Language Point 1
… the store clerk said … (Para.1)
clerk: n.
1) [C] sb. who works in a shop selling things 店员
The customer complained to the shop manager about the rough clerk. 顾客向商店经理投诉店员态度粗鲁。
2) [C] sb. employed to do general office work 办事员；职员
It will take the new bank clerk some time to become familiar with the work. 那位银行新职员需要花些时间来熟悉工作。
Language Point 2
I put several coins back on the counter. (Para.2)
coin: n. [C;U] a piece of flat round metal, made by a government for use as money 硬币
I need some coins for the ticket machine. 我需要些硬币在售票机上买票。
Language Point 3
I put several coins back on the counter. (Para.2)
put back: put to the place where sth. used to be 放回原处
Perhaps every library has the notice: “Please put the books back after reading.” 几乎每个图书馆都有这样一个告示：“阅毕请把书放回原处。
Language Point 4
I put several coins back on the counter. (Para.2)
counter: n.[C] a narrow table in a shop, bank, etc. at which customers are served 柜台
You can buy this medicine over the counter in many shops. 你可以在许多店里买到这种药。
Language Point 5
Our computer is broken … (Para.2)
break: v.
1) damage 使损坏；破坏
I broke my watch when I fell down. 我跌倒时摔坏了手表。
2) cause to separate into parts, esp. causing damage 打碎；折断
I dropped my cup and it broke. 我把杯子掉在地上打碎了。
broken: a. damaged, or made useless by breaking 破的；损坏了的
The computer is broken and will have to be repaired. 电脑坏了，要拿去修理。
He didn’t know what had happened, and just stared at the broken window. 他不知道发生了什么事，只是盯着打破了的玻璃窗。
Language Point 6
… I have to do this by hand … (Para.2)
by hand: using hands 手工
We must work hard because all needs to be done by hand. 我们必须努力干，因为全部都要手工完成。
Language Point 7
I’m not very good at math. (Para.2)
good at: having skill in 擅长
It is a pity that not many language teachers are good at using a computer. 真遗憾，许多语言教师不擅长使用计算机。
Language Point 8
She counted out my change, and I left. (Para.2)
count out:
1) add up 计数
He counted out ten £5 notes. 他点出10张5镑的钞票。
2) say the numbers loud 数数
Before we start to play a game, our teacher counts out “one-two-three-four”. 每次在我们做游戏之前，老师都会喊“一、二、三、四。
Language Point 9
As I think back on this exchange … (Para.3)
think back: think of the past 回想往事
When we think back, we almost all agree that our lives have improved a great deal. 只要我们回想一下过去，每个人都会同意我们的生活有了很大的改善。
Language Point 10
Unfortunately, students don’t see the long-term merit of studying a subject. (Para.4)
Meaning: Unfortunately, students don’t see the value of studying a subject that will be useful to them for a long period of time.
Language Point 11
Unfortunately, students don’t see the long-term merit of studying a subject. (Para.4)
unfortunately: ad. a word used to show one is sorry or disappointed about sth. 可惜地；令人遗憾地
Unfortunately she had left for work, and I had to wait outside until she came back. 真倒霉，她已经上班去了，我只得呆在外面等她下班回来。
Language Point 12
… don’t see the long-term merit of studying a subject. (Para.4)
merit: n.
1) [C;U] the quality of being good 价值
There’s little merit in passing the test if you cheated. 如果你考试作弊，那么考试及格也没有一点价值。
2) [C] an advantage or good point 好的品质；优点
They are looking at the merits and demerits of the plan. 他们正在考虑这个计划的优点和缺点。
Language Point 13
And when that subject is math, they see the value even less. (Para.4)
value: n. [C;U] the usefulness, helpfulness, or importance of sth. 益处；重要性
You may find a map is of great value when you are in a foreign country. 身处国外时，你会发现地图非常有用。
Language Point 14
… but I look back on those conversations … (Para.4)
look back: look into the past; remember 回首往事；回顾
History helps us in that it looks back, looks into the present and then looks forward. 历史对我们大有帮助，因为能回首往事、审度现实、展望未来。I look back on those days as the happiest time of my life. 我回顾那些日子，把那些日子看作我生活中最幸福的时光。
Language Point 15
The first year I taught, the question caught me off guard. (Para.4)
Meaning: The first year I taught math, I wasn’t prepared for the question.
