The House Always Wins谁是赢家？
by Marcus Maurice
Blackjack, baccarat, and poker are just three of the hundreds of games played in casinos.
二十一点、百家乐和扑克牌只是数百种赌场游戏中的其中三种。
Casinos have been around for as long as people have had the desire to gamble, which is a very, very long time. The term casino comes from the Italian word casa, which means house. The first casinos were buildings built for _(1)_ in villages and included dancing, drinking and, of course, gambling.
Nowadays, casinos are a multi-billion dollar industry. Las Vegas has been home _(2)_ legalized gambling in the US since 1931, and for many years it was the biggest gambling town in the world. Over the past few years, though, Macau has overtaken Las Vegas in terms of profitability. With so many Chinese people now _(3)_ money to blow, it seems as though Macau will continue to get bigger for many years to come.
The inside of a casino is a psychological minefield for the _(4)_ gambler. There are no clocks or windows, and all the important places, like bars and bathrooms, are all _(5)_ in random corners. Casinos tend to give away free drinks, free rooms, free tickets to fancy shows, and just about anything else _(6)_ so that customers will gamble their money away in their establishments. The casino business is a fierce one, and competition for high rollers is non-stop.
Going to a casino is great fun, but don't bet money you cannot afford to lose. Since casinos have the slight _(7)_ in every game, there is an old adage that states, "The house always wins." This means that while people might win money on one hand, one night, or even go on a hot streak, eventually that same person will dump his or her money back into the casino.
1. (A) pleasure(B) complaint(C) discovery(D) protection
2. (A) with(B) up(C) upon(D) to
3. (A) by having(B) are having(C) have(D) having
4. (A) liberal(B) average(C) irregular(D) sufficient
5. (A) strengthened(B) confessed(C) disturbed(D) scattered
6. (A) defensive(B) flexible(C) imaginable(D) habitual
7. (A) edge(B) expansion(C) output(D) mischief
The first casinos were buildings built for pleasure in villages and included dancing, drinking and, of course, gambling.
最早的赌场是在村落里建立来提供乐趣的建筑物，里面包括了跳舞、喝酒，当然还有赌博。
理由:
a. (A) pleasure n. 乐趣
take pleasure in...喜爱 乐於从事……
= take delight in...
Sandy takes pleasure in criticizing other people.
珊蒂喜欢批评别人。
(B) complaint n. 投诉；抱怨
make a complaint about...投诉……；抱怨……
If you want to make a complaint about poor service, please dial this number.
你若要投诉服务不佳，请拨这个电话号码。
(C) discovery n. 发现
Many people mistakenly believed that the world was flat before Christopher Columbus' discovery.
在哥伦布发现之前，许多人都误以为地球是平的。
(D) protection n. 保护，防护
The article aims to emphasize the importance of environmental protection.
这篇文章旨在强调环保的重要性。
b. 根据语意，(A) 项应为正选。
Las Vegas has been home to legalized gambling in the US since 1931...
从 1931 年起，拉斯维加斯一直是美国合法赌场的所在地……
理由:
a. 本空格测试以下固定用法∶
be home to...是……的所在地 大本营
This river is home to several species of fish.
这条河是数种鱼类的栖息地。
b. 根据上述用法，(D) 项应为正选。
With so many Chinese people now having money to blow, it seems as though Macau will continue to get bigger for many years to come.
现今澳门有这麽多中国人有钱可花，它的规模似乎在未来许多年都还会持续扩大。
理由:
a. 本空格测试情状介词片语的固定用法∶
with + 受词 + 过去分词 现在分词（均作受词补语）
注意:
在本句构中用过去分词时表被动状态，用现在分词时则表主动状态。
Sally sat in the sofa with her eyes closed.
莎莉闭著眼睛坐在沙发上。（眼睛被闭起来）
The old man sat in his rocking chair with a cat sleeping on his lap.
这名老人坐著摇椅，有苹猫睡在他的大腿上。（猫主动睡觉）
b. 根据上述用法，(D) 项应为正选。
The inside of a casino is a psychological minefield for the average gambler.
对一般赌客而言，赌场内部是一种心理上的地雷区。
理由:
a. (A) liberal a. 开放的
Many elderly people are conservative, whereas younger people are usually more liberal.
许多老年人很保守，而年轻人通常比较开放。
(B) average a. 一般的；普通的
An average human generates the energy equivalent to a lightbulb.
一般人一天产生的能量相当於一百瓦的灯泡。
(C) irregular a. 不规律的；不规则的
Henry's irregular eating habits resulted in a stomach ulcer.
亨利不规律的饮食习惯导致胃溃疡。
(D) sufficient a. 充份的，足够的
be sufficient for...对……是足够的
This amount of money will be sufficient for our living expenses.
这笔数目的钱将足够应付我们的生活开支。
b. 根据语意，(B) 项应为正选。
There are no clocks or windows, and all the important places, like bars and bathrooms, are all scattered in random corners.
赌场里没有时钟或是窗户，而且所有重要的地方，像是酒吧和浴室，都随机散布在各个角落。
理由:
a. (A) strengthen vt. 加强，巩固
Doing push-ups is a great way to strengthen your arms.
做伏地挺身是强健手臂的大好方法。
(B) confess vt. & vi. 坦承
confess to sb + that 子句向某人坦承……
Peter confessed to his mom that he had stolen her money.
彼得向他妈妈坦承他偷了她的钱。
(C) disturb vt. 妨碍，打扰
The students were charged with disturbing the peace.
