The Formosan Black Bear: Protecting a National Treasure
The Formosan black bear is a special animal that only lives in Taiwan. Recently, the government shared some important news about them. According to an initial report, the population of these bears is about 1,200. This number is based on monitoring data and infrared cameras. Experts will provide a more precise number at the end of this year.
Experts believe the bear population is expanding. Bears are moving from high mountain areas into places near human settlements. Because of this change, more people are meeting bears in the past few years. Last year, officials recorded 15 cases of people seeing bears. Some bears even attacked poultry farms to find food. For example, one bear in Hualien returned twice to raid chicken coops. That bear now lives at the Taipei Zoo because it had too many conflicts with humans.
The government wants to protect both people and bears. Usually, rescued bears are given two chances for release back to nature. However, if a bear cannot live safely near people, it will be placed in a long-term shelter. A new shelter center will be built in Taitung by 2028. Until then, the Taipei Zoo will continue to house these bears. We should all learn how to share our environment with these beautiful animals.
一、 逐句翻譯與重點講解 (Sentence-by-Sentence Analysis)
1.The Formosan black bear is a special animal that only lives in Taiwan.
中譯：台灣黑熊是一種只生活在台灣的特別動物。
講解：這裡的 that 是關係代名詞，引導形容詞子句修飾前面的「特別動物（special animal）」。
2.According to an initial report, the population of these bears is about 1,200.
中譯：根據一份初步報告，這些黑熊的族群數量大約是 1,200 隻。
講解：According to 是會考必考介系詞，意為「根據」；Initial 意為「初步的」。
3.This number is based on monitoring data and infrared cameras.
中譯：這個數字是基於監測數據和紅外線攝影機所得到的。
講解：Be based on 意為「以……為基礎、根據……」。
4.Experts believe the bear population is expanding.
中譯：專家相信黑熊的族群數量正在擴張。
講解：Expand 在此指數量的「增長」或棲息範圍的「擴大」。
5.Because of this change, more people are meeting bears in the past few years.
中譯：因為這個改變，在過去幾年中，有更多人遇到黑熊。
講解：Because of 後面接名詞（this change）；Meeting 在此指「遇見」而非「開會」。
6.Last year, officials recorded 15 cases of people seeing bears.
中譯：去年，官員記錄到了 15 起民眾目擊黑熊的案例。
講解：Record 在此作為動詞，意為「記錄」。
7.The government wants to protect both people and bears.
中譯：政府想要保護人類與黑熊雙方。
講解：Both A and B 是一個對等連接詞，意為「兩者都……」。
8.A new shelter center will be built in Taitung by 2028.
中譯：一個新的庇護（安置）中心將於 2028 年前在台東建成。
講解：這裡使用了未來式的被動語態 will be built；By 在此引導時間點，意為「在……之前」。
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二、 重點文法解析 (Key Grammar)
1.關係代名詞 (Relative Pronouns)
範例：...a special animal that only lives in Taiwan.
解析：That 引導形容詞子句來補充說明先行詞（animal），這在會考閱讀測驗中常用來測驗學生對句子結構的理解。
2.被動語態 (Passive Voice)
範例：...is based on...; ...will be built...; ...be placed in a shelter.
解析：當主詞是被動地接受某個動作時（例如數字被建立、中心被建造），必須使用 be動詞 + p.p. 的結構,。
3.原因連接詞與介系詞的區別
範例：Because of this change (介系詞 + 名詞)；because it had too many conflicts (連接詞 + 句子)。
解析：這是英檢與會考的高頻考點，注意 because of 後面不能接完整的句子。
