综合英语6 Lecture Notes 10

Unit 10 Sweet September
IV. Structural Analysis
Part 1
(Para 1) introduces the topic
Part 2
(Para 2-7) the arrival of autumn
Part 3
(Para 8-10) describe the few days around the Autumn Equinox
Part 4
(Para 11-12) animals’ preparation for coming winter
Part 5
(Para 13-14) the end of the September season
I. Analysis
Paragraph 1 Analysis
Note that the opening statement “September is more than a month, really; it is a season, an achievement in itself ” is, in a sense, the topic sentence of the whole essay, wh ich will be beautifully developed in the following paragraphs. The readers will expect to see what distinguishing features it has and what kind of “achievement” it is in itself.
Paragraph 2 Analysis
This paragraph conveys a vision about the arrival of September. We can sense the almost imperceptible arrival of autumn in the first few days of September if we are sensitive enough.
Paragraphs 3-4 Analysis
In these two paragraphs the author describes the short period after the first few days of September “when it is comfortably cool but pulsing with life.” (Paragraph 3. Compare this clause with those in the preceding paragraph. It is already more than “a sense of autumn.”) He compares it with May and spring (Paragraphs 3 and 4): It is a “flowery month” with“less varied” flowers, and it has equally “abiding” wonder but this wonder is revealed in a subtler way.
Paragraph 5 Analysis
In this paragraph the author makes a prediction about what will take place with the arrival of autumn, that is, “... the leaves will be discarded, the grass will be sere,” but “the seed” will remain underground, which is “the germ of growth and renewal.”
Paragraph 6 Analysis
This paragraph is a fine description of what the spider does in September. One cannot but admire the “the persistence of life” represented by this tiny creature, for it has “traveled into the Arctic and almost to the summits of the Himalayas.”
Paragraph 7 Analysis
This paragraph describes what “the busy farmer” does in this harvest season.
Paragraphs 8-10 Analysis
These three paragraphs describe the few days around the Autumn Equinox(秋分), which occurs on September 22, 23, or 24, just a few days before the Mid-Autumn Day, “when the moon is near its fullness.” It should not be Frost’s Descent (霜降), which occurs on October 23 or 24. The trace of frost indicates the progression of time in the season. Notice that it is still in “early autumn.”
Paragraphs 11-12 Analysis
These two paragraphs describe how different animals prepare for the upcoming winter towards late September.
Paragraphs 13-14 Analysis
The last two paragraphs end the essay with the end of the September season. Having consolidated itself in this season with its wealth, nature begins to prepare for winter.
II. Questions for Paragraphs
Paragraph 2 Question
What is the author’s purpose of using “creeps in” and “tiptoes”?
The author is trying to say that autumn is almost imperceptible when it first arrives.
Paragraph 3 Question
How does the writer make the comparison between September and May in terms of flowers? September flowers may be less varied than those in May but they are more abundant and their colours range from pure white through all degrees of lavender to the royal New England purple.
Paragraph 4 Question
What difference does the author try to distinguish between September and spring?
Both spring and September are miracle seasons. Spring signals the beginning of new life, while September marks its maturity (annual fruition); spring proclaims the persistence of life through opening bud and new leaf while September reveals the lasting wonder of life in a subtler way —through the seed and the root, and the egg and the pupa.
Paragraph 10 Question
How do warm-blooded creatures and cold-blooded insects find the nights of September when “the frost walks the valleys”?
Warm-blooded creatures find these early autumn nights more pleasant and refreshing (to them the nights are “crisp, cool”), whereas cold-blooded insects find that their time is running out because it is becoming too cold for them. Notice that the focus is on cool-blooded insects in
Paragraph 11 Question
How do the small creatures prepare for the upcoming winter?
