语法核心/初级 · 走近语法

Chapter 2 限定词(一):冠词

2.9 其他不用冠词的场合

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2.9 其他不用冠词的场合

这些场合包括:

一、关于职业、身份或头衔

表示某人的职业,一般是用不定冠词a/an。比如:

1 I am an English teacher.

这在2. 6小节中已讨论过。但是如果这个头衔是独一无二的,或者说这个职位在一个单位里是唯一的,此时常不用冠词。不过,也可以用the(既然是独一无二的身份,所以不可能用a/an)。请比较:

2 1) They appointed him Head Librarian.

2) He's a librarian.

妙语点睛 在例句1)中,Head Librarian是表示“图书馆馆长”,这个职位对于一个图书馆来说应该是唯一的,所以此处没有用冠词a来修饰这个职位。在例句2)中,librarian表示“图书管理员”,这个职位一般来说不是唯一的,因为一个图书馆会有多个管理员,所以此处用不定冠词a来修饰这个职位。

精品译文 1) 他们任命他为图书馆馆长。

2) 他是个图书管理员。

要注意这些表示独一无二的身份或职务的名称在句中所出现的位置,它们通常是出现在补足语的位置(包括主语补足语、宾语补足语以及系动词后的表语位置)和同位语位置,此时尤其会省去the。若是出现在其他位置,如宾语位置或主语位置,则需要加the。请比较:

3 1) He was elected President in 1879.

2) I want to see the President.

妙语点睛 在例句1)中,President表示“总统”,显然是一个独一无二的头衔,在该句中是出现在主语补足语的位置,补充主语he,用来说明he的身份,所以省去the(尽管the可以被保留,但还是常被省去)。在例句2)中,the President是出现在该句的宾语位置,此时尽管它是独一无二的头衔,但依然保留了the。

精品译文 1) 他于1879年当选为总统。

2) 我要见总统。

4 1) Queen Elizabeth had dinner with President Kennedy.

2) The Queen had dinner with the President.

妙语点睛 在例句1)中,Queen和President分别表示“女王”和“总统”,显然都是独一无二的头衔,在该句中是出现在同位语的位置,Queen作Elizabeth的同位语,President作Kennedy的同位语,所以省去the(尽管the可以被保留,但还是常被省去)。在例句2)中,the Queen和the President分别是出现在该句的主语和宾语位置,此时尽管也是独一无二的头衔,但依然保留了the。

精品译文 1) 伊丽莎白女王和肯尼迪总统共进晚餐。

2) 女王和总统共进晚餐。

从以上的讨论我们看出,省去the的两个条件:一是要表示独一无二的职务或头衔,二是要出现在句子的补足语或同位语的位置。我们下面举例详细说明。

1. 独一无二的头衔出现在表语位置

5 John F. Kennedy was (the) President of the United States in 1961. 约翰·F.肯尼迪于1961年当选为美国总统。

6 John is (the) captain of the team. 约翰是该队的队长。

7 She is chairman of the committee. 她是该委员会的主席。

8 Mr. Smith used to be president of our bank. 史密斯先生当过我们银行的行长。

下面这句话是厌倦了做国王的一位国王说的:

9 For the first time I am king of myself. Elect whom you choose to be king.

妙语点睛 该句中的king和president一样,都是独一无二的头衔,放在表语的位置,冠词常常省去。

精品译文 生平第一次,我真正感觉到我是自己的国王。(我不再想当你们的国王了,)你们想选谁就选谁做国王吧。

2. 独一无二的头衔出现在主语补足语的位置

10 Henry was elected chairman of the committee.

妙语点睛 这里的chairman补充说明主语Henry,即作主语补足语。

精品译文 亨利当选为该委员会的主席。

11 He was elected President for the second time.

妙语点睛 这里的President补充说明主语he,即作主语补足语。

精品译文 他是第二次当选总统。

3. 独一无二的头衔出现在宾语补足语的位置

12 They elected Henry chairman.

妙语点睛 这里的chairman补充说明宾语Henry,即作宾语补足语。

精品译文 他们推选亨利为主席。

13 They've appointed Fred (the) treasurer, and no doubt he will soon become (the) secretary.

精品译文 他们已经推选弗雷德为财政司司长,毫无疑问将来他会很快成为财政部部长。

4. 独一无二的头衔出现在同位语的位置

14 As (the) chairman of the committee, I declare this meeting closed.

妙语点睛 这里as引导的名词短语chairman of the committee是作主语I的同位语。

精品译文 以委员会主席的身份,我宣布会议结束。

在上面这个例子中,同位语在主语/人名之前,作同位语的名词短语也可以放在主语/人名的后面。比如:

