The Heart of the Big Apple大蘋果的核心——紐約時代廣場
Times Square is an attraction that could only be found in the modern world.
時代廣場的魅力在於它的摩登景觀。
As you walk in New York City towards Times Square, the streets become even more packed with pedestrians. People bump into you, talking with each other or on cell phones. You walk by clean, modern stores with expensive clothes and shoe stores filled with the newest styles of running shoe. Cheap fast-food restaurants are noisy and full of customers. As you get closer, more and more people hold cameras and look up at the tall buildings around them, preparing to see the spectacle of Times Square.
Then you hit Times Square. This section of Manhattan (the main part of New York City, where many big financial companies operate) is one of New York's oldest tourist attractions. With its tall buildings and massive lit-up advertisements, Times Square has come to symbolize New York itself. And as New York changes over time, so does Times Square. Today, Times Square is mainly about advertising and 21st-century commerce. Traffic is too busy to make it a good place to walk around and enjoy the afternoon. In the past, however, Times Square was a cultural center in New York.
Once a year, though, Times Square is the site for a special celebration. On New Year's Eve, enormous crowds gather in Times Square. As people count down to midnight together, a gigantic ball made of crystal and lights descends along a pole. When midnight strikes, the ball reaches the bottom, and the crowds hug and kiss and cheer, thinking of the year that has passed and the year to come. It is a celebration that has become famous all over the world, and it is one of the traditions that keep New York in touch with its past.
1. What is the first paragraph about?
(A) Times Square in the past.
(B) The things you can do in New York.
(C) How to get to Times Square on foot.
(D) What it's like to walk toward Times Square.
2. What is the difference between Times Square now and in the past?
(A) It is now based on modern business.
(B) It was not popular in the past.
(C) Its buildings were quite small in the past.
(D) The traffic is now slower and calmer.
3. On New Year's Eve, people in Times Square _____.
(A) destroy a ball
(B) throw balls at each other
(C) watch the ball drop
(D) raise a ball high into the sky
精解字詞片語
1. packed a. 擁擠的，擠滿人的
be packed with... 擠滿了……
= be crowded with...
例: The mall was crowded with holiday shoppers.
（該商場擠滿了假日購物人潮。）
2. bump into... 撞上……；偶遇……
例: Yvonne bumped into the vase and knocked it over.
（伊芳撞到花瓶而把它給撞倒了。）
例: Al bumped into his friend at the theater.
= Al ran into his friend at the theater.
（艾爾在戲院和他的朋友不期而遇。）
3. be filled with... 充滿……
= be full of...
例: The bowl was filled with cherries.
（這個碗中裝滿了櫻桃。）
4. operate vi. 經營，運作
例: The store only operates during the afternoons.
（這家店只有在下午營業。）
5. advertisement n. 廣告（= ad）
put/place an advertisement 登廣告
例: Mary put an advertisement in the paper and waited for a reply.
（瑪莉在報紙上登廣告並等待回音。）
6. symbolize vt. 象徵
例: The design on this T-shirt symbolizes peace.
（這件 T 恤上的圖案象徵和平之意。）
7. too + adj./adv. + to V 太……而不能……
例: Life is too short to waste time worrying about what people think of you.
（人生苦短，不應再浪費時間去擔心別人怎麼看你。）
8. count down 倒數
例: After our coach counted down from ten, we ran as fast as we could.
（教練從 10 倒數到 1 後，我們就以最快的速度跑出去。）
9. be made of... 由……製成（產品仍保有材料原來的性質或形狀）
be made from... 由……製成（產品不保留材料原來的性質或形狀）
例: This book is made completely of recycled paper.
（這本書完全是用再生紙印製成的。）
例: I only wear shirts made from cotton.
（我只穿棉質的襯衫。）
10. descend vi. 下降 & vt. 走下
ascend vi. 上升，升高 & vt. 攀登；升上
例: The balloon descended slowly from the sky.
（那氣球從天空緩緩地下降。）
例: Julie ascended the stairs two at a time.
（茱莉兩格併一步的爬上階梯。）
11. keep...in touch with... 使……與……保持連接
keep in touch with... 與……保持聯繫
= keep in contact with...
