Sometimes it's hard to look past your own handicap in times of need.
有時在需要人幫助時真的很難忽略自身的殘疾。
I am used to needing help. I am used to not being able to do things for myself or for others. This is because I am disabled. I have a disease that affects my nerves and impedes the functioning of the right side of my body. Even with this disadvantage, I drive to work every day with the help of special equipment installed in my car. On one particular night last year, I was driving home through gusty winds and harsh rain. I was on a deserted road when I heard a loud pop and felt the front end of my car slam into the pavement. One of my front tires had blown out.
I pulled over and contemplated all of my options, but the truth of the matter was that with my handicap, there was no way I could change a tire by myself. I also knew that there was little chance of a motorist passing by and stopping to help. I decided to drive on, and my car slowly crept along the rain-slicked shoulder until I saw a faint light. I turned down a dirt road and approached a small farm house. A small girl and a man welcomed me, and they immediately got to work changing my tire while I sat inside their toasty place. While I was appreciative of their help, it took them so long that I was starting to feel irritated. Finally, the girl came over and announced that they had finished. Only then did I realize that the girl was no older than eight and the man looked about 80. When I offered them money, the man ignored me and the girl explained that he couldn't see the money because he was blind. I sat there stunned as disturbing feelings of shame and horror overcame me. Who was the one with the real handicap here?
1. Why is the driver NOT able to help other people?
(A) He doesn't like helping strangers.
(B) He thinks he is physically unable to.
(C) He is too proud.
(D) People never help him in return. 2. Where did most of this story take place?
(A) In a city.
(B) On a highway.
(C) In the countryside.
(D) On a bridge. 3. Why didn't the old man accept his money?
(A) The little girl said she wanted it.
(B) He didn't think it was enough.
(C) He didn't need it.
(D) He couldn't see it when offered. 4. Why did the driver feel ashamed?
(A) He should have never asked a girl for help.
(B) He was embarrassed about thinking badly of the people that helped him.
(C) He was embarrassed that a girl could change a tire and he couldn't.
(D) He didn't have any money to pay the man.
handicapped a. 有生理缺陷的 handicap n. 缺陷；不利條件
affect vt.（疾病的）侵襲；影響
disadvantage n. 不便之處，劣勢 advantage n. 有利條件，優勢
equipment n. 設備，裝備；器材（均作集合名詞，不可數）
gusty a. 颳風的
harsh a. 惡劣的
deserted a. 罕無人跡的，荒涼的
pop n. 爆裂聲
pavement n. 人行道（英式用法） sidewalk n. 人行道（美式用法）
motorist n.（汽車）駕駛人
rain-slicked a. 雨後溼滑的
shoulder n. 路肩
faint a. 微弱的，模糊的
approach vt. 接近，靠近
toasty a. 溫暖舒適的
announce vt. 大聲宣告，通知
stunned a. 受到驚嚇的
disturbing a. 令人不安的
physically adv. 身體上
look past 忽視／忽略……
blow out 突然爆裂
= burst vi.
pull over 把車靠邊停
come over 過來；從遠處來
in return (for + 名詞) 以回報（……）
Only then did I realize that the girl was no older than eight and the man looked about 80. 注意
Only 引導的片語或句子放在句首時，均可視為否定副詞片語，通常採倒裝結構。
Only then did I realize my mistake.
那時我才意識到我犯錯了。
Only in this way can you solve the problem.
只有透過這個方式，你才能解決問題。 歷屆考題 （考古題源自歷年考題原句並做部份刪減）
_______ in the world's leading museums can these objects be fully appreciated. 【93 年學測】
(A) Also (B) However
(C) Only (D) Besides
disabled a. 身障的
the disabled 身心障礙者
= the physically challenged
disable vt. 使（手腳等）失去能力；使無法正常運轉
Ivy broke her foot, which disabled her for a few weeks.
艾薇摔斷了腿，使得她好幾個星期都無法走路。
No one knew there was a fire until it was too late because someone had disabled the smoke detectors.
因為有人把煙霧偵測器弄壞了，所以沒人知道發生了火災，等到發現時已經太晚了。
impede vt. 阻礙
The mudslide impeded the progress of the rescue workers trying to go up the mountain road.
土石流阻礙了救難人員設法上山救援的進度。
functioning n. 運作
function vi. 運作，運行
Despite the power outage, the hospital continued to function normally because of the generator.
儘管電力中斷，但這家醫院因為有發電機，所以還是能繼續正常運作。
install vt. 設置；安裝
We have installed central heating in the entire building.
我們在整棟大樓內安裝了中央暖氣系統。
slam into... 猛力撞上……
David slammed into a stranger coming round the corner.
大衛在街角撞上一名迎面而來的陌生人。
contemplate vt. 仔細考慮，思量
contemplate V-ing 考慮……
Jennifer contemplated dyeing her hair blonde.
珍妮佛考慮將頭髮染成金色。
creep vi.（緩慢且安靜地）行進
（動詞三態為：creep, crept, crept）
Mandy crept into the room and kissed her sleeping son on the forehead.
曼蒂悄悄地走進房間，在她熟睡兒子的額頭上吻了一下。
appreciative a. 感謝的
be appreciative of... 感激……
Kevin was very appreciative of his classmates' concern during his illness.
凱文非常感激同學們在他生病期間對他的關懷。
irritated a. 感到惱怒／煩躁的
irritate vt. 激怒；惹惱
Tom was irritated about having to wait so long for his food.
湯姆對於餐點讓他等這麼久覺得很火大。
Billy loves irritating his sister by repeating everything she says.
比利喜歡重複他姊姊所說的每一句話來惹她生氣。
overcome vt. 戰勝；克服
= conquer vt.
I could not overcome the difficulty of learning Spanish, so I dropped the course.
我無法克服學西班牙文的困難，因此我退選了這門課。
ashamed a. 羞愧的
be ashamed of... 因……而感到羞愧／丟臉
I was ashamed of my behavior at the party last night.
我對自己昨晚在派對上的行為感到羞愧。
