大学英语综英教程的课文详解(词汇和语法点)

Book One

Unit I

Text I

to be away from…: to leave…

for good: for ever

e.g., Henry left his hometown for good when he was a little child.

be confronted with sth.: be faced with sth. difficult, dangerous, unpleasant, etc. e.g. Jack was confronted with a charge (=accusation) of theft.

They were then confronted with a food shortage.

The world is now confronted with economic crises.

brief as it was = although it was brief

When as is used to mean although, it must be used in an inverted order for emphasis:

adv./adj./v. + as + S +V

e.g. Hard as she tried, she failed.

Wealthy as he was, he was not happy.

Try as they will, they won’t succeed.

touched with…: associated with the joys and sorrows of the four generations of the family

be touched with: contain a certain amount of (a quality)

e.g. The boy is touched with genius.

Her hair is touched with brown.

c.f. Her story touched us deeply.

well up: come up; rise

e.g. Oil wells up from the ground.

Gratitude welled up in my heart.

rest on: lie on; fall on

e.g. His arm rested on the table.

through my tears: while I was crying

…say goodbye to you…: leave you…/ part from you…

have one thing in common: share one thing; share the same thing have sth. in common: share sth.

e.g. The two sisters have a lot in common.

The twin brothers look alike, but they have little in common in character. look into: look at closely and carefully; examine

e.g. She looked into my eyes for a long time.

c.f. The police looked into the case of murder.

hand in hand: holding each other’s hands

e.g. The two players entered the tennis court hand in hand.

It’s…that makes them so.: It’s the special feeling that you have that makes the roses beautiful.

that special place in…: that special feeling that you have

makes them so: makes the roses beautiful

It is/was…who(m) / that…(emphatic pattern)

e.g. It is the boss who keeps ordering us around.

It was in 1949 that New China was born.

It was Tom whom / that I saw in the library.

was…a dream: was born; came into the world

many sons: many young men

went away: left for the battlefield

a great evil: Nazi Fascism (headed by Hitler and Mussolini)

Don’t ever say…: Never say…

give in (to): yield (to); surrender (to)

e.g. They fought for two days, but finally they had to give in.

Never give in to difficulties or hardships.

Take that special hello: Accept that first friendly greeting

lock it away within you…: always keep it in your mind (and you will never forget the joy and happiness of summer)

lock away sth.: keep sth. safe by putting it in a locked place; keep sth. secret e.g. The lady locked away her jewelry in a safe.

She locked away her sorrows deep in her heart.

summer is an always time: there is always great joy and happiness of summer an always time: an ever-lasting time

must part = must part from each other

part (from sb.): leave (sb.); say goodbye (to sb.)

e.g. The poor girl had to part from her parents.

reach …within you: think deeply

bring back: remember

the family was summoned: all the people in the family were told to come back When it came to my turn: When it was my turn to see him

when it comes / came to one’s turn: when it is / was one’s turn to do sth.

e.g. When it came to his turn, he went calmly on to the platform.

moved on: left; went away

make up: form; constitute

e.g. Eleven players make up a soccer team.

China’s population makes up about a quarter of the world’s total.

Text II

attache(s): (How to pronounce it?)

springs up: begins suddenly

women have outgrown the…era: the days are gone when women would jump on a chair at the sight of a mouse, i.e. nowadays women are no longer so easily scared or frightened as they used to be

a colonel who says they haven’t.: a colonel says women are still easily scared or

frightened.

…unfailing reaction: reaction that a woman always has

feel like it: want to scream

what counts: the thing that is important

frighten the cobra into striking: frighten the snake so much that it will attack and bite people

arresting: attracting (people’s) attention

it sobers everyone: it makes … calm and quiet

forfeit: lose (money) because of failure to do sth.

make for: move towards (quickly)

lights up…: causes (the woman’s face ) to become cheerful

Unit 2

Text I

whatever = what ever (more emphatic than what)

manners: people’s ways of behaving

do sb. a favour: do sth. kind for sb.;

help sb.

e.g. Could you do me a favour?

good manner(s): polite way(s) of behaving or treating others

a little nicer…each other: a bit more polite to each other

gotten away from that: become different from what it used to be

hand: pass; give

giving a wave or nod…: waving the hand or nodding the head to show their gratitude appreciation: thankful recognition; gratitude

pull out into traffic: drive onto the road and join in the traffic

pull out: drive onto the road

doesn’t really matter: isn’t really important

it can matter very much: it can be very important

matter: be important

e.g. It doesn’t matter how you’re dressed on informal occasions.

…stylish without good manners: (we can’t be truly) fashionable unless we behave politely and treat others politely

think of …as: regard or view … as

e.g. Many people think of Hangzhou as the most beautiful city in China.

