Reggie the Con Man
In the annals of crime, there are few scoundrels who could match the exploits of Reggie Hayes, who also used the names of Reginald Haven, Ricardo Hermosa, Father Harris, and dozens of other aliases. Reggie’s police record, principally in Chicago and Baltimore, is replete with scams that he perpetrated upon gullible people. Generally, his favorite target was a matron who should have known better.
Words
1. con man詐欺的騙子 n.
2. scoundrels 壞蛋,惡棍 n.
3. exploit 功績,成就 n.
4. alias 化名,別名 n.
5. scam 陰謀,騙局 n.
6. perpetrate 做(壞事),犯(罪) v.
7. gullible 易受騙的 adj.
Dressed as a priest(“Father Harris”), he was most convincing, however. His method of operation was to “find” a wallet stuffed with hundred dollar bills outside a supermarket and then implored an unsuspecting woman to share his good fortune, since there was no identification in the wallet. But first, to establish her credibility, his victim had to put up a sum of money as a testimonial to her good faith. Mrs. Emma Schultz, age 72, tearfully told the police that she had withdrawn $14,000 from her bank and placed it in a shopping bag supplied by the helping priest. He told her to hold onto the bag while hw went next door to a lawyer’s office to make the sharing of their good fortune legal.
Words
1. convincing 使人信服的 adj.
2. unsuspecting 不懷疑的 adj.
3. identification 身分證明 n.
4. credibility 可信性 n.
5. testimonial 證明 n.
6. legal 合法的 adj.
After a seemingly interminable wait, Mrs. Schultz discovered to her chagrin that the heartless thief had skipped out the back way, leaving her “holding the bag” –a switched bag containing shredded newspaper –while he made his getaway with her life savings.
Words
1. chagrin 懊悔 n.
2. leave holding the bag
用在idiom上是指拋棄某人,迫使某人承擔責任或是承擔罪過,這裡純粹 就是指讓他拿著這個袋子
3. shredded 切碎的 adj.
4. getaway 逃走 n.
2009年11月13日 星期五
2009年11月12日 星期四
Week 1 Day 4
How Not to Get Your Way
It is difficult to change someone's opinion by badgering him. The child who begs his mother to "get off his back'' when she implores him for some assistance with the household drudgery, may very well plead interminably for some special privilege when he wants something for himself. How paradoxical that neither is able to perceive that no one likes being nagged.
如何讓你無法為所欲為
想要以糾纏人的方式來改變別人的意見是很困難的。小孩子總是在媽媽要求他做些家事時會請求媽媽不要再煩他了,但是一旦當他想要什麼東西的時候,卻會永無止境的懇求。雙方都不知道沒有人喜歡一直被騷擾糾纏,這實在是太矛盾了!
Words
1.badger 困擾糾纏v.
同義字 pester, nag
2.implore 懇求 乞求v.
同義字 plead, beg
如果要表達懇求什麼東西時,用implore for這個介係詞
EX:The prisoner implored the king for mercy.
3.drudgery 苦工,單調沉悶的工作n.
同義字 labor, toll
4.interminable 沒完沒了的,無止盡的adj.
同義字 endless, unending
5.perceive 察覺,意識到,理解v.
6.get one's way 讓別人聽從你的話作事
7.get off one's back 不再打擾某人
8.privilege特權 n.
Today's Idiom
To pour oil on troubled waters
這個片語是一種儀式,古代面對波濤洶湧的大海時,為了讓海平靜,會將油倒入海中,祈禱可以風平浪靜,因此這句片語就引申為讓人或事物可以安靜平靜下來。
Grammars 主詞藍色 動詞(片語)咖啡色 受詞綠色 連結詞橘色
1.It is difficult to change someone's opinion by badgering him.
用 it is +adj. + to 原型動詞 ...表示做動詞的那件事是很 前面的形容詞。這邊的by其實就是by the way of 藉由什麼的方式,介係詞後面的動詞一定是用Ving的形式。
2.The child who begs his mother to "get off his back'' when she implores him for some assistance with the household drudgery, may very well plead interminably for some special privilege when he wants something for himself.
