第250句 大型水坝
The lesson from dams is that big is not always beautiful. It doesn't help that building a big, powerful dam has become a symbol of achievement for nations and people striving to assert themselves.
译文：大坝给人们的教训是：大的未必就美。这并没有阻止修建高大雄伟的大坝成为那些力争得到自我肯定的国家和人民的成就标志。
点睛：第一句是个复合句，其主语是lesson，that引导的是表语从句。第二句中it是句子的形式主语，真正的主语是that引导的从句。在that从句中，主语是动名词短语building a dam，而句末的分词短语striving to assert themselves作后置定语，修饰nations and people。
考点归纳：注意该句中与help相关的表达。
*it helps或it doesn't help是非常口语化的表达方式，前者意为“有所帮助，起到作用”，后者意为“帮不上忙，不起作用”。
It helps to remember that I can always look to your help.
一想到能指望你帮我，实在让我感到宽心。
It doesn't help to have assumed such an attitude.
抱着这种态度没有什么作用。
*与help相关的习惯用语还有：
1）be helped up with（口）为…所累
I couldn't run to catch the bus, as l was helped up with a lot of parcels.
我因为拿着许多大包没法跑去赶公共汽车。
2）cannot help but不能不，不得不
l cannot help but be sorry.
我不能不感到遗憾。
3）cannot help doing不禁，忍不住，不得不
l cannot help crying.
我忍不住哭了。
4）cannot help oneself doing情不自禁，不能自制
Hearing this story,l can't help myself weeping.
听到这个故事，我忍不住哭了。