第一篇 艰难的国运与雄健的国民
1. the course of history
原文中是"历史的道路"，而course不仅有道路的意思，还有进程、过程的意思，比较好的诠释了原文。可以把"the course of history"当成一个短语来记，表示“历史进程、历史演进”。注意下文中(winding through) course n. (河流的)走向，所经之路
2. be beset with
A. 被包围，受围攻
The enemy beset the town with a strong army. 敌人以重兵包围了该镇。
We were beset by mosquitoes in the swamp. 我们在沼泽地遭受蚊虫围攻。
B. 被环绕，围绕；镶嵌
The city is beset with towering mountains. 该市由高山环抱。
The crown was beset with diamonds and jewels. 皇冠上镶嵌着钻石和珠宝。
C. 受到多方面（不好）的困扰
His life is beset with hardships. 他的生活充满艰辛。
He was beset by doubts. 他疑虑重重。
The country was beset with many problems. 这个国家被许多困难所困扰。
3. short of
A. 达不到
Your work falls short of my expectations. 你的工作未达到我的期望。
B. 除……外，(否则，不然)
Short of calling a meeting, they don't know how they can get their plan approved.
除非召开会议，否则他们真不知道他们的计划怎么才能获准。
Short of a miracle, we're certain to lose now. 除非出现奇迹，不然我们现在是输定了。
C. 缺少，不足
They are short of food and clothes. 他们缺吃少穿。
I must stop a bit. I'm short of breath. 我得歇一歇，我喘不过气了。
We did not buy anything because we were short of money. 我们因为缺钱就什么也没买。
4. roll on
A. (河流)滔滔流动，滚滚向前；（土地）起伏
The Yellow River rolls on day and night. 黄河日日夜夜地奔腾不息。
The country went rolling on for miles and miles. 那片土地绵延起伏好几英里。
B. （时光）流逝
The years rolled on. 岁月流逝。
The years rolled on but she didn't come back. 几年过去了，但她没有回来。
In the meanwhile, time did not roll on without effecting his usual changes.
在这期间，随着岁月的流逝，他的生活也照例跟着起了变化。
C. roll on...! ……快快到来吧！（口语）
Roll on Christmas! I'm looking forward to all the good food.
圣诞节快点来吧！我期盼着那所有的美味佳肴呢！
Roll on Friday! 星期五快来吧！
5. thousands upon thousands of + 复数 = tens of thousands of 成千上万
Thousands upon thousands of people attended the ceremony. 成千上万的人参加了那个仪式。
He and his family wrote literally thousands upon thousands of letters.
他和他家人互通了上千封书信。
6. come up against 突然（或意外）碰到（困难、反对等）
He often came up against the problem of money. 他那时常常碰到钱的问题。
When they were dealing with the case, they came up against a series of of obstacles.
当他们在审理这个案子的时候，遇到了一系列的障碍。
We expect to come up against a lot of opposition to the scheme.
我们预计这个计划要遭到很多人反对。
7. flank v. 位于……侧面（常用be flanked with/by）
The road is flanked with trees and flowers. 路的两旁有花草。
The prisoner was flanked by the two detectives. 那个囚犯夹在两名侦探的中间。
High buildings flanked the alley. 小巷两侧高楼耸立。
8. wind through
A. 蜿蜒穿过，流过
A path winds through the forest. 一条小路蜿蜒穿过森林。
They wound their way through the narrow valley. 他们在狭窄的山谷中迂回前进。
B. (使)贯穿于(作品中)，充分地表现于(作品里)
The writer wound his opinions through this article. 作者将他的观点贯穿于这篇文章之中。
A thread of sorrow winds through her poetry. 悲伤的情绪贯穿于她的诗作中。
9. many a + 单数: 许多
Many a student likes to read this magazine. 很多学生喜欢读这本杂志。
Many a day was spent preparing the new textbooks. 好多天时间花在编写新的教科书上。
10. pass through
A. 穿过；通过(某处)
The waterway is wide for many ships to pass through. 这条河很宽，足以使很多船通过。
I passed through a picturesque village on my way here. 来这里的路上，我经过一个风景如画的乡村。
He passed through the doorway and entered the room. 他穿过门口进入室
B. 经历；遭受
This curio has passed throgh many hands. 这种古玩已经多次转手了。
The country is passing through an economic crisis. 这个国家正在经历一场经济危机。
This soldier passed through many dangers. 这个士兵经历了许多危险。
11. now... now... 时而……时而
Her moods kept changing ---- now happy, now sad. 她的情绪多变，时而高兴，时而伤心。
It was now hot, now cold. 天气忽热忽冷。
12. a safe and smooth place: s in "safe" and "smooth"押头韵，增强艺术感。
13. still adv. （强调比较级）还要，更加
It's hot today, but it'll be still hotter tomorrow. 今天很热，但明天会更热。
The sick child looks still worse today than yesterday. 那个病童的情况今天看起来比昨天更不妙。
That exercise was difficult, but this is still more difficult. 那个练习题难，但这一题更难。
14. generate in him a sensation: 对比下段中"inspire in us a sensation". 可得出一个句型: sth. + 动词（表“引起”的动词）+ in + 人称代词 + 感觉。可用来表示某物使人产生某种感觉。童鞋们可对比一下自己在表达该意时所使用的句型（比如：it gives me a feeling ）。
15. be confronted with 面临（困难、危险等）
The new system will be confronted with great difficulties at the start.
这种新的制度一开始将会面临很大困难。
After being confronted with our evidence, the other side had to back down.
面对我们摆出来的证据，对方只得作出让步。
16. be symbolic of 是……的象征
A title may only be a label, a word, but it is also symbolic of so much more.
一个称号也许只是一个标签、一个简单的词，但它却代表了更多的含义。
The snake is symbolic of evil. 蛇象征邪恶。
The dove is symbolic of peace. 鸽子象征和平。
17. brace up 打起精神，下定决心
The candidate braced up after his defeat. 这位候选人在竞选失败后重新振作精神。
You'll have to brace up to your misfortune and get on with your work.
你得做好准备正视自己的不幸，继续干你的工作。
18. ... to the tune of our solemn... to [表示伴随跟着； 伴随；随同
She danced to the music. 她合着音乐跳舞。
to do something to one's liking 据某人的爱好做某事
19、build up 发展，使强大，建立
They have been building up their military strength. 他们一直在发展军事力量。
The enemy are building up their offensive capacity along the border.
敌人正在边界一带增强他们的进攻能力。