Language Point 1
Adoption (Title)
adoption: n. [C;U] the act of taking sb. else’s child into one’s family to become one’s own child 收养
We can’t have children, so we’re interested in adoption. 我们不能生育，所以有意收养别人的孩子。
The number of adoptions has grown in the past year. 去年，收养子女的数字增加了。
Language Point 2
When couples get married… (Para.1)
couple: n. [C]
1) a man and woman, esp. a husband and wife 夫妇
The couple decided to spend their holiday in Australia. 夫妇俩打算去澳大利亚度假。
You two make such a nice couple. 你们两人是很般配的一对。
2) two things of the same kind 一对，一双
I invited a couple of friends to lunch. 我请了两个朋友吃午饭。
We spent a couple of nights in Shanghai. 我们在上海过了两夜。
3) a few; several 几个，两三个
I’d like to have a couple of drinks. 我想喝几杯。
Would you wait for me for a couple of minutes? 你能等我几分钟吗？
Language Point 3
In this case, they may… (Para.1)
in this case: in this situation 在这种情况下
In this case, who’ll be there? 在这种情况下，谁会在那里呢？
In this case, I think we’d better take you home. 既然如此, 我想我们最好送你回家。
Language Point 4
In fact, adoption is very common today. (Para.1)
Meaning: In fact, adoption often happens today.
in fact: really; actually 事实上，其实
He doesn’t mind; in fact, he’s very pleased. 他不介意，事实上他很高兴。
I thought she was in her room, but in fact she was in the garden. 我以为她在自己的房间里，实际上她在花园里。
Language Point 5
…in the United States alone. (Para.1)
alone: ad. without others; only 单独地；只有
She told her daughter not to go out alone after dark. 她告诉女儿天黑后不要单独外出。
We paid $40 for the food alone. 我们单买食物就花了40美元。
Note: alone 一般作状语，而不能作定语修饰名词。指人时也可以用 on one’s own 或 by oneself 表达“单独”的意思。
Language Point 6
In any case, they all adopt… (Para.1)
in any case: in any situation; whatever happens 在任何情况下；无论如何
He didn’t say anything at the meeting and in any case it’s too late now. 他在会上什么也没说，不管怎样，现在说什么都太迟了。
He said he would support her in any case. 他说无论怎样他都会支持她。
Language Point 7
…they feel children are precious… (Para.1)
precious: a. of great value or importance 贵重的，宝贵的
My time is precious; I can only give you a few minutes. 我的时间很宝贵，只能给你几分钟时间。
Information is as precious as gold. 信息像金子一样珍贵。
Her son was very precious to her. 她极其珍视她的儿子。
Language Point 8
…such as a comfortable home… (Para.1)
such as: for example 例如；像
Sweet foods such as chocolate can make you fat. 巧克力之类的甜食使人发胖。
I like English lessons such as listening and speaking. 我喜欢听说类的英语课程。
Language Point 9
…a good education. (Para.1)
education: [U] knowledge or training received through study 教育
The young man had a good education. 这个年轻人受过良好教育。
You should come to China and finish your education here. 你应该来中国，在这里完成你的学业。
Language Point 10
…have very little information about their natural mother and father. (Para.2)
Meaning: …know very little about their birth parents.
natural: a.
1) (of a family member) actual; real 真正的（有血统关系的）
He was adopted when he was a baby; he has never known his natural parents. 他在婴儿时就被人收养，从不知自己的生身父母是谁。
His natural mother died when he was only several months old. 当他还只有几个月大时，他的亲生母亲就去世了。
2) usual; not surprising 自然的，必然的
It’s very natural to feel nervous before exams. 考试前感觉紧张是很自然的事。
His success is quite natural since he’s always working hard. 他一向很勤奋，所以取得成功是很自然的事。
Language Point 11
As a matter of fact, it is often a huge problem for adopted children to find out about their birth parents because the birth records of most adopted children are usually kept secret. (Para.2)
Meaning: In fact, it is very difficult for adopted children to get facts about their birth parents，because the birth records of most adopted children are not allowed to be seen.
as a matter of fact: really; in fact 事实上，实际上
I’m going home. As a matter of fact, today is my mother’s birthday. 我要回家了。说实话，今天是我母亲的生日。
Well, as a matter of fact I don’t mind; but you should have asked me first. 其实我并不介意，可是你事先本该问问我。
Language Point 12
…it is often a huge problem… (Para.2)
huge: a.
