Every year, just outside the town of Brockworth, England, people chase a wheel of cheese down a hill. As strange as it may sound, it is an actual racing event with a long history. The cheese is intentionallyrolled downhill as part of the cheese-rolling race at Cooper’s Hill. This contesthas become world-famous for being one of the most dangerous “extreme sports,” landingmanycontestantsin the hospital every year. Common injuries include bruises, scrapes, and broken bones. While no one knows for sure about the origins of this event, several theorieshave been proposed.
The first written evidenceof the cheese-rolling race dates back to 1826. However, the tradition is probably older than that and has been estimatedto be at least 600 years old. There are two popular theories about its origins. One suggests that it may have developed as a way to win the right to grazecattle. The other is that it came from pagan ceremonies, in which people rolled bundlesof brushwooddown the hill to celebrate the New Year or scatteredbuns and biscuits at the top of the hill to ensure a good harvest. No matter how the tradition of cheese-rolling started, it has turned into an exciting race that many people enjoy.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
contest
[ˋkɑntɛst]
n. 比賽，競爭
vt. 就…提出異議
Dad bought me a brand-new bike after I won the speech contest.
我贏了演講比賽之後，爸爸買了一臺全新的腳踏車給我。
You can contest the matter in court if you wish.
如果你想的話，可以在法庭上就這件事提出異議。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
contestant
[kənˋtɛstənt]
n. 參賽者，競爭者
=
competitor
Two contestants dropped out of the race for personal
reasons.
兩名參賽者因個人因素而退賽了。
高中 Level 6
●
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
●
evidence
[ˋɛvədəns]
n. 證據（集合名詞，不可數）
a. 證明
We have found a lot of evidence against John.
我們發現很多不利於約翰的證據。
The king loves the queen very much, as evidenced by a large palace he built for her.
國王非常愛皇后，他為她建造的這座大皇宮可以作證。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
estimate
[ˋɛstə͵met]
.vt. 估計
It is estimated that 20,000 people will participate in the demonstration.
估計將有 2 萬人參與這次的示威遊行。
An estimated 20,000 people will participate in the demonstration. 估計將有 2 萬人參與這次的示威遊行。
Please give me a rough estimate of how much time you’ll need to complete the project.
你需要花多久時間完成這件案子，請給我一個大約的數字。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
bundle
[ˋbʌnd!]
vt. 捆
n. 捆，束
Richard gave Judie a bundle of flowers on their first date.
理查和茱蒂第一次約會時送了她一束花。
I found a bundle of typos in Lorita’s paper.
我在蘿莉塔的報告裡發現一堆打字錯誤。
Bob bundled up these magazines and put them away.
鮑伯把這些雜誌捆起來，然後把它們收好。
Helen has been a bundle ofnerves recently because her book’s deadline is drawing near.
海倫最近緊張兮兮的，因為她的書的截稿日快到了。
高中 Level 3
●
scatter
[ˋskætɚ]
vt. 撒；使分散
vi. 分散
n. 零星散布的東西
=
spread
You can scatter some sand on the ice so you don’t slip.
在冰上撒點沙子，這樣你就不會滑倒了。
The strong wind scattered the leaves all around.
一陣強風把葉子吹得四散。
The mob began to scatter in all directions after riot police fired tear gas.
鎮暴警察發射催淚瓦斯後，暴民開始四散離開。
There were no people in the square; just a scatter of birds.
廣場上沒有人，只有零星的鳥兒。
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
harvest
[ˋhɑrvɪst]
vt. & n. 收穫
=
reap
The farmers had to harvest the rice before the typhoon came.
農人必須在颱風來臨之前收割稻穀。
The farm owner gave his farmhands a share of profits from the harvest.
這個農場主人讓他的工人從收益中分錢。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
intentionally
[ɪnˋtɛnʃən!ɪ]
adv. 故意地
The player intentionallycaused a foul to stop the clock.
該球員故意製造犯規以停止計時。
●
bruise
[bruz]
n. 瘀青
vt. & vi. （使）瘀青
How did you get that bruise on your arm?
你手臂上的瘀傷是怎麼造成的？
How did youbruiseyour arm?
你手臂上的瘀傷是怎麼造成的？
While her brothers never get injured, Jolene bruises easily.
喬琳的弟弟們從沒有受傷過，但她卻很容易瘀青。
多益藍色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
scrape
[skrep]
vt. . 刮落，削掉；擦傷
n. 輕微擦傷
=
bruise
Could you help me scrape the ice off the windscreen?
你能不能幫我把擋風玻璃上的冰刮掉？
I scraped my elbow while playing basketball.
我打籃球的時候擦傷了我的手肘。
Matthew earns just enough money to scrape by.
馬修所得僅能勉強餬口。
Matthew earns just enough money to make ends
meet.
馬修所得僅能勉強餬口。
Brandy got some scrapes when she bumped into the
utility pole and fell off her bike.
布蘭迪撞上電線桿後從腳踏車上摔下來，受了點輕微擦傷。
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
●
graze
[grez]
vt. . 擦傷
vt. & vi. （動物）吃草（= graze on the grass）
The little boy tripped over a stone and grazed his
knees.
小男孩被石頭絆倒，擦傷了膝蓋。
A herd of cattle were grazing on the grass.
一群牛正在吃著草。
The cattle graze the fields until the frost and snow
come.
牛在牧場上吃草，直到霜雪降臨。
高中 Level 6
●
brushwood
[ˋbrʌʃ͵wʊd]
n. 小樹枝(不可數)
Practical Phrases
●
land sb in...
使某人陷入(困境、麻煩等)
Bill's poor grades landed him in trouble with his parents.
比爾差勁的成績使他陷入受父母責罵的困境。
副詞連接詞 though 引導的副詞子句若有下列句構出現時，可用 as 取代 though：
1. 副詞子句中有形容詞時，形容詞可移至句首，再以 as 取代 though。 though + 主詞 + be / 連綴動詞 + 形容詞
→ (as +) 形容詞 + as + 主詞 + be / 連綴動詞
例: Though Jerry is nice, I dislike him.
→ Nice though Jerry is, I dislike him.
→ Nice as Jerry is, I dislike him.
→ As nice as Jerry is, I dislike him.
雖然傑瑞人很好，我還是不喜歡他。
在上列第四個例句的 “As nice as Jerry is” 中，第一個 As 是副詞，不具意義，第二個 as 是連接詞，譯成「雖然」。本文第一段第二句亦為此用法。
2. 副詞子句中有形容詞修飾的名詞時，「形容詞 + 名詞」可移至句首，再以 as 取代 though。但名詞若為單數可數名詞，移至句首時原有不定冠詞 a 或 an 一定要省略。 though + 主詞 + be∕連綴動詞 + 形容詞 + 名詞
→ 形容詞 + 名詞 + as + 主詞 + be∕連綴動詞
例: Though Ed is an excellent student, he doesn’t show off.
→ An excellent student though / as Ed is, he doesn’t show off. (╳)
→ Excellent student though / as Ed is, he doesn’t show off. (○)
雖然艾德是個優秀的學生，但他從不炫耀。
請將下列字詞組合成一正確通順的句子 ❶ Emma _________________________ with her amazing performance.
won / singing / the / contest ❷ Gina _________________________ the steak.
salt / scattered / on / some ❸ Justin _________________________ and tries to prove it correct.
► intentionally adv. 故意地 theory / in / believes / the
答案: 1. Emma won the singing contest with her amazing performance.
2. Gina scattered some salt on the steak.
3. Justin believes in the theory and tries to prove it correct.
