张汉熙《高级英语(2)》(第3版)学习指南(The Discovery of What It Mea

Lesson 10 The Discovery of What It Means to Be an American
一、词汇短语
1. controversial [] adj. causing a lot of disagreement,
because many people have strong opinions about the subject being
discussed有争议的，争论的：He is a controversial politician.他是位有
争议的政治家。

其名词形式为controversy（//
争论，辩论）
2. motley []adj. having elements of great variety or incongruity;
heterogeneous五颜六色的，混杂的：a motley tunic迷彩服
3. fury [] n. extreme, often uncontrolled anger狂怒，暴怒：He was
white with fury.他气得脸色发白。

b）violent, uncontrolled action; turbulence 骚乱，狂暴，混乱
4. identity []n. the distinct personality of an individual
regarded as a persisting entity; individuality个性，特性：The planners
decided to preserve their distinct identities.设计者们决定保留他们各自的特
色。

5. inheritance [] n. a）something inherited or to be inherited
继承，遗产：inheritance tax遗产税，继承税；b）the process of genetic
transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring遗传：maternal
inheritance母体遗传
6. prop [] n. that serves as a support or stay支撑，支柱：Truth will stand
without a prop.真理不需支撑。

7. alabaster []n. a dense translucent, white or tinted fine-grained gypsum雪花石膏
8. cadence [] n. Balanced, rhythmic flow韵律，声调，节奏：There was
an unfamiliar cadence in her voice.她说话时带有一种不常听到的抑扬顿挫的
声调。

9. pickaninny [] n. used as a disparaging term for a young Black child黑人小孩
10. cripple [] vt. a）to disable, damage, or impair the functioning of削
弱，损坏；使丧失……的功能：The strike crippled the factory.罢工使工厂陷
于瘫痪。

b）to cause to lose the use of a limb or limbs使致残，使跛11. breakthrough [] n. a major achievement or success that
permits further progress, as in technology突破，重大成就：Scientists
have made a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer.科学家
在癌症治疗方面取得了重大突破。

12. skirmish [] n. a fight between small groups of soldiers, ships etc,
especially one that happens away from the main part of a battle小规模
战斗；小冲突：This skirmish sparked a major battle.这次小冲突激起了场
大战斗。

13. flex [] vt. to contract （a muscle, for example）收缩（如肌肉）：The role
will allow her to flex her acting muscles.这个角色允许她展露自己的表演能力。

14. rung [] n. a rod or bar forming a step of a ladder梯级：To be safe you
should go up a ladder one rung at a time.为安全起见，登梯子时你应该一步一
步往上爬。

15. lukewarm [] adj. a）mildly warm; tepid（指液体）微温的：
lukewarm coffee tepid温热的咖啡；b）lacking conviction or enthusiasm;
indifferent不热心的，冷淡的：Give only lukewarm support to the
incumbent candidate.给在位的候选人不冷不热的支持。

16. paradox [] n. a statement contrary to received opinion逆论，反说
17. torment []vt. to cause to undergo great physical pain or
mental anguish折磨，使痛苦：She was tormented by the feeling of guilt.
她被内疚感折磨着。

18. paranoia []n. a psychotic disorder characterized by
delusions of persecution妄想狂，偏执狂：senile paranoia老年妄想狂19. accessible [] adj. a）easily approached or entered易接近的，
易进去的：I think that you’ll find she’s very accessible.我认为你很快
就会发现她是很容易接近的。

b）easy to obtain or use容易的得到的，可
以使用的：The health service is accessible to all.每个人都能享受公共医疗
卫生服务。

20. pocket [] n. a small cavity in the earth凹地，小块地
21. bourgeoisie [] n. the middle class资产阶级，中产阶级
22. miserable [] n. people who are unhappy, wretched不幸的人，极其贫困的人
23. pimp [] n. one who finds customers for a prostitute; a procurer拉皮条的人，妓院老板
24. perpetual []adj. continuing or lasting for an indefinitely
long time不断的，永久的：fight for perpetual peace为永久和平而战25. preconception [] n. a belief or opinion that you
have already formed before you know the actual facts, and that
may be wrong偏见，成见：Common preconception about life in this
district is increasingly being challenged.原先普遍存在着对那一地区
生活的成见越来越站不住脚了。

26. terrace [] n. a platform extending outdoors from a floor of a house
or an apartment building阳台，露天平台：The terrace afforded a fine view.
从屋顶平台上可以看到美好的景色。

27. corny [] adj. 陈腐的，陈旧的：It may sound corny, but the experts
agree it works.这些观点听起来或许是陈词滥调，但是专家承认它确实起作用。

28. sojourn [] vi. to reside temporarily旅居，逗留
29. incorrigible []adj. incapable of being corrected or
reformed; firmly rooted无药可救的；根深蒂固的：incorrigible bad
habits积习难改的坏习惯
30. maverick [] n. an unbranded range animal, especially a calf that
has become separated from its mother, traditionally considered the
property of the first person who brands it无畜主烙印的小动物（多指离
开母牛而迷失的小牛）
31. efface [] vt. to rub or wipe out; erase擦去，抹去；b）to make indistinct
as if by rubbing冲淡（记忆）：It takes many years to efface the unpleasant
memories of a war.许多年后才能冲淡战争的不愉快记忆。

32. fathom [] vt. to penetrate to the meaning or nature of; comprehend
推测；理解，明白：I can not fathom his meaning.我不能彻底理解他的意思。

33. unprecedented [] adj. having no previous example
无先例的，空前的，前所未有的：Our school faced unprecedented
difficulties.我们学校碰到了前所未有的困难。

34. compulsive [] adj. having the capacity to compel强制的，有强制力的
35. taboo [] n. a ban or an inhibition resulting from social custom or
emotional aversion禁忌，忌讳：There are taboos against appearing naked
in public places.公共场所不穿衣服是禁忌。

36. sustenance [] n. something, especially food, that sustains
life or health食物，营养：Potatoes were their only means of
sustenance.土豆是他们惟一的食物。

37. inexorable []adj. not capable of being persuaded by
entreaty; relentless不可动摇的，不屈不挠的；无情的：an inexorable will
不可动摇的意志
38. sorely [] adv. extremely; greatly非常，迫切地，极其：Food is sorely
needed in the flooded area.洪灾地区迫切需要食物。

39. web [] v. unite or join closely密切结合
40. arm [] n. a branch of a military force军种，兵种
41. intangible [] adj. a）incapable of being realized or defined
不可捉摸的，难以确定的；b）incapable of being perceived by the senses
无形的：intangible assets无形资产
二、课文精解
1. Henry James：亨利·詹姆斯，美国小说家，现代意识流小说的奠基人之一。

在心理分析精微细致这一点上，詹姆斯达到前所未有的境界，为小说艺术的表现力开辟了新的途径，其长篇小说有《一个美国人》、《贵妇的画像》等，中短篇小说有《黛西·米勒》、《螺丝在旋紧》、《丛林猛兽》。

2. America’s history, her aspirations, her peculiar triumphs：本句使用了拟人手法，用her指代America。

3. I left America because I doubted my ability to survive the fury of the color problem there：句中the color problem是委婉说法，指的是racial discrimination“种族歧视”。

4. …we would no longer need to cling to the shame and bitterness which has divided us so long：cling to“坚守，不放弃”，例：cling to one’s possessions舍不得放弃财物。