Language Point 1
… I had a group of friends who … (Para.1)
a group of: a couple of; several 一组；一群；一些
A group of students are planning to meet for lunch. 一些学生计划举行午餐会。
There is a group of soldiers hiding behind the bridge. 桥后面藏着一群士兵。
Language Point 2
… would often go to the beach with them … (Para.1)
go to the beach: 去海滩
We went to the beach yesterday for a swim. 我们昨天去海滩游泳。
beach：n. [C] a shore of the sea covered by sand or small stones 海滩
How about a walk on the beach? 到海滩上散散步怎么样？
It is wonderful to take a walk on the beach on summer evenings. 夏天晚上在海滩上散步很惬意。
Language Point 3
… if the weather was good. (Para.1)
weather： n. [U] the condition of wind, rain, snow, etc. 天气
We will go to the beach if the weather stays fine. 如果天气还这么好，我们要去海滩。
The English weather changes a lot and has always been a popular topic of conversation. 英国的天气变化无常，向来是热门话题。
Language Point 4
… and most of the guys had gone out on … (Para.2)
guy： n.
1) [C] a man男人
Do you know the guy standing behind the bridge? 你认识那个站在桥后边的男人吗？
2) ( pl.) a group of people 一伙人
Hey, guys! come back here. 嗨，各位！ 请到这儿来。
Note: 在美国英语里，不论对男士或女士说话，都可以用 you guys：
What do you guys want to eat? 你们想吃什么？
Language Point 5
I was interested in a particular girl a little bit … (Para.2)
particular: a.
1) specific 特定的；某一个
One particular school, which I won’t name, is having a lot of problems. 有一所学校目前问题很多，学校的名字我就不说了。
Usually I like dogs, but I don’t like this particular one. 一般来说我喜欢狗，但是我不喜欢这条狗。
2) unusual; demanding special notice 特殊的；特别的
There is no particular reason why he shouldn’t go. 没有什么特别理由说明他不该去。
Language Point 6
… and the guy next to me got all excited. (Para.3)
next to: beside; after 在旁边；下一个
The one next to the top singer was in good friendship with me. 第二名获奖歌手与我关系很好。
Language Point 7
He pushed her back to the beach … (Para.3)
push: vt.
1) use force against sth. for the purpose of moving it 推
Push this button(按钮) to start the machine. 要开动机器按一下这个键。
2) make one’s way by pushing 挤；推进
He pushed his way to the front of the crowd. 他挤到了人群的前面。
3) try to force sb. to do sth. 催促；逼迫
I’m not pushing you; if you don’t like this job, don’t take it. 我不是在强迫你；如果你不喜欢这份工作，可以不接受。
His parents pushed him to study medicine. 他的父母要他学医。
4) help to draw attention 推荐
The company is pushing its new products. 这家公司在推销新产品。
Language Point 8
… all the while saying in a loud voice … (Para.3)
all the while: all the time 始终；一直
We thought he was at work when all the while he’d been at the football match. 我们以为他去上班了，其实在这段时间他去看足球比赛了。
Language Point 9
… all the while saying in a loud voice … (Para.3)
in a loud voice: loudly 大声地；响亮地
It is not proper for teachers to speak in a loud voice in class. 教师在课堂上大声地讲话并不妥当。
Language Point 10
… making a scene, and saying … (Para.4)
make a scene: give a bad show of oneself 当众吵闹；出丑
She wanted to make a good show of herself, but finally she made a scene. 她本来想显示一下自己是个能干的女人，结果却大出洋相。
I’m ashamed of you, making a scene in the restaurant like that. 你在饭馆里那样大吵大闹，我真为你感到羞耻。
scene: n.
1) [C] a show of emotions in public 当众显露情绪
She wanted to create a scene. 她想当众大闹一场。
2) [C] a picture or view 景色
There are some pretty scenes in the park. 公园里有许多美丽的景色。
Language Point 11
So I invited her to the movies. (Para.4)
invite sb. to（n.）: ask sb. to（n.） 邀请某人去（……）
We invited all his family to the wedding. 我们邀请他全家出席婚礼。
Language Point 12
She gave me all kinds of instructions on how to do this and that. (Para.5)
give sb. instructions on sth.: tell sb. how to deal with sth. 教某人做某事
He is so smart that he needs nobody to give him instructions on what he does. 他非常聪明，无须别人教他怎样做事情。
Language Point 13
She gave me all kinds of instructions on how to do this and that. (Para.5)
instruction: n.
