課文重點分析
1. "The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong." (Eccl. 9:11)（見第1行）（善於賽跑的人不一定跑第一；勇士不一定打勝仗）(1) to the swift 對the swift有偏愛，這是古文to的語意
(2) the swift 迅速者
the + adj. → N，表「全體」
(3) not A or B = neither A nor B 既非A也非B
例：He's not a doctor or a pharmacist.
2. Several times a year they would load up the old ox-drawn cart with vegetables and go into the nearest city to sell their produce.（見第3行）(1) load （a vehicle）(up) with something 使（運輸工具）承載……
例：Don't load your bicycle up with so much stuff. You may lose balance.
(2) the ox-drawn cart = the cart which was drawn by an ox
複合形容詞的形成方式有以下幾種：
1. 名詞 + 過去分詞 a heart-broken girl
2. 名詞 + 現在分詞 a peace-loving people
3. 形容詞 + 名詞-ed a kind-hearted lady
4. 形容詞 + 現在分詞 a good-looking person
5. 副詞 + 過去分詞 a well-behaved child
6. 副詞 + 現在分詞 a fast-moving object
3. Except for their name and the patch of ground, father and son had little in common.（見第5行）
(1) except for/apart from/aside from/other than + N/V-ing 除了……之外
besides/in addition to/apart from/aside from + N/V-ing 除了……之外還有
例：During those two months, she hadn't done anything productive except for going to school.
Besides English, he is also good at Italian and French.
4. The son figured that if they walked faster and kept going all day and night, they'd make the market by early the next morning.（見第9行）
(1) figure v. [T] 想；認為；計算 n. [C] 數字；外形；身影；重要人物
figure out 算出；想出
keep one's figure 保持身材
例：I figure that he's not going to give up.
Have you figured out the answer?
What do you do to keep your figure?
(2) make/make it to +地方 抵達；到得了……
例：Do you think we can make home by four o'clock?
5. So he kept prodding the ox with a stick, urging the beast to get a move on.（見第11行）
(1) urge somebody to V 驅策／鼓勵某人做……
urge n. 衝動
urgent adj. 緊急的
urgency n. [U] 緊急情況
例：My mom urged me to make a boyfriend.
I had a sudden urge to yell at everybody.
This is urgent! Call 119 for an ambulance!
This is a matter of urgency. There can be no delay.
6. "But if we get to market ahead of the others, we'll have a better chance of getting good prices," argued the son.（見第14行）
(1) ahead of 在……之前
例：He swam ahead of all the others.
(2) chance n. 可能性 =likelihood, possibility
例： a slim/slight chance 可能性很低
a fifty-fifty chance 百分之五十的可能性
(3) argue 提出論點；主張說；爭論
argument n. 論點；各人主張
例：He argued that college entrance exams should be abolished.
The author's arguments in this article are not very convincing to me.
7. Dad just pulled his hat down over his eyes and fell asleep on the seat.（見第16行）
(1) over表示「在……的上方」
over和above的比較：
表示「高於……」，over和above皆可
例：There is a large crystal chandelier above/over the stage.
表示「在……上方，並覆蓋住」，多用over
例：She put a blanket over her husband, who had fallen asleep on the sofa.
8. "Then a few more minutes won't matter. My brother and I live so close, yet we see each other so seldom," the father answered slowly.（見第24行）
(1) matter: make a difference 具重要性；緊要
例：It doesn't matter to me whether you like me or not.
matter n. 事情；問題」。
a matter of ... 一件……的事
no matter who/where/how ... 無論……
例：Please phone me as soon as possible-it's a matter of life and death.
No matter how much you beg me, I won't lend you any more money.
(2) yet conj. 然而，卻
例：He has a good wife, yet he seems to be unhappy in his marriage.
9. The boy fidgeted and fumed while the two old men laughed and talked away almost an hour.（見第27行）
(1) while: during the time when，後面通常接時間持續比較長的動作
when: at the time that，後面通常接時間比較短的動作。
例：I was taking a shower when the phone rang.
The phone rang while I was taking a shower.
(2) away adv. 持續地
例：I bought a new book and then spent the afternoon reading away.
10. "I know it," replied the old man, "but this way is so much prettier."（見第32行）
(1)修飾比較級: much, far, very much, so much, a lot, lots, a little, a bit等。
例：My brother's car is a lot more spacious than mine.
11. "Have you no respect for time?" the young man asked impatiently.（見第34行）
(1) respect n. [U] v. [T] 尊敬；敬重
have/show respect for ... 尊敬……；對……表示尊敬
例：Have some respect for the old lady, will you?
12. That's why I like to use it to appreciate beauty and enjoy each moment to the fullest.（見第36行）(1) that's why ... 那就是……的原因
(2) appreciate v. [T] 欣賞；感謝
be appreciative of something 感激
例：I don't know how to appreciate art.
I'm very appreciative of everybody's help.
(3) enjoy something to the full/fullest 盡情享受某事物
例：Sitting on the balcony, you can enjoy the food as well as the beautiful scenery to the fullest.
