108 年 國立清華大學音樂學系碩士班(音樂工程及應用音樂組)《英文》
第 1 題
【題組共用題幹】
Decades of extreme weather crippled, and ultimately decimated, first the political
culture and later the human population of the ancient Maya, according to a new study
by an interdisciplinary team of researchers that includes two University of California,
Davis, scientists.
The collapse of the Maya is one of the world's most enduring mysteries. Now, for the
first time, researchers have combined a precise climatic record of the Maya
environment with a precise record of Maya political history to provide a better
understanding of the role weather had in the civilization's downfall.
Their findings are published in the Nov. 9, 2012, issue of the journal Science.
"Here you had an amazing state-level society that had created calendars, magnificent
architecture, works of art, and was engaged in trade throughout Central America," said
UC Davis anthropology professor and co-author Bruce Winterhalder. "They were
incredible craftspersons, proficient in agriculture, statesmanship and warfare — and
within about 80 years, it fell completely apart."
To determine what was happening in the sociopolitical realm during each of those
years, the study tapped the extensive Maya Hieroglyphic Database Project, run by
linguist Martha Macri, a professor of Native American studies and director of the
Native American Language Center at UC Davis. Macri, a specialist in Maya
hieroglyphs, has been tracking the culture's stone monuments for nearly 30 years.
"Every one of these Maya monuments is political history," said Macri.
Inscribed on each monument is the date it was erected and dates of significant events,
such as a ruler's birthday or accession to power, as well as dates of some deaths,
burials and major battles. The researchers noted that the number of monuments carved
decreased in the years leading to the collapse.
But the monuments made no mention of ecological events, such as storms, drought or
references to crop successes or failures.
For that information, the research team collected a stalagmite from a cave in Belize,
less than 1 mile from the Maya site of Uxbenka and about 18 miles from three other
important centers. Using oxygen isotope dating in 0.1 millimeter increments along the
length of the stalagmite, the scientists uncovered a physical record of rainfall over the
past 2,000 years.
Combined, the stalagmite and hieroglyphs allowed the researchers to link precipitation
to politics. Periods of high and increasing rainfall coincided with a rise in population
and political centers between A.D. 300 and 660. A climate reversal and drying trend
between A.D. 660 and 1000 triggered political competition, increased warfare, overall
sociopolitical instability, and finally, political collapse. This was followed by an
extended drought between A.D. 1020 and 1100 that likely corresponded with crop
failures, death, famine, migration and, ultimately, the collapse of the Maya population.
"It has long been suspected that weather events can cause a lot of political unrest and
subject societies to disease and invasion," Macri said. "But now it's clear. There is
physical evidence that correlates right along with it. We are dependent on
climatological events that are beyond our control."
Said Winterhalder: "It's a cautionary tale about how fragile our political structure might
be. Are we in danger the same way the Classic Maya were in danger? I don't know. But I
suspect that just before their rapid descent and disappearance, Maya political elites were
quite confident about their achievements."
(Extracted from UC Davis News, 2012)
1: Why did the Maya disappear? Please answer this question based on the
finding of this study. Note that you cannot directly copy the whole sentences from
this article. (20%)
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核心觀念
本題考查英文閱讀中的「因果關係整合」與「段落主旨判讀」。答案必須根據全文說明：
- 氣候長期變得乾燥，降雨減少。
- 氣候惡化先造成政治與社會失序。
- 持續乾旱再導致農業崩潰、饑荒、死亡與人口遷徙。
- 最終造成馬雅政治體制瓦解，人口大量減少。
題目問的是「為何消失」，因此不能只回答「因為乾旱」，必須交代乾旱如何一步步造成文明衰亡。
解題方法
先依時間順序整理研究結果：
- 約西元 300 至 660 年：降雨充足且增加，人口與政治中心成長。
- 約西元 660 至 1000 年：氣候轉為乾燥，引發政治競爭、戰爭與社會不穩定，最後造成政治崩潰。
- 約西元 1020 至 1100 年：長期乾旱造成農作物歉收、死亡、饑荒與人口遷徙，最後導致馬雅人口瓦解。
接著整合研究證據。研究者將馬雅石碑上的政治紀錄，與洞穴鐘乳石中的降雨紀錄互相比對，發現降雨變化與政治、人口變化具有明顯關聯。因此，完整答案應包含「氣候變化」「政治崩潰」「農業與人口危機」三個層次。
作答時須改寫原文，使用因果鏈表達，不可整段照抄文章句子。
第 2 題
【題組共用題幹】
Decades of extreme weather crippled, and ultimately decimated, first the political
culture and later the human population of the ancient Maya, according to a new study
by an interdisciplinary team of researchers that includes two University of California,
Davis, scientists.
The collapse of the Maya is one of the world's most enduring mysteries. Now, for the
first time, researchers have combined a precise climatic record of the Maya
environment with a precise record of Maya political history to provide a better
understanding of the role weather had in the civilization's downfall.
