11. This is one of the oldest expedient , ……=expedient : a temporary means to an end 权宜之计
如:resort to an expedient 采取权宜之计
12. In one way or another , its practitioners batten on the society which ……
a. (in) one way or another : 以这样或那样的方式;在某方面。
如:The project must be completed by the end of this month (in) one way or another .
不管用什么方式,这个项目必须在这个月底结束。
b. batten on : thrive , or prosper , or live in luxury (on) (esp. at the expoense of others)
(靠他人牺牲而) 兴旺,过奢侈的生活,(损人)肥饱私囊
13. Some of us find this distasteful -an undignified kind of life .
distasteful : disagreeable ; unpleasant 讨厌的,令人不愉快的。
如:Jazz is distasteful to me . 我讨厌爵士乐。(爵士乐不合我的口味)
14. But for the poor in spirit , with low levels of both energy and pride , it may be the least intolerable choice available .
avaible : ready for use ; readily obtainable
a. (立即)可利用的;可得到的。
如:employ all means available 采用一切可能的方法。
The dress is available in all sizes . 这种款式的服装大小尺寸都有。
b. (人)有空的。
如:I‘ll be available tomorrow morning . 我明天早上有空。
15. This strategy has ancient antecedents .
antecedent : preceding thing or circumstance , esp. (pl.)past history of a person 前事,前情;
(复数)身世,经历,人的过去历史。
如; a woman of shady antecedent 一个来历可疑的女人
16. …… that is , the city , with all its ugliness and tension .
tension : mental strain 紧张。
如:under extreme tension 处于极度紧张/(复数-s)紧张(状态)。
如:the tension between labor and mangement 劳资间关系的紧张
17. The trouble with the solution is that it no longer is on a large scale .
on a large scale : 大规模。
另如:on a tremendous scale 极大的规模。
The project was undertaken on a grand scale . 这个项目规模很大。
The reform is carried out on an enormous scale . 改革的幅度极大。
18. Out planet , unfortunately , is running out of noble savages and unsullied landscapes.
run out of : become short of , become exhausted 用完。
如; We ran out of petrol the other day . 那一天我们汽油用光了。
We are running out of time . 我们已经没有时间了。
19. Plot a Revolution
plot : plan secretly 密谋。
如:They plotted how to kill him . 他们密谋如何杀死他。
The criminals were plotting to rob the bank. 犯罪密谋抢银行。
20. …… those who have no patience with the tedious workings of the democratic process and who believe that the institytion can only be changed by force .
a. tedious : long and tiresome 冗长乏味的。
如:a tedious lecture 冗长的演讲;tedious work 乏味的工作
b. working(s) : action , operation 工作,运作。
如:the workings of the mind , the workings of the nature 自然的运作