spend / waste 易混淆字
spend 是「花」，waste 是「浪費」。
104 學測｜閱讀測驗
The couple was spending about $30,000 a year for her care.
這對夫妻每年花約三萬美元在她的照護上。（花錢）
- couple：這裡指「夫妻」，用單數
- care：「照護」
- spend A on B：「在 B 上花 A」
111 學測｜篇章結構
During this period, many people travel back to their hometowns and spend time with loved ones, both past and present.
這段期間，許多人返回家鄉，與摯愛共度時光，包括已逝的與在世的親人。（花時間）
- period：「期間」
- loved ones：「摯愛的人」
- both past and present：「過去的與現在的」，指已逝與在世的親人
106 學測｜詞彙題
After spending most of her salary on rent and food, Amelia barely had any money left for entertainment and other expenses.
把大部分薪水花在房租和食物後，Amelia 幾乎沒有剩下什麼錢可用於娛樂和其他開銷。（花（薪水））
- 考點：barely「幾乎沒有」，barely had any money＝「幾乎沒有錢」，本身就帶否定意味，所以後面用 any。fairly「相當」、merely「僅僅」、readily「輕易地」都不能表示「幾乎沒有」
- after spending…on…：「花…在…上」
- left：「剩下的」
- expense：「開銷」
105 學測｜文意選填
In the beginning, people thought he was crazy to waste his time and money on the land.
一開始，人們認為他把時間與金錢浪費在這塊地上很瘋狂。（浪費時間和金錢）
- in the beginning：「一開始」
- crazy to V：「做…很瘋狂」
110 學測｜詞彙題
It is absolutely absurd to waste your money on an expensive car when you cannot even get a driver's license.
連駕照都還沒考到，就把錢浪費在昂貴的車子上，簡直荒謬。（浪費錢）
- 考點：absurd「荒謬的」，absolutely absurd＝「絕對荒謬」，沒有駕照卻花錢買昂貴的車，很不合理。cautious「謹慎的」、vigorous「精力充沛的」、obstinate「固執的」都不是形容這種不合理的行為
- driver's license：「駕照」
- cannot even…：「連…都無法」
110 學測｜閱讀測驗
Then, a local green energy startup company got the idea to turn that waste into energy.
接著，當地一家綠能新創公司想到把這些廢棄物變成能源。（名詞：廢棄物）
- green energy：「綠能」
- startup company：「新創公司」
- get the idea to V：「想到要…」
113 學測｜閱讀測驗
Reducing waste of fish catch has become a serious issue today, when many countries are faced with food crises.
如今許多國家面臨糧食危機，減少漁獲浪費已成為嚴重的議題。（名詞：浪費）
- reducing waste：以 V-ing 開頭的一段話當主詞，指「減少浪費」這件事
- fish catch：「漁獲」
- when：指 today
- be faced with…：「面臨…」
- crisis：「危機」，複數是 crises
怎麼判斷
- spend 是「花（時間、錢）」，把時間或錢用在某件事上。例：She spent two hours reading.（她花了兩小時閱讀）
- waste 是「浪費」，指白白用掉。例：Don't waste time.（別浪費時間）
- waste 當名詞是「廢棄物」。例：food waste（廚餘）
自我檢測
111 學測｜篇章結構
1. During this period, many people travel back to their hometowns and ＿＿＿＿ time with loved ones, both past and present.
110 學測｜閱讀測驗
2. Then, a local green energy startup company got the idea to turn that ＿＿＿＿ into energy.
113 學測｜閱讀測驗
3. Reducing ＿＿＿＿ of fish catch has become a serious issue today, when many countries are faced with food crises.