Journalists came

from as far afield as China. 新闻记者有的来自遥远的中国。

要想从根本上弄清里面的结构，就应拆开分析。实际上就是 from 之后接了一个比较结构，使“遥远”的意义具体化。

from far afield =

from far away

1. afield 是古英语，等于away。

2. from 后接地点、方位副词作宾语是常态，例如：from here, from there, from home, from far

away

3. 把 far away 变成比较结构：as

far away as...

演绎如下：

1. They came from

far away.

2. They came from

as far away as China.

1. 他们从很远的地方来。

2. 他们来自遥远的中国。

下面，做两个类比，第3句用了比较从句。仔细体会：

1. They walked far.

2. They walked as

far as the railroad station.

3. They walked as

far as they could go.

1. 他们走得很远。

2. 他们一直走到火车站（那么远的地方）。

3. 他们尽可能地走得远。

1. The passenger

will return home soon.

2. The passenger

will return home as soon as tomorrow.

3. The passenger returned home as soon as it stopped raining.

1. 乘客很快就会回家。

2. 乘客最快明天就会回家。

3. 雨一停，乘客就回到了家。（到家和雨停的时间一样快。现如今，as soon as 已经由比较结构演变成时间连词了。）