第二讲 SAT说明文短文阅读之一（二）

李嘉玉 主讲

原文：

Sometimes the meaning of old phrases is self-evident, as with to move like greased lightning and a close shave. But quite often we are left with language that seems to have sprung out of the blue and does not appear to signify  anything in particular-even steven, fit as a fiddle,  or to paint the town red. Explanations are frequently posited but are too often unpersuasive. One popular dictionary, for example, suggests that to be joshing might be connected to the humorist Josh Billings, but in fact the term was current as early as 1845. Josh Billings was unknown outside his neighborhood until 1860.

上面的短文是说明文。

为什么？

这篇文章的行文结构：

一般情况是“A”，但是有的情况是“非A”。非A的特征及例证。

Sometimes A is true. But actually A is not true in particular…. The problem is … for example

根据本篇文章的语言结构如下：

Sometimes …… as with…… and …… But …and…or…

Explanations…and…  for example, … but …

模仿写作练习。

模仿1：

Sometimes the blue sky as shown in countryside and photos is natural. But actually the sky is grey and even dark grey particularly in Beijing and Shanghai in most of days in last few years.  Explanations are directly pointing to the smog effect of metropolis and are leading to the solutions. One popular proposal in Beijing, for example, enforced a restriction of usage of cars by the number of plates in Beijing, but to own a car for leaving it on the sidewalk is not a good idea in general.

模仿2：

Sometimes the meaning of Chinese old sayings is self-evident, as with to learn from your mistakes and the older the wiser. But quite often we are left with language that seems to have sprung out of the blue and does not appear to signify anything in particular-science development, constitution is the most fundamental biggest registration, or communist party is great, glorious, and righteous. Explanations are frequently posited but are too often unpersuasive. One popular newspaper, for example, suggests that without communist no China is because that it was communist who overthrew the feudalist, colonist, and capitalist in 1949, but in fact the feudalist had been overturned by Nationalist in 1909. Communist party was unknown until 1921.         

作业：

1-  Imitate this passage with a few Chinese 成语 to replace English phrases.

2-  Read it loudly few times and try to use its structure and logic in your critical writing.