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CHAPTER FIFTEEN GAIA-S
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 1.
 
 
 
       SURA NOVI NOW STEPPED INTO THE CONTROL ROOM OF THE SMALL AND rather old-fashioned ship that was carrying Stor Gendibal and herself across the parsecs in deliberate Jumps.
 
                She had clearly been in the compact cleaning room, where oils, warm air, and a minimum of water freshened her body. She had a robe wrapped about her and was holding it tightly to herself in an agony of modesty1. Her hair was dry but tangled2.
 
                She said in a low voice, “Master?”
 
                Gendibal looked up from his charts and from his computer. “Yes, Novi?”
 
                “I be sorrow-laden--” She paused and then said slowly, “I am very sorry to bother you, Master” (then she slipped again) “but I be loss-ridden for my clothing.”
 
                “Your clothing?” Gendibal stared at her blankly for a moment and then rose to his feet in an access of contrition3. “Novi, I forgot. They needed cleaning and they’re in the detergent-hamper. They’re cleaned, dried, folded, all set. I should have taken them out and placed them in clear sight. I forgot.”
 
                “I did not like to--to--” (she looked down at herself) “offend.”
 
                “You don’t offend,” said Gendibal cheerily. “Look, I promise you that when this is over I shall see to it that you have a great deal of clothing--new and in the latest fashion. We left in a hurry and it never occurred to me to bring a supply, but really, Novi, there are only the two of us and we’ll be together for some time in very close quarters and it’s needless to be--to be--so concerned--about--” He gestured vaguely4, became aware of the horrified5 look in her eyes, and thought: Well, she’s only a country girl after all and has her standards; probably wouldn’t object to improprieties of all kinds--but with her clothes on.
 
                Then he felt ashamed of himself and was glad that she was no “scholar” who could sensehis thoughts. He said, “Shall I get your clothes for you?”
 
                “Oh no, Master. It be not for you-- I know where they are.”
 
                He next saw her properly dressed and with her hair combed. There was a distinct shyness about her. “I am ashamed, Master, to have behaved so improper--ly. I should have found them for myself.”
 
                “No matter,” said Gendibal. “You are doing very well with your Galactic, Novi. You are picking up the language of scholars very quickly.”
 
                Novi smiled suddenly. Her teeth were somewhat uneven6, but that scarcely detracted from the manner in which her face brightened and grew almost sweet under praise, thought Gendibal. He told himself that it was for that reason that he rather liked to praise her.
 
                The Hamish will think little of me when I am back home,” she said. “They will say I be--ama word-chopper. That is what they call someone who speaks--odd. They do not like such.”
 
                “I doubt that you will be going back to the Hamish, Novi,” said Gendibal. “I am sure there will continue to be a place for you in the complex--with the scholars, that is--when this is over.”
 
                “I would like that, Master.”
 
                “I don’t suppose you would care to call me ‘Speaker Gendibal’ or just-- No, I see you wouldn’t,” he said, responding to her look of scandalized objection. “Oh well.”
 
                “It would not be fitting, Master. --But may I ask when this will be over?”
 
                Gendibal shook his head. “I scarcely know. Right now, I must merely get to a particular place as quickly as I can. This ship, which is a very good ship for its kind, is slow and ‘as quickly as I can’ is not very quick. You see” (he gestured at the computer and the charts) “I must work out ways to get across large stretches of space, but the computer is limited in its abilities and I am not very skillful.”
 
                “Must you be there quickly because there is danger, Master?”
 
                “What makes you think there is danger, Novi?”
 
                “Because I watch you sometimes when I don’t think you see me and your face looks--I do not know the word. Not afeared--I mean, frightened--and not bad-expecting, either.”
 
                “Apprehensive,” muttered Gendibal.
 
                “You look--concerned. Is that the word?”
 
                “It depends. What do you mean by concerned, Novi?”
 
                “I means you look as though you are saying to yourself, ‘What am I going to do next in this great trouble?”
 
                Gendibal looked astonished. “That is ‘concerned,’ but do you seethat in my face, Novi? Back in the Place of Scholars, I am extremely careful that no one should see anything in my face, but I did think that, alone in space--except for you--I could relax and let it sit around in its underwear, so to speak. --I’m sorry. That has embarrassed you.. What I’m trying to say is that if you’re so perceptive7, I shall have to be more careful. Every once in a while I have to relearn the lesson that even nonmentalics can make shrewd guesses.”
 
                Novi looked blank. “I don’t understand, Master.”
 
                “I’m talking to myself, Novi. Don’t be concerned. --See, there’s that word again.”
 
