Part I: Words & Expressions

1. be caked with

The surfaces of this living area are always caked with oil stains.

He didn’t look alarmed or frightened, but his forehead was caked with dirt and blood.

2. in effect/fact/reality

City Point was, in effect, an armed command post for the Northern Army….

3. confer with: to meet and discuss with (sb) to make a decision

He always confers with his colleagues before reaching a decision.

4. at hand: close in distance or time

5. defy logic; defy the odds: to go against sth; not to happen according to the principles

The company’s explanation for the accident defies logic.

Review:

6. a day’s / two days’, etc. worth of sth: an amount of sth that lasts for a specified length of time

He has 50 years’ worth of experience in teaching.

7. pave the way for sb/sth: to make it easier for sb to do sth or for sth to happen His research paved the way for developing new IT products.

Review:

Part II. Grammar

1. conditional clause V.S. object cause

Whether or not he would decide to deal with the Northerners with honor and dignity… he would be the determinant of that. (conditional clause)

They were in such turmoil that the Union Cabinet would soon be discussing whether or not, in effect, a Napoleonic coup was under way. (object cause)

2. rather than, instead and instead of

But inside this small, little home, rather than talk about the surrender,

they talked about the old days.(para. 14)

But Johnston instead followed Lee's example and he, too

surrendered, in this act of basic insubordination. (para. 22)