全新主题大学英语2 U2 T

Unit Two

True Love

Section A

Wilde?s Love for Hawking

PART I Background Information

1. Stephen Hawking

Stephen William Hawking was born on 8 January 1942. He is a British theoretical physicist. Hawking is the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He is known for his contributions to the fields of cosmology and quantum gravity, especially in the context of black holes, and his popular works in which he discusses his own theories and cosmology in general. These include the runaway popular science bestseller A Brief History of Time, which stayed on the British Sunday Times bestseller list for a record-breaking 237 weeks.

His key scientific works to date have included providing, with Roger Penrose, theorems regarding singularities in the framework of general relativity, and the theoretical prediction that black holes should emit radiation, which is today known as Hawking radiation, or sometimes as Bekenstein-Hawking radiation. His scientific career spans more than 40 years and his books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity and world-renowned theoretical physicist. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Hawking is disabled by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (肌萎缩性脊髓侧索硬化症), commonly known in the United States as Lou Gehrig?s Disease. The illness has progressed over the years and he is now almost completely paralysed.

2. Black hole

A black hole is a region of space in which the gravitational field is so powerful that nothing can escape after having fallen past the event horizon. The name comes from the fact that even electromagnetic radiation (e.g. light) is unable to escape, rendering the interior invisible. However, black holes can be detected if they interact with matter outside the event horizon, for example by drawing in gas from an orbiting star. The gas spirals inward, heating up to very high temperatures and emitting large amounts of radiation in the process.

While the idea of an object with gravity strong enough to prevent light from escaping was proposed in the 18th century, black holes, as presently understood, are described by Einstein's theory of general relativity, developed in 1916. This theory predicts that when a large enough amount of mass is present within a sufficiently small region of space, all paths through space are warped inwards towards the center of the volume, forcing all matter and radiation to fall inward.

While general relativity describes a black hole as a region of empty space with a pointlike singularity at the center and an event horizon at the outer edge, the description changes when the effects of quantum mechanics are taken into account. Research on this subject indicates that, rather than holding captured matter forever, black holes may slowly leak a form of thermal energy called Hawking radiation. However, the final, correct description of black holes, requiring a theory of quantum gravity, is unknown.

3．A Brief History of Time

A Brief History of Time is a popular science book written by Professor Stephen Hawking and first published in 1988. It rapidly became a best-seller, and had sold 9 million copies by 2002. It was also on the London Sunday Times best-seller list for a record-breaking 237 weeks.

A Brief History of Time attempts to explain a range of subjects in cosmology, including the Big Bang, black holes, light cones and superstring theory, to the nonspecialist reader. Its main goal is to give an overview of the subject but, unusual for a popular science book, it also attempts to explain some complex mathematics.

The author notes that an editor warned him that for every equation in the book the readership would be halved, hence it includes only a single equation: E = mc2.

In addition to Hawking?s abstinence from equations, the book also simplifies matters by means of illustrations throughout the text, depicting complex models and diagrams.

The book is considered by many to be an “unread bestseller” which is a book many people own but few have finished.

4. Music to Move the Stars

Music to Move the Stars is a memoir published by Jane Hawking in 1999. The book details much background about Jane?s courtship with Stephen, their marriage, and the probl ems in their marriage due to the domestic friction that one would expect when a family member is seriously handicapped. Even though her Ph.D. was not in science, but Spanish poetry, Jane explains modern cosmology with almost the same elegance, fluidity, precision and accuracy as that of her world-famous husband. The book provides much insight on the age-old conflicts between science and religion, a subject that Jane discusses in depth. Jane also provides much insight into the minds of the world?s leading sc ientists, especially cosmologists. It also contains her own long-term relationship with a family friend whom she later married.

PART II Language Study

1. A school friend broke the news a couple of years before, saying that Stephen was suffering from …some terrible, paralyzing, incurable disease?. (Para. 1)

A few years before, a school friend told her the bad news that Stephen was badly ill with …a certain terrible disease that would make him lose the ability to move and couldn?t be healed ?.

2. This is probably a fair illustration of what was known then about motor neurone disease,

long before the worldwide success of A Brief History of Time and Stephen?s battle against the illness combined to raise its public profile. (Para. 1)

This is perhaps a sound description about motor neurone disease prior to Stephen?s worldwide famous work A Brief History of Time and his struggle against this kind of disease, which together increased its public awareness.

illustration: n.

1) [C/U] example or a story which is used to explain the point or make it clear （作说明用的）

例证，实例

Let?s take a very simple illustration to have a case study.

我们来举一个非常简单的例子来做一个案例分析。

These events are a graphic illustration of the fact that their promises cannot be trusted.

这些事件都是生动的实例，说明他们的承诺不能相信。

The teacher cut an apple into four equal pieces as an illustration of what 1/4 means.

老师把一个苹果切成相等的四块，以此说明什么是四分之一。

2) [C] picture, design or diagram which is used to decorate or explain parts of the writing in a

book, etc. （作说明用的）插图，图案，图表

The kite is assembled as shown in the illustration.

风筝是按照图示说明组装起来的。

Illustrations in children?s dictionaries are clear, lively and in full colour.

幼儿词典中的插图清晰、生动，而且是用彩色印刷的。

We would like to present a simplified illustration to show the flow of product costs.

我们想用一个简化的图表来表述产品成本流程。

combine:

v. 1)two or more things exist together（使）结合；（使）联合

Morality and national pride combine in his public statements.

道德观念和民族自尊心融合在他的公开声明里。

Relief workers say it?s worse than ever as disease and starvation combine to kill thousands.

救援人员称疾病加上饥饿夺去了数千人的生命，其严重程度前所未有。

This suits China?s aim of gradual industrial reform combined with fast economic growth.

这符合中国的目标，即产业的逐步改革与经济的迅速增长相结合。

2) do two or more activities at the same time 兼做，同时做（两件以上的事）

All the things I longed for were combined in this fair lady.

我所渴望的东西这个窈窕淑女一身都兼备了。

This film that won the Oscar awards succeeded in combining education with recreation.

