新概念英语第二册58_A blessing in disguise

Lesson 58: A blessing in disguise?
是因祸得福吗？

Key words and expressions

• blessing n. 福分，福气
• disguise 伪装
• a blessing in disguise 祸中得福，因祸得福
• tiny 极小的
• Frinley 弗林利
• cursed 遭受了诅咒的
• evil reputation 坏名声
• claim vt. (指灾难、事故等)使某人失踪或死亡
• victim 受害者，特征品
• vicar 教区牧师
• source of income 财源
• tree-trunk 树干

pos·sess v. /pəˈzes/
( not used in the progressive tenses不用于进行时 )

1. [ VN ] ( formal ) to have or own sth有；拥有
   • He was charged with possessing a shotgun without a licence.他被控无照拥有猎枪。
   • The gallery possesses a number of the artist’s early works.这座画廊藏有那位画家的一些早期作品。
2. [ VN ] ( formal ) to have a particular quality or feature具有（特质）
   • I’m afraid he doesn’t possess a sense of humour.恐怕他没有什么幽默感。
3. [ VN ] [ usually passive ] ( literary ) ( of a feeling, an emotion, etc.感觉、情绪等 ) to have a powerful effect on sb and control the way that they think, behave, etc.攫住；支配；控制
4. [ VN to inf ] ( used in negative sentences and questions用于否定句和疑问句 ) to make sb do sth that seems strange or unreasonable使言行失常
   • What possessed him to say such a thing?他着了什么魔竟说出这种话来？

Questions on the text (Practice & Progress)

1. why has the number of visitors to the village of Frinley increased?
   1. Because the newspaper mentioned that it was cursed tree in the village.
2. Why does this tree have an evil reputation?
   1. Because it is said that if someone touch the tree, he will have bad luck.
3. Why has the vicar refused to have the tree cut down?
   1. Because he thinks that the tree is useful source of income.
4. What has ever happened to the tourists who have been picking leaves and cutting their names on the tree-trunk?
   1. Nothing bad has ever happened to those tourists.

Language points

1. The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a ‘cursed tree’.

   1. of 是介词，表示同位关系
      1. the city of New York 纽约市
      2. the name of James 詹姆士这个名字

2. Because the tree was mentioned in the newspaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased.

   1. to Frinley 到。。。地方

3. Many villagers believe that the tree has already claimed a number of victims.

   1. claim: cause the loss or death of sb.
      1. The earthquake claimed thousands of lives.
   2. claim: 要求。。。，索要。。。
      1. After the duke’s death, his eldest son claimed the title.
      2. She claims ownership of the land.

4. The vicar has been asked to have the tree cut down.

   1. have sth. done: 叫别人做某事
      1. She is going to have the hoouse painted.
      2. I’d like to have these flowers sent to Room 202.

5. In spite of all that has been said, the tourists have been picking leaves and cutting their names on the tree-trunk.

   1. in spite of … 只能跟名词或名词性从句
   2. that
      1. I’ve done all that has to be done. that 作主语不能省略
      2. All (that) I know is that he is an honest person.定语从句中作宾语，可省略。

6. So far, not one of them has been struck down by sudden death!

   1. so far 要跟完成时连用。
   2. strike down: 击倒，使死去
      1. He was struck down by a bus in the middle of the street.
      2. He was truck down by pneumonia while in his twenties.肺炎

pneu·mo·nia n. /njuːˈməʊniə/
[ U ]a serious illness affecting one or both lungs that makes breathing difficult肺炎

Key structures and usage

被动语态

1. The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a ‘cursed tree’.
2. It is said that the tiny village of Frinley possesses a ‘cursed tree’.

被动语态+不定式

1. The vicarhas been askedto have the tree cut down, but so far he has refused.
2. The boywas toldto be quiet.
3. Shewas remindednot to leave valuable things in the room.

强调句

强调句结构：it is/was + … + that

1. It is only in recent years that it has gained an evil reputation.
   1. in recent years 时间状语
2. It was in England that we first met.
   1. in England 地点状语
3. It’s he who has solved the problem for you.
   1. 强调主语he
4. It was because of him that we succeeded.
   1. 强调原因状语

Extension

super·sti·tion n. /ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃn/ /ˌsjuː‑/
[ UC ] ( oftendisapproving ) the belief that particular events happen in a way that cannot be explained by reason or science; the belief that particular events bring good or bad luck迷信；迷信观念（或思想）
•According to superstition, breaking a mirror brings bad luck.按照迷信的说法，摔碎镜子会带来噩运。

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