第六十四讲

   Para. 3
   One day I walked to the campus to pick up my mail at the International Students office. But the all important check still had not arrived. Maria, a Mexican-American student, who worked as a temporary secretary in the department when others left for their holidays, must have seen me as I left the mailbox with disappointment showing on my face. She invited me to spend Christmas Eve with her family. I accepted all too gladly.
   Language Points:
   1. Explanation of Difficult Sentences
   1) a Mexican-American student, who worked as a temporary secretary in the department when others left for their holidays, must have seen me as I left the mailbox with disappointment showing on my face.
   Analysis: Mexican-American means “an American citizen with Mexican parentage”(美籍墨西哥人)。The first as is a preposition, introducing an adverbial of manner; the second as is a conjunction, including an adverbial clause of time. “Must have seen(must+ perfect tense)” indicates an affirmative judgment, which means “一定做了什么”; with introduces an adverbial of manner, modifying as I left the mailbox.
   Translation: 由于其他人都离开学校去度假了，一位名叫玛丽亚的美籍墨西哥学生在系里担任临时秘书。她一定是看到了我离开邮箱时流露在脸上的沮丧和失望。
   Example: Li Xin, an American-Chinese girl, who stayed in the room as a baby-sitter, must have noticed my two little brothers as they hung their empty socks on the fireplace with great    expectation.
   2. Important Words
   1)temporary: a. lasting for a short time only 临时的,暂时的
   e.g. The hut was used as a temporary office.
   Don’t worry. The bumping of the airplane is only temporary.
   2) disappointment: n. the state of mind of failing to get what is expected 失望, 沮丧
   e.g. He suffered terrible disappointment when she failed to come.
   To the children’s disappointment, it rained the whole night before the picnic.

   Para. 4
   Maria’s family was not rich. They lived in a modest small house. Maria introduced me to her parents, her aunt and her sister, who welcomed me warmly. Maria’s father could only speak Spanish, so he talked to me while Maria’s sister acting as interpreter. The kind look in his eyes and his relaxed behavior made me feel right at home.
   Language Points:
   1. Explanation of Difficult Sentences
   1) The kind look in his eyes and his relaxed behavior made me feel right at home.
   Analysis: make me feel right at home is an V+O+OC structure. Feel right at home is an infinitive clause without “to”, used as the complement of me. Right is an verb of emphasis, modifying at home.
   Translation: 他眼睛中流露出的和蔼目光以及他随和的举止使我感觉完全就跟在自己家里一样自在。
   Example: He said he was quite satisfied. But his long face made me feel just the opposite.
   2. Important Words
   1)modest: a. not large in size or amount 简陋的, 适度的
   e.g. He should accept my modest requirement.
   The well-known scholar lives in a rather modest little house.
   2) behavior: n. ways of behaving oneself 行为, 举止
   e.g. His improper behavior towards the guests shows his rudeness.
   One’s behavior should go with one’s words.

   Para. 5
   The dinner was very elaborate. Each dish had a special feature, sauce and blend of seasonings. Maria’s aunt ate while standing at a corner of the small, old table. I felt a little uncomfortable, knowing that I was occupying her place, but her gesture expressed the sincere hospitality with which Maria’s whole family received me. After dinner, Maria chose a small package from under the Christmas tree and handed it to me. Inside I found the tie-clasp I still use to this day.
   Language Points:
   1. Explanation of Difficult Sentences
   I felt a little uncomfortable, knowing that I was occupying her place, but her gesture expressed the sincere hospitality with which Maria’s whole family received me.
   Analysis: Knowing …is a present participle phrase used as an adverbial of cause; which introduces a relative clause, modifying hospitality and which itself is the object of the preposition with.
   Translation: 我觉得有些不安，因为我知道我占了玛利亚姑妈的位置。但是她的手势却向我表达了她真诚的亲情，玛利亚全家就是用这种热情好客款待我的。
   Example: He shouted at the top of his voice, knowing that the crowds could hardly hear him; but their cheering revealed such warmth with which they welcomed him as a hero.
   2. Important Words
   1)sauce: n. liquid preparation served with some kind of food to give a flavor 调味汁, 酱
   e.g. This tomato sauce goes very well with fried chicken.
   Give each one a small saucer to put the sauce in.
   2) seasoning: n. something used to give flavor to food 调味品,调味
   e.g. She uses different seasonings to make her cooking tasty.
   This kind of fish only needs light seasoning.
   3) gesture: n. movement of hand or head to indicate an idea or feeling 手势,姿态
   e.g. Is thumbing a gesture for a lift?
   Can you make out what his gesture means?
   4) hospitality: n. friendly and generous reception of guests 好客, 款待
   e.g. The Chinese enjoy a reputation of their hospitality.
   The hostess’ hospitality put us at ease.

   Para. 6
   Looking at the tie-clasp, I knew I would always regard it as a memento of an unforgettable evening of good friendship during a hard and lonely period of my life.
   Language Points:
   1. Explanation of Difficult Sentences
   1) Looking at the tie-clasp,…
   Analysis: Looking at the tie-clasp is a present participle clause used as an adverbial of time; of an unforgrttsble evening of good friendship during a hard and lonely period of my life is a long post modifier of the noun evening.
   Translation: 望着这只领带夹，我知道我将会把它视作一个永久的纪念，它记录了在我生活最孤独寂寞的那段时光中一个充满友情的令人难忘的夜晚。
   Example: Reading the words again and again, she realized she would use them as her motto of life in the fierce struggle against her disease.
   2. Important Words
   1) memento: n. something that serves to remind one of a person or event 纪念物，纪念品
   e.g. This dictionary is a memento of my English teacher.
   The painting brush is now kept in the museum as a memento of the artist.

   2) unforgettable: a. that cannot be forgotten 令人难忘的, 忘不了的
   e.g. She spent an unforgettable time in the mountainous area.
   This failure is an unforgettable lesson for me.

   Exercises：See the textbook.