1....read of things that happened 5,000 years ago in the Near East ...
read of读到,获悉。在一定程度上可与read about互换使用,但read about通常指“读到/获悉有关情况”。此外,使用read about时read后可用all、much、a little等词说明“读到/获悉一般情况”,而使用read of时read后则不能使用类似的词。the Near East近东,指亚洲西南部和非洲东部地区。
2.The only way that they can preserve their history is to recount it as sagas—legends handed down from one generation of storytellers another.
to recount it as sagas将其作为英雄故事讲述。to recount...another为动词不定式短语,在句子中作表语,用来说明主语way(办法)的情况。应注意动词不定式结构作表语同be to do结构即在be动词后用一个动词不定式结构作复合谓语之间的不同:前者用来说明主语的内容,而后者则用来表示主语“计划或安排好做”之意,即句子主语即为该动词不定式的逻辑主语。比较:
We are to send more people to heop them with their work.
我们打算派更多的人帮助他们工作。(to send...动词由主语we做出)
Our task is to send more people to help them with their work.