13. The winding path led through graceful meadows, past wildflowers, and along a rippling stream-all of which the young man missed as he churned within, preoccupied and boiling with anxiety.（見第38行）
(1) lead v. [I] 通往；領導；領先
lead to + N 導致
lead someone to believe/think ... 誘使某人相信／認為……
例：The path leads through the forest.
Hard work leads to success.
The stockbroker led me to believe that it was a worthwhile investment.
(2) as = while 當……時
(3) boil v. [I] 沸騰；憤怒至極
例： Seeing the sales figures this month, the boss boiled with rage.
14. The old man breathed in the aroma, listened to the bubbling brook, and pulled the ox to a halt.（見第43行）
(1) breathe in 吸入→ breathe out 呼出
(2) bubble v. [I] 產生泡泡；（因流動而）發出咕嚕咕嚕的聲音
例：We could smell the chowder before we heard it bubbling in the pot.
15. "This is the last trip I'm taking with you," snapped his son.（見第46行）(1) the last + N，常用來表達對某事物或某人的一種強烈的負面情緒。
例：He is the last person I want to work with.
(2) snap v. [T, I] 怒喝；厲聲說話；啪的一聲折斷 n. [C] 啪噠聲
例："You're late again!" the teacher snapped.
The chopsticks broke with a snap.
16. "Why, that's the nicest thing you've said in a long time," smiled the dad.（見第49行）(1) why在這裡當感嘆詞用，表示驚訝或不耐煩，在美式英語中較為常見。
例：Why, you look totally different.
(2) in a long time 這麼久以來；長久以來
例：For the first time in a long time I felt relaxed.
17. The night dragged slowly; the son was restless.（見第51行）
(1) drag v. [I, T] （時間等）拖長；走得很慢；（物品）在地上拖著；拖拉
drag one's feet 拖著腳步
例：The days in the hospital dragged on like years.
Hungry and tired, Mr. Lin dragged his feet as he walked out of the office.
18. The boy looked away in anger.（見第60行）(1) look away/up/down/inside/around 向別處／往上／往下／往裡頭／四處看
look after 照顧
look forward to + N/V-ing 期盼
look down on somebody 看不起某人
look up to somebody 尊敬某人
例：Hearing a rustling sound, I looked up and found a rare bird perching on a tree branch.
The wife has to look after her sick husband in the hospital.
Don't look down on/upon poor people.
(2) in anger 氣憤地
文法／句型
in + 表情緒的名詞，當副詞使用，表情緒、精神等
with + N = adv.
of + N = adj.
例：She looked at me in horror as if I were a ghost.
Please handle the box with care.
= Please handle the box carefully.
A dictionary is of great help to language learners.
= A dictionary is very helpful to language learners.
19. It was almost eight o'clock that morning by the time the other cart was back on the road.（見第62行）
(1)「by + 時間」表示在某個時間點之前。
例：He said he would be back by dinnertime.
20. Suddenly, a great flash split the sky.（見第63行）
(1) flash n. [C] 閃光；閃現；閃光燈 v. [I] 閃過
in a flash 一瞬間
flash into/across one's mind 閃過心頭
例：Suddenly I felt a flash of hope.
The genie disappeared in a flash.
An idea flashed across my mind.
(2) split v. (split, split, split, splitting) [T, I] 使裂開；分攤；分裂
例：He split the piece of wood with an ax.
21. Beyond the hills, the sky grew dark.（見第64行）
(1)beyond prep. 越過；在……的那一邊；超出……的範圍
例：He lives beyond the river.
22. "If we had hurried, we'd be almost sold out by now," grumbled his son.（見第66行）(1) by now 現在（已經），by + 時間，代表在那個時間之前。
例：They left an hour ago, so they should be home by now.
23. "Take it easy... You'll last longer. And you'll enjoy life so much more," counselled the kind old gentleman.（見第68行）
(1)counsel v. [T] 勸告；諮商（過去式為counseled或counselled）
24. Neither of them said a word.（見第73行）
(1)neither of +複數N or pron，動詞用單數或複數皆可（複數動詞為較不正式的用法）。
例：Neither of my best friends is/are going steady with anyone.
25. They turned their cart around and began to roll slowly away from what had once been the city of Hiroshima.（見第77行）
(1) turn (something/somebody) around 轉向；掉頭
turn to 轉向……求助
turn down 拒絕
turn up 出現
turn over （使）翻覆
例：Turn around and let me look at your back.
When I get in trouble, I turn to my parents.
When the singer finally turned up, the fans almost went crazy.
The huge waves turned the boat over.
(2) roll v. [T]（使）有輪子的車輛前進；滾動
例：A rolling stone gathers no moss.
VOCABULARY
3. load something onto/into (a vehicle) 上貨
be loaded down with something 裝載某物使負荷過重
a load off one's mind 心中憂慮的解除，心中石頭落了地
loads of/a load of 大量；許多
字尾-load表示「……的量」 busload n. 公車的載客量 workload n. 工作量
例：Load the produce into the van.
Students nowadays are loaded down with schoolwork.
When I heard the typhoon would not come to Taiwan, it was a load off my mind.