15 Elizabeth II, Queen of England

妙语点睛 这里的同位语Queen of England前省去了the。该同位语置于人名的后面了。

精品译文 英国女王伊丽莎白二世

综上所述,表示独一无二的头衔身份的名词前一般不用冠词,尤其是当它们出现在补足语或同位语的位置上时。

二、关于球类、棋类运动

表示球类、棋类运动项目的名词前面不加冠词。例如:

16 play football 踢足球

17 play chess 下棋

18 play tennis 打网球

三、关于其他限定词与冠词

下面这些限定词彼此排斥,不能同时出现在名词的前面。

1. 冠词:the, an, a

2. 物主形容词:my, your, his, her, our, their

3. 指示形容词:this, that, these, those

4. 名词属格:Tom's, John's

所以下面这些表达都是错误的:

the my book*

Tom's the book*

my the money*

our the problems*

换句话说,如果一个名词的前面已经有了物主词、指示词或名词所有格,则不能再有冠词修饰它了。尽管汉语可以说“我的这本书”,但在英语中不能说my this book*或my the book*,“我的一本书”也不能说成my a book*。

但要注意的是,所有格本身可以有冠词。比如我们可以说:

19 the boss's wife 老板的妻子

也许有读者会这么认为:这里的the是冠词,boss's是所有格,根据上面的规律——冠词和所有格不能用在一起,所以the boss's wife是错误的。曾经就有读者这么问过我,他们认为这个表达不对。

其实,我们不能把the和boss's分开来看,道理很简单,因为boss作为单数可数名词时必须有限定词来修饰,所以应该是将the boss看作一个整体,然后再加's构成所有格,所以the boss's的深层结构应该是[the boss]'s,故the boss's wife是一个正确的表达。同理,再看下面这个短语:

20 my brother's girlfriend

妙语点睛 不能认为物主代词my和所有格brother's的搭配错误,而应该理解其深层结构是[my brother]'s,故my brother's girlfriend是一个正确的表达。

精品译文 我哥哥的女朋友

四、特殊名词

在下列这些特殊名词前不加the:

1. nature:泛指自然界(动植物及无生命的物质的世界),不加冠词。比如“在大自然中”要说成in nature,而不是in the nature*。请看例句:

21 If you destroy nature you will suffer for it.

精品译文 谁要是破坏大自然,谁就要遭受恶果。

2. society:泛指我们在其中生活的这个社会,一般不加冠词。比如“在社会中”要说成in society,而不是in the society*。请看例句:

22 Society turns people into criminals and then locks them up.

精品译文 社会使人犯罪,然后又把他们关进监狱。

3. space:泛指星球之间的空间,不加冠词。比如“在太空中”要说成in space,而不是in the space*。请看例句:

23 Man has just taken his first steps into space.

精品译文 人类才刚刚迈出了探索太空的第一步。

4. man:泛指整个人类时,不加冠词。请看例句:

24 Man can conquer nature.

精品译文 人定胜天。

25 That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.

精品译文 这对于一个人来说是一小步,对于全人类却是一次巨大的飞跃。

26 From early times man has used garlic(大蒜). Through the years man has tried to cope with the smell of garlic. But no herb, mouthwash, chewing gum, or toothpaste seems to help much.

