第 48 至 51 題為題組
       Since golf started in the

century, many advances have occurred in the game, includingsignificant changes to the golf ball. Early golf was played with a rounded wooden ball before theFeatherie, a leather sack stuffed with goose or chicken feathers, became the norm. Then, in 1848, theGutta Percha ball was introduced, which was made from the juice of the leaves of the gutta tree (a tropicaltree native to Malaysia) and was considerably more durable and affordable than its predecessor. The nextadvancement occurred in the early 1900s with the development of the Haskell. It was the first ballfeaturing a center rubber core and an outer cover. The Haskell traveled up to 20 yards farther than theGutta Percha ball and was more durable. In 1905, William Taylor introduced the first dimpled ball, a ballcovered with tiny holes on the surface. By the 1930s, golf balls with rows of dimples were accepted as thestandard design. Most golf balls today consist of rubber thread wound around a rubber core and coatedwith dimpled enamel.
       Dimples play an important role in a golf ball’s performance because these markings and patternsenhance the ball’s aerodynamics. When a ball is hit and moves through the air, it experiences two majoraerodynamic forces: lift and drag. Drag slows the forward motion, and lift acts in a direction vertical to it.With dimples added to the ball, the force that pulls back on the ball is minimized, allowing it to travelfaster and longer. Dimples also help to force the airflow downward, which pushes the ball upward. Theseare the same principles of aerodynamics that airplanes use to fly. In general, golf balls with small, shallowdimples tend to have a longer, lower flight path, whereas those with deeper dimples have a higher flightpath. Golfers can choose their balls based on what they need for a particular shot or for particular weather.

【題組】48. Which of the following best states the main idea of the first paragraph?
(A) Science and technology have influenced the game of golf.
(B) Price, durability, and function determine the quality of golf balls.
(C) Accumulated efforts have resulted in changes in how golf balls are made.
(D) Golfers who have a sound knowledge of aerodynamics play the game well.