Lesson36 A chance in a million
Book
课文
We are less credulous than we used to be.
我们不再像以往那样轻易相信别人了。
In the 19th century, a novelist would bring his story to a conclusion by presenting his readers with a series of coincidences -- most of them wildly improbable.
在19世纪，小说家常在小说结尾处给读者准备一系列的巧合--大部分是牵强附会，极不可能的。
Readers happily accepted the fact that an obscure maidservant was really the hero's mother.
当时的读者却愉快地接受这样一些事实，一个低贱的女佣实际上是主人公的母亲；
A long-lost brother, who was presumed dead, was really alive all the time and wickedly plotting to bring about the hero's downfall. And so on.
主人公一位长期失散的兄弟，大家都以为死了，实际上一直活着，并且正在策划暗算主人公；如此等等，
Modern readers would find such naive solutions totally unacceptable.
现代读者会觉得这种天真的结局完全无法接受。
Yet, in real life, circumstances do sometimes conspire to bring about coincidences which anyone but a 19th century novelist would find incredible.
不过，在现实生活中，有时确实会出现一些巧合，这些巧合除了19世纪小说家外谁也不会相信。
When I was a boy, my grandfather told me how a German taxi driver, Franz Bussman, found a brother who was thought to have been killed 20 years before.
当我是个孩子的时候，我祖父给我讲了一位德国出租汽车司机弗朗兹。巴斯曼如何找到了据信已在20年前死去的兄弟的事。
While on a walking tour with his wife, he stopped to talk to a workman.
一次，他与妻子徒步旅行。途中，停下来与一个工人交谈，
After they had gone on, Mrs. Bussman commented on the workman's close resemblance to her husband and even suggested that he might be his brother.
接着他们继续往前走去。巴斯曼夫人说那工人与她丈夫相貌很像，甚至猜测他可能就是她丈夫的兄弟。
Franz poured scorn on the idea, pointing out that his brother had been killed in action during the war.
弗朗兹对此不屑一顾，指出他兄弟已经在战争中阵亡了。
Though Mrs. Bussman was fully acquainted with this story, she thought that there was a chance in a million that she might be right.
尽管巴斯曼夫人熟知这个情况，但她仍然认为自己的想法仍有百万分之一的可能性。
A few days later, she sent a boy to the workman to ask him if his name was Hans Bussman.
几天后，她派了一个男孩去问那人是否叫汉斯.巴斯曼。
Needless to say, the man's name was Hans Bussman and he really was Franz's long-lost brother.
不出巴斯曼夫人所料，那人的名字真是汉斯.巴斯曼，他确实是弗朗兹失散多年的兄弟。
When the brothers were reunited, Hans explained how it was that he was still alive.
兄弟俩团聚之时，汉斯说明了他活下来的经过，
After having been wounded towards the end of the war, he had been sent to hospital and was separated from his unit.
战争即将结束时，他负伤被送进医院，并与部队失去联系。
The hospital had been bombed and Hans had made his way back into Western Germany on foot.
医院遭到轰炸，汉斯步行回到了西德。
Meanwhile, his unit was lost and all records of him had been destroyed.
与此同时，他所在部队被击溃，他的所有档案材料全部毁于战火。
Hans returned to his family home, but the house had been bombed and no one in the neighbourhood knew what had become of the inhabitants.
汉斯重返故里，但他的家已被炸毁，左邻右舍谁也不知原住户的下落，
Assuming that his family had been killed during an air raid, Hans settled down in a village 50 miles away where he had remained ever since.
汉斯以为全家人都在空袭中遇难，于是便在距此50英里外的一座村子里定居下来，直至当日。
词汇讲解
credulous ['kredjələs] adj. 轻信的
Anna is so credulous that she’ll believe anything you tell her.
【近义词】
naïve naive adj. 天真的,幼稚的
【词根】
“cred” = believe
credit n. 信用；赊账
credit card
credulous
incredulous
credible
incredible
credentials n. 证书；证件
obscure [əb'skjʊə(r)] adj. 不起眼的，不出名的； 难以理解的
obscure含义1. unknown; little-known不起眼的、不知道的
an obscure little village
an obscure maidservant
remain obscure 一直默默无闻
考研阅读真题：
The environment is obviously important, but its role has remained obscure.