这部获得奥斯卡金像奖的电影成功地把教育同娱乐融合在一起。

It?s difficult to combine family life with a career. But this career woman manages to find a balance between them.

要兼顾家庭生活和事业是件不容易的事。但是这位职业女性却成功地在这两者之间找到了平衡点。

n. group of people or organizations acting together for a particular purpose 联合（企业）

a newspaper combine 报业联合企业

a production expert from the tobacco combines 一位来自烟草联合企业的生产能手profile: n. [C]

1)public image of a person or organization, and attention that they get from the public or

journalists （人或组织的）形象，姿态

The entire marketing team is trying to raise the author?s profile.

整个营销队伍正着力提升该作者的形象。

The company currently enjoys a high profile with its new line of mobile phones.

该公司目前以其新的手机系列而备受瞩目。

The CEO participated in this charity activity in order to raise his company?s public profile.

这位首席执行官参加这次慈善活动是为了提升公司的公众形象。

Although this superstar enjoys abundant fame and wealth, he always maintains a low profile.

尽管这位超级明星享用着无尽的荣华富贵，但他总是保持低调。

2) description of a person, group, or organization that contains all the details that someone needs

（人、团体或组织的）简介，概况

We first build up a detailed profile of our customers and their requirements.

首先，我们建立起我们的客户及其需求的详细资料。

A Washington newspaper published comparative profiles of the candidates? wives.

华盛顿的一家报纸刊登了几位候选人夫人的简介，并作了比较。

3. There is little doubt that Jane Wilde?s appearance on the scene was a major turning-point in Stephen Hawking?s life. (Para. 2)

There is no doubt that Jane Wilde?s appearance was a significant and decisive moment in Stephen Hawking?s life.

on the scene: in a place where something is happening出现，到场，在场

By the time I came on the scene, it was all over.

我来到的时候，一切都结束了。

This great leader came on the scene just when his country needed him.

这位伟大的领袖就在国家需要他的时候上台了。

There were many policemen and journalists on the scene of the accident happening during the rush hours.

有很多警察和记者出现在发生于上下班高峰期的事故现场。

turning-point: n. [C] point at which a decisive change occurs 转折点；转机

The Industrial Revolution was a major historical turning-point.

工业革命是一个重要的历史转折点。

The fall of the Berlin Wall marked a turning-point in East-West relations.

柏林墙的倒塌标志着东西方关系的一个转折点。

At times, history and fate meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning-point in man?s unending search for freedom.

有时，历史与命运在某时某地汇合，成为人类不断寻求自由这一进程中的一个转折点。

4. It was finding Jane that facilitated him to break out of his depression and regenerate some belief in his life and work. (Para. 2)

Finding Jane helped him to get rid of his sadness and renew some belief in his life and work. Note: this sentence adopts The Emphatic Pattern (It is + who (that)...). It is worth mentioning here that when the part needing emphasizing refers to the time, the place or the reason, the structure is “it is …that…” instead of “it is … when…”, “it is … where…” or “it is … why…”.

It was only when I reread his poems recently that I began to appreciate their beauty.

It was in Qingdao that I saw the sea for the first time.

It was because of bad weather that the football match had to be put off.

facilitate: vt. make it easier for something to happen or be done 使(事情等)变得容易；使便利Dividing students into small groups usually helps facilitate discussion.

把学生分成小组通常会使讨论更容易进行。

He argued that the economic recovery had been facilitated by his tough stance.

他认为他的强硬立场推动了经济的复苏。

Friendly contacts between different peoples facilitate the cultural and economic interchange.

各国人民的友好接触促进文化和经济交流。

break out of: escape from something such as a situation or way of life 改变，逃脱（某种情形或生活方式）

He has the strong desire to break out of the boring routine of normal daily living.

他非常渴望摆脱乏味的日常生活。

He got fed up with poverty-stricken life and was extremely eager to break out of poverty.

他已厌倦了穷困潦倒的生活，非常渴望摆脱贫穷。

depression: n.

1) [U] extreme melancholy, often with a reduction in vitality and physical symptoms 消沉；忧郁；

沮丧

She was gradually coming out of her depression.

她正逐渐从抑郁中恢复过来。

A period of acute depression can sometimes follow childbirth.

分娩之后可能会有一段时间的急性抑郁期。

Never before, in any mood of depression, had she given evidence of suicidal thoughts.

过去她不论心绪如何抑郁寡欢，从未流露出自杀的念头。

After he broke the bad news to her, a glow had passed away from her, and depression sat upon her features.

他告诉她这个坏消息之后，她脸上的红晕消失了，跟着露出郁闷的样子来。

2) [C/U] time of great reduction in the activity of a country?s industries or economy, which causes

a lot of unemployment and poverty 长期萧条；不景气

The housing market has gone into depression.

房市陷入了萧条期。

The country is experiencing a severe economic depression.

该国正在经历严重的经济萧条。

During the depression, millions of the unemployed wandered around in the streets.

经济萧条时期，有好几百万的失业者在街头游荡。

He never forgot the hardships he witnessed during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

他永远不会忘记20世纪30年代经济大萧条时期他所亲眼目睹的苦难情形。regenerate:vt. cause to begin and develop again 重新产生

The lottery is expected to regenerate substantial funds for charities.

这次彩票的发行有望重新为慈善事业筹集到丰厚的资金。

Living cells regenerate new energy from food.

活细胞重新用食物制造新能量。

This creature?s tail has the regenerative power and is capable of regenerating if it is cut off.

这种动物的尾巴有再生功能，割掉后能再长出来。

In the past several decades, scientists believed that unlike other cells in the body, those in the brain did not regenerate.

在过去几十年里，科学家认为脑细胞不同于身体的其他细胞，不能再生。

5.It changed his life, gave him something to look forward to and made him determined to survive. (Para. 2)

It changed his life, gave him something to expect eagerly and happily and helped him to make up his mind to live on.

determined: a. having a strong desire to do something, so that you will not let anyone stop you; resolute 有决心的; 意志坚定的; 坚决的

She used to make a determined effort to give up smoking, but failed.

她曾下过坚定的决心要戒烟，但是失败了。

He always holds a determined attitude when facing with challenges and difficulties.

