The phenomenon known as a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and all three directly align. In such a situation, the Moon casts its shadow on the Earth and blocks the Sun. To observers on Earth, the Sun may partiallyor fully vanish, the sky eerily darkens, and the wind may pick up. In ancient civilizations, these events brought onprofoundfear and bewilderment. For many centuries and millennia, humans speculatedabout the reasons for what was happening in the sky above them.
Without scientific knowledge and sophisticatedequipment to analyze solar eclipses, our ancestors turned to mythology, folklore, and superstition. Since many ancient cultures worshippedthe Sun and the Moon, they created their own stories to explain the temporary darkening of the sky. In ancient China, for example, legend had it that Tiangou, a legendary dog-like creature that was considered an evil spirit, gobbledup the mighty Sun. People would make loud noises by banging on pots, pans, and drums to scare the beast away. Similarly, in Norse culture, it was believed that the Sun was being devouredby a wolf named Sköll, whose brother Hati chased the Moon instead. Like the Chinese, the Norse made a great deal of noise to stop the wolf from feasting upon the Sun. Meanwhile, in some East Asian regions, the explanation for an eclipse was that a giant frog swallowed the solar orb.
While various cultures offer different fantastical reasons for solar eclipses, the event was typically viewed as an omen of impending disaster. These days, people still stand in awe ofthe celestial occurrence. However, we now understand that we don’t have to fear the Moon blocking the Sun, and we know it is safe to watch the spectacleas long as we are wearing proper eye protection.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
align
[əˋlaɪn]
vt. . 與……聯合 / 結盟；使成一直線，對準 / 齊
A lot of politicians aligned themselves with this presidential candidate because many members of the American public supported him.
許多政治人物都支持這位總統候選人，因為許多美國民眾支持他。
The volunteers carefully aligned the chairs in the hall in preparation for the famous novelist’s speech tomorrow.
志工小心翼翼地把大廳裡的椅子對齊好，為明天知名小說家的演講做準備。
高中 Level 5
●
partially
[ˋpɑrʃəlɪ]
adv. 部分地
=
partly
=
in part
Sophie left her bedroom door partially open.
蘇菲讓臥室房門部分開啟。
Peter’s success is partially due to our help.
彼得的成功有一部分要歸功我們的幫助。
Peter’s success is due in part to our help.
彼得的成功有一部分要歸功我們的幫助。
高中 Level 4
●
vanish
[ˋvænɪʃ]
vi. 消失
=
disappear
Many ancient civilizations have vanished mysteriously.
許多古文明都已神祕消失了。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
civilization
[͵sɪv!əˋzeʃən]
n. 文明（不可數）
These books are about the history of Western civilization.
這些書談的是西方文明史。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
profound
[prəˋfaʊnd]
a. 深遠的；很有深度的
Globalization has a profound influence on human life.
全球暖化對人類生活影響深遠。
My friend Joe is no expert, but he does have a profound knowledge of plants.
我的朋友喬不是什麼專家，但他真的很懂植物。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
speculate
[ˋspɛkjə͵let]
vi. & vt. 臆測
The political analyst refused to speculate about why the finance minister stepped down.
這位政治分析師拒絕臆測財政部長下臺的原因。
Some people have speculated that this Hollywood couple will break up within a year.
有些人臆測這對好萊塢情侶一年之內會分手。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
sophisticated
[səˋfɪstɪ͵ketɪd]
a. 世故的，圓滑的；（機器、系統）精密的
Even sophisticated diplomats may have trouble dealing with that problem.
即使是精明老練的外交官處理這個問題也會有困難。
This machine is very sophisticated. Therefore, it should only be run by professionals.
這臺機器很精密。所以最好由專業人士來操作。
多益藍色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
worship
[ˋwɝʃɪp]
n. 崇拜,信仰（上帝或神）
vt. 崇拜；信仰（上帝或神）
三態
worshipped / worshipped
Peter is so madly in love with Hailey that he’ll do anything for her. He really worships the ground she walks on.
