The Gay Genius-- Chapter 2 读书笔记

2017.12.5

Part 1 Thoughts

本章介绍了苏的出生地--眉山。

眉山的地理位置，苏家和程家（苏轼母亲系）的家庭情况，也说到了苏轼的出生。还重点提到苏轼的爷爷，乐观，不识字，但有深藏不入的才华，而且乐于助人。苏轼除了酒量，其他都有老爷子的基因。

为了让外国人也看懂这本书，林语堂也特别介绍了很多中国的传统，如中国的年龄算法（我们称“虚岁”），写文章需避讳长辈的名字等。

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Part 2 New Words

1. murky 

原文：The river received its name from its color, for it was a deep crystal blue in winter , while in summer the torrents coming down from the mountains turned it into a murky yellow.

同义词： dark ,grey ,gloomy

造：Everything is always changing, and often situations and choices are unclear, uncertain, even murky.

2. a grove of  一片（树林）

原文：In the little family garden there was a great variety of flower and fruit trees,while outside the wall stood a grove of hundreds of bamboo trees.

造： a grove of skycraper 种满参天大树

a grove of bamboo  一片竹林

3. grant

原文：He had always wanted a boy , and now his wish was granted.

译：granted在文中意思是“得到满足”。它还有“允许，答应，赐予，承认”的意思。

常用的词组take it for granted意思为“当然；把…当成理所当然”

造：The government had granted them permission to leave the country.

granting this to be true 承认这是事实