難句解析:
①That experiences influence subsequent behaviour is evidence of an obvious but nevertheless remarkable activity called remembering.
▲本句的主語是個從句That experiences influence subsequent behaviour,而后面是一個簡單的系表結(jié)構(gòu)is evidence,只不過evidence后面的修飾成分較多,里面的兩個形容詞obvious和remarkable之間還用了but nevertheless來表達一種轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)系。
△注意在閱讀的時候先要抓住主干結(jié)構(gòu),特別是主語從句。在表語的部分要能夠一眼認出其核心結(jié)構(gòu)是evidence of activity。
②Constant practice has such as effect on memory as to lead to skilful performance on the piano, to recitation of a poem, and even to reading and understanding these words.
▲本句的主干很簡單,就是Constant practice has... effect on memory,主要的結(jié)構(gòu)是such as... as...,在后一個as的后面有一個不定式,而這個不定式有三個并列的賓語to skilful performance on the piano, to recitation of a poem, and even to reading and understanding these words,注意這里的三個to都是介詞,和動詞lead構(gòu)成詞組。
△注意先抓主干結(jié)構(gòu),另外要注意such as... as...是一種舉例子的形式。
③Over a period of no practice what has been learned tends to be forgotten; and the adaptive consequences may not seem obvious.
▲本句可一分為二,在分號處分開,前面的分句中over a period of no practice是個時間狀語,主語是個從句what has been learned,謂語是tends to be forgotten,后面的結(jié)構(gòu)非常簡單。
△理解本句以及下面幾句的功夫不在文字上,而是要求同學們對于進化論的假設(shè)和其與記憶的關(guān)系有一個明確的認識。在這里我們要知道,作者認為遺忘是一種生物在進化中適應(yīng)外界殘酷現(xiàn)實的適應(yīng)性行為,因為只有忘掉了過去的不愉快經(jīng)歷,一個生命才有可能活得更加生機勃勃。而這樣的觀點的一種必然推論就是迅速遺忘要優(yōu)于慢速遺忘,因為忘得越快就越能適應(yīng)外部世界。那么在這里作者就指出用進化論適應(yīng)性的觀點來解釋遺忘有局限性。
④Nevertheless, an evolutionary interpretation might make it difficult to understand how the commonly gradual process of forgetting survived natural selection.
▲本句的主語是an evolutionary interpretation,謂語might make,而賓語的部分比較復雜,有一個形式賓語it,在真正的作賓語的不定式中還有一個從句how the commonly gradual process of forgetting survived natural selection。
△注意理清句子結(jié)構(gòu),意思的理解請參看上句△部分。
⑤In thinking about the evolution of memory together with all its possible aspects, it is helpful to consider what would happen if memories failed to fade.
▲本句的主干是it is helpful to do sth.,真正的主語是to consider這個不定式,當然它里面還包含了一個帶條件從句的賓語從句。逗號前面的是一個狀語。
△注意在閱讀的時候先要抓住主干結(jié)構(gòu),同時看清主句中的it是一個形式主語,指代的是后面的不定式結(jié)構(gòu)。而前面的一個its應(yīng)該是指memory。
⑥Another line of thought assumes a memory storage system of limited capacity that provides adaptive flexibility specifically through forgetting.
▲本句的主干是Another line of thought assumes a memory storage system,在這里assume是一個及物動詞。賓語a memory storage system后面有一個of引導的介詞詞組和定語從句來修飾它。
△注意一些詞的意思,capacity在這里應(yīng)被理解為“容量”,而非“能力”;flexibility是“靈活性”而非“彈性”。
n. 進化,發(fā)展,演變