【正文】 ter — more secure about my relationship with technology. But frankly, I’m not forted by manuals and howto courses. Of course there are always ―experts‖ I could go to who seem to know everything about anything. Relatives, friends, salespeople—people who seem at ease with all the latest inventions and who delight in ingenuity. Language Points Language Points 6 I just don’t get excited over the idea of yet another thing I could do if I pulled the right lever or set the right program. Nervous and unsure in the beginning, I eventually adapt to these socalled conveniences and accept them as a part of life, but I’m not entirely convinced of their merit. I hunger for simplicity and I have a sneaking suspicion that many people feel the same way. That’s why they admire my bike. It forts them and gives them a sense of something manageable, not too plicated. Language Points 7 I’m not suggesting that we all go back to a pioneervillage attitude. But I do think it’s important to respect that which is simple and manageable—no doubt difficult in a time when more means better and new means best. I’m proud that my ―piece of junk‖ makes me and others feel good. It allows me the opportunity to relax and, when I’m heading down the road, to escape what I don’t understand. refers to it as — speak about sb./sth. as ...。 call sb. Something . ? He always refers to his wife as “the old woman”. ? This kind of art is often referred to as “minimal art” （ 極簡抽象藝術(shù) ） . the likes of which — sth./sb. of the same kind . ? He was a very great actor — we won’t see the likes of him again. ? You don’t know what loss of employment means to the likes of me. garage sales — 宅 前出售 (在出售人住所進行的清宅舊貨出售 ) A garage sale in American English is a private sale of used furniture, household appliances, personal articles, clothing, tools, and other items, held in the garage or other part of a seller’s home. Things that you get at garage sales are usually very cheap and of no great value. I cherish its simplicity. — I appreciate its simplicity. Cherish is, however, different from appreciate in that it implies a special love and care, while appreciate often connotes understanding and admiration. . ? She cherishes her children above all. ? We all appreciate beautiful things. intrigues — vt. excite interest or curiosity 激起 … 的興趣 . ? Anything colorful intrigued the little boy. ? Throughout history, people have been intrigued by the question of whether there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. nowhere — ad. not anywhere。 將某人逼入困境 . ? The police pursued and cornered the escaped prisoner. ? He once cornered me (= talked to me alone and made it difficult for me to get away from him) at a party and bored me to death about his difficult childhood. locking it up — fasten sth. with a lock 鎖住 . ? Although the jewels were locked up in a strongbox (保 險箱 ), the thieves stole them without any difficulty. ? It’s cruel to keep the dog locked up all day. Compare lure and temptation: Lure suggests something that always attracts and often deceives yet does not necessarily leads one into evil or danger, while temptation often suggests the desire to do or have, through pleasure or gain, something one knows one should not do or have. lure — n. attraction。 truly . ? I’m genuinely sorry for what I said. ? These will be the first genuinely free elections in the country. fuss with — concern oneself with sth. unimportant （ 因小事而 ） 惴惴不安 . ? It irritates me the way she’s always fussing with her hair! gears — n. set of wheels with teeth around the edges used to control the speed of a machine or vehicle,齒輪；排檔 . ? A piece of gum fell onto the gears, bringing the machine to a halt. ? While driving up the hill, Anne shifted to a lower gear. touch a sensitive chord — call up someone’s feelings。 emphasize sth./doing sth. in one’s thinking。 認為 (做 )某事是最首要的 . ? You should be thinking in terms of paying off your debts. ? He is thinking in terms of leaving. cushion — n. a soft pillow or pad to rest on。 protect from hardship or sudden change . ? My rocking chair has a soft cushion. ? The three goals we scored in the first half give us a useful cushion against defeat. coast along — move along or make progress without much effort . ? coast along on a bicycle (= ride along without pedaling) ? While I struggled and labored, my sister just coasted along with top grades in all subjects. deliciously — ad. very pleasantly 美美地；怡人地 . ? As she dived into the pool, the water felt deliciously cool on her skin. taking (one’s) time — use as much time as is needed。 refuse to accept as true 2. refuse to give or allow . ? Talking to him makes me feel small. ? He is always trying to make me look small in front of my girlfriend. feel small — feel ridiculous, ashamed or humiliated (Also: look small) feel inadequate — feel lack of abilities or confidence . ? He makes me feel totally inadequate. ? I always feel inadequate when faced by a difficult problem. goes wrong — turn out badly。 出錯 . ? If that washing machine goes wrong again, I shall plain to the makers. ? These shelves are very easy to put together — you can’t go wrong. appliance — n. a machine for use in the home 器具；裝置 An appliance is a tool or machine designed for a particular use, especially one that utilizes an electric current. . ? Refrigerators, vacuum ( 真空 ) cleaners, washing machines are household appliances. ? The kitchen is full of electrical appliances. at ease with — feel confident and fortable wi