                “But is there danger?”
 
                “There’s a problem, Novi. I do not know what I shall find when I reach Sayshell--that is the place to which we are going. I may find myself in a situation of great difficulty.”
 
                “Does that not mean danger?”
 
                “No, because I will be able to handle it.”
 
                “How can you tell this?”
 
                “Because I am a--scholar. And I am the best of them. There is nothing in the Galaxy8 I cannot handle.”
 
                “Master,” and something very like agony twisted Novi’s face, “I do not wish to offensify--I mean, give offense--and make you angry. I have seen you with that oafish9 Rufirant and you were in danger then--and he was only a Hamish farmer. Now I do not know what awaits you--and you do not, either.”
 
                Gendibal felt chagrined10, “Are you afraid, Novi?”
 
                “Not for myself, Master. I fear--I am afraid--for you.”
 
                “You can say, ‘I fear,” muttered Gendibal. “That is good Galactic, too.”
 
                For a moment he was engaged in thought. Then he looked up, took Sura Novi’s rather coarse hands in his, and said, “Novi, I don’t want you to fear anything. Let me explain. You know how you could tell there was--or rather might be--danger from the look on my face--almost as though you could read my thoughts?”
 
                “Yes?”
 
                “I can read thoughts better than you can. That is what scholars learn to do and I am a very good scholar.”
 
                Novi’s eyes widened and her hand pulled loose from his. She seemed to be holding her breath. “You can read my thoughts?”
 
                Gendibal held up a finger hurriedly. “I don’t, Novi. Idon’t read your thoughts, except when I must. I donotread your thoughts.”
 
                (He knew that, in a practical sense, he was lying. It was impossible to be with Sura Novi and not understand the general tenor11 of some of her thoughts. One scarcely needed to be a Second Foundationer for that. Gendibal felt himself to be on the edge of blushing. But even from a Hamishwoman, such an attitude was flattering.
 
                --And yet she had to be reassured--out of common humanity--)
 
                He said, “I can also change the way people think. I can make people feel hurt. I can--”
 
                But Novi was shaking her head. “How can you do all that, Master? Rufirant--”
 
                “Forget Rufirant,” said Gendibal testily12. “I could have stopped him in a moment. I could have made him fall to the ground. I could have madeall the Hamish--” He stopped suddenly and felt uneasily that he was boasting, that he was trying to impress this provincial13 woman. And she was shaking her head still.
 
                “Master,” she said, “you are trying to make me not afraid, but I am not afraid except for you, so there is no need. I know you are a great scholar and can make this ship fly through space where it seems to me that no person could do aught but--I mean, anything but--be lost. And you use machines I cannot understand--and that no Hamish person could understand. But you need not tell me of these powers of mind, which surely cannot be so, since all the things you say you could have done to Rufirant, you didnot do, though you were in danger.”
 
                Gendibal pressed his lips together. Leave it at that, he thought. If the woman insists she is not afraid for herself, let it go at that. Yet he did not want her to think of him as a weakling and braggart14. He simply didnot .
 
                He said, “If I did nothing to Rufirant, it was because I did not wish to. We scholars must never do anything to the Hamish. We are guests on your world. Do you understand that?”
 
                “You are our masters. That is whatwe always say.”
 
                For a moment Gendibal was diverted. “How is it, then, that this Rufirant attacked me?”
 
                “I do not know,” she said simply. “I don’t think he knew. He must have been mind-wandering--uh, out of his mind.”
 
                Gendibal grunted15. “In any case, we do not harm the Hamish. If I had been forced to stop him by--hurting him, I might have been poorly thought of by the other scholars and might perhaps have lost my position. But to save myself being badly hurt, I might have had to handle him just a small bit--the smallest possible.”
 
                Novi drooped16. “Then I need not have come rushing in like a great fool myself.”
 
                “You did exactly right,” said Gendibal. “I have just said I would have done ill to have hurt him. You made it unnecessary to do so.You stopped him and that was well done. I am grateful.”
 
                She smiled again--blissfully. “I see, then, why you have been so kind to me.”
 
                “I was grateful, of course,” said Gendibal, a little flustered17, “but the important thing is that you must understand there is no danger. I can handle an army of ordinary people. Any scholar can-- especially the important ones--and I told you I am the best of all of them. There is no one in the Galaxy who can stand against me.”
 
                “If you say so, Master, I am sure of it.”
 
                “I do say so. Now, are you afraid for me?”
 
                “No, Master, except-- Master, is it onlyour scholars who can read minds and-- Are there other scholars, other places, who can oppose you?”
 
