一、The second area to watch is the euro zone. It is barely growing, if at all.

第二个值得关注的地区是欧元区。欧元区经济即使有增长，也几乎可忽略不计。

这个if at all是if (it is no growing) at all 的省略吗？为什么可以省略？

【答】if at all 是一种省略结构，是承前省略，一看就知道省略了什么。省略的部分为：it is growing. 前文已经有了，就不要再重复一次。补全为：It is barely growing, if it is growing at all.

为什么省略？道理很简单，就是为了“简练”，因为“简练”是语言的精髓，啰嗦是语言的大忌。再举个例子：

She sings as well as, if not better than, her sister.

她唱歌如果不比她姐姐好，至少也跟她姐姐一样。

如果不省略，则非常啰嗦，重复很多成分。即：

 She sings as well as her sister if she does not sing better than her sister.

★关于if at all 以及 if 其他形式的省略，我总结如下：

If条件句是省略最经常、省略形式最多的一种。常见的条件句省略形式，有：

if necessary, if possible, if true, if so, if not, if any, if anything, if anyone, if ever, if at all, if not better than 等。

由于if 表达“非肯定”概念，所以if 从句常含有“非肯定词语”，如 if any, if anything, if anyone, if ever, if at all, if not better than。

有的省略是it is/was，有的可以根据上文补全，有的则可能无法补全。举例如下：

I don't think he works much, if at all. 即使他真的做事，我想他也做得不多。

Flashbacks should be used sparingly, if at all. 如果确实要用，倒叙法也该用得节制。

I could come earlier, if (it is) necessary. 如果有必要我可以早点来。

If (it is) possible, I'll come to help. 如果可能的话，我会来帮忙的。

If (it is) true, this will cause us a lot of trouble. 如果是真的，这会给我们带来很多麻烦。

They think she may try to phone. If (it is) so, someone must stay here. 他们认为她可能来电话。要是这样的话，就得有人守在这儿。

I might see you tomorrow. If not, then it’ll be Saturday. 我可能明天去看你。如果不是明天，那就在周六。

There are few people nowadays, if any, who remember him. 现在能记得他的人，即使有也很少了。

I’m not angry. If anything, I feel a little surprised. 我没有生气。如果说我有什么反应的话，那就是我感到有些惊讶。

If anyone, he knows. 如果有人知道，那就是他了。

He seldom, if ever, goes to the movies by himself. 他不会，即使有也很少，单独去看电影的。

Will you be staying another night? If so, we can give you a better room. If not, could you be out of your room by 12: 00?

您要再住一晚吗? 如果是这样，我们可以给您提供条件更好一点的房间。如果不是，您能在12点前离开这房间吗?

Jim plays football as well as, if not better than, Mike. 吉姆踢足球如果不是比迈克踢得更好，至少也是一样好。

二、They gained twice as much fat as be expected, and it was all in their belly area.

as be expected中的是省略了主语fat还是as就是指代fat？

为什么要用原型be而非is？

【答】感谢曹老师指出了原文的错误。as be expected 的原文是 as would be expected。

They gained twice as much fat as would be expected —— 划线部分是比较状语从句。as 是连接代词，暗指“比较项” much fat；全句意思等于：

They gained twice as much fat as they would be expected to gain.

They gained twice as much fat as it would be expected that they gained.

（gain 的宾语是 much fat，必须省却，由 as 充当。）