1. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors huddled, discussing the exam due to begin in a few minutes:
　　　　A group of engineering seniors gathered together on the steps of one building. They were discussing the exam which was going to begin in a few minutes.
　　　　一幢教学楼的台阶上围着一群大四的工科生，都在谈论即刻就要开始的考试。

engineering seniors: students who major in engineering and study in the 4th year of a course in a U.S. college
　　　　美国大学四年级工科生

huddle: to (cause to ) crowd together, in a group
　　　　(使)挤作一团，(使)聚成一堆

Examples:
　　　　 The flood victims were cold so they huddled together for warmth that night.
　　　　那一天晚上灾民冷得挤在一起取暖。
　　　　He lay huddled amongst his blankets in bed, his knees almost touching his chin.
　　　　他用毛毯裹着在床上缩成一团，膝盖几乎碰着下巴。

due: (showing arrangements made in advance ) expected; supposed (to)

Examples:
　　　　The next train to London is due here at 4 o'clock.
　　　　去伦敦的下一趟班车应在4点钟到这里。
　　　　The plane that was due to arrive at 10 has been delayed for 2 hours by a heavy fog.
　　　　由于大雾，原定在10点钟到的班机已经推迟了2个小时。


2. On their faces was confidence.
　　　　 This is an inverted sentence. The natural word-order of the sentence is "Confidence was on their faces".
　　　　他们脸上都带着自信。


3. Some talked of jobs they already had; others of jobs they would get.
　　　　Some talked about jobs they had already had; others talked about the jobs they would get.
　　　　有的谈起了找好的工作，有的则谈论着要找的工作。

talk of: talk about
　　　　谈起

Examples:
　　　　We were just talking of the matter before you came in.
　　　　你进来之前我们正在谈这件事。
　　　　He talked of going abroad at his birthday party.
　　　　在生日晚会上他谈到自己将出国的事。

some ..., others..., still others...

Examples:
　　　　 On weekends, college students have various kinds of activities. Some go to their part-time jobs; others to cinemas and 　　　　theaters; and still others to the gymnasium to exercise themselves.
　　　　大学生周末有各种各样的活动。有的去做兼职工作。有的去电影院；还有的去体育馆锻炼。


4. With all this assurance of four years of college study, they felt ready and able to conquer the world:
　　　　 Four years of study at college had given them the confidence in their ability and power. They thought they were ready and able to gain control over whatever they would do after graduating from college.
　　　　4年的大学学习给了他们自信，使他们觉得自己足以征服世界。


5. The approaching exam, they knew, would be a snap:
　　　　 They knew the approaching exam would be very easy.
　　　　眼前这场考试，不过是一碟小菜罢了。
　　　　You can use each of the following expressions to say that something is easy.
　　　　 It is easy / a snap /a piece of cake / no sweat.
　　　　这是一件很容易的事。


6. file into:
　　　　 to march or walk in a single line in the specified direction
　　　　鱼贯而入，排成纵队前进

Example:
　　　　 As the audience filed into the stadium, they found the pop group was already there.
　　　　观众们涌进运动场时，发现流行乐团已经到了。

c.f. file out of
　　　　鱼贯而出，排成纵队退出

Example:
　　　　 When the audience filed out of the stadium after the concert was over, they found it had started to snow.
　　　　音乐会结束后，走出体育场的观众发现已经开始下雪了 。


7. pass out: to give out; distribute分发

Examples:
　　　　He is standing in front of the supermarket, passing out flyers to customers.
　　　　他站在超市前面，向过往的路人发传单。
　　　　Please pass out these sheets to the students in the lecture hall.
　　　　请把这些纸发给坐在报告厅的学生。


8. no longer: not any more; not at the present time
　　　　不再

Examples:
　　　　 He no longer drives to work ever since his doctor told him to exercise more.
　　　　自从他的医生要他多锻炼以来，他就再也没有开车上班了。
　　　　He no longer lives in this apartment for he has bought a large house near where he works.
　　　　他在工作地方的附近买了一栋大房子，再也不用住公寓了。


9. survey: to look at, examine or consider ( a person, place or condition ) as a whole
　　　　纵览，审视，全面地观察

Examples:
　　　　 You can survey the countryside from the top of the hill.
　　　　你可以从山顶俯视乡村。
　　　　The fighter surveyed his enemy for any weakness.
　　　　战士审视着敌人，以发现其弱点。


10. The students shifted restlessly in their seats:
　　　　 The students were feeling very uneasy and they were changing their body positions all the time.
　　　　学生们再也坐不住了。

shift: to change position or direction; to move from one place to another
　　　　改变(位置或方向)；变换，转移，移动

Examples:
　　　　 When Paul found that the teacher was reading his composition to the class, he began to shift uncomfortably in his seat.
　　　　当保罗发现老师正在对全班念他的作文时，他开始坐立不安。
　　　　The wind which was blowing from the south has shifted to the north.
　　　　原来刮的南风已转成北风了。


11. I just want to impress upon you that , even though you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don't know.
　　　　 I just want to make you remember that, even if you have finished four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don't know.
　　　　我只是想让你们牢牢记住，即使你们已经完成了4年工科学习，这个领域你们还有很多东西不懂。

impress upon: to make the importance of (sth.) clear to somebody else
　　　　铭刻；使铭记

Examples:
　　　　 The professor impressed upon his students the importance of learning how to learn at college.
　　　　教授要他的学生牢牢记住在大学学会如何学习的重要性。
　　　　His songs are strongly impressed on my memory.
　　　　他的歌声使我难以忘怀。


12. The years have obscured the name of this professor, but not the lesson she taught:
　　　　 After all these years, I don't remember clearly the name of the professor, but I do remember clearly the lesson she taught.
　　　　多年后，我已忘了这位老师的姓名，但牢牢记住了她的教诲。

obscure:
　　　　 to hide; to make difficult to see or understand
　　　　遮蔽；隐藏；使朦胧；使难理解

Examples:
　　　　 The moon was obscured by clouds.
　　　　月亮被云彩遮住了。
　　　　His fame was obscured by the fame of his wife.
　　　　妻子的声望使他暗淡失色。