elder / older 易混淆字
older 是 old 的比較級，什麼都能用；elder 只用在人，語氣比較尊敬。
104 學測｜閱讀測驗
“It used to be that the only ones who could sing these songs were tribal elders aged between 50 and 60.
「過去，只有年齡在 50 至 60 歲之間的部落長老會唱這些歌。（部落長老）
- it used to be that…：「過去的情形是…」
- aged between 50 and 60：「年齡在 50 到 60 歲之間」
107 學測｜閱讀測驗
Some—especially the elderly and those with weak immune systems—die.
有些人，尤其是老年人和免疫系統較弱的人，會死亡。（the elderly「老年人」）
- especially the elderly：「尤其是老年人」，the elderly＝「老年人」
- immune system：「免疫系統」
- some…die：some 在這裡當主詞，指「有些人」
110 學測｜詞彙題
Elderly shoppers in this store are advised to take the elevator rather than the escalator, which may move too fast for them to keep their balance.
這間店建議年長的顧客搭電梯，不要搭手扶梯，因為手扶梯可能動得太快，讓他們無法保持平衡。（年長的顧客）
- 考點：escalator「手扶梯」，take the elevator rather than the escalator＝「搭電梯而不搭手扶梯」。escalator 是會動的樓梯，後面 move too fast 是線索。airway「航線」、operator「操作員」、instrument「儀器 / 樂器」都不是和電梯一樣讓人搭乘的設備
- be advised to V：「被建議…」
- rather than：「而不是」
- keep one's balance：「保持平衡」
- for them to keep…：for them 是做 to keep 這個動作的人；too fast for them to keep… 整體是「快得讓他們無法保持…」
109 學測｜文意選填
As they grow older and lose their baby fat, the dimples may fade with time.
隨著他們長大、失去嬰兒肥，酒窩可能會隨時間淡去。（變老）
- baby fat：「嬰兒肥」
- fade：「淡去」
- with time：「隨時間」
115 學測｜閱讀測驗
In the oldest surviving maps, south is at the top, and north points down.
在現存最古老的地圖裡，南方在上面，北方朝下。（最古老的）
- surviving：「留存下來的」
- point down：「朝下」
怎麼判斷
- older 是「年紀較大的、較舊的」，人和東西都能用，後面可以接 than。例：My car is older than yours.（我的車比你的舊）
- elder 只用在人，通常放在名詞前面，後面不接 than；也可以當名詞，指「長者」。例：my elder brother（我的哥哥）
- the elderly 是「老年人」，比 old people 客氣。
自我檢測
109 學測｜文意選填
1. As they grow ＿＿＿＿ and lose their baby fat, the dimples may fade with time.
104 學測｜閱讀測驗
2. “It used to be that the only ones who could sing these songs were tribal ＿＿＿＿ aged between 50 and 60.
110 學測｜詞彙題
3. ＿＿＿＿ shoppers in this store are advised to take the elevator rather than the escalator, which may move too fast for them to keep their balance.