当面对挑战和困难时，他总是抱以坚定的态度。

From the beginning the other party was determined to dominate the most important negotiations. 从一开始，对方就下定决心要控制最重要的谈判。

6. Without the help that Jane gave him, he would almost certainly not have been capable of carrying on or had the will to do so. (Para. 2)

Without Jane?s help, he would surely not have been able to keep on living or not even have had the will to do so.

Note: this sentence applies the sentence structure: “without + subjunctive mood”. Implied condition in subjunctive mood can be expressed by clauses which are introduced by the preposition or prepositional phrases such as, without（没有), but for（要不是), in the absence of （如果没有), were it not for（要是没有), but that（假设……不），etc.

Without air (If there were not air), there would be no living things.

如果没有空气的话，就不会有生物了。

But for your help (If it hadn?t been for your help), I couldn?t have done it.

要是没有你的帮助，我就不可能完成这件事。

I would have finished the work, but I have been ill. (If I hadn?t been ill, I would have finished the work.)

我本来该完成这项工作的，但我生病了。(如果我没生病的话，我就会完成这项工作的。) capable: a.

1)(of people or things) having enough ability or power to do something 具有……能力的，适合

于……的

Show me what you are capable of.

让我看看你有什么本事。

He?s quite capable of lying.

他很会撒谎。

She is capable of judging works of art.

她有鉴赏艺术品的能力。

The kitchen is capable of catering for several hundred people.

这个厨房能给好几百人供应饭菜。

2) (of people) who has skills or qualities necessary to do a particular thing well or is able to do

most things well 能胜任的，有能力的，有才能的

He has proved himself an extremely capable manager.

他已证明自己是一个极其能干的经理。

We need to get a personal assistant who?s capable and efficient.

我们需要一个有能力、有效率的私人助理。

I?m going away next week, so I?ll be leaving everything in your capable hands.

我下周将离开，所以我把一切留给你来处理。

7. Hawking himself has said that what really made a difference was that he got engaged to a woman named Jane Wilde. (Para. 3)

Hawking himself has said that getting engaged to a woman named Jane Wilde had an important impact on his life and changed his life greatly.

make a difference (to somebody / something)

1) have an effect (on somebody / something)(esp. a good impact) or improve a situation a great

deal（对某人/某事物）有作用或影响(尤其指好的影响)；状况有极大改善

The sea air has made a difference to her health.

海上的空气改善了她的健康状况。

A hot bath makes all the difference in the morning.

上午洗个热水澡能让人精神振奋。

I care about his opinion, and what he has told me may make a difference to my own position.

我在乎他的观点。他告诉我的一切，可能影响我自己的看法。

I hated the house when I first went to see it, but the new furniture made all the difference.

我第一次去看那幢房子时，心里很不喜欢，可是里面一放新家具，情况就完全不同了。

This is an area where I believe some creative collaboration and partnerships could make a difference.

我认为，这是通过某种创造性合作与伙伴关系可以改观的领域。

2) be important (to somebody / something); matter （对某人/某事物）重要

It makes a difference between his leaving or staying.

这关系着他的去留。

I successfully applied for a raise, which made a tremendous difference to me.

我成功地申请加薪了，这对我来说至关重要。

I suppose what the CEO likes or doesn?t is going to make a difference to people keeping their

jobs around here.

我想首席执行官喜欢什么，不喜欢什么，对今后在这儿工作下去的人来说关系重大。

8. This gave him something to live for. (Para. 3)

This made him look forward to the future and continue living.

live for: to have something or someone as the most important thing in your life为……而生活

I had three suggestions: Live Each Day Fully; Live for Today; or Make Today Count.

我提供了三个可考虑的题目：“充实地过好每一天”、“为今天而生活”、“把握今天”。

You are not supposed to forget so easily that you are not only living for yourself but for me and people who love and care about you.

你不应该这么容易就忘记你不只是为你自己而活着，你必须为我和而关心爱护你的人而活着。

9. What is striking about Jane?s account of their courtship is her readiness to marry someone with such a grim diagnosis, whose physical condition was deteriorating before her eyes. (Para. 4)

What is so impressive about Jane?s description of their relationship is her willingness to marry someone with such a serious disease, whose physical condition was getting worse and worse in front of her eyes.

striking: a. impressive;attracting attention 印象深刻的；突出的；引人注目的

The picture was striking in its simplicity.

这幅画的引人注目之处在于它的简洁。

What is immediately striking is how resourceful, steady and mature the children are.

即刻引起人们注目的是孩子们的机智聪明以及成熟稳重。

At first sight his address is certainly not striking; and his person can hardly be called handsome.

乍一看来，他貌不压众，语不惊人。

readiness: n. [U]

1) state of being willing to do something 愿意，乐意

We appreciate his readiness to help others.

我们很欣赏他乐于助人的品性。

He expressed his readiness to accept the challenge.

他表示愿意接受挑战。

The company has declared its readiness to fight a challenge in the courts.

公司宣布愿意对簿公堂。

The CPC?s readiness to run risks for peace was bound to be greater than that of the Kuomintang.

中国共产党必然比国民党更加愿意为谋求和平而冒风险。

2) state of being ready and able to deal with what might or will happen 准备就绪

t he troops? readiness for battle 部队的临战状态

We prepared a room and meal in readiness for their arrival.

我们预备了房间和饭菜，就等他们到来。

The President decided to declare his readiness to trade off our atmospheric series and research and development of nuclear weapons.

总统决定宣布，他随时准备让美国放弃大气层试验和核武器的研发。

grim:a. unpleasant, depressing, and difficult to accept 令人不快的；令人沮丧的

We were running out of money and things were looking grim.

我们花完了钱，情况看来不妙。

The occasion was a grim reminder of the shortcomings of his brother.

这个场合无情地暴露了他弟弟的缺点。

We had barely enough to live on in those grim Depression years.

在那经济萧条时期的严酷岁月里，我们的收入只勉强够维持生活。

The consequences for developing countries would range from the awkward situation to the grim one.

