難句解析:
①The fact that the apple fell down toward the earth and not up into the tree answered the question he had been asking himself about those larger fruits of the heavens, the moon and the planets.
▲這個句子的主干是The fact answered the question。復雜之處在于主語fact跟了一個同位語從句,解釋的是fact的內容,注意這個從句中and省略了與前面相同的主語謂語the apple fell;后面的賓語帶了一個定語從句,這個從句的引導詞that或者which省略了,about短語是對question的解釋,those larger fruits of the heavens指的就是the moon and the planets。
△找出這個句子的主干,再看主語和賓語的修飾性短語,再一個需要注意的是larger fruits of the heavens和后面the moon and the planets的復指關系。
②In talking to scientists, particularly younger ones, you might gather the impression that they find the "scientific method" a substitute for imaginative thought.
▲這個句子的主干是you... gather the impression...,但是它的主要內容集中在impression后面的同位語從句中。在這個解釋impression的從句中有一個動詞結構find+n.+n.,意思是“覺得……是……”,在本句中是“覺得科學方法是一種替代品”,for后面的短語解釋了是什么的替代品。句子開始的介詞短語充當的是狀語,表示的是這種形象形成的時刻。
△可以撇開前面的狀語短語,只看主干,重要的是理解that從句中find后面跟兩個名詞的用法。
③If experiments are planned and carried out according to plan as faithfully as the reports in the science journals indicate, then it is perfectly logical for management to expect research to produce results measurable in dollars and cents.
▲這個主從復合句中的前半部分是if引導的條件從句,這個從句中有一個as... as...的結構,比較施行中的和書面所說的試驗的真實度(faithfully),注意后一個as后面跟的是一個句子,其中the report謂語是indicate;后半部分是主句,句中的it是形式主語,代替的是后面for... to...的結構,這是真正的主語。還需要注意的是results后面跟的形容詞短語說明的是results的衡量方式。
△準確理解as... as...結構,弄清faithfully這個副詞修飾的是動詞planned and carried out,再就是主句中形式主語的用法,要找到作為真正主語的不定式短語。
④It is entirely reasonable for auditors to believe that scientists who know exactly where they are going and how they will get there should not be distracted by the necessity of keeping one eye on the cash register while the other eye is on the microscope.
▲這個簡單句的主語用的是形式主語it,真正的主語是for后面的部分。believe后面跟的是一個that引導的賓語從句,主干是scientists... should not be distracted by...,其中的主語scientists跟了一個who引導的定語從句,這個定語從句的賓語分別是where和how引導的兩個從句。by后面名詞跟了一個of前導的動名詞短語,后面還有一個while引導的伴隨狀語,表示同時發生的動作。注意動詞詞組keep an eye on的用法。
△抓住believe后面賓語從句的意義,尤其是主語scientists的限定性從句以及by后面名詞短語的修飾作用。
⑤Nor, if regularity and conformity to a standard pattern are as desirable to the scientist as the writing of his papers would appear to reflect, is management to be blamed for discriminating against the "odd balls" among researchers in favor of more conventional thinkers who "work well with the team."
▲首先注意這個句子是個倒裝句,原因是否定詞nor在句首,后面緊跟的是if引導的條件從句,注意其中有一個as... as...的用法,中間跟的是形容詞desirable,比較的是科學家對regularity and conformity的希望和他們論文所反映的要求;這樣的構成使得主句的主語和謂語is發生了倒裝,介詞for后面跟動名詞短語的是blamed的理由,注意against和in favor of后面各跟了一種不同類型的researchers,最后需要注意的是thinkers后面跟的是who引導的定語從句,起修飾作用。
△理解主句的倒裝結構是理解這句話的關鍵,在看這個句子的時候不要忽略了句首的nor,這個單詞否定了整個主句。此句的主干是Nor is management to be blamed。
v. 預知,預言,預報,預測