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[題組:第48-51題]The okapi is a mammal living above the equator in one of the most biodiverse areas in central Africa. The animal was unknown to the western world until the beginning of the \(20^{th}\) century, and is often described as half-zebra, half-giraffe, as if it were a mixed-breed creature from a Greek legend. Yet its image is prevalent in the Democratic Republic of Congo-the only country in the world where it is found living in the wild. The okapi is to Congo what the giant panda is to China or the kangaroo to Australia.
Although the okapi has striped markings resembling those of zebras’, it is most closely related to the giraffe. It has a long neck, and large, flexible ears. The face and throat are greyish white. The coat is a chocolate to reddish brown, much in contrast with the white horizontal stripes and rings on the legs and white ankles. Overall, the okapi can be easily distinguished from its nearest relative. It is much smaller (about the size of a horse), and shares more external similarities with the deer than with the giraffe. While both sexes possess horns in the giraffe, only males bear horns in the okapi.
The West got its first whiff of the okapi in 1890 when Welsh journalist Henry Morton Stanley had puzzled over a strange “African donkey” in his book. Other Europeans in Africa had also heard of an animal that they came to call the “African unicorn.” Explorers may have seen the fleeting view of the striped backside as the animal fled through the bushes, leading to speculation that the okapi was some sort of rainforest zebra. Some even believed that the okapi was a new species of zebra. It was only later, when okapi skeleton was analyzed, that naturalists realized they had a giraffe on their hands.
In 1987, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve was established in eastern Congo to protect this rare mammal. But decades of political turbulence has seen much of the Congo’s natural resources spin out of the government’s control, and okapi numbers have fallen by 50 percent since 1995. Today, only 10,000 remain.
48. Which of the following is a picture of an okapi?

[題組:第48-51題]49. Which of the following descriptions is true about the okapi?
(A) It is an important symbol of Congo.
(B) It is a mystical creature from a Greek legend.
(C) It has been well protected since 1987.
(D) It is more closely related to the zebra than the giraffe.

[題組:第48-51題]50. What does the word “whiff” most likely mean in the third paragraph?
(A) Firm belief.
(B) Kind intention.
(C) Slight trace.
(D) Strong dislike.

[題組:第48-51題]51. Which of the following can be inferred about Henry Morton Stanley?
(A) He was the first European to analyze okapi skeleton.
(B) He had found many new species of animals in Africa.
(C) He did not know the “African donkey” in his book was the okapi.
(D) He had seen the backside of an okapi dashing through the bushes.

[題組:第36題到第39題]
Born in 1785 in southwestern Germany, Baron Karl Drais was one of the most creative German inventors of the 19th century. The baron’s numerous inventions include, among others, the earliest typewriter, the meat grinder, a device to record piano music on paper, and two four-wheeled human-powered vehicles. But it was the running machine, the modern ancestor of the bicycle,

that made him famous. The running machine, also called Draisine or hobby horse, was in effect a very primitive bicycle: it had no chains and was propelled by riders pushing off the ground with their feet. Though not a bike in the modern sense of the word, Drais’ invention marked the big bang for the bicycle’s development. It was the first vehicle with two wheels placed in line. The frame and wheels were made of wood; the steering already resembled a modern handlebar. Drais’ big democratic idea behind his invention was to find a muscle-powered replacement for the horses, which were expensive and consumed lots of food even when not in use. The machine, he believed, would allow large numbers of people faster movement than walking or riding in a coach. Drais undertook his first documented ride on June 12, 1817, covering a distance of 13 kilometers in one hour. A few months later, Drais created a huge sensation when he rode 60 kilometers in four hours. These were later followed by a marketing trip to Paris, where the hobby horse quickly caught on. The fad also quickly spread to Britain. The success of the hobby horse was short-lived, though. They were heavy and difficult to ride. Safety was an issue, too: They lacked a brake, as well as cranks and pedals. There were frequent collisions with unsuspecting pedestrians, and after a few years Drais’ invention was banned in many European and American cities. Drais’ ideas, however, did not disappear entirely. Decades later, the machine was equipped by Frenchmen Pierre Lallement and Pierre Michaux with pedals to become the modern bicycle.
36. Why did Drais invent the running machine?
(A) To prove his creativity as an inventor.
(B) To protect the horses from being abused.
(C) To provide a new gadget for the royal class.
(D) To give the general public a better means of transportation.

[題組:第36題到第39題]
37. What does “marked the big bang” mean in the second paragraph?
(A) Gave out huge noise.
(B) Created serious disturbance.
(C) Enjoyed wide popularity.
(D) Represented groundbreaking work.

[題組:第36題到第39題]
38. Which of the following descriptions is true about the running machine?
(A) It was equipped with cranks and pedals.
(B) Its wheels and frame were made of iron.
(C) It had a brake to control the speed of its movement.
(D) Its steering was similar to the handlebar of a modern bike.

[題組:第36題到第39題]
39. Why did the hobby horse fail to become a common vehicle in the 19th century?
(A) It was expensive and not durable enough.
(B) It did not go as fast as people had expected.
(C) It was hard to control and dangerous to ride on the road.
(D) It did not receive enough public attention in European cities.

[題組:第40題到第43題]
Flickering lamps can induce headaches. But if the flickering happens millions of times a second-far faster than the eye can see or the brain process-then it might be harnessed to do something useful, like transmitting data. This is the idea behind Li-Fi, or Light Fidelity. The term Li-Fi was coined by University of Edinburgh Professor Harald Haas in a 2011 TED Talk, where he introduced the idea of “wireless data from every light.” Today, Li-Fi has developed into a wireless technology that allows data to be sent at high speeds, working with light-emitting diodes (LEDs), an increasingly popular way to illuminate public areas and homes. Using LED lights as networking devices for data transmission, Li-Fi has several advantages over WiFi (Wireless Fidelity). First, Li-Fi allows for greater security on local networks, as light cannot penetrate walls or doors, unlike radio waves used in Wi-Fi. As long as transparent materials like glass windows are covered, access to a Li-Fi channel is limited to devices inside the room, ensuring that signals cannot be hacked from remote locations. Also, Li-Fi can operate in electromagnetic sensitive areas such as aircraft cabins, hospitals, and nuclear power plants, for light does not interfere with radio signals. The most significant advantage of Li-Fi is speed. Researchers have achieved speeds of 224 gigabits per second in lab conditions, much faster than Wi-Fi broadband. How could Li-Fi enrich daily life? Anywhere there is LED lighting, there is an opportunity for Li-Fi enabled applications. Li-Fi-enabled street lights could provide internet access to mobile phones, making walking at night safer. The LED bulbs in traffic lights could provide drivers with weather conditions and traffic updates. Li-Fi could help with tourism by providing an easier access to local information. At home, smart light could also provide parents with solutions to their children’s Internet addiction: Just turn off the lights and you’ve turned off their access. When 14 billion light bulbs mean 14 billion potential transmitters of wireless data, a cleaner, a greener, and even a brighter future is on the way.
40. What is this passage mainly about?
(A) A new design in lighting.
(B) Wireless transmission through illumination.
(C) Radio interference in public areas.
(D) Potential applications of Li-Fi for military use.

[題組:第40題到第43題]
41. What does “This” in the first paragraph refer to?
(A) Flickering light is a nuisance.
(B) Light flashes can deliver messages.
(C) The brain can be affected by lighting.
(D) Human eyes can perceive changes in light.