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首页 » 经典英文小说 » Sister Carrie嘉莉妹妹 » Chapter 2 WHAT POVERTY THREATENED--OF GRANITE AND BRASS
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Chapter 2 WHAT POVERTY THREATENED--OF GRANITE AND BRASS
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Minnie's flat, as the one-floor resident apartments were then being called, was in a part of West Van Buren Street inhabited by families of labourers and clerks, men who had come, and were still coming, with the rush of population pouring in at the rate of 50,000 a year. It was on the third floor, the front windows looking down into the street, where, at night, the lights of grocery stores were shining and children were playing. To Carrie, the sound of the little bells upon the horse-cars, as they tinkled1 in and out of hearing, was as pleasing as it was novel. She gazed into the lighted street when Minnie brought her into the front room, and wondered at the sounds, the movement, the murmur2 of the vast city which stretched for miles and miles in every direction.

Mrs. Hanson, after the first greetings were over, gave Carrie the baby and proceeded to get supper. Her husband asked a few questions and sat down to read the evening paper. He was a silent man, American born, of a Swede father, and now employed as a cleaner of refrigerator cars at the stock-yards. To him the presence or absence of his wife's sister was a matter of indifference3. Her personal appearance did not affect him one way or the other. His one observation to the point was concerning the chances of work in Chicago.

"It's a big place," he said. "You can get in somewhere in a few days. Everybody does."

It had been tacitly understood beforehand that she was to get work and pay her board. He was of a clean, saving disposition4, and had already paid a number of monthly instalments on two lots far out on the West Side. His ambition was some day to build a house on them.

In the interval5 which marked the preparation of the meal Carrie found time to study the flat. She had some slight gift of observation and that sense, so rich in every woman--intuition.

She felt the drag of a lean and narrow life. The walls of the rooms were discordantly6 papered. The floors were covered with matting and the hall laid with a thin rag carpet. One could see that the furniture was of that poor, hurriedly patched together quality sold by the instalment houses.

She sat with Minnie, in the kitchen, holding the baby until it began to cry. Then she walked and sang to it, until Hanson, disturbed in his reading, came and took it. A pleasant side to his nature came out here. He was patient. One could see that he was very much wrapped up in his offspring.

"Now, now," he said, walking. "There, there," and there was a certain Swedish accent noticeable in his voice.

"You'll want to see the city first, won't you?" said Minnie, when they were eating. "Well, we'll go out Sunday and see Lincoln Park.

Carrie noticed that Hanson had said nothing to this. He seemed to be thinking of something else.

"Well," she said, "I think I'll look around tomorrow. I've got Friday and Saturday, and it won't be any trouble. Which way is the business part?"

Minnie began to explain, but her husband took this part of the conversation to himself.

"It's that way," he said, pointing east. "That's east." Then he went off into the longest speech he had yet indulged in, concerning the lay of Chicago. "You'd better look in those big manufacturing houses along Franklin Street and just the other side of the river," he concluded. "Lots of girls work there. You could get home easy, too. It isn't very far."

Carrie nodded and asked her sister about the neighbourhood. The latter talked in a subdued7 tone, telling the little she knew about it, while Hanson concerned himself with the baby. Finally he jumped up and handed the child to his wife.

"I've got to get up early in the morning, so I'll go to bed," and off he went, disappearing into the dark little bedroom off the hall, for the night.

"He works way down at the stock-yards," explained Minnie, "so he's got to get up at half-past five."

"What time do you get up to get breakfast?" asked Carrie.

"At about twenty minutes of five."

Together they finished the labour of the day, Carrie washing the dishes while Minnie undressed the baby and put it to bed. Minnie's manner was one of trained industry, and Carrie could see that it was a steady round of toil8 with her.

