1. But, if this world is not merely a bad joke, life a vulgar flare amid the cool radiance of the stars,
    如果这个世界不只是一个拙劣的恶作剧，如果人生不只是群星寒光中平凡的一闪，

2. While discount rose retailers watch their business bloom, U.S. rose growers are going bankrupt amid severe foreign competition.
    在折价玫瑰花零售店生意兴隆的同时，美国的玫瑰种植商却在残酷的外来竞争中濒临破产。

3. The announcement amounted to an extraordinary reversal for Euro Disney, which opened amid immense celebration and widespread predictions of immediate success.
    这一宣布等于是说欧洲迪斯尼的情况出现了罕见的逆转。当初它在一片欢呼声中开张，并被普遍看好会立即获得成功。

4. He sat amid the ruins of his house.
    他坐在自己房子的废墟之中。

5. Life is a vulgar flare amid the cool radiance.
    生命只是惨淡的星光里的平凡的一闪.