Lesson 19 The stuff of dreams话说梦的本质 强调句 虚拟语气

First listen and then answer the following question: What is going on when a person experiences rapid eye-movements during sleep?

It is fairly clear that the sleeping period must have some function, and because there is so much of it the function would seem to be important.

很清楚,睡眠必然具有某种作用。睡眠占去那么多时间,所以其作用似乎还是很重要。

Speculations about its nature have been going on for literally thousands of years, and one odd finding that makes the problem puzzling is that it looks very much as if sleeping is not simply a matter of giving the body a rest.

人们对睡眠作用的种种猜测,确实有数千年之久。一项使人对这个问题感到困惑的奇怪的发现是,睡眠在很大程度似乎并不仅仅是为了使身体得到休息。

'Rest', in terms of muscle relaxation and so on, can be achieved by a brief period lying, or even sitting down.

“休息”,从使肌肉得到放松等方面来看,只要稍微躺一躺,甚至坐一坐就能达到。

The body's tissues are self-repairing and self-restoring to a degree, and function best when more or less continuously active.

人体组织在一定程度上有自我修补和自我恢复的能力,有张有弛地连续活动时,其功能最佳。

In fact a basic amount of movement occurs during sleep which is specifically concerned with preventing muscle inactivity.

事实上,睡眠状态下仍有着基本的活动量,以防止肌肉活动停止。

If it is not a question of resting the body, then perhaps it is the brain that needs resting?

如果睡眠的功能不是在于使身体得到休息,那么也许是让大脑得以休息?

This might be a plausible hypothesis were it not for two factors.

若不是下面两点,这种假使似乎是有道理的。

First the electroencephalograph (which is simply a device for recording the electrical activity of the brain by attaching electrodes to the scalp) shows that while there is a change in the pattern of activity during sleep, there is no evidence that the total amount of activity is any less.

第一点,脑电图记录仪(不过是一种把电极接到头皮上记录脑电活动的仪器)显示,人在睡眠时大脑活动的方式有变化,但没有迹象表明,其活动总量有任何减少。

The second factor is more interesting and more fundamental.

第二点更有意思,也更重要。

Some years ago, an American psychiatrist named William Dement published experiments dealing with the recording of eye-movements during sleep.

前些年,美国一位名叫威廉 • 德门特的精神病学者发表了一项实验报告,报告中记录了眼球在睡眠时的活动情况。

He showed that the average individual's sleep cycle is punctuated with peculiar bursts of eye-movements, some drifting and slow, others jerky and rapid.

他指出,平常人的睡眠周期中不时伴有一阵阵奇怪的眼球队活动,这些活动有的飘忽而缓慢,有的急剧而快速。

People woken during these periods of eye-movements generally reported that they had been dreaming. When woken at other times they reported no dreams.

在眼球活动期间被叫醒的人都说自己在做梦;在其他期间叫醒他们,则说没有做梦。

If one group of people were disturbed from their eye-movement sleep for several nights on end, and another group were disturbed for an equal period of time but when they were not exhibiting eye-movements, the first group began to show some personality disorders while the others seemed more or less unaffected.

如果有两组人,一组人连续几夜在眼球队活动时被叫醒;另一组人也是连续几夜被叫醒,但是在眼球没活动时被叫醒的。结果,第一组人开始出现性格失常,而第二组人似乎没受什么影响。

The implications of all this were that it was not the disturbance of sleep that mattered, but the disturbance of dreaming.

这一切暗示我们:睡眠受到干忧没关系,而做梦受到干忧是有问题的。

CHRISTOPHER EVANS The stuff of dreams from The Listener

A patient is asleep.
Circadian rhythm experiment. A patient is asleep in a sleep research laboratory. Electrocles are attached to his head to measure brainwaves.
14个相关单词

与课文关联的单词

speculation

/ˌspekjuˈleɪʃ(ə)n/n. 推测

literally

/ˈlɪtərəli/adv. 确实

odd *

/ɒd/adj. 奇特的

tissue

/ˈtɪʃuː/n. 组织

plausible

/ˈplɔːzəb(ə)l/adj. 似乎有理的

hypothesis

/haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/n. 假说

electroencephalograph

/ɪˌlektrəʊɪnˈsef(ə)ləgrɑːf/n. 脑电图仪

electrode

/ɪˈlektrəʊd/n. 电极

scalp

/skælp/n. 头皮

psychiatrist

/saɪˈkaɪətrɪst/n. 精神病学家

punctuate

/ˈpʌŋktʃueɪt/v. 不时介入

jerky

/ˈdʒɜːki/adj. 急动的

disorder

/dɪsˈɔːdə(r)/n. 失调

implication

/ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃn/n. 表明

引子 更新于:2025-11-28 06:40:54

The stuff of dreams

stuff n. fundamental material 基础材料,本质

  • the stuff of greatness
  • Real life is the stuff of all good novels.是所有优秀小说的本质
  • We must find out what stuff he is made of.他是什么样的人/由什么构成

It is fairly clear that the sleeping period must have some function, and because there is so much of it the function would seem to be important.

it is fairly clear that ... 很明显...

