Text I of Unit 8 (Book II)

Fourteen Steps

十四级台阶

Can an invalid lead a happy life ? Please explain

How would you show your appreciation if somebody helps you when you are in trouble?

生的伟大，死的光荣！Live a great life and die a glorious death.

Para. 1

1. My first life began on a clear, cold day in November 1934, when I arrived as the sixth of eight children of a farming family.

a. Is this a simple sentence or a complex one?

Answer: a complex one.

What clause is included in it?

The word “ when” introduces an attributive clause( 定语从句） .

= My first life began on a clear, cold day in November 1934. On that day I arrived as the sixth of eight children of a farming family.

b. 我是在 2009 年 9 月的第一天开始了我的大学生活，就在那天，我们 09 级的新生进行了军训。

My college life began on the first day of September, 2009, when the freshmen of our Grade 09 had our military training.

=We began our college life on the first day of September, 2009, on which the freshmen of our Grade 09 had our military training.

= We began our college life on the first day of September, 2009, when the freshmen of our Grade 09 had our military training.

= We began our college life on the first day of September, 2009, when the military training was started (conducted) for the freshmen of our Grade 09

c. What part of speech is the word “ as”?

“ Preposition( 介词）”

2. My father died when I was 15, and we had a hard struggle to make a living.

= My father died when I was 15 years old, and we struggled hard to survive.

= My father died when I was 15 years of age, and we struggled hard to survive.

== My father died when I was a 15-year-old teenager, and we struggled hard to survive.

3. As the children grew up, they married, leaving only one sister and myself to support and care for Mother, who became paralyzed in her last years and died while still in her 60s.

a. We can say in another way: As the children grew up, they married

and left only one sister and myself to support and care for Mother

The mother became paralyzed in her last years and died while she was still in her 60s.

As the children grew up, they married, leaving only one sister and myself to support and care for Mother, who became paralyzed in her last years and died while still in her 60s.

b. Is this a simple sentence or a complex one? Answer: a complex one.

• The word “ As” introduces an adverbial clause of time.

• The word “ leaving” a non-predict verb( 非谓语动词 ） present participle, used as an adverbial, attending circumstances( 作伴随性状语）

• The word “ who” introduces a non-restrictive attributive clause .

= As the children became adults ( grown-ups), they married with only one sister and myself left to support and care for Mother, who was paralyzed in her last years and died while she was still in her 60’s.

c. paralyze: His legs were paralyzed after the marathon race. 那次马拉松比赛后，他的腿瘫痪了。 The power failure paralyzed the whole city life. 停电使整个城市生活陷入瘫痪。 Franklin Roosevelt became paralyzed when he w

as 39 years old.

4. follow one’s example 以…为榜样 = follow in one’s footsteps (Para. 2 on P 1 )

我们以张海迪为榜样，把我们的工作做好。We should follow Zhang Haidi’s example and d

o our work well.

= We should follow in Zhang Haidi’s footsteps and do our work well.

Para. 21. This was when I began to enjoy my first life.a. Is this a simple sentence or a complex one? Answer: a complex one. • The word “ when” introduces a predicative clause （表

语从句） . The word “when” is a conjunctive adverb.( 连接副词）

• = This was the time when I began to enjoy my first life. The word “ when” introduces an attributive clause . The word “when” is a relative adverb. ( 关系副词）

• When he was young, he liked drawing.The word “ when” introduces an adverbial clause of time . The word “when” is a subordinate conjunction.( 从属连词）

b. That’s how matters stand. 情况就是如此。 That’s not what I meant. 这不是我的意思。 That ‘s where the battle took place.

那就是那次战役发生的地方。

2. I became afflicted with a slowly progressive disease of the motor nerves, affecting first my right arm and leg and then my other side.

a. Is this a simple sentence or a complex one?

Answer: a simple one.

• The word “ affecting” a non-predict verb( 非谓语动词 ） present participle, used as an adverbial, attending circumstances( 作伴随性状语）

b. I became afflicted with a slowly progressive disease of the motor nerves, affecting first my right arm and leg and then my other side.

= I suffered from a slowly progressive disease of the motor nerves. They affected (had a bad effect on ) first my right arm and leg and then my other side.

= I suffered from a slowly progressive disease of the motor nerves, which affected first my right arm and leg and then my other side.

c. afflict: vt. 使苦恼，折磨 A nightmare afflicts her from time to time. 恶梦不时折磨着她。 Unemployment afflicts 1.2 million workers in that c

ountry. 在那个国家 120 万工人深受失业之苦。 Mankind is afflicted with many diseases. 人类要受许多疾病的折磨。 He felt much afflicted at ( 或 by) the news.= He became much afflicted at ( 或 by) the news. 听到那个消息他感到很难过。

3. Thus began my second life.(inverted order 倒装结构）

= So my second life began.

