Lesson 18 Porpoises海豚

There has long been a superstition among mariners that porpoises will save drowning men by pushing them to the surface, or protect them from sharks by surrounding them in defensive formation.

无灵主语 ^地道句式

• There has long been a superstition among mariners^{在海员之中有一个长期的迷信} that porpoises will save drowning men...
• There is an undue reliance amongst many journalists on interpretations^{很多记者长期依赖解释} supplied to them by lawyers.

superstition ^{迷信；迷信的观念}

• There has long been a superstition^迷信 among mariners...
• We should try to break down / abolish superstition^破除迷信.
• The belief that breaking a mirror brings bad luck is an old superstition^迷信.

写作仿写：无灵主语 + 同位语从句 ^{表达“迷信”}

• There has long been a superstition among the Chinese that seeing a magpie will bring you good luck^{中国人长久以来迷信看见喜鹊会有好运气}.
• There has long been a superstition among the Chinese that hearing the crowing of a crow is an ominous omen^{中国人长久以来迷信听见乌鸦叫是不吉利的}.

A bad omen / An ill omen / An ominous omen ^{不吉利的预兆}

• Seeing a black cat is sometimes considered to be an ill omen^{一个不吉利的预兆}.
• The dark clouds were an ominous omen^{一个不吉利的预兆} of the coming storm.

Marine Studio biologists have pointed out that, however intelligent they may be, it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of life-saving.

point out ^{指出，提醒注意}

• Marine Studio biologists have pointed out that^指出, however intelligent they may be...
• Franz poured scorn on the idea, pointing out that^指出 his brother had been killed in action during the war.
• At this, the police pointed out ironically that^{讽刺地指出} this would hardly be necessary...

让步状语从句 ^同义替换

• however intelligent they may be^{无论他们多么聪明}, it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins...

credit sb. with sth. ^{认为某人有某种特征}

• ...it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of life-saving^{认为海豚有任何救人的动机}.
• I had credited them with more integrity^{我原来认为他们有更多的正直} than they showed. (反话，没想到他们这么不正直)
• I credited you with a little more sense^{我原来认为你有更多的理性}. (反话，没想到你这么糊涂)

motive for / behind sth. ^{做某事的动机}

• ...any motive of life-saving^{任何救生的动机}. (of引出同位语)
• The police are still investigating the motive for the murder^{谋杀的动机}.
• Economy is one powerful motive for camping^{露营的一个强大动机}...

写作：主张-反应模式 ^论证结构

• Claim^声称 (Superstition among mariners: porpoises save drowning men).
• Denial^否认 (Marine Studio biologists: it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of life-saving).
• Reasons for denial^{否认的理由} (后文将提供).

On the occasions when they have pushed to shore an unconscious human being they have much more likely done it out of curiosity or for sport, as in riding the bow waves of a ship.

on / upon ... occasion ^{某事发生的时刻、场合}

• On the occasions when^{在那些时刻} they have pushed to shore an unconscious human being...
• Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion^{在后来的一个场合} and he lost for a second time.
• It is possible that upon such an occasion^{在这样一个场合} a battle ensued...

表达“情况” ^同义词组

动词+副词+宾语（宾语后置） ^{写作：改变正常语序}

• ...they have pushed to shore an unconscious human being^{把一个失去知觉的人推到岸上}... (正常语序是: pushed an unconscious human being to shore)

out of ... ^{出于...（原因状语）}

• ...they have much more likely done it out of curiosity^出于好奇 or for sport^为了好玩...
• I’m turning to you out of desperation^出于绝望.
• Let us never negotiate out of fear^出于恐惧, but let us never fear to negotiate.

sport / for fun / pleasure / amusement ^乐趣

• Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport^{很大的乐趣}...
• They were only doing it for fun^为了好玩.

as in doing sth. ^{如同做某事（省略主语成分的状语从句）}

• ...as in riding the bow waves of a ship^{就像是在乘船头波浪一样}. (补全后为: as they have done it in riding...)
• In New York, as in some other cities^{就像在其他一些城市一样}, environmental pollution is becoming more and more serious.

In 1928 some porpoises were photographed working like beavers to push ashore a waterlogged mattress.

be photographed doing sth. ^{被拍到正在做某事}

• some porpoises were photographed working like beavers^{被拍到像海狸一样工作} to push ashore a waterlogged mattress.
• They were photographed playing with the children^{被拍到在和孩子们玩耍}.

beaver ^海狸

• an eager beaver^{干活特别卖力的人} (对工作极有热忱的人).
• The construction crew worked like beavers^{像海狸一样} to finish the project on time.

If, as has been reported, they have protected humans from sharks, it may have been because curiosity attracted them and because the scent of a possible meal attracted the sharks.

as has been reported / as is so often pointed out ^{正如...所报道/指出（as引导非限定定语从句）}

• If, as has been reported^{正如已经报道的那样}, they have protected humans from sharks... (as做主语)
• As is so often pointed out^{正如经常被指出的那样}, knowledge is a two-edged weapon... (as做主语)

as 引导非限定定语从句 ^{区别于 which}

such / the same / as / so ... as ... ^{限定性定语从句关系代词 as}

it may have been because ... ^{原因可能是因为...}

• ...it may have been because curiosity attracted them^{原因可能是因为好奇心吸引了它们} and because the scent of a possible meal attracted the sharks^{和因为可能一顿饭的气味吸引了鲨鱼}.

it is because ... / the reason is that ... ^原因是...

Porpoises and sharks are natural enemies.

natural enemies ^天敌

• Porpoises and sharks are natural enemies^{海豚和鲨鱼是天敌}.
• The fox is the natural enemy of the rabbit^{兔子的天敌}.

