The Land of Little Rain少雨的土地
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THE SCAVENGERS

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 Fifty-seven buzzards, one on each of fifty-seven fence posts at the rancho El Tejon, on a mirage-breeding September morning, sat solemnly while the white tilted1 travelers' vans lumbered2 down the Canada de los Uvas. After three hours they had only clapped their wings, or exchanged posts. The season's end in the vast dim valley of the San Joaquin is palpitatingly hot, and the air breathes like cotton wool. Through it all the buzzards sit on the fences and low hummocks3, with wings spread fanwise for air. There is no end to them, and they smell to heaven. Their heads droop4, and all their communication is a rare, horrid5 croak6.
 
The increase of wild creatures is in proportion to the things they feed upon: the more carrion7 the more buzzards. The end of the third successive dry year bred them beyond belief. The first year quail8 mated sparingly; the second year the wild oats matured no seed; the third, cattle died in their tracks with their heads towards the stopped watercourses. And that year the scavengers were as black as the plague all across the mesa and up the treeless, tumbled hills. On clear days they betook themselves to the upper air, where they hung motionless for hours. That year there were vultures among them, distinguished10 by the white patches under the wings. All their offensiveness notwithstanding, they have a stately flight. They must also have what pass for good qualities among themselves, for they are social, not to say clannish11.
 
It is a very squalid tragedy,—that of the dying

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1 tilted 3gtzE5     
v. 倾斜的
参考例句：
  • Suddenly the boat tilted to one side. 小船突然倾向一侧。
  • She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。
2 lumbered 2580a96db1b1c043397df2b46a4d3891     
砍伐（lumber的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
  • A rhinoceros lumbered towards them. 一头犀牛笨重地向他们走来。
  • A heavy truck lumbered by. 一辆重型卡车隆隆驶过。
3 hummocks 58eb27f03a91d04270c63ee25bf89b00     
n.小丘，岗( hummock的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Interesting hummocks swirls and are found on the surface of the landslide. 在山体滑坡的表面，我们能够看到有趣的山包，盘绕的丘陵和悬崖。 来自互联网
4 droop p8Zyd     
v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡
参考例句：
  • The heavy snow made the branches droop.大雪使树枝垂下来。
  • Don't let your spirits droop.不要萎靡不振。
5 horrid arozZj     
adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的
参考例句：
  • I'm not going to the horrid dinner party.我不打算去参加这次讨厌的宴会。
  • The medicine is horrid and she couldn't get it down.这种药很难吃，她咽不下去。
6 croak yYLzJ     
vi.嘎嘎叫，发牢骚
参考例句：
  • Everyone seemed rather out of sorts and inclined to croak.每个人似乎都有点不对劲，想发发牢骚。
  • Frogs began to croak with the rainfall.蛙随着雨落开始哇哇叫。
7 carrion gXFzu     
n.腐肉
参考例句：
  • A crow of bloodthirsty ants is attracted by the carrion.一群嗜血的蚂蚁被腐肉所吸引。
  • Vultures usually feed on carrion or roadkill.兀鹫通常以腐肉和公路上的死伤动物为食。
8 quail f0UzL     
n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖
参考例句：
  • Cowards always quail before the enemy.在敌人面前，胆小鬼们总是畏缩不前的。
  • Quail eggs are very high in cholesterol.鹌鹑蛋胆固醇含量高。
9 scavenger LDTyN     
n.以腐尸为食的动物，清扫工
参考例句：
  • He's just fit for a job as scavenger.他只配当个清道夫。
  • He is not a scavenger nor just a moving appetite as some sharks are.它不是食腐动物，也不像有些鲨鱼那样，只知道游来游去满足食欲。
10 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。
11 clannish 5VOyH     
adj.排他的，门户之见的
参考例句：
  • They were a clannish lot,not given to welcoming strangers.他们那帮人抱成一团，不怎么欢迎生人。
  • Firms are also doggedly clannish on the inside.公司内部同时也具有极其顽固的排他性。
12 brutes 580ab57d96366c5593ed705424e15ffa     
兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性
参考例句：
  • They're not like dogs; they're hideous brutes. 它们不像狗，是丑陋的畜牲。
  • Suddenly the foul musty odour of the brutes struck his nostrils. 突然，他的鼻尖闻到了老鼠的霉臭味。 来自英汉文学
13 totter bnvwi     
v.蹒跚， 摇摇欲坠；n.蹒跚的步子
参考例句：
  • He tottered to the fridge,got a beer and slumped at the table.他踉跄地走到冰箱前，拿出一瓶啤酒，一屁股坐在桌边。
