Language Point 1
… getting married when they are young and “in love” does not always turn out happily. (Para.1)
Meaning: … getting married when they are young and when they love each other does not necessarily lead to a happy marriage in the end.
turn out:
1) end up; prove to be 结果是；证明是
The party turned out to be a success. 晚会办得很成功。
It turned out that his wife is a friend of my mother’s. 结果发现他妻子是我母亲的朋友。
2) shut off 关掉
Please turn the light out 请把灯关掉。
3) make; produce制造，生产
The factory can turn out 100 cars a day. 这家工厂每天生产100辆汽车。
Language Point 2
…getting married young gives them more good years together and that they have no regrets. (Para.1)
regret: n. [C; U] a feeling of being let down 懊悔；遗憾
I have no regrets about what I did. 我对自己所做的事毫不后悔。
Do you have any regrets that you didn’t go to university? 你没有上大学，觉得遗憾吗？
v. feel sorry and wish sth. were not true 懊悔，惋惜
We’ve always deeply regretted selling the old house. 我们一直为卖掉老房子而后悔不已。
I soon regretted having been so rude. 我很快便后悔自己这么无礼。
Language Point 3
… and we both had fairly good jobs. (Para.2)
fairly: ad.
1) quite; not very 相当地
She speaks English fairly well. 她英语说得不错。
I’m fairly certain it was him. 我很肯定那就是他。
The book is fairly difficult. 这本书相当难。
2) in a way that is right and honest 公正地
This company treats its workers fairly. 这家公司对待员工很公正。
I felt we were not paid fairly. 我觉得我们得到的报酬不公正。
Language Point 4
Seven years later with two children… (Para.2)
Meaning: After seven years and the birth of two children …
later: ad. after some time 以后，后来
I can’t do it now, but I can do it later on. 我现在不能做，但以后我会做的。
Note: 副词的比较级和最高级通常是由 more 和 most 加副词构成。但有些词则加 –er 和 –est 构成，如 fast, soon, early, late, hard, long, near, well, far等。
Could you come earlier? 你能早点来吗？
The longest I can stay is three hours. 我最多只能待三小时。
Language Point 5
… but my husband was satisfied. (Para.2)
satisfy: vt.
1)please someone by giving enough 使满意，使满足
Some people are very difficult to satisfy. 有些人是很难取悦的。
Nothing he does satisfies his father. 他做什么事他父亲都不满意。
2) meet the demands of 符合（要求）
The firm has been unable to satisfy the demands for its new car. 那家公司一直不能满足大众对其新车的需求。
Language Point 6
I wanted college, freedom … (Para.2)
Meaning: I wanted to go to college and be free as a woman …
freedom: n.
1) [U] the state of not being under someone else’s control 自由
The people there are fighting for their freedom from foreign control. 那里的人民在为摆脱外国统治争取自由而斗争。
2) [C;U] the right to do, say, think or write what one wants to 自由（主）权
Freedom of speech is one of the four freedoms spoken of by President Roosevelt in 1941. 言论自由是罗斯福总统1941年所讲的四种自由权中的一项。
Language Point 7
He packed his suitcase and left … (Para.2)
suitcase: n. [C] a case used for carrying clothes and other things, usually for travel （旅行用）手提箱
He packed his suitcase soon after he got the phone call. 他接到电话后立即整理行装。
He unpacked his suitcase after dinner at the hotel. 在酒店吃完晚饭后，他打开行李箱。
Language Point 8
We met in college and dated nearly four years before we got married. (Para.3)
Meaning: We knew each other when we were college students and we met regularly nearly four years before we got married.
in college: at school of higher education; during the time of higher education 在大学里；在大学期间
Life in college is quite different from that at a middle school. 大学生活与中学生活非常不同。
Note: 如果表示某人上大学，college 前面不用 the，如:
He’s at college in York. 他在约克镇上大学。
She’s going to college. 她将去读大学。
前面有 the 则表示在大学这一地方：
I went to the college last night. 昨天晚上我去了那所大学。
Language Point 9
…and dated nearly four years before we got married. (Para.3)
date: v.
