Language Point 1
Experiences in Exile (The title)
exile: n.
1) being sent away from one’s own country
He is living in exile on the small island for some political reason. 他因为某种政治原因在小岛上过着流亡生活。
After he returned from exile, he began to write his most famous book. 他结束流亡生活后，就开始写他那本最著名的书。
The President went into exile abroad in 1959 because of the political situation in his own country. 总统由于其本国的政治局面而于1959年流亡国外。
After many years of exile thousands of families will now be able to return to their home country. 多年流亡之后，数千个家庭现在已经能够返回祖国了。
2) [C] person who lives away from his own country from choice or because he is forced to
There were many French exiles in England after the war. 战后有许多法国人被迫移居英国。
The island is full of tax exiles. 这座小岛上全是因逃避纳税而流亡国外的人。
Language Point 2
We are in Montreal, in an echoing, dark train station, and we are squeezed together on a bench… (Para.1)
Meaning: We are in a noisy, dark train station in Montreal, and we are all pressed against each other on one bench uncomfortably.
echo: v. (of places) repeat a sound
His footsteps echoed in the empty hall. 他的脚步声在空荡荡的大厅内回响。
The room echoed with the sound of their happy laughter. 房间里回荡着他们快乐的笑声。
Language Point 3
Eventually, a man speaking broken Polish approaches us,… (Para.1)
Meaning: Finally, a man who can speak Polish, though not fluently, comes up to us, ...
Language Point 4
Eventually, a man speaking broken Polish approaches us, … (Para.1)
approach:
1) v. come near to
He approached the old lady slowly, having no idea how to tell her the bad news.他慢慢地走近老太太, 不知道该怎么把坏消息告诉她。
As summer approaches, the weather becomes hotter. 夏天临近了，天气越来越热了。
2) n. act of approaching
The little boy ran away as fast as he could at their approach. 他们走近时，小男孩拼命跑开了。
Language Point 5
And so begins yet another segment of this longest journey -- all the longer because we don’t exactly know when it will end, when we’ll reach our destination. (Para.1)
Meaning: And then another part of this very long journey begins, and it seems to be longer as we don’t know exactly where our destination is and when we’ll reach there.
Language Point 6
The people on the train look at us indirectly, and avoid sitting nearby. (Para.2)
Meaning: People on the train avoid looking at us directly or sitting near us.
indirectly: ad. not going in a straight line
She still controls the company indirectly through her son. 她通过其儿子仍然间接地控制着该公司。
Freedom of speech has been controlled, whether directly or indirectly, by the secret police. 言论自由受到了秘密警察直接或间接的限制。
Language Point 7
... dried cake, canned sardines, and sausages, which would keep during the long journey. (Para. 2)
keep: vi. (of food) remain fresh and fit to eat
This fish won’t keep in such hot weather; we must eat it now. 天气这么热, 这鱼不能放久, 我们必须现在把它吃了。
“I’ve got something to tell you!” “Won’t it keep until later?” “我有点事要告诉你!” “过些时候再说, 好吗?”
Language Point 8
…we can hardly afford to go there once a day on the few dollars that my father has brought with him. (Para.2)
Meaning: We can hardly pay for even one meal a day with the little money my father had with him.
Language Point 9
…we can hardly afford to go there… (Para.2)
afford: vt. be able to find enough time or money for something
Our manager can’t even afford a two-week holiday. 我们的经理连两周的假期都抽不出来。
The young man found with regret he couldn’t afford (to buy) a second-hand car with the money he had saved. 那个年轻人遗憾地发现，他攒的钱连一辆旧车也买不起。
Language Point 10
The train cuts through infinite territory, most of it flat and boring,… (Para.3)
Meaning: The train runs across a vast area, most of which is flat and boring…
Language Point 11
The train cuts through infinite territory, … (Para.3)
infinite: a. very great in amount or degree, endless
And the opposite for this word is “finite”.
