Murphy's son was too young to participate in the popular Soap Box Derby races, so he 12 the idea of racing miniature wooden cars.
答案：(A) came up with
came up with the idea（想出這個點子）表示墨菲想出了讓孩子比賽木製迷你賽車的點子；dropped out（退出）、made out（辨認出／勉強應付）、put up with（忍受）均不符合此處語意。
本題大考中心未公布逐題答對率，以下不談數據，只談觀念。
四個都是動詞片語，長得像，很容易憑眼熟挑；put up with 因為也有一個 up，特別容易與 come up with 混成一團。
先看空格後面的受詞：the idea of racing miniature wooden cars（讓迷你木頭車比賽這個點子）。能與 idea 組在一起的是「想出」——come up with an idea，配合前半句的過去式，本題寫成 came up with。再看前半句給的因果：Murphy's son was too young to participate in the popular Soap Box Derby races, so he ______ the idea ...（兒子年紀太小不能參加，所以他 ______ 這個點子）。so 要求後面是前面的結果，「想出一個替代的玩法」才接得上；這種 so 前後的因果關係，往往比逐一比對片語的中文更快定案。
drop out 是「退出、輟學」，不及物，後面不能直接接受詞，要說 drop out of the race。make out 常見的意思是「看出、辨認出」（make out the words in the dark），後面接的是難以辨識的東西，不是點子。put up with 是「忍受」（put up with the noise），忍受一個點子與 so 帶出的因果完全對不上。
come up with an idea（想出一個點子）、drop out of（從……退出、輟學）、make out（看出、辨認出）、put up with（忍受）、be too young to V（年紀太小，不能……）、participate in（參加，participate 是不及物動詞，一定要有介系詞）
The Pinewood Derby is a racing event for Cub Scouts in the Boy Scouts of America. Cub Scouts, with the help of parents, build their own cars from wood, usually from kits 11 a block of pine, plastic wheels, and metal axles.
Cub Master Don Murphy organized the first Pinewood Derby, held May 15, 1953 in Manhattan Beach, California. Murphy's son was too young to participate in the popular Soap Box Derby races, so he 12 the idea of racing miniature wooden cars.
The Scout is given a block of wood made of pine 13 two notches for wheels, four plastic wheels, and four nails. The finished car must use all nine pieces, must not exceed a certain weight, must not exceed a certain length and must fit on the track. Each 14 is able to carve and decorate the car as he chooses.
The great thing about the race is that the boys build the cars with their dads, grandfathers, or 15 they choose. It's not about winning or losing; it is about having the quality time with each other and enjoying a great day with family, friends and smiling faces.