Billy Lezra stood on the edge of a train platform, with her heart poundingand her mind clouded by despair. At 23, she faced her mother’s suicideattempt and spiraledinto depressionand alcohol addiction. She saw no way out, and just as she was about to take the final step, a stranger __1__ her with an unexpected request: “Excuse me, but would you mind taking my picture?”
This simple, unforeseenmeeting was enough to pull Billy back from the brink. __2__ that fateful day, Billy has been on a journey of recovery and discovery, determined to understand what drivespeople to the edge and how to bring them back.
Billy’s research reveals startling statistics. The child of a parent who has tried to take their own life is five times more likely to develop suicidal __3__ than the child of a parent with no history of self-harm. Also, the likelihoodof someone with an alcohol use disorder attempting suicide is 120 times greater than that of someone who is not __4__ alcohol. Other factors include depression, life crises, financial problems, and chronicpain.
According to the World Health Organization, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15-29. While many charitiesstrive to prevent it, Billy’s story shows that sometimes, all it takes is __5__ to stop a tragedy from happening. Now, Billy comes up tolonely or depressedindividuals and offers to do some small things for them. This simple act often brings a smile and a moment of connection, reminding us of the power we all have to change a life.
4. (A) appealing to (B) beneficial for (C) ignorant of (D) dependent on
5. (A) a random encounter (B) a brief vacation
(C) a comforting thought (D) a polite greeting
↓ 完整文章版本（無挖空）
Billy Lezra stood on the edge of a train platform, with her heart poundingand her mind clouded by despair. At 23, she faced her mother’s suicideattempt and spiraledinto depressionand alcohol addiction. She saw no way out, and just as she was about to take the final step, a stranger approached her with an unexpected request: “Excuse me, but would you mind taking my picture?”
This simple, unforeseenmeeting was enough to pull Billy back from the brink. Since that fateful day, Billy has been on a journey of recovery and discovery, determined to understand what drives people to the edge and how to bring them back.
Billy’s research reveals startling statistics. The child of a parent who has tried to take their own life is five times more likely to develop suicidal tendencies than the child of a parent with no history of self-harm. Also, the likelihoodof someone with an alcohol use disorder attempting suicide is 120 times greater than that of someone who is not dependent on alcohol. Other factors include depression, life crises, financial problems, and chronicpain.
According to the World Health Organization, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15-29. While many charitiesstrive to prevent it, Billy’s story shows that sometimes, all it takes is a random encounter to stop a tragedy from happening. Now, Billy comes up tolonely or depressedindividuals and offers to do some small things for them. This simple act often brings a smile and a moment of connection, reminding us of the power we all have to change a life.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
pound
[paʊnd]
vt. & vi. 猛擊，連續重擊
n. 英鎊（貨幣單位，縮寫為 £）（= pound sterling）； 磅（重量單位，縮寫為 lb）
This cellphone is only 30 pounds.
這支手機僅售 30 英鎊。
This cellphone is only £30.
這支手機僅售 30 英鎊。
The box weighs 10 pounds.
這箱子重達 10 磅。
The box weighs 10 lbs.
這箱子重達 10 磅。
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
一盎司的預防等於一磅的治療 / 預防勝於治療。— 諺語
Andrew suddenly pounded his fist on the table and scared all of us.
安德魯突然用拳頭猛擊桌子，嚇到了我們所有的人。
Two policemen were pounding at my neighbor’s door.
兩個警察正在不停地大力敲我鄰居的門。
高中 Level 2
●
despair
[dɪˋspɛr]
Paula was in despair when her husband left her for another woman.
老公跟別的女人跑了之後，寶拉陷入了絕望。
During the terrible war, it was hard for Carmen not to despair.
在恐怖的戰爭期間，卡門很難不感到絕望。
高中 Level 5
●
suicide
[ˋsuə͵saɪd]
n. 自殺
It’s shocking that Larry committed suicide. He seemed like a very happy man.
賴瑞自殺的事很令人震驚。他看起來像是個非常快樂的人。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
spiral
[ˋspaɪrəl]
n. . 螺旋
vi. 螺旋下降 (飛機以螺旋形狀向下墜落)
Since John retired, his health has been in a downward spiral.
自從約翰退休後，他的健康情況就持續惡化。
In art class, Heather learned how to make
complicated spiral shapes and created such a
beautiful painting.