例: I still keep in touch with Luke even though I haven't seen him in years.
（雖然我和路克多年沒見，但我仍和他保持聯絡。）
難句分析
And as New York changes over time, so does Times Square.
（當紐約隨著時代變遷，時代廣場也同樣跟上腳步。）
注意:
本句為 so 引導的肯定簡應句。使用 so 時其後須採倒裝句構，而且 so 是副詞，表『同樣地』，並非連接詞，故之前應有連接詞 and 連接兩句，但本句中因為已有副詞連接詞 as，故 so does Times Square 之前不須再有 and。
當你朝紐約的時代廣場走去，街道上摩肩擦踵，愈趨擁擠。人們忙著互相交談或講手機，一不小心就撞上你。你行經窗明几淨的現代化商店，裡頭陳列著昂貴的衣服，以及擺放最新款式慢跑鞋的鞋店。便宜的速食餐廳擠滿吵鬧的顧客。你越接近時代廣場，越來越多人手舉著相機、仰頭望著四周高大的建築物，準備一賭時代廣場的景象。
接著你抵達時代廣場，它位於曼哈頓（紐約市的主要區域，也是大型金融公司的所在地），是紐約歷史最為悠久的觀光勝地之一。時代廣場充斥著高樓大廈和巨型的燈光廣告看板，儼然成為紐約的象徵。當紐約隨著時代變遷，時代廣場也同樣跟上腳步。如今，時代廣場以廣告和 21 世紀的商業活動為主。但當地繁忙的交通並不適合四處溜躂，也不是享受悠閒下午時光的好去處。然而在過去，時代廣場曾是紐約的文化中心。
不過每年時代廣場都會舉行一次特別的慶祝活動。每到跨年夜時，無數民眾會聚集在時代廣場。當人們一同倒數午夜的到來，一顆巨大閃亮的水晶球沿著竿子從高處落下。午夜一到，水晶球降到竿子的底部，人們互相親吻擁抱，一起歡送過去的一年，迎接新一年的到來。這是世界知名的慶祝活動，而它也成為一項傳統，將紐約和過去緊緊地連結起來。
單字小舖
1. pedestrian n. 行人，步行者
2. spectacle n. 景象，奇觀
3. hit vt. 到達
4. financial a. 金融的；財政的
5. attraction n. 吸引人的事物
a tourist attraction 觀光勝地
6. massive a. 巨大的
7. lit-up a. 點亮的
8. advertising n. 廣告（業）
9. commerce n. 商業，貿易
10. enormous a. 龐大的，巨大的
11. gigantic a. 巨大的
12. crystal n. 水晶
13. pole n. 柱，竿
14. strike vi.（鐘）敲，鳴
1. over time 經過一段時間
2. on foot 步行
1. 第一段的內容是關於什麼？
(A) 以前的時代廣場。
(B) 你在紐約能做的事。
(C) 如何步行到時代廣場。
(D) 一路走往時代廣場的情況。
題解: 文章第一段主要在描述朝紐約時代廣場走去會遇到的情況，像是街道上摩肩擦踵，人們忙著互相交談或講手機等。而越靠近時代廣場，就會發現越來越多人手舉著相機、仰頭看四周高大的建築物，可知 (D) 為正選。
2. 現今的時代廣場與以往有何不同之處？
(A) 如今它以現代商業為主。
(B) 它以前並不受歡迎。
(C) 它以前的建築物並不大。
(D) 現在的車流量較小，交通比較順暢。
題解: 根據文章第二段，如今時代廣場充斥著高樓大廈和巨型的燈光廣告看板，並以廣告和 21 世紀的商業活動為主。繁忙的交通並不適合四處溜躂，也不是享受悠閒下午時光的好去處，故應選 (A)。
3. 在跨年夜，時代廣場上的人們 _____。
(A) 會摧毀一顆球
(B) 朝對方互相丟球
(C) 看著水晶球從天而降
(D) 把一顆球高舉到空中
題解: 根據文章第三段，每到跨年夜時，無數民眾會聚集在時代廣場，倒數午夜到來的同時，一顆巨大閃亮的水晶球沿著竿子從高處落下，可知應選 (C)。
標準答案: 1. (D) 2. (A) 3. (C)
時代廣場的魅力在於它的摩登景觀。
As you walk in New York City towards Times Square, the streets become even more packed with pedestrians. People bump into you, talking with each other or on cell phones. You walk by clean, modern stores with expensive clothes and shoe stores filled with the newest styles of running shoe. Cheap fast-food restaurants are noisy and full of customers. As you get closer, more and more people hold cameras and look up at the tall buildings around them, preparing to see the spectacle of Times Square.
