will continue to shrink and worsen for a long time each year. Note It might be worthwhile to have a review of the word slide used as a noun or a verb: n. [usu. sing.] a situation in which sth. gradually gets worse or sb. develops a problem (情况) 变糟，恶化；（人）出现问题 School administrators were unable to explain the slide in students’ performance. 学校管理人员无法解释学生成绩下降的原因。 v. gradually become worse, or begin to have a problem 逐渐破坏；开始出现问题 Students’ test scores started to slide in the mid-1990s. 20世纪90年代中期，学生的考分开始下降。 ★succession: n. [sing.] a series of people or things of the same type 一连串，一系列（同类型的人或物） After graduation, he took a succession of low-paid jobs. 毕业后他干了一连串报酬低微的工作。 ★in succession: happening one after the other without anything different happening in between 连续发生地；接连发生地 She is an accomplished athlete and won the championship four times in succession. 她是一个成功的运动员，连续四次获得冠军。 8. There already has been a nearly 50 percent decline in the portion of liberal arts majors over the past generation, and it is logical to think that the trend is bound to continue or even accelerate. (Para. 3) Meaning: Based on the factor that there already has been about 50 percent decrease in the numbers of students majoring in liberal arts over the past years, it is reasonable to think that the trend will surely continue or even speed up. ★liberal: a. 1) (～arts) school or college subjects that give students a general education and teach them to think rather than those subjects that develop practical skills 文科 The liberal arts are college or university subjects such as history, languages and literature but not science. 文科是学院或大学的如历史、语言和文学之类的学习课目，而不是理科学科。 2) accepting different opinions and ways of behaving and tending to be sympathetic to other people 心胸宽广的；开明的 She is known to have liberal views on divorce. 人们知道她对离婚持有开明的观点。 ★logical: a. connecting ideas or reasons in a sensible way 合乎逻辑的；合理的 It is logical to think that when people are deprived of their familiar surroundings they will feel disoriented. 脱离熟悉的环境时，人们会感到迷失方向，这样想是符合逻辑的。 ★bound: a. (～to) sth. that is bound to happen will almost certainly happen 一定的；几乎肯定的 The weather is bound to get better tomorrow. 明天的天气肯定更好。 9. Once the dominant pillars of university life, the humanities now play little roles when students take their college tours. These days, labs are more vivid and compelling than libraries. (Para. 3) Meaning: The humanities that once dominated university life now play a trivial role when students have their college visits; nowadays, labs are more eye-catching and fascinating than libraries. ★dominant: a. more important, powerful, or successful than the other people or things of the same type 有优势的；占统治地位的 Unemployment rate will be the dominant issue at the next president election. 失业率将是下次总统选举中的主要话题。 ★pillar: n. [C] 1) a very important part of a system of beliefs or ideas （信仰或思想）非常重要的部分 Equality is one of the pillars of a stable society. 平等是一个稳定社会的支柱之一。 2) a thick strong upright post that supports part of a building 柱子；支柱 Eight massive stone pillars supported the roof. 八根巨大的石柱支撑起房顶。 ★vivid: a. having or producing very clear and detailed images in the mind 清晰的；生动的 He gave a very vivid and often shocking account of his time in prison. 他描述了他在监狱的往事，非常生动，也非常令人震惊。 ★compel: vt. force sb. to do sth. 强迫；迫使 As a school boy, he was compelled to wear shorts even in winter. 当他还是一个在校的小男孩时，即使在冬天他也被迫穿短裤。 ★compelling: a. interesting or exciting enough to keep your attention completely 有强烈吸引力的；引人入胜的 Steve Job’s life makes a compelling story. 史蒂夫·乔布斯的一生是一个引人入胜的故事。 10. Here, please allow me to stand up for and promote the true value that the humanities add to people’s lives. (Para. 4) Meaning: I here ask for your permission to let me defend and advertise the true value that the humanities bring to people’s lives. ★stand up for: support or defend a person or an idea when they are being attacked 支持；保卫；维护 Mary stood up for me at the meeting, sparing me some embarrassment. 玛丽在会议上支持了我，使我免受了一些尴尬。 ★promote: vt. support or encourage sth. 支持；鼓励；提倡 To acknowledge other cultures will promote good will among people of different backgrounds. 承认别人的文化会促进不同背景的人之间的友好亲善。 11. Since ancient times, people have speculated about the mystery of those inner forces that drive some people to greatness and others to self-destruction. (Para. 4) Meaning: Ever since ancient times, people have thought carefully and seriously why the mysterious forces coming from their inner world could be so powerful that it could make some people great while others morally deteriorate. ★speculated about / on: make guesses about the possible causes or effects of sth. without knowing all the facts or details 猜测；推测 It’s too early to speculate about the outcome of the negotiations between the workers union and the company’s leadership. 要推测工会和公司管理层之间的谈判结果，还为时过早。 ★mystery: n. [C, usu. sing.] sth. that you are not able to understand, explain, or get information about 不可思议的事物；无法解释的事物；谜 No one had ever been able to explain the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. 从来没有人能够解释百慕大三角之谜。 ★destruction: n. [U] damage that is so severe that sth. stops existing or can never return to its normal state 毁灭；摧毁；破坏 The destruction caused by too many cars and the death of millions of people shook the foundation of Western idealism. 太多的战争所造成的破坏和数以百万计人的死亡动摇了西方理想主义的基础。 12. This inner drive has been called many things over the centuries. (Para. 4) Meaning: Over the past centuries, many different names have been used to describe this inner force of human beings. 13. The famous psychologist, Sigmund Freud, called it the ―unconscious mind‖ or, more familiarly, ―instinct‖. (Para. 4) Meaning: Sigmund Freud, a famous psychologist, named it the unintentional mind or, more familiar to us, natural ability to know something. ★unconscious: a. relating to or coming from the part of your mind in which there are thoughts and feelings that you do not realize you have 潜意识的；下意识的；无意识的 I don’t know if he noticed my unconscious desire. 