1. 注意這句話的前半個倒裝句。正常的句子順序是“What you will say about the liberties ... ”。“ liberties”后面省略了“ that”。take liberties with sb. or sth. 意思是“ 放肆, 隨意”, 如: She told him to stop taking liberties. ( 她告訴他不要太隨便了。) The film take considerable liberties with the novel on which it is based. ( 影片與原作頗有距離。)

2. stradivari( 1644—1737) 斯特拉迪瓦里, 意大利提琴制造家, 在型號和種類上頗多創新, 制作過大提琴、中提琴、小提琴和吉他, 其制造的小提琴成為后世的楷模。exorcism n. ( 用符咒、祈禱或儀式等) 驅除邪魔, 用魔法招魂。這句話的字面意思是:“ 迫使斯特拉迪瓦里都要訂制符咒驅妖了。”

3. prowl v. 小心地悄悄移動, 如: wild animals prowling in the forest ( 在森林里潛行的野獸) ;burglars prowling in the grounds of the house ( 在房子里躡足行走的竊賊) 。prowl, skulk,lurk, slink, sneak 這幾個詞都有“人或動物為免受注意而做出的緩慢而無聲的動作”的意思, 但用法上還是有區別。prowl 指野獸覓食或罪犯伺機行動, 如: Wolves prowled the forest in search of prey. ( 狼在森林里潛行覓食。) skulk 指含怒或含罪惡目的窺伺可乘之機, 如: He skulked around outside until the police had gone. ( 他窺探著四周, 直至見到警察走開。) slink 通常含有“ 垂頭”之意, 如: The dog slunk off to lick its wounds. ( 那狗耷拉著腦袋溜掉了, 去舔傷口。) sneak in / out 指偷偷摸摸做壞事, 但還夠不上犯罪, 如: She was caught sneaking into the show without paying. ( 她不買票就混進場內看演出, 被當場捉住。)

4. fuddy-duddy n. ( 口語, 貶意, 或戲謔) 老腦筋, 老頑固, 老古董, 如: You are such an old fuddy-duddy! ( 你是個老古董。)