Para. 31. In spite of my disease I still drove to and from work each

day, with the aid of special equipment installed in my car. a. Is this a simple sentence or a complex one? Answer: a simple one. Please change it into a complex one. a. In spite of my disease I still drove to and from work each

day, with the aid of special equipment that (which) was installed in my car.

b. = In spite of the fact that I had a terrible disease, I still drove to and from work each day, with the aid of special equipment that (which) was installed in my car.

c. = Despite the fact that I had a terrible disease, I still drove to and from work each day, with the aid of special equipment that (which) was installed in my car.

2. I managed to keep my health and optimism , to a degree, because of 14 steps.

= I succeeded in keeping my health and optimism, partly because of 14 steps.

= I succeeded in keeping my health and optimism, to a certain degree, because of 14 steps.

= I managed to remain healthy and optimistic, to a certain degree, because of 14 steps.

= I managed to stay healthy and optimistic, to a certain degree, because of 14 steps.

3. Our home was a split-level affair with 14 steps leading up from the garage to the kitchen door.

a. Is this a simple sentence or a complex one?

Answer: a simple one.

Please change it into three sentences

Our home was a split-level affair( house). It had 14 steps. They led up from the garage to the kitchen door.

Please change it into a complex one.

=Our home was a split-level affair which had 14 steps that led up from the garage to the kitchen door.

a. With summer coming on, we need to buy some T-shirts.

b. He won’t be able to go on holiday with his mother being ill.

c. Peter soon fell asleep, with the light still burning.

4. I would be utterly spent.

= I would be completely (totally, extremely) tired.

5. through adj. If you are through with something or if it is through, you have finished doing it and will never do it again.

完成的，结束的，完结的 a. Are you through with your homework?

= Have you finished your homework?

b. His days of acting were through.

他的演员生涯已告结束。

Para. 51. As I became older, I became more disillusioned a

nd frustrated. Is this a simple sentence or a complex one? Answer: a complex one. The word “As” introduces an adverbial clause of time. Please change it into a simple sentence= With the passage of time, I became more disillusion

ed and frustrated.= With each passing day, I became more disillsioned

and frustrated.=……

Para. 61. Gusty winds and slashing rain beat down on the c

ar as I drove slowly down one of the less-travelled roads.

= Gusty winds and slashing rain beat down on the car as I drove slowly down one of the roads on which only a few people travelled.

What part of speech is the word “down ”here?The first “ down” is an adverb. The second “ down” is a preposition.

Please sit down (adv.) .Go down this street and you’ll find the shop.

2. I fought the car to stop on the rain-slick shoulder of the road and sat there as the enormity of the situation swept over me.

Paraphrase: I tried my best to control the car and stopped on the rain-slippery shoulder of the road. I was sitting there and was totally gripped by the seriousness and helplessness of the situation.

a. fight: 同…斗争；设法战胜， fight hunger, disease and poverty

同饥饿、疾病和穷困进行斗争 fight inflation

为抑制通货膨胀而斗争 fight a bad habit

设法戒掉恶习

b. enormity : If you refer to the enormity of something such as a problem or difficulty, you are referring to its very large size or extent and its seriousness.

庞大，巨大，严重性 We were really not aware of the enormity of

that problem. 我们确实没有意识到那个问题的严重性。 Smith didn’t seemingly grasp the enormity o

f the danger involved. 史密斯似乎并不明白所涉及到的危险之大。 enormous （ adj.) 巨大的，庞大的

c. sweep over

从…上面打过去（吹过） ]

A huge wave swept over the deck. （甲板） The wind swept over the valley.

席卷，蔓延开 The revolutionary wave swept over the whol

e of Europe.

扫视 His eyes swept over the landscape until he

saw the farm

3. A thought that a passing motorist might stop was dismissed at once.

Is this a simple sentence or a complex one?

Answer: a complex one.

The word “that” introduces an appositive clause ( 同位语从句） .

Please paraphrase:

I thought a passing driver might stop to help. But soon I refused to continue thinking about it.

4. Then I remembered that a short distance up a little side road was a house.

What part of speech is the word “up ”here?The word “ up” is a preposition. 往（或在）…的上端，向（或在）…的较高处；

沿着…往上climb up a hill 爬山The cat is up the tree. 猫在树上。I carried my suitcase up the stairs behind her. 我提着箱子跟在她后面上楼。 go up attic 上阁楼His office is up the stairs. 他的办公室在楼上。

5. I started the engine and thumped slowly along, keeping well over on the shoulder until I came to the dirt road, where I turned in ( 拐了下去）— thankfully.

Paraphrase: I started the car and drove slowly along. I tried to keep completely on the road shoulder until I came to the dirt road.

From there , I turned in. Thank God.

Is the original sentence a simple one or a complex one?

