如何通過閱讀外刊積累英文寫作句型？（11）

來自專欄魏劍峰：當我們在談英語學習時我們在談什麼63 人贊了文章

這是「讀外刊，學英文句型」欄目的第十一期，關於該欄目第一期的說明可以見如何通過閱讀外刊積累英文寫作句型？

1.表示因果關係的一個銜接句式

寫作中常見的用於表示原因-結果的連接詞有so/thus/therefore/consequently/as a result/as a consequence/for this reason等等。這裡介紹一個新的說法：

Mr Mattis has argued that, judging both by its declared philosophy and its growing arsenal, Russia could in certain situations resort to 「battlefield」 nuclear weapons in the belief that America would not want to respond to the use of a low-yield nuclear weapon by annihilating Moscow. It follows that America needs to be able to match Russia at every level of escalation.

這段話的大意是：考慮到俄羅斯的戰爭理念以及其不斷增長的武器庫，它有可能在某些情況下對美國動用核武器，因為它認為美國不會因為俄羅斯使用低當量核武器就將莫斯科夷為平地。因此，美國需要在和俄羅斯的衝突中保持旗鼓相當。

這裡有一個值得注意的表達：It follows that… 這是一個固定句式，意思是「由此得出，由此可以推斷出」。

可以使用該句式來連接有因果關係的上下文。例如劍橋詞典的兩條例句：

(1) If we posit that wage rises cause inflation, it follows that we should try to minimize them.

(2) Because ladybirds eat greenfly, it follows that a decrease in the numbers of ladybirds will lead to a rise in the population of greenfly.

話題作文中很多場合都可以用上該句式，舉個例子：

Research has shown that increased investment in higher education has a positive effect on a country』s gross domestic product. In the long term, a society with more educated citizens will experience more innovation, greater productivity, and higher global competitiveness. It follows that governments should make higher education available to all students.

2.形容某事物能帶來好處

如何形容某事物具有很多優點，能夠帶來好處？常見的說法是：something is beneficial/something can offer many benefits，除此之外，還可以參考下面的用法：

But when many in the West are contemplating their future with new foreboding, it is important to understand why the sceptics are wrong; why economic integration is a force for good; and why globalisation, far from being the greatest cause of poverty, is its only feasible cure.

上文中有這樣一句話：why economic integration is a force for good（為什麼經濟一體化是有益的）。其中a force for good是一個地道英文寫作中很常見的表達，它的意思是「某事物是有益的，某事物能帶來好處」。比如麥克米倫詞典中有這樣的例句：

The Internet can be a force for good by helping to spread knowledge.

這一短語在考場作文中也有很廣泛的應用，例如：

(1) Despite its potential risks, genetically engineering technology can be a force for good by helping to fight hunger and poverty.

(2) In recent years, many Chinese citizens have taken a keen interest in western holidays and festivals. As long as foreigners do not try to impose their beliefs on the local people, the growing popularity of western festivals can be a force for good.

3.支持/反對某事物的理由

下面的句子出自The Economist一篇關於非洲電網建設的文章Light-bulb moment:

Typically, countries connect citizens with vast grid-extension programmes. Big grids make perfect sense for populous places. They can cheaply supply power generated far away to millions and, as they incorporate more wind and solar energy, they are becoming greener. But in remote places, the economic case for grids becomes hard to make.

這段話的意思是：通常情況下國家通過大規模電網將電輸送給民眾，這種做法對於人口稠密的地區很合理，但對於偏遠地區來說，在經濟上可能並不划算。

其中最後一句話值得注意：the economic case for grids becomes hard to make. 這裡case是熟詞生義，它的含義是「論點；事實」(a set of facts and arguments that you can state for or against something)，the economic case for grids becomes hard to make 字面意思即「電網在經濟上的理由並不充分」，引申為「使用電網在經濟上並不划算」。

當case取該含義時，有幾個常見的句型。例如要表達「支持／反對修建核電站的理由很充分」，可以說：

There is a good case for/against building nuclear plants.

「對於削減開支，他有很好的理由」，可以說：

He makes a good case for cutting expenses.

「目前減稅的理由很充足」，可以說：

A case can be made for reducing taxes right now.

4.在……之間取得平衡

在對兩種不同選擇進行取捨的時候，很多時候我們需要表達這樣的意思：在……和……之間取得平衡，對……和……進行協調。對於這種情況我們可以參考下面的句型：

Any welfare reform entails trade-offs between the cost of a scheme and its effects on poverty and incentives to work. No scheme is perfect. But a good basis is the negative income tax, which subsidises workers below an earnings threshold, while taxing those above it.

這裡第一句話的意思是「任何社會福利的改革都需要在方案的成本以及它對於減少貧窮和激勵工作之間取得平衡」。trade-off在這裡的意思是「（在相互對立的兩者間的）權衡，協調」：

a trade-off between A and B 也是一個應用很廣的句型。舉兩個例子：

(1) In the face of serious pollution, many countries have to make a trade-off between economic growth and environmental protection.

(2) More and more office workers feel that they have to make a trade-off between their job and their family.

總結：

本期一共介紹了以下幾個表達：

(1) It follows that…

(2) be a force for good

(3) a case can be made

(4) a trade-off between A and B

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