She began to see that her relations with Drouet would have to be abandoned. He could not come here. She read from the manner of Hanson, in the subdued air of Minnie, and, indeed, the whole atmosphere of the flat, a settled opposition9 to anything save a conservative round of toil. If Hanson sat every evening in the front room and read his paper, if he went to bed at nine, and Minnie a little later, what would they expect of her? She saw that she would first need to get work and establish herself on a paying basis before she could think of having company of any sort. Her little flirtation10 with Drouet seemed now an extraordinary thing.

"No," she said to herself, "he can't come here."

She asked Minnie for ink and paper, which were upon the mantel in the dining-room, and when the latter had gone to bed at ten, got out Drouet's card and wrote him.

"I cannot have you call on me here. You will have to wait until you hear from me again. My sister's place is so small."

She troubled herself over what else to put in the letter. She wanted to make some reference to their relations upon the train, but was too timid. She concluded by thanking him for his kindness in a crude way, then puzzled over the formality of signing her name, and finally decided11 upon the severe, winding12 up with a "Very truly," which she subsequently changed to "Sincerely." She scaled and addressed the letter, and going in the front room, the alcove13 of which contained her bed, drew the one small rocking-chair up to the open window, and sat looking out upon the night and streets in silent wonder. Finally, wearied by her own reflections, she began to grow dull in her chair, and feeling the need of sleep, arranged her clothing for the night and went to bed.

When she awoke at eight the next morning, Hanson had gone. Her sister was busy in the dining-room, which was also the sitting-room14, sewing. She worked, after dressing15, to arrange a little breakfast for herself, and then advised with Minnie as to which way to look. The latter had changed considerably16 since Carrie had seen her. She was now a thin, though rugged17, woman of twenty-seven, with ideas of life coloured by her husband's, and fast hardening into narrower conceptions of pleasure and duty than had ever been hers in a thoroughly18 circumscribed19 youth. She had invited Carrie, not because she longed for her presence, but because the latter was dissatisfied at home, and could probably get work and pay her board here. She was pleased to see her in a way but reflected her husband's point of view in the matter of work. Anything was good enough so long as it paid--say, five dollars a week to begin with. A shop girl was the destiny prefigured for the newcomer. She would get in one of the great shops and do well enough until--well, until something happened. Neither of them knew exactly what. They did not figure on promotion20. They did not exactly count on marriage. Things would go on, though, in a dim kind of way until the better thing would eventuate, and Carrie would be rewarded for coming and toiling21 in the city. It was under such auspicious22 circumstances that she started out this morning to look for work.

Before following her in her round of seeking, let us look at the sphere in which her future was to lie. In 1889 Chicago had the peculiar23 qualifications of growth which made such adventuresome pilgrimages even on the part of young girls plausible24. Its many and growing commercial opportunities gave it widespread fame, which made of it a giant magnet, drawing to itself, from all quarters, the hopeful and the hopeless--those who had their fortune yet to make and those whose fortunes and affairs had reached a disastrous25 climax26 elsewhere. It was a city of over 500,000, with the ambition, the daring, the activity of a metropolis27 of a million. Its streets and houses were already scattered28 over an area of seventy-five square miles. Its population was not so much thriving upon established commerce as upon the industries which prepared for the arrival of others. The sound of the hammer engaged upon the erection of new structures was everywhere heard. Great industries were moving in. The huge railroad corporations which had long before recognised the prospects29 of the place had seized upon vast tracts30 of land for transfer and shipping31 purposes. Street-car lines had been extended far out into the open country in anticipation32 of rapid growth. The city had laid miles and miles of streets and sewers33 through regions where, perhaps, one solitary34 house stood out alone--a pioneer of the populous35 ways to be. There were regions open to the sweeping36 winds and rain, which were yet lighted throughout the night with long, blinking lines of gas-lamps, fluttering in the wind. Narrow board walks extended out, passing here a house, and there a store, at far intervals37, eventually ending on the open prairie.