1) very great in degree 程度很高的
After years of hard work, there came a huge success. 数年的艰辛工作换来了极大成功。
2) very large 巨大的
He was said to be very rich and living in a huge house. 据说他非常富有，住在一所豪宅里。
We need a huge amount of money for the research. 我们需要一大笔钱进行这项研究。
Language Point 13
…a huge problem for adopted children to find out about their birth parents… (Para.2)
find out: get some information by asking or studying 打听，了解
He wrote to his friends in Beijing to find out about the job. 他写信给北京的朋友打听这份工作的情况。
I need to find out about the meeting. 我需要了解有关会议的情况。
Language Point 14
…because the birth records of most adopted children are usually kept secret. (Para.2)
record: n. [C]
1) information that is written down and kept 记录
The teacher keeps records of how the children are getting ahead. 老师把孩子们的进步记录下来。
You should keep a record of how much you spend. 你花了多少钱要记账。
2) the best result ever reached in sth., especially in a sport (尤指体育运动中最好的)记录She has broken the world record for long jump. 她打破了跳远世界纪录。
We’ve had so little rain this year –– I’m sure it must be a record. 今年雨水非常少，我肯定这是历年来最少的。
Language Point 15
…because the birth records of most adopted children are usually kept secret. (Para.2)
keep sth. secret: prevent sth. from being known by others 保密；秘密进行
He kept his illness secret from everybody. 他没有对任何人透露他的病情。
They kept their wedding secret. 他们的婚礼秘密举行。
secret: n. [C] sth. that is not or must not be known by others 秘密
I can’t tell you where we’re going –– it’s a secret. 我不能告诉你我们要去哪里——这是秘密。
It’s no secret that they don’t like each other. 他们不喜欢对方，这已不是什么秘密。
Language Point 16
This protects everyone’s privacy. (Para.2)
privacy: n. [U] the state of not being seen or talked about publicly隐私
There is no privacy in the dormitory(寝室). 寝室里没有隐私可言。
We have a tradition (传统) of protecting the privacy of those we work with. 我们有保护客户隐私的传统。
This is a huge house. We all could find our own privacy. 这是一栋大房子，我们每人都可以有自己的私人空间。
Language Point 17
Otherwise, anyone could… (Para.2)
otherwise: conj. if not 否则，不然
You have to press(按) the red button(按钮), otherwise it won’t work. 你要按那个红色按钮，否则机器就不能起动。
Faster, otherwise, you’ll be late. 快一点，要不然你就迟到了。
He told me about the meeting; otherwise I would not have come here. 他告诉我要开会的事，否则我就不会过来了。
Language Point 18
Adopted children have different feelings about… (Para.3)
feeling: n.
1) [C; U] sth. in mind; thought 感想，看法
I have a feeling that I’m being watched. 我感到我正被人监视。
2 (pl.) sth. one feels such as sadness or happiness 感情
You can’t understand my feelings. 你不理解我的感情。
I’m afraid what you said hurt her feelings. 我担心你说的话伤了她的感情。
3) [U] the ability to feel in one’s body 知觉
I was so cold that I had no feeling in my feet. 我冻得脚都麻了。
After the accident he lost all feeling in his legs. 这场事故之后，他双腿完全失去了知觉。
Language Point 19
…but I don’t feel I really want to go looking. (Para.3)
Meaning: …but I don’t feel I really want to search for my birth mother.
