Pac-Man is by farone of the most recognizable video game characters in history. That is in large partbecause he was the first character to ever appear in a video game, making him the “grandfather of all video game characters.” Pac-Man was first introduced in Japan on May 22, 1980, with the release of the famous Pac-Manarcade game. The game is in many people’s memory of childhood and teenage years. Even today, up to six million players are still mad about it.
The name Pac-Man came from aJapanese expression, paku-paku taberu, which means to eat in a wild manner. The sound paku-pakumimics the sound of a person chompingtheir food. In English, the game was first called Puck Man butwas changed to Pac-Man before it was launched in the US.
The game was created by Toru Iwatani, a Japanese video game designer. Hoping to make a game that would appeal toboth men and women, Iwatani decidedthe focus of the game should be on eating, something that everyone canrelate to. Even Pac-Man’s shape is based on food. The inspiration for Pac-Man’s character came from a pizza with a single sliceremoved. The space where the slice was missing became the character’s mouth.
In the video game, players must travel through a mazeand eat dots of energy while avoiding the ghosts that roamthepassageways. If one of the ghosts, who are named Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde, catches Pac-Man, then the player loses a life. While the concept is simple, finishing the game is anything buteasy. In fact, the originalPac-Man can’t even be completed because of a glitchon the 256th level!
What Did You Learn?
1. Why did the creator of Pac-Man focus the game on eating?
2. What is the objective of the Pac-Man game?
參考答案：
1. To appeal to both men and women.
2. To travel through a maze and eat dots of energy while avoiding the (four) ghosts (that roam the passageways).
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
legacy
[ˋlɛgəsi]
n. 遺產；歷史遺產
The legacy that Milly was left by her father was enough for her to pay all her debts.
米莉的父親留給她的遺產夠她還清所有債務。
The presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt left a legacy of social programs for the American people.
富蘭克林•德拉諾•羅斯福任職總統期間為美國人民留下了社會福利的制度。
高中 Level 5
●
recognizable
[ˋrɛkəg͵naɪzəb!]
a. 可分辨的，認得出的
Born in Italy more than four centuries ago, opera is one of the most recognizable and influential art forms in the world.
歌劇創於義大利已超過四個世紀之久，它是世界上最具辨識性且最具影響力的藝術類型之一。
●
release
[rɪˋlis]
vt. & n. 釋出，釋放（= let go of）；發行，發布
After ten years in prison, the prisoner was released this morning.
坐了 10 年牢後，那名囚犯今早獲釋。
The authorities concerned have released the names of those killed in the crash.
有關當局已發布這次空難的罹難者名單。
Simon’s good behavior earned him early release from prison.
賽門表現良好，因此可以提早出獄。
Marilyn Manson’s latest release again topped the charts.
瑪莉蓮．曼森發行的最新專輯再次橫掃排行榜冠軍。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
teenage
[ˋtin͵edʒ]
a. 青少年的（= teenaged[ˋtin͵edʒd]）
=
adolescent
My teenage daughter loves rock ‘n’ roll.
我正值青春期的女兒熱愛搖滾樂。
高中 Level 3
●
mimic
[ˋmɪmɪk]
vt. . 模仿
n. 善於模仿（他人或動物）的人
三態
mimicked [ `mɪmɪkt ] / mimicked [ `mɪmɪkt ]
=
copy
=
imitate
We all roared with laughter when Tom mimickedProf. Usher giving a lecture.
看見湯姆模仿厄許教授講課，我們全都大笑了起來。
Laura is an excellent mimic. Everyone thinks
it’s hilarious when she copies the voices and
mannerisms of our teachers.
蘿拉很會模仿。每個人都認為她學各個老師的聲音舉止都很
好笑。
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
●
launch
[lɔntʃ]
.vt. 發動（活動）；發射（火箭、飛彈）；發表（新書、新作品、新產品）
n. 發表會；（船）首次下水出航；（火箭）首次發射升空
三態
launched / launched
=
fire
To launch a legal demonstration, you must first obtain permission from the local government.
想要發起合法遊行，你們得先向地方政府申請許可。
The space shuttle exploded soon after it was launched.
太空梭發射不久後便爆炸了。
The troops launched missiles at the battleground, causing heavy casualties.
軍隊朝戰場發射了幾枚飛彈，造成嚴重的傷亡。
Emma plans to launch her new novel next year.
