Language Points

Language Point 1
A standard criticism of sociological research is that it goes to great lengths to prove what most people with common sense already know. (Para. 1)
Meaning: People normally criticize sociological research for trying very hard by means of reason or evidence to show a fact that is already known to nearly all people with common sense.

Language Point 2
... it goes to great lengths to prove... (Para. 1)
go to great lengths: make a great deal of effort (to do sth.)
Some people go to great lengths to make their homes attractive. 有些人千方百计使他们的家令人钦羡。
They went to great lengths to keep the affair secret. 他们竭尽全力为这事保密。
This idiom may have various forms: go to any length(s) or go to all (or: great, some, considerable) lengths, which means: try very hard and be prepared to do anything, however dangerous, unpleasant, or wicked, in order to achieve something.
The famous actor went to great lengths to hide from news writers and photographers. 这位著名的男演员竭尽所能躲避记者和摄影师。

Language Point 3
... the experience made a common claim come alive. (Para. 1)
Meaning: ... the experience (= sociological exercise) made a commonly accepted statement become concrete and lively.

Language Point 4
We wore clothing slightly inappropriate for the weather, ... (Para. 2)
Meaning: We wore clothing which was a bit unfit for the weather,...

Language Point 5
... glasses with sun shades that clipped on. (Para. 2)
Meaning: eyeglasses with dark glasses that are attached with clips.

Language Point 6
... whether the appearance of poverty would invite prejudice on us. (Para. 3)
Meaning: ... whether the fact that we looked very poor would cause people to have an unreasonable disapproval of us.

Language Point 7
We were also prepared to act out some mildly unusual behavior... (Para. 3)
act out:
1) express (thoughts, unconscious fears, etc.) in actions and behavior rather than in words
They acted out their frustration. 他们用行动来发泄受挫失望的情绪。
Children’s strong feelings often get acted out in bad behavior. 孩子们的强烈的情感经常通过不良行为表现出来。
2) act a part, usu. in a real-life situation and for some purpose
She acted out the heroine’s part in detail. 她把女主人公这个角色演得惟妙惟肖。
She acted out the role of a wronged lover to make him feel guilty. 她装出一副受委屈的情人的样子，以让他感到内疚。

Language Point 8
... some mildly unusual behavior that might speak of some emotional problems,... (Para. 3)
mildly: ad. slightly, not deeply or seriously
I suggested it to him, but he seemed only mildly interested. 这事儿我向他建议过, 但他似乎兴趣不大。
speak of: be evident of or convey a quality, experience, or feeling
Her eyes speak of suffering. 她的眼中流露出痛苦的神情。
Her behavior speaks of suffering bravely borne. 她的行为反映了她勇敢承受着的痛苦。
The whole robbery spoke of inside knowledge on the part of the criminals. 整个抢劫案表明，罪犯掌握了内情。

Language Point 9
... without appearing seriously disturbed or dangerous. (Para. 3)
Meaning: …without looking seriously ill in the mind or being likely to cause danger to other people.

Language Point 10
As it turned out, there was no need for dramatics; ... (Para. 3)
Meaning: As it proved to be, there was no need for us to show too much feeling to impress people.
turn out: prove to be; come to be known
It turned out that she was my sister’s friend. 她原来是我姐姐的朋友。
As events turned out, we were right to have decided to leave early. 正如结果所证明的，我们决定早点离开是对的。
dramatics: n. behavior which seems to show too much feeling and which is done purposely to impress people

Language Point 11
...people turned us off or tuned us out on the basis of appearance alone. (Para. 3)
Meaning: ... people made us leave or paid no attention to us any more simply because of what we looked like.
turn off: (originally) leave (one road) for another; (here) make (sb. or sth.) leave; drive away
We turned off the motorway at exit 31 into a side road. 我们在第31号出口处离开了高速公路拐入支路。
Unwanted visitors will be turned off my land. 不受欢迎的来访者将被从我的土地上请走。

Language Point 12
We weren’t up to trying our act at an exclusive restaurant, ... (Para. 4)
Meaning: We were not rich enough to do the research or the field study at an exclusive restaurant,...
be (or: feel) up to (doing sth.): be capable of (doing sth.), be well or brave enough to (do it)
Mother is sick and not up to going out to the grocery store. 母亲病了, 体力不支, 不能出门到杂货店去买东西。
I don’t feel up to going to work today. 我今天身上不舒服，不能去上班了。
He wants to compete at an international level, but I don’t think he’s up to it. 他想在国际水平上竞争，但我认为他还不到那个水平。
Notice that in the phrase “be up to”, “to” is a preposition, so the following verb should be used in its -ing form.

Language Point 13
Clerks in stores followed our track to watch our every move. (Para. 5)
Meaning: Clerks in stores walked after us to watch our every movement.
follow one’s track: be after sb.
We followed his track(s) through the snow. 我们顺着他在雪地里的足印前进。
The hunters followed the tracks of the animal for hours. 猎人循着动物的脚印追了几个小时。

Language Point 14
At one establishment we did blow our cover ... (Para. 6)
blow one’s cover: cause one’s true identity or the true nature of one’s work to be revealed Asking those kinds of questions could blow my cover. 问那些问题会暴露我的身份。
The enemy’s cover was blown. 敌人的掩护身份暴露了。
I was pretending to be her sister until she blew my cover. 直到她揭露真相，我一直假装是她的姐姐。

Language Point 15
... that may have been too far out of character for “bag ladies”. (Para. 6)
out of character: unlike one’s usual nature
His behavior last night was quite out of character. 昨晚他的举止颇有点反常。
I can’t believe he would have quarreled; it seems so out of character. 我不相信他会吵架——这似乎太不符合他的性格了。