III. Detailed study of the text
● Language points:
1) Gail and I imagined a quiet wedding.(Para. 1)
Meaning: Gail and I planned to have (or: thought about having) a wedding without many people or without much activity.
imagine: vt. (here) plan to have, think about having…
We imagine a quiet holiday at home for this summer after a busy year.忙碌了一年,我们打算今年夏天在家过个安静的假期.
If "imagine" is followed directly by a verb or a "non+verb" structure, the verb should be in the –ing form.
Eg. It's hard to imagine living in a place where there are no telephones or cars.
很难想像生活在一个没有电话,没有汽车的地方会是个什么样子.
I can't imagine George being unfair to anyone.
我不能想像乔治竟然会对谁都不公正.
2) … the usual ups and downs of a couple…(Para. 1)
ups and downs: a mix of good experiences and bad experiences
Life is full of ups and downs. 人生充满了欢乐与痛苦.
He has seen the ups and downs in the history of the relations between the two countries. 他经历了两国关系史上的圆缺阴晴.
3)But through it all we had honestly confronted the weaknesses and strengths of each other's characters. (Para.1)
Meaning: But in experiencing all the ups and downs we had honestly faced and tried to deal with the weak sides and good sides of each other's characters.
through: prep. From the beginning to the end of
I have read halfway through the article but found it uninteresting. 这篇文章我已看了一半,可是觉得它枯燥乏味.
4) …had honestly confronted the weaknesses and strengths of each other's characters.
Weaknesses and strengths: weak points and strong points
It's important to know your own weaknesses and strengths.
了解自己的缺点和优点很重要.
Character: n. all the qualities that make a person or place different from other people or places
He has a strong but gentle character. 他的性格坚强而温柔.
The twins look the same but have very different characters.
这对双胞胎长得很像,但性格很不同.
5) …and being open with each other. (para. 2)
Open: a. willing to talk honestly, frank
Let's be open with each other. 让我们彼此开诚布公吧.
He is a very frank and open person. 他是个很坦诚的人.
6) Gail and I had no illusions about what the future held for us as a married, mixed couple in America. (Para. 3)
Hold: vt. Own, be able to contain or offer. "Hold" in this sense can also be used figuratively.
He holds a half share in the business. 他在这个企业中拥有一半的股份. Life holds many surprises for us. (喻)人生中有许多意想不到的事情. married: a. If you are married, you have a husband or wife.
Her married life was exceptionally happy. 她的婚后生活十分幸福. a married woman 一位已婚妇女
mixed couple: a couple of different races
7) …they overlooked serious personality conflicts in the expectation that marriage was an automatic way to make everything work out right. (Para. 4) Meaning: They ignored serious personality conflicts. They hoped that everything would go right automatically when they lived their married life. overlook: vt.
i) fail to notice or realize how important sth. is, miss
You have overlooked several of the mistakes in this work.
你忽略了这项工作中的几个错误.
The secretary is very careful and never overlooks any little points. 秘书是个很细心的人,从不放过任何细小问题.
ii) pretend not to notice; forgive
We'll ovelook your bad behavior this time, but don't do it again. 这一次我们不计较你的错误行为,但是切勿再犯了.
iii) have or give a view of (a place) from above
Her bedroom has large windows overlooking a lake.
她的卧室有几扇对着湖面的大窗子.
8) …to make everything work out right. (Para.4)
work out:
i) have as a result, turn out, happen or progress in a certain way In this sense, the verb phrase is intransitive.
How the situation will eventually work out only time can tell.
情况最后将会是怎样,只有以后才能知道.
ii) find by reasoning or figuring
In this sense, the verb phrase is transitive.
Have you work out the answer 你已经得出了答案来了没有
9) That point was emphasized by the fact that Gail's parents, after thirty-five years of marriage, were going through a bitter and painful divorce,..(Para.4)
Meaning: That point was made particularly true when Gail's parents, after thirty-five years of marriage, were experiencing a bitter and painful divorce.
go through: experience
The country has gone through too many wars. 这个国家经历了太多的战争. go through hardships 历尽千辛万苦
10) Her mother, Deborah, all along had been supportive of our relationship…(Para. 5)
Meaning: When Deborah heard our plans, she did not express her congratulations but advised Gail to be really sure that that was the marriage she did want.
congratulations: n. (pl.) If you offer someone your congratulations, you congratulate them on something nice that has happened to them or something admirable that they have done.
To offer one's congratulations on her success 对她的成功表示祝贺 Congratulations on your marriage!恭喜你们喜结良缘!
upon: prep.(the same as "on") immediately after, directly after (and often as a result of)
Upon(or: On) hearing the news, she burst into tears.
一听到这个消息,她就放声大哭起来.
11) …I harbored reservations about a mixed marriage, prejudices you might even call them.(Para. 7)
Meaning: I had doubts whether a marriage between a white and a black would work out well, which you might even call prejudices.
harbor: vt. have (feelings, thoughts, images etc.) in one's mind over a long period of time
He harbors a secret hatred against his father. 他对他的父亲暗怀憎恨.
12) We've seen each other at our worst many times. (Para. 8)
Meaning: We have had many times when we behaved as unpleasantly as possible towards each other.
at one's worst: when one is behaving as unpleasantly as possible
This was his mother at her worst: her voice was sharp and loud, and she was to be angry at anyone.
这是他母亲脾气最坏的时候:说话声音又尖又高,对谁都会发脾气.
13) Why the haste
Meaning: Why do you want to get married in such a hurry
This is an elliptical question(省略式问句).Another example in this reading passage is: Then why the rush (Para. 12) 干吗匆匆忙忙的
In why-questions we often have ellipsis(省略).More examples:
Why bother waiting any longer (= Why should we bother waiting any longer ) 为什么我们还得费功夫等下去呢
Why not 干吗不
◆ Patterns for using as model
本文来源：http://www.010zaixian.com/jiaoan/2448396.htm