SectionA
Marriage Across Nations
Detailed study of the Text
1.…we had experienced the usual ups and downs of a couple learning to
know ,understand ,and respect each other. (Para.1)
| Meaning:…like any other couples who were learning to know ,understand ,and respect each other ,we had had both happy and unhappy times. |
Life is full of ups and downs.人生充满了欢乐与痛苦。
He has seen the ups and downs in the relations between the two countries.他目睹了两国关
系的起起落落。
2.But through it all we had honestly confronted the weeknesses and strengths of each other’s
characters. (Para.1)
| Meaning:But in experiencing all the ups and downs we had honestly faced and tried to deal with the weak points and strong points of each other’s characters. |
the weaknesses and strengths of her theroy她的理论的不足和长处
It’s important to know your own weaknesses and strengths.了解自己的缺点和优点很重
要。
3.Our racial and cultural differences enhanced our relationship and taught us a great deal about
tolerance ,compromise ,and being open with each other. (Para.2)
| Meaning:Our racial and cultural differences helped to better our relationship and taught us a great deal about how one recognizes and respects the beliefs or practices of the other ,how to settle differences between us by giving up certain demands ,and being honest with each other. |
than what they wanted at first
After several hours of discussion ,they managed to reach a compromise.经过了几个小时的讨论，他们达成了妥协。
Both sides are determined to get what they want ,and there seems to be no possibility of
compromise.双方都决心要得到各自所要求的东西，似乎没有妥协的可能性。
v.reach an agreement by making a compromise
We finally compromised on a price.我们最终达成妥协，商定了一个价格。
The government has compromised with other party leaders over the data of the next general election.与其他党派领导人就下届大选日期达成了妥协。
★open:a.willing to talk honestly;frank
Let’s be open with each other.让我们彼此开诚布公吧。
He is a very frank and open person.他是个很坦诚的人。
作为朋友，我们要开诚布公，而不是相互猜疑。
rather than/feel doubtful about
As friends ,we should be open with each other rather than feel doubtful about one another.
4.Gail sometimes wondered why I and other blacks were so involved with the racial issue…
(Para.2)
| Meaning:Gail sometimes did not understand why I and other blacks gave so much time ,energy and attention to the racial issue… |
5.…she seemed to forget the subtler forms of racial hatred(种族憎恨) in American society. (Para.2)
| Meaning: …she seemed to forget the forms of American racial hatred that are not so obvious. |
There are subtle differences in meaning between these two words.这两个词的词义有细微差
别。
Prejudice can take subtler forms than this.偏见可能表现得比这更隐晦。
6.Gail and I had no illusions about what the future held for us as a married ,mixed couple in American. (Para.3)
| Meaning:Gail and I did not have unrealistic ideas about what the future would offer us in American as a married couple,one being black and the other being white. |
I have no illusion about his honesty.我对他的诚实不抱幻想。
The sun appears to go round the Earth ,but that is only an illusion.太阳看似绕着地球旋转，
然而那只是一种错觉。
对……(不)抱幻想to have/harbor (no) illusions about
男孩尽管意识到女孩不喜欢他，但仍对他们的爱情前景抱有幻想。
aware of/one’s dislike for sb/the prospects of one’s love
The boy ,though aware of the girl’s dislike for him ,harbored illusions about the prospects of
their love.
对某人/事意味着to hold…for sb./sth.
未来对一个人而言意味着什么，这很大程度上取决于他今天所做的努力。
make effort/rest most with sth.
What the future holds for one will rest most with what effort one makes today.
7.…our mutual trust and respect. (Para.3)
★mutual:a.
1)felt or done by people toward each other
give mutual support and encouragement相互支持和鼓励
Give mutual goodwill /goodwish,it is possible to achieve a settlement.双方如果都有良好的
愿望，就有可能达成和解。
2)shared by two or more people
mutual interests共同的利益
They met each other through a mutual friend.他们是通过一位共同的朋友而认识的。
8.…thirty years later that they were incompatible…(Para.4)
★compatible:a.
1)(of people ,ideas ,differences ,etc.)suitable;able to exist together
I have never seen two people who were more compatible.我从未见过两个人能如此般配。
2)(of equipment)able to be used together
I would like to purchase购买 a printer that is compatible with my computer.我想买个能和我
的计算机兼容的打印机。
★incompatible:a.not able to live or work with someone or something
After a week together on vocation it was clear that they were incompatible.一起度过了一星
期的假期后，很清楚，他们两人无法相处。
Water is incompatible with fire.水火不相容。
他人因为错误原因做了某事，结果过段时间后才发觉，……某人避免重蹈覆辙(Para.4/1st sentence)
One avoids the mistake made by the other of doing sth for the wrong reasons ,and only finding out
some time later that.
