The Road to Tender Hearts - Chapter 4 & 5 & 6

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1. 导读

一桩骇人听闻的案件彻底打破了Pondville的平静，流言蜚语迅速蔓延，关于这起悲剧和Meeklin一家人深藏的秘密开始浮出水面，各种互相矛盾的猜测充斥其间。与此同时，PJ Halliday，一个饱受内心煎熬的角色，在一次意想不到的与一只猫的相遇后，他的生活轨迹被悄然改变。

2. 生词列表

No. Word PoS Pronunciation 中文含义 文中例句
1 postpartum adj /ˌpoʊstˈpɑːtəm/ 产后的 Still others said it was postpartum depression, even though her kids were nine and ten years old.
2 happy-go-lucky adj /ˈhæpi ɡoʊ ˈlʌki/ 乐天派的，无忧无虑的 Everyone liked Ollie, he was such a nice and friendly kid. Seemed happy-go-lucky.
3 vulture n /ˈvʌltʃər/ 秃鹫 Over the house, there were often three turkey vultures circling.
4 detox n /ˈdiːtɑːks/ 戒毒（过程），排毒（过程） PJ had never had a detox as bad as that one, not even when he had to go to prison for six weeks for the drunk driving, but once the detoxing was over, PJ had a new outlook.
5 vanity n /ˈvænəti/ 虚荣；（旧时汽车牌照的）个性化 Fred had given PJ the keys to his Volvo, his old boxy Volvo station wagon, still in perfect condition, not one chip in the red paint, with the vanity license plate that read Brd Brn.
6 preside v /prɪˈzaɪd/ 主持，管辖 Fred was a judge and had presided over horrible cases involving drinking and driving, and it meant a lot that Fred thought he deserved a second chance.
7 scourge n /ˈskɜːrdʒ/ 祸害，灾祸 One DUI was a mistake; three DUIs made him a scourge on the earth.
8 crouch v /kraʊtʃ/ 蹲伏，蜷缩 He was wiping the tears from his eyes when he spotted Stan Weiderman, out in front of his house, crouched down by his porch.
9 goggle n /ˈɡɑːɡl/ 护目镜 He was holding a spray can of some kind and was wearing gardening gloves and woodworking goggles.
10 spry adj /spraɪ/ 精神矍铄的，活泼的 He hadn’t expected Stan Weiderman to lose it before he did. Stan Weiderman was much younger, and quite spry.
11 tabby n /ˈtæbi/ 虎斑猫 PJ turned around. There was indeed a cat following him. A light-orange tabby.
12 feral adj /ˈferəl/ 野生的，野性的 “If he’s not yours, I should probably call animal control,” Stan said. “He looks feral”.
13 swell v /swel/ 肿胀，膨胀 His hand was swelling; it had been stung earlier.
14 dipshit n /ˈdɪpʃɪt/ 笨蛋，傻瓜（俚语，贬义） Even the cat knew Stan Weiderman was a dipshit.
15 shuffleboard n /ˈʃʌflbɔːrd/ 沙狐球（一种游戏） They probably had air conditioning, a pool, shuffleboard.
16 bounty n /ˈbaʊnti/ 丰富，大量 There was bounty inside; Ivy must have known he would raid her fridge.
17 raid v /reɪd/ 突袭；搜查（尤指冰箱或食物储藏室） There was bounty inside; Ivy must have known he would raid her fridge.
18 bulletin n /ˈbʊlətɪn/ 公告，简报 Alana said no one had called about a lost cat recently, but there was a bulletin board of lost-cat posters outside the shelter.
19 herald v /ˈherəld/ 预示；宣布 “Will do,” PJ said, disappointed he wasn’t immediately heralded as a hero for finding a cat.
20 drill n /drɪl/ 训练，演习；（重复的）程序 Euthanasia, the end of every month. It was part of the drill at the animal shelter.
21 superb adj /suːˈpɜːrb/ 极好的，杰出的 The eggs had been superb.
22 anaphylaxis n /ˌænəfəˈlæksɪs/ 过敏性休克 He was glad he’d followed when this bearded man mentioned breakfast, instead of staying with that man on the ground dying from anaphylaxis.
23 trench n /trentʃ/ 沟，壕沟 Drunk and disoriented, she must have fallen, or simply lay down to sleep in the trench.
24 stutter n /ˈstʌtər/ 口吃，结巴 Or that they weren’t as nice to Kate as they should have been in middle school, back when she had a stutter.
25 softball n /ˈsɔːftbɔːl/ 垒球 Kate had been supposed to go to Florida State on a softball scholarship.
26 tally n /ˈtæli/ 记录，计数 She might have stolen some of his beers to bring to the bonfire after prom, but PJ couldn’t say for sure, he didn’t keep a careful tally of the beers in the fridge.
27 coroner n /ˈkɔːrənər/ 验尸官 During the autopsy, the coroner found that Kate’s tongue was stained red.
28 excruciating adj /ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/ 极痛苦的，难以忍受的 PJ thought, if he ever did get sober, it would be the excruciating pain of being fully awake in a world without Kate that would kill him.
29 withdrawal n /wɪðˈdrɔːəl/ 戒断症状，撤回 But now Ivy had left him for Alaska and he was thirteen days sober, through the worst of his withdrawal, and it hadn’t killed him.
30 strut v /strʌt/ 昂首阔步 Ivy strutted in.
31 pageant n /ˈpædʒənt/ 盛会，选美比赛 Kate had always looked like the kind of kid who should be in beauty pageants, but Ivy wasn’t the kind of mom to put her in them.

