1. Rome Wasn't Built in a Day   p.1.

English is an international language. Therefore, it is necessary for us to learn it. It can be rewarding or just a waste of time. It's up to you. It depends on how you study it. Here are some tips about learning English.
First, don't be afraid to make mistakes. You will learn from them. Second, you must not be shy. Be thick-skinned and speak up! Finally, you mush be patient. Remember, "Rome wasn't built in a day."

☆foul language 下流话
Mandarin 普通话，国语
☆Your stay here is just(or only) a waste of time.
☆rewarding  a.有（获）益的；修得做的，划算的．
　Teaching is a very rewarding profession.教书是一种很有价值的职业．
Exercise is a rewarding for our health.
☆by fits and starts.　 adv.间歇地,断断续续地,一阵一阵地
My brother studied accounting by fits and starts, so he failed.
☆tip n. ①建议②小费 ③提示，技巧
give sb. tips on/about sth.   vt.给某人关于某事的建议 tip (about) = advice (on)
a good piece of advice  不说: a good advice
☆stink  vi.臭  stingy
☆be patient with sb.   对...有耐心
☆thick-skinnned a.厚颜的
　Eg：If you want to be a good salesman,you must be thick-skinned.
☆Don’t be afraid to make mistake. 别怕犯错．
☆It depends on how you study it.那要看你如何去学习．
　It depend on when you do it.那要看你何时去做．

2. How to Improve Your English p.9.

Mack is talking to his friend Don.
M: Hi, Don! How are you doing in your English class?
D: Not so well, I'm afraid.
M: What's the problem?
D: I'm not improving. Tell me, how come your English is so good?
M: Well, uh…I have an American girlfriend.
D: Aha! That's it. Now I know what to do. (He runs off.)
M: Hey, Come back! I was just kidding!

☆funny farm 疯人院   正式：mental asylum
☆improve sth = make a lot of improvement in sth
☆how come(口) 无需要倒装=why
☆talk to(with) sb. about sth.  vi.       talk sb. into doing   vt.说服
☆When he gave a speech, we realized that he was just talking nonsense.
☆He is a problem studnet.
☆greeting 招呼语
How are you doing in ...?   or:  How are you getting along?  近来怎么样？
久违的老朋友还可以说：How are you?  or  How have you been?
Howdy  美国南部招呼语  answer: Howdy
☆blind date 相亲,盲目约会
☆I am afraid (that省略) it is going to rain, so we can't go on a picnic.  我认为...(弱语气)
☆What's the problem (with)?
= What's wrong?
= What's the matter (with)?
☆goof around  浪费时间，混时间
☆Aha, that's it. = Aha, I get it. = I understand.
☆kidding = joking

3. The City of Song 　p.13

Listening to music is the favorite pastime of many people all over the world. This is especially true for people living in Vienna, the city of song. Being the home of Mozart, this city is the birthplace of classical music and the waltz.
Music fills the air in Vienna. Going to public concerts is often free of charge. And don't forget, Vienna is also home to the world famous Vienna Boys' Choir. No wonder people say Austria is always alive with the sound of music.

☆Austria   Australia   jog 慢跑   chore 杂物(可数)  potbelly 大肚皮 He is a potbelly.
☆the world over  adv. = around the world = throughout the world = all over the world
☆maestro  艺术大师，名作曲家
☆birthplace 发源地，诞生日     classical 古典的   classic 经典的
☆be free (of charge) 免费的     This sample is free of charge.
☆be enslaved by 被...奴役   be enslaved to a bad habit 改不掉坏习惯
☆be home to       某地是…的所在地／出产地／聚集地
be the home of    某地是…的故乡／老家
☆no wonder + clause（主+v.）  adv.难怪  
Eg：No wonder Bruce is in such a good shape, he excercises.
    No wonder you’re so thin, you eat so little.
☆be alive with  a.活的，充满的　Eg：The room is alive with children’s laughter.
  sth. fill the air 充满着某物　Eg：Romatic love songs fill the air in that cozy Italian restaurant.
那家温馨的意大利餐馆充满着罗曼蒂克的情歌．

4. He Who Hesitates Is Lost 　p.21

Mike is in Vienna with his girlfriend Daisy.
M: Are you having a good time, Daisy?
D: Are kidding? I'm having the time of my life. I loved the concerts.
M: Concert going is fantastic but what else can we do?
D: Biking along the banks of the river Danube could be fun.
M: It sounds like a great idea!
D: Let's do it then.
M: You're right. As they say, "He who hesitates is lost."

☆He who(引导表语从句) hesitates is lost. 迟疑着将丧失良机.
hesitates to … 做…犹豫不决
He who …+单数动词  “凡是…的人….”
= one who.. = those who +复数动词
Eg：He who works hard will be successful.  "He" means anyone.  or: one, those
☆I was lost in that music. ＂

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5. Bungee Jumping 　p.26

Bungee jumping looks like fun. It makes me nervous just to watch someone do it. It certainly takes a lot of guts to jump one thousand feet above the water with only a rope tied to your legs. It scares me just to think about it. However, it is something I really want to do one day.
Some people think I'm crazy. They say to jump is foolish enough, but to have to pay for it is madness. I don't agree. For me, to live a short and exciting life is far better than to live a long and boring one. What do you think?