原來的單純句子就是the child may plead for ...when he wants....。當小孩要什麼東西的時候就會永無止盡的乞求。在the child後面用關係代名詞who來形容這樣的小孩,卻在媽媽要求他做家事時會覺得反感,希望媽媽快走開。將兩句合併就是所看到的句子,兩個狀況可以直接用一個句子解決。
3.How paradoxical that neither is able to perceive that no one likes being nagged.
how + adj.+that...的用法跟昨天解釋一樣。 neither這個字是兩者都不,這邊是代名詞,表示媽媽跟小孩都不希望被嘮叨。另一個字either則是兩者當中有一個是。
It is difficult to change someone's opinion by badgering him. The child who begs his mother to "get off his back'' when she implores him for some assistance with the household drudgery, may very well plead interminably for some special privilege when he wants something for himself. How paradoxical that neither is able to perceive that no one likes being nagged.
如何讓你無法為所欲為
想要以糾纏人的方式來改變別人的意見是很困難的。小孩子總是在媽媽要求他做些家事時會請求媽媽不要再煩他了,但是一旦當他想要什麼東西的時候,卻會永無止境的懇求。雙方都不知道沒有人喜歡一直被騷擾糾纏,這實在是太矛盾了!
Words
1.badger 困擾糾纏v.
同義字 pester, nag
2.implore 懇求 乞求v.
同義字 plead, beg
如果要表達懇求什麼東西時,用implore for這個介係詞
EX:The prisoner implored the king for mercy.
3.drudgery 苦工,單調沉悶的工作n.
同義字 labor, toll
4.interminable 沒完沒了的,無止盡的adj.
同義字 endless, unending
5.perceive 察覺,意識到,理解v.
6.get one's way 讓別人聽從你的話作事
7.get off one's back 不再打擾某人
8.privilege特權 n.
Today's Idiom
To pour oil on troubled waters
這個片語是一種儀式,古代面對波濤洶湧的大海時,為了讓海平靜,會將油倒入海中,祈禱可以風平浪靜,因此這句片語就引申為讓人或事物可以安靜平靜下來。
Grammars 主詞藍色 動詞(片語)咖啡色 受詞綠色 連結詞橘色
1.It is difficult to change someone's opinion by badgering him.
用 it is +adj. + to 原型動詞 ...表示做動詞的那件事是很 前面的形容詞。這邊的by其實就是by the way of 藉由什麼的方式,介係詞後面的動詞一定是用Ving的形式。
2.The child who begs his mother to "get off his back'' when she implores him for some assistance with the household drudgery, may very well plead interminably for some special privilege when he wants something for himself.
原來的單純句子就是the child may plead for ...when he wants....。當小孩要什麼東西的時候就會永無止盡的乞求。在the child後面用關係代名詞who來形容這樣的小孩,卻在媽媽要求他做家事時會覺得反感,希望媽媽快走開。將兩句合併就是所看到的句子,兩個狀況可以直接用一個句子解決。
3.How paradoxical that neither is able to perceive that no one likes being nagged.
how + adj.+that...的用法跟昨天解釋一樣。 neither這個字是兩者都不,這邊是代名詞,表示媽媽跟小孩都不希望被嘮叨。另一個字either則是兩者當中有一個是。
2009年11月11日 星期三
Week 1 Day 3
It's a Man's World
How paradoxical that the world's greatest chefs have all been men! Cooking would clearly seem to be a field which lies exclusively within women's realm, yet the annals of cookery are replete with masculine names: Brillat Savarin, Ritz, Diat, Larousse. To compound the puzzle, there has rarely been a tinge of rumor or scandal casting doubts on the masculinity of these heroes of cuisine.
這是男人的世界
這是多麼自相矛盾的事阿:全世界最好的廚師居然都是男人!煮飯這件事,應該很明確的就是單獨屬於女人領域的事情,然而烹飪史上的紀錄中不論Brillat Savarin, Ritz, Diat, Larousse都是男性的名字。更讓人困惑的是,居然鮮少有任何的傳聞或是流言懷疑這些男性烹飪英雄的正當性。
Words
1. paradox 自相矛盾的議論 n.
2. realm 領土,領域 n.
3.annals 歷史記載 n.
這個字在當歷史紀錄時,一定有s在字尾
4.compound 增加,加重 v.
5.tinge 一絲,一點 n.
a tinge of 表示一點點,一絲絲
Today's Idiom
a flash in the pan
flash是指火光的一閃,pan在這裡是指lockpan就是手槍的槍機。在十七世紀時,當時所使用的一種槍械,當它發射的時候,必須點燃槍機內膛中的火藥。若不幸沒有點燃火藥,子彈就無法順利射擊,而變成槍機中的火光,flash in the pan,所以用來意指剛開始覺得大有可為但最後卻失敗,讓人失望的事。
Grammars 主詞藍色 動詞(片語)咖啡色 受詞綠色
1.How paradoxical that the world's greatest chefs have all been men!