In the central portion was the vast wholesale38 and shopping district, to which the uninformed seeker for work usually drifted. It was a characteristic of Chicago then, and one not generally shared by other cities, that individual firms of any pretension39 occupied individual buildings. The presence of ample ground made this possible. It gave an imposing40 appearance to most of the wholesale houses, whose offices were upon the ground floor and in plain view of the street. The large plates of window glass, now so common, were then rapidly coming into use, and gave to the ground floor offices a distinguished41 and prosperous look. The casual wanderer could see as he passed a polished array of office fixtures42, much frosted glass, clerks hard at work, and genteel businessmen in "nobby" suits and clean linen43 lounging about or sitting in groups. Polished brass44 or nickel signs at the square stone entrances announced the firm and the nature of the business in rather neat and reserved terms. The entire metropolitan45 centre possessed46 a high and mighty47 air calculated to overawe and abash48 the common applicant49, and to make the gulf50 between poverty and success seem both wide and deep.

Into this important commercial region the timid Carrie went. She walked east along Van Buren Street through a region of lessening51 importance, until it deteriorated52 into a mass of shanties53 and coal-yards, and finally verged54 upon the river. She walked bravely forward, led by an honest desire to find employment and delayed at every step by the interest of the unfolding scene, and a sense of helplessness amid so much evidence of power and force which she did not understand. These vast buildings, what were they? These strange energies and huge interests, for what purposes were they there? She could have understood the meaning of a little stone-cutter's yard at Columbia City, carving55 little pieces of marble for individual use, but when the yards of some huge stone corporation came into view, filled with spur tracks and flat cars, transpierced by docks from the river and traversed overhead by immense trundling cranes of wood and steel, it lost all significance in her little world.

It was so with the vast railroad yards, with the crowded array of vessels56 she saw at the river, and the huge factories over the way, lining57 the water's edge. Through the open windows she could see the figures of men and women in working aprons58, moving busily about. The great streets were wall-lined mysteries to her; the vast offices, strange mazes59 which concerned far-off individuals of importance. She could only think of people connected with them as counting money, dressing magnificently, and riding in carriages. What they dealt in, how they laboured, to what end it all came, she had only the vaguest conception. It was all wonderful, all vast, all far removed, and she sank in spirit inwardly and fluttered feebly at the heart as she thought of entering any one of these mighty concerns and asking for something to do--something that she could do--anything.


嘉莉的姐姐敏妮住的是公寓,那是当时对占据一个楼面的套房的称呼。公寓在西凡布仑街,是个工人和职员的居民区。这些人来自外地,现在还不断有人搬来。芝加哥的人口以每年五万人的速度骤增。她的房间在三楼。前屋的窗子临街。
一到夜里,杂货店里大放光明,孩子们在街上玩。马车驶过时,车上的铃铛叮当叮当地响起,直到渐渐消失在远处。对于嘉莉来说,这铃声不仅新奇而且令人愉快。敏妮带她走进前屋后,她的目光便投向了窗外灯火通明的马路,对于大城市的各种声音,各种活动和向方圆几英里弥漫的嗡嗡声不由感到新奇惊讶。

在刚见面的寒暄过后,嘉莉的姐姐汉生太太把婴儿交给嘉莉,就动手去烧晚饭了。她的丈夫问了几句话,就坐下来看晚报。他是个沉默寡言的人,美国出生,父亲是瑞典人,他本人是畜牧场冷藏车的清洁工。对他来说,小姨子来不来,与他无关。她的来到既不使他高兴也不让他恼火。他和嘉莉说的唯一正经话题是在芝加哥打工的机会问题。

“这里是大地方。”他说,“几天内就能在哪里找个活干,每个人都是这样的。”他们事先已达成默契,嘉莉得找份工作,付伙食费。他为人正直,生活节俭,在很远的芝加哥西区用分期付款的办法定购了两块地皮,已经付了几个月了。他的野心是有朝一日在那地皮上盖起一栋房子。

