VOA慢速英语:When Your Possessions Control Who You Are

短语讲解：

1. Many people in the United States are looking forward to the return of spring. 
 
look forward to 期望，盼望
例句：I think you should look forward to it.
我认为你应该期待它的到来。

2. Many Americans have a strong desire to clean up their homes.

clean up 打扫
例句：Instead, clean up the current system.
与此相反，应当清理现有的体制。

3. To remove clutter means to throw away the things you do not want.

throw away 扔掉; 浪费
例句：Should they throw away more?
他们应该多扔些么？

4. In many cases, a room is filled from top to bottom with useless things.

fill with （使）充[挤]满; 使满怀
例句：When we inhale, our lungs fill with air, which press the diaphragm downward.
当我们吸气时，我们的肺会充满空气，空气会把隔膜往下压。

5. As a result, a fire could spread quickly if it were to start in the home of a hoarder.

as a result 结果， 因此
例句：As a result, you get hungry again faster.
于是，你也变得更容易饿了。

6. Hoarding can become not only a safety problem for the person with the disorder, but also for those who may be attempting to help the individual.

not only ... but ...
例句：I began to feel myself not only solitary but helpless.
我开始觉得自己不仅是孤独的而且是无助的.

7. It prevents the family from enjoying their home.

prevent from 阻止，防止;
例句：Active cure of swoon patients was important to prevent from complications. 
积极救治晕厥患者,对预防并发症有重要意义。 

8. Those people no longer want to see broken household equipment or other things lying on property near their homes.

no longer 不再
例句：It must know how to go away when its services are no longer required. 
当不再需要这种服务时，这种帮助应该消失。 

9. Others were suffering from many insect bites and dehydration -- a lack of needed fluids in the body.

suffer from 患（某种病），受（某种病痛）折磨
例句：I often suffer from unaccountable headaches. 
我常莫名其妙地头疼。 

10. Some hoarders improve by meeting with others and talking about their struggles.

talk about 讨论，谈论
例句：Could you talk about that?
你能谈论下这些吗？