常见的引导让步状语从句的连词有:though,although,even though,even if。此时,主句前不可用but,但可用yet/still。
81 Although he tried hard,(yet/still) he failed.
82 Although I didn't know anybody at the party, I had a very good time.
83 The family is the essential presence—the thing that never leaves you, even if you find you have to leave it.
84 Although Professor Green's lectures usually ran 【A】 over the fifty-minute period, 【B】 but 【C】 none of his students 【D】 even objected as they found his lectures both informative and interesting.
正确答案 B,去掉but。
妙语点睛 本题考查although和but不能连用这一知识点。
精品译文 尽管格林教授上课时间常超过50分钟,但是他的学生中没有一个人反对,因为他们觉得他的课既有趣又有收获。
85 Although Mr. Smith studied 【A】 art in Paris, 【B】 but his writings attracted 【C】 much more interest 【D】than his paintings. (TOEFL)
正确答案 B,去掉but。
妙语点睛 本题考查although和but不能连用这一知识点。
精品译文 尽管史密斯先生在巴黎是学习绘画艺术的,但是他的文学作品要比他的绘画更引人关注。
86 The engineers are going through with their highway project, ______ the expenses have risen.
A. even though B. just because C. now that D. as though
正确答案 A
妙语点睛 本题考查的是状语从句中连词的使用。
精品译文 尽管费用上涨了,工程师们依然继续这个公路建设项目。
87 44 its economy continues to recover, the US is increasingly becoming a nation of part-timers and temporary workers.
A. Even though B. Now that C. If only D. Provided that
正确答案 A
妙语点睛 本题考查的是状语从句中连词的使用。
精品译文 尽管美国经济持续好转,但它却日益成为一个拥有大量兼职者和临时工的国家。
88 All these conditions tend to increase the probability of a child committing a criminal act, 40 a direct causal relationship has not yet been established.
A. provided B. since C. although D. supposing
正确答案 C
妙语点睛 本题考查的是状语从句连词的使用。
精品译文 所有这些条件都会增加青少年犯罪的可能性,虽然其中的直接因果关系尚未证实。
上面讨论了常见的让步状语从句连词,在英文中还可以用介词、副词甚至动词来表示让步转折关系。
这些介词主要有despite, in spite of, for all, notwithstanding。需要注意的是,上文讲到的although, though等是连词,因此后边只能接从句(有时是省略形式的从句),而这里的介词只能接名词(短语),不能接从句。请比较:
89 Though he was inexperienced , he did a very good job. = In spite of his inexperience, ... = In spite of his being inexperienced, ....
90 Although it was dangerous, ... = Despite the danger, ...
91 Though the weather was bad, ... = In spite of the bad weather, ...
92 【A】【 Despite fats and oils are 【B】 nutritionally important 【C】 as energy sources, medical research 【D】indicates that saturated fats may contribute to hardening of the arteries.
正确答案 A,改为Though或Although。
妙语点睛 本题考查让步状语从句中连词的使用。despite是介词,不能引导从句,故要改成连词。
精品译文 尽管动物脂肪和植物油在营养方面和能量来源同样重要,但是医学研究表明饱和脂肪可能会导致动脉硬化。
93 ______ what he achieved in medicine, he remained modest.
A. Despite B. Although C. If D. Whereas
正确答案 A
妙语点睛 本题考查状语从句中连词的使用。这里what 相当于 things that,引导的是一个名词性从句,其本质上相当于一个名词短语,故此处仍需用介词。用though只能说成:Though he achieved a lot in medicine, he remained modest.
精品译文 尽管在医学领域取得过很多成就,他依然很谦虚。
94 ______ tired, he wouldn't stop working.