Language Point 16
… the question caught me off guard. (Para.4)
catch: v.
1) reach suddenly突然降临
The question caught her off guard, and she couldn’t think of an answer. 这个问题提得突然，她竟一时想不出答案。
2) get hold of 抓住；接住
They drove off after the thieves but couldn’t catch them. 他们驱车追赶窃贼，但是未能抓住他们。
Language Point 17
… the question caught me off guard. (Para.4)
catch sb. off guard: make sb. feel surprised 使某人措手不及
Jack’s question caught Jean off guard, so she told him the secret before she knew it. 杰克的问题令琼感到始料不及，所以她不知不觉就把秘密告诉他了。
Language Point 18
… was my standard answer. (Para.4)
standard: a.
1) usual 通常的
Protecting women and children is now a standard practice in most countries in the world. 保护妇女儿童是现在世界上大多数国家的惯例。
2) generally recognized to be correct or accepted 符合标准的
You should write your paper in a standard way. 你必须规范地写论文。
Language Point 19
If you want to graduate, you learn … (Para.4)
graduate: vi. give or receive a degree upon completion of a course of study 毕业
He graduated second in his class. 他以全班第二名的成绩毕业。
n. [C] sb. who has completed a course at a college, school, etc. 毕业生
The new clerk is a high school graduate. 新来的办事员是个高中毕业生。
Language Point 20
It took me until my third year of teaching to realize that … (Para.4)
Meaning: When I began my third year of teaching, I realized that。
Language Point 21
For each career path, I had “math” that they needed to know in order to be successful.(Para.4)
Meaning: I taught how math would be necessary if they wanted to be successful in their career.
Language Point 22
For each career path, I had “math” that they needed to know … (Para.4)
path: n.
1) [C;U] way, road or course 道路
Parents have the duty to set their children on the right path. 父母有责任教育他们的孩子走正道。
2) [C] a narrow way made by or for walking 小路
We walked together up the garden path. 我们一起沿花园小径散步。
Language Point 23
… in order to be successful. (Para.4)
in order to: for the purpose of 为了
We put some soap onto the wheels in order to make them roll well. 我们把肥皂涂抹在轮子上，想让它们转动灵活一点。
Language Point 24
For the construction workers, architects, and engineers, there was … (Para.4)
construction: n.
1) [U] the work of building; the building industry建筑工作；建筑业
The living conditions of construction workers are rather poor. 建筑工人的生活条件比较差。
2) [C;U] the act or process of building 建造
The construction of a large bridge usually takes about two years. 建造一座大桥通常要花两年时间。
Language Point 25
For the construction workers, architects, and engineers, there was … (Para.4)
architect: n. [C] a person who plans new buildings and makes sure that they are built properly 建筑师
He is the architect of this building, and he’s always on the construction site. 他是这幢大楼的建筑师，经常出现在工地上。
Language Point 26
For the construction workers, architects, and engineers, there was … (Para.4)
engineer: n. [C] a person who is trained to plan the building/construction of machines, roads, bridges, etc. 工程师
The chief engineer hadn’t slept for two days. 总工程师已经有两天没有睡了。
Language Point 27
… getting a building to stand up. (Para.4)
stand up:
1) be built 建造
Scientists used their knowledge in getting a tall tower to stand up. 科学家运用他们的知识使一座高塔屹立起来了。
2) take to one’s feet 站起来
Many schools have it as a rule that students have to stand up when teachers come in. 许多学校有这样一个规矩：老师进来时学生必须起立。
Language Point 28
For those who wanted to be employed as teachers, it was the math required to see if your tests were fair to the students. (Para.4)
Meaning: For those who wanted to become teachers, I showed them how math would be useful to help them to set good exams.