Their findings are published in the Nov. 9, 2012, issue of the journal Science.
"Here you had an amazing state-level society that had created calendars, magnificent
architecture, works of art, and was engaged in trade throughout Central America," said
UC Davis anthropology professor and co-author Bruce Winterhalder. "They were
incredible craftspersons, proficient in agriculture, statesmanship and warfare — and
within about 80 years, it fell completely apart."
To determine what was happening in the sociopolitical realm during each of those
years, the study tapped the extensive Maya Hieroglyphic Database Project, run by
linguist Martha Macri, a professor of Native American studies and director of the
Native American Language Center at UC Davis. Macri, a specialist in Maya
hieroglyphs, has been tracking the culture's stone monuments for nearly 30 years.
"Every one of these Maya monuments is political history," said Macri.
Inscribed on each monument is the date it was erected and dates of significant events,
such as a ruler's birthday or accession to power, as well as dates of some deaths,
burials and major battles. The researchers noted that the number of monuments carved
decreased in the years leading to the collapse.
But the monuments made no mention of ecological events, such as storms, drought or
references to crop successes or failures.
For that information, the research team collected a stalagmite from a cave in Belize,
less than 1 mile from the Maya site of Uxbenka and about 18 miles from three other
important centers. Using oxygen isotope dating in 0.1 millimeter increments along the
length of the stalagmite, the scientists uncovered a physical record of rainfall over the
past 2,000 years.
Combined, the stalagmite and hieroglyphs allowed the researchers to link precipitation
to politics. Periods of high and increasing rainfall coincided with a rise in population
and political centers between A.D. 300 and 660. A climate reversal and drying trend
between A.D. 660 and 1000 triggered political competition, increased warfare, overall
sociopolitical instability, and finally, political collapse. This was followed by an
extended drought between A.D. 1020 and 1100 that likely corresponded with crop
failures, death, famine, migration and, ultimately, the collapse of the Maya population.
"It has long been suspected that weather events can cause a lot of political unrest and
subject societies to disease and invasion," Macri said. "But now it's clear. There is
physical evidence that correlates right along with it. We are dependent on
climatological events that are beyond our control."
Said Winterhalder: "It's a cautionary tale about how fragile our political structure might
be. Are we in danger the same way the Classic Maya were in danger? I don't know. But I
suspect that just before their rapid descent and disappearance, Maya political elites were
quite confident about their achievements."
(Extracted from UC Davis News, 2012)
2: Do you think how ready are we for global warming? Note that you cannot
directly copy the whole sentences from this article. (30%)
登入後即可作答並保存紀錄。
核心觀念
本題為研究所英文考卷中常見的跨領域引導型短文寫作（Guided Essay Writing），佔分高達 30%。本題考核兩大核心能力：
- 閱讀理解與文意融會能力（Reading Synthesis & Paraphrasing）：
文章以馬雅文明因氣候變遷（極端乾旱）導致農業衰退、政治動盪乃至文明崩解為例（"a cautionary tale"）。考生必須擷取文章深層意涵作為論述支撐，並遵守限制——嚴禁直接抄襲原文完整句子（Do not directly copy whole sentences），需進行適當的改寫（Paraphrase）與引述。 - 思辨論述與學術英文寫作能力（Critical Thinking & Argumentative Essay Structure）：
題幹詢問「Do you think how ready are we for global warming?」（文法上為非正式之引導提問，核心問題即：How ready do you think we are for global warming?）。考生需提出明確立場（如：人類目前尚未做好準備／準備嚴重不足），並組織一個結構嚴謹（立場陳述、論據推展、扣合文本、結論總結）的完整短文。
解題方法
1. 審題與立場設定
- 問題核心：面對全球暖化，現代人類社會的準備程度如何？
- 最佳立場切入：主張**「人類目前準備極為不足（unprepared / ill-prepared）」**。此立場最能與選文最後一段 Winterhalder 教授的警示產生強烈共鳴——馬雅統治菁英在崩潰前夕同樣對其文明成就充滿自信，而現代人對科技與體制的過度自信亦可能招致類似後果。
2. 段落架構規劃（建議字數：150～200字）
- 第一段：立論（Thesis Statement）
明確表態：儘管現代科技發達且國際倡議不斷，但人類整體而言對全球暖化的威脅仍未做好充分準備。 - 第二段：連結文章與現代現實（Elaboration with Textual Connection）
- 借鑑馬雅：改寫原文重點——氣候變遷不僅是環境問題，它會引發資源爭奪、社會動盪與體制瓦解。
- 對照當前：指出當代政治短視近利、國際減碳合作步調緩慢、全球氣候難民與極端氣候災難頻傳，與馬雅當年的盲目自信何其相似。
- 第三段：結論（Conclusion）
總結歷史教訓：若不從馬雅帝國的滅亡中警醒並落實立即行動，現代脆弱的文明與政治架構將重蹈覆轍。
範文展示與解析
以下提供拿取滿分級距的示範寫作（Model Essay）：
Model Essay
Despite advances in science and international climate agreements, humanity remains profoundly ill-prepared for the escalating crisis of global warming. Modern society often takes pride in its technological mastery and complex political systems, yet our foundational survival still relies heavily on stable climatic conditions.
