Language Point 1
It holds five bullets and stays loaded by my bed. (Para.1)
Please notice that the verb "stay" is often followed by an adjective to express a situation or a condition that continues to remain.
The big fire turned the whole of the city into ashes but the small house stayed standing. 大火把整个城市化为灰烬，可那幢小屋居然没有损坏。
Language Point 2
I've always advocated gun control; the odd thing is I still do. (Para.2)
Meaning: I've always said in public that I support the idea of gun control and the strange thing is that I am still a gun control supporter now.
advocate：vt. suggest or say that you support a particular plan or action
People running for president often advocate reducing taxes. 竞选总统的人往往主张减税。
They advocated strict control of pollution to protect the environment. 他们主张严格控制污染以保护环境。
Language Point 3
It wasn't ignorance of crime statistics that previously kept me from owning a gun nor thinking I was immune to violence. (Para.2)
Meaning: The reason I didn't own a gun was not that I didn't know the high crime rate nor was it that I thought I was not affected by violence.
Language Point 4
It wasn't ignorance of crime statistics (Para.2)
ignorance: n. lack of information or knowledge
Someone who has little official education may show ignorance of history, but be very knowledgeable about practical matters. 有的没有受过正式教育的人可能对历史一无所知，但对于实际的事情却知道得很多。
Sometimes children do dangerous things out of ignorance. 有时孩子们出于无知会做出些危险的事儿。
crime: n. wrong moral behavior in general; something which is against the law
Crime is a difficult problem in many cities. 犯罪在许多城市都是令人头痛的问题。
Using a gun to force people to do something is a crime. 用枪强迫别人做事是犯法的。
Drunken driving is a common crime. 酒后驾车是常见的违法行为。
statistics: n. numbers used as facts; the science of collecting facts through numbers to show their significance
Our statistics show that the population is increasing. 我们的统计数据表明，人口正在增加。
The examination of statistics requires knowledge of mathematics. 数据分析需要数学知识。
Language Point 5
...that previously kept me from owning a gun ... (Para.2)
previously: ad. before the present time
The ground was so dry that it was difficult to see where the river had been previously. 土太干燥了，很难看出原先河水流经的地方。
The land where the new buildings were built was previously a park. 正在建造新大楼的那块地原先是个公园。
previous: a. coming or happening before or earlier
Sorry! We've passed the street. The previous one was the right one. 对不起，我们已走过了那条街了，前面我们走过的那条街才是对的。
My previous trip out of the country was to Europe. This time I went to Africa. 我上回出国旅行是到欧洲，这回我去了非洲。
He said that during the previous year the company suffered heavy losses. 他说在过去的一年中公司损失很大。
Language Point 6
...nor thinking I was immune to violence. (Para.2)
immune to: not be affected by
The president seems to be immune to complaints. 总统似乎对批评毫不在意。
Language Point 7
I assumed because I didn't believe in violence, because I wasn't violent, I wouldn't be affected by violence. (Para.3)
Meaning: I thought I wouldn't be affected by violence because I didn't consider violence to be of worth and because I didn't use weapons to hurt or kill others.
assume: vt. accept or believe that something is true even though you have no facts
Please note this word was learned in Passage B, Unit 4.
Why do you assume that no one understands your difficulties? 为什么你认为没有人理解你的困难呢？
He assumes that his nation cannot do wrong. 他认为他的国家不会做错事。
affect: vt. influence or cause someone or something to change in a particular way
The points you have raised do not affect my opinion. 你提出的那几点并不能使我改变观点。
Remember that your decision will affect a large number of people. 请记住，你的决定将影响到许多人。
be affected by: be influenced by
The president said that his government's stand would not be affected by outside pressures. 总统说外界压力不能改变他的政府的立场。
My pay was affected by the reorganization of the business. 公司重组影响了我的收入。
Language Point 8
I believed my belief in the best of human nature could make it real. (Para.3)
Meaning: I thought my feeling that the good quality of human nature really exists could realize my conviction: you wouldn't be affected by violence if you didn't believe in violence and you yourself were not violent.
