HANS: Where do you come from? JIM: I come from England. HANS: What s the climate like in your country? JIM: It s mild, but it s not always pleasant. The weather s often cold in North and windy in the East. It s often wet in the West and sometimes warm in the south. HANS: Which seasons do you like best? JIM: I like spring and summer. The days are long and the night are short. The sun rises early and sets late. I don t like autumn and winter. The days are short and the nights are long. The sun rises late and set early. Our climate is not very good, but it s certainly interesting. It s our favourite subject of conversation. 参考译文
in the North=in the north of England. North的首字母大写,是因为它单独使用,特指英国的北部。表示一个国家或地区的方位词一般要大写。本课中的方位词均表示国家的一部分: in the East 在东部 in the West 在西方 in the South 在南方 但是,仅仅表示方位意义的方位词不需大写。如: a north wind 北风 a south window 南窗 Which seasons do you like best? 你最喜欢哪些季节? 句中的best是副词well的最高级,作状语,修饰like。 The sun rises early and sets late. 太阳升得早而落得晚。 句中的early和late都是副词,分别修饰动词rises和sets,作状语。注意the sun中定冠词的用法。在英语中,表示世界上独一无二的东西(如太阳、月亮、世界、地球、天空、宇宙)的名词之前通常需加定冠词。 favourite subject of conversation, 最喜欢谈论的话题。 英国人见面时谈话通常是从天气开始的。一方面这与英国的自然地理情况有关,另一方面则与英国人的民族性格有关。谈论天气是任何人都可接受的话题,而且这可避免介入令人尴尬的或侵入私人领域的话题。
Step 4 ~ Grammar in use ~
like (v.)与like (prep.) like(v.)表示“喜欢”、“想要”(请参见 Lessons 47词汇部分),而like(prep.) 表示“像……一样”: His car is like mine. 他的汽车跟我的那辆一样。 She is very like her sister. 她和她姐姐相像极了。 The new building looks like a big bird. 那座新建筑看上去像是一只大鸟。
Step 5 ~ Word study ~
mild adj. 1、(天气等)温暖的;暖和的: They had an exceptionally mild winter last year. 他们那儿去年冬天出奇地暖和。 The climate in the South is always mild and pleasant. 南方的气候总是温和宜人。 2、(性情等)温和的: John is a mild man who never raises his voice. 约翰是一个温和的人,他从不抬高嗓门说话。 I like his gentle and mild voice. 我喜欢他那温和而轻柔的声音。 3、(食物等)味淡的: Try this mild curry. 试试这种淡味咖喱。 He likes to smoke mild cigars. 他喜欢抽淡味雪茄烟。 rise v. 1、(日、月等)升起;上升: The sun rises in the east. 太阳从东方升起。 The curtain rises at 8.00 p. m. 剧在晚上8点钟开演。 2、(河水、物价、温度等)上涨;升高;增加: The level of the river is still rising. 河水水位仍在上涨。 3、起身;起床: My mother always rises early. 我母亲总是很早起床。 The house rose to the singers. 全场起立向歌唱演员们致意。