 放大圖片
■Bed and breakfast在英國很常見，意指提供住宿和簡單早餐的旅館。 網上圖片
齊學寫作技巧之二
在英文寫作世界中，除doubles外，還有一種技巧是大家必須懂得運用的─fixed pairs。中國人有「一不離二」的說法；英文同樣也有此說。由於懂得運用這種技巧的考生很少，大家不妨在考試（尤其公開試）中多應用，必定能讓考官留下好的印象。
約定俗成 如龍鳳配
通常，懂得運用fixed pairs的考生也有一定的語文和文化根基，因為很多fixed pairs都是約定俗成，就像中國人的「龍鳳配」（dragon and phoenix are a match）一樣。現舉一個簡單例子，大家就會明白筆者的意思。
bed and breakfast 英式餐宿
當聽到bed這個詞時，你們會配上哪個名詞呢？若懂得答breakfast，那麼便有很大機會去過英國，知道當地有很多 "bed and breakfast" 的旅館。那些旅館通常是由一些公公、婆婆經營，為旅客提供住宿和簡單的英式早餐。又或者看過一些關於英國文化的節目，才會知道這個fixed pairs。否則，絕對不會知道bed可以配breakfast的。
現在一起再看一看其他fixed pairs吧。
．Air and grace 裝腔作勢
．Stress and strain 壓力與疲勞
．Nip and tuck 不相伯仲
．Begging and pleading 苦苦哀求
．Aiding and abetting 協助教唆
．Refurbish and decorate 翻新裝修
．Ache and pain 全身痛楚
．Back and forth 來來回回
．Born and bred 土生土長
．Hustle and bustle 擁擠與繁忙
．Assault and battery 人身傷害
．Room and board 房間與膳食
．Rant and rave 大吵大鬧
．Law and order 法律與治安
．Wax and wane 興盛哀樂
試做右邊的填充練習，看自己懂得幾多吧。
Practice
1. Other than the usual _________ , my grandmother felt all right.
2. Jack is an actor with no _________ . On the contrary, he is easy to get along with.
3. David was arrested on a charge of _________ . He was deeply guilty after being arrested.
4. Jennifer is having a difficult time dealing with the _________ of her job.
5. It's only $250 a day for _________ . It's not too expensive for backpackers.
6. It was _____ up to 3-3 before we finally won.
7. John gets frustrated with his lover _________ all the time.
8. People's interest in TV shows has _________ .
Answers
1. aches and pains
2. airs and graces
3. assault and battery
4. stresses and strains
5. room and board
6. nip and tuck
7. ranting and raving
8. waxed and waned
■馬漪楠
作者簡介：馬漪楠，曾獲行政長官卓越教學獎（英國語文教育學習領域）（2009/2010），與岑皓軒合著暢銷書《Slang：屎爛英語1&2》。
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