1) have a planned meeting with a person of the opposite sex 异性约会
She began dating boys when she was sixteen. 她16岁就开始和男孩子约会了。
2) give the date 注明日期
The letter is not dated so we can’t tell when it was written. 这封信没有注明日期，因此我们不知道是什么时候写的。
Some of Shakespeare’s plays cannot be dated. 莎士比亚某些剧本的创作年代无法确定。
n.
1) [C] a planned meeting between a man and a woman, or a boy and a girl 异性约会
Does your mother let you go out on dates? 你母亲让你出去与异性约会吗？
Shall we make a date to have lunch together? 我们约个时间一起吃午饭好吗？
I’ve got a date with Tom on Friday night. 星期五晚我已经约了汤姆。
2) [C] the number of the day, the month, and the year 日期
What’s your date of birth? 你的出生日期是什么？
They agreed to have another meeting at a later date. 他们同意改日再开一次会。
Language Point 10
Like many career-minded women in the 1980s, I’d promised myself I’d never marry young. (Para.3)
Meaning: Like many women in the 1980s who saw the importance of their careers, I had said to myself that I’d never get married young.
career: n.
1) [C] a job that one learns to do and then does for many years 职业；事业
His career was always more important to him than his family was. 在他看来，事业要比家庭重要。
I take teaching as my life career. 我以教书为终生职业。
He is getting on well in his career. 他在事业上一帆风顺。
2) [C] one’s working life 职业生涯
She spent most of her career working in China. 她的职业生涯大部分是在中国度过的。
Language Point 11
…I’d promised myself I’d never marry young. (Para.3)
promise: v.
1) say that one will or will not do sth. 允诺；保证
I’ll try to be back at 6 o’clock but I can’t promise. 我尽量在6点钟回来， 但我不能保证。
She promised that she would write every week. 她曾答应每周写信。
2) say that one will give sth. to sb. 答应给予
My father has promised me a new bicycle. 父亲答应给我买一辆新自行车。
Can you promise me your support? 你能答应支持我吗？
n.
1) [C] a statement that one will or will not do sth. 诺言；约定
He made a promise not to tell anyone what he had seen. 他承诺不告诉任何人他所看见的事情。
They gave me a promise of their full support. 他们答应全力支持我。
2 ) [U] signs that one will be able to do sth. well or be successful 成功的希望
He showed great promise as a good teacher. 他极有希望成为一名好老师。
Language Point 12
… which included starting a career … (Para.3)
include: v. have as a part 包括
The price of the holiday includes the flight and the hotel. 度假费用包括机票费和住宿费。
My job doesn’t include making coffee for you. 为你煮咖啡不是我工作份内的事。
Language Point 13
… and my plans went out of the window. (Para.3)
Meaning: … and I gave up my plans.
go out of the window: be given up 放弃
Because of the bad weather our second plan also went out of the window. 由于天气不好，我们的第二个计划也泡汤了。
Language Point 14
Absolutely not. (Para.3)
absolutely: ad.
1) yes; certainly 是的；当然
“It is a good idea, isn’t it?” “ Oh, absolutely!” “这是个好主意，对吧？” “对，一点不错。”
“Don’t you think it possible?” “Absolutely not!” “你认为可能吗？” “绝对不可能！”
2) completely 完全地
What you’re saying is absolutely wrong. 你所说的完全错了。
He made absolutely no effort to help me. 他根本就没有出力帮助我。
Language Point 15
The most wonderful thing about having … (Para.3)
wonderful: a. very good; pleasing 极好的；美妙的
It’s wonderful to see you again. 再见到你真高兴。
They gave a wonderful show yesterday. 他们昨天的演出非常精彩。
Language Point 16
… I’ve always had someone to share in my successes and support me when things aren’t so smooth. (Para.3)
Meaning: … I’ve always had someone to enjoy my successes with me and encourage me when I get into difficulties.
share in: have a part in sth. 分享；分担
As friends we always shared in each other’s troubles. 作为朋友我们总是分担彼此的困难。
Language Point 17
…when things aren’t so smooth. (Para.3)
smooth: a.
