8.1 停顿（Pausing）

大家知道，我们说话和朗读时不是以单个的词，而是以意思连贯，结构紧凑的几个词来进行的。这一组组的词从意义上构成了意群(Sense Group)，从结构上构成了词组、从句、或句子，发音时形成了语调群。对那些一口气不能读完或需要停顿的句子，为了不使它们的意思支离破碎，以便更清楚、更有条理的表达思想，人们往往会在意群后作一短暂的停顿。停顿常用一单线“/”隔开而句子则用双线“//”分开，表示更长些的停顿。

练习一 按意群朗读下列句子，并注意停顿

1. A ready way to lose a friend is to lend him money.
2. A deaf husband and a blind wife are always a happy couple.
3. The news that a car accident occurred at the gate of the People's Park soon spread over the city .
4. This is one of the most difficult questions that do not need answering.
5. It has often been said by people involved in language teaching that a student who really wants to learn will succeed whatever the circumstances are under which he studies.
6. As time went on and with more experience， Dr. Lee came to understand the career better and learned to take sole responsibility for critical decisions without being afraid of making mistakes which was part of the career though he tried hard to avoid them.

8.2 节奏(Rhythm)

在开始本节内容之前，我们先来做个游戏。
试着边拍手边用英语从one数到thirty，我们便会发现，我们用来数每个数字的时间基本上是一样的，单音节词one占的时间是一拍，四个音节的twenty-seven占的时间同样是一拍。节奏就是指一句话中重读音节和非重读音节的排列程序。
正如我们前面所提到的，人们朗读英语时，并不会一词一词分开来读，而是一组一组来读的。每组之间总有一个重读音节，并伴随着若干个非重读音节形成一个节奏群。各个以重音为中心的节奏群的大体时间距离应该是相等的。

练习二 朗读下列短语和句子，并标出节奏模式。

1. Try hard.
Stand up.
next week
2. Read again.
Thanks a lot.
Never mind.
3. I'm sorry.
Of course not.
Just listen.
4. Glad to meet you.
Come and join us.
Do it quickly.
5. a waste of time
I want to know.
He knows it all.
6. Try it again.
Lend me a hand.
Look at the book.
7. Everything is clear.
How is Uncle Tom.
Do it yourself.
8. We'll finish it.
a lot of it
It's beautiful.
9. They ought to have it.
I've eaten them all.
10. He wanted me to go.
She doesn't know the way.
11. I'll borrow another one.
They've all gone on holiday.
12. I think he did it beautifully.
I told you not to say it to her.