VOA慢速英语:American History Series: Garfield’s Short Presidency Ends in Tragedy

have difficulty doing

have difficulty /trouble/problem + (in)+doing
have作有解时，后接情感名词(in可省略)，再接动名词。这类词还有trouble, fun, a hard time, a good time.
例如：We had difficulty (in) carrying out the plan．我们执行计划有困难。

for fear起连词作用，fear后省略了that，引导目的状语从句。这从句中常用虚拟语气。

又如：
He handled the instrument with care for fear（that）it should be damaged.

他小心翼翼地处置这仪器，生怕给弄坏了。

2.A man ran up to President Garfield, pulled out a gun, and fired twice.

pull out拔出

例句：The drawer won't pull out.
       这抽屉拉不出来。

      Vargas pulled out his gun.
      瓦格斯掏出他的枪。

摆脱

The country is pulling out of inflation.
这个国家正在摆脱通货膨胀的局面。

3.Yet the situation did cause a great deal of tension while the nation waited to see if Garfield would survive.

a great deal of很多的

例句：Has a great deal of experience.
       有丰富的经验