1. Not only a city and republic, but it was also to become the capital of one of the largest empires in history.
此时的罗马不仅是一个城市和一个共和国，它也将成为历史上最大帝国之一的都城。
这是一个倒装句。当not only放于句首时，句子要倒装。如：
Not only did he speak more correctly but he also spoke more fluently.
他不仅讲的更准确，而且更流利了。
Not only has he bought a big house, but also he has saved a large sum of money.
他不仅买了一栋大房子，而且还有了一大笔钱。
以 never, little, seldom, not until, hardly 等词引起的句子也常用倒装语序。
如：Never before has our country been as united as it is today.
今天我们的国家空前团结。
Little did we think that he was such a clever boy.
Hardly had he finished when someone rose to refuse his views.
他还没有完全说完， 就有人起来驳斥他的观点。
2．What is interesting is that the other largest city is Rome.
有趣的是，当时另外一座最大的城市就是罗马。
这是一个主从复合句，其中包括两个名词性从句。What is interesting 是主语从句，that…Rome 是表语从句。如：
What he said was what I wanted to say.
3． both China and Rome at this time, poetry, literature and philosophy were being developed.
此时无论在中国还是在罗马，诗歌，文学和哲学都开始兴起了。
Were being developed 是过去进行时的被动语态，由was/were +being+过去分词构成：
如：The case was been investigated.
这案件那时正在调查之中。
The road were being widened.
路那时正在加宽。
The article was been written at that time.
那时这篇文章正在写作之中。
4． As early as 200 BC, the Silk Road, which was the route for trade between the East and West, was in use.公元前200 年，作为东西方贸易通道的丝绸之路就开始使用了。
1）As early as …表示“早在…”
As early as 1850, the national unions of Great Britain were competing for control of the new labour movement.
早在1850年，英国全国工会就在竞争控制新的劳动运动。
The technique of printing was known to the Chinese as early as the 9th century.
早在9 世纪， 中国人就了解了印刷术。
As early as his second film, Chaplin had developed his own feature of acting.
早在卓别林演第二部电影时，他就已经形成了他自己的表演风格。
2）句中which was…and the west 是一个非限制性定语从句，修饰the Silk Road, 对the Silk Road 作进一步的说明。
3）in use 是一个介词短语，表示“在使用中”，其中use作名词。该短语可以作多种成分。 如： Old English is not in use today.(作表语)
They found the bridge still in use.（作宾语补足语）
This is a language not in use today.（作后置定语）
5． Chinese people managed to travel further and further along the Silk Road,introducing silk, China, tea, etc. to other country.中国人沿丝绸之路越走越远，将丝绸，瓷器和茶叶等带到其他国家。
1）”manage to do” 表示“设法成功干某事”
2）”further and further”使用的结构是：形容词/副词的级+and +形容词/副词的级.表示“越来越…”如：It gets colder and colder.
As globalization is approaching, English is becoming more and more important.
3) introducing …to other countries 是一个v-ing短语，作伴随状语，表示在travel 的同时， 也在introduce…。“Introduce… to…”表示“把…引入到…….,把…带到…, 把…介绍给…”
如：Each year they will introduce young players to NBA.
每年他们都引进年轻球员去NBA打球。
6. in return for…表示“作为……..的回报，以答谢…….”
如：I’m sending him a present in return for all his help.to us.
我送他一件礼物以答谢他对我们的帮助。
I wish I could do something in return for the kindness I have received from him.
我希望我能做点什么来答谢我从他哪儿得到的帮助。
7.confusion n.困惑，分辨不清；混乱状态
To avoid confusion, the teams are in different colours.
为了避免分辨不清，各人穿了不同颜色的衣服。
Confusion between Lucy and Lily is quite common, for they look alike.
把露西和莉莉相混淆是很正常的事，因为她俩长的太像了。
The party is in complete confusion after its election defeat.
这个政党在选举失败之后陷入一片混乱状态。
8．Influence vt. Have an effect on 影响，对…起作用
e.g. Stick to your opinion; don’t let me influence your decision.
坚持你的观点，不要让我影响你作出决定。
Her handwriting has obviously been influenced by her father.
她的字体很显然受了她爸爸的影响。
What were the factors that influenced you to take the job?
是什么因素影响你接受了这份工作。
n. [U]the power to have an effect on 影响力，作用
Listening to music had a great influence on his music.
听音乐对她产生了巨大的影响。
[C]a person or thing that has this power 有影响的人或事。
Rock music and blues are the main influences on hs music.
摇滚乐和布鲁斯对他的音乐有着主要的影响。