Mozart is thought of as one of the greatest composers of his time.

They become…before our eyes: They seem to be great movie stars to us

Take: Consider

art: skill

get into a / the habit: form a/the habit

e.g. You should get into a good habit of taking notes in class.

Never get into the bad habit of smoking.

gracious: polite; good

set sb. an example (= set an example for sb.): show sb. the right way to do sth.

e.g. He set us a good / fine example.

He set a good example for us.

adds priceless panache to …: helps greatly to improve your image / contributes greatly to improving your image

do / work wonders: have an unusually beneficial effect; bring unexpected good results

e.g. The medicine did wonders for his headache.

the person on…end: the person receiving “ Thank you.”; the person receiving the thank

compliment sb. on sth.: praise sb. for sth.

e.g. The guests complimented her on her cooking.

We complimented the host on his hospitality.

sweet gesture: pleasing gesture

terrific: very good / nice (colloquial)

put me in a great mood: made me very happy

I bet the note … didn’t … to write: I’m sure my guest must have spent little time

writing the note she sent me

I bet: I’m sure / certain (colloqu ial)

e.g. I bet they will succeed.

put off: postpone

e.g. The meeting was put of

f.

I put off answering the letter as I was very busy.

go by: pass

e.g. Nearly a month has gone by since we came to this college.

board (an airplane): get / go on board ( an airplane)

melt away…the irritation…: make most of your anger disappear

Same for = It is the same for

a wee bit: a little bit (colloquial)

e.g. His story is a wee bit tedious.

punctuality is not…: being on time is not just sth. highly valued only in the past (; it is still highly valued even today)

a thing of the past: sth. (that was) highly valued only in the past

Being on time: Being punctual

value: regard as valuable or important

e.g. We highly value the friendship between our two countries.

it counts the most: it is the most important

count: be important

e.g. Every minute counts.

c.f. It doesn’t matter whether you go or stay.

go a long way (to do sth. / towards doing sth.): help greatly (to do sth.)

e.g. That will go a long way to overcome the difficulties.

That will go a long way towards overcoming the difficulties.

they are in your thoughts: they are important to you; you often think about them sure get my attention: surely attract my attention

sure = surely (colloquial)

e.g. He sure is right.

Show that…: You should show that you don’t treat your wife or husband with careless indifference

take sb. for granted: treat sb. with careless indifference

e.g. He took Mary for granted.

c.f. They took our help for grante

d.

(=They regarded our help as certain.)

are infectious: can be spread from one person to another (i.e. if you behave politely to others, you’ll make them behave politely to you in return)

if we could just get…: I wish we could get everyone to use good manners with others if: if only; how I wish

catch them: use good manners with others; behave politely to others; treat others politely

Text II

An Educator’s…Responsibility: a parent’s or a teacher’s moral responsibility (for children)

ravages of inhumanity: destructive effects of acts of cruelty

intolerance: lack of tolerance

compelling: convincing

decline: falling; deterioration

contend with: struggle with

levels: degrees

adolescent aggression: some teenagers’ aggressi ve behavior (such as using offensive language, attacking or bullying younger or weaker chidren)

profanity: offensive language (to be used to insult sb., e.g. “God damn it”, “the son of a bitch”, etc.)

social climate: social atmosphere

display antagonistic attitudes: show hatred or hostility to others

impart to…the values…(= impart the values… to their children): let their children know and learn the values…

impart sth. to sb.: let sb. know sth.

integrety: honesty

decency: modesty

surrender: give up

interfere with: prevent; affect

disciplined: punished

rather than: instead of

find fault with: be critical of

in essence: essentially; basically

pervasive: widespread

affirm: agree with; support

sportsmanship: spirit of honest fair play and graceful winning or losing ladies and gentlemen: well-behaved persons / citizens

Unit 3

Text I

When…Struck: When…Hit the Plane

strike: hit;

e.g. Lightning struck the house.

The tree was struck by lightning.

c.f.Tom strikes (=impresses) me as a very bright boy.

air crash: plane crash; air disaster

this is it: a disaster is coming upon us, i.e. our plane has been hit by lightning, and it may crash at any time

manage to do sth.: succeed in doing sth. difficult

e.g. They managed to find some water in the desert.

flight attendants: air hostesses

,already strapped in: ,(who had)already (been) fastened in place with a seat belt strap in: fasten in place with a seat belt

e.g. She strapped the child in.

He strapped himself in before starting the engine.

stricken expressions: expressions that showed worry or anxiety

we got hit by…: our plane was hit by lightning

be supposed to do sth.: should do sth.; be expected to do sth.

e.g. You are supposed to observe the rules and regulations of the college.

make a connecting flight: change to another plane which would take her to her destination (England)

put away: put (sth.) in its right place

e.g. They put the tools away before they left the workshop.

