注意

a quantity of和quantities of既可修饰可数名词复数,也可修饰不可数名词;其作主语时,a quantity of+名词,谓语动词应视名词的具体情况而定,即:跟可数复数应用复数动词,跟不可数时应用单数动词;后者用复数,即和quantity一致。

活学活用

As a result of the earthquake, a large ____ of earth ____ blocked several rivers there.

A. number; has B. quantity; has C. number; have D. quantity; have

解析 B a number of 只修饰可数名词复数形式,而earth是不可数名词,故选B项。

2.brief adj.简短的;简洁的;短暂的

His book A Brief History of Time was published in 1988 and is still a best seller.

他的书《时间发展简史》于1988年出版, 而且现在还是畅销书。

观察思考

Could I have a brief word with you, sir? 先生,我能和你说几句话吗？

In brief, we should invest heavily in digital system. 简而言之,我们应该对数字化系统大量投资。

归纳拓展

in brief简单地说 to be brief简单地说,一句话(用作插入语) be brief with sb.简单地和某人说几句话

易混辨异

in brief/in short

(1)in brief "简单地说",着重于重点突出,不拖泥带水。

(2)in short"总之",多用来指在较长的叙述后,长话短说,带有"综上所述"的意思。

活学活用

He stood up and made a ____ speech, short but to the point.

A. simple B. brief C. easy D. dull

解析 A 根据句中的short but to the point知应用 brief表示"简短的"。

3. .escape n.& v.逃跑;逃脱;逃避

The Chinese discovered that the gas escaping from the tube could lift it into the air.

中国人发现从竹筒里漏出的气体可以使其飞向空中。

观察思考

The party was boring-we couldn't wait to make our escape.

聚会很无聊,我们迫不及待地要溜走。

Four prisoners who escaped from the jail in Mongolia have been caught.

从内蒙古监狱逃出的四名罪犯已经被抓住。

The dog escaped through/from the back window of the bus. 狗从公共汽车的后窗逃走了。

归纳拓展

make one's escape逃跑

have a narrow escape九死一生

have one's escape cut off被切断逃路

escape (doing) sth.逃脱(做)某事