1) [C] advice on how to do sth. 指导
I didn’t follow the instructions printed on the box, and broke the machine. 我没有按照印在箱子上的使用说明去做，结果把机器给弄坏了。
Read the instructions before you start the engine. 启动发动机之前请先阅读使用说明。
2) [U] the act of teaching 指导; 教学
I read the book of instruction carefully before I started. 开始之前我认真读了一遍使用说明。
3) [C] an order 命令
I have instructions not to let anyone in. 我得到指示不准任何人进入。
Language Point 14
She was following a tradition … (Para.5)
follow a tradition: act in a traditional manner遵循传统
In the West, women follow a tradition to wear white dresses when they get married. 在西方，女子结婚时遵循传统习俗穿白色的衣服。
tradition: n. [C;U] an opinion, belief or practice passed down from the past to the present 传统的思想（信仰，习俗等）
He wants to continue the family tradition and look for a job in business. 他想继承家族的传统，在商界找一份工作。
Language Point 15
… how to treat the next generation of women well. (Para.5)
generation: n. [C] a period of time in which a human being can grow up and have a family 代
The problems of living together are difficult for both the younger and the older generations. 居住在一起所产生的问题让年轻和年老两代人都感到别扭。
Language Point 16
After dinner, I bathed, got all dressed up … (Para.6)
bathe: v. wash one’s body 洗澡
She is bathing the baby. 她在替婴儿洗澡。
Some boys don’t like to bathe regularly. 有些男孩不喜欢经常洗澡。
Language Point 17
After dinner, I bathed, got all dressed up … (Para.6)
dress up:
make one seem different or more beautiful with clothes 打扮；化妆
The actress had been busy dressing herself up before she stepped onto the stage. 上台之前，这个女演员一直忙着化妆。
Language Point 18
… went to Barbara’s house to call for her. (Para.6)
call for:
1) come and get sb. or sth. 约请；要求
As we could not fix the car on our own, we called for help. 由于我们自己修不好车，只得求助他人。
2) need 需要
Success in research calls for much hard work. 要取得研究的成功需要从事大量艰苦的工作。
Language Point 19
It was a big adventure for me, and I was feeling nervous and a little shy. (Para.6)
Meaning: For me to date a girl was very exciting, and I was feeling nervous about it and didn’t find it easy to talk to a girl whom I didn’t know well.
Language Point 20
It was a big adventure for me … (Para.6)
adventure: n.
1)[C] an experience that is strange, exciting or dangerous 冒险的经历
She left home to travel, hoping for excitement and adventure. 她离家出游，寻求刺激和冒险的生活。
The explorer told the boys about his adventures in the North Pole. 探险家把自己在北极的探险经历讲给孩子们听。
2) [U] participation in sth. exciting冒险，冒险活动
He’s a man full of adventure. 他是一个充满冒险精神的男子。
Language Point 21
…I was feeling nervous and a little shy. (Para.6)
shy: a. not feeling at home with others 羞怯的
Some little children will feel shy before strangers(陌生人). 有些小孩子在陌生人面前会显得很腼腆。
Language Point 22
She was still upstairs getting ready … (Para.6)
upstairs: ad. 在楼上
He ran upstairs when he heard a strange noise. 他听到奇怪的响声于是马上跑上楼去。
Language Point 23
… so her family had me wait for her … (Para.6)
have sb. do sth.: 让某人做某事
I had John find me a house. 我托约翰给我找房子。
Language Point 24
… where they and their friends were eating pie … (Para.6)
pie: n. [C; U] 派；馅饼
She visited us in the evening and brought us an apple pie. 她晚上来拜访我们，并给我们带了一个苹果派。
Language Point 25
They all had forks in their mouths … (Para.6)
fork: n. [C] a tool with two or more long points used to pick up food or sth. else 餐叉
When you have a western-style dinner(西餐), you should hold the knife with the right hand and the fork with the left hand. 吃西餐一般是右手拿刀，左手拿叉。
Language Point 26
… Isn’t he sweet! … (Para.6)
sweet a.
1) lovable 可爱的
The sweet boy always behaves himself. 这个可爱的男孩一向很乖。
2) having a taste like that of sugar 甜的
This fruit isn’t sweet enough. 这种水果不够甜。
Language Point 27
… and all kinds of other stuff. (Para.6)
stuff: n. [U] anything that is not known clearly 东西
It was all stuff I’d heard before. 都是我听过的老话。
Language Point 28
… we talked about playing the piano... (Para.7)
play the piano: 弹钢琴
Many young children in China are learning to play the piano. 在中国有许多小孩在学习弹钢琴。
Language Point 29
I told her how, when I was younger, my parents had made me learn piano for a period of time …(Para.7)
Meaning: I told her how they had forced me to take piano lessons for some time when I was younger …
Language Point 30
…made me learn piano for a period of time … (Para.7)
period: n. [C] time lasting for a certain while 一段时间
His experience of teaching English covers a period of over thirty years. 他教授英语的经历长达三十余年。
Language Point 31
… and couldn’t stand it any more… (Para.7)
can’t stand sth.: can’t put up with sth. 难以容忍
He couldn’t stand the cold weather. 他受不了这么冷的天气。
any more: not any longer 不再
They used to be good friends, but they don’t like each other any more. 他们过去是好朋友，但现在相互已不再有好感了。
She doesn’t live here any more. 她已经不住在这里了。
Language Point 32
I was bothered by the thought that the other boys would think I was weak, and to be stuck for weeks playing “Dance of the Flowers” was too much for me. (Para.7)
Meaning: I was worried that the other boys would think I was not clever enough. I played “Dance of the Flowers” for weeks without being able to do anything else and I was really tired of it.
