和谐英语

VOA慢速英语:China-Japan Dispute Shines Light on Rare Earth Metals

2010-10-08来源:和谐英语
1.Some countries with rare earth metals no longer mine them -- including the United States.

no longer不再, 已不, 不复, 再也不

例句:He was long a famous musician, but he plays no longer.
      他成为有名的音乐家已很久了, 但他现在不演奏了。

      The city's water supply is no longer adequate for its need.
      这个城市的供水已不敷需求。

2.Rare earths include the fifteen lanthanide metals along with yttrium and scandium.

along with除...以外(还)

例句:Tobacco is taxed in most countries, along with alcohol.
       除酒以外, 烟草在多数国家都要征税。

3.This is why they're important.

why引导表语从句

名词性从句在be等系动词后作表语时被称为表语从句, 例如: The problem is how we can get the things we need.问题是我们怎样能弄到我们需要的东西。(how 在表语从句中充当方式状语)// The scissors are not what I need. 这把剪刀不是我所需要的。(what 在表语从句中充当宾语)// What I told him was that I would find him a good play. 我告诉他的是我会给他找个好剧本。(what在主语从句中作直接宾语, that作为表语从句的引导词在该表语从句中不充当句子成分, 不能省略)// That is what I want to tell you.那就是我想要对你讲的。(what在表语从句中充当直接宾语)// That is why she failed to pass the exam. 那就是她考试不及格的原因。(why 在表语从句中充当原因状语)

  注意: “That is why...”是常用句型, 意为“这就是……的原因/因此……”, 其中why引导的名词性从句在句中作表语, 该句型通常用于针对前面已经说明过的原因进行总结, 又如: That is why you see this old woman before you know, Jeanne. 珍妮, 这就是现在这个老太婆出现在你面前的原因。(前文提到Jeanne对老妇人显得苍老憔悴深感诧异, 说话人对她讲述了其中的原因之后,用这一句来进行概括)。// That is why I came. 这就是我来的原因。

4.People who remember the periodic table of the elements from chemistry class might recognize them.

might表示猜测

may和might常用来谈论可能性:某事可能将发生,某事可能正在发生和某事已经发生。might所表示的可能性要比may所表示的可能性弱一些,但用法相同,下面以may的用法举例:

1.may用来表示某事可能将发生:(may + 动词原形)

1.1.He may go climbing in the Alps next summer.(明年夏天他可能去阿尔卑斯山。)

1.2.They may come to visit us this summer.(他们可能今年夏天来看望我们。)

2.may用来表示对现在存在的状态可能性的猜测:(may + be + 其他成分)

2.1.He may be engaged.(他可能很忙。)

2.2.It may be a new species.(这可能是个新的品种。)

2.3.I'm only afraid I may be bored.(我只害怕我可能会觉得无聊。)

3.may用来表示某事可能正在发生:(may + be + 动词的现在分词)

3.1.They may be sleeping because we can hear no sound in their room.(他们可能正在房间里睡觉,国为我们听到任何声音。)

3.2.He may be doing his homework.Don't disturb him.(他可能正在做作业,别打扰他。)