  • It is clear that the primary duty of parents is to provide protection for our children. 很明显,父母的首要职责就是为孩子提供保护。
  • It is clear that the U.S. will meet its emission goals. 很明显,美国将会达到其排放目标。
  • It is clear that having green spaces in a city is very beneficial for residents and visitors. 很明显,在城市中拥有绿色空间对居民和游客都是非常有益的。
it is as clear as daylight that ... 像白天一样明显It was as clear as daylight then that burglars had forced an entry during her absence.
it is obvious that ... 显然...The rope had been cut, so it was obvious that the lamb had been stolen.
it becomes apparent that ... 明显看出...It later became apparent that rabbits were developing a degree of resistance to this disease.

would seem / appear 想必,似乎

  • It would seem more sensible to apply standards flexibly rather than rigidly.
  • It would appear that the legal profession is the nearest thing to a recession-proof industry.
  • Time would appear to be the significant factor in this whole drama. 
  • A more plausible explanation would seem / appear to be that people are fed up with the administration. 一个更合理的解释似乎是人们对行政机关感到厌倦。

would 表“推测

  • That would be his mother.
  • Who is the man you want to speak to?  —You wouldn’t know him.
  • He would have reached New York.

Speculations about its nature have been going on for literally thousands of years, and one odd finding that makes the problem puzzling is that it looks very much as if sleeping is not simply a matter of giving the body a rest.

speculations about ... have been going on for literally thousands of years. 关于...的推测已经延续数千年了

  • Speculations about the origins of the universe have been going on for literally thousands of years.对于宇宙起源的猜测已经持续长达数千年了
  • The custom of letting off firecrackers on Lunar New Year’s Eve has been going on for literally thousands of years. 除夕放鞭炮的习俗已经持续长达数千年了

finding n.information that is discovered as the result of research 研究结果

  • These findings suggest that there is no direct link between unemployment and crime.
  • One of the main findings of the survey was the confusion about the facilities already in place.  该调查的主要发现之一是对已安装到位的设备的混淆。

It looks very much as if ... 看上去很可能...

  • It looked very much as if teeth, and not an axe, had cut down that tree.看上去很可能是牙齿而不是斧头砍倒了那棵树
  • It looks very much as if the 19-year-old Chinese player will regain the title she first won at sixteen.

be simply a matter of doing 不过是...的事儿/问题

  • Success in business is simply a matter of knowing when to take a chance. 商业上的成功不过是知道何时抓住机会的问题。
  • It's a matter of the greatest importance to me. 这对我来说是最重要的事情。
  • It's not just a matter of principle. 这不仅仅是个原则问题。
  • It was largely a matter of trial and error. 这主要是个反复实验的问题。
be not simply a matter of doing … 不仅仅是……的事/问题Reducing the number of road deaths is not simply a matter of improving roads; it involves driver education too. 减少道路死亡人数不仅仅是改善道路的问题,它还涉及到驾驶员教育。
a/the matter/question of … ……的事/问题 (复习)
a question of pride 一个关于自尊的问题For him, winning the championship is a question of pride as much as anything else. 对他来说,赢得冠军在很大程度上是一个关于自尊的问题。
a matter of monetary means 一个关于金钱手段的问题Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means, but of determination
a matter of personal circumstances 一个关于个人情况的问题These are partly a matter of personal circumstances, partly a matter of psychology.

'Rest', in terms of muscle relaxation and so on, can be achieved by a brief period lying, or even sitting down.

in terms of ... 就...而言

  • What are the advantages in terms of cost?
  • What does this mean in terms of cost这在成本上意味着什么?
  • In terms of extra staff—how many will we need? 就额外的员工来说,我们需要多少人?

