常春藤解析英语【46】Spotting Trains铁道迷（在线收听）

Spotting Trains　铁道迷

by Kevin Lustig

Like many hobbies, an interest in railroads can be enjoyed in a number of different ways. Railroad fans build model railroads, read magazines about trains, and go to train museums. However, for the most extreme fans, _(1)_ but the real thing will do. These railroad fans want to see full-size trains on actual train tracks, and they're often _(2)_ to do whatever it takes in order to fulfill this desire.

"Railfan" is the term _(3)_ by people who have a strong interest in the world of railways. Another name for people in this group is the popular term "trainspotter." This nickname comes from the fact that an important part of railfan activities is visiting railways and train stations to spot trains _(4)_. Many railfans try to see as many different kinds of train cars and engines as possible in their lifetimes, while others go _(5)_ of only the rarest trains. In order to prove their trainspotting accomplishments, railfans are often _(6)_ photographers. They might also keep elaborate _(7)_ that list train types and where and when they were seen.

One unintended result of railfans' hobby is that they often _(8)_ in railroad safety and security. Hardly anyone knows what is and isn't _(9)_ at train stations and around train tracks better than the people who spend much of their free time there. In many parts of the world, police forces work with railfans to monitor railroad resources.In this way, railfans can spot more than just trains; they might also spot suspicious activity and _(10)_ it to the police. For travelers, this helps to keep everyone safe and secure. For railfans, it's all just a part of doing what they love.

(A) skillful (B) normal (C) report (D) willing (E) in search
(F) in person (G) nothing (H) journals (I) adopted (J) play a role

原来如此

1.However, for the most extreme fans, nothing but the real thing will do.
理由:
a.原句尚缺主词，得知空格应置入名词。
b.由于空格后有 but，得知空格内应置入 (G) 选项的 nothing，以形成 nothing but 的固定用法，此处的 but 则视为介词，等于 except（除了……之外）。
例: Nothing but a glass of icy water can quench my thirst now.
= Nothing except a glass of icy water can quench my thirst now.
（现在除了一杯冰水外，什么也无法让我止渴。）
c.根据上述，(G) 应为正选。

2....and they're often willing to do whatever it takes in order to fulfill this desire.
理由:
a.空格前有 be 动词 are（they're = they are），其后为不定词 to，得知本空格应置入形容词。
b.选项中为形容词的有 (A) skillful（有技巧的）、(B) normal（正常的）与 (D) willing（愿意的），但空格后有不定词词组 "to do whatever it takes"，选项中仅 willing 可与不定词词组并用，形成下列固定结构：
be willing to V　　愿意（做）……
例: I'm willing to do anything to convince May to go out with me.
（为了说服小梅跟我约会，我什么都愿意做。）
c.根据语意及上述用法，故选 (D)。

3."Railfan" is the term adopted by people who have a strong interest in the world of railways.
理由:
a.空格后为介词词组 by people（被人们），得知空格应置入过去分词，以形成被动语态。
b.选项中，仅 (I) adopted（被采用）为过去分词，置入空格后实等于 "which was adopted by people..."，合乎语意及用法，故选 (I)。
c.adopt vt. 采用
例: Our baseball team has been winning ever since we adopted a new strategy.
（我们棒球队自从采用新战略后就没输过。）

4....an important part of railfan activities is visiting railways and train stations to spot trains in person.
理由:
a.空格前的句子为完整的结构，故知可置入副词。
b.选项中，(F) in person 为介词词组，可作副词用，表『亲自』，等于副词 personally，置入后亦符合语意，故选之。
c.in person　　亲自地
例: I've seen the president on TV, but never in person.
（我曾经在电视上看过总统，但从没见过本人。）

5.Many railfans try to..., while others go in search of only the rarest trains.
理由:
a.空格后有介词 of，得知可置入 (E) 选项，形成下列固定用法：
in search of...　　寻找……
例: The scientists went in search of the mysterious Loch Ness Monster.
（科学家寻找神秘的尼斯湖水怪。）
b.根据上述，in search 置入后亦符合语意，表有些人会去『寻找』最罕见的火车，故选 (E)。

6.In order to prove their trainspotting accomplishments, railfans are often skillful photographers.
理由:
a.空格前后为 be 动词 are 和名词 photographers
（摄影师），得知空格应置入形容词以修饰复数名词。
b.选项中为形容词的有 (A) skillful（技术好的）与 (B) normal（正常的），然根据语意，本处应是指铁道迷因时常拍摄火车而成了『技巧纯熟的』摄影师，(A) 置入后符合语意，故选之。
c.skillful a. 技术好的
be skillful in/at...　　精于……
例: A good writer is skillful at using words to affect readers' emotions.
（一位好作家擅长以文字影响读者的情绪。）