They hoard food.
Paragraph 14 Question
What is September’s last contribution to nature when it comes to its end?
The last contribution of September to nature is its preparation (mulch, humus, root, bulb, seed, and egg, etc.) for the renewal of life in the next year.
III. Language Work of Paragraphs
Paragraph 1
“After summer’s heat and haste, the year consolidates itself.”
Paraphrase: In summer, everything grows fast due to high temperatures. After that, the year makes its achievement more secure in September (i.e. it makes the plants and trees stop this kind of growth, bear fruit, and mature in September).
consolidate vt. to make the power, position, or achievements you already have stronger or more effective so that they are likely to continue
e.g. The success of their major product consolidated the firm’s position in the market.
She hoped that marriage would consolidate their relationship.
The company has been expanding rapidly and I feel it’s now time to consolidate.
Paragraph 2
“It creeps in on a misty dawn and vanishes in the hot afternoon.”
Paraphrase: It arrives silently on a hazy dawn and fades away in the hot afternoon. (That is to say, we feel a slight autumn chill in the early hours of the morning but in the afternoon it is as hot as summer again.)
creep vt. if someone creeps somewhere, they move there quietly and slowly
e.g. One or two typing errors crept into the report.
Doubts began to creep into my mind about the likely success of the project.
vanish vi. to disappear in a sudden and mysterious way
e.g. The child vanished while on her way home from school.
Cheap rural housing is vanishing in the south of the country.
“September is a changeling, busy as a squirrel in a hickory tree, idle as a languid brook.”Paraphrase: September is a changeable season, sometimes it is very active, like a busy squirrel in
a hickory tree, sometimes it is still, like a peaceful stream.
idle vi. runs slowly or does not produce any movement
e.g. He’s a very diligent student. But his brother is an idle fellow.
That factory has been idle for quite a few years and many of its workers have been laid
off.
It’s crazy to have ￡7,000 sitting idle in the bank.
We idled away the hours until the attack, drinking and playing cards.
Paragraph 3
“Goldenrod comes by mid-August, but rises to a peak of golden abundance in early September.”
Paraphrase: Goldenrod begins to blossom by mid-August, and in early September, its color turns yellow and it is in full bloom.
abundance n. a very large quantity of something
e.g. There is abundant evidence that cars have a harmful effect on the environment.
We had wine in abundance.
You’ve made your fe elings abundantly clear
Paragraph 4
“The plant commits its future to the seed and the root.”
Paraphrase: The plant’s future is reliant on the seed and the root.
commit vt. to give a definite opinion or make a definite decision; to agree to do something important
e.g. L ike so many men, he has problems committing himself to a relationship.
The government must commit itself to improving health care.
I think I can come but I won’t commit myself till I know for sure.
Paragraph 5
“Soon the leaves will be discarded, the grass will be sere.”
Paraphrase: Soon the leaves will be cast off and the grass will be withered.
discard vt. to get rid of something that you no longer want or need
e.g. Many international students who had just come to the US would use the furniture,
especially mattresses and chairs, discarded by other people.
In the time of reform such outdated ideas should be discarded.
“... that is the seed itself.”
Paraphrase: ... the seed itself is the promise of growth and renewal.
Paragraph 6
“Dawn shimmers with spider filaments ...”
Paraphrase: Spider filaments sparkle in the early morning light ...
shimmer vi. to reflect a gentle light that seems to shake slightly
e.g. She could see her reflection in the water, shimmering in the moonlight.
This week, the ballet company launches a shimmering new production of A
Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Paragraph 7
“... the harvest moon is not hasty; it comes early and stays late.”
Paraphrase: ... in autumn, the moon stays longer in the sky. It rises early and sets late.
