What's for supper?

原文

Fish and chips has always been a favourite dish in Britain, but as the oceans have been overfished, fish has become more and more expensive. So it comes as a surprise to learn that giant fish are terrifying the divers on North Sea oil rigs.

Oil rigs have to be repaired frequently and divers, who often have to work in darkness a hundred feet under water, have been frightened out of their wits by giant fish bumping into them as they work. Now they have had special cages made to protect them from these monsters.

The fish are not sharks or killer whales, but favourite eating varieties like cod and skate which grow to unnatural sizes, sometimes as much as twelve feet in length.

Three factors have caused these fish to grow so large: the warm water round the hot oil pipes under the sea; the plentiful supply of food thrown overboard by the crews on the rigs; the total absence of fishing boats around the oil rigs. \t

As a result, the fish just eat and eat and grow and grow in the lovely warm water. Who eats who?

译文

炸鱼薯条一直是英国人最喜爱的菜肴,但是由于海洋过度捕捞,鱼的价格越来越贵。因此,听说北海石油钻井平台上的巨型鱼类正在恐吓潜水员,这真令人吃惊。

石油钻井平台需要经常维修,潜水员常常不得不在水下100英尺的黑暗中工作,他们在工作时被巨型鱼撞来撞去,吓得魂飞魄散。现在,他们已经订做了特制的笼子来保护自己免受这些怪物的侵袭。

这些鱼不是鲨鱼或逆戟鲸,而是像鳕鱼和鳐鱼这样的受欢迎的食用鱼种,它们长到不自然的尺寸,有时长达12英尺。

有三个因素导致这些鱼长得如此之大:海底热油管周围的温暖水域;钻井平台上的船员扔进海里的充足食物供应;钻井平台周围完全没有渔船。

结果,这些鱼就在这宜人的温暖水中不停地吃个不停,长个不停。谁吃谁?

词汇表

favourite

形容词, 名词
英:/ˈfeɪvərɪt/
美:/ˈfeɪvərɪt/
定义
1. 最喜爱的,最喜欢的 - Preferred above all others of the same kind.

例子: Chocolate is my favourite flavour.

例子: She is my favourite author because her stories are so engaging.

2. 宠儿,特别喜欢的人或物 - A person or thing that is especially liked.

例子: He is the favourite to win the competition.

例子: This book is a favourite among children.

近义词
preferred: 强调被优先选择,常用于正式语境,而 'favourite' 更偏向个人情感。
beloved: 带有强烈情感色彩,常用于亲人或深爱的事物,'favourite' 则更中性。
favorite (American spelling): 基本同义,但 'favourite' 是英式拼写,'favorite' 是美式拼写,用于相同语境。
反义词:
least favorite, disliked, hated
用法
常用于描述个人偏好,常见搭配如 'favourite food' 或 'favourite colour',在非正式语境中更常见,英式英语中拼写为 'favourite'。
形式:
复数: favourites (as noun), 形容词比较级: more favourite, 形容词最高级: most favourite

关键句型 "It comes as a surprise to learn that..."

定义

此句型用于表达对某事感到意外或惊讶,常用于介绍出人意料的信息。结构为:It comes as a surprise(这令人惊讶)+ to learn that(得知……)+ 从句。根据《剑桥英语语法指南》,这个句型是英语中常见的主语从句结构,其中 It 为形式主语,comes as a surprise 表示意外事件,to learn that 引导真实从句,表达学习或发现的事实。它简洁有力,帮助学习者自然过渡到新话题。

例如,在文章中,“So it comes as a surprise to learn that giant fish are terrifying the divers...” 突出了反差,增强叙述效果。

用法

此句型主要用于正式或半正式的写作和口语中,表示对新信息的震惊或意外。规则:句型以 It comes as a surprise 开头,后跟 to + 动词原形 + that从句,其中 that 从句提供具体细节。在语法体系中,它属于 It + be + adjective + to + infinitive 的变体,强调情感反应。

横向比较:与类似句型 I am surprised to learn that... 相比,此句型更客观 impersonal(非人称),适合新闻或故事叙述;与 It's shocking that... 相比,它更温和,焦点在“学习”这个动作上,建立与 It is + adjective + that从句 的联系。跨语法点联系:它涉及不定式短语(to learn that...)和从句,常与过去分词或形容词结合,帮助学生扩展到其他表达方式,如 It is interesting to know that...

