Paragraphs1-3
pound v.
strike orhit heavily and repeatedly
e.g. Pounding on the floor, she shouted at thetop of her voice.
Sheslipped out of the office with the stolen secret file in her handbag, her heart pounding severely.
Collocations:
pound against / on
e.g. Waves pounded against the pier.
pound along / through / down, etc.
e.g. I could hear him pounding up the stairs.
pound out
e.g. The Rolling Stones were pounding out one of their old numbers.
middle ground
an areaof compromise or possible agreement between two extreme positions
e.g. Each party wants to capture the votes ofthose perceived as occupying the middle ground.
In theargument everyone has to take sides; there is no middle ground.
Practice:
双方谈判无法达成共同立场。
The negotiators could find no middleground.
squalid a.
morallyrepulsive; sordid
e.g.He was living in squalid conditions.
Synonyms:
degraded, filthy, poor, shabby, slummy, sordid, wretched
imponderable n.
a thingthat cannot undergo precise evaluation
e.g. We can't predict the outcome.There are too many imponderables.
Paragraphs4-9
rule of thumb
a broadlyaccurate guide or principle, based on experience or practice rather thantheory.
e.g. I haven't been taught thefiner points of carpentry; I just make things by ruleofthumb.
Practice:这笔生意的行事法则是礼貌至上。
The rule of thumb in this business is courtesy.
cuddle v.
holdclose in one’s arms as a way of showing love or affection.
e.g. Hecuddles the baby close.
What do you think of some youngsterscuddling each other in public places, paying no heed to those who pass by?
Synonyms:
Paragraphs 10-12
incidentally ad.
by theway
e.g. Incidentally, it was many months before thewhole truth was discovered.
Derivations:
incident n.
e.g. A spokesman said it was an isolatedincident.
incidental a.
e.g. problems incidental to growingup
1) As a result, serious poets eitherstarve or work as account executives. (Paragraph 2)
Explanation:
As aresult, serious poets could no longer depend on poetry writing for a living; theyhave to turn to other profession, and most probably to become a businessman,which is held traditionally diametrically opposite to the profession ofliterary creation.
2) Ideally, there would evolve averitable society of poet-citizens, which would elevate the quality of lifeworldwide. (Paragraph 3)
Paraphrase:
An idealsituation would be the development of a society composed of citizens who arededicated to poetry writing, and from doing this people will have better lifequality.
3) This is a sure way to conjure up“poetic” feeling and atmosphere. (Paragraph 6)
Paraphrase:
This is away that will evoke poetic feeling and atmosphere for certain.
4) You might even try writing somemore of your own poems, now that you’ve broken the ice. (Paragraph 11)
Paraphrase:
Since youhave removed the awkwardness of poem writing, you might even want to have a tryby yourself.
