A：I don't understand why we have to memorize conversations.We need more vocabulary, not pronunciation.
      我弄不懂为什么我们一定要记住会话。我们需要的是词汇，而不是发音。

B：Don't you think memorizing conversations is a part of learning vocabulary?Every time we memorize a conversation, we're memorizing a whole series of contexts.Each context tells us one way a word can be used.I know from my own language that I can't always use words by simply looking them up in a dictionary and then putting them into sentences. Some words have many meanings. We have to know which meanings go where.
      你不认为记住会话是学习词汇的一个组成部分吗？每当我们记住一句会话，我们就记住了全部的上下文。而这上下文可以供我们了解一个单词的一种用法。我从自己的语言中意识到，光靠查词典然后把这些词汇拼成句子，并不意味着会正确使用这些词。有些意识有很多解释。我们必须弄清楚在哪种情况下适用哪一种解释。

1. (想法、事件等的)背景，环境
    The context of an idea or event is the general situation that relates to it, and which helps it to be understood.

context的近义词

    e.g. We are doing this work in the context of reforms in the economic, social and cultural spheres.
           我们是在对经济、社会、文化诸领域进行改革的背景下从事这项工作的。
    e.g. ...the historical context in which Chaucer wrote...
           乔叟写作的历史背景

2. 上下文;语境
    The context of a word, sentence, or text consists of the words, sentences, or text before and after it which help to make its meaning clear.

    e.g. Without a context, I would have assumed it was written by a man.
           如果没有上下文，我会以为这是出自一名男子笔下。

3. 在上下文中;置于背景之下
    If something is seen in context or if it is put into context, it is considered together with all the factors that relate to it.

context

    e.g. Taxation is not popular in principle, merely acceptable in context...
           征税基本上是不受欢迎的，在一定情境中才勉强为人接受。
    e.g. It is important that we put Jesus into the context of history.
           我们将耶稣置于历史环境中来看是很重要的。

4. 脱离上下文;断章取义地
    If a statement or remark is quoted out of context, the circumstances in which it was said are not correctly reported, so that it seems to mean something different from the meaning that was intended.

    e.g. Thomas says that he has been taken out of context on the issue...
           托马斯说，在这个问题上他的话被断章取义了。
    e.g. Quotes can be manipulated and used out of context.
           引语可能会被篡改，使用时断章取义。