极简的英语笔记︱《小王子》Chapter 4(1)地道英语四六级/雅思高分写作表达

大家好，我是极简。

翻开《小王子》的英文原版，你会发现它不只是写给孩子的童话，更是一面照见成年人世界的镜子。今天我们就从这段经典文字里，一边重温故事，一边解锁高频地道表达、核心句型，为四六级、雅思写作直接蓄力。

一、原文精读

I had thus learned a second fact of great importance: this was that the planet the little prince came from was scarcely any larger than a house!
由此我知道了另一件很重要的事：小王子居住的星球比一座房子大不了多少！

But that did not really surprise me much. I knew very well that in addition to the great planets — such as the Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Venus — to which we have given names, there are also hundreds of others, some of which are so small that one has a hard time seeing them through the telescope. When an astronomer discovers one of these he does not give it a name, but only a number. He might call it, for example, “Asteroid 325”.
但那并没让我感觉很奇怪。我非常清楚，除了那些我们已经命名的，诸如地球、木星、火星、金星等大行星之外，还有成百上千颗别的星球，其中有一些小得就算用望远镜也很难看见。当一位天文学家发现了这样一颗星星时，他不会给它取名，而只是给它一个编号。比方说，他可能把它称为“325号小行星”。

I have serious reason to believe that the planet from which the little prince came is the asteroid known as B-612.
我有正当的理由相信：小王子来自的那颗星球就是“B612号小行星”。

This asteroid has only once been seen through the telescope. That was by a Turkish astronomer, in 1909.
这颗小行星只在1909年被一个土耳其天文学家用望远镜望见过一次。

On making his discovery, the astronomer had presented it to the International Astronomical Congress, in a great demonstration. But he was in Turkish costume, and so nobody would believe what he said.
这个天文学家一有了这个发现，就在国际天文学大会上对此做了强有力的论证。但由于他穿的是土耳其服装，没有人相信他说的话。

Grown-ups are like that …
大人们就是那样……

Fortunately, however, for the reputation of Asteroid B-612, a Turkish dictator made a law that his subjects, under pain of death, should change to European costume. So in 1920 the astronomer gave his demonstration all over again, dressed with impressive style and elegance. And this time everybody accepted his report.
但幸运的是，为了B612号小行星的名誉，土耳其的一个独裁者制订了一项法律，要求他的臣民改穿欧式服装，违者以死罪论处。于是，在1920年，这个天文学家以一身气派而高雅的穿着重新论证了他的发现。这一次，所有的人都接受了他的报告。

二、重点句型深度挖掘 + 解析 + 写作运用

1. I had thus learned a second fact of great importance: this was that…

- 原句：I had thus learned a second fact of great importance: this was that the planet… was scarcely any larger than a house!
- 解析： thus  表“因此、由此”，比  so  更书面； a fact of great importance  是高级版的  an important fact ；冒号后用  this was that…  引出具体内容，逻辑清晰。
- 写作运用：用于引出核心发现/结论，替换简单的  I found that… 
- 例句：I had thus learned a second fact of great importance: this was that the old method was no longer effective.
由此我得知了另一个重要事实：旧方法已经不再有效。

2. …scarcely any larger than a house

- 原句：…was scarcely any larger than a house!
- 解析： scarcely = hardly = almost not ，表“几乎不”； scarcely any larger than  = 比……大不了多少，比  not much bigger than  更文学。
- 写作运用：描写大小对比，表达“几乎一样大/大不了多少”
- 例句：This room is scarcely any larger than a closet.
这个房间比一个壁橱大不了多少。

3. in addition to the great planets — such as… — to which we have given names…

- 原句：in addition to the great planets — such as the Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Venus — to which we have given names…
- 解析： in addition to  表“除了……之外”；破折号中间插入举例； to which we have given names  是定语从句，修饰  planets ，比  that we have named  更正式。
- 写作运用：用于列举+补充说明，让句子层次更丰富
- 例句：In addition to the classic novels — such as Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights — to which we have given high praise, there are also many modern works worth reading.
除了那些我们高度赞扬的经典小说——比如《傲慢与偏见》和《呼啸山庄》——还有很多现代作品值得一读。

4. some of which are so small that one has a hard time seeing them…

- 原句：some of which are so small that one has a hard time seeing them through the telescope.
- 解析： some of which  引导非限制性定语从句； so…that…  表“如此……以至于……”； have a hard time doing sth  = 做某事很困难，比  it's difficult to do  更地道。
- 写作运用：描写程度+结果，是议论文/记叙文高频句型
- 例句：Some of the problems are so complex that we have a hard time solving them in a short time.
有些问题太复杂，我们很难在短时间内解决。

