考研英语长难句讲解 第22期

 1. This means that our noses are limited to perceiving those smells which float through the air, missing the majority of smells which stick to surfaces.

【分析】多重复合句。句子主干为 This means that...，that 引导宾语从句。宾语从句的主干为 our noses are limited to perceiving those smells。宾语从句中 which 引导的定语从句修饰 those smells；现在分词短语 missing...作结果状语，其中又包含 which 引导的定语从句修饰 the majority of smells。

【译文】这就意味着我们的鼻子只能闻到漂浮在空气中的气味，而遗漏了大量附着在地表的气味。

【点拨】1)be limited to doing/sth.“限制于...，局限于...”。2)perceive 常用意为“意识到，注意到”或“认为，理解为”，结合语境，本句中的意思是“闻到”。

【临摹】以前我的生活仅限于做家务。

2. Our noses are capable of detecting human amells even when these are diluted¹ to far below one part in one million.

【分析】复合句。本句主干为 Our noses are capable of detecting human amells。even when 引导让步状语从句。

【译文】即使在人类的气味被冲淡稀释到不足原来的百万分之一时，我们的鼻子也能觉察到。

【点拨】1)detect“侦查；发现，觉察；探测”，此句中意为“觉察”。2)delute 本句中为及物动词，意为“冲淡，稀释”；该词本身也可作形容词，意为“冲淡的，稀释的”。

临摹答案

1. Previously² my life was limited to doing household chores.

1 diluted   

无力的，冲淡的

参考例句：

• The paint can be diluted with water to make a lighter shade. 这颜料可用水稀释以使色度淡一些。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields. 这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。