Atomic bombs could do infinite harm to populations if they are used by evil persons.原子弹如果被邪恶的人所利用，就会给人类造成巨大的危害。
She took up a new job with infinite enthusiasm. 她以无限的热情开始从事一项新的工作。
infinitely: ad. in an infinite degree
His idea is infinitely better than mine. 他的主意比我的好多了。
Compare with finite: finite a. having an end or limit
The earth has finite resources, but scientific development is infinite. 地球的资源有限, 但科学发展是无限的。
Light moves at a finite speed. 光以一定的速度传播。
Language Point 12
The train cuts through infinite territory, … (Para.3)
territory: n.
1) [C, U] (area of) land under the control of a ruler, country, city, etc.
The UN is sending aid to the occupied territories. 联合国向被占领区提供救援。
He was shot down in enemy territory. 他是在敌人的领土上被击落的。
2) [C, U] area ruled by one person, group or animal and defended against others
My sister’s bedroom is forbidden territory to the rest of us. 我姐姐的卧室对我们其余人来说是块禁地。
He seems to regard that end of the office as his territory. 他似乎把办公室的那一端视作是他的个人地盘。
Language Point 13
…and it seems to me that the ceaseless rhythm of the wheels is like scissors cutting a three-thousand-mile rip through my life. From now on, my life will be divided into two parts, with the line drawn by that train. (Para.3)
Meaning: As the train goes on, with the rhythm of the wheels continuing endlessly, I feel as if my life was divided into two parts by the running of the train, with my past on one side and the future on the other. There is a distance of three thousand miles between the two sides.
Language Point 14
After a while, I shrink into a silent indifference, … (Para.4)
Meaning: After a while, I lose all my interest in anything around me and become silent.
Language Point 15
After a while, I shrink into a silent indifference, … (Para.4)
shrink: vi.
1) move away from something or somebody unpleasant
She is shy by nature and shrinks from any stranger. 她生性羞怯，怕见生人。
The little boy shrank back with a cry at the sight of a snake. 这个小男孩一看到蛇，就惊叫一声往后退缩。
We must not shrink from difficulties. 我们不应该在困难面前退缩。
2) become smaller, esp. because of water, heat or cold
Will the shirt shrink in the wash? 这件衬衣洗过以后会缩水吗？
Car sales have been shrinking recently. 近来 汽车的销售量在减少。
shrink: vt. cause sth. to become smaller
The hot water shrank my sweater. 热水使我的毛衣收缩了。
The productivity increase has shrunk our costs by 25%. 生产率的提高使我们的成本减少了25%
Language Point 16
After a while, I shrink into a silent indifference, … (Para.4)
indifference: n. lack of interest
Jack’s father is rather angry with him for his indifference to the future. 杰克的父亲因为杰克对未来漠不关心而对他很生气。
I talked to him for two hours, but he only listened to me with indifference. 我和他谈了两个小时，但他只是漠不关心地听着。
indifferent: a. having no interest in, not caring about or noticing
People are worried about the government’s indifferent attitude toward drug dealing. 人们因政府在毒品交易问题上所表现出的漠不关心的态度而感到担心。
If the adjective has a complement, we should use the preposition to.
How can you be so indifferent to the suffering of the people around you? 你怎么能对身边的人所受的苦难如此漠不关心呢？
I was so excited to see snow that I was indifferent to the cold. 看到雪, 我非常激动而不感到寒冷。
Language Point 17
…these are not the friendly fields, the farmyards of Polish countryside; …(Para.4)
Meaning: …these are not the farmyards in Polish countryside that I am so familiar with. These fields make me feel strange.
Language Point 18
... this is vast, tedious and formless. (Para. 4)
tedious: a. tiring, because of being too long, slow or dull; boring
The work is tedious. 这个工作真乏味。
We had to sit through several tedious speeches. 我们不得不坐在那里听完那几个冗长而乏味的发言。
Language Point 19
... look at the spectacular landscapes we’re passing by. (Para. 4)
spectacular: a. making a very fine exhibit or show
a spectacular show of fireworks 燃放烟火的壮观景象
The most spectacular goal of the match was scored by Harris. 比赛中最精彩的进球是哈里斯的射门。
Language Point 20
These peaks and valleys, these mountain streams and enormous rocks hurt my eyes; they hurt my soul. (Para.4)
Meaning: These peaks and valleys, these mountain streams and enormous rocks, look strange and unpleasant to me. They make me feel unhappy by reminding me I am far away from my home surroundings.