精品译文 人类从很早以前就开始食用大蒜了。一直以来,人们都在努力消除大蒜的气味。但无论是中草药、漱口剂、口香糖还是牙膏,似乎都没有什么用处。

5. history:泛指人类的整个历史时,不用冠词。比如“在历史上”要说成in history,而不是in the history*。请看例句:

27 History may repeat itself.

精品译文 历史可能重演。

28 Throughout history man has had to accept the fact that all living things must die.

精品译文 自古以来,人类不得不接受所有生命都要死亡这个事实。

五、关于星期

大家知道,表示星期几的名词前面一般是不加冠词的,而是直接用介词on加上一个星期的名称,即“on+星期名称”。比如:on Monday, on Tuesday或on Wednesday等等。但是,不知道读者有没有认真地思考过,这样的星期表达到底是指什么时间呢?它们可不可以加冠词说成on the Monday或者是on a Monday呢?或者可不可以用复数说成on Mondays呢?下面我们就来回答这些问题。

首先,上述不加冠词的星期表达“on+星期名称”所指的具体时间是与真实的说话语境所暗示的某一个时间点有联系的。比如现在的说话时间是在“周三”,那么我们说on Monday,就是指刚刚过去的那个“周一”,即“前天”,表示的是一个过去的时间(past time);而我们说on Friday,就是指即将到来的那个“周五”,即“后天”,表示的是一个将来的时间(future time)。请看例句:

29 She left on Monday.

妙语点睛 这里的on Monday就是指本周刚刚过去的那个“周一”。这里的说话时间一定是在周一之后,表示的是一个过去的活动,因此动词要用过去时的left。

精品译文 她是周一离开的。

30 See you on Friday.

妙语点睛 这里的on Friday就是指本周即将到来的那个“周五”。这里的说话时间一定是在周五之前,所以这里表示的是一个将来的活动。

精品译文 咱们周五见。

由此可见,不加冠词的星期表达“on+星期名称”表示的不是一个“过去的时间”就是一个“将来的时间”,而且都是以说话的时间为参照的,是在说话时的同一周,即与说话时的真实语境密切相关。除此以外,“on+星期名称”还可以表示周期性的“星期几”,表示一个规律性的日期,比如on Monday可以表示“每逢周一”。在英语中,表示“每逢周几”,我们还可以在星期名词的后面加-s,比如on Mondays。请看例句:

31 I have English class on Monday.

妙语点睛 这里的on Monday可以理解成“每周一”,此时也可以用复数,说成on Mondays。

精品译文 我每周一都有英语课。

比如下面这个句子出自《新概念英语》第二册的第二课:

32 It was Sunday. I never get up early on Sundays. I sometimes stay in bed until lunchtime. Last Sunday I got up very late.

精品译文 那是个星期日。我星期日是从不早起的,有时候还会在床上一直躺到吃午饭的时间。上个星期日,我就起得很晚。

我们看到这里的星期名称就是用复数的,说成on Sundays。我们也可以用单数说成on Sunday来表示“每逢周日”。

综上所述,“on+星期名称”这样的星期表达可以包含两个意思:一是表示一个规律性的日期,意思是“每逢周几”;二是表示过去或将来的某个具体日期(a specific date),此时是以说话时间为参照的。

但是,如果某个星期几不是以说话时间为参照,而是以上下文中别的时间为参照,此时就需要用定冠词the来修饰星期,说成“on the+星期名称”。请比较下列例句:

33 1) She phoned me on Wednesday and we are meeting on Friday.

2) The last time I saw her was three weeks ago. She was in England for one week. She phoned me on the Wednesday and we met on the Friday.

妙语点睛 在例句1)中,我们不加冠词说on Wednesday和on Friday,此时要以说话时间来确定Wednesday和Friday具体所指是哪一天。既然phoned是表示过去,are meeting是表示将来计划好的事情,所以说这话的时间应该是在“周三”和“周五”之间的“周四”(on Thursday)。也就是说,这句话暗示了“周四”是说这话的时间,我们以此为参照时间来确定这里的“周三”即是“昨天”,“周五”即是“明天”。这就是我们前文说过的“on+星期名称”所指的具体时间是与真实的说话语境所暗示的某一个时间点有联系的。在例句2)中,我们加了冠词说on the Wednesday和on the Friday,此时的参照时间不是说话的时间,而是上下文里所确立的某一时间。比如这里是以“三周前(three weeks ago)”为参照时间,以此来确定这里的Wednesday和Friday具体所指是哪一天。这里的Wednesday和Friday分别是指三周前的那个周三和周五,而不是离现在说话时间最近的周三和周五。其实,这里的定冠词the就是我们在2.5.2小节“上下文共指(textual co-reference)”里讲到的“前指”用法,the前指three weeks ago这个时间点。

精品译文 1) 她周三给我打了电话,我们约好在周五见面。

2) 我上次见到她是在三周前,她在英格兰待了一个星期。她在那个周三给我打了电话,我们在那个周五见了面。

再比如下面的例句:

34 A: It was a terrible week, wasn't it? Did you remember?

B: Yes, we had snow on the Monday and floods on the Thursday!

