VOA慢速英语:More Young Women Find a Calling in Catholic Order

rather副词

fairly, quite, rather, very, pretty 用法区别 一、含义上的区别1. 这几个副词都可表示程度，fairly 语气最轻，尽管经常与褒义词连用，但由于语气较弱，往往不带明显的恭维或赞赏，通常译为“还算”、“相当”相当 fairly good，指的可能是还勉强过得去，只是没有否定。2. quite 语气稍重，意为“颇”或“相当”。要是说某一部电影quite good，那是说这部电影相当不错，虽不是最好，但至少值得看。3. rather 或 pretty 在语气上又稍重一点，意为“十分”或“相当”(pretty 不如 rather 正式)。要是说某一部电影 rather / pretty good，指的是这电影相当不错，语气比较重，意指要高出一般水平或出乎意料地好。两者均可与褒义或贬义形容词连用。与褒义词连用，表示一种愉快的心情，与贬义(包括不褒不贬)词连用，表示一种不赞成或不满意的心情。如：She looked rather [quite] nervous. 她显得相当紧张。It’s a rather [quite] interesting book. 它是一本相当有趣的书。She looked rather [quite] disappointed about it. 她对此显得相当失望。4. very 语气最强，意为“很”或“或非常”。 要是说某一部电影very good，这是说这部电影很不错，算得上是精品之作。以上几个副词按语气的轻重可大致描述为：(not) → fairly → quite → rather / pretty → very

2.Sister Catherine says she thinks these young women are looking deeper into their faith in reaction to changes in society.

in reaction to以应对

例句：In fact, IDSF never takes action in reaction to WDC.
      事实上，IDSF从不对WDC的行为进行还击。

3.A different group, the National Opinion Research Center, recently found that seventeen percent of Americans do not identify with any faith.

identify with视...为一体,认同

例句：I found it hard to identify with any of the characters in the film.
      我对这部影片里的任何角色都难以认同。

4.She had seen Dominican sisters serving at the University of Sydney.

see, hear, notice, watch.等后接动词-ing 形式或不定式(不带to)作宾语补足语都可以.但意思上有区别.比较:

　　I saw them playing basketball at 5 p.m. yesterday.(打篮球的动作正在进行,表示部分进行着的动作.)
　　I saw them play basketball yesterday. (打篮球的动作已完成,表示全过程的动作.)