VOA慢速英语:California Gold Rush Pulls Americans West

短语讲解：

1. You can see the molar marks, his bite mark on it as well a little chip taken out of the upper left hand corner for assaying, or testing the purity of the gold.

take out of 取出; 除去
例句：Take the plug out of the sink and let the water out. 
把水槽里的塞子拔出来，把水放了。 

2. But communication was slow in the middle of the 19th century.

in the middle of 在…的中间
例句：It landed smack(-dab) in the middle of the carpet. 
那东西正好落在地毯的中央. 

3. You didn’t really have to work for it, as far as they knew.

as far as 只要; 远到…; 据…; 直到…为止
例句：As far as I know, he has gone to town. 
就我所知，他到镇子上去了。 

4. You just had to lean over and pick it up and you were rich.

pick up 捡起
例句：Can you pick up the apple for me?
你能帮我捡起那个苹果吗？