No creature has received more praise and abuse than the common garden snail. ^{否定比较级表达最高级}

receive + n. ^{受到....；得到...遭到....}

• These young people, who love the peace of the mountains, always receive a warm welcome at St. Bernard's monastery.
• receive praise ^{得到了表扬}
• receive abuse ^{遭到了谩骂}
• receive support ^{得到支持：获得他人的帮助、支持或认可。}
• receive adequate treatment ^{接受适当的治疗}
• receive good education ^{接受好的教育：指接受高质量、优良的教育。}
• This exhibition received a great deal of attention in the press, ... 
• receive a warm welcome ^{被欢迎(收到一个欢迎)}

否定比较 = 最高级 ^{没有什么比...更...}

• There is no quicker method of disposing of patients than by giving them what they are asking for. ^NCE4-28
• Nothing can be compared, he maintains, with the first cockcrow, the twittering of birds at dawn, the sight of the rising sun glinting on the trees and pastures.
• But nothing can match them for speed and comfort. ^NCE3-44

Cooked in wine, snails are a great luxury in various parts of the world.

in various parts of the world ^世界各地

• all over the world ^世界各地
• throughout the world ^{遍及全世界的}
• the world over ^{全世界的每个地方}
• all parts of the world ^{全世界各地}

There are countless people who, ever since their early years, have learned to associate snails with food.

ever since ^{搭配完成时使用，可做副词、介词、连词}

• The big clock which used to strike the hours day and night was damaged many years ago and has been silent ever since.
• He has just bought a new house in the city, but ever since he moved in, he has had trouble with cars and their owners.
• Ever since then, the great monument has been a symbol of liberty for the millions of people who have passed through New York Harbour to make their homes in America.
• Assuming that his family had been killed during an air raid, Hans settled down in a village fifty miles away where he had remained ever since.
• You know how she feels about you. It's been the same way ever since we were kids.

associate A with B ^{把A和B联系起来}

My friend, Robert, lives in a country where snails are despised.

As his flat is in a large town, he has no garden of his own.

.. of one's own ^{某人自己的….}

• .., but they lead mysterious lives of their own as well.
• .., he has no private / personal garden. ^替换

For years he has been asking me to collect snails from my garden and take them to him.

collect ^{gather 收集}

• Gather rose-buds while you may. ^{及时采玫瑰花蕾（人不风流彺少年、花开堪析直须析，莫待无花空析枝）}

The idea never appealed to me very much,

appeal to sb. ^吸引某人

• The quiet life of the country has never appealed to me.
• In spite of national differences, certain funny situations have a universal appeal. ^名词

 but one day, after a heavy shower, I happened to be walking in my garden when I noticed a huge number of snails taking a stroll on some of my prize plants.

happened to do ^碰巧

• It's missing head happened to be among remains of the fifth century B.C.
• The woman immediately behind the two cars Happened to be a learner. 

主句（进行时 / be about to do） + when.. ^{“when”应译为“这时”或“突然"}

• I was having dinner when the phone rang. ^{核心信息在从句}
• I was about to leave when the phone rang.
• He was still mumbling something about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg.
• The Karen had been sailing in a convoy to Russia when she was torpedoed by an enemy submarine.
• The morning passed rapidly and Frank was about to leave when he noticed a large packing case lying on the floor.

take a stroll / walk ^散步

• We'd better take a stroll now. ^{我们不如先去逛逛吧。}
• Why don't you take a stroll? ^{为什么不去散散步？}
• He usually takes a short walk in the evenings and is always home by seven o'clock.

Acting on a sudden impulse, I collected several dozen, put them in a paper bag, and took them to Robert. 

连续使用动词并列 ^{突出紧迫感}

• George took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves and pushed his right arm through the drain cover.

Robert was delighted to see me and equally pleased with my little gift.

delighted ^{very pleased 非常高兴}

• be delighted / pleased with ... / to do ... 对于某物高兴、做某事高兴
• I felt especially pleased with my wonderful bargain —until I got back to the ship.
• When I was a teenager, I felt that I was just young and uncertain—that I was a new boy in a huge school, and I would have been very pleased to be regarded as something so interesting as a problem. ^NCE4-5

I left the bag in the hall and Robert and I went into the living room where we talked for a couple of hours.

Having left the bag in the hall... ^{非谓语动词（强调先发生）}

• I accompanied Robert into the living room... ^{非谓语动词的逻辑主语是谓语的主语}

Robert and I went into the living room and we talked for a couple of hours there. → Robert and I went into the living room where we talked for a couple of hours. ^{使用定语从句简写句子}

I had forgotten all about the snails when Robert suddenly said that I must stay to dinner.

... when Robert suddenly proposed that I (should) stay to dinner. ^替换

stay to / for + 三餐名 ^留下吃饭

• Won't you stay to / for dinner? ^{难道留下吃晚上吗？}

Snails would, of course, be the main dish.

main dish / course 主菜

• The main course could be a dish with a good rich sauce.^{主菜可以是一道带有稠厚酱汁的菜肴。}
• The next dish is the main course. ^{下一道菜是主菜。}

 I did not fancy the idea and I reluctantly followed Robert out of the room.

... and I unwillingly followed Robert out of the room. ^替换
... and I followed Robert out of the room with reluctance. ^名词

To our dismay, we saw that there were snails everywhere: they had escaped from the paper bag and had taken complete possession of the hall!

I have never been able to look at a snail since then.

• Once bitten, twice shy. ^{一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳：形容因受过一次伤害而变得过分谨慎或害怕再次受伤的心理。}