【反义词】“著名的”
well-known
famous
noted
notable
eminent
celebrated
renowned
obscure含义2. hard to understand 难以理解的
6级真题：
Very few people could understand his lecture because it was very___B___
(A) faint (B) obscure
(C) gloomy (D) indefinite
presume [pri'zju:m] v. 假定，推测，认为（褒义，暗示假定推测是有依据的）
From the way they talked, I presumed (that) they were a couple.
be presumed dead / innocent … 被认为是…
A long-lost brother, who was presumed dead, was really alive all the time and wickedly plotting to bring about the hero's down-fall.
You are presumed innocent until you are proved guilty.
【近义词组】表达“假定，推测，认为”：
believe
think
suppose
assume （贬义，暗示假定推测是没有依据的、暗示是错的推测）
… a German taxi driver, Franz Bussman, found a brother who was thought to have been killed twenty years before.
Everyone went to the funeral, for the 'ghost' was none other than Eric Cox, a third brother who was supposed to have died as a young man.
be under the impression that … 还以为……（暗示是错的）
Though the crew were at first under the impression that the lost ship had been found, the contents of the chest proved them wrong.
take it for granted that … 想当然地认为……
You can’t take it for granted that the children will behave themselves.
plot [plɒt] v. 秘密谋划，暗中策划
plot to do 秘密谋划去做某事
= scheme to do
The criminal was plotting / scheming to rob the bank.
conspire to do （贬义）（合谋，主语不能是单数）秘密谋划去做某事，
The criminals were conspiring to rob the bank.
Bad weather and car trouble conspired to ruin our vacation. (派生含义，很多事情凑在一块，造成了不愉快的结果)
resemblance [ri'zembləns] n. 相似
resemble vt. 看起来像；显得像；像
She closely resembles her mother in every way.
resemblance 相似；相像
bear a resemblance to … 跟…很像…
The lady bears a resemblance to my mother.
The lady bears a close resemblance to my mother.
The lady bears no resemblance to my mother.
Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades; they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to anything in real life.
acquaint [ə'kweɪnt] v. 使熟悉或了解
be / get / become acquainted with … 对…熟悉
I’m not acquainted with him.
He became acquainted with the work.
【近义词组】表达“对…熟悉”：
be / get / become familiar with …
He was familiar with the work.
The work was familiar to him.
【扩展】
acquaintance 认识的人；泛泛之交；熟人
He is my only acquaintance in the little town.
reunite [ri:ju:'naɪt] v. 使团聚
be reunited with … 与…团聚
The lost children were reunited with their parents.
【同根词】
reunify vt. 使重新统一；再统一，再联合
reunification n. 重新统一；重新团结
national reunification
课文讲解
（标题）
A chance in a million
写作：夸张修辞
I'd love to buy a Rolls-Royce, but it costs an arm and a leg.
Everybody was clapping their hands off.
I didn’t sleep a wink last night.
He has a skeleton of a wife.
（第一段）
We are less credulous than we used to be.
语法分析：
We are less credulous than we used to be.（比较状语从句).
知识点（1）
语法：比较状语从句中use to do，do可以省略；use to be，be一般不省略
We spend more time traveling than we used to.
知识点（2）
less + adj. / adv. + than … 不像…如何了
= not so / as + adj. / adv. + as …
We are not so / as credulous as we used to be.
造句：他不像以前那么内向 (introverted)了。
He is less introverted than he used to be.
He is not so / as introverted as he used to be.
造句：他英语说的不如以前好了。
He speaks English less well than he used to.
He doesn't speak English so / as well as he used to.
In the 19th century, a novelist would bring his story to a conclusion by presenting his readers with a series of coincidences —-- most of them wildly improbable.
语法分析：
In the 19th century（时间状语）, a novelist would bring his story to a conclusion by presenting his readers with a series of coincidences — most of them wildly improbable（独立主格）. （by … 导方式状语）
知识点（1）
语法、写作：would 和 used to do 类似，都可以表示过去习惯性的动作，
如：One day in a week he would spend a whole day in silence.
