Lesson 20 Snake poison蛇毒

How in came about that snakes manufactured poison is a mystery.

come about ^{（意外地）发生}

• How it came about that snakes manufactured poison^{蛇是如何制造出毒液的} is a mystery.
• Can you tell me how the accident came about^{事故是如何发生的}?
• How did it come about that he knew where we were^{他怎么会知道我们在哪儿的}?

manufacture ^{（身体）产生，制造，分泌}

• How it came about that snakes manufactured poison^{制造出毒液} is a mystery.
• Vitamins cannot be manufactured by our bodies^{由我们身体制造}.
• Diabetics don't manufacture enough insulin^{分泌足够的胰岛素}.

How it came about that ... is a mystery. ^{某个事情怎么发生的，是个谜}

• How it came about that Maya civilization vanished from the earth is a mystery^{玛雅文明是如何突然从地球上消失的，是一个谜}.

Over the periods their saliva, a mild, digestive juice like our own, was converted into a poison that defies analysis even today.

defy ^{无法...；使...不可能}

• ...a poison that defies analysis even today^{即使在今天也无法分析}.

无法... ^同义词组

It was not forced upon them by the survival competition; they could have caught and lived on prey without using poison, just as the thousands of non-poisonous snakes still do.

force sth. on / upon sb. ^{把...强加给...}

• It was not forced upon them by the survival competition^{生存竞争没有把毒液强加给它们}.

把...强加给... ^近义词组

without using poison ^{如果不使用毒液（介词短语充当条件状语）}

• ...they could have caught and lived on prey without using poison^{如果不使用毒液，它们本可以捕捉并以猎物为生}...

介词短语充当条件状语 ^写作替换

just as ... still do ^{就像...仍然在做一样}

• ...just as the thousands of non-poisonous snakes still do^{仍然这样做（指catch and live on prey）}.

Poison to a snake is merely a luxury; it enables it to get its food with very little effort, no more effort than one bite.

luxury / necessity ^{奢侈品 / 必需品}

• Poison to a snake is merely a luxury^奢侈品...
• Food, clothing, shelter and transportation are daily necessities^{日常必需品}.

no more than ... ^{仅仅，只不过}

• ...no more effort than one bite^{只不过是一咬之力}.
• The figure becomes no more than an exact and matter-of-fact observation^{这个数字仅仅是一个准确而实事求是的观察}.

And why only snakes?

why only snakes (manufacture poison) ^{为什么只有蛇（制造毒液）？}

• And why only snakes^{为什么只有蛇}?

Cats, for instance, would be greatly helped; no running fights with large, fierce rats or tussles with grown rabbits -- just a bite and no more effort needed.

running fights ^{持久的战斗}

• no running fights^{没有持久的战斗} with large, fierce rats...
• For years he had fought a running battle^{一场持久的战斗} with the authorities over the land.

tussles with ... ^{与...扭打，搏斗}

• ...or tussles with grown rabbits^{或与成年兔子的搏斗}...
• She had a brief tussle with her conscience^{与她的良心进行了一场短暂的搏斗} before telling the whole story.

no more effort needed ^{不再需要更多努力}

• ...just a bite and no more effort needed^{不再需要更多努力}.

In fact, it would be an assistance to all carnivores though it would be a two-edged weapon when they fought each other.

two-edged weapon / sword ^双刃剑

• ...though it would be a two-edged weapon^双刃剑 when they fought each other.

双刃剑 ^同义词组

when they fought each other ^{当它们互相搏斗时（when从句充当条件状语）}

• ...when they fought each other^{当它们互相搏斗时}.

when 引导条件状语从句 ^写作替换

But, of the vertebrates unpredictable Nature selected only snakes (and one lizard).

of the vertebrates ^{在脊椎动物中（用于比较）}

• But, of the vertebrates^{在脊椎动物中} unpredictable Nature selected only snakes...

of all people / days ^{偏偏是（用于强调）}

One wonders also why Nature, with some snakes concocted poison of such extreme potency.

concoct ^{调制（不同寻常的混合物）}

• ...why Nature, with some snakes concocted poison^{调制出毒液} of such extreme potency.
• The soup was concocted from up to a dozen different kinds of fish^{由多达十几种不同的鱼调制而成}.

potency ^{效力，强度}

• ...poison of such extreme potency^{如此极度的效力}.
• Improper storage may decrease the potency of the drug^{药物的效力}.

In the conversion of saliva into poison, one might suppose that a fixed process took place.