7.They might also keep elaborate journals that list train types...
理由:
a.空格前有形容词 elaborate（详尽的），得知空格内应置入名词，以供 elaborate 修饰。
b.选项中，仅 (C) report（报导）以及 (H) journals（日志）为名词，但 report 与 journal 均为可数名词，之前若无冠词时，应采复数，故根据语意及用法，应选 (H)。
c.keep journals/a journal　　写日记∕记录
例: Greg kept a journal to organize his thoughts and feelings.
（格雷写日记来整理自己的想法与感受。）

8....they often play a role in railroad safety and security.
理由:
a.空格前有主词 they（他们，指铁道迷），得知空格内应置复数动词。
b.由于空格后有介词 in，得知 (J) play a role（扮演一个角色）应为正选。
c.play a role/part in...　　参与……；在……中占有一席之地
例: The location of a store often plays a role in attracting business.
（商店的地点往往会影响生意的好坏。）

9.Hardly anyone knows what is and isn't normal at train stations and around train tracks...
理由:
a.空格前有 be 动词 is 和 isn't，得知本空格应置入名词或形容词。
b.选项中仅剩 (B) normal（正常的）为形容词，置入后亦符合语意，故为正选。
c.normal a. 正常的

10....they might also spot suspicious activity and report it to the police.
理由:
a.原句的对等连接词 and 前有助动词 might，得知本空格应置入原形动词，与 and 之前的原形动词 spot（看见；发现）形成对等。
b.选项中仅剩 (C) report（报告）为原形动词，置入后亦符合语意，故为正选。
c.report vt. & vi. & n. 报告；报导
report sth to sb　　向某人报告某事
例: Gina reported Jeff's bad behavior to the teacher.
（吉娜向老师报告杰夫恶劣的行为。）

精解字词词组

1.fulfill　　vt. 实现（梦想、希望等）
例: Roy finally fulfilled his dream of becoming an airline pilot.
（洛伊终于实现成为机师的梦想。）

2.elaborate　　a. 详尽的，精心制作的 & vi. 详细说明（与介词 on 并用）
elaborate on...　　详细说明……
例: I'll give the general plan, and then Kathy will elaborate on the details.
（我会说明概略计划，然后卡西会详细说明细节。）

3.monitor　　vt. 监视；监控
例: The media seems to monitor everything celebrities say and do.
（名人的一言一行似乎都在媒体的监控下。）

4.suspicious　　a. 怀疑的
be suspicious of...　　对……感到怀疑
例: The police were suspicious of a package someone left at the train station.
（警方对放置在火车站的一个包裹起疑。）

单字小铺

1.spot vt. 看见；发现
2.railroad n. 铁路
3.model n. 模型
4.extreme a. 极端地
5.full-size a. 与原物一样大小的
6.track n. 铁轨
7.railway n. 铁路
8.nickname n. 绰号
9.rare a. 罕见的
10.accomplishment n. 成就；才能，才艺（常用复数）
　a person of accomplishment　　很有成就的人
　a person of accomplishments　　多才多艺的人
11.photographer n. 摄影师
12.unintended a. 非故意的，无心的
13.resource n. 资源（常用复数）

词组小铺

1.a number of + 复数名词　　一些……
　an amount of + 不可数名词　　一些……
2.in order to V　　为了……
3.as many + 复数名词 + as possible　　尽可能多的……
　as much + 不可数名词 + as possible　　尽可能多的……
4.in this way　　如此一来

中文翻译＆标准答案

如同许多嗜好一样，对铁路的兴趣也有若干不同的方法。铁道迷们制作铁道模型、阅读有关火车情报的杂志，也参观火车博物馆。然而，对最狂热的铁道迷来说，只有真正的火车能满足他们。这些铁道迷想看的是铁轨上真实大小的火车，为了实现这样的愿望，他们通常愿意不顾一切。

『铁道迷』一词是对铁路世界怀抱着浓厚兴趣的人所采用的。另一个常用来称呼这群人的词是『看火车的人』。这个昵称的由来是因为铁道迷最重要的活动，就是亲自去参观铁道、到车站看火车。许多铁道迷设法在一生中，尽量去看各种不同的火车与引擎，而有些铁道迷则只想寻找最罕见的火车。为了证明自己的赏车成就，铁道迷通常都是技巧纯熟的摄影师。他们也可能会撰写详尽的日志列出火车类型，及看见的时间和地点。

铁道迷的嗜好产生一个无心插柳的结果，就是他们常会参与铁道的危安工作。几乎没有其它人比花了许多空闲时间待在车站和铁轨附近的铁道迷，更了解那里的运作是否正常。世界各地有许多地区的警方与铁道迷一同监控铁路资源。这么一来，铁道迷不只可以观赏火车，也能发现可疑活动并报告给警方。对旅客而言，这确保了大众的安全；对铁道迷来说，这只是从事他们自己爱好的一部分。

标准答案:1. (G)　2. (D)　3. (I)　4. (F)　5. (E) 　6. (A)　7. (H)　8. (J)　9. (B)　10. (C)