Language Point 1
If you often feel angry and overwhelmed, like the stress in your life is spinning out of control, then you may be hurting your heart. (Para. 1)
Meaning: If you are often angry and very strongly affected by negative feelings, as if the stress is quickly going out of control, then it is possible that you are doing harm to your heart.
like: conj. in the same manner as
Do you make bread like you make cake? 你做面包和做蛋糕用的是同一个方法吗?
Like I said, I can’t get there on Saturday. 正如我所说，我星期六到不了那儿。
In both these sentences we can use “as” to replace “like”.
Language Point 2
…feel angry and overwhelmed,… (Para. 1)
overwhelm: vt.
1)(of feelings) make (sb.) completely helpless, usu. suddenly
He was overwhelmed with grief at the news of his son’s death in an accident. 听到儿子在事故中丧生的消息, 他悲痛欲绝。
The whole nation was overwhelmed with excitement because of its victory in bidding for hosting the 2008 Olympic Games. 由于申办2008年奥运会成功，整个国家都沉浸在兴奋激动之中。
2) defeat
They were overwhelmed by the enemy. 他们被敌军击败了。
The policeman overwhelmed the robber by holding his arm. 警察抓住抢劫者的胳膊制服了他。
Language Point 3
…is spinning out of control,…(Para. 1)
spin:
1) vi. turn around and around quickly
The coin spun on the table for a moment. 硬币在桌上转了一会儿。
I feel faint and the room is spinning. 我感到晕晕乎乎的，觉得房间在旋转。
2) vt. make sth. go round
I used to sit in Grandpa’s study, spinning the globe and dreaming of the places I would visit. 以前我常常坐在祖父的书房里，转着地球仪，憧憬着我将去游历的地方。
3) n. a fast turning and spinning motion
Place your bets before the spin of the wheel. 请在转盘转起来之前下注。
Suddenly, the plane went into a spin. 飞机突然旋转起来。
Here “spinning out of control” means “going out of control quickly”.
Language Point 4
…spinning out of control,… (Para. 1)
out of control: not in one’s authority or power
The airplane went out of control and crashed. 飞机失去控制，坠毁了。
After that package is put on a truck, when it is delivered is out of my control. 包裹被送上卡车后，什么时候发货我就管不了了。
The expression “beyond control” means the same as “out of control”.
He lost position through situations beyond his control. 他因无法控制局势而丢了乌纱帽。
The expression “under control” means exactly the opposite of “out of control”.
It took the teacher months to bring his class under control. 这个老师用了几个月的时间才把他教的班级控制住。
The fire fighters struggled against the fire for several hours and finally brought the fire under control. 一连几个小时消防队员奋力扑火, 最后终于控制住了火势。
Language Point 5
If you don’t want to break your own heart, you need to learn to take charge of your life where you can — and recognize there are many things beyond your control. (Para. 2)
Meaning: If you don’t like to harm your heart, you should learn to take control of your own life where you can, and at the same time, you have to realize that you’re unable to take control over everything.
Language Point 6
…to learn to take charge of your life…(Para. 2)
take charge of: take control of (a situation, organization, or a group of people)
Please take charge of my dog while I’m away. 我不在家时请帮忙照管我的狗。
He will take charge (of it) during my time away. 我外出时由他负责。
She took charge of the family business when her father died. 她在父亲去世后负责掌管家里的生意。
Language Point 7
So says Dr. Robert S. Eliot,… (Para. 3)
It’s an inverted sentence. The normal order is: Dr. Robert S. Eliot … says so.
“So” refers to what is talked about in Para. 2. The reasons for the inverted order of the sentence are that the subject of the sentence (that is: Dr. Robert S. Eliot, author of a new book titled From Stress to Strength: How to Lighten Your Load and Save Your Life) is very long and, what is more, the subject bears the new information of the whole sentence. To keep the sentence in balance, and to achieve the end-weight (that is: leave the complex structure towards the end of the sentence) and end-focus (that is: leave the new information towards the end of the sentence), the word “so” is put at the very beginning and the verb comes before the subject.
