Originally just a source of a little laugh, mascots are now big business. 起初，吉祥物只是一點點笑聲的源頭，如今卻是一門大生意。
The word mascot comes from the French word mascotte, which refers toa good luck charm. The word first entered the English language around 1881. At the time, most mascots were animals _(1)_ sports teams. The animals would make appearances at sporting events, and _(2)_ animals like lions and tigers were popular. Their roars were thought to frighten the home team's opponents. Live mascots were common up to the 1960s, _(3)_ suited mascots were introduced. Mascots in cartoonish▼ suits caught on around the same time as the Muppets▼, who were also life-sized▼ puppets that _(4)_ a famous television series and movies. Sports teams found that using a person in a suit to perform and entertain the crowd was easier than using a wild animal for the same purpose. These mascots are typically clown-like performers that dance or taunt the opponents' team. _(5)_, the industry exploded. Today, mascots are common in everything from professional sports to corporate spokespeople. Each Olympic Games will develop its own mascots to align _(6)_ the theme of the event. Breakfast cereals use cartoon rabbits or bears to _(7)_ children. Each sports team now has its own unique mascot. Some are obvious choices, like the Detroit Tigers baseball team's mascot PAWS, who dresses in a tiger costume. On the other hand, the Anaheim Angels have a live capuchin monkey▼ named Rally Monkey as their mascot. Then there is the Philadelphia Phillies' Phanatic, a bizarre, green-furred▼ creature that no one really knows what it is, but it is probably one of baseball's most loved mascots.
1. (A) representing (B) represented (C) represent (D) representation 2. (A) mild (B) timid (C) exotic (D) candid 3. (A) which (B) where (C) what (D) when 4. (A) aimed at (B) looked over (C) starred in (D) bragged of 5. (A) Absolutely (B) Subsequently (C) Consistently (D) Ridiculously 6. (A) with (B) to (C) on (D) down 7. (A) amount to (B) refer to (C) flock to (D) appeal to
At the time, most mascots were animals representing sports teams. 當時，大多數代表球隊的吉祥物都是動物。 理由: a. 原句實等於： "At the time, most mascots were animals which represented sports teams." 此時可將關係代名詞 which 刪除，之後的動詞 represented 變成現在分詞 representing。 b. 根據上述，(A) 項應為正選。
The animals would make appearances at sporting events, and exotic animals like lions and tigers were popular. 這些動物會在體育賽事中露面，而像是獅子與老虎這種珍奇異獸很是受歡迎。 理由: a. (A) mild a. 溫和的（天氣、個性） The climate was rather mild when we visited Alaska during the summer. 我們夏天造訪阿拉斯加時，天氣相當溫暖。 (B) timid a. 羞怯的；膽小的 The timid child rarely speaks up in class. 這個羞怯的孩子在班上很少開口說話。 (C) exotic a. 奇特的；有異國風味的 Jimmy loved to shop at bazaars, looking for antiques and exotic goods. 吉米很喜歡逛市集，找一些古董或是有異國風味的小東西。 ＊bazaar n. 市集 (D) candid a. 坦率的，坦白的 衍: candidate n. 候選人 I hold John in high esteem because he is always candid. 我很尊敬約翰，因為他一直都很坦率。 How many candidates are running for mayor? 有多少候選人角逐市長？ b. 根據語意，(C) 項應為正選。