彼得瘋狂愛上海莉，因此他願意為她付出一切。他真的是拜倒在她的石榴裙下了。
The church is the traditional place for people to worship God.
教堂是人們敬奉上帝的慣例場所。
Julia’s worship of the movie star is so great that she’s put his posters all over her room.
茱莉亞非常崇拜這位電影明星，所以她房裡擺滿了他的海報。
Worship usually takes the form of praying or singing in praise of God. 做禮拜通常會採用禱告或是歌頌的方式來讚美上帝。
Andy’s whole family is Christian, so morning worship on Sundays is routine for them.
安迪一家都是基督徒，所以每週日的晨間禮拜對他們來說是例行公事。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
gobble
[ˋgɑb!]
vi. 咯咯地叫（本文為現在分詞作形容詞用）
The little boy was frightened when he heard the turkey gobble.
這個小男孩聽到火雞咯咯地叫時被嚇壞了。
英檢中高
●
devour
[dɪˋvaʊr]
vt. . 吞食
The hungry boy devoured the hamburger in no time.
那個飢腸轆轆的男孩一下子就把漢堡吃掉了。
In a short time, the wooden building was devoured
by the flames.
沒多久這座木造建築就被大火吞噬了。
高中 Level 6
●
occurrence
[əˋkɝəns]
n. . 發生（不可數）；發生的事件（可數）
=
incident
The occurrence of stomachaches is often linked with pressure.
胃痛發作往往與壓力有關。
Anunexpected occurrence threw John into despair. 一件意外事件使約翰陷入絕望之中。
高中 Level 6
●
spectacle
[ˋspɛktək!]
n. . 奇觀
Niagara Falls is a real spectacle.
尼加拉瀑布真是個奇景。
Wayne made a spectacleof himself after he got
drunk at a dinner party.
韋恩在晚宴上喝醉，出了洋相。
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
Extra Words
●
eclipse
[ɪˋklɪps]
n. （日或月）蝕
Millions of people around the globe waited to
witness the rare occurrence of the total solar eclipse.
全球數以百萬的人等待觀看罕見的日全蝕。
高中 Level 6
●
eerily
[ˋɪrɪlɪ]
adv. 怪異地
●
bewilderment
[bɪˋwɪldɚmənt]
n. 不解，困惑
●
millennia
[mɪˋlɛnɪə]
n. 數千年（複數形）
多益金色
●
millennium
[mɪˋlɛnɪəm]
n. 一千年（單數形）
●
Norse
[nɔrs]
a. 古代斯堪地那維亞的（現在譯為北歐的）
●
orb
[ɔrb]
n. 球體（文學上尤指太陽或月亮）
●
impending
[ɪmˋpɛndɪŋ]
a. 即將發生的
●
celestial
[sɪˋlɛstʃəl]
a. 極美的；天體的
●
a solar eclipse
日 蝕
Millions of people around the globe waited to
witness the rare occurrence of the total solar eclipse.
全球數以百萬的人等待觀看罕見的日全蝕。
Practical Phrases
●
speculate about / on sth
對某事加以臆測
The political analyst refused to speculate aboutwhy the finance minister stepped down.
這位政治分析師拒絕臆測財政部長下臺的原因。
●
cast a shadow on...
投影在……之上
The tree cast a shadow on the wall.
這棵樹投影在牆上。
●
bring on....
引起／造成⋯⋯
Reading with poor light may bring on a headache.
在照明設備不足下閱讀可能會造成頭痛。
●
Legend has it that...
傳說………
Legend has it that in the mountains lived seven dwarfs. 傳說山裡頭住著 7 個小矮人。
●
feast upon / on...
大快朵頤（食物）
Tonight we are going to feast on turkey and mashed potatoes.
今晚我們要吃一頓火雞和馬鈴薯泥大餐。
●
be in awe of..
對……感到敬畏
Iwas often in awe of my grandmother when I was little.
我還小的時候常對祖母感到敬畏。