妙语点睛 我们加了冠词说on the Monday和on the Thursday,此时的参照时间不是说话的时间,而是上下文里所确立的某一时间。显然,说话人是在回忆自己曾经经历过的某个倒霉的一周。因此,这里就是以“过去的某一周”为参照时间,该句中的Monday和Thursday分别是指在那一周的周一和周四,而不是离现在说话时间最近的周一和周四。

精品译文 A:当时那一周真是很倒霉,对吧?你还记得吗?

B:当然记得,那个周一下着雪,那个周四还发了洪水!

35 1) She died on the Tuesday after the accident.

2) She died of the accident on Tuesday.

妙语点睛 在例句1)中,after the accident修饰Tuesday,意思是“事故发生后的那个周二”。所以这里Tuesday的参照时间是accident,指的是“事故”发生之后的那个周二。显然这个周二与现在说话的时间没有任何联系。在例句2)中,上下文中没有其他时间作为参照,我们就以说话时间为参照,此时的Tuesday就是指离说话时间最近的、刚刚过去的那个周二。

精品译文 1) 事故发生后的那个周二,她就死了。

2) 她这周二死于那场事故。

以上所讨论的是两种定指的星期表达,一个是以说话的时间为参照,另一个是以上下文中特定的时间为参照。既然有定指的星期表达,那么也就有不定指的星期表达,此时用不定冠词a来修饰星期,说成“on a+星期名称”。请比较例句:

36 1) She left on a Wednesday.

2) She left on Wednesday.

妙语点睛 在例句1)中,on a Wednesday表示过去某一个不确定的星期三,与现在的说话时间没有任何联系。在例句2)中,on Wednesday是以现在的说话时间为参照,表示离说话时间最近的刚刚过去的那个周三,即与现在的说话时间有密切联系。

精品译文 1) 她是在一个周三离开的。

2) 她是本周三离开的。

再比如:

37 We met on a wet Monday in June. 我们是在6月份一个下着雨的星期一见面的。

六、关于四季

指一般的四季而不是具体指某年的某一段时间时,通常不加冠词。比如:

in spring(在春天) in summer(在夏天)

in autumn(在秋天) in winter(在冬天)

38 Winter is coming. 冬天就要来了。

但是,如果指特定的某一年的某个季节时,就要加冠词。比如:

39 The spring of last year was cold. 去年春天很冷。

七、关于昼夜的各段时间

表示昼夜的各段时间的名词主要有:

dawn/daybreak(黎明/破晓) sunrise(日出)

sunset(日落) noon(正午)

dusk/twilight(黄昏) night(夜晚)

midnight(午夜)

以上这些名词尤其是当它们出现在at, by, after和before之后时,往往不加冠词。比如(以at为例):

at dawn(在黎明时) at daybreak(在破晓时)

at sunrise(在日出时) at sunset(在日落时)

at noon(在正午时) at dusk/twilight(在黄昏时)

at night(在夜晚) at midnight(在午夜)

如果是用在其他介词之后,或者是在其他场合,这些名词前则往往要加冠词。比如:

watch the dawn(看黎明到来) The sunrise was splendid.(日出很壮观。)

We admired the sunset.(我们欣赏了日落。) see nothing in the dusk(在黄昏时什么也没看见)

wake up in the night(在夜里醒来) all through the night(整整一夜)

另外,要注意的是,若是表示特定的某一天的某个时间段,往往用不定冠词,并且用介词on,此时这些名词的前面通常都会有形容词修饰。比如:

40 on a frosty December night

妙语点睛 这里的night前面有修饰语frosty和December,表示的是具体的某一天的晚上。此时用了不定冠词a,并且用了介词on。

精品译文 在12月份一个寒冷的晚上

再比如:

41 on a rainy morning 在一个下雨的早晨

42 on a sunny winter afternoon 在一个阳光明媚的冬日午后

八、关于进餐

指一般日常惯例的用餐时,通常不加冠词。比如:

43 have rice for dinner 晚餐吃米饭

其他的比如:

for breakfast/lunch(早餐/午餐吃……) stay for breakfast(留下来吃早餐)

before lunch(午餐前) after dinner(晚餐后)

44 I was invited to dinner. 我受邀赴晚宴。

但是如果指需要特别提出的某一次用餐,则常用the来强调。请比较:

45 1) Where are we having dinner tonight?