3. 生词精解

postpartum /ˌpoʊstˈpɑːtəm/

Adj. 产后的。在英文中的用法：指在分娩之后（通常指女性身体和精神上的状态）。它通常用于描述与产后相关的情况，如“postpartum depression”（产后抑郁症）或“postpartum care”（产后护理）。

文中例句: "Still others said it was postpartum depression, even though her kids were nine and ten years old" [3].

补充例句: "Many mothers experience a range of emotions during the postpartum period."

快速记忆法: 拆分记忆，"post-"表示“之后”，“partum”与“parturition”（分娩）相关，合起来就是“分娩之后”。

happy-go-lucky /ˈhæpi ɡoʊ ˈlʌki/

Adj. 乐天派的，无忧无虑的。在英文中的用法：形容一个人性情开朗，随遇而安，不为小事烦恼，对未来充满乐观。通常带有积极的意味。

文中例句: "Everyone liked Ollie, he was such a nice and friendly kid. Seemed happy-go-lucky" [1].

补充例句: "Despite the challenges, she always maintained a happy-go-lucky attitude."

快速记忆法: 字面意义“快乐地去，幸运地来”，形象地描绘了一个无忧无虑、随遇而安的人。

vulture /ˈvʌltʃər/

N. 秃鹫。在英文中的用法：主要指一种大型的食腐鸟类，以死去的动物为食。在引申义中，也可以指那些贪婪、从他人不幸中获利的人。

文中例句: "Over the house, there were often three turkey vultures circling" [2].

补充例句: "The lawyers circled like vultures around the inheritance case."

快速记忆法: 联想秃鹫在天上盘旋寻找食物的形象，记住它与死亡和贪婪的关联。

detox /ˈdiːtɑːks/

N. 戒毒（过程），排毒（过程）。在英文中的用法：指身体清除毒素的过程，通常特指戒除毒品或酒精的初期过程，伴随着生理上的戒断反应。也可以泛指身体排毒、净化。

文中例句: "PJ had never had a detox as bad as that one, not even when he had to go to prison for six weeks for the drunk driving, but once the detoxing was over, PJ had a new outlook" [4].

补充例句: "After a week of healthy eating, I felt like I was undergoing a mental detox."

快速记忆法: 是“detoxification”的缩写，"de-"表示“去除”，"tox"与“toxic”（有毒的）相关。

vanity /ˈvænəti/

N. 虚荣；（旧时汽车牌照的）个性化。在英文中的用法：1. 虚荣心，自负，过于关注外表或个人成就。2. 特指“vanity plate”（个性化车牌），是为了个人喜好而定制的特殊车牌。

文中例句: "Fred had given PJ the keys to his Volvo, his old boxy Volvo station wagon, still in perfect condition, not one chip in the red paint, with the vanity license plate that read Brd Brn" [5].

