今日长难句:
选自《瓦尔登湖》
We should be blessed if we lived in the present always, and took advantage of every accident that befell us, like the grass which confesses the influence of the slightest dew that falls on it; and did not spend our time in atoning for the neglect of past opportunities, which we call doing our duty.
这句话最外层的框架是We should be blessed,我们应该是受到祝福的,如果怎么样呢?之后跟随if引导的条件状语从句, if we lived in the present always,如果我们活在当下,从句当中的主语we我们还发出了一个并列的动作, and took advantage of every accident,这里accident并不是指车祸或者意外遭遇,它在这里表示“偶然的事”或者“机遇”,抓住每一个机遇,什么样的accident?之后跟随that引导的定语从句修饰机遇,that befell us,其中的固定搭配befall sb意思是降临在某人身上,也就是降临在我们身上的机遇,like the grass就像草一样,什么样的草?之后跟随which引导的限制性定语从句修饰grass,which在从句中作主语, which confesses the influence of the slightest dew,这里又运用到了物称主语grass草加上人称动作confesses承认、坦白,非常生动形象,小草坦白最小的露珠对它的影响,什么样的露珠?之后嵌套了that引导的定语从句修饰露珠,that falls on it,其中it指代的是小草。之后是与if引导的条件状语从句并列的另一个从句,and(省略if we) did not spend our time in atoning for the neglect of past opportunities,其中固定搭配spend time in doing sth表示花时间做某事,atone for sth表示赎回;抵偿;如果我们不是把时间花在弥补过去失去的机会上,什么样的机会呢?之后跟随which引导的非限制性定语从句作信息的补充,可以快速扫读,which在定语从句当中作宾语,which we call doing our duty.我们叫这些机会是我们的责任。
整句话意思是:我们会受到祝福:如果我们总是活在当下,抓住身边的每一个机遇,就如同小草感受到每一滴露水的滋润一样;如果不是把时间花在弥补被我们称作责任的、过去失去的机会上。
核心要点:
1.take advantage of 利用,占便宜
He decided to take advantage of the sale and buy a new laptop.
他决定利用打折活动,购买一台新笔记本电脑。
2.befall (不幸或不好的事)降临到……头上
A terrible tragedy befell the small town when a tornado hit it.
龙卷风袭击小镇时,一场可怕的悲剧降临了。
3.atone for 补偿,赎罪
He spent years volunteering and donating to atone for his past mistakes.
他花了多年时间进行志愿服务和捐赠,以补偿他过去的错误。
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