Another simple example:
So goes the story. 故事如此云云。
Language Point 8
… a new book titled From Stress to Strength: How to Lighten Your Load and Save Your Life. (Para. 3)
title: vt. give a name to (a book, article, etc.)
Shakespeare titled his play A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream. 莎士比亚把他的剧本定名为《仲夏夜之梦》。
Have you found the book titled Water Margin? 你找到那本名为《水浒传》的书了吗？
title: n.
1) [C] a name of a book, picture, etc.
The title of the film escapes me for the moment. 我一下子记不起那电影的名字了。
This next record bears the title The Moon River. 下一张唱片的名字是《月亮河》。
2) [C] a word which is used before sb.’s name
This earned for him the title of “father of the modern Olympics”. 这为他赢得了“现代奥林匹克之父”的称号。
Language Point 9
… “hot reactors”. (Para. 4)
Meaning: … “people who are hot-tempered”.
Here the word “reactor” is used in its figurative sense.
Language Point 10
For these people, being tense may cause tremendous and rapid increases in their blood pressure. (Para. 4)
tense: a.
1) feeling very nervous and worried because of sth. bad that might happen
He read the letter with a tense anxiety. 他紧张焦虑地读着那封信。
The environment in the hospital waiting room was very tense. 医院候诊室里的气氛非常紧张。
2) unable to relax (part of) one’s body because one’s muscles feel tight
After a long day’s driving I always feel very tense. 一整天的车开下来，我总觉得不能动弹了。
You cannot play the piano properly if your fingers are too tense. 如果你的手指太僵直，就弹不好钢琴。
As the noun form of “tense”, “tension” is interchangeable with the noun “stress”.
Language Point 11
… stressed people have higher cholesterol levels, among other things. (Para. 5)
among other things: used to say that you are only mentioning one or two things out of a much larger group
At the meeting they discussed, among other things, recent events in Eastern Europe. 会上他们讨论了有关东欧最近发生的事情和其他一些事情。
She’s very keen on sport: among other things, she plays tennis twice a week. 她非常喜爱体育运动: 除了其他活动外, 她每星期打两次网球。
Language Point 12
…excess alarm or stress chemicals can literally burst heart muscle fibers. (Para. 5)
Meaning: … too great amounts of chemicals produced by too much anxiety or tension can actually damage heart muscles.
Language Point 13
… excess alarm or stress chemicals … (Para. 5)
excess:
1) a. additional and not wanted or needed because there is already enough of sth.
If you take more luggage than is allowed, you will have to pay for the excess luggage. 如果你的行李超重，你得额外付费。
The fat man went on a diet to get rid of his excess weight. 这个胖子开始节食以减肥。
2) n. an amount that is more than what is needed or wanted; an act of doing too much of sth.
This excess of losses over profits will ruin the business. 这种亏损超过赢利的情况会使企业垮掉的。
He spends too much money; his excesses put him into debt. 他花钱太厉害，过度的开销使他背上了债务。
Notice the use of the adjective “excessive”, which means too great in amount or in degree.
The prices at this hotel are excessive. 这家旅馆收费太离谱。
She takes an excessive interest in clothes. 她对服装过分感兴趣。
Language Point 14
It creates many short circuits, and that causes crazy heart rhythms. (Para. 5)
Meaning: Damaged heart muscles cause the heart a lot of problems, which result in irregular heart beat.
short circuit: a faulty electrical connection that makes the current flow along the wrong path and so usually puts the power supply out of operation. Here the expression is used in its figurative sense to mean a problem that may cause the heart to function irregularly.
