【问】 下面两个句子，意思是否相同?

1. The meal is already on the table.

2. The meal is all ready on the table.

【答】 already是副词，作“已经”解。句(1)可译为：“饭菜已经摆在桌子上了。”而在all ready结构中ready是形容词，作“准备好”解，all是副词，作“完全”解(Her face was all covered withdust.——她满脸灰尘)。句(2)可译为：“饭菜已全部准备好，放在桌子上了。”类例：

I was all ready to leave for church. (《韦氏词典》，电子版)

我已经完全准备好去教堂。

请做下面的英语试题：

The workers were already to work long before he arrived. (攻读硕士学位研究生入学考试英语试题，81A)