Lesson 83 After the elections 大选之后
The former Prime Minister, Mr. Wentworth Lane, was defeated in the recent elections. He is now retiring from political life and has gone abroad. My friend, Patrick, has always been a fanatical opponent of Mr. Lane's Radical Progressive Party. After the elections, Patrick went to the former Prime Minister's house. When he asked if Mr. Lane lived there, the policeman on duty told him that since his defeat, the ex-Prime Minister had gone abroad. On the following day, Patrick went to the house again. The same policeman was just walking slowly past the entrance, when Patrick asked the same question. Though a little suspicious this time, the policeman gave him the same answer. The day after, Patrick went to the house once more and asked exactly the same question. This time, the policeman lost his temper. 'I told you yesterday and the day before yesterday,' he shouted, 'Mr. Lane was defeated in the elections. He has retired from political life and gone to live abroad!\" 'I know,' answered Patrick, 'but I love to hear you say it!' New words and expressions 生词和短语
election n. 选举
former adj.从前的 defeat v. 打败 fanatical adj.狂热的
opponent n. 反对者,对手 radical adj.激进的 progressive adj. 进步的
ex- prefix (前缀,用于名词前)前... suspicious adj. 怀疑的 参考译文
前首相温特沃兹.莱恩先生在最近的大选中被击败。他现在退出了政界,到国外去了。我的朋友帕特里克一直是莱恩先生的激进党的强烈反对者。大选结束后,帕特里克来到了前首相的住处。当他询问莱恩先生是否住在那里时,值班的警察告诉他这位前首相落选后出国去了。第二天,帕特里克再次来到首相的住处。昨天的那位警察正从门口慢慢走过,帕特里克上前问了和昨天同样的问题。虽然那位警察这次有点疑心,但还是对他作了同样的回答。第三天,帕特里克又去了,提出了同前两天完全一样的问题。这一次警察火了。“我昨天和前天都告诉过您了,”他大叫着,“莱恩先生在大选中被击败了,他已经退出了政界去国外了!”
“这我都知道,”帕特里克说,“可我就是喜欢听你说出这句!”
课文解释
1.The former Prime Minister, Mr. Wentworth Lane, was defeated in
the recent elections. 前首相温特沃兹•莱恩先生在最近的大选中被击败。 • 1)形容词former在这里表示“前任的、先前的”(其隐含的意思指现在已经不是了),后面需要跟名词。例如:
former President Richard Nixon 前总统理查德·尼克松 former sales managers 前销售经理 former wife 前妻
另外,这个词还可以指“以前的、从前的、曾经的”。例如: the former Soviet Union 前苏联
the former home of Sir Christopher Wren 克里斯托弗·雷恩爵士的旧居
Yesterday, he received a letter from his former English teacher. 昨天他收到了他以前的英语老师的一封信。
2)Prime Minister指“首相”,在标题中常简写为“PM”。 election指一般选举时用单数,指全国性的选举时用复数。例如: An election will be held next month. 下月将举行一次选举。 He hopes to defeat his rival in next year's elections. 他希望在明年的大选中击败对手。
动词defeat常见的含义之一为“在战争、体育比赛或选举中等击败…”。关于这个词的详细用法解释,大家可同时参看本课的“重点词汇”中的相关内容。 2.He is now retiring from political life and has gone abroad. 他现在退出了政界,到国外去了。 • 1)句中的动词retire在这里不是指“退休”,而是指“退出、离开(去别的地方)”,常和介词from或to连用。例如: He retired from chess. 他退出棋坛。After dinner he likes toretire to his study. 晚饭后,他喜欢躲到书房里去。
Eisenhower left the White House and retired to his farm in Gettysburg. 艾森豪威尔离开白宫,退隐到他在葛底斯堡的农场。
另外,retire还可以用来表示“(从体育运动或比赛中)退出”、“退庭、休庭”或“就寝”。例如:
I have decided toretire from Formula One racing at the end of the season. 我已经决定在这个赛季末结束一级方程式赛车生涯。 The jury retired to consider the evidence. 陪审团退庭对证据进行评判。 He retired (to bed) late that evening. 那天晚上他睡得晚。 •
•
2)短语go abroad是个固定搭配(注意,这里的abroad是副词,因此不能说成go to abroad),意思是“出国、到国外去”。例如: •
Mark was going for the schoolarship in order to go abroad. 马克想拿到奖学金出国念书。 I would love to go abroad this year, perhaps to the South of France. 我今年很想出国,可能是去法国南部。
3. When he asked if Mr. Lane lived there, the policeman on duty told him that since his defeat, the ex-Prime Minister had gone abroad.
