BBC news 2009-11-08 加文本

1.Opportunities like this come around maybe once in a generation. Most public servants pass through their entire careers without the chance to make as important a difference in the lives of their constituents and the life of this country.

as important a与such adj. a结构相似。

such 是形容词，修饰名词或名词词组，so是副词，只能修饰形容词或副
词。so 还可与表示数量的形容词many，few，much， little连用，形成固定搭配。

so + adj.　　　　　　　　　such + a(n) + n.
so + adj. + a(n) + n.　　　such + n. (pl.)
so + adj. + n. (pl.)　　　 such +n. (pl.)　
so + adj. + n. [不可数]　　such +n. [不可数]

so foolish　　　　　　　　 such a fool　
so nice a flower　　　　　 such a nice flower
so many/ few flowers　　　 such nice flowers
so much/little money.　　　such rapid progress　
so many people　　　　　　 such a lot of people

　 so many 已成固定搭配，a lot of 虽相当于 many，但 a lot of 为名词性的，只能用such搭配。
　 so…that与such…that之间的转换既为 so与such之间的转换。

① The fish is so long.
② Don't drive so fast, it's dangerous.
③ Fred is so good a man.
④ It was such interesting meeting.
⑤ There were such a lot of people.

2.The African Union says it will maintain the suspension of Madagascar's membership despite an agreement reached between the country's main rivals to end the political crisis.

despite

Despite用作介词时，与 in spite of同义，都表示“尽管”、“虽然”、“不顾”之意，但程度有所不同。

一般说来，in spite of的语气较强，使用范围也较广； despite的语气较弱，多用于诗歌或正式的文体中。Despite可以写作despite of，也

可以写作 in despite of；in spite of则可以写作 spite of，但这些写法已少用了。例：

Despite his advanced years，he is learning to drive．

虽然年事已高，他现在在学驾驶汽车。

Despite the drought，we expect a good crop．

尽管天旱，丰收依然在望。

In spite of the police brandishing their clubs and pistols，people showed not the slightest fear．

尽管警方挥动着短棍及手枪，但人们毫不畏惧。

We arrived at the station in spite of the storm．

虽然有暴风雨，我们依旧准点到达火车站。