Language Point 15
The heart beats like a bag of worms instead of a pump. (Para. 5]
Meaning: The heart works badly rather than beating like a pump.
like a bag of worms: (functioning) irregularly and without much power
pump:
1) n. [C] a machine or device for forcing water, gas or air into, out of or through sth.
water pump 抽水机
The doctor removed the contents of her stomach with a stomach pump. 医生用胃泵清除掉她胃里的东西。
2) vt. cause air, gas, water, etc. to move in a specified direction by using a pump
The heart pumps the blood round the body. 心脏使血液在身体内循环。
We took turns pumping out the boat. 我们轮流用泵把船里的水抽干。
Language Point 16
He attributes some of the cause to stress. (Para. 6)
Meaning: He believes that, to some extent, stress is the cause for his heart trouble.
attribute…to… : say that a situation or event is caused by sth.
They attributed their success to their teacher’s encouragement. 他们把成功归因于老师的鼓励。
1150 deaths a year can be attributed to drunk driving. 每年有1150人死于酒后驾驶。
attribute: n. a quality forming part of the nature of a person or thing
Kindness is one of his best attributes. 仁慈是他的好品性之一。
Notice that “attribute” as a verb and “attribute” as a noun are pronounced in different ways.
Language Point 17
On the exterior, he was cool, calm and collected but on the interior, stress was killing him. (Para. 6)
Meaning: In appearance he was very calm and self-controlled while deep down he could hardly stand any more pressure.
exterior: n. the appearance or outside surface of sth.
The exterior of the house is very unattractive. 房子的外观很不起眼。
You must not judge people by their exteriors. 你不能以貌取人。
interior: n. inner part; inside
This office has a very modern interior. 这办公室室内装修很现代化。
Both “exterior” and “interior” can be used as adjectives. Examples:
the exterior walls of the prison 监狱的外墙
interior decorator 室内设计师
Language Point 18
The main predictors of destructive levels of stress are the FUD factors — fear, uncertainty and doubt … (Para. 7)
Meaning: The main signs to show that stress has produced destructive effects on health are fear, uncertainty and doubt ...
FUD: a word made up from the first letters of fear, uncertainty and doubt
Language Point 19
… destructive levels of stress … (Para. 7)
destructive: a. causing damage to people or things
a destructive storm 毁灭性的暴风雨
We were shown a video about the destructive effects of carbon dioxide on the environment. 我们观看了一部有关二氧化碳对环境产生破坏性影响的录像片。
Language Point 20
… together with perceived lack of control,... (Para. 7)
together with: along with, as well as, accompanied by
Just bring it back to the store, together with your receipt. 请把它连同发票一起带回商店。
Use the shampoo together with our special conditioner for best results. 这种洗发剂和我们专门生产的护发素一起使用，效果最好。
perceived lack of control: loss of self-control which can be seen or felt
Language Point 21
For many people, the root of their stress is anger, and the trick is to find out where the anger is coming from. (Para. 8)
Meaning: As the most important cause of many people’s stress is anger, the best solution is to find out what makes them angry.
Language Point 22
They feel they have to be all things to all people and do it all perfectly. (Para. 9)
Meaning: These women feel forced to play all the roles their lives demand of them and, therefore, do all of these different things to the extent of being perfect.
Language Point 23
They think, ‘I should, I must, I have to.’ (Para. 9)
Meaning: They think, ‘I should, I must and I have to do everything perfectly.’
Language Point 24
Good enough is never good enough. (Para. 9)
Meaning: However good their performance is, they (or they feel others may) never think so.
Language Point 25
Perfectionists cannot delegate. (Para. 9)
delegate:
1)v. give (part of one’s rights, etc.) to sb. else for a certain time
You can’t do all the jobs yourself — you must learn to delegate. 你不能什么事都一个人做，你得学会委托权限。
He delegated his responsibilities to an assistant. 他委托一名助手代司其责。
2) n. sb. who has been elected or chosen to speak, vote, or take decisions for a group
Many nations send delegates to the United States. 许多国家向联合国派驻代表。
Language Point 26
They get angry that they have to carry it all, and they blow their tops. (Para. 9)
Meaning: They get angry because they have to do everything on their own, and so they lose their temper.
blow one’s top: (slang) explode with anger, lose one’s temper
My father will blow his top when he sees what happened to the car. 我父亲看到车子这个样子肯定会大发雷霆。
When he told her how much it cost, she blew her top. 当他告诉她东西的价格时，她大发脾气。
Language Point 27
Then they feel guilty and they start the whole cycle over again. (Para. 9)
Meaning: Then they feel ashamed about losing their temper, but they go back to their former way of living, aiming at perfection and living under stress.
