If You Build It, They Will Play老少咸宜的叠叠乐

by Evan Gioia

For 30 years, Jenga has entertained families and friends around the world.
三十年来，叠叠乐把欢乐带给世界各地的家庭和朋友。

Jenga, the game played with 54 rectangular, wooden blocks, is a true test of physics and focus. Created in 1983 by game designer Leslie Scott, Jenga has _(1)_ kids and adults for more than 30 years. The game is so popular that it has sold more than 50 million sets worldwide, which is equal _(2)_ more than 2.7 billion Jenga blocks.
Jenga's history is about as fascinating as the game itself. It started in Africa,
_(3)_ Scott was born and raised. When Scott, a British national, was young, her family hopscotched across eastern and western Africa, so she learned to speak Swahili. In fact, the name Jenga comes from the Swahili word meaning to build. The game _(4)_ within her family in the early 1970s using children's wooden building blocks. Seeing the _(5)_ for this game, Scott tested her luck by launching her new product at the London Toy Fair in 1983. The rest, as they say, is history. The game was a huge success in Britain and soon the world over.
The genius of Jenga stems from its _(6)_. Once the 54-block tower is built, the person who constructed the tower gets the first move. Moving the blocks consists of taking only one block from any level and placing it on the top-most level. The trouble is that the higher the tower gets, the less and less _(7)_ it becomes, and it will eventually collapse. So get a group of friends, sit around a Jenga tower, and watch gravity win every time.

1. (A) confused(B) excited(C) exported(D) mended
2. (A) for(B) at(C) to(D) with
3. (A) where(B) that(C) whom(D) who
4. (A) evolved(B) vanished(C) soared(D) declined
5. (A) robbery(B) permission(C) minority(D) potential
6. (A) simplicity(B) adjustment(C) confidence(D) frustration
7. (A) financial(B) identical(C) obedient(D) stable

1. Created in 1983 by game designer Leslie Scott, Jenga has excited kids and adults for more than 30 years.
   1983 年，游戏设计师莱斯莉·史考特创造了叠叠乐，它让大人小孩兴奋了三十多年。
   理由:
   a. (A) confuse vt. 使困惑
   The math problem completely confused me.
   这道数学题彻底难倒了我。
   (B) excite vt. 使兴奋
   The magic show excited all the children.
   这场魔术表演让所有的孩子们都很兴奋。
   (C) export vt. 出口
   The company exported a wide variety of products to Germany.
   这家公司出口过各式各样的产品到德国。
   (D) mend vt. 修补；缝补
   Johnny asked Tina to mend his socks.
   强尼叫提娜替他缝补袜子。
   b. 根据语意，(B) 项应为正选。
2. The game is so popular that it has sold more than 50 million sets worldwide, which is equal to more than 2.7 billion Jenga blocks.
   叠叠乐因广受欢迎而在全世界销售了五千多万组，其数量等同於二十七亿多块叠叠乐积木。
   理由:
   a. 本题测试以下固定用法∶
   be equal to N/V-ing等於……
   One US dollar is equal to about NT$30.
   一美元大约相当於新台币三十元。
   b. 根据上述，(C) 项应为正选。
3. It started in Africa, where Scott was born and raised.
   它的历史始於非洲，也就是史考特出生和成长的地方。
   理由:
   a. 空格前有表地方的名词 Africa（非洲），空格後有一关系子句 Scott was born and raised.（史考特出生和成长。），得知空格应置关系副词 where (= in which)。
   This is the house where Sam's grandfather grew up.
   这是山姆的爷爷在此成长的房子。
   b. 根据上述，(A) 项应为正选。
4. The game evolved within her family in the early 1970s using children's wooden building blocks.
   这个游戏是 1970 年代初期在她家里由孩子们的积木演化而成。
   理由:
   a. (A) evolve vi. 演化
   evolve into...演化成……
   Most people believe apes evolved into humans.
   大部份的人都认为人类是由猿类演化而成的。
   (B) vanish vi. 消失
   Many ancient civilizations have vanished mysteriously.
   许多古文明都已神秘地消失了。
   (C) soar vi. 翱翔，高飞
   An eagle is soaring high in the sky.
   一苹老鹰正在高空翱翔。
   (D) decline vi. 衰退
   The country's economy is declining because of the global recession.
   由於全球经济萧条，该国的经济正逐渐衰退。
   ＊recession n.（经济）衰退期
   b. 根据语意，(A) 项应为正选。
5. Seeing the potential for this game, Scott tested her luck by launching her new product at the London Toy Fair in 1983.
   史考特看见了叠叠乐游戏的潜力，於是在 1983 年的伦敦玩具展推出了她的新产品，想试试她的运气。
   理由:
   a. (A) robbery n. 抢劫
   James swore that he had nothing to do with the bank robbery.
   詹姆士发誓他和那起银行抢案毫无关联。
   (B) permission n. 允许，许可
   My father gave me permission to drive his car.
   我爸爸准许我开他的车。
   (C) minority n. 少数
   The white minority once ruled over South Africa.
   白人少数民族曾统治过南非。
   (D) potential n. 潜力
   Edward showed his potential to become an inventor when he was a child.
   艾德华小时候就展现出成为发明家的潜力。
   b. 根据语意，(D) 项应为正选。
6. The genius of Jenga stems from its simplicity.
   叠叠乐的创意起源於其简易性。
   理由:
   a. (A) simplicity n. 简单，简易
   The advantage of the video game is its simplicity.
   这款电玩游戏的优点在於它很简单。
   (B) adjustment n. 调整
   After we made a few minor adjustments, the engine ran smoothly.
   那具引擎经过我们的微调後，运转便顺畅了。
   (C) confidence n. 信心
   Jim brimmed with confidence after he passed his test.
   吉姆通过考试後充满自信。
   ＊brim with...充满……
   (D) frustration n. 挫折感
   Unhappy children often act out their frustrations in class.
   不快乐的小孩常会在课堂上表现出他们的挫折感。
   b. 根据语意，(A) 项应为正选。
7. The trouble is that the higher the tower gets, the less and less stable it becomes, and it will eventually collapse.
   游戏的困难处就是塔如果越叠越高，就会越来越不稳固，最後便会全部倒塌。
   理由:
   a. (A) fiinancal a. 财务的
   The business closed due to financial problems.
   该企业由於财务问题而关门大吉。
   (B) identical a. 相同的
   be identical to...与……完全相同
   Jason's coat was identical to the one I bought last month.
   杰森的外套跟我上个月买的那件一模一样。
   (C) obedient a. 顺从的
   Gary has been an obedient child since he was little.
   盖瑞从小就是个很听话的孩子。
   (D) stable a. 平稳的
   On a ship, the center is the most stable place to sit.
   搭船时，中央位置是坐起来最平稳的地方。
   b. 根据语意，(D) 项应为正选。

