新标准综合 3 Unit 1 Active reading 1-2

新标准大学英语（第二版）综合 3

Unit 1 Discovering yourself

1-2 Active reading 2

$\int \int NoteBook$

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bearer n. [C]

(~ of) someone who brings you a particular type of news or information
带信者；捎信人

eg. I hate to be the bearer of bad news.

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substantiate vt.

to provide evidence that proves something
用证据证明；证实

eg. They were unable to substantiate their claims of recent sea-level fall.

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We are all going to be either coffin dwellers or trampled ash
in the rose garden of some local cemetery. (Para 1)

$Note:$

• 【幽默说法】 coffin dwellers -> dead people
• 【幽默说法】 trampled ash -> scattered ashes of a cremated(火葬的) person.

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After all, we never quite know when the hooded, scythe-carrying,
bringer-of-the-last-breath might come a-calling. (Para 1)

$Note:$

戴着兜帽(hooded)、手持镰刀(scythe)、带来最后一口气的人指的是冷酷的收割者(Grim Reaper)，这是西方对死亡的一种拟人化，可以追溯到中世纪。收割者被拟人化为一个身材魁梧的骷髅，穿着黑色连帽斗篷，手持镰刀。收割者带来死亡，或者带来你的最后一口气(last-breath)。

• when the Reaper comes -> when death comes to you
• might come a-calling = might call -> visit (前缀 a- 是过时的，幽默感++)

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… and nothing underlines the uncertainty and absolute frailty of
humanity like the untimely exit of a friend. (Para 1)

$Note:$

• untimely: happening at a time that is not suitable. -> too soon or即
  occurs when a person is young.
• exit: -> exit from this world, ie death.

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sideline n. [C]

1. (the ~s) a situation in which you watch something that is happening but are not involved in it or cannot influence it
   旁观

   eg. sit on the sidelines / watch death from the