Language Point 1
On January 27th, 1970, at seven o'clock in the evening, John Lennon arrived at a recording studio in London to record a song he had written that very day: "Instant Karma!". (Para. 1)
Meaning: On January 27th, 1970, at seven o'clock in the evening, John Lennon arrived at a music recording studio in London to record a song that he had written that day entitled "Instant Karma!".
Language Point 2
Lennon, still a nominal member of the Beatles, led a band that for this occasion included only one other Beatle. (Para. 1)
Meaning: Lennon was still known by name as one member of the Beatles band, but was leading a band that included just another member of the Beatles for this recording.
nominal: a. existing in name only; not real or actual
He is only the nominal director; the real work is done by someone else. 他只是名义上的主任，实际的工作都是别人做的。
Though very old, he is still the nominal chairman of this club. 虽然他已经年迈，却仍然是该俱乐部的名义主席。
Language Point 3
Yoko Ono — Lennon's soul mate of the past two years and, since the previous March, his wife — contributed hand claps and backing vocals along with a noisy mob of patrons towed in at the last minute from a local pub. (Para. 1)
Meaning: Yoko Ono, who had become his intimate companion for the past two years before marrying him the previous March, made contributions to the recording by clapping her hands and singing backing vocals along with a noisy crowd of frequent customers at a local pub who had been persuaded to come here at the last moment.
vocal: n. (often pl.) sung part of a piece of music (esp. pop or jazz); the part of a piece of music that is sung rather than played on an instrument
Vocals by John Lennon and Paul McCartney约翰•列侬和保罗•麦卡特尼（在摇滚唱片中）的歌唱部分
Who was on lead vocals on the band's last record? 在那支乐队最新发行的唱片中，领唱的是谁？
mob: n. large disorderly crowd, often one that has gathered to attack or cause mischief
a mob of demonstrators一群乱哄哄的示威者
The fans rushed into the sports ground in an excited mob. 一群亢奋聚众滋事的球迷闯进球场。
tow: vt. pull along
If you park your car here the traffic police may tow it away. 如果你把车停在这儿，交警会把它拖走的。
The ship had to be towed into the harbor. 必须将船拖进港内。
Language Point 4
"It was great," Lennon said later, "I wrote the melody in the morning on the piano...." (Para. 2)
melody: n. a song or tune
Three months have passed and my ears are still filled with the haunting melody. 三个月过去了，我耳边仍然萦绕着那首优美的旋律。
To their surprise, these old African melodies have some similarities to modern pop songs. 让他们感到惊奇的是，这些古老的非洲歌曲竟然与现代流行音乐有某些相似之处。
Language Point 5
"...Then I went to the recording company office and said, 'Hell, let's do it.'" (Para. 2)
Meaning: "...Then I went to the recording company's office and said, 'damn it! Let's start to make the recording.'"
Language Point 6
I did it in three takes or something like that. (Para. 2)
Meaning: I did the recordings for three times or so.
Please note that "take" is a noun here referring to the effort of making recordings; therefore, "three takes" means three times of recording, or the third take being a success.
Language Point 7
In fact, it took Lennon and the band ten takes to record the basic tracks. (Para. 2)
Meaning: In fact, Lennon and the band recorded the basic tracks ten times. (They succeeded in recording the basic tracks in the tenth time.)
Language Point 8
Dubbing in additional tracks and mixing ran until four in the morning. (Para. 2)
Meaning: Adding the additional musical tracks and mixing them lasted until four o'clock in the morning.
dub: v. give new or different sound effects to, or change the original language of (a film, radio show, etc.)
This is the dubbed version of the movie The Red Mill. 这是电影《红磨坊》的配音片。
The Sound of Music has been dubbed into Chinese as early as the 1970s. 早在20世纪70年代就有了汉语配音的《音乐之声》。
Language Point 9
But "Instant Karma!", released as a single within weeks and an immediate top five hit in Britain and the US, was truly instant rock & roll, a radiant blast of Lennon's personality and indicative of his basic artistic philosophy: You don't wait for the right moment to express yourself — you make that moment. (Para. 3)
Meaning: However, "Instant Karma!" was released as a single record within weeks and it was immediately rated as one of the top 5 most popular songs in Britain and the US. It was truly "instant" rock & roll, a brilliant and glowing explosion of Lennon's personality and a display of his basic artistic
philosophy: You don't have to wait passively for the opportune moment to show yourself — instead, you create that moment to show yourself.
