新概念英语第四册44-01

接下来课文... But a man cannot say 'no' to the boss, unless he is sure of being able to eat when the boss's favour has been withdrawn.

unless...=if...not

favour: 恩惠

withdraw: 取走

in the boss’s favour.

他是老板的大红人 He is in the boss’s favour.

He is the boss's favourite.

He is a diplomat. 他左右逢源，很会来事。

接下来课文...And he cannot be certain of his next meal unless he owns the means of producing enough wealth, for his family to live on, ...

and: 句式连接

例如:

My mother is a doctor, and my father is a driver.

My mother is a doctor. And my father is a driver.

be certain of =be sure of

means : 手段，方法

by means of... : 通过...手段

live on...: 依靠...而生活

I live on rice/noodle.

live by one’s hands 靠劳动 (间接)

live by the mountains 靠山吃山，靠水吃水

feed on

接下来课文...or has been able to accumulate a surplus out of past wages, or has a chance of moving to virgin territories, ...

out of : 从...出来

out of reason He did it out of impulse. 他出于冲动。