建議可花三四天甚或一星期的時間，先自行查字典了解文章及作答測驗題。閱讀時先找出一個句子的主要句子的主詞和動詞，順著這文法結構，就可掌握句意與其主旨。
文章的講解內容，包括為每一個句子（1）說明主旨；（2）找出它的主要句子的主詞和動詞；（3）說明其他可能的動詞人選為什麼不能當主要句子的動詞；（4）將長句解構為多個簡單句，並說明這些簡單句如何及為何可組裝成長句；（5）說明相關的文法內容。
110 指考 36-39題
Located in Black Canyon straddling the border between Nevada and Arizona in the southwestern region of the United States, Hoover Dam is named one of the Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th century. The dam, constructed between 1931 and 1936, was the largest of its kind at the time. Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers and cost over one hundred lives.
Since about 1900, the Black Canyon and nearby Boulder Canyon had been investigated for their potential to support a dam that would control floods, provide irrigation water, and produce hydroelectric power. In 1928, the US Congress authorized the project. The winning bid to build the dam was submitted by Six Companies, Inc. However, such a large concrete structure had never been built before, and some of the techniques were unproven. The extreme summer heat and lack of facilities near the site also presented tremendous difficulties. Nevertheless, Six Companies turned over the finished dam to the federal government on March 1, 1936, more than two years ahead of schedule.
The initial design of the dam, which was more concerned with the dam's functionality than its exterior, was criticized by many as being too plain and unremarkable for a project of such immense scale. So Gordon B. Kaufmann, the architect who was brought in to redesign the exterior, greatly streamlined the design and applied an elegant Art Deco style to the entire project. Allen Tupper True, an American illustrator, was also hired to handle the design and decoration of the walls and floors of the new dam. He integrated into his design the images and colors based on Native American visions of rain, lightning, clouds, and animals, thereby creating symbolic patterns which appear both ancient and modern.
Today, Hoover Dam has become a national historic landmark. Standing at more than 725 feet above the Colorado River, the highest concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere continues to draw crowds 85 years after its creation, attracting more than a million visitors a year.
測驗題
36. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a reason for building the dam in the beginning?
(A) To promote tourism.
(B) To support agriculture.
(C) To generate electricity.
(D) To prevent natural disasters.
37. Which of the following statements is true about Hoover Dam?
(A) Its construction lasted for more than a decade.
(B) It is strong in functionality, but plain in design.
(C) Its site stretches over two states in the United States.
(D) It became famous because it led to the discovery of Black Canyon.
38. According to the passage, what did Six Companies, Inc. experience in the process of building the dam?
(A) It was defeated by the harsh working conditions.
(B) It lost some workers in the construction of the dam.
(C) It benefited from prior experience of building dams of similar scale.
(D) It gave up the project authorized by the government before the deadline.
39. What contribution did Gordon B. Kaufmann make to Hoover Dam?
(A) He improved the outer appearance of the dam.
(B) He enhanced the practical functions of the dam.
(C) He added aboriginal flavor to the design of the floor.
(D) He decorated the walls of the dam with images from nature.
答案: 36. A 37. C 38. B 39. A
第一段第一句：
Located in Black Canyon straddling the border between Nevada and Arizona in the southwestern region of the United States, Hoover Dam is named one of the Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th century.
位於橫跨在美國西南部的內華達州和亞利桑那州邊境的黑峽谷上的胡佛水壩，被稱為二十世紀前十大建築成就之一。
💡 本句主旨 胡佛水壩是 20 世紀最偉大的工程之一。
🔍 找 主詞 與 動詞
- 主詞： Hoover Dam
- 動詞： is named
🚫 排除干擾：為什麼它們不是動詞？
Located： 位於句首且之前沒有主詞，不可能是動詞，而是 p.p.（過去分詞）。straddling： 為 V-ing，不能當動詞。
🧩 長句解析：拆解與組裝
🪛 拆解 本句可拆成三個簡單句
- 第一句（補充 Hoover Dam 的位置）： Hoover Dam is located in Black Canyon.
- 第二句（說明 Black Canyon 的位置）： Black Canyon straddles the border between Nevada and Arizona in the southwestern region of the United States.
- 第三句（核心句）： Hoover Dam is named one of the Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th century.
🪛 組裝
- Step 1. 製作關係子句： 將 第二句 的 Black Canyon 以 which 替代 ，並將結果嫁接在 第一句的 Black Canyon 之後，變成 Hoover Dam is located in Black Canyon which straddles the border ... United States.
- Step 2. 繼續簡化： 省略 Step 1 的 which ，並將 其主動式動詞 straddles 改成 straddling。簡化成 Hoover Dam is located in Black Canyon straddling the border ... United States.
- Step 3. 準備做成 分詞構句 ：Step 2 所成句子的主詞是 Hoover Dam，與 核心句的相同，且它是被動語態（is located）故可省略其 主詞 與 be-動詞，僅留 p.p.， located。亦即
Hoover Dam islocated in Black Canyon straddling the border ... United States.。 - Step 4. 嫁接 分詞構句：將 Step 3 的結果 嫁接在 核心句 最前端，並以逗號 與核心句隔開。
💕 應使用 主動語態 還是 被動語態？由 動詞原意決定
