Language Points
Language Point 1
in peace and quiet (Para.1)
in peace and quiet: calmly, in a peaceful and silent state
Please let me get on with my work in peace and quiet. 请让我平静地做我的工作吧。
Don't confuse this phrase with "at peace", which means "free from war or quarrel" or "in a state of quietness".
These two countries have been friendly and remained at peace for hundreds of years. 这两国一向友好相处，几百年没有发生过战争。
All is at peace in the dead of the night. 深夜万籁俱寂。
Language Point 2
My stomach feels upset-like it's full of knots. (Para. 3)
Meaning: My stomach is making me feel ill. It feels like it is full of tight lumps.
Notice that the expression comes from the idiom "knots in one's stomach", which means "feeling nervous, tense or physically ill".
upset: (1) a. worried, anxious, physically unwell
People get upset when they hear bad news. 听到坏消息，人们深感不安。
Mrs. Smith was upset when she found out about her husband's telling a lie. 史密斯太太发现丈夫在撒谎，感到很伤心。
(2) vt. make (someone) worried or physically unwell
Sandy's music upset her father. 桑迪的音乐使她父亲感到不安。
Language Point 3
old-fashioned (Para. 3)
old-fashioned: a. out of fashion; no longer common
The house was dull, old-fashioned and in bad condition. 这房子死气沉沉，式样过时，还破烂不堪。
His ideas are old-fashioned. 他的思想很陈旧。
fashion: n. way of dressing or behaving that is popular at a certain time
in fashion 时髦; out of fashion 不时髦
Mary only buys clothes that are in fashion. 玛丽只买时装。
Language Point 4
... but hearing those tuneless, offensive lyrics repeatedly makes my blood boil. (Para. 3)
Meaning: ... but hearing those tuneless, offensive songs over and over makes me angry.
lyrics: n. words of a song, especially a modern popular song 歌词，尤指流行歌曲的词
tuneless: without tune; not musical; not tuneful
The song is tuneful, but her voice is tuneless. 那首歌很动听，可她的嗓音却很难听。
make one's blood boil: make one angry
Seeing the driver beating his horse made the kind old man's blood boil. 善良的老人看见车夫鞭打那匹马，心里很生气。
Language Point 5
... different music appeals to different generations... (Para. 4)
Meaning: ... different generations are interested in different kinds of music.
appeal: vi. please, attract, interest
Please notice that "appeal" in this sense is usually following by the preposition "to".
Does the idea of working in that country appeal to you? 你有兴趣去那个国家工作吗？
Italian food doesn't appeal to Jack; he only likes Chinese food. 杰克不喜欢意大利餐，他只喜欢中国餐。
This music is too old-fashioned to appeal to young people any longer. 这音乐太过时了，不能再吸引年轻人了。
Language Point 6
Maybe eating breakfast will help me get rid of some of the knots in my stomach. (Para. 5)
Meaning: Maybe eating breakfast will help me remove this tension.
get rid of:
(1) free oneself from (something unwanted or unpleasant)
The medicine will help me get rid of my cold. 这药可帮我治疗感冒。
(2) drive away or destroy
There are too many flies in the dining-room; they should think of a way to get rid of them. 餐厅里苍蝇太多，他们该想个办法消灭它们。
knots in my stomach: see Note 2
Language Point 7
I'm distracted. (Para. 8)
Meaning: I am not concentrating on reading.
distracted: a. unable to focus on something because of being troubled
He is distracted by the loud music played next door.隔壁放的音乐声音太大，使他不能集中精力。
Language Point 8
She gave him a section of the newspaper... (Para. 9)
Meaning: She gave him one part of the newspaper.
section: n. one of the parts
the business section of the city 城市的商业区
Language Point 9
Then Jane broke the silence. (Para. 9)
Meaning: Then Jane started to talk.
Language Point 10
I suppose we should feel lucky because makeup is our biggest problem with her. (Para. 10)
Meaning: I think we are lucky because our biggest problem with our daughter is only makeup.
Notice that by saying this, Mrs. Finch means that their problem with their daughter is relatively small. This can be seen in the next sentence.
Language Point 11
teenager (Para. 10)
n. a person between 13 and 19 years old 青少年
These days the newspapers carry lots of stories about teenagers who are in trouble. 近些日子报纸上刊登了许多有关青少年遇到麻烦的新闻。
Language Point 12
I suppose they're expressing their identity ...(Para. 10)
Meaning: I image they are telling people who they are ...
identity: n. who or what a person or thing is
It's very bad if one looses his identity. 人失去了自己的个性是很悲哀的。
I.D. card (identification card) 身份证
Language Point 13
I remember defying my parents when I grew my hair long. (Para. 11)
Meaning: I remember I rebelled against my parent by growing and keeping long hair.
defy: vt. rebel against; challenge
The child defied his parents and went to the cinema after school. 这小孩就是不听父母的话，放学后去看电影了。
He looked at me as if he was defying me to argue. 他盯着我看，好像想激我与他争论。
Language Point 14
And you almost got expelled from school... (Para. 12)
Meaning: And you were almost forced out of (or removed from) school.
