Language Point 1 Mary Engelbreit was a talented but struggling artist in her mid-twenties when she flew to New York from her native Saint Louis, hoping to find work illustrating childrens books her lifes goal. (Para. 1) Meaning: When she flew to New York from her native land Saint Louis, Mary Engelbreit was a talented young artist who tried hard to succeed. Her hope at that time was to find work making pictures for childrens books. That was also her lifes goal. Language Point 2 when she flew to New York from her native Saint Louis, (Para. 1) saint: n. a very good or holy person who is given special respect after death by the Christian churchMy girlfriend must be a bit of a saint to put up with me. 我的女朋友必须像个圣人才能忍受我。Please note that when it is used as a title, saint is written with a capital letter, e.g Saint John. In the names of places, churches, etc., the short form St. is usually used, e.g. St. Andrews Church. Language Point 3 when all the book publishers she visited turned her down. (Para. 1) Meaning: when all the book publishers she had been to refused to employ her. Language Point 4 when all the book publishers she visited turned her down. (Para. 1) turn sb./sth. down: refuse to accept sb./sth.Why was I turned down for the job? 为什么不接受我做这项工作？Im afraid your request for a pay rise was turned down again. 恐怕你要求加工资的请求又被拒绝了。 Language Point 5 One even suggested her drawings might be better suited to greeting cards. (Para. 1) Meaning: One of the publishers even told her that her pictures were more suitable for greeting cards. Language Point 6 One even suggested her drawings might be better suited to greeting cards. (Para. 1) be suited to: be suitable for sb./ sth.Do you think David is suited to teaching? 你认为大卫适合教书吗？Jim and Mary seem suited to each other, in spite of their quarrels. 吉姆和玛丽似乎是天生的一对，尽管他们会吵架。Some people are simply not suited to the competitive world. 有些人就是不适合这个竞争的世界。 Language Point 7 I was crushed,Engelbreit admits. (Para. 2) Meaning: “I was badly upset,” Engelbreit admits. (or My heart was broken, Engelbreit admits.) Language Point 8 I was crushed, Engelbreit admits. (Para. 2) crush: vt. 1) press sth. very hard so that it is broken Dont pack the cakes at the bottom of the box or theyll get crushed. 不要把糕饼放在盒底，否则会压碎的。Their car was crushed by a truck. 他们的车被一辆卡车压坏了。2) upset or shock sb. badlyHe has almost been crushed by failures. 他几乎被失败击垮了。His hopes were crushed by the chairmans remarks. 主席的一席话使他的希望破灭了。3) defeat sb. or sth. completelyThey were determined to crush the enemies of their country. 他们决心击败与祖国为敌的人。The rebellion was crushed by the government forces. 政府军队已把叛乱镇压下去。 Language Point 9 Greeting cards seemed a come-down from her high expectations, but the advice stayed with her, and she decided to give it a try. (Para. 2) Meaning: She didnt expect to draw greeting cards at all for she had aimed very high, but in spite of the disappointment, she took the advice and decided to have a try at greeting cards. Language Point 10 Greeting cards seemed a come-down from her high expectations, (Para. 2) come-down: n. (also comedown) loss of importance or social position; a fall or reductionShe used to have servants: now she finds it a come-down to have to do the work herself. 她过去雇有佣人，现在她得自己干活，觉得很委屈。 Language Point 11 The results transformed her life forever. (Para. 2) Meaning: As a result, she achieved such great success in greeting cards that it changed her life forever. (or The results of her trying were so wonderful that they changed her life forever.) Language Point 12 Today Mary Engelbreit sells an astonishing 14 million greeting cards a year. (Para. 3) Meaning: Today Mary Engelbreit sells 14 million greeting cards a year, which is a surprising figure. Language Point 13 Today Mary Engelbreit sells an astonishing 14 million greeting cards a year. (Para. 3) astonish: vt. surprise sb. greatly Her dedication constantly astonishes me. 她的尽心尽力往往令我吃惊。She astonished everybody by announcing her engagement. 她宣布自己订婚了，让大家非常吃惊。They were astonished to find the driver was a six-year-old boy. 他们吃惊地发现，司机竟然是个六岁的男孩。astonishing: a. surprisingastonishing news 令人惊奇的消息an astonishing display of physical strength 令人惊奇的体力展示Its astonishing; hes learned Latin in three months! 真是令人吃惊，他竟然只用三个月就学会了拉丁语。 Language Point 14 including books, calendars, and kitchen items. (Para. 3) kitchen items: things used in the kitchen Language Point 15 She runs a retail company with shops in nine cities (16 more are planned), and her products are carried by 25,000 retailers. (Para. 3) Meaning: She runs a company that sells goods to the public. The company has its shops in nine cities (and is planning to have another 16 shops). Language Point 16 She runs a retail company with shops in nine cities. (Para. 3) retail: n. the activity of selling goods to the public, usu. in small quantitiesthe recommended retail price 建议零售价Retail sales grew just 3.8