Would you like to eat a three-course meal with people you don't know? 你想要和陌生人共進一頓三道菜的晚餐嗎？
Airbnb was a strange concept to start with. The founders thought that people might want to _(1)_ out their apartments or homes to strangers when they were away on vacation to earn some extra cash. They were not sure if people would trust strangers enough to let them in their houses, but they tried anyway. The gamble paid _(2)_ and the service caught on. Now Airbnb is a global phenomenon. Airbnb has become one of the most successful startups in the world, and it is currently _(3)_ at around US$10 billion. Now, Airbnb is back at it again and this time they want people to cook for others they do not know. Airbnb is always _(4)_ with new ways to create memorable experiences. They recently created dinner with strangers in San Francisco. This is a platform where people can invite strangers into their homes, cook them a three-course meal, and make US$25 per person. Airbnb takes a small cut of this _(5)_, just like they do for renting apartments. When the meal is done, people can review the dishes and let others know if it is _(6)_ to try that person's food. After the meal, the people can choose to hang around and socialize or just go home. While dinner with strangers has only just started, it seems like a no-brainer that it will catch on quickly. Airbnb has a great network of people who trust each other's reviews. This is a great way to meet new people in a _(7)_ setting while eating delicious meals. Imagine the possibility of going to a foreign country for vacation and eating a home-cooked meal with new friends right off the plane.
1. (A) rent (B) wear (C) fill (D) make 2. (A) in (B) up (C) down (D) off 3. (A) registered (B) limited (C) noted (D) valued 4. (A) interfering (B) experimenting (C) colliding (D) paralleling 5. (A) obligation (B) intonation (C) transaction (D) subscription 6. (A) worthwhile (B) sociable (C) deliberate (D) alternative 7. (A) conscious (B) creepy (C) unique (D) previous
The founders thought that people might want to rent out their apartments or homes to strangers when they were away on vacation to earn some extra cash. 創辦人認為大家可能會想要在出遠門旅遊的時候，將自己的公寓或房子出租給陌生人以賺取額外的錢。 理由: a. (A) rent vt. 租借，出租 & n. 租金 rent out... / rent...out 將……出租 Once the children graduate, their parents aim to rent out the whole apartment. 一旦這些小孩畢業，他們的父母就打算把整棟公寓出租。 (B) wear vt. 磨損；穿戴 wear out... 穿破…… Children tend to wear out their shoes very quickly. 小朋友們往往很快就會把鞋子穿壞。 (C) fill vt. 填滿，裝滿 fill out... 填寫……（表格等） Please fill out the claim form with your luggage tag number and name. 請將你的行李標籤號碼以及姓名填寫在這張申請表上。 (D) make vt. 做出（某種舉動） make out... 理解…… The poem is so complicated that I cannot make out its meaning. 這首詩太複雜了，我無法理解它的意思。 ＊complicated a. 複雜的 b. 根據語意，(A) 項應為正選。
The gamble paid off and the service caught on. 結果這項賭注奏效了，且該服務還開始盛行了起來。 理由: a. 本空格測試以下固定用法： pay off 奏效；（辛苦）終有回報 All those years of struggle have finally paid off. 多年的努力奮鬥終於有了回報。 b. 根據上述用法，(D) 項應為正選。
Airbnb has become one of the most successful startups in the world, and it is currently valued at around US$10 billion. 它已成為世界上最成功的初創企業之一，目前市值約一百億美金。 理由: a. (A) register vt. & vi. 登記，註冊 register for... 註冊…… I'm going to register for a course on English literature this semester. 這學期我準備報名上一門英國文學課程。 (B) limit vt. 限制 limit A to B 將 A 限制在 B The school limits the number of students per class to 30. 該校把每班學生人數限制在三十人。 (C) note vt. 注意到 & n. 筆記 take notes 抄筆記 Please note that we'll be closed temporarily next month for renovation. 請注意本店下個月將因整修而暫停營業。 (D) value vt. 估價；珍惜 These famous paintings are valued at US$3 million each. 這些名畫每一幅被估價為三百萬美元。 b. 根據語意，(D) 項應為正選。