对发展中国家将产生的后果是从问题棘手发展为问题严重。

diagnosis:n. [C] identification of a disease from its symptoms诊断

The two doctors made different diagnoses of my disease.

两位医生对我的病下了不同的诊断结论。

Experts are analyzing a diagnosis of heart disease in order to figure out a cure.

专家们正在研究分析一份心脏病的诊断结果以便找到一种诊治方法。

deteriorate:vi. become worse in condition or quality or become more difficult or unpleasant 恶化；变坏

They got into an argument that deteriorated into a fistfight.

他们开始争论，后来演变成一场斗殴。

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the agreement was signed.

自协议签署以来，两国的关系不断恶化。

After an encouraging start, the negotiations deteriorate into a lengthy haggling session.

开局不错，但之后的谈判却陷入没完没了的讨价还价。

10. frank (Para. 4): a. honest, sincere and truthful, even when this might be awkward or make other

people uncomfortably直率的，坦白的，直言不讳的

We?ve always tried to be frank with the kids.

我们一直在尝试对孩子们坦诚相待。

In an unusually frank speech, Glenn acknowledged the gravity of the economic situation.

在一次异常坦诚的讲话中，格伦承认经济形势很严峻。

To be frank and open with you, I don?t like this job, but I have a family to support.

坦白地说，我不喜欢这份工作，但是我必须要养家糊口。

11. fulfil (Para. 4):vt.

1) achieve or carry out something that was wanted, asked, promised or expected 完成；兑现；履

行（诺言）等

He never fulfilled his potential as a basketball player.

他从来没有充分发挥自己作为一名篮球运动员的潜能。

Will the government fulfill its pledge to hold free elections?

政府会履行其举行自由选举的诺言吗？

Businessmen shall fulfil the promise according to the state regulations or the agreement with consumers and must not deliberately resort to delay or refuse to comply without reasons.

商人应当按照国家规定或者约定履行，不得故意拖延或者无理拒绝。

2) reach a particular standard or have the qualities that are necessary for something 满足

He amply fulfilled the weight of expectation that his parents had placed on him.

他没有辜负他父母对他所寄予的厚望。

The housing commission chose the site because it fulfilled a need in the neighborhood.

住房委员会选择了这个场所是因为它满足了社区的需要。

12. marital (Para. 4): a. of marriage or marriage relations婚姻的；婚姻关系的

Wearing a ring on your left ring finger can show your marital status— married.

把戒指戴在你的左手无名指上表明你婚姻状况是已婚。

The stress of the job causes marital problems for many police officers.

工作中的压力给许多警察带来了婚姻方面的问题。

13. His mother tried to warn her about the horrifying symptoms to expect, but Jane declined

the offer of information. (Para. 4)

His mother tried to make her aware of the terrible later stages of the disease, but Jane refused to listen to this kind of information.

horrifying: a. shocking or disgusting 使恐惧的，使惊骇的

The scale of the problem is horrifying, which is totally beyond my expectation.

问题之大令人震惊，完全超出了我的预料。

These were horrifying experiences; therefore he felt reluctant to recall sometimes.

这些都是令人震惊的经历，因此他有时不愿回忆。

symptom: n. [C]

1) something wrong with someone?s body or with the way that it works, that is taken as a sign of

illness 症状；症候

The tablets help relieve cold symptoms.

这些药片能帮助减轻感冒症状。

Common symptoms of diabetes are weight loss and fatigue.

糖尿病的常见症状包括体重下降和疲劳。

He?s been HIV-positive for six years, but just recently he?s started to develop the symptoms of AIDS.

他成为艾滋病毒携带者已有六年，可最近突然开始呈现出艾滋病的症状。

2) something that happens in a society and that is taken as a sign of something seriously wrong

with that society征兆；预兆

The fighting is a symptom of growing insecurity in the region.

这次争斗是该地区越来越缺乏安全保障的征兆。

The disappearance of certain jobs is a symptom of a deeper socio-economic change.

某些职业的消失是更深层的社会经济变化的一个反映。

decline:

vt. say no politely when someone invites you somewhere, offers you something, or wants you to do something 谢绝，婉言拒绝、推辞

I invited her to join us, but she declined.

我邀请她和我们在一起, 可是她婉言谢绝了。

She declined to have lunch with her friend, saying that she wasn?t feeling well.

她说她身体不舒服，婉拒了与朋友共进午餐。

Offered the position of chairman, Smith declined, preferring to keep his current job.

史密斯比较喜欢他现在的工作，婉言推辞了就任主席一职。

vi.1) become gradually worse in quality, get worse, and deteriorate逐渐衰退、衰落，恶化As one grows older, his / her memory declines.

人的记忆力随着年龄增长而衰退。

Her health has been declining progressively for several months.

几个月来她的健康每况愈下。

This ancient city with glorious history and civilization, over the centuries, had suffered a gradual economic decline.

这座古老的拥有辉煌的历史和文明的城市在过去几百年中经济上已逐渐衰退。

2) become smaller, weaker and fewer变小，变弱，变少

Toy sales peaked just before Christmas and are now declining.

玩具销售额在圣诞节前夕达到最高峰, 现已逐渐下降。

The factory has laid off workers because the sales amount declined.

因为销售额减少, 工厂解雇了一批工人。

This candidate?s political influence declined after she lost the presidential election.

这位候选人落选后她的政治影响力大为降低。

n. [C/U] gradual and continuous loss of strength, power, numbers, etc.（力量、权力、数量等的）消减

a decline in population / prices / popularity 人口的减少/价格/声望的降低

The company has gone into a decline because of falling demand.

由于市场需求下降, 这家公司的生意每况愈下。

Thanks to the effective measures taken by the government, the number of robberies in the area is on the decline.

多亏了政府采取的有力措施，这一地区的劫案在减少。

Illegal hunting is leading to the decline of some birds, which are facing the danger of extinction.

非法捕杀导致某些濒临灭绝的鸟类数量减少。

14. “I replied that I would prefer not to know the details of the prognosis,”she writes, “because

I loved Stephen so much that nothing could deter me from wanting to marry him.” (Para.