The books have been put away on the shelf.

the speaker: the loudspeaker

through my fear: while I was very much afraid

he was done: he finished (making his announcement)

come on: follow

e.g. You’d better go to the station now; I’ll come on later.

remind sb. of sth.: make sb. remember sth.

e.g. His wife reminded him of his appointment with Mr. Brown.

This hotel reminds me of the one we stayed in last year.

pull oneself together: control oneself and become calm again

e.g. He managed to pull himself together during the crisis.

I reassured her…make it: I comforted her by making her believe that we would

succeed in landing safely

make it: succeed (in doing sth.); arrive in time

e.g. After years of hard work, he finally made it.

You’ll make it if you hurry up.

After this…small potatoes: After this frightful experience, your trip to London would seem like sth. insignificant.

small potatoes: sth. unimportant or insignificant

a ringed hand: a hand with a ring on one of the fingers

the female equivalent…: the woman

(who was) as confident as the businessman

…seen how scared I was: noticed I was very much afraid

reached over: extended her hand from across the aisle

confide: tell sth. secretly

e.g. She confided her plan to me.

c.f. She confided in her sister. (= She told her secrets to her sister.)

real big: really serious or important

I’d have …broken fingers…: two of my fingers were almost broken because she was holding my hand very tightly out of TLC

broken fingers (exaggerative and humorous)

on board: in or on the plane

on board: in or on a plane / train / ship

e.g. There were 200 passengers on board.

They went on board the plane.

small pockets of…conversation:very brief conversations to comfort each other

go through: undergo; experience

e.g. He went through a lot of hardships.

transfer…flights: make us change to other planes

We chatted…might be.: Although our lives might be difficult or unsteady, we felt that we were lucky to have survived the crisis and we talked about that.

lamented that…a present…: said he was sorry that he had not been able to buy a present for his two little daughters

cell phone: an earlier type of mobile telephone

make a call: make a phone call; telephone

the reassuring voice of…: the comforting voice of someone he or she loved

a loved one: someone he or she loved

wasn’t …see… much of me: wasn’t able to see me often

getting in: arriving home

board my new flight: go on board my new flight; get on another plane

I felt almost…: I felt very sad when I had to leave my fellow passengers, for I was

deeply touched by what they had done and said to me , even though we had been together for only a short time.

be indebted to sb. (for sth.): be very grateful to sb. (for sth).

e.g. I’m indebted to you for your help.

pay them back: repay their kindness; repay them for their kindness

pay sb. back: give something to sb. in return for help, kindness, etc.

e.g. I’ll pay you back for your kindness.

c.f. I’ll pay back your kindness to you.

struck by lightning: very excited for I have realized sth.

the point: the most important thing

not to pay back…but…: not just to

repay their kindness to only, but to pass it on to

many other people, esp. people of the younger

generations

pass sth. on (to sb.): give sth. (to sb.); tell sth. (to sb.)

e.g. Please pass on the message to your classmates.

Dad felt superfluous.: Dad felt that he was not needed in the house.

He was reserved.: He kept his feelings to himself. / He wouldn’t let others know his feelings.

in particular: especially

clothe in words: express in words

calling on: visiting

keep on about: keep talking about

mum dominated: mum played a dominating role in the home

overshadowed him: made dad seem less important

she him = she (adored) him

but what are we to say: but we have no right to say anything about the relationship between mum and dad

she thought nothing of walking…: she regarded walking… as usual or easy

think nothing of doing sth.: regard doing sth. as usual or easy

compensate for dad: make up for the loss or absence of dad

her lot: her fate

What have they got to do with me?: They have nothing to do with me. / They have no connection with me.

have (got) (sth.) to with: have …connection with

incidental: unimportant

Text I

science fiction (or sci-fi): stories based on imaginative scientific knowledge, often about the future

step into: enter; get into

shaped like a shark: made into the form of a shark

Down slides the submarine…: The submarine goes down smoothly just like a shark diving

Deeper and…= It goes deeper and …

all sunlight is gone.: all sunlight disappears. / there isn’t any sunlight.

turn on: switch on

e.g. He turned on the CD player.

have fun: enjoy oneself

e.g. Edward had great fun playing computer games.

sights: things that can be seen or are worth seeing

e.g. We went to see the sights of Beijing.

c.f. We went sightseeing in Beijing.

hotels…and factories!: (you can also see) hotels … and factories at the bottom of the sea!

mining camps: places for digging out minerals from the bottom of the sea come true: become a reality; actually happen

e.g. His wish to become an airplane pilot came true.

