新概念英语第三册课文及详解第3课

Lesson 3 An Unknown Goddess

Some time ago，an interesting discovery was made by archaeologists on the Aegean island of Kea．An American team explored a temple which stands in an ancient city on the promontory of Ayia Irini．The city at one time must have been prosperous，for it enjoyed a high level of civilization．Houses--often three storeys high----were built of stone．They had large rooms with beautifully decorated walls．The city was even equipped with a drainage system，for a great many clay pipes were found beneath the narrow streets．The temple which the archaeologists explored was used as a place of worship from the fifteenth century B.C. until Roman times. In the most sacred room of the temple, clay fragments of fifteen statues were found. Each of these represented a goddess and had, at one time, been painted. The body of one statue was found among remains dating from the fifteenth century B.C. Its missing head happened to be among remains of the fifth century B.C.This head must have been found in Classical times and carefully preserved. It was very old and precious even then. When the archaeologists reconstructed the fragments, they were amazed to find that the goddess turned out to be a very modern-looking woman. She stood three feet high and her hands rested on her hip. She was wearing a full-length skirt which swept the ground. Despite her great age, she was very graceful indeed, but, so far,the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity.

Language points

1, Some time ago，an interesting discovery was made by archaeologists on the Aegean island of Kea．

*文中用了被动式，强调discovery，体现发现这个动作被考古学家做出

英文表达中常用被动语态。在以结果、影响、效果为主语的被动式句子中，强调了对客观事实的陈述。

2，An American team explored a temple which stands in an ancient city on the promontory of Ayia Irini．

*which引导定语从句，修饰限定temple

在这个句子中，which = that; stand = lie\ be situated (vt.) \be located (vt.), 因此进行词语替换后，本句可改成：

An American team explored a temple which/ that is located / situated in...

An American team explored a temple which/that lie in...

*stand v. 表示高高坐落于，矗立于

e.g.

She stands 1.75m. 她一米七五。

A great tree stands on the mount. 山上有个大树。（我们也可以用there be句型来表达中文意思，但是请大家体会下两者的差异。there be陈述客观事实：那里有什么，而例句则突出树，并且很高，感情色彩一下就不一样了。）

3，The city at one time must have been prosperous，for it enjoyed a high level of civilization．

* for引导原因状语从句，对主句进行附加说明，译作"因为"

对比：

because引导原因状语从句，重点突出原因。

for引导的原因状语从句，突出了主句。

这点细微的差别，请大家在写作时注意。

e.g.

I do it because I like it. 我做这件事因为我喜欢。

The day broke for the birds were singing. 破晓了，因为鸟儿在唱歌。

*at one time:表达曾经，一度；是过去时态的标志