                For a moment Gendibal was staggered. The woman had an astonishing gift of penetration18.
 
                It was necessary to lie. He said, “There are none.”
 
                “But there are so many stars in the sky. I once tried to count them and couldn’t. If there are as many worlds of people as there are stars, wouldn’t some of them be scholars? Besides the scholars on our own world, I mean?”
 
                “No.”
 
                “What if there are?”
 
                “They would not be as strong as I am.”
 
                “What if they leap upon you suddenly before you are aware?”
 
                “They cannot do that. If any strange scholar were to approach, I would know at once. I would know it long before he could harm me.”
 
                “Could you run?”
 
                “I would not have to run. --But” (anticipating her objection) “if
 
                I had to, I could be in a new ship soon--better than any in the Galaxy. They would not catch me.”
 
                “Might they not change your thoughts and make you stay?”
 
                “No.”
 
                “There might be many of them. You are but one.”
 
                “As soon as they are there, long before they can imagine it would be possible, I would know they were there and I would leave. Our whole world of scholars would then turn against them and they would not stand. And they would know that, so they would not dare do anything against me. In fact, they would not want me to know of them at all--and yet I will.”
 
                “Because you are so much better than they?” said Novi, her face shining with a doubtful pride.
 
                Gendibal could not resist. Her native intelligence, her quick understanding was such that it was simple joy to be with her. That softvoiced monster, Speaker Debra Delarmi, had done him an incredible favor when she had forced this Hamish farmwoman upon him.
 
                He said, “No, Novi, not because I am better than they, although I am. It is because I haveyou with me.”
 
                “I?”
 
                “Exactly, Novi. Had you guessed that?”
 
                “No, Master,” she said, wondering. “What is it I could do?”
 
                “It is your mind.” He held up his hand at once. “I am not reading your thoughts. I see merely the outline of your mind and it is a smooth outline, an unusually smooth outline.”
 
                She put her hand to her forehead. “Because I am unlearned, Master? Because I am so foolish?”
 
                “No, dear.” He did not notice the manner of address. “It is because you are honest and possess no guile19; because you are truthful20 and speak your mind; because you are warm of heart and--and other things. If other scholars send out anything to touch our minds-- yours and mine--the touch will be instantly visible on the smoothness of your mind. I will be aware of that even before I would be aware of a touch on my own mind--and I will then have time for counteractive21 strategy; that is, to fight it off.”
 
                There was a silence for long moments after that. Gendibal realized that it was not just happiness in Novi’s eyes, but exultation22 and pride, too. She said softly, “And you took me with you for that reason?”
 
                Gendibal nodded. “That was an important reason. Yes.”
 
                Her voice sank to a whisper. “How can I help as much as possible, Master?”
 
                He said. “Remain calm. Don’t be afraid. And just--just stay as you are.”
 
                She said, “I will stay as I am. And I will stand between you and danger, as I did in the case of Rufirant.”
 
                She left the room and Gendibal looked after her.
 
                It was strange how much there was to her. How could so simple a creature hold such complexity23? The smoothness of her mind structure had, beneath it, enormous intelligence, understanding, and courage. What more could he ask--of anyone?
 
                Somehow, he caught an image of Sura Novi--who was not a Speaker, not even a Second Foundationer, not even educated-- grimly at his side, playing a vital auxiliary24 role in the drama that was coming.
 
                Yet he could not see the details clearly. --He could not yet see precisely25 what it was that awaited them.
 
 
 
 2.
 
 
 
 “A single Jump,” muttered Trevize, “and there it is.”
 
                “Gaia?” asked Pelorat, looking over Trevize’s shoulder at the screen.
 
                “Gaia’s sun,” said Trevize. “Call it Gaia-S, if you like, to avoid confusion. Gaiactographers do that sometimes.”
 
                “And where is Gaia itself, then? Or do we call it Gaia-P--for planet?”
 
                “Gaia would be sufficient for the planet. We can’t see Gaia yet, however. Planets aren’t as easy to see as stars are and we’re still a hundred microparsecs away from Gaia-S. Notice that it’s only a star, even though a very bright one. We’re not close enough for it to show as a disc. --And don’t stare at it directly, Janov. It’s still bright enough to damage the retina. I’ll throw in a filter, once I’m through with my observations. Then you can stare.”
 
                “How much is a hundred microparsecs in units which a mythologist26 can understand, Golan?”
 
                “Three billion kilometers; about twenty times the distance of Terminus from our own sun. Does that help?”
 
                “Enormously. --But shouldn’t we get closer?”
 