学生们因妨碍安宁而遭起诉。
(D) scatter vt. 分散，散布
The children scattered their toys all over the house.
那些孩子们把玩具扔得房子里到处都是。
b. 根据语意，(D) 项应为正选。
Casinos tend to give away free drinks, free rooms, free tickets to fancy shows, and just about anything else imaginable so that customers will...
赌场往往会发送免费的饮料、免费的房间、精彩节目的免费入场券，还有其他任何你想像得到的东西，好让客人在……
理由:
a. (A) defensive a. 防御的
Don't be so defensive. My comments weren't meant to offend you.
防卫心别那麽强。我说的话并没有要冒犯你的意思。
(B) flexible a. 有弹性的
These pants are made with a very flexible material, so they will fit people of all sizes.
这条裤子是用相当有弹性的布料制成的，因此各种身材的人都可以穿。
(C) imaginable a. 想像得到的
For me, the most terrifying thing imaginable is a baby that won't stop crying.
对我来说，我能想像最可怕的东西就是哭个不停的婴儿。
(D) habitual a. 习惯性的
Do you know Robert is a habitual liar?
你知道罗伯特是个习惯说谎的人吗？
b. 根据语意，(C) 项应为正选。
Since casinos have the slight edge in every game, there is an old adage that states...
由於赌场在每一种游戏都有少许的优势，因此古谚有云……
理由:
a. (A) edge n. 优势
The ruling party holds the edge in the election.
执政党在选举中占有优势。
(B) expansion n. 扩张
The company's financial problems are interfering with its plans for expansion.
该公司的财务问题妨碍了它扩大经营的计划。
(C) output n. 生产；产量
These measures will allow us to double our product output.
这些措施将会让我们产品的产量加倍。
(D) mischief n. 恶作剧
Michael was punished by his father for his mischief.
麦克因为恶作剧而被他爸爸处罚。
b. 根据语意，(A) 项应为正选。
desire n. & vt. 渴望；欲望
It was my desire to experience different cultures that brought me to Africa.
就是这一股想体验不同文化的渴望使我来到了非洲。
If a student desires to become a journalist, he or she can get experience by writing for school publications.
学生若想当记者，可以藉由撰写校刊获取经验。
legalized a. 合法的
legalize vt. 使合法
Sam participated in a campaign whose aim is to legalize certain drugs.
山姆参加了一项以让某些药品合法化为目标的活动。
overtake vt. 超越，赶上
三态为∶overtake, overtook, overtaken。
I don't think any other cell phone will overtake the iPhone as my favorite.
我不认为有任何手机能超越 iPhone 成为我的最爱。
random a. 随机的
A survey is supposed to be a random sampling of the public's overall opinion.
民调应当是大众整体意见的随机抽样。
tend to V往往……；倾向……
Andy tends to bite his nails when he's nervous.
安迪紧张时往往会咬指甲。
fancy a. 精彩的；高级的
David likes to show off his fancy sports car whenever he can.
大卫只要有机会就喜欢炫耀他新买的高级跑车。
fierce a. 激烈的
There is fierce competition between the two leading car manufacturers.
这两家领导品牌的汽车制造商之间竞争非常激烈。
dump vt. 倾倒；抛弃
Alex turned his girlfriend's life upside down when he dumped her two weeks before the wedding.
艾力克斯在婚礼前两星期甩了他女友，将她的生活搞得天翻地覆。
blackjack n. 二十一点（一种纸牌游戏）
baccarat n. 百家乐（一种纸牌游戏）
casino n. 赌场
profitability n. 利润；收益
psychological a. 心理的
minefield n. 地雷区（引申为需小心应付的事情）
establishment n. 机关；公司
a high roller豪赌的人
adage n. 谚语；格言
a hot streak（扑克牌）连胜
in terms of...就……而言
give away... / give...away送出 发送……
谁是赢家？
二十一点、百家乐和扑克牌只是数百种赌场游戏中的其中三种。
从人们有赌博的欲望以来，赌场便一直存在，而这是很久很久以前的事了。『赌场』（casino）这个名词来自於义大利文中的 casa 这个字，意思指的是房子。最早的赌场是在村落里建立来提供乐趣的建筑物，里面包括了跳舞、喝酒，当然还有赌博。
时至今日，赌场成了资本额数十亿元的产业。从 1931 年起，拉斯维加斯一直是美国合法赌场的所在地，而有许多年它都是世界上规模最大的赌城。然而，在过去几年，澳门在获利方面已超越了拉斯维加斯。现今澳门有这麽多中国人有钱可花，它的规模似乎在未来许多年都还会持续扩大。
对一般赌客而言，赌场内部是一种心理上的地雷区。赌场里没有时钟或是窗户，而且所有重要的地方，像是酒吧和浴室，都随机散布在各个角落。赌场往往会发送免费的饮料、免费的房间、精彩节目的免费入场券，还有其他任何你想像得到的东西，好让客人在赌场里把钱赌个精光。赌场业是竞争相当激烈的一项行业，而且竞相争取那些挥金如土的客人是没完没了的。
去赌场很好玩，但下注的钱不要超过自己所能负担的能力。由於赌场在每一种游戏都有少许的优势，因此古谚有云∶『庄家永远是赢家。』这意味著虽然人们可能会赢了一把、一整晚，或甚至是连胜不止，但他（她）最後终将会把钱输回给赌场的。
答案∶ 1. A2. D3. D4. B5. D6. C7. A
