IELTS 4.5 入门者（中高级） · Unit 1 · 文章精读
Penicillin: an accidental discovery that changed the world 青霉素：改变世界的偶然发现
原文精读 · 词汇词组 · 语法和从句分析
名词/冠词/代词/数字
动词
不定式
动名词
现在分词
形容词
副词
介词
连词
引导词 that
引导词 when/从句
一、原文精读
1Many people consider the discovery of penicillin to be a major turning point in the history of the world.
许多人认为青霉素的发现是世界历史上一个重大的转折点。
2Before penicillin, a simple cut or insect bite could lead to serious infection and even death.
在青霉素出现之前，一道小小的伤口或昆虫叮咬就可能引发严重感染，甚至死亡。
3Similarly, diseases caused by bacteria were likely to kill patients within weeks or even days.
同样，由细菌引起的疾病很可能在几周甚至几天内夺走病人的生命。
4Doctors tried their best, but their treatments often failed and many patients died.
医生们竭尽全力，但治疗常常失败，许多病人因此死去。
5It is hard to believe that this world-changing discovery happened by accident!
很难相信这个改变世界的发现是偶然发生的！
6In 1928, a scientist in London called Alexander Fleming came back from holiday to find his laboratory in a bit of a mess.
1928 年，伦敦一位名叫亚历山大·弗莱明的科学家度假归来，发现实验室有点凌乱。
7He noticed there was mould growing in some of the laboratory dishes left lying around.
他注意到一些乱放着的实验室培养皿里有霉菌在生长。
8As he sorted through them, he noticed something extraordinary.
当他整理这些培养皿时，他发现了不同寻常的东西。
9There were no bacteria in areas around the mould.
霉菌周围的区域没有细菌。
10Fleming found that a substance in the mould was killing the bacteria.
弗莱明发现霉菌中有一种物质正在杀死细菌。
11He called it “penicillin” and was excited about using it to fight infections in humans.
他称之为“青霉素”，并对用它来对抗人体感染感到兴奋。
12Sadly, Fleming did not have the money or equipment to develop his research further.
遗憾的是，弗莱明没有足够的资金或设备来进一步开展他的研究。
13It was only in the 1940s that scientists in the United States were able to produce penicillin in large quantities.
直到 20 世纪 40 年代，美国科学家才得以大量生产青霉素。
14Other antibiotics were also developed during this period.
在此期间，其他抗生素也被开发出来。
15Since then, antibiotics have been widely used to treat infections.
自那以后，抗生素被广泛用于治疗感染。
16However, in recent years, some people have become infected by bacteria that are able to survive antibiotic treatments.
然而，近年来一些人感染了能够对抗生素治疗产生耐受的细菌。
17Because of these “superbugs”, it has become clear that we cannot rely completely on antibiotics in the future.
因为有了这些“超级细菌”，我们清楚地认识到，未来不能完全依赖抗生素。
18Scientists are therefore working hard to find new ways to fight infections.
因此，科学家们正努力寻找对抗感染的新方法。
词汇
discovery n.发现
penicillin n.青霉素
turning point n.转折点
cut n.伤口
insect bite n.昆虫叮咬
infection n.感染
bacteria n.细菌
disease n.疾病
treatment n.治疗
patient n.病人
laboratory n.实验室
mould n.霉、霉菌
dish n.培养皿
substance n.物质
antibiotic n.抗生素
superbug n.超级细菌
equipment n.设备
accident n.意外、偶然
mess n.凌乱
extraordinary adj.非凡的、不寻常的
serious adj.严重的
likely adj.可能的
major adj.重大的
infected adj.感染的
world-changing adj.改变世界的
survive v.存活
rely v.依赖
produce v.生产
词组
a major turning point重大转折点
lead to导致
be likely to很可能
try one's best尽力
by accident偶然、意外
come back from holiday度假归来
a bit of a mess有点凌乱
left lying around到处乱放
sort through整理
be excited about对……兴奋
in large quantities大量地
since then自那以后
be widely used被广泛使用
in recent years近年来
because of因为
rely on依赖
in the future在未来
介词短语
of penicillin青霉素的
in the history of the world在世界历史上
Before penicillin在青霉素之前
by bacteria由细菌
within weeks or even days在几周甚至几天内
by accident偶然
in London在伦敦
from holiday从假期
in a bit of a mess有点凌乱
in some of the laboratory dishes在部分实验室培养皿里
around the mould在霉菌周围
in the mould在霉菌中
about using it关于使用它
in humans在人体上
in the 1940s在 20 世纪 40 年代
in the United States在美国
in large quantities大量
during this period在这一时期
in recent years近年来
in the future在未来
二、语法和从句分析
1. consider...to be 复合宾语：“consider the discovery to be a major turning point”中 consider sth. to be + 名词，意为“认为某物是……”。
2. 过去分词作后置定语：“diseases caused by bacteria”“a scientist called Alexander Fleming”中过去分词 caused / called 修饰前面的名词。
3. that 宾语从句：“It is hard to believe that…”“Fleming found that a substance…”中 that 引导宾语从句。
4. 现在分词作定语/宾补：“mould growing in some of the dishes”“was killing the bacteria”中 growing / killing 为现在分词。
5. 动名词作介词宾语：“excited about using it”中 using 作介词 about 的宾语。
6. 不定式作目的状语：“to fight infections / to produce penicillin / to treat infections / to find new ways”中不定式表示目的。
7. It was...that 强调句型：“It was only in the 1940s that scientists…”中强调时间状语“只有在 20 世纪 40 年代”。
8. 被动语态：“diseases caused by bacteria / antibiotics were developed / have been widely used”中为过去式或现在完成时被动语态。
9. that 定语从句：“bacteria that are able to survive antibiotic treatments”中 that 引导定语从句修饰 bacteria。
10. it 形式主语 + that 主语从句：“it has become clear that we cannot rely completely on antibiotics”中 it 是形式主语，真正主语是 that 从句。
11. because of 介词短语作原因状语：“Because of these superbugs, it has become clear…”中 because of 后接名词短语。
IELTS 4.5 入门者（中高级） · Unit 1 · 文章精读 · Penicillin