2) The dinner after his retirement party was quite lavish.

精品译文 1) 今天的晚餐我们在哪里吃?

2) 他退休聚会后的晚餐非常豪华丰盛。

若在三餐名词前有形容词时,则一般加不定冠词,来表示什么样的一餐。例如:

46 We often have a big lunch and a nice dinner. 我们通常午饭吃得较多,晚饭则吃得较好。

九、关于交通工具的名词

接在by之后的交通工具名词,其前面不加冠词。但是这些名词在其他场合要加冠词。请比较:

47 1) by bicycle

2) take the bicycle

精品译文 骑自行车

48 1) by bus

2) be on the bus

精品译文 乘公交车

49 1) by car

2) be in the car

精品译文 坐小汽车

50 1) by boat

2) take the boat

精品译文 坐船

51 1) by train

2) take the train

精品译文 坐火车

52 1) by plane

2) be on the plane

精品译文 坐飞机

从以上对比我们看到,若用在介词in或者on后,以及用在动词后,这些名词的前面一般都须用冠词限定。需要提醒大家注意的是,“步行”是on foot,而不用其他介词,foot前也不加冠词。

十、关于通讯工具的名词

接在by之后的通讯工具名词,其前面不加冠词。但是这些名词在其他场合要加冠词。请比较:

53 1) by radio

2) a talk on the radio

精品译文 1) 通过收音机

2) 收音机中的一个谈话节目

54 1) by telephone

2) John is on the telephone.

精品译文 1) 通过电话

2) 约翰在接听电话。

55 1) by post

2) put a letter in the post

精品译文 1) 通过邮寄(的方式)

2) 邮寄信件

56 1) by mail

2) send the letter through the mail

精品译文 1) 通过邮寄(的方式)

2) 邮寄信件

57 1) by satellite

2) The satellite TV is replacing cable TV.

精品译文 1) 通过卫星

2) 卫星电视正在取代有线电视。

十一、平行结构

如果两个名词一起放在同一平行结构里,即使是单数可数名词,也通常不加冠词。比如:

58 face to face 面对面;当面

59 back to back 背对背

60 arm in arm 手挽着手

61 hand in hand 手牵手

62 eye to eye/eyeball to eyeball 面对面地,针锋相对地

63 toe to toe 脚尖挨脚尖,摩肩接踵

64 shoulder to shoulder/side by side 肩并肩地

65 inch by inch 逐渐地,一步一步地

66 day after day(=day by day) 日复一日

67 from person to person 挨个地

68 from door to door 挨家挨户地

69 from top to toe 从头到脚,完完全全

70 from father to son 从父到子

在上面带有重复名词的短语,如face to face, toe to toe和eyeball to eyeball等,这样的短语往往具有副词的功能,在句中用作状语,修饰动词。比如:

71 They talked face to face. 他们面对面地谈话。

72 They talked man to man. 他们坦率地交谈。

73 They stood toe to toe. 他们摩肩接踵地站着。

74 They stood eyeball to eyeball. 他们面对面地站着。

这些名词没有冠词是因为它们基本上失去了名词的主要特性,比如它们没有数的变化。不能说:

They talked faces to faces. *

它们的前面也不能有修饰语。比如不能说:

They talked old man to young man. *

因此,我们不妨把这些短语看成是英语的固定习语。

思维训练2.9

讨论下列星期表达的含义。

on Wednesday on Wednesdays

on the Wednesday on a Wednesday

写给读者的话

一、本章学习思路

首先,在学习本章关于“冠词”的内容时,读者需要注意冠词所处的下列两个大背景:

