Task 2 寫到批評觀點時，九成考生只會 destroy / damage——但這兩個字太強、太實體。當你想說「這個政策慢慢侵蝕社會信任」、「謠言逐步動搖他的權威」時，正確的字是 undermine。

字義

Undermine (v.) — to gradually weaken or damage something, especially by working secretly or indirectly.

字面是「在某物底下挖（mine = 挖礦）」——所以強調的是隱性、漸進、從根基削弱，不是當場炸掉。

5 個 Band 7+ 例句

  1. Repeated scandals have undermined public trust in the institution.
  2. Cheap imports threaten to undermine local manufacturing.
  3. Constant criticism gradually undermines a child's self-confidence.
  4. The minister's remarks undermined the very policy she was meant to defend.
  5. Failing to enforce the rules undermines the credibility of the entire system.

常見錯誤

意義偏移：學生常寫 Pollution undermines the environment.——文法對，但 undermine 跟具體實物（環境、建築、身體）搭配時不夠自然。改 damage / harm the environment。

Undermine 的正確賓語是「抽象結構」：trust, confidence, authority, credibility, efforts, position, argument, policy。記住這個搭配傾向就不會錯。

同等級替換（Band 7+）

  • Erode — Years of inflation have eroded household savings.（更強調慢慢磨損）
  • Compromise (v.) — The leak compromised the integrity of the investigation.（強調讓某事失去完整性）

試試看

下次寫 Task 2 議題段，把 destroy trust / damage authority 換成 undermine trust / undermine authority——立刻看起來成熟一級。

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