新概念英语第四册31-01

I doubt my adequacy as a father.

***课文讲解:

课文 Many people in industry and the Services, who have practical experience of noise, regard any investigation of this question as a waste of time; they are not prepared even to admit the possibility that noise affects people....

industry :工业方面，工业界

Services: in America means army;

serviceman: 军人 ex-serviceman: 退伍军人

ex-president: 前总统

present president: 现任总统

ex-wife : 前妻 My ex-job is a secretary.

接下来课文:...On the other hand, those who dislike noise will sometimes use most inadequate evidence to support their pleas for a quieter society. ...

on the one hand...on the other hand 一方面…，另一方面… 如果省略只能省前者.

most 前不加定冠词相当于 very

inadequate :不充分

接下来课文...This is a pity, because noise abatement really is a good cause. and it is likely to be discredited if it gets to be associated with bad science. ...

good cause=good thing

and 在这儿表转折