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The social movement known as fair trade is out to make trading conditions better.
這項被稱為公平貿易的社會運動讓買賣環境更加完善。

　　Seen as early as the 1940s in the US, fair trade is now an organized global movement. Its ultimate goal is to _(1)_ producers in developing countries whilepromoting sustainability. Fair trade focuses on getting better prices and _(2)_ fairer trade practices. Fair trade also hopes to improve working conditions and create a _(3)_ means of living for farmers and workers in poorer countries around the world. By trying to eliminate the injustices of _(4)_ trade, whichdiscriminates against the poorest producers, fair trade enables them to have more control over their lives. This, in turn, improves their _(5)_ in society.
　　Fair trade goods include handicrafts, cocoa, sugar, tea, wine, and coffee, to name a few. How does fair trade work exactly? Simply put, it eliminates a lot of the middlemen who take a cut of the _(6)_ and puts more money back into the hands of the impoverished workers. Let's take coffee for example. If you buy an espresso from a shop that uses only fair trade coffee beans, then more money would reach the farmer _(7)_ the far end of the production line. Granted, prices are a bit higher than at a shop that doesn't stock free trade coffee. However, the _(8)_ is that the additional funds go towards establishing health care programs,scholarships, better sanitation, and improved living conditions in the impoverished communities.
　　_(9)_ all these pluses, who wouldn't want to jump on the fair tradebandwagon? Critics believe that the additional funds never actually make it back to the farmers and workers. Instead, they get pocketed by the businesses for unnecessary expenses. So, if there is little money flowing back to the producer, then there is little betterment in their lives. _(10)_ these criticisms, fair trade hastaken root among many consumers, and it looks like it's here to stay.

(A) sustainable　(B) profits　(C) establishing　(D) protesting　(E) conventional
(F) upside　(G) assist　(H) With　(I) position　(J) at
(K) Despite　(L) joyous
 
  1. Its ultimate goal is to assist producers in developing countries while promoting sustainability.
    理由:
    a. 空格前有 be 動詞 is，之後接 to 所引導的不定詞片語，故空格應置原形動詞。
    b. 選項中為原形動詞的有(G) assist（幫助）及(I) position（把……放置在適當的位置），根據語意，故 (G) 項應為正選。
    c. assist 常用於下列結構：
    assist sb in V-ing　　幫助某人從事……
    The coach assisted Jason in perfecting his basketball skills.
    教練協助傑森讓他的籃球技巧更完美。
  2. Fair trade focuses on getting better prices and establishing fairer trade practices.
    理由:
    a. 空格前有片語動詞 focuses on...（專注於……），之後有動名詞片語作為其受詞，且有對等連接詞 and，得知空格也必須置入動名詞片語作為受詞，形成對等。
    b. 選項中僅 (C) establishing（建立）及 (D) protesting（抗議）為動名詞，根據語意，(C) 項應為正選。
  3. Fair trade also hopes to improve working conditions and create asustainable means of living for farmers and workers in poorer countries around the world.
    理由:
    a. 空格前有及物動詞 create（創造），空格後有名詞 means（方法）作為其受詞，得知空格應置形容詞以修飾 means。
    b. 選項中的形容詞有 (A) sustainable（可持續的）、(E) conventional（傳統的）及 (L) joyous（欣喜若狂的），根據語意，可知 (A) 項應為正選。
    c. sustainable a. 永續的
    sustainability n. 永續性
    According to the report, economic growth is sustainable in that country.
    根據這份報告，那個國家的經濟會持續成長。
    We need everyone to agree on the sustainability of the project.
    我們需要每個人都同意這個計劃會持續進行。
  4. By trying to eliminate the injustices of conventional trade, which discriminates against the poorest producers, fair trade enables them to have more control over their lives.
    理由:
    a. 空格前有介詞 of，空格後有名詞 trade（貿易）得知空格應置形容詞或可作形容詞用的現在分詞以修飾後面的名詞 trade。
    b. 選項中，僅剩 (E) conventional（傳統的）及 (L) joyous（欣喜若狂的）為形容詞，惟 (E) 項置入後符合語意，故應為正選。
    c. conventional a. 傳統的
    It is conventional for Japanese people to bow to one another when being introduced.
    日本人介紹彼此時，鞠躬行禮是種傳統。
  5. This, in turn, improves their position in society.
    理由:
    a. 由於空格前有所有格 their（他們的），得知空格應置名詞，選項中有 (B) profits（利潤）、(F) upside（好的一面）及(I) position（地位）為名詞。根據語意，(I) 項應為正選。
    b. position n. 地位；立場
    You are not in the position to talk to me like that.
    你沒資格這樣跟我說話。
    Reporters asked the politician to clarify his position on social reform.
    記者要求這名政治人物表明在社會改革議題上的立場。
  6. Simply put, it eliminates a lot of the middlemen who take a cut of the profitsand puts more money back into the hands of the impoverished workers.
    理由:
    a. 空格前有定冠詞 the，得知空格應置名詞，選項中為名詞的有 (B) profits（利潤）及 (F) upside（好的一面）。根據語意，(B) 項應為正選。
    b. take a cut of sth　　分到某物的一份
    Paul took his cut of the winning after his horse came in first.
    在保羅的馬贏得比賽第一名後，他分了一份所得的獎金。
    c. profit n. 利潤
    In order to increase profits in the coming quarter, we'll have to cut down our expenses.
    為了增加下一季的利潤，我們必須減少開支。
  7. If you buy an espresso from a shop that uses only fair trade coffee beans, then more money would reach the farmer at the far end of the production line.
    理由:
    a. 本題測試下列固定用法：
    at the end of...
    在……的末端；在……的盡頭
    The anchorwoman recapped the headlines at the end of the broadcast.
    主播在節目最後再回顧幾則重要的新聞。
    ＊anchorwoman n. 女主播
    b. 根據上述，(J) 項應為正選。
  8. However, the upside is that the additional funds go towards establishing health care programs, scholarships, better sanitation, and improved living conditions in the impoverished communities.
    理由:
    a. 空格前有定冠詞 the，得知空格應置名詞，選項中僅剩 (F) upside（好的一面）為名詞，置入後亦符合語意，故 (F) 項應為正選。
    b. upside n. 有利的一面（downside 則指『不利的一面』）
    The upside of the whole thing is that we got a free trip to Jamaica.
    整件事的好處就是我們可以免費去牙買加旅行了。
  9. With all these pluses, who wouldn't want to jump on the fair trade bandwagon?
    理由:
    a. 空格為句首，選項中為大寫的有 (H) With（有了……）及(K) Despite（儘管）。惟 (H) 項置入後符合語意，故應為正選。
  10. Despite these criticisms, fair trade has taken root among many consumers, and it looks like it's here to stay.
    理由:
    a. 空格為句首，選項中為大寫的僅剩 (K) Despite（儘管）。置入後符合語意，故 (K) 項應為正選。
    b. despite N/V-ing　　儘管/雖然……
    = in spite of N/V-ing
    Our company continues to prosper despite the economic recession.
    儘管經濟不景氣，我們公司仍然持續賺錢。
  1. movement n. 活動
  2. fair trade　　公平交易
  3. condition n. 環境
  4. organized a. 有組織的
  5. ultimate a. 最終的
  6. promote vt. 推動
  7. practice n. 做法；常規
  8. means n. 方法（單複數同形）
  9. injustice n. 不公平
  10. handicraft n. 手工藝品
  11. middleman n. 中盤商；中間人
  12. impoverished a. 貧困的
  13. a production line　　生產線
  14. scholarship n. 獎學金
  15. sanitation n. 公共衛生
  16. plus n. 有利因素；好處
  17. bandwagon n. 時尚，潮流
  18. critic n. 批評者
  19. pocket vt. 侵吞
  20. betterment n. 改善
  1. focus on...　　著重於……
  2. in turn　　接著；依次
  3. Simply put,...　　簡言之，……
    = In short,...
  4. go towards...　　用以支付……的部份款項
  1. eliminate vt. 消滅；淘汰
    Eating a healthy and balanced diet may eliminate the possibility of getting cancer.
    吃得健康均衡或許能減低罹癌機率。
  2. discriminate vi. 歧視（與介詞 against 並用）
    Don't discriminate against people based upon the color of their skin.
    別因膚色而歧視人。
  3. (just) to name a few　　僅列舉幾項
    I like junk food. Some of my favorites are hamburgers, French fries, and potato chips, just to name a few.
    我喜歡垃圾食物。我最喜歡的有漢堡、薯條和洋芋片，這只是其中一些。
  4. granted adv. 的確；就算
    Granted,...　　當然，……；……是不可否認的
    ＊使用時機在於你先接受某個陳述的真實性，再於之後說出不同的意見。
    Granted, you have a good point, but you may find it hard to prove.
    當然，你有不錯的論點，但你可能會發現很難證明你的論點。
  5. take root　　生根
    The conflict between the two nations took root in the 1950s.
    兩國之間的衝突起源於 1950 年代。
  6. be here to stay　　成為風尚，受到普遍接受
    = have come to stay
    I'm afraid that Hello Kitty is here to stay.
    凱蒂貓恐怕會一直風靡下去。