1. entertain vt. 使娱乐
   The host entertained his guests with his singing at the beginning of the party.
   派对开始时，主人唱歌来娱乐宾客。
2. fascinating a. 令人著迷的
   I love that scenic spot because the view there is fascinating.
   我喜欢那个景点，因为那里的景色很迷人。
   ＊scenic a. 风景的
3. raise vt. 抚养，养育
   I was born in Taipei but raised in Taichung.
   我出生在台北，但是在台中被抚养长大。
4. launch vt. 发行（新产品）
   The new singer caused a sensation when she launched her first album.
   那位刚出道的歌手发行第一张专辑便造成轰动。
   ＊cause a sensation造成轰动
5. the rest is history其他的事是众所周知
   Tim and Jessica fell in love and the rest is history.
   提姆和洁西卡坠入情网，接下来的事你都知道了。
6. stem from...源自於……
   Many Japanese and Korean customs stem from ancient China.
   很多日本及韩国的习俗都源自於古代的中国。
7. construct vt. 建造
   construction n. 施工，建造
   under construction在兴建中
   The new highway was constructed one year ago.
   这座新的高速公路是一年前建造的。
   The building is under construction and will not be finished until early next year.
   这栋大楼正在兴建中，要到明年初才会完工。
8. collapse vi. 倒塌
   The crowd was shocked as the building collapsed in front of their eyes.
   那栋建筑物在群众面前倒塌时，大家都大吃一惊。

1. rectangular a. 矩形的
2. hopscotch vi. 四处跳（本文意为四处搬家）
3. genius n. 天赋
4. gravity n. 地心引力

老少咸宜的叠叠乐
三十年来，叠叠乐把欢乐带给世界各地的家庭和朋友。
叠叠乐这个用五十四块矩形积木来玩的游戏，

不论对物理学或专注力来说，确实都是个考验。1983 年，游戏设计师莱斯莉·史考特创造了叠叠乐，它让大人小孩兴奋了三十多年。叠叠乐因广受欢迎而在全世界销售了五千多万组，其数量等同於二十七亿多块叠叠乐积木。
叠叠乐的历史几乎和游戏本身一样迷人。它的历史始於非洲，也就是史考特出生和成长的地方。史考特这位英国人年轻的时候，她的家庭在非洲的东部和西部四处搬家，所以她学会说斯华西里语。事实上，叠叠乐（Jenga）的名称便是源自於斯华西里语，意思是『建造』。这个游戏是 1970 年代初期在她家里由孩子们的积木演化而成。史考特看见了叠叠乐游戏的潜力，於是在 1983 年的伦敦玩具展推出了她的新产品，想试试她的运气。接下来的事情就如人们所说的，是众所皆知了。叠叠乐游戏在英国大获成功，而且很快便风行全世界。
叠叠乐的创意起源於其简易性。五十四块积木所组成的塔一旦完成，盖好这座塔的人就可以先移动第一块积木。移动积木的动作包含从塔身任何一层拿走一块积木，并将它放置在塔的最上层。游戏的困难处就是塔如果越叠越高，就会越来越不稳固，最後便会全部倒塌。所以，找一群朋友来围坐在叠叠乐积木塔旁，然後一起目睹地心引力总是大获全胜的一幕吧！
答案∶ 1. B2. C3. A4. A5. D6. A7. D