趁她姐姐烧饭的空隙,嘉莉打量了公寓。她有那么几分观察的天赋和女性特有的直觉。

她意识到他们的日子很艰难。房间的墙是拼凑的纸糊的,颜色很不协调。地板上铺的是草席,只有起居间铺了一块薄薄的破地毯。看得出家俱是仓促间凑合起来的,是那种分期付款商店卖的质量很差的货色。

她手里抱着孩子坐在厨房里,和敏妮在一起,直到孩子哭了。于是她站了起来,来回走动着,嘴里哼着歌哄孩子。汉生被孩子的哭声吵得看不成报了,就走了过来,接过孩子。这里显出了他性格中可喜的一面:他很有耐心。看得出他很喜爱自己的孩子。

“好了好了,别哭了。”他一边走动一边对婴儿说话,他的声音里带有一点瑞典口音。

“你一定想先在城里看看,是不是?”吃饭时敏妮说道。“这样吧,我们星期天上林肯公园去。”嘉莉注意到汉生对这个提议不置可否。他似乎在想别的事。

“不过我想明天先四处看看,”她说。“我还有星期五和星期六两天空闲。这不会有什么麻烦的。商业区在哪里?”敏妮开始解释。但是她丈夫把这个话题包揽了过去。

“在那边,”他指着东边说道,“在东面。”于是他开始了嘉莉来后他的第一旋长篇大论,是关于芝加哥的城市布局的。

“你最好到河那边,沿富兰克林街看看那些工厂。”结束时他说,“许多女孩在那里工作。而且从那里回家方便,离这里不远。”嘉莉点点头,又向她姐姐打听附近的情况。她姐姐把自己所知道的那些情况低声地告诉她。这期间,汉生只顾自己逗孩子。最后他跳了起来,把孩子递给他妻子。

“我明天早上要起早,我得去睡了。”说着他就消失在起居间隔壁的卧室,上床去了。

“他在离这里很远的畜牧场上班,”敏妮解释说,“所以他5点半就要起床。”“那你什么时候起来准备早饭呢?”嘉莉问。

“5点差20分左右。”

她们一起把当天的事情做完。嘉莉洗碗,敏妮给孩子脱衣服,放他到床上去。敏妮的一举一动都显出她惯于吃苦耐劳。

嘉莉看得出,姐姐的日子就是整天手不停地干活。

她开始意识到,她必须放弃和杜洛埃的交往。不能让他上这里来。她从汉生的态度和敏妮压抑的神气看出,事实上,从这个公寓的整个气氛看出,这里的生活态度保守,一年到头除了干活,别的一切都是和他们格格不入的。汉生的日子就是每晚在前屋看报,9点上床,敏妮晚一点上床。他们对她的期待会是什么呢?她意识到她必须先找份工作,好有钱付食宿,安顿下来,然后才可以想到交朋友之类的事。她和杜洛埃的那一段小小的调情现在看来似乎出格了。

“不,”她心里思忖道,“他不能来这里。”她向敏妮要墨水和信纸,那些东西就在吃饭间的壁炉架上。等她姐姐10点上床,她就掏出杜洛埃的名片开始写信。

“我不能让你到这里来看我。等我下次写信再说。我姐姐家地方很窄。”她寻思着再写点什么,想提一提他们在火车上的那段交情,又不好意思。于是她只笼统地谢谢他在火车上的关心作为结束语。接着她又为如何写署名前的敬语费了一番心思。最后她决定用一本正经的口气写上“此致敬礼”,可是随后她又决定改为比较亲切的“祝好。”她封好信,写了地址,就走进前屋。前屋凹进去的地方摆着她的小床。她把那把唯一的小摇椅拖到开着的窗前,就坐在那里,静静地看着窗外的夜色和街道,心里默默地惊叹。最后她想累了,坐在椅子里感到睡意向她袭来,该上床了。于是她换上睡衣就睡了。