Live mascots were common up to the 1960s, when suited mascots were introduced. 真的動物吉祥物一直到 1960 年代都很普遍，而當時也引進了真人著裝的吉祥物。 理由: a. when 為關係副詞，可引導形容詞子句，修飾其前 表『時間』的名詞，空格前的 the 1960s 即為表時間的名詞，此處 when 等於 in which，置入後符合語意及用法。 b. 根據上述，(D) 項應為正選。
Mascots in cartoonish suits caught on around the same time as the Muppets, who were also life-sized puppets that starred in a famous television series and movies. 穿著卡通裝的吉祥物大約於同一時間與芝麻街布偶一起流行起來，這些布偶即是主演知名電視系列節目以及電影的真人大小布偶。 理由: a. (A) aim at... 瞄準…… I was aiming at the tree but missed. 我瞄準那棵樹卻沒打中。 (B) look over... 仔細看／瀏覽…… Could you look over my report to see if there are any mistakes? 你可以幫我看一下我的報告是否有任何錯誤嗎？ (C) star in... 主演…… After Marilyn Monroe starred in her first movie, she took Hollywood by storm. 瑪麗蓮夢露第一次主演電影之後，整個好萊塢都為她傾倒。 ＊take... by storm 使……神魂顛倒；風靡…… (D) brag of / about... 誇耀／吹噓…… 同: boast of / about... Ian is always bragging of how he became a millionaire at the age of 20. 伊恩總愛吹噓他如何在二十歲就成為百萬富翁。 b. 根據語意及用法，(C) 項應為正選。
Subsequently, the industry exploded. 隨後，該產業便急速擴張了。 理由: a. (A) absolutely adv. 絕對地，完全地（強調語氣用） The accident had absolutely nothing to do with Jim, so stop blaming him. 那起意外和吉姆根本一點關係都沒有，所以別再責怪他了。 (B) subsequently adv. 隨後；接著 Gary lost his job and subsequently had no money for rent. 蓋瑞失業後就沒有錢可以付房租。 (C) consistently adv. 一貫地，始終如一地 衍: consistent a. 始終如一的 Marvin shows up on time consistently. 馬文向來準時出現。 Consistent hard work leads to success. 努力不懈就會成功。 (D) ridiculously adv. 荒謬地；可笑地 衍: ridiculous a. 荒謬的，可笑的 Kevin couldn't afford the ridiculously expensive apartment. 凱文負擔不起那間貴得離譜的公寓。 It's ridiculous to think that Tom would dress up like Santa Claus for the Halloween party. 認為湯姆會為了萬聖節派對而打扮成聖誕老人是很荒謬的事。 b. 根據語意，(B) 項應為正選。
Each Olympic Games will develop its own mascots to align with the theme of the event. 每屆奧運會都會制定自己的吉祥物以配合該賽事的主題。 理由: a. 本空格測試以下固定用法： align with... 與……一致 align vi. 與……一致 The government made domestic prices align with those of world markets. 政府使國內價格與世界市場一致。 注意: align 亦可作及物動詞，有下列用法： align oneself with... 與……合作 Our company should align itself with that big company. 我們公司應該與那家大公司合作。 b. 根據上述用法，(A) 項應為正選。
