高级英语考试整理

高级英语考试整理

Unit 1

P9

1、“I was beside myself with excitement: my imagination fuelled by glamorous shots of the popular Hollywood temptresses.”

Paraphrase: I was extremely excited when I imagined myself in attractive pictures like those of popular actresses in Hollywood.

2、Tears of frustration threatened to break fee as I wondered for the umpteenth time why the unfeeling teacher couldn’t look past my clothes for once ...”

Paraphrase:I could hardly hold back my tears because of frustration as I wondered, as I had many, many times before, why the unsympathetic teacher couldn’t overlook my clothes for once...

P11.

1). Explain the underlined part(s) in each sentence in your own words.

1). Because of the war, rationing was in place and most schools had relaxed their attitude towards proper uniforms, knowing how hard it was to obtain clothes.

→ the amount of food, water, petrol or other necessary substances was limited; had become less severe or strict with

2). Every day I would battle back tears as I stood in front of my peers, embarrassed and, most often, alone.

→ hold back; schoolmates

3). However, in my 12-year-old mind I had no choice but to see the punishment through. I knew it was very important not to let my well-meaning mother know about this ritual humiliation.

→ endure the punishment; the embarrassment I had to go through every day

4). ... if she ever told my father he would have instantly been on the warpath in my defence.

→ so angry and likely to argue with my teachers in order to protect me

5). There was none of my usual pleasure in putting on the cherished dress that day.

→ the dress that I liked very much

6). At assembly I didn’t bother to wait for the command but trudged up to the stage of my own accord to endure the sniggers of the other girls and the beady eyes of the deputy head.

→ walked slowly and reluctantly to the stage without being asked to do so

7). I consoled myself that I could at least lose myself in Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities for a while at the back of the class to recover and regain my composure.

→ I cheered myself up with the idea; get absorbed in the story of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and not think about anything else; calm down and get back my self-control

8). And then she came out with the most welcome sentence I had ever heard at that mean-spirited place.

→ said unexpectedly; agreeable; vicious

9). I floated through the rest of the day buoyed by the warmth generated by her thoughtfully chosen words.

→ was in high spirits; feeling happier and more confident due to

10). Although English Literature was her forte, that day Miss McVee taught me, and perhaps the whole class, a lesson in compassion that I have never forgotten.