Something to Smile About  愛心不停駛的微笑列車

US$250 can change a child's life forever.
250 元美金就能改變一名孩童的命運。

  One of the most shocking deformities a newborn can have is a massive cleft. Clefts occur when certain body structures do not connect during the development of the fetus. This usually leaves a wide gap _(1)_ the lip and the palate. Children born with clefts are oftentimes thought of as retarded, teased and ostracized by society, abandoned, or even killed by their own parents.
  A cleft is the primary birth defect in the US and many other nations. _(2)_, there is a simple, 45-minute operation that can change the lives of children with clefts forever. Smile Train, a global cleft charity _(3)_ in 1999 by Brian Mullaney and Charles Wang, provides these procedures in developing countries for free. The mission of Smile Train is to provide cleft surgery for millions of poor children and to train local doctors and medical professionals to _(4)_ this surgery. With training, these doctors learn how to use groundbreaking technology _(5)_ waiting for Western doctors to volunteer their time. This maximizes the efficiency and the number of operations that can be done.
  Having sponsored nearly half a million operations over the last decade, Smile Train is definitely _(6)_ a difference. However, they are far from the 4.6 million cases it would take to _(7)_ clefts worldwide. US$250 can sponsor one child and donating to Smile Train is transparent, says Mullaney. He also hopes to continue his work by using the Smile Train model to help the poor with other medical conditions such as club foot or congenital heart defects.

1. (A) into    (B) among   (C) between    (D) within
2. (A) Previously (B) Eventually  (C) Recently   (D) Fortunately
3. (A) found   (B) founded   (C) finding    (D) to find
4. (A) apply   (B) perform   (C) observe    (D) supply
5. (A) instead of (B) regardless of(C) on behalf of (D) for the sake of
6. (A) telling   (B) counting   (C) making    (D) pushing
7. (A) delete   (B) exaggerate  (C) benefit    (D) eliminate

原來如此
1. This usually leaves a wide gap between the lip and the palate.
理由:
a. 本空格在測試以下固定用法:
between A and B  介於 A 與 B 之間
例: If there is no mutual trust between a husband and a wife, the marriage won't last.
(夫妻之間若無互信,婚姻就無法維持。)
b. 根據上述,可知應選 (C)。

2. Fortunately, there is a simple, 45-minute operation that can change the lives of children with clefts forever.
理由:
a. (A) previously adv. 先前
例: Previously, we were busy writing our essays. Now, we are studying for a test.
(先前我們忙著寫論文。現在我們正準備考試。)
(B) eventually adv. 最後,終於
(C) recently adv. 最近
例: Ed has been stressed out recently.
(艾德近來壓力很大。)
(D) fortunately adv. 幸運地,所幸
例: I lost all of my money. Fortunately, Mary offered to lend me some.
(我的錢全都丟了。所幸瑪莉願意借我一些錢。)
b. previously 須與過去式並用,而 recently 則須與過去式、現在完成式或現在完成進行式並用,故 (A)、(C) 不可選。根據語意,可知應選 (D)。

3. Smile Train, a global cleft charity founded in 1999 by Brian Mullaney and Charles Wang, provides these procedures in developing countries for free.
理由:
a. 原句的完整結構為:
Smile Train, a global cleft charity which was founded in 1999 by Brian Mullaney and Charles Wang, provides...
b. 原句中的形容詞子句 "which was founded in 1999" 可化簡為過去分詞片語 "founded in 1999",即省略關係代名詞 which,其後 be 動詞 was 化為現在分詞 being 後予以省略,故選 (B) founded。
c. found vt. 創立,成立
三態為:found, founded, founded。

4. The mission of Smile Train is to provide cleft surgery...to train local doctors and medical professionals to perform this surgery.
理由:
a. (A) apply vt. 應用;塗抹  
apply A to B  將 A 運用於 B:將 A 塗∕抹在 B 上
例: Apply this principle to the math problem and you'll get the answer.
(將這套公式運用在那道數學題上,你就能得到答案。)
(B) perform vt. 執行,做
perform surgery  動手術
= perform an operation
例: The doctor performed surgery on the wounded soldier.
(醫生為這個受傷的士兵動手術。)
(C) observe vt. 觀察
(D) supply vt. 提供
b. 表『執行』手術的動詞通常用 perform 來表示,故選 (B)。

5. With training, these doctors learn how to use groundbreaking technology instead of waiting for Western doctors to volunteer their time.
理由:
a. (A) instead of...  而非……,代替……
例: Let's go swimming instead of jogging this weekend. I want to be at the beach.
(咱們這星期去游泳而不要慢跑吧。我想去海邊。)
(B) regardless of...  不論……
例: Everyone is equal, regardless of race, age, or gender.
(不論種族、年紀或性別,人人皆平等。)
(C) on behalf of...  代替∕代表……
例: On behalf of my class, I'd like to thank you for your generous donation.
(我僅代表本班感謝您慷慨解囊。)
(D) for the sake of...  因為……的緣故;看在……的份上
例: For the sake of his family, Frank worked 60 hours a week trying to save for a new home.
(因為家人的緣故,法蘭克一週工作 60 小時,希望能存錢買新房子。)
b. 根據語意,可知應選 (A)。

6. Having sponsored nearly half a million operations over the last decade, Smile Train is definitely making a difference.
理由:
a. 本空格測試以下固定用法:
make a difference  有所不同∕影響
make no difference  沒有不同∕影響
例: One hundred dollars might mean nothing to you, but it can make a difference in a poor person's life.
(一百元對你來說可能沒什麼,卻會對窮人的生活造成很大的不同。)
例: It makes no difference whether you attend the meeting or not.
(你來不來開會都無所謂。)
b. 根據上述,故選 (C)。