Language Point 20
Maybe she would treat me badly and… (Para.3)
treat: vt.
1) act towards or do with 对待
Teenagers hate being treated like children. 十几岁的青少年不喜欢被人当作孩子看待。
You should treat older people with respect. 你应该尊重比你年长的人。
2) buy or give sb. something special as a kind act 请客，招待
He treated the child to an ice cream. 他请那个孩子吃冰淇淋。
Aunt Lisa always treated me with cookies made by her when I went to her home. 每次去丽萨姨妈家，她都请我吃她做的小甜饼。
Language Point 21
Maybe she would treat me badly and… (Para.3)
badly: ad.
1) not well; unpleasantly 不好地
These clothes are badly made. 这些衣服做得很差。
Last night I slept badly because of the noise outside. 昨晚由于外面很吵，我睡得很不好。
2) to a great or serious degree 非常；严重地
He was badly hurt in the accident. 他在事故中受了重伤。
She went on working though her arm pained her badly. 虽然她的胳膊痛得厉害，她仍然坚持工作。
I badly need a holiday. 我真需要休假了。
Language Point 22
…I’d just be disappointed.
disappointed: a. sad because what one wanted did not happen 失望的
They are very disappointed that they can’t stay longer. 由于不能多住一些日子，他们感到很失望。
She was deeply disappointed at having not been chosen for the team. 她因没有被选入队而深感失望。
Language Point 23
…look for her birth mother… (Para.3)
look for: try to find 寻找
We’ve been looking for you everywhere. 我们在到处找你。
He spent a month looking for a job. 他花了一个月时间找工作。
Language Point 24
…but I have mixed feelings. (Para.3)
Meaning: …but I have both good and bad feelings about my birth mother.
mixed: a. of different kinds 矛盾的；混杂的
People’s answers to our idea have been very mixed. 人们对我们的建议反应不一。
I have mixed feelings about leaving school. 对于离开学校，我内心非常矛盾。
Language Point 25
…it would be foolish to… (Para.3)
would: 情态动词，表示设想的结果
He would be happy if you went to see him. 如果你去看他，他会很高兴。
She would be foolish not to take it. 她不接受那才傻呢。
foolish: a. out of reason; not wise; silly 愚蠢的，愚笨的
I was foolish enough to think he was an honest person. 我太傻了，竟认为他是一个诚实的人。
I had made a mistake, and a foolish one. 我犯了一个错误，一个愚蠢的错误。
Language Point 26
…I’m afraid of… (Para.3)
be afraid of: be worried about 担忧，害怕，恐怕
I was afraid of waking the baby. 她怕把孩子惊醒了。
I’m afraid of going out after dark. 我不敢在天黑之后出门。
Language Point 27
I’m worried that she’ll have a whole new life and I’ll just be interfering with that new life. (Para.3)
Meaning: I’m worried that she’ll have a whole new life and I’ll stop her from enjoying her new life.
interfere with: get in the way of sb. or sth. 妨碍，干预
Every time the telephone rings it interferes with my work. 电话一响就打断我的工作。
He seldom interfered with his children’s life. 他很少干预孩子们的生活。
Language Point 28
She might be ashamed and… (Para.3)
might: 情态动词，表示某事可能发生
He might be upstairs. 他可能在楼上。
We might be going to Shanghai on holiday this year. 今年我们可能去上海度假。
ashamed: a. feeling bad about sth. one has done wrong 羞耻的
I was ashamed about having lied to my parents. 我对父母说了谎，觉得很羞愧。
He was ashamed of himself for having made such a mistake. 他犯了这样的错误，自己也感到很惭愧。
Language Point 29
With the help of her family, her effort to find her birth mother succeeded. (Para.3)
Meaning: She had tried hard to find her birth mother, and with the help of her family, she found her birth mother at last.
