Lesson 58 A blessing in disguise?

中文

是因祸得福吗？

据说弗林利这个小村里有一颗“该诅咒的树”。

就因为报上提到过这棵树，所以现在来弗林利参观的人越来越多。

该树是50年前栽在教堂附近的，但只是近几年才得到了一个坏名声。

据说，谁要是触摸了这棵树，谁就会交上恶运；如果谁摘了一片树叶，谁就会死去。

很多村民相信此树已经害了不少人。

人们曾请求教区的牧师叫人把树砍掉，但他直到现在也没同意。

他指出，由于人们从全国各地纷纷前来参观这棵树，它成了一个有用的财源。

尽管上述种种说法，但游客们还是照常摘树叶和把他们的名字刻在树干上。

然而到目前为止，还没有一个人暴死呢！

英文

A blessing [ˈblesɪŋ] in disguise [dɪsˈɡaɪz]?

The tiny [ˈtaɪni] village of Frinley is said to possess [pəˈzes] a 'cursed [kɜːst] tree'.

Because the tree was mentioned [ˈmenʃ(ə)nd] in a newspaper, the number of visitors [ˈvɪzɪtəz] to Frinley has now increased [ɪnˈkriːst].

The tree was planted [ˈplɑːntɪd] near the church fifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil reputation [ˌrepjuˈteɪʃ(ə)n].

It is said that if anyone touches [ˈtʌtʃɪz] the tree, he will have bad luck; if he picks [pɪks] a leaf, he will die.

Many villagers [ˈvɪlɪdʒər] believe that the tree has already claimed [kleɪmd] a number of victims [ˈvɪktɪms].

The vicar has been asked to have the tree cut down, but so far he has refused.

He has pointed out that the tree is useful source of income [ˈɪnkʌm], as tourists [ˈtʊərɪsts] have been coming from all parts of the country to see it.

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

So far, not one of them has been struck down by suddenly death.

分析

The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a 'cursed tree'.

• simple sentence:
  • the tiny village of Frinley [subject]
  • is said {to do} [predicate verb phrase] [passive form of verb]
  • to possess a 'cursed tree' [to-do as object]

---

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

• complex sentence:
  • because the tree was mentioned in newspaper
    • because + [adverbial clause of cause]
    • the tree was mentioned in newspaper
      • the tree [subject]
      • was mentioned [predicate verb phrase] [passive form of verb]
      • in newspaper [adverbial of place]
  • the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased
    • the number of visitors to Frinley [subject]
    • has increased [predicate verb phrase]
    • now [adverbial of time]

---

The tree was planted near the church fifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil reputation.

• compound sentence:
  • the tree was planted near the church fifty years ago
    • the tree [subject]
    • was planted [predicate verb phrase] [passive form of verb]
    • near the church [adverbial of place]
    • fifty years ago [adverbial of time]
  • but
  • it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil reputation
• knowledge:
  • It + is + 介词短语 + that + 从句，整体构成一个强调句

---

It is said that if anyone touches the tree, he will have bad luck; if he picks a leaf, he will die.

• simple sentence:
  • It is said that + clause
  • if anyone touch the tree, he will have bad luck
  • if he picks a leaf, he will die
• knowledge:
  • 主语 + be said + 表示据说.... = it is said that

---

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

• complex sentence:
  • many villagers believe that + object clause
    • many villagers [subject]
    • believe [predicate verb phrase]
    • that + clause
  • that the tree has already claimed a number of victims
    • the tree [subject]
    • already
    • has claimed [predicate verb phrase] [present perfect tense]
    • a number of victims [object]
• knowledge:
  • a + number + of + sth.
    • n. 许多; 数目; 若干
  • believe + (that) 引导的宾语从句
    • vt. 相信...; 对...信以为真; 以为...; 认为..., 料想...; 猜想...

---

The vicar has been asked to have the tree cut down, but so far he has refused.

• compound sentence:
  • the vicar had been asked to have the tree cut down
    • the vicar [subject]
    • had been asked {to do } [predicate verb phrase] [passive form of verb] [past perfect tense]
    • to have the tree cut down [to-do as object]
  • but
  • so far he has refused
    • so far [adverbial of time]
    • he has refused
• knowledge:
  • to have the tree cut down， have 表示使某人完成某动作，cut down为过去分词短语。 have sth done。
  • ask + sb. + to + do. + (sth.)
    • v. [要求/叫/让/请]...(某人)...(做某事)
  • have + sth.① + do. + (sth.)
    • v. 让...做...
  • cut + down
    • v. 砍倒, 胜过, 削减, 删节
  • have + been. + ...
    • (完成时)

---

He has pointed out that the tree is a useful source of income, as tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it.

• complex sentence:
  • he has pointed out that the tree is useful source of income
    • he has pointed out that + clause
      • he [subject]
      • has pointed out [predicate verb phrase]
      • that + clause [object clause]
    • tree is useful source of income
      • tree [subject]
      • is [be verb]
      • useful source of income [predicative] [noun phrase]
  • as tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it
    • as + [adverbial clause of cause]
    • tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it
      • tourists [subject]
      • have been coming {[prepositional object phrase]} [predicate verb phrase] [present perfect continuous tense]
      • from all parts of the country [object]
      • to see it [adverbial of purpose]
• knowledge:
  • point + out + that 引导的宾语从句
    • v. 指出
  • useful + sth.
    • n. 有用的..., 有益的...
  • have + been. + doing.
    • v. (完成进行时); 一直在...(做某事)
  • come + from + sth.
    • v. 来自...; 出身于...; 源于...; 归因于...; 以...身份, 以...立场

---

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

• complex sentence:
  • In spite of all that has been said:
    • In spite of all that has been said
      • in spite of all [adverbial of concession]
      • that has been said [attributive clause] => all
  • the tourists have been picking leaves and cutting their name on the tree-trunk
    • the tourists have been picking leaves
      • the tourists [subject]
      • have been picking [predicate verb phrase] [present perfect continuous]
      • leaves [object]
    • and
    • the tourists have been cutting their name on the tree-trunk
      • the tourists [subject]
      • have been cuttings [predicate verb phrase] [present perfect continuous]
      • their name [object]
      • on the tree-trunk [adverbial of place]
• knowledge:
  • have + been. + doing.
    • v. (完成进行时); 一直在...(做某事)
  • tree + trunk
    • n. 树干

---

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

• simple sentence:
  • so far [adverbial of time]
  • not one of them has been struck down by sudden death
    • not one of them [subject]
    • has been struck down [predicate verb phrase] [passive form of verb]
    • by sudden death [adverbial of manner]
• knowledge:
  • so + far adv. 迄今为止
  • strike + down + sth. vt. 击倒, 杀死
  • sudden + death n. (非正式)突然死亡法(比赛打成平局而进入加时赛时, 先得分方为胜的决胜方法)