从小到大我们参加过无数次考试,有时要带上2B铅笔来涂答题卡。A pencil lead is made from graphite mixed with clay. Graphite is a naturally soft substance and clay is mixed with it to make it harder. This means a lead with a high graphite content is known as a soft lead and pencils with a soft lead will make a dark mark when used.石墨是一种天然的软物质,人们把它和粘土混合在一起使它变硬。这意味着石墨含量高的铅被称为软铅,软铅的铅笔在使用时会留下黑色的痕迹。Conversely, a lead with less graphite and a higher clay content is known as a hard lead and will make a lighter mark.相反,石墨少而黏土含量高的铅被称为硬铅,它留下的痕迹较浅。 其中,H是英文hard(硬)的首字母,用来表示铅笔芯的硬度。“H”前面的数字越大(如6H),就表示铅笔芯越硬,即笔芯中与石墨混合的黏土比例越大。 而B是英文black(黑)的首字母,表示铅笔芯石墨的含量,石墨含量越高,笔芯就越软。 一般而言,铅笔的硬度有20个等级,分别为9B~B、HB、F、H~9H。 2B铅笔,则属于软性铅笔,笔墨的深度适合考试涂机读卡、容易书写,所以考试一般就采用2B铅笔涂抹。 例: Everybody,time's up. Please put down your 2B pencil. 各位同学,时间到了,放下你的2B铅笔。 pen除了指“钢笔”,也可以作动词指“写”(to write something)。Xiaojiang penned a note of thanks to her best friend.另外,在美国俚语中,pen 还是penitentiary(监狱)的缩写,口语中经常被用来表达州或联邦的监狱;在英国,则多表示penalty(处罚),尤指足球的“点球”。He served nine years in the state pen. 所以,老外说话时提到了 pen,大家不要都理解为钢笔。 blue pencil不仅仅是字面上“蓝色铅笔”的意思。因为以前剧作家在删减或修改剧本、文案时,习惯用蓝色的铅笔,所以后来blue pencil就引申有“修改;删除;编辑”的意思。Xiaojiang had to accept the blue pencil of the censor.peel是“削皮,剥皮”的意思,但特指除去,剥去水果、蔬菜的皮。而我们常说的“削铅笔”其实是把铅笔芯变尖、变锋利,因此不能用 peel,而是要用sharpen [ˈʃɑːpən]。削铅笔要用的“卷笔刀”是 pencil sharpener。My pencil is blunt, I'll have to sharpen it.
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