英语口语大赢家Topic280:咖啡情节Coffee Complex

对于中国年轻人而言，喝咖啡正在成为一个趋势。反映了西方商业和生活习惯正在慢慢改变中国传统面貌的这种影响。

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Drinking coffee is starting to become a big trend for the young people of China. It is not a serious competitor against the national drink of the Chinese people-tea. It does reflect, however, the influence of Western business and life habits that are slowly changing the traditional face of China. Coffee has always been an important drink in the United States and elsewhere¹. In the United States, for example, the national drink used to be tea especially Chinese tea. This changed during America’s War of Independence because of a shortage² of tea caused by a loss in British trade. Since then, coffee has been the national drink and the symbol of the Western lifestyle. In coffee houses and cafés, business and personal relationship are strengthened. Famous writers and artists, such as Hemingway, conversed³ and gained inspiration⁴ at these places. Traditionally, the best coffee has come from the South American country of Columbia. Small farmers in the past made little money and large coffee chains such as Starbucks made the profit. These coffee chains are beginning to appear in China in increasing numbers. Drinking coffee excessively⁵ is, however, harmful for your health. It can lead to emotion changes. It may also change your sleeping habits, causing insomnia⁶ or lack of sleep. Yet at the same time, the caffeine in coffee keeps you alert⁷ and wakes you up. This is usually helpful. But try never to drink too much coffee as its effects can be as harmful as helpful.

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对于中国年轻人而言，喝咖啡正在成为一个趋势。它并不是中国人的国饮——茶的强有力的竞争对手，然而，它确实反映了西方商业和生活习惯正在慢慢改变中国传统面貌的这种影响。咖啡在美国和其它地方一直是最重要的饮品。例如，在美国，民族饮品曾经是茶，尤其是中国茶。这在美国独立战争期间有所改变，因为美英贸易的失利致使茶供应短缺。从那时起，咖啡就成了他们的民族饮品和西方生活方式的象征。在咖啡屋或咖啡馆里，商业关系和个人关系得以加强。著名的作家和艺术家，例如海明威，在这些地方进行交谈并获得灵感。从传统意义上讲，最好的咖啡产自于哥伦比亚的南美乡村。过去，小的农场主赚不到什么钱，而星巴克这样的大型咖啡连锁店则利润丰厚。这些咖啡连锁店在中国的数量与日俱增。然而，过多地饮用咖啡对人体健康是有害的。它会导致性情的变化，还有可能改变你的睡眠习惯，造成失眠或是睡眠不足。而与此同时，咖啡中的咖啡因会使你保持警醒，让你清醒。这通常是有效的。但千万不要过多饮用咖啡，因为它的效用可能既有益又有害。

Grammar 语法小结
主谓一致

主谓一致中谓语动词常用复数的情况有：

1.one of 后接的名词要用复数

She is one of my favorite teachers. 她是我喜欢的老师中的一个。

2.一些“成双成套”的名词，如 trousers, pants, glasses, clothes, shoes, scissors 等用作主语时，谓语动词常用复数

My glasses are broken. I have to buy a new pair.

我的眼镜碎了，我要买副新的。

The shoes under the bed belong to Danny. 床底下那双鞋是丹丹的。

3.both, some, many, few, all(of them) 后的谓语多用复数

Both of them are English. 他们都是英国人。

Few of my friends like him. 我的朋友中没什么人喜欢他。

Do it together 家庭总动员
找出下面的句子中的语法错误并改正。

1. One of us are going to the party.

2. The three of them is students.

3. Few girls likes playing basketball.

4. My shoe is worn out. I need to buy a new pair.

5. Some of them is my good friends.

1. are → is

2. is → are

3. likes → like

4. shoe is → shoes are

5. is → are

 

1 elsewhere   

adv.在别处，到别处

参考例句：

• Our favourite restaurant was full so we had to go elsewhere.我们最喜欢去的那家饭店客满了，因此不得不改去别处。
• I have half a mind to move elsewhere.我有点想搬到别处去。

2 shortage   

n.缺少，缺乏，不足

参考例句：

• The city is suffering a desperate shortage of water.这个城市严重缺水。
• The heart of the problem is a shortage of funds.问题的关键是缺乏经费。

3 conversed   

v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 )

参考例句：

• I conversed with her on a certain problem. 我与她讨论某一问题。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She was cheerful and polite, and conversed with me pleasantly. 她十分高兴，也很客气，而且愉快地同我交谈。 来自辞典例句

4 inspiration   

n.灵感，鼓励者，吸气

参考例句：

• These events provided the inspiration for his first novel.这些事件给了他创作第一部小说的灵感。
• What an inspiration she was to all around her!她对于她周围所有的人是一种多么大的鼓舞！

5 excessively   

ad.过多地，过分地

参考例句：

• The doctor advised him not to drink excessively. 医生劝他不要饮酒过度。
• He became excessively annoyed at〔with〕 newspaper reports. 他对报纸上的报道极为恼火。

6 insomnia   

n.失眠，失眠症

参考例句：

• Worries and tenseness can lead to insomnia.忧虑和紧张会导致失眠。
• He is suffering from insomnia.他患失眠症。

7 alert   

adj.机警的，活泼的，机灵的；vt.使...警觉

参考例句：

• Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals.驾驶员必须密切注意交通信号。
• The rabbIt'seems to be very alert all its life.兔子似乎一生都小心翼翼，十分警觉。