英语听力精选进阶版 7972

This week's question from Churchill in China is about the words true and real. What's the difference?

Finn and Li explain that although the words are very similar, there are differences in the way they are used. Here are three of them:

1. In the desert people often see mirages¹ of things like islands, castles and lakes, but they aren't REAL.

We use the word real here because we are talking about something actually existing or occurring.

We use the word real when we talk about things which actually exist – they are real: a real person, a real place. They're tangible² and not imaginary.

2. A: I heard you're leaving us next week? Is it TRUE?

B: It's TRUE, I'm afraid. I got a new job.

We use the word true here. When we say that a statement or piece of information is true it means it's in accordance with fact or reality.

3. The film Titanic³ is based on a TRUE story.

The film Titanic is based on what we call a true story: a story with events that really happened. There really was a love story between two of the passengers, many of the characters were real people, and the ship really did sink after it hit an iceberg⁴.

We hope these three examples help but as always, our advice is to read as widely as possible to improve your sense of when to use each word.

Glossary 词汇

mirage 幻觉，海市蜃楼

tangible 实实在在的

imaginary 想象中的

in accordance with fact or reality 同事实或现实相一致

based on 根据，基于

passengers 乘客

sink 下沉

iceberg 冰山

1 mirages   

n.海市蜃楼，幻景( mirage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Through my half-closed eyelids I began to see mirages. 透过我半睁半闭的双眼，我看到了海市蜃楼。 来自辞典例句
• There was for him only one trustworthy road through deceptions and mirages. 对他来说只有一条可靠的路能避开幻想和错觉。 来自辞典例句

2 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

3 titanic   

adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的

参考例句：

• We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。
• The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。

4 iceberg   

n.冰山，流冰，冷冰冰的人

参考例句：

• The ship hit an iceberg and went under.船撞上一座冰山而沉没了。
• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。