1. Might that, too, be a lie? (Paragraph 4)
Is it possible to consider that a lie?
Might here means “possibility”. Notethat may, when used to mean“possibility”, is normally not used in a question.
2. What a tangled web we weave, whenfirst we practice to deceive. (Paragraph 11)
Paraphrase:
When we start to tell a lie, wewould have entered a very intricate situation, as a lie often requires otherlies until the whole structure of lies becomes so complex that it ensnares theliar.
3. Psychological barriers wear down:the ability to make more distinctions can coarsen; the liar’s perception of hischances of being caught may warp. (Paragraph 12)
Paraphrase:
One is less inhibited from lying: his abilityto tell the truth from the falsehood is dulled, and he may become less cautiousagainst being caught.
4. The most understandable andforgivable lies are an exchange of what ethicists refer to as the principle oftrust for the principle of caring. (Paragraph 16)
Paraphrase:
The most understandable and acceptable liesare those which are told for the sake of love and care at the expense of trust,according to the ethicists.
Section Four Consolidation Activities
1. Word Derivation
1) ethicn.→ ethical a. → unethical a.
伦理学是哲学的分科。
Ethics is abranch of philosophy.
他的行为不太道德。
His behaviour has not been strictly ethical.
2) feign v. → feigned a.
有些动物遇到危险时便装死。
Someanimals feign death when in danger.
他大发雷霆，不知是真的还是假的。
He wasconsuming with indignation, real or feigned.
3) spare v. → sparing a. → unsparing a. → unsparingly ad.
他们把男人都杀了，但放过了孩子。
They killed the men but spared the children.
尼任斯基对演技精益求精一丝不苟。
Nijinsky was unsparingin his demands for perfection.
他强迫自己拼命干。
He drove himself unsparingly.
4) cynicism n. → cynic n. →cynical a.
他的话带着强烈的讽刺。
Hisremark has a fine edge of cynicism.
罗伯特是一个地道的怀疑主义者，他不会不假思索就相信任何事或任何人。
Robertsis a real cynic; he won't acceptanything or anyone at face value.
他们逐渐感到所谓民主制度也不过尔尔。
They’ve grown rather cynical about democracy.
5) confound v. → confoundeda. → confoundedly ad.
他的所作所为让她感到既惊愕又困惑。
His behaviour amazed and confounded her.
你真讨厌死了！
You’re a confoundednuisance!
天气太热了。
It’s confoundedlyhot.
6) lubricatev. → lubricant n.
我需要润润嗓子。
My throat needs lubricating.
我们使用哪种润滑剂，主要取决于轴承的转速如何。
The sort of lubricant which we use depends largelyon the running speed of the bearing.
7) tangle v. → tangle n. → entangle v.
她的头发让带刺的铁网缠住了。
Her hair got all tangled up in the barbed wire fence.
他的财务状况是一笔糊涂帐。
His financial affairs are in such a tangle.
她的长发让玫瑰丛给钩住了。
Her long hair entangleditself in the rose bush.
8) willn. → willful a.
我被迫违心地在协议上签了字。
I was forced to sign the agreement against my will.
只要人有恒，万事皆可成。
A willful man must have his way.
2. Phrase Practice
1) The governoris trying hard to ________ the scandal. cover up
coverup: put sth. over sth. else so thatit cannot be seen; prevent people from discovering mistakes or unpleasant facts
e.g. 他忘了把机器盖起来。
He had forgotten to have themachine covered up.
你怎么能掩盖自己的错误呢？
How can you cover up your mistake?
2) Samanthawas amazed when late one evening, Adam _______ that he loved her. blurted out
blurt out: say sth. suddenly and tactlessly
e.g. 我还没来得及阻止，他已冲口说出了这个坏消息。
He blurted out the bad news before I couldstop him.
3) Heclaimed that he had been ________ after drugs were discovered in his suitcase. set up
set up:make sb. feel healthy and full of energy
e.g. 你喝杯热饮料马上就精神了。
A hot drink will soon set you up.
4) Did you ever ________ why the mandeserted his wife and four children? find out
find out: getinformation, after trying to discover it by effort or by chance
e.g. 弄清楚合同的条件是什么。
Find out what the conditions of the contract are.
5) Wind and water slowly ________ themountain’s jagged edges. wear down
wear down: reduceor become weaker until useless
e.g. 这一策略旨在逐步削弱敌人的抵抗力。
Thestrategy was designed to wear downthe enemy's resistance.
6) They are going to a restaurantwhich ________ Mexican food. specializesin
specialize in: giveparticular attention to (a subject, product, etc.)
e.g. 其实我们专营此项产品已有多年历史。
In fact,we specialize in this in with a longhistory.
7) A modest scholar never ________have exhausted his subject. professes to
profess to: claim (sth.), oftenfalsely
e.g.我并不自诩是这一问题的专家。
I don't professto be an expert in this subject.
8) The press ________ them ________their breakthroughs in the research into the causes of cancer. complimented on
compliment … on …: express of praise, admiration, approval, etc.
e.g. 我们大家都夸他勇敢。
We all complimented him on hiscourage.
3. Synonym / Antonym
1. But there is evidence that thisattitude towards casual use of prevarication is common.
l Synonyms: evasion, equivocation
2. Ninety-two per cent of theteenagers admitted having lied to their parents in the previous year, and seventy-threepercent characterized themselves as “serial liars,” meaning they toldlies weekly.
l Synonyms: chronic, repeated
3. Little white lies have become ubiquitous,and the reasons we give each other for telling fibs are familiar.
l Synonyms: common, prevalent, omnipresent
4. Tom dislikes her “special” pumpkinpie intensely.
l Antonym: slightly
5. How often do we complimentpeople on how well they look, or express our appreciation for gifts, when wedon't really mean it?
l Antonyms: insult, reproach, criticize
6. “Psychological barriers wear down;the ability to make more distinctions can coarsen; the liar's perception of hischances of being caught may warp.”
l Synonym: distort
7. Still, the endless proliferationof these little prevarications does matter.
l Synonyms: growth, multiplication
8. Or will he feel his long-termtrust in you has been undermined?
l Antonyms: strengthened, consolidated
