Chapter 17

Who wouldn't? Leo sat down on his stiff wooden desk chair and jiggled the mouse until the computer sprang awake. ?This is what I do most of the time I'm not in school or with you.? ?Oh?? Jenny wondered if he was about to show her some weird¹ chat room he went to to pretend he was somebody else. ?Come here and I'll show you.? Reluctantly she stood up and went over to look, expecting to have to read through a bunch of annoying e-mails. Instead, it was a painting, an exact replica² of Marc Chagall'sBirthday, with some little flourishes that were all Leo's own. ?You did that?? Jenny asked, when she had found her voice. Itwas very good. ?Yeah, but it's not finished yet. I have to do something about the windowpane. It's a little too bleak³.? He started opening menus of color palettes and shading techniques. ?I could outline it in gold. ?? He glanced up at Jenny. ?What do you think?? Jenny walked back to the bed again because there was nowhere else to sit. She bounced up and down on it a few times in an effort to clear her head. ?I really thought you lived in that fancy apartment on Park. I thought Daphne was your dog.? She stopped bouncing, looked down at the rug, and swallowed. ?I guess I sort of wanted you to think that. That's why I took you there.? Jenny looked up. Leo looked a lot less dashing and handsome slumped⁴ at his desk chair in his hideous⁵ room. ?But Elise said she heard you were at that benefit at the Frick. And you have that nice leather jacket.? She tucked her hands under her thighs⁶. ?I thought that's where you lived,? she repeated. Leo shook his head. ?I walk Henry for Madame T after school. She invites me to things like the party at the Frick and gives me memberships to the museums 'cause she knows I like art and her kids are all grown. It's pretty nice of her, actually.? Jenny nodded. Why was it so hard to accept what she already knew? Leo was just a normal boy who walked dogs after school. And had really old parents and lived in a really dark, depressing apartment. Sure he was into art and so was she, but there had to be more ?something . Suddenly she scooted off the bed and lunged for the phone. ?Let's do something crazy and romantic! We can steal a bottle of wine from your parents and take it to the park and sit out under the stars and get drunk!? Leo looked dumbstruck. ?Maybeyou're the mysterious one,? he remarked with a confused smile. ?My parents don't have any wine, and besides, it's a school night. I have to cook dinner and do my homework. You're welcome to stay and eat with us.? Dinner with Leo's emaciated⁷ thousand-year-old parents who didn't even drink wine? There was nothing crazy or romantic aboutthat ! Jenny didn't know what was wrong with her, but if she didn't bust⁸ out of Leo's tiny room very soon, she was going to explode. ?I think I have to go now,? she muttered, practically running for the door. Her face was hot, and she couldn't possibly stop to say good-bye to his parents. The front door was only eight feet down the hall. She lunged for her coat, already anticipating the cool air on her cheeks and the soothing⁹ bus ride across town. ?Wait!? she heard Leo call after her, but she was already gone. Elise had told her to figure out if the real Leo was someone she could like. Now she had the answer. And it wasn't pretty. B feels the first flush of sisterhood ?It's so wonderful to see you home!? Blair's mother gushed¹⁰ when Blair stepped out of the elevator, wheeling her Louis Vuitton valises. Mookie, Aaron's dog, waggled up to her and rubbed his butt¹¹ against her knees. ?Fuck off,? Blair hissed¹² at him under her breath, even though she was kind of glad to be home. She took off her coat and tossed it onto the antique settee in the corner of the foyer. ?Hi, Mom. Where's Kitty Minky?? Eleanor waddled¹³ over and kissed Blair noisily. Then she handed her the phone. ?It's your father, dear. We've been having the most wonderful chat.? As far as Blair knew, her parents hadn't spoken to each other?civilly, that is?in over a year. ?Dad?? she said, taking the phone. ?Blair Bear,? her dad's cheerful, wine-infused voice darted¹⁴ over the airwaves from his chateau¹⁵ in France.??a va bien?? ?Sort of,? Blair replied. ?Haven't heard from Yale yet?? ?Nope.? Blair hadn't given her father any inkling that her chances at Yale?his alma mater?were almost completely destroyed. She wandered down the hallway to her old room and stood in the doorway¹⁶. ?Not yet.? ?All right. Well, be nice to your mother. She's absolutely glowing, isn't she?? ?I guess.? Blair walked into the room and sat down on the floor. ?I miss