难句解析:
①That experiences influence subsequent behaviour is evidence of an obvious but nevertheless remarkable activity called remembering.
▲本句的主语是个从句That experiences influence subsequent behaviour,而后面是一个简单的系表结构is evidence,只不过evidence后面的修饰成分较多,里面的两个形容词obvious和remarkable之间还用了but nevertheless来表达一种转折关系。
△注意在阅读的时候先要抓住主干结构,特别是主语从句。在表语的部分要能够一眼认出其核心结构是evidence of activity。
②Constant practice has such as effect on memory as to lead to skilful performance on the piano, to recitation of a poem, and even to reading and understanding these words.
▲本句的主干很简单,就是Constant practice has... effect on memory,主要的结构是such as... as...,在后一个as的后面有一个不定式,而这个不定式有三个并列的宾语to skilful performance on the piano, to recitation of a poem, and even to reading and understanding these words,注意这里的三个to都是介词,和动词lead构成词组。
△注意先抓主干结构,另外要注意such as... as...是一种举例子的形式。
③Over a period of no practice what has been learned tends to be forgotten; and the adaptive consequences may not seem obvious.
▲本句可一分为二,在分号处分开,前面的分句中over a period of no practice是个时间状语,主语是个从句what has been learned,谓语是tends to be forgotten,后面的结构非常简单。
△理解本句以及下面几句的功夫不在文字上,而是要求同学们对于进化论的假设和其与记忆的关系有一个明确的认识。在这里我们要知道,作者认为遗忘是一种生物在进化中适应外界残酷现实的适应性行为,因为只有忘掉了过去的不愉快经历,一个生命才有可能活得更加生机勃勃。而这样的观点的一种必然推论就是迅速遗忘要优于慢速遗忘,因为忘得越快就越能适应外部世界。那么在这里作者就指出用进化论适应性的观点来解释遗忘有局限性。
④Nevertheless, an evolutionary interpretation might make it difficult to understand how the commonly gradual process of forgetting survived natural selection.
▲本句的主语是an evolutionary interpretation,谓语might make,而宾语的部分比较复杂,有一个形式宾语it,在真正的作宾语的不定式中还有一个从句how the commonly gradual process of forgetting survived natural selection。
△注意理清句子结构,意思的理解请参看上句△部分。
⑤In thinking about the evolution of memory together with all its possible aspects, it is helpful to consider what would happen if memories failed to fade.
▲本句的主干是it is helpful to do sth.,真正的主语是to consider这个不定式,当然它里面还包含了一个带条件从句的宾语从句。逗号前面的是一个状语。
△注意在阅读的时候先要抓住主干结构,同时看清主句中的it是一个形式主语,指代的是后面的不定式结构。而前面的一个its应该是指memory。
⑥Another line of thought assumes a memory storage system of limited capacity that provides adaptive flexibility specifically through forgetting.
▲本句的主干是Another line of thought assumes a memory storage system,在这里assume是一个及物动词。宾语a memory storage system后面有一个of引导的介词词组和定语从句来修饰它。
△注意一些词的意思,capacity在这里应被理解为“容量”,而非“能力”;flexibility是“灵活性”而非“弹性”。
n. 进化,发展,演变