Language Point 1
... no one stands still. (Para.1)
Meaning: No one keeps motionless, everyone moves and advances.
stand: v. keep or stay in a particular position or state
For this sense, "stand" is followed by adjectives or adjective-like phrases.
The room stands idle. 这房间闲置着。
They stood ready to move at short notice. 他们已准备好, 接到通知随时可搬。
Stand firm -- don't let them tell you what to do. 要坚定, 不要让他们对你指手画脚。
They stand opposed to the new law. 他们反对这项新法律。
In the above sentences, "stand" is used as a linking verb.
still: a. not moving, motionless, calm, quiet
Keep still while I do up your shoe. 站着别动，我给你系鞋带。
The sea was calm and still. 大海风平浪静。
Still waters run deep. （谚）流静水深，人静心深。
This word can also be used as a verb with a related meaning.
The food stilled the baby's cries. 婴儿吃了东西就不哭了。
Language Point 2
... you are falling behind. (Para.1)
fall behind:
1) become bit by bit further behind
fall behind in science 在科学方面落后
fall behind one's competitors 落后于竞争对手
The student has been working hard for fear that he should fall behind. 这个学生一直很努力, 惟恐落后。
2) (with) fail to produce sth. at the proper time
fall behind with the rent 拖欠房租
I'm falling behind with my work; I must try to catch up. 我工作拖下来了, 我得想办法赶上。
Notice that for this sense, the preposition "with" is used with the verb phrase.
Language Point 3
This attitude results in a nation of people committed to researching, experimenting and exploring. (Para.1)
Meaning: As a result of this attitude, Americans tend to devote their time and energy to researching, experimenting and exploring.
result in: have as a result; cause
Acting before thinking always results in failing. 做事不先考虑总会导致失败。
The accident resulted in the death of two people (or: ... resulted in two people being killed). 这场意外事故造成两人死亡。
Compare: result from: be caused by
Nothing has resulted from his efforts. 他的努力终成泡影。
The child's illness resulted from eating unclean food. 他那孩子的病是由于吃了不洁净的食物。
Language Point 4
Time is one of the two elements that Americans save carefully, the other being labor.(Para.1)
Notice here in this sentence we have a special type of adverbial clause: "the other being labor". The structure is: subject + -ing (or: -ed) verb. This type of clause can also be put at the beginning of the whole sentence.
No further discussions arising, the meeting was brought to an end. 没有作进一步的讨论, 会议就告结束了。
Lunch finished, all the guests returned to the sitting room. 吃完午饭, 所有客人都回到了起居室。
This type of clause can be rewritten by adding the preposition "with":
Time is one of the two elements that American save carefully, with the other being labor.
With lunch finished, all the guests returned to the sitting room.
Language Point 5
We are slaves to nothing but the clock. (Para.2)
Meaning: We are under the control of time only and nothing else (or: we are only dominated by time).
slave to sth.: a person who is completely influenced or dominated by sth.
a slave to drink 酒鬼
a slave to money 金钱的奴隶
nothing but: only
He's nothing but a criminal. 他只不过是个罪犯。
The report contains nothing but lies. 这报道满篇都是谎言。
Language Point 6
We budget it, save it, waste it, steal it, kill it, cut it, account for it; we also charge for it. (Para.2)
Meaning: We deal with time in various ways as if time were something of real value.
Language Point 7
We budget it, ... (Para.2)
budget: v. plan the spending of (time, money, etc.), or provide (time, money) in the plan
She has made so many commitments that she has to budget her time very carefully. 她答应下来的事太多，因而不得不精心安排自己的时间。
She budgeted for buying a new car. 她为了买新汽车而计划节省开支。
The government has budgeted for two bridges in the city. 政府已在预算中拨款在该城市造两座桥。
Very often this word is used as a noun to mean a plan of how to spend money, etc. during a particular time for a particular purpose.