you, Dad.? ?Miss you too, Bear,? her father said before clicking off. ?So what do you think?? Her mother walked into the room behind her, breathing heavily. Her stomach seemed to have expanded about twelve inches while Blair was away, but her face was nicely bronzed from the Hawaii trip, and she looked kind of pretty in a dark-green-and-black Diane von Furstenberg maternity¹⁷ dress. Even her black velvet¹⁸ headband didn't seem so bad. Blair attempted a half-smile from where she sat cross-legged on the floor in the middle of the room. ?You look nice.? ?No, I mean the room.? Blair shrugged¹⁹ and went back to studying the room. The familiar mother-of-pearl-white walls had been repainted the palest yellow-green, with celery green trim and a stenciled²⁰ daisy border. Instead of her rose-colored Oriental carpet, a creamy yellow shag rug covered the floor. A bassinet stood in the corner, covered with white lace, and inside it was a folded yellow blanket, stitched intricately with white daisies. Along the far wall stood a changing table and an armoire, both painted pale yellow. To Blair's right was a wooden rocking chair with daisies stenciled on its back. Kitty Minky, her cat, lay curled up on a cushion on the seat of the chair, fast asleep. Her mother waddled over to the armoire and ran her hand over the drawers. ?We wanted to monogram²¹ all the furniture, but we haven't decided²² on a name yet.? She smiled brilliantly at Blair. ?Your father suggested that you come up with a name. You've always been so creative, darling. I think it's a wonderful idea!? ?Me?? Blair blanched²³. This baby had nothing to do with her. Why on earth would they want her to name it? ?Don't worry about it being a Jewish name or anything. Cyrus doesn't care. We just need a good name.? Her mother smiled encouragingly. ?And don't rush into it. Think about it for a while.? She walked over to the bassinet, shook out the yellow daisy blanket and refolded it again. ?Cyrus and I are going to the 21 Club now for a wine tasting. Let Myrtle know what you want for dinner, and she'll fix you something.? She bent²⁴ down to kiss Blair on top of her head. ?Just a good name,? she repeated before leaving the room. Blair stayed where she was, contemplating²⁵ the color scheme and her new role of Big Sister, Namer of Babies. Her room didn't even smell the same. It smelled new, new and full of promise. ?I've been pushing for Daisy,? Aaron said, ambling²⁶ into the room in a pair of maroon²⁷ flannel²⁸ Harvard boxer²⁹ shorts and nothing else. His baby dreadlocks had grown past his ears again, and his bare chest was tan from his week in Hawaii. He would've looked good if he wasn't so annoying. ?How was Hawaii?? Blair asked, although she really didn't care. Aaron's dark eyes widened excitedly. ?Even better than I thought. I met this girl who's like, even more into being a vegetarian³⁰ than me. Her parents are Haitian refugees. From Berkeley. She taught me to surf. We had some trippy times.? Blair raised her eyebrows³¹, unimpressed. ?But now you're back,? she remarked. He nodded. ?So, what do you think of Daisy?for the kid's name?? She wrinkled her nose. ?Duh, Harvard Boy, that's way too obvious.? She twirled her ruby³² ring around and around on her finger. ?So what was that Haitian girl's name, anyway?? Aaron frowned. ?Yael. She said a lot of people say it like ?Yai-elle? or something, but she pronounced just like the school: Yale.? ?Yale.? Blair stopped twirling her ring, the corners of her mouth curving up into a smile. ?Yale.?  Of course. S and n get it out of their systems With Blair out of the apartment, there was no reason not to invite Nate over. ?Hey,? he said when she greeted him at the door. It felt kind of strange seeing Serena back in her old surroundings. But it was also kind of nice. ?Hey.? She kissed his cheek and helped him out of his rain-soaked trench³³ coat, hanging it neatly³⁴ in the coat closet. His gray Abercrombie T-shirt looked worn and soft, and she couldn't wait to get her hands on it. ?Sorry things got so weird at the party,? she said. Thinking about it now, she didn't know why she hadn't kissed Nate back in Sun Valley, after he'd rescued her from the ditch and she was already naked and everything. Well, she'd just have to get naked again, wouldn't she? ?That's okay.? Nate seemed to be waiting for something, like an explanation for why she'd summoned him there. She took a step toward him, her bare feet cold on the hardwood floor. She was wearing only a thin white cotton undershirt and a denim³⁵ miniskirt, and she shivered, partly from the chill, but mostly out of nervous