                “No!” Trevize looked up in surprise. “Not right away. After what we’ve heard about Gaia, why should we rush? It’s one thing to have guts27; it’s another to be crazy. Let’s take a look first.”
 
                “At what, Golan? You said we can’t see Gaia yet?”
 
                “Not at a glance, no. But we have telescopic viewers and we have an excellent computer for rapid analysis. We can certainly study Gaia-S, to begin with, and we can perhaps make a few other observations. --Relax, Janov” He reached out and slapped the other’s shoulder with an avuncular28 flourish.
 
                After a pause Trevize said, “Gaia-S is a single star or, if it has a companion, that companion is much farther away from it than we are at the present moment and it is, at best, a red dwarf29, which means we need not be concerned with it. Gaia-S is a G4 star, which means it is perfectly30 capable of having a habitable planet, and that’s good. If it were an A or an M, we would have to turn around and leave right now.”
 
                Pelorat said, “I may be only a mythologist, but couldn’t we have determined31 the spectral32 class of Gaia-S from Sayshell?”
 
                “We could and we did, Janov, but it never hurts to check at closer quarters. --Gaia-S has a planetary system, which is no surprise. There are two gas giants in view and one of them is nice and large--if the computer’s distance estimate is accurate. There could easily be another on the other side of the star and therefore not easily detectable33, since we happen--by chance--to be somewhat close to the planetary plane. I can’t make out anything in the inner regions, which is also no surprise.”
 
                “Is that bad?”
 
                “Not really. It’s expected. The habitable planets would be of rock and metal and would be much smaller than the gas giants and much closer to the star, if they’re to be warm enough--and on both counts they would be much harder to see from out here. It means we’ll have to get in considerably34 closer in order to probe the area within four microparsecs of Gaia-S.”
 
                “I’m ready.”
 
                “I’m not. We’ll make the Jump tomorrow.”
 
                “Why tomorrow?”
 
                “Why not? Let’s give them a day to come out and get us--and for us to get away, perhaps, if we spot them coming and don’t like what we see.”
 
 
 
 3.
 
 
 
 It was a slow and cautious process. During the day that passed, Trevize grimly directed the calculation of several different approaches and tried to choose between them. Lacking hard data, he could depend only on intuition, which unfortunately told him nothing. He lacked that “sureness” he sometimes experienced.
 
                Eventually he punched in directions for a Jump that moved them far out of the planetary plane.
 
                “That will give us a better view of the region as a whole,” he said, “since we will see the planets in every part of their orbit at maximum apparent distance from the sun. Andthey --whoever they may be--might not be quite as watchful35 over regions outside the plane. --I hope.”
 
                They were now as close to Gaia-S as the nearest and largest of the gas giants was and they were nearly half a billion kilometers from it. Trevize placed it under full magnification on the screen for Pelorat’s benefit. It was an impressive sight, even if the three sparse36 and narrow rings of debris37 were left out of account.
 
                “It has the usual train of satellites,” said Trevize, “but at this distance from Gaia-S, we know that none of them are habitable. Nor are any of them settled by ‘human beings who survive, let us say, under a glass dome38 or under other strictly39 artificial conditions.”
 
                “How can you tell?”
 
                “There’s no radio noise with characteristics that point them out as of intelligent origin. Of course,” he added, qualifying his statement at once, “it is conceivable that a scientific outpost might go to great pains to shield its radio signals and the gas giant produces radio noise that could mask what I was looking for. Still, our radio reception is delicate and our computer is an extraordinarily40 good one. I’d say the chance of human occupation of those satellites is extremely small.”
 
                “Does that mean there’s no Gaia?”
 
                “No. But it does mean that if thereis a Gaia, it hasn’t bothered to settle those satellites. Perhaps it lacks the capacity to do so--or the interest.”
 
                “Well,is there a Gaia?”
 
                “Patience, Janov. Patience.”
 
                Trevize considered the sky with a seemingly endless supply of patience. He stopped at one point to say, “Frankly, the fact that they haven’t come out to pounce41 on us is disheartening, in a way. Surely, if they had the capacities they were described as having, they would have reacted to us by now.”
 
                “It’s conceivable, I suppose,” said Pelorat glumly42, “that the whole thing is a fantasy.”
 
                “Call it a myth, Janov,” said Trevize with a wry43 smile, “and it will be right up your alley44. Still, there’s a planet moving through the ecosphere, which means it might be habitable. I’ll want to observe it for at least a day.”
 
                “Why?”
 
                “To make sure it’s habitable, for one thing.”
 
