I got to picking up papers apprehensively - much as one would lift a desired blanket which he had some idea might have a rattlesnake under it. One day this met my eye:

1）much as 怎么理解？

2）...which he had some idea might have a rattlesnake under it.  中的he had some idea是什么成分？即：which (he had some idea) might have a rattlesnake under it. 这里的成分搞不懂。