酷兔英语

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考研英语长难句(3)

21. As my own studies have advanced, I have been increasingly impressed with the functional similarities between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences that seem, at first glance, to constitute such an immense gulf between them. (5)

随着我的研究不断深入,我对昆虫和脊椎动物群落之间的功能类似性印象愈来愈深刻,而对结构上的差异印象愈发淡漠,虽然这些结构上的差异初看上去似乎构成了二者间一条无法愈越的鸿沟。

难句类型:复杂修饰、插入语、省略

解释:本句子的中间一段impressed with the functional similarities between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences容易令人看晕,其中的insect and vertebrate societies and less so with由两个and连接了三个部分,然而它们其实不是同一层次的并列,第一个and实际上是between insect societies and vertebrate societies的一部分,是并列的,而and之后的less so with其实是对于一个完整的表达方式I have been increasingly less impressed with的省略形式,去掉了与前面重复的成分。

后面修饰的structural differences的定语从句that seem, at first glance, to constitute such an immense gulf between them中,又出现了一个别扭的插入语at first glance,把应该连在一起的seem to 粗暴地分开,令人不熟悉此类难句的人倍感不适。

意群训练:As my own studies have advanced, I have been increasingly impressed with the functional similarities between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences that seem, at first glance, to constitute such an immense gulf between them.

22. Although fictionassuredly springs from political circumstances, its authors react to those circumstances in ways other than ideological, and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise.(4)

虽然小说无疑起源于政治情状,但其作者则是以非意识形态的方式对这些政治情状作出反应的,而将小说和故事主要地当作意识形态的工具来探讨,会在相当程度上阻碍小说事业。

难句类型:复杂修饰

解释:本句从句子的结构上来讲,惟一的难度在于and之后的句子的主语talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology太长,以至于看到谓语circumvent的时候已经搞不清楚主谓了。更大的难度恐怕还在于对两个词汇的理解circumvent和enterprise。我们以前所背过的circumvent有两个词义,一个是规避,一是以计谋战胜,但是这两种意思放到此处都显然不通;其实circumvent有一个我们没有背过的最常用的意思是包围、限制或陷害;至于enterprise常用的意思是企业,这里的指事业。

意群训练:Although fictionassuredly springs from political circumstances, its authors react to those circumstances in ways other than ideological, and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise.

23. Is this a defect, or are the authors working out of, or trying to forge, a different kind of aesthetic? (3)

这究竟是一种缺陷呢,还是这些作者想要按照一种与众不同的美学体系进行创作,抑或是在试图创立一种与众不同的美学体系?

难句类型:插入语

解释:本句的句子既短,意思也不难理解,但插入语(or trying to forge)的干扰作用却极强。

意群训练:Is this a defect, or are the authors working out of, or trying to forge, a different kind of aesthetic?

24. In addition, the style of some Black novels, like Jean Toomer's Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism ; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted , a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression ? (5)

不仅如此,有些黑人小说(比如JT的甘蔗)的风格接近与表现主义和超现实主义;这种技巧是否为流行的主题提供了一个和谐的对应呢?这种主题刻画了黑人注意与之相抗争的命运,这是一个通常用更为自然主义的表现手法所表达的主题。

难句类型:复杂修饰、插入语

解释:在本句中有三个词需要先解释一番:verge on这个词组是接近于、濒于的意思,hero在文学作品中是主人公的意思,pit作动词时,除了挖坑、窖藏之外,还有使竞争、使斗争的意思,其英文释义为:to set as gamecocks into or as if into a pit to fight, to set into opposition or rivalry usually used with against.在此用的是后一种语义的被动语态fate against which Black heroes are pitted.如果用主动语态则是:pit black heroes against fate。

另外本句的结构复杂,分号之后是一个一般疑问句,但是由于修饰成分过多,过长,使得读者看不清楚这个句子在问什么。其实如果没有最后的那个prevalent theme的同位语a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression,本句会易懂得多。

意群训练:In addition, the style of some Black novels, like Jean Toomer's Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted, a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression?

