The nation of Japan provides some interesting examples of government-approved street art—specifically, manhole covers. In most countries, iron manhole covers are not considered a canvas to display artwork. Japan, however, is a notableexception. Urban areas across the country are dotted withmanhole covers sporting unique designs that represent the local culture and identity of each region.
Japan began installingsewer systemsin the early 1900s; however, the idea to decoratemanhole covers didn’t come aboutuntil the 1980s. In that decade, the country began to get rid ofabove-ground fire hydrantsto create more space on streets. The underground fire hydrant system then required countless new manhole covers to be made. The trend for local municipalitiesto design their own covers began in Nagoya, and it quickly spread across the country. There are thought to be over 6,000 unique manhole cover designs across Japan, and new designs continue to be introduced frequently.
While some manhole covers have simple geometricdesigns, others have detailed artwork and vibrant colors. Some of the most common designs include trees or flowers.Many governments also like to feature local landmarks or regional products on their manhole covers. There are also plenty of covers featuring cartoon characters or local city mascots. In 2018, some local governments began working with The Pokémon Company to create Poké Lids, manhole covers with images of Pokémon characters on them.
A unique manhole cover can help draw attention tolocal tourist sites orlesser-known areas. Groups of people known as “drainspotters” go exploring to find and photograph these unique manhole covers. There is even the Japanese Society of Manhole Covers that manages a website which aims tocatalog all of the unique designs found throughout Japan.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is true?
(A) Japan renewed all of its manhole covers in the 1980s.
(B) Japan has thousands of different manhole cover designs.
(C) Japanese artists founded the Society of Manhole Covers.
(D) Japanese cities are strongly against decorativemanhole covers.
2. What is the main purpose of the third paragraph?
(A) To introduce common designs for manhole covers.
(B) To reveal the rarest manhole covers in Japan.
(C) To explain how manhole covers are made.
(D) To discuss the history of manhole covers.
3. Which of the following people might be a drainspotter, according to the passage?
(A) Roy, who helps design and make manhole covers.
(B) Anna, who clears up dirty manhole covers every day.
(C) Dylan, who examines and fixes broken manhole covers.
(D) Lisa, who travels around Japan and takes pictures of manhole covers.
4. If the following sentence were to be included in the passage, where should it be placed?
A government official named Yasutake Kameda introduced the idea in 1985 to help raise awareness of the need to update the country’s sewer systems.
(A) Paragraph 1.
(B) Paragraph 2.
(C) Paragraph 3.
(D) Paragraph 4.
答案:1 B 2 A 3 D 4 B
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
artistry
[ˋɑrtɪstrɪ]
n. 藝術才華；創作天分
●
manhole
[ˋmæn͵hol]
n. 人孔蓋
●
canvas
[ˋkænvəs]
n. 帆布；油畫（布）
vt. 用帆布覆蓋
三態
canvas / canvassed / canvassed
I bought a canvas bag for Serene as her birthday present.
我買了一個帆布袋給瑟琳做生日禮物。
The museum has a collection of canvases by Salvador Dali.
博物館收藏了若干薩爾瓦多•達利的帆布畫作。
To save money, the shelter was made by canvassing over a wooden frame.
為了省錢，這個棲身處是用帆布蓋在木頭架上搭建而成。
高中 Level 5
●
notable
[ˋnotəb!]
a. . 值得注意的
The Mona Lisa is one of the notable paintings on display at the Louvre museum.
《蒙娜麗莎》是羅浮宮展出的著名畫作之一。
Among the notables at the event were several Hollywood actors, some popular singers, and a few
politicians.
此活動中的名人包括幾位好萊塢演員、一些流行歌手和幾位
政治人物。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
●
sewer
[ˋsuɚ]
n. 下水道
●
hydrant
[ˋhaɪdrənt]
n. 消防栓
●
municipality
[mju͵nɪsəˋpælətɪ]
n. 市，自治市
●
geometric
[dʒɪəˋmɛtrɪk]
a. 幾何的
●
mascot
[ˋmæskət]
n. 吉祥物
●
approved
[əˋpruvd]
a. 經過批准／核准的
All government-approved medicine should be labeled with a certain mark.
