新概念英語第二冊逐句精講語言點 第53課(2)

Lesson53 Hot snake

At last firemen have put out a big forest fire inCalifornia. Since then, they have been trying to findout how the fire began. Forest fire are often causedby broken glass or by cigarette ends which peoplecarelessly throw away.Yesterday the firemenexamined the ground carefully, but were notable to find any broken glass. They were alsoquite sure that a cigarette end did not start thefire. This morning, however, a firemanaccidentally discovered the cause. He noticed theremains of a snake which was wound round the electric wires of a 16,000-volt power line. Inthis way, he was able to solve the mystery. The explanation was simple but very unusual. Abird had snatched up the snake from the ground and then dropped it on to the wires. Thesnake then wound itself round the wires. When it did so, it sent sparks down to the groundand these immediately started a fire..

4、Yesterday the firemen examined the ground carefully, but were not able to find anybroken glass.

昨天，消防隊員仔細檢查了地面，但沒有發(fā)現(xiàn)任何碎玻璃。

語言點 were not able to find表示“沒有發(fā)現(xiàn)”。

5、They were also quite sure that a cigarette end did not start the fire.

他們還十分肯定火災也不是由煙頭引起的。

語言點 sure的三種用法：1) sb. be sure of某人確信;2) sb. be sure to do某人相信能夠去做某事;3 )sb. be sure that某人確信

6、This morning, however，a fireman accidentally discovered the cause.

然而今天上午，一個消防隊覓偶然發(fā)現(xiàn)了起火的原因。

語言點 辨析：三個常見的表示“發(fā)現(xiàn)”的詞：1) find偶然發(fā)現(xiàn)，碰到;2) find out查明小悄的真相;3)discover找到鮮為人知的事物。