每周一段

大家好！第一期“每周一段”的段落选自《新概念英语》第 3 册第 12 课 Life on a desert island（《荒岛生活》）。《新概念英语》教材很经典，不少文章值得背诵、精学甚至仿写。

仿写需要有意识地去做，先理解一段话的意思，然后梳理清楚结构（即每句话之间的关系），然后从单个句子开始临摹，最后是写作结构的临摹。

一、文本

Most of us have formed an unrealistic picture of life on a desert island. We sometimes imagine a desert island to be a sort of paradise where the sun always shines. Life there is simple and good. Ripe fruit falls from the trees and you never have to work. The other side of the picture is quite the opposite. Life on a desert island is wretched. You either starve to death or live like Robinson Crusoe, waiting for a boat which never comes. Perhaps there is an element of truth in both these pictures, but few of us have had the opportunity to find out.

译文：

我们许多人对于荒岛生活有一种不切实际的想法。我们有时想象荒岛是阳光终日普照的天堂。在那里，生活简单又美好。成熟的水果从树上掉下来，人们根本无需劳动。另一种想法恰恰相反，认为荒岛生活很可怕，要么饿死，要么像鲁滨孙那样，天天盼船来，却总没见船影。也许，这两种好像都有可信之处。但很少有人能有机会去弄个究竟。

二、段落解读

这是文章的第一段。这段自成一体，表达意思完整，可以作为一个整体来学习。这段语言比较简单，如能背下，可在口语和写作中灵活使用。从写作的角度看，这段话简要、完整地写了一件事情的两面性，对基础议论文写作有极大的参考价值。

三、句子学习

我们主要通过“临摹”和“背诵”的方式精学一段话。

临摹：提炼句型+造句

临摹句子 1：Most of us have formed an unrealistic picture of life on a desert island.

提炼句型：X have formed an unrealistic picture of Y.（注意：如果主语是单数，动词要变为“has”。）

造句示范：

a) Many people have formed an unrealistic picture of life abroad.（场景：很多人会觉得“国外比国内的月亮圆”。）

b) Many people have formed an unrealistic picture of work at state-owned companies.

c) Many people from the countryside have formed an unrealistic picture of life in big cities/megacities/metropolises.

临摹句子 2：We sometimes imagine a desert island to be a sort of paradise where the sun always shines.

提炼句型：X imagine Y to be Z. （注意：如果主语是单数，动词要变为“imagines”。）

造句示范：

a) People sometimes/frequently imagine life abroad to be relaxed, comfortable, and free from trouble.

b) People imagine work at state-owned companies to be easy and stress-free.

c) People from rural areas imagine urban life to be full of excitement/exuberance, comfort, and convenience.

背诵句子

a) The other side of the picture is quite the opposite.

b) There is an element of truth in both these pictures. 

四、段落仿写

Version A:

Most of us have formed an unrealistic picture of growing up in a well-off family. We sometimes imagine a rich family to be a sort of heaven where all desires are satisfied. Life there is happy and carefree. Servants and chauffeurs are always there for you. The other side of the picture is quite the opposite. Children have to work harder than their peers to live up to their family's expectations or prove that they are competent not because they were born with silver spoons in their mouths, but because they are hard-working. For those having extremely wealthy parents, they dream of having the same amount of privacy as normal children. Perhaps there is an element of truth in both these pictures, but few of us have had the opportunity to find out.

Version B:

Many people have formed an unrealistic picture of life abroad. They often imagine life in a foreign land to be relaxed, comfortable, and free from trouble: the houses are larger, the lawns greener, streets better lit, cars cheaper, and parking lots more spacious. Yet the other side of the picture is quite the opposite. Living abroad can be challenging/daunting. To blend in the local culture, you need to speak the language well, learn how to socialize with people from different backgrounds and with diverse views, and deal with homesickness. Perhaps there is an element of truth in both these pictures, and whether to migrate to another country is purely a personal choice.

五、作业

在下方评论区完成练习作业：

1. 参考第三部分的句型造句。

2. 参考第四部分的段落仿写，想一个实际和幻想差别很大的例子，写一段话。

大家好！这周的“每周一段”段落选自 2015 年 6 月 27 日《经济学人》The right to die 一文（http://www.economist.com/node/21656182/print）。文章立场为强烈支持安乐死。

一、文本

The most determined people do not always choose wisely, no matter how well they are counselled. But it would be wrong to deny everyone the right to assisted death for this reason alone. Competent adults are allowed to make other momentous, irrevocable choices: to undergo a sex change or to have an abortion. People deserve the same control over their own death. Instead of dying in intensive care under bright lights and among strangers, people should be able to end their lives when they are ready, surrounded by those they love.

