2020年12月英语四级真题第3套 Part III Section C (1)

Although ebikes first appeared in the 90s, cheaper options and longer-lasting batteries are breathing new life into the concept.

让步类 Although Though While Even though Despite the fact that Notwithstanding Granted that

这个 sentence 通过 although 制造了一个 temporal contrast:电动自行车在 90s 就 appeared 了,但直到现在才 gain momentum。言外之意是:过去三十年 ebikes 的 market performance 一直 underwhelming,并非因为 concept 本身有问题,而是因为缺少 affordable options 和 reliable battery technology。现在这些 barriers 被 removed 了,所以市场才 finally take off。这对 main thesis 的 contribution 是 establish 一个 important context:当前的 growth 不是 temporary trend,而是 technological maturity 带来的 inevitable result,为后文讨论 battery improvement 和 cost reduction 做了 foreshadowing。

Most were sold in Europe and China, where the bikes already have exploded in popularity. Recently, the U.S. market has grown to 263,000 bikes, a 25% gain from the prior year.

对比类 Most Majority Primarily Mainly Largely Predominantly Chiefly

这个 passage 用 most 和 already exploded 来 describe 欧洲和中国的 market maturity,然后用 recently 和具体的 growth percentage 来 characterize 美国市场。言外之意是:美国市场 currently 远远 lag behind 欧洲和中国,263,000 bikes 相比 34 million 的 global sales 只是 tiny fraction。但 25% growth rate 这个 figure 暗示美国市场虽然 base 小但 momentum 强,正在 follow 欧洲和中国的 trajectory。这对 article's main point 的 significance 是 establish 美国市场的 enormous growth potential:既然其他 mature markets 已经 demonstrated ebikes 的 viability,美国的 late start 意味着有 huge room for expansion,这 justify 了文章 focus on U.S. market developments 的 rationale。

The industry is benefiting from improved batteries as suppliers over the years developed technology for laptops, smartphones and electric cars.

因果关系暗示类 as suppliers over the years developed technology for as with following amid in the wake of on the heels of

这句话通过 as 将 ebike industry 的 benefit 和 laptop/smartphone/electric car 的 battery development link 起来。言外之意是:电动自行车 industry 本身的 market size 和 R&D budget 太小,无法 independently drive battery innovation。It's the massive investments 来自 consumer electronics 和 automotive industries 才 pushed battery technology forward,而 ebike makers 只是 fortunate beneficiaries of these advancements。这个 implication 对 main thesis 的 relevance 在于 explain 为什么 cheaper options 和 longer-lasting batteries 现在才 available:不是因为 ebike industry 突然 innovative 了,而是因为其他 industries 的 maturity 终于 reached a point where technology 可以 trickle down 到 smaller applications。这也 suggest ebike market 的 growth 是 sustainable 的,因为 battery technology 会继续 improve driven by larger markets。

But lower cost options are emerging, too. This month, three U.S. bikeshare companies, Motivate, LimeBike and Spin, announced electric bicycles will be added to their fleets.

转折类 But However Yet Nevertheless Nonetheless On the other hand Conversely

这个 but 制造的 contrast 是 subtle 的:前面 paragraphs 讨论的是 improved batteries 和 established bike companies embracing ebikes,暗示的是相对 premium 的 market。But lower cost options emerging 加上 bikeshare companies 的 involvement,言外之意是 ebike market 不再局限于 purchase model 和 affluent consumers,而是通过 shared mobility 进入 mass accessibility phase。Three companies announced 这个 collective action 暗示这不是 isolated experiment,而是 industry-wide strategic shift。这对 article's thesis 的 contribution 是 demonstrate ebikes 正在 penetrate different market segments simultaneously:既有 high-end mountain bikes (后文提到),也有 $2 for 30 minutes 的 affordable bikeshare。这种 multi-tiered penetration strategy 是 market maturity 的 strong indicator,支持了文章关于 rapid growth 的 central argument。

It's exciting and joyful in a way that you don't get from a regular bike.

对比强调类 in a way that you don't get from in a way that to a degree that unlike in ways that to an extent that beyond what

Jump Bikes CEO 的这个 quote 通过 in a way that you don't get from a regular bike 制造了一个 qualitative distinction。言外之意是:电动自行车不是 make cycling easier 这么简单,而是 fundamentally transform the cycling experience,create 一种 regular bikes cannot provide 的 excitement and joy。Face lights up 这个 vivid imagery reinforce 了这种 transformative quality。这个 implication 对 article's main argument 非常 critical:它 explain 为什么 ebikes 能 attract a generation of people for whom suffering isn't their thing (后文提到)。如果 ebikes 只是 make cycling slightly easier,market potential 是 limited 的;但如果它 create 一种 qualitatively different experience,它就能 expand the entire cycling market,而不只是 capture existing cyclists。这个 psychological dimension 是 understanding ebike market growth 的 key,它 suggest demand 是 coming from new demographics,不是 just replacing traditional bikes。

Some retailers warned Cocalis that they'd drop the brand if it came out with an electric bike.

条件威胁类 Some retailers warned... they'd drop the brand if warned that they'd drop threatened to cut ties if said they would stop if indicated they'd discontinue if made clear they'd end if cautioned they would abandon if

零售商的 drop the brand threat 透露了 two years ago 整个 cycling industry 对 ebikes 的 deep-seated hostility。言外之意是:传统 bike dealers 认为 ebikes 会 dilute cycling's purity 或 appeal to 他们 disdain 的 customer segment,所以他们宁愿 lose a supplier 也要 resist 这个 category。这种 extreme stance 暗示 ebikes 当时被视为 threat to traditional cycling culture,而非 market opportunity。这个 anecdote 对 article's narrative arc 至关重要:它 establish 一个 before-and-after contrast。下一段的 now that sales are taking off, the vast majority... are asking when 制造了一个 dramatic reversal,showing market reality forced retailers 从 ideological opposition 到 pragmatic embrace。这个 180-degree shift 比任何 sales data 更有力地 demonstrate ebike market 的 unstoppable momentum:连最 resistant 的 traditional gatekeepers 都不得不 adapt。

There's tremendous opportunity to get a generation of people for whom suffering isn't their thing.

委婉表达类 for whom suffering isn't their thing for whom X isn't their thing who aren't necessarily who may not be inclined to for those less interested in people who prefer not to individuals not drawn to

Cocalis 说 for whom suffering isn't their thing 是一个 carefully worded statement。言外之意是:传统 cycling culture 把 physical suffering (climbing huge hills) 视为 part of the appeal,甚至是 badge of honor,但有一整个 generation 的 people 不 subscribe to 这种 value system。他们想要 enjoyable part without massive suffering,这在传统 cyclists 眼里可能是 cheating 或 not real cycling,但 Cocalis 通过 isn't their thing 这种 neutral phrasing 来 legitimize 这个 preference。这个 implication 对 article's core message 极其 important:它 explain 为什么 ebike market 的 growth potential 是 tremendous 的——不是因为 convert existing cyclists,而是因为 attract 完全 different demographic,这些人本来不会 cycle at all。Ebike 实际上是 expanding the total addressable market by lowering participation barrier,这比 substituting traditional bikes 的 market impact 大得多,是文章 emphasize rapid growth 的 fundamental reason。