anticipation³⁶. Nate reached out and rubbed her bare arms. ?Nate?? Serena asked, collapsing³⁷ into him. She could feel his breath on her face.Oh, Natie . ?You know how we're always such good buds and we understand each other perfectly³⁸ and we're always there for each other, even when things get really messed up?? ?Uh-huh,? Nate replied hoarsely³⁹, still rubbing his hands up and down her arms. ?Well, why can't we justbe together?? Nate stopped rubbing. It was impossible even to think of saying no to the most gorgeous girl in his entire universe when she was already one of his best friends and was practically throwing herself at him. Maybe if he just gave her a little kiss and told her gently that it wasn't meant to be ? He leaned in and kissed her, very tentatively, on the mouth. A nice, sweet, innocent kiss. But Serena wasn't looking for sweet and innocent, she was looking for true love, and she kissed him back hungrily, like someone who had been waiting for this for a long, long time. She grabbed his hand and pulled him into her bedroom. ?Hey,? Nate said, stopping in the doorway. ?Is Blair still staying here?? ?Hey,? Serena said back, dropping his hand. How could it be true love if Nate was in love with someone else? She sighed and fell back on her bed, smiling sadly up at the ceiling. ?Blair moved back home.? ?Oh.? Nate went over and sat down on the bed next to her. He touched her shoulder. ?Are you okay?? Serena grinned. Even if he wasn't her one true love, Nate was still her sweetie. ?Blair and Erik didn't go all the way,? she told him, because she knew he'd want to know. ?How do you know that?? Nate asked suspiciously. He hadn't missed the fact that Serena and Blair were fighting. Serena rolled onto her stomach and buried her face in her arms like a little girl. ?I asked him?? Her voice was muffled⁴⁰. ?Heis my brother, you know.? Nate didn't say anything. He was relieved, but he wasn't going to tell her that. She propped⁴¹ herself up on her elbows. ?You know I love you, Natie. But I think we both know who you really wanna be kissing.? Nate nodded and turned his head to look out the rain-spattered window. A big bird was perched on the roof of the Metropolitan⁴² Museum of Art. He wondered if it was one of those peregrine falcons⁴³ that were always flying around Central Park, surprising people by not being pigeons. The falcons were elegant and beautiful, and seeing them every now and again was somehow reassuring⁴⁴. He lay down next to Serena and wrapped his arms around her in a brotherly embrace. ?I love you, too,? he whispered in her ear. Serena smiled and closed her eyes. She could imagine herself and Nate lying like this in her dorm room at college?wherever it was she wound up. They would never be a couple, but every once in a while, they would get together and hug and kiss, just like this. It would always be completely harmless, and Blair would never have to know. And eventually they'd stop doing it, when Serenafinally found true love. If that ever happened. V has more talent than a commune full of hippies When Vanessa arrived home, Ruby, Gabriela, and Arlo were huddled⁴⁵ around the television, eating raw soybeans and drinking warm sake. ?What's going on? I thought you guys were leaving today.? Vanessa set down her heavy bag of camera equipment and peeled off her jacket. She'd been caught in a sudden downpour and was soaked through. ?They're leavingsoon.? Ruby clicked off the TV, and the three of them flashed the fakest smiles Vanessa had ever seen. ?How was your day, dear?? Vanessa untied⁴⁶ her Doc Martens and kicked them off. From the corner of the living room, Ruby's parakeet, Tofu, squawked inside his cage, as if to warn her,Something's up! Something's up! Gabriela stood up and brushed the wrinkles out of the elaborately printed pink-and-purple Japanese kimono she was wearing. Her gray braids were pinned on top of her head, Heidi style. ?What're you guys still doing here, anyway?? Vanessa asked. ?I thought you were going home today.? Her father blew his nose noisily in response. He was wearing a red wool sweater that had very obviously been made for a woman, because the three-quarter-length sleeves pouffed out at the shoulders. Vanessa walked toward him, squinting⁴⁷. His face was all splotchy and his eyes were red. ?Dad, are you sick?? Arlo Abrams shook his head and blew his nose once more. Fresh tears spilled down his cheeks. ?Hush⁴⁸, sweetheart,? Gabriela whispered, although it wasn't clear to whom. ?It's your films,? Ruby finally burst out. She'd never been able to keep quiet about anything. ?I showed them your films.?

