新概念英语第二册71_A famous clock

Lesson 71: A famous clock

Key words and expressions

• parliament 议会，国会
• erect v. 建起
• accurate adj. 准确的
• official n. 官员，行政人员
• Greenwich 格林尼治
• observatory 天文台
• check 检查
• microphone 扩音器，麦克风
• tower n. 塔

im·mense adj. /ɪˈmens/
extremely large or great极大的；巨大的
SYN enormous
•There is still an immense amount of work to be done.还有非常非常多的工作没有做。
•The benefits are immense.效益是极大的。
•a project of immense importance极其重要的工程

witty adj. /ˈwɪti/
( wit·tierwit·ti·est )
able to say or write clever, amusing things言辞诙谐的；巧妙的；妙趣横生的；机智的
•a witty speaker幽默的演讲人
•a witty remark机智的话
——note at funny

Questions on the text

1. Why is Big Ben so named?大本钟为什么这么叫？
   1. It takes its name from Sir Benjamin Hall who was responsible for the making of the clock.
2. Why is Big Ben extremely accurate?
   1. Because officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.
3. Why did Big Ben fail to give the correct time once?
   1. Because …

Language points

1. If the Houses of Parliament had not been burned down in 1834, the great clock would never have been erected.

   1. 虚拟语气，与过去的事实不相符合。
   2. Houses of Parliament 议会大厦：一个国家的立法机构的建筑，通常包括两个议会，即上议院和下议院。
      1. House of Commons 下议院：英国和加拿大议会的下议院。（权力更大，被选举产生）
      2. House of Lords （英国）上议院，贵族院

2. Big Ben takes its name from Sir Benjamin Hall who was responsible for the making of the clock.

   1. take one’s name from 以。。。命名
   2. be responsible for 为某事负责，负责某事
      1. Men and women must become equally responsible for bringing up children.
         1. bring up 抚养成人
      2. The children were responsible for cleaning their own rooms.

3. It is not only of immense size, but is extremely accurate as well.

   1. of + adj. + n. 表示人或物的特征
      1. The mountain is of great height.
      2. The lake is of huge size.
   2. not only …but … (as well) 不仅。。。，而且。。。
      1. Chimps not only use tools but make them.黑猩猩不仅会使用工具，还会制作工具。
      2. Not only are you funny, but you’re actually witty as well.
         1. not only放开头时，要倒装

4. Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.

   1. Green·wich Mean Time /ˌɡrenɪtʃ ˈmiːn taɪm/ GMT 格林威治标准时间
   2. have sth. done have(使役动词) 让某事被完成
      1. I’ll have my hair cut.
      2. She had the kitchen cleaned.

Key structures and usage

复合句（时态复杂）

1. When you visit London, one of the first things you will see is Big Ben, the famous clock which can be heard all over the world on the B.B.C.

   1. 从句
      1. when you visit London ： when引导的时间状语从句
      2. you will see : 定语从句，修饰前边的things
      3. the famous clock … 同位语，对前边的Big Ben进一步解释说明
      4. which can be heard …定语从句
   2. 时态
      1. 时间状语从句中：一般现在时
      2. 第一个定语从句：一般将来时
      3. 主句：一般现在时
      4. 第二个定语从句：（同位语中）情态动词can

2. Big Ben takes its name from Sir Benjamin Hall whos was responsible for the making of the clock when the new Houses of Parliament were being built.

   1. 结构：
      1. 主句
      2. who was responsbile for … 定语从句，修饰Benjamin Hall 一般过去时
      3. when the new Houses … 定义从句里带的时间状语从句 过去进行时

3. On the B.B.C. you can hear the clock when it is actually striking because microphones are connected to the clock tower.

   1. you can hear the clock 主句 情态动词can
   2. when it is actually … 时间状语从句 现在进行时
   3. because microphones … 原因状语从句 一般现在时

Extension