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請依下文回答第 36 題至第 40 題
Terms considered proper for a group or phenomenon seem to change every generation or so. The term crippled, for
example, sounds abusive today, 36 it was once considered civil by educated, sensitive people. Crippled began as
a(n) 37 term. However, a sad reality of human society is that there are negative associations and even dismissal
harbored 38 those with disabilities. Crippled thus became accreted with those overtones to the point
that handicapped was fashioned as a replacement term 39 from such baggage. Similarly, because humans stayed
human, handicapped, later 40 shades of abuse, also conditioned another replacement like disabled. Such a(n)
periodic semantic renewal is an inevitable and healthy process.
36 for or so yet
37 informative emotionless sympathetic opinionated
38 against for in with
39 blind clung free weary
40 losing dismissing protecting bearing
請依下文回答第 41 題至第 45 題
Have you been caught up in a swarm of flying ants? And is there really a special "flying ant day"? Read on to discover
more…
1. Flying ants are just normal ants – with wings! The ants we are most used to seeing are female black garden ants,
marching around collecting food. But during summer, winged males and new queens of the same species take flight!
2. They fly to set up new ant colonies. The ants take to the skies so that queens can mate with males from different
colonies, and set up new nests of their own.
3. They only swarm during hot summer weather. For a swarm of ants to occur, conditions must be just right – they are
usually triggered by hot and humid weather in July or August.
4. "Flying ant day" is a myth. Because so many ants appear in the same place at the same time, the phenomenon is often
known as "flying ant day" – but it's really more of a short flying ant season. Depending on weather, the winged insects
may appear in different parts of the country any time between June and September.
5. They're harmless. These flying beasties might be super annoying, but they won't hurt you. Plus they provide loads of
extra food for hungry birds!
6. Female flying ants are bigger than males. Brave enough to take a closer look? You'll see that some of the winged ants
are much larger than others. The bigger ones are the queens – they're up to 15mm in length.
7. Queens bite their own wings off! After mating, queens chew off their wings and crawl around looking for a place to
dig a new nest. Look out for their discarded wings on the floor!
8. Flying ants are also called alates, the name given to the winged form of many insects.
41 Which of the following is similar in meaning to "swarm" in "... caught up in a swarm of flying ants ..."?
Variety. Piece. Group. Division.
42 What does the term "flying beasties" refer to in this passage?
Ants. Birds. Myths. Monsters.
43 According to the passage, why do the ants fly?
To look for food and collect it. To avoid hot and humid weather.
To escape from hungry birds. To mate and build a nesting site.
44 According to the passage, why can wings be found on the floor?
Queens of the ants chew off their wings after mating.
Wings of the flying ants are bitten off by hungry birds.
The wings fall off the ants because of humid and hot weather.
All these insects automatically shed their wings in July or August.