英语四级词汇：高分必备关键句（31）

　　211.About six years ago I was eating lunch in arestaurant in New York City vrrhen a womanand a young boy sat down at the next table;Icouldn't help overhearing parts of theirconversation.

　　英语四级译文:

　　大概六年前我在纽约市的一家餐厅正吃着饭，一位妇女和一个小男孩在邻桌坐了下来，于是我无意中听到了他们的对话。

　　四级词汇讲解:

　　本句包含两个分句。前一个分句的主干是I was eating lunch，其前的About six years ago是介词短语作状语，其后的when a woman and a young boy sat down at the next table为状语从句。后一个分句的主干是I couldn't help overhearing parts。

　　couldn't help doing是个固定表达，意为“禁不住做某事，情不自禁地做某事”。如:

　　She couldn't help smiling.她禁不住笑了起来。

　　overhear意为“无意中听到，偷听到”。如:

　　I happened to overhear what he said.我碰巧听到他说的话。