Monster or fish?

【课文】

Fishermen and sailors sometimes claim to have seen monsters in the sea. Though people have often laughed at stories told by seamen, it is now known that many of these 'monsters' which have at times been sighted are simply strange fish. Occasionally, unusual creatures are washed to the shore, but they are rarely caught out at sea. Some time ago, however, a peculiar fish was caught near Madagascar. A small fishing boat was carried miles out to sea by the powerful fish as it pulled on the line. Realizing that this was no ordinary fish, the fisherman made every effort not to damage it in any way. When it was eventually brought to shore, it was found to be over thirteen feet long. It had a head like a horse, big blue eyes, shining silver skin, and a bright red tail. The fish, which has since been sent to a museum where it is being examined by a scientist, is called an oarfish. Such creatures have rarely been seen alive by man as they live at a depth of six hundred feet.

【课文翻译】

渔夫和水手们有时声称自己看到过海里的妖怪。虽然人们常常对水手们讲的故事付诸一笑，但现在看来，人们有时看到的这些“妖怪”很多不过是些奇怪的鱼。一些异常的生物偶尔会被冲到岸上来，但它们在海上却极少能被捕到。然而不久前，在马达加斯加附近的海里却捕到了一条奇怪的鱼。一条小渔船被一条咬住钩的强壮的大鱼拖到了几英里以外的海面上。那位渔民意识到这根本不是一条普通的鱼，于是千方百计不让它受到丝毫伤害。当终于把它弄上岸后，人们发现它身长超过了13英尺。它长着一个像马一样的头，有着大的蓝眼睛和闪闪发光的银色皮肤，还有一条鲜红色的尾巴。此鱼叫桨鱼，被送进了博物馆，现正接受一位科学家的检查。人们很少能看到活着的这类动物，因为它们生活在600英尺深的水下。

【生词汇总】

monster n. 怪物

sailor n. 海员

sight v. 见到

creature n. 动物，生物

peculiar adj. 奇怪的，不寻常的

shining adj. 闪闪发光的

oarfish n. 桨鱼

【知识点讲解】

1. Fishermen and sailors sometimes claim to have seen monsters in the sea.

1).to have seen是不定式的完成式结构。不定式的完成式用于不定式的动作发生在谓语动作之前的情况。不定式的完成式常用于believe，declare，find，say，see，know，think，understand等动词之后(这些动词常用被动语态)：eg. I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time.

2) claim: 宣称，断言

Claim (that)

eg. He claimed that Tom had stolen his wallet.

Claim to

eg. I don’t claim to be an expert

It is claimed that 据说

eg. It is claimed that some doctors were working 80 hours a week.

2. Though people have often laughed at stories told by seamen, it is now known that many of these "monsters" which have at times been sighted are simply strange fish.

laugh v. 笑

eg. Everybody laughed when the circus clown made his appearance.

laugh at: 因…而笑; 嘲笑

eg. Everybody laughs at my accents 大家都取笑我的口音

different ways of laughing

1.burst into laughter 突然大笑

2.crack a smile 展颜微笑，莞尔一笑

3.explode with laughter 哄堂大笑

4.force a smile 强作欢颜

at times: 有时 = now and then, occasionally,from time to time

eg. She's really rude at times.

sight:v.猛然看见，瞬间看见

eg. After twelve days at sea, they sighted land

在海上航行12天后，他们发现了陆地

3、Realizing that this was no ordinary fish...

=Realizing that this was not an ordinary fish...

no的否定意味比not(a/an)要重(用于名词或形容词之前、系动词be之后)

eg.This is no easy work. 这绝对不是件容易干的活。

4. Occasionally, unusual creatures are washed to the shore, but they are rarely caught out at sea.

Wash 冲向 ， 流向

eg.The rain has washed channels in the sand

雨水在沙土上冲出一条条沟

eg. Pieces of wreckage were washed ashore .

沉船的残骸被冲到岸上

5. Realizing that this was no ordinary fish, the fisherman made every effort not to damage it in any way..

make every effort to 尽一切努力

eg. He made every effort to climb to the top. 他尽一切努力爬到山顶

made every effort not to 尽一切努力、、、不

eg. the fisherman made every effort not to damage it

渔夫千方百计让它不受伤害

6. Such creatures have rarely been seen alive by man as they live at a depth of six hundred feet.

1)alive 主要用作表语(有时可用作后置定语，但不用作前置定语)，可用于人或动物。

eg.He must be still alive

He’s the happiest man alive. 他世上最幸福的人。

注：若 alive 本身有修饰语，则也可用作前置定语。

eg.He is a really alive student. 他的确是一个十分活跃的学生。

2). living 可用作表语或定语，可用于人或物。

eg.Are your grandparents still living? 你的祖父母还健在吗?

eg. Both plants and animals are living things 动物和植物都是生物

3). live 通常只用作定语(前置)，可用于动物或植物，但一般不用于人。

eg.Only a few live trees were left after the fire.

火灾之后只剩下几棵树还活着。

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