托福阅读备考之长难句分析：管弦乐音响

 　　The principal elements in behavioral thermoregulation are basking¹ (heliothermy),heat exchange with substrates such as rock or earth (thigmothermy)，and diurnal² and annual avoidance behaviors,which include moving to shelter during the day for cooling and hibernating³ or estivating (reducing activity during cold or hot weather, respectively).( TPO40,48)

　　A series of mechanical improvements continuing well into the nineteenth century, including the introduction of pedals to sustain tone or to soften⁴ it, the perfection of a metal frame and steel wire of the finest quality, finally produced an instrument capable of myriad⁵ tonal effects from the most delicate harmonies to an almost orchestral fullness of sound，from a liquid，singing tone to a sharp, percussive⁶ brilliance⁷.

　　(介词结构from…to…作定语)

　　持续到19世纪的一系列机械上的改进，包括引入踏板以维持音调或使其柔和，改善金属框架，以及使用最佳牲能的钢丝，最终产生了一种具备无数音调效果的乐器——这些效果涵盖了从最精致的和声到几乎全部的管弦乐音响，从明快流畅的吟唱音调到尖锐的打击乐器的恢弘气氛。

　　分句1：A series of mechanical improvements continuing well into the nineteenth century;

　　分句2：including the introduction of pedals to sustain tone or to soften it;

　　分句3：the perfection of a metal frame and steel wire of the finest quality;

　　分句4：finally produced an instrument capable of myriad tonal effects;

　　分句5：from the most delicate harmonies to an almost orchestral fullness of sound;

　　分句6：from a liquid，singing tone to a sharp, percussive brilliance。

　　本句的真正的主句结构其实是由分句1和分句4构成，即A series of mechanical improvements continuing well into the nineteenth century finally produced an instrument capable of myriad tonal effects. 分句2和分句3并列修饰说明分句1中的A series of mechanical improvements，而分句5和分句6并列，修饰说明了分句4中的an instrument capable of myriad tonal effects.

1 basking   

v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽

参考例句：

• We sat basking in the warm sunshine. 我们坐着享受温暖的阳光。
• A colony of seals lay basking in the sun. 一群海豹躺着晒太阳。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 diurnal   

adj.白天的，每日的

参考例句：

• Kangaroos are diurnal animals.袋鼠是日间活动的动物。
• Over water the diurnal change in refraction is likely to be small. 在水面上，折光的周日变化可能是很小的。

3 hibernating   

（某些动物）冬眠，蛰伏( hibernate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The hibernating animals reduce movement to far below the ordinary level. 冬眠的动物把活动量大大减少到低于一般的水平。
• People find hibernating animals asleep. 人们发现冬眠动物处于休眠状态。

4 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。

5 myriad   

adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量

参考例句：

• They offered no solution for all our myriad problems.对于我们数不清的问题他们束手无策。
• I had three weeks to make a myriad of arrangements.我花了三个星期做大量准备工作。

6 percussive   

adj.敲击的

参考例句：

• When it is dragged over pliant areas, an additional percussive tap could indicate this collision. 当它被拖到受范区域时，一个附加的敲击声提示这种碰触。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Pneumatic DTH (Down-The-Hole) hammer is one of main pneumatic percussive-rotary drilling equipments. 风动冲击器是气动冲击回转钻进的主要设备之一。 来自互联网

7 brilliance   

n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智

参考例句：

• I was totally amazed by the brilliance of her paintings.她的绘画才能令我惊歎不已。
• The gorgeous costume added to the brilliance of the dance.华丽的服装使舞蹈更加光彩夺目。