assembly line.
我們的首要任務就是提升裝配線上的品質控管。
Pedestrians at intersections have priority over vehicles.
相較於車輛，行人在十字路口有優先權。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 4
●
evenly
[ˋivənlɪ]
adv. 均勻地；平均地
The butter was spread evenly on the bread.
奶油被均勻地抹在這片麵包上。
英檢中級
●
strand
[strænd]
n. 一股 / 縷 (線、頭髮)
vt. 使擱淺
=
beach
Peter brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, cleared his throat, and began to speak.
彼得撥開前額上的一撮頭髮，清了清喉嚨，開始演講。
The ship was stranded by a typhoon; fortunately, all the crew members were rescued.
這艘船因颱風而擱淺，所幸所有船員都獲救了。
高中 Level 5
●
descent
[dɪˋsɛnt]
n. . 下降；血統
Our flight will begin its descentto the airport in 30
minutes.
我們的班機將於 30 分鐘後開始要降落到機場。
The descent from the top of the mountain took the
hikers a surprisingly long time. 從山頂上走下來所花的時間出乎意料地花了這些健行者很
長的時間。
The majority of the students in our class areof Asian descent.
我們班上大部分的學生都是亞裔人
高中 Level 6
●
diversity
[daɪˋvɝsətɪ]
n. 多樣性；差異
=
variety
The makeup of the government does not reflect the ethnic diversity of the country.
該政府的組成結構並未反映出該國的種族多樣性。
A wide diversity of ideas was presented at the meeting as to how to raise funds for the new school.
會議上提出了關於如何募款蓋新學校各種想法。
高中 Level 4
●
delicate
[ˋdɛləkət]
a. 脆弱的；精緻的
=
weak
The eye is a rather delicate organ.
眼睛是很脆弱的器官。
Jonathan gave me a set of delicate china teacups for my birthday.
喬納森送了我一組精緻的陶瓷茶杯作為生日禮物。
高中 Level 4
●
ancestry
[ˋænsɛstrɪ]
n. 血統；祖先（總稱）
Jeff’s wife is an American of Italian ancestry.
傑夫的太太是義大利裔美國人。
●
coil
[kɔɪl]
n. 線圈（本文指像線圈般密集的捲髮）
英檢中高
●
scalp
[skælp]
n. 頭皮
●
sebum
[ˋsibəm]
n. 皮脂
●
brittle
[ˋbrɪt!]
a. 脆的，易碎的
英檢中高
●
follicle
[ˋfɑlɪk!]
n. 毛囊
●
pore
[por]
n. 毛孔
英檢中高
●
opening
[ˋopənɪŋ]
n. 孔洞；開場
●
oblong
[ˋɑbloŋ]
a. 橢圓形的
英檢中高
●
elliptical
[ɪˋlɪptɪk!]
a. 橢圓（形）的
●
thin
[θɪn]
adj. 薄的；瘦的；稀的；稀疏的
=
slim
The road is covered with a thin layer of ice.
馬路覆蓋著一層薄冰。
That thin, young actress used to be a model.
那位瘦瘦的年輕女演員以前曾是個模特兒。
The sick man could only manage to eat thin broth.
這名生病的男子只能勉強喝一些稀湯。
People noticed that Nick’s hair was thin on top.
大家注意到尼克頭頂的頭髮很稀疏。
I’ll support you through thick and thin. 不論你得意或失意，我都會挺你。
多益棕色
英檢初級
高中 Level 1
●
hormone
[ˋhɔrmon]
n. 荷爾蒙
Symptoms of hormone imbalance in women may be early signs of many things, such as pregnancy or the onset of menopause.
女性體內荷爾蒙不均衡的症狀可能是許多事的前兆，像是懷孕或是更年期的開始。
高中 Level 5
●
oval
[ˋov!]
a. 卵形的，橢圓形的
n. 橢圓
The most famous room in the White House is the Oval Office.
白宮最著名的辦公室就是橢圓形辦公室。
The designer shaped the seat like an oval.
設計師把椅子設計成橢圓形。
高中 Level 4
●
diameter
[daɪˋæmətɚ]
n. 直徑
The diameter of this circle is 5 cm.
這個圓的直徑是 5 公分。
This circle is 5 cm in diameter.
這個圓的直徑是 5 公分。
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
determined
[dɪˋtɝmɪnd]
a. 有決心的
I’m determined to quit gambling.
我已下定決心要戒賭。
高中 Level 3
Practical Phrases
●
come in
某物有⋯⋯的顏色／尺寸
The shirt comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large.
這款襯衫有三種尺寸：小、中和大。
●
make it + N/Adj. + for sb/sth + to V
使（做）⋯⋯對某人／某物而言變得⋯⋯
My motorcycle makes it easier for me to travel between school and my home.
機車讓我往返學校和家裡變得更容易。
●
be determined by...
取決於⋯⋯，由⋯⋯決定
The price of fresh seafood is determined by the fishermen.
新鮮海鮮的價格由漁夫決定。
●
regardless of
不論……、無論、儘管
Everyone is required to attend the meeting regardless of the typhoon. 儘管有颱風，每個人還是被要求出席會議。
