Strawberries are one of the fruits that signalthe start of winter. Although “berry” is included in the name, a strawberry isn’t actually a berry in the __1__ sense of the word. True berries, such as blueberries and cranberries, have seeds inside the fleshypart of the fruits. If you look at a strawberry, you’ll see what seem to be seeds on the outside of the fruit. This __2__ makes strawberriesfall intoa categoryknown as an aggregate fruit.
It’s easy to see where the __3__ comes from. In everyday language, almost any small, juicy, ediblefruit is called a berry by most people. This is why strawberries, along with other fruits like raspberries and blackberries, are commonly __4__ into the berry family, even though they don’t fit the main feature of a berry—having internal seeds.
Technically speaking, a berry is any fruit that has seeds and pulp produced from the ovary of a single flower. It’s also fleshy throughout, with the seeds __5__ within the flesh of the fruit. Believe it or not, by this definition, bananas and tomatoes __6__ as berries. Strawberries, however, develop from a flower with multiple ovaries. What we think of as the “fruit” is actually the enlarged receptacle of the flower. In fact, the tiny “seeds” __7__ on the outside are not seeds at all. They are the actual fruits of the plant, which are known as achenes.
Strawberries __8__ to a family of fruits called Rosaceae, which includes roses and other fruits like apples and pears. When it comes to __9__, strawberries are low in calories but rich in many essential vitamins and minerals. This makes them both a delicious and __10__ choice for an everyday diet. So, does it matter that a strawberry is not technically a berry? Of course not, unless you’re a scientist. The rest of us can just enjoy these juicy, delicious gifts of nature.
Strawberries are one of the fruits that signalthe start of winter. Although “berry” is included in the name, a strawberry isn’t actually a berry in the strictest sense of the word. True berries, such as blueberries and cranberries, have seeds inside the fleshypart of the fruits. If you look at a strawberry, you’ll see what seem to be seeds on the outside of the fruit. This characteristic makes strawberriesfall intoa categoryknown as an aggregate fruit.
It’s easy to see where the confusion comes from. In everyday language, almost any small, juicy, ediblefruit is called a berry by most people. This is why strawberries, along with other fruits like raspberries and blackberries, are commonly classified into the berry family, even though they don’t fit the main feature of a berry—having internal seeds.
Technically speaking, a berry is any fruit that has seeds and pulp produced from the ovary of a single flower. It’s also fleshy throughout, with the seeds enclosed within the flesh of the fruit. Believe it or not, by this definition, bananas and tomatoes qualify as berries. Strawberries, however, develop from a flower with multiple ovaries. What we think of as the “fruit” is actually the enlarged receptacle of the flower. In fact, the tiny “seeds” visible on the outside are not seeds at all. They are the actual fruits of the plant, which are known as achenes.
Strawberries belong to a family of fruits called Rosaceae, which includes roses and other fruits like apples and pears. When it comes to nutrition, strawberries are low in calories but rich in many essential vitamins and minerals. This makes them both a delicious and healthy choice for an everyday diet. So, does it matter that a strawberry is not technically a berry? Of course not, unless you’re a scientist. The rest of us can just enjoy these juicy, delicious gifts of nature.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
technically
[ˋtɛknɪk!ɪ]
adv. 嚴格說來
Stan and I are technically just acquaintances,not friends.
史坦和我嚴格說來只是認識的人，不是朋友。
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
believe
[bɪˋliv]
vt. & vi. 相信
vt. 認為
三態
believe / believed [bɪˋlivd] / believed [bɪˋlivd]
Do you believe that he is telling the truth?
你相信他在說實話嗎?
Michael doesn't believe in Santa Claus.
麥可不相信有聖誕老公公。
John believes that he will be president one day.
約翰認為他有一天會成為總統。
高中 Level 1
●
category
[ˋkætə͵gorɪ]
n. 種類；範疇
Head injuries fall into two categories: external and internal.
頭部傷害可分成兩個種類：外部和內部傷害。
多益藍色
英檢中高
高中 Level 4
●
curious
[ˋkjʊrɪəs]
adj. 好奇的；古怪的，不尋常的
=
strange
=
unusual
Scientists have always been curious about outer space.
