The Queen of Yehliu|山寨版女王头

　　

by Nadia Chung

Yehliu is taking measures to protect its most famous rock formation.

野柳地质公园正采取措施来保护园内最著名的岩石。

With names like Sea Candles, Ginger Rocks, and Fairy Shoe, a traveler to northern Taiwan could easily think he or she was about to try out some new amusement park rides. _(1)_, these are the names of some of the curiously-shaped rocks found at Yehliu Geopark, which is 15 kilometers northwest of Keelung.

_(2)_ out of the surface of Taiwan's craggy seacoast, these unusual rocks are a distinct feature of the Cape Yehliu Miocene Formation (第三纪中新世岩层). Ages of sea erosion and weathering have _(3)_ them into the breathtaking natural wonders that we enjoy today. Unfortunately, nature isn't the only thing that has left its mark on them—the rocks have also suffered their _(4)_ of vandalism from humans. Particularly, the Queen's Head, Yehliu's most famous rock formation, has not gotten the royal treatment that it deserves. This is the reason _(5)_ Yehliu Geopark's management recently made the controversial decision to keep tourists from getting too close to the iconic rock formation. The Queen's delicate neck is currently shrinking _(6)_ the rate of five centimeters per year and becoming increasingly fragile. There is no need for admirers to worry, though. In addition to hiring rangers to guard the formation, the management has also unveiled an _(7)_ Queen's Head at the entrance of the park to appease zealous tourists. The fiberglass Queen's Head cost about one million dollars to create, and its unveiling coincided with the entry of the one-millionth visitor to the park on November 10, 2009.

1.  (A) For example (B) In reality  (C) On occasion (D) By contrast

2.  (A) Stuck   (B) To stick    (C) Sticks  (D) Sticking

3.  (A) sculpted    (B) disguised   (C) adjusted    (D) fulfilled

4.  (A) blessing    (B) share   (C) print   (D) concern

5.  (A) when    (B) where   (C) why (D) how

6.  (A) at  (B) in  (C) on  (D) to

7.  (A) efficient   (B) imaginary   (C) artificial  (D) objective

　　听到像 Sea Candles（烛台石）、Ginger Rocks（姜石）和 Fairy Shoe（仙女鞋）这样的名称，到北台湾的游客很容易以为自己是要试搭游乐园的一些新设施。实际上，这些名字是位于基隆西北方 15 公里处，野柳地质公园里一些奇形怪状的岩石名称。

　　这些不寻常的岩石自台湾崎岖的海岸线向外突起，是野柳岬角的第三纪中新世岩层与众不同的特色。长年饱受海浪侵蚀与风化，这些石头被雕刻成令人惊叹的自然奇观，供现今的人们观赏。不幸的是，不仅仅是大自然在它们身上留下印记，这些岩石还遭受到人为的蓄意破坏。特别是女王头这个野柳最富盛名的岩石，并未得到应有的皇家级对待。这就是为什么野柳地质公园的管理部门最近做了一项引起争议的决定，就是不让游客太靠近这颗深具代表性的岩石。女王头纤细的颈子现在正以每年 5 公分的速度缩小而变得愈来愈脆弱。但女王头的爱慕者安啦。除了雇用巡逻员守护女王头外，管理处还在公园的入口展示一颗人造的女王头来满足热情的游客。这颗玻璃纤维的女王头制作费用大约一百万元，而她揭幕的时间刚好就在 2009 年 11 月 10 日该公园第一百万名游客进场的那时候。

标准答案: 1. (B)　2. (D)　3. (A)　4. (B)　5. (C)
　　  6. (A)　7. (C)

For Your Information

野柳为大屯山余脉伸出海中的岬角，从金山远眺，犹如潜入海中的巨龟，故又名为『野柳龟』。其因波浪侵蚀、岩石风化及地壳运动等作用，造就了海蚀洞沟、烛状石、蕈状岩、豆腐石、蜂窝石、壶穴、溶蚀盘等各种奇特景观。女王头、仙女鞋、烛台石等，更是闻名国际的海蚀奇观。

野柳的标志女王头是蕈状岩，据专家推测其芳龄将近 4,000 岁！她原本和其它蕈状岩一样平凡，外形像一朵香菇，在 1962、1963年间，顶部结核上的节理断裂，让她从香菇形状变成神似女性头部的石头，却从此让她饱受盛名之累，游客往往用手触摸，使人为侵蚀加速，目前最细的部分颈围只剩下 142 公分。（数据源：交通部观光局、野柳地质公园全球信息网）