25. Black Fiction surveys a wide variety of novels, bringing to our attention in the process some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnson's Autobiography of an Ex-  Colored Man. (4)注意:bring A to B --〉bring to B A

《黑人小说》考察了极为广泛的一系列小说,在此过程中让我们注意到了某些引人入胜但却鲜为人知的作品,如詹姆斯。韦尔登。约翰逊(James Weldon Johnson)的《一个曾经是有色人的自传》(Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man)。

难句类型:倒装

解释:在以bringing开头的作状语的分词中出现了倒装,bring A to B被倒装为bring to B A,其倒装的原因仍是为了避免头重脚轻,正常的语序应该如下:bringing some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnson's Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man to our attention in the process.

意群训练:Black Fiction surveys a wide variety of novels, bringing to our attention in the process some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnson's Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man.

26. Although these molecules allow radiation at visible wavelengths, where most of the energy of sunlight is concentrated, to pass through, they absorb some of the longer-wavelength,  infrared emissions radiated from the Earth's surface, radiation that would otherwise be transmitted back into space. (4)

虽然这些分子允许可见波长(visible wavelength)的辐射--阳光的绝大部分能量就汇集于此--不受阻挡地穿透,但它们却会吸收某些较长波长(longer-wavelength),亦即从地球表面辐射出的红外发射(infrared emission),这种辐射若不是二氧化碳的缘故就会被重新输送回太空。

难句类型:复杂修饰、抽象词

解释:前面的分句中有一个不算很长的插入语,但是因为它插入的位置正好在固定搭配allow something to do something中间,将allow和to分得很远,所以读起来让人感觉很不舒服。

后面的分句中的最后一行radiation that would otherwise be transmitted back into space是其前面的infrared emissions的同位语。其中的otherwise是副词作状语,表示如果后面的分句所说的they absorb some of the longer-waverlength, infrared emissions不发生时的后果。

意群训练:Although these molecules allow radiation at visible wavelengths, where most of the energy of sunlight is concentrated, to pass through, they absorb some of the longer-wavelength, infrared emissions radiated from the Earth's surface, radiation that would otherwise be transmitted back into space.

27. The role those anthropologists ascribe to evolution is not of dictating the details of human behavior but one of imposing constraints-ways of feeling, thinking, and acting that  "come naturally" in archetypal situations in any culture. (4)

这些人类学家所归诸于生物进化的作用,不是规定人类行为的种种细节,而是将各种限制强加于人类--即在任何文化的典型情景中都会"自然表露"的情感、思维、以及行动方式。

难句类型:复杂修饰、省略

解释:尽管我们很熟悉the role of something的这种表达,但本句中the role of被作者胜利很活。首先,在role后面有一个省略了引导词that的定语从句(因为role在从句中作ascribe的宾语),这样就把role和系动词is隔得很远。其次,but前面的句子的主要结构The role is not of doing something其实是The role is not the role of doing something的省略形式,因为后面的the role与前面的完全重复,如果不把它省略掉,谁看到都要觉得啰嗦。因为同样的道理,but之后的one of imposing constraints实际上是is one role of imposing constraints的省略形式。

意群训练:The role those anthropologists ascribe to evolution is not of dictating  the details of human behavior but one of imposing constraints- ways of feeling, thinking, and acting that  "come naturally" in archetypal situations in any culture.

28. Which of the following most probably provides an appropriateanalogy from human morphology for the "details" versus "constraints" distinction made in the passage in relation to human behavior? (5)

以下哪一个选项最有可能为文章中所谈到的与人类行为有关的"人类行为细节"相对"人类所受限制"之间的差异,从人类形态的角度上提供了一个合适的类比?