Then you hit Times Square. This section of Manhattan (the main part of New York City, where many big financial companies operate) is one of New York's oldest tourist attractions. With its tall buildings and massive lit-up advertisements, Times Square has come to symbolize New York itself. And as New York changes over time, so does Times Square. Today, Times Square is mainly about advertising and 21st-century commerce. Traffic is too busy to make it a good place to walk around and enjoy the afternoon. In the past, however, Times Square was a cultural center in New York.
Once a year, though, Times Square is the site for a special celebration. On New Year's Eve, enormous crowds gather in Times Square. As people count down to midnight together, a gigantic ball made of crystal and lights descends along a pole. When midnight strikes, the ball reaches the bottom, and the crowds hug and kiss and cheer, thinking of the year that has passed and the year to come. It is a celebration that has become famous all over the world, and it is one of the traditions that keep New York in touch with its past.
1. What is the first paragraph about?
(A) Times Square in the past.
(B) The things you can do in New York.
(C) How to get to Times Square on foot.
(D) What it's like to walk toward Times Square.
2. What is the difference between Times Square now and in the past?
(A) It is now based on modern business.
(B) It was not popular in the past.
(C) Its buildings were quite small in the past.
(D) The traffic is now slower and calmer.
3. On New Year's Eve, people in Times Square _____.
(A) destroy a ball
(B) throw balls at each other
(C) watch the ball drop
(D) raise a ball high into the sky
精解字詞片語
1. packed a. 擁擠的，擠滿人的
be packed with... 擠滿了……
= be crowded with...
例: The mall was crowded with holiday shoppers.
（該商場擠滿了假日購物人潮。）
2. bump into... 撞上……；偶遇……
例: Yvonne bumped into the vase and knocked it over.
（伊芳撞到花瓶而把它給撞倒了。）
例: Al bumped into his friend at the theater.
= Al ran into his friend at the theater.
（艾爾在戲院和他的朋友不期而遇。）
3. be filled with... 充滿……
= be full of...
例: The bowl was filled with cherries.
（這個碗中裝滿了櫻桃。）
4. operate vi. 經營，運作
例: The store only operates during the afternoons.
（這家店只有在下午營業。）
5. advertisement n. 廣告（= ad）
put/place an advertisement 登廣告
例: Mary put an advertisement in the paper and waited for a reply.
（瑪莉在報紙上登廣告並等待回音。）
6. symbolize vt. 象徵
例: The design on this T-shirt symbolizes peace.
（這件 T 恤上的圖案象徵和平之意。）
7. too + adj./adv. + to V 太……而不能……
例: Life is too short to waste time worrying about what people think of you.
（人生苦短，不應再浪費時間去擔心別人怎麼看你。）
8. count down 倒數
例: After our coach counted down from ten, we ran as fast as we could.
（教練從 10 倒數到 1 後，我們就以最快的速度跑出去。）
9. be made of... 由……製成（產品仍保有材料原來的性質或形狀）
be made from... 由……製成（產品不保留材料原來的性質或形狀）
例: This book is made completely of recycled paper.
（這本書完全是用再生紙印製成的。）
例: I only wear shirts made from cotton.
（我只穿棉質的襯衫。）
10. descend vi. 下降 & vt. 走下
ascend vi. 上升，升高 & vt. 攀登；升上
例: The balloon descended slowly from the sky.
（那氣球從天空緩緩地下降。）
例: Julie ascended the stairs two at a time.
（茱莉兩格併一步的爬上階梯。）
11. keep...in touch with... 使……與……保持連接
keep in touch with... 與……保持聯繫
= keep in contact with...
例: I still keep in touch with Luke even though I haven't seen him in years.