第二天8点钟她醒来时,汉生已去上班了。她姐姐正在那间吃饭间兼起居间的屋里忙着缝衣服。她穿上衣服,就给自己弄了点早饭,然后她问敏妮该去哪里看看。自从上次分手以后,敏妮变化很大。她现在是个27岁的妇女,虽然还硬朗,却已憔悴消瘦。她的人生观受了她丈夫的影响,所以她现在对娱乐和责任的看法比当初在小地方做少女时还要来得狭隘。她邀请嘉莉来,并不是因为想念她,而是因为嘉莉不满意在老家的生活。嘉莉在这里也许可以找份工作,自食其力。见到妹妹她当然也有几分高兴,但是在嘉莉找工作的问题上,她和她丈夫的看法一致。干什么工作是无所谓的,只要有工资就行,譬如说,一开头每周挣5块钱。他们事先认为她可以做个女店员。她可以进某个大店,在那里好好干,直到——怎么说呢?直到有那么一天喜从天降。他们并不确切知道会有什么喜事,他们并不指望她有提升的机会,也并不完全把希望寄托在结婚上。不过他们朦朦胧胧地感到事情总会有转机,于是嘉莉会得到酬报,不至于白白地到城里来辛苦一常那天早上,嘉莉就是抱着这种美好的愿望出门去找工作的。

在我们跟着嘉莉到处转悠找工作之前,让我们先来瞧瞧她寄予希望的这个世界。1889年芝加哥有着得天独厚的发展条件,甚至连年轻姑娘也会不畏风险地到这里来碰运气。它的大量经商机会远近闻名,使它成了一块巨大的磁铁,吸引着来自四面八方的人们,有的满怀希望,有的出于无可奈何。有的是来发财的,还有的则是在别的地方碰壁破产以后来的。这个人口五十多万的城市,具有一个成为百万人口大都市的野心,气魄和事业。街道和房屋分布在七十五平方英里的大面积上。

它的人口激增,不是由于传统的商业,而是由于各种工业。这些工业还在准备容纳更多新来的人。到处可以听到建造新楼的铁锤敲击声。大工业正在迁来。那些大铁路公司看出这个地方的前途,所以早就占下大片土地,用于发展交通运输业务。电车的路轨已铺到周围的旷野,因为已预见到那里会迅速发展。在那些只有零星房子分布的地区,城市也修起了一条一条长长的马路和下水道--这些都是未来繁华闹市的先驱。

有些开阔地区还没有房子遮风挡雨。然而一到夜里,一长排一长排煤气街灯就亮了起来,灯光在风里摇曳。窄窄的木板人行道向前伸展,这里经过一座房子,隔了老远,又在那里经过一个店铺,最后一直通到开阔的草原。

市中心是一个大商业中心,还经营批发业务。消息不灵通的人们经常到那里去找工作。每个大一点的商号都单独占据了一座楼,这是当时芝加哥不同于其他城市的地方。它们能这么做,是因为地方有的是。这一来,大多数批发商行看上去气势宏伟。写字间设在一楼,可以清楚地看到街上。大橱窗玻璃现在已很普通,当时刚被广泛采用,给一楼的写字间增添了富丽堂皇的风采。闲逛的人经过这些成套锃亮的办公设施时,可以看到许多毛玻璃,埋头工作的职员,还可以看到穿着笔挺西装干净衬衫的商人们散坐着,或者聚在一起。方石砌成的门口挂着闪光的铜牌或镍牌,上面用简洁谨慎的措辞标明商号的名称和性质。整个都市中心显出一种财大气粗,高不可攀的气势,为的是让那些普通的求职者望而生畏,不敢问津,也为的是让贫富之间的鸿沟显得又宽又深。

