Compared todogs, cats are mysterious animals. One thing that has been especially hard to understand about them is their love for boxes. Give a cat a box, and they are happy creaturesfor hours. You might not believe this if you don’t have a cat, so check out the internet. It’s filled withall kinds of funny videos of __1__ cats playinghappily with cardboard boxes. The question is why do felinesenjoy these __2__ so much? The fascination that cats have for boxes has puzzled many people, including those who do __3__ on animals. There are several theories that try to explain it.
One is that cardboard boxes provide __4__ comfort for cats. For one thing, they have a somewhat soft surface for them to lie on. For another, a cardboard box provides an extrabit of warmth that cats love, especially when the weather is cooler. What’s more, cats also enjoy the __5__ of cardboard boxes. They are soft enough for them to bite, chew on, and scratch.
Another big reason cats like cardboard boxes has to do withtheir natural __6__. They like to surprise other animals and jump on them. A box allows them to hide and pounceonanyone or anything that walks by them while they are in a box. The __7__ space also makes them feel safe because another animal can’t sneak up on them from behind while they are in the carton. This sense of __8__ helps cats feel less anxious and get used tonew situations more quickly, as a Dutch study suggests.
Researchers from a Dutch university __9__ an experiment by giving half of the catsin an animal shelter boxes while not giving any to the other cats there. They discovered the cats given boxes had less stress than the other group and __10__ better to their new surroundings. As you can see, there are many reasons why cats love boxes.
(F) research (G) adapted (H) containers (I) texture (J) conducted
答案: 1.D 2.H 3.F 4.B 5.I 6.A 7.C 8.E 9.J 10.G
↓ 完整文章版本（無挖空）
Compared todogs, cats are mysterious animals. One thing that has been especially hard to understand about them is their love for boxes. Give a cat a box, and they are happy creaturesfor hours. You might not believe this if you don’t have a cat, so check out the internet. It’s filled withall kinds of funny videos of cute cats playinghappily with cardboard boxes. The question is why do felinesenjoy these containers so much? The fascination that cats have for boxes has puzzled many people, including those who do research on animals. There are several theories that try to explain it.
One is that cardboard boxes provide physical comfort for cats. For one thing, they have a somewhat soft surface for them to lie on. For another, a cardboard box provides an extrabit of warmth that cats love, especially when the weather is cooler. What’s more, cats also enjoy the texture of cardboard boxes. They are soft enough for them to bite, chew on, and scratch.
Another big reason cats like cardboard boxes has to do withtheir natural instincts. They like to surprise other animals and jump on them. A box allows them to hide and pounceonanyone or anything that walks by them while they are in a box. The enclosed space also makes them feel safe because another animal can’t sneak up on them from behind while they are in the carton. This sense of security helps cats feel less anxious and get used tonew situations more quickly, as a Dutch study suggests.
Researchers from a Dutch university conducted an experiment by giving half of the catsin an animal shelter boxes while not giving any to the other cats there. They discovered the cats given boxes had less stress than the other group and adapted better to their new surroundings. As you can see, there are many reasons why cats love boxes.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
mysterious
[mɪsˋtɪrɪəs]
a. 神祕的
=
mythical
David Copperfield’s magic was so mysterious that everyone was amazed.
大衛•考柏菲的魔術很神祕，讓每個人都很著迷。
高中 Level 4
●
creature
[ˋkritʃɚ]
n. 生物
=
living thing
Humans are creatures of habit.
人類是慣性動物。
高中 Level 3
●
fascination
[͵fæsnˋeʃən]
n. . 迷戀，著迷
The children watched the magic show in fascination.
孩子們著迷地看著這場魔術表演。
高中 Level 6
●
puzzle
[ˋpʌz!]
vt. & vi. （使）困惑
n. （遊戲的）謎；難以理解的事，謎
=
confusion
It took Eric four hours to solve the crossword puzzle.
艾瑞克花了 4 小時才解開這個字謎遊戲。
How pyramids were built is still a puzzle.
金字塔是如何建造的仍是個謎。
This question puzzles me a lot. Maybe I should ask the teacher.
這問題讓我很困惑。或許我該去問老師。
Jim has been puzzling over the math question for
two days.
這數學問題讓吉姆苦思了 2 天。
高中 Level 2
●
theory
[ˋθiərɪ]
n. 學說；理論
Many scientists believe the theory that the universe is getting larger.
很多科學家相信宇宙正在變大的這個說法。
Developing a theory and proving it are very different things.
研發一套理論和加以證實是兩碼事。
Well, that sounds good intheory, but I don’t know if it will work in practice.
嗯，那在理論上聽起來不錯，但我不知道它實際上是否可行。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
somewhat
[ˋsʌm͵(h)wɑt]
adv. 有點；稍微
After working all day, I was somewhat tired.
工作了一天後，我有點累了。
高中 Level 2
●
surface
[ˋsɝfɪs]
n. 表面
vi. 浮出水面
The surface of the table was covered with dirt.
桌子的表面布滿灰塵。
I could see my feet beneath the surface of the clear water.
我能看見我的腳在清澈的水面下。
Tammy swam the length of the pool and thens urfaced.
塔米游完泳池長度後，就浮出了水面。
多益藍色
英檢初級
高中 Level 2
●
scratch
[skrætʃ]
.vt. 抓、刮、擦
n. 抓痕
If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.
如果你抓我的背，我也會抓你的。⸺諺語，喻如果你幫助我，我也會幫助你。
It’s only a scratch. It’ll heal very soon.
