But not murder! !

原文

Do you think that the writer passed his driving test? Why?

I was being tested for a driving licence for the third time.

I had been asked to drive in heavy traffic and had done so successfully.

After having been instructed to drive out of town, I began to acquire confidence.

Sure that I had passed, I was almost beginning to enjoy my test.

The examiner must have been pleased with my performance, for he smiled and said, 'Just one more thing Mr. Eames.

Let us suppose that a child suddenly crosses the road in front of you.

As soon as I tap on the window, you must stop within five feet.'

I continued driving and after some time, the examiner tapped loudly.

Though the sound could be heard clearly, it took me a long time to react.

I suddenly pressed the brake pedal hard and we were both thrown forward.

The examiner looked at me sadly.

'Mr. Eames,' he said, in a mournful voice, 'you have just killed that child!'

译文

你认为那位作者通过了驾驶考试吗?为什么?

这是我第三次参加驾照考试了。

我曾被要求在繁忙的交通中驾驶,而且我成功地做到了。

在接到“开车离开城镇”的指令后,我开始有了信心。

当我确定自己已经通过了考试后,我甚至开始享受这个考试过程了。

考官一定对我的表现很满意,因为他微笑着对我说:“还有一件事,埃姆斯先生。”

假设突然有一个孩子在你面前横穿马路。

“我一敲窗户,你就必须在五英尺内停下来。”

我继续开车,过了一会儿,考官大声地敲了敲车窗。

虽然那个声音听得非常清楚,但我还是花了很长时间才做出反应。

我突然猛踩刹车,结果我们俩都被向前甩了出去。

考官难过地看着我。

“埃姆斯先生,”他用悲伤的语气说道,“你刚刚撞死了那个孩子!”

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词汇表

licence

名词
英:/ˈlaɪs(ə)ns/
美:/ˈlaɪsəns/
定义
1. 执照 - An official document or permit that allows someone to do something, such as drive a vehicle.

例子: You need a driving licence to operate a car legally.

例子: He finally obtained his fishing licence after passing the test.

2. 许可证 - Formal permission or authorization for an activity.

例子: The restaurant has a licence to serve alcohol.

例子: She applied for a business licence to start her shop.

近义词
permit: 更通用,指任何形式的官方允许,与 'licence' 类似,但常用于临时或具体活动,如停车许可。
certificate: 强调证明文件,常用于教育或资格证明,而 'licence' 更侧重于官方授权,如驾照。
authorization: 更正式且抽象,指授予的权力,不一定涉及物理文件,与 'licence' 相比更适用于行政或法律语境。
反义词:
prohibition, ban, restriction
用法
常用于正式语境中描述官方文件或权限,尤其在法律、交通或商业领域。在英国英语中,作名词时拼作 'licence',而美国英语中为 'license';常见搭配如 'driving licence' 或 'licence to operate'。
形式:
复数: licences

关键句型 "I had been asked to [verb]..."

定义

此句型是过去完成时的被动语态结构,用于描述在过去某个时间点之前已经发生的动作,并强调动作是被动的。基本结构为:主语 + had been + 过去分词 + to + 动词原形。根据《剑桥英语语法手册》,这是一种结合过去完成时和被动语态的表达,常用于叙述过去事件的先后顺序和被动关系。例如,在文章中,“I had been asked to drive in heavy traffic” 表示在叙述的过去时刻之前,有人已经要求我开车,但动作是被动的。

这种句型帮助学习者表达复杂的时间关系,同时突出动作的接受者。

用法

此句型主要用于故事叙述、回忆或报告中,强调一个过去动作发生在另一个过去动作之前,且该动作是被动的。规则:在过去完成时(had + 过去分词)的被动形式中添加 to + 动词原形,表示意图或安排。

在语法体系中,它属于时态和语态的交叉点,与主动语态的过去完成时(如 "I had asked")形成对比。横向比较:与简单过去时被动语态(如 "I was asked")相比,此句型更强调动作的完成和先后顺序;与现在完成时被动语态(如 "I have been asked")相比,它专注于过去的时间框架。另外,与条件句中的虚拟语气(如 "If I had been asked")相关联,学生可以扩展学习如何在假设情景中使用。

