But Brahma thought 24 would do because he believed humans would dig into the earth and climb every mountain, and eventually find it.
答案:(D) neither
前面提到兩個藏匿地點的建議(藏在地底或帶到最高的山頂),Brahma認為「兩者都不」可行,neither(兩者都不)精確對應這種對兩個選項都否定的語意;each(每一個,語意不合,應該是全部否定)、more(更多)、any(任何一個,不夠精確)都不合。
But Brahma thought ______ would do. 這一句最卡的其實是 would do——do 在這裡不是「做」。看不懂 would do,就只能憑感覺在四個選項裡挑,最多人挑 any,因為「任何一個」聽起來最保險。
先解決 do。do 有一個常考的用法,意思是「足夠、可以、行得通」,例如 That will do.(這樣就可以了)(劍橋詞典)。所以 ______ would do 問的是「哪一個行得通」。接著回上一句數清楚有幾個選項:The gods suggested that they hide it deep in the earth or take it to the top of the highest mountain.——只有兩個建議。英文對「剛好兩個」有專用的一組字:both(兩者都)、either(兩者之一)、neither(兩者都不);三個以上才用 all、any、none。這一組你國中學過最短的版本:I have two pens. One is red; the other is blue. 再看後面的理由 because he believed humans would dig into the earth and climb every mountain(因為他相信人類會挖遍大地、爬遍每一座山),兩個建議都被否定掉了,所以答案是「兩者都不」的 neither。
each:每一個,語意是肯定的,會變成「每一個都行得通」,與後面的理由完全矛盾。more:更多,句中沒有可以拿來比較的對象。any:在這種肯定句裡是「隨便哪一個都行」,同樣講反了;要表示否定必須寫成 not any,而 neither 已經把「兩個都不」包在一個字裡。
That will do.(這樣就可以了)、neither of the two(兩者都不)、either…or…(不是…就是…)、neither…nor…(既不…也不…)、suggest that somebody do something(建議某人做某事)、dig into(挖進…)。
There was once a time when all human beings were gods. However, they often took their divinity for granted and 21 abused it. Seeing this, Brahma, the chief god, decided to take their divinity away from them and hide it 22 it could never be found.
Brahma called a council of the gods to help him decide on a place to hide the divinity. The gods suggested that they hide it 23 in the earth or take it to the top of the highest mountain. But Brahma thought 24 would do because he believed humans would dig into the earth and climb every mountain, and eventually find it. So, the gods gave up.
Brahma thought for a long time and finally decided to hide their divinity in the center of their own being, for humans would never think to 25 it there. Since that time humans have been going up and down the earth, digging, climbing, and exploring—searching for something already within themselves.