A. Despite B. For all C. Though D. Whereas
正确答案 C
妙语点睛 本题考查状语从句中连词的使用。这是一个省略的状语从句,原句是Though he was tired, he wouldn't stop working,所以要用连词,而不是介词,故C正确。
精品译文 尽管很累,但他依然坚持工作。
这样的副词主要有however,nevertheless,nonetheless,though(可以用作副词)等。这些让步副词在考研完形填空中曾多次出现,以前常考的是考生熟悉的however和nevertheless,2005年考题中首次出现了though用作副词的情况。很多考生仅熟悉though作为连词的用法,而不知道它还可以用作副词,相当于however,表示“不过,然而”。
95 The human nose is an underrated tool. Humans are often thought to be insensitive smellers compared with animals, 1 this is largely because, unlike animals, we stand upright. This means that our noses are limited to perceiving those smells which float through the air, missing the majority of smells which stick to surfaces. In fact, 5 , we are extremely sensitive to smells, 6 we do not generally realize it. Our noses are capable of detecting human smells even when these are diluted to far below one part in one million.
1. A. although B. as C. but D. while
5. A. anyway B. though C. instead D. therefore
6. A. even if B. if only C. only if D. as if
正确答案 1. C,5. B,6. A
妙语点睛 本题考查状语从句连词以及表示让步转折关系的副词的使用。这里的though就是副词,表示“不过”。
精品译文 人类的鼻子是一个被低估的器官。与动物相比,人类通常被认为嗅觉不灵敏, 但是 这主要是因为:人与动物不同,我们人类是直立行走的。这意味着,我们的鼻子仅限于察觉那些漂浮在空气中的气味,而闻不到粘在大地表层的大部分气味。 但 实际上,我们的嗅觉极为灵敏, 即使我们 通常没有意识到这一点。我们的鼻子能嗅出人的气味,即使这些气味被稀释到远低于百万分之一的比例。
96 It is generally recognized, 29 , that the introduction of the computer in the early 20th century, followed by the invention of the integrated circuit during the 1960s, radically changed the process, 31 its impact on the media was not immediately apparent.
29. A. indeed B. hence C. however D. therefore
31. A. unless B. since C. lest D. although
正确答案 29. C,31. D
妙语点睛 本题考查状语从句连词以及表示让步转折关系的副词的使用。
精品译文 然而人们普遍认为:20世纪初计算机的出现以及后来60年代集成电路的发明极大地改变了这一过程,尽管这不会立即对媒体产生明显的影响。
97 This view, 47 , is generally thought to be wrong.
A. however B. meanwhile C. therefore D. moreover
正确答案 A
妙语点睛 本题考查表示让步转折关系的副词的使用。
精品译文 不过,一般认为这一观点是错误的。
98 Getting enough vitamins is essential to life, although the body has no nutritional use for excess vitamins. Many people, 50 , believe in being on the “safe side”and thus take extra vitamins.
A. nevertheless B. therefore C. moreover D. meanwhile
正确答案 A
妙语点睛 本题考查表示让步转折关系的副词的使用。
精品译文 摄入足够多的维生素,对于我们人类来说是很重要的,尽管过多的维生素对人体来说也没有什么营养价值。不过,很多人还是坚持采取较安全的策略,因此摄入额外的维生素。
99 Until recently most historians spoke very critically of the Industrial Revolution. They 41 that in the long run Industrialization greatly raised the standard of living for the average man.