Language Point 28
… start the whole cycle over again. (Para. 9)
cycle: n.
1) a number of events happening in a regularly repeated order
The seasons of the year, spring, summer, autumn, winter make a cycle. 一年春夏秋冬四季为一个循环。
How can we stop the unending cycle of violence? 我们如何才能结束这种无休止的暴力事件？
2) [C] a bicycle, motorcycle, etc.
The shop sells a large range of foreign cycles. 这个店出售各种各样的进口自行车。
Do you know where there’s a good cycle shop? 你知道哪儿有好的自行车店吗？
cycle: vi. ride a bicycle
He cycles to the metro station every day. 他每天骑车去地铁站。
Shall we cycle into town or go by bus? 我们是骑自行车还是乘公共汽车进城？
Language Point 29
“…they have no compass in life. And they give the same emphasis to a traffic jam that they give a family argument,”…(Para. 10)
Meaning: These people have no way to know the right direction they should follow in life. And they get equally angry about a traffic jam and about a family quarrel.
“Compass” refers to a device used to find direction. In this sentence “compass” is used in its figurative sense.
Language Point 30
… give the same emphasis to … (Para. 10)
emphasis: n. special or extra importance that is given to one part of sth.
In Japanese society there is a lot of emphasis on academic success. 日本社会特别强调学业的成功。
Some schools put great emphasis on language study. 一些学校非常注重语言学习。
Language Point 31
… a family argument … (Para. 10)
argument: n.
1) [C] a situation in which two or more people disagree, often angrily; a quarrel
An argument broke out. 发生了一场争论。
They were having an argument about the children. 他们正在为孩子的事争吵。
2) [C] a reason put forward
Her husband was not convinced by her argument that they needed a car. 她认为需要一部汽车，但她丈夫并没有被她说服。
I don’t think that’s a very strong argument. 我认为这一理由并不充分。
Language Point 32
“If you own anger for more than five minutes - if you stir in your own juice with no safety outlet …” (Para. 10)
Meaning: “If you experience anger for more than five minutes — if you suffer from your own feelings of anger but find no proper means to set free your anger …
stir in one’s own juice: suffer from unpleasant feelings
Language Point 33
…stir in your own juice…(Para. 10)
stir: v.
1) move (sth.) in a round motion through a liquid or mixture
He stirred sugar into the tea. 他把茶中的糖搅匀。
Use a spoon to stir the sauce. 用调羹来搅拌调料。
2) move slightly
He stirred in his sleep. 他在睡梦中轻轻翻了翻身。
Not a breath of air stirred. 一点儿风都没有。
John did not even stir from his seat when his mother called him. 约翰的母亲叫他时，他竟坐着动也没动。
3) vt. make active; excite
The news stirred the anger of the people. 这个消息激起了人们的愤怒。
The story stirred the boy’s imagination. 那个故事激起了男孩子的想像力。
These words could not stir him to take action. 这番话不足以促使他采取行动。
stir: n.
