语法

1A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan.

日本每年举行一次亡灵节。

一般现在时被动语态 (Simple Present Passive) · 主语 + is held + 频率状语 + 地点状语

• is held 是 hold 的一般现在时被动
• once a year 表示频率
• the Dead 指"亡者"，the + 形容词表一类人

说明一个固定习俗，用一般现在时被动，不必说明谁举办。

2This festival is a cheerful occasion, for on this day, the dead are said to return to their homes and they are welcomed by the living.

这个节日是一个欢乐的时刻，因为据说在这一天，死者会回到自己的家中，受到活着的人的欢迎。

一般现在时 + 被动报道结构 (Simple Present + Passive Reporting) · 主语 + is + 表语, for + 主语 + are said to + 动词原形 and 主语 + are welcomed by + 施动者

• are said to return 是本课核心结构
• for 在这里是连词，意为"因为"
• are welcomed by the living 是普通被动

are said to 转述人们的普遍说法，不必说明是谁说的；the living 指活着的人。

3As they are expected to be hungry after their long journey, food is laid out for them.

由于人们认为死者经过长途旅行后会饥饿，便为他们摆好食物。

被动报道结构 + 一般现在时被动 (Passive Reporting + Simple Present Passive) · As + 主语 + are expected to be + 形容词, 主语 + is laid out + for + 宾语

• are expected to be hungry 表示人们预计的情况
• As 引导原因状语从句
• lay out 的被动是 is laid out

从句用被动报道结构表示预计，主句用普通被动说明人们的做法。

4Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way.

每家门外都挂着特制的灯笼，以帮助死者找到回家的路。

一般现在时被动语态 (Simple Present Passive) · 主语 + are hung + 地点状语 + to + 目的状语

• hung 是 hang（悬挂）的过去分词
• to help... 是目的状语
• help sb to do sth

一般现在时被动说明习俗，动词不定式 to help 表示挂灯笼的目的。

5All night long, people dance and sing.

整个夜晚，人们载歌载舞。

一般现在时 (Simple Present) · 时间状语 + 主语 + dance and sing

• all night long 意为"整夜"
• dance and sing 两个动词并列

主动语态的一般现在时，描述节日期间人们的活动。

6In the early morning the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it.

清晨，为死者摆放的食物被扔进河里或海里，因为人们认为任何活着的人吃了这些食物都会不吉利。

一般现在时被动 + 过去完成时被动 (Simple Present Passive + Past Perfect Passive) · 时间状语 + 主语 + (that 定语从句 had been laid out) + is thrown into + 地点 + as + it is considered + 形容词 + for sb to do

• that had been laid out 是定语从句，过去完成时被动
• it is considered unlucky 是被动报道结构，it 作形式主语
• for anyone living to eat it 是真正的主语

定语从句表示食物在此之前已被摆好；it is considered unlucky 转述人们的看法。

7In towns that are near the sea, the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night before, are placed into the water when the festival is over.

在靠近海边的城镇，节日结束时，前一天晚上挂在街上的小灯笼会被放入水中。

一般现在时被动 + 过去完成时被动 (Simple Present Passive + Past Perfect Passive) · In towns that 定语从句, 主语 + (which 定语从句 had been hung) + are placed into + 地点 + when 时间状语从句

• which had been hung 表示灯笼在前一晚已被挂上
• are placed 是主句谓语，一般现在时被动
• when the festival is over 表示时间

两个定语从句分别修饰 towns 和 lanterns，主句用被动说明人们把灯笼放入水中。

8Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world.

成千上万的灯笼慢慢地漂向大海，引导死者踏上返回另一个世界的归途。

一般现在时 (Simple Present) · 主语 + slowly drift out to + 地点 + 现在分词短语（guiding...）

• drift 是主动语态，灯笼自己漂走
• guiding the dead 是现在分词作伴随状语
• on their return journey to 表示"在返回……的路上"

主句是主动语态，现在分词 guiding 说明灯笼漂流的同时起到的作用。

9This is a moving spectacle, for crowds of people stand on the shore watching the lanterns drifting away until they can be seen no more.

这是一个动人的场面，因为成群的人站在岸边，看着灯笼渐渐漂远，直到再也看不见为止。

一般现在时 + 情态被动 (Simple Present + Modal Passive) · 主语 + is + 表语, for + 主语 + stand + 地点 + 现在分词短语 + until + 从句（can be seen）

• for 是连词，意为"因为"
• watching the lanterns drifting away 是伴随状语，watch sb doing
• can be seen no more 是情态动词被动

watching 作伴随状语，until 从句里的 can be seen 是情态动词的被动形式。