• Detailed study of text A
  • 1. In order to understand the various issues that were at stake, it is necessary to refer back to two basic American patterns that are taken for granted in this country and which Americans therefore tend to tread as universal:
    这是一个主从复合句，in order to引导的是目的状语从句。在主句中，it是形式主语，真正的主语是后面的不定式短语to refer back to… as universal。在这个不定式短语中，pattern 后跟两个并列的定语从句，即thatare taken for granted in this country和which American therefore tend to treat as universal。At stake意为“在危险中；处于成败关头”。
  • 2. Normally, voices are kept low to avoid intruding on others and if voices are heard, people will act as though they had not heard:
    在该句中，as though引导的方式状语从句中用了虚拟语气，表示的是与过去事实相反的假设。
  • 3. If one is standing on the threshold holding the door open and talking to someone inside, it is still defined informally and experienced as being outside:
    句子中的holdingthe door open and talking to someone inside是现在分词短语，并列作状语，表示伴随。Open在这里做宾语补足语。
  • 4. As I was soon to learn, this was a mistake, because in less time than it takes to tell, the artist had detached himself from his friends, crossed the space between us, pushed my friend aside, and with eyes flashing, started shouting at me:
    在because引导的原因状语从句中，the artist是主语，谓语部分detached…,crossed…,pushed…并列充当；其中with eyes flashing是with的独立结构作状语，表示伴随。Detach…from表示“将…与…分开”。
  • 5. Americans working in England may become annoyed if they are not provided with what they consider appropriate enclosed work space:
    句子中的working in England是现在分词短语作后置定语，修饰Amerrcans；what引导的宾语从句，作介词with的宾语，在这个从句中，what 又是consider的宾语，appropriate enclosed work space是作宾语补足语。
  • 6. For an American to refuse to talk to someone else present in the same room, to give them the “silent treatment,” is the ultimate form of rejection and a sure sign of great displeasure:
    句子中的to refuse to talk to someone else… room和to give them the “ silent treatment”并列作句子中的主语。Present在这里作“出席的；在场的”解，一般位于被修饰的名次之后。



注：以上资料选自张鑫友编《新编英语泛读教程学习指南》（第三册），武汉：华中师范大学出版社，2003。