7. However, they are far from the 4.6 million cases it would take to eliminate clefts worldwide.
理由:
a. (A) delete vt. 刪除
例: Tommy accidentally deleted his five-page paper.
(湯米不小心把他長達 5 頁的報告給刪掉了。)
(B) exaggerate vt. 誇大
例: Kathy always exaggerates how bad her husband is.
(凱西總是誇大其辭說她先生有多糟。)
(C) benefit vt. 有益於,使獲益
例: This new policy will benefit all taxpayers.
(這個新法案將使所有納稅人受惠。)
(D) eliminate vt. 消除,消滅
例: No matter how I tried, I couldn't eliminate the stink from my shoes.
(不管我怎麼做,就是無法消除我鞋子的臭味。)
b. 根據語意,可知應選 (D)。


精解字詞片語
1. connect vi. & vt. 連接,連結
connect A with B  連接 A 與 B
例: A bridge connects the island with the mainland.
(一座橋連接該島嶼與大陸。)

2. ostracize vt. 排斥;放逐
例: Lisa was ostracized by her classmates because she was 10 centimeters taller than everyone else.
(莉莎因為比其他同學都高上 10 公分,所以遭到他們排擠。)

3. defect n. 缺點,缺陷
例: The child's deformity was caused by genetic defects.
(這個孩子的畸形是由於基因缺陷所引起。)

4. for free  免費地,免費的
= free of charge
例: Be alert to strangers offering you anything for free.
(對免費送你東西的陌生人要保持警覺。)

5. groundbreaking a. 開創性的
例: The artist's show was groundbreaking because it was shown at the top of Taipei 101.
(這位藝術家的展覽相當創新,因為它展示在台北 101 的大樓頂端。)

6. maximize vt. 使增至最大
minimize vt. 使減到最小
例: Al did what he could to maximize the return on his investment.
(艾爾盡其所能把自己的投資報酬率提到最高。)
例: We should do our best to minimize the impact of global warming.
(我們應盡最大努力將全球暖化的影響降至最低。)

7. efficiency n. 效率
例: The new secretary impressed the boss with her efficiency.
(那位新祕書的效率使老闆印象深刻。)

8. sponsor vt. 贊助,資助
例: The wheel company is sponsoring the auto show scheduled for this weekend.
(這家輪胎公司贊助本週末舉行的汽車展。)

9. be far from + N/adj.  離……很遠;根本∕一點也不……
例: This company's record-keeping system is far from ideal.
(這家公司的資料保管系統一點也不完善。)

10. donate vi. & vt. 捐贈
donate A to B  捐贈 A 給 B
例: It's generous of you to donate money to people in need.
(你捐錢給需要幫助的人,真是慷慨。)

11. transparent a. 顯而易見的;透明的
例: The marketing budget has to be transparent to be approved by the boss.
(行銷預算必須夠清楚,才能獲得老闆核准。)


單字小舖
1. deformity n. 畸形
2. newborn n. 新生兒 & a. 剛出生的
3. massive a. 巨大的
4. cleft n. 裂縫
5. development n. 發展
6. fetus n. 胚胎,胎兒
7. gap n. 缺口
8. palate n. 上顎
9. retarded a. 智力遲緩的
10. tease vt. 取笑,欺負
11. abandon vt. 拋棄,遺棄
12. primary a. 主要的
13. charity n. 慈善團體
14. procedure n. 程序;步驟
15. a developing country  開發中的國家
a developed country  已開發國家
16. mission n. 使命,任務
17. professional n. 專家
18. volunteer vt. 自願提供
19. definitely adv. 絕對,肯定地
20. model n. 模範,典型
21. club foot n. 內翻足(先天性畸形足的一種)
22. congenital a. 先天的

片語小舖
1. be thought of as...  被視為……
= be looked on/upon as...
= be seen/viewed/regarded as...
2. provide sth for sb  提供某物給某人
= provide sb with sth

  新生兒最令人心驚的畸形之一就是嚴重的唇顎裂。當胎兒在發育時,身體某些構造沒有相連時就會發生唇顎裂。這通常會在嘴唇和上顎處留下一個寬大的缺口。天生就有唇顎裂的孩童往往會被視為智商低弱,在社會上被取笑和排擠,遭遺棄或甚至被親生父母殺害。
  在美國和其他許多國家,唇顎裂是新生兒主要的缺陷。幸運的是,有種簡單、僅需 45 分鐘的手術可以永遠改變這些孩童的人生。微笑列車是一個全球性的慈善機構,於 1999 年由布萊恩.馬拉尼和王嘉廉共同創辦,免費提供開發中國家修復唇顎裂的手術。微笑列車的任務就是為好幾百萬的貧窮孩童提供唇顎裂手術,並進一步訓練當地醫師和專業醫療人員進行這項手術。透過訓練,這些醫師學習如何運用創新的科技,而不是苦苦等候來自西方的醫師貢獻他們的時間,此舉充分發揮了效率以及大大增加了手術的數目。
  過去 10 年來贊助了近 50 萬次的手術,微笑列車的確使情況有所不同。然而,要讓唇顎裂在世界上消失,還有多達 4 百 60 萬個病例在等待他們。馬拉尼表示,250 元美金就可以資助一名孩童,而且捐贈給微笑列車的款項非常透明化。馬拉尼希望能以微笑列車作為典範,繼續他的工作,幫助貧困的孩童解決其他的疾病,像是內翻足和先天性心臟缺陷等。
標準答案: 1. (C) 2. (D) 3. (B) 4. (B) 5. (A)  6. (C) 7. (D)


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