Lesson 26
1.The country had been at war for many years and the temple was deserted and falling to pieces. 在此之前，这个国家多年战火纷纷，这座寺庙无人问津，房屋倒塌。1). be at war 处于战争状态；“at + 名词” 结构：be at school在上学; be at table 在用膳; be at play 在游玩; be at work 在工作; be at peace 处于和平状态; be at rest 在休息；2). desert vt. 抛弃；遗弃；n. 沙漠；甜点心；e.g. The streets were deserted. 街道上冷清无人。He deserted his wife and children and went abroad. 他置妻子儿女于不顾，出国去了。He had become so rude that his friends are deserting him. 他变得粗暴无理，所以朋友们都不和他来往了。He is a deserter. 他是个逃兵。a desert island无人岛; 3). fall to pieces 瓦解；粉碎； e.g. I dropped the plate and it fell to pieces. 盘子从我手上掉到地上，摔碎了。 常见的一些 “动词+ to pieces” 短语: come to pieces 拆开；散开；Does the machine come to pieces? 这机器拆得开吗？ break to pieces 打碎；The teapot fell and was broken to pieces. 茶壶掉下来，摔成了碎片。 go to pieces 身体垮了；不能再用了；Poor Paul! He’s gone to pieces. 可怜的保罗！他的身体彻底地垮了。After 100,000 miles the car went to pieces. 这辆小汽车行驶十万英里后不能再用了。 pull to pieces 批驳得不值一文；He pulled their argument to pieces. 他把他们的论点驳斥得体无完肤。 take to pieces 拆开；The watchmaker took the watch to pieces. 那个修表工把手表拆开了。
2.Plants were growing out of the roofs, and trees were growing in the countrysides. 屋顶上长满了草，院子里长出了树。grow out of 由……产生/造成；因年岁长大而嫌小；因年岁渐大而改掉；e.g. The mistakes grew out of the careless. 这些错误是由于粗心大意而造成的。He grew out of his clothes. 他长大了，那些衣服穿不上了。Children grew out of many bad habit. 孩子长大了，改掉了许多坏习惯。
3.Boards are laid down to protect the precious painted stones while the repair work is going on. 为了保护这些绘有花纹的珍贵石块，他们在石块上面铺了一层木板。lay down 放下；铺；规定；lay down one’s life 牺牲生命；lay down one’s arms 放下武器；e.g. The young mother laid the baby down gently on the bed. 那位年轻的母亲轻轻的将婴儿放在床上。He laid himself down in the grass and fell fast asleep. 他在草丛中卧下，酣然入睡了。These price limits are laid down by the government. 这些价格限额是政府规定的。The meeting will lay down the proper measures and methods. 会议将制定出适当的措施和方法。They chose to lay down their lives rather than lay down their arms.他们宁可牺牲自己的生命也绝不放下武器。