expel: vt. push out, drive out, force out or remove from
Each year more than 10 students are expelled from the university. 每年有十多个学生被这所大学开除。
Language Point 15
These tattoos are permanent. (Para. 13)
Meaning: These tattoos will remain forever.
permanent: a. lasting forever
The coffee made a permanent mark on her dress. 她的衣服上留下了洗不掉的咖啡渍斑。
Language Point 16
Tattoos seem radical to me. (Para. 13)
Meaning: To me tattoos are too much.
radical: (1) a. as different as possible, far from usual or normal
He made a radical change in his plans; instead of taking a holiday, he went on with his experiments.他完全改变了原定的计划，不去度假了,而是継续做实验。
(2) n. a person who favors very different changes or reforms; person with unusual opinions
Because Richard was a radical, some people would not accept him. 由于理查德是个激进分子，所以有些人不接受他。
Language Point 17
Every generation seems to need to identify itself. (Para. 14)
Meaning: It seems that every generation needs to express its identity.
identify: vt. show the identity of; tell who or what a person or thing is
The woman identified the stolen watch as hers. 那个女士认定被偷走的表是她的。
Language Point 18
... music has a very negative message. (Para. 15)
Meaning: ... music may express something harmful.
negative: a. (1) bad, unpleasant, harmful
We advise the students not to see the film, as it would have a negative influence on them. 我们建议学生不要去看那部电影，因为对他们有负面影响。
(2) no
I asked about handing my paper in late, but the professor's answer was negative. 我请求晚一点交论文，但教授不同意。
Language Point 19
influence (Para. 15):
(1) n. an effect
Some people say that religion can be a big influence on history and the future of a country. 有人说宗教会对一个国家的历史和未来产生很大影响。
(2) vt. have an effect on
Teachers can influence many students in many ways. 老师可以在许多方面影响许多学生。
Language Point 20
Anyway, you're right. (Para. 18)
Meaning: Regardless of what I have said, you're right.
anyway: ad. anyhow, regardless of everything
Really I wasn't suited for the job, but I got it anyway. 说实在的，我并不适合干这项工作，可不管怎么说，我还是干上了。
Anyway, Sandy has her own reason for liking rock music. 不管怎么说，桑迪喜欢摇滚音乐有她的理由。
Notice that "anyway" is more formal than "anyhow" although they share the same meaning. However, in fluent English use today, little or no distinction is made between these two words.
Language Point 21
Sandy is beginning to mature... (Para. 22)
Meaning: Sandy is growing up.
mature: (1) vi. become an adult; become fully developed
The oldest child in a family often matures quickly, learning early to take care of the younger ones. 家中最大的孩子往往懂事最快，很早就学会照顾弟弟妹妹了。
(2) a. grown, fully developed
Mature plants grow more slowly than young ones.成熟的植物比幼苗长得慢。
Language Point 22
If I'm too strict, she'll rebel. (Para. 22)
Meaning: If I put too many requirements on her, she will fight against my control.
rebel: vi. fight against somebody in control
At the end of the eighteenth century, the Americans rebelled against their English rulers. 18世纪末，美国人奋起反抗统治他们的英国人。
Language Point 23
I often worry she may rebel and go too far. (Para. 22)
Meaning: I often worry she may fight against or reject my control and do something that goes beyond limits.
Note: "go too far" is an idiomatic expression which in this context specifically refers to "getting pregnant, doing drugs, getting drunk, committing crimes, or being promiscuous and getting AIDS or VD".
go too far: do or say something that goes beyond accepted our accepted limits
I know you are radical in your thinking, but don't go too far. 我知道你思想激进，但不要走得太远。
Language Point 24
drop out of school (Para. 22)
Meaning: leave school without finishing one's studies
drop out of: take leave without finishing something
If you drop out of this race, you can't join in the national races. 如果你退出这次比赛，就不能参加全国比赛了。
Notice the difference between "drop out of" and "be expelled from". When you say he "drops out of school" you mean he leaves school voluntarily by himself. But when you say he is "expelled from school" you mean he is forced to leave school by someone else.
Language Point 25
... she and Sandy could still talk things over. (Para. 23)
Meaning: ... she could still have a good discussion with Sandy about these things.
talk over: consider (something) in detail (with somebody)
My parents and I have always got along well because they are willing to talk over problems. 我和父母一直相处很好，因为他们愿意同我商量各种问题。
Language Point 26
She knew she had to have the patience and keep the lines of communication with her daughter open. (Para. 23)
Meaning: She knew she had to have patience and wait calmly and not close off the possibility of talking with her daughter.
patience: n. ability to wait for something calmly for a long time
Teachers should have a lot of patience with their pupils. 老师对待学生应该有充分的耐心。
Language Point 27
She wanted to be there as an anchor for her but at the same time she would give her freedom to find her own identity. (Para. 23)
Meaning: She wanted to be a person who can make her feel safe and supported but at the same time let her find out who she is by herself.
Here "anchor" is used figuratively, meaning "a person or thing that provides strong support and a feeling of safety".
Parents are always an anchor for their children. 父母总是他们孩子的依靠。
