As a result, they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setbacka back-up earner who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick.
【析句】 as a result 作状语，表示某种结果。
a back-up earner 在句中作the parachute 的同位语，后面接一个定语从句。
【讲词】 primary 意为主要的;首要的，跟major，main 等意思相近。
如要表示次要的，英文是secondary。earner 在句中指wage earner，即挣钱人。
workforce 指就业大军;劳动力(工人的总数)。
lay off 意为失业。
Thisadded-worker effect could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times.
【析句】 句子的'主干是Thisadded-worker effect could support the safety net，过去分词offered 引导的结构作定语修饰the safety net。
【讲词】 add 意为增加，added 可以表示附加的，如：added value(附加值，净增值)。
safety net 指社会保障制度。
unemployment insurance 指失业保险，disability insurance 指残疾保险。
weather 在句中作动词，表示抵御;承受;平安渡过，如：weather a crisis(渡过危机)。
bad times 意为坏时光;艰苦的日子，其反义词是good times。