The Kingdom of Lego乐高王国
by Olivia Wycech The evolution of the ultimate toy
终极玩具的进化
No matter where people are from, Lego reminds them of their childhood. It was a carpenter from Denmark who first _(1)_ the colorful blocks to the world in 1932. The biggest difference is that they were made of wood then. Ole Kirk Christiansen eventually called his company Lego, _(2)_ is Dutch for play well. It wasn't until 1949 that his company began producing the iconic interlocking toys in plastic. Since then, these small, stackable blocks have been synonymous _(3)_ quality, creativity, and versatility. They may have begun as simple toys, but they have evolved _(4)_ a subculture. Now, Lego supports movies, games, competitions, and even amusement parks. For these reasons, Lego has remained one of the world's most _(5)_ companies.
Perhaps the company's value system has something to do with it. The company works with the mindset that only the best is good enough. Christiansen came up with
the idea to _(6)_ his employees to see quality as the most important
value at Lego. The company still works with this in mind when they
design toys for children, teenagers, and even _(7)_ adults with a knack for design.
Nowadays, the Lego business is different from
_(8)_ it used to be. The company produces famous cities, whole kingdoms,
replicated movie sets, and even Bluetooth-powered moveable
robots. Lego is even used as teaching tools in classrooms and as a form
of _(9)_ for children with social difficulties. With all the changes
that Lego has undergone over the years, one thing has remained the same—their interlocking system. The bricks today are still compatible with those from several decades ago, _(10)_ them the ultimate timeless toy.
(A) what(B) into(C) making(D) introduced(E) keen
(F) which(G) with(H) reputable(I) therapy(J) encourage
- It was a carpenter from Denmark who first introduced the colorful blocks to the world in 1932.
理由:
a. 空格前有主词 who，得知空格应置及物动词，使空格後的名词词组 the colorful blocks（这种彩色的积木）作其受词。
b. 选项中，(D) 项 introduced（介绍）及 (J) 项
encourage（鼓励）为及物动词，惟全句句首有过去式动词 was，因此空格亦应置过去式动词 introduced，置入後亦合乎语意，故
(D) 项为正选。
c. introduce A to B把 A 引进 介绍到 B
The famous chef introduced Taiwanese-style catering to China.
那位知名厨师将台湾味十足的办桌文化引进中国。 - Ole Kirk Christiansen eventually called his company Lego, which is Dutch for play well.
理由:
空格前有完整的主要子句，空格後亦有另一完整子句，得知空格须置连接词，或可当连接词的关系代名词 which 并作主词，故 (F) 项应为正选。
Kathy is considerate, which is why we all like her.
凯西非常善解人意，这就是我们都喜欢她的原因。 - Since then, these small, stackable blocks have been synonymous with quality, creativity, and versatility.
理由:
a. 本题测试下列固定用法∶
be synonymous with...和……同义
In the west, the number 666 is usually synonymous with evil.
在西方，666 这个数字通常与邪恶力量同义。
b. 根据上述，(G) 项应为正选。 - They may have begun as simple toys, but they have evolved into a subculture.
理由:
a. 本题测试下列固定用法∶
evolve into...演化成……；演变成……
evolve vi. 进化；演变
After months of work, our idea finally evolved into a feasible plan.
经过数月的努力後，我们的想法终於化为可行的计划。
b. 根据上述，(B) 项应为正选。 - For these reasons, Lego has remained one of the world's most reputable companies.
理由:
a. 空格前有副词 most （最），而空格後有名词 companies（公司），得知空格应置形容词。
b. 选项中的形容词有 (E) keen（热衷的）及 (H) reputable（声誉良好的），惟 (H) 项置入後符合语意，故为正选。
c. reputable a. 声誉良好的
We prefer to deal only with reputable companies.
我们只喜欢和声誉良好的公司打交道。 - Christiansen came up with the idea to encourage his employees to see quality as the most important value at Lego.
理由:
a. 空格前有引导不定词片语的 to，得知空格应置原形动词。
b. 选项中仅 (J) encourage（鼓励）为原形动词，置入後亦符合语意，故为正选。
c. encourage vt. 鼓励
encourage sb to V鼓励某人（做）……
discourage sb from V-ing
打消某人从事……的念头
Andy encouraged me to get in shape by having me work out with him.
安迪鼓励我和他一起运动来塑身。
Nothing could discourage me from trying to be the best.
没有任何事能阻挡我成为人上人的企图心。 - The company still works with this in mind when they design toys for children, teenagers, and even keen adults with a knack for design.
理由:
a. 空格前有连接词 and 连接名词 children, teenagers 及 adults，形成对等，得知空格应置形容词以修饰 adults（成人），该形容词同时被副词 even（甚至）修饰。
b. 选项中的形容词仅剩 (E) keen（热衷的），置入後亦符合语意，故为正选。
c. keen a. 热衷的；渴望的
be keen on V-ing渴望要……
Jason is keen on visiting his uncle in Australia.
杰森很渴望去拜访他在澳洲的叔叔。 - Nowadays, the Lego business is different from what it used to be.
理由:
a. 空格前有介词 from，得知之後须接名词子句作为 from 的受词，又因 from 之後并无先行词，故空格应置复合关系代名词 what。
Nobody believes what Billy says because he always tells lies.
没有人相信比利所说的话，因为他老是说谎。
b. 根据上述，(A) 项应为正选。 - Lego is even used as teaching tools in classrooms and as a form of therapy for children with social difficulties.