effort: n. [C; U] trying hard with mind or body 努力，力气
They have put a lot of effort into the book this year. 今年他们在这本书上倾注了很多心血。
He made no effort to look for his birth parents. 他没有尝试寻找他的亲生父母。
Language Point 30
With the help of her family, her effort to find her birth mother succeeded. (Para.3)
succeed: vi. have a successful result in doing sth. 完成, 成功
If you keep on trying, you will succeed in the end. 只要你继续努力，你会成功的。
A good education will help you succeed in life. 良好的教育有助于你将来取得成功。
Language Point 31
I think adopted children should be allowed to search when they’re ready. (Para.3)
Meaning: I think people should let their adopted children look for their birth parents when they really want to go looking.
should: 情态动词，表示应该做或发生
The police should do something about it. 警方应该就此事采取一些行动。
Children shouldn’t be left on their own. 孩子们不应被留下不管。
allow: vt. let sb. do sth. 允许
My parents allow me to stay out late at weekends. 父母允许我周末晚点回家。
Smoking is not allowed in most cinemas. 大部分电影院都不准吸烟。
Language Point 32
They need to know where they came from. (Para.3)
Meaning: They need to find out about their birth parents.
Language Point 33
As soon as I was in possession of… (Para.3)
possession: n.
1) [U] the state of having or owning sth. 拥有
Does the possession of money bring happiness? 拥有钱财能使人快乐吗？
When her father died, she came into possession of a lot of money. 她父亲死后，她继承了一大笔财产。
2) (pl.) sth. that one has or owns 所有物；财产
He put all his possessions into a suitcase(手提箱) and left without a word. 他把他所有的财物装进手提箱，一声不响地走了。
Language Point 34
I felt more normal. (Para.3)
Meaning: I felt I was leading a more normal life.
normal: a.
1) healthy in mind and body 身心健康的，正常的
He’s a normal child in every way. 他是一个各方面发育正常的孩子。
I don’t think he’s normal. 我觉得他不太正常。
2) usual; common 正常的，平常的
I just want to have a normal life again. 我只想重新过正常的生活。
It’s quite normal to feel angry in a situation like this. 在这种情况下生气是很正常的。
Language Point 35
Before, a part of me had always been missing. (Para.3)
Meaning: Before I got the information, I didn’t know where I came from.
missing: a. gone; lost 迷失的，失去的
Some of my books are missing — have you seen them? 我有几本书找不到了，你见到了吗？
The little girl has been missing for two days. 那个小女孩已经失踪两天了。
Language Point 36
The decision to search for… (Para.4)
search for: look for 搜寻
They are still searching for the missing child. 他们仍然在寻找那个失踪的孩子。
She searched for the car that was supposed to be waiting for her. 她在寻找那辆应该在等她的汽车。
Language Point 37
Even though many adopted children do… (Para.4)
Note: even though用来加强语气, 表示“即使……也”：
She still loved him, even though he had treated her badly. 虽然他待她不好，但她仍然爱着他。
Language Point 38
…or have any memory of their natural parents… (Para.4)
memory: n.
1)[C; U] things one remembers from the past 记忆
I have very happy memories of that holiday. 我记忆中那个假期非常愉快。
That day was set in my memory for the rest of my life. 那一天深深印在我的记忆中，永难忘记。
2) [C; U] the ability to remember 记忆力，记性
A teacher needs to have a good memory for names. 教师要善于记名字。
Sometimes she plays from memory, sometimes from music. 她演奏有时凭记忆，有时看乐谱。
Language Point 39
… will care for them. (Para.4)
care for:
1) look after 看护，照料
He told her that he would care for the child. 他告诉她他会照顾孩子。
If you leave, who will care for your father? 如果你走了，谁照料你父亲呢？
2)like 喜欢
I don’t care for this type of music. 我不喜欢这种音乐。
Would you care for a cup of coffee? 你想喝杯咖啡吗？