当他询问莱恩先生是否住在那里时,值班的警察告诉他这位前首相落选后出国去了。
•
1)介词短语on duty指的是“在值班、在上班”,在句中用作后置定语,修饰前面的名词policeman。与这个介词短语相对应的是off duty, 意思是“下班了、不值班的”。
defeat在这里用作名词,指“在战斗、比赛、竞赛等中的失败、失利”。关于这个词的详细用法介绍,大家可同时参看本课“重点词汇”中的相关内容。
2)前缀ex-加在表示人的名词前,表示“以前的”(相当于former),如ex-husband (前夫),ex-wife (前妻),ex-taxi-driver(前出租汽车司机),ex-manager(前任经理),ex-headmaster(前任校长)等。
需要注意的是,这种用法通常指的是这个人还在世。如果在人名前加上形容词late,则表示“已故的、去世的(尤其指近期刚去世的)”。例如:her late husband 她已故的丈夫。
另外,ex还可以作为一个独立的单词来用,在口语中专门用来指“前妻、前夫”或“前男友、前女友”。例如:
He's different from my ex. 他和我的前夫不一样。 one of her exes 她的前男友之一 4.The same policeman was just walking slowly past the entrance, when Patrick asked the same question.
昨天的那位警察正从门口慢慢走过,帕特里克上前问了和昨天同样的问题。 这句话里要给大家解释的就是这个连词when。在这句话中,when不是用作从属连词引导时间状语从句,而是用作并列连词,引导的是一个分
句。在这句话中,前一分句说明的是背景,后一分句表示的是在这个背景之下,突然之间发生的一件事或一个动作。因此,在本句中,when所表示的含义为“这时候”。
关于在阅读的时候,如何区分when到底是用作从属连词还是并列连词的详细解释,大家可参看Lesson 14中相关课文解释的内容。
5. Though a little suspicious this time, the policeman gave him the same answer. 虽然那位警察这次有点疑心,但还是对他作了同样的回答。 看到连词though,我们知道这是一个让步状语从句(关于这种从句的详细介绍,大家可同时参看Lesson 38中的相关语法内容)。只是这个从句中只有连词和一个形容词短语。实际上,这是一个省略了主语和连系动词的让步状语从句。
这个从句的完整说法为:Though the policeman was a little suspicious this time。由于从句中的主语和主句中的主语是相同的,因此,从句中的主语可以省略掉;同时,因从句中的动词是be动词,因此也可以省略。 一般来说,如果从句的主语与主句的相同,而谓语是连系动词be,或者,从句中的动词是非人称代词it时,从句中的主语和be动词可同时省略。例如:
While (she was) at college, she wrote a novel.她上大学时写了一部小说。He acted as if (he was) certain of success.他的举止就像一定会成功一样。(方式)If (it is) possible, please let me know by this evening.如果可能的话,请在今晚以前告诉我。(条件)Though (he was) tired, he went to bed very late. 他虽然疲惫,但还是很晚才上床。(让步)
这样做的目的就是为了句子简洁,避免重复、啰嗦。不过,并非所有的从句都可以采用省略形式。原因状语从句就是个例外(有可能大家也会看到原因状语从句采用省略的形式,比如because+形容词的这种用法,但这通常不被认为是一种传统的、正规的用法。尤其是在正式场合,比如考试或学术性文章中,建议大家还是按正统的语法规则来写。)。例如: Because he was worried about his child, he walked up and down in the room. 他由于为孩子担心,在屋子里来回走着。这是个原因状语从句,不能简写成:Because worried about his child… 如要改写,可以将从句改为分词短语(或形容词短语)的形 式,即: Being worried about his child, he walked up and down in the room.