在表達驚嘆語氣時,常會用how+adj. +主詞+動詞 來表示
例如 How brave you are!你真是太勇敢了! 若跟You are brave!來比較,在這裡,前者顯然是加重稱讚的語氣。這裡也運用相同的方式,只不過把後面改成以that+子句的方式來表達,也就是that後面所說的東西(the world's greatest chefs have all been men),是多麼的前面的形容詞(paradoxical)。
paradox這個字的涵義,就是看起來你覺得沒有錯,但是想想好像又有哪裡不是很合理,有點似是而非的狀況,都可以用這個字表達,所以這個字也是涵意深遠,不太容易理解。
that後面用了一個現在完成式,表示從以前到現在為止,有名的大廚都是男人。
2.Cooking would clearly seem to be a field which lies exclusively within women's realm, yet the annals of cookery are replete with masculine names: Brillat Savarin, Ritz, Diat, Larousse.
主要句子cooking...中seem to 的片語用法為 "事情 seem to + 原型動詞" which後面的句子是用來形容field的。然後用yet表達轉折的語氣,可是,然而。yet是連接詞,所以後面也帶出一個完整的句子 replete with這個片語就是前面Week 1 Day 1所學過的,後面的文章都會出現前面學過的字,就是這本書最大的特點。
3.To compound the puzzle, there has rarely been a tinge of rumor or scandal casting doubts on the masculinity of these heroes of cuisine.
to + 原型動詞這樣的句型,有的時候有in order to (為了)的意思,這裡就有致使的意味存在。
there is(有)用現在完成式表達,表示從以前到現在都鮮少有任何一點點的話語。後面用Ving的形式來表達 其實就是 that casts doubts on.... 把關係代名詞that省略後,動詞要用Ving的形式。
文章中用了cooking, cookery, cuisine其實都是煮菜烹飪,但是用字就變化多了。
How paradoxical that the world's greatest chefs have all been men! Cooking would clearly seem to be a field which lies exclusively within women's realm, yet the annals of cookery are replete with masculine names: Brillat Savarin, Ritz, Diat, Larousse. To compound the puzzle, there has rarely been a tinge of rumor or scandal casting doubts on the masculinity of these heroes of cuisine.
這是男人的世界
這是多麼自相矛盾的事阿:全世界最好的廚師居然都是男人!煮飯這件事,應該很明確的就是單獨屬於女人領域的事情,然而烹飪史上的紀錄中不論Brillat Savarin, Ritz, Diat, Larousse都是男性的名字。更讓人困惑的是,居然鮮少有任何的傳聞或是流言懷疑這些男性烹飪英雄的正當性。
Words
1. paradox 自相矛盾的議論 n.
2. realm 領土,領域 n.
3.annals 歷史記載 n.
這個字在當歷史紀錄時,一定有s在字尾
4.compound 增加,加重 v.
5.tinge 一絲,一點 n.
a tinge of 表示一點點,一絲絲
Today's Idiom
a flash in the pan
flash是指火光的一閃,pan在這裡是指lockpan就是手槍的槍機。在十七世紀時,當時所使用的一種槍械,當它發射的時候,必須點燃槍機內膛中的火藥。若不幸沒有點燃火藥,子彈就無法順利射擊,而變成槍機中的火光,flash in the pan,所以用來意指剛開始覺得大有可為但最後卻失敗,讓人失望的事。
Grammars 主詞藍色 動詞(片語)咖啡色 受詞綠色
1.How paradoxical that the world's greatest chefs have all been men!
在表達驚嘆語氣時,常會用how+adj. +主詞+動詞 來表示
例如 How brave you are!你真是太勇敢了! 若跟You are brave!來比較,在這裡,前者顯然是加重稱讚的語氣。這裡也運用相同的方式,只不過把後面改成以that+子句的方式來表達,也就是that後面所說的東西(the world's greatest chefs have all been men),是多麼的前面的形容詞(paradoxical)。
paradox這個字的涵義,就是看起來你覺得沒有錯,但是想想好像又有哪裡不是很合理,有點似是而非的狀況,都可以用這個字表達,所以這個字也是涵意深遠,不太容易理解。
that後面用了一個現在完成式,表示從以前到現在為止,有名的大廚都是男人。
2.Cooking would clearly seem to be a field which lies exclusively within women's realm, yet the annals of cookery are replete with masculine names: Brillat Savarin, Ritz, Diat, Larousse.