发达国家由于错误的原因一味地追求经济增长，结果多年后才发觉得不偿失，中国应设法避
免重蹈覆辙。
simply seek economic growth/one’s gain/one’s loss/be smaller than/manage to
China should manage to avoid the mistake made by developed countries of simply seeking
economic growth for the wrong reasons ,and only finding out many years later that their gain was
smaller than their loss.
9.…they overlooked serious personality conflicts in the expectation that marriage was an
automatic way to make everything work out right. (Para.4)
| Meaning: …they ignored serious personality conflicts.They hoped that everything would go right automatically when they lived their married life. |
1)fail to see or notice
You have overlooked several mistakes in this work.你忽略了这项工作中的几个错误。
The secretary is very careful and never overlooks any little points.秘书是个很细心的人，从
不放过任何细小问题。
2)have a view of a place from above
I rented a room overlooking the Central Park .我租了一间能俯视公园的房子。
★work out:
1)develop in a certain way;turn out
How the situation will eventually work out only time can tell .情况最后将会是怎样，只有
以后才知道。
Things will work out well if you will just be patient.如果你耐心点，事情会有个的结
果的。
2)find by reasoning
Have you worked out the answer?你已经得出答案了吗？
The police couldn’t work out how the thieves had entered the building.搞不懂窃贼是
怎么进入那幢大楼的。
10.That point was emphasized by the fact that Gail’s parents ,after thirty-five years of
marriage ,were going through a bitter and painful divorce…(Para.4)
| Meaning:That point was made particularly true when Gail’s parents ,after thirty-five years of marriage ,were experiencing a bitter and painful divorce… |
go through hardships历尽千辛万苦
The country has gone through too many wars.这个国家经历了太多的战争
We went through difficulities while working on this project.实施这个项目时，我们遇到了
很多困难。
11.…for a time had a negative effect on our budding relationship. (Para.4)
| Meaning: …for some time her parent’s divorce had had a bad effect on our relationship that had just begun to develop. |
The professor stayed in London for a time.那位教授曾一度住在伦敦。
For a time the police thought she might be gulity.警方曾一度认为她可能有罪。
12.When Gail spread the news of our wedding plans to her family she met with some resistance. (Para.5)
| Meaning:When Gail told her family of our wedding plans ,her family express their opposition. |
I met with some difficulties in surfing the net.网上冲浪时，我遇到一些困难。
→In addition ,if something such as an idea ,plan ,or new book meets with or is met with a particular reaction ,it gets that reaction from people.For example:
His speech was met with a cold acceptance.他的演讲受到冷遇。
13.Her mother ,Deborah ,all along had been supportive of our relationship…(Para.5)
| Meaning:Her mother ,Deborah ,had been supporting our relationship from the beginning… |
I suspected all along that she was lying.我一直怀疑她在撒谎。
I knew the truth all along.我始终是清楚实情的。
★supportive:a.encouraging and helpful
My boss is very supportive when I need help.我需要帮助时，老板很支持。
Mary was so supportive of me when I was fired last year.我去年被解雇时，玛丽给了我极大
的支持。
be supportive of:支持，赞同
她虽然赞同儿子的志向，但对其做法看不惯。
sb’s ambition/sb’s way of doing things/frown upon
14.Instead of congratulations upon hearing our news ,Deborah counseled Gail to be really sure she was doing the right thing. (Para.5)
| Meaning:When Deborah heard our plans ,she did not express her congratulations ,but advised Gail to be really sure that she did want to marry me. |
offer one’s congratulations on her success对她的成功表示祝贺
Congratulations on your marriage!恭喜你们喜结良缘！
★upon:prep.immediately after;directly after
Upon hearing the news ,she burst into tears.一听到这个消息，她就放声大哭起来。
He got a good job upon graduation.他一毕业就找到了一份好工作。
★counsel:vt.give advice to someone
She counseled them not to accept his explanation.她建议他们不要接受他的解释。
She counseled a lot of couples on their marriage problems.他为许多夫妇就婚姻问题提供咨
询服务。
……的时候，某人并不……而是……
Instead of (doing) sth.,upon doing…,sb.do sth.else… (Para.5/last sentence)
听到别人说闲话，他并没有大发雷霆，而是一笑置之。
at one’s gossip/blow one’s top/with a laugh/shrug sth.off
15.Gail subsequently told me she had asked her mother. (Para.6)
★subsequent:a.happening after something else;later
Subsequent investigations did not uncover any new evidence.随后的调查没发现任何新证
据。
Many of his theories were disproved by subsequent events.他的许多理论被随后发生的事
件推翻了。
★subsequently:ad.afterwards