1) free from problems and difficulties 没有问题的；顺利的
They have to admit that their life after marriage has not been smooth. 他们必须承认他们婚后的生活并非一帆风顺。
2) having an even surface 光滑的
She has a very smooth skin. 她的皮肤非常光滑。
Language Point 18
He has been a real treasure. (Para.3)
treasure: n.
1) [C] a person considered very precious 不可多得的人物
He is a real treasure to our school. 他是我们学校真正不可多得的人才。
2) [C; U] a very precious thing 珍宝；财宝
They found the treasure in the ground under the house. 他们在房子底下发现了这些珍宝。
v. keep or consider as precious 珍藏；珍视
Such a lesson should be treasured in our memory. 这样的教训应铭记在心。
Language Point 19
… he was tired of looking for jobs. (Para.4)
be tired of: feel too much of sth. 厌倦
It is natural for one to feel tired of something old and turn to something new. 人们喜新厌旧是很自然的。
Language Point 20
After the excitement was gone, we argued about bills … (Para.4)
excitement: n. [C;U] the state of having strong feelings 兴奋
Life will seem very quiet after the excitement of the holiday. 假期的兴奋过后，生活会显得很平静。
Language Point 21
…we argued about bills … (Para.4)
argue: v. fight in words 争吵；争辩
The couple is always arguing about money. 那对夫妇总是为钱争吵。
It is no use arguing with them; they have already made the decision. 和他们争没有用，他们已经做出决定了。
argue about: talk about sth. that involves different opinions 争论；讨论
They were arguing about the best place for the match. 他们在讨论比赛的最佳地点。
Language Point 22
… we talked to a lawyer about divorce … (Para.4)
talk to sb.: speak to sb. 对某人说；与某人交谈
Have you talked to him about the importance of attending the meeting? 你对他讲过参加这次会议的重要性吗？
Language Point 23
… we talked to a lawyer about divorce … (Para.4)
lawyer: n. [C] a person who practices or studies law 律师
A good lawyer must be a great speaker. 好律师必须善于辞令。
Language Point 24
… we talked to a lawyer about divorce … (Para.4)
divorce: n.
1) [C; U] the official ending of a marriage 离婚
Their marriage ended in divorce. 他们的婚姻以离婚告终。
2) [C] parting 分离
His divorce from reality created serious problems. 他的行为与现实背离，这产生了严重问题。
They demanded the divorce of their company from the parent firm. 他们要求他们的公司与母公司分离。
v.
1) end a marriage officially 离婚
She divorced him after years of unhappiness. 经过多年不愉快的婚姻生活，她跟他离婚了。
2) part completely 使完全脱离
Some of his ideas are completely divorced from facts. 他的一些想法完全脱离实际。
Language Point 25
Getting into a marriage ought to be as hard as getting out. (Para.4)
Meaning: Getting married should be as hard as getting divorced.
get into: move into; fall into 进入；跌入；卷入
If you are careless, you’ll get into trouble. 如果粗心大意，你就会有麻烦。
Language Point 26
Getting into a marriage ought to be as hard as getting out. (Para.4)
ought to: modal v. should 应该
He oughtn’t to have told his mother about her cancer. 他不该对他母亲说她得了癌症。
Note: ought to 和 should 在意思上相近，但 ought to的语气稍强。oughtn’t to和 shouldn’t 用来对不正确或不明智的行动提出警告：
You oughtn’t to/shouldn’t talk so loudly; you’ll wake the baby. 你不该这么大声说话，你会吵醒婴儿的。
ought to 的过去式为 ought to have：
You ought to have/should have helped him. 你本应该帮助他的。
Language Point 27
…to be as hard as getting out. (Para.4)
get out: move out 出去
Smoking is a bad habit easy to get into but hard to get out of. 吸烟这种坏习惯容易学会，但是很难戒掉。
Language Point 28
Then young fools won’t make a quick decision … (Para.4)
fool: n. [C] a silly person 傻瓜
What a fool I am to think that she really loves me. 我以为她真的爱我，我真是个傻瓜。
v. make a fool of sb. 欺骗
He’s fooled a lot of people into believing he’s a rich man. 他骗了许多人，让人相信他是个富翁。
Language Point 29
I thought I was so grown up … (Para.5)
grow up: change from being small to big; develop 生长，成长
When I met his daughter again, she was already grown up. 我再次见到他女儿的时候，她已经是个大姑娘了。
Language Point 30
… should delay getting married … (Para.6)
delay: v.