在美術課上，希瑟學會了如何畫複雜的螺旋形狀，並創作出
了這樣一幅美麗的畫。
The large staircase spiraled to the top floor, with so
many steps that people became tired and dizzy.
大樓梯盤旋到樓頂，而臺階太多了，多到令人頭昏眼花。
高中 Level 6
●
depression
[dɪˋprɛʃən]
n. 沮喪；憂鬱症；（經濟）蕭條，不景氣
=
sadness
=
despair
=
recession
After losing my job, I experienced feelings of depression.
失業後，我感到消沉。
Steve has been suffering from depression since his wife passed away.
自從太太過世後，史蒂夫便飽受憂鬱症的折磨。
Many businesses failed to live through the Great Depression of the 1930s.
許多企業未能捱過 30 年代的經濟大蕭條時期。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
addiction
[əˋdɪkʃən]
n. 上癮
n. . 上癮（與介詞 to 並用）
Mark’s addiction to alcohol has ruined his career.
馬克的酒癮毀了他的職涯。
高中 Level 6
●
unforeseen
[͵ʌnforˋsin]
a. 預料之外的
The project was behind schedule owing to unforeseen problems.
此專案因發生意外的問題而進度延宕。
●
fateful
[ˋfetfəl]
a. 災難性的
●
statistics
[stəˋtɪstɪks]
n. 統計學（不可數）
Statistics is a complicated science that may take years to master. 統計學是門複雜的學問，要花好幾年才能學通。
多益藍色
英檢中高
高中 Level 4
●
likelihood
[ˋlaɪklɪ͵hʊd]
n. 可能性
=
probability
In all likelihood, the staff meeting will be put off until next Tuesday.
員工會議很有可能會被延到下星期二舉辦。
There's a great likelihood that it's going to rain this afternoon.
今天下午很有可能會下雨。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
chronic
[ˋkrɑnɪk]
a. 慢性的
Kevin has been suffering from chronic arthritis for two years.
凱文罹患慢性關節炎已經兩年了。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
depressed
[dɪˋprɛst]
a. 沮喪的
●
drive
[draɪv]
vt. 迫使；驅動
vt. & vi. 開車
n. 駕車路程；幹勁（此意不可數）
三態
drive / drove [drov] / driven [ˋdrɪvən]
I drive my son to school every day.
我每天開車送我兒子上學。
My wife is just learning how to drive.
我太太才剛開始學開車。
That noise is driving me crazy.
那噪音讓我抓狂。
It’s a one-hour drive to that restaurant.
到那間餐廳要 1 小時的車程。
Rebecca is full of drive―she’ll go far in life.
蕾貝卡充滿幹勁 — 她會成功的。
多益橘色
英檢初級
高中 Level 1
Extra Words
●
startling
[ˋstɑrt!ɪŋ]
a. 令人驚訝的
英檢中高
●
a chance meeting
偶然相遇
Practical Phrases
●
be in despair
陷入絕望
Paula was in despair when her husband left her for another woman.
老公跟別的女人跑了之後，寶拉陷入了絕望。
●
drive sb to + 地方
開車載某人到某地
I drivemy son to school every day.
我每天開車送我兒子上學。
●
take one’s own life
自殺
The criminal took his own life en route to the police station.
該罪犯在前往警局的路上自殺了。
●
strive to + V
努力要……
The coach encouraged his team to strive to win the championship.
教練鼓勵他的球隊要努力爭取冠軍。
●
come up to sb
（為了攀談而）走到某人跟前
The stranger came up to me and asked me how to get to the train station.
那個陌生人走到我跟前來問我火車站要怎麼去。
1. She saw no way out, and just as she was about to take the final step, a stranger approached her with an unexpected request: “Excuse me, but would you mind taking my picture?”
2. Since that fateful day, Billy has been on a journey of recovery and discovery, determined to understand what drives people to the edge and how to bring them back.
理由
空格前一句提到與該陌生人的意外相遇將比莉從邊緣帶了回來，而本句後半時態為現在完成式，可知應選 (C) Since 與其並用，表「自」那命運的一天「以來」，比莉踏上了一段康復和探索之旅。
3. The child of a parent who has tried to take their own life is five times more likely to develop suicidal tendencies than the child of a parent with no history of self-harm.
4. Also, the likelihood of someone with an alcohol use disorder attempting suicide is 120 times greater than that of someone who is not dependent on alcohol.