The old man’s dream of returning to his native land never came true.

a short time from now: the near or immediate future

a long time from now: the distant future

Some: Some of the wonders

who knows for sure?: no one knows for certain

for sure: for certain

e.g. I’d like to know for sure if you will come to our party.

the other way: in the opposite direction

up instead of down: (travelling) upwards into outer space rather than downwards into the sea

Earth: the earth; the planet we live on. (What’s the relationship between the moon and Earth?)

Earth, Mars, V enus: three of the nine planets in the solar system (Do you know the names of the other six planets in the solar system?)

far, far future: very distant future

play with: amuse oneself with (sth.); play together with (sb.)

e.g. Tom played with a toy train.

Tom played with his little friends.

faster than you can blink: extremely fast or quickly

Imagine a race…: What an interesting sight you would see if there were a race between jet-powered bikes or skates and a small flying saucer

miles away: far away

think a thought: have an idea

you can have secrets…: you can have secrets between you and your friend that no one else can get to know

nobody…can tune in on: no one else

can get to know

tune in on: adjust a radio or TV receiver to a certain frequency

e.g. He tuned in on the Voice of China.

We tuned in on Channel Five.

other surprises: other things that will surprise you

fix: adjust

…so that it won’t be too perfect: Why?

what about: what will / may happen

or has happened to sth. / sb.

e.g. What about her driving test?

c.f. How about having a cup of coffee?

made out of : made from

make sth. out of sth. else = make sth. from sth. else

e.g. They made these bricks out of clay.

This kind of paper is made out of straw.

taste (link verb): have a particular flavour when tasted

e.g. The dish tastes delicious.

c.f. The flower smells sweet.

The ice feels cold.

blend: mix together

e.g. She blended the eggs and the flour to make a birthday cake.

make life last longer: make people live longer / extend or lengthen people’s life span find cures for: develop effective medicines or treatments for

keep on doing sth.: continue doing sth.

e.g. They kept on working after dark.

smash together: collide with each other / crash into each other

smash: move with great force (into or against sth. else)

e.g. The car smashed into the wall.

c.f. He smashed the vase in a rage.

controls: devices such as switches for regulating or directing the movement of a machine

miss each other: avoid crashing into each other

put on the brakes: control the brakes to slow down or stop the cars

giant: very huge

keep sth. out: prevent sth. from getting in

e.g. Shut the windows and keep the cold out.

Strangers should be kept out.

should be: will probably be

should: (used to indicate probability)

e.g. He should be here any minute.

The reference book should be in the reading-room.

shapes: influences; affects

eclipses: makes … appear insignificant by comparison

key: major; fundamental

issues: problems

we are still a long way from…: it still requires a great deal of time and effort on our part to create…

critical: most important

infrastructure: basic facilities

web site hacking: unauthorized access to web sites

PC: personal computer

private sector: private businesses

ensuring that …aren’t exposed to…: making sure that children aren’t allowed to watch programs with inappropriate content i.e. sex, violence, and crime (This sentence implies that in some movies, on TV or on the Internet children can watch sex, violence and crime, which have a negative effect on them)

are exposed to: are allowed to see or hear or watch

inappropriate content: (stories or programs about) sex, violence or crime

bridging the …divide: overcoming the gap or difference

protect…property: protect intellectual property rights

regulating …commerce:putting world trade in order

address: deal with

is committed to providing…: promises to provide…

paving the way for: getting everything ready for

Text I

deal with: take action about

e.g. They had to deal with some new problems.

c.f. Shop assistants deal with all kinds of customers.

strengthen: make stronger or more powerful

e.g. He did exercises to strengthen his muscles.

mature: fully developed mentally and physically

e.g. He is not yet mature even though he is over twenty.

Henry is not mature enough to shoulder such responsibilities.

I was …in the world.: I had nothing to worry about in the world.

I had no worries: I had nothing to worry about

living life up: enjoying life to my heart’s conte nt

anything: anything bad

We were invincible: I believed that David and I were so young, healthy and strong that we wouldn’t be affected by any illness

until…into my life: before I got to know the effects of AIDS

didn’t hang out as much: didn’t spend a s much time together as before

hang out: spend time somewhere in a casual or relaxed way

e.g. They often hang out in a bar.

It bothered me…: It troubled me

he wasn’t in school a lot: he was often absent from school

he hung up on me: he refused to answer my phone call

hang up: end a phone call by putting the receiver back

e.g. He hung up before I could answer him.

I blew it off: I overlooked it; I didn’t take it seriously

I confronted him as to…: I met him face to face and asked him why we were n o

longer friends.

confront: face sb. / sth. boldly, threateningly, in defiance or hostility