Breakfast cereals use cartoon rabbits or bears to appeal to children. 早餐吃的穀類食品則使用卡通兔或卡通熊來吸引小朋友。 理由: a. (A) amount to... （加起來）總計達…… 同: add up to... Grandpa's medication bills amounted to thousands of dollars. 爺爺的醫藥費總計達數千元。 (B) refer to... 指的是／提到…… The speaker referred to a famous advertising agency during his presentation on marketing. 這名講者在他關於行銷方面的簡報中提到了一家知名廣告商。 (C) flock to... 蜂擁至…… flock vi. 成群地移動；聚集 Many people flocked to the shopping mall for the holiday sales. 許多人因為假日特賣活動而湧入那間購物中心。 (D) appeal to sb 吸引某人 同: attract sb We didn't think that book would appeal to Johnny because it's a romance novel. 我們認為那本書不會吸引強尼，因為那是一本愛情小說。 b. 根據語意，(D) 項應為正選。
mascot n. 吉祥物
a good luck charm 幸運符 charm n. 魅力；嫵媚 & vt. 使著迷 衍: be charmed with / by... 對……著迷 I was charmed with the elegance of that lady. 那位女士的優雅氣質讓我著迷。
make an appearance 出現，露臉 appearance n. 出現；外觀
roar n. 吼聲 & vi. 大吼，發出很大聲響 衍: roar with laughter 大聲爆笑 The roar of a lion can be quite scary. 獅子的吼聲挺嚇人的。 They all roared with laughter after Ben told a joke. 阿班講完笑話時，大家全都笑翻了。
opponent n. 對手 During the primary elections, Frank's opponent was Jason. 初選時，法蘭克的對手是傑森。
suited a. 穿著套裝的 衍: suit n. 一套衣服；套裝；西裝
entertain vt. 娛樂，使開心 衍: entertain sb with sth 用某物娛樂某人 Jessica entertained all the kids with interesting stories. 潔西卡用有趣的故事把全部的小朋友逗得很開心。
corporate a. 公司的，企業的 衍: incorporate vt. 併入 incorporate A into B 把 A 併入 B Julie decided to incorporate everyone's opinion into her final design. 茱莉決定把每個人的想法併入她最後的設計中。
spokespeople n. 發言人（複數）；代表人物 衍: spokesperson n. 發言人（單數）
cereal n.（常與牛奶一起食用、作為早餐的）榖類食品
obvious a. 明顯的 It is obvious that the fitness center has serious financial problems. 顯然，該健身中心有嚴重的財務問題。
bizarre a. 古怪的；奇異的 James likes to collect various bizarre costumes. 詹姆士喜歡收集各式各樣的奇裝異服。
probably adv. 大概；很可能 It will probably take me three weeks to read this 1,000-page novel. 看這本一千頁的小說大概要花上我三個禮拜的時間。
▼ cartoonish a. 卡通的 ▼ Muppets n. 芝麻街兒童電視節目中的布偶 ▼ life-sized a. 與真人／實物大小一樣的 ▼ taunt vt. 嘲諷，嘲弄 ▼ capuchin monkey 捲尾猴 ▼ green-furred a. 綠毛的
refer to... 指的是…… The stars in front of the vocabulary words refer to those that are intended for advanced learners. 詞彙前面的星號指的是專為進階學習者所準備的單字。
catch on 成為流行／趨勢 Many fads catch on quickly, but few remain popular for more than a few months. 許多時尚都能迅速造成風潮，但很少能有持續數月不衰者。 ＊fad n. 一時流行之物
吉祥物大集合 起初，吉祥物只是一點點笑聲的源頭，如今卻是一門大生意。 吉祥物一字來自於法文字 ── mascotte，它指的是幸運符。此字大約於 1881 年左右首次進入英語中。當時，大多數代表球隊的吉祥物都是動物。這些動物會在體育賽事中露面，而像是獅子與老虎這種珍奇異獸很是受歡迎。牠們的怒吼聲被視為是用來震懾主場隊的對手。真的動物吉祥物一直到 1960 年代都很普遍，而當時也引進了真人著裝的吉祥物。 穿著卡通裝的吉祥物大約於同一時間與芝麻街布偶一起流行起來，這些布偶即是主演知名電視系列節目以及電影的真人大小布偶。球隊發現，利用穿著卡通裝的人來表演以及娛樂群眾，這比用野生動物來達成相同目的要容易得多。這些吉祥物通常是像小丑一般的表演者，他們會跳舞或是嘲弄對方的球隊。隨後，該產業便急速擴張了。 時至今日，吉祥物在各個領域都很常見，舉凡從職業運動比賽至擔任企業代表人。每屆奧運會都會制定自己的吉祥物以配合該賽事的主題。早餐吃的穀類食品則使用卡通兔或卡通熊來吸引小朋友。現在每支球隊都有他們自己獨一無二的吉祥物。有些是不二之選，像是底特律老虎隊穿著老虎裝的吉祥物 ── 虎爪。另一方面，安那罕天使隊擁有一隻活生生、名為逆轉猴的捲尾猴來作為他們的吉祥物。再者，費城費城人隊還有一隻名為費納寶的吉祥物，沒有人知道這隻詭異的綠毛怪到底是什麼生物，但牠大概是棒球運動中最受愛戴的吉祥物之一了。 答案： 1. A 2. C 3. D 4. C 5. B 6. A 7. D
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