It is possible that upon such an occasion a battle ensued, with the sharks being driven away or killed.

it is possible that ... ^有可能...

• It is possible that upon such an occasion a battle ensued^{有可能在这样的场合发生了一场战斗}...
• It is possible that he missed the train^{他有可能错过了火车}.

with + 宾语 + 宾语补足语（独立主格） ^{作为伴随状语}

• ...a battle ensued, with the sharks being driven away or killed^{鲨鱼被赶走或杀死}.
• The weather being fine, we decided to go for a walk^{天气很好，我们决定去散步}.

Whether it be bird, fish or beast, the porpoise is intrigued with anything that is alive.

Whether it be ... (虚拟语气) ^{无论是...（让步状语从句）}

• Whether it be bird, fish or beast^{无论是鸟、鱼还是野兽}, the porpoise is intrigued with anything that is alive.
• ...feeding on something, whether it be plant or animal^{无论是植物还是动物}, dead or alive...
• Whether she be right or wrong^{无论她是错是对}, she will have my unswerving support.

be型虚拟倒装 ^{be放在句首}

be intrigued with / by ... ^{对...感到好奇/着迷}

• the porpoise is intrigued with anything that is alive^{对任何活着的物体都感到好奇}.
• I was intrigued by his strange behavior^{被他奇怪的行为所吸引}.
• The children were intrigued with the new toy^{对新玩具很着迷}.

They are constantly after the turtles, who peacefully submit to all sorts of indignities.

be after ... ^{追逐；追捕；想抓住或得到...}

• They are constantly after the turtles^{它们不断地追逐乌龟}, who peacefully submit to all sorts of indignities.
• The police are after the fugitive^{警察正在追捕逃犯}.
• I’m sure she’s after my husband^{她肯定想抓住我丈夫}.

submit to ... ^{服从；屈服于；甘心忍受...}

• ...who peacefully submit to all sorts of indignities^{它们平静地忍受着各种侮辱}.

服从；屈服于 ^近义词组

One young calf especially enjoyed raising a turtle to the surface with his snout, and then shoving him across the tank like an aquaplane.

calf ^{大型动物的幼崽（如海豚、鲸、牛、象等）}

• One young calf^一只幼崽 especially enjoyed raising a turtle to the surface...

幼崽名称 ^动物幼崽

Almost any day a young porpoises may be seen trying to turn a 300-pound sea turtle over by sticking his snout under the edge of his shell and pushing up for dear life.

stick sth. ^{伸出（某物）}

• ...by sticking his snout under the edge of his shell^{通过把它的吻部伸到龟壳的边缘下面} and pushing up...
• The boy was dared to stick his hand into the dark hole^{把他的手伸进黑洞里}.
• The doctor asked me to stick out my tongue^{伸出我的舌头}.

for dear life ^拼命地

• ...and pushing up for dear life^{拼命地向上推}.
• The hikers clung to the rope for dear life^{拼命地抓住绳子} as the wind howled.

for life ^{终生，一辈子}

This is not easy, and may require two porpoises working together.

require ... working together ^{需要...协同工作}

• This is not easy, and may require two porpoises working together^{可能需要两只海豚一起工作}.
• Solving this complex problem will require several teams cooperating^{需要几个团队合作}.

In another game, as the turtle swims across the oceanarium, the first porpoise swoops down from above and butts his shell with his belly.

butt sth. ^{用头或角顶撞某物}

• ...the first porpoise swoops down from above and butts his shell with his belly^{用肚子顶撞它的壳}.
• The goat tried to butt the fence^{用头顶撞栅栏}.
• He butted the door open^{用头顶开了门}.

This knocks the turtle down several feet.

knock sth. down ^{击倒；撞倒}

• This knocks the turtle down^{这把乌龟撞下去} several feet.
• The strong wind knocked down the old tree^{吹倒了那棵老树}.

He no sooner recovers his equilibrium than the next porpoise comes along and hits him another crack.

No sooner ... than ... ^{一...就...（倒装）}

• He no sooner recovers his equilibrium than^{他一恢复平衡} the next porpoise comes along and hits him another crack.

部分倒装 ^写作替换

recover his equilibrium ^恢复平衡

• He no sooner recovers his equilibrium^{他一恢复平衡} than the next porpoise comes along...
• It took the market several weeks to recover its equilibrium^恢复平衡 after the shock.

Eventually the turtle has been butted all the way down to the floor of the tank.

all the way down to ... ^一直到...

• ...has been butted all the way down to the floor of the tank^{一直被顶到底部}.
• We walked all the way down to the beach^{一直走到了海滩}.

He is now satisfied merely to try to stand up, but as soon as he does so a porpoise knocks him flat.

be satisfied with / to do ... / be content with / to do ... ^{对某事很满意}

• He is now satisfied merely to try to stand up^{他现在只满足于尝试站起来}...
• I am content with the results^{对结果很满意} of the experiment.
• The team was satisfied to finish the race^{满足于完成比赛}.

as soon as he does so ^{他一这样做}

• ...but as soon as he does so^{但他一这样做} a porpoise knocks him flat.

部分倒装 ^写作替换

knocks him flat ^将他击平

• ...a porpoise knocks him flat^将他击平.
• The punch knocked him flat on the floor^{一拳将他打倒在地}.

The turtle at last gives up by pulling his feet under his shell and the game is over.

give up ^放弃

• The turtle at last gives up^{乌龟最终放弃了} by pulling his feet under his shell...
• We will never give up the fight for justice^{放弃对正义的斗争}.

by pulling his feet under his shell ^{通过把他的脚缩进壳里（方式状语）}

• ...by pulling his feet under his shell^{通过把他的脚缩进壳里} and the game is over.
• He fixed the machine by reading the manual carefully^{通过仔细阅读手册}.