radiant: a. sending out light or heat; shining
Every time she met me on the campus she would give me a radiant smile. 每次我在校园里遇见她，她总会朝我灿烂地微笑。
I still remember the radiant faces of my parents when my elder sister got married ten years ago. 我仍旧记得10年前我姐姐结婚时父母亲那喜气洋洋的面庞。
indicative: a. (of) showing or suggesting
Their failure to act is indicative of their lack of interest. 他们没有采取行动，表明他们对此不感兴趣。
This behavior is indicative of her whole attitude towards this campaign. 这种行为说明了她对这次运动的整体态度。
Language Point 10
Though thirty years have elapsed since that recording session, and twenty years have passed since his death, John Lennon remains the definitive conscience of rock & roll, our reigning sovereign of creative ambition and aggressive honesty. (Para. 4)
Meaning: That recording session was thirty years ago and it has been 20 years since John Lennon died, but he remains the indisputable conscience of rock & roll, and he also remains the leading figure in terms of ambition to be creative and honesty to be successful.
elapse: vi. (of time) pass
Nevertheless, centuries were to elapse before this invention became widespread. 不过，几个世纪以后这项发明才流传开来。
But in practice a certain period of time may elapse before the authorities are able to recognize that a problem exists. 但在实践中，可能要一段时间过后当局才能够认识到问题的存在。
definitive: a. clear and having final authority; that cannot or need not be changed
With the aid of CT, doctors are able to make definitive diagnosis. 有了CT，医生就可以做出明确的诊断。
This definitive version was to be used in all schools throughout the realm. 这个权威性的版本将在整个国家的所有学校内使用。
Language Point 11
Much of what we now take for granted from our pop music royalty — brutally honest songwriting and the use of fame as a weapon for social and political change — he did first or best or both. (Para. 4)
Meaning: We take some things from our pop music emperor for granted, such as being truly honest in songwriting and the use of his fame as a weapon for social and political change; he did many of these things before anyone else did, or he did them best, or both the first and the best.
Language Point 12
In the recording studio, first with the Beatles in the 1960s, then on his own and in collaboration with Ono, Lennon constantly redefined the boundaries of personal expression. (Para. 4)
Meaning: First as a member of the Beatles in the 1960s, then working independently by himself, and working with Ono, Lennon was always setting new levels of achievement in self-expression in the recording studio.
in collaboration with : in cooperation with
She wrote the letter in collaboration with her husband. 她与丈夫一起写了那封信。
The company is building the business center in collaboration with the Department of Architecture. 那家公司正与建筑系合作建造商务中心。
Language Point 13
He felt that the music, at its finest, never lied. (Para. 5)
Meaning: He felt that music never lied about feelings when it was done best.
Language Point 14
"The thing about rock & roll, good rock & roll, is that it's real, and that reality gets through to you ... You recognize something in it which is true... If it's real, it's simple, usually; and if it's simple, it's true." (Para. 5)
Meaning: He said something about rock & roll that good rock & roll expresses something true and real, and the clear message gets through to you; you recognize something in the music that you think is true; if that feeling is sincere and real, it is simple, and if it's simple, it's a true feeling.
Language Point 15
John Winston Lennon was born into a world at war with itself — a perfect symbol of the internal contradictions that defined his life and music. (Para. 6)
Meaning: John Winston Lennon was born when the world was involved in serious miliary attacks against each other, this was a perfect symbol of his inner conflicts that his life and music were subject to.
a world at war with itself: a world involved in armed fighting against each other
Language Point 16
German aircraft were dropping bombs on his city at the very moment of his arrival. (Para. 6)
Meaning: German aircraft were bombing his hometown at the very moment of his birth.