hasty adj. done in a hurry because you do not have much time
e.g. He warned against making hasty decisions.
Finding it was raining, we made a hasty retreat into the bar.
His father had just died and he didn’t want to marry with indecent haste.
It was an unfortunate decision and I hasten to say it had nothing to do with me.
“... the kitchen harvest in all its variety, reaches its peak.”
Paraphrase: “The kitchen harvest” refers to the crop processing such as canning, preserving and freezing.
The sentence means that the processing of food in the kitchen is in full swing.
Paragraph 8
“... a clear, scant-starred night when the moon is near its fullness.”
Paraphrase: ... a clear night with few stars when the moon is almost full.
scant adj. not more than a small amount or number
e.g. H e pays scant attention to the needs of his children.
He had scant regard for the truth.
Add a scant half liter of milk to the mixture and stir well.
“the glistening leaf, the gleaming stem”
Explanation: Note that this is an alliteration.
Paragraph 9
“... the frost walks the valleys ...”
Paraphrase: ... the frost walks through the valley...
“... September shines through ...”
Paraphrase: It refers to the mild autumn weather comforting the land after the brief frost, not the moon. The preceding paragraph also describes a cold to warm transition.
Paragraph 10
“But cold-blooded insects are at the mercy of the sun and now their clocks run down”Paraphrase: It refers to the mild autumn weather comforting the land after the brief frost, not the moon. The preceding paragraph also describes a cold to warm transition.
mercy n. the act of forgiving someone or not treating them severely, especially someone who you have the authority to punish
e.g. The little ant is drifting in an open boat, at the mercy of the elements.
We are at the mercy of the weather.
run down: if something such as a machine or clock runs down, or if you run it down, it gradually stops working because it has no power
e.g. These batteries can be recharged when they run down.
Since he took that extra job, he’s really run himself down.
Paragraph 11
“Now come the hoarding days.”
Paraphrase: Now it is time to collect and store food for winter.
hoard vi. to get and keep a large amount of something because it might be valuable or useful later
e.g. During the siege people began hoarding food and supplies.
There would be enough food on a daily basis if people were not hoarding it.
We found a huge hoard of tinned food in the basement.
“The chipmunk lines his winter bedroom ...”
Paraphrase: The chipmunk fills his winter home with food...
Paragraph 12
“Now they are gregarious, with time for tribal gossip and community play.”
Paraphrase: Now they like to be with other woodpeckers. They have time to chat and play with each other.
gregarious adj. a gregarious person enjoys being with other people; gregarious animals or birds live in groups
e.g. Emma’s a gregarious, outgoing sort of person.
Pigeons are gregarious birds, but blackbirds tend to be solitary
“Who knows but that they are discussing the trip ahead?”
Paraphrase: Who knows whether perhaps they are discussing the trip ahead?
Note
The idiomatic phrase “who knows but that ...” is an informal colloquial expression meaning “who knows whether perhaps,” which indic ates a guess.
e.g. W ho knows but that it is true?
Who knows but that he may succeed?
Paragraph 13
By September’s end the treasure chest of autumn begins to “spill over” with wealth. Paraphrase: By the end of September, the fruitfulness of autumn is showing its best to us.
spill over: to spread to other areas
e.g. The conflict threatens to spill over into neighboring regions.
The talks between the two leaders look likely to spill over into the weekend. Paragraph 14
“The year’s season in the sun has run its course.”
Paraphrase: The year’s season has come to a natural end.
run its course: to develop in the usual way and reach a natural end
e.g. I had to accept that the relationship had run its course.
They estimated that between 17,000 and 20,000 cows would die before the epidemic
had run its course.
IV. Chinese Translation of Paragraphs
九月是夏天的尾声，秋天的序曲。