主要句子cooking...中seem to 的片語用法為 "事情 seem to + 原型動詞" which後面的句子是用來形容field的。然後用yet表達轉折的語氣,可是,然而。yet是連接詞,所以後面也帶出一個完整的句子 replete with這個片語就是前面Week 1 Day 1所學過的,後面的文章都會出現前面學過的字,就是這本書最大的特點。
3.To compound the puzzle, there has rarely been a tinge of rumor or scandal casting doubts on the masculinity of these heroes of cuisine.
to + 原型動詞這樣的句型,有的時候有in order to (為了)的意思,這裡就有致使的意味存在。
there is(有)用現在完成式表達,表示從以前到現在都鮮少有任何一點點的話語。後面用Ving的形式來表達 其實就是 that casts doubts on.... 把關係代名詞that省略後,動詞要用Ving的形式。
文章中用了cooking, cookery, cuisine其實都是煮菜烹飪,但是用字就變化多了。
2009年11月10日 星期二
Week 1 Day 2
Solving the Servant Problem
The worlds of science-fiction abound with wonders. Yet modern technology progress so rapidly that what may be today's wild dream may be next year's kitchen appliance. A British scientist has prognosticated that within ten years every suburban matron will have her own robot servant. One task this domesticated automaton will not have to content with will be scouring the oven because even today the newest ranges can be ``programmed'' to reduce their own baked-on grime to easily disposed of ashes.
解決佣人的問題
全世界的科幻片總是充滿了驚奇,然而現代科技的進展如此的快速,將使得今天的狂亂幻想變成下依年度的廚房設備。一位英國科學家預測在十年內,每個住在郊區的家庭主婦都會擁有一個機器僕人。這個家庭用機器人唯一不能滿足的就是清理爐具,因為即使今日最新的爐具產品也已經設計成能自行清理本身所產生的污垢,可以很容易的揮別灰塵。
Words
1. abound 大量存在 v.
同義字 teem,swarm
當在使用「大量充滿 something 」的片語時,可以用abound with
Ex: The river abounds with fish.
2.technology 科技 n.
3.prognosticate 預知 v.
4.automaton 機器人 n.
5.matron 已婚婦女 n.
6.scour 擦洗v.
7.grime 塵垢,汙點 n.
Today’s Idiom
a pig in a poke
poke的意思是袋子,不過現在只有美國南方才會使用,a pig in a poke就是指裝在袋子裡的豬。這個片語是從中世紀的晚期,市集通常是幾週才開市一次,商人農夫們都會在市集中以物易物。要交換的物品或牲畜就會裝在袋子裡,如果沒有仔細檢查袋子中的東西就換貨,可能回到家中才發現原來以為是換到價值不斐的小豬,卻變成了一文不值的小貓。所以引申為買了沒有事前先看過的東西,或者就直接變成讓人失望的東西。
Grammar 主詞藍色 動詞(片語)咖啡色 受詞綠色
1. The worlds of science-fiction abound with wonders.
第一句相當簡單。abound 這個字是動詞,當我們說什麼東西有很多什麼的時候,就用abounds with這個動詞片語。wonders這個字當名詞時,當作驚奇或奇觀,所以七大奇觀就用seven wonders來表示。
2.Yet modern technology progress so rapidly that what may be today's wild dream may be next year's kitchen appliance.
第二句話則是敘述科技的進展所帶來的進步。然後再運用so...that...的句型,如此...以至於...的方式。that後面帶出一個子句(子句其實就是一個有主詞動詞的完整句子受詞可有可無)that後面句子由what帶出主詞,關係代名詞what其實就是等於the things which... may be兩個字分開時就是住動詞加動詞,maybe合起來變成副詞,也許的意思。
3.A British scientist has prognosticated that within ten years every suburban matron will have her own robot servant.
第三句開頭則是用現在完成式,受詞變成that後面所帶的子句。has prognasticated意味這名科學家已經預測過的事情。within ten years表示在十年內,也許是一年,也許兩年,總之不會超過十年。作者運用suburban matron表示說就算在鄉村郊區的老婦女都會有自己的機器佣人,表示機器人在十年內會相當的普及。
4.One task this domesticated automaton will not have to content with will be scouring the oven because even today the newest ranges can be ``programmed'' to reduce their own baked-on grime to easily disposed of ashes.
