# Lesson 74 Out of the limelight 舞台之外

## 一、课文原文

An ancient bus stopped by a dry river bed and a party of famous actors and actresses got off. Dressed in dark glasses and old clothes, they had taken special precautions so that no one should recognize them. But as they soon discovered, disguises can sometimes be too perfect.

'This is a wonderful place for a picnic,' said Gloria Gleam.

'It couldn't be better, Gloria,' Brinksley Meers agreed. 'No newspaper men, no film fans! Why don't we come more often?'

Meanwhile, two other actors, Rockwall Slinger and Merlin Greeves, had carried two large food baskets to a shady spot under some trees. When they had all made themselves comfortable, a stranger appeared. He looked very angry. 'Now you get out of here, all of you!' he shouted. 'I'm sheriff here. Do you see that notice? It says "No Camping" ---- in case you can't read!'

'Look, sheriff,' said Rockwall, 'don't be too hard on us. I'm Rockwall Slinger and this is Merlin Greeves.'

'Oh, is it?' said the sheriff with a sneer. 'Well, I'm Brinksley Meers, and my other name is Gloria Gleam. Now you get out of here fast!'

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## 二、重点词汇详解

| 单词 | 音标 | 词性 | 释义 | 用法说明 |
|------|------|------|------|----------|
| **limelight** | /ˈlaɪmlaɪt/ | n. | 舞台灯光，公众注意 | out of the limelight 远离公众注意 |
| **precaution** | /prɪˈkɔːʃn/ | n. | 预防措施 | take precautions 采取预防措施 |
| **sheriff** | /ˈʃerɪf/ | n. | 司法长官 | 美国县级行政司法长官 |
| **notice** | /ˈnəʊtɪs/ | n. | 布告，通知 | put up a notice 张贴布告 |
| **sneer** | /snɪə/ | n./v. | 嘲笑，冷笑 | with a sneer 冷笑一声 |
| **disguise** | /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ | n./v. | 伪装 | in disguise 伪装着；disguise as 装扮成 |
| **picnic** | /ˈpɪknɪk/ | n. | 野餐 | go for a picnic 去野餐 |
| **shady** | /ˈʃeɪdi/ | adj. | 阴凉的 | shade n. 阴凉处；a shady spot 阴凉处 |
| **ancient** | /ˈeɪnʃənt/ | adj. | 古老的 | ancient history 古代史；此处形容车很旧 |
| **hard** | /hɑːd/ | adj. | 严厉的 | be hard on sb. 对某人严厉 |

### 词汇拓展

**1. limelight 的来源与引申**
- 原指舞台照明用的石灰光灯（calcium light）
- 引申为"公众关注的焦点"：in the limelight 处于公众注意的中心
- out of the limelight 远离公众视线

**2. precaution 的搭配**
- take precautions against 采取预防…的措施
- as a precaution 作为预防措施
- precautionary adj. 预防性的

**3. disguise 的用法**
- 作名词：in disguise 伪装着；a blessing in disguise 因祸得福
- 作动词：disguise oneself as 把自己伪装成
- 注意区别：disguise（伪装外貌）vs. pretend（假装行为）

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## 三、语法知识点

### 1. 现在进行时 vs 一般现在时复习

本课中两种时态交替使用：

| 时态 | 用法 | 课文例句 |
|------|------|----------|
| 一般现在时 | 习惯性、客观事实 | I'm sheriff here. |
| 现在进行时 | 此刻正在发生 | No one is recognizing them.（隐含） |

### 2. 过去分词作状语

> **Dressed in dark glasses and old clothes**, they had taken special precautions.

**结构**：过去分词短语作伴随状语，表示主语的状态

- 逻辑主语与主句主语一致（they）
- dressed in 表示"穿着"的状态
- 相当于：Because they were dressed in...

**更多例句**：
- Seen from the hill, the city looks beautiful. 从山上看，城市很美。
- Written in simple English, the book is easy to read. 用简单英语写成，这本书容易读。

### 3. so that 引导目的状语从句

> ...they had taken special precautions **so that** no one should recognize them.