我不知他是否注意到我潜意识的愿望。 14. From the beginning of time, this inner aspect of our being, this drive that can be constructive or destructive, has captured our imagination. (Para. 5) Meaning: Since ancient times, it is this very inner force of our being, either constructive or destructive, that has stimulated our imagination. ★destructive: a. causing severe damage or harm 破坏性的；毁灭性的 Lack of trust is very destructive in a relationship. 缺乏信任在人际关系中是很具有破坏性的。 15. The stories of this amazing struggle have formed the basis of cultures the world over. (Para. 5) Meaning: It is these stories about this fascinating inner struggle of human beings that have laid the foundation of the world cultures. 16. Historians、architects、authors、 philosophers and artists have captured the words, images and meanings of this inner struggle in the form of story、music、painting、architecture、sculpture、 landscape and traditions. (Para. 5) Meaning: Our historians、architects、authors、 philosophers and artists have successfully caught the words, images and meanings of this mysterious inner force by way of story、music、painting、architecture、sculpture、 landscape and traditions. ★architect: n. [C] sb. whose job is to design buildings 建筑师 He is the architect of this building, and he’s always on the construction site. 他是这个大楼的建筑师，他总出现在施工现场。 ★philosopher: n. [C] sb. who studies and tries to explain the meaning of things such as life, knowledge, or beliefs 哲学家；哲人 Plato was a Greek philosopher. 柏拉图是希腊哲学家。 ★in the form of: in the way sth. is or appears to be 以?形式；以?方式 They received a benefit in the form of a tax reduction. 他们通过减税的方式获益。 ★landscape: n. [C] 1) a photograph or a painting showing an area of countryside or land 风景照；风景画 2) an area of land that is beautiful to look at or has a particular type of appearance （陆上的）风景，景致，景色 The landscape is dotted with the tents of campers. 露营者的帐篷点缀了风景。 17. These men and women developed artistic ―languages‖ that help us understand these aspiration and also educate generations. (Para. 5) Meaning: The artistic works and masterpieces created by these men and women help us understand the strong desires and beautiful dreams of human beings and also help educate future generations. 18. This fertile body of work from ancient times, the very foundation of civilization, forms the basis of study of the humanities. (Para. 5) Meaning: The large amount of work filled with rich ideas and imagination from ancient times — the fundamental components of civilization — provides the basis of the study of the humanities. ★fertile: a. 1) able to produce good ideas or results 富有成果的；富有想象力的 A poet must have a fertile imagination. 诗人必须有丰富的想象力。 2) able to produce good crops or plants (土地) 肥沃的，富饶的 Fertile soil helps Canada rank among the world’s leading wheat producers. 肥沃的土壤帮助加拿大跻身世界主要小麦生产国。 a / the body of sth.: a large amount or mass of sth., esp. sth. that has been collected 大量的某物 Acquiring a language is learning a skill, not collecting a body of information. 学语言是学习技能，而不是获取大量的信息。 19. Studying the humanities improves our ability to read and write. No matter what we do in life, we will have a huge advantage if we can read complex ideas and understand their meaning. We will have a bright career if we are the person in the office who can write a clear and elegant analysis of these ideas! (Para. 6) Meaning: Studying the humanities helps us improve our reading and writing ability. In whatever situation, it is a great advantage if we understand complex ideas through reading. To illustrate, if we are the person in the office who can write and analyze those complex ideas in a logical, clear, intelligent yet simple manner, we will have a promising career. ★elegant: a. 1) very intelligent yet simple （想法或计划）巧妙的，简洁的 The document impressed me with its elegant simplicity. 该文件给我留下了精辟简明的深刻印象。 2) beautiful, attractive and graceful 优美的；高雅的 Patricia looked beautiful and elegant as always. 帕特里夏看上去总是那么美丽优雅。 ★analysis: n. [C, U] a process of studying or examining sth. in detail in order to understand it or explain it 分析 I’m interested in Clare’s analysis of the situation in China. 我对克莱尔对中国形势的分析很感兴趣。 20. Studying the humanities makes us familiar with the language of emotion and the creative process. (Para. 7) Meaning: We get more familiar with the expressions of emotion and the process of creation by studying the humanities. 21. In an information economy, many people have the ability to produce a useful product such as a new MP3 player. (Para. 7) Meaning: In an economy driven by information, many people are capable of producing a useful commodity like a new MP3 player. 22. Yet, very few people have the ability to create a spectacular brand: the Ipod. (Para. 7) Meaning: But very few people have the ability to create an extremely impressive product name such as the Ipod. (Para. 7) ★spectacular: a. extremely impressive 引人入胜的；非常壮观的 There was a spectacular sunset last night. 昨晚的日落极其壮观。 ★brand: n. [C] a product or group of products that has its own name and is made by one particular company 品牌；商标 The Beatles are probably one of the most spectacular brands of musicians in the world. 披头士可能是全世界音乐界里最吸引人的品牌之一了。 23. Most importantly, studying the humanities invests us with great insight and self-awareness, thereby releasing our creative energy and talent in a positive and constructive manner. (Para. 7) Meaning: The most important advantage for us to study the humanities is that it enables us to become more analytical and self-aware; therefore, our creativeness and talent are brought out in a positive and constructive way. ★invest: v. use your money with the aim of making a profit from it 投资 He invested all our profits in gold shares. 他把我们所有的利润都投资进了黄金股。 ★invest sb. / sth. with sth.: (fml.) give sb. or sth. a particular quality 赋予（某人或某物）以（某种性质）