译文：

最有决心的人并不总是明智地做选择，无论他们获得的建议有多好。 但是仅仅因为这个原因就剥夺每个人安乐死的权利是错误的。 有能力的成年人可以做出其他重大的、不可逆转的选择: 做变性手术或堕胎。人们应该对自己的死亡拥有同样的控制权。人们应该能够在准备好的时候，在爱的人身边走向生命的尽头，而不是在重症监护室晃眼的灯光下、陌生人的包围中离世。

二、段落解读

这是文章的最后一段，从原则出发，在说理的同时诉诸情感，深化了论证。

全段共 5 句。前 4 句为道理论证（第三句也用了举例），第 5 句诉诸情感，引起了读者强烈的共鸣。4 句话的道理论证中本身就有一个完整的论证框架：1）先指出问题；2）说明不能只是因为问题而否决某个方案；3）举出相关、有说服力的平行的例子；4）回到问题本身，作总结。

三、句子学习

我们主要通过“临摹”和“背诵”的方式精学一段话。

临摹：提炼句型+造句

临摹句子：But it would be wrong to deny everyone the right to assisted death for this reason alone.

提炼出句型：But it would be wrong to do X for this reason alone.

造句示范：

a) But it would be wrong to cancel the plan for this reason alone.

b) But it would be wrong to not give him a second chance for this reason alone.

c) But it would be wrong to dismiss the solution for this reason alone.

可直接背诵和使用的句子

The most determined people do not always choose wisely, no matter how well they are counselled.

四、段落仿写

Version A:

New technologies no doubt bring about unintended consequences, as in the case with Didi, a Chinese ride-hailing app, which has been blamed for not providing enough safeguards. But it would be wrong to deny startups the chance to innovate and grow for this reason alone. Across many industries, companies are allowed to make mistakes and fix them: milk powder and vaccination firms, for example. New entrants, technology companies in particular, deserve the same privilege.

Version B:

An influx of migrant workers poses challenges to big Chinese cities. But it would be wrong to deny their right of movement and restrict their access to social welfare. Many countries have coped tactically with the same problem: Japan in the 1960s and South Korea in the 1980s. Migrant workers in China are entitled to the same privileges, and municipalities should recognize their value and embrace them.

五、作业

在下方评论区完成练习作业：

1）参考第三部分的句型造句，造句时可以用中文写出具体的语境。

2）参考第四部分的段落仿写，写一段话。

说明：如果觉得这个作业太难，可以在仿写前先仔细阅读精选的段落和两个段落改写版本。如果实在觉得难以下笔，建议模仿第二部分段落解读，用中文解读 Version A 或 Version B，着重体会段落中句子之间的逻辑关系。

大家好！这周的“每周一段”段落选自 2018 年 8 月 18 日《经济学人》It is not just in Italy that bridges are failing 一文。段落为文章第二段。为方便仿写，段落有调整。

一、文本

In Italy fingers are already being pointed: at the operator of the bridge, at the bridge’s designer, at politicians at home and abroad. But the Genoa disaster also carries a warning that stretches well beyond the country’s borders. Concrete, on which the Morandi bridge relied, has become the world’s most widely used building material. The sort reinforced with steel is found in all manner of construction.

译文：

在意大利，桥梁的操作者、设计者和国内外的政治家都受到了指责。但是热那亚灾难带来的警告不仅仅是给意大利的（远远超越了国界）。莫兰迪大桥所依赖的混凝土已经成为世界上使用最广泛的建筑材料。在各种建筑中都能找到钢筋加固的那种混凝土。

二、段落解读

这段话选自的文章讲的是由于意大利基础设施陈旧造成的重大事故。

全段共 4 句，为“个性--›共性”的写作提供了一个实用的段落模板：第 1 句写事故的责任人（个性）；第 2 句写事故并非个案（共性）；第 3、4 句具体写共性。

三、句子学习

我们主要通过“临摹”和“背诵”的方式精学一段话。

临摹：提炼句型+造句

临摹句子1：In Italy fingers are already being pointed: at the operator of the bridge, at the bridge’s designer, at politicians at home and abroad.

提炼出句型：In X fingers are already being pointed: at Y, at Z, at W.（不一定非得是三项，可以灵活使用。）

造句示范：

a) In China fingers are already being pointed: at parents, at schools, at students.（场景：学生的素质教育一直没有改善。）

b) In the US fingers are already being pointed: at the unreliable government and at greedy companies.（场景：Facebook 等技术公司频频泄露用户隐私。）

c) In downtown Shanghai fingers are already being pointed: at the hit-and-run driver and at the indifferent onlookers.（场景：肇事逃逸案。）

临摹句子2：Concrete, on which the Morandi bridge relied, has become the world’s most widely used building material.

提炼出句型：X has become the world’s most widely used Y.（提炼句型的时候可以有一定的灵活性。）

造句示范：

a) Facebook has become the world’s most widely used social media app.

b) Twitter has become the world’s most widely used micro-blogging app.

c) Aircrafts have become the world’s most widely used mode of transportation.（注意：由于主语变成了复数“aircrafts”，动词也要从“has”变为“have”。）

四、段落仿写

Version A:

In California fingers are already being pointed: at the lawmakers who are slow to respond to the worsening climate change, at consumers who consume excessively. But the wildfire that has taken more than two dozens of lives also carries a scary warning that stretches well beyond the state. Fires caused by extreme weather have become the world’s most widely reported news. From Japan to India, more people are dying, especially old citizens.