嘉莉怯生生地走进这个重要的商业区。她沿着凡布伦街朝东走,穿过一个不太豪华的地段,继续往前走,房子变得越来越一般,渐渐出现了简陋小屋和煤场,最后到了河边。求职的愿望促使她继续勇敢地往前走,展现在面前的有趣事物又不时使她停住脚步。面对着这些她无法理解的赫赫财势和力量,她不由感到孤独无靠。这些高楼大厦是干什么的?这些陌生的行业和大公司做些什么生意?她能理解哥伦比亚城那个小采石场的性质,它是把大理石切割成小块出售给私人。但是当她看到巨大的石料公司的采石场,看到里面纵横交错的铁路专线和平板车,穿入石场的河边码头,和头顶上方的木制钢制大吊车,她就莫明其妙了。她没有见过世面,当然不明白这些东西的性质。

那些巨大的火车站调车场,她在河边看到的那些密密排列的船只,还有对岸沿河的那些大工厂,同样让她摸不着头脑。通过开着的窗子她可以看见穿着工作围腰的男男女女在那里忙忙碌碌地走来走去。街上那些高墙耸立的商号对她来说又是一些不可捉摸的谜。那些大写字间就像一些神秘莫测的迷宫,另一头通向远方的大人物。关于那些商界人物,她只能想到他们点钞票,穿华服,和坐马车。至于他们做的是什么买卖,他们如何做买卖,他们的买卖有些什么结果,对这些问题她只有一些最模糊的概念。看到这一切如此了不起,如此宏伟,如此高不可攀,她不禁感到气馁。一想到要走进这么气派的商号找工作,找个她能做的工作--不管是什么工作,她就吓得心怦怦乱跳了。