A. admitted B. believed C. claimed D. predicted
正确答案 A
妙语点睛 本题考查表示让步转折关系的动词admit的使用。
精品译文 直到最近,大多数历史学家仍对工业革命持批评态度。 虽然 他们 承认 从长远来看,工业化确实在很大程度上提高了普通老百姓的生活水平。
while位于句首,一般意为“尽管……”,引导让步状语从句。考研阅读文章中常出现while的这一用法。请看下面的真题例句:
100 While even the modestly educated sought an elevated tone when they put pen to paper before the 1960s, even the most well regarded writing since then has sought to capture spoken English on the page.(2005年阅读第四篇)
妙语点睛 while出现在句首,表示让步转折。
精品译文 在20世纪60年代之前,当人们伏案写作时, 即使 受教育不多的人也追求一种高雅的风格,而从那以后,即使是令人景仰的文章也在追求口语风格。
101 While in America the trend started as a reaction to the economic decline—after the mass redundancies caused by downsizing in the late 80's—and is still linked to the politics of thrift, in Britain, at least among the middle-class down-shifters of my acquaintance, we have different reasons for seeking to simplify our lives.(2001年阅读第五篇)
妙语点睛 这里while作为连词,表示对比关系,比较的是在美国和在英国,人们开始过简单生活的不同理由。可以译成“不过,然而”。
精品译文 尽管在美国,这个潮流原本是对经济衰退的一种反应——80年代后期经济规模的缩减造成了大量裁员——现在仍与勤俭的政纲相联系,然而在英国,至少在我认识的中产阶级简化生活者当中,我们持有寻求简化生活的各种不同的理由。
102 While often praised by foreigners for its emphasis on the basics, Japanese education tends to stress test taking and mechanical learning over creativity and self-expression. (2000年阅读第四篇)
妙语点睛 这里while作为连词表示“尽管”,注意从句是一个省略形式的状语从句,相当于说while it is often praised by...,这里it指代Japanese education。
精品译文 虽然日本的教育常常因为重视基础知识而受到外国人士的赞扬,但是其教育往往强调应试和机械性学习,而不是创造性及自我表现。
103 While history once revered its affinity to literature and philosophy, the emerging social sciences seemed to afford greater opportunities for asking new questions and providing rewarding approaches to an understanding of the past.(1999年英译汉)
妙语点睛 while出现在句首,表示让步转折。
精品译文 尽管历史学曾经崇尚它与文学和哲学的相似性,但新兴的社会科学似乎为人们开辟了更为广阔的天地,提出了新问题,也提供了了解过去的有效途径。
104 While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians, modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.
妙语点睛 while出现在句首,表示让步转折。
精品译文 几乎每个历史学家对史学都有自己的界定,但现代史学家的实践最趋向于认为历史学是试图重现过去的重大史实并对其做出解释。
105 I have excluded him because, while his accomplishments may contribute to the solution of moral problems, he has not been charged with the task of approaching any but the factual aspects of those problems.
妙语点睛 本题考查的是状语从句连词的翻译。这里because原因状语从句里面又包含一个while让步状语从句。另外,要注意,如果单看any but,意思是“绝非……”,但这里需考虑其与前面的not有语义关系,因此要把not...any but联系起来翻译,译为“只不过是……”。
精品译文 我之所以把普通科学家排除在外,是因为尽管他的研究成果可能有助于解决道德问题,但他所承担的任务只不过是研究道德问题中的事实部分(而不是道德问题的本身)。
No matter + what, who, when, where, which, how可以代替whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever, whichever, however来引导让步状语从句,表示“无论……”。请注意,这几个连词除了however外,一般都是单独使用,而however后边通常要接形容词或副词,不单独使用。请看真题例句:
106 There are over 100 night schools in the city, making it possible for a professional to be re-educated no matter ______ he does.
A. how B. where C. what D. when
正确答案 C
妙语点睛 本题考查让步状语从句连词的使用。应填what,充当及物动词does的宾语。
精品译文 这个城市有100多所夜校,所以任何一个在职人员不论是从事什么行业,都完全有可能接受继续教育。
107 No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God's eyes. The worth of our lives come not in what we do or who we know but by WHO WE ARE! You are special—Don't ever forget it!
精品译文 无论我如何对待那张钞票,你们还是想要它,因为他并没有贬值。人生路上,我们会无数次地被自己的决定或碰到的逆境击倒、欺凌,甚至被碾得粉身碎骨。我们觉得自己似乎一文不值。但无论发生了什么,或将要发生什么,在上帝的眼中,你们永远不会丧失价值。生命的价值不依赖我们的所作所为,也不仰仗我们结交的人物,而是取决于我们本身!你们是独特的——永远不要忘记这一点!