                “You just said it was in the ecosphere, Golan.”
 
                “Yes, at the moment it is. But its orbit could be very eccentric, and could eventually carry it within a microparsec of the star, or out to fifteen microparsecs, or both. We’ll have to determine and compare the planet’s distance from Gaia-S with its orbital speed--and it would help to note the direction of its motion.”
 
 
 
 4.
 
 
 
 Another day.
 
                “The orbit is nearly circular,” Trevize said finally, “which means that habitability becomes a much safer bet. Yet no one’s coming out to get us even now. We’ll have to try a closer look.”
 
                Pelorat said, “Why does it take so long to arrange a Jump? You’re just taking little ones.”
 
                “Listen to the man. Little Jumps are harder to control than big ones. Is it easier to pick up a rock or a fine grain of sand? Besides, Gaia-S is nearby and space is sharply curved. That complicates45 the calculations even for the computer. Even a mythologist should see that.”
 
                Pelorat grunted.
 
                Trevize said, “You can see the planet with the unaided eye now. Right there. See it? The period of rotation46 is about twenty-two Galactic Hours and the axial inclination47 is twelve degrees. It is practically a textbook example of a habitable planet and itis life-bearing.”
 
                “How can you tell?”
 
                “There are substantial quantities of free oxygen in the atmosphere. You can’t have that without well-established vegetation.”
 
                “What about intelligent life?”
 
                “That depends on the analysis of radio-wave radiation. Of course, there could be intelligent life that has abandoned technology, I suppose, but that seems very unlikely.”
 
                “There have been cases of that,” said Pelorat.
 
                “I’ll take your word for it. That’s your department. However, it’s not likely that there would be nothing but pastoral survivors48 on a planet that frightened off the Mule49.”
 
                Pelorat said, “Does it have a satellite?”
 
                “Yes, it does,” said Trevize casually50.
 
                “How big?” Pelorat said in a voice that was suddenly choking.
 
                “Can’t tell for sure. Perhaps a hundred kilometers across.”
 
                “Dear me,” said Pelorat wistfully. “I wish I had some worthier51 set of expletives on instant call, my dear chap, but there was just that one little chance--”
 
                “You mean, if it had a giant satellite, it might be Earth itself?”
 
                “Yes, but it clearly isn’t.”
 
                “Well, if Compor is right, Earth wouldn’t be in this Galactic region, anyway. It would be over Sirius way. --Really, Janov, I’m sorry.”
 
                “Oh well.”
 
                “Look, we’ll wait, and risk one more small Jump. If we find no signs of intelligent life, then it should be safe to land--except that there will then be no reason to land, will there?”
 
 
 
 5.
 
 
 
 After the next Jump, Trevize said in an astonished voice, “That does it, Janov. It’s Gaia, all right. At least, it possesses a technological52 civilization.”
 
                “Can you tell that from the radio waves?”
 
                “Better than that. There’s a space station circling the planet. Do you see that?”
 
                There was an object on display on the viewscreen. To Pelorat’s unaccustomed eye, it didn’t seem very remarkable53, but Trevize said, “Artificial, metallic54, and a radio-source.”
 
                “What do we do now?”
 
                “Nothing, for a while. At this stage of technology, they cannot fail to detect us. If, after a while, they do nothing, I will beam a radio message at them. If they still do nothing, I will approach cautiously.”
 
                “What if theydo do something?”
 
                “It will depend on the ‘something.’ If I don’t like it, then I’ll have to take advantage of the fact that it is very unlikely that they have anything that can match the facility with which this ship can make a Jump.”
 
                “You mean we’ll leave?”
 
                “Like a hyperspatial missile.”
 
                “But we’ll leave no wiser than we came.”
 
                “Not at all. At the very least we’ll know that Gaia exists, that it has a working technology, and that it’s done something to scare us.”
 
                “But, Golan, let’s not be too easily scared.”
 
                “Now, Janov, I know that you want nothing more in the Galaxy than to learn about Earth at any cost, but please remember that I don’t share your monomania. We are in an unarmed ship and those people down there have been isolated55 for centuries. Suppose they have never heard of the Foundation and don’t know enough to be respectful of it. Or suppose thisis the Second Foundation and once we’re in their grip--if they’re annoyed with us--we may never be the same again. Do you want them to wipe your mind clear and find you are no longer a mythologist and know nothing about any legends whatever?”
 
                Pelorat looked grim. “If you put it that way-- But what do we do once we leave?”
 
                “Simple. We get back to Terminus with the news. --Or as near to Terminus as the old woman will allow. Then we might return to Gaia once again--more quickly and without all this inching along-- and we return with an armed ship or an armed fleet. Things may well be different then.”
 
