★it's likely that ...＝sb./sth.be likely to do sth."做某事是可能的"

　　①It is likely that the weather will be fine tomorrow.

　　＝The weather is likely to be fine tomorrow.

　　明天天气可能会很晴朗。

　　[辨析]

likely 用于it is likely that ...; sb./sth. be likely to do sth.句型中，但不用于it is likely for sb. to do sth.句型中 possible 用于it is possible (for sb.) to do sth.；it is possible that ...句型中，但不用于sb. be possible to do sth.句型中 probable 常用于it is probable that ...句型中 　　②Would it be possible for me to leave a message for her?

　　我可以给她留个口讯吗？

　　③It's likely/probable/possible that they will come back next week.

　　他们可能下周回来。

　　3．Scientists believe that these settlers crossed the Bering Strait in the Arctic to America by means of a land bridge which existed in prehistoric times. (P2)

　　科学家们认为这些迁居者通过一条史前时代曾经存在的大陆桥穿越北极地区的白令海峡到达美洲。

　　★means n．方法；手段(单复数同形)

　　(1)a means of ... ......的方法

　　means of production/transport/communication

　　 生产工具/运输工具/通信手段

　　(2)by means of 用，依靠；通过

　　by all means 无论如何；当然可以(口语)

　　by no means 绝对不；无论如何都不(用于句首，句子要倒装)

　　①Cars have become a popular means of transport, bringing great convenience to our life.

　　小汽车已经成为一种流行的运输工具，给我们的生活带来很多方便。

　　②(2015·重庆高考书面表达)By means of controlled release, I can deliver my books to some specific person.

　　通过定向发放，我能把我的书送给某个特别的人。

　　③However we are in a hurry, we should by no means go through the red light.

　　→However we are in a hurry, by no means should we go through the red light.

　　无论我们多么匆忙，我们决不要闯红灯。

　　[点津]　当means表示"方法，方式，手段"时，单复数同形。means作主语若有every, each, one等词修饰时，谓语动词用单数；有some, several, many, few等词修饰时，谓语动词用复数。

　　④Every possible means has been tried (try), but none works.

　　＝All possible means have been tried (try), but none works.

　　所有可能的办法都已经尝试过了，但没有一种奏效。

　　4．Of the first Spanish to go to California, the majority were religious men, whose ministry was to teach the Catholic religion to the natives.(P2)

　　在首批移居加州的西班牙人中，大部分是宗教人士，他们的职责是向原住民传授天主教。

　　★majority n．大多数；大半(常与the 连用)

　　(1)in a/the majority 占大多数

　　a/the majority of 大多数......

by/with a majority of 以大多数......