1 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

2 replica   

n.复制品

参考例句：

• The original conservatory has been rebuilt in replica.温室已按原样重建。
• The young artist made a replica of the famous painting.这位年轻的画家临摹了这幅著名的作品。

3 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。

4 slumped   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
• The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上，疲惫得睡着了。

5 hideous   

adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的

参考例句：

• The whole experience had been like some hideous nightmare.整个经历就像一场可怕的噩梦。
• They're not like dogs,they're hideous brutes.它们不像狗，是丑陋的畜牲。

6 thighs   

n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿

参考例句：

• He's gone to London for skin grafts on his thighs. 他去伦敦做大腿植皮手术了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The water came up to the fisherman's thighs. 水没到了渔夫的大腿。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 emaciated   

adj.衰弱的，消瘦的

参考例句：

• A long time illness made him sallow and emaciated.长期患病使他面黄肌瘦。
• In the light of a single candle,she can see his emaciated face.借着烛光，她能看到他的被憔悴的面孔。

8 bust   

vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部

参考例句：

• I dropped my camera on the pavement and bust it. 我把照相机掉在人行道上摔坏了。
• She has worked up a lump of clay into a bust.她把一块黏土精心制作成一个半身像。

9 soothing   

adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的

参考例句：

• Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
• His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。

10 gushed   

v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话

参考例句：

• Oil gushed from the well. 石油从井口喷了出来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Clear water gushed into the irrigational channel. 清澈的水涌进了灌溉渠道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 butt   

n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶

参考例句：

• The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
• He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。

12 hissed   

发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对

参考例句：

• Have you ever been hissed at in the middle of a speech? 你在演讲中有没有被嘘过？
• The iron hissed as it pressed the wet cloth. 熨斗压在湿布上时发出了嘶嘶声。

13 waddled   

v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A family of ducks waddled along the river bank. 一群鸭子沿河岸摇摇摆摆地走。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The stout old man waddled across the road. 那肥胖的老人一跩一跩地穿过马路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

14 darted   

v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 chateau   

n.城堡，别墅

参考例句：

• The house was modelled on a French chateau.这房子是模仿一座法国大别墅建造的。
• The chateau was left to itself to flame and burn.那府第便径自腾起大火燃烧下去。

16 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

17 maternity   

n.母性，母道，妇产科病房；adj.孕妇的，母性的

参考例句：

• Women workers are entitled to maternity leave with full pay.女工产假期间工资照发。
• Trainee nurses have to work for some weeks in maternity.受训的护士必须在产科病房工作数周。

18 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

19 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 stenciled   

v.用模板印（文字或图案）( stencil的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• To transfer(a stenciled design) with pounce. 以印花粉印用印花粉末转印（镂空模板花样） 来自互联网
• L: Cardboard cartons, with stenciled shipping marks. 李：刷有抬头的硬纸板箱。 来自互联网

21 monogram   

n.字母组合

参考例句：

• There was a monogram in the corner in which were the initials"R.K.B.".原来手帕角上有个图案，其中包含着RKB三个字母。
• When we get married I don't have to change the monogram on my luggage.当我们结婚后，我连皮箱上的字母也不用改。