Version B:

In the US fingers are already being pointed: at Facebook's partner, at Facebook's executive team, at regulators. But the Facebook case also carries a warning that stretches well beyond the company. Privacy violation has troubled such companies as Twitter and Pinterest. It is no better in other countries where troves of data are gathered by local tech titans, say China and India.

五、作业

在下方评论区完成练习作业：

1）参考第三部分的句型造句，造句时可以用中文写出具体的语境。

2）参考第四部分的段落仿写，写一段话。

说明：如果觉得这个作业太难，可以在仿写前先仔细阅读精选的段落和两个段落改写版本。如果实在觉得难以下笔，建议模仿第二部分段落解读，用中文解读 Version A 或 Version B，着重体会段落中句子之间的逻辑关系。

大家好！这周的“每周一段”的段落选自《新概念英语》第 3 册第 26 课 Wanted: a large biscuit tin（《征购大饼干筒》）。和第一期“每周一段”一样，这段也选自文章的第一段话。

一、文本

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. In their efforts to persuade us to buy this or that product, advertisers have made a close study of human nature and have classified all our little weaknesses.

译文：

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。做广告的人在力图劝说我们买下这种产品或那种产品之前，已经仔细地研究了人的本性，并把人的弱点进行了分类。

二、段落解读

这是文章的第一段，一共只有 3 句话，但每句话中都有一个常见、地道、好用的句式，可以用在口语和写作中，值得反复临摹，直至可以脱口而出或自然下笔。

段落的结构比较简单，就是写人们易受到某一种影响。第 1 句总写人们易受广告的影响；第 2 句写人们是如何受到广告影响的；第 3 句写广告是怎样施加影响的。当我们想写某个人群受到某种影响时，就可以参考这段话的写作结构。

三、句子学习

我们主要通过“临摹”和“背诵”的方式精学一段话。

临摹：提炼句型+造句

临摹句子1：No one can avoid being influenced by advertisements.

提炼出句型：No one can avoid being influenced by X.

造句示范：

a) No one can avoid being influenced by his or her parents.（场景：家庭对一个人的影响。）

b) No one can avoid being influenced by his or her peers.（英文中有 peer pressure 的表达，意思是 influence from members of one's peer group。）

临摹句子2：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.

提炼出句型：Much as we may pride ourselves on X, we Y.（提炼句型的时候可以有一定的灵活性。）

造句示范：

a) Much as we may pride ourselves on our self-discipline, we often find it hard to break old habits.

b) Much as we may pride ourselves on the progress, we always have more to work on. /Much as we may pride ourselves on the progress, there is always more work to do.

临摹句子3：In their efforts to persuade us to buy this or that product, advertisers have made a close study of human nature and have classified all our little weaknesses.

提炼出句型：In my/your/his/her/our/their effort(s) to do X, I/you/he/she/we/they Y. （注意两处一致性：1）从句中人称代词和主句主语的一致性；2）主句主语和谓语的一致性。另外，注意 an effort 是“一次努力”，efforts 是“多次努力”，effort 是“努力”，是抽象名词。）

造句示范：

a) In my effort to keep improving my English, I have made a habit of reading The Economist every day.（注意一致性：my, I, have made。）

b) In her effort to lose weight, Kate has been going to the gym on a regular basis.（注意一致性：her, Kate, has been。）

c) In their efforts to persuade people to buy products, businesses have established a routine of giving customers free samples. （注意一致性：their, businesses, have established。场景：商场和超市的免费使用和试吃。）

四、段落仿写

Version A:

No one can avoid being influenced by his or her parents. Much as we may pride ourselves on our judgements, we are often not free to make wholly independent decisions, for family exerts a subtle influence on us. In their efforts to take care of their children, parents have gone too far for too long, which has long been a common complaint.

（这个版本比较严格地参照了原文。）

Version B:

No one can avoid being influenced by his or her peers. Much as we may pride ourselves on our independence, we are no longer free to truly choose what we want, for peers exert a subtle influence on us. Especially when it comes to fashion, we almost always make decisions with a view to how people around us may think of us.

（这个版本的第三句没有严格参照原文。）

五、作业

在下方评论区完成练习作业：

1）参考第三部分的句型造句，造句时可以用中文写出具体的语境。

2）参考第四部分的段落仿写，写一段话。

说明：如果觉得这个作业太难，可以在仿写前先仔细阅读精选的段落和两个段落改写版本。如果实在觉得难以下笔，建议模仿第二部分段落解读，用中文解读 Version A 或 Version B，着重体会段落中句子之间的逻辑关系。