384. This is why the number of signals that an animal can make is very limited: the great tit (山雀) is a case in point; it has about twenty different calls, whereas in human language the number of possible utterances is limitless.
譯文
這就是動物所能發(fā)出的信號數(shù)量極為有限的原因:山雀就是個典型的例子,它有大概20種不同的叫聲,而在人類語言中可能做出的信號數(shù)量是無限的。
點睛
this is why...意為“這就是……的原因”。如:
This is why he didn't come. 這就是他沒來的原因。
a case in point意為“與所談的事有關的例證,事例”。如:
As a case in point, let's look at nineteenth-century France. 作為典型的例子,我們來看看19世紀的法國。
whereas此處意為“然而,而”。如:
She earns $10,000 a year whereas he gets at least $100,000. 她一年掙1萬美元,而他至少可以掙到10萬美元。
考點歸納
this is why...具體說明的是結果,而想要由結果導出原因,應該用the reason why...。如:
The reason why I'm late is that I missed the bus. 我遲到的原因是我沒趕上公共汽車。
The reason why she didn't come to school is because she got ill. 她沒來上學的原因是她生病了。