☆wild boar 野猪
☆Paper originated in China. 起源于
☆have the guts(口语)/courage to be. 有做…的勇气／胆量．  
　pluck up one's courage  鼓起勇气   muster up one's courage
　Eg：Bill does not have the guts to ask Marry to go out for a date.
☆be tied to = be bound (bind) to 被...绑在
That poor dog is tied/bound to the fence, he can not run away.
☆be scared of = be frightened of       Peter is scared of snakes.   
scare sb. to death 把某人吓的要死． He scared me to death.
☆He looked into the mirror and found he looked much older. 照镜子
☆cockroach(es) 蟑螂   lunatic n.adj疯子  luna 月亮(拉丁文)　
☆get somewhere 有出息  get nowhere 没出息
　If you work hard you get somewhere someday.
☆I agree with you on this point, but I disable agree with you on that point.
☆agreeable 相处容易的:  I like Marry, because she's a very agreeable personality.
☆live/lead + a/an +a. life 过着…生活
　The famous sight lives/leads a simple life.
☆boring        a.令人厌烦的，无聊的（指事） So boring 真无聊  boring day
  be bored with  a.感到厌烦的（指人）
　=be fed up with =be sick of =be tired of   “受够了” “对…感厌烦”
☆What do you think?　你认为呢？
☆looks /tastes /sounds like(prep.)  后接名词  “象”
☆知觉动词　vt.　看：see, watch,look at(注视) 　听：hear,listion to  感觉：feel
  1)vt.+宾+宾补(动原) 　　　强调确有事情发生，表进行时态
2)vt.+宾+宾补(现在分词)　 强调事情正在发生
3)vt.+宾+宾补(过去分词)   强调被动的状态

6. Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained　 p.35

Lisa and Bill are talking about their future.
L: What's your goal in life, Bill?
B: To fly in the sky and feel as free as a bird.
L: That's easy.
B: What do you mean?
L: Go bungee jumping.
B: You mush be kidding. It's too dangerous.
L: Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

☆If nothing is ventured, nothing will be gained.
☆Everybody shoule have a goal in life.
  My goal is to learn English better one day.
☆Growing up is learning experience.
☆pearl 珍珠   Pearl 女人名
☆carve out 雕刻出,开创出  
Eg:By going to school and studying hard, Sam carved out a good career of his future.
☆attain/reach/fulfill one's goal
☆Peter and Bruce are as busy as bees.
  Ever since sam lived on his own, he has felt as free as a bird.
山姆自从独立生活以来觉得自由极了．
To fly in the sky and feel as free as a bird.象鸟儿一样在天气自由翱翔。
☆What do you mean by calling me at midnight?　你深夜打电话给我是什么意思？
☆1>take it easy(ad.) 放松点　  2>easy(a.)  Eg:easy come,easy go. / That’s easy.
☆feel +a.(主补)  go +doing 从事某种短暂的活动　go shopping   go fishing

7. Doctor Death  p.39

Whether very sick people should be helped to end their own lives is a question many people cannot answer. However, Dr.Kevorkian is an exception. That he has done this more than twenty times is known to everyone. Some say what he is doing is immoral. They call him Doctor Death.   Others say what he is doing is merciful. They call it mercy killing.
Whether Dr.Kevorkian should be allowed to continue doing this is a real problem for the government. There seem to be two sides to the argument. Which side are you on?

☆be known as +身份　为人所知
　be known to sb. 为某人所熟知
  be known for sth. 　Eg:Don’t you know? 你难道不知道？   
　Eg：The old man is known for his generosity.那个老人以慷慨闻名。
☆One is known by company he keeps. 观其友，知其人
☆spooky 幽灵般的     Halloween 万圣节
☆end one’s life 结束某人的生命
to end one's own life = to put an end to one's own life
☆When the movie came to an end, many people were crying. 结束
☆I helped Mother wash(=do) the dishes last night.
☆Every rule has its exception. = There is an exception to every rule.
with the ex

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8. No Hearts or No Brains?  P.52

Helen and Dick are talking about the previous article.
H: I don't understand how people can think Dr. Kevorkian is doing the right thing.
D: Well, helping people die with dignity is not that bad, in it?
H: Don't you know ? Where there is life, there is hope.
D: Come on. Be realistic. Those people who want to die are suffering. It's better that they go quickly and painlessly.
H: All you men have no hearts.
D: And all you women have no brains.

☆We teach our children to momerize/remenber their telepphone number by heart. 默背
Peter is really a kind of man at heart.   at heart 本性上
☆beat one's brains 绞尽脑汁
I stayed up all night and beat my brains, but I couldn't think of the answer.
☆understanding = considerate = thoughtful  体谅的
☆To my understanding, .... = To my knowledge, .... (放句首)就我所知
☆kangaroo  袋鼠
☆that bad = so bad
☆Where there is a will, there is a way. 有志者，事竟成
☆stay up / sit up　熬夜
☆suffer from +疾病　“长期（患）…的疾病”
　Eg：My mother suffers from migraine headaches. (偏头痛)

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