(их постоянные поддразнивания доводили ее до исступления; to wear down – измучивать, изматывать; breaking point – «точка поломки», кризис, критическое состояние). She wanted them to stop (ей хотелось, чтоб они прекратили). To accept her as she was (чтоб принимали ее такой, какая она есть).
career [kǝ'rɪǝ], because [bɪ'kɒz], society [sǝ'saɪǝtɪ]
It was Paula's one big handicap in life. A great disadvantage, both in her career prospects and in her social life. Her friends made fun of her because of it. They made her feel small and inferior. Unfit for normal society.
Their constant teasing was wearing Paula down to breaking point. She wanted them to stop. To accept her as she was.
And what was Paula's handicap (и в чем же заключался недостаток Паулы)?
Simple (/все/ просто). Paula did not drink (Паула не пила). No, she would never allow alcohol to pass her lovely lips (нет, никогда она бы не позволила алкоголю коснуться ее восхитительных губ; to pass – проходить, проезжать; проходить мимо, миновать).
'Men like women who are fun (мужчинам нравятся женщины, с которыми весело; fun /прил./ – забавный; fun /сущ./ – веселье, забава),' her friends would say (обычно говорили ее подруги). 'Women who don't drink are boring (женщины, которые не пьют, скучны).' And then (и потом /еще/), 'what chance have you of ever finding a man if you are no fun (какие у тебя шансы найти /себе/ мужчину, если с тобой не /будет/ весело)?'
They weren't interested in why Paula didn't drink (их не интересовало, почему Паула не пьет). Of how, when she was only seven years old, her mother died (/они не знали/, что когда ей было всего лишь семь лет от роду, ее мать умерла; old – старый; /такого-то/ возраста, /стольких-то/ лет) and her father took to drink (и отец пристрастился к выпивке; to take to – пристраститься к /чему-л./).
allow [ǝ'laʋ], alcohol ['ælkǝhɒl], die [daɪ]
And what was Paula's handicap?
Simple. Paula did not drink. No, she would never allow alcohol to pass her lovely lips.
'Men like women who are fun,' her friends would say. 'Women who don't drink are boring.' And then, 'what chance have you of ever finding a man if you are no fun?'
They weren't interested in why Paula didn't drink. Of how, when she was only seven years old, her mother died and her father took to drink.