（雖然我和路克多年沒見，但我仍和他保持聯絡。）
難句分析
And as New York changes over time, so does Times Square.
（當紐約隨著時代變遷，時代廣場也同樣跟上腳步。）
注意:
本句為 so 引導的肯定簡應句。使用 so 時其後須採倒裝句構，而且 so 是副詞，表『同樣地』，並非連接詞，故之前應有連接詞 and 連接兩句，但本句中因為已有副詞連接詞 as，故 so does Times Square 之前不須再有 and。
當你朝紐約的時代廣場走去，街道上摩肩擦踵，愈趨擁擠。人們忙著互相交談或講手機，一不小心就撞上你。你行經窗明几淨的現代化商店，裡頭陳列著昂貴的衣服，以及擺放最新款式慢跑鞋的鞋店。便宜的速食餐廳擠滿吵鬧的顧客。你越接近時代廣場，越來越多人手舉著相機、仰頭望著四周高大的建築物，準備一賭時代廣場的景象。
接著你抵達時代廣場，它位於曼哈頓（紐約市的主要區域，也是大型金融公司的所在地），是紐約歷史最為悠久的觀光勝地之一。時代廣場充斥著高樓大廈和巨型的燈光廣告看板，儼然成為紐約的象徵。當紐約隨著時代變遷，時代廣場也同樣跟上腳步。如今，時代廣場以廣告和 21 世紀的商業活動為主。但當地繁忙的交通並不適合四處溜躂，也不是享受悠閒下午時光的好去處。然而在過去，時代廣場曾是紐約的文化中心。
不過每年時代廣場都會舉行一次特別的慶祝活動。每到跨年夜時，無數民眾會聚集在時代廣場。當人們一同倒數午夜的到來，一顆巨大閃亮的水晶球沿著竿子從高處落下。午夜一到，水晶球降到竿子的底部，人們互相親吻擁抱，一起歡送過去的一年，迎接新一年的到來。這是世界知名的慶祝活動，而它也成為一項傳統，將紐約和過去緊緊地連結起來。
單字小舖
1. pedestrian n. 行人，步行者
2. spectacle n. 景象，奇觀
3. hit vt. 到達
4. financial a. 金融的；財政的
5. attraction n. 吸引人的事物
a tourist attraction 觀光勝地
6. massive a. 巨大的
7. lit-up a. 點亮的
8. advertising n. 廣告（業）
9. commerce n. 商業，貿易
10. enormous a. 龐大的，巨大的
11. gigantic a. 巨大的
12. crystal n. 水晶
13. pole n. 柱，竿
14. strike vi.（鐘）敲，鳴
1. over time 經過一段時間
2. on foot 步行
1. 第一段的內容是關於什麼？
(A) 以前的時代廣場。
(B) 你在紐約能做的事。
(C) 如何步行到時代廣場。
(D) 一路走往時代廣場的情況。
題解: 文章第一段主要在描述朝紐約時代廣場走去會遇到的情況，像是街道上摩肩擦踵，人們忙著互相交談或講手機等。而越靠近時代廣場，就會發現越來越多人手舉著相機、仰頭看四周高大的建築物，可知 (D) 為正選。
2. 現今的時代廣場與以往有何不同之處？
(A) 如今它以現代商業為主。
(B) 它以前並不受歡迎。
(C) 它以前的建築物並不大。
(D) 現在的車流量較小，交通比較順暢。
題解: 根據文章第二段，如今時代廣場充斥著高樓大廈和巨型的燈光廣告看板，並以廣告和 21 世紀的商業活動為主。繁忙的交通並不適合四處溜躂，也不是享受悠閒下午時光的好去處，故應選 (A)。
3. 在跨年夜，時代廣場上的人們 _____。
(A) 會摧毀一顆球
(B) 朝對方互相丟球
(C) 看著水晶球從天而降
(D) 把一顆球高舉到空中
題解: 根據文章第三段，每到跨年夜時，無數民眾會聚集在時代廣場，倒數午夜到來的同時，一顆巨大閃亮的水晶球沿著竿子從高處落下，可知應選 (C)。
標準答案: 1. (D) 2. (A) 3. (C)
