常春藤解析英語 46 Spotting Trains鐵道迷

Spotting Trains　鐵道迷

by Kevin Lustig

Like many hobbies, an interest in railroads can be enjoyed in a number of different ways. Railroad fans build model railroads, read magazines about trains, and go to train museums. However, for the most extreme fans, _(1)_ but the real thing will do. These railroad fans want to see full-size trains on actual train tracks, and they're often _(2)_ to do whatever it takes in order to fulfill this desire.

"Railfan" is the term _(3)_ by people who have a strong interest in the world of railways. Another name for people in this group is the popular term "trainspotter." This nickname comes from the fact that an important part of railfan activities is visiting railways and train stations to spot trains _(4)_. Many railfans try to see as many different kinds of train cars and engines as possible in their lifetimes, while others go _(5)_ of only the rarest trains. In order to prove their trainspotting accomplishments, railfans are often _(6)_ photographers. They might also keep elaborate _(7)_ that list train types and where and when they were seen.

One unintended result of railfans' hobby is that they often _(8)_ in railroad safety and security. Hardly anyone knows what is and isn't _(9)_ at train stations and around train tracks better than the people who spend much of their free time there. In many parts of the world, police forces work with railfans to monitor railroad resources.In this way, railfans can spot more than just trains; they might also spot suspicious activity and _(10)_ it to the police. For travelers, this helps to keep everyone safe and secure. For railfans, it's all just a part of doing what they love.

(A) skillful (B) normal (C) report (D) willing (E) in search

(F) in person (G) nothing (H) journals (I) adopted (J) play a role

原來如此

1.However, for the most extreme fans, nothing but the real thing will do.

理由:

a.原句尚缺主詞，得知空格應(yīng)置入名詞。

b.由于空格后有 but，得知空格內(nèi)應(yīng)置入 (G) 選項的 nothing，以形成 nothing but 的固定用法，此處的 but 則視為介詞，等于 except(除了……之外)。

例: Nothing but a glass of icy water can quench my thirst now.

= Nothing except a glass of icy water can quench my thirst now.

(現(xiàn)在除了一杯冰水外，什么也無法讓我止渴。)

c.根據(jù)上述，(G) 應(yīng)為正選。

2....and they're often willing to do whatever it takes in order to fulfill this desire.

理由:

a.空格前有 be 動詞 are(they're = they are)，其后為不定詞 to，得知本空格應(yīng)置入形容詞。

b.選項中為形容詞的有 (A) skillful(有技巧的)、(B) normal(正常的)與 (D) willing(愿意的)，但空格后有不定詞詞組 "to do whatever it takes"，選項中僅 willing 可與不定詞詞組并用，形成下列固定結(jié)構(gòu)：

be willing to V　　愿意(做)……

例: I'm willing to do anything to convince May to go out with me.

(為了說服小梅跟我約會，我什么都愿意做。)

c.根據(jù)語意及上述用法，故選 (D)。

3."Railfan" is the term adopted by people who have a strong interest in the world of railways.

理由:

a.空格后為介詞詞組 by people(被人們)，得知空格應(yīng)置入過去分詞，以形成被動語態(tài)。

b.選項中，僅 (I) adopted(被采用)為過去分詞，置入空格后實等于 "which was adopted by people..."，合乎語意及用法，故選 (I)。

c.adopt vt. 采用

例: Our baseball team has been winning ever since we adopted a new strategy.

(我們棒球隊自從采用新戰(zhàn)略后就沒輸過。)

4....an important part of railfan activities is visiting railways and train stations to spot trains in person.

理由:

a.空格前的句子為完整的結(jié)構(gòu)，故知可置入副詞。

b.選項中，(F) in person 為介詞詞組，可作副詞用，表『親自』，等于副詞 personally，置入后亦符合語意，故選之。

c.in person　　親自地

例: I've seen the president on TV, but never in person.

(我曾經(jīng)在電視上看過總統(tǒng)，但從沒見過本人。)

5.Many railfans try to..., while others go in search of only the rarest trains.

理由:

a.空格后有介詞 of，得知可置入 (E) 選項，形成下列固定用法：

in search of...　　尋找……

例: The scientists went in search of the mysterious Loch Ness Monster.

(科學(xué)家尋找神秘的尼斯湖水怪。)

b.根據(jù)上述，in search 置入后亦符合語意，表有些人會去『尋找』最罕見的火車，故選 (E)。

6.In order to prove their trainspotting accomplishments, railfans are often skillful photographers.

理由:

a.空格前后為 be 動詞 are 和名詞 photographers

(攝影師)，得知空格應(yīng)置入形容詞以修飾復(fù)數(shù)名詞。

b.選項中為形容詞的有 (A) skillful(技術(shù)好的)與 (B) normal(正常的)，然根據(jù)語意，本處應(yīng)是指鐵道迷因時常拍攝火車而成了『技巧純熟的』攝影師，(A) 置入后符合語意，故選之。

c.skillful a. 技術(shù)好的

be skillful in/at...　　精于……

例: A good writer is skillful at using words to affect readers' emotions.

(一位好作家擅長以文字影響讀者的情緒。)

7.They might also keep elaborate journals that list train types...

