Paraphase

Question

"After the terrorist attack brought down thw World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, Americans, deeply anxious, rushed to insulate themselves.  How they tried to do that-what they bought-depended, as always, on ability to pay."  can you help me paraphase this cite?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

"After the terrorist attack brought down thw World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, Americans, deeply anxious, rushed to insulate themselves. How they tried to do that-what they bought-depended, as always, on ability to pay." can you help me paraphase this cite?

In the first sentence, I assume that it is the word 'insulate' that is causing you trouble. The writer does not say explicitly what he means, but he probably means 'rushed to insulate themselves from the rest of the world'.

This would mean they rushed to cut themselves off from the rest of the world,

eg by not travelling abroad

eg by making it difficult for non-Americans to enter the USA

eg by not importing goods from other countries

eg by not becoming involved in the affairs of other countries

I'm not clear about what the second sentence means.

Perhaps it means that the rich can do things that the poor can't.

eg A rich person can say 'I won't buy a Korean car. I'll buy a more expenive car because it is made in the USA. Whereas a poor person must buy a Korean car because it is cheaper.

Best wishes, Clive

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