补充例句: "Her constant need for compliments stemmed from her deep-seated vanity."

快速记忆法: 与“vain”（虚荣的）相关，记住其核心含义是“虚荣”。对于车牌的用法，联想个性化车牌是为了满足车主的“虚荣心”。

preside /prɪˈzaɪd/

V. 主持，管辖。在英文中的用法：指在会议、法庭、仪式等场合担任主席或负责人，掌控局面并作出决策。通常后接介词“over”。

文中例句: "Fred was a judge and had presided over horrible cases involving drinking and driving, and it meant a lot that Fred thought he deserved a second chance" [6].

补充例句: "The committee chairman will preside over the annual meeting next month."

快速记忆法: 联想“president”（总统/主席），“preside”就是做主席做的事。

scourge /ˈskɜːrdʒ/

N. 祸害，灾祸。在英文中的用法：指造成巨大痛苦、麻烦或破坏的人或事物。也可以作动词，意为“鞭笞，使受苦”。在文中是名词，强调一种灾祸或祸害。

文中例句: "One DUI was a mistake; three DUIs made him a scourge on the earth" [6].

补充例句: "Poverty remains a scourge in many parts of the world."

快速记忆法: 记住它发音接近“死磕着”，联想到“祸害”带来的持续痛苦和麻烦。

crouch /kraʊtʃ/

V. 蹲伏，蜷缩。在英文中的用法：指弯下腰，膝盖弯曲，身体靠近地面的一种姿势，通常是为了隐藏、休息或准备跳跃。

文中例句: "He was wiping the tears from his eyes when he spotted Stan Weiderman, out in front of his house, crouched down by his porch" [7].

补充例句: "The photographer crouched low to get a better angle of the animal."

快速记忆法: 想象一个人为了躲藏而“扣”着身体，“ouch”发出痛声，但这里是蹲下。

goggle /ˈɡɑːɡl/

N. 护目镜。在英文中的用法：通常以复数形式“goggles”出现，指一种能保护眼睛免受水、灰尘、强光或化学物质侵害的眼镜。

文中例句: "He was holding a spray can of some kind and was wearing gardening gloves and woodworking goggles" [7].

补充例句: "Swimmers wear goggles to protect their eyes from chlorine."

快速记忆法: 联想“google”的形状像大大的眼镜，goggles就是护目镜。

spry /spraɪ/

Adj. 精神矍铄的，活泼的。在英文中的用法：形容老年人虽然年事已高，但仍然动作敏捷，充满活力。通常带有赞扬的意味。

文中例句: "He hadn’t expected Stan Weiderman to lose it before he did. Stan Weiderman was much younger, and quite spry" [7].

补充例句: "Despite his eighty years, Grandpa was still very spry and enjoyed his daily walks."

快速记忆法: 谐音“死掰”，即使老了，也能灵活地掰动身体。

tabby /ˈtæbi/

N. 虎斑猫。在英文中的用法：特指身上有条纹或斑点图案的猫，其毛色和花纹类似老虎。

文中例句: "PJ turned around. There was indeed a cat following him. A light-orange tabby" [8].

补充例句: "Our neighbor's tabby cat loves to play in the garden."

快速记忆法: 联想“tap”敲打，斑纹像被敲打出来的图案。

feral /ˈferəl/

Adj. 野生的，野性的。在英文中的用法：指（动物）由家养变野生的，或（植物）由栽培变野生的。强调其野性或未被驯化的状态。

文中例句: "“If he’s not yours, I should probably call animal control,” Stan said. “He looks feral”" [8].

补充例句: "The town had a problem with feral dogs roaming the streets."

快速记忆法: 与“wild”同义，记住“feral cat”是常见的搭配。发音上，听起来有点像“非人”，形容其野性。

swell /swel/

V. 肿胀，膨胀。在英文中的用法：指物体因内部压力增加或吸收水分而变大，或身体部位因受伤或疾病而肿大。

文中例句: "His hand was swelling; it had been stung earlier" [9].

补充例句: "Her ankles began to swell after the long flight."