The body's tissues are self-repairing and self-restoring to a degree, and function best when more or less continuously active.

self-repairing / self-restoring 自动修复的 / 自我恢复的 (self- prefix by yourself or by itself 自己、自我、自动)

  • a self-propelled vehicle
  • self-closing doors
  • a self-cleaning oven
  •  a self-winding watch

to a (certain) degree / extent = partly 部分的、某种程度上

to some extent 某种程度上
  • We all to some extent remember the good times and forget the bad. 
  • I do agree with him to an extent.
  • I agree with you to a certain extent, but ...  我在某种程度上同意你,但是….
  • This will relieve pressure on the trains to some extent.在某种程度上减轻火车的压力

function best 功能最佳(最高级修饰动词时可省定冠词the)

more or less 几乎;差不多

  • a place where the ground was more or less flat 
  • They've settled here more or less permanently. 
  • He more or less admitted he'd done it.
  • … the first group began to show some personality disorders while the others seemed more or less unaffected. 本课
continually 不断地;频繁地(含贬义)
continuously 连续不断地(强调一刻不停)
be continually doing … 老是/持续不断地做某事He is continually complaining about the small details of the project. 他老是抱怨项目中的小细节。
be always doing … 总是/老是做某事 (强调重复或习惯)She is always arriving late for our meetings, which is very frustrating. 她老是开会迟到,这很令人沮丧。
be constantly doing … 不断地/时常做某事The children are constantly asking questions about how things work. 孩子们不断地问事物是如何运作的问题。
be forever doing … 老是/总是做某事 (带有强调或夸张)My phone is forever running out of battery when I need it most. 我的手机总是在我最需要它的时候没电。

In fact a basic amount of movement occurs during sleep which is specifically concerned with preventing muscle inactivity.

specifically adv.relating to or intended for one particular type of person or thing only 特定地,专门地

  • liquid vitamins specifically designed for children.专门为儿童设计的
  • a magazine aimed specifically at working women.专门针对职业女性的
(be) specifically designed for … 对…专门设计的The new software is specifically designed for graphic designers. 这款新软件是专门为平面设计师设计的。
(be) aimed specifically at … 专门针对…The advertising campaign is aimed specifically at young professionals in urban areas. 这项广告活动专门针对城市里的年轻专业人士。
(be) specifically concerned with … 专门关于…Her doctoral research is specifically concerned with the history of climate policy. 她的博士研究专门关于气候政策的历史。

concern / be concerned with / about ... 与...有关 / 担忧

  • The book concerns music.
  • The book is concerned with music.
  • a book concerning music
  • a book concerned with music concern …
concern … 与…有关 (v.)The book primarily concerns music of the early 20th century. 这本书主要与20世纪初的音乐有关。
be concerned with … 与…有关 (phr.)The book is concerned with music theory and practice. 这本书与音乐理论和实践有关。
a book concerning music 一本关于音乐的书 (现在分词作定语)I borrowed a book concerning music education from the library. 我从图书馆借了一本关于音乐教育的书。
a book concerned with music 一本与音乐有关的书 (过去分词作定语)She owns a book concerned with music history in Europe. 她拥有一本与欧洲音乐史有关的书。
concern sb. 令某人担忧 (v. 人作宾语)What concerns me is our lack of preparation for the change. 令我担忧的是我们对这次变化缺乏准备。
be concerned about … 为某事担忧 (phr.)The police said they were very concerned about the boy's safety. 警方说他们非常担心这个男孩的安全。

inactivity 不活动;不工作 the state of not doing anything, not moving, or not working

  • Don't suddenly take up violent exercise after years of inactivity.
  • The truth is, your body was not designed for inactivity事实上,你的身体不是生来就静止的。
  • Our waistlines are expanding for one major reason: increasing inactivity身体活动的日益减少是我们腰围见长的一个主要原因。

推测 更新于:2025-11-30 04:34:06

If it is not a question of resting the body, then perhaps it is the brain that needs resting?

rest v.to not use a part of your body that is tired or injured so that it can get better 使(身体或身体某部分)休息

  • Rest your eyes every half an hour. 
  • I need to sit down and rest my legs.

need / require / want + doing | to be done 需要被...

If it is not a question of replacing trading partners, then perhaps it is trading standards that need replacing. 如果不是更换贸易伙伴的问题,那可能需要更换的就是贸易标准了.

