冯　凌

1. …that the longest moustache reached a length of 1.6 metres and that the longest poisonous snake is 5.71 metres long. ……最长的胡须长达1.6米，最长的毒蛇长达5.71米。

reach动词，作“到达；达到”解时可以是及物动词，也可以是不及物动词。

The wave may only be a few metres high in the ocean but when it is near the shore and reaches shallow water, the wave builds up very quickly in height. 波浪在海中或许只有几米高，但是在靠近海岸进入浅水的时候，高度迅速增加。

〖提醒注意〗

⑴ reach作“到达”解时是个非持续性动词，用于完成式时，不可与表示一段时间的状语连用。如：

我到北京已经一个多月了。

I have reached Beijing for more than a month. （误）

I reached Beijing more than a month ago. （正）

I have been in Beijing for more than a month. （正）

⑵ reach作“传开；深入”解时为不及物动词，其后须用介词与宾语连接。如：

声音一直传到大厅的后面。

The sound reached the back of the hall. （误）

The sound reached to the back of the hall. （正）

〖拓展延伸〗

reach还可作名词用，作“伸出；触及的距离；伸手长度”解。如：

make a reach for sth./sb. 伸手拿某物（抓某人）

He got a book on the shelf by a long reach. 他伸长手到架子上拿了一本书。

2. Impressive as the record is, it fades next to the story of Armstrongs struggle against disease. 虽然这项记录令人难忘，但阿姆斯特朗与疾病抗争的故事比它更加令人瞩目。

⑴impressive adj. 意思是“给人印象深刻的；感人的”。如：

an impressive scene 难忘的场面

〖发散思维〗

impress v. 给……极深的印象；引人注目；铭刻；印，压印n. 印记；印象效应

impression n. 压印，印记，压痕；印次，版；底色；印象，感想，模糊的观念；效果，影响

impressionism n. （绘画、文艺等方面的）印象主义；印象派

impressionist n. 印象派艺术家 adj. 印象主义的

impress on/upon sb. 给某人极深的印象

⑵as conj. 作“虽然；尽管”解时，引导让步状语从句。

Tired as they were, they walked on.

尽管很累，他们还是继续走着。

Child as he is, he knows a lot. 尽管他是个孩子，但他知道的事情很多。

3. In 1996 Armstrong, the then No. 1 cyclist in the world, was diagnosed with cancer and many thought that it meant the end of his career, maybe even his life. 1996年，阿姆斯特朗——世界上的自行车赛冠军被确诊为癌症，许多人认为可能结束了他的比赛生涯，乃至生命。

mean vt. & vi. 作“意味着；意思是；意指”解。如：

The red light means “stop”.

红灯表示“停止”。

I mean to go tomorrow.

我打算明天去。

I said I would help him and I meant it. 我说过我要帮助他，我说到做到。

〖辨析〗mean to do 与mean doing

前者表示“……打算做……”；后者表示“……意味着……”。如：

I didnt mean to start an argument. 我并不想（跟你）争论。

Accepting the job means living abroad. 接受这个工作就意味着在国外居住。