Language Point 29
For those who wanted to be employed as teachers … (Para.4)
employ: vt. give a job to 雇用
The firm employs more women than men. 这家公司雇用的妇女要比男人多。
Language Point 30
For those who wanted to make a fortune in business … (Para.4)
make a fortune: make a lot of money 发财
It is clear in business that those who are clever make small amount of money and those who are wise make a fortune. 生意场上的事是明摆着的：小聪明赚小钱；大聪明赚大钱。
fortune: n.[C] a great quantity of money or things of value 大量的财产
The ring she wears must be worth a fortune. 她戴的戒指一定价值连城。
Language Point 31
For those who wanted to do technical work in a lab … (Para.4)
technical: a. having the nature and quality of a particular industry or science 技术的; 专业的
The flight was put back for technical reasons. 飞行由于技术原因而被推迟。
Language Point 32
For those who wanted to do technical work in a lab … (Para.4)
lab: n. laboratory的缩略形式
laboratory: n. [C] a special building or room where one works to examine, test, or prepare materials for purposes of science or teaching 实验室
People can learn foreign languages by means of special teaching machines in a language laboratory. 在语音实验室人们可以通过一些特殊的教学机器进行外语学习。
Language Point 33
For those who insisted they didn’t want to do anything more than push a broom … (Para.4)
Meaning: For those who said very strongly that they only wanted to become ordinary workers.
Language Point 34
… do anything more than push a broom … (Para.4)
broom: n. [C] a brush used to sweep the floor扫帚
Use a broom to sweep the leaves from the path! 用扫帚把路上的树叶扫干净！
My mother prefers a vacuum cleaner to a broom. 我妈妈不喜欢用扫帚，而喜欢用吸尘器。
Language Point 35
… a simple exhibition showing them how people are cheated when buying goods drove my point home. (Para.4)
Meaning: … I made my idea clear to them by giving them a simple example to show how people are cheated when they buy goods.
Language Point 36
… a simple exhibition showing them how people are cheated when buying goods … (Para.4)
exhibition: n.
1) [C;U] an act of showing 展示
This will be an exhibition showing the range of our activities. 这会体现出我们活动的范围。
2) [C] a public show of objects 展览（会）
She will give an exhibition of her pictures. 她将举办一次个人画展。
Language Point 37
… a simple exhibition showing them how people are cheated when buying goods … (Para.4)
cheat: v. do sth. which is not honest 欺骗
She cheated the old man into believing that she was helping him. 她哄骗老人相信她是在帮他。
Language Point 38
… how people are cheated when buying goods … (Para.4)
goods: n. [C] articles for sale 商品；货物
I think they should push their goods more. 我认为他们应该更多地推销商品。
Language Point 39
… buying goods drove my point home. (Para.4)
drive sth. home: make sth. clear and understood 阐明；使理解
He laid out whatever was in his mind, trying to drive his point home. 他把心里所想的都摊牌了，以便让大家理解他的意图。
Language Point 40
… and developing activities that help … (Para.5)
activity: n. [C;U] sth. that is done 活动
Classroom activities are quite important to students’ learning. 课堂活动对学生的学习起着重要的作用。
Language Point 41
… to understand how math fits into their worlds. (Para.5)
fit into: act smoothly with; get along well with 适应；适合
She found it hard to fit into her new surroundings. 她发觉自己很难适应新的生活环境。
You can’t bring outsiders into a place like this. They wouldn’t fit in. 你不能把外人带到这么一个地方，他们会不适应的。
Language Point 42
For parents, the same holds true. (Para.5)
hold true: be true 真实的
It holds true that advertising helps spread the names of products. 一点不假，广告帮助传播产品的名字。
Language Point 43
… give your child an example. (Para.5)
give sb. an example: 举个例子
The teacher gave him an example of how she thought one should behave. 老师举了个例子说明她认为一个人应当怎么为人。
Language Point 44
… the importance of learning mathematics. (Para.5)
mathematics: n. [U] the science concerned with quantities, sizes, shapes and their relationships, as described by numbers and signs 数学
We use mathematics every day; learning mathematics is very important. 我们每天都要用到数学，学习数学是非常重要的。
Language Point 45
It will be good practice for … (Para.5)
practice: n.
1.C;U] a regular or repeated exercise in order to learn to do sth. well 练习；实习
The student teachers are now doing their teaching practice. 师范实习生们正在进行教学实习。
2) [U] the actual doing of sth., rather than the idea of it 实践
We must put our plans into practice. 我们必须将计划付诸实践。
