七,介绍事物
一,抓住事物的特征
介绍事物,一定要抓住事物的特征,所谓特征,就是人或事物所具有的独特的地方.只有把握住事物的独特性,并以此来展开说明或描述,才能把要说明的对象说清楚 .你想描述的任何事物都有其特征.比方说,我们拿起一支铅笔,仔细地观察它,就会注意到它的颜色,形状,
长度,锐利程度以及硬度等.也许你的作文以"This pencil is of normal size and shape."开头,接着你就描写这支铅笔所具有的与众不同的特点.这种写作方法尤其适用于描写大家所熟悉的而又具有新的,与众不同的特征的事物.再比如下面一段文字:"去年,妈妈从北京给带回一套西服,质地上乘,做工考究,可棒了.""质地上乘,做工考究"的服装很多,这几个字并未把这套西服的特征说清楚,因此不会给我们留下什么印象.总之,介绍一件事物,要考虑从哪方面着手才可抓住事物的具有代表性的特征.
二,要遵循一定的顺序
写任何文章都要做到条理分明.介绍一件事物,目的是上让读者清楚地了解事物本身的特点,性质以及用途等,因此更需要条理清楚.我们可以按以下三类顺序说明事物:1,时间顺序,即按事物的发生,发展的先后顺序进行说明.2,空间顺序,即按事物空间位置的顺序,由上至下,由近及远或由里至外地进行说明.3,逻辑顺序,即按人们认识事物的规律进行说明,如由概括到具体,由整体到部分,由现象到本质,由表及里,由原因到结果,由主要到次要,由特点到用途等.
三,选用恰当的方法
说明事物,我们常采用以下方法;
1,定义法.定义法的目的是让不知此事物的人对此物有一个起码的了解,以利于下文的展开.如:A thermometer is an instrument used for measuring temperature. 就是对thermometer下了一个定义.有些事物也许不好下个明确定义,但我们可以交待这个事物的背景,来源,或列举出它的一些典型特征,以便让读者明白.这类事物可以是术语,也可以是外国人所不了 的中国的传统事物,如龙舟节等.2,举例说明法.举出具有代表性的例子,能够真切地说明事物,化抽象为具体,使段落变得有血有肉,丰富起来.举例时常用的表达有:for example(例如),for instance(例如),as an example of (作为……的例子),take… for example (以……为例)等.3,比较法.为了突出事物鲜明的特点,我们常把它与其他事物进行比较.比方说我们想向读者介绍什么是"电脑",我们可以说"It’s a kind of electrical or artificial (人工的)brain."这样把电脑和人脑进行了比较,从而使人们对"电脑"有更清晰的认识.4,细节描述法.介绍一种事物,仅用概述性的词语如beautiful, friendly, boring, good 或bad 是不够的.作者要提供一些细节,使被描述的对象更加形象具体,从而加深读者的印象.
除上述几种方法外,我们还可以通过引经据典(即引用专家,名人等的话语),列举数字等其他方法说明一件事物,从而使文章更加严密,内容更具有科学性,更有说服力.
四,运用恰当的语言
介绍事物,文字要力求简洁,明白,准确.比如:The cover of the magazine is very nice. 在此句中"nice"一词的意义不够明确,如果改用"artistic"就清楚了许多.再如下句:We wish to state that this electric car was designed with the idea of safety in mind. 此句冗长,不够简洁,应改为:The electric car was designed for safety. 除讲究语言平实准确的前提下,我们还可以运用描写的方法,来增添文章的可读性.例如在写题目为"My Pencil Box"这一文章时,若写成"I have a pencil-box, which was given to me by classmates as a birthday present. On it are three little bears. Inside are my pencils, a rubber and a pen-knife."这样的表达是不是显得干巴巴的,毫无情趣 若能对三只小熊憨态可掬的形象加以描述,则会给读者留下深刻的印象.另外,在介绍事物时,语言易流于单调,若插入传说,趣事,或引用诗文,成语,或运用比喻,拟人,反问等修辞手段则可使语言生动形象,引人入胜.
(1),家用电脑
[题 材]
家用电脑体积小,价格低,造型优美,简单易用,使用方便,灵活;可用于计算,记事,打电话,打印信件;儿童可用它来学英语,做游戏.你通过家用电脑能学会怎样使用微机,为将来找工作提供便利;电脑工作比人快数倍;我们已经得到了电脑的巨大帮助.
请根据以上内容写一篇介绍家用电脑的说明文.
要求:
1,短文需包括以上全部内容,但不可逐条翻译;
2,词数为120左右.
[范 文]
The Family Computer
The family computer is small. Its price is not high, and it has a good look. It can be used easily. You can use it to calculate, make notes, call others and type letters, etc. Also, children can learn English or play games with it. Besides, you can use a family computer as a training computer. You can learn how to use an office computer, which will give you convenience to find a good job in a company. Computers can work hundreds of times faster than human beings. We have been greatly helped by computers.
(2),茶
[题 材]
就题目"茶(Tea)"写一篇120词左右的短文.内容包括:
1,饮茶源于中国,现已遍及全世界;
2,中国有许多世界名茶.用不同的方法加工茶,可生产出红茶(black tea),绿茶,花茶(scented
tea)保健茶(tea)等;
3,饮茶已成为我们生活的一部分.饮茶可以使人保持大脑清醒,解除疲劳.茶里的营养成分
(nutritious elements)以及微量元素(trace elements)可以使人健康.
[范 文]
Tea
Tea drinking originated① in ancient China and has spread all over the world. China grows several kinds of the world famous tea. By using different ways to treat and process② tea, the Chinese can produce black tea, green tea, scented tea, medical tea and the like.
Tea drinking has become part of our life. In China, there are tea houses③ where people talk to one another, tell stories and play chess while drinking tea, People drink tea to refresh the mind and get rid of tiredness. Tea has nutritious elements and trace elements, which can make people healthy.
Tea drinking will become more and more popular.
[注 释]
① originated v. 起源
② process v. 加工
③ tea houses 茶馆