You can find loads of useful information at this website.
5. shopping/baggage cart 購物∕行李推車
put the cart before the horse 本末倒置
例：I think many parents in Taiwan are putting the cart before the horse by urging their children to learn English before they can master Chinese.
6. productive adj. 多產的；生產力強的
producer n. [C] 生產者；製作人
agricultural/dairy produce 農／酪農產品
例：My mom can produce a delicious meal from the simplest ingredients.
The R&D department was not very productive last month. What went wrong?
Steven Spielberg is not only the director but the producer of this movie.
7. patch something up 修理某物（尤指草草修理）；解決（紛爭）
例：They finally patched up their differences and were able to get along again.
8. hitch n. [C] 故障；障礙
hitchhike v. [I] 搭便車旅行
without a hitch 沒有閃失，非常成功
hitch up 向上拉
例：I hitched a ride with John to the party.
Everyone knows hitchhiking is not a safe way to travel.
His concert went off without a hitch.
She hitched up her sock when she felt it slipping down.
9. itch n. [sing.] 癢；渴望
be itching to V/for N 迫切想要……
例：Mom, I have an itch on my back. Could you scratch it for me?
At this time of the day, everybody is itching to go home.
11. fidget n. [usu. pl.] 煩躁；坐立不安
fidgety adj. 坐立不安的，煩躁的
get the fidgets 坐立不安，煩躁
例：He's such a fidgety person, both physically and mentally. It's hard for him to sit still and even harder to quiet down his mind.
I always get the fidgets during long lectures.
12. fume at somebody or something 對某人或某事發火
fume over something 對某事發火
fume with rage 勃然大怒
例：Mr. Lin fumed with rage at our delay.
13. forked adj. 分岔的
例：A bird with a forked tail landed on his shoulder.
14. wind [waInd] v. (wind, wound, wound) [I] 上發條
wind (something) up 結束
wind up 最後……（= end up）
例： Have you wound the antique clock?
Before I wind up, do you have any questions?
We planned to go shopping, but we wound up sitting in a café chatting away the whole afternoon.
19. within reach (of) 在可及……的範圍內
within (a) budget 在預算內
within sight 在視線範圍內
within walking distance 走路可到的距離
例：The hotel lies within easy reach of a train station and bus stops.
I tried to keep my spending within my budget during the trip.
We walked for three hours, and the hotel finally came within sight.
Is the restaurant within walking distance or should we take a taxi?
20. be preoccupied with 滿腦子都是……
例：Christie is preoccupied with making money to buy a new house.
21. twilight year 晚年，遲暮之年
例：Doris still had an active social life in her twilight years.
22. a fruity aroma 果香
a delicious aroma 引人垂涎的香味
aromatic herbs 香草
香氣的區別：
aroma 多半指食物或飲料發出的香味
例：the aroma of freshly baked cookies
scent （天然的）香味；香水 = perfume
例：the scent of flowers the perfume of roses
fragrance 香味；香水
例：the fragrance of shampoo
23. bring something to a halt 使停頓
come to a halt 停止
(a vehicle) screech to a halt 緊急煞車
例：The project was brought to a halt due to lack of money.
A carriage came to a halt at the gate.
The bus screeched to a halt when the driver saw the motorcycle rushing out of the lane.
25. stare v. [I, T]（因驚訝、害怕或若有所思而）盯著看
peer v. [I]（因看不清楚而靠近）細看
gaze v. [I]（因為驚訝或若有所思而）盯著看，（深情地）凝視
例：The prince stood alone on the balcony and stared into space.
The lost hiker peered nervously at the map and tried to find the right path.
In the picture, the bride and groom are gazing lovingly at each other.
27. ditch v. [T] 丟掉；甩掉
例：Joe has just ditched his girlfriend.
29. sometimes adv. 有時候
some time 一段時間
例：Sometimes I like to eat out.
I wish I could afford to spend some time here to learn more about this city.
30. grumble v. [I] 喃喃抱怨；肚子餓發出的咕嚕聲
grumble n. [C] 抱怨
例：My stomach grumbled loudly in the middle of the meeting, and everybody burst out laughing.
31. devastated adj. 完全被毀滅的；崩潰的
devastating charm/smile/beauty 致命的魅力／迷死人的笑容／傾國傾城的美貌
例：When they returned to their village, they found it devastated.
The old woman was devastated upon hearing the bad news.
IDIOMS AND PHRASES 1. take something seriously 認真看待某事
take something calmly 冷靜看待某事
take defeat well 坦然接受失敗
take something lightly 輕忽某事
例：He takes people's advice seriously.
The president took the crisis calmly.
A true sportsman always plays fair and takes defeat well.
The government took the new disease too lightly at first.
3. stop off（at/in + 地方）在中途短暫停留
stop over 途中在某地過夜，盤桓數日
例：Please stop off at the grocery store on your way home and get some milk.
We'll stop over in Malaysia for one night on our way to Turkey.
5. take turns V-ing/to V 輪流做……
it is one's turn to V 輪到……做……
例：Let's take turns doing the housework.
It's your turn to take out the garbage today.