1. 九月确实并非仅仅是一个月份，它更是一个季节、一份成就。

它始于八月末梢，至于十月跟前，九月承前启后，别有一番快慰。

历经夏天的酷热和慌躁，日子变得愈发厚重。

从容而来的九月——以它自己的时机和节拍——终结了又一个夏天。

2. 九月捎来一丝秋意。

它在清晨的薄雾中悄然而至，在午后的暖阳中化为乌有。

它轻轻掠过树梢，染红几片树叶，然后又踩着一簇蓟花冠毛，穿过山谷飘然而去。

它栖息山巅，声响犹如十月黄昏猫头鹰的啼叫，并与风儿追逐嬉戏。

九月是个善变的小孩，时而像山核桃树上的松鼠忙忙碌碌，时而又像缓缓的小溪闲散慵懒。

九月里夏日臻于成熟，尽显丰饶。

3. 一年中最珍贵的几天也出现在九月份——天气凉爽宜人，却不乏盎然生机；晴空如碧，空气清新，风中不夹灰尘。

草地上还弥漫着干草的气息和青草刈割之后的清香。

九月的花朵虽不及五月那般异彩纷呈，却也多得足以将九月点缀成另一个花季。

秋麒麟草八月中旬开花，九月初进入盛花期，田野顿时一片金黄。

晚秋的蓟万紫千红，而紫菀更是遍地开花，路边、草地、山顶，甚至城市空地，从纯白至色调各异的淡紫色再到深紫色的花朵随处可见。

4. 在人们的心目中春天是个诞生奇迹的季节，那时花蕾和新叶宣告着生命的不息。

而九月则是永恒的时节，它为来年的新一代生命作好了准备。

橡果熟了，山核桃结实了。

植物将未来寄托于种子和根茎，昆虫把明天贮藏于卵和蛹。

汹涌的生命开始归于平静。

5. 那浓郁的绿色已褪，树木开始发生变化；不久将叶落草枯。

然而，生命的奇迹终将不灭，因为种子蕴含着生长与重生的奇妙萌芽。

6. 这是个缥缈的时节。

蜘蛛的细丝在晨光中闪闪发亮，那是晚秋孵化的幼蛛具备爬行本能
的明证。

在这样缥缈的丝线上，幼蛛已爬到北极，甚至几乎行至喜马拉雅山脉的巅峰。

不久，马利筋的豆荚就要开裂，绽放出银色的丝绒。

7. 这是秋收月圆的时节，皓月当空的日子将会持续一周。

月儿不慌不急，升得早，落得晚。

此时，忙碌的农夫甚至可在晚饭后重返田间，借着月光继续收割庄稼。

还有其他要收获的，不过多数是围绕厨房而非谷仓进行。

最后的丰收源于菜园，那晚熟的甜玉米、西红柿以及根茎类蔬菜。

罐装、贮存、冷冻，厨房丰富多彩的收获由此达到了高潮。

8. 初霜在夜晚降临了，一个夜空如洗、星辰寥落、月亮近圆的夜晚。

它悄无声息地降临人间，像蓟花冠毛似地静静刷过山坡上果园的角落。

拂晓时分，在闪亮的叶子上，在发着微光的茎干上，在柔软黝黑的庭园藤蔓上，你随处可见它留下的踪迹。

9. 随后一两夜，霜乘着月光漫步山谷，尔后绕过北面的山丘返回再稍作停留。

金色的初秋温柔地抚慰着大地。

一丝淡淡的茴香弥漫在空气中，还有秋麒麟草的芬芳。

薄雾漫舞，九月的阳光照彻九月那深蓝色的天空。

10. 对于温血的生灵，九月干爽的夜晚令它们活力充沛。

冷血的昆虫却听凭太阳的发落，生命奄奄一息。

蝉静了下来，蟋蟀和美洲大螽斯的合唱也减弱了。

纵然他们还会沙哑地歌唱，不过那声音则犹如小提琴手用破弓在烂弦上以小心谨慎的节奏演奏。

11. 之后便是贮藏的日子。

老鼠几周前就已经开始收获和存贮种子，金花鼠正在往它的卧室中填塞过冬食物，松鼠将坚果树的慷慨馈赠私藏起来，美洲旱獭则尽情地吞吃杂草、红花草和水果，将所获储存于自己的皮下脂肪。