5. I have serious reason to believe that…

- 原句：I have serious reason to believe that the planet… is the asteroid known as B-612.
- 解析： have serious reason to believe  = 有充分理由相信，比  I think/believe  更有说服力； known as  = 被称为，作后置定语。
- 写作运用：表达坚定观点/推测，适合议论文开头
- 例句：We have serious reason to believe that this new technology will change our lives.
我们有充分理由相信，这项新技术将改变我们的生活。

6. On making his discovery, the astronomer had presented it…

- 原句：On making his discovery, the astronomer had presented it to the International Astronomical Congress…
- 解析： On doing sth  = 一……就……，表时间紧接，比  As soon as he made…  更简洁； present sth to sb  = 向某人展示/提交。
- 写作运用：描写连续动作，让叙事更紧凑
- 例句：On hearing the news, she rushed to the hospital.
一听到消息，她就冲向了医院。

7. …under pain of death, should change to European costume

- 原句：…a law that his subjects, under pain of death, should change to European costume.
- 解析： under pain of death  = 违者以死罪论处，是法律/命令场景的地道表达；插入语让句子更有张力。
- 写作运用：描写严厉规定/禁令，增强语气
- 例句：The king issued a decree that no one, under pain of death, should enter the forbidden forest.
国王颁布法令：任何人不得进入禁林，违者处死。

8. dressed with impressive style and elegance

- 原句：…dressed with impressive style and elegance.
- 解析：过去分词短语作伴随状语，表“穿着……”； with impressive style and elegance  = 气派而高雅，比  in nice clothes  更高级。
- 写作运用：人物外貌/神态描写，提升文采
- 例句：She walked into the room, dressed with quiet elegance.
她走进房间，穿着素雅而高雅。

三、重点词汇、复杂词汇、地道表达 + 例句 + 翻译

1. scarcely /ˈskeəsli/

adv. 几乎不，简直不

- 例句：I can scarcely believe my eyes.
我简直不敢相信自己的眼睛。

2. in addition to

prep. 除了……之外（还有）

- 例句：In addition to English, she can speak French.
除了英语，她还会说法语。

3. have a hard time doing sth

做某事很困难

- 例句：I have a hard time waking up early in winter.
冬天我很难早起。

4. astronomer /əˈstrɒnəmə(r)/

n. 天文学家

- 例句：The astronomer discovered a new galaxy.
这位天文学家发现了一个新星系。

5. asteroid /ˈæstərɔɪd/

n. 小行星

- 例句：Asteroid B-612 is the home of the little prince.
B612号小行星是小王子的故乡。

6. demonstration /ˌdemənˈstreɪʃn/

n. 论证，演示，示威

- 例句：The scientist gave a demonstration of his new invention.
科学家演示了他的新发明。

7. costume /ˈkɒstjuːm/

n. 服装，戏服

- 例句：She wore a traditional Chinese costume to the party.
她穿着传统中式服装参加派对。

8. reputation /ˌrepjuˈteɪʃn/

n. 名誉，名声

- 例句：This restaurant has a good reputation for its food.
这家餐厅因美食而名声很好。

9. dictator /dɪkˈteɪtə(r)/

n. 独裁者

- 例句：The dictator ruled the country with an iron hand.
这位独裁者铁腕统治国家。

10. subject /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/

n. 臣民，国民；主题

- 例句：The king’s subjects obeyed his every order.
国王的臣民服从他的每一道命令。

11. elegance /ˈelɪɡəns/

n. 优雅，高雅

- 例句：She moved with natural elegance.
她举止自然优雅。

四、易混淆词汇辨析

1. scarcely / hardly / barely

- scarcely：侧重“几乎不”，带文学色彩，常与  any  连用（scarcely any）
- hardly：最常用，侧重“几乎不可能”
- barely：侧重“刚好、仅仅”
例：I can scarcely see anything in the dark.（黑暗中我几乎看不见任何东西）

2. in addition to / besides / except

- in addition to：除了……之外（还有），包含后面的内容
- besides：和 in addition to 同义，更口语
- except：除了……之外（没有），排除后面的内容
例：In addition to apples, I bought oranges.（除了苹果，我还买了橙子）

3. costume / clothes / dress

- costume：特定场合/民族/时期的服装
- clothes：泛指衣服
- dress：特指连衣裙/礼服
例：She wore a national costume for the performance.（她穿着民族服装参加演出）

五、实战翻译练习（使用本课句型与表达）

1. 我由此得知了另一个重要事实：这座桥比我们想象的短不了多少。
2. 除了这些经典书籍，还有很多新书值得我们阅读。
3. 有些单词太难了，我很难记住它们的意思。
4. 我有充分理由相信他会信守承诺。
5. 一听到铃声，学生们就冲进了教室。
6. 他穿着一身优雅的西装，走进了会议室

你完成上面的翻译小练习了吗？欢迎在评论区晒出你的答案～

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