台南女中應屆畢業生謝孟臻大學指考英文九十九點五分，是全國最高分。 圖／鄭惠仁攝影

謝孟臻的父母都是醫師，父親是醫學博士，她三歲隨父母到美國，六歲才回台灣讀小學。謝爸爸說，孟臻在美國讀了三年幼稚園，但沒學什麼英文，英文底子都是台灣打的。

謝家沒有第四台、無線台，她從小二就不看電視，起先不習慣，後來就不愛看電視了。

謝孟臻說，她喜歡閱讀英文書籍，小一就看短篇英文小說，小四看哈利波特，之後開始讀英文長篇小說，國小通過英檢中級，國二通過英檢中高級。她超愛英文寫作，習慣寫下閱讀心得。

謝孟臻的爸媽說，國內小孩學英文大都著重文法、寫作，這種應付考試的學習方式，反而限制孩子的學習。

謝孟臻這次指考數學成績不錯，但國文沒考好，她的第一志願是台大財經系。導師詹雅琳說，她的國英數都很棒，尤其英文特別好，但沒想到是全國最高分。

謝孟臻指考英文作文是寫和一位同伴出遊，因她喜歡閱讀英國文學，特別是莎翁著作，因此夢想能和莎士比亞出遊，文章除歌頌大自然也提到莎翁的名著哈姆雷特、羅蜜歐與朱麗葉。

謝孟臻的英文作文

If I were ever fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go anywhere with a partner of my choice, I would choose Shakespeare as my companion. As the greatest poet and playwright in the history of English literature, he would be bound to have great knowledge and insight into what we call beauty; thus the artistic side of me would be refreshed with nourishments of the dazzling world of imagination.

Together we would read his immortal classics and fall for the eternal love between Romeo and Juliet, and laugh at the irony behind the foolish conducts of Hamlet. After the warm-up, my creative brain cells would be put into full gear, and we would set off on our journey.

We would go hiking together. The birds would chirp above our heads as a warm welcome, and in return Shakespeare would immediately write down yet another masterpiece to thank their hospitality. We would waltz under the emerald green shade to the rhythm of rustling leaves, and for a rest we would sit on the banks of a brook and talk about books and music as fish swim around our bare feet.

As we ascend the hill, blazing rays from the sun would try to stop us in our paths, but a cool breeze would caress our cheeks, taking the sweat and tiredness away as they sing a melody of harmony to urge us on. Finally, when we reach the hilltop, we would peer down at the rolling hills beneath and up at the clear blue sky above, and as we amuse ourselves with the twisting clouds transforming into a million different shapes, Nature would begin its grand symphony to celebrate our triumph, and at that moment, we would understand, from deep in our heart, the untold significance and beauty of Nature.