Expressions

...the political column of Walter Lippmann, America’s most venerated pundit...

備受尊崇的權威人士

...and his article was written in mock-scientific museum-expedition style, duly portentous.

duly （這里取第一個意思）

1. in the proper or expected way 適當地，恰當地，應當地

Here are your travel documents, all duly signed.

這是你的旅行證件，都簽好了。

2. at the proper time or as expected 準時地，按時地

The Queen duly appeared on the balcony to wave to the crowds.

女王準時出現在陽臺上，向人群招手。

There’s no party line: good advice for writers. You can be your own party line.

在本文，是否可翻譯為官方答案、正確答案

the official opinion of a political party or other organization, which its members are expected to agree with and support 政黨[組織]的路線

follow/toe the party line (= to support the official opinion) 遵循/服從政黨的路線

He refused to toe the party line.

他拒不遵從該黨的路線。

Learning is a tonic.

1. 奎寧水

2. [C] a drink that you have as a medicine to give you more energy or strength when you feel tired 補藥，補品

A lot of people need a tonic at the end of the winter.

很多人冬末需要進補。

3. [C usually singular 一般用單數] something that makes you feel happy and full of energy使精神振奮的東【英】

A weekend by the sea was the perfect tonic.

在海邊過一個周末絕對可以調整身心。

What caught my attention was that Peterson was still going at full momentum at 84...

這里應該可以理解為at full speed。也就是說絲毫沒有懈怠。

...in his mid-80s Peterson was on a schedule that would tax a man of 50.

to make someone have to work hard or make an effort 使負重擔；使費力氣；使傷腦筋

It shouldn’t tax your brain too much.

這個應該不會太費腦筋。

tax sb’s patience/strength etc

The kids are really taxing my patience today.

孩子們今天真是考驗我的耐心。

...many species had made a comeback from their narrow escape, helped by a citizenry that...

幸免于難，九死一生

Summary

1. write with enjoyment. Your own interest will naturally be delivered to the readers. put your personality into your writing.

2. Non-fiction writers have to account for their writing and not be biased from facts.

3. Confidence comes from writers' interest of the topic. It is also originated from their sincerity and fundamental skills when they set foot on a new terrain. Writers can explore the unfamiliar topic and find what’s related to their own experience. But if you don’t have a feeling or opinion of it, don’t write about it.

4. We can count on the fundamentals of interviewing and writing, as well as our general intelligence and humanity to write about any subject.

5. You can often get good material after interviewing the subject by causally chatting with him.