1. patriotic a. 有愛國心的，愛國的
   It is considered a patriotic act to serve one's country in the military.
   為國從軍被視為是愛國的行為。
   
2. a big deal　n. 要事，了不起的事
   It is not a big deal that you lost my book because I can always buy another copy.
   你把我的書弄丟也沒什麼大不了，因為我永遠都可以再買一本。
3. be free to + 原形動詞　　自由地（做）……
   I made you a set of my house keys so that you'd be free to come and go as you please.
   我打了一副我家的鑰匙給你，這樣你就可以隨意地進出。
4. abide by...　　遵守／信守……
   We were all very angry when Jason failed to abide by our agreement.
   傑森未能信守我們協議時，我們都感到非常氣憤。
5. be free from...　　擺脫／沒有……的
   Most private schools in the US are free from government control.
   美國大部份的私立學校都毋須受政府控制。
6. roughly adv. 粗略地，大致上
   The books were roughly categorized into fiction and non-fiction.
   這些書籍約略地被分成小說及非小說兩大類。
7. statement n.（正式的）聲明，陳述
   The local authorities are about to issue a statement about the investigation to the press.
   地方當局即將對媒體發表一項跟調查活動有關的聲明。

1. Independence Day　n.（美國）獨立紀念日
   independence n. 獨立
2. fireworks n. 煙火（恆用複數）
3. the Declaration of Independence　n.（美國）獨立宣言
   declaration n. 宣言
4. the American Revolution　n. 美國獨立革命
   revolution n. 革命

(ever) since的用法
ever since 乃 since 之前加了副詞 ever，並無特殊意義，旨在強調 since 一字。ever since 的用法一如 since，有下列功能：
1. 作副詞用，表『從那時起、自此以後』，修飾完成式或完成進行式的主要子句；(ever) since 可置於句尾或句中完成式助動詞 have, has, had 之後，本文中即為此用。
Stan moved to New York City two months ago and has since been looking for a job.
（史丹兩個月前搬到紐約市，從那時起，他就一直在找工作。）
2. 作介詞用，表『自從……、自……之後』，之後接明確的時間、名詞、動名詞或時間副詞 then，形成副詞片語，修飾完成式或完成進行式的主要子句。
Ever since her back injury, Zoe hasn't been able to stand for very long.
（自從背部拉傷後，柔依都一直無法久站。）
3. 作副詞連接詞用，表『自從……、自……之後』，引導過去式的副詞子句，亦修飾完成式或完成進行式的主要子句。
Owen has been grief-stricken ever since his wife passed away from cancer.
（自從他太太因癌症過世後，歐文就一直沉浸在悲痛中。）