As a result, they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback-a back-up earner (usually Mom) 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 (usually Mom)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"。
This"added-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This"added-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。