快速记忆法: 联想“水”加“饿了”，水肿了就会膨胀。

dipshit /ˈdɪpʃɪt/

N. 笨蛋，傻瓜 (俚语，贬义)。在英文中的用法：一种非常粗俗和贬义的俚语，用来指愚蠢、无能或令人恼火的人。在正式场合或对不熟悉的人使用是极不合适的。

文中例句: "Even the cat knew Stan Weiderman was a dipshit" [10].

补充例句: "Don't be such a dipshit; think before you act!"

快速记忆法: 记住其强烈的贬义，发音和拼写都带有不屑的意味。

shuffleboard /ˈʃʌflbɔːrd/

N. 沙狐球（一种游戏）。在英文中的用法：一种游戏，玩家用长杆将圆盘推到画有分数的区域。常见于游轮、老年活动中心或度假村。

文中例句: "They probably had air conditioning, a pool, shuffleboard" [11].

补充例句: "The elderly residents enjoyed a game of shuffleboard in the afternoon sun."

快速记忆法: 记住“shuffle”（拖着脚走/洗牌）和“board”（板），想象在板上“拖动”球的游戏。

bounty /ˈbaʊnti/

N. 丰富，大量。在英文中的用法：指充足的供应，丰富的数量。也可以指政府或组织提供的奖金或奖励（如“赏金猎人”中的“赏金”）。

文中例句: "There was bounty inside; Ivy must have known he would raid her fridge" [12].

补充例句: "The harvest brought a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables."

快速记忆法: 联想“bounce”（弹跳），像食物多到要从冰箱里“弹”出来一样。

raid /reɪd/

V. 突袭；搜查（尤指冰箱或食物储藏室）。在英文中的用法：1. 军事或警方对某地进行突然袭击或搜查。2. 口语中常指突然且迅速地取用或吃光某处的食物，例如“raid the fridge”（突袭冰箱）。

文中例句: "There was bounty inside; Ivy must have known he would raid her fridge" [12].

补充例句: "The police conducted a raid on the illegal gambling den."

快速记忆法: 想象“re”重复“add”，不断增加，像搜刮一样。

bulletin /ˈbʊlətɪn/

N. 公告，简报。在英文中的用法：指简短的新闻报告或官方公告，通常发布在公共布告栏或通过广播、网络传播。

文中例句: "Alana said no one had called about a lost cat recently, but there was a bulletin board of lost-cat posters outside the shelter" [13].

补充例句: "The weather bulletin warned of heavy snowfall overnight."

快速记忆法: 与“bullet”（子弹）形状无关，但联想“布”满“let in”的信息，即公告。

herald /ˈherəld/

V. 预示；宣布。在英文中的用法：作动词时，指预示或宣布某事的到来；作名词时，指预兆或信使。在文中作动词，表示被宣布为英雄。

文中例句: "“Will do,” PJ said, disappointed he wasn’t immediately heralded as a hero for finding a cat" [13].

补充例句: "The robin is often seen as a bird that heralds the arrival of spring."

快速记忆法: 联想“hero”（英雄），英雄的到来总会有某种“预示”。

drill /drɪl/

N. 训练，演习；（重复的）程序。在英文中的用法：1. 军事或紧急情况下的反复练习或演习。2. 指一种惯例性的、重复性的程序或操作。

文中例句: "Euthanasia, the end of every month. It was part of the drill at the animal shelter" [14].

补充例句: "Fire drills are important for safety in schools."

快速记忆法: 联想“钻孔机”（drill），反复钻孔就像反复训练或重复程序。

superb /suːˈpɜːrb/

Adj. 极好的，杰出的。在英文中的用法：形容事物质量极高，非常出色，令人印象深刻。

文中例句: "The eggs had been superb" [15].

补充例句: "The view from the mountain top was absolutely superb."

快速记忆法: 联想“super”+“b”（很棒的B），意思是“超级棒”。

anaphylaxis /ˌænəfəˈlæksɪs/

N. 过敏性休克。在英文中的用法：医学术语，指一种严重的、可能危及生命的过敏反应，通常涉及全身多个系统。

文中例句: "He was glad he’d followed when this bearded man mentioned breakfast, instead of staying with that man on the ground dying from anaphylaxis" [15].