在实际应用中,此句型常出现在报告、文章或对话中,用于引发读者兴趣。

注意事项

学生容易犯的错误包括:遗漏 to,直接说 It comes as a surprise learn that...,导致句子不完整;或将 that 从句改为其他结构,造成语法混乱。纠正建议:始终记住 to learn that 的固定搭配,并确保从句完整。

另一个常见偏误是过度使用,导致语言重复;例如,将其误用在不惊讶的情景中。提供例句:

错误示例:It comes as a surprise learn that the sun rises in the east.(错误:缺少 to)
正确示例:It comes as a surprise to learn that giant fish are growing so large in the North Sea.

练习时,注意语调上扬以表达惊讶。

练习

原创例子:假设你在阅读新闻时说:“It comes as a surprise to learn that climate change is affecting local wildlife so quickly.” 学生可以替换关键词,如将 “learn that” 改为其他发现方式,例如 “It comes as a surprise to find that my favorite restaurant has closed down.” 这能帮助学生应用到日常生活,比如在朋友聊天中讨论意外事件。

通过替换动词或从句,学生可以创建更多场景,例如 “It comes as a surprise to hear that technology is changing education rapidly.” 这种练习鼓励学生将句型与个人经历结合,加深记忆和灵活运用。

额外内容

背景知识:这个句型源于英语中常见的 It + verb + as + noun phrase 结构,历史可追溯到19世纪的文学作品,如狄更斯的著作,用于制造悬念。对比分析:与中文的 “令人惊讶的是……” 类似,但英语版本更结构化;在法语中,类似表达如 “C'est une surprise d'apprendre que...”,强调了文化中对礼貌和间接表达的偏好。学习此句型能丰富学生的表达方式,特别是在阅读或写作英语文章时,帮助他们处理复杂信息并与全球文化背景联系起来。

关键句型 "have had something done"

定义

此句型用于表示让别人做某事或使某事发生,常暗示被动或外包行为。结构为:主语 + have + 物体 + 过去分词,如 “They have had special cages made”。根据《牛津现代英语语法》,这是一种使役结构(causative),表达“安排别人做某事”的含义,通常用于服务或必要行动。它强调结果而非过程,帮助学习者描述间接控制。

在文章中,“Now they have had special cages made” 表明潜水员安排制作笼子以保护自己。

用法

此句型常用于日常情景,如修理、清洁或制作物品,规则是:have 后接宾语(something),再接过去分词(done),表示动作由他人完成。在语法体系中,它属于动词的使役形式,与被动语态相关,但焦点在主动安排上。

横向比较:与纯被动语态 something is done 相比,have had something done 更强调主动性(如主动安排而非被动接受);与 get something done 类似,但 have 更正式。跨语法点联系:它涉及完成时态(have + 过去分词),可与现在完成时结合,并与命令句或请求句(如 "I need to have it fixed")相关联,扩展到更广泛的动词结构。

此句型在商业或技术语境中很实用,如安排维修或定制物品。

注意事项

学生常犯错误是混淆与被动语态的区别,例如说 They have made special cages(这表示他们自己做),而非安排别人做。纠正建议:强调 have had 的使役含义,并练习添加时间状语以澄清语境。

另一个偏误是时态错误,如用一般过去时 had something done 而非现在完成时。提供例句:

错误示例:They have special cages made.(错误:缺少 had)
正确示例:They have had special cages made to protect themselves.

注意,避免在非正式对话中过度使用,以免显得生硬。

练习

原创例子:在现实场景中说:“I have had my car repaired at the garage.” 学生可以替换关键词,如 “I have had my hair cut” 或 “We have had our house painted”,并应用到文章语境,例如 “The divers have had safety equipment designed for deep water.” 这鼓励学生想象石油钻井平台的场景,增强实际应用。

通过这种替换,学生能练习不同动词和物体,深化对句型的掌握,比如 “She has had a new dress made for the party。”

额外内容

背景知识:这个句型起源于中古英语的使役动词演变,常见于现代商业英语中,反映了英语文化对效率和外包的重视。对比分析:与西班牙语的 “hacer hacer algo” 类似,但英语更简洁;在中文中,类似 “请人做某事”,但英语通过语法结构直接表达。了解此句型能帮助学生在全球语境中处理技术或服务相关话题,如文章中的海洋工程,进而提升语言的实用性。