Store managers are often the last to hearcomplaints, and often find out only when theirregular customers decide to frequent theircompetitors, according to a study jointlyconducted by Verde Group and WhartonSchool.

　　英語四級譯文:

　　由維德集團(tuán)和沃頓商學(xué)院共同進(jìn)行的一項(xiàng)研究表明，店面經(jīng)理通常是最后聽到投訴的人，而且通常只有在他們的老主顧決定時(shí)常光顧他們競爭對手的店鋪時(shí)才發(fā)覺。

　　四級詞匯講解:

　　本句的主干是managers are the last to hear complaints, and find out o and連接的是并列的謂語部分are often…和often find out...;when引導(dǎo)的是時(shí)間狀語從句;according to…為整句的狀語，其中jointly conducted by…為study的后置定語。

　　find out的意思是“獲知，發(fā)現(xiàn)”。如:

　　How did you find out what time the train leaves?你是怎么查出火車什么時(shí)候開車的?

　　frequent此處為動(dòng)詞，意思是“常去，常到”。如:

　　He used to frequent bars and clubs.他過去常去酒吧和俱樂部。

　　according to的意思是“根據(jù)，依照”。如:

　　Everything went according to plan.一切都按計(jì)劃進(jìn)行。

　　英語四級考點(diǎn)歸納:

　　last作名詞時(shí)，常見短語如下:

　　※ the last of意為“最后的，最后提到的”。如:

　　These are the last of our peaches.我們就剩下這些桃子了。

　　※ at (long) last意為“經(jīng)過努力、延誤等，終于”。如:

　　At last we are home!我們終于到家了!

　　※ to/till the last意為“堅(jiān)持到底，直到最后一刻”。如:

　　He died protesting his innocence to the last.他至死都堅(jiān)稱自己無罪。