 
 
 6.
 
 
 
 They waited. It had grown to be a routine. They had spent far more time waiting in the approaches to Gaia than they had spent in all the flight from Terminus to Sayshell.
 
                Trevize set the computer to automatic alarm and was even nonchalant enough to doze56 in his padded chair.
 
                This meant he woke with a start when the alarm chimed. Pelorat came into Trevize’s room, just as startled. He bad been interrupted while shaving.
 
                “Have we received a message?” asked Pelorat.
 
                “No,” said Trevize energetically. “We’re moving.”
 
                “Moving? Where?”
 
                “Toward the space station.”
 
                “Why is that?”
 
                “I don’t know. The motors are on and the computer doesn’t respond to me--but we’re moving. --Janov, we’ve been seized. We’ve come a little too close to Gaia.”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 modesty REmxo     
n.谦逊,虚心,端庄,稳重,羞怯,朴素
参考例句:
  • Industry and modesty are the chief factors of his success.勤奋和谦虚是他成功的主要因素。
  • As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后,谦虚使人进步。
2 tangled e487ee1bc1477d6c2828d91e94c01c6e     
adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • Your hair's so tangled that I can't comb it. 你的头发太乱了,我梳不动。
  • A movement caught his eye in the tangled undergrowth. 乱灌木丛里的晃动引起了他的注意。
3 contrition uZGy3     
n.悔罪,痛悔
参考例句:
  • The next day he'd be full of contrition,weeping and begging forgiveness.第二天,他就会懊悔不已,哭着乞求原谅。
  • She forgave him because his contrition was real.她原谅了他是由于他的懊悔是真心的。
4 vaguely BfuzOy     
adv.含糊地,暖昧地
参考例句:
  • He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
  • He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。
5 horrified 8rUzZU     
a.(表现出)恐惧的
参考例句:
  • The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
  • We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。
6 uneven akwwb     
adj.不平坦的,不规则的,不均匀的
参考例句:
  • The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
  • The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。
7 perceptive muuyq     
adj.知觉的,有洞察力的,感知的
参考例句:
  • This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
  • He is very perceptive and nothing can be hidden from him.他耳聪目明,什么事都很难瞒住他。
8 galaxy OhoxB     
n.星系;银河系;一群(杰出或著名的人物)
参考例句:
  • The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
  • The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。
9 oafish 2HuxP     
adj.呆子的,白痴的
参考例句:
  • The bodyguards,as usual,were brave but oafish.这些保镖照旧勇气可嘉但鲁钝无礼。
  • But we will never see that glory if we till the soil like oafish farm hands.但是要是我们象白痴农奴那样去耕地,我们永远也看不到这样的荣耀!
10 chagrined 55be2dce03734a832733c53ee1dbb9e3     
adj.懊恼的,苦恼的v.使懊恼,使懊丧,使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • I was most chagrined when I heard that he had got the job instead of me. 当我听说是他而不是我得到了那份工作时懊恼极了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He was [felt] chagrined at his failure [at losing his pen]. 他为自己的失败 [遗失钢笔] 而感到懊恼。 来自辞典例句
11 tenor LIxza     
n.男高音(歌手),次中音(乐器),要旨,大意
参考例句:
  • The tenor of his speech was that war would come.他讲话的大意是战争将要发生。
  • The four parts in singing are soprano,alto,tenor and bass.唱歌的四个声部是女高音、女低音、男高音和男低音。
12 testily df69641c1059630ead7b670d16775645     
adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地
参考例句:
  • He reacted testily to reports that he'd opposed military involvement. 有报道称他反对军队参与,对此他很是恼火。 来自柯林斯例句
13 provincial Nt8ye     
adj.省的,地方的;n.外省人,乡下人
参考例句:
  • City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
  • Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。
14 braggart LW2zF     
n.吹牛者;adj.吹牛的,自夸的
参考例句:
  • However,Captain Prien was not a braggart.不过,普里恩舰长却不是一个夸大其词的人。
  • Sir,I don't seek a quarrel,not being a braggart.先生,我并不想寻衅挑斗,也不是爱吹牛的人。
15 grunted f18a3a8ced1d857427f2252db2abbeaf     
(猪等)作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 ); (指人)发出类似的哼声; 咕哝着说