但注意：would 不能用在故事开头，往往在故事开头用 used to do，而后面换为 would do，
如：We used to work in the same office and we would often have coffee together.
知识点（2）
conclusion 不同搭配的不同含义
搭配1：
bring sth. to a conclusion 使结束
The two countries decided to bring the war to a conclusion.（停战）
搭配2：
come to / arrive at / reach / draw a conclusion 得出结论
【近义词组】表达“使结束”：
bring sth. to a close / an end
The rally was brought to a close / an end by the singing of the national anthem.
end / close / conclude …
…, a novelist would end / close / conclude his story by …
【扩展】
bring … to … 使…到达…的状态
It was the war that first brought him to power.
So far the US has been unable to bring him to justice.
知识点（3） 复习
present sb. with sth. 把…给某人
present sth. to sb.
He entered the cell and presented the letter to the aristocrat.
知识点（4） Lesson33复习
an unforeseen series of catastrophes
【近义词组】表达“一连串的”：
a series of ...
a chain of ...
a train of ... a trail of ...
a train of ...
a trail of ...
a string of ...
a stream of ...
知识点（5）
coincidence （令人吃惊的）巧合，巧事
by coincidence 碰巧
My mother is called Anna, and by coincidence my wife's mother is called Anna too.
【扩展】
coincide with sth. 碰巧与某事同时发生、碰巧跟另外的东西一样
My arrival coincided with his departure.
If our schedules coincide, we'll go to Shanghai together.
6级真题：
His tastes and habits ___C___ with those of his wife.
A．combine
B．compete
C．coincide
D．compromise
6级真题：
It is fortunate for the old couple that their son’s career goals and their wishes for him ___A___.
A．coincide
B．comply
C．conform
D．collaborate
知识点（6） 复习：独立主格
most of them being（省略） wildly improbable. 独立主格
most of them were wildly improbable. X不能有谓语动词
and / but most of them were wildly improbable. √并列句
most of which were wildly improbable. √定语从句
Apart from an interesting-looking carved dagger, the box was full of crockery, much of it broken.（独立主格）
Apart from an interesting-looking carved dagger, the box was full of crockery, and / but much of it was broken.（并列句，不如独立主格简洁、突出重点）
Apart from an interesting-looking carved dagger, the box was full of crockery, much of which was broken.
造句: 考古学家发现了十五尊雕像, 每一尊代表着一位女神。
The archaeologists found fifteen statues, each of them representing a goddess.（独立主格）
Readers happily accepted the fact that an obscure maidservant was really the hero's mother.
A long-lost brother, who was presumed dead, was really alive all the time and wickedly plotting to bring about the hero's downfall. And so on.
语法分析：
A long-lost brother, who was presumed dead（定语从句）, was really alive all the time and wickedly plotting to bring about the hero's downfall.
知识点（1）
be presumed dead / innocent … 被认为死了/清白的
Their nephew was missing, presumed dead.
In English law, an accused man is presumed innocent until he is proved guilty.
知识点（2）
alive [not before noun 一般不做前置定语] 活着；在世
He may hunt, beg, or steal occasionally to keep himself alive, …
living [一般做前置定语] 活着的；活的
all living things 所有的生物
living proof 活生生的证据
At such times, justice acts like a living force.
live
experiments on live animals （[前置定语]活着的）活体动物实验
be transmitted live 现场的
Is the wire live? （表语）有电的
知识点（3）
plot 做动词：
plot to do 秘密谋划去做某事
= scheme to do
… and wickedly scheming to…√
… and wickedly conspiring to… X conspire主语必须是两人以上
plot 做名词：阴谋
a plot to assassinate the President
【近义词组】表达“阴谋”：
scheme
intrigue
conspiracy
schemes and intrigues 阴谋诡计
知识点（3）
downfall 含义1：n. fall from a position of prosperity or power 垮台
Greed led to his downfall.
downfall 含义2：n. thing that causes this 引起垮台的事情、原因
His vanity was his downfall. （垮台的事情、原因）
【近义词组】表达“垮台”：
undoing 垮台、失败的原因
The team's weak defense was their undoing.