或:Worried about his child…
6. “I know,” answered Patrick, “but I love to hear you say it.”
“这我都知道”,帕特里克说,“可我就是喜欢听你说出这些!”
这句话的意思也比较简单易懂。关于这句话,要给大家稍作解释的就是love这个词。在本句中,love表示“非常喜欢(做某事)”;love to hear you say it…,意思就是“特别喜欢听你说这些(内容)”。
在这句话中,love后面接的是不定式短语。不过,love后面也可以接动名词短语。无论哪种形式,动词love的含义没有变化;区别就在于,用不定式的时候,更多地用来表示针对某一特定时间的事件,而用动名词时,则通常表示的是一种习惯性的动作、状态或爱好。例如:
I love to see a movie this afternoon. 我特别想今天下午去看场电影。I love reading. 我喜欢阅读。
课文点评:这篇课文讲的是国外一位选民在他反对的那位首相落选后的心情和行为。这里给大家普及一下关于不同政体中国家或政府首脑的不同称呼。“首相”(Prime Minister—prime用作形容词时指“主要的、重要的、最好的”;而minister的意思是“部长”,因此这个词的字面意思就是“内阁的首席部长或首席长官”)是君主制国家中的内阁首脑。例如英国、丹麦、挪威、日本的内阁首脑就被称为首相。首相是政府的首脑,享有非常广泛的权力。总理(Premier)指的也是一个国家的政府首脑,负责统领中央政府的行政工作,可通用于共和制或君主制政体。一般来说,首相这种叫法只用于实行君主制的国家,比如在英国,政府的首脑就叫首相;而总理则用于实行共和制的国家,比如我国采用的是共和制,所以政府的首脑就叫总理。简单地说,有国王的国家,政府的第一把手就叫首相,没有国王的国家,就叫总理。当然,这也不是绝对的,也有例外情况。比如,泰国实行的是君主制,但在汉语中习惯上把泰国的政府首脑也称为总理。总统(President) 是共和制国家元首的名称。比如,美国、德国、韩国的国家元首都称为总统;中国、越南、老挝的国家元首称为国家主席。而在君主制国家中,国王或女王是国家元首,如:英国国王、泰国国王、丹麦女王,等。另外,不同君主制国家的国家元首会有不同的称谓,如:天皇(日本)、苏丹(马来西亚)、埃米尔(卡塔尔),等。最后,共和制指的是国家代表机关或国家元首由选举产生的一种制度,是和君主制相对应的一种国家整体。 本课语法
时态复习(Lesson 74~82课中的语法)
本课的语法内容仍然是复习以前课程中学习过的几种时态和语态。关于这几种时态或语态的结构、特点、用法等具体解释,请大家回顾一下以前课程中的相关语法介绍的内容 (有关课程内容详见如下) ,这里就不再重复了。
n Lesson 74 (现在进行时—时态结构、什么时候采用现在进行时、现在进行时还可以表示将来的动作、与某些副词连用表示重复的动作并带有感情色彩、表示状态和感觉的动词一般不用进行时态。一般现在时—表示经常性或习惯性动作,或表示客观事实、客观真理;在时间和条件状语从句中,通常
用一般现在时代替将来时;一般现在时在表示将来动作时与现在进行时的区别,等)
n Lesson 75 (一般过去时-复习)n Lesson 76 (现在完成时与现在完成进行时—复习)n Lesson 79 (一般过去时与过去进行时—复习)
n Lesson 82 (被动语态—复习)
本课词组/短语/句型
下面是本课中出现的一些常用短语、固定搭配或句型等(必须熟记)。为了大家复习方便,整理如下:
be defeated in the recent elections 在最近的大选中被击败 retire from political life 退出政界
go abroad 去到国外 a fanatical opponent of… …的强烈反对者 go to the former Prime Minister’s house 来到了前首相的住处 the policeman on duty 值班的警察 on the following day 第二天
the day after (在…)之后的那天 walk slowly past the entrance 慢慢从门口走过
Though a little suspicious this time, the policeman gave him the same answer.虽然那位警察这次有点疑心,但还是对他作了同样的回答。
give sb. the same answer 对某人作了同样的回答 lose one’s temper 发脾气
I know, but I love to hear you say it.这我都知道,可我就是喜欢听你说出这些。 重点词汇 1.defeat (defeated; defeated)
1) 击败;战胜
His guerrillas defeated the colonial army in 1954. 1954 年他领导的游击队打败了殖民军队。
The NHL Stanley Cup was won by the Montreal Canadians, who defeated the
Boston Bruins four games to one.