5)

“I replied that I would not like to know the details of the forecast of the disease,”she writes, “because I loved Stephen so much that nothing could stop me from wanting to marry him.”

prognosis: n. [C] prediction by a doctor of how a particular illness will develop and how likely it is that the patient will be cured 预后（指医生根据症状对疾病的发展以及是否能治愈所作的

The doctor?s prognosis for his mother was not hopeful.

医生对他妈妈的病情的发展不乐观。

Doctors say his prognosis is good, and they expect a full recovery.

医生们说对他的病情发展的预测良好，有望痊愈。

deter: vt. prevent somebody from doing something by making it difficult for him / her to do 吓阻；制止

We need severe punishment to deter people from dealing in drugs.

我们有必要实施严厉的惩罚来制止人们贩毒。

Failure did not deter him from moving forward and upward.

他并未因失败而畏缩不前。

I was deterred from emigrating by the thought of leaving my family.

我舍不得离开家人, 所以决定不移居国外了。

15. I would cook and wash and shop and make a home for him, dismissing all my own previous

ambitions which were now insignificant by comparison with the challenge before me. (Para.

5)

I would cook, wash, shop and make a home for him. I would give up all my own earlier

aspirations. Compared with the challenge I am facing now, they were unimportant.

previous: a. coming before in time or order （在时间，次序上）前的，先的

This issue was discussed in the previous chapter.

这个问题在前一章中已经讨论过了。

Training is provided, so no previous experience is required for the job.

这项工作有培训，因此不需要之前有经验。

The previous owners of the house had hired an expensive interior decorator.

原先的屋主高薪聘请了一位室内设计师。

ambition: n.

1) [C] something that someone wants to do very much, usu. something that is difficult to achieve

抱负，志向

She seemed set to achieve all her ambitions.

她似乎决心要实现所有的抱负。

H is ambition is always to become a successful writer.

他的志向一直是想做个成功的作家。

Swallow and sparrow cannot understand the ambition of swan.

燕雀安知鸿鹄之志。

My family are more important to me than politics and personal ambition.

我的家庭对我来说比政治和个人抱负更为重要。

2) [U] strong desire to become successful, rich, famous, etc. 雄心；野心

H is ruin was that the ambition had laid hold of him.

他之所以毁灭，是由于野心迷住了他的心窍。

Knowledge of inequality has stimulated envy, ambition and greed.

对不平等的了解激起了妒嫉、野心和贪婪。

The vain ambition and arrogance of my youth has become a fate upon me in old age.

我青春时代的狂想野心和傲慢自大，已成了我暮年不能摆脱的命运。

insignificant: not large or important enough to be worth considering 不重要的；无意义的；无

I felt very insignificant in the company of such renowned experts.

我觉得自己在这家拥有这么多著名专家的公司里显得无足轻重。

Last year?s spending is insignificant when compared with the proposed building renovations.

去年的开支与提议的房屋翻新费用相比不值一提。

comparison:n. [C/U] process of considering how things or people are different and how they are similar 比较；对照

That?s a good dictionary, but it doesn?t bear comparison with this one.

那是本好词典, 但比不上这本。

I thought I was badly treated but my experiences pale in comparison with yours.

我以为我被虐待了，可是我的经历与你的比起来，真是小巫见大巫。

We have made a systematic comparison of the techniques used by the different players.

我们对不同运动员运用的技巧作了系统的比较。

by comparison (with): used for talking about the ways in which two things are different （与……）比较而言

Their lives were exciting and glamorous; ours seemed dull by comparison.

他们的生活刺激精彩；比较而言，我们的就显得沉闷了。

By comparison with the lively teenagers, the adults were a joyless lot and more depressed.

和活泼的年轻人比起来，成年人一点也不快乐，情绪更低落。

16. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that Jane, who had not yet graduated from college, did not

know what she was taking on. (Para. 5)

We can easily draw a conclusion that Jane who had not yet graduated from college had no idea what she was undertaking.

Note: this sentence applies the sentence structure: “It is +adj.+to do sth.”Normally, these adjectives here in this sentence structure are:easy, fit, difficult, hard, awkward, convenient, impossible, pleasant, tough, unpleasant, etc. This sentence structure needs an infinitive as its complement, and the infinitive takes active voice. Examples:

Every one has different taste. So it is very difficult to please everyone.

每个人的口味不同，所以很难让每个人都高兴。

It was tough to pull through the toughest time back then, but it taught us to appreciate what we have today even more.

过去最艰难的时期很难熬，但它却教育了我们更加珍惜今天所拥有的。

take on:

1) accept some work or responsibility, undertake something 接受；承担

Don?t take on more than you can cope with.

要量力而行。

I?ve taken on the organization of this outing.

我负责这次郊游的组织工作。

If you agree to take on this project, it will mean a lot of extra work.

你如果同意承接这项工程，这将意味着大量的超额工作。

The doctor says I?m too tired and has advised me not to take on any more work at the moment.

医生说我太疲劳了，并劝我目前不要承担更多的工作。

2) develop a particular character or appearance 呈现

When we mentioned his son, his face took on a worried expression.

我们提起他儿子时，他脸上流露出忧郁的神情。

Our website is taking on a brand-new look.

我们的网站正呈现出一幅崭新的面貌。

His voice took on a deeper tone as he began the prayer.

当他开始祈祷时，他的嗓音更加深沉。

After the reform and opening-up, China took on a prosperous look.

改革开放后，中国呈现出欣欣向荣的景象。

As a result, DIY work doesn?t have to look crude, and it can take on just about any style.

DIY的作品因此看起来就不再粗劣, 它们可以呈现任何风格。

3）(infml.) become fashionable or popular 流行; 时髦; 受欢迎

The idea never really took on.

这一观念一向不太得人心。

The kind of lifestyle did not take on anymore.

这种生活方式已经落伍了。

17. Although Stephen defied the coming up death sentence passed upon him, and is still alive

today, the details of his physical decline are relentless. (Para. 5)

Even though Stephen challenged the upcoming death sentence given to him, he is still alive, the worsening of his health never stops.

defy:vt. refuse to obey something or do not behave in the expected way 公然违抗

The commander defied a direct order to surrender.