难句类型:复杂修饰、抽象词

解释:本句子在所有GRE或GMAT阅读题的题干中是最难读懂的题干之一。本句不但结构复杂,而且用词抽象,使得读者如果想根据语义来搞清楚谁修饰谁,也变得极为困难。分析如下:本句的主干是Which of the following provides an analogy for the details versus constraints distinction?. Versus是一个介词,等于against,即体育比赛中的VS。其他的所有成分均是一些修饰成分。其中一个对答题最重要的限制条件是from human morphology, 说明这种类比的比较双方所比的必须是人类形态上的特征。

意群训练:Which of the following most probably provides an appropriateanalogy from human morphology for the "details" versus "constraints" distinction made in the passage in relation to human behavior?

29. A low number of algal cells in the presence of a high number of grazers suggested, but did not prove, that the grazers had removed most of the algae. (3+)

在存在大量食草动物的同时却只有少量的水藻花粉囊,这暗示出--但没能证明--食草动物已吞噬了大部分水藻。

难句类型:插入语

解释:本句主语很长,而且谓语suggested与that引导的宾语从句间被插入语but did not prove隔开,造成阅读障碍。当suggest与but did not prove连在一起使用的时候,其意思不是建议,而是指一种基于主观臆测的推理,中文翻译成"暗示"。其英文释义为:to call to mind by though or association the explosion suggested sabotage。 GRE、GMAT及LSAT文章中,常用suggest, but do not prove来描述一种没有真凭实据、可能有问题的理论,然后在后面的叙述中把它否定掉。

意群训练:A low number of algal cells in the presence of a high number of grazers suggested, but did not prove, that the grazers had removed most of the algae.

30. Perhaps the fact many of these first studies considered only algae of a size that could be collected in a net (net phytoplankton), a practice that overlooked the smaller phytoplankton that we now know grazers are most likely to feed on , led to a de-emphasis of the role of grazers in subsequent research. (5)

可能这样一个事实,那就是很多这样的最初的研究只是考虑了那些能够用网捞起来的大小的水藻,这样一个忽视了更小的浮游生物(而这些浮游生物我们现在知道是捕食者主要的食物)的做法,导致了在接下来的研究中对于捕食者的作用的贬低。

难句类型:复杂修饰、插入语

解释:句子的结构繁杂。句子的主语令人吃惊地长,在最后一个逗号后的led以前,全是主语!其实句子的主干简单,就是the fact led to a de-emphasis of the role of grazers。但是本句的主语the fact后面的修饰成分长得吓人,先是个定语从句;定语从句中又套了一个定语从句。然后逗号后面的a practice引导的部分是前面的主语的同位语兼任插入语,practice后面的修饰它的一大堆东西又是定语从句套着定语从句。本句是典型的层层修饰结构。

意群训练:Perhaps the fact that many of these first studies considered only algae of a size that could be collected in a net (net phytoplankton), a practice that overlooked the smaller that we now know grazers are most likely to feed on, led to a de-emphasis of the role of grazers in subsequent research.
关键字:考研英语
生词表:
  • increasingly [in´kri:siŋli] 移动到这儿单词发声 ad.日益,愈加 四级词汇
  • assuredly [ə´ʃuəridli] 移动到这儿单词发声 ad.确实地;确信地 四级词汇
  • primarily [´praimərəli, prai´merəli] 移动到这儿单词发声 ad.首先;主要地 四级词汇
  • trying [´traiiŋ] 移动到这儿单词发声 a.难堪的;费劲的 四级词汇
  • technique [tek´ni:k] 移动到这儿单词发声 n.技术;技巧;方法 六级词汇
  • prevalent [´prevələnt] 移动到这儿单词发声 a.流行的;普遍的 四级词汇
  • rivalry [´raivəlri] 移动到这儿单词发声 n.竞争;竞赛;敌对 六级词汇
  • ascribe [ə´skraib] 移动到这儿单词发声 vt.归因于;把...归于 四级词汇
  • evolution [,i:və´lu:ʃən] 移动到这儿单词发声 n.进化;发展;发育 四级词汇
  • imposing [im´pəuziŋ] 移动到这儿单词发声 a.壮丽的,堂皇的 六级词汇
  • analogy [ə´nælədʒi] 移动到这儿单词发声 n.类似;类推;比拟 六级词汇


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