22 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

23 blanched   

v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮

参考例句：

• The girl blanched with fear when she saw the bear coming. 那女孩见熊（向她）走来，吓得脸都白了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Their faces blanched in terror. 他们的脸因恐惧而吓得发白。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

25 contemplating   

深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想

参考例句：

• You're too young to be contemplating retirement. 你考虑退休还太年轻。
• She stood contemplating the painting. 她站在那儿凝视那幅图画。

26 ambling   

v.（马）缓行( amble的现在分词 )；从容地走，漫步

参考例句：

• At that moment the tiger commenced ambling towards his victim. 就在这时，老虎开始缓步向它的猎物走去。 来自辞典例句
• Implied meaning: drinking, ambling, the people who make golf all relatively succeed. 寓意：喝酒，赌博，打高尔夫的人都比较成功。 来自互联网

27 maroon   

v.困住，使（人）处于孤独无助之境；n.逃亡黑奴；孤立的人；酱紫色，褐红色；adj.酱紫色的，褐红色的

参考例句：

• Five couples were marooned in their caravans when the River Avon broke its banks.埃文河决堤的时候，有5对夫妇被困在了他们的房车里。
• Robinson Crusoe has been marooned on a desert island for 26 years.鲁滨逊在荒岛上被困了26年。

28 flannel   

n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服

参考例句：

• She always wears a grey flannel trousers.她总是穿一条灰色法兰绒长裤。
• She was looking luscious in a flannel shirt.她穿着法兰绒裙子，看上去楚楚动人。

29 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

30 vegetarian   

n.素食者；adj.素食的

参考例句：

• She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
• I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。

31 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

32 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

33 trench   

n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕

参考例句：

• The soldiers recaptured their trench.兵士夺回了战壕。
• The troops received orders to trench the outpost.部队接到命令在前哨周围筑壕加强防卫。

34 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

35 denim   

n.斜纹棉布；斜纹棉布裤，牛仔裤

参考例句：

• She wore pale blue denim shorts and a white denim work shirt.她穿着一条淡蓝色的斜纹粗棉布短裤，一件白粗布工作服上衣。
• Dennis was dressed in denim jeans.丹尼斯穿了一条牛仔裤。

36 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

37 collapsing   

压扁[平]，毁坏，断裂

参考例句：

• Rescuers used props to stop the roof of the tunnel collapsing. 救援人员用支柱防止隧道顶塌陷。
• The rocks were folded by collapsing into the center of the trough. 岩石由于坍陷进入凹槽的中心而发生褶皱。

38 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

39 hoarsely   

adv.嘶哑地

参考例句：

• "Excuse me," he said hoarsely. “对不起。”他用嘶哑的嗓子说。
• Jerry hoarsely professed himself at Miss Pross's service. 杰瑞嘶声嘶气地表示愿为普洛丝小姐效劳。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

40 muffled   

adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己）

参考例句：

• muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
• There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

41 propped   

支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sat propped up in the bed by pillows. 他靠着枕头坐在床上。
• This fence should be propped up. 这栅栏该用东西支一支。

42 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

43 falcons   

n.猎鹰( falcon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Peregrine falcons usually pluck the feathers and strip the flesh off their bird prey. 游隼捕到鸟类猎物时，通常是先拔掉它们的羽毛，再把肉撕下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Though he doubted the wisdom of using falcons, Dr. de la Fuente undertook the project. 虽然德·拉·富恩特博士怀疑使用游隼是否明智，但他还是执行了这项计划。 来自辞典例句

44 reassuring   

a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的

参考例句：

• He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。
• With a reassuring pat on her arm, he left. 他鼓励地拍了拍她的手臂就离开了。

45 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

46 untied   

松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决

参考例句：

• Once untied, we common people are able to conquer nature, too. 只要团结起来，我们老百姓也能移山倒海。
• He untied the ropes. 他解开了绳子。

47 squinting   

斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看

参考例句：

• "More company," he said, squinting in the sun. "那边来人了，"他在阳光中眨巴着眼睛说。
• Squinting against the morning sun, Faulcon examined the boy carefully. 对着早晨的太阳斜起眼睛，富尔康仔细地打量着那个年轻人。

48 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！