1. 認識這個詞(基礎篇)
詞:backbone
英英釋義:courage and determination
例句:He has a crush on Sarah, but doesn't have the backbone to ask her out.
2. 體會這個詞 (進階篇)
“backbone”是名詞,最基本的意思是“脊柱”“脊骨”,也常被引申表示“支柱”(比如支柱產業中的“支柱”)和“勇氣/膽量”。我們今天學習它作“膽量”的意思。它作“膽量”時是不可數名詞,可以替換我們常用的“courage”。
我們經常說某某人“慫”,喜歡一個姑娘卻不敢去追,就可以說:
He has a crush on Sarah, but doesn't have the backbone to ask her out.(“have a crush on somebody”是固定表達,意思是迷戀某人。)
有人說最近的重慶公交車事故之所以發生,是因為十幾個乘客中沒有人敢果斷、及時阻止一名中年女性襲擊司機。我們如果想用英文表達這個觀點,就可以說:
Nobody on the Chongqing bus had the backbone to intervene and prevent the middle-aged woman from assaulting the driver. If somebody did, the story would have turned out very differently.
2014 年美國波士頓學院前棒球選手發起了風扉全球的的 ALS 冰桶挑戰(Ice Bucket Challenge),要求參與者在網絡上發布自己被冰水澆遍全身的視頻,然后該參與者便可以要求其他人來參與這一活動?;顒右幎ǎ谎堈咭丛?24 小時內接受挑戰,要么就選擇為對抗“肌肉萎縮性側索硬化癥”捐出 100 美元。
如果你有朋友接受了這項挑戰,就可以說:
He has enough backbone to take up the Ice Bucket Challenge.? ?
3. 從認識到會用(作業)
1)翻譯下面的句子:
他沒有膽量,在最后一刻放棄了獎學金申請。(參考翻譯:He didn't have the backbone and gave up the scholarship application at the last minute. 或 Lacking the backbone, he gave up the scholarship application at the last minute.)
2)結合自己的生活、學習、工作、興趣等,想象在什么語境下會用到這個表達。先簡要描述這個場景,再造句。
Nobody would have guessed that the emaciated little girl has the backbone to fight against the bullies and for her rights.