托福阅读备考之长难句分析：史前猛犸

 　　Amid rumors¹ that there were prehistoric² mammoths wandering around the unknown region and that somewhere in its wilds was a mountain of rock salt 80 by 45 miles in extent，the two captains set out.

　　(同位语从句rumors that…)

　　当时有一些传言，说有史前的猛犸在这一陌生的区域活动，而且在这一区域的某个地方有一座巨大的盐石山，其面积达80英里长50英里宽。就在这些传言中，两位上尉出发了。

　　分句1：Amid rumors

　　分句2：that there were prehistoric mammoths wandering around the unknown region

　　分句3：and that somewhere in its wilds was a mountain of rock salt 80 by 45 miles in extent

　　分句4：the two captains set out.

　　整个句子的主句是分句4.

　　"Amid" 表示“在 ......之中", 是介词，它引导的分句1嵌套着分句2和分句3，并且在整句话中作状语。 而分句2和分句3是并列关系的同位语从句来修饰分句1中的rumors，作rumors的同位语从句，用来说明谣言的具体内容。

1 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 prehistoric   

adj.（有记载的）历史以前的，史前的，古老的

参考例句：

• They have found prehistoric remains.他们发现了史前遗迹。
• It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment.这儿倒像是在展览古老的电子设备。