108 But however amazed our descendants may be at how far from Utopia we were, they will look just like us.(2000年阅读第二篇)
妙语点睛 这个句子原本的结构是:Our descendants may be amazed at how far from Utopia we were, ...。现在因为有了连词however,amazed和however被一同提到了句首。
精品译文 但是不管我们的后代对我们离乌托邦之遥远感到多么的吃惊,他们的长相将和我们一样。
109 When a new movement in art attains a certain fashion, it is advisable to find out what its advocates are aiming at, for, however farfetched and unreasonable their principles may seem today, it is possible that in years to come they may be regarded as normal.(2000年阅读第三篇)
妙语点睛 这个句子有一定的难度。关键是要知道这里的for是表示原因的连词,引导原因状语从句。在这个for原因从句里面又套有一个however引导的让步状语从句。这个让步从句的本来结构是:their principles may seem farfetched and unreasonable today。现在因为有了连词however,farfetched and unreasonable和however被一同提到了句首。
精品译文 当一种新的艺术运动达到某种程度的流行时,我们最好搞清楚这个运动的倡导者们的目标是什么,因为不管他们的原则现在看来是如何牵强和不合理,在将来都有可能被视为稀松平常。
110 “The test of any democratic society,”he wrote in a Wall Street Journal column, “lies not in how well it can control expression but in whether it gives freedom of thought and expression the widest possible latitude, however disputable or irritating the results may sometimes be . We won't retreat in the face of any threats.”(1997年阅读第四篇)
妙语点睛 这个句子原本的结构是:the results may sometimes be disputable or irritating。现在因为有了连词however,disputable or irritating和however被一同提到了句首。
精品译文 他在《华尔街日报》的一个专栏中写道:“对任何民主社会的检验不在于它能多好地控制言论的自由表达,而在于它是否尽可能更宽松地赋予思想自由和表达自由,无论可能造成的结果是多么富有争议或令人不悦。面对威胁,我们不会退缩。”
看完上面的例句,细心的读者一定注意到了,在no matter wh-这样的让步从句中,从句谓语往往会有情态动词may(或might)。这是用来加强让步语气的,相当于汉语中说“可能会多么的……”,请参见上述各例句的译文,认真体会。这种谓语常常出现在however引导的从句中,但不限于however。有时甚至把may或might省去,只剩下动词原形,请看下面的例句:
111 Try as he will, no man breaks wholly loose from his first love, no matter who she be .... We've only one virginity to lose and where we lost it there our hearts will be!
妙语点睛 这个句子出自一本英文原版小说的扉页。这里no matter who she be就相当于no matter who she might be 这样加强语气的形式。该句中Try as he will也是一个让步状语从句的结构,接下来我们就会讨论。
精品译文 不管怎么样,没有一个男人能够完完全全忘却自己的初恋,不管她是谁。因为童贞只有一次,我们永远不会忘记自己奉献出的第一次。
as引导的倒装句可表示让步,这一结构有:
112 Young as he is, he is knowledgeable. (形容词)
113 Much as I respect him, I cannot agree with him. (副词)
114 Again as he failed in doing this experiment, he didn't lose his heart. (副词)
115 Praised as he was, he remained modest. (分词)
116 Child as he is, he is knowledgeable. (名词不带冠词)
117 Lazy a boy as he is, he is kind to help others. (注意词序:lazy a boy)
118 Oldest in our workshop as he is, he works hardest. (此时,最高级前不用the)
另外可以把动词原形置于句首,此时结构为:v. + as + 主语 + 助动词(may/might, will/would, can/could, do/does/did)。
119 Fail as I did, I would never stop trying.
妙语点睛 这里是将动词原形fail提前,其原因很简单,若是将failed提前,那么句子无法成立,我们无法说:Failed as I。所以我们只能将原形动词fail提前,而通过助动词did来标明时态。
精品译文 尽管失败了,但我决不会停止尝试。
120 Try as he will , no man breaks wholly loose from his first love, no matter who she be.... We've only one virginity to lose and where we lost it there our hearts will be!
妙语点睛 这个句子在上面分析过。这里是把动词原形提到句首,形成Try as he will这样一个让步状语从句的结构。
精品译文 不管怎么样,没有一个男人能够完完全全忘却自己的初恋,不管她是谁。因为童贞只有一次,我们永远不会忘记自己奉献出的第一次。
若动词是及物动词,其宾语也要随着动词提前。
121 Lose money as I did , I got a lot of experience.
妙语点睛 这里不把lost而是把“动词原形lose +宾语money”提前,即动词与其宾语同时提到句首。
精品译文 尽管我失去了很多钱,但是我获得了很多经验。
需要注意的是,这里的as可以替换为that或though,尽管这样较少用,但不可以用although。
122 Odd though it sounds , cosmic inflation is a scientifically plausible consequence of some respected ideas in elementary particle physics, and many astrophysicists have been convinced for the better part of a decade that it is true.