**结构**：so that + 从句（目的状语）

| 连词 | 用法 | 例句 |
|------|------|------|
| so that | 为了，以便 | He got up early so that he could catch the train. |
| so...that | 如此…以至于 | He was so tired that he fell asleep at once. |

**注意**：so that 从句中常使用 can/could/should/may/might 等情态动词。

### 4. couldn't be better

> It **couldn't be better**, Gloria.

**含义**：再好不过了（否定词 + 比较级 = 最高级含义）

| 表达 | 含义 |
|------|------|
| couldn't be better | 再好不过 |
| couldn't be worse | 糟透了 |
| couldn't agree more | 完全同意 |

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## 四、重点句型分析

### 1. be hard on sb.

> Don't **be too hard on** us.

**含义**：对某人太严厉/苛刻

同义表达：be strict with, be tough on

### 2. in case 引导条件从句

> ...**in case** you can't read!

**含义**：以免，以防

| 用法 | 例句 |
|------|------|
| in case + 从句 | Take an umbrella in case it rains. |
| in case of + 名词 | In case of fire, call 119. |

### 3. Why don't we...? 提建议

> **Why don't we come** more often?

**含义**：我们为什么不…？（表示建议）

同义句型：
- Why not come more often?
- Let's come more often.
- How about coming more often?

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## 五、课文翻译

一辆古旧的汽车停在一条干涸的河床边，一群著名男女演员下了车。他们戴着墨镜，穿着旧衣裳，特别小心以防别人认出他们。但他们很快就发觉，化装的效果有时过分完美了。

"在这个地方野餐简直是太妙了，"格洛利亚·格利姆说。

"是再好不过的了，格洛利亚。"布林克斯利·米尔斯表示同意，"没有记者，没有影迷！我们为什么不经常来这里呢？"

此时，另外两位演员，罗克沃尔·斯林格和默林·格里夫斯，已经把两个大食品篮子提到了一片树荫下。当他们都已安排舒适时，一个陌生人出现了。他看上去非常气愤。"你们都从这里走开，全都走开！"他大叫着，"我是这里的司法长官。你们看到那个布告牌了吗？上面写着'禁止野营'——除非你们不识字！"

"好了，好了，司法官，"罗克沃尔说，"别使我们难堪。我是罗克沃尔·斯林格，这位是默林·格里夫斯。"

"噢，是吗？"那位司法长官冷笑一声说道，"好，我就是布林克斯利·米尔斯。我还有一个名字叫格洛利亚·格利姆。现在你们赶快滚吧！"

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## 六、语言点精讲

### 1. 故事的讽刺与幽默

演员们精心伪装不想被认出，结果伪装得太好，连当地司法长官都不相信他们的真实身份。这种"过犹不及"的讽刺是英式幽默的典型。

### 2. a party of 的用法

> **a party of** famous actors and actresses

party 此处不是"聚会"，而是"一群、一伙"的意思。类似用法：a party of tourists 一群游客。

### 3. 古典文学中的名流心态

演员们远离"limelight"（公众注意）却还是被自己的名气所困——他们习惯了被认出，却不习惯了不被认出。

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## 七、课后练习要点

### 1. 句型练习
- 用 so that 改写句子（表目的）
- 过去分词作状语的改写练习

### 2. 词汇运用
- 用 precaution, disguise, limelight 造句
- couldn't be + 比较级 的否定表肯定练习

### 3. 写作练习
- 写一个"适得其反"的小故事（使用so that和过去分词作状语）

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## 八、本课小结

| 项目 | 内容 |
|------|------|
| **核心语法** | 现在进行时/一般现在时复习、过去分词作状语、so that目的状语从句 |
| **重点词汇** | 10个（limelight, precaution, sheriff, notice, sneer, disguise, picnic, shady, ancient, hard） |
| **重点短语** | out of the limelight, take precautions, be hard on, in case, couldn't be better |
| **学习难点** | 过去分词作状语的逻辑主语一致性、couldn't be better 否定表最高级 |

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*本课以明星野餐的幽默故事复习时态，重点掌握过去分词作状语和so that从句。*