新概念英语第三册 Lesson 17(课文5)

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8, It has been estimated that if the bridge were packed with cars, it would still only be carrying a third of its total capacity.
It has been estimated / expected that…据估计
同种结构的句型还有：It is said that…\It is reported that 据说\据报道
be packed with... = be full of 作“挤满......; 装满 ......”解
were  虚拟语气（桥上不可能摆满汽车的）
carry 承载
a third of ……的三分之一

9，Despite its immensity, it is both simple and elegant, fulfilling its designer's dream to create 'an enormous object drawn as faintly as possible'.
immensity: size
despite==in spite of
fulfilling: 现在分词做结果状语，表示一种主动的概念,即动作的实施者正是主语。
e.g. The bus was held up by the snowstorm, causing the delay.
e.g. Her husband died in1970, leaving her with two children.