1) action of stirring
Give the soup a stir. 把汤搅一搅。
2) great excitement, shock or anger among people
His film has caused a stir in America. 他的影片在美国引起了轰动。
The news of the terrorist attacks in New York caused quite a stir in the whole world. 在纽约发生恐怖主义袭击的消息在全世界引起了极大震动。
Language Point 34
… with no safety outlet … (Para. 10)
outlet: n. a means of expression, exit or escape
Children need an outlet for their energy. 孩子们需要有发泄精力的渠道。
This job provides an excellent outlet for his artistic impulse. 这项工作为他的艺术冲动提供了一个绝妙的发挥机会。
Language Point 35
“What happens is that the hotter people get, physiologically, with mental stress, the more likely they are to blow apart with some heart problem.” (Para. 11)
Meaning: “The fact is that the more angry people become because of high mental pressure, the more likely they are to come down with some heart disease.”
blow apart: break by an explosion; explode
His car had been blown apart.
In this sentence “blow apart” is used in its figurative sense, meaning “break down physically”.
Language Point 36
One step to calming down is recognizing you have this tendency. (Para. 12)
Meaning: In order to make yourself quiet and peaceful, you have to take the action of admitting that you are very likely to lose your temper.
Language Point 37
Eliot recommends taking charge of your life. (Para. 13)
recommend: v.
1) suggest, advise
The verb “recommend” in this sense is used in several structures:
(1) If it is followed directly by a verb, the verb should be in the -ing form.
I wouldn’t recommend reading in this light; it may affect your eyes. 我不赞成在这样的光线下读书，这会损伤你的眼睛。
（2) If it is followed by a “that-clause”, the verb in the “that-clause” should be used in its base form or used together with the modal auxiliary “should”.
I recommend that he (should) try the new medicine. 我建议他试试这种新药。
（3) The verb “recommend” in this sense can also be followed directly by a noun.
The doctor recommended a change of climate for her health. 医生建议她换换气候环境以便恢复健康。
2) praise sth. or sb. as suitable for a purpose or for a post
They recommend her for the job. 他们推荐她做这项工作。
Can you recommend me a good hotel in the city? 你能给我介绍一家城里的好旅馆吗?
Language Point 38
“If there is one word that should be substituted for stress, it’s control.” (Para. 13)
Meaning: We should take control of ourselves instead of suffering from stress.
substitute (for):
1) v. replace (with)
They substituted red balls for blue, to see if the baby would notice. 他们用红色球代替蓝色球，看看婴儿是否注意到了。
He substituted for the worker who was ill. 他代替那个生病的工人。
2) n. a person or thing acting or used in place of another
Water isn’t a proper substitute for wine. 水不是酒的恰当替代品。
Our teacher is having a baby, so we have a substitute. 我们的老师要生小孩了，所以代课老师给我们上课。
Language Point 39
“Instead of the FUD factors, what you want is the NICE factors—— new, interesting, challenging experiences.” (Para. 13)
Meaning: “What we need is not fear, uncertainty and doubt but a life full of new, interesting and challenging experiences.”
Language Point 40
“‘... I’m going to get my compass out and find out what I need to do.’”(Para. 14)
Meaning: “... ‘I’m going to find a right direction for my life and do what I need to do.’”
Language Point 41
“... being financially independent, being stimulated intellectually and remaining even-tempered …” (Para. 15)
Meaning: “… being able to live on his own, being quick and active in mind, and being calm and unexcited in temper …”
independent: a. not dependent, not controlled by other people or things
She likes to be financially independent (of her family). 她喜欢经济上独立。
She is very independent and lives all alone. 她自食其力，独自生活。
Notice that if “independent” is followed by a noun as a complement, we use the preposition “of”. One more example:
India became independent of Britain in 1947. 印度于1947年脱离英国, 获得独立。
Language Point 42
… being stimulated intellectually … (Para. 15)
stimulate: vt. make sb. / sth. more active
She was stimulated into new efforts. 她受到了鼓励，正在作出新的努力。
Success will stimulate a person into further efforts. 成功会激励人不断努力。
Language Point 43
… and remaining even-tempered … (Para. 15)
temper: n. state of the mind
even-tempered 性情平和的
mild-tempered 温和的
hot- / quick- / short-tempered 脾气急躁的
sweet-tempered 性情温柔的
moody-tempered 喜怒无常的
good-tempered 好脾气的
bad- / ill-tempered 坏脾气的
Language Point 44
… then cut it down to 6 and set your priorities. (Para. 16)
Meaning: … then reduce the list of 12 things to 6 and decide which ones are of the most importance that you must deal with first.
