Expressions

1. sap: 逐漸削弱（破壞）〔尤指?力力量量或決?心〕，與dilute，whittle away同義

e.g. sap sb's strength / courage/ energy

2. toss-up: (口語) used when you do not know which of two things will happen, or which of two things to choose:

3. bogus: not true or real, although someone is trying to make you think it is.

e.g. bogus insurance claim

4. get around: 逃避 to escape the force of (同義詞：evade）

5. pregnant: 懷孕的，意味深?長的，含蓄的，富于想象力的

e.g. a pregnant decision

6. weathered: 受風雨侵蝕的，飽經風霜的 Worn, stained, or warped by or as if by exposure to weather; seasoned:

7. invoke: 求助于 (法律), 援引, 使人想起

8. strenuous: 熱心的 <人>發奮的,奮斗的; <工作、行為等> 需要奮斗的,努力的,費力的

9. trade: 行業；職業。句子理解為他以自己那行業洋溢著熱情的情緒向我問候。

辨析：profession, job, occupation, trade, vocation, career, work, employment

這些名詞均含“職業”之意。

profession 以前常指要受過高等教育(尤指法律、醫學和神學)才能獲得的職業，現在一般指為謀生的職業，尤指從事腦力勞動和受過專門訓練，具有某種專業知識的職業。

job 通常指一切有收入，不分腦力與體力運動，不論是否有技藝的長期或臨時的職業。

occupation 泛指任何一種職業，既不分什么行業，也不管是腦力還是體力勞動。

trade 指需要有熟練技巧、技能和體力的職業。

vocation 較正式用詞，語氣莊重，指長期從事，但不一定以此為主計的職業。

career 指經過專門訓練，終身愿意從事的職業。

work 指任何種類的工作，也泛指職業。

employment 指受雇于他人，領取工資以謀生計，有較固定工作的職業。

10. adroit: 機敏的；聰明的；精干的；adroitly 嫻熟地

11. gobble up: 吞并, 擊垮; 消耗, 耗費

Summary

Chapter 10 Bits and pieces

It’s a chapter about the details in writing. It shed light upon how to use correct or preferred words, punctuation, and transition cues to construct a non-fiction prose. Zinsser also expresses his attitude towards the use of hedging, contractions, and overstatement. With a few points given on Sexism in writing, he then emphasizes the importance of editing, paragraphing and rewriting, providing us with some thought-provoking suggestions.

Chapter 11 Nonfiction as literature

It entails the development of non-fiction as literature and reassures novice writers that it’s a relatively easier field to start, since it’s closely related to daily life.

Chapter 12 Writing about people: the interview

It gives us insights about interviewing and writing about people. Be prepared for interviews and stay true to the materials. Quoting is encouraged for its ability to bring out features of the protagonist.

Chapter 13 Writing about places: the travel articles

The key to good travelese writing is to be selective with substance and careful with words. People are great profiles of a place. Talking with local people could be inspiring.

Chapter 14 Writing about yourself: the memoir

A good memoir should focus on a specified period of one’s life and reflect features of a time or place. Write about details that induce imagination. Be honest yet selective about what you’re going to write, but don’t cringe at the thought of exposing your vulnerability when writing about yourself.

Reflections

這周的閱讀進行得額外順利，學會了每天撥出專門的時間進行閱讀，效率比碎片時間高很多。當然，也有可能是重新撿起Kindle來看書、查生詞，用手機查重點詞匯的用法和做筆記，減少屏幕切換，順手很多。

慢慢的，當閱讀和寫讀書筆記變成日常的一部分，我開始習慣這種孤單但愉悅的生活，負擔也就小了。要說遺憾，就是這些活動占用了我畫畫的時間，作為一名上班族，畢竟不可能每天拿兩三小時來閱讀，再用兩三小時作畫。