constanc85

1. Roman numerals are believed to have originated from the tally sticks used by Italian shepherds as memory aid devices for recording numbers.
可以翻譯這句嗎?
據信羅馬數字係源自以前的義大利牧羊人計數的木條。
 
are believed to在這是什麼意思?有關這裡的用法?
are believed這是被動語態，原主詞不重要（大家都這麼認為），受詞比較重要，所以寫成被動語態後，略去by xxx這部分。原來的受詞成了句子形式上的主詞。
to have originated是to originate的完成式，用完成式表示其時間點在主要動詞belive之前。
The rain seems to have stopped.（stop較seem的時間點早，雨似乎己經
停了）
The rain seems to stop.（stop較seem的時間點晚，所以雨尚未停；兩似乎要停了） 

as和memory aid在這裡是什麼意思?
the tally sticks used by Italian shephers as memory aid devices for recording numbers的邏輯關係是A (that is) used by B as C=那個被B用來做為C的A=那個被義大利牧羊人用來幫助計數的木條 
 
整句的文法結構可以詳細的說明嗎?
Roman numerals are believed to have originated from the tally sticks
簡單句：主部＋述部
used by Italian shepherds as memory aid devices for recording numbers.
tally sticks的修飾語：分詞片語（形容詞性質） 

2. The road to { achieving ] my goal was long and difficult.
為什麼achieve要加ing?.
achieving是動名詞，當介系詞to的受詞。
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
The road to success is not always an easy one.
After weeks of illness he is finally on the road to recovery.
It's a crucial step on the road to democracy. 

3. He is my one of the stingiest people I have ever known.
ever在這裡是什麼意思?
題目中的my應刪去。
ever =  迄今為止
It was the only serious question he had ever asked me. 

4. Its clever design will impress urban artists and geeks alike.
alike在這裡是什麼意思?
alike =同樣地（副詞，修飾述部impress xxx的修飾語）
treat all men alike =一視同仁
young and old alike = 老少不拘；不分老少