a family / week's budget 家庭 / 每周预算
the company's advertising budget 公司的广告预算
It is important to balance this year's budget. 重要的是要平衡今年的预算开支。
Language Point 8
... kill it (time), ... (Para.2)
kill time: make time pass quickly by finding sth. to do
We killed time by playing cards. 我们用打纸牌来消磨时间。
He drove to the club to kill a couple of hours. 他驾车去俱乐部消磨了几个小时。
Language Point 9
...account for it;... (Para.2)
account for :
1) give a satisfactory explanation about (how sth. is used)
Jenny had to account to her husband for every penny she spent. 珍妮不得不向丈夫说明每一个便士是怎么花的。
The man charged with the crime couldn't account for the fact that the money was found in his house. 被告无法解释钱是在他家里找到的这个事实。
2) be the cause or origin of
North Sea oil accounts for a high proportion (部分) of our trade earnings. 北海石油占我国贸易收入的很大一部分。
Language Point 10
... we also charge for it. (Para.2)
Meaning: ...we also ask for money for the time we take to do something for others.
charge for: ask (an amount of money) as a price
How much do you charge for washing a car? 你们洗一部车要收多少钱？
We charge 200 dollars for a single room one night. 单人房每夜收费200元。
Language Point 11
Many people have a rather acute sense of the shortness of each lifetime.（Para.2）
Meaning: Many people have a very strong feeling that life is short (since time is a precious resource).
Language Point 12
... a rather acute sense of ... (Para.2)
acute: a.
1) (of feelings or the senses) fine; sharp
She still has very acute hearing, though she is eighty years old. 尽管她已经80岁了, 但她的听觉仍然很灵敏。
Dogs have an acute sense of smell. 狗有灵敏的嗅觉。
2) severe, very great
acute pain 剧痛
an acute lack of water 严重缺水
Please note the use of "sense" in the following examples:
A sense of humor is a great quality for a person. 幽默感是一个人的宝贵素质。
a sense of sight (hearing, smell, taste, touch) 视觉 (听觉, 嗅觉, 味觉, 触觉)
a sense of duty 责任感
the sense of place (direction) 方位 (方向) 感
be lost (or: dead) to all sense of shame 全不知羞耻
Language Point 13
Once the sands have run out of a person's hourglass, they cannot be replaced. (Para.2)
Meaning: The whole sentence is a metaphor, which means: Once time has passed, it will not return.
Language Point 14
...have run out of a person's hourglass, ... (Para.2)
run out of:
1) (of liquid or sth. like liquid) flow out of
Many rivers run out of the Himalayas. 许多河流发源于喜马拉雅山脉。
2) use all one's supplies, have no more
I'm afraid we've run out of gas. 我们的汽油怕已用完了。
I'm running out of patience. 我快没耐心了。
hourglass: n. a glass container holding fine sand for measuring time, which is narrow in the middle like a figure 8 so that the sand inside can run slowly from the top half to the bottom taking exactly one hour.
Language Point 15
... they cannot be replaced. (Para.2)
replace: vt.
1) put sth. back where it was before
Replace the caps on the bottles. 把瓶子盖盖好。
The telephone line was dead. Wendy replaced the telephone handle. 电话线路不通。温迪搁上电话听筒。
Replace the book on the shelf. 把书放回到书架上。
2) take the place of
George has replaced Edward as the personnel manager. 乔治接替爱德华当了人事部经理。
3) change (some person or object) for another, often better, newer, etc.
We'll have to replace those old computers with (or: by) new ones. 我们将必须用新电脑换下那些旧电脑。
Language Point 16
We want every minute to count. (Para.2)
Meaning: We want every minute to be put into good use (since it is precious).
count: vi. If sth. counts, it is important or valuable.
Every second counts. 每一秒钟都很重要。
She's the only person that really counts around here. 她是这周围惟一有影响力的人。
Language Point 17
... everyone is in a rush -- often under pressure. (Para. 3)
in a rush: in a hurry
Why is she always in such a rush? 为什么她总是这样匆匆忙忙的?
under pressure: in a condition of being forced or hurried
He works best under pressure. 在压力之下他往往工作得最出色。
Language Point 18
... restlessly seeking attention in a store, or elbowing others... (Para.3)
Meaning: ... impatiently trying to get service in a store, or pushing others out of the way by using their elbows ...
restlessly: ad. impatiently
The lion paced the floor of his cage restlessly. 狮子烦躁地在笼子里走来走去。
The man repeatedly looked at his watch while walking up and down restlessly in the room. 那人一边不耐烦地在屋子里走来走去，一边一遍又一遍地看手表。
elbow: vt. push others out of the way using elbows
I tried to stop him, but he elbowed me out of the way. 我试图拦住他，可他用胳膊肘把我推开。
She elbowed her way through the crowd. 她从人群中挤了过去。
Language Point 19
Racing through daytime meals is part of the pace of life in this country. (Para.3)
Meaning: To eat their meals hurriedly during the day is part of Americans' fast pace of life. (or: Americans live a fast pace of life, and this can be seen even when they are eating their meals very fast during the day.)