12. 扑动正准备集结迁徙。

整个夏天，这些体形较大的啄木鸟都是独自行动，为家庭生
计奔忙，不与其他个体为伴。

现在他们却变成了群居动物，有时间唧唧喳喳地闲聊或者进行集体活动。

刺嘴莺和燕子已经为迁徙结好了群。

旅鸫也快要集结了。

巢已筑好，雏鸟也已经独立，食物充裕。

九月是鸟儿度假的时节，谁能说它们不是在讨论着前面的旅途呢？
13. 九月末，秋天的藏宝箱早已盛满，财宝开始“外溢”。

你看！它在静谧的午后流光溢彩，在落日的余晖里熠熠生辉。

树林、路边和门口不久就会遍地是宝，琳琅满目，胜过印度君王最富庶的梦想。

14. 一年的阳光时令已经过去，大自然开始准备步入冬天。

层林尽染之后，落叶铺满大地。

秋天的残叶将先当冬被，然后再化为树根和娇弱的种子所需的腐殖质。

万物迫切生长的时期已经结束，以待来年，但是生命却将自身潜藏在草根、球茎、种子和卵壳之中。

Section Four Consolidation Activities
I. Text Comprehension
1. Decide which of the following best states the author’s purpose
A.To point out the significant climate change of September as a transition from summer to
winter.
B.To describe the charm and wonder that makes September a unique month of the year.
C.To compare the two best seasons: spring and autumn in terms of their beauty and their
impact on living creatures.
Key: [ B ]
2. Judge, according to the text, whether the following statements are true or false.
1). September declares its arrival in a conspicuous and aggressive manner, instead of a quiet and subtle manner. [ F ]
2). The author tells us that the flowers of September are no less colorful than those of May. [ T ]
3). In the harvest season, farmers are no longer as busy as they were in summer. [ F ]
4). In September, cold-blooded insects are at the mercy of the sun because it is sometimes too hot and sometimes too cold for them. [ T ]
5). In late September, birds make the same preparations as small creatures, such as mice and squirrels, do for the up-coming winter. [ F ]
II. Writing Strategies
This text exemplifies the elegance of poetic description which is characterized by neat layout, various figures of speech and graceful wording.
The layout: The author, at very beginning, claims that “September is more than a month, really; it is a season, an achievement in itself.” This can be regarded as the topic sentence of the whole essay, which is developed in the subsequent paragraphs. Now try to give an out-line of the essay’s organization.
The layout:
a. The arrival of September that brings out a sense of autumn season (Para-graphs 1 and 2)
b. Some of the rarest days of the year and the abiding wonder of life as compared with that of spring (Paragraphs 3 and 4)
c. A prediction about what will take place with the arrival of autumn (Paragraph 5)
d. The gossamer season, “the persistence of life” as exemplified by the spider (Paragraph 6)
e. The season of the harvest moon (Paragraph 7)
f. The coming of frost and its impact on different animals (Paragraphs 8-10)
g. The season for food hoarding and migration (Paragraphs 11 and 12)
h. The season’s golden moment with all its riches (Paragraph 13)
i. The end of the season with a promise of the renewal of life (Paragraph 14)
Figures of speech: The author employs a number of figures of speech to enable readers to form a series of vivid pictures of September in their minds. Now try to identify the figures of speech used in the sentences or phrases below.
a. After summer’s heat and haste ... (Paragraph 1)
b. ... the sky is clear and clean ... (Paragraph 3)
c. It creeps in on a misty dawn ... (Paragraph 2)
d. It tiptoes through the treetops ... (Paragraph 2)
e. It comes without a whisper ... (Paragraph 8)
f. ... the frost walks the valleys in the moonlight. (Paragraph 9)
g. The chorus of the crickets and katydid ... (Paragraph 10)
h. ... it is with the deliberate tempo of a fiddler drawing a worn bow across fraying strings. (Paragraph 10)
i. ... the treasure chest of autumn begins to “spill over” with wealth. (Paragraph 13)
Figures of speech:
a. After summer’s heat and haste,… (alliteration)
b. …the sky is clear and clean,.. (alliteration)
c. It creeps in on a misty dawn… (personification)
d. It tiptoes through the treetops,… (personification)
e. It comes without a whisper,… (personification)
f. ... the frost walks the valley in the moonlight. (personification)
g. The chorus of the crickets and katydid diminishes. (metaphor)
h. ... it is with the deliberate tempo of a fiddle drawing a worn bow across fraying strings. (metaphor)
i. The treasure chest of autumn begins to “spill over” with wealth. (metaphor)
III. Language Work
1. Explain the underlined part(s) in each sentence in your own words.
1). After summer’s heat and haste, the year consolidates itself.
→ steadies itself and strengthens its hold on what has been achieved
2). It creeps in on a misty dawn and vanishes in the hot afternoon.
→ comes in without being noticed; completely disappears
3). It tiptoes through the treetops, rouging a few leaves...
→ moves softly; making ... red
4). September flowers are less varied than those of May but so abundant that they make
September another flowery month.
→ so plentiful/existing in such large amounts
5). The surge is almost over and life begins to relax.
→ The period of fast growth and renewal; calm/slow down
6). The green prime is passing.
→ The best period of a year when all the plants are green and full of energy
7). But cold-blooded insects are at the mercy of the sun and now their clocks run down.
→ dependent on the sun; their lives are coming to an end
8). Now they are gregarious, with time for tribal gossip and community play.
→ have formed large flocks (or, so to speak, tribes and communities), and they have time to communicate and play with each other