妙语点睛 我们看到,这里作者用though代替as来表示让步。
精品译文 宇宙膨胀理论虽然听似奇特,但它是基本粒子物理学中一些公认的理论在科学上的一个可信的推论。许多天体物理学家十年来一直确信这一论说是正确的。
123 【A】 Much although I have traveled, I have never seen anyone 【B】 to equal her in thoroughness, 【C】whatever 【D】 the job .
正确答案 A,改为Much as。
妙语点睛 本题考查的就是as引导的让步从句。我们看到,这里用although代替as是错误的。
精品译文 尽管我游历甚广,但我还从没有见过一个像她这样不论对什么工作都如此细致认真的人。
124 ______, he does get annoyed with her sometimes.
A. Although much he likes her B. Much although he likes her C. As he likes her much D. Much as he likes her
正确答案 D
妙语点睛 本题考查的就是as引导的让步从句。我们看到,这里不选B而选D,显然是因为不能用although代替as。
精品译文 尽管他很喜欢她,但是有时也冲她发火。
这一表示让步的结构,在到目前为止的考研英语中尚未出现过,不过,我还是希望各位考生掌握,以防万一,如出现在考研翻译或阅读理解中。
125 As much as John hates to do it, he must stay at home and study tonight.
精品译文 尽管约翰不愿意,但他今晚还是得待在家里学习。
126 As amusing and perceptive as graffiti(涂鸦) may sometimes be, it has by no means won universal approval.
精品译文 尽管 涂鸦有时可以 供人消遣并发人深思 ,但它从未赢得普遍认同。
127 As important as your obligation as a doctor, a lawyer or a business leader will be, you are a human being first, and those human connections with spouses, with children, with friends are the most important investments you will ever make. At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict, closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend or a parent. Our success as a society depends not on what happens in the White House but on what happens inside your house.
精品译文 尽管 你们将来或许要成为一名医生、一位律师或是一个商人并要 肩负重任 ,但首先你们是一个平凡的人。因此,你们与自己的配偶、孩子、朋友等之间的亲情或友情是最为重要的。在你们临终前,让你们感到后悔的不会是因为没有多做一次医学测试、没能多打赢一场官司或没有多做成一笔生意,而是后悔没有多花时间陪你们的丈夫、孩子、朋友或是父母。社会的发展进步依赖于每一个家庭,而不是白宫。
128 As important as qualifications are, and you won't get to an interview without the qualifications, the most thing in fact is the character and how a person presents himself at interview. I find it very difficult to define exactly the sort of person I am looking for, but when I meet someone I can tell whether they are the sort of person that I would like to appoint or whether they are not.
精品译文 在求职过程中,资历 固然很重要 ,因为若没有很好的资历,你是得不到面试机会的。但事实上,最重要的是你的个性以及在面试中你是如何展现自己的。有时很难确切地说我需要何种类型的人才,但是在面试过程中,我能够判断出他们是否是我所需要的人才。
我们先来看例句:
129 All substances, be they gaseous, liquid or solid, are made up of atoms.
妙语点睛 这个句子原本的结构是:All substances, whether they may be gaseous, liquid or solid, are made up of atoms. 即相当于whether引导的让步从句,译成“不论……还是……”。把whether省去后,将be动词提到句首。
精品译文 一切物质,不论气态、液态还是固态,都是由原子构成的。
130 Church as we use the word refers to all religious institutions, ______ they Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Jewish, and so on.
A. be B. being C. were D. are
正确答案 A
妙语点睛 本题考查的就是be的倒装句表示让步。
精品译文 我们所使用的“教派”一词指所有的宗教团体,不管他们是信奉基督教、伊斯兰教、佛教还是信奉犹太教等。
131 The business of each day, ____ selling goods or shipping them, went quite smoothly.
A. it being B. be it C. was it D. it was
正确答案 B
妙语点睛 本题考查的就是be的倒装句表示让步。
精品译文 每天的生意,不论是售货还是运货,都进展得很顺利。