Language Point 21
They’re too big, too forbidding,… (Para.4)
forbidding: a. unfriendly, threatening
There was something forbidding on her face and I didn’t dare to look at her. 她的脸上露出令人生畏的表情，令我不敢正眼看她。
a forbidding look 冷峻的表情
a forbidding appearance 严峻的面容
forbid: vt. order somebody not to do (something)
You are forbidden to leave before I come back.在我回来之前你们不准离开。
The old lady forbade her daughter to marry that poor young man. 老妇人不允许她的女儿和那个穷小伙子结婚。
Language Point 22
I retreat into sleep; I sleep through the day and the night,… (Para.4)
Meaning: I go to sleep as if to find a kind of hiding place and I sleep all day and all night.
Language Point 23
My sister, perhaps recoiling even more deeply from all this strangeness,… (Para.4)
recoil: vi. move away from something unpleasant; moving back because of fear or not liking
For a moment I thought father was going to beat me, and I recoiled in horror. 有一刻我以为父亲要打我，所以我满怀恐惧地往后退缩。
The dog recoiled from the rotten food because of the unpleasant smell. 变质的食物散发出的难闻的气味使得这条狗向后退缩。
Language Point 24
My father enters into a dynamic conversation with him and learns some entertaining tales. (Para.5)
Meaning: My father gets into an active conversation with him and hears some pleasant stories (about life of Polish people in a new land).
enter into: become part of, begin to take part in
Before you enter into an agreement of this nature, you should read the agreement carefully.在签署这类协议之前, 你应该仔细看一下协议内容。
We entered into meaningful discussions with them weeks ago. 几星期以前我们就与他们进入了实质性的谈判。
Notice that when the verb is used to mean "go or come into" (some place or some stage), we do not use the preposition “into”.
The thieves entered the building by the back door. 窃贼是从后门进入大楼的。
Everybody stands up when the judge enters the court. 法官进入法庭时, 全体起立。
The talks have now entered the third week. 会谈已进入第三周。
Language Point 25
My father enters into a dynamic conversation with him and learns some entertaining tales. (Para.5)
dynamic: a. active and with energy; lively
Latin folk dance is quite dynamic. 拉丁舞活力四射。
Hong Kong is a dynamic economic region in Asia. 香港是亚洲充满活力的经济区。
Language Point 26
... a Polish Jew who came to Canada and became prosperous ... (Para. 5)
prosperous: a. successful, esp. financially
She was the daughter of a prosperous banker. 她是一个富有的银行家的女儿。
It’s hard to believe that in this prosperous country, hunger could be a serious problem. 很难相信在这个富裕的国家里, 饥饿会成为一个严重的问题。
Language Point 27
... it shouldn’t be hard to achieve prosperity in this country. (Para. 5)
prosperity: n. [U] state of being successful or rich
The war was followed by a long period of peace and prosperity. 战争结束之后，有一段很长时间的和平和繁荣。
A country’s future prosperity depends, to a degree, upon the quality of education of its people. 在某种意义上讲，一个国家未来的繁荣，取决于对其国民教育的质量。
Language Point 28
…but I retreat into an even more determined silence. (Para.5)
Meaning: …but I become even more silent than before as if I have made up my mind to be like this.
Language Point 29
“Millionaire” is one of those words from a fairy tale that has no meaning to me whatsoever – like the words “emigration” and “Canada”. (Para.5)
Meaning: “Millionaire” is one of the words that only exists in fairy tales and thus has no meaning at all to me; it is the same with some other words like “emigration” and “Canada”.