Language Point 17
His image as the intellectual Beatle — the shy, brilliant seeker of truth with a stubborn streak and a smart mouth — was rooted in his days as a would-be art student and teenage rebel with a remarkable intellect. (Para. 7)
stubborn: a. determined to do what one wants
But he was a stubborn old man, who never listened to his children's opinion. 但他是个固执的老人，从来就不听孩子们的意见。
The rich and the powerful showed stubborn resistance to reform. 有钱有势的人显示出对改革的顽抗态度。
streak: n. an element or trace (in a person's character)
It was time to show his stubborn streak, Charles thought. 查尔斯想，是表现他的顽固个性的时候了。
There's a streak of vanity in her character. 她性格中有几分虚荣。
intellect: n. power of the mind to reason and acquire knowledge (contrasted with feeling and instinct)
Intellect distinguishes humans from other animals. 人与其他动物的区别在于人的思维能力。
That is why the post-graduate course exists - to shape intellect and enthusiasm and provide practical and professional skills. 这就说明了研究生课程存在的必要-- 既要培养思维能力和热情，还要传授实用专业技能。
Language Point 18
Lennon also had a powerful attachment to his mother Julia that lingered long after she died in 1958; the classic 1968 album The Beatles, (known as the "White Album" for its white album liner) included his song "Julia", — an exquisite expression of raw sorrow. (Para. 7)
Meaning: Lennon was very strongly attached to his mother, Julia, whose image and influence stayed with him long after she died in 1958. The famous and everlasting 1968 album The Beatles, also known as the "White Album", included his song "Julia" that was a strong and acute expression of his natural and deep sadness.
linger: vi. stay for a long time; be unwilling to leave
He is a natural talent, whose image lingers in the minds of the audience long after he has left the cinema. 他天赋甚高，离开电影界很久了，他的形象还留在观众的心中。
She let her fingers linger on his hand, and smiled. 她将自己的手指停留在他的手上，面带微笑。
exquisite: a. (of emotion) strongly felt, acute; (of power to feel or sense)
delicate; sensitive
In those three long hours, he experienced the exquisite anxiety of entrapment. 在那漫长的三个小时里，他体会到了那种身陷罗网的极度焦虑。
The exquisite joy she felt just now suddenly turned into desperation. 她刚刚感受到狂喜，但很快又变成了绝望。
Language Point 19
When he and Paul McCartney first met on July 6th, 1957 — at a church picnic where Lennon's band was a star attraction — Lennon was budding into a fusion of bold attitude, keen wit and honest charm. (Para. 7)
Meaning: When he and Paul McCartney first met on July 6th, 1957 — at a church picnic where Lennon's band achieved a brilliant and attractive success — Lennon's bold attitude, keen wit and honest charm began to show themselves together.
bud: vi. produce buds
The trees are beginning to bud. 树木正开始发芽。
fusion: n. the blending or uniting of different things into one, by melting, etc.
His work is a fusion of several different styles of music. 他的作品融合了几种不同风格的音乐。
Language Point 20
The Beatles gave him the room to bloom. (Para. 7)
Meaning: The Beatles provided the space for his artistic gift to fully develop.
Language Point 21
Today, the popularity of the Beatles seems like a distant miracle, an ancient explosion of energetic teenage joy. (Para. 8)
Meaning: The fact that the Beetles was popular seems to be a distant miracle, a sudden burst of uncontrollable joy typical of teenagers of that time.
energetic: a. full of or done with energy
She proved herself an able and energetic politician. 她证明自己是一位能干又充满活力的政治家。
I take some energetic exercises every other day. 我每隔一天就要做一些活动量大的运动。
Language Point 22
Surviving films and historical accounts only hint at the magic of the two years, 1963 and 1964, in which the Beatles brought Britain, and then America happily to their knees. (Para. 8)
Meaning: The films and historical accounts which are still available only indicate the surprising influence and magic power of the Beatles during 1963 and 1964, when the Beatles overwhelmed Britain, and then America, by bringing them so much pleasure.
Language Point 23
In a few ways, the current boy-band phenomenon is simply the Beatles with a modern twist: huge record sales, adoring young women queuing up on the sidewalks outside their concerts, and the circus-like atmosphere surrounding their every move. (Para. 9)
Meaning: In a few ways, the present boy-band phenomenon is nothing but a modern version of the Beatles - the way they sell so many records, young women fans line up on the sidewalks outside of their concerts, and the great excitement accompanies everything they do.
adore: vt. love deeply and respect highly
They adore her as the queen of their traditional music. 他们非常敬慕她，把她看作他们传统音乐的女王。
He loved Chinese food, which I adored, so we knew all the Chinatown specialty restaurants. 他喜欢吃中国菜，这也是我喜欢的，因此我们熟悉中国城所有的特色饭馆。
Language Point 24
With his sharp, handsome features and attractive warmth contrasted by his acid turn of phrase, Lennon evoked as much hysterical female desire as any member of the Backstreet Boys, if not all of them put together. (Para. 9)
Meaning: With his sharp, handsome features and attractive warmth in contrast to his unkind and critical remarks, Lennon stirred up as much uncontrolled female desire as any member of the Backstreet Boys, if he could not do so when taking the Backstreet Boys as a whole.
evoke: vt. produce or cause (a response, reaction, etc.)
