The commonsense notion that the best icebox was one that prevented the ice from melting was of course mistaken, for it was the melting of the ice that performed the cooling.
主干：The notion was mistaken.
“最好的冰箱是那种能阻止冰融化的冰箱”
这种当时非常普遍的想法显然是错误的。
因为
正是冰的融化实现了冷却的目的。
for 做连词，表示因为。这个用法陈旧，不要用在作文中。
It was…that…强调句式。不熟悉的同学需要百度复习这个语法点。
Not until near the end of the nineteenth century did inventors achieve the delicate balance of insulation and circulation needed for an efficient icebox.
needed前面省略了that is
Not until…did sth happen…直到……时间某事才发生
直到接近十九世纪末期，发明者才实现了（有效的冰箱所需的）隔离和循环之间的微妙平衡。
ladybird老师解答vip学生
托福雅思精读/精听课报名：
联系QQ/微信 519626928