That proved to be my undoing, for I soon got back to my old bad habit of dozing off in front of the screen.
知识点（4）
【近义词组】表达“等等”：
and so on
and so forth
and the like
and what not
etc. (et cetera)
Modern readers would find such naive solutions totally unacceptable.
语法分析：
Modern readers would find such naive solutions（宾语） totally unacceptable（宾语补足语）.
知识点（1）
unacceptable 难以接受的
improbable 不大可能真实的（或发生的）；不大可能的
incredible 不能相信的；难以置信的
unbelievable 非常好（或坏、极端）的；难以置信的；惊人的
inconceivable 难以想象的；无法相信的
unconvincing 似乎不真实的；不令人信服的；难以相信的
preposterous 荒唐的；极不合情理的
知识点（2）
写作：熟练的使用宾语补足语可以使句子简洁
造句：中国学生会觉得这么简单的考试是完全无法相信的。
Chinese students would find such easy examinations totally incredible.
Though the crew were at first under the impression that the lost ship had been found, the contents of the chest proved them wrong.
造句：事实证明他们的担心是多余的。
The facts proved their worries unnecessary.
造句：事实证明他的指责毫无根据。
The facts proved his accusation totally groundless.
If you lived in the Mediterranean, for instance, you would consider octopus a great delicacy.
造句：如果你住在北京，你就会把豆汁儿 (Douzhir) 当作一道美味佳肴。
If you lived in Beijing, you would consider Douzhir a great delicacy.
造句：如果你住在中国东北地区 (the Northeast of China)，你就会非常喜欢滑冰。
If you lived in the Northeast of China, you would consider skating a great pleasure.
Yet, in real life, circumstances do sometimes conspire to bring about coincidences which anyone but a 19th century novelist would find incredible.
语法分析：
Yet (转折副词), in real life（介词短语当状语）, circumstances do sometimes conspire to bring about coincidences which anyone but（介词） a 19th century novelist（后置定语,修饰anyone） would find incredible. （which...定语从句，修饰coincidences）
知识点（1）
in real life 在现实生活中
in the real world 在现实世界
知识点（2）
circumstances [C, usually pl.] 条件；环境；状况
under no circumstances 在任何情况下都不要…
Under no circumstances should you approach that man.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, … 由于出现了无法控制的情况
知识点（3）
conspire to do sth. 造成不好的结果
Falling demand and high interest rates have conspired to produce a big drop in profits.
知识点（4）
… but a 19th century … (but介词) 除了…之外
Nobody but Robert would do such a thing.
Who but a fool would do such a thing?
His house is the last but one in the street. （倒数第二个）
Take the next turning but one on your left. （第二个）
nothing but = only 只不过
He is nothing but a thief.
anything but = not at all 一点也不
He is anything but a hero.
He is anything but stupid.
all but = almost 几乎
Britain's coal industry has all but disappeared.
His left arm was all but useless.
语法：but 后可跟不定式 (to) do，当but表示“除了…之外”后面接不定时的时候，
1.如果前面实义动词do，后面的to省略
We have nothing to do but wait here.
2.如果前面没有实义动词 do，后面必须是to do
We have no choice but to wait here.
知识点（5） 课文句式模仿
造句：在现实生活中，有时确实很多情况会凑到一起导致一连串的大灾难，而这些事情除了受害者之外可能谁也不会相信。
In real life, circumstances do sometimes conspire to bring about a series of catastrophes which anyone but the victims would find incredible.
（第二段）
When I was a boy, my grandfather told me how a German taxi driver, Franz Bussman, found a brother who was thought to have been killed 20 years before.
语法分析：
When I was a boy（时间状语从句）, my grandfather told me how a German taxi driver, Franz Bussman（同位语）, found a brother who was thought to have been killed（who...定语从句，修饰brother） twenty years before（时间状语）. （how…宾语从句）
知识点（1）
When a boy, … X 状语主语和主句主语统一时才可省略
课文写法替换：When I was a boy
In my childhood, …
In my early years, …
In my teens, …
In my adolescence, …
In my youth, …
知识点（2） 复习：不定式完成时
Everyone went to the funeral, for the 'ghost' was none other than Eric Cox, a third brother who was supposed to have died as a young man.