Language Point 20
Racing through daytime meals ... (Para.3)
race through: do sth. in a hurry
The government raced the new law through all its stages so as to complete it before the election. 政府在制定这项新法律的各阶段都是匆匆完成，以便在大选前完成立法。
The child raced through his homework in order to watch the football match on TV. 那孩子为看电视转播的足球赛而匆匆做完作业。
Language Point 21
... within the time allowed. (Para. 3)
Meaning: ... within the time that is allowed (for daytime meals).
Language Point 22
You also find drivers will be abrupt... (Para.3)
Meaning: You also find drivers will not be nice in order to save time.
abrupt: a.
1) (of behavior) rough
an abrupt attitude 无礼的态度
When I asked her about her new job, she was quite abrupt with me. 当我询问她的新工作时, 她对我态度非常粗鲁。
2) sudden and unexpected
The meeting came to an abrupt end. 会谈突然结束。
an abrupt change of policy 突然改变政策
an abrupt drop in oil prices 油价突降
Language Point 23
You will miss smiles, brief conversations, and small exchanges with strangers. (Para.3)
Meaning: Smiles, short conversations, and small exchanges with strangers are common in daily life in your own country, but not in the United States. So if you visit this country you will feel sad because you will no longer experience or have them.
brief: a. short and not containing too many details
His remarks were brief and to the point. 他的话很简洁，而且说到了点子上。
Notice the use of the phrase "in brief", which means "in as few words as possible".
the news in brief 新闻提要
In brief, take no risks whatever. 简而言之, 千万不要冒险。
Language Point 24
... small exchanges with strangers. (Para.3)
small exchanges: short periods of talking between two people or groups about unimportant topics
exchange: n. short period of talking between two people or groups
I had a heated exchange with the manager this morning. 我与经理今天上午进行了一番激烈的争论。
Language Point 25
Don't take it personally. (Para.3)
Meaning: Don't let it upset you because they are treating everybody this way or because they are not doing this to you in particular.
take ... personally: If you take someone's remarks personally, you are upset because you think that they are being critical about you in particular.
You mustn't take her negative comments of your plan personally. 你不应该把她对你计划的批评当作对你个人的攻击。
Language Point 26
Many new arrivals to the States will miss the opening exchanges of a business call, ... (Para.4)
Meaning: Many newcomers to the United States will be sad to find that there is no polite communication at the beginning of their business visit like that found back in their own country.
the States: the United States
opening: a. first or beginning (one), starting
They returned to take part in the season's opening game. 他们回来参加本赛季的头一场比赛。
the opening night of a new play 新话剧的首演之夜
the opening words 开场白
Language Point 27
They will miss the ritual interaction that goes with a welcoming cup of tea or coffee that may be a convention in their own country. (Para.4)
Meaning: They will be sad because they will not have the usual exchanges (with the person who invited you) that go with a welcoming cup of tea or coffee. These usual exchanges may be a common and regular practice on similar occasions in their own country.
convention: n.
1) general, usu. unspoken, agreement about how people should act or behave in certain situations; customary practice
Convention now allows women to smoke in public. 现代习俗允许妇女在公共场所吸烟。
It is the convention for men to wear suits on formal occasions. 男子在正式场合穿西装是一种惯例。
Until recently, it was a convention in the United States for people to wear black to a funeral. 直到最近，穿黑颜色的衣服参加葬礼仍然是美国的习俗。
2) meeting of members of a profession, political party, etc.
Conventions are usually held in large cities, which have good transportation systems and interesting sights to see. 会议通常在大城市里举行，那里有完善的交通和观光的地方。
Hotels try to attract conventions because they bring a lot of business. 宾馆设法吸引各种会议，因为会议可带来大量生意。
Language Point 28
They will miss the ritual interaction ... (Para.4)
ritual:
1) a. of or done regularly followed in exactly the same way each time
Every day the work begins with the ritual phrases of greeting. 每天，工作以例行的相互问候开始。
2) n. [C, U] method followed repeatedly in the same way every time
Wives make a ritual of their household duties. 家庭主妇把家务作为自己每天的例行公事。
I start to read English aloud the first thing after I get up in the morning, and that has become a ritual. 我每天早晨起来后的第一件事就是朗读英语, 这已成了一种习惯。
Language Point 29
They will miss the ritual interaction ... (Para.4)
interaction: n.