理由:

a.空格前有形容詞 elaborate(詳盡的)，得知空格內(nèi)應(yīng)置入名詞，以供 elaborate 修飾。

b.選項中，僅 (C) report(報導(dǎo))以及 (H) journals(日志)為名詞，但 report 與 journal 均為可數(shù)名詞，之前若無冠詞時，應(yīng)采復(fù)數(shù)，故根據(jù)語意及用法，應(yīng)選 (H)。

c.keep journals/a journal　　寫日記∕記錄

例: Greg kept a journal to organize his thoughts and feelings.

(格雷寫日記來整理自己的想法與感受。)

8....they often play a role in railroad safety and security.

理由:

a.空格前有主詞 they(他們，指鐵道迷)，得知空格內(nèi)應(yīng)置復(fù)數(shù)動詞。

b.由于空格后有介詞 in，得知 (J) play a role(扮演一個角色)應(yīng)為正選。

c.play a role/part in...　　參與……;在……中占有一席之地

例: The location of a store often plays a role in attracting business.

(商店的地點往往會影響生意的好壞。)

9.Hardly anyone knows what is and isn't normal at train stations and around train tracks...

理由:

a.空格前有 be 動詞 is 和 isn't，得知本空格應(yīng)置入名詞或形容詞。

b.選項中僅剩 (B) normal(正常的)為形容詞，置入后亦符合語意，故為正選。

c.normal a. 正常的

10....they might also spot suspicious activity and report it to the police.

理由:

a.原句的對等連接詞 and 前有助動詞 might，得知本空格應(yīng)置入原形動詞，與 and 之前的原形動詞 spot(看見;發(fā)現(xiàn))形成對等。

b.選項中僅剩 (C) report(報告)為原形動詞，置入后亦符合語意，故為正選。

c.report vt. & vi. & n. 報告;報導(dǎo)

report sth to sb　　向某人報告某事

例: Gina reported Jeff's bad behavior to the teacher.

(吉娜向老師報告杰夫惡劣的行為。)

精解字詞詞組

1.fulfill　　vt. 實現(xiàn)(夢想、希望等)

例: Roy finally fulfilled his dream of becoming an airline pilot.

(洛伊終于實現(xiàn)成為機師的夢想。)

2.elaborate　　a. 詳盡的，精心制作的 & vi. 詳細說明(與介詞 on 并用)

elaborate on...　　詳細說明……

例: I'll give the general plan, and then Kathy will elaborate on the details.

(我會說明概略計劃，然后卡西會詳細說明細節(jié)。)

3.monitor　　vt. 監(jiān)視;監(jiān)控

例: The media seems to monitor everything celebrities say and do.

(名人的一言一行似乎都在媒體的監(jiān)控下。)

4.suspicious　　a. 懷疑的

be suspicious of...　　對……感到懷疑

例: The police were suspicious of a package someone left at the train station.

(警方對放置在火車站的一個包裹起疑。)

單字小鋪

1.spot vt. 看見;發(fā)現(xiàn)

2.railroad n. 鐵路

3.model n. 模型

4.extreme a. 極端地

5.full-size a. 與原物一樣大小的

6.track n. 鐵軌

7.railway n. 鐵路

8.nickname n. 綽號

9.rare a. 罕見的

10.accomplishment n. 成就;才能，才藝(常用復(fù)數(shù))

a person of accomplishment　　很有成就的人

a person of accomplishments　　多才多藝的人

11.photographer n. 攝影師

12.unintended a. 非故意的，無心的

13.resource n. 資源(常用復(fù)數(shù))

詞組小鋪

1.a number of + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞　　一些……

an amount of + 不可數(shù)名詞　　一些……

2.in order to V　　為了……

3.as many + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞 + as possible　　盡可能多的……

as much + 不可數(shù)名詞 + as possible　　盡可能多的……

4.in this way　　如此一來

中文翻譯&標準答案

如同許多嗜好一樣，對鐵路的興趣也有若干不同的方法。鐵道迷們制作鐵道模型、閱讀有關(guān)火車情報的雜志，也參觀火車博物館。然而，對最狂熱的鐵道迷來說，只有真正的火車能滿足他們。這些鐵道迷想看的是鐵軌上真實大小的火車，為了實現(xiàn)這樣的愿望，他們通常愿意不顧一切。

『鐵道迷』一詞是對鐵路世界懷抱著濃厚興趣的人所采用的。另一個常用來稱呼這群人的詞是『看火車的人』。這個昵稱的由來是因為鐵道迷最重要的活動，就是親自去參觀鐵道、到車站看火車。許多鐵道迷設(shè)法在一生中，盡量去看各種不同的火車與引擎，而有些鐵道迷則只想尋找最罕見的火車。為了證明自己的賞車成就，鐵道迷通常都是技巧純熟的攝影師。他們也可能會撰寫詳盡的日志列出火車類型，及看見的時間和地點。

鐵道迷的嗜好產(chǎn)生一個無心插柳的結(jié)果，就是他們常會參與鐵道的危安工作。幾乎沒有其它人比花了許多空閑時間待在車站和鐵軌附近的鐵道迷，更了解那里的運作是否正常。世界各地有許多地區(qū)的警方與鐵道迷一同監(jiān)控鐵路資源。這么一來，鐵道迷不只可以觀賞火車，也能發(fā)現(xiàn)可疑活動并報告給警方。對旅客而言，這確保了大眾的安全;對鐵道迷來說，這只是從事他們自己愛好的一部分。

標準答案:1. (G)　2. (D)　3. (I)　4. (F)　5. (E) 　6. (A)　7. (H)　8. (J)　9. (B)　10. (C)