Airbnb is always experimenting with new ways to create memorable experiences. 空中食宿總是不斷嘗試新方法來製造難忘的經驗。 理由: a. (A) interfere vi. 干預，妨礙 interfere with... 阻礙／妨礙…… Linda never allows her personal feelings to interfere with her work. 琳達從不讓她個人的情緒妨礙到工作。 (B) experiment vi. 做實驗 experiment with sth 用某物做實驗 Scientists often experiment with chemicals. 科學家常用化學物品做實驗。 (C) collide vi. 相撞 collide with... 與……相撞 The bus ran a red light and collided with a truck. 這輛巴士闖紅燈，與一輛卡車相撞。 ＊run a red light 闖紅燈 (D) parallel vt. 與……相比 parallel A with B 將 A 與 B 作比較 You can parallel this book with that one to get a fuller understanding of both. 你可以把這本書和那本書作比較，以對這兩本書有更全面的了解。 b. 根據語意，(B) 項應為正選。
Airbnb takes a small cut of this transaction, just like they do for renting apartments. 空中食宿會從這樣的交易中獲取少部份利潤，就像他們在出租公寓時的作法一樣。 理由: a. (A) obligation n. 義務，責任 be under an / no obligation to V 有義務／沒有義務要…… We are under no obligation to answer any of these questions. 我們沒有義務要回答任何一個問題。 (B) intonation n. 語調 We usually finish a sentence with a falling intonation. 我們通常會用降低的語調來結束句子。 (C) transaction n. 交易，買賣 Some people are worried that Internet transactions are not safe. 有些人憂心網路交易並不安全。 (D) subscription n. 訂閱 （期刊、報紙等） take out a subscription to sth 辦理訂閱某物 If you're interested in taking out a subscription to The Economist, please fill out this form. 你若有興趣辦理訂閱《經濟學人》雜誌，請填寫這份表格。 b. 根據語意，(C) 項應為正選。
When the meal is done, people can review the dishes and let others know if it is worthwhile to try that person's food. 當這頓晚餐完成後，大家可以評論菜色，再告訴其他人這個人所準備的食物是否值得一試。 理由: a. (A) worthwhile a. 值得的 It is worthwhile to buy that watch at any price. It's one of a kind. 不論花多少錢買那只錶都值得。它是獨一無二的。 (B) sociable a. 擅交際的 John is shy and conservative. In contrast, his brother Tim is active and sociable. 約翰害羞又保守。相對地，他弟弟提姆則是活潑又愛交際。 (C) deliberate. 故意的 My deliberate attempts to get Sally's attention were completely ignored. 莎莉完全不理會我刻意引起她注意的舉動。 (D) alternative a. 替代的 The rapid increase in oil consumption has led scientists to search for alternative energy. 石油消耗量的快速增加促使科學家找尋替代能源。 b. 根據語意，(A) 項應為正選。
This is a great way to meet new people in a unique setting while eating delicious meals. 在特別的場景裡享用美味餐點是一種認識新朋友的好方法。 理由: a. (A) conscious a. 有所察覺的 be conscious of... 察覺到…… Conscious of the dangers of smoking, Benny decided to give up the bad habit. 班尼察覺到抽菸的危險，決定要戒掉這個壞習慣。 (B) creepy a. 令人毛骨悚然的 The abandoned cabin was so creepy that no one dared to enter. 這間廢棄的小木屋令人感到毛骨悚然，因此沒人敢踏進一步。 (C) unique a. 獨特的 The exposition displays many unique flowers from around the world. 這個展覽展示出許多來自世界各地的獨特花卉。 (D) previous a. 先前的 Judy sued her previous employer for discrimination. 茱蒂因為前任雇主的歧視而控告他。 b. 根據語意，(C) 項應為正選。
gamble n. 打賭；冒險 I don't know if I can rely on him, but I'm willing to take a gamble. 我不知道是否能信任他，不過我願意冒險一下。
catch on 受到歡迎；蔚為流行 It didn't take very long for the latest fashion trend to catch on. 這股最新的時尚潮流沒多久就蔚為風潮。
be back at... 回到…… Cindy hopes to be back at work on Tuesday. 辛蒂希望禮拜二能回到工作崗位上班。
socialize vi. 社交，交際 socialize with sb 與某人來往／交際 John wasn't interested in socializing with other classmates. 約翰對和其他同學往來不感興趣。
possibility n. 可能性 There is a strong possibility that the project will fail due to a lack of funds. 由於缺乏資金，該計劃極可能會失敗。
foreign a. 外國的；陌生的 Both domestic and foreign companies are eligible to bid for the building contract. 國內和國外的公司都有資格投標爭取這份營建契約。 ＊be eligible to V 有資格做…… Be sure to respect different cultures in foreign countries. 在國外，務必要尊重不同的文化。
three-course a. 三道菜的
phenomenon n. 現象（單數） phenomena n. 現象（複數）
startup n. 新成立的公司]
no-brainer n. 不用動腦筋的事
take a cut of... 從……中獲取一部份利潤 cut n. 切割（本文表示利潤）
hang around 逗留；閒晃
餐桌上的陌生人 你想要和陌生人共進一頓三道菜的晚餐嗎？ 空中食宿（Airbnb）一開始是個很怪異的概念。創辦人認為大家可能會想要在出遠門旅遊的時候，將自己的公寓或房子出租給陌生人以賺取額外的錢。他們不確定是否大家會對陌生人有足夠的信任，好讓陌生人進入到自己的家中，不過他們還是嘗試了。結果這項賭注奏效了，且該服務還開始盛行了起來。如今，空中食宿成了全球性的現象。它已成為世界上最成功的初創企業之一，目前市值約一百億美金。現在，空中食宿又回來了，這回他們希望大家替陌生人來煮飯。 空中食宿總是不斷嘗試新方法來製造難忘的經驗。他們最近在舊金山創立了『與陌生人共進晚餐』。這是一個能讓大家邀請陌生人到他們家、為他們準備一頓三道菜的晚餐，並且每人收取二十五美元的平臺。空中食宿會從這樣的交易中獲取少部份利潤，就像他們在出租公寓時的作法一樣。當這頓晚餐完成後，大家可以評論菜色，再告訴其他人這個人所準備的食物是否值得一試。餐後，大家可以選擇繼續逗留，還是彼此交際應酬，或者直接回家。 雖然『與陌生人共進晚餐』才剛起步，但似乎不用動腦就知道它很快就會流行起來。空中食宿有良好的社交網絡，人們信任彼此的評論。在特別的場景裡享用美味餐點是一種認識新朋友的好方法。想像一下你有可能去國外度假，而且還能與剛下飛機的新朋友一起享用家常菜喔。 答案： 1. A 2. D 3. D 4. B 5. C 6. A 7. C
沒有留言:
張貼留言