He escaped from prison but was subsequently recaptured capture抓捕.他从监狱中逃了出来，但
后来又被抓了回去。
Subsequently ,they heard that he had obtained Canadian citizenship.后来，他们听说他获得
了加拿大公民身份。
→Notice that this word is not to be confused with “consequently” ,which means “as a result ,therefore”.Compare:
The old school was sold and subsequently turned into a hospital.这所就学校被出售后改建
成了医院。
The bank refused to help the company;consequently ,it went out of business.银行拒绝帮助
这家公司，结果公司倒闭了。
16.To start with I must admit that at first I harbored reservations about a mixed
marriage ,prejudices you might even call them. (Para.7)
| Meaning:First I must admit that I had doubts whether a marriage between people of different races would work out well;you may even call my doubts prejudices. |
1)[C,U]a feeling of doubt about whether something is good or right
I have some reservations about his story.我不大相信他说的话。
The shopkeeper had a few reservations about hiring a former convict .店主对聘用刑满释放
人员有些疑虑。
2)[C]an order of a room ,seat ,etc.in advance
They made a reservation for lunch at a famous restaurant.他们在一家有名的餐馆预定了午
餐。
Passengers need not make advance reservations for tickets.乘客不必事先定票。
→Notice that in the sentence “prejudices you might even call them” is apposition of
“reservations about a mixed marriage”.The two actually refer to the same thing.Looking at
more examples:
This is Mr. Black ,director of our hospital.这是布莱克先生，我们医院的院长。
George Bush ,the present American President ,was once governor of the state of Texas.我们
现任总统乔治·布什曾是德克萨斯州州长。
to harbor reservations about sth./sb.对……持保留意见
他服从多数人的意见，但对此决定仍持保留意见。
Submit to the majority,
have sb./sth. for…有某人/物作
总的来说，那些喜欢那父母当靠山的人往往表现出强烈的优越感。
in general/have sb. for a backer/show a strong sense of superiority
In general ,those who love having their parents for backers tend to show a strong sense of
superiorty.
17.So ,color has nothing to do with it . (Para.7)
| Meaning:Therefore race is not the reason for my feelings. |
Ignore things that have nothing to do with the task at hand.对与手头上的任务不相干的事可
以不与理会。
What he did had nothing to do with me.他的所作所为与我无关。
→one’s biggest worry is that the other may do sth.(else) for the same wrong reason that one did
sth.某人最大的担心是另一人也许跟自己当初做某事一样，为了错误的原因而做某事(另一
事)
我最大的担心，是我弟弟也会像我当初干蠢事一样，为了错误的原因而做傻事。
do sth. stupid/do a dumb thing
My biggest worry is that my brother may do a dumb thing for the same wrong reasons that I ever did something stupid.
18.Yes ,my friends talk . (Para.7)
→Here “talk” means “talk about other people’s private lives”.It is usually used to indicate that people think you are doing something bad or wrong.One more example:
Don’t park your car outside my house;you know how peolple talk!别把你的车停在我的房子外边，你想想人家会怎么说！
19.When we met I saw him as my beloved ,intelligent ,charming ,and caring. (Para.7)
| Meaning:When we met I regarded him as the one I loved:He was smart ,attractive,and caring. |
I see it as my duty to find him a job.我把帮他找份工作看作份内的事。
Many girls have normal body weight ,but they see themselves as being fat.许多女孩体重正
常，但是她们认为自己很胖。
Women are sometimes seen as less effective managers.有时候人们认为女性管理能力稍差。
20.…that ours was an ideal marriage with every indication that it would last forever. (Para.7)
| Meaning: …that our marriage was perfect and that it showed all the signs of a marriage that would last forever. |
There is every chance that she will succeed.她完全有机会取得成功。
There is every reason to believe that he is telling the truth .有充分理由相信他说的是真话。
The airline takes every possible measure to ensure the safety of its passengers.航空公司采取一切
措施保障旅客安全。
★indication: n.[C,U]a sign that shows something
There are various indications that another financial crisis is coming soon.种种迹象表明新的
金融危机即将爆发。
There are some indications that interest rates will soon fall.某些迹象表明不久利率将下降。
21.We’ve been through so much together. (Para.8)
| Meaning:We’ve experienced so many things together. |
★at one’s worst:showing the most unpleasant side of someone
He is at his worst today.他今天状态很差。
If this is him at his best ,I’m curious to see him at his worst .如果这是他最好的一面，我很
好奇他最差的一面回事什么样的。
23.I’m sure that time will only confirm what we feel deeply about each other. (Para.8)
| Meaning:I’m sure time will prove how much we love each other. |
