8.When I boarded the train, I could not help noticing that a great many local people got on as well. At the time, this did not strike me as odd.

could not help doing...禁不住做...其后接名词,代词,或动名词

Ex

Many poeple can't help admiring the picture when they look at it.

strike sb as  给某人以......印象，使某人感到; as后面可以接分词、名词、形容词搭配连用。

Ex

Your plan struck me as rather impracticel.新概念英语官网

9. I reflected that there must be a great many people besides myself who wished to take advantage of this excellent service.

背诵句型

take advantage of 利用.在使用这个短语时, 在介词of 后可以是人,也可以是物,作宾语.但所表示的意义不同.

当以人为宾语时,往往含贬义,主要指利用某人的弱点而占某人的便宜. 因此常带表示"欺骗,捉弄"的含义.

Ex

Don't try to take advantage of me; I know fully well what you are up to.

当以物为宾语时,既可用与褒义,也可用与贬义;作褒义时,表示"利用"; 作贬义是,表示"乘机利用",往往指利用别人的不幸或不利等攻击或打击别人,以达到自己的目的.

Ex

I should like to take advantageof this oppertunity to express my thanks for your help.   (褒义)

He always thaks full advantage of the mistakes made by his revals.  (贬义)