This might be a plausible hypothesis were it not for two factors.

plausible hypothesis 貌似合理的假设

  • The police found his story barely plausible.
  • Plausible hypothesis This might be a plausible hypothesis were it not for two factors. 若不是下面两点,这种假设似乎是有道理的。
  • This is a controversial hypothesis, but it is certainly plausible. 这种假设很具争议,但的确有可能。

were it not for ... 要不是;如果没有...(虚拟语气倒装


First the electroencephalograph (which is simply a device for recording the electrical activity of the brain by attaching electrodes to the scalp) shows that while there is a change in the pattern of activity during sleep, there is no evidence that the total amount of activity is any less.

electroencephalograph 脑电图仪;脑电描记器

“electr” = electron + “encephalo” = brain + “graph(y)” = to write bovine 

  • The medical team used an electroencephalograph to monitor the patient's brain waves.
  • For instance, electrocardiograph can detect heart's condition. Electroencephalograph can detect brain's condition. 心电图仪可查抄人的心脏状态,脑电图仪可查抄人的前脑状态。
  • A graphic record of the electrical activity of the brain as recorded by an electroencephalograph大脑电子活动的图形记录;脑电图仪产生的。

bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)

photographtelegraphautograph
geographybiographyautobiography
demographybibliographycalligraphy

device for doing sth. / to do sth. 做某事的设备

  • a device for measuring humidity in the air.
  • a device to detect carbon monoxide.

attach ... to ... 连上、贴上、系上...

be sentimentally attached to … 在感情相连She was sentimentally attached to this house, for even though it was far too big for her needs, she persisted in living there long after her husband's death.

evidence + 同位语从句 有证据表明...

  • There is some evidence that the economy is improving.
  • Is there any scientific evidence that a person's character is reflected in their handwriting? 是否有科学证据表明一个人的性格反映在他们的笔迹中
  • There is now clear evidence that these chemicals are damaging the environment.

any + 比较级 adv.used before the comparative form of an adjective or adverb to mean ‘even a small amount’ 一点儿,丝毫

  • I can't run any faster.
  • Are you feeling any better?
  • Don't you have any less expensive shirts? 你们没有便宜点儿的衬衣?
  • But that does not mean it will be any less interesting. 但是这不意味着它会失去丝毫的趣味。

The second factor is more interesting and more fundamental.

more adj. and more adj. 更... 且更...

  • I want to get more interesting and more challenging job. 我想得到更有趣和更具挑战性的工作。
  • The following two days will help you to learn it more easily and with more fun接下来的两天将帮助你更轻松、更有趣地学习它!
  • I should be compared you to summer, you are more beautiful and more gentle我是否应把你比作夏日,你是更美丽,更温柔。

Some years ago an American psychiatrist named William Dement published experiments dealing with the recording of eye-movements during sleep.

deal with 关于(书、演讲等)if a book, speech etc. deals with a particular subject, it is about that subject

  • The story deals with the psychological conflicts between mother and son.
  • I prefer to deal with him direct. 我更愿意直接跟他打交道。
  • He's happy that I deal with it myself. 他对我自己处理这件事感到很满意。
  • Have you been hatching up a deal with her? 你是不是在和她密谋什么交易?
  • We did a deal with the management on overtime. 我们与资方在加班问题上达成了一项协议。
concern / be concerned with ... 与...有关;关于
be about ... 是关于...的Have you ever read 'Hideous Kinky'? It's about an English woman and her daughter travelling in Morocco.
focus on ... 主要关于
  • The next chapter will focus on this problem in greater detail.
  • a weekly magazine mainly focusing on business-related issues

He showed that the average individual's sleep cycle is punctuated with peculiar bursts of eye-movements, some (being) drifting and slow, others  (being) jerky and rapid. 独立主格(省略了being)

be punctuated with 充满了;带有…的特征;穿插...;被...所点缀

  • His speech was punctuated with warm applause. 他的讲话不时被热烈的掌声打断。
  • His speech was punctuated with laughter from the opposition. 他的演讲不时地被反对派的嘲笑声打断。
  • The football game was punctuated with the cheers of each team's supporters. 足球赛伴随着两队支持者们阵阵的欢呼声进行。

burst n.a short period of a particular activity or strong emotion that often starts suddenly 一阵(突然发生的活动或强烈情感)

drift v. to move, change, or do sth. without any plan or purpose 漫无目标地移动、改变等

jerky adj.making sudden starts and stops and not moving smoothly 忽动忽停的,颠簸不稳的

  • The disease causes sudden jerky movements of the hands and legs.
  • The old bus ride was quite jerky.

