[題組:第40-43題]41. What does “taken their toll on kitchen tables” mean in the third paragraph?
(A) Deprived people of adequate food for living.
(B) Controlled the nutrients in people’s diet.
(C) Charged people for using kitchen tables.
(D) Paid tribute to chefs working in kitchens.
[題組:第40-43題]42. Which of the following is true about commercial diners before the French Revolution?
(A) Many fine restaurants were owned by highly skilled chefs.
(B) Reputable dining halls were popular in Paris during the 1760s.
(C) Public dining halls in the Middle Ages were run-down and dirty.
(D) A limited variety of food was served in Parisian restaurants in the 1780s.
[題組:第40-43題]43. What was the main reason for Napoleon to promote the development of restaurants?
(A) He hoped to improve the life of his citizens.
(B) He wanted to help unemployed chefs find new jobs.
(C) He feared that reductions in restaurants might hurt the travel business.
(D) He believed that the development of restaurants would bring political stability.
[題組:第44-47題]Falcons are powerful birds that may be trained to hunt in cooperation with humans. The art of training falcons as “hunting dogs of the skies” is called falconry. It was developed in the ancient Arabian Desert around 4000 B.C. In the past, falconry mainly involved hunting with falcons to supplement one’s diet. But now, it has become the favorite sport and pastime in the Arabian Peninsula.
Falconry includes three major processes: acquiring the falcons, training them, and hunting with them. Every year, falconers begin capturing wild falcons in June and July, the migration season. The best birds to catch are the ones with naturally nurtured hunting skills, aged one or two years. Once the falcons are captured, their heads are immediately covered with a leather hood. This is essential because they imprint as their master whomever they see first after the hood is removed. Right after a bird is caught, the training process starts. It begins by depriving the bird of food to make it easier to tame. The birds are taught to know their own name and respond to their master when called. Arab falconers live with their birds day and night in order to build a strong relationship with them.
By the end of October or mid-November, the trained falcons are ready to hunt in the desert. They have excellent vision, 2.6 times greater than that of a human. They are also the fastest divers on the planet. One hunting technique that sets them apart from other animals is that they can be trained to deliver their prey, without killing it first. This is vital in Islamic culture because animals used for food must still be alive to ensure that the meat is halal, that is, properly prepared according to Islamic law.
Falcons have played such a crucial role in traditional Islamic cultures that a number of countries in the Middle East have made them their national bird. Falconry has grown so popular that specialist hospitals have been established to take care of these magnificent birds. Falcons are even issued their own passports. They are the only animals in the United Arab Emirates that are legally allowed to travel inside planes, enjoying a level of luxury that some humans can only dream of.
44. What makes falcons a unique animal for hunting in Islamic culture?
(A) Falcons are relatively easy to train for hunting.
(B) Falcons can form a strong bond with their owners quickly.
(C) Falcons’ vision is particularly suitable for hunting in deserts.
(D) Falcons keep their prey alive before delivering it to falconers.
[題組:第44-47題]45. What is the main reason for Arabic people to hunt with falcons today?
(A) To supplement their diet.
(B) To serve as entertainment and exercise.
(C) To worship their national bird.
(D) To replace the practice of hunting with dogs.
[題組:第44-47題]46. According to the article, what privilege do falcons enjoy in the Arab world?
(A) Free air ticket.
(B) Passports issued by the King.
(C) Meals that are halal.
(D) Access to specialized medical care.
[題組:第44-47題]47. Which of the following statements is true?
(A) Falconers deprive the falcons of food in order to capture them.
(B) Falcons are not allowed to see their masters during the training process.
(C) The trainers’ names are imprinted on the hoods covering the birds’ heads.
(D) Wild falcons with natural hunting skills are most ideal for falconers to catch.
[題組:第48-51題]Since golf started in the \(15^{th }\) century, many advances have occurred in the game, including significant changes to the golf ball. Early golf was played with a rounded wooden ball before the Featherie, a leather sack stuffed with goose or chicken feathers, became the norm. Then, in 1848, the Gutta Percha ball was introduced, which was made from the juice of the leaves of the gutta tree (a tropical tree native to Malaysia) and was considerably more durable and affordable than its predecessor. The next advancement occurred in the early 1900s with the development of the Haskell. It was the first ball featuring a center rubber core and an outer cover. The Haskell traveled up to 20 yards farther than the Gutta Percha ball and was more durable. In 1905, William Taylor introduced the first dimpled ball, a ball covered with tiny holes on the surface. By the 1930s, golf balls with rows of dimples were accepted as the standard design. Most golf balls today consist of rubber thread wound around a rubber core and coated with dimpled enamel.
Dimples play an important role in a golf ball’s performance because these markings and patterns enhance the ball’s aerodynamics. When a ball is hit and moves through the air, it experiences two major aerodynamic forces: lift and drag. Drag slows the forward motion, and lift acts in a direction vertical to it. With dimples added to the ball, the force that pulls back on the ball is minimized, allowing it to travel faster and longer. Dimples also help to force the airflow downward, which pushes the ball upward. These are the same principles of aerodynamics that airplanes use to fly. In general, golf balls with small, shallow dimples tend to have a longer, lower flight path, whereas those with deeper dimples have a higher flight path. Golfers can choose their balls based on what they need for a particular shot or for particular weather.
48. Which of the following best states the main idea of the first paragraph?
(A) Science and technology have influenced the game of golf.
(B) Price, durability, and function determine the quality of golf balls.
(C) Accumulated efforts have resulted in changes in how golf balls are made.
(D) Golfers who have a sound knowledge of aerodynamics play the game well.
[題組:第48-51題]49. Which of the following is true about golf balls?
(A) William Taylor added a rubber center to golf balls.
(B) The Gutta Percha ball was stuffed with bird feathers.
(C) The Featherie was the first golf ball ever used in the game.
(D) The Haskell lasted longer and traveled farther than its predecessor.
[題組:第48-51題]50. How do dimples on a golf ball affect its performance?
(A) They help it travel farther.
(B) They keep it in a better shape.
(C) They enhance its drag force.
(D) They allow it to endure stronger impact.