指挥官不服从直接的投降命令。

They are wrong to defy the order of the Court.

他们违抗法院的指令是不对的。

If we had defied him on this question it would have cost us our jobs.

我们要是在这个问题上反抗了他，我们早就失业了。

pass upon: announce a judgment, sentence, judge, identify宣布(判决等)，判断，鉴定，

The court finally passed sentence upon an offender.

法庭最终宣布对罪犯判决。

His optimism helped him bravely face the cancer passed upon by the doctor.

他的乐观精神帮助他勇敢地面对已被医生确诊的癌症。

relentless: a. (something bad) never stopping or improving , oppressively constant （不好的事情）不间断的，无休止的

He seems to be under relentless pressure at work.

他好像是在持续的压力下工作。

He strived hard to put up with relentless criticism from his boss so as not to be sacked.

为了免被炒鱿鱼，他竭力容忍上司无休止的批评。

18. Jane?s determination to care for him, and to create an environ ment in which he could

continue his groundbreaking work on black holes, takes up many more pages than her account of their eventual separation. (Para. 6)

The description of Jane?s firm willpower to take care of him and to create a circumstance where he could continue his pioneering work on black holes occupies many more pages (in the book) than her description of their ultimate parting.

determination: n. [U] quality that makes you continue trying to do something even when this is

difficult 决心；果断；坚定

He has overcome difficulties with courage and determination.

他的勇敢和决心帮他克服了困难。

The president underlined his determination to pursue the rebels.

总统强调了他追捕叛乱分子的决心。

They had survived by sheer determination.

他们全凭坚强的决心幸存下来。

groundbreaking: a. using new methods or achieving new results开创性的；开辟新天地的

a groundbreaking study of plant diversity 关于植物多样性的开创性研究

a groundbreaking report / style具有开创性的报告/创新风格

This is a groundbreaking work that will prove beneficial to students, teachers and professional linguists.

这是一部具有开创性的著作，对学生、教师和语言学专家们都将是大有裨益的。

take up:

1) fill or occupy (the specified space or time) 填满, 占据（某空间或时间）

These files take up a lot of disk space.

这些文件占去了很多的磁盘空间。

Her time is fully taken up with writing, which is not only her job but also one of her hobbies. 她的时间都用于写作了。写作不仅是她的工作，也是她的一个爱好。

This desk takes up most of my office. Could you please do me a favor by changing a smaller one?

这张桌子太占我办公室的地方。你能否帮我换一个小点的？

2) continue to discuss or deal with an idea, problem, or suggestion 继续（谈论或处理某事）

She took up the narrative where John had left off.

她接着讲约翰未讲完的故事。

She fell silent, and her brother took up the story.

她陷入沉默，她哥哥接着讲了下去。

Most high school graduates have to take up jobs although many of them have a strong desire for further study.

大部分中学毕业生将走上工作岗位，尽管其中很多人都非常渴望能够继续学习。eventual: a.happening at the end of a long period of time or after a lot of other things have happened最终发生的；结果的

the eventual winner of the tournament 锦标赛的最终胜利者

It is impossible to predict what the eventual outcome of global warming will be.

无法预测全球变暖的最终结果。

Due to frequent accidents and unqualified education, the village school may face eventual closure.

由于事故频出以及不合格的教育水平，这所乡村学校最终可能面临被关闭。separation: n.

1) [C] legal arrangement by which a couple remain married but live apart （法庭判

定的）夫妻分居（婚姻关系仍保持但分别居住）

The effects on children of separation and divorce are tremendous.

分居和离婚对孩子的影响是巨大的。

Friends managed to reconcile him with his wife after years of separation.

经过多年分居后朋友们设法使他与妻子重修旧好。

They decided on a trial separation. If their marriage really couldn?t work any more, divorce was at the option of both husband and wife.

他们决定尝试分居。如果他们的婚姻无法维持下去，夫妻双方都同意离婚。

2) [U] separating or being separated 分离；分开；隔开

the separation of infectious patients from other patients 传染病人与其他病人之隔离

Separation from his friends made him sad.

离开了朋友，他十分难过。

The separation of a known infected individual who suffers from H1N1 flue from healthy ones would continue until the danger of transmission passes.

把受到H1N1型流感传染的病人同正常人分隔开，直至病人不再具有传染性为止。

19. I f Stephen?s struggle to keep his mind clear is heroic, so is her determination to balance his

escalating needs and those of their three children. (Para. 6)

If Stephen?s struggle to keep his mind clear is brave, her strong will to satisfy his growing needs and those of their three children is also very courageous.

heroic: a. of, fit for, or like a hero; very brave 英雄的；神勇的，英勇的

These doctors perform heroic work in difficult conditions.

这些医生在困难的条件下勇敢地工作着。

A heroic display by the goalkeeper saved the home side from disaster.

守门员的神勇表现将主队从灾难中拯救出来。

escalate: v. increase, enlarge, or intensify, esp. at a fast rate that causes problems（使）逐步增强、扩大、升级

The cost of living is escalating in the country.

这个国家的生活费用在上涨。

The Government is deliberately escalating the war for political reasons.

政府出于政治目的蓄意使战争逐步升级。

The escalating rate of inflation will almost certainly bring escalating prices.

通货膨胀的不断上升几乎必然会导致价格上升。

20. Jane emerges as decent and honest, even if her prose sometimes resembles the summaries of

family news that fall out of cards at Christmas. (Para. 6)

Even though sometimes her prose seems plain and unattractive just like the summaries of family news that fall out of cards at Christmas, Jane shows up in public in a well-mannered and honest way.

decent:a.

1) conforming with standards of decency 正派的；端庄的

A decent caring man is very appealing to single women.

待人宽厚、关心他人的男人很受单身女性的青睐。

It is decent of David to offer to pay and treat us, even though we offer to go Dutch.

戴维真好，尽管我们提出AA制，他仍主动提出要付钱请客。

2) proper; acceptable, good enough 过得去的；合意的；尚可的

The hospital has no decent equipment.

这家医院没有像样的设备。

You can?t have good acting without a decent script.