9). The year’s season in the sun has run its course.
→ has come to a natural end
10). After the color in the woodlands, the leaves will blanket the soil.
→ cover the ground completely with a thick layer like a blanket
2. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of the given words.
1). I think perhaps we were a little hasty (haste) in our judgment of him.
2). There was an abundance (abundant) of wine at the wedding.
3). There was a mass migration (migrate) of poverty-stricken farmers into the cities.
4). Try the product out in the comfort of your own home with absolutely no commitment (commit) to buy!
5). We drove across the desert, through the shimmering (shimmer) heat haze.
6). We found a bountiful (bounty) supply of coconuts on the island.
7). His urgent (urgency) pleas of innocence made no difference to the judge’s decision.
8). We have seen a similar consolidation (consolidate) of booksellers and distributors.
9). Regular exercise can result in a general diminution (diminish) in stress levels.
10). He showed great resolution (resolutely) in facing the robbers.
3. Fill in the blank(s) in each sentence with a phrase taken from the box in its appropriate form.
spill over | swirl | creep in | aflame | resolute | rise run its course | scent | surge up | run down | lay up | gorge oneself on
1). A few mistakes always creep in during the editing process.
2). Her rapid rise to fame meant that she made many enemies.
3). She felt a wave of resentment surging up inside her.
4). The fog swirled thickly around us.
5). You’ll run the battery down if you leave your car lights on.
6). If you gorge yourself on crisps like that, yo u won’t eat your dinner.
7). You’re laying up trouble for yourself if you ignore health problems now.
8). She’s utterly resolute in her refusal to apologize.
9). I try not to let my work spill over into my life outside the office.
10). Her cheeks were aflame with embarrassment.
11). The air was scented with lavender.
12). The doctor’s advice is to let the fever run its course.
4. Explain the meaning of the underlined part in each sentence.
1). We cannot stand idly by while these people suffer.
→ do nothing
2). We’re going to have to up the tempo if we’re to finish the work on time.
→ work faster
3). The whole experience left me with frayed nerves.
→ feeling anxious
4). In her haste to get up from the table, she knocked over a cup.
→ hurry
5). I breathed in deeply the crisp mountain air.
→ cold, dry and fresh
6). In any advertising campaign, you must accent the areas where your product is better than those of the competition.
→ emphasize
7). My abiding memory is of him watering his plants in the garden on sunny afternoons.
→ lasting
8). There’s a big cupboard under the stairs for stowing toys.
→ storing
9). He pays scant attention to the needs of his children.
→ little
10). We were invigorated by our walk.
→ felt fresher, healthier and more energetic
5. Correct the errors in the following passage. The passage contains ten errors, one in each indicated line. In each case, only one word is involved.
Corrections should be done as follows:
Wrong word: underline the wrong word and write the correct word in the blank.
Extra word: delete the extra word with an “×.”
Missing word: mark the position of the missing word with a “∧” and write the missing word
6. Fill in each blank in the passage below with ONE appropriate word.
Hal Borland — Outdoor Writer
Hal Borland (1) wrote what he liked to think of as his “outdoor editorials” for the Sunday New York Times from 1941 until just before his death in 1978. Born on May 14, 1900, on the prairie in Nebraska, he (2) grew up in Colorado, and then moved to New England in 1945. Borland (3) brought to his writing both personal life (4) experience with nature and the wisdom and ways of rural America.
Like his Sunday (5) editorials, his outdoor books are essays which (6) follow the seasons through the year: An American Year, Hill Country Harvest, Sundial of the Seasons, Hal Borland’s Book of Days, Hal Borland’s Twelve Moons of the Year. Trained as a journalist, his writings report the daily news from the world of (7) nature. Mr. Borland also wrote four novels that include themes of nature and man’s (8) relationship with nature. His most famous fiction is When the Legends Die. The novel tells the story of Tom, a Ute Indian boy who is (9) raised in the wilderness by his parents.
They die when he is still young, so he adopts the old ways of the Utes, builds a lodge for himself, and lives off the land. However, (10) neither the Utes nor the whites will leave him (11) alone. Men from both communities (12) use him for their own gain. Finally, he returns to the mountains (13) where he rediscovers himself and his roots. Other novels he wrote are The Amulet, The Seventh Winter, and King of Squaw Mountain.
Mr. Borland and his wife, Barbara, lived on a 100-acre farm, the (14) site of an old Indian village in northwestern Connecticut. Mrs. Borland was also a writer and assisted her husband in his (15) writing, too. Mr. Borland wrote many magazine articles, poems, essays, and stories as (16) well as his many books.
IV. Translation
1. Translating Sentences
1). 我们赶紧跑出商店，拼命追赶，但那小偷已经无影无踪了。