Language Point 9
I should transport the gun from my residence to my vehicle, but I don't. (Para.4)
Meaning: I should carry my gun from my house to my car, but I didn't do that.
transport: vt. move someone or something from one place to another
Trains transport the coal to the port. 火车把煤运到港口。
Flies transport different kinds of diseases. 苍蝇传播各种不同的疾病。
residence: n. a person's home; the grand house of someone important
Is this your office or your residence? 这是你的办公室呢，还是你的住处？
It is reported that hundreds of angry complainers attacked his residence yesterday afternoon. 报道说数以百计愤怒的人们昨天下午袭击了他的住宅。
Language Point 10
What the gun is capable of, what it is intended for, still frightens me more than what it may prevent. (Para.4)
Meaning: I am more afraid of the power of the gun and the purpose of using the gun than what I fear it might prevent.
be capable of: to have the ability, space, or means to do
He is capable of doing these experiments. 他能做这些实验。
She is capable of doing much better work. 她能干得更好。
intend: v. 1. plan, mean or make something for a particular person or purpose
This set of textbooks is intended for university students. 这套教材是为大学生编写的。
I intended to prove that this woman could not have committed this crime. 我意在证明这位妇女不可能犯这种罪。
2. plan or mean to do something
She intends to take a trip to China next year. 她打算明年到中国旅行。
I intend to go with her. 她打算同她一起去。
He intends to ask the managers for a raise in pay. 他想要经理给他提薪。
Language Point 11
I have confronted an attacker in my imagination, not in reality. (Para.5)
Meaning: I have imagined an encounter with an attacker.
confront: vt. 1. face or meet an enemy, difficulty, etc.
People who confront their difficulties bravely are people who face their difficulties bravely and try to succeed despite them. 所谓勇于面对困难的人是指勇于面对困难并努力取得成功的人。
2. make someone face or consider someone or something unpleasant, difficult, etc.
The political official is confronted with much negative reaction from the people. 那位政客面对来自人民的反对很尴尬。
imagination: n. something that is caused only by your mind, and does not exist or did not happen in the physical world; only existing or happening in your mind, not in physical life想象力, 想象的事物
The artist is rich in imagination. 那位艺术家想象力很丰富。
in imagination: out of one's thinking or mind, not physical
in reality: real or true to the fact, the physical world
What he described exists only in imagination but not in reality. 他所描绘的只是想象，而不是现实。
Language Point 12
Something makes me uncomfortable about this imagined robbery, something I don't want to admit, something I almost intentionally omitted because I am ashamed. (Para.7)
Meaning: There is something that bothers me about this imagined robbery but I don't want accept there exists such a thing and I almost consciously left it out because I am ashamed.
Language Point 13
...something I almost intentionally omitted because I am ashamed. (Para.7)
intentionally: ad. on purpose, not by chance
She visited the country intentionally as it is very well known for its summer beauty. 众所周知这个国家夏天很美，她是特地去的。
intention: n. what someone intends or means to do; a plan or purpose
If I hurt your feelings, it was without intention. 如果我伤害了你的感情，那不是有意的。
I went to New York with the intention of seeing my brother. 我去纽约为的是看望我兄弟。
omit: vt. not include something
The news article omitted some important details. 这篇新闻报道有意删除了一些重要的细节。
The omitted information was an attack on the government. 删除的部分就是抨击政府的内容。
When you rewrite the paper I advise you to omit the last sentences.在你重写这篇文章时，我建议你删去最后的一些句子。
Language Point 14
I understand why I imagined being robbed by a man: They're physically more dominating and I've never heard of anyone being robbed by a female. (Para.8)
Meaning: I understand why I imagined I was robbed by a man because men are stronger and because I have never learned that there is anyone who is robbed by a female.
Language Point 15
I understand why I imagined being robbed by a man: They're physically more dominating and I've never heard of anyone being robbed by a female. (Para.8)
dominate: vt. have control over (a place or a person), or be the most important person or thing
Often older children dominate their younger brothers and sisters. 大孩子经常控制小弟弟、小妹妹们。
Some people have the ability to dominate a conversation and do not permit other people to talk. 有些人能控制谈话，不让其他人发言。
hear of: to learn about; gain information about
We only heard of your intended visit yesterday! 我们是昨天才听说你的来访意向的。
Many people have heard of web learning but they have never tried it. 许多人听说过网上学习，可从未尝试过。
female: n. a woman or a girl; an animal that can produce babies from its own body
Male birds are often more brightly colored than female ones. 雄性鸟往往比雌性鸟更艳丽漂亮。
More females than males go into nursing in the States. 在美国从事护理工作的女性比男性多。
Language Point 16
Why is he a Negro male with a worn T-shirt and shining eyes? Why is he not a white man? (Para. 9)
male: n. a man or a boy; an animal that cannot have babies
Mostly males suffer from that disease; women seldom get it. 大多男性有此病，而女性很少有此病。
Language Point 17
I imagine standing in a gas station on Claiborne and Jackson waiting to pay the cashier when a black man walks up behind me. (Para. 10)
"Imagine" is a word learned during middle school. But be careful with how to use the word; the word "imagine" is often followed by a noun or a noun phrase. The following are examples picked up from your reading passage.
