和谐英语

VOA慢速英语:Obama Urges Congress: Reform Immigration Rules

2010-07-03来源:和谐英语
1.BARACK OBAMA: "In sum, the system is broken. And everybody knows it."

in sum总之,总而言之,一言以蔽之,相当于in one word,in short

2.They must get right with the law before they can get in line and earn their citizenship.

get right with在这里的意思是遵守法律,相当于obey

3.Even after his appeal, Congress may consider the issue too divisive to deal with before the November elections.

1)too…to  太…以至于…
  He is too excited to speak.
  他太激动了,说不出话来。
  ---- Can I help you ? 需要我帮忙吗?
  ---- Well, I'm afraid the box is too heavy for you to carry it, but thank you all the same. 不用了。这箱子太重,恐怕你搬不动。谢谢您。

2) 如在too前有否定词,则整个句子用否定词表达肯定, too 后那个词表达一种委婉含义,意 为"不太"。
  It's never too late to mend. (谚语)
   改过不嫌晚。

3) 当too 前面有only, all, but时,意思是:非常… 等于very。
  I'm only too pleased to be able to help you. 我非常高兴能帮助你。
  He was but too eager to get home. 他非常想回家。

4.That is only if the police have "reasonable suspicion" that the person is in the country illegally.

一、only if
 1)在only if 这个短语中,副词only是中心词,而从属连接词if则只是用来连接从句的,因此,它表示“只有……(才);只有在……的时候,

唯一的条件是……”的意思。例如:
  I told him he would succeed only if he tried hard. 我告诉他,只有努力才能成功。
  2) only if 有时也写成only...if,表示唯一的条件,但是意思不变。例如:
  I will only come home if you come with me. (= I will come home only if you come with me.) 只有你跟我一起走,我才回家。
  因此,根据上面的分析,课文中的句子我们也可以把它改成Yet they could get the blood only if one of the frightened children would agree to give it. 这样,句子就比较容易理解,意思也就十分清楚了:但是,只有这些受惊吓的孩子中有人自愿献血,他们才能够得到血。
 二、if only
  1)在if only这个短语中,中心词是从属连接词if, 而副词only只是加强if的语气的,因此,if only仅仅是if的一种强化形式,不仅能表达说话人的愿望,而且能表达条件。因此,它同if一样,也能引出条件状语从句。
  If only they were here now, we would be able to celebrate their wedding anniversary.如果他们现在在这里,我们就能庆祝他们的结婚纪念日了。
  2)if only常常用来表达强烈的愿望或遗憾,因此,主要用在虚拟语气中,用以表达强烈的愿望或非真实条件。常被译为“但愿”、“要是……该多好啊”等。例如:
  If only she could have lived a little longer. 要是她能活得再长一些,那该多好啊!
  3)if only从句在大多数情况下用作虚拟条件句,但是偶尔也有用在真实条件句的情况。例如:
  He will succeed if only he does his best. 只要他竭尽全力,他就会成功。
  4)if only有时也可以写成if... only。例如:
  If she would only come! 但愿他能来。

5.Some Arizona officials blame smugglers for a serious problem with kidnappings in the Phoenix area.

blame for因…怪罪, 责怪(某人)

例句:Don't keep blaming your little sister for your bad behavior.
      不要总是把你的不良行为怪在你的小妹妹身上。

      He blamed his brother for breaking the window.
      他责备他兄弟打破了窗玻璃。