  • The property market is tottering.房地产市场摇摇欲坠。
14 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。
15 afterward fK6y3     
adv.后来；以后
参考例句：
  • Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
  • Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。
16 submission lUVzr     
n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出
参考例句：
  • The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
  • No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。
17 quarry ASbzF     
n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找
参考例句：
  • Michelangelo obtained his marble from a quarry.米开朗基罗从采石场获得他的大理石。
  • This mountain was the site for a quarry.这座山曾经有一个采石场。
18 beak 8y1zGA     
n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻
参考例句：
  • The bird had a worm in its beak.鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。
  • This bird employs its beak as a weapon.这种鸟用嘴作武器。
19 talon WIDzr     
n.爪；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物
参考例句：
  • Can you get a little tighter with the talon?你能不能把摄像探头固定住不动？
  • This kind of spice is made of eagle's talon and has a unique flavor.这种香料味道独特，是用鹰爪作原料制成的。
20 loathsome Vx5yX     
adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的
参考例句：
  • The witch hid her loathsome face with her hands.巫婆用手掩住她那张令人恶心的脸。
  • Some people think that snakes are loathsome creatures.有些人觉得蛇是令人憎恶的动物。
21 distress 3llzX     
n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛
参考例句：
  • Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
  • Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。
22 bowels qxMzez     
n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处
参考例句：
  • Salts is a medicine that causes movements of the bowels. 泻盐是一种促使肠子运动的药物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The cabins are in the bowels of the ship. 舱房设在船腹内。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 slant TEYzF     
v.倾斜，倾向性地编写或报道；n.斜面，倾向
参考例句：
  • The lines are drawn on a slant.这些线条被画成斜线。
  • The editorial had an antiunion slant.这篇社论有一种反工会的倾向。
24 squad 4G1zq     
n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组
参考例句：
  • The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
  • A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。
25 syllable QHezJ     
n.音节；vt.分音节
参考例句：
  • You put too much emphasis on the last syllable.你把最后一个音节读得太重。
  • The stress on the last syllable is light.最后一个音节是轻音节。
26 chuckling e8dcb29f754603afc12d2f97771139ab     
轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • I could hear him chuckling to himself as he read his book. 他看书时，我能听见他的轻声发笑。
  • He couldn't help chuckling aloud. 他忍不住的笑了出来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
27 lookouts 7926b742eec0dc62641ba32374f99780     
n.寻找（ 某人/某物）( lookout的名词复数 )；是某人（自己）的问题；警戒；瞭望台
参考例句：
  • Lookouts were spotted all along the coast. 沿海岸都布置了监视哨。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Lookouts and leadsmen in bulky life jackets stumbled and slipped after him. 监视哨和测深员穿着饱鼓鼓的救生衣，跌跌撞撞地跟在他后面。 来自辞典例句
28 gregarious DfuxO     
adj.群居的，喜好群居的
参考例句：
  • These animals are highly gregarious.这些动物非常喜欢群居。
  • They are gregarious birds and feed in flocks.它们是群居鸟类，会集群觅食。
29 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
30 foraging 6101d89c0b474e01becb6651ecd4f87f     
v.搜寻（食物），尤指动物觅（食）( forage的现在分词 )；（尤指用手）搜寻（东西）
参考例句：
  • They eke out a precarious existence foraging in rubbish dumps. 他们靠在垃圾场捡垃圾维持着朝不保夕的生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The campers went foraging for wood to make a fire. 露营者去搜寻柴木点火。 来自辞典例句
31 crass zoMzH     
adj.愚钝的，粗糙的；彻底的
参考例句：
  • The government has behaved with crass insensitivity.该政府行事愚蠢而且麻木不仁。
  • I didn't want any part of this silly reception,It was all so crass.我完全不想参加这个无聊的欢迎会，它实在太糟糕了。
32 gluttonous Leazj     
adj.贪吃的，贪婪的
参考例句：
  • He is a gluttonous and lazy guy.他是个好吃懒做之徒。
  • He is a selfish, gluttonous and lazy person.他是一个自私、贪婪又懒惰的人。
33 tug 5KBzo     
v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船
参考例句：
  • We need to tug the car round to the front.我们需要把那辆车拉到前面。