第一,读者要在“名词短语”这个大背景下来看待冠词,并结合名词(分为不可数名词、单数名词和复数名词)来学习冠词的用法。

第二,冠词属于限定词的一种,且是非常重要的一种,所以,读者也需要把冠词置于“限定词”的背景下来学习,并注意把冠词和其他限定词(详见第三章的内容)结合起来学习。

有了上述这两个背景,我们就不会把冠词孤立起来,就不会僵化地理解冠词的用法。

其次,就本章的逻辑思路来说,我们首先集中介绍了四种泛指的表达模式,这是站在“名词的角度”来讨论冠词的用法。然后我们重点介绍了定冠词the的特指用法,以及不定冠词a/an的用法,这是站在“冠词的角度”来总结冠词的用法。到此为止都是冠词的核心内容。在这些内容当中,主要是围绕“泛指”“特指”“定指/不定指”这样三个重要概念展开的。对于定冠词the来说,主要就是“泛指”和“特指”的问题;而对于不定冠词a/an来说,主要就是“泛指”和“定指/不定指”的问题。所以,真正理解这三个概念之间的相互关系,对于理解和掌握冠词的用法非常重要。最后,2.7、2.8和2.9三节内容相当于是对冠词用法的补充。

二、本章重点及难点

本章需要重点掌握的内容包括:

1. 不可数名词不加冠词表示泛指(详见2.4.1小节);

2. 复数名词不加冠词表示泛指(详见2.4.2小节);

3. 灵活地理解定冠词的情景/文化特指的用法(详见2.5.1小节);

4. 掌握用/不用冠词的意义区别(如the hospital/hospital,详见2.7节);

5. 了解一些不用冠词的场合(详见2.9节)。

难点是理解不定冠词所表示的泛指用法,以及定指/不定指用法(详见2.6.1小节)。

三、本章学习时间安排

本章知识点较多,不容易记住,而且有些知识点还不易理解,因此,对于英语初学者来说,可能要多花些时间来学习。如果是对于冠词不甚了解的读者,可能要用两周多的时间来研读一遍我们所讲解的内容。如果是对冠词的用法掌握得比较好的读者,可以花一周的时间来边阅读边做巩固练习。

对于冠词这一章,读者不能急于求成,要重点理解我们所讲解的内容,然后在自己今后的日常英语实践中加以灵活运用。不经过几年的练习和实践,要想完全掌握冠词的思维用法是不太现实的。

综合训练

一、判断句子正误,并将错误的句子修改正确。

1. The life is hard sometimes.

2. I love music, poetry and the art.

3. I don't like the film, but I like music.

4. The air is a colorless and tasteless gas.

5. Air in this room is stuffy. Please open the windows.

6. The history may repeat itself.

7. The pencils contain lead.

8. Diamond is the hardest substance in the nature.

9. Man has just taken his first steps into the space.

10. A foreign language is a weapon in the struggle of the life, as Marx put it.

二、解释下面句子中不同说话者对coffee这个词的不同理解。

11. Coffee is a stimulant.

12. I'd like a coffee, please.

13. The coffee here is good.

14. This café has dozens of different coffees.

15. She has coffee on her dress.

三、请在必要的地方填上适当的冠词。

16. A: I have ______ idea. Let's go on ______ picnic Saturday.

B: Sounds great!

17. A: Did you have fun at ______ picnic yesterday?

B: Sure I did.

18. A: Where is my blue shirt?

B: It's in ______ washing machine. You'll have to wear ______ different shirt.

19. I hope I have ______ washing machine.

20. Everyone has ______ problems in ______ life.

21. My grandfather had ______ long life.

22. That book is about ______ life of Helen Keller.

23. I'll meet you at ______ university at three o'clock, outside ______ room 26.

24. ______ dog needs to go to ______ vet. Can you take him?

25. When I got up, I noticed ______ car windscreen was covered in ______ ice.

四、根据下列场景解释,请在必要的地方填上适当的冠词。

26. 下面是发生在书店的对话:

Customer: I'm looking for ______ book by Charles Handy, Schools as Organizations.

Assistant: Schools as Organizations, it might be in Educational.

书店没有他要找的书,这个顾客不高兴了(The shop does not have the book he is looking for. This time the customer is unhappy.):

Customer: You don't have it? You never have ______ books I need.

27. 一个小孩正想撕一本书,她妈妈很生气(A small child is trying to tear a book. Her mother gets angry.),说道:

Mother: No, no, that's horrible! You don't do that to ______ books!