這只是抓傷而已。它很快就會好了。
The old man built his business up from scratch.
老先生白手起家，創立了他的事業。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
sneak
[snik]
vi. 偷偷地走
n. 偷偷摸摸的人
vt. 偷拿
三態
sneak / sneaked, snuck [snʌk] / snuck [snʌk]
Tom sneaked into the classroom in the middle of a lecture without being noticed.
湯姆在課上到一半時偷偷溜進教室沒被發現。
Customers are not allowed to sneak outside food into the movie theater.
電影院不准許顧客把外食偷偷帶進去。
高中 Level 5
●
anxious
[ˋæŋkʃəs]
a. 焦慮的；渴望的
=
worried
=
apprehensive
=
longing
=
eager
Today, more than ever, college students are anxious about their future.
今日，更甚於以往，大學生對前途感到焦慮不安。
The government is anxious to improve the investment environment.
政府迫切想改善投資環境。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
experiment
[ɪkˋspɛrəmənt]
n. & vi. 實驗，試驗
This product is the result of long experiments.
這個產品是長期實驗的結果
The group opposed any experiments on living animals.
該團體反對用動物活體做任何的實驗。
Some researchers were experimenting on the rabbits.
一些研究人員正在對那些兔子做實驗。
This time I’ll experiment with a different chemical.
這次我要用不同的化學藥劑做實驗。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
surroundings
[səˋraʊndɪŋz]
n. （住處）環境（恆用複數）
=
environment
=
circumstances
It took me a couple of days to get used to my new surroundings.
我花了好幾天才習慣新的環境。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
cardboard
[ˋkɑrd͵bord]
n.
. 硬紙板
=
cupboard
Old newspapers can be recycled and then made into cardboard boxes.
舊報紙可以回收再做成紙箱。
高中 Level 6
●
feline
[ˋfilaɪn]
a. 貓科動物的
●
pounce
[paʊns]
vi. 猛撲
●
carton
[ˋkɑrtn]
n. . （裝食物或飲料的）紙盒，塑膠盒
Nutritional information must be labeled on milk cartons.
牛奶盒上必須標明營養成分。
Amanda gave her young daughter a carton of juice to
drink.
亞曼達給她小女兒一盒果汁喝。
高中 Level 6
Practical Phrases
●
compare with / to...
比較……
Compared with my plain boxed meal, Becky’s seemed like a great delicacy. 和我很普通的便當相比，貝琪的便當看起來是山珍海味。
●
be filled with...
滿溢著……，充滿……
= overflow with...
= brim with...
= be full of...
My heart was filled with joy when I saw my old friend again.
再次見到老友時，我的內心充滿喜悅。
●
for one thing, ... for another, ...
首先 / 一方面......，再者 / 另一方面......
For one thing, milk is good for your bones; for another, it’s rich in protein.
一方面，牛奶對骨骼有益;另一方面，它富含蛋白質。
●
chew on
咀嚼／咬⋯⋯
Dogs need leathery things to chew on to improve their oral hygiene.
狗狗需要嚼堅韌的東西來促進口腔衛生。
●
get used to + N/V-ing
適應／習慣於⋯⋯
It took Rita a long time to get used to country life.
瑞塔花了好長一段時間才適應鄉村生活。
●
For one thing, S + V
首先／一方面⋯⋯
You should think twice before you accept the job. For one thing, the pay is not ideal. For another, the commute is long.
你在接受那份工作前最好再想想。一方面，薪水不是很理想。另一方面，通勤時間很長。
7. The enclosed space also makes them feel safe because another animal can’t sneak up on them from behind while they are in the carton.
理由
a. 空格前有定冠詞 The，而空格後有名詞 space (空間)，故知空格應置入形容詞以修飾 space。
b. 選項中僅剩 (C) enclosed 符合條件，置入後表紙 箱「密閉的」空間也讓貓咪覺得安全，因為當牠 們躲在紙箱時，其他動物就無法從背後偷偷靠近牠 們，故選之。
8. This sense of security helps cats feel less anxious and get used to new situations more quickly, as a Dutch study suggests.
理由 由
a. 空格前有介詞 of，而空格後有動詞 helps(幫 助)，故知空格應置入名詞。
b. 選項中僅剩 (E) security 符合條件，置入後表有個 荷蘭的研究證實，這樣的「安全」感有助於減少貓 咪的焦慮感，並且讓牠們可以更快習慣新的情況， 故選之。
9. Researchers from a Dutch university conducted an experiment by giving half of the cats in an animal shelter boxes while not giving any to the other cats there.
理由
a. 空格前有名詞詞組Researchers from a Dutch university(來自荷蘭一所大學的研究人員)，而空格後亦有名詞詞組an experiment(一項實驗)，且根據本段時態，故知空格應置入過去式及物動詞。
b. 選項中尚有 (G) adapted 及 (J) conducted 符合 條件，根據語意，來自荷蘭一所大學的研究人員 「進行」了一項實驗，他們將紙箱給了動物收容所裡一半的貓咪，而另一半的貓咪則沒有紙箱， 可知答案應選 (J)，置入後亦符合 “conduct an experiment” 的用法。
10. They discovered the cats given boxes had less stress than the other group and adapted better to their new surroundings.
理由
a. 空格位在 that 引導的名詞子句中(that 省略)，子 句中的主詞為 the cats given boxes(有紙箱的貓 咪)，其後有動詞 had 及對等連接詞and，且空格 後有介詞 to，故知空格應置入過去式不及物動詞， 以和 had 形成對等。