科學家對於外太空始終充滿好奇。
It was curious that my talkative brother was so quiet today.
我那很愛說話的弟弟今天這麼安靜真的是很奇怪。
多益綠色
英檢初級
高中 Level 2
●
signal
[ˋsɪgn!]
vt. 發出信號
n. 號誌；信號
You must obey the traffic signals.
你必須遵守交通號誌。
The referee gave the signal to stop.
裁判做出停止的手勢。
The traffic cop signaled us to pull over.
交通警察對我們打手勢要我們靠邊停車。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
berry
[ˋbɛrɪ]
n. 莓，果子
Tom picked some berries from that bush and popped them into his mouth.
湯姆從樹叢裡採了一些果子塞進嘴裡。
高中 Level 3
●
fleshy
[ˋflɛʃɪ]
a. （水果）肉質多的
A berry is a fleshy fruit with a thin wall and many seeds.
莓果是有著薄外皮和許多籽、且果肉部分多的水果。
●
flesh
[flɛʃ]
n. （人或動物的）肉
Eating human flesh is considered barbarous.
吃人肉被認為很野蠻。
高中 Level 3
●
edible
[ˋɛdəb!]
a. . 可食用的
Some mushrooms are edible, while some are highly
poisonous.
有些蘑菇是可食用的，然而有些深具毒性。
高中 Level 6
●
definition
[͵dɛfəˋnɪʃən]
n. 定義；（錄音、電視等的）清晰度
There are several definitions listed under the word.
這個字底下列有好幾個定義。
I want a TV with better definition.
我要一臺解析度較高的電視機。
高中 Level 3
●
multiple
[ˋmʌltəp!]
a. 多重的，眾多的
Darren’s latest album consists of multiple versions of the same songs.
戴倫的最新專輯收錄了相同歌曲的許多版本。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
enlarged
[ɪnˋlɑrdʒd]
a. 加大的，放大的
The enlarged runway will enable jumbo jets to take off and land.
拓寬後的跑道將能使巨無霸噴射機在此起降。
●
essential
[ɪˋsɛnʃəl]
a. 必要的，不可或缺的
n. 要素，要點（常用複數）
Water and air are essential to us.
水和空氣對我們而言都是不可或缺的。
The teacher taught us the essentials of good health.
老師教導我們健康的要素。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
Extra Words
●
calorie
[ˋkælərɪ]
n. 卡路里
I can’t believe that Anna calculates how many calories she takes in every day.
我不敢相信安娜每天都會計算她攝取了多少卡路里。
高中 Level 4
●
vitamin
[ˋvaɪtəmɪn]
n. 維他命
Vitamin C is crucial for healthy gums. 維他命 C 對牙齦的健康很重要。
高中 Level 3
Practical Phrases
●
fall into
歸入／分為⋯⋯
Our customers fall into three main categories.
我們的顧客主要分為三種類型。
●
technically speaking
按理來說，嚴格來說
Technically speaking, the applicant is not qualified for the job. 嚴格說來，該應徵者不符合這項職位的資格。
●
Believe it or not, ...
信不信由你，⋯⋯
Believe it or not, this machine can make 100 copies in a minute. 信不信由你，這臺機器一分鐘可以影印一百張。
●
think of A as B
將 A 視為 B
= regard A as B
= see A as B
= view A as B
We think of Larry as the most intelligent student in class.
我們認為賴瑞是班上最聰明的學生。
●
think of sb/sth
認為某人 / 物；考慮做某事、想到⋯⋯
= consider
= think about / of...
What do you think of our new teacher?
你覺得我們的新老師怎麼樣？
Rick has been thinking of studying abroad next year.
= Rick has been thinking about studying abroad next year.
瑞克一直在考慮明年去留學。
We should think of a new way to raise money.