理由:
a. 空格前有所有格 a form of（……的形式），得知空格应置名词。
b. 选项中为名词的仅有 (I) therapy（治疗方法），置入後亦符合语意，故为正选。
c. therapy n. 治疗，疗法
Janet is getting stronger day by day with therapy.
珍娜开始接受疗程後，身体就越来越健康了。 - The bricks today are still compatible with those from several decades ago, making them the ultimate timeless toy.
理由:
a. 本句原等於∶The bricks today are still compatible with those from several decades ago, which makes them the ultimate timeless toy.
b. 原句中的 which 为形容词子句的主词，代替之前The bricks
引导的整个主要子句。该 which 子句可化简成分词片语，化简原则如下，先将关系代名词 which 删除，之後的动词变成现在分词
making，若该动词为 be 动词，则可变成现在分词 being 後予以省略。
The young man who is standing over there is Kevin.
= The young man standing over there is Kevin.
站在那里的那位年轻人是凯文。
c. 根据上述，(C) 项应为正选。
- kingdom n. 王国
- evolution n. 演化
- carpenter n. 木匠
- block n. 积木；（木、石的）四方块
- iconic a. 代表性的，具指标性的
- stackable a. 可叠起堆放的
- versatility n. 多用途，多功能
- subculture n. 次文化
- competition n. 竞赛
- an amusement park n. 游乐园
- mindset n. 心态，思维模式
- knack n. 窍门，本领
- replicate vt. 复制
- Bluetooth n. 蓝芽
- moveable a. 可动的；可移动的
- brick n. 砖块
- decade n. 十年
- timeless a. 不受时间影响的；永不过时的
- ultimate a. 最後的，最终的
the ultimate goal终极目标
My ultimate goal in life is to become an astronaut.
我人生的最终目标是要成为一名太空人。 - remind vt. 提醒
remind sb of sth提醒某人某事
remind sb to V提醒某人（做）……
I'm calling to remind you of our date.
我打电话给你是想提醒你我们的约会。
You have to remind Mandy to take out the garbage, or she'll forget.
你得提醒曼蒂要倒垃圾，要不然她一定会忘记。 - be made of... 由……制成（本质没改变）
be made from... 由……制成（本质已改变）
These bars are made of an unbreakable metal.
这些栏杆是由折不断的金属所制成。
The prices of fishing rods vary according to the materials they are made from.
鱼竿的价钱因为材质的不同而有所差别。 - It is / was not until...+ that 子句
直到……才……
It wasn't until I took these painkillers that my headache went away.
直到吃了止痛药後，我的头痛才停止。 - interlocking a. 互扣的
interlock vt. & vi.（使）相互扣住
All the units interlock with one another rigidly.
所有的元件紧密地扣在一起。
＊rigidly adv. 紧密地 - have something / nothing to do with...
和……有关 无关
Scott's stomachache must have something to do with the food he ate.
史考特的胃痛一定和他所吃的食物有关。
The suspect proved that he had nothing to do with the robbery.
那名嫌犯证明自己与该抢案无关。 - undergo vt. 经历（三态为∶
undergo, underwent, undergone。）
Tony underwent medical treatment to prevent his illness from worsening.
为避免病情恶化，汤尼接受了治疗。 - be compatible with...与……相容
compatible a. 能共处的，相容的
be incompatible with...与……互不相容
This part is not compatible with my car's engine. I need a smaller one.
这零件和我的汽车引擎不相容，我需要一个小一点的零件。
Since they were incompatible, the couple agreed to get a divorce.
因为彼此无法共处，这对夫妻同意离婚。
come up with...想出 提出……（主意、点子） 终极玩具的进化
不管你来自哪里，『乐高』都会让大家回想起自己的童年。 乐高最早是由一位来自丹麦的木匠於 1932 年将这种彩色的积木介绍给全世界。它与现在最大的区别就是，当时的乐高积木是用木头制成的。欧里．柯克．克里斯汀森最後称他的公司为『乐高』，这在荷兰话中的意思就是『好好玩吧』。直到 1949 年，欧里的公司才开始以塑胶生产这种具指标性的组装玩具。从那时开始，这种体积小、又可堆叠的积木就等同是品质、创意以及多用途的代名词了。它们刚开始时可能只是很简单的玩具，但如今已经演变为一种次文化。现今，乐高不但资助拍电影、游戏、竞赛，甚至是游乐园。基於这些理由，乐高一直是全球最负盛名的公司之一。
也许该公司的价值体系与其颇具盛名有关。该公司的营运观念就是『只有最好的才够好。』克里斯汀森想出了这麽一个点子，鼓励他的员工在公司时把品质视为最重要的基准。乐高在为孩子们、青少年甚至热衷玩具且有设计本领的成人们设计玩具时，仍然会将这项原则牢记在心。
目前，乐高的营运与从前很不一样。该公司制造出了著名的城市、整个王国、复制电影的场景，甚至还有以蓝芽系统驱动的移动机器人。乐高玩具甚至还被用来当成教室里的教材，以及对社交困难孩童的一种治疗方式。经过了这几年乐高所进行的这些变革，只有一样东西至今仍维持不变，那就是拼砌组装系统。今日的积木仍可和几十年前的积木组在一起，如此让乐高成了永不过时的终极玩具。
答案∶1. D2. F3. G4. B5. H6. J7. E8. A9. I10. C
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