Lesson 20 Snake poison蛇毒虚拟语气 主语从句

How it came about that snakes manufactured poison is a mystery. ^{主语从句套主语从句}

come about ^{to happen, especially in a way that is not planned （意外地事情）发生}

• Can you tell me how the accident came about?
• How did it come about that he knew where we were?
• That came about when we went to New York last year. ^{那件事发生在去年我们去纽约时。}

manufacture ^{(technical) if your body manufactures a particular useful substance, it produces it（身体）产生，制造，分泌}

• Vitamins cannot be manufactured by our bodies.
• Diabetics don't manufacture enough insulin.
• It may have been manufactured hours or days ago in your lungs. ^{它可能是几个小时前或几天前在你的肺里制造的。}

How it came about that ... is a mystery. ^{某个事情怎么发生的，是个谜}

• How it came about that Maya civilization vanished from the earth is a mystery. ^{玛雅文明是如何突然从地球上消失的，是一个谜}
• It has never been explained why Maya civilization vanished from the earth.
• It has never been explained why snakes manufactured poison. ^{课文写法替换}

Over the periods their saliva, a mild, digestive juice like our own, was converted into a poison that defies analysis even today.

defy ^{be so difficult as to make (sth.) impossible 无法…;使...不可能}

• Beauty sometimes defies description. 
• The problem defied solution.
• a political move that defies explanation
• It's a devastating and barbaric act that defies all comprehension. 

The beauty of the West Lake is more than words can describe. ^{be more than ... can / could ... 是...无法...}

be more than … can / could... ^{表达“是…无法…”}

• When my old friend Brian urged me to accept a cigarette, it was more than I could bear.
• Dancing proved to be more than the dish could bear, for during the party it capsized and sank in seven feet of water.
• The pain is more than I can bear. 
• The story is more than I can believe.
• The beauty of the West Lake is more than words can describe.
• The weather turned out to be very good, which was more than we could expect.

It was not forced upon them by the survival competition; they could have caught and lived on prey without using poison, just as the thousands of non-poisonous snakes still do.

force sth. on / upon sb. ^{把...强加给...}

• It's no good trying to force a diet on someone. 
• people who try to force their own views on you.

without using poison ^{如果不使用毒液（介词短语充当条件状语）}

• …; they could have caught and lived on prey if they had not used poison, … ^替换
• Without it we could not make a living.  ⇒ If we didn’t have it we could not make a living.
• Without it, nothing could ever be brought to a conclusion; everything would be in a state of chaos. ⇒ If we didn’t have it nothing could ever be brought to a conclusion; everything would be in state of chaos.
• There would be no living things without air. ⇒ There would be no living things if there were no air.
• In his position, I would have committed suicide. ⇒  If I had been in his position, I would have committed suicide.

just as ... still do ^{就像...仍然在做一样}

• … they could have caught and lived on prey without using poison, just as the thousands of non-poisonous snakes still catch and live on prey without using poison. ^课文补全

Poison to a snake is merely a luxury; it enables it to get its food with very little effort, no more effort than one bite.

luxury / necessity ^{奢侈品 / 必需品}

• Limousines and perfumes are luxuries while food, clothing, shelter and transportation are daily necessities.
• Mostly they climb as a necessity to make money. ^{他们大多把登山当作赚钱的必经之路。}
• Few could afford the luxury. ^{很少有人买得起这种奢侈品。}

no more than ... ^{仅仅，只不过}

• His answer was to lift the vessel out of the water by making it ride on a cushion of air, no more than one or two feet thick.
• When one seriously studies the social orders that have had the opportunity to develop autonomously, the figure becomes no more than an exact and matter-of-fact observation.
• Modern cloth diapers are surprisingly easy to use, almost no more work than putting on a disposable.

And why only snakes (manufacture poison)?

• My brother likes coffee, and I do, too. ^{(省略了 "like coffee")}
• She is taller than her sister. ^{(省略了 "is tall")}
• He eats more than I do. ^{(省略了 "eat")}
• Just waiting (now). ^{(省略了 "I am" 和 "now")}
• On the table (it is located). ^{(省略了 "It is" 和 "located")}
• You should tell him, but you don't have to. ^{(省略了 "tell him")}
• Ready for the trip? ^{(省略了主语 "Are you")}
• Given a choice, which would you pick? ^{(省略了主语和系动词 "If you are" 在状语从句中)}

Cats, for instance, would be greatly helped; no running fights with large, fierce rats or tussles with grown rabbits -- just a bite and no more effort needed.