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1 tinkled a75bf1120cb6e885f8214e330dbfc6b7     
(使)发出丁当声,(使)发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 ); 叮当响着发出,铃铃响着报出
参考例句:
  • The sheep's bell tinkled through the hills. 羊的铃铛叮当叮当地响彻整个山区。
  • A piano tinkled gently in the background. 背景音是悠扬的钢琴声。
2 murmur EjtyD     
n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言
参考例句:
  • They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
  • There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。
3 indifference k8DxO     
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎
参考例句:
  • I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
  • He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。
4 disposition GljzO     
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署
参考例句:
  • He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
  • He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。
5 interval 85kxY     
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息
参考例句:
  • The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
  • There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。
6 discordantly 84bf613efe5137046aee44bbbe83925a     
adv.不一致地,不和谐地
参考例句:
  • The walls of the rooms were discordantly papered. 房间的墙是拼凑的纸糊的,颜色很不协调。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • The piece ended discordantly. 这部作品结尾很不和谐。 来自互联网
7 subdued 76419335ce506a486af8913f13b8981d     
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
  • I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候,我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。
8 toil WJezp     
vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事
参考例句:
  • The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
  • Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。
9 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对,敌对
参考例句:
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
10 flirtation 2164535d978e5272e6ed1b033acfb7d9     
n.调情,调戏,挑逗
参考例句:
  • a brief and unsuccessful flirtation with the property market 对房地产市场一时兴起、并不成功的介入
  • At recess Tom continued his flirtation with Amy with jubilant self-satisfaction. 课间休息的时候,汤姆继续和艾美逗乐,一副得意洋洋、心满意足的样子。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
11 decided lvqzZd     
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。
12 winding Ue7z09     
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈
参考例句:
  • A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
  • The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
13 alcove EKMyU     
n.凹室
参考例句:
  • The bookcase fits neatly into the alcove.书架正好放得进壁凹。
  • In the alcoves on either side of the fire were bookshelves.火炉两边的凹室里是书架。
14 sitting-room sitting-room     
n.(BrE)客厅,起居室
参考例句:
  • The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
  • Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。
15 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料
参考例句:
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。
16 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
17 rugged yXVxX     
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的
参考例句:
  • Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
  • The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。
18 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
19 circumscribed 7cc1126626aa8a394fa1a92f8e05484a     
adj.[医]局限的:受限制或限于有限空间的v.在…周围划线( circumscribe的过去式和过去分词 );划定…范围;限制;限定
参考例句:
  • The power of the monarchy was circumscribed by the new law. 君主统治的权力受到了新法律的制约。
  • His activities have been severely circumscribed since his illness. 自生病以来他的行动一直受到严格的限制。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 promotion eRLxn     
n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传
参考例句:
  • The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
  • The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级,加了薪。
21 toiling 9e6f5a89c05478ce0b1205d063d361e5     
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉
参考例句:
  • The fiery orator contrasted the idle rich with the toiling working classes. 这位激昂的演说家把无所事事的富人同终日辛劳的工人阶级进行了对比。
  • She felt like a beetle toiling in the dust. She was filled with repulsion. 她觉得自己像只甲虫在地里挣扎,心中涌满愤恨。
22 auspicious vu8zs     
adj.吉利的;幸运的,吉兆的
参考例句:
  • The publication of my first book was an auspicious beginning of my career.我的第一本书的出版是我事业吉祥的开始。
  • With favorable weather conditions it was an auspicious moment to set sail.风和日丽,正是扬帆出海的黄道吉日。
23 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
参考例句:
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
24 plausible hBCyy     
adj.似真实的,似乎有理的,似乎可信的
参考例句:
  • His story sounded plausible.他说的那番话似乎是真实的。
  • Her story sounded perfectly plausible.她的说辞听起来言之有理。
25 disastrous 2ujx0     
adj.灾难性的,造成灾害的;极坏的,很糟的
参考例句:
  • The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
  • Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨,血本无归。
26 climax yqyzc     
n.顶点;高潮;v.(使)达到顶点
参考例句:
  • The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。
  • His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。
27 metropolis BCOxY     
n.首府;大城市
参考例句:
  • Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
  • He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。
28 scattered 7jgzKF     
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的
参考例句:
  • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来,塞进文件夹里。
29 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望,前途(恒为复数)
参考例句:
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
30 tracts fcea36d422dccf9d9420a7dd83bea091     
大片土地( tract的名词复数 ); 地带; (体内的)道; (尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的)短文
参考例句:
  • vast tracts of forest 大片大片的森林
  • There are tracts of desert in Australia. 澳大利亚有大片沙漠。
31 shipping WESyg     
n.船运(发货,运输,乘船)
参考例句:
  • We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
  • There's a shipping charge of £5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。