1) communication
informal interactions among adults 成年人之间非正式交流
human-computer interaction 人机对话, 人机交流
2) acting on each other; working together
Increased interaction between the police and citizens will improve the rate of solving crimes. 警民之间加强合作将有助于提高破案率。
Language Point 30
... that goes with a welcoming cup of tea or coffee... (Para.4)
go with: exist or take place at the same time, be found together
Happiness does not go as an automatic result with money. 有钱不一定就幸福。
Responsibility goes with becoming a father. 当了父亲责任就随之而来。
Language Point 31
... leisurely business chats ... (Para.4)
leisurely: a. without hurry. Notice that it is an adjective, not an adverb. In English, "noun + -ly" usually results in an adjective.
"Friendly" and "brotherly" are both adjectives.
walk at a leisurely pace 悠闲地散步
I had a leisurely glass of beer. 我慢悠悠地品了一杯啤酒。
Language Point 32
Normally, Americans do not assess their visitors in such relaxed surroundings over extended small talk; ... (Para.4)
Meaning: Usually Americans do not judge or evaluate their visitors in (a restaurant or coffee house which are considered) relaxed places through long, light conversations ...
assess: vt. judge the quality, importance, or worth of
He's so lazy that it's difficult to assess his ability. 他懒得很，很难对他的能力作出评估。
It's too early to assess the effects of the new law. 要评价新法令的效果现在还为时过早。
surroundings: n.( pl.) the things in the neighborhood of , or the conditions affecting a person or thing
The house is in beautiful surroundings. 这座房屋四周的环境优美。
She grew up in comfortable surroundings. 她在舒适的环境中长大。
Notice that when used as a noun, the word has to be in the plural form: surroundings. The word "surrounding" is usually used as an adjective.
in the surrounding areas 在周围地区
Language Point 33
... over extended small talk; ... (Para.4)
extended: lasting for a long period of time
The child has received formal education over an extended period. 这孩子接受过长期的正规教育。
small talk: light conversation on unimportant or non-serious subjects
Language Point 34
... much less do they take them out for dinner, or for around on the golf course... (Para.4)
Meaning: ...it is even less likely that Americans take their visitors out for dinner or to play golf ...
Language Point 35
... much less ... (Para.4)
much less: and even less likely
The old man can hardly walk, much less run. 这位老人几乎不能行走，更不用说跑了。
They are always short of water to drink, much less to bathe in. 他们连喝的水也总是不够, 更别提洗澡了。
We must not think of this writer as a radical socialist politician, much less a leader of a revolution. 我们不应该把这位作家看作是激进的社会政治家，更别说是革命的领袖了。
For this sense, we can also use "still less".
She wouldn't take a drink, still less (or: much less) stay for dinner. 她连水也不肯喝一口, 更别说留下吃饭了。
Here "much less" and "still less" mean exactly the same.
Language Point 36
... on the golf course... (Para.4)
golf course: an area of grass which is designed for people to play golf on
Language Point 37
Since we generally assess and probe professionally rather than socially, we start talking business very quickly. (Para.4)
Meaning: Since we in most cases evaluate our visitors and ask them questions from a professional point of view instead of a social one, we start talking what is our concern very quickly (and there is no need in our eyes to spend time on small talk and the like).
generally: ad.
1) usually
They generally go to France for their holidays. 他们通常去法国度假。
Generally, the student go to the library three times a week. 这学生一般每周去图书馆三次。
2) by most people, widely
It is generally agreed that smoking is bad for health. 人们普遍认为吸烟有害健康。
The plan has generally been accepted. 这计划已被人们广泛接受。
probe: v. examine closely
Sometimes this verb can be used intransitively and then the preposition "into" is needed. The use of the preposition is by choice.
The police are probing (into) trading which breaks the law. 警方正在调查非法交易活动。
Language Point 38
Time is, therefore, always ticking in our inner ear. (Para.4)
Meaning: So we are always aware of the fact that time is precious and time is flying.
tick: v. (of a clock, etc.) make a sequence of quiet short regularly repeated sounds
My watch doesn't tick because it is electronic. 我的手表不滴答作响, 因为它是电子表。
While we waited the taxi's meter kept