Cats, for instance, would be greatly helped if they manufactured poison.  ^课文补全

running ^{adj.lasting a long time; continuous 持久的，长时间的}

• For years he had fought a running battle with the authorities over the land.
•  He also began a running feud with Dean Acheson.  ^{他也开始和艾奇逊院长发生接连不断的争执。}
• He said drought had led to severe crop failure for the second year running. ^{他说干旱已连续两年造成严重农作物歉收。}

tussles with ... ^{与...扭打，搏斗 a fight using a lot of energy, in which two people get hold of each other and struggle 扭打，搏斗}

• She had a brief tussle with her conscience before telling the whole story.
• They began to tussle with each other for the coin. ^{他们为争夺硬币扭打起来。}
• The referee booked him for a tussle with the goalie . ^{他和守门员拉扯，因而被裁判记名警告。}

In fact, it would be an assistance to all carnivores though it would be a two-edged weapon when they fought each other.

In fact, it would be an assistance to all carnivores ↔ In fact, it wouldbe an assistance to all carnivores if they manufactured poison. ^补全课文

two-edged weapon / sword ^双刃剑

• As is so often pointed out, knowledge is a two-edged weapon which can be used equally for good or evil.
• Mint forex reserve is a two-edged weapon, and it causes broad attention from the society. ^{外汇储备是把双刃剑，如此庞大的数字引起了社会的广泛关注。}
• Technology is a two-edged sword. ^{技术是一把双刃剑。}

when they fought each other ^{当它们互相搏斗时（when从句充当条件状语）}

• … though it would be a two-edged weapon if they fought each other.  ^课文替换
• How can I explain it to you when you won’t listen?
• When I reverse the car, it makes a funny noise. 

But, of the vertebrates, unpredictable Nature selected only snakes (and one lizard).

of ^{prep. used when comparing related things （用于比较时）在……中}

• I'm surprised that you of all people think that. 
• A flat tyre today of all days what bad luck!
• He's the best looking of the three brothers.

One wonders also why Nature, with some snakes, concocted poison of such extreme potency.

concoct ^{v.to produce sth. unusual by mixing things in a new way, esp. a drink or meal 调制}

• The soup was concocted from up to a dozen different kinds of fish.
• What was the most unusual fragrance or flavor you've had to concoct? ^{你配制的最奇怪的香水或者香味是什么？}
• But I'm going to need your help to concoct a story that will help me save face! ^{但你得帮我编造个故事，好给我留点脸面！}
• From within, you have chosen to concoct a multitude of excuses and a barrier of fear. ^{从你选择地炮制了许多借口和障碍恐惧。}

potency ^{the strength of sth., esp. a drug, on your mind or body 效力，强度}

• Improper storage may decrease the potency of the drug.
• The Numbers indicate the potency of the ingredient used. ^{数字是用来表示所用成份的效力的。}
• Perhaps his potency as a lover also had a physical explanation. ^{可能是他的性能力强大，也可能有其他体质解释。}

In the conversion of saliva into poison, one might suppose that a fixed process took place.

In  ^{在将...转化为...的过程中（介词 in 表时间）}

• In the organization of industrial life the influence of the factory upon the physiological and mental state of the workers has been completely neglected.
•  He walked two hundred and sixty miles in eight days.  ^{他在八天里走了二百六十英里。}
• The economy was in trouble.  ^{经济陷于困境。}

the conversion of ... into ... ^{转化 ... 名词短语与动词搭配介词相同}

• the conversion of a barn into a house ^转变用途
• the conversion of pounds into dollars ^兑换
• In the conversion of saliva into poison ^{在...转换过程中}

take place ^{v.sth. happens that is planned or arranged（计划之中的事情）发生}

• I don't think it will take place. ^{我想那种事是不可能发生的。}
• Where is the meeting taking place?
• The wedding will take place at St. Andrew's church.