32 anticipation iMTyh     
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。
33 sewers f2c11b7b1b6091034471dfa6331095f6     
n.阴沟,污水管,下水道( sewer的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The sewers discharge out at sea. 下水道的污水排入海里。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Another municipal waste problem is street runoff into storm sewers. 有关都市废水的另外一个问题是进入雨水沟的街道雨水。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
34 solitary 7FUyx     
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士
参考例句:
  • I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
  • The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际,显得十分壮美。
35 populous 4ORxV     
adj.人口稠密的,人口众多的
参考例句:
  • London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
  • China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。
36 sweeping ihCzZ4     
adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的
参考例句:
  • The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
  • Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗?
37 intervals f46c9d8b430e8c86dea610ec56b7cbef     
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息
参考例句:
  • The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴,有阵雨。
  • Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。
38 wholesale Ig9wL     
n.批发;adv.以批发方式;vt.批发,成批出售
参考例句:
  • The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物,以零售价卖出。
  • Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。
39 pretension GShz4     
n.要求;自命,自称;自负
参考例句:
  • I make no pretension to skill as an artist,but I enjoy painting.我并不自命有画家的技巧,但我喜欢绘画。
  • His action is a satire on his boastful pretension.他的行动是对他自我卖弄的一个讽刺。
40 imposing 8q9zcB     
adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的
参考例句:
  • The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
  • He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。
41 distinguished wu9z3v     
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的
参考例句:
  • Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
  • A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。
42 fixtures 9403e5114acb6bb59791a97291be54b5     
(房屋等的)固定装置( fixture的名词复数 ); 如(浴盆、抽水马桶); 固定在某位置的人或物; (定期定点举行的)体育活动
参考例句:
  • The insurance policy covers the building and any fixtures contained therein. 保险单为这座大楼及其中所有的设施保了险。
  • The fixtures had already been sold and the sum divided. 固定设备已经卖了,钱也分了。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
43 linen W3LyK     
n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的
参考例句:
  • The worker is starching the linen.这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。
  • Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool.精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。
44 brass DWbzI     
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器
参考例句:
  • Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。
  • Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
45 metropolitan mCyxZ     
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。
46 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
47 mighty YDWxl     
adj.强有力的;巨大的
参考例句:
  • A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
  • The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
48 abash kfsym     
v.使窘迫,使局促不安
参考例句:
  • Nothing could abash him.没有什么可以使他感到难堪。
  • When the child see all the room fille with strangers,he is much abash.那小孩一看到满屋子都是陌生人,感到非常局促不安。
49 applicant 1MlyX     
n.申请人,求职者,请求者
参考例句:
  • He was the hundredth applicant for the job. 他是第100个申请这项工作的人。
  • In my estimation, the applicant is well qualified for this job. 据我看, 这位应征者完全具备这项工作的条件。
50 gulf 1e0xp     
n.海湾;深渊,鸿沟;分歧,隔阂
参考例句:
  • The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
  • There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。
51 lessening 7da1cd48564f42a12c5309c3711a7945     
减轻,减少,变小
参考例句:
  • So however much he earned, she spent it, her demands growing and lessening with his income. 祥子挣多少,她花多少,她的要求随着他的钱涨落。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
  • The talks have resulted in a lessening of suspicion. 谈话消减了彼此的怀疑。
52 deteriorated a4fe98b02a18d2ca4fe500863af93815     
恶化,变坏( deteriorate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died shortly afterwards. 她的健康状况急剧恶化,不久便去世了。
  • His condition steadily deteriorated. 他的病情恶化,日甚一日。
53 shanties b3e9e112c51a1a2755ba9a26012f2713     
n.简陋的小木屋( shanty的名词复数 );铁皮棚屋;船工号子;船歌
参考例句:
  • A few shanties sprawl in the weeds. 杂草丛中零零落落地歪着几所棚屋。 来自辞典例句
  • The workers live in shanties outside the factory. 工人们住在工厂外面的小棚屋内。 来自互联网
54 verged 6b9d65e1536c4e50b097252ecba42d91     
接近,逼近(verge的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • The situation verged on disaster. 形势接近于灾难的边缘。
  • Her silly talk verged on nonsense. 她的蠢话近乎胡说八道。
55 carving 5wezxw     
n.雕刻品,雕花
参考例句:
  • All the furniture in the room had much carving.房间里所有的家具上都有许多雕刻。
  • He acquired the craft of wood carving in his native town.他在老家学会了木雕手艺。
56 vessels fc9307c2593b522954eadb3ee6c57480     
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人
参考例句:
  • The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
57 lining kpgzTO     
n.衬里,衬料
参考例句:
  • The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
  • Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。
58 aprons d381ffae98ab7cbe3e686c9db618abe1     
围裙( apron的名词复数 ); 停机坪,台口(舞台幕前的部份)
参考例句:
  • Many people like to wear aprons while they are cooking. 许多人做饭时喜欢系一条围裙。
  • The chambermaid in our corridor wears blue checked gingham aprons. 给我们扫走廊的清洁女工围蓝格围裙。
59 mazes 01f00574323c5f5c055dbab44afc33b9     
迷宫( maze的名词复数 ); 纷繁复杂的规则; 复杂难懂的细节; 迷宫图
参考例句:
  • The mazes of the dance were ecstatic. 跳舞那种错综曲折,叫人快乐得如登九天。
  • For two hours did this singlehearted and simpleminded girl toil through the mazes of the forest. 这位心地单纯的傻姑娘在林间曲径中艰难地走了两个来小时。


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