Reading-and-vocabulary-Language-points.doc

Reading and vocabulary
Language points
1. British English and American English are different in many ways.
英式英语和美式英语在很多的方面是不同的。
1） be different in 在……方面不同
They are so different in life style.
2) in …ways 在……方面
It is proved in the following ways: politics, economy and culture.
2. The other two areas in which the two varieties differ are spelling and
pronunciation.
这两种变体的另两个不同之处是拼写和发音。
differ in ….在……方面存在不同 The two brothers differ widely in their tastes. 他们弟兄的爱好大相径庭。 Tastes differ. 人各有所好。
differ from sb./sth In this respect, French differs from English. 在这一方面，法语不同于英语。
differ with/from on/about sth 不同意。持异议 I’m sorry to differ with you on that. 对不起，在 那一点上我与你的看法不同。
3. After all, there is probably as much as variation of pronunciation within the two countries as between them.
毕竟，两个国家各自内部的语音差异可能是一样多的。
1） after all 毕竟，终究So you’ve come after all. 你到底还是来了。After all, what does it matter? 归根到底，那有什么关系呢？
类似短语：above all 最重要的，尤其
A clock must be above all correct. 时钟最重要的是必须准确。
in all 总计 How much is it in all? 一共多少钱？
as much…as…, as many …as…和……一样多
There is nearly as much pollution in this city as in that one.
There are nearly as many kinds of pollution in this city as in that one.
4. Since the 1980s, with satellite TV and the Internet, it has been possible to listen to British and American English at the flick of a switch.
自从20世纪80年代以来， 随着卫星电视和因特网的使用，非常便捷地听到了英式英语和美式英语已经成为可能。
1）… it has been possible to listen to British and American English at the flick of a switch. “it is … to do something”: 不定式短语做主语。
2) at the flick of a switch: quickly and easily, especially by using a computer.
5. This non-stop communication, the experts think, has made it easier for British people and Americans to understand each other.
专家们认为，这种不间断的交流使英国人和美国人更容易相互理解了。
Make it …for ...to do something: “it” 为形式宾语，后跟宾语补语； “for…to do something” 为不定式短语作“make’’ 的真正宾语,“for” 后跟不定式的逻辑主语。如：
Listening to music makes it possible for her to relax from working long.
His long speech made it difficult for the listeners to understand him.
Nothing can make it possible for lost time to be made up.
6. A Londoner has more difficulty understanding a Scotsman from Glasgow than understanding a New Yorker. 一个伦敦人要听懂来自格拉斯哥的苏格兰人讲话可能比理解一个纽约人更难。
have some difficulty (in) doing 做某事有困难 类似结构有： have some trouble (in) doing have a hard time (in) doing
7. But it has also led to lots of American words and structures passing into British English.
但这也导致了大量美语单词和结构进入英国英语。
lead to doing 导致做某事 words and structures 是 passing into 的逻辑主语，属于动名词的复合结构。 “passing into British English” 在此句中和“lots of American words and structures”一起组成复合宾语。
类似的还有：belong to 属于 look forward to 盼望 be opposed to 反对 devote… to… 献身于 be used to 习惯于 object to 反对
如：I hate people being unhappy. 我不愿人们不快乐。
I am not in favor of mother selling the old home. 我不赞同母亲卖掉老房。
Instead of you taking so much time to come, I should write you an email to discuss the matter with you.
He strongly objects to children watching such films.
8. This international dimension suggests that in the future, there are going to be many “English”, not just two main varieties.
这种国际性的广泛使用表明在未来将会有许多种类的英语，而不仅仅是两个
主要变体。
“suggest” 在此意为“表明，说明，暗示”， 后面的从句不用虚拟语气。如：
His exam results suggest he is a very diligent student.