This confirms that stronger safety measures are needed.这证实了有必要采取更加严密的安
全措施。
X-rays have confirmed that he has not broken any bones.X光检查证明他没有任何骨折。
v.make a plan or meeting certain ,often by telephone or writing
I’d like to make a reservation now ,and I will call later to confirm.我想先预定一下，回头会
打电话确认。
The date of the meeting is still to be confirmed.会议的日期还有待确认。
24.Gail’s father…approached our decision with a father-knows-best知女莫若父 attitude. (Para.10)
| Meaning:Gail’s father…dealt with our decision in a way that seemed he ,as the girl’s father ,was the most experienced in finding out the truth. |
There are several ways of approaching this problem.解决这个问题有几种办法。
The bank has approached the issue in a practical way.银行方面以务实的方式解决了这个问
题。
25.Why the haste? (Para.10)
| Meaning:Why do you want to get married in such a hurry? |
Then why the rush? (Para.12)
In why-questions we often have ellipsis(省略).More examples:
Why bother waiting any longer?(=Why should we bother waiting any longer?)为什么我们还得费
工夫等下去呢？
Why not?为什么不呢？
Why not make one for yourself instead of buying one?(=Why don’t you make one for yourself
instead of buying one?)为什么不自己做一个而要去买呢？
26.And when he learned of my problems…(Para.10)
★learn of:come to know or realize something
I learned of the accident only yesterday.我是昨天才听说这次事故的。
27.…he immediately suspected that…(Para.10)
★suspect:vt.think that something is probably true
He seems poor ,but I suspect that he has quite a lot of money.他看上去很穷，可是我怀疑他
很有钱。
We suspect they’ll be a little late.我们猜想他们会晚来一会儿。
n.[C]a person who is thought to be gulity of a crime
Two suspects in connection with the terrorist attack were caught by the police. 两名与恐怖袭击有牵连的嫌疑犯被警方逮捕。
28.…that’s harsh…(Para.11)
| Meaning: …it is unkind of you to think so… |
| Meaning: …I should think twice if I want to cancel our marriage plans. |
In case you need something ,please don’t hesitate to ask me.如果你需要什么东西，请尽管对
我说。
Though she hesitated for a moment ,she finally went in and asked to see a dress that was in
the window.尽管她迟疑了片刻，但最终还是进了商店，并且要求给她拿一件陈列在橱窗
里的衣服看看。
★cancel:vt.say that something already planned and decided upon will not be done or take place
The foreign minister yesterday canceled his visit to Washington.这位外长昨天取消了他对
华盛顿的访问。
She canceled her order.她取消了订货。
sb. makes it clear when…that…在…时，某人明确表示…
谈到大学生活时，他明确表示：学习上没有目标，就如同开车没有方向盘。
come to something/have no compass in study/drive with no steering wheel.
He made it clear when it came to college life that have no compass in study is like driving with no steering wheel.
30.Her father procceeded to quote statistics…(Para.14)
| Meaning:After that ,her father continued trying to persuade her to change her mind by using statistics to support his point… |
He said something else ,and proceeded to tell us all his troubles.他说了些其他事情，接着就
把所有烦恼全告诉了我们。
The reporters proceeded to ask more questions.记者们接着提了更多问题。
31.But you have to be realistic. (Para.17)
| Meaning:But you have to consider this matter in a practical way. |
It’s only realistic to admit that something ,sometimes ,will go wrong.承认有时会出差错是一
种务实的态度。
She gave us a realistic estimate of our chances.她对我们成功的可能性做了一个现实的估
计
32.If we had to resolve all doubt before we acted ,very little would ever get done. (Para.20)
| Meaning:If we take action only after we are sure that everything is fine ,then we can achieve almost nothing. |
1)solve a problem or difficulty
They hoped the crisis could be resolved peacefully.他们希望这场危机能和平解决。
We must find a way to resolve these problems before it’s too late.我们一定要抓紧时间找到
解决这些问题的办法，否则就来不及了。
2)be determined to do something
The company resolved not to purchase materials from that country.公司决定不向那个国家
采购原料。
She resolved that she would keep the secret all her life.她决定终生保守这个秘密。
33.…it’s never too late to change your mind. (Para.21)
| Meaning: …you can change your mind any time. |
One is never too old to learn.活到老，学到老。
It is never too late to mend.亡羊补牢，未为晚也。
If sb. have to do sth. before sb. do sth. else…(否定主意的主句)在…之前
假如在启动一个项目之前必须解决所有问题，那么实施此计划将没有多大意义。
launch a project//trackle/resolve all the problems/implement sth./there is little point in
If all the problems have to be trackled/resolved before a project is launched ,there would be little point in implementing it.
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