  • The tug is towing three barges.那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。
34 tussle DgcyB     
n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩
参考例句：
  • They began to tussle with each other for the handgun.他们互相扭打起来，抢夺那支手枪。
  • We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。
35 hearsay 4QTzB     
n.谣传，风闻
参考例句：
  • They started to piece the story together from hearsay.他们开始根据传闻把事情的经过一点点拼湊起来。
  • You are only supposing this on hearsay.You have no proof.你只是根据传闻想像而已，并没有证据。
36 killing kpBziQ     
n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财
参考例句：
  • Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
  • Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
37 raven jAUz8     
n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的
参考例句：
  • We know the raven will never leave the man's room.我们知道了乌鸦再也不会离开那个男人的房间。
  • Her charming face was framed with raven hair.她迷人的脸上垂落着乌亮的黑发。
38 butt uSjyM     
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。
39 arrant HNJyA     
adj.极端的；最大的
参考例句：
  • He is an arrant fool.他是个大傻瓜。
  • That's arrant nonsense.那完全是一派胡言。
40 lizards 9e3fa64f20794483b9c33d06297dcbfb     
n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Nothing lives in Pompeii except crickets and beetles and lizards. 在庞培城里除了蟋蟀、甲壳虫和蜥蜴外，没有别的生物。 来自辞典例句
  • Can lizards reproduce their tails? 蜥蜴的尾巴断了以后能再生吗？ 来自辞典例句
41 grasshoppers 36b89ec2ea2ca37e7a20710c9662926c     
n.蚱蜢( grasshopper的名词复数 )；蝗虫；蚂蚱；（孩子）矮小的
参考例句：
  • Grasshoppers die in fall. 蚱蜢在秋天死去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • There are usually a lot of grasshoppers in the rice fields. 稻田里通常有许多蚱蜢。 来自辞典例句
42 trot aKBzt     
n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧
参考例句：
  • They passed me at a trot.他们从我身边快步走过。
  • The horse broke into a brisk trot.马突然快步小跑起来。
43 lair R2jx2     
n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处
参考例句：
  • How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's lair?不入虎穴，焉得虎子？
  • I retired to my lair,and wrote some letters.我回到自己的躲藏处，写了几封信。
44 gathering ChmxZ     
n.集会，聚会，聚集
参考例句：
  • He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
  • He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
45 furtively furtively     
adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地
参考例句：
  • At this some of the others furtively exchanged significant glances. 听他这样说，有几个人心照不宣地彼此对望了一眼。
  • Remembering my presence, he furtively dropped it under his chair. 后来想起我在，他便偷偷地把书丢在椅子下。
46 ravens afa492e2603cd239f272185511eefeb8     
n.低质煤；渡鸦( raven的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Wheresoever the carcase is,there will the ravens be gathered together. 哪里有死尸，哪里就有乌鸦麇集。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • A couple of ravens croaked above our boat. 两只乌鸦在我们小船的上空嘎嘎叫着。 来自辞典例句
47 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地
参考例句：
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
48 antelope fwKzN     
n.羚羊；羚羊皮
参考例句：
  • Choosing the antelope shows that China wants a Green Olympics.选择藏羚羊表示中国需要绿色奥运。
  • The tiger was dragging the antelope across the field.老虎拖着羚羊穿过原野。
49 hawk NeKxY     
n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员
参考例句：
  • The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
  • The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。
50 hawks c8b4f3ba2fd1208293962d95608dd1f1     
鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物
参考例句：
  • Two hawks were hover ing overhead. 两只鹰在头顶盘旋。
  • Both hawks and doves have expanded their conditions for ending the war. 鹰派和鸽派都充分阐明了各自的停战条件。
51 agog efayI     
adj.兴奋的，有强烈兴趣的； adv.渴望地
参考例句：
  • The children were all agog to hear the story.孩子们都渴望着要听这个故事。
  • The city was agog with rumors last night that the two had been executed.那两人已被处决的传言昨晚搞得全城沸沸扬扬。
52 badger PuNz6     
v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠
参考例句：
  • Now that our debts are squared.Don't badger me with them any more.我们的债务两清了。从此以后不要再纠缠我了。
  • If you badger him long enough,I'm sure he'll agree.只要你天天纠缠他，我相信他会同意。
53 eyewitness VlVxj     
