Lesson 8 The best and the worst
最好的和最差的
Joe Sanders has the most beautiful garden in our town. Nearly everybody enters for 'The Nicest Garden Competition' each year, but Joe wins every time. Bill Frith's garden is larger than Joe's.
Bill works harder than Joe and grows more flowers and vegetables, but Joe's garden is more interesting. He has made neat paths and has built a wooden bridge over a pool. I like gardens too, but I do not like hard work. Every year I enter for the garden competition too, and I always win a little prize for the worst garden in the town!
New words and expressions 生词和短语
competition n. 比赛，竞赛neat adj. 整齐的，整洁的path n. 小路，小径
wooden adj. 木头的pool [pu:l] n. 水池
参考译文
乔.桑德斯拥有我们镇上最漂亮的花园。几乎每个人都参加每年举办的“最佳花园竞赛”，而每次都是乔获胜。比尔.弗里斯的花园比乔的花园大，他比乔也更为勤奋，种植的花卉和蔬菜也更多，但乔的花园更富有情趣。他修筑了一条条整洁的小路，并在一个池塘上架了一座小木桥。我也喜欢花园，但我却不愿意辛勤劳动。每年的花园竞赛我也参加，但总因是镇上最劣的花园而获得一个小奖！
1. Joe Sanders has the most beautiful garden in our town. 乔.桑德斯拥有我们镇上最漂亮的花园。
2. Nearly everybody enters for 'The Nicest Garden Competition' each year, but Joe wins every time. 几乎每个人都参加每年举办的“最佳花园竞赛”，而每次都是乔获胜。
(1) nearly和almost意义相似，表示“几乎”、“差不多”、“差点儿”的意思：
nearly adv. [ ˈniəli] almost; not quite; not completely几乎；差不多；将近
e.g. 我快准备好了。I’m nearly/almost ready.
我差点把他的名字忘了。I have nearly forgotten his name.
(forget : forgot[fəˈɡɔt];forgotten[fəˈɡɔtn])
他差点没赶上火车。He nearly missed the train.
她将近五十岁了。She is nearly fifty now.
IDM: not nearly much less than; not at all远非；绝不是
e.g. (1) 天气绝没有去年那么热。It’s not nearly as hot as last year.
(2) 现在根本没有足够的时间赶到那儿。There isn’t nearly enough time to get there now.
(2) each和every均可译为“每一个”，二者常常可以互相代替使用：
e.g. 每次我擦洗汽车，天总是下雨。Every/Each time I wash the car it rains.
但是each更强调个体。它常用以指一个确定的并通常是有限的数目：
e.g. 学校里的每个孩子都被询问过了。Each child in the school was questioned.
every却不那么强调个体，常用来指一个大的、不确定的数目：
e.g. 所有的/每个孩子都喜欢过圣诞节。Every child enjoys Christmas.
另外，each既可以作形容词又可以作代词，但every只能作形容词：
e.g. 他们每人都有一份。They each have a share.
我们每个人都有自己的工作要干。Each of us has his own work to do.
(share v. 1. ~(sth)(with sb.)共有；合用2. ~(sth)(with sb.)分享；共享n. [c] ~(of/in sth)(在若干人之间分得的) 一份2. [c]~(in sth)股份)
each/every
(1) each 用于单数名词前，后接单数动词。
e.g. 每个学生都得到一个自己的电子邮件地址。
Each student has been given his or her own e-mail address.
有时候his or her 听起来有点正式，故日渐普遍使用复数代词their
Each student has been given their own e-mail address.
(2) each用于复数主语后，谓语动词用复数。
e.g. 他们每个人都有自己的电子邮件地址。They each have their own e-mail address.
every后总是接单数动词。
e.g. 班上每个同学都应该能够通过这次考试。
Every student in the class is capable of passing the exam.
(3) each of、each one of与every one of后接复数名词或代词，但谓语动词通常用单数。
e.g. 每座房子都稍有不同。Each (one) of the houses was slightly different.
我买了一打鸡蛋，个个都是坏的。I bought a dozen eggs and every one of them was bad.
用复数动词则较口语化。
(3) enter
(1)vt., vi. (not usually used in the passive 通常不用于被动语态)(formal)to come or go into sth.
进来；进去；进入：
e.g. vt. 乔悄悄地走进了房间。Joe entered the room quietly.
vi.进入前要先敲门。Always knock on the door before you enter.
(2)vt. [no passive] to become a member of an institution; to start working in an organization or a
profession成为…的一员；加入；开始从事：
e.g. 考入学校/学院/大学to enter a school/college/university
进入政界；开始从事法律工作to enter politics/the legal profession
(3) vt. to begin or become involved in an activity, a situation, etc.开始参加；开始进入；着手进行
e.g. 建立关系to enter a relationship
我们已达成一项协议。We’ve entered into an agreement.
他很快便加入了他们的谈话。He soon entered their conversation.
有几家新公司已打入市场。Several new firms have now entered the market.
调查已进入新阶段。The investigation has entered a new phase.
(phase[feiz]n. a stage in a process of change or development 阶段；时期)
(4)~(for sth)/~sb.(in/for sth.) to put your name on the list for an exam, a race, a competition, etc.; to do this for sb. 报名参加;为…报名参加(各种竞赛，考试等活动)
e.g. 她报名参加数学竞赛。She entered (her name/ herself) for the mathematics competition.
他让儿子参加英语考试。He entered his son for the English examination.
(4) competition[ˌkɔmpəˈtiʃən]
1. [U](~ between / with sb.) /~(for sth.) 竞争,角逐
e.g. 我们在与其他四家公司竞争这项合同。
We are in competition with four other companies for the contract.
(contract [ˈkɑnˌtrækt] ~(with sb.)/(between A and B)/~(for sth/ to do sth) 合同；合约；契约
v.[kənˈtrækt]1. (使) 收缩，缩小2. ~sb. (to sth.) 与…订立合同(或契约)
e.g. 他与财务部门签订了合同。He has been contracted to the finance department. )
2. 比赛,竞赛[C]