 

不只是交易
這項被稱為公平貿易的社會運動讓買賣環境更加完善。
　　公平貿易早在 1940 年代就出現在美國，而它現在是個有組織的全球化運動。公平貿易的最終目標就是要幫助發展中國家的生產者，並推動永續發展。公平貿易著重於獲得更好的價格以及建立更為公平的貿易常規。公平貿易也希望能為全世界較貧窮國家的農人和工人改善工作環境，並為他們創造能夠養家活口的生活方式。藉由嘗試消除傳統貿易所存在的不公平，也就是對最窮困生產者的歧視，公平貿易讓他們更能掌握自己的生活。接著，他們的社會地位便會因此而得到改善。
　　在此僅列舉幾樣公平貿易的商品，如手工藝品、可可粉、糖、茶、酒以及咖啡等。公平貿易實際上到底是如何運作的呢？簡而言之，它消除了許多從中剝削利潤的中盤商，讓更多的錢流回貧苦的工人手裡。我們舉咖啡為例。如果你從一家只使用公平貿易咖啡豆的商店買了 1 罐濃縮咖啡，就會有更多錢進到遙遠生產線上的農夫手裡。想當然爾，這罐咖啡的價錢當然會比商店裡沒有存放經公平貿易背書的咖啡要來得高一點。不過，好的一面卻是額外的資金會用在貧困地區建立健保計劃及獎學金，還有改善貧困地區的生活條件。
　　公平貿易有這麼多好處，有誰不想趕上這項潮流呢？而批評者認為，這些額外的收入實際上根本不會回到農夫及工人手裡。相反地，這些錢都進到了企業的口袋裡而成為不必要的開支。因此，假如沒什麼錢流回生產商手裡，他們的生活就無法得到太多改善。儘管有這些批評的言論，但公平貿易的觀念已在消費者心中生根，而且看起來會繼續發揚光大。
答案：1. G　2. C　3. A　4. E　5. I　6. B　7. J　8. F　9. H　10.K

資料來源：常春藤電子報

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