4、Up to the time of his death, Richard Colson was one of the most notable figures in our town.
up to the time of his death: before he died完成时的标志，这里之所以没有用现在或过去完成时，主要是突出一个客观事实
notable: famous

5、He was a shrewd and wealthy businessman, but most people in the town hardly knew anything about this side of his life.
this side of his life：生活中的这一个方面（这里指的是He was a shrewd and wealthy businessman）

6、He was known to us all as Dickie and his eccentricity had become legendary long before he died.
be known to sb.：众所周知
long before he died：在他去世前很久

7、Though he owed a large car, he hardly ever used it, prefering always to go on foot.
prefering：现在分词做伴随状语
hardly: rarely新概念英语mp3下载