While on a walking tour with his wife, he stopped to talk to a workman.
知识点（1） lesson35 复习
stop doing 不再做某事
stop to do 停下手头的事去做另外一件事
Please stop smoking. Smoke really bothers me. 停止抽烟
I’m exhausted. Let’s stop to smoke.停下来去抽烟
Stop to smell the flowers.
cease to do / doing: stop doing 停止做某事、不再做某事
区别：
cease to do 一般表示状态
cease doing 可以是正在做的可延续的动作
That department has ceased to exist.
The factory has ceased making bicycles.
After they had gone on, Mrs. Bussman commented on the workman's close resemblance to her husband and even suggested that he might be his brother.
语法分析：
After they had gone on（时间状语从句）, Mrs. Bussman commented on the workman's close resemblance to her husband and（做介词on的宾语） even suggested（暗示） that he might be his brother.
知识点（1）
comment on … 对…发表评论
I don’t want to comment on other people’s views.
No comment. 无可奉告
【近义词组】表达“评论说…”：
comment that …
remark on …
remark that …
知识点（2）
bear a close resemblance to … 跟某人很像
closely resemble … 跟某人很像
课文写法替换：
Mrs. Bussman commented / remarked that the workman bore a close resemblance to her husband / closely resembled her husband.
The workman and her husband were extraordinarily similar / particularly alike.
The workman and her husband had a lot in common.
There were striking similarities / was considerable commonality between the workman and her husband.
知识点（3）
suggested that … 暗示
Franz poured scorn on the idea, pointing out that his brother had been killed in action during the war.
语法分析：
Franz poured scorn on the idea, pointing（非谓语动词作状语) out that his brother had been killed in action during the war（that…宾语从句）.
知识点（1）
pour scorn on … 对…不屑一顾
= pour contempt on …
= pour ridicule on …
【区分】
pour cold water on … 破冷水
知识点（2）
课文写法替换：
Franz didn’t take the idea seriously.
知识点（3）
point out 提醒、指出 （out 副词）
…, reminding her that his brother had been killed …
I must point out that you are making a dangerous mistake.
At this, the police pointed out ironically that this would hardly be necessary as the men were already under arrest.
知识点（3）
been killed in action 战斗中牺牲
His father told everybody that Eric had been killed in action.
Though Mrs. Bussman was fully acquainted with this story, she thought that there was a chance in a million that she might be right.
语法分析：
Though Mrs. Bussman was fully acquainted with this story（让步状语从句）, she thought that there was a chance in a million that she might be right（chance的同位语从句）. （that…宾语从句）
知识点（1）
be acquainted with … 对…熟悉
= be familiar with …
课文写法替换：
Though Mrs. Bussman was fully familiar with this story, …
知识点（2）
a chance in a million 极小的可能性
课文写法替换：
…, she thought there was the slightest / remotest chance that she might be right.
知识点（5） 课文句式模仿
造句：尽管这位侦探非常了解这位老太太对周围每一个人总是这么好，但他认为仍有一丝可能这位老太太就是谋杀犯。
Though the detective was fully acquainted with the fact that the old lady was always so kind to everybody, he thought that there was a chance in a million that she might be the murderer.
A few days later, she sent a boy to the workman to ask him if his name was Hans Bussman.
Needless to say, the man's name was Hans Bussman and he really was Franz's long-lost brother.
知识点（1）
needless to say 不用说也知道
= as you can imagine
Needless to say our house is now surrounded by a jungle.
When the brothers were reunited, Hans explained how it was that he was still alive.
语法分析：
When the brothers were reunited（时间状语从句）, Hans explained how it（形式主语） was that he was still alive（真正主语）. （how...宾语从句）
知识点（1）
how it was: how it happened 事情是如何发生的
造句：当 Eric 回到农场后，他解释了他是怎么从团里逃出来的。
When Eric returned to the farm, he explained how it was that he deserted his regiment.
After having been wounded towards the end of the war, he had been sent to hospital and was separated from his unit.