However, no special attempt was made by the interviewers to evoke memories of grandparents. 然而，采访者并没有刻意要去激起有关祖父母的记忆。
hysterical: a. behaving in a wild, uncontrollable way, esp. by shouting or crying, because one is extremely excited or agitated
Her hysterical behavior in the office astonished everyone present. 她在办公室里歇斯底里的行为使在场的每一个人都目瞪口呆。
hysterical fans at a rock & roll concert 摇滚音乐会上的狂热听众
Language Point 25
They also moved quickly to seize control — of their music, their careers and their individual destinies. (Para. 9)
Meaning: They acted quickly to take control over their music, their careers, and their fate.
Language Point 26
Lennon and Ono skillfully used the disbelief and scorn that often greeted their provocative exploits to promote their peace campaigns: demonstrating in their bedclothes for an end to the Vietnam War in the spring of 1969 and paying for huge WAR IS OVER! signs in twelve cities around the world the following Christmas. (Para. 10)
Meaning: Lennon and Ono skillfully used people's feelings of disbelief and scorn which often met their controversial actions for peace movement; they demonstrated in their bedclothes to appeal for an end to the Vietnam War in 1969, spent a lot of money buying huge signs of "WAR IS OVER!" to be displayed in twelve cities around the world the following Christmas.
provocative: a. tending or intended to arouse anger, annoyance, controversy, etc.
I have never thought of anything I undertook as provocative. 我从来没有想到过我所从事的任何事情是挑衅性的。
Language Point 27
...WAR IS OVER! ...(Para. 10)
Meaning: The war (Vietnam War) should be over now./ The war should be stopped right now.
Note: Sign or slogan language is typically concise, eye-catching, and imperative.
Language Point 28
In openly courting public scorn, Lennon and Ono engineered a vital public debate about peace and love as realistic goals, not just naive nonsense. (Para. 10)
Meaning: By publicly behaving in a manner likely to provoke widespread contempt, they initiated and developed a very important public debate about peace and love as realistic goals, not just naïve nonsense.
Language Point 29
A peculiar irony of Lennon's story is the way we tend to worship the Man and the Beatle at the expense of the solo artist. (Para. 11)
Meaning: It is particularly ironical that we tend to admire Lennon and the members of his team as whole but to neglect Lennon' achievements as a solo artist.
Language Point 30
To be frank, Lennon was not always terrific on his own. (Para. 11)
Meaning: To be honest, Lennon did not always do well by himself.
terrific: a. excellent; wonderful; very great; extreme
Even though his game was not perfect, the look of his game was terrific. 尽管他的游戏不是完美无缺，但看上去棒极了。
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a terrific roar. 我的思绪突然被一声巨响打断了。
Language Point 31
He never did better than the intensity and howl of his John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band album, but there is much in Lennon's post-Beatle music to be appreciated. (Para. 11)
Meaning: He never did better than he did with John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band album, characterized by the intensity and howl, but there is plenty in Lennon's post-Beatle music that deserves our appreciation.
Language Point 32
Recorded during his so-called lost weekend — a period of separation from Ono — the 1974 album Walls and Bridges is a striking testimony to the wretched desperation he felt. (Para. 11)
Meaning: The 1974 album Walls and Bridges that was recorded during his so-called "lost weekend" (a period when he and Ono were separated) is a remarkable proof of the terrible desperation he felt.
testimony: n. evidence in support of sth.
According to the witness' testimony, she was present when the murder was committed. 根据证人的证词，谋杀案发生时她是在场的。
Your term grades are the testimony to your hard work. 你的学期成绩就是你刻苦学习的证明。
wretched: a. very unhappy; miserable or pitiable; causing unhappiness or misery
What the wretched little girl wanted at the cold Christmas night was but a warm house. 这可怜的小女孩在寒冷的圣诞夜想要的只不过是一间暖和的房间罢了。
