Some umbrellas fold up, 20 it is easy to carry them.
答案:(A) so
前後句是因果關係「雨傘可以摺疊,所以容易攜帶」,so 表示「所以」,符合順接因果。for 雖然也表原因,但通常放在結果之後解釋原因(先果後因),此處順序相反;unless(除非)、but(但是)語意不合。
本題大考中心未公布逐題答對率,以下不談數據,只談觀念。
so 與 for 都能連接兩個子句,中文一個是「所以」、一個是「因為」,如果沒看清楚哪一邊是原因、哪一邊是結果,很容易挑反。
四個選項都是對等連接詞,可見這一格考的是前後兩個子句的關係。前半是 Some umbrellas fold up(有些傘可以摺疊),後半是 it is easy to carry them(很容易攜帶)。可以摺疊是原因、方便攜帶是結果,前因後果,用 so。so 與 for 正好是方向相反的一對,這一組值得一起記:前因後果用 so(It was raining, so we stayed home.);前果後因用 for(We stayed home, for it was raining.)。所以 for 出局不是因為它意思錯,是因為它擺錯了位置——它引出的必須是前面那句話的理由。這個位置限制在題庫裡反覆出現:90 年第 21 題、91 年第 24 題、87 年第 31 題都考過。
for(因為):見上,位置相反。unless(除非):帶出排除性的條件,本句沒有那個結構。but(但是):轉折,但「可摺疊」與「好攜帶」是同一個方向。
so(所以,前因後果)、for(因為,前果後因)、be easy to carry(容易攜帶)、carry sth around(隨身帶著)、useful(有用的)、a rainy day(雨天)。
The umbrella is not a new invention. The Chinese 11 umbrellas in the eleventh century B.C. 12 China they traveled to India, Persia, and Egypt. But in Greece and Rome, men 13 use them. They believed umbrellas were 14 for women. When the Spanish explorers went to Mexico, they saw the Aztec kings 15 umbrellas. English explorers found out that Indian princes also carried umbrellas on the east coast of North America. It 16 that people in different parts of the world invented umbrellas at different times.
England was probably the first country in Europe 17 ordinary people used umbrellas 18 the rain. England has a rainy climate, and umbrellas are very useful there. The umbrella is now a very ordinary 19 . Everybody uses it today. It keeps the rain and the sun off people. Some umbrellas fold up, 20 it is easy to carry them.