1. Nearly a week passed before the girl was able to explain what had happened to her.
几乎过了一个星期，那姑娘才能讲述自己的遭遇。
知识点1：此句还可改为：
It has been nearly a week before the girl was able to explain what had happened to her.
再例：Nearly five hours passed before he came.
几乎过了五个小时，他才过来。
知识点2：what had happened to her为explain的宾语从句。
例：Can you explain why you did not go to school?
你能解释一下为什么没去上学吗？
2. During that time I was chief editor of New Oriental Newsletter.
那个时候，我是《新东方校报》的主编。
知识点2：cover a distance of eight miles = cover eight miles 游了8英里
Early next morning, she saw a light ahead.
第二天凌晨，她看到了一盏灯就在前方。
知识点：ahead可作表语形容词，也可以作副词。
3. During that time she covered a distance of eight miles.
在那段时间里，她游了8英里。
知识点1：during that time是过去时间状语，与covered呼应。
4. Towards evening, the boat struck a rock and the girl jumped into the sea.
天将黑时，小船撞上了一块礁石，姑娘跳进了海里。
知识点1：towards evening = toward evening接近晚上、天将黑时，toward在美式英语中更常见，而在英式英语中towards是主要形式。
知识点2：strike意为“撞上，打击”过去式为struck,过去分词英式为struck，美式为stricken。
重要短语：on strike 罢工；strike hands 达成协议，成交；air strike 空袭
