第三节 描述客观事实

在正式的文体中，描述客观事物或事实时，常用被动结构。

1. As oil is found deep in the ground, its presence cannot be determined by a study

of the surface. Consequently, a geological survey of the underground rocks structure

must be carried out. If it is thought that the rocks in a certain area contain oil, a

“drilling rig” is assembled. The most obvious part of a drilling rig is called “a

derrick”. It is used to lift sections of pipe, which are lowered into the hole made by

the drill. As the hole is being drilled, a steel pipe is pushed down to prevent the

sides from falling in. If oil is struck a cover is firmly fixed to the top of the pipe and

the oil is allowed to escape through a series of valves.

因为石油深埋在地下，靠研究地面，不能确定石油的有无，因此，对地下岩层

结构必须进行地质勘探。如果认为某地区的岩层含有石油，那就是在该处安装

“钻机”。钻机中最显眼的部件叫作“井架”。井架用来吊升分节油管，把油管放入

由钻头打出的孔中。当孔钻成时，放入钢管防止孔壁坍塌。如发现石油，则在油

管顶部紧固地加盖，使石油通过一系列阀门流出。

这一段话用了十三个被动结构，可见在描述客观事物或事实时，英语倾向于使

用被动结构。

2. That concern may be put to rest by the new studies.

以上担忧可能因为一些新的研究成果而得以平息。

3. But my protest was drowned by a commotion in the scullery: rattling, bubbling, and

hissing.

我的抗议声淹没在碗碟洗涤处嘈杂声中：卡嗒卡嗒声、咕咕冒泡声、嘶嘶声。

4. The girl, with her back to the viewer, grasps the wrought-iron railings to see the

trains below, blanketed in steam.

女孩背对着观画者，手抓锻铁的栏杆，看着下面的火车笼罩在蒸汽之中。

5. Sleep deprivation can also be triggered by depression, anxiety and other mental

health issues.

抑郁、焦虑以及其他心理健康问题都可能引发睡眠不足。

6. Florida's rapid growth could be, well, swamped by an increase in its perilously high

ground water table.

佛罗里达州的快速发展将会因危险并处于高位的地下水位的上升而覆没。

7. The problem is worsened by unstable governments, lack of political will, and

corruption.

政局不稳、缺乏明确的政治意愿及腐败等因素使问题变得更糟糕。

8. Whenever two objects are rubbed together, electrons are transferred from one

object to the other.

当两个物体在一起摩擦时，电子便从一个物体转移到另一个物体。

9. Moses says a vehicle is supposed to pass between her village and the clinic once a

day, but it does not come every day.

摩西说每天有一班车从她的村庄与诊所之间经过，但并不是每天都如此。

10. The recently discovered Bolivian titi monkey is now officially named for a Web

casino based outside Montreal.

现在，这种新近发现的玻利维亚伶猴已经正式以蒙特利尔附近的一家网络赌场

的名字命名了。