Answer: a complex one.

The word “until” introduces an adverbial clause of time.

The word “where” introduces a non-restrictive attributive clause （非限制性定语从句） .

….The present participle phrase “ keeping well over on the shoulder until I came to the dirt road” modifies ( 修饰） the verb “thumped”, used as adverbial, attending circumstances（作伴随性状语） .

Para. 7

1. The door opened and a little girl stood there, peering at me.

Is this a simple sentence or a complex one?

Answer: a simple one.

=The door opened and a little girl stood there. She was peering at me. (look carefully or hard at me.)

Is “peering at me” gerund or present participle?

The present participle phrase “ peering at ” modifies ( 修饰） the verb “stood”, used as adverbial, attending circumstances （作伴随性状语） .

2. She went into the house and a moment later came out bundled in raincoat and hat, followed by a man who called a cheerful greeting.

a. Is this a simple sentence or a complex one? Answer: a complex one. The word “who” introduces an attributive cla

use ( 定语从句） .b. What member( 句子成分） does “bundled

in raincoat and hat, followed by a man who called a cheerful greeting.” serve as?

The past participle phrases serve as adverbial, attending circumstances.

c. Can you use simple sentences to rewrite it?

She went into the house. A moment later she came out. She was bundled in raincoat and hat. She was followed by a man. The man called a cheerful greeting.

3. I sat there comfortable and dry,

“I” is the subject( 主语） . “Sat” is “predict” （谓语） . “there” is adverbial.( 状语）

Then what member is “comfortable and dry” ?

It is predicative( 表语） .

Verbs have four kinds

1). Notional verbs.( 实义动词）2). Auxiliary verbs ( 助动词）3) Link verbs ( 连系动词）4) Modal verbs （情态动词） What kind of verb does the word “sat” belong to?

Answer: link verb.

《实用英语语法》张道真 P 357 第四类句型– 主语 + 系动词 + 表语5 ） 在个别不及物动词（ intransitive verb) 后也可跟

一形容词作表语a. The prisoner broke free. 囚犯越狱出逃。b. The soldiers have returned safe and sound. 士兵们平安无事地回来了。c. The morning dawned bright. 这天早晨天亮进天气晴朗。d. Many talented people died young. 许多有才华的人年纪轻轻就夭亡了。e. He sat motionless with horror. 她吓得一动不动呆坐在那里。

f. The rent falls due today.

房租今天该交了。g. Ten others lay wounded there.

h. He played dead.

他躺下装死。i. I stand prepared to dispute it.

我准备好对它提出质疑。

I sat there comfortable and dry,

Can we say “I sat there comfortably and dryly ?

Answer: No. Because adverbs can’t be used as predicative.

The house sits high on a hill overlooking a lake.

( 张道真，现代英语用法词典）The house sits well up on the slope.

vi. 栖息，待在（某处），位于（某处）

4. I felt a bit sorry for the man and the little girl working so hard in the storm.

a. Is this a simple sentence or a compound one( 并列句） ?

Answer: a simple one.

What member does “working so hard in the storm” serve as?

It serves as attribute( 定语） .

We can put the sentence into two.

= I felt a bit sorry for the man and the little girl. They were working so hard in the storm.

= I felt a bit sorry for the man and the little girl who (that) were working so hard in the storm.

张道真语法 P323

现在分词（短语）还可用在名词后作定语、作用接近一个定语从句

a. Here is a leaflet giving full particulars of the plan. 这里有一份介绍这计划全部细节的宣传单。

b. The village is made up of 490 families belonging to five nationalities.

村子里有四百九十户人家，分属五个民族。 =The villag is made up of 490 families who

belonged to five nationalities.

c. China streches across a vast area covering the cold, temperate and tropical areas.

中国幅员辽阔、包括寒带、温带和热带。 =China streches across a vast area which (that) c

overs the cold, temperate and tropical areas.d. We are brothers sharing weal and woe. 我们是患难与共的兄弟。 = We are brothers who (that) share weal and woe.e. They plan to build a highway leading into the mou

ntains. 他们计划修一条公路通往山区。 = They plan to build a highway that (which) leads i

nto the mountains.

f. Who is the man talking to Jim?

= Who is the man that (who) is talking to Jim?

g. There is a car waiting outside.

= There is a car which is waiting outside.

5. The rain seemed to be slackening a bit now.

Sentence transformation:

= It seemed……

= It seemed that the rain was slackening a bit now.

It seemed to me that they were awfully slow.

6. She was answered by the murmur of the man’s lower voice.

murmur: If you murmur or you murmur something, you say it very quietly, so that not many people can hear what you are saying.

say in a low voice

whisper

Please see P33 ↑Line 2

under one’s breath

7. There followed a long interval of noises, jolts and low conversation from the back of the car.

a. interval: An interval is the period of time that passes between two particular moments or dates.