cut down: reduce, make less in number or amount
Your article is too long. Please cut it down to 1,000 words. 你的文章太长了，请压缩至1，000个词。
If you can’t give up smoking completely, at least try to cut down. 如果不能完全戒烟，至少要少抽点。
People concerned about cholesterol levels often try to cut down on meats. 担心自己胆固醇高的人常常减少肉类的摄入。
Language Point 45
… and set your priorities. (Para. 16)
priority: n.
1)[C] sth. that needs attention, consideration, service, etc. before others
What are your priorities in this matter? 在这件事中你优先考虑的是什么？
Her first priority is finishing coming before others in position or time at college. 她的首要任务是读完大学。
2) [U] the state or right of coming before others in position or time
The badly wounded take priority for medical attention over those only slightly hurt. 重伤员较之轻伤员优先治疗。
We have a priority booking system for members of the club. 我们的订票制度是优先照顾俱乐部的成员。
Language Point 46
… but things that will affect your identity, control and self-worth. (Para. 16)
Meaning: …but (first consider) things that will have influence on your character, your control of yourself and the sense of your own value.
Language Point 47
Since we can’t create a 26-hour day we have to decide what things we’re going to do. (Para. 17)
Meaning: As everyone has 24 hours a day, we have to decide what things we should do first and what things can wait.
Language Point 48
Keep in mind that over time these priorities are going to change. (Para. 18)
Meaning: Remember that with time going by, some things once considered the most important have lost importance while others are becoming more and more important.
Language Point 49
From Eliot’s viewpoint, the other key to controlling stress is to “realize that there are other troublesome parts of your life over which you can have little or no control — like the economy and politicians”. (Para. 19)
Meaning: In Eliot’s opinion, the other important thing to stop us feeling stressed is to realize that life has also some unpleasant situations which are beyond our control. Just like the economy and people who are engaged in political activities, they are uncontrollable, too.
Language Point 50
From Eliot’s viewpoint,…(Para. 19)
viewpoint: n. a particular way of thinking about a problem or subject
My viewpoint differs from yours completely. 我的观点和你的完全不一样。
We’re supposed to solve the problem from a practical viewpoint. 我们应该以务实的态度来解决这一问题。
Language Point 51
… other troublesome parts of your life … (Para. 19)
troublesome: a. causing trouble or anxiety, causing pain
David is a troublesome student in my class. 大卫是我班的一个调皮学生。
The troublesome issue of the boundary conflict is sure to remain a problem. 边境冲突这个讨厌的事情始终是个问题。
Notice that the suffix “-some” is used to form adjectives with the meaning “liking to, tending to, causing or producing” suggesting something. unpleasant. Examples:
quarrelsome 好争吵的, 动辄争吵的
burdensome 繁重的, 成为负担的
tiresome 令人厌烦的, 烦人的
lonesome 孤单的, 孤寂的
Language Point 52
… with things like traffic jams, deadlines and … (Para. 20)
deadline: n. a date or time by which sth. has to be done or completed
Tomorrow will be the deadline for handing in the book report. 明天是交读书报告的最后期限。
Our deadline was only two days away. 离最后期限只有两天了。
Language Point 53
“... You can’t fight. You can’t flee. You have to learn how to flow.” (Para. 20)
Meaning: “(With things like traffic jams, deadlines and unpleasant bosses,) you can’t choose to quarrel or escape. You can only learn how to accept and get used to them.”
Language Point 54
You can’t flee. (Para. 20)
flee: v. leave somewhere very quickly in order to escape from danger
The news is just reaching us that the President has fled the country. 我们才得到消息说总统已逃到国外。
Up to five million political refugees have fled to other countries. 多达500万名政治难民已逃往他国。