Language Point 33
… I was bothered by the thought that …(Para.7)
bother: vt. cause trouble or worry to sb. 烦扰
I don’t want to be bothered by anyone at the moment. 目前我不想为任何事烦恼。
Language Point 34
… to be stuck for weeks playing … (Para.7)
stick: v.
1) cause to be fixed; not move 卡住；困住
The heavy snow stuck traffic for hours. 大雪使交通中断了几小时。
2) keep to; not give up 坚持
I’ve made my decision and I’m going to stick to it. 我已经作了决定，我是不会改变的。
be stuck: be unable to go further or do anything further, esp. because of difficulties 被困住的; 被难住的
He was stuck in the middle. 他处于进退两难的境地。
Language Point 35
I was really sensitive about showing ... (Para.7)
be sensitive about: easily become worried or unhappy about 对……敏感的，易受……影响的
Don’t say anything bad about her work; she’s very sensitive about it. 千万别说她的工作不好，她就怕别人提这件事。
sensitive: a. easily or quickly moved by what others say or do 易受影响的；敏感的
Don’t be so sensitive. I was only joking. 别太敏感，我只不过开了个玩笑。
Language Point 36
…any sign of weakness. (Para.7)
weakness: n.
1) [U] the state of being weak in mind, body or character 软弱；虚弱；缺陷
He agreed in a moment of weakness. 他因一时软弱而同意照办。
2) [C] a fault 缺点
The only weakness of this plan is its cost. 这个计划惟一的缺点是成本高。
Language Point 37
I praised the pink overcoat she was wearing. (Para.8)
pink: a. light red 粉红色的
I prefer pink flowers to red ones. 我喜爱粉红色的花，不太喜欢红色的花。
Language Point 38
I praised the pink overcoat she was wearing. (Para.8)
overcoat: n. [C] a heavy coat worn in cold weather over other clothes 大衣；厚外套
He is still in his overcoat even when he’s in the room. 哪怕是在房间里，他也是穿着大衣不脱。
Language Point 39
Then we shook hands and I said … (Para.8)
shake: vt. move sth. up and down, or from side to side 摇；晃
He shook his head to show that he did not agree. 他摇摇头表示反对。
Language Point 40
“You’re welcome!” … (Para.10)
welcome: a. gladly accepted 受欢迎的
All suggestions will be welcome. 欢迎一切建议。
vt. greet in a friendly way 欢迎
He opened the door and welcomed them in. 他开门把他们迎了进去。
n. [C] a greeting given to sb. when he or she arrives 欢迎
We received a great welcome. 我们受到热烈欢迎。
Note: You are welcome. （客套语）别客气，不用谢。
Language Point 41
The next time I went out on a date … (Para.11)
on a date: meeting a boy friend or girl friend 约会
Because they are on a date, many of us believe that they are in love. 因为他们在约会，我们很多人相信他们在恋爱。
Language Point 42
… the third girl I took out … (Para.13)
take out: move sth. or go with sb. to another place 拿出去；带出去
She opened the box and took out a pretty pin. 她打开盒子，拿出一枚漂亮的别针。
I’ll take you out for a trip if I have time. 如果有时间，我会带你出去走走。
Language Point 43
She paused and stared at me for a moment … (Para.14)
pause: vi. stop for a short time before continuing 停顿
The speaker paused for a moment, and then continued. 演讲者停顿片刻，然后继续往下讲。
Language Point 44
… stared at me for a moment … (Para.14)
stare at: look at sb. or sth. in a fixed way 盯着看
It’s not polite to stare at other people. 盯着人看是很不礼貌的。
He stared at the ceiling, thinking of the new design he had worked on for a long time.他盯着天花板，心里想着花了不少时间构想的新设计。
stare: vi. look at sb. or sth. continuously for a long time 盯着看
She stared into the distance as if she were thinking of something. 她凝视着远方，好像在想心事。
