例57 The 1990 Census revealed that a majority of immigrants from each of the fifteen most common countries of origin spoke English "well" or "very well" after ten years of residence.
【结构分析】这句话是典型的宾语从句,也就是The 1990 Census revealed that...,宾语从句的主语是a majority of immigrants,后面是介词短语做定语,也就是from each of the fifteen most common countries of origin,宾语从句的动词是spoke,宾语是English,后面是程度性副词,也就是"well" or "very well",后面是时间状语,也就是after ten years of residence。
【亮点回放】此句话的亮点在于宾语从句难度很大,里面有很长的介词短语,有时间状语。
【核心词汇】
reveal 揭露
a majority of immigrants 大多数移民
origin 原始
ten years of residence 十年定居
【参考译文】1990年的人口调查显示,“大多数来自15个移民大国的移民居住10年之后英语达到了好或者很好的水平。”