2016年12月英语四级真题第2套 Part III Section C (1)

commodities which are nowhere necessaries of life, which have become objects of almost universal consumption, and which are, therefore, extremely popular subjects of taxation

否定词强化类 nowhere necessaries of life nowhere by no means hardly scarcely never not at all

Adam Smith 的这句引言通过 nowhere necessaries 这个 strong negation 来暗示:既然 sugar、alcohol、tobacco 都不是 life essentials,但却实现了 almost universal consumption,那么政府对其 levy tax 就有了 moral justification。这个 implication 为全文主旨奠定了基础——如果历史上 alcohol 和 tobacco 可以被 taxed,那么 sugar 作为同类 non-essential commodity 也应该可以。这是在用 historical precedent 来为 sugar tax 的 legitimacy 做 argument,属于典型的 analogical reasoning 的 opening move。

governments around the world have begun to toy with the idea of taxing sugar

委婉表达类 have begun to toy with toy with flirt with dabble in experiment with explore the possibility of consider

Toy with the idea 这个 expression 传递出的 implication 是:虽然 sugar tax 在全球范围内已经 gain momentum,但各国政府的 attitude 仍然是 cautious and experimental,并没有 fully commit 到这个 policy。这为后文 第3段 提到的 mixed results 和 debate 埋下伏笔,暗示 sugar tax 的 effectiveness 还有待 verification。这个 implication 对主旨的作用是:sugar tax 虽然是个 emerging trend,但远未成为 established solution,这就为最后 第7段 的 multi-sided approach 和 no silver bullet 的 conclusion 做了 logical preparation。

A preliminary review of Mexico's taxation found a fall in purchases... By contrast, a Danish tax on foods high in fats was abandoned a year after its introduction

对比类 By contrast by contrast in contrast on the other hand conversely whereas while

这个 by contrast structure 的 implication 非常明显:sugar tax 的 effectiveness 远非 conclusive,存在 significant uncertainty。Mexico 的 case 用了 preliminary 这个 hedge,而 Denmark 的 case 则是 outright failure,这种 one tentative success vs. one clear failure 的 contrast 暗示:sugar tax 作为 single solution 是 problematic 的。这个 implication 直接支撑了文章主旨中的 mixed results 部分,并为 第7段 的 no silver bullet conclusion 提供了 empirical foundation。作者通过这个 contrast 在 implying:我们需要 more nuanced approach 而不是 simple taxation。

The food industry has, in general, been firmly opposed to such direct government action. Nonetheless, the renewed focus on waistlines means that industry groups are under pressure to demonstrate their products are healthy

让步转折类 Nonetheless nonetheless nevertheless even so despite this in spite of this all the same

这个 nonetheless 传递的 implication 是:食品行业虽然 ideologically opposed to government intervention,但在 public health crisis 和 consumer awareness 的 mounting pressure 下,不得不 take action 来 demonstrate social responsibility。Under pressure 这个 phrase 暗示这是 reactive 而非 proactive behavior,是 forced compliance 而非 genuine commitment。这个 implication 对主旨的作用是:说明 industry self-regulation 虽然在发生,但动力来自 external pressure 而非 internal initiative,这就暗示 relying solely on industry voluntarism 是 insufficient 的,需要 government intervention 和 industry action 的 combination,为 multi-sided approach 的 conclusion 提供了 another piece of evidence。

Over the past three decades, the industry has made some efforts to improve the quality of its offerings

模糊限制语类 some efforts some a few certain limited modest to some extent

Some efforts 配合 three decades 这个 time frame,传递的 implication 是:食品行业虽然有所 action,但 progress 远远不够,甚至可以说是 sluggish and reluctant。这种 faint praise 实际上是 implicit criticism,暗示 industry self-regulation 的 pace 和 scale 都 inadequate to address the obesity crisis。这个 implication 为后文 第6段 提到的 more ambitious undertaking 做了 contrast setup,并且再次支撑主旨中 reformulation 需要配合 other measures 的观点——如果 industry voluntary efforts 足够,就不需要 multi-pronged approach 了。

More recently, however, some companies have been investing money in a more ambitious undertaking: learning how to adjust the fundamental make-up of the food they sell

时间转折类 More recently, however more recently lately in recent years of late nowadays currently

More recently however 引出的这个 shift 传递的 implication 是:食品行业终于开始 engage in more substantial reform,从简单的 reduce amount 升级到 adjust fundamental make-up,这是 approach sophistication 的体现。More ambitious undertaking 暗示前面的 efforts 其实不够 ambitious,现在才进入 serious territory。这个 implication 对主旨的作用是:展示 reformulation 作为 solution 的一部分正在 evolve and improve,但同时通过 more recently 的 timing 也暗示这种 fundamental approach 还很 new,还需要 time and validation,因此不能作为 sole solution,必须和 taxation 等其他 measures 配合,呼应最后的 multi-sided approach 结论。

To deal with obesity, a mixture of approaches—including reformulation, taxation and adjusting portion sizes—will be needed. There is no silver bullet.

否定隐喻类 There is no silver bullet no silver bullet no panacea no magic solution no quick fix no one-size-fits-all no simple answer

No silver bullet 这个 metaphor 传递的 implication 是:任何 single approach——无论是 taxation、reformulation 还是 portion control——都 cannot solve obesity crisis on its own,必须采用 integrated strategy。这是对全文的 ultimate synthesis:前文分别讨论了 taxation 的 mixed results、industry reformulation 的 slow progress,最后用这个 metaphor 来 drive home the point that complexity requires complexity in response。这个 implication 直接 encapsulates 文章主旨中 comprehensive approach combining multiple measures 的核心论点,是作者 take-home message 的 most concentrated expression,警告 policy makers 和 public 不要 fall into the trap of seeking simple solution to complex problem。