《新概念三》中有哪些地道实用的表达或句型？（1）

这是一个新系列，主要带大家从《新概念三》中学习一些实用地道的表达或句型，提高写作能力。《新概念三》虽然是一本很有年代感的教材，但里面的语言依旧实用，毫不过时，如果能熟练掌握，可以给写作增分添彩。如果大家喜欢这个系列的话，麻烦点赞或留言告知我一下，我们会持续更新下去，感谢！

一、XX serves as an impressive reminder of YY

《新概念三》第 25 课讲到了“卡蒂萨克”号帆船的故事，文中有这么一句话：

One of the most famous sailing ships of the nineteenth century, the Cutty Sark, can still be seen at Greenwich. She stands on dry land and is visited by thousands of people each year. She serves as an impressive reminder of the great ships of past.

人们在格林威治仍可看到19世纪最有名的帆船之一“卡蒂萨克”号。它停在陆地上，每年接待成千上万的参观者。它给人们留下深刻的印象，使人们回忆起历史上的巨型帆船。

serve 在这里不是“服务”的意思，而是熟词僻义，serve as 是个固定搭配，表示“用作、当...使”，也可以用 act as 替换，比如《经济学人》在谈到中国的“婚闹”时，写到：

Relatives would gently tease the couple in their bridal chamber, alluding to intimate acts. This served as a form of sex education.亲戚们会在新婚夫妇的洞房里开小玩笑，暗示新婚夫妇进行一些亲密的动作。这是性教育的一种形式。（或：这起到某种形式的性教育的作用）

XX serve as an impressive reminder of...可以作为一个固定表达积累下来，表示“XX 提醒着人们...”，这个句型很实用，比如近几年山火频发，气候变化加剧，对此我们可以说：

Bushfires around the world serve as an urgent reminder that we still have a long way to go before curbing climate change.森林大火提醒着我们，在遏制住气候变化之前，我们还有很长的路要走。

我们也可以把 bushfires 换成 flooding, drought 等其它灾害。

再比如谈到国家发展、居安思危等话题，我们可以说：

America's restrictions on chip exports to China serve as a wake-up call for our country.美国禁止向中国出口芯片，这给我们敲了一记警钟。

serve as a wake-up call for...：对...起到警醒的作用。

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二、如何表述“新事物对人们的影响”

《新概念三》第 26 课分析了电视广告对购物的影响，文章开头是这么说的：

No one can avoid being influenced by advertisements. Much as we may pride ourselves on our good taste, we are no longer free to choose the things we want, for advertising exerts a subtle influence on us.

没有人能避免受广告的影响。尽管我们可以自夸自己的鉴赏力如何敏锐，但我们已经无法独立自主地选购自己所需的东西了。这是因为广告在我们身上施加着一种潜移默化的影响。

exert an influence on...是个固定搭配，表示“对...施加影响、对...造成影响”，也可以用 have an influence on...表示。

我们可以从中提炼出一个写作套路：

No one can avoid being influenced by.... Much as we may pride ourselves on..., we are no longer free to..., for... exerts a subtle influence on us.

我们可以用它来描述某种新事物对人们造成的影响，比如谈到智能手机对人们的影响时，我们可以说：

No one can avoid being influenced by smartphones. Much as we may pride ourselves on the multiple APPs we own, or the advanced camera function equipped in phones, we are no longer able to live a quiet and slow-paced life, for smartphones exert a subtle but constant influence on us.

没有人可以避免受到智能手机的影响。尽管我们可以自诩拥有有很多 APP 或先进的手机拍照功能，但我们无法再过一个宁静、慢节奏的生活，因为手机给我们带来了一种潜移默化、持续不断的影响。

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三、Though it may be possible to do..., it is extremely difficult to do...

《新概念三》第27课讲到了流浪汉的自由，文章开头有这么一段话：

Though it may be possible to measure the value of material good in terms of money, it is extremely difficult to estimate the true value of the services which people perform for us.

虽然物质产品的价值可以用金钱来衡量，但要估算别人为我们为所提供的服务的价值却是极其困难的。

这句话的结构是：Though it may be possible to do..., it is extremely difficult to do... 尽管可能如何，但是做某事极其困难。

这个句型虽然用词简单，但非常实用，前面先通过让步状语从句 though...进行铺垫，讲做什么事情是可能的，然后主干部分笔锋一转，转而指出做某事极为困难。

考研英语中经常会遇到「品质类」话题的写作，当我们谈到「坚持」的时候，我们可以说：

Though it may be possible to set an ambitious goal, it is extremely difficult to make a detailed plan and stick to it.尽管制定一个远大的目标是可能的，但制定出详细的计划并为之坚持下去，却非常困难。

再比如谈到「加班文化」时，我们可以说：

Though it may be possible to complete your tasks on time, it is extremely difficult to leave when you want while your boss is still around.尽管你有可能按时完成任务，但当你老板还在时，你很难想走就走。

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四、如何描述生活的得到与舍弃

文中谈到了流浪汉的窘迫和无拘无束：

He may never be sure where the next meal is coming from, but he is free from the thousands of anxieties which afflict other people.

他可能从不知道下顿饭有无着落，但他不像有人那样被千万桩愁事所折磨。

没有绝对满意的生活，每个人都有自己的烦恼与幸福、得到与舍弃。有人喜欢小城市的安逸，有人喜欢大城市的激荡，有人喜欢朝九晚五的稳定，有人喜欢创业的惊险与刺激，各有各的风景。对于“选择大城市还是回到小城市”，我们可以模仿着造个句子：

People in small cities may never be sure how wonderful the outside world is, but they are free from the thousands of anxieties which afflict those in big cities.

其实选择也是一种放弃，当你选择A时，你就不能选择B，放弃B就是你选择A而付出的代价。当你不知道做出何种选择时，那就想一想，自己能否承担起失去另一件事的遗憾和代价，如果能，那就大胆的选择。

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敲黑板

1. 提醒着人们、警示着人们：XX serves as an impressive reminder of YY

2. 关于“新事物对人们的影响”：No one can avoid being influenced by.... Much as we may pride ourselves on..., we are no longer free to..., for... exerts a subtle influence on us.

3. 一个表示转折的句型：Though it may be possible to do..., it is extremely difficult to do...

4. 描述生活的得到与失去：sb may never be sure..., but he/she is free from the thousands of anxieties which afflict sb else.

今天的文章就到这里，下一期我会和大家谈一谈为什么要写这个专栏，感谢阅读！

戳“阅读原文”一起来充电吧!