I understand why I imagined being robbed by a man. 我明白我为什么会想象自己遭到一个男子的抢劫。(Para. 8)
I imagine another possibility. 我又想象另一种可能性。(Para. 11)
I imagine another confrontation in front of my apartment. 我设想另外一种在我的公寓前遭遇歹徒的情景。(Para. 15)
Language Point 18
I try not to reveal I feel anxiety just because a black man has walked up behind me in a gas station in a bad neighborhood and he does not have a car. (Para. 10)
Meaning: I try not to show that I feel worried just because a black man has walked up behind me in a gas station in a bad neighborhood and because he does not have a car.
"A bad neighborhood" here means a neighborhood with a bad name because of
the frequent happening of crime or violence.
Language Point 19
I try not to reveal I feel anxiety... (Para. 10)
reveal: vt. make something known; show; allow to be seen
The article reveals a lot of information about that political official. 这篇文章披露了许多有关那位政治家的情况。
Some women do not want to reveal their true ages. 有些妇女不愿透露她们的真实年龄。
Language Point 20
The man mustn't have seen my gun. (Para. 11)
Meaning: The man can't have seen my gun.
When we give a negative conclusion about a past event, we usually use "can't (cannot) have V-ed". The use of mustn't have V-ed to express a conclusion is American English.
Language Point 21
My friend automatically locked the doors. (Para. 13)
Meaning: My friend locked the doors without thinking about it..
automatically: ad. without thinking about what you are doing
I automatically jump back when I see a snake. 看到蛇，我本能地往后跳。
automatic: a. done without thinking or like a machine
The automatic door opens when we approach it. 我们一靠近，自动门就开了。
Many banks have automatic money machines so that we can take out some money by ourselves. 许多银行有自动取款机，这样我们可以自己取款。
Language Point 22
I am disgusted she saw the man as a reminder to lock her doors. (Para. 13)
Meaning: I have a strong sense of not liking and not agreeing when her friend saw the man as something to remind her to lock her doors.
The citizens are disgusted with the factory because of the pollution that the factory has caused. 由于这家工厂制造成污染，居民们对它极为讨厌。
Language Point 23
I wonder if he noticed us doing so. I wonder how it feels when people lock their doors at the sight of you. (Para. 13)
Meaning: I don't know whether he realized that we locked the doors because we saw him. I don't know how you feel when people lock their doors as soon as they see you.
at the sight of: on seeing
She cried at the sight of a dog. 她一见到狗就叫了起来。
People jumped with joy at the sight of the ship coming to the port. 看到船驶入港口，人们高兴得跳了起来。
Language Point 24
I fear what may happen if I don't use it, but am more afraid of killing another human being, more afraid of trying to live with the guilt of murdering another person. (Para. 15)
Meaning: I am afraid of what may happen if I don't use the gun, but I am more afraid of killing another human being, more afraid of trying to accept the strong and unhappy feelings caused by the knowledge of killing another person.
Language Point 25
I bet my life that he will take my money and leave. I hope I win. (Para. 15)
Meaning: I risk my life on the chance that he will take my money and leave. I hope I'm right.
bet: v.1. risk money on the result of a race, game, match, or the future event
When you bet on a horse at a horse race, you hope the horse wins. 在赛马时把赌注下在马上，就指望此马会嬴。
Did you bet on the winner of the World Cup football game? 你在世界杯足球赛的获胜球队上下赌注了没有。
2. be very certain
If you say "I bet", you mean that you are sure something is true.
You will succeed, I bet. 我肯定你会成功。
Language Point 26
Seeing me, he relaxes and says I scared him because of the way things have become in this neighborhood. (Para. 16)
Meaning: When he sees me, he feels calm and less worried and says to me I frightened him because it is no longer safe in this neighborhood.