全通翻譯/翻譯社

Sometimes a small gift is priceless.
　　When Sheila showed up to do some volunteer work in Africa, she wasautomatically in awe of the place. She had never experienced the extremepoverty or the constant sandstorms and blistering heat. After a few weeks, she had gotten used to almost everything except for the beggars. Everywhere she went, people were sticking their hands in her face and asking for money. Sheila was trying to help out the local village by building an orphanage, but she couldn't possibly give everyone everything they wanted.
　　One day, as Sheila was getting her backpack from a jeep, two men came up behind her on a scooter, snatched her bag, and quickly rode off. Her passport, cash, and credit cards were inside. Sheila broke down and started crying because she knew that it would be weeks before she could get out of Africa andall she wanted to do was go home.
　　The next day, Sheila went to the embassy to get a temporary passport. She spent six hours in the office and came away with nothing. They said it would be at least a month before she would receive her new passport. On the steps outside, Sheila was quietly weeping when an old woman came over and begged her formoney. Sheila lost it and started screaming at the woman, who didn't understand a word that was said but who was shocked about being yelled at. Still, the woman could feel Sheila's pain and reached into her pocket and gave Sheila her only coin. It wasn't much, but Sheila realized that it was all the woman could do to help. Sheila got up, gave the woman a hug, and realized that everything would be all right.

1. How did Sheila feel once she got to Africa?
(A) She wanted to leave at once. 
(B) She enjoyed the weather.
(C) She was astonished by the place.
(D) She asked her boss if she could stay longer.
2. What tragedy happened to Sheila?
(A) She was robbed of her backpack with all of her valuables inside.
(B) She was robbed at gunpoint.
(C) She got injured while she was building an orphanage.
(D) She got into an altercation with a beggar.
3. Which event happened last in the story?
(A) Sheila's belongings were stolen.
(B) Sheila was cheered up by a stranger.
(C) Sheila was told she couldn't leave Africa right away.
(D) Sheila was harassed by a woman that wanted money.
4. What is the moral of the story?
(A) People that live in poverty are much kinder than the rich.
(B) A hungry person knows nothing else.
(C) Those who are kind to the poor will end up rich.
(D) Sometimes little things can make you feel better.

事情的另一面
一件小禮物有時候會是無價的。
　　希拉出現在非洲擔任志工時，她不自覺地就對這個地方起了敬畏之情。她從未經歷過極端的貧困或是不間斷的沙塵暴以及酷熱。經過幾個星期之後，除了乞丐之外希拉幾乎已經習慣了所有的事。希拉所到之處，都有人當著她的面向她伸手討錢。希拉努力想要藉由建造一座孤兒院來幫助當地的村落渡過難關，但是她不可能給所有人任何他們所要的東西。
　　有一天當希拉從吉普車上拿出她的背包，兩名男子騎著一輛小摩托車從她身後出現，將她的包包搶走，並迅速地騎車離開。希拉的護照、現金和信用卡都在裡面。希拉瞬間崩潰，開始哭了出來，因為她知道還要隔幾週她才能離開非洲，而她現在唯一想做的事就是回家。
　　隔天，希拉來到了大使館想要領取臨時護照。她花了 6 個小時在辦公室裡等待，卻徒勞而返。大使館人員說要 1 個月後她才能收到新護照。希拉在大使館外的臺階上默默哭泣時，有一名老婦人走過來向希拉討錢。希拉失控並開始對著這婦人吼叫，這名婦人不懂希拉所吼的每一句話，但她仍因為被吼叫而感到震驚。儘管如此，婦人還是能夠感受到希拉的痛苦，婦人把手伸進口袋，給了希拉她身上唯一一枚銅板。數目雖然不是很多，但是希拉了解到這是婦人唯一能幫的忙。希拉起身給了婦人一個擁抱，她知道一切都會釋懷了。
1. 希拉一抵達非洲時有什麼感受？
(A) 她想要馬上離開。
(B) 她很喜歡那裡的天氣。
(C) 她對這個地方感到很震驚。詳見文章第 1 段
(D) 她詢問老闆她是否可以待久一點。
題解：根據本文第 1 段文章所述，只有 (C) 選項被提及，故為正選。
2. 在希拉身上發生了什麼樣的悲劇？
(A) 裝著她身上所有貴重物品的包包被搶走了。詳見文章第 2 段
(B) 她在槍口的威脅下被搶了。
(C) 她在蓋孤兒院時受傷了。
(D) 她與一名乞丐發生口角。
題解：根據本文第 2 段第 1 及第 2 句，有一天當希拉從吉普車上拿出她的背包，兩名男子騎著一輛小摩托車從她身後出現，將她的包包搶走，並迅速地騎車離開。希拉的護照、現金和信用卡都在裡面可知 (A) 應為正選。
3. 這個故事最後發生了什麼事？
(A) 希拉的財物被偷走了。
(B) 希拉被陌生人所鼓舞。詳見文章第 3 段
(C) 希拉被告知她不能立刻離開非洲。
(D) 希拉被討錢的婦人騷擾。
題解：根據本文第 3 段，可知 (B) 為正選；而選項 (D) 表示。『希拉被討錢的婦人騷擾』，本文並未使用 harassed 一字，故 (D) 項不可選。
4. 這個故事的寓意為何？
(A) 生活貧困的人比富人更親切。
(B) 飢餓的人其他什麼事都不知道。
(C) 那些對窮人親切的人最終都會變成有錢人。
(D) 有時候小事情可以使你感覺好一些。
題解：根據本文第 3 段，最後希拉由於老婦人的一枚銅板，讓她原本悲痛的心情轉為釋懷，可知 (D) 應為正選。

答案：1. C　2. A　3. B　4. D