艾瑪計劃在明年推出新的小說。
The author herself will show up at the book launch ceremony.
作家本人會在她的新書發表會上現身。
The astronauts were strapped in before the launch.
太空人在火箭發射前繫好安全帶。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
inspiration
[͵ɪnspəˋreʃən]
n. 靈感；鼓舞人心的人（或事物）
Nicholas often draws inspiration from art exhibitions.
尼可拉斯常從藝術展覽汲取靈感。
Ordinary scenes are always a writer’s best source ofinspiration.
平凡的事件總是作家最佳的靈感來源。
高中 Level 4
●
slice
[slaɪs]
n. 一片
vt. 削，切
Jerry grabbed a slice of bread and then rushed to work.
傑瑞抓了片麵包後就匆匆去上班了。
Mom sliced some onions and dumped them into the cooking pot.
媽媽切了一些洋蔥然後丟進鍋裡。
多益棕色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
remove
[rɪˋmuv]
vt. 移開，除去
I removed a coffee stain from the shirt with a special cleanser.
我用一種特別的清潔劑把襯衫上的咖啡漬去掉了。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 2
●
concept
[ˋkɑnsɛpt]
n. 觀念，想法
It is difficult to grasp some of the concepts in Buddhism.
有些佛學的觀念很難理解。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
original
[əˋrɪdʒən!]
a. 原來的；原創的
n. 原著，原文
=
innovative
=
initial
The original plan was later changed. 最初的計畫後來有所更動。
Kelly has a very original idea.
凱莉有一個非常有創意的點子。
Have you read the original of the report?
這份報告的原文你看過了沒有？
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
by far + the + 最高級形容詞 (+ N)
顯而易見是最⋯⋯的
Always getting great grades, those people are by far the smartest students.
那些人總是考很好，顯然是最聰明的學生。
●
manner
[ˋmænɚ]
n. 方法；態度；禮貌（恆用複數）
=
way
=
attitude
The little girl answered her teacher’s question in a confident manner.
小女孩很有自信地回答了老師的問題。
Jill has changed her manner toward Michael.
吉兒已經改變了她對邁可的態度。
Why don’t the couple sitting at the table over there teach their children good manners?
坐那桌的夫妻怎麼不教他們的小孩要懂禮貌呢？
多益藍色
英檢初級
高中 Level 2
●
arcade
[ɑrˋked]
n. （兩旁有商店的）拱廊商業街
●
chomp
[tʃɑmp]
vt. （大聲）咀嚼
●
maze
[mez]
n. 迷宮
●
roam
[rom]
vt. & n. & vi. 漫步
=
wander
My father always says that the best way to experience
a new city is to simply roam.
我父親總是說，體驗一座新城市最好的方式就是去漫遊。
Every afternoon, the philosopher would roam about
the lake, contemplating life.
每天下午，這位哲學家會在湖邊散步，思考人生。
Betty and her friends roamed the streets of the new
city, wondering where they should go next.
貝蒂和她的朋友在新城市的街道上漫步，在想他們下個地方
要去哪裡。
I’m going for a roam around the village before
dinner. Would you like to join me?
晚餐前我要在村子裡晃晃。你想一起去嗎？
高中 Level 6
●
passageway
[ˋpæsɪdʒ͵we]
n. 通道，走廊
●
glitch
[glɪtʃ]
n. （設備、機器的）小故障
Practical Phrases
●
in large part
在很大程度上，主要
The success of the project was in large part due to good teamwork.
這項計畫的成功主要歸功於良好的團隊合作。
●
in a / an... manner
以⋯⋯的態度
Viola conducted the meeting in a very professional manner.
薇奧拉以十分專業的方式主持此次會議。
●
appeal to sb
吸引某人
I’m sure this program will appeal to children of all ages.
我相信這個節目一定可以吸引各年齡層的小朋友。
●
relate to...
對⋯⋯感同身受；認同⋯⋯、涉及⋯⋯、與⋯⋯有關
It's oftentimes very difficult to relate to my older brother.
我常常很難認同我哥哥。
This article relates to the topic of our discussion.
這則文章涉及我們討論的主題。
●
be anything but N/Adj.
一點也不／絕非⋯⋯
The title sounds dull, but the movie itself is anything but boring.
那個片名聽起來很無趣，但電影本身一點都不無聊。
