閱讀測驗

第43至46題為題組
Zebrafish， named for their characteristic stripes， have been a popular test subject for researchers. Only a few centimeters in length， the fish breed easily in captivity， grow quickly， and their transparent body makes it easy to study their organs. Above all， they possess some amazing “self-healing” power. When part of their heart is removed， they can grow it back in a matter of weeks. When blinded， they can quickly regain the ability to see.

Recent studies show that humans and zebrafish have the same major organs and share 70 percent of the genes. Moreover， 84 percent of human genes associated with disease find a counterpart in zebrafish. Scientists thus hope that understanding the self-healing mystery of the fish may one day allow humans to regenerate such organs as eyes， hearts， and spines.

Researchers at Vanderbilt University are particularly interested in zebrafish retina regeneration. They have learned that damage of retina can cause blindness in zebrafish， yet it only takes about three to four weeks before vision is restored. The structure and cell types of zebrafish retinas are almost identical to those of humans. If the process can be **replicated** in humans， it may give rise to new treatments for blindness caused by retinal damage.

In order to know exactly how zebrafish retina is regenerated， the team looked at the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)， a chemical messenger in the brain that reduces the activity of neurons. They found that lowering GABA levels in zebrafish can trigger retina regeneration， while a high level of GABA concentration will suppress the regeneration process. This suggested that GABA plays an important role in the fish’s ability to regain their sight.

The team is beginning to test the GABA theory on mice. If that works， human trials will be next on the agenda. If the research proves successful in humans， some of the nearly 40 million blind people worldwide may one day have a tiny， striped fish to thank.
What can we learn about zebrafish from the passage?
(A) How they should be studied in labs.
(B) Where they derive their regenerative ability.
(C) Why they share humans’ genetic code.
(D) What they may offer in medical advancements.

第43至46題為題組
Which of the following statements is true regarding GABA in zebrafish?
(A) Increasing GABA level facilitates neuron activities.
(B) There is a high level of GABA in the brain of zebrafish.
(C) Lowering GABA levels in the brain can stimulate retina regrowth.
(D) GABA contains chemical elements that trigger the growth of neurons.

第43至46題為題組
Which of the following is closest in meaning to “replicated” in the third paragraph?
(A) Reproduced.
(B) Reassembled.
(C) Recycled.
(D) Restored.

第43至46題為題組
According to the passage， which of the following is an opinion， but **NOT** a fact?
(A) Humans and zebrafish have 70 percent of genes in common.
(B) Zebrafish can quickly recover vision after damage to the retina.
(C) Scientists are testing if the GABA theory works on mice as it does on zebrafish.
(D) Understanding regeneration in zebrafish may allow humans to regrow their organs.

第47至49題為題組
Which word in Popole Misenga’s story means “protection given by a country or embassy to refugees from another country”? （簡答，2分）

第47至49題為題組
請從下列(A)到(F)中，選出對Yusra Mardini和Popole Misenga都正確的選項。（多選題，4分）
(A) Being an Olympic medalist.
(B) Growing up in an orphanage.
(C) Joining the Olympic Games more than once.
(D) Leaving his/her hometown because of war.
(E) Showing talent in sports after going to a foreign country.
(F) Traveling through several countries before securing protection.

第31至34題為題組
Have you ever thought of “coloring” the names of the days of the week? When you listen to someone speaking， do you see a rainbow of colors? Or perhaps Mozart’s music tastes like an apple pie to you? If so， it is very likely that you have synesthesia.

Synesthesia is a condition in which people’s senses intermix. In some cases， people with synesthesia may experience colors when they hear， read， or even think of letters and numbers. In others， words can trigger a real sensation of taste on their tongue.

__31__ In the early 1990s， however， scientists noticed that synesthetic colors do not change over time. When asked what color is evoked by a letter or number， synesthetic people would persistently give the same answer even if tested months or years apart.
(A) This consistency serves as a proof that synesthesia is real.
(B) Meanwhile， environmental influences seem to shape a person’s synesthesia.
(C) People with synesthesia used to be accused of making their experiences up.
(D) Some studies even show that people may all be synesthetic to some degree.

第31至34題為題組
__32__ The most compelling support， however， comes from brain scans， which show that color processing areas in the brain light up when these people listen to certain words.
(A) This consistency serves as a proof that synesthesia is real.
(B) Meanwhile， environmental influences seem to shape a person’s synesthesia.
(C) People with synesthesia used to be accused of making their experiences up.
(D) Some studies even show that people may all be synesthetic to some degree.

第31至34題為題組
Is synesthesia genetically inherited or acquired after birth? Scientists agree that synesthesia has a genetic basis， because it frequently runs in families. But an actual synesthesia gene (or genes) has not been identified yet. __33__ For example， the flavors people with taste-word synesthesia experience are usually childhood flavors， such as chocolate or strawberries. Also， people with color-music synesthesia more often than not have had early musical training.
(A) This consistency serves as a proof that synesthesia is real.
(B) Meanwhile， environmental influences seem to shape a person’s synesthesia.
(C) People with synesthesia used to be accused of making their experiences up.
(D) Some studies even show that people may all be synesthetic to some degree.

第31至34題為題組
Once thought to be extremely rare， synesthesia is now found to affect about one to four percent of the population. __34__ As is often observed， most of us tend to associate lower notes with darker colors and higher notes with brighter colors. Researchers further point out that in most people synesthesia is active only during the first months of their infancy， while this ability remains forever in certain individuals.
(A) This consistency serves as a proof that synesthesia is real.
(B) Meanwhile， environmental influences seem to shape a person’s synesthesia.
(C) People with synesthesia used to be accused of making their experiences up.
(D) Some studies even show that people may all be synesthetic to some degree.