2． It took me only three weeks away from home when I started to feel homesick.
　　　　I began to miss my parents only three weeks after I began living on my own.
　　　　 刚离开家三个星期，我便开始想家了。

Examples:
　　　　　It will take him another 5 months to finish writing this book.
　　　　　他还要花5个月时间才能写完这本书。
　　　　　 It took them 3 months to study in the ESL class before they began to study in regular classes.
　　　　　他们在ESL班上了3个月的课才开始在正规班级学习。

3. creative: adj. having the ability to produce new and original ideas, results, etc.　有创造性的，创造的

Examples:
　　　　　He came up with a really creative solution to the problem.
　　　　　他找到一个真正具有创造性的解决问题方案。
　　　　　 I enjoy my job, but I'd like to do something more creative.
　　　　　我喜欢这个工作，但我想做更具创造力的工作。


4. First of all, I have learned that living on my own requires that I become more responsible:
　　　　　Firstly, I have learned that living on my own requires that I (should) become more responsible.
　　　　　首先，我明白了独立生活更需要责任感。

　　　　　The subjunctive mood is used to express suggestion, necessity, demand, request, urging, resolution, recommendation or formal motion by using the words like: advise, command, decide, demand, desire, insist, intend, order, propose, recommend, request, require, suggest or urge.

Examples:
　　　　　The teacher required that you finish the assignment by last Friday.
　　　　　老师要求你星期五之前完成作业。
　　　　　 They required that he accompany them on the trip.
　　　　　他们要求他陪他们旅行。


5. assign: to give someone a particular job or make them responsible for a particular person or thing
　　　　　指定（某人做某一工作或任某职务），委派，选派

Examples:
　　　　　I've been assigned the job of looking after the new students.
　　　　　他们分配我照看新生。
　　　　　 Jane's been assigned to the Asian Affairs Bureau.
　　　　　珍妮被派往了亚洲事务局。


6. However, now that I am on my own, I get to deal with my duties without being told to:
　　　　　Now I am living on my own, so I get to handle my duties without being told to.
　　　　　但是现在我独自生活了，我必须完成自己的职责，即使没有人要求我这么做。

Examples:
　　　　　Now that you are a college student, you'd better live on your own.
　　　　　你是大学生了，你最好要自己独立生活。
　　　　　 Now that you have finished the final examination, you may relax and take a break.
　　　　　期末考试完了，你可以休息一会儿了。

7. to do one's duty: to do sth. either because that is part of one's job or because it is morally right that one should do

Examples:
　　　　　In the absence of the chairman one of his assistants does his duty for him.
　　　　　主任不在时他的助手料理他的事务。
　　　　　There are bookcases that do duty as room dividers.
　　　　　书架把房间隔开了。

8. I wrote a lot of songs and kept them in my notebook for any singer out there who might be interested:
　　　　　I wrote a lot of songs and kept them in a notebook for any other singer anywhere who might be interested. (Note: "out there" suggests a willingness to share the songs.)
　　　　　我写了许多歌曲，并把它们保存在我的笔记本里，等着送给感兴趣的歌手。

9． When I was with my parents I found it hard for me to be creative simply because I always followed their ideas.
　　　　　When I was living with my parents I found I was not creative because I was always ready to do what they told me to do.
　　　　　然而，当我和父母在一起的时候，我觉得自己之所以很难有创造力，就是因为我老是跟着他们的想法跑。

10. In addition, I think that it is appropriate for everyone in this world to love their parents and themselves before they love anyone else:
　　　　　Besides, I feel it is correct for everyone in this world to love their parents and themselves first and then love everyone else.
　　　　　另外，我认为对世上所有的人来说，应先爱他们的父母，爱他们自己，然后才去爱别人。

in addition: used when adding another fact to what has already been mentioned.　
　　　　 此除…之外，加之

Examples:
　　　　　The hotel itself can accommodate 80 guests and, in addition, there are several self-catering apartments.
　　　　　饭店本身可容纳80个客人，此外，还有几个套间客人可自己做饭。
　　　　　 Aunt Mary gave us sandwiches for our picnic and a bag of cookies in addition.
　　　　　我们去野炊，玛丽婶婶给了我们一些三明治还有一些饼干。

appropriate: adj. Correct or suitable. 正确的，合适的

Examples:
　　　　　At an appropriate moment I'll offer the visitors some coffee.
　　　　　我会在恰当的时候给来宾提供咖啡。
　　　　　Your clothes are hardly appropriate for a job interview.
　　　　　工作面试穿这套衣服一点都不合适。

11. at the same time
　　　　　1) in the same moment　同时，一起

Example:
　　　　　The two runners reached the finish line at the same time.
　　　　　这两位选手同时抵达终点。

　　　　　2) in spite of the fact; even though　不顾，虽然，然而

Example:
　　　　　John did pass the test, at the same time，he did not know the subject very well.
　　　　　约翰确实通过了考试，虽然他对这科目了解不深。

12. make use of: use or benefit from sth. or sb. 使用，利用

Examples:
　　　　　Almost every student today can make use of a computer.
　　　　　现在几乎每个学生都可以利用计算机。
　　　　　The teacher told them that they had to make good use of their time.
　　　　　老师对他们说他们得好好地利用时间。