新概念第四册长难句精讲（16）

英语自学网

　　【句型16】But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the
attitude of the spectators: and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work
themselves into furies over these absurd contests, and seriously believe—at any
rate for short periods—that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of
national virtue. (Lesson 6)
        　　【译文】但是，令人感到意味深长的不是运动员的表现，而是观众的态度，以及观众身后各个国家的态度。面对着这些荒唐的比赛，参赛的各个国家会如痴如狂，甚至煞有介事地相信——至少在短期内如此——跑跑、跳跳、踢踢球都是对一个国家品德素质的检验。
        　　【讲解】and, behind the spectators, of the nations…are tests of national
virtue是对But the significant thing…the attitude of the
spectators的引申。当句子后有表示说明，解释、引申的内容时用冒号。behind spectators作定语，修饰nations，前置是为了强调。of
the nations前省略了the attitude。work和believe是定语从句中的并列谓语。at any rate for short
periods作插入语，句中的两个破折号隔开被强调的插入语。
        （兼职编辑：张博）