参考例句:
  • She just grunted, not deigning to look up from the page. 她只咕哝了一声,继续看书,不屑抬起头来看一眼。
  • She grunted some incomprehensible reply. 她咕噜着回答了些令人费解的话。
16 drooped ebf637c3f860adcaaf9c11089a322fa5     
弯曲或下垂,发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。
  • The flowers drooped in the heat of the sun. 花儿晒蔫了。
17 flustered b7071533c424b7fbe8eb745856b8c537     
adj.慌张的;激动不安的v.使慌乱,使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The honking of horns flustered the boy. 汽车喇叭的叫声使男孩感到慌乱。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • She was so flustered that she forgot her reply. 她太紧张了,都忘记了该如何作答。 来自辞典例句
18 penetration 1M8xw     
n.穿透,穿人,渗透
参考例句:
  • He is a man of penetration.他是一个富有洞察力的人。
  • Our aim is to achieve greater market penetration.我们的目标是进一步打入市场。
19 guile olNyJ     
n.诈术
参考例句:
  • He is full of guile.他非常狡诈。
  • A swindler uses guile;a robber uses force.骗子用诈术;强盗用武力。
20 truthful OmpwN     
adj.真实的,说实话的,诚实的
参考例句:
  • You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心,他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
  • I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。
21 counteractive 1a42db8b28741389528f734cec12701d     
反对的,反作用的,抵抗的
参考例句:
  • Social ideology has a counteractive effect on social existence. 社会意识对社会存在有反作用。
  • Do which kind of vegetable have the function of counteractive stomach cancer? 哪一种蔬菜具有抵抗肠胃癌的功能?
22 exultation wzeyn     
n.狂喜,得意
参考例句:
  • It made him catch his breath, it lit his face with exultation. 听了这个名字,他屏住呼吸,乐得脸上放光。
  • He could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. 他一点都激动不起来。
23 complexity KO9z3     
n.复杂(性),复杂的事物
参考例句:
  • Only now did he understand the full complexity of the problem.直到现在他才明白这一问题的全部复杂性。
  • The complexity of the road map puzzled me.错综复杂的公路图把我搞糊涂了。
24 auxiliary RuKzm     
adj.辅助的,备用的
参考例句:
  • I work in an auxiliary unit.我在一家附属单位工作。
  • The hospital has an auxiliary power system in case of blackout.这家医院装有备用发电系统以防灯火管制。
25 precisely zlWzUb     
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地
参考例句:
  • It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
  • The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。
26 mythologist 2nSz6S     
n.神话学家;神话作家
参考例句:
27 guts Yraziv     
v.狼吞虎咽,贪婪地吃,飞碟游戏(比赛双方每组5人,相距15码,互相掷接飞碟);毁坏(建筑物等)的内部( gut的第三人称单数 );取出…的内脏n.勇气( gut的名词复数 );内脏;消化道的下段;肠
参考例句:
  • I'll only cook fish if the guts have been removed. 鱼若已收拾干净,我只需烧一下即可。
  • Barbara hasn't got the guts to leave her mother. 巴巴拉没有勇气离开她妈妈。 来自《简明英汉词典》
28 avuncular TVTzX     
adj.叔伯般的,慈祥的
参考例句:
  • He began to talk in his most gentle and avuncular manner.他开始讲话了,态度极其和蔼而慈祥。
  • He was now playing the role of disinterested host and avuncular mentor.他现在正扮演着慷慨的主人和伯父似的指导人的角色。
29 dwarf EkjzH     
n.矮子,侏儒,矮小的动植物;vt.使…矮小
参考例句:
  • The dwarf's long arms were not proportional to his height.那侏儒的长臂与他的身高不成比例。
  • The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 矮子耸耸肩膀,摇摇头。
30 perfectly 8Mzxb     
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。
31 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
32 spectral fvbwg     
adj.幽灵的,鬼魂的
参考例句:
  • At times he seems rather ordinary.At other times ethereal,perhaps even spectral.有时他好像很正常,有时又难以捉摸,甚至像个幽灵。
  • She is compelling,spectral fascinating,an unforgettably unique performer.她极具吸引力,清幽如鬼魅,令人着迷,令人难忘,是个独具特色的演员。
33 detectable tuXzmd     
adj.可发觉的;可查明的
参考例句:
  • The noise is barely detectable by the human ear.人的耳朵几乎是察觉不到这种噪音的。
  • The inflection point at this PH is barely detectable.在此PH值下,拐点不易发现。
34 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。
35 watchful tH9yX     
adj.注意的,警惕的
参考例句:
  • The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
  • It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。
36 sparse SFjzG     
adj.稀疏的,稀稀落落的,薄的
参考例句:
  • The teacher's house is in the suburb where the houses are sparse.老师的家在郊区,那里稀稀拉拉有几处房子。