没有像样的剧本是不可能有好的表演的。

After such rudeness, the chairman should do the decent thing and apologize publicly.

在如此粗鲁的举动之后，主席应当做该做的事，公开道歉。

resmeble: vt.be like or similar to (another person or thing) 与（他人或他物）相似；像

A small object resembling a pin is applied in this invention.

像大头针的一个小物件被运用到这个发明里。

He resembles his brother in looks, so it is hard to distinguish one from the other.

他和他弟弟长得很像，所以很难把他俩区分开来。

21. Hers is the story of a marriage based on a pairing of male ego and female submissiveness, the

worldly expressions of which she finds disturbing. (Para. 7)

Her marriage is described as the pairing of male pride and female obedience, and this kind of inaccurate shallow expression upsets her.

ego: n. [C] self; part of the mind that reacts to reality and has a sense of individuality 自我

Skinner has a big ego and always feels superior to others.

斯金纳很自高自大，总觉得自己比别人优越。

I am glad that she got the job, which can boost her ego and superiority complex.

我很高兴她得到了那份工作，这能增强她的自信心和优越感。

submissiveness:n. [U] trait of being willing to yield to the will of another person or a superior force etc. 服从，顺从

Her mother is a woman with submissiveness.

她母亲是个顺从的女人。

The stereotype that submissiveness is the typical feature of Chinese women is false.

认为逆来顺受是中国妇女特质的模式化观念是错误的。

worldly: a.

1) relating to the practical rather than the spiritual aspects of life 世俗的；尘世的

They were ambitious for worldly power and possessions.

他们有追逐世俗权势和财富的野心。

Members of the church tried to isolate themselves from worldly influences.

教会成员试图把自己和世俗的影响隔离开来。

2) (of person) having a lot of experience and knowledge of life 老于世故的；善于处世的

Marilyn is a worldly New Yorker in her 60s.

玛丽莲是个60多岁、见多识广的纽约人。

Teenagers today are much worldlier than I ever was.

当今的青少年比我那时候世故得多。

He combined curious qualities of naivety with incisive wit and worldly sophistication.

他集天真质朴的好奇、锐利的机智和老练的世故于一体。

22. relegate(Para. 7): vt. consign or dismiss to an inferior position 把……降级，把……置于次要

地位

I was relegated to the kids? table for Thanksgiving.

我被降格安排到孩子们的桌子吃感恩节大餐。

I used to be the chairperson?s right arm, but now I am relegated to the role of an ordinary

assistant.

我曾是主席的得力助手，但现在我已经降到普通助手的位置了。

23. This is an early cause of dissent in the Hawking household, making Jane feel she has

become “little more than a drudge, effectively reduced to that role which in Cambridge

acad emic circles epitomized a woman?s place”. (Para. 7)

This is an early cause of argument in the Hawking family. It makes Jane feel her role in the family has become merely a har laborer, the role that is well expected of women in Cambridge academic circles.

dissent:

n. [U] difference, esp. from the established or official opinion 异议（尤指对已确认的观点或官方观点）

He banned political parties and crushed dissent.

他取缔政党，压制不同意见。

The arrests are part of a government effort to suppress political dissent.

逮捕一些人是政府消除政治分歧的一种手段。

When the time came to approve the proposal, there were one or two voices of dissent.

到了要批准这项建议的时候，出现了一两声异议。

vi.express strong disagreement, esp. with what people in authority think or with what most people think 不同意，强烈反对（尤指权威观点或多数人的想法）

He dares to dissent from the authority?s view.

他敢于质疑权威的观点。

Anyone wishing to dissent from the motion should now raise their hand.

任何人想表示对动议有异议的，现在请举手。

Four of the panel?s members dissented from the majority?s opinion.

四名委员对大多数人的观点持有异议。

little more than:no more than, nothing more than 只不过；不过是……而已

Aid to the Third World is at present little more than a drop in the ocean.

目前对第三世界的援助不过是杯水车薪。

His all worldly possessions amounted to little more than the clothes he stood up in.

他在人世间的全部财产，除了身上所穿的外，别无他物。

effectively: ad. used to describe what you see as the real facts of the situation,in fact实际上，事实上

This means that effectively we have no chance of finishing on time.

这意味着我们实际上没有可能准时完成。

He is leader in name only: his deputy has effectively taken over.

他不过是个名义上的领导, 他的副手实际上已取而代之。

epitomize: vt. make or be a perfect example of (a quality etc.) 成为……的代表，作为……的典型

Singapore?s Changi airport epitomizes the state?s efficiency.

新加坡的樟宜机场是该国效率的典型范例。

With little equipment and unsuitable footwear, she epitomizes the inexperienced and unprepared mountain walker.

她所带的必需品很少，穿的鞋也不合适，正是没有经验又准备不足的山区步行者的典型。

24.Cruelly, her husband?s fame and his dise ase seem to progress in tandem; his body ever

more wasted as his celebrity increases. (Para. 8)

Harshly, it seems that her husband?s reputation and his disease develop at the same time. His body becomes much thinner and weaker as his fame increases.

fame: n. [U] (condition of) being known or talked about by many people 名声；声望；名誉

He rose to fame in the British cinema of the early sixties.

他在60年代初的英国电影界一举成名。

Jack has always been a lucky dog. Fame and fortune have come easily to him.

杰克总是很走运，轻而易举地名利双收。

in tandem:

1) with something or at the same time as something happens 同时地；协力地

The two systems are designed to work in tandem.

这两套系统是为同步工作而设计的。

He and his wife run the business in tandem.

他和妻子共同经营这生意。

Scientists from these two universities are working in tandem on this project.

这两所大学的科学家正在合作开展这个项目。

As the times progress and society advances, the Tibetan language develops in tandem, with its vocabulary and grammar continuously enriching.

随着时代的进步和社会的发展，藏语文的词汇和语法得到不断充实、丰富和发展。

2) one behind another 一前一后地; 排成纵列

The two bicycle riders are riding in tandem, dashing to the finish line in the Tour de France.

两名自行车手正一前一后地骑车向环法自行车赛的终点线冲刺。

Horses harnessed in tandem are ready to pull the cart.