The historical collapse of the Maya civilization serves as a sobering reminder that climate disruptions do not merely affect ecosystems; they directly fracture sociopolitical structures. As the article demonstrates, prolonged drought precipitated resource scarcity, political instability, and eventual societal dissolution. Today, our global infrastructure faces analogous threats: extreme weather events disrupt food supply chains, exacerbate economic inequality, and displace populations, creating unprecedented geopolitical tensions. However, contemporary governments frequently prioritize short-term economic gains over long-term sustainability, exhibiting the same dangerous overconfidence that blinded ancient Maya elites right before their downfall.
In conclusion, having technological capabilities is not synonymous with being prepared. Unless world leaders translate scientific awareness into aggressive, coordinated policy actions and reform vulnerable systems, modern civilization risks suffering a similar fate dictated by the uncontrollable forces of climate change.
範文各句中文對照與評析：
- Despite advances in science and international climate agreements, humanity remains profoundly ill-prepared for the escalating crisis of global warming.
（儘管科學進步且有國際氣候協定，人類對日益加劇的全球暖化危機仍舊準備嚴重不足。）
→ 直接破題，明確回答問題。
第 3 題
Part 2. Directions (Read the following article and write an article to answer the
question: "Does the Internet Make You Smart or Dumb?” Why or why not? Express
your opinions using FULL SENTENCES in ENGLISH.) (50%)
Recently, there are opinions debating whether the Internet makes you smart or dumb.
Some people (such as Clay Shirky, author of the book, "Cognitive Surplus: Creativity
and Generosity in a Connected Age") argue that Internet makes you smarter. They believe
that the Internet will eventually make "the good stuff possible". For example, new norms
will be created around the newly abundant and contemporary literature, which will in turn
create a new culture.
Some other people (such as Nicholas Carr, author of "The Shallows: What the
Internet Is Doing to Our Brains), argue that Internet makes you more stupid. The studies
show that people who read text studded with links comprehend less than those who read
traditional linear text. People who juggle many tasks are less creative and less productive
than those who do one thing at a time.
What do you think?
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核心觀念
本題是英文議論文寫作，評量重點包括：
- 是否明確回答「網際網路使人更聰明還是更愚笨」。
- 是否提出合理、完整的論點與例證。
- 是否能處理正反兩方觀點，而非只重述題幹。
- 是否使用正確的英文句型、連接詞與段落結構。
- 是否遵守題目要求，以完整英文句子表達意見。
題幹提供兩種立場：
- Clay Shirky 認為網際網路能促進知識交流、創意合作與新文化形成，因此使人更聰明。
- Nicholas Carr 認為超連結與多工行為會降低理解力、創造力與生產力，因此使人更愚笨。
本題沒有唯一立場。只要論點清楚、理由充分、前後一致，即可採取支持、反對或折衷立場。
解題方法
最穩定的寫法是採取「條件式立場」：
網際網路本身不是絕對使人聰明或愚笨，真正的影響取決於使用方式。
文章可分成四段：
- 引言與立場：指出爭議，直接表明自己的看法。
- 支持網際網路的理由：說明網路如何增加資訊取得、學習與合作機會。
- 指出網路的負面影響：說明超連結、多工與分心如何降低理解與效率。
- 結論：重申網路是工具，使用者的習慣決定結果。
這種寫法能同時回應題幹中的兩方觀點，也能展現分析能力。論證關係如下：
段落安排與句型
引言可使用：
People have different opinions about whether the Internet makes us smarter or dumber.In my opinion, the Internet can make us smarter, but only when we use it wisely.
說明正面影響可使用：
First, the Internet gives people quick access to a vast amount of information.It also enables people to share ideas and learn from one another.As a result, students can acquire knowledge beyond the limits of traditional classrooms.
說明負面影響可使用：
However, excessive use of the Internet may have negative effects.When people constantly switch between different tasks, they may lose concentration.Reading a text filled with links can also make it harder to understand the main idea.
提出條件式結論可使用：
Therefore, the Internet is neither completely beneficial nor completely harmful.Its influence depends largely on how people use it.
常見陷阱
- 只描述 Clay Shirky 與 Nicholas Carr 的觀點，卻沒有明確表達自己的立場。
- 只寫「網路很好」或「網路很糟」，缺乏具體理由。
- 把「取得大量資訊」直接等同於「真正理解知識」。
- 忽略題目要求的
FULL SENTENCES，使用過多片語或不完整句。 - 文章只談正面影響，沒有處理題幹中的反方論點，導致論證顯得片面。
Internet作為單數主詞時，應使用makes，不可寫成make。