我們應該要想出一個新方法來籌錢。
2. This characteristic makes strawberries fall into a category known as an aggregate fruit.
理由
a. 空格前有指示形容詞 This，而空格後有動詞 makes，故知空格應置入單數名詞或不可數名詞以作本句主詞。
b. 選項中有 (G) confusion、(I) characteristic 及 (J) nutrition 符合條件，空格前一句提到似乎是種籽的東西是在草莓的外部，這是草莓的一項「特點」，可知答案應選 (I)。
3. It’s easy to see where the confusion comes from.
理由
a. 空格前有定冠詞 the，而空格後有動詞 comes，故知空格應置入單數名詞或不可數名詞以作本句主詞。
b. 選項中尚有 (G) confusion 及 (J) nutrition 符合條件，前一段提到草莓的名字中雖然有莓字，但它其實不是莓，可知草莓的名字讓人「混淆」，故答案應選 (G)。
4. This is why strawberries, along with other fruits like raspberries and blackberries, are commonly classified into the berry family, ....
理由
a. 空格前有 be 動詞 are 以及副詞 commonly（通常），而空格後有介詞 into，故知空格應置入名詞、分詞或形容詞。
b. 剩餘選項中除 (D) qualify 及 (F) belong 外皆符合條件，本句後半提到即便草莓、覆盆莓和黑莓等不符合莓果主要的特色，可知本句應是說儘管如此，這些水果仍常常被「分類」到莓科裡，故答案應選 (C) classified，且置入後亦符合 “classify A into B” 的被動用法。
5. It’s also fleshy throughout, with the seeds enclosed within the flesh of the fruit.
理由
a. 空格位於 with 引導的情狀介詞片語中，空格前有名詞詞組 the seeds（種籽），而空格後有介詞 within，故知空格應置入分詞或形容詞。
b. 選項中尚有 (A) enclosed、(B) healthy 及 (H) visible 符合條件，第一段提到，莓果在果肉的部分裡有種籽，換句話說，種籽是「含」在果肉裡的，故選 (A)。
6. Believe it or not, by this definition, bananas and tomatoes qualify as berries.
理由
a. 空格前有作主詞的名詞詞組 bananas and tomatoes（香蕉和番茄），而空格後有介詞 as，且本句旨在描述事實，故知空格應置入現在式複數不及物動詞。
b. 選項中有 (D) qualify 及 (F) belong 符合條件，根據語意，前一句提到的定義讓香蕉和番茄「有資格」被稱為莓果，可知答案應選 (D)，且置入後亦符合 “qualify as + 身分” 的用法。
7. In fact, the tiny “seeds” visible on the outside are not seeds at all.
理由
a. 空格位於化簡的形容詞子句中，其前省略了 which are，而空格後有介詞 on，故知空格應置入分詞或形容詞，以修飾先行詞 the tiny “seeds”。
b. 選項中尚有 (B) healthy 及 (H) visible 符合條件，根據語意，實際上，草莓外部「可見的」小小種籽根本不是種籽，故答案應選 (H)。
8. Strawberries belong to a family of fruits called Rosaceae, which includes roses and other fruits like apples and pears.
理由
a. 空格前有名詞 Strawberries（草莓），而空格後有介詞 to，且本句旨在描述事實，故知空格應置入現在式複數不及物動詞。
b. 選項中僅剩 (F) belong 符合條件，置入後表草莓「屬於」水果類的薔薇科，故選之，且置入後亦符合 “belong to...” 的用法。
9. When it comes to nutrition, strawberries are low in calories but rich in many essential vitamins and minerals.
理由
a. 空格前有介詞 to，故知空格應置入名詞。
b. 選項中僅剩 (J) nutrition 符合條件，置入後表提到「營養價值」的部分，草莓熱量很低，但富含許多必需的維生素和礦物質，故選之。
10. This makes them both a delicious and healthy choice for an everyday diet.
理由
a. 空格前有不定冠詞 a、形容詞 delicious（美味的）及對等連接詞 and，而空格後有名詞 choice（選擇），故知空格應置入另一形容詞以和 delicious 形成對等並一同修飾 choice。
b. 選項中僅剩 (B) healthy 符合條件，前一句提到草莓富含必需的維生素和礦物質，可知這使其成為日常飲食中美味和「健康」兼具的選擇，故選之。
