新概念英语第三册逐句精讲语言点 第17课 世界上最长的吊桥 (4)

　　Each of the four cables contains 26,108 lengths of wire. It has been estimated that if the bridge were paced with cars, it would still only be carrying a third of its total capacity. However, size and strength are not the only important things about this bridge. Despite its immensity, it is both simple and elegant, fulfilling its designer's dream to create "an enormous object drawn as faintly as possible".

　　13. Each of the four cables contains 26,108 lengths of wire.

　　4根钢缆中的每根由26，108股钢绳组成。

　　语言点:contain指的是可见实物的“包括，包含”，在本句中指的是“包含”钢绳。

　　14. It has been estimated that if the bridge were paced with cars, it would still only be carrying a third of its total capacity.

　　据估计，若桥上摆满了汽车，也只不过是桥的总承载力的1/3。

　　语言点:句子结构分析:句中含有一个主语从句，it为形式主语，that引导的从句是真正的主语。在主语从句中，又有一个由if引导的条件状语从句，表示“即使…也…”。

　　15. However, size and strength are not the only important things about this bridge.

　　然而，这座桥重要特点不仅是它的规模与强度。

　　语言点:句子结构分析:however在句中表示转折。

　　16. Despite its immensity, it is both simple and elegant, fulfilling its designer's dream to create "an enormous object drawn as faintly as possible".

　　尽管此桥很大，但它的结构简单，造型优美，实现了设计者企图创造一个“尽量用细线条勾画出一个庞然大物”的梦想。

　　语言点:句子结构分析;despite its immensity是让步状语，交代一个条件后再说桥很漂亮，使读者对这座桥充满无限遐想。Fulfilling it's designer's…是现在分词短语，作整个句子的状语。