People woken during these periods of eye-movements generally reported that they had been dreaming.

be woken during ... 在...期间被叫醒


When (they were) woken at other times they reported no dreams. 状语从句主谓与主句一致时可省略

1、从句的主语 (Subject of the Adverbial Clause) 必须和主句的主语 (Subject of the Main Clause) 相同。
2、从句的谓语动词 (Verb Phrase) 包含一个系动词 be (如 is,are,was,were )或一个助动词 be 。

状语从句的简化 (Reduction of Adverbial Clauses) 专业叫法“悬垂分词 (Dangling Participle)”

含有过去分词 (V-ed) - 通常是被动语态的简化
  • When it is viewed from a distance, the painting looks realistic.  ⇒ When viewed from a distance, the painting looks realistic. 时间 (When/While)
  • As she was inspired by her teacher, she decided to study science. ⇒ Inspired by her teacher, she decided to study science. 原因 (Because/As)
  • If it is heated too quickly, the substance will explode. ⇒ If heated too quickly, the substance will explode. 条件 (If)
含有现在分词 (V-ing) - 通常是主动语态或进行时的简化
  • While I was walking down the street, I saw an old friend. ⇒ While walking down the street, I saw an old friend. 时间 (While/As)
  • Because they were feeling tired, the hikers stopped to rest. ⇒ Feeling tired, the hikers stopped to rest. 原因 (Because/As)
  • Though he is earning a high salary, he is not happy. ⇒ Though earning a high salary, he is not happy. 让步 (Though)
含有形容词 (Adjective) 或介词短语 (Prepositional Phrase)
  • When they are ready, the documents will be sent out. ⇒ When ready, the documents will be sent out. 时间 (When)
  • As she was certain of her facts, she spoke confidently. ⇒ Certain of her facts, she spoke confidently. 原因 (As)
  • If it is necessary, we can reschedule the meeting. ⇒ If necessary, we can reschedule the meeting. 条件 (If)
  • Before he was on stage, the singer felt nervous. ⇒ Before on stage, the singer felt nervous. 时间 (Before)

If one group of people were disturbed from their eye-movement sleep for several nights on end, and another group were disturbed for an equal period of time but when they were not exhibiting eye-movements, the first group began to show some personality disorders while the others seemed more or less unaffected.

on end 连续的

in a row 连续的She's been voted Best Actress three years in a row.
successively 连续地The company won the award three years successively.

exhibit v. (fml.) to show a particular feeling, quality, ability, or form of behavior 表现,显示,显出

  • The islanders exhibit a constant happiness with life. 这些岛民表现出一种对生活的持久的幸福感。
  • She's beginning to exhibit symptoms of stress.开始表现出压力的症状
  • The patient exhibited signs of fatigue and memory loss.

disorder n. an illness of the mind or body 疾病,不适,障碍

  • He had treated her for a stomach disorder
  • He's suffering from severe mental disorder.严重的精神障碍
  • One forensic psychiatrist described him as having an incurable antisocial personality disorder一位法庭精神病医生将他描述为患有不可治愈反社会人格障碍。
  • This makes it too common to be considered a mental disorder这使得它太常见,所以不被认为是一种精神疾病。

unaffected (by ...)  adj. 英文解释:not changed or influenced by sth 未改变的,未受影响的

  • People's rights are unaffected by the new law.未受新法律影响
  • The children seem unaffected emotionally by their parents’ divorce.
  • She seemed totally unaffected by what she'd drunk. 她似乎完全没有受到所喝的东西的影响。

The implications of all this were that it was not the disturbance of sleep that mattered, but the disturbance of dreaming.

it is not ... that ..., but ... 不是...重要;而是...(强调句型)

写作替换

  • it was the disturbance of dreaming that / which mattered, not the disturbance of sleep. 肯定前者、否定后者
  • the significant thing was not the disturbance of sleep but the disturbance of dreaming.

Lesson 6 The sporting spirit 写作替换

the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators …
  • it is not the behaviour of the player that matters, but the attitude of the spectators … 本课句型
  • it is the attitude of the spectators that matters, not the behaviour of the players … §

是...而不是... 写作替换

it is not … that matters, but ... 不是…重要,而是…(强调重要性对比)It is not the quantity of work that matters, but the quality. 重要的不是工作量,而是质量。
it is … that/who/which …, not … 是…而不是…(强调句型)It is the way you make people feel that they will remember, not the things you said. 人们会记住的是你让他们感受到的方式,而不是你所说的话。
the significant thing is not … but … 重要的不是…而是…The significant thing is not the mistakes you make, but how you recover from them. 重要的不是你犯了什么错误,而是你如何从错误中恢复过来。