PART 1 Expressions
1. That right piece was completely gone and the left one was mangled.
mangle: 1. to damage or injure sth badly by crushing or twisting it
The trap closed around her leg, badly mangling her ankle.
2. to spoil sth such as a speech piece of music, by saying or playing it badly
The orchestra had mangled Bach's music.
2. I know in school things got a little hairy with Julian at times.
hairy: informal, dangerous or frightening, often in a way that is exciting
a few hairy moments
It was pretty hairy climbing down the cliff.
3. "I've been meaning to ask you since I this up ..., " he said, looking at it. "Why did you choose to represent yourself as a duck?"
mean有intend的意思, mean to do sth: intend to do sth
I've been meaning to ask you if you want to come for a meal next week.
I didn't mean to upset you.
I never meant you to find out. (mean sb/ sth to do sth)
I'm sure he didn't mean any harm/ offence/ disrespect.
He may sound a bit rude at times, but he means well.
4. "Auggie, I couldn't stand seeing that thing cover your face anymore," he said clumsily.
clumsy: 除了指动上的笨拙外还可以指语言行动上拙劣 a clumsy action or statement is said or done carelessly or badly, and likely to upset sb
David made a clumsy attempt to comfort us.
5. I was bummed beyond belief when it got lost -- don't you remember?
bummed: (a.) 失望的；沮丧的
beyond belief: used to emphasize that sth is so extreme that it is difficult to believe
What she did was stupid beyond belief.
6. "..." said Mr. Tushman, standing behind the podium on the stage as he talked into the microphone.
podium: 讲台
7. I know I'm kind of infamous for my ... um... verbosity.
infamous: [ˈɪnfəməs] well known for being bad or evil SYN notorious (注意发音！)
The area is infamous for drugs and prostitution.
infamy：[ˈɪnfəmi] 1. notoriety 2. 恶行
Property developers earned their infamy in the years when the country felt like a huge building site.
He enjoyed exaggerating his infamy.
8. "..." he added quickly, smiling, which got a lot of laughs and loads of applause.
a load of sth/ loads of sth: informal, a lot of sth (后接的既可以是可数也可以是不可数名词)
We got a load of complaints about the loud music.
Don't worry, there's loads of time.
There's loads to see in Paris.
sb is loaded: sb is rich
Giles can afford it -- he's loaded.
be loaded with sth: full of a particular quality, or containing a lot of sth
snacks loaded with fat
She is highly motivated, energetic, articulate, and loaded with charisma.
9. I kind of zoned out a little during some of the other speeches.
zone out: (v.) to stop paying attention, for example because you are bored or tired 开小差；神游
He tends to zone out when I talk to him about my job.
(OPP) in the zone: informal, having all your attention on what you are dong, especially playing a sport and doing it well
When I'm in the zone, every shot seems easy.
10. Without further ado, this year I am very proud to award the Henry Ward Beecher medal to the student whose quiet strength has carried up the most hearts.
without more/ further ado: [əˈdu:] without delaying or wasting any time
So without further ado, I'll now ask Mr Davis to open the debate.
11. I think I was smiling. Maybe I was beaming, I don't know.
beam: 在这里的意思是开心地笑 to smile very happily
Connie beamed with pleasure.
McLeish beamed at her.
PART 2 Sentences
1. But the best way to measure how much you've grown isn't by inches or the number of laps you can now run around the track, or even your grade point average -- though those things are important, to be sure. It's what you've done with your time, how you've chosen to spend your days, and whom you have touched this year. That, to me, is the greatest measure of success.
2. Shall we make a new rule of life ... always to try to be a little kind than is necessary?
Kinder than is necessary. Because it's not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed. Why I love that line, that concept, is that it reminds me that we carry with us, as human beings, not just the capacity to be kind, but the very choice of kindness.