Detailed Reading

I. Difficult Sentences

1. Josiah Henson was a man of principle.
Paraphrase the sentence.
(=Josiah Henson observed/followed moral principles.)

2. I had traveled here to Henson’s last home — now a historic site that Carter formerly directed — to learn more about a man who was, in many ways, an African-American Moses.
1) Who was Moses?
(=In the Old Testament, Moses was the Hebrew prophet and lawgiver who led the Israelites out of Egypt.)
2) Why was Henson called an African-American Moses?
(=Henson, a black who lived in America, helped other blacks escape from the US.)

3. Josiah Henson is but one name on a long list of courageous men and women who together forged the Underground Railroad, ...
What is the part of speech of but in this sentence? And what does but mean?
(=Here but is an adverb, which means “only”. )

4. Eventually he saved enough money working at this trade on the side to buy his freedom.
Translate the sentence into Chinese.
(=后来他终于靠这门手艺攒够钱赎回了自由。)

5. In Kentucky, where he was now headed, there was a $1000 reward for his capture, dead or alive.
Paraphrase the sentence.
(=In Kentucky, anyone who captured him, no matter he was dead or alive, would be rewarded $1000 and now he was going to Kentucky.)

6. There was room for all but two.
What does but mean? What is the part of speech of but in this sentence?
(=Here but is a preposition, which means “except”.)

7. The others made it to the Ohio shore, where Parker hurriedly arranged for a wagon to take them to the next “station” on the Underground Railroad — the first leg of their journey to safety in Canada.
1) What does made it mean?
[=Make it means “succeed in doing something”. Here made it means “arrived (at the Ohio shore)”. ]
2) What does leg mean?
[=Leg means “a stage of a journey or course”. For example, the last leg of the flight (飞行中的最后一段路程). ]

8. Levi Coffin, a Quaker raised in North Carolina, ...
What is a Quaker?
(=A Quaker is any member of the Society of Friends, a religious group established in England in the 1650s by George Fox. They were originally called Quakers because members were thought to “quake” or shake with religious excitement. Quakers worship Christ without any formal ceremony or fixed beliefs, and their meetings often involve silent thought or prayer. They are strongly opposed to violence and war, and are active in education and charity work.)

9. Making the best of his lot, Henson worked diligently and rose far in his owner’s regard.
1) What does lot mean in this sentence?
(=Lot means “one’s fortune in life, fate”.)
2) Paraphrase “rose far in his owner’s regard”.
(=He was regarded highly by his owner.)

II. Words & Expressions

breeze: n.

- A gentle breeze blew over the garden.

- 凉爽清新的微风

(=a cool, refreshing breeze)

NB:

All of the following words are related to wind. Can you match them with their definitions?

hurricane    a strong, abrupt rush of wind (=gust)

gust     a very strong wind (=gale)

gale     a severe tropical cyclone, usu. involving heavy rains (=hurricane)

tornado    a rotating column of air (=tornado)

slender: adj.

1. (of people) slim; not very wide but comparatively long or high

- slender fingers

- a slender waist

- 有苗条身材的女子

(=a woman with a slender figure)

2. (of things) slight; inadequate

- a slender income

- 渺茫的希望

(=slender hopes)

CF: slender, thin & slim

这几个词都有细小、瘦弱之意。

slender 主要表示苗条之瘦，往往含有瘦得好看或匀称的意思。例如：

- Film actress Zhang Ziyi is a slender woman.

(=电影演员章子怡身材苗条。)

- When the wind blows, the slender tree bends but never breaks.

(=起风时，细长的树常被吹弯但决不会被吹断。)

thin 表示人或物的直径与长度的比例较小。例如： 

- People usually get thinner after an illness.

(=生病后，人们通常变得瘦一些。)

- This metal may be thin but is of great strength.

(=这种金属虽然很薄，但强度却很高。)

slim 用于指人与动物时，其含义与 slender 相同，但在引申意义上却侧重于贫乏和不足状态。例如：

- As a slim boy, he has now filled out.

(=他原是一个清瘦的男孩，现在胖多了。)

- To tell you the truth, your chances to pass the exam are too slim.

(=实话告诉你，你考试过关的希望实在是太小了。)

racial: adj.  relating to a person’s race, or to different races of people

- There is a serious racial conflict in that African country.

- 他是种族歧视的牺牲者。

(=He was a victim of racial discrimination.)

stand up for:  speak, work, etc. in favor of sb./sth.; support sb./sth

- Don’t be afraid to stand up for your rights.

- 我所有的朋友都会支持我。

(=All my friends will stand up for me.)

stand up to:  to oppose fearlessly; to bear, to last

- A soldier must stand up to the danger.

(=士兵必须敢于面对危险。)

- 你的论点根本经不起仔细检查。

(=Your argument just won’t stand up to close scrutiny.)

principle: n.  a rule or standard, especially of good behavior

- She was a woman of principle.

- I usually follow the principle that it is better not to get involved in other people’s quarrels.

- 我们恪守人人都应受到公平对待的原则。

(=We adhere to the principle that everyone should be treated fairly.)