前后串套着的马已备好了准备拉车。

wasted:a. looking extremely thin and weak, esp. because they are ill （尤指因生病而）

十分瘦弱的

Disease made his body wasted.

疾病使他身体衰弱。

His body is ever more wasted than it used to.

他的身体比以前虚弱多了。

Underneath the hospital blankets I could see the outline of her poor wasted body.

在病床毯子下，我看得出她那可怜的被病魔耗空的躯壳轮廓。

celebrity:n.

1) [U] fame, state of being famous名声；名望

Unlike many actors, he never enjoyed his celebrity.

和许多演员不同的是，他从不喜欢出名。

He enjoys lots of celebrity as a superstar.

他作为一名超级明星很有名望。

Joanna has finally made it to the first rank of celebrity after 25 years as an actress.

当了25年的演员后，乔安娜终于跻身一流明星之列。

2) [C] someone who is famous, esp. in the entertainment business 名人，名流

The hotel is well-known for its celebrity guests.

这家饭店因有明星入住而闻名遐迩。

In 1944, at the age of 30, Hersey became a celebrity overnight.

1944年，30岁的赫西一夜成名。

25. transform from… i nto… (Para.8): completely change the appearance or character of somebody

/ something 完全改变某事物/某人的外观或特性

She used to be terribly shy, but a year abroad has completely transformed her into a talkative and extroverted girl.

她过去十分腼腆, 但在国外呆了一年以后完全变成了一个健谈的、外向的女孩。

The teacher is using transparencies to illustrate the process by which caterpillars are transformed into butterflies.

老师正在用幻灯片来演示毛虫变为蝴蝶的过程。

26. maternal(Para. 8): a. relating to a mother or to being a mother; motherly 母亲的；母亲般的

Her feelings towards him were almost maternal.

她对他的感情是近乎母亲般的。

Maternal smoking can damage the unborn child.

母亲吸烟可能会对尚未出生的婴儿造成不良影响。

She felt that he had escaped her, and was in the maternal nest no more.

她觉得他与她越来越疏远，不再靠在母亲的怀抱中了。

27. That this development might be fatal to the marriage is obvious, although Jane hopes in

vain for a new kind of relationship, based on intellectual companionship. (Para. 8)

It is clear that this development can be disastrous to the marriage, even though Jane hopes uselessly for a new kind of relationship that is focused on academic company.

fatal:a.

1) with very serious negative effects on something 毁灭性的；灾难性的

This loss could prove fatal to their championship hopes.

这次失败可能会毁了他们夺冠的希望。

We all counted on him to lead us to win this game, but his illness was fatal to our plans.

我们都指望他带领我们赢得这场比赛，但是他生病后我们的计划就落空了。

2) causing someone to die or ending in death 致命的

That desperate criminal gave a police sergeant the fatal stabbing.

那个穷凶极恶的罪犯刺了一名警官致命一刀。

A hospital spokesman said she had suffered a fatal heart attack.

医院发言人说她死于心脏病发作。

vain: a.

1) useless, fruitless, futile无效的，无结果的，徒劳的

He made funny faces in a vain attempt to cheer her up.

他做鬼脸想让她高兴，但却徒劳无功。

The drafting committee worked through the night in a vain effort to finish the constitution on schedule.

起草委员会为按计划完成宪法而通宵未眠，但结果是白费力气。

2) having too high an opinion of one?s looks, abilities, etc; conceited 自负的；爱虚荣的

She played a role as a vain and vulgar woman in the film.

她在这部电影里扮演了一个爱慕虚荣庸俗的女人。

I think he is shallow, vain and untrustworthy.

我认为他浅薄、虚荣、不可信任。

in vain: without success in spite of efforts 没有成功，徒劳

We walked a couple of blocks, looking in vain for a cab.

我们走了两三个街区寻找出租车，但没找到。

Workers tried in vain to keep the building from collapsing.

工人们努力不让该建筑物倒塌，但没有成功。

intellectual:

n. [C] someone who is well educated and interested in art, science, literature, etc. at an advanced level 知识分子

Intellectuals launched a united movement against the government.

知识分子发动了抵制政府的联合运动。

Former Soviet intellectuals helped change the political climate of the country.

前苏联的知识分子促进了该国家政治气候的改变。

a. 1) well educated and interested in art, science, literature, etc. at an advanced level 才华横溢

的；才智超群的

They were very intellectual and witty.

他们聪明而机智诙谐。

This think tank is made up of several intellectual elites.

这个智囊团由一些知识分子精英组成。

2) of or appealing to the intellect 智力的；使用智力的

It is of great significance to attach importance to the intellectual development of children.

重视孩童的智力发展非常重要。

It is not just a comedy but an intellectual film.

这不仅仅是一部喜剧，而且还是一部发人深思的电影。

companionship: n. [U] relationship you have with a good friend who spends a lot of time with you伴侣关系，同伴关系

I had to change car and lost the companionship of a well-informed newspaper man.

我不得不换车，这样就不能再与那位消息灵通的新闻记者结伴同行了。

Mrs. Greene keeps dogs for companionship and security.

格林太太养狗是为了有伴和安全。

28. This unusual arrangement is disrupted not by Jane?s decision to leave Stephen for her lover,

which she insists was never her intention, but her husband?s eventual abandonment of her for one of his nurses. (Para. 8)

The odd arrangement did not come to an end because of Jane?s leaving her husband for her lover but because of her husband?s leaving her for one of his nurses. And Jane insists that she didn?t mean to leave Stephen for her lover.

disrupt: vt.

1) interrupt the continuity of 使中断

The strike is expected to delay and disrupt flights from Britain.

预计罢工会延误和中断来自英国的航班。

Bus services will be disrupted tomorrow because of the bridge closure.

明日公共汽车将因大桥停止通行而受影响。

2) make it difficult for something to continue in the normal way 使混乱

An accident has disrupted railway services into and out of the city.

一场事故使得进出城市的铁路交通陷入混乱。

A crowd of anti-war demonstrators succeeded in disrupting the meeting.

一群反战示威者们成功地扰乱了会场。