n.目击者，见证人
参考例句：
  • The police questioned several eyewitness to the murder.警察询问了谋杀案的几位目击者。
  • He was the only eyewitness of the robbery.他是那起抢劫案的唯一目击者。
54 herds 0a162615f6eafc3312659a54a8cdac0f     
兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众
参考例句：
  • Regularly at daybreak they drive their herds to the pasture. 每天天一亮他们就把牲畜赶到草场上去。
  • There we saw herds of cows grazing on the pasture. 我们在那里看到一群群的牛在草地上吃草。
55 perennial i3bz7     
adj.终年的；长久的
参考例句：
  • I wonder at her perennial youthfulness.我对她青春常驻感到惊讶。
  • There's a perennial shortage of teachers with science qualifications.有理科教学资格的老师一直都很短缺。
56 defiles 2d601e222c74cc6f6df822b09af44072     
v.玷污( defile的第三人称单数 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进
参考例句：
  • That kind of love defiles its purity simply. 那恋爱本身就是亵渎了爱情的纯洁。 来自辞典例句
  • Marriage but defiles, outrages, and corrupts her fulfillment. 婚姻只是诋毁、侮辱、败坏这种实现。 来自互联网
57 stinking ce4f5ad2ff6d2f33a3bab4b80daa5baa     
adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透
参考例句：
  • I was pushed into a filthy, stinking room. 我被推进一间又脏又臭的屋子里。
  • Those lousy, stinking ships. It was them that destroyed us. 是的！就是那些该死的蠢猪似的臭飞船！是它们毁了我们。 来自英汉非文学 - 科幻
58 smiting e786019cd4f5cf15076e237cea3c68de     
v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • He set to smiting and overthrowing. 他马上就动手殴打和破坏。 来自辞典例句
59 shambles LElzo     
n.混乱之处；废墟
参考例句：
  • My room is a shambles.我房间里乱七八糟。
  • The fighting reduced the city to a shambles.这场战斗使这座城市成了一片废墟。
60 quagmires 3838bde977f71f0b3553565aed936ba2     
n.沼泽地，泥潭( quagmire的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • The deer, looking soaked, leave quagmires, where they pass. 湿淋淋的野鹿经过的地方，留下了一个个的泥塘。 来自辞典例句
61 gorged ccb1b7836275026e67373c02e756e79c     
v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的过去式和过去分词 )；作呕
参考例句：
  • He gorged himself at the party. 在宴会上他狼吞虎咽地把自己塞饱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The men, gorged with food, had unbuttoned their vests. 那些男人，吃得直打饱嗝，解开了背心的钮扣。 来自辞典例句
62 belying 19283ef2c4752ec020086a52c2052c4f     
v.掩饰，与…不符，使…失望；掩饰( belie的现在分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎
参考例句：
  • Belying its simple graphic design, a T-shirt is now a symbolic medium for designers. 在T恤上面充满简洁的设计，现在已经成为设计师的一个符号化的媒介。 来自互联网
  • Gordon Brown, belying his clunking image, has brought tech-savvy communications staff into Downing Street. 布朗已经把精通技术的通讯工作人员带到的唐宁街。 来自互联网
63 plunderer fd43d9ea233a35b1bd1feb3f2b83360a     
掠夺者
参考例句：
  • And the saint replied, "I too am a thief and a plunderer." 圣人：“我也是个贼人，是个强盗。”
  • And the brigand said, "But I a thief and a plunderer." 盗贼：“可我是个贼人，是个强盗。”
64 permissible sAIy1     
adj.可允许的，许可的
参考例句：
  • Is smoking permissible in the theatre?在剧院里允许吸烟吗？
  • Delay is not permissible,even for a single day.不得延误，即使一日亦不可。
65 filches 09bf06aa3b2f11f4da7f4f8d9c698a8d     
v.偷（尤指小的或不贵重的物品）( filch的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
  • He is so solemn that everyone who sees him filches. 他这人太严肃，谁见了他都打憷。 来自互联网
66 daunted 7ffb5e5ffb0aa17a7b2333d90b452257     
使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • She was a brave woman but she felt daunted by the task ahead. 她是一个勇敢的女人，但对面前的任务却感到信心不足。
  • He was daunted by the high quality of work they expected. 他被他们对工作的高品质的要求吓倒了。
67 chipmunks 489f8c4fac3b4e144efa2b0a3fb81d6a     
n.金花鼠( chipmunk的名词复数 )
参考例句：
68 crumb ynLzv     
n.饼屑，面包屑，小量
参考例句：
  • It was the only crumb of comfort he could salvage from the ordeal.这是他从这场磨难里能找到的唯一的少许安慰。
  • Ruth nearly choked on the last crumb of her pastry.鲁斯几乎被糕点的最后一块碎屑所噎住。
69 crumbs crumbs     
int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式
参考例句：
  • She stood up and brushed the crumbs from her sweater. 她站起身掸掉了毛衣上的面包屑。
  • Oh crumbs! Is that the time? 啊，天哪！都这会儿啦？
70 depleted 31d93165da679292f22e5e2e5aa49a03     
adj. 枯竭的, 废弃的 动词deplete的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
  • Food supplies were severely depleted. 食物供应已严重不足。
  • Both teams were severely depleted by injuries. 两个队都因队员受伤而实力大减。

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