Collocation：

against one’s principle  违反原则

as a matter of principle  作为原则性问题

by principle    按照原则，根据原则

of principle    有原则的

adhere to one’s principles 坚持原则

abandon one’s principles 抛弃原则

historic: adj.  famous or important in history

- a historic spot

- 两位领导人的具有历史意义的会见

(=a historic meeting between the two leaders)

CF: historic & historical

这两个词都是形容词，都有“历史上的”之意。

historic 泛指历史上有名的或富有历史意义的。例如：

- This change in government is a historic event of our times.

(=这项政府变革是当代具有历史意义的大事。)

- The signing of The Declaration of Independence was a historic occasion.

(=《独立宣言》的签署是具有历史意义的事件。)

historical 主要意思是属于历史的，历史上的，与历史有关的，真实的而不是传说中的。例如：

- He gave all his historical papers to the library.

(=他把他所有的历史资料都赠送给这个图书馆。)

- There is a historical society in our university.

(=我们大学有一个历史研究所。)

site: n.  place where a building, town, etc. was, is, or will be situated

- The site for the new factory has not been decided.

- 一所新的学校占据了工厂的旧址。

(=A new school occupies the site of the old factory.)

Collocation：

a historic site   历史古迹

construction sites  建筑工地

a battlefield site  战场的遗址

mission: n.  particular task or duty undertaken by an individual or a group

- Mission accomplished.

(=任务已完成。)

- 代表团成功地完成了使命。

(=The delegation completed its mission successfully.)

- 炸毁那座桥梁的任务未能完成。

(=The mission to blow up the bridge failed.)

Collocation：

carry out / perform a mission  执行任务  

fulfill a mission    完成使命

cancel a mission    取消一项任务

web: n.  network of fine threads spun by a spider or some other spinning creature; complex series or network

- The spider is spinning a web.

- 铁路网

(=a web of railroads)

- 电话线网络

(=a web of telephone wires)

liberate: vt.

Pattern: liberate sb. from sth.

- liberate people from poverty

- liberate sb. from economic worry

- 解除心中偏见

(=liberate the mind from prejudice)

- 把一个国家从军事控制中解放出来

(=liberate a country from a military control)

forge: v.

1. create by means of much hard work

- Their friendship was forged by shared adversity.

- 他们和法国共产党建立了联系。

(=They forged links with the French Communist Party.)

2. make a forgery or counterfeit

- He got the money dishonestly, by forging his brother’s signature on a check.

- 伪造签名

(=forge a signature)

authorize: vt.  give approval or permission for (sth.); give authority to

- I have authorized him to act for me during my absence.

- 主任允许我们在实验室工作。

(=The director authorized us to work in the laboratory.)

exploit: 

1. n. brave or adventurous deed or action

- Their heroic exploits will go down in history.

- 歌颂某人的功绩

(=sing sb.’s exploits)

- 他的战功使我感到惊异。

(=His military exploits amazed me.)

2. vt. employ to the greatest possible advantage

- exploit one’s talents

(=充分发挥某人的才能)

- exploit one’s friends

(=利用自己的朋友)

- 这家公司用长工时、低工资的方法来剥削工人。

(=The company exploited its workers with long hours and low pay.)

be intent on doing sth.:  be eager and determined to do sth.

- He was intent on the job he was doing.

- 他决心去法国继续深造。

(=He is intent on going to France to continue his studies.)

peer: vi.  look closely or carefully, esp. as if unable to see well (followed by at/through/into, etc.)

- She peered at him closely, as if not believing it could really be him.

- She peered through the mist, trying to find the right path.

CF: peer, gaze & stare

这三个词都是动词，都有注视、凝视之意。

peer 通常指半闭着眼睛看，并伴随着向前移动，含有好奇地看或难以看清的意味。例如：

- The old man peered at her over his spectacles.

(=老头儿从他的眼镜上方盯着她。)

- Short-sighted people often peer at others when they are wearing no glasses.

(=近视眼的人不戴眼镜时常常眯着眼看人。)

- The sleepy father got up and peered through a crack in the door to see who knocked at the door.

(=还未睡醒的父亲起了床，透过门缝眯着眼看是谁在敲门。)

gaze 指持久不停地看，通常有惊奇、羡慕、感叹等含义。例如：

- All of us gazed at the beautiful view in the distance.

(=我们都凝视着远方美丽的景色。)

- For two hours Tom sat gazing out of the window.

(=两个小时过去了，汤姆一直坐着凝视着窗外。)

stare 指出于好奇、惊讶、茫然或赞叹等原因而瞪大眼睛长时间、直接地注视。例如：

- The woman stared at the stranger in astonishment.

(=那个女人吃惊地盯着陌生人。)

- It is very impolite to stare at other people.

(=死死盯着他人是极不礼貌的。)

on the side:  as an additional job or source of income; secretly

- He is a teacher, but he makes a little money on the side by repairing cars in his free time.

- He’s married but he has a girlfriend on the side.

