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外刊閱讀原創改編語法填空 第8期
認知技能：成年人閱讀能力告急？
Are you (1) ______ (smart) than a ten-year-old New data shows that a large number of adults in rich countries may not be. According to a study (2) ______ (release) by the OECD on December 10th, about one-fifth of people aged 16 to 65 don't perform well in maths and reading tests compared to what's (3) ______ (expect) of a primary school pupil. What's worse, many adults have become less (4) ______ (literate) in the past ten years.
The OECD’s “Survey of Adult Skills” is carried out every decade. Researchers arranged for 160,000 adults in 31 countries and regions to take short tests on (5) ______ (numerate), literacy and problem-solving. These tests aim to (6) ______ (gauge) whether they have the skills for jobs, (7) ______ (participate) in civic life and succeed in the real world. From basic to (8) ______ (advance) levels, they test different abilities.
Finland is happy with the results as it has the highest average score in all three fields. England has (9) ______ (rise) in the league table thanks to better performances among young adults. However, America's results are getting worse. Similarly, some other countries (10) ______ (boast) a high share of people with low scores.
答案：
smarter（考查形容詞比較級，根據 “than” 可知用比較級形式）
released（考查非謂語動詞，“study” 與 “release” 是被動關系，用過去分詞作后置定語）
expected（考查非謂語動詞，“be expected of...” 是固定搭配，此處用過去分詞形式表被動）
literate（考查詞性轉換，“become + 形容詞” 構成系表結構，用形容詞形式）
numeracy（考查詞性轉換，此處需要名詞與 “literacy”“problem-solving” 并列，用 “numeracy”）
gauge（考查動詞原形，“aim to do sth.” 表示 “旨在做某事”，用動詞原形）
participating（考查非謂語動詞，此處與 “for jobs”“succeed in the real world” 并列，作介詞 “for” 的賓語，用動名詞形式）
advanced（考查詞性轉換，此處修飾 “levels”，用形容詞形式）
risen（考查動詞時態，根據 “has” 可知此處用現在完成時，“rise” 的過去分詞是 “risen”）
boast（考查動詞時態，主語是 “countries”，描述一般情況，用一般現在時原形）
Zoom out, and we can see that basic skills are (1) ______ (worsen). In the past ten years, for every country with a significant (2) ______ (rise) in numeracy scores, there's another one with scores falling. When it comes to literacy, countries with falling scores are more than those making progress, even though more people are (3) ______ (complete) secondary school and getting degrees. The decline is mainly among the least (4) ______ (proficient). In many countries, the gap between the most- and least-skilled is (5) ______ (widen).
Increased migration can partly explain it. Non-native speakers usually do worse in tests (6) ______ (involve) words. Aging populations also matter. But even considering these, literacy scores in many countries keep falling. Andreas Schleicher (7) ______ (speculate) that adults read long and complex texts less than before.
The OECD’s study isn't the only one showing that improvements in cognitive skills may be (8) ______ (stall). In the 20th century, the “Flynn effect” showed rising IQ scores. Recently, some countries have seen (9) ______ (stagnate) or decline. No one doubts that people with good cognitive skills can more easily (10) ______ (swerve) life's misfortunes.
答案：
worsening（考查動詞時態，根據 “are” 可知此處用現在進行時，動詞用現在分詞形式）
rise（考查詞性轉換，根據前面的 “a significant” 可知此處用名詞形式）
completing（考查動詞時態，根據 “are” 可知此處用現在進行時，動詞用現在分詞形式）
proficient（考查詞性轉換，“the least + 形容詞” 構成最高級形式，用形容詞原形）
widening（考查動詞時態，根據 “is” 可知此處用現在進行時，動詞用現在分詞形式）
involving（考查非謂語動詞，“tests” 與 “involve” 是主動關系，用現在分詞作后置定語）
speculates（考查動詞時態，主語是 “Andreas Schleicher”，為第三人稱單數，且描述一般情況，用一般現在時第三人稱單數形式）
stalling（考查動詞時態，根據 “be” 可知此處用現在進行時，動詞用現在分詞形式）
stagnation（考查詞性轉換，根據 “or decline” 可知此處與 “decline” 并列，用名詞形式）
swerve（考查動詞原形，“can” 是情態動詞，后接動詞原形）
Surveys (1) ______ (carry) out with the OECD’s tests seem to prove something. People who perform well in the tests (2) ______ (boast) wages that are 75% higher than those of the worst scorers. And the benefits of good numeracy and literacy are not just about money. High scorers say they are (3) ______ (happy) and in better health. In contrast, low scorers tend to be more (4) ______ (suspicious) of others and are more likely to feel (5) ______ (alienate) from politics.
It doesn't take a very smart mind to (6) ______ (sense) the trouble coming. Clearly, these skills play an important (7) ______ (role) in people's lives. We should attach great importance to improving them. Whether in study or in work, we can see their (8) ______ (influence). For example, in job hunting, those with better skills may have more (9) ______ (opportunity). So, let's work hard to enhance our numeracy and literacy skills to enjoy a better (10) ______ (life).
答案：
carried（考查非謂語動詞，“Surveys” 與 “carry” 是被動關系，用過去分詞作后置定語）
boast（考查動詞時態，主語是 “People”，描述一般情況，用一般現在時原形）
happier（考查形容詞比較級，根據后面的 “than” 可知用比較級形式）
suspicious（考查詞性轉換，“be + 形容詞” 結構，用形容詞形式）
alienated（考查非謂語動詞，“feel + 過去分詞” 構成系表結構，表示 “感到……”）
sense（考查動詞原形，“It takes sb. to do sth.” 結構中，用動詞原形）
role（考查固定搭配，“play a role in...” 表示 “在…… 中起作用”，用名詞形式）
influence（考查詞性轉換，“their” 后接名詞，用 “influence”）
opportunities（考查名詞復數，根據 “more” 可知用名詞復數形式）
life（考查詞性轉換，“a better” 后接名詞，用 “life”）

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