It did not; some snakes manufactured a poison different in every respect from that of others, as different as arsenic is from strychnine, and having different effects.

be different from … ^与…不同 

• His world seemed so different from mine. ^{他的生活圈子与我的似乎是那么的不同。}
• London was different from most European capitals. ^{伦敦与大多数的欧洲首都城市不同。}
• The new methods are radically different from the old. ^{新的方法迥然不同于旧的方法。}
• Her background is markedly different from her husband's. ^{她的背景和她丈夫的截然不同。}

in every respect / aspect / way ^{在每个方面}

• The situation is different in every respect from last year.
• The two approaches are similar in many aspects.

that of ... ^{（代指前文的同类名词）...的那个}

• His function is analogous to that of a judge, ...
• The plotline is similar to that of many other movies. ^{该主要情节与其他众多电影的主要情节相似。}
• Modern music is often considered inferior to that of the past. ^{现代音乐常被认为不如过去的。}

as different as A is from B ^{就像 A 与 B 不同一样（用来补充说明不同程度）}

Chinese culture is different in every respect from that of America, as different as the giant panda is from the bald eagle. ^{中国文化在各个方面都与美国文化不同，就像大熊猫与白头鹰不同一样}

One poison acts on the nerves, the other on the blood. ^独立主格

act on ... ^{对...有效；作用于... (act v.to have an effect or use 有某种效果或作用)}

• Alcohol acts on the brain.
• Disinfectants act on bacteria in two main ways.

the other (acting) on the blood ^{另一个作用于血液（独立主格）}

• One poison acts on the nerves, the other (acting) on the blood.

The makers of the nerve poison include the mambas and the cobras and their venom is called neurotoxic.

be called / known as ^{被称做、称为}

• The coastal town is called Seaside, due to its location right by the ocean. ^{这个沿海小镇被称为海边镇，因为它就在海边。}
• The largest galaxy in the cluster is known as the Andromeda Galaxy. ^{星系团中最大的星系被称为仙女座星系。}

Vipers (adders) and rattlesnakes manufacture the blood poison, which is known as haemolytic.

被称为是…

• The terrible secret is called 'a skeleton in the cupboard '. 
• Because of this, they were known as 'prize-fighters'.
• People who work in offices are frequently referred to as 'white collar workers' for the simple reason that they usually wear a collar and tie to go to work.
• The president should be addressed as 'Mr. President'.

Both poisons are unpleasant, but by far the more unpleasant is the blood poison. ^{读出来有押韵效果}

by far ^{(used with comparative or superlative adjectives or adverbs) by a great amount...得多（修饰比较级或最高级）}

• The last of these reasons is by far the most important.
• The second half of his voyage was by far the more dangerous part, during which he sailed round the treacherous Cape Horn.

Both books are interesting, but by far the more interesting is ‘Harry Potter’. ^{两个东西都...，但是更...的多得是...}

It is said that the nerve poison is the more primitive of the two, that the blood poison is, so to speak, a newer product from an improved formula.

so to speak ^{好像，仿佛，可以说是}

• He is, so to speak / as it were, a walking dictionary.
• The Han nationality and the minority nationalities are all, so to speak / as it were, members of the same family.

Reading is thought to be a kind of conversation between the reader and the text. The reader puts questions, as it were, to the text and gets answers. In the light of these he puts further questions, and so on. ^六级阅读

formula ^{n.a list of the substances used to make a medicine, fuel, drink etc, showing the amounts of each substance that should be used 配方，处方}

• Our products are handmade from traditional formulas.
• The formulas for the drinks are closely guarded secrets.

Be that as it may, the nerve poison does its business with man far more quickly than the blood poison.

Be that as it may ^{used to mean that you accept that a piece of information is true but it does not change your opinion of the subject you are discussing = despite that 尽管如此（让步状语倒装）}

• Be that as it may, our expenditure is bound to increase.
• “I’m tired.” “Be that as it may, you have to do some work.” 
• Be that as it may, we do not trust him anyway. ^{尽管如此，我们还是不信任他。}
• The report indicates sales are down this quarter; be that as it may, we should still invest in marketing next year. ^{报告显示本季度销售额有所下降；尽管如此，我们明年仍应投资于营销。}
• Come what may, we'll always stand by your side. 
• Come wind or rain, I will go.

do business with ... ^{做生意；（派生、比喻）发挥效力}

• I was fascinated by the different people who did business with me. 
• You will stand to lose if you do business with him. ^{跟他作生意你是要吃亏的。}
• I'd rather not do business with them. ^{我宁愿不和他们做生意了。}

This, however, means nothing.

mean nothing ^{be not important 不重要}

• Time meant nothing to me while I was travelling.
• Your words mean nothing. ^{你的语言毫无意义。}
• All the successes and triumphs they achieved mean nothing today. ^{他们所取得的成功和胜利在今日也毫无意义。}

Snakes did not acquire their poison for use against man but for use against prey such as rats and mice, and the effects on these of viperine poison is almost immediate.

the effect / influence / impact of ... on / upon ... ^{...对...的效果/影响}

• In the organization of industrial life the influence of the factory upon the physiological and mental state of the workers has been completely neglected.