(=他虽有妻室，但暗地里还有一个女朋友。)

capture:

1. n. the act of taking by force or of being taken by force

- He was released yesterday, six months after his capture by the terrorists.

2. v. take (a person or animal) as a prisoner

- She was captured trying to escape from the country.

close in (on/around):  come near to, esp. in order to attack from several directions; surround

- The people were trapped when the enemy army began to close in on them.

- Night is closing in.

religious: adj.  of religion

- a religious service

(=宗教仪式)

- 宗教问题

(=a religious question)

conviction: n.  firm opinion or belief

- She expressed her firm conviction that television was harmful to children.

- 她坚信她是对的。

(=She had a firm conviction that she was right.)

Collocation：

a lifelong conviction  终身的信仰

political conviction  政治信念

strengthen/deepen one’s conviction that …  增强/加深某人的信念…

impose: vt.

1. place (a penalty, tax, etc.) officially on sb./sth.

- New duties were imposed on wines and spirits.

- 征收进口税

(=impose a tax on imports)

2. try to make sb. accept (an opinion or a belief)

- She imposed her ideas on the group.

- I must perform the task that has been imposed on me.

transport: vt.  take sth./sb. from one place to another in a vehicle

- It took all day to transport the furniture to the new apartment.

- The goods were transported by train.

- 公共汽车把我们从机场送到城市。

(=A bus transported us from the airport to the city.)

disguise: vt.  give sb./sth. a false appearance

- He disguised himself as a woman.

- The soldiers disguised themselves by wearing white garments in the snow.

- 这一事实是无法隐瞒的。

(=It is impossible to disguise the fact.)

abolish: vt.  end the existence of (a law, custom, system, etc.)

- The death penalty is to be abolished before the end of this year.

- 废除奴隶制

(=abolish slavery)

- 坏的风俗应当废除。

(=Bad customs should be abolished.)

compel: vt.  make (sb.) do sth.; force

- Duty compelled the soldiers to volunteer for the mission.

- 大雨迫使我们呆在屋内。

(=The heavy rain compelled us to stay indoors.)

Collocation：

compel sb. to do sth.  强迫某人做某事

be compelled to (do)  不得不（做）

at risk:  threatened by the possibility of loss, failure, etc.; in danger

- The disease is spreading, and all children under five are at risk.

Collocation：

at all risks (=at any risk)   无论冒什么危险；无论如何

at the risk of     冒…之险；不顾…之风险

starve: v.  (cause a person or an animal to) suffer severely or die from hunger

- starve to death

- What’s for dinner? I’m starving!

(=晚饭吃什么? 我饿死了! )

- starve for news

(=渴望消息)

- She’s lonely, and starving for companionship.

(=她很寂寞，渴望友谊。)

pass for:  appear like; be accepted or looked upon as (same as pass as)

- He can pass for a Frenchman.

- I can’t imagine how this place passes for a five-star hotel.

- 他被认为是个医生。

(=He passes for a doctor.)

- 他被误认为是个有学问的人。

(=He passes for a learned man.)

After Reading >> Useful Expressions

微风    a gentle breeze

支持    stand up for

有原则的人   a man of principle

历史遗迹   a historic site

解放奴隶   liberate slaves

决定要做某事   be intent on doing sth.

轻轻的敲门声    a soft knock

铸铁    iron molding

传播消息    spread the news

宗教信仰    religious convictions

寻得庇护   find refuge

下一段行程    next leg of the journey

主要路线    principal routes

面临危险    face risks

课以罚金   impose a fine

记录    keep a log of

路标     road signs

出殡队伍    a funeral procession

未开垦的土地  a virgin land

在（某人）看来   in the eyes of (sb.)

After Reading >> Sentence Translation

1. Carter’s devotion to her ancestor is about more than personal pride: it is about family honor.

(=卡特对其先辈的忠诚不仅仅关乎一己之骄傲，而且关乎家族荣誉。)

2. As the boat slid across the river, Parker watched helplessly as the pursuers closed in around the men he was forced to leave behind.

(=小船徐徐驶向对岸，帕克眼睁睁地看着追捕者把他被迫留下的两个人团团围住。)

3. I threw myself on the ground, rolled in the sand and danced around, till, in the eyes of several who were present, I passed for a madman.

(=我扑倒在地，在沙土里打滚，手舞足蹈，最后，在场的那几个人都认定我是疯子。)

4. 我步出这幢两层小屋，微风轻轻拂过加拿大平原。

(=A gentle breeze swept the Canadian plains as I stepped outside the small two-story house.) 

5. 中心计划于2004年在辛辛那提市对外开放。

(=The center is scheduled to open in 2004 in Cincinnati.) 

6. 黑人去当乘务员常常是由本人痛苦的经历所激发，而那些白人则往往是受了宗教信仰的感召。

(=While black conductors were often motivated by their own painful experiences, whites were commonly driven by religious convictions.) 

7. 许多黑奴在夜色掩护下赶路，有时脸上涂着厚厚的白粉。

(=Many slaves traveled under cover of night, their faces sometimes caked with white powder.)