语法

1Once a year, a race is held for old cars.

每年都要为老式汽车举行一次比赛。

一般现在时被动语态 (Simple Present Passive) · Once a year, + 主语 + is + 过去分词 + for + 名词

• is held 是被动语态，表示比赛“被举行”
• once a year 表示频率
• old cars 是可数名词复数

说明每年一次的惯例，用一般现在时被动语态。

2A lot of cars entered for this race last year and there was a great deal of excitement just before it began.

去年有很多汽车报名参加了这场比赛，比赛开始前大家非常兴奋。

一般过去时 (Simple Past) · A lot of + 可数名词 + 动词过去式 + … + and + there was + a great deal of + 不可数名词 + 时间从句

• a lot of cars：a lot of 接可数名词
• a great deal of excitement：接不可数名词
• there was 与不可数名词 excitement 搭配用单数

本课核心例句，一句话对比了可数和不可数名词的数量词。

3One of the most handsome cars was a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

最漂亮的汽车之一是一辆罗尔斯-罗伊斯“银魂”牌汽车。

一般过去时 (Simple Past) · One of the + 最高级 + 复数名词 + was + 名词

• one of the most handsome cars：one of 后接复数名词
• 谓语动词与 one 一致，用单数 was

one of + 最高级 + 复数名词 表示“最……之一”，动词用单数。

4The most unusual car was a Benz which had only three wheels.

最不寻常的汽车是一辆只有三个轮子的奔驰牌汽车。

一般过去时 (Simple Past) · The most + 形容词 + 名词 + was + 名词 + which + had + only + 数词 + 名词

• the most unusual 是最高级
• which 引导定语从句
• only three wheels 用数词表示数量

主系表结构加定语从句，说明这辆车的特别之处。

5Built in 1885, it was the oldest car taking part.

它制造于1885年，是参赛车辆中最老的一辆。

一般过去时 (Simple Past) · 过去分词短语 + 主语 + was + the + 最高级 + 名词 + 现在分词短语

• built in 1885 是过去分词作状语，含被动意义
• taking part 是现在分词作后置定语
• the oldest 是最高级

句首 built 相当于 which was built；taking part 修饰 car。

6After a great many loud explosions, the race began.

在一阵巨大的爆炸声之后，比赛开始了。

一般过去时 (Simple Past) · After + a great many + 形容词 + 复数名词, + 主语 + 动词过去式

• a great many 只能接可数名词复数
• began 是 begin 的过去式

a great many loud explosions 是介词 after 的宾语，说明比赛开始前的情景。

7Many of the cars broke down on the course and some drivers spent more time under their cars than in them!

许多汽车在赛道上抛了锚，有些司机待在车底下的时间比待在车里的时间还长！

一般过去时 (Simple Past) · Many of the + 复数名词 + 动词过去式 + and + some + 复数名词 + spent more time + 地点 + than + 地点

• many of the cars：many of 后接特指的复数名词
• some drivers：some 接可数名词
• more … than 是比较结构

两个数量词 many of / some 都接可数名词；后半句用比较级表达幽默。

8A few cars, however, completed the race.

然而，还是有几辆汽车跑完了全程。

一般过去时 (Simple Past) · A few + 复数名词, however, + 动词过去式 + 宾语

• a few 表示“有几辆”，语气肯定
• however 放句中，前后加逗号
• completed 是规则过去式

a few cars 与前一句的 many of the cars 形成对比，表示只有少数几辆跑完。

9The winning car reached a speed of forty miles an hour -- much faster than any of its rivals.

获胜的那辆车达到了每小时40英里的速度——比它的任何对手都快得多。

一般过去时 (Simple Past) · 主语 + reached + a speed of + 数量 + -- + much + 比较级 + than + any of + 名词

• a speed of forty miles an hour：an hour 表示“每小时”
• much faster than 用 much 修饰比较级
• any of its rivals 表示“它的任何对手”

reached 一般过去时；破折号后是补充说明的比较结构。

10It sped downhill at the end of the race and its driver had a lot of trouble trying to stop it.

比赛快结束时，它飞速冲下山坡，司机费了好大的劲才把它停住。

一般过去时 (Simple Past) · 主语 + sped + 副词 + 时间状语 + and + 主语 + had + a lot of + 不可数名词 + 现在分词短语

• a lot of trouble：trouble 不可数，a lot of 可接不可数名词
• have trouble doing 表示“做……有困难”
• sped 是 speed 的过去式

a lot of 接不可数名词 trouble；trying to stop it 是 trouble 后的动名词结构。

11The race gave everyone a great deal of pleasure.

这次比赛给每个人都带来了极大的乐趣。

一般过去时 (Simple Past) · 主语 + gave + 间接宾语 + a great deal of + 不可数名词

• a great deal of pleasure：pleasure 不可数
• give sb. sth. 双宾语结构

gave everyone pleasure 是双宾语；a great deal of 修饰不可数名词 pleasure。

12It was very different from modern car races but no less exciting.

它与现代汽车比赛大不相同，但同样激动人心。

一般过去时 (Simple Past) · 主语 + was + very different from + 名词 + but + no less + 形容词

• be different from 表示“与……不同”
• no less exciting 意为“同样精彩”

主系表结构；no less exciting 用否定 + 比较级表示“一点也不逊色”。