蒙特利尔加拿大人队以4 比1战胜波士顿棕熊队,夺得了国家冰球联盟斯坦利杯。
2) 否决(提案、动议等)
The proposal was defeated by just one vote. 该提案仅以一票之差被否决。 3) (任务或问题等)难住、难倒
There were times when the challenges of writing such a huge novel almost
defeated her.
有些时候,创作如此宏大的一部小说所面临的挑战几乎把她给难倒了。 The instruction manual completely defeated me. 这本操作指南把我完全弄糊涂了。
4) n. 战败;失利;失败
The most important thing is not to admit defeat until you really have to. 最重要的是不到万不得已绝不要认输。
The vote is seen as a defeat for the anti-abortion lobby. 这一投票结果被看作是反堕胎游说团体的一次失败。
2. suspicious adj.
1) 猜疑的,怀疑的,觉得可疑的,(人)多疑的:
Two officers on patrol became suspicious of two men in a car.
两名巡警开始对一辆车里的两个人起了疑心。 If travelers look nervous, customs officers get suspicious.如果旅客看上去神情紧张,海关官员就会起疑心。
A woman kept prisoner in a basement was rescued after suspicious neighbors tipped off police.
觉得情况可疑的邻居们报警后,被囚禁在地下室里的一名女子获救了。
2) 可疑的,令人起疑的:
He reported that two suspicious-looking characters had approached Callendar. 他报告说两个形迹可疑的人曾跟卡伦德接触过。 Nottingham police last night found what they described as a suspicious package. 诺丁汉警方昨晚找到了他们声称的可疑包裹。
3.temper与mood
这两个词用作名词时,在含义及用法上比较接近,但也有不同之处。 1) temper可以指“坏脾气、急躁的性情”;而mood则表示这种坏脾气的状态。例如:
He had a temper and could be nasty. 他脾气不大好,有时凶得很。 John’s in a temper today, so keep away from him. 约翰今天脾气不好,所以离他远点。
She was obviously in a mood. 她显然情绪不佳。
Don’t ask him to lend you money when he’s in one of his moods (=in a bad temper, as he often is).
他脾气不好的时候,别向他借钱。
2) 这两个词还可以指“心情”、情绪”。例如:
Miss Wang was in a bad temper/mood last night. 昨晚王小姐心情不好。
I was in a very good temper/mood. 我当时心情非常好。 Whatever happens, remember to keep your temper/mood. 无论发生什么事都要记着保持冷静。
但bad mood与bad temper稍有区别:When he is in a bad temper, he gets angry easily. But when he is in a bad mood, he likes to sit alone.当他脾气不好时,他很容易生气。但当他心情不好时,他喜欢独自坐着。
3) mood可以表示“有意(或心情)/想要(做某事)”,temper则没有这层含义或用法。例如:
I'm just not in the mood for a party tonight. 我今晚就是没心情参加聚会。Although Jeremy is well-known for his great sense of humor, he is in no mood for telling funny stories today.尽管杰里米以绝妙的幽默感著称,但他今天没有心情讲笑话。
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