(vanish into)
We rushed out of the shop in hot pursuit, but the thief had vanished into thin air.
vanish into: to disappear in a sudden and mysterious way
e.g. The company that supplied the cargo has vanished into thin air.
He vanished into the darkness.
2). 如果你想成为一名演员，就必须全身心地投入。

(commit oneself to)
→ If you want to be an actor you have to really commit yourself to it.
commit yourself into: to devote oneself to someone or something; to be faithful to someone or something
e.g. He committed himself to his wife.
She settled down and committed herself to her job.
3). 他等到女儿睡着了，然后才蹑手蹑脚地悄悄走出房间。

(tiptoe)
→ He waited until his daughter was asleep, and then tiptoed quietly out of the room.
tiptoe vi. walk quietly
4). 我能感觉到血液在我的血管里搏动。

(pulse through)
→ I can feel the blood pulsing through my veins.
pulse through: to flow or surge through someone or something
e.g. A jolt of electricity pulsed through Sam, causing him to jerk his hand away from the
wire.
They repaired the power lines and electricity began to pulse through the wires again.
5). 如果你正确对待，中年将是你一生中的全盛时期。

(prime)
→ Middle age can be the prime of your life if you have the right attitude.
prime adj. most important; of the highest quality
e.g. Our prime concern was the safety of our customers.
a prime location for a business park prime beef.
6). 废弃的食品盒和瓶子被胡乱地扔在街道上。

(discard; litter)
→ Discarded food containers and bottles littered the streets.
litter vt. to leave litter in a place
e.g. Paper cups littered the ground.
The room was littered with broken glass.
7). 在许多人眼中，他的所作所为严重地降低了自己的声誉。

(diminish)
→In many people’s eyes, what he did has seriously diminished his rep utation.
diminish vt. to make something become less
e.g. The delay may well have diminished the impact of their campaign.
His reassurances did nothing to diminish her anxiety.
8). 过去没有现代的机械设备，农民基本上是看天吃饭。

(at the mercy of)
→ In the past, when there were no modern machines, the peasants were basically at the mercy of the weather
at the mercy of: in a situation that is controlled by someone or something with the power to harm you
e.g. Workers are entirely at the mercy of dishonest employers.
9). 由于人们预计价格会迅速上涨，便开始囤积货物。

(hoard)
→ Because people expected prices to rise rapidly, they started to hoard goods.
hoard vt. to get and keep a large amount of something because it might be valuable or useful later
e.g. People panicked and started hoarding food.
He hoarded up many pounds of canned tuna.
10). 这些变化被视为大范围改革的序幕。

(prelude)
→ The changes are seen as a prelude to wide-ranging reforms.
prelude n. an act or event that comes before and signals another act or event
e.g. Her rudeness to her boss was a prelude to her resignation. The Munich Pact was a
prelude to World War II.
2. Translate the following passage into Chinese.
Nothing. No tracks but my own are stitched into the dusting of fresh snow, white as birch bark, that fell during the night. No flittering shadows in the trees, not a sliver of bird song in the air.
What sun there is this time of year shines weakly, half-heartedly through the white gauze of clouds, offering not even the slightest pretense of warmth. A shiver runs through me as I stomp my feet for warmth and then listen again for any sign of life. The only sound is from the bare tips of branches chattering like teeth.
At first glance, nature doesn’t seem to have invested much in this late-winter day. The forest can seem like a rough etching —barren, lifeless and gray. There are subtle beauties —pine branches tipped in white, the pale-blue glow of moonlight off the snow. But this deep into winter, you look less for beauty than for signs that spring has not been forgotten.
参考译文：
一片空寥。

昨夜的一场雪后，大地铺上了一层雪被，洁白如白桦树皮，单单留下我的一串足迹。

没有飞掠枝头的影子，没有飘荡在天空的鸟语。

一年中此时的太阳发出微弱的光线，懒洋洋地透过薄薄的白云层，没有一丝暖意。

我不禁打了个寒战，跺着脚取暖，然后重又聆听是否有生命的动静。

唯一的声响是光秃秃的枝头相互拍打，发出像牙齿打战似的嗒嗒声。

乍一看，大自然似乎没有赋予这个晚冬季节多少景致。

森林就像一幅粗糙的蚀刻版画——荒凉、苍茫，不见生息。

周围的景色不乏淡雅之美——松树的枝头蒙上了一层白雪，月光洒在雪地上泛出淡蓝色的光辉。

但在这晚冬时分，你的目光搜寻的, 与其说是美丽的景色, 不如说是春天尚未被遗忘的迹象。