1) move to a later date 推迟；使延期
We delayed the meeting a week so more people could come. 为使更多的人能出席， 我们把会议推迟了一星期。
2) （cause to） be late 耽误
My train was delayed for two hours because of a heavy snowfall. 因为下大雪，我坐的火车延误了两个小时。
3) move or take action slowly 拖延
We’re trying to delay until help arrives. 我们正设法拖延到救援的人来。
Language Point 31
Why rush life, marriage, and bearing children? (Para.6)
Meaning: Why do we plan our life so quickly, get married so young and have children so early?
rush: v.
1) act too quickly 仓促行动
Don’t rush into marriage; you might regret it later. 不要匆匆忙忙结婚，不然你以后会后悔的。
2) move suddenly with great speed 急速前进
They rushed out of the house when they heard someone crying outside. 他们听到外面有人在叫，便迅速冲出门去。
She was rushed to hospital. 她被迅速送往医院。
Language Point 32
Why rush life, marriage, and bearing children? (Para.6)
bear: v.
1) give birth to 生（孩子）
She has borne three children. 她生了三个孩子。
2) put up with 容忍
I can’t bear being kept waiting for a long time. 我无法忍受长时间地等候。
Language Point 33
Believe me, I wish I had taken my own advice. (Para.6)
Note: wish 的宾语从句中常用虚拟语气，表示愿望，可省去连词 that 。这种从句的谓语动词可用过去式，表示与现在事实相反；也可用过去完成式，表示与过去事实相反：
I wish I wasn’t going to Bristol. 我真希望不是去布里斯托尔。
We wish you had come to our New Year’s party. 我们真希望你参加了我们的新年联欢会。
take sb.’s advice: accept sb.’s advice 接受忠告
It is easy to persuade others, but it is difficult to take others’ advice. 劝别人容易, 接受别人的忠告却很难。
Language Point 34
I work with a lot of singles, and all I hear about from the women are the rotten men they run into in bars. (Para.7)
Meaning: I work with a lot of unmarried people, and all I hear about from the women are the bad men they meet in bars.
single: n. [C] a person who is not married 未婚的人
The two singles decided to buy a house and live together. 两位单身族决定买房，共同生活在一起。
a.
1) not married 未婚的
There’re more single parents now than ever before. 现在的单亲父母比以往任何时候都多。
2) being the only one 仅有一个的
Not a single friend gave him any help. 没有一个朋友帮他的忙。
Language Point 35
…and all I hear about from the women are the rotten men they run into in bars. (Para.7)
hear about: get to know 听说
Have you heard about John jumping into the river with all his clothes on? 你听说约翰穿着衣服跳进河里的事了吗？
Did you hear about the party? — It was a success. 你听说那次聚会了吗？办得很成功。
Language Point 36
…and all I hear about from the women are the rotten men they run into in bars. (Para.7)
rotten: a.
1) not pleasant; not satisfying 糟糕的，恶劣的
He’s a rotten worker. 他是个糟糕的工人。
What rotten weather! 多糟糕的天气！
2 ) gone bad 腐坏的
If the roots are rotten, how can the tree be healthy? 要是根烂了，树怎么会长得好呢？
Language Point 37
…the rotten men they run into in bars. (Para.7)
run into:
1) meet sb. by chance 偶然遇见
I ran into an old friend in town today. 我今天在市里遇见了一位老朋友。
2) hit 撞上
The boy ran into a tree when he walked along the road. 这男孩走路的时候撞到了树上。
3) get into a difficult situation 陷入困境，遇到困难
The young couple ran into trouble soon after they got married. 这对年轻夫妇结婚不久便陷入了困境。
Language Point 38
… all I hear about are the crazy women they’ve dated. (Para.7)
crazy: a.
1) mad; foolish 疯狂的；愚蠢的
You’re crazy to have such a crazy idea. 想出这么一个荒唐的主意你简直是疯了。
2) very excited；very interested 狂热的；着迷的
He’s really crazy about her. 他对她十分迷恋。
