# Lesson 71 A famous clock 一个著名的大钟

## 一、课文原文

When you visit London, one of the first things you will see is Big Ben, the famous clock which can be heard all over the world on the BBC. If the Houses of Parliament had not been burned down in 1834, the great clock would never have been erected. Big Ben takes its name from Sir Benjamin Hall who was responsible for the making of the clock when the new Houses of Parliament were being built. It is not only of immense size, but is extremely accurate as well. Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day. On the BBC you can hear the clock when it is actually striking because microphones are connected to the clock tower. Big Ben has rarely gone wrong. Once, however, it failed to give the correct time. A painter who had been working on the tower hung a pot of paint on one of the hands and slowed it down!

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## 二、重点词汇详解

| 单词 | 音标 | 词性 | 释义 | 用法说明 |
|------|------|------|------|----------|
| **parliament** | /ˈpɑːləmənt/ | n. | 议会，国会 | the Houses of Parliament 议会大厦 |
| **erect** | /ɪˈrekt/ | v. | 建起 | erect a building 建造建筑 |
| **accurate** | /ˈækjʊrət/ | adj. | 准确的 | extremely accurate 极其准确 |
| **observatory** | /əbˈzɜːvətəri/ | n. | 天文台 | Greenwich Observatory 格林尼治天文台 |
| **Greenwich** | /ˈɡrenɪtʃ/ | n. | 格林尼治 | 注意发音 |
| **microphone** | /ˈmaɪkrəfəʊn/ | n. | 扩音器，麦克风 | micro- + phone |
| **tower** | /ˈtaʊə/ | n. | 塔 | clock tower 钟楼 |

### 词汇拓展

**1. erect 的用法**
- v. 建造，竖立：erect a statue 竖立雕像
- adj. 直立的：stand erect 笔直地站着

**2. accurate 的派生词**
- accurate adj. 准确的
- accuracy n. 准确性
- accurately adv. 准确地
- inaccuracy n. 不准确

**3. go wrong 的用法**
- go wrong 出故障，出差错
- something went wrong 某事出了差错
- What went wrong? 出了什么问题？

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## 三、语法知识点

### 1. 与过去事实相反的虚拟语气（复习）

> **If the Houses of Parliament had not been burned down in 1834, the great clock would never have been erected.**

- 条件句：had + 过去分词
- 主句：would have + 过去分词
- 表示与过去事实相反的假设

**含义**：如果不是1834年议会大厦被烧毁，这座大钟就永远不会被建造。（事实：议会大厦确实被烧毁了，所以大钟被建造了）

### 2. be of + 名词 = be + 形容词

> It is not only **of immense size**, but is extremely accurate as well.

- of + 名词 = 相应的形容词
- of immense size = immensely large
- of great importance = very important
- of great value = very valuable

| of + 名词 | = 形容词 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| of immense size | immensely large | It is of immense size. |
| of great importance | very important | It is of great importance. |
| of no value | valueless | It is of no value. |
| of use | useful | It is of use. |

### 3. have sth. done（使役结构复习）

> Officials from Greenwich Observatory **have the clock checked** twice a day.

- have + 宾语 + 过去分词
- 让别人检查钟的准确性
- 天文台的官员不是自己检查，而是派人检查

### 4. 过去进行时的被动语态（复习）

> ...when the new Houses of Parliament **were being built**.

- was/were + being + 过去分词
- 表示过去某一时刻正在被进行的动作

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## 四、重点句型分析

### 1. 固定搭配

| 短语 | 含义 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| **take its name from** | 以……命名 | Big Ben takes its name from Sir Benjamin Hall. |
| **be responsible for** | 对……负责 | was responsible for the making of the clock |
| **not only...but...as well** | 不仅……而且 | not only of immense size, but accurate as well |
| **have sth. done** | 让别人做某事 | have the clock checked |
| **go wrong** | 出差错 | Big Ben has rarely gone wrong. |
| **fail to do** | 未能做 | it failed to give the correct time |
| **slow down** | 减慢 | hung a pot of paint and slowed it down |

### 2. 定语从句

> ...Big Ben, the famous clock **which can be heard** all over the world on the BBC.
> ...Sir Benjamin Hall **who was responsible** for the making of the clock.
> ...a painter **who had been working** on the tower.

- which/who 引导定语从句
- 分别修饰 clock, Sir Benjamin Hall, painter

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## 五、课文翻译

当你游览伦敦时，首先看到的东西之一就是"大本"钟，这座著名的大钟的声音通过BBC可以向全世界广播。如果不是1834年议会大厦被烧毁，这座大钟就永远不会被建造。"大本"钟的名字取自本杰明·霍尔爵士，在新议会大厦建造时他负责制造此钟。它不仅体型巨大，而且极其准确。格林尼治天文台的官员每天派人检查此钟两次。在BBC上你可以听到大钟报时的声音，因为麦克风与钟楼相连。"大本"钟很少出差错。然而有一次，它没能报出正确的时间。一个在钟楼上工作的油漆工把一桶油漆挂在了其中一根指针上，把它弄慢了！

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## 六、语言点精讲

### 1. Big Ben 的历史
- Big Ben 实际上是钟楼中最大的那口钟的名字
- 而非钟楼本身的名字
- 以本杰明·霍尔爵士命名（他身材高大，绰号"Big Ben"）

### 2. 课文的趣味性
- 庄严的"大本"钟居然因为一个油漆工挂油漆桶而出错
- 严肃与滑稽的对比
- "slowed it down"——一桶油漆的重量就足以使指针变慢

### 3. "failed to give the correct time" 的委婉表达
- 没有直说"错了"
- 而是说"未能给出正确时间"
- 委婉、正式的表达方式

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## 七、课后练习要点

### 1. 语法复习
- 虚拟语气（与过去事实相反）
- be of + 名词 结构
- have sth. done 使役结构

### 2. 词汇运用
- accurate / go wrong / fail to do 的用法
- be responsible for 的搭配

### 3. 写作练习
- 介绍一个著名建筑或地标

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## 八、本课小结

| 项目 | 内容 |
|------|------|
| **核心语法** | 复习（虚拟语气、be of + 名词、have sth. done、过去进行时被动、定语从句） |
| **重点词汇** | 7个（parliament, erect, accurate, observatory, Greenwich, microphone, tower） |
| **重点短语** | take its name from, be responsible for, not only...but...as well, go wrong, fail to do, slow down |
| **学习难点** | be of + 名词 = 形容词的转换、虚拟语气的综合运用 |

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*本课是复习课，综合了虚拟语气、使役结构、被动语态等语法点，需融会贯通。*