（时间上的）间隔 The earthquake in Wenchuan took place on

May 12, 2008. The earthquake in Yushu took place on April 14, 2010. 这二个日期之间有 23 个月的间隔。

The interval between these two dates is about 23 months.

b. There followed a long interval of noises, jolts and low conversation from the back of the car.

We can say: There was a long interval of noises, jolts and low conversation from the back of the car.

Do you think the verb“ follow” is a transitive verb (Vt.及物动词 ) or intransitive verb (Vi.)?

Answer: Vi.

a. Once upon a time, there lived a fisherman on the island.

很久以前，岛上住着一位渔夫。b. There followed a flood of indignation in the newspa

pers. 随后报纸发出一片愤怒的声音。

c. There came a knock at the door.

有人敲门。d. There remained just fifty dollars.

只剩五十美元了。e. At the top of the hill there stands an old tem

ple.

山顶上有一座古庙。f. There sprang from audience a cry of indign

ation.

听众中突然发出一阵愤怒的吼声。

8. I heard the slam of the trunk lid.

slam: If you slam a door or window or if it slams, you shut it noisily and with great force. 砰地关上；使劲关上

She went out, slamming the door behind her. 她砰地一声把门带上，出去了。

Out in the street a car door slammed.

外面街上有扇汽车门砰地关上。

Para. 9

1. Ｉ was sick with an intensity (强度，力量） I had never felt before.

=Ｉ was sick with an intensity that (which)

I had never felt before.

Taking long-distances coaches always

make him sick. 他坐长途车时老是想吐。 labor- intensive

劳动密集型

2. …wet fingers for bolts and tools in the dark.

vice 老虎钳

bolt 螺丝刀

screw –driver 螺丝刀

3. but it was long enough for me to search deep within myself and find some disturbing traits (特征 ,特点 ,特性 ).

4. I realized that I was filled to overflowing with self-pity (自怜 ), selfishness, indifference(冷淡 ) to the needs of others and thoughtlessness.

I realized that I was filled with self-pity (自怜 ), selfishness, indifference(冷淡 ) and thoughtlessness.

overflowing (n.) : 溢出，满出，剩余a. They filled the small living room to overflowi

ng. 他们把那间小起居室挤得满满的，有些人只好站到外面了。（陆谷孙）

b. The hotel was full to overflowing.

旅馆里人满为患。c. The ashtrays were full to overflowing.

烟灰缸里的烟头快要满出来了。

• Every spring the river overflows. 每到春天河水就泛滥。• The bathtub is overflowing. Who left the wa

ter running? 浴缸溢水。是谁把水龙头开着不关的？• The large banquet hall overflowed with gue

sts. 宽敞的宴会大厅挤满了宾客。• Her heart is overflowing with gratitude. 她满怀感恩之情。• He overflowed with learning. • 他才学横溢。

Para. 10

1. Therefore all things whatever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even to them”

Do to other people whatever you would like them to do to you.

• 己所不欲，勿施于人• 百科名片• 己所不欲，勿施于人，出自《论语》。中国古代思想家教育家孔子的名言。解释为自己不希望他人对待自己的言行，自已也不要以那种言行对待他人。

• Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.

• Treat the others as you would like to be treated ；

2. prophet :

① A prophet is a person who is believed to be chosen by God to say things that God himself wants to say to people, for example to tell them what they should do and what they should not do.

先知，神的代言人 ② A prophet is a person who predicts that

particular things will happen or will become true in the future.

预言者，预言家

③ A prophet is someone who is strongly in favour of a particular idea and actively supports it .

（某种思想的）宣扬者，提倡者 a prophet of peace

④ The Prophet is another name for

Mohammed, the founder of Islam.

（伊斯兰教创始人）穆罕默德

3. It is a way of life, one that I am trying to follow.

① Is this a simple sentence or a complex one?

Answer: a complex one.

The word “that” introduces an attributive clause ( 定语从句） .

Can we use “which” instead of “that”?

Answer: No. Because the antecedent is “pronoun”.

A: Do you have anything that you want to say?

B: No, I have nothing that I want to say.

② It is a way of life, one that I am trying to follow.

= It is a way of life, one I am trying to follow.

= It is a way of life, the way that I am trying

to follow.

= It is a way of life, the way I am trying to

follow.

4. Someday, perhaps, I will change a tire for a blind man in a car---someone as blind as I had been.

someday= some day

Was our writer blind before?

Answer: No, but on one stormy night when he had a flat tire, it seemed that he was blind that night, for he didn’t notice that a blind man and a little girl changed the tire for him. When the writer wanted to pay a five-dollar-bill for it, the blind man refused to accept in a kind way. That shocked the writer.

He thought he should learn from the blind man and fought bravely against any adversity(逆境） .