Words & Expressions

Shensi is the craddle of Chinese civilization.

... the craddle of...   ......的发源地

eg. China is the craddle of Mahjong. 

Several thousand people had come from all over the countryside and there was a great hubbub.

hubbub

n  [singular, U 单数 ]1.a mixture of loud noises, especially the noise of a lot of people talking at the same time 〔人群的〕喧闹声，嘈杂声

I woke up by the hubbub from the market. 市场的嘈杂声 

2.a situation in which there is a lot of activity, excitement, or argument 熙攘；喧闹；混乱

同义词commotion

eg. They heard a commotion downstairs. 

Everyone looked to see what was causing the commotion . 

With his mind darting about in all direcions, absorbed in new interets and ...

dart

v.  [I always + adv/prep] to move suddenly and quickly in a particular direction 猛冲，飞跑

eg. Jill darted forward and pulled him away from the fire. 

dart of guilt / panic / pain etc  a very sudden, sharp feeling 突然的一阵内疚/惊慌/疼痛等

eg.It sent a dart of terror through her. 那使她感到一阵恐惧。

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Excerpts

量词的巧妙用途

But a huge sheet of dark clouds had overcast and darkened the sky. 

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On his way, he saw a column of cloud coming very low over the ground and spreading in his direction.

As they reached the suburb there was a sudden gush of cold wind.

There was a rumble of distant thunder. 

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Main Ideas

在本章节里，林语堂先生以 Gods, Devils an Men 为题，从神、鬼、人三个角度来讲述苏东坡初任大理评事，签书凤翔判官的仕途生活以及亡妻以及老父亲的离世。

在苏东坡担任判官期间，他的主要的职责

林语堂老先生在写到苏东坡妻子过世时提到了他的一首诗，在高中时，在校朗读此诗时，那时懵懂的我们不懂老师为何潸然泪下。

十年生死两茫茫，不思量，自难忘。千里孤坟，无处话凄凉。纵使相逢应不识，尘满面，鬓如霜。

夜来幽梦忽还乡，小轩窗，正梳妆。相顾无言，惟有泪千行。料得年年肠断处，明月夜，短松冈。