所有政府核准的藥品應該都要有特定標示。
英檢中級
●
specifically
[spɪˋsɪfɪk!ɪ]
adv. 尤其，特別地
=
specially
=
particularly
The doctor warned Mark specifically not to eat eggs.
醫生特別警告馬克不要吃蛋。
高中 Level 3
●
exception
[ɪkˋsɛpʃən]
n. 例外，除外
There is no rule without exceptions.
所有規則皆有例外。
Most boys in that school like football, but my
son is an exception.
那間學校大部分男孩都喜歡足球，但我兒子卻是個例外。
With the exception of his ill temper, John is quite a nice person.
約翰除了脾氣壞之外，為人倒是挺不錯的。
Except for his ill temper, John is quite a nice person.
約翰除了脾氣壞之外，為人倒是挺不錯的。
高中 Level 4
●
sport
[sport]
n. 運動
vt. 引人注目地穿戴
I like to play all kinds of sports, especially volleyball.
我喜歡玩各種運動，尤其是排球。
Rose walked into the room, sporting a brand-new designer hat.
蘿絲走進房間，戴著一頂全新的名牌帽子。
高中 Level 2
●
install
[ɪnˋstɔl]
.vt. 裝設，安裝；使就任（此意多用被動語態）
We have installed central heating in that building.
我們在那棟大樓安裝了中央暖氣系統。
Mr. Pike was installed as mayor yesterday.
派克先生昨天就任市長。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
decorate
[ˋdɛkə͵ret]
vt. 裝飾
Ken decorated his bedroom with his favorite band’s posters.
肯用他最喜歡的樂團的海報布置他的房間。
The small table was decorated with roses.
這張小桌子以玫瑰花裝飾著。
多益綠色
英檢初級
高中 Level 3
●
catalog
[ˋkætəlɔg]
.vt. 為……編目
n. （商品）型錄（= catalogue〔英〕）
Please refer to our catalog for a complete list of our products.
我們完整的商品明細請參照我們的型錄。
It was Helen’s job to catalog all of the merchandise.
海倫的職務是替所有的商品編目。
高中 Level 4
●
photograph
[ˋfotə͵græf]
n. 照片（= photo [ `foto ]）
vt. 拍攝，照相
=
picture
I took some photographs in front of the tower.
我在高塔前拍了幾張相片。
We photographed a lot of beautiful scenery during our trip.
旅途中我們拍了很多美景的照片。
高中 Level 1
●
landmark
[ˋlænd͵mɑrk]
n. 地標；重要，重大（僅置名詞前）
The Statue of Liberty is a famous landmark in New York City.
自由女神像是紐約市著名的地標。
The government made a landmark decision
to build an industrial park in this area.
政府做出重大決定要在該區興建一座工業園區。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
vibrant
[ˋvaɪbrənt]
a. 充滿活力的，活躍的
The city is a vibrant commercial center that
attracts many people to work.
那座城市是活躍的商業中心，吸引許多人在該地工作。
●
detailed
[ˋdiˋteld]
a. 詳盡的
The detailed report includes all the information needed.
那份詳盡的報告包含所有需要的資訊。
●
frequently
[ˋfrikwəntlɪ]
adv. 經常地，再三地
Haley frequently goes hiking because she loves being outdoors.
因為海莉很喜歡行在戶外，所以她經常去健行。
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
Practical Phrases
●
a sewer system
下水道系統
●
be dotted with...
布滿著……，有很多……
The night sky was dotted with shining stars.
夜空布滿著閃爍的星星。
●
come about
出現，產生
Hostels came about because of the need for affordable places to stay while traveling.
青年旅社的出現是因為在旅行時需要有負擔得起的落腳處。
●
get rid of...
避開⋯，擺脫⋯
= ward off...
For me, singing at a KTV with friends is the best way to get rid of depression.
對我來說，和朋友去 KTV 唱歌是擺脫沮喪最好的方法。
●
draw attention to
使人關注⋯⋯
The documentary was well-received and drew attention to the problem of illiteracy.
這部深受歡迎的紀錄片使人們注意到文盲問題。
●
aim to
打算做……
Richard aims to retire before he is fifty.
理查打算在 50 歲前退休。