补充例句: "People with severe allergies often carry an EpiPen to counteract anaphylaxis."

快速记忆法: 这是个专业词汇，可以拆分“ana”（反）+“phylaxis”（防护），表示身体出现反常的防御反应。

trench /trentʃ/

N. 沟，壕沟。在英文中的用法：指地面上挖出的长而深的沟，常用于排水、埋设管道或军事防御。

文中例句: "Drunk and disoriented, she must have fallen, or simply lay down to sleep in the trench" [16].

补充例句: "Workers dug a trench to lay the new water pipes."

快速记忆法: 联想“穿”透地面的“沟”。

stutter /ˈstʌtər/

N. 口吃，结巴。在英文中的用法：指说话时因重复音节或声音而出现的流利性障碍，也可以作动词。在文中是名词，指口吃的问题。

文中例句: "Or that they weren’t as nice to Kate as they should have been in middle school, back when she had a stutter" [17].

补充例句: "He used to stutter when he was nervous, but he has largely overcome it."

快速记忆法: 想象说话时“死哒哒”地停顿。

softball /ˈsɔːftbɔːl/

N. 垒球。在英文中的用法：一种与棒球类似但球更大、球速更慢的运动。

文中例句: "Kate had been supposed to go to Florida State on a softball scholarship" [17].

补充例句: "Our company organizes a softball game every summer."

快速记忆法: 记住它是一种球类运动，球比较“soft”（软）。

tally /ˈtæli/

N. 记录，计数。在英文中的用法：指对数量或分数进行的记录或统计。也可以作动词，意为“计数，核对”。

文中例句: "She might have stolen some of his beers to bring to the bonfire after prom, but PJ couldn’t say for sure, he didn’t keep a careful tally of the beers in the fridge" [18].

补充例句: "Keep a tally of how many steps you walk each day."

快速记忆法: 联想“打勾”计数（tick mark）。

coroner /ˈkɔːrənər/

N. 验尸官。在英文中的用法：一位负责调查不明原因或非正常死亡（如暴力、意外或突然死亡）的官员，通常通过验尸来确定死因。

文中例句: "During the autopsy, the coroner found that Kate’s tongue was stained red" [18].

补充例句: "The coroner's report confirmed the cause of death was heart failure."

快速记忆法: 联想“看纳尔”（看那儿），看尸体的官员。

excruciating /ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/

Adj. 极痛苦的，难以忍受的。在英文中的用法：形容疼痛或不适达到极致，令人无法忍受。

文中例句: "PJ thought, if he ever did get sober, it would be the excruciating pain of being fully awake in a world without Kate that would kill him" [19].

补充例句: "The patient was in excruciating pain after the surgery."

快速记忆法: 联想“ex”（超出）+“crucial”（关键的），痛苦超越了关键点，极度痛苦。

withdrawal /wɪðˈdrɔːəl/

N. 戒断症状，撤回。在英文中的用法：1. 指停止使用某种药物或物质后出现的身体和精神反应（戒断症状）。2. 泛指撤回、取消或退出。

文中例句: "But now Ivy had left him for Alaska and he was thirteen days sober, through the worst of his withdrawal, and it hadn’t killed him" [19].

补充例句: "He experienced severe withdrawal symptoms when he tried to quit smoking."

快速记忆法: 与动词“withdraw”（撤回）相关，戒断就是从对某种物质的依赖中“撤回”。

strut /strʌt/

V. 昂首阔步。在英文中的用法：指以一种自负、得意或显示权威的方式大步走路，通常伴随着身体的挺直和摇摆。

文中例句: "Ivy strutted in" [20].

补充例句: "The peacock strutted proudly with its tail feathers fanned out."

快速记忆法: 联想“street”（街）上的“大步流星”地走。

pageant /ˈpædʒənt/

N. 盛会，选美比赛。在英文中的用法：指一场精心策划的公共表演或游行，通常有华丽的服装和场景，以展示历史事件或庆祝某种文化。最常见的是指“beauty pageant”（选美比赛）。

文中例句: "Kate had always looked like the kind of kid who should be in beauty pageants, but Ivy wasn’t the kind of mom to put her in them" [20].

补充例句: "The town holds a historical pageant every summer."

