基礎(chǔ)英語輕松學(xué)【53】打鵝卵石=高爾夫!?

字號:

本課您將學(xué)到:occur, happen,和take place的區(qū)別
    一想到高爾夫,人們就會想到Tiger Woods乘噴氣客機(jī)到世界各地比賽并賺進(jìn)大把鈔票。可你知道這項(xiàng)風(fēng)靡世界的運(yùn)動初是怎樣的嗎?
    今天,我們就來了解高爾夫的故事……
    It seems hard to believe that golf evolved(逐步形成) from origins as humble(低下的、卑微的) as hitting a pebble(鵝卵石) around sand dunes(沙丘) with a stick.
    It is generally(通常一般地) agreed that golf was first played in Scotland in the 15th century. The first international golf match took place(舉行) in 1682 between players from England and Scotland.
    The Industrial Revolution brought a period of change for golf. Suddenly, with the mass production(大量生產(chǎn)) of golf clubs(高爾夫球桿) and balls, the average(普通的) person could afford(買得起) to play.
    「讀書筆記」
    說一個人出身低微,可以說His origins were humble.如果一項(xiàng)運(yùn)動初只是一個很幼稚的游戲,也可以用類似的說法。高爾夫就是這樣,它的前身(origins)就是as humble as hitting a pebble around sand dunes with a stick.
    as…as…意思是“像……一樣”,as humble as hitting a pebble around sand dunes with a stick就是“就像拿著棍子在沙丘上打鵝卵石一樣微不足道”。這的確讓人很難相信。(It seems hard to believe)
    evolve是“逐步形成、發(fā)展、進(jìn)化”的意思,由……發(fā)展、進(jìn)化而來,用介詞from連接。比如:
    Scientists think that birds probably evolved from reptiles.
    科學(xué)家認(rèn)為,鳥很可能是由爬行動物進(jìn)化而來的。
    人們普遍認(rèn)為(It is generally agreed)高爾夫的第一場比賽是15世紀(jì)在蘇格蘭舉行的。(that golf was first played in Scotland in the 15th century)首場國際性高爾夫球賽(The first international golf match)是在1682年舉行的,(took place in 1682)選手均來自英格蘭及蘇格蘭。(between players from England and Scotland)
    工業(yè)革命為高爾夫運(yùn)動帶來了一段變革時期。(The Industrial Revolution brought a period of change for golf)突然間,隨著高爾夫球桿及高爾夫球的大量生產(chǎn),(Suddenly, with the mass production of golf clubs and balls)普通百姓也可以玩這項(xiàng)運(yùn)動了。(the average person could afford to play)
    average做名詞時有“平均、平均數(shù)”的意思,常見的用法是an average of …。比如:An average of two students are absent each day.(平均每天有兩個學(xué)生缺席。)做形容詞,意思是“一般的,普通的;中等的”,所以average person意思就是“普通人、老百姓”。
    afford常與can,could,be able to連用,意思是“買得起;有足夠的…去做…”,如果一件東西太貴,你買不起,就可以說:We can't afford to pay such a price.(我們付不起這個價錢。)
    「語法小教室」
    今天的語法小教室,我們來區(qū)分三個意義相近的詞和詞組,occur, happen,和take place.首先明確,三者都可表示“發(fā)生”之意,都是不及物動詞或短語,不能用于被動語態(tài)。
    occur是比較正式的用語,可用于具體或抽象的事物, 通常指按計(jì)劃或規(guī)律在較為確定的時間“發(fā)生”的事。如:
    I'm afraid that this would occur during my absence.= I'm afraid that this would happen during my absence.
    恐怕這事會在我不在時發(fā)生。
    happen常指具體事件的發(fā)生,特別指那些偶然的或未能預(yù)見的“發(fā)生”。比如:
    New things are happening all around us.
    我們身邊總有新事發(fā)生。
    take place通常指“(某事)按計(jì)劃進(jìn)行或按計(jì)劃發(fā)生。”比如:
    Great changes have taken place in China since.
    中國發(fā)生了翻天覆地的變化。
    此外take place還有“舉行”之意。(本課即是如此)如:
    The meeting will take place next Friday.
    會議將在下周五舉行。