第240句 道德问题
no company likes to be told it is contributing to the moral decline of a nation. "is this what you intended to accomplish with your careers?" senator robert dole asked time warner executives last week. "you have sold your souls, but must you corrupt our nation and threaten our children as well?"
译文:没有一家公司乐意听到别人说自己引起了社会的道德败坏。参议员罗伯特·多尔上周质问时代华纳公司的管理人员时说:“难道这就是你们要成就的事业吗?你们已经出卖了自己的灵魂,难道你们还非要腐蚀我们的国家,威胁我们的孩子不成?”
点睛:第一句是一个复合句,动词told之后是个宾语从句。第二、三、四句组成一个意思紧密的复杂长句,其核心句为senator robert dole asked time warner executives last week,其前后都是直接引语。前一个直接引语是带有表语从句的一般疑问句,后一个直接引语是转折美系的并列句,but后是一个一般疑问句,包括由and连接的两个并列部分corrupt our nation和threaten our children。注意这个疑问句带有反诘的意思。句尾的as well(也)实际上是个副词短语,相当于too,一般放在句末,有时和连词and或but搭配使用。
he is a knight,and a poet as well.
他是骑士,但也是诗人。
考点归纳:contribute和devote均有“贡献”之意。
*contribute指对某事的形成有帮助或贡献。
in a short news conference after a working dinner on thursday evening, mr. schroeder said germany is ready to contribute to iraq's reconstruction.
周四晚上工作餐之后,在一个简短的记者招待会上,施罗德先生说德国准备对伊拉克重建做出应有贡献。
此外,contribute还有“捐款,捐助;贡献,提供;投稿”等意思。
he contributed half of his savings to the relief fund.
他将一半的积蓄捐献给救济基金会。
he contributed generously to the red cross.
他对红十字会慷慨捐助。
he never contributes to the discussion.
他在讨论时从不发表意见。
the scientist often contributes to an academic journal.
这位科学家常给那家学术期刊撰稿。
*devote则有“专心致力于,献(身), 贡献;供奉,供献;把…专用于”的意思。
a man is not old as long as he is seeking something, so one should devote his life to accomplishing his dreams.
只要一个人还有追求,他就没有老,因此他应该致力于实现那些梦想。
we should devote ourselves assiduously and faithfully to the duties of our profession.
我们应当勤奋且忠诚地献身于我们的职责。
he devoted a great sum of money to books.
他花了一大笔钱买书。
n. 复兴,改造,再建