快速记忆法: 联想“舞台”（stage）上“派对”（party），盛大的表演。

4. 语法精解

  1. 文中原句： Still others said it was postpartum depression, even though her kids were nine and ten years old.

    • 结构分析： 这是一个复合句，由一个主句和一个从句构成。
      • 主句： “Still others said it was postpartum depression” (一些人说那是产后抑郁症)。
        • “Still others” (另一些人) 是主语。
        • “said” 是谓语动词。
        • “it was postpartum depression” 是一个宾语从句，作”said”的宾语。
      • 从句： “even though her kids were nine and ten years old” (尽管她的孩子已经九岁和十岁了)。
        • “even though” 是让步状语从句的引导词，表示“尽管，虽然”。
        • “her kids” 是从句主语。
        • “were” 是从句谓语动词。
        • “nine and ten years old” 是表语。
    • 讲解： 这个句子展示了如何使用“even though”引导让步状语从句，表达一种与主句内容相矛盾或出人意料的情况。“even though”比“though”或“although”的语气更强，强调了尽管存在某个事实，但主句的情况依然发生。这里的矛盾在于，产后抑郁通常发生在孩子出生后不久，但埃莱娜的孩子已经九岁和十岁了，这让一些人感到困惑，但仍有人提出这种可能性。

  2. 文中原句： PJ had never had a detox as bad as that one, not even when he had to go to prison for six weeks for the drunk driving, but once the detoxing was over, PJ had a new outlook.

    • 结构分析： 这是一个由多个并列和从属关系构成的复杂句，包含多个子句。
      • 第一部分（主句）： “PJ had never had a detox as bad as that one” (PJ 从未有过那样糟糕的戒毒经历)。
        • “PJ” 是主语。
        • “had never had” 是谓语动词，使用过去完成时表示在过去某个时间点之前从未发生。
        • “a detox as bad as that one” 是宾语，”as bad as that one” 是对”detox”的修饰。
      • 第二部分（补充说明）： “not even when he had to go to prison for six weeks for the drunk driving” (甚至在因为酒驾入狱六周时都没有)。
        • “not even when…” 是对前一部分的补充强调，”when”引导时间状语从句。
        • “he had to go to prison” 是时间状语从句的主谓宾结构。
        • “for six weeks for the drunk driving” 是状语。
      • 第三部分（并列主句）： “but once the detoxing was over, PJ had a new outlook” (但是一旦戒毒结束，PJ 有了新的 H面貌)。
        • “but” 是并列连词，连接前后两个主要的独立子句。
        • “once the detoxing was over” 是时间状语从句，由”once”引导，表示“一旦……就……”。
        • “PJ had a new outlook” 是这个并列子句的主谓宾结构。
    • 讲解： 这个句子通过“as…as…”结构进行比较，说明PJ这次戒毒的痛苦程度超越了以往任何一次，包括他因酒驾入狱的经历。随后，“not even when…”进一步加强了比较的力度，强调了这次痛苦的极致。最后，通过并列连词“but”引入一个转折，说明戒毒完成后的积极变化，并用“once”引导时间状语从句来明确这一转折发生的时间点。整个句子展示了通过不同的状语从句和并列连词来表达复杂的时间顺序、比较和转折关系。

5. 读后感

Chapter 4 to 6 offers a fascinating, albeit dark, glimpse into the seemingly ordinary town of Pondville. The narrative immediately captivates by introducing a shocking crime—a wife poisoning her husband and son—which defies the town’s understanding of “normal” tragedies. This unsettling event sets a mysterious tone, as whispers and contradictory theories about the Meeklin family circulate, raising questions about what truly transpired within their home.

Beyond the initial mystery, the chapters introduce PJ Halliday, a complex character grappling with personal demons, particularly his struggle with alcohol and a profound sense of loss. His reluctance to engage with the outside world, especially after his friends Ivy and Fred leave, paints a picture of isolation and self-punishment. However, PJ’s unexpected encounter with a cat named Pancakes signals a subtle shift towards hope and a desire for a new beginning. The story skillfully weaves together small-town gossip, personal grief, and the quiet yearning for connection, making for an insightful exploration of human nature and the search for redemption.