Lesson 21 Mad or not?

Text

Aeroplanes are slowly driving me mad. I live near an airport and passing planes can be heard night and day. The airport was built years ago, but for some reason it could not be used then. Last year, however, it came into use. Over a hundred people must have been driven away from their homes by the noise. I am one of the few people left. Sometimes I think this house will be knocked down by a passing plane. I have been offered a large sum of money to go away, but I am determined to stay here. Everybody says I must be mad and they are probably right.

Note

1. mad: be mad about: 对……着迷
   = crazy: 为……疯狂
   = go insane: I slowly go insane.
   They are going bananas. 发疯

2. reason:
   For this reason, I was late.

3. sum
   a great many + 可复 = a large = a great number of + 可复，plenty of 足够的
   a sum of：一笔
   a larget sum of: 大量的

4. determine: v. 下定决心
   make up one's mind
   decide to do sth.
   make a decision ( to do sth.)
   be determined to do sth.

5. drive sb. mad: 逼sb.发疯

6. night and day: 日日夜夜，夜以继日

7. passing plans: 过往的飞机 passing作定语
   sleeping baby: 正在睡觉的婴儿
   watching car: 正在等待的车

8. some ＋ 可单: 某一个、某一种
   But for some reason it could not be used then. 由于某种原因……

9. come into use: 投入使用 into: perp. use: n.

10. away from = out of somewhere

11. left作定语放在被修饰词的后面，译作“剩下的……”
    I have a bag left.

12. 被动语态：宾语变主语
    双宾语的被动语态

    * sb. sth	* sth. to sb.
    A friend gave me a surprise.	A friend gave a surprise to me.
    I was given a surprise.	A surprise was given to me.