Language Point 30
…has no meaning to me whatsoever… (Para.5)
whatsoever: ad. used after a noun phrase to emphasize a negative statement
The new boss has done nothing whatsoever to improve efficiency. 新来的老板在提高效率方面什么也没做。
There is no doubt whatsoever that the scientist has devoted all his life to his cause.毫无疑问这位科学家把一生都献给了事业。
Language Point 31
In spite of my parents’ objections,… (Para.5)
objection: n. (to) not supporting or resistance
Some managers have raised objection to laying off too many employees. 有些经理反对过分裁员。
Linda has no objection to her daughter’s idea about her future career. 琳达不反对她女儿对未来事业的设想。
object:
1) vi. (to) be against
People in the neighborhood objected to the government’s decision of setting up a new food store here. 这一地区的人们反对政府打算在这儿建一家新食品店的决定。
I strongly object to raising the price of our new product by 20%. 我强烈反对把新产品的价格提高20%。
2) vt. give a reason against sth.
In this sense, the verb is very often followed by a that-clause.
I object that he is too young and inexperienced for such a key position. 我反对的理由是他太年轻，经验又不足，不适合这么重要的职位。
Language Point 32
…identical navy blue dresses with sailor collars and gray coats. (Para.6)
identical: a. (to / with) exactly the same
Houses in the neighborhood are identical. 这个居民区的房子都是雷同的。
Your fingerprint can’t be identical to / with mine. 你的指纹和我的不可能一样。
Language Point 33
My parents’ faces reflect anticipation and anxiety. (Para.6)
Meaning: My parents’ faces show a mixed expression of both anticipation and anxiety.
reflect: vt. show, express
Her sad look reflected the great pain caused by loss of her friend. 她哀伤的表情反映出了她因失去朋友而经受的巨大痛苦。
Language Point 34
“Get off the train on the right foot,” my mother tells us. “For luck in the new life.” (Para.6)
Meaning: Before they get off the train, the mother tells her children to step onto the new land with their right feet first for good luck in new life. This is a superstitious belief.
Language Point 35
From out of this grayness, two figures approach us -- an unremarkable middle-aged man and woman… (Para. 7)
Meaning: Two persons -- an ordinary middle-aged man and woman -- come up to us out of the gray landscape.
unremarkable: a. not worthy of attention; usual
an unremarkable poem 一首普普通通的诗
The view is unremarkable. 景色平平。
Language Point 36
…and after making sure that we are the right people,… (Para. 7)
make sure (that… / of sth.):
1) find out if sth. is certainly true
I think I locked the door, but I’ll just go back to make sure that I did. 我以为我锁上了门, 但我还是回去看看究竟锁上了没有。
2) do what is necessary to feel sure about sth.
There aren’t many tickets left for this film, so you had better make sure of one today. 这部电影剩下的票不多了，所以你今天最好定下一张。
I think you should go to the workshop to make sure (that) everything goes smoothly. 我想你应该去一下车间，看看是否一切进展顺利。
Language Point 37
... the arrivals from the other side of the world, ... (Para. 7)
arrival: n. a person or thing that has arrived
They went out to welcome the new arrivals. 他们出去迎接新到的宾客。
These are new arrivals for the season. 这些是新到的时令商品。
Language Point 38
…but I don’t feel much warmth in their half-embarrassed embrace. (Para. 7)
Meaning: …but their embrace seems half-embarrassed and I can’t feel much warmth in it.
Language Point 39
... in their half-embarrassed embrace. (Para. 7)
embrace: n. [C] act of taking someone in one’s arms as a sign of liking
He held her in a warm embrace. 他热烈地拥抱了她。
They greeted each other with a warm embrace. 他们以拥抱的方式互致问候。
embrace: vt.
1) take (a person, etc.) into one’s arms as a sign of liking
She embraced her son before leaving. 她在临行前拥抱了儿子。
They embraced each other warmly. 他们互相热烈地拥抱。
2) (of things) include
The term “mankind” embraces men, women and children. “人类” 一词的含义包括男人、女人和儿童。
We’re trying to develop an all-embracing policy which deals with every element of education. 我们正试着制订一项能解决教育各方面问题的全面政策。