A priest in a small town does not return from a fishing trip. The police find his car stopped on the way to the lake. It is locked and undamaged. In it they find a half eaten sandwich, an open packet of chocolate biscuits, fishing equipment, a gun with one shot fired, and a copy of a magazine that contains dirty pictures. The minister is missing. (Section A, Unit 8)
这段文字叙述一件过去的事情，但其中每个句子中的动词都没有用过去时，而是用的一般现在时，主要目的是为了使叙述和描绘更加生动。
用一般现在时来陈述过去发生的事情，在英语中并不罕见。这种用法主要有下列几种情况：
1. 用于叙述往事，以使叙述或描绘更生动（如上例所示）。一般现在时的这种用法称为历史性现在时(historic present) 或戏剧性现在时 (dramatic present)。例如：
Last night I’m in the living room with my wife, when we hear a knock at the door.
At that moment, a tall man comes into my office, telling me my boss wants to see me right away.
An old woman opens her window and looks out of it.
The sun shines brightly.
There is a man in the garden in front of her house.
A small man goes to a cinema, buys a ticket and goes in.
2. 与表示传达信息的动词 (如say, tell, write, learn, hear等)连用，表示不确定的过去时间。例如：
The broadcast this morning says that it is going to rain this evening.
The teacher says that our homework is due today.
Robert tells me that he has passed the test.
Jane tells me that you are entering college next year.
He hears that Mary has just had a baby.
I’m sorry to hear that your mother has fallen ill.
He writes about the accident that happened here yesterday evening.
We learn by experience that these sorts of shoes are of low quality.
3. 讨论一个已不在世的科学家、作家或艺术家和他的业绩或作品。例如：
Lu Xun is the greatest among the modern Chinese writers.
Alfred Nobel is a man of peace.
The Curies discover two new elements that give off X-rays.
Shakespeare makes his characters (人物) live through their language.
请提示学生注意：上述句中的动词也可用一般过去时。但是，下面的句子中只能用过去时态：
Lu Xun was born in Shaoxing.
Brahms spent the last 35 years of his life in Vienna.
4. 用于新闻标题。例如：
Queen Mother dies at 101.
Craft (飞船) returns safely.
U. S. President George W. Bush leaves Beijing.
Tyson looks to Lewis.
一般现在时表示陈述过去发生的事情
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