Unit3SectionAMarriage Across NationsDetailed study of the T ext1.…we had experienced the usual ups and downs of a couple learning to★ups and downs:a mixture of good experiences and bad experiencesLife is full of ups and downs.人生充满了欢乐与痛苦。

He has seen the ups and downs in the relations between the two countries.他目睹了两国关系的起起落落。

2.But through it all we had honestly confronted the weeknesses and strengths of each other’s★weaknesses and strengths:weak points and strong pointsthe weaknesses and strengths of her theroy她的理论的不足和长处It’s important to know your own weaknesses and strengths.了解自己的缺点和优点很重要。

3.Our racial and cultural differences enhanced our relationship and taught us a great deal about★compromise:n.[C讨论,U妥协]an agreement that is achieved after everyone involved accepts less than what they wanted at firstAfter several hours of discussion ,they managed to reach a compromis e.经过了几个小时的讨论，他们达成了妥协。

Both sides are determined to get what they want ,and there seems to be no possibility ofcompromise.双方都决心要得到各自所要求的东西，似乎没有妥协的可能性。

v.reach an agreement by making a compromiseWe finally compromised on a price.我们最终达成妥协，商定了一个价格。

The government has compromised with other party leaders over the data of the next general election.政府与其他党派领导人就下届大选日期达成了妥协。

★open:a.willing to talk honestly;frankLet’s be open with each other.让我们彼此开诚布公吧。

He is a very frank and open person.他是个很坦诚的人。

作为朋友，我们要开诚布公，而不是相互猜疑。

rather than/feel doubtful aboutAs friends ,we should be open with each other rather than feel doubtful about one another.4.Gail sometimes wondered why I and other blacks were so involved with the racial issue…→Here “involved”(interested in) means taking part in something or giving a lot of time ,energy or attention to something.(种族憎恨)★subtle:a.not easy to notice or understandThere are subtle differences in meaning between these two words.这两个词的词义有细微差别。

Prejudice can take subtler forms than this.偏见可能表现得比这更隐晦。

6.Gail and I had no illusions about what the future held for us as a married ,mixed couple in★illusion:n..[C]a false idea ,belief or impressionI have no illusion about his honesty.我对他的诚实不抱幻想。

The sun appears to go round the Earth ,but that is only an illusion.太阳看似绕着地球旋转，然而那只是一种错觉。

对……(不)抱幻想to have/harbor (no) illusions about男孩尽管意识到女孩不喜欢他，但仍对他们的爱情前景抱有幻想。

aware of/one’s dislike for sb/the prospects of one’s loveThe boy ,though aware of the girl’s dislike for him ,harbored illusions about the prospects of their love.对某人/事意味着to hold…for sb./sth.未来对一个人而言意味着什么，这很大程度上取决于他今天所做的努力。

make effort/rest most with sth.What the future holds for one will rest most with what effort one makes today.7.…our mutual trust and respect. (Para.3)★mutual:a.1)felt or done by people toward each othergive mutual support and encouragement相互支持和鼓励Give mutual goodwill /goodwish,it is possible to achieve a settlement.双方如果都有良好的愿望，就有可能达成和解。

2)shared by two or more peoplemutual interests共同的利益They met each other through a mutual friend.他们是通过一位共同的朋友而认识的。

8.…thirty years later that they were incompatible…(Para.4)★compatible:a.1)(of people ,ideas ,differences ,etc.)suitable;able to exist togetherI have never seen two people who were more compatible.我从未见过两个人能如此般配。

2)(of equipment)able to be used togetherI would like to purchase购买 a printer that is compatible with my computer.我想买个能和我的计算机兼容的打印机。

★incompatible:a.not able to live or work with someone or somethingAfter a week together on vocation it was clear that they were incompatible.一起度过了一星期的假期后，很清楚，他们两人无法相处。

Water is incompatible with fire.水火不相容。

他人因为错误原因做了某事，结果过段时间后才发觉，……某人避免重蹈覆辙(Para.4/1stsentence)One avoids the mistake made by the other of doing sth for the wrong reasons ,and only finding out some time later that.发达国家由于错误的原因一味地追求经济增长，结果多年后才发觉得不偿失，中国应设法避免重蹈覆辙。

simply seek economic growth/one’s gain/one’s loss/be smaller than/manage toChina should manage to avoid the mistake made by developed countries of simply seeking economic growth for the wrong reasons ,and only finding out many years later that their gain was smaller than their loss.9.…they overlooked serious personality conflicts in the expectation that marriage was an★overlook:vt.1)fail to see or noticeY ou have overlooked several mistakes in this work.你忽略了这项工作中的几个错误。

The secretary is very careful and never overlooks any little points.秘书是个很细心的人，从不放过任何细小问题。

2)have a view of a place from aboveI rented a room overlooking the Central Park .我租了一间能俯视中央公园的房子。

★work out:1)develop in a certain way;turn outHow the situation will eventually work out only time can tell .情况最后将会是怎样，只有以后才知道。