shape 作为名词, 主要含义是“ 形状, 样子”, 比较具体。作为动词常有“塑造”的具体意味, 用于被动语态中, 表示“ 具有某种形状”。
The chair has a queer shape. 这把椅子的形状很怪。
The earliest compass wa s sha ped like a spoon.
最初的罗盘针形状像一把勺。
Te xt B
Do Animals Think？
动物会思考吗？
Study of the Text
1.I believe that some of them think a great deal.
我认为有些动物思考得很多。
1 )a great(good )deal 意思是“ 大量”、“ 极其, 非常”, 在句中作状语, a great (good)deal of 意思是“ 大量的”, 在句中作定语。
Reading good books helps us a great deal. 读好书对我帮助很大。
Tom likes to swim a good dea l. 汤姆非常喜欢游泳。
He spent a great deal of money on books.
他花了大量的钱买书。
A good dea l of work is to be done this week.
本星期有许多工作要做。
2 )believe, trust 后面都可以接that 从句, 但意义不同。believe that
表示“ 相信”或“ 认为”。
They didn’t believe that we could finish the exercises in such a short
time. 他们不相信我们能在这么短的时间内完成这些练习。
People used to believe that the world was flat.
人们过去总以为世界是一个平面。
I believe that 用于口语(直接引语)中可以译作“ 想”、“ 认为”,或传达一种和缓的不太肯定的口气。
I believe you are right.
我想你是对的。(我认为对你, 但不十分肯定。)
I trust that 用于口语(直接引语)中表示比believe that 程度更大的怀疑, 常有邀请对方加以进一步肯定的意味。
I trust that you are coming with us. 我想你总要跟我们来吧!
2.Some birds are very lively in their sports；and the same is true with
some insects. 有些鸟在运动时很有生气, 有些昆虫也一样。
1 )lively 在这里是个形容词, 意思是“ 活泼的”,“ 充满生气的”。
He is over 80 , but he is still lively.
他已80 多岁了, 但仍然精力充沛。
The dock is lively with cranes and vehicles of all descriptions.
码头上到处是各式各样的吊车和运输车辆, 一片蓬勃景像。
2 )be true with 对..来说也是一样的
He is strict with his son；and the same is true with his daughter.
他对儿子要求很严格, 对女儿也是一样。
3.Very busy must be their thoughts while engaged in their sports.
他们在进行这些运动时, 一定在忙于思考。
1 )这是一个复合句。while 引导的时间状语从句省略了they are。
主句是个倒装句。有时为了强调某一句子可以用倒装结构。
本句属于表语+ be + 主语这一倒装形式。
Very important in the farmers’ life is the radio weather report.
农民生活中很重要的一件事就是无线电天气预报。
Worst of all were the humiliations. 最难受是那些侮辱。
On the other side is a small shop. 在另一边是一个小商店。
2 )情态动词must 在这里表示推测, 意思是“ 一定, 准是”。
This must be your room. 这一定是你的房间了。
He must be seventy now. 他现在准有70 岁了。
3 )be engaged in 从事, 忙于
The workers were then enga ged in a lively discussion.
工人们正在进行热烈的讨论。
He ha s been engaged in the study of physics for 20 years.
他从事物理学的研究已经有20 年了。
4.Their thoughts seem to be of the more sober kind.
它们的思想似乎属于更为严肃的那一种。
1 )seem 在这里是个连系动词, 意思是“ 似乎, 看来”, 它后面除跟形容词、分词、名词作表语外, 还可跟不定式。
He seems quite happy. 他看起来很高兴。
They seemed embarrassed by the question.
他们似乎被这问题搞得很窘。
She doesn’t seem to like the idea. 她似乎不太赞成这个想法。
He seemed to be waiting for somebody. 他似乎在等什么人。
2 )介词of 在这里表示性质和种类。
That is a tractor of a new type. 那是一台新型拖拉机。
What sort of book do you want？你需要的是哪一种书？
5.The same is true of the owl, who always looks as if he were considering
some important questions. 猫头鹰的情况也是如此。它们看起来似乎总是在考虑重要问题。
1 )be true of 对..一样, 符合于
The same is true of all other cases.
对于其他各例而言, 也是如此。
Possibly the same is true of social work？
社会福利工作可能也是这样的吧？
2 )从句as if 的谓语动词用的是虚拟语气。as if 引导的从句中的谓语动词通常要用虚拟语气, 谓语动词形式与wish 后的宾语从句相同, be 在第一、三人称后可用was 或were。
They talked as if they had been friends for years.
他们说话很亲热, 就像多年的老朋友似的。
It seems as if it were spring already.
现在仿佛已是春天了。
6.The horse is not long in learning many things connected with the work which he has to do.
马很快就能学会与它要做的活有关的许多东西。
1 )be not long 中的not 用来否定long, 意为“ 不长”, 正面理解为“很快”。如not bad 很好；not a few 不少；很多；not seldom 常常；not reluctant 相当乐意。
It tastes not ba d. 味道不错(或: 很好)
Not a few students like English. 许多学生喜欢英语。
也可看成是句型: be long(in)doing sth. 花很长时间才做完某事。
He was not long making this decision. 他很快就作出了这个决定。
2 )connect.with 把..与..联系起来；把..与..连接起来
He likes anything connected with sports.
凡是与运动有关的他都喜欢。
A good student must connect what he reads with what he sees around him.
好学生必须把他所读的东西与他在周围看到的东西联系起来。
The bridge connects the island with the mainland.
这座桥连接着这个岛屿与大陆。
3 )he 在句中代替horse。人称代词he 和she 常用来代表动物, 用he 的情况似比用she 的情况较多。
The dog waved his tail when he saw his master.
那狗看见主人就摇尾巴。
She (The ship’s cat)adapts herself to a life on the ocean wave.
她(轮船上的猫)会适应海上的生活。