第四句稍微長了點,one task will be scouring the oven,為了形容是什麼樣的task,用關係代名詞來當形容詞,原來的句子應該是one task that this domesticated automaton... 因為在這邊that可以省略,所以看不到that這個關係代名詞。也就是這個任務就是清理爐具。而這個任務是未來的家庭用機器人的功能所不能滿足的。為什麼呢?再用一個連結詞because來說明原因。才知道原來今日的爐具已經有這種自動清洗的功能,所以不用勞駕機器佣人來清理了。
The worlds of science-fiction abound with wonders. Yet modern technology progress so rapidly that what may be today's wild dream may be next year's kitchen appliance. A British scientist has prognosticated that within ten years every suburban matron will have her own robot servant. One task this domesticated automaton will not have to content with will be scouring the oven because even today the newest ranges can be ``programmed'' to reduce their own baked-on grime to easily disposed of ashes.
解決佣人的問題
全世界的科幻片總是充滿了驚奇,然而現代科技的進展如此的快速,將使得今天的狂亂幻想變成下依年度的廚房設備。一位英國科學家預測在十年內,每個住在郊區的家庭主婦都會擁有一個機器僕人。這個家庭用機器人唯一不能滿足的就是清理爐具,因為即使今日最新的爐具產品也已經設計成能自行清理本身所產生的污垢,可以很容易的揮別灰塵。
Words
1. abound 大量存在 v.
同義字 teem,swarm
當在使用「大量充滿 something 」的片語時,可以用abound with
Ex: The river abounds with fish.
2.technology 科技 n.
3.prognosticate 預知 v.
4.automaton 機器人 n.
5.matron 已婚婦女 n.
6.scour 擦洗v.
7.grime 塵垢,汙點 n.
Today’s Idiom
a pig in a poke
poke的意思是袋子,不過現在只有美國南方才會使用,a pig in a poke就是指裝在袋子裡的豬。這個片語是從中世紀的晚期,市集通常是幾週才開市一次,商人農夫們都會在市集中以物易物。要交換的物品或牲畜就會裝在袋子裡,如果沒有仔細檢查袋子中的東西就換貨,可能回到家中才發現原來以為是換到價值不斐的小豬,卻變成了一文不值的小貓。所以引申為買了沒有事前先看過的東西,或者就直接變成讓人失望的東西。
Grammar 主詞藍色 動詞(片語)咖啡色 受詞綠色
1. The worlds of science-fiction abound with wonders.
第一句相當簡單。abound 這個字是動詞,當我們說什麼東西有很多什麼的時候,就用abounds with這個動詞片語。wonders這個字當名詞時,當作驚奇或奇觀,所以七大奇觀就用seven wonders來表示。
2.Yet modern technology progress so rapidly that what may be today's wild dream may be next year's kitchen appliance.
第二句話則是敘述科技的進展所帶來的進步。然後再運用so...that...的句型,如此...以至於...的方式。that後面帶出一個子句(子句其實就是一個有主詞動詞的完整句子受詞可有可無)that後面句子由what帶出主詞,關係代名詞what其實就是等於the things which... may be兩個字分開時就是住動詞加動詞,maybe合起來變成副詞,也許的意思。
3.A British scientist has prognosticated that within ten years every suburban matron will have her own robot servant.
第三句開頭則是用現在完成式,受詞變成that後面所帶的子句。has prognasticated意味這名科學家已經預測過的事情。within ten years表示在十年內,也許是一年,也許兩年,總之不會超過十年。作者運用suburban matron表示說就算在鄉村郊區的老婦女都會有自己的機器佣人,表示機器人在十年內會相當的普及。
4.One task this domesticated automaton will not have to content with will be scouring the oven because even today the newest ranges can be ``programmed'' to reduce their own baked-on grime to easily disposed of ashes.