五、下面这篇短文是有关阿诺德·施瓦辛格的介绍。请在必要的地方填上适当的冠词。

28. Arnold Schwarzenegger grew up in Austria. His father was ______ policeman and his mother ______ housewife. ______ home didn't have ______ flush toilet or ______ refrigerator until Arnie was 14. He arrived in the US ______ penniless 21-year-old. His wife, Maria Shiver, is ______ anchor woman on US TV news and ______ niece of assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Andy Warhol and Grace Jones were among ______ 500 guests at their ______ wedding. Others invited who were unable to attend included ______ Pope and ______ Reagans. His ______ hobbies include reading, collecting ______ art and attending ______ classical music festivals.

六、在下列文章空格中必要的地方填上适当的冠词。

Boy and His Apple Tree

29. ______ long time ago, there was ______ huge apple tree.

______ little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to ______ tree top, ate ______ apples, took ______ nap under ______ shadow... He loved ______ tree and ______ tree loved to play with him.

Time went by... ______ little boy had grown up and he no longer played around ______ tree everyday.

One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked unhappy. “Come and play with me,” the tree asked the boy.

“I am no longer ______ kid, I don't play around ______ trees anymore.” The boy replied, “I want ______ toys. I need money to buy them.” “Sorry, but I don't have ______ money... but you can pick all ______ my apples and sell them. So, you will have ______ money.” The boy was so excited. He grabbed all ______ apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.

One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited. “Come and play with me.” the tree said. “I don't have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need ______ house for shelter. Can you help me?” “Sorry, but I don't have ______ house. But you can chop off ______ my branches to build your house.” So the boy cut all the branches of the tree and left happily.

The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. “Come and play with me!” the tree said.

“I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me ______ boat?” “Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy.” So the boy cut the tree trunk to make ______ boat.

He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the boy returned after he left for so many years.

“Sorry, my boy. But I don't have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you...” the tree said.

“I don't have ______ teeth to bite.” the boy replied.

“No more trunk for you to climb on...” the tree said.“I am too old for that now.” the boy said.

“I really can't give you anything... ______ only thing left is my dying roots.” the tree said with tears.

“I don't need much now, just ______ place to rest. I am tired after all ______ these years.” The boy replied.

“Good! Old tree roots is ______ best place to lean on and rest. Come. Come sit down with me and rest.”

The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears...

This is the story of everyone. The tree is our parent. When we were young, we loved to play with Mom and Dad...

When we grown up, we left them... only came to them when we need something or when we are in trouble.

No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could to make you happy.

You may think the boy is cruel to the tree but that's how all of us are treating our parents.

Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.

七、单项选择。

30. In 1864 Nevada entered the United States as ______ thirty-sixth state.

A. in the

B. to be the

C. was the

D. the

31. ______ are good for you.

A. Apple

B. An apple

C. Apples

D. The apples

32. Look at ______ on that tree! They're very big.

A. apple

B. an apple

C. apples

D. the apples

33. We had a very nice meal. ______ were especially good.

A. Vegetables

B. The vegetables

C. Vegetable

D. A vegetable

34. Most people believe that ______ are the basis of ______.

A. marriage and family life/society

B. marriage and family life/the society

C. the marriage and the family life/society

D. the marriage and the family life/the society

35. Mary and John got married but ______ didn't last very long.

A. marriage

B. the marriage

C. a marriage

D. marriages

36. One of our biggest social problems is ______.

A. the unemployment

B. unemployment

C. an unemployment

D. unemployments

37. Don't stay in that hotel. It's very noisy and ______ are very uncomfortable.

A. beds

B. the beds

C. this bed

D. a bed

38. ______ is a problem in most big cities.

A. Crime

B. The crime

C. Crimes

D. This crime

39. —What on earth is that? —Don't you know? That's a whale, ______.

A. largest world's mammal

B. largest mammal in the world

C. the world's largest mammal

D. largest mammal of the world

40. A foreign language is a weapon in ______, as Marx put it.

A. struggle of life

B. struggle of the life

C. the struggle of life

D. the struggle of the life

41. They waited for ______ inevitable to happen.

A. an

B. a

C. the

D. ×

42. Suddenly ______ fire broke out in the warehouse and everything in it was on ______ fire.

A. ×/a

B. the/×

C. a/×

D. ×/the