In the conversion of ... into ... ^{在将...转化为...的过程中（介词 in 表时间）}

• In the conversion of saliva into poison^{在将唾液转化为毒液的过程中}, one might suppose that a fixed process took place.

take place ^{（计划之中的事情）发生}

• ...one might suppose that a fixed process took place^发生了.
• Where is the meeting taking place^{会议在哪里举行}?
• The wedding will take place at St. Andrew's church^{婚礼将在圣安德鲁教堂举行}.

It did not; some snakes manufactured a poison different in every respect from that of others, as different as arsenic is from strychnine, and having different effects.

different in every respect from that of others ^{在各个方面都与其他的不同}

• ...some snakes manufactured a poison different in every respect from that of others^{在各个方面都与其他毒液不同的毒液}...

in every respect / aspect / way ^{在每个方面}

• The situation is different in every respect^{在各个方面都不同} from last year.
• The two approaches are similar in many aspects^{在很多方面}.

that of ... ^{（代指前文的同类名词）...的那个}

• ...a poison different in every respect from that of others^{其他蛇的毒液}...

as different as A is from B ^{就像 A 与 B 不同一样（用来补充说明不同程度）}

• ...as different as arsenic is from strychnine^{就像砷与士的宁不同一样}, and having different effects.

写作仿写：as different as A is from B ^{就像 A 与 B 不同一样}

• Chinese culture is different in every respect from that of America, as different as the giant panda is from the bald eagle^{中国文化在各个方面都与美国文化不同，就像大熊猫与白头鹰不同一样}.

One poison acts on the nerves, the other on the blood.

act on ... ^{对...有效；作用于...}

• One poison acts on the nerves^{作用于神经}, the other on the blood.
• Alcohol acts on the brain^{酒精作用于大脑}.
• Disinfectants act on bacteria^{消毒剂对细菌有效} in two main ways.

act as ... ^{作为...而发挥效果；充当...}

the other (acting) on the blood ^{另一个作用于血液（独立主格）}

• One poison acts on the nerves, the other on the blood^{另一个作用于血液}.

The makers of the nerve poison include the mambas and the cobras and their venom is called neurotoxic.

表达“被称为是...” ^{Called/Known as}

Vipers (adders) and rattlesnakes manufacture the blood poison, which is known as haemolytic.

表达“被称为是...” ^{Called/Known as}

Both poisons are unpleasant, but by far the more unpleasant is the blood poison.

by far ^{...得多（修饰比较级或最高级）}

• The last of these reasons is **by far the most important**^{是迄今为止最重要的}.
• The second half of his voyage was **by far the more dangerous part**^{是危险得多的一部分}, during which he sailed round the treacherous Cape Horn.

写作句型：Both ... are ..., but by far the more ... is ... ^{两个东西都...，但是更...的多得是...}

• **Both books are interesting, but by far the more interesting is ‘Harry Potter’**^{两本书都很有趣，但有趣得多的要数《哈利·波特》}.

It is said that the nerve poison is the more primitive of the two, that the blood poison is, so to speak, a newer product from an improved formula.

so to speak ^{好像，仿佛，可以说是}

• He is, **so to speak, a walking dictionary**^{他，可以说是，一本活字典}.
• The Han nationality and the minority nationalities are all, **so to speak, members of the same family**^{可以说，都是同一个家庭的成员}.

as it were ^{好像，仿佛，可以说是（近义词组）}

formula ^{配方，处方}

• Our products are handmade from traditional **formulas**^{传统的配方}.
• The **formulas**^配方 for the drinks are closely guarded secrets.

Be that as it may, the nerve poison does its business with man far more quickly than the blood poison.

Be that as it may ^{尽管如此（让步状语倒装）}

• **Be that as it may**, our expenditure is bound to increase. ^{**尽管如此**，我们的开支必然会增加。}
• “I’m tired.” “**Be that as it may**, you have to do some work.” ^{“我累了。” “**尽管如此**，你还得做些工作。”}

让步/条件句式扩展 ^{其他倒装句式}

do business with ... ^{做生意；（派生、比喻）发挥效力}

• the nerve poison **does its business with man**^{神经毒素对人发挥效力} far more quickly...
• I was fascinated by the different people who **did business with me**^{和我做生意}.

This, however, means nothing.

mean nothing ^不重要

• This, however, **means nothing**^毫不重要.
• Time **meant nothing to me**^{时间对我来说不重要} while I was travelling.

Snakes did not acquire their poison for use against man but for use against prey such as rats and mice, and the effects on these of viperine poison is almost immediate.

the effect / influence / impact of ... on / upon ... ^{...对...的效果/影响}

• ...and **the effects on these of viperine poison**^{蝰蛇毒液对它们的效果} is almost immediate.
• In the organization of industrial life the **influence of the factory upon the physiological and mental state of the workers**^{工厂对工人身心状态的影响} has been completely neglected.