跨语法联系:它常与时间状语(如 "after"、"before")结合,帮助构建复杂叙述。学生应注意与其他时态的区别,例如与过去进行时的被动语态(如 "I was being tested")的联系,后者强调当时正在发生的动作。

注意事项

学生容易犯的错误包括混淆主动和被动语态,导致说成 "I had asked to drive"(这是主动语态);或错误使用时态,如说 "I was been asked" 而非 "I had been asked"。纠正建议:记住 had been + 过去分词 的固定结构,并练习在上下文中使用。另一个常见问题是用错不定式形式,如 "I had been asked driving" 应为 "I had been asked to drive"。

错误示例:I had asked to drive in traffic.  (主动语态,改变了原意)
正确示例:I had been asked to drive in traffic and had done so successfully.

此外,学生可能忽略时态的逻辑顺序,在叙述中跳跃。建议通过阅读故事练习保持时间线清晰。

练习

原创例子:假设你在分享个人经历,说:“Before the interview, I had been asked to prepare a presentation.” 学生可以替换 [verb] 为其他动作,如 “to write a report”,并改编句子为自己的故事,例如:“By the time I arrived, I had been asked to bring extra documents.”

这种替换练习能让学生在日常叙述中应用句型,增强对过去事件顺序的把握。

额外内容

背景知识:过去完成时的被动语态起源于英语中对时间和语态的精细表达,常见于文学和正式写作中。对比分析:与中文的表达(如 “我已经被要求去做…”)类似,但英语更依赖语法结构而非词汇。在其他语言如法语中,类似结构(如 “j'avais été demandé”)也存在,但英语的时态系统更灵活。学习此句型能帮助学生理解英语叙述的深度,同时为高级写作(如报告或小说)奠定基础。

关键句型 "As soon as [clause], [clause]"

定义

此句型用于表示两个动作的紧密时间顺序,即一个动作刚发生,另一个动作立即跟随。结构为:As soon as + 从句(主句)。根据《牛津现代英语语法》,它是一种时间状语从句,强调事件的即时性,常用于描述快速反应或条件触发的情景。例如,文章中的 "As soon as I tap on the window, you must stop within five feet" 表示敲窗的瞬间必须刹车。

这种句型在英语中很常见,帮助学习者表达因果或顺序关系。

用法

此句型主要用于叙述、指令或预测中,突出事件的紧凑性。规则:As soon as 引导从句,通常用一般时态,而主句可以是各种时态(如将来时、过去时)。

在语法体系中,它属于从句结构,与其他时间状语从句(如 "when"、"after")相关。横向比较:与 "When [clause], [clause]" 相比,As soon as 更强调立即性,而 "When" 可能表示一般或稍后发生;与 "If [clause], [clause]" 相比,它关注时间而非条件。跨语法联系:学生可以将其与情态动词结合(如文章中的 "you must stop"),或扩展到其他从句如 "as long as"(只要),以构建更复杂的句子。

这种比较有助于学生分辨不同从句的细微差别,增强语法灵活性。

注意事项

学生常犯的错误是时态不一致,例如在从句中使用将来时(如 "As soon as I will tap" 应为 "As soon as I tap");或将主句和从句顺序颠倒,导致句子不自然。纠正建议:始终用一般时态引导 As soon as 从句,并确保主句逻辑上跟随。另一个问题是忽略逗号使用,在复杂句中可能引起歧义。

错误示例:As soon as I will hear the bell, I stop running.  (时态错误)
正确示例:As soon as I hear the bell, I must stop running.

练习时,注意语调以突出 urgency。

练习

原创例子:在安全培训中,你可以说:“As soon as the alarm rings, everyone must evacuate the building.” 学生可以替换 [clause] 为个人场景,如 “As soon as the phone rings, I will answer it immediately.” 并尝试改编为过去时:“As soon as the teacher called my name, I stood up.”

通过这种替换,学生能将句型应用到日常生活,提升反应描述的能力。

额外内容

背景知识:As soon as 源自英语中对时间精确表达的传统,常用于紧急或指令语境,如交通规则或故事叙述。对比分析:与西班牙语的 "tan pronto como" 类似,英语版本更简洁。在中文中,类似 "一…就…",但英语强调结构一致性。了解此句型能丰富学生的叙述技巧,并帮助他们在跨文化交流中准确传达 urgency。