  • The sparse vegetation will only feed a small population of animals.稀疏的植物只够喂养少量的动物。
37 debris debris     
n.瓦砾堆,废墟,碎片
参考例句:
  • After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
  • Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上,导致蛀牙。
38 dome 7s2xC     
n.圆屋顶,拱顶
参考例句:
  • The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
  • They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。
39 strictly GtNwe     
adv.严厉地,严格地;严密地
参考例句:
  • His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
  • The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。
40 extraordinarily Vlwxw     
adv.格外地;极端地
参考例句:
  • She is an extraordinarily beautiful girl.她是个美丽非凡的姑娘。
  • The sea was extraordinarily calm that morning.那天清晨,大海出奇地宁静。
41 pounce 4uAyU     
n.猛扑;v.猛扑,突然袭击,欣然同意
参考例句:
  • Why do you pounce on every single thing I say?干吗我说的每句话你都要找麻烦?
  • We saw the tiger about to pounce on the goat.我们看见老虎要向那只山羊扑过去。
42 glumly glumly     
adv.忧郁地,闷闷不乐地;阴郁地
参考例句:
  • He stared at it glumly, and soon became lost in thought. 他惘然沉入了瞑想。 来自子夜部分
  • The President sat glumly rubbing his upper molar, saying nothing. 总统愁眉苦脸地坐在那里,磨着他的上牙,一句话也没有说。 来自辞典例句
43 wry hMQzK     
adj.讽刺的;扭曲的
参考例句:
  • He made a wry face and attempted to wash the taste away with coffee.他做了个鬼脸,打算用咖啡把那怪味地冲下去。
  • Bethune released Tung's horse and made a wry mouth.白求恩放开了董的马,噘了噘嘴。
44 alley Cx2zK     
n.小巷,胡同;小径,小路
参考例句:
  • We live in the same alley.我们住在同一条小巷里。
  • The blind alley ended in a brick wall.这条死胡同的尽头是砖墙。
45 complicates 5877af381de63ddbd027e178c8d214f1     
使复杂化( complicate的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • What complicates the issue is the burden of history. 历史的重负使问题复杂化了。
  • Russia as a great and ambitious power gravely complicates the situation. 俄国作为一个强大而有野心的国家,使得局势异常复杂。
46 rotation LXmxE     
n.旋转;循环,轮流
参考例句:
  • Crop rotation helps prevent soil erosion.农作物轮作有助于防止水土流失。
  • The workers in this workshop do day and night shifts in weekly rotation.这个车间的工人上白班和上夜班每周轮换一次。
47 inclination Gkwyj     
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好
参考例句:
  • She greeted us with a slight inclination of the head.她微微点头向我们致意。
  • I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我没有丝毫着急的意思。
48 survivors 02ddbdca4c6dba0b46d9d823ed2b4b62     
幸存者,残存者,生还者( survivor的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
  • survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者
49 mule G6RzI     
n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人
参考例句:
  • A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
  • He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。
50 casually UwBzvw     
adv.漠不关心地,无动于衷地,不负责任地
参考例句:
  • She remarked casually that she was changing her job.她当时漫不经心地说要换工作。
  • I casually mentioned that I might be interested in working abroad.我不经意地提到我可能会对出国工作感兴趣。
51 worthier 309910ce145fa0bfb651b2b8ce1095f6     
应得某事物( worthy的比较级 ); 值得做某事; 可尊敬的; 有(某人或事物)的典型特征
参考例句:
  • I am sure that you might be much, much worthier of yourself.' 我可以肯定你能非常非常值得自己骄傲。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
  • I should like the chance to fence with a worthier opponent. 我希望有机会跟实力相当的对手击剑。
52 technological gqiwY     
adj.技术的;工艺的
参考例句:
  • A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
  • Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今, 随着科技进步,生活节奏不断增快。
53 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
54 metallic LCuxO     
adj.金属的;金属制的;含金属的;产金属的;像金属的
参考例句:
  • A sharp metallic note coming from the outside frightened me.外面传来尖锐铿锵的声音吓了我一跳。
  • He picked up a metallic ring last night.昨夜他捡了一个金属戒指。
55 isolated bqmzTd     
adj.与世隔绝的
参考例句:
  • His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
  • Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。
56 doze IsoxV     
v.打瞌睡;n.打盹,假寐
参考例句:
  • He likes to have a doze after lunch.他喜欢午饭后打个盹。
  • While the adults doze,the young play.大人们在打瞌睡,而孩子们在玩耍。


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