第四句稍微長了點,one task will be scouring the oven,為了形容是什麼樣的task,用關係代名詞來當形容詞,原來的句子應該是one task that this domesticated automaton... 因為在這邊that可以省略,所以看不到that這個關係代名詞。也就是這個任務就是清理爐具。而這個任務是未來的家庭用機器人的功能所不能滿足的。為什麼呢?再用一個連結詞because來說明原因。才知道原來今日的爐具已經有這種自動清洗的功能,所以不用勞駕機器佣人來清理了。
2009年11月9日 星期一
Week 1 Day 1
Reading Wisely
The youngster who reads voraciously, though indiscriminately, does not necessarily gain in wisdom over the teenager who is more selective in his reading choices. A young man who has read the life story of every eminent athlete of the twentieth century, or a coed who has steeped herself in every social-protest novel she can get her hands on, may very well be learning all there is to know in a very limited area. But books are replete with so many wonders that it is often discouraging to see bright young people limit their own experiences.
有智慧的閱讀
任意地大量廣泛閱讀書籍的年輕人並不一定比對閱讀領域有選擇性的青少年增加更多智慧。對於仔細閱讀過二十世紀所有傑出運動員生平故事的年輕人或是沉浸於每一本到手的社會運動小說的女生而言,在這些特定的領域中或許可以習得所有該領域的知識。然而不同書籍中充滿了各式的驚奇,因此,看到聰穎的年輕人將自己的閱讀經驗侷限在某個領域中實在是令人沮喪的。
Words
1. voracious 貪婪的,狼吞虎嚥的。adj.
同義字 gluttonous, rapacious, ravenous
所以 voracious reader就是指對閱讀很有興趣,想要將所有書籍都讀完,對書籍永遠有無法滿足胃口的讀者
2. indiscriminate 無差別的,任意的。adj.
同義字 unselective, random
這個字是從discriminate”歧視”來的 加上in表示無歧視的,引申變成對事物沒有特定的偏好,沒有特定的選擇性
3. eminent 出眾的,卓越的。adj.
同義字 outstanding, noted ,distinguished,famous
4. steeped 沈浸在...中的;充滿...的。adj.
同義字 soaked, drenched, saturated
當我們說「沉浸於…」時,會用「steeped (oneself) in something」這樣的用法
Ex: Professor Smith is steeped in surface physics.
5. replete 充滿的,裝滿的。adj.
同義字abundantly supplied
當我們說「充滿…」會用 「be replete with something」
Ex: My home is replete with every modern convenience.
Today’s Idiom
To eat humble pie—承認錯誤並且道歉
humble pie 原本是 umble pie,是一種用牲畜內臟所做成的派,美國人不吃內臟,對美國人來說是難吃噁心的,所以引申出來變成很羞愧的承認錯誤。另一個相同的用法是 to eat crow, to eat dirt
Grammar
1. The youngster who reads voraciously, though indiscriminately, does not necessarily gain in wisdom over the teenager who is more selective in his reading choices.
原來的句子應該是the youngster does not necessarily gain in wisdom over the teenager. 主詞是the youngster 動詞是gain in wisdom over受詞是teenager 。接著再用關係代名詞 who….來分別形容the youngster 和 the teenager。所以是什麼樣的youngster呢?就是後面who 所帶出來的 who reads voraciously, though indiscriminately。大量閱讀但是去強調“並沒有刻意挑選內容”所以用though indiscriminately來補充說明。同理 the teenager 是怎麼樣的teenager呢? 也是用who is more selective in his reading choices來形容。這裡的youngster和teenager其實都是年輕人,只是用不同的字來讓文章更豐富而不至於太過於重複。英文句子中很容易把一句簡單的句子插入各式各樣的形容詞,一方面是增加句子精彩度,二方面也是讓句子可以講一句就完結,不需要花太多句子來描述。第一句主要表示廣泛沒選擇的唸書是怎麼樣的情形。
2. A young man who has read the life story of every eminent athlete of the twentieth century, or a coed who has steeped herself in every social-protest novel she can get her hands on, may very well be learning all there is to know in a very limited area.
第二句也是落落長,但其實就是 a young man 和a coed是主詞,跟第一句一樣,用關係代名詞who 來形容是怎麼樣的 a young man 和怎麼樣的a coed(男女同校的女生),一男一女的描述來代表在專業領域中唸書的人有什麼樣的情形。all there is to know就代表learning的受詞,學得所有該知道的東西,in a very limited area, 就是副詞,代表在有限制範圍的領域內所有該知道的東西都知道了。
3. But books are replete with so many wonders that it is often discouraging to see bright young people limit their own experiences.
