重點講解：
1. get the short end of the stick
固定表達，表示“吃虧；受到不公平的待遇”；
eg. I don't like getting the short end of the stick.
我可不愿意受到不公平的待遇。
eg. When the mayor cut our budget almost in half, I felt like we were getting the short end of the stick.
市長削減了我們將近一半的預算，我覺得我們吃虧了。
2. get to do sth.
（最終或逐漸）到達（某階段）；得以做；有機會做某事；
eg. He's just a pussycat really, once you get to know him.
你了解他以后就會發現他實在和藹可親。
eg. I couldn't get to sleep last night; I was too excited.
我昨晚無法入睡，我太興奮了。
eg. You'll get to like your work.
你慢慢會喜歡你的工作的。
3. search for sth.
搜尋；搜索；搜查；尋求；
eg. The Turkish security forces have started searching for the missing men.
土耳其安全部隊已經開始搜尋失蹤人員。
eg. They searched for a spot where they could sit on the floor.
他們在地板上尋找一處能夠坐下的地方。
eg. Nonetheless there are signs that both sides may be searching for a compromise.
然而，有跡象表明雙方可能都在尋求和解。
4. There is no question that...
毫無疑問；
eg. There is no question that he will help us.
毫無疑問，他肯定會幫我們的。
eg. There is no question that we will finish the work with in two days.
我們有把握在兩天內完成這項工作。
5. dare to do sth.
敢；有足夠的膽量做某事；
eg. Since he was stuck in a lift a year ago he hasn't dared to get back into one.
自從一年前被困在電梯里之后，他就再也沒敢乘過電梯。
eg. Most people hate Harry but they don't dare to say so.
大多數人都對哈里敢怒不敢言。
eg. He has also dared to take unpopular, but principled stands at times.
他有時也會大膽堅持不受歡迎、但卻有原則性的立場。

背景資料：
第26屆MTV音樂錄影帶大獎（VMA）的開場永遠是最值得人回味的時刻，而邀請VMA的獲獎常客麥當娜為開場致辭絕對不會令觀眾失望。麥當娜以一身黑色拉鏈夾克搭配黑色裙子的裝扮走上沒有燈光的舞臺，做了感人肺腑的發言——向已故流行音樂之王邁克爾·杰克遜致敬。

名人經典：
That consciousness is everything and that all things begin with a thought. That we are responsible for our own fate, we reap what we sow, we get what we give, we pull in what we put out. I know these things for sure.
意識決定一切，一切都源于思想；我們對自己的命運負責；播種了才能收割，給予了才能得到，投入了才能獲取——毫無疑問這些道理我明白。