文本


A massive storm that dumped about a half-meter of snow from Virginia to Maine did more than frustrate motorists. It added to the woes of retailers that were already bracing for weak holiday sales as the United States struggles to emerge from the deepest and longest recession of the post-World War II era.

一场大范围的暴风雪给从佛吉尼亚到缅因州带来了半米深的积雪，这不仅仅使乘车者感到郁闷。在美国开始从二战以来历时最长，最深刻的经济危机中复苏，美国的零售商正期待迎接节日期间微弱的销量上涨，这又给他们增加了痛苦。

讲解


add to something: to increase something in size, number, amount, etc. 使(数量)增加;使(规模)扩大
The bad weather only added to our difficulties.
恶劣的天气只是增加了我们的困难.
The house has been added to(= new rooms, etc. have been built on to it)from time to time.
这座房子一次又一次地在扩建.

Woe:the troubles and problems that somebody has 麻烦;问题;困难
financial/economic woes
财政╱经济困难
Thanks for listening to my woes.
谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇.

Brace: to prepare somebody/yourself for something difficult or unpleasant that is going to happen (为困难或坏事)做准备;防备 ~ sb/yourself (for sth)
UN troops are braced for more violence.
联合国部队准备应付更多的暴行.
They are bracing themselves for a long legal battle.
他们在为漫长的法律诉讼做准备.