第三句則說,books are replete with …. books是主詞,are replete with則是動詞片語, many wonders 是受詞,然後運用so…that…的片語來表達如此的…以致於…。that後面再加上it虛主詞開始的子句。it is often discouraging to see …,則運用了it is + adj. + to 原型動詞的方式來表達。
The youngster who reads voraciously, though indiscriminately, does not necessarily gain in wisdom over the teenager who is more selective in his reading choices. A young man who has read the life story of every eminent athlete of the twentieth century, or a coed who has steeped herself in every social-protest novel she can get her hands on, may very well be learning all there is to know in a very limited area. But books are replete with so many wonders that it is often discouraging to see bright young people limit their own experiences.
有智慧的閱讀
任意地大量廣泛閱讀書籍的年輕人並不一定比對閱讀領域有選擇性的青少年增加更多智慧。對於仔細閱讀過二十世紀所有傑出運動員生平故事的年輕人或是沉浸於每一本到手的社會運動小說的女生而言,在這些特定的領域中或許可以習得所有該領域的知識。然而不同書籍中充滿了各式的驚奇,因此,看到聰穎的年輕人將自己的閱讀經驗侷限在某個領域中實在是令人沮喪的。
Words
1. voracious 貪婪的,狼吞虎嚥的。adj.
同義字 gluttonous, rapacious, ravenous
所以 voracious reader就是指對閱讀很有興趣,想要將所有書籍都讀完,對書籍永遠有無法滿足胃口的讀者
2. indiscriminate 無差別的,任意的。adj.
同義字 unselective, random
這個字是從discriminate”歧視”來的 加上in表示無歧視的,引申變成對事物沒有特定的偏好,沒有特定的選擇性
3. eminent 出眾的,卓越的。adj.
同義字 outstanding, noted ,distinguished,famous
4. steeped 沈浸在...中的;充滿...的。adj.
同義字 soaked, drenched, saturated
當我們說「沉浸於…」時,會用「steeped (oneself) in something」這樣的用法
Ex: Professor Smith is steeped in surface physics.
5. replete 充滿的,裝滿的。adj.
同義字abundantly supplied
當我們說「充滿…」會用 「be replete with something」
Ex: My home is replete with every modern convenience.
Today’s Idiom
To eat humble pie—承認錯誤並且道歉
humble pie 原本是 umble pie,是一種用牲畜內臟所做成的派,美國人不吃內臟,對美國人來說是難吃噁心的,所以引申出來變成很羞愧的承認錯誤。另一個相同的用法是 to eat crow, to eat dirt
Grammar
1. The youngster who reads voraciously, though indiscriminately, does not necessarily gain in wisdom over the teenager who is more selective in his reading choices.
原來的句子應該是the youngster does not necessarily gain in wisdom over the teenager. 主詞是the youngster 動詞是gain in wisdom over受詞是teenager 。接著再用關係代名詞 who….來分別形容the youngster 和 the teenager。所以是什麼樣的youngster呢?就是後面who 所帶出來的 who reads voraciously, though indiscriminately。大量閱讀但是去強調“並沒有刻意挑選內容”所以用though indiscriminately來補充說明。同理 the teenager 是怎麼樣的teenager呢? 也是用who is more selective in his reading choices來形容。這裡的youngster和teenager其實都是年輕人,只是用不同的字來讓文章更豐富而不至於太過於重複。英文句子中很容易把一句簡單的句子插入各式各樣的形容詞,一方面是增加句子精彩度,二方面也是讓句子可以講一句就完結,不需要花太多句子來描述。第一句主要表示廣泛沒選擇的唸書是怎麼樣的情形。
2. A young man who has read the life story of every eminent athlete of the twentieth century, or a coed who has steeped herself in every social-protest novel she can get her hands on, may very well be learning all there is to know in a very limited area.
第二句也是落落長,但其實就是 a young man 和a coed是主詞,跟第一句一樣,用關係代名詞who 來形容是怎麼樣的 a young man 和怎麼樣的a coed(男女同校的女生),一男一女的描述來代表在專業領域中唸書的人有什麼樣的情形。all there is to know就代表learning的受詞,學得所有該知道的東西,in a very limited area, 就是副詞,代表在有限制範圍的領域內所有該知道的東西都知道了。
3. But books are replete with so many wonders that it is often discouraging to see bright young people limit their own experiences.
第三句則說,books are replete with …. books是主詞,are replete with則是動詞片語, many wonders 是受詞,然後運用so…that…的片語來表達如此的…以致於…。that後面再加上it虛主詞開始的子句。it is often discouraging to see …,則運用了it is + adj. + to 原型動詞的方式來表達。
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