PART 1 Central Question

How was Su Tungpo's life outside China?

Su's life outside China was, in short, poor in material but rich in spirit. The damp weather and the lack of food did not upset the poet. Su was entertained and looked after by the magistrate as well as the local people. He also enjoyed the company of his son Kuo. Now that his time was idle, Su contracted his habit of picking and distinguishing medicinal herbs. Among other accomplishments he made in that period may be mentioned his book of journals and the collection of poems which echoed the poems of Tao Chien. Su enjoyed his life to the full with his indomitable spirit and his philosophy of life. 

PART 2 Sentences

1. There was no telling how long his exile was going to be, and the chances were against his returning to China alive.

the chances are against sth 某事可能性小 = there's no little chance that...

类似表达: the odds are stacked against sb; the chances are slim to none； have a ghost of chance to do sth

有可能： Chances are (that) ... eg. Chances are you'll be fine.

2. Kuo was everything that a father could expect.

仿写：Bangkok has everything one could expect for a holiday.

3. Among the various notes on medicine may be mentioned one he wrote on the cure of rheumatism by the use of nettle, which contains urticin and lutein. 倒装句可以使文章增色不少。

PART 2 Expressions

1. Su Tungpo was there exiled beyond the pale of the Chinese civilized world.

pale: 比较熟悉的是它的adj.苍白的； pale在动词有“用栅栏围”的意思；n.表示“界限，范围”

beyond the pale: outside the scope of sth; offensive or unacceptable

His opinions are entirely beyond the pale.

2. During conversations he usually took the floor; he simply loved to talk.

the floor: 1. 听众席； 2. 听众；与会者

Are there any questions from the floor?

take the floor: to begin speaking, especially at an important public meeting

The chairman then took the floor.

have the floor: to be speaking or have the right to speak, especially at an important public meeting

He stepped aside to allow other speakers to have the floor.

3. The house was christened Kuanglangan, or the "Palm Lodge."

christen: (v.) 本意是洗礼时给孩子命名；引申为 to give sth or sb a name

His fans christened him the king of rock.

The new plane has been christened the Hawk.

christen在非正式场合还可以表示 to use sth for the first time

We haven't christened the new garden chairs yet.

4. When one finds oneself in such straits, anything may happen. You just expect it to happen and laugh over it."

strait: (n.)海峡 a narrow passage of water between two areas of land

be in (dire) straits: to be in a very difficult situation, especially a financial one

The film is no in dire financial straits.

After the war, the country's economy was in dire straits.

5. The summer months in the tropical island were very trying on account o£ the dampness.

trying: annoying or difficult in a way that makes you feel worried, tired etc

The beginning of the show is often a trying time because of latecomers.

They do the best they can in trying circumstances.

6. Besides such occupations, with the help of his son, he collected his miscellaneous notes, which became known as Chihlin, or his book of journals.

miscellaneous: [ˌmɪsəˈleɪniəs] a miscellaneous set of things or people includes many different things or people that do not seem to be connected with each other 混杂的；各种各样的

a miscellaneous assortment of books

They receive a grant of $1,094 to cover the cost of miscellaneous expenses.

国外的法学论文的文献综述里除去treaties, conventions, books, journals, law reviews剩余的一般都归在最后的miscellaneous里，大多是一些网站、论坛等上的资料。

miscellany: (n.) [mɪˈseləni] a group of different things

He earned his living from a miscellany of jobs.

Hainan Island