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「我住在台中市市政北七路。」「北七路？」在台灣，這樣令人尷尬的對話層出不窮，令

人莞爾。Yahoo!奇摩在2001年由四萬名網友票選出台灣十大特別地名，票選結果如下圖

而在美國奧勒岡市有一個城鎮叫Boring（無聊的）最近異想天開想和遠在英國蘇格蘭Perthshire的ㄧ個小城鎮締結合作協定(paring)，只因它的鎮名叫做Dull（乏味的）。

這樣的夥伴關係(partnership)主要為了促進雙方旅遊業發展，在不久的將來，觀光客將可以在兩個城鎮購買聯名的紀念品(tourist items)，兩城鎮將會出現奇特的聯名路標(quirky road signs)以及政府的交換參訪(exchange visits)。

雙方原先構想締結成姐妹市(twin towns)，但礙於彼此城市規模相差過大，因此才改為合作夥伴關係。而這整起「聯姻佳話」起因於Dull的一位民眾到Boring度假的時候突然閃過這樣的念頭，於是透過婦女讀書會向城鄉規劃局(Community Planning Council)提案。

Dull將於六月二十三日舉辦新路標暨新路名派對慶祝雙方合作關係開展，未來街道路標都會標示「Dull與Boring合作」 (Dull, in association with Boring)或「Dull與Boring互為姐妹市關係」(in sisterhood with Boring)。

Boring in Oregon votes to pair with Dull in Perthshire

The US town of Boring in Oregon has voted in favour of "pairing" with the village of Dull in Perthshire.

Boring decided for the move in the interests of trans-Atlantic relations, tourism and humour, after being approached by residents in Dull.

The decision means both places can sell novelty tourist items, get quirky road signs made and plan exchange visits.

The difference in size between Boring and Dull meant they could not officially become twin towns. Boring has a population of 12,000 while Dull is a tiny village.

The Boring Community Planning Council voted in favour of a "declaration of pairing" after being approached by the Dull Women's Book Club.

The Dull and Weem Community Council intends to mark the partnership with a new road sign and a street party on 23 June.

'Stop for photos'

Community council chairwoman Marjorie Keddie has said the party would show "that

we are neither dull nor boring".

Mrs Keddie added: "We are also excited at the prospect of a new road sign, which

will say something like 'Dull, in association with Boring' or 'in sisterhood with Boring'.

Vocabulary

1.  in favour of (phr.)

贊成；支持: support, approval, or agreement for something such as a plan, idea, or system 

例句：Senior ministers spoke in favour of the proposal. (國務資政贊成這份提案)

2.  approach

(V.) 接近: to move towards or nearer to someone or something

例句：As I approached the house, I noticed a light on upstairs.

(當我接近房子的時候，我察覺到了樓上的電燈是開著的。)

(N.) ①方法：a method of doing something or dealing with a problem

例句：He decided to adopt a different approach and teach the Bible through story-telling.

(他決定要採取不同的方法，利用說故事的手法來教授聖經。)

【註】採取某種方法這個片語的動詞可以使用take或adopt，方法這單字亦可用measure來代換。

此外approach當作方法解釋時，後方的介系詞一定要使用to+N.表示…的方法。

take / adopt  +       a (dramatic, drastic…)        +  measure / approach

② 接近 the approach of…

     例句：It's a sign of the approach of middle age. (這是接近中年的象徵。)

3.  neither A nor B (phr.)

既不是A也不是B: used when mentioning two things that are not true or possible

用法：若此片語當作主詞使用時，動詞將會跟靠近的主詞一致。

若此片與連接兩個完整句子時，A子句需倒裝呈現。

例句：Neither he nor his wife eats meat. (他和他老婆都不吃肉。)→這時候eats是跟著his wife作動詞變化。

Neither could theory do without practice nor could practice do without theory.

(理論不能沒有實務基礎，而實務基礎不能沒有理論支撐。)

4.  associate (V.)

使相關: to make a connection in your mind between one thing or person and another

用法：associate somebody/something with something

例句：I don't associate him with energetic sports. (我無法將他與精力充沛的運動聯想在一起。)

Reading Comprehension

1.  What is the main idea of this article?

(A)  To explain why Boring and Dull formed partnership.

(B)  To indicate the recent history of Boring and Dull.

(C)  To inform readers the geographical relationship between Boring and Dull.

(D)  To criticize the sisterhood of Boring and Dull.

2.  What bonds Boring and Dull together?

(A)  Tourism agreement under US and UK governments

(B)  History between these two towns.

(C)  Literal meaning of both towns’ names.

(D)  Cultural and economic interaction between both towns.

3.  What is the meaning closest to “keen”?

(A)  Intentional

(B)  Enthusiastic

(C)  Hopeful

(D)  Passive

4.  Why can’t Boring and Dull make official twin towns?

(A)  Citizens oppose to the agreement.

(B)  Revenue from tourism can’t be equally allocated to both towns.

(C)  Both towns’ governors haven’t proposed a pact on this issue.

(D)  The scale of the two towns is in huge discrepancy.

.

.

.

ANS: A C B D

Additional Readings

1. Vote due on link between village of Dull and US town of Boring

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-18322606

2. Perthshire village of Dull wants to forge ties with US town of Boring

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-17825138

Sharpen up your listening skills

Try to summarize the talk between the reporter and the governor of Boring.  

One or two words ONLY in each blank:

We don’t (1)                   for (2)                 , so we decided to come up with the declaration of (3)                 . Dull came to us to help with their (4)               , and I also think it can help with our (5)                here in Boring. This partnership also gets Boring known around the world since every

(6)                  has received this news feed about this over the past month and half. Boring is a (7)             . We have downtown area and the town is surrounded with different types of farms, including (8)             ,

(9)                   , and we also have a couple of (10)               and few residential areas spotted throughout the farming community.

.

.

.

ANS:

(1)   qualify

(2)   sister city/ community

(3)   paired communities

(4)   tourism

(5)   economy

(6)   continent

(7)   world center

(8)   dairy farms

(9)   tree nurseries

(10)   golf courses

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