语法分析：
After he had been wounded（时间状语从句，动名词完成时强调先发生）…
知识点（1）
… towards / toward midnight 临近…的时候
Towards midday, a girl heard a muffled cry coming from behind one of the walls.
知识点（2）
send sb. to hospital 送某人去医院
take sb. to hospital 送某人去医院
be in hospital 住院
be hospitalized 住院
be out of / leave hospital 出院
A man who had broken his right leg was taken to hospital a few weeks before Christmas.
To compensate for his unpleasant experiences in hospital, the man drank a little more than was good for him.
The following day, however, the doctor consoled him by telling him that his chances of being able to leave hospital in time for New Year celebrations were good.
知识点（3）
separate … from … 从…隔离开
Theory should never be separated from practice.
cut … off from … 从…切断
She realized that he was trying to cut her off from her friends.
isolate … from … 从…隔离开
He was isolated from all the other prisoners.
segregate … from …从…隔离开（宾语只能是人）
Blacks were segregated from whites in every area of life.
The hospital had been bombed and Hans had made his way back into Western Germany on foot.
知识点（1）
make one’s way 前往某地
不同介词搭配：
I made my way to the house.
I made my way into the backyard.
I made my way along the river.
I made my way up the stairs.
Turning back down the main street, we quickened our pace and made our way rapidly towards the stream where we hoped the boatman was waiting.
【扩展】
feel one’s way 摸索着前进
The room was dark, so I had to feel my way along the wall to the door.
edge one’s way 侧身前进
They had to edge their way along this, sometimes wading across shallow streams, or swimming across deep pools.
force / elbow one’s way 推开人群往前走
He forced / elbowed his way through the crowd.
find one’s way 1.（人做主语） 发现了去某地的道路；2.（物做主语）到达某地
Very few of the fifty pence pieces and pound coins I have given him have found their way there.
wind / trace one’s way 蜿蜒着前进
The river winds its way through the valley.
We expected the path to end abruptly, but we found that it traced its way through the trees.
Meanwhile, his unit was lost and all records of him had been destroyed.
Hans returned to his family home, but the house had been bombed and no one in the neighbourhood knew what had become of the inhabitants.
语法分析：
Hans returned to his family home, but（大句并列） the house had been bombed and（小句并列） no one in the neighbourhood（介词短语当后置定语，修饰no none） knew what had become of the inhabitants（宾语从句）.
知识点（1）
become of sb. / sth. 某人某事现在的情况如何…;（一般用于what/whatever的疑问句或从句中）
What has become of Jane?
Whatever became of the parcel you sent?
课文写法替换：没有人知道他家人的下落
whereabouts （人或物）所在的地方；下落；行踪
No one in the neighborhood knew his family’s whereabouts.
Despite numerous searches and enquiries, her whereabouts are still unknown.
知识点（2）
inhabitant （某地的）居民，栖息动物
inhabit 居住在；栖居于
In the future people may inhabit other planets.
cohabit
cohabit with … （无婚姻关系）同居
cohabitant 同居者
habitat （动植物的）生活环境，栖息地
Assuming that his family had been killed during an air raid, Hans settled down in a village 50 miles away where he had remained ever since.
语法分析：
Assuming that（复合连词） his family had been killed during an air raid, Hans settled down in a village 50 miles away where he had remained ever since（定语从句，充当并列句）.
知识点（1）
assuming (that) … 1. 以为；2.假定，假如
Assuming (that) the man was making a homosexual advance, he stormed out of the house angrily. 以为
Assuming (that) the house is for sale, would you buy it? 假如
You can stretch your legs on the spacious decks, play games, swim, meet interesting people and enjoy good food—always assuming, of course, that the sea is calm. 假定
知识点（1）
even assuming (that) … 即使
= even if …
Even assuming (that) smokers do see the health warnings, I doubt they'll take any notice.
知识点（2） lessson14
settle down 定居（在某个地方）…
He had often dreamed of retiring in England and had planned to settle down in the country.
知识点（2）
定语从句充当并列句
…where he had remained ever since
…, Hans settled down in a village 50 miles away and he had remained there ever since.