That such a family, thus cursorily¹ presented, might have a different and somewhat peculiar² history could well beanticipated, and it would be true. Indeed, this one presented one of those anomalies of psychic³ and social reflexand motivation such as would tax the skill of not only the psychologist but the chemist and physicist⁴ as well, tounravel. To begin with, Asa Griffiths, the father, was one of those poorly integrated and correlated organisms,the product of an environment and a religious theory, but with no guiding or mental insight of his own, yetsensitive and therefore highly emotional and without any practical sense whatsoever⁵. Indeed it would be hard tomake clear just how life appealed to him, or what the true hue⁶ of his emotional responses was. On the other hand,as has been indicated, his wife was of a firmer texture⁷ but with scarcely any truer or more practical insight intoanything.

　　The history of this man and his wife is of no particular interest here save as it affected⁸ their boy of twelve, ClydeGriffiths. This youth, aside from a certain emotionalism and exotic sense of romance which characterized him,and which he took more from his father than from his mother, brought a more vivid and intelligent imaginationto things, and was constantly thinking of how he might better himself, if he had a chance; places to which hemight go, things he might see, and how differently he might live, if only this, that and the other things were true.

　　The principal thing that troubled Clyde up to his fifteenth year, and for long after in retrospect⁹, was that thecalling or profession of his parents was the shabby thing that it appeared to be in the eyes of others. For so oftenthroughout his youth in different cities in which his parents had conducted a mission or spoken on the streets-GrandRapids, Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago, lastly Kansas City--it had been obvious that people, at least theboys and girls he encountered, looked down upon him and his brothers and sisters for being the children of suchparents. On several occasions, and much against the mood of his parents, who never

点击收听单词发音  

1 cursorily
adv.粗糙地，疏忽地，马虎地
参考例句：
The subject has been referred to cursorily in the preface. 这个问题在序言中已粗略地提到了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 The stags line up against the wall, chat cursorily with one another. 光棍来宾都一字靠在墙上，有口无心地聊着天儿。 来自辞典例句

2 peculiar
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。

3 psychic
n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的
参考例句：
Some people are said to have psychic powers.据说有些人有通灵的能力。 She claims to be psychic and to be able to foretell the future.她自称有特异功能，能预知未来。

4 physicist
n.物理学家，研究物理学的人
参考例句：
He is a physicist of the first rank.他是一流的物理学家。 The successful physicist never puts on airs.这位卓有成就的物理学家从不摆架子。

5 whatsoever
adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么
参考例句：
There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

6 hue
n.色度；色调；样子
参考例句：
The diamond shone with every hue under the sun.金刚石在阳光下放出五颜六色的光芒。 The same hue will look different in different light.同一颜色在不同的光线下看起来会有所不同。

7 texture
n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理
参考例句：
We could feel the smooth texture of silk.我们能感觉出丝绸的光滑质地。 Her skin has a fine texture.她的皮肤细腻。

8 affected
adj.不自然的，假装的
参考例句：
She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。 His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 retrospect
n.回顾，追溯；v.回顾，回想，追溯
参考例句：
One's school life seems happier in retrospect than in reality.学校生活回忆起来显得比实际上要快乐。 In retrospect,it's easy to see why we were wrong.回顾过去就很容易明白我们的错处了。

10 countenanced
v.支持，赞同，批准( countenance的过去式 )
参考例句：

11 impractical
adj.不现实的，不实用的，不切实际的
参考例句：
He was hopelessly impractical when it came to planning new projects.一到规划新项目，他就完全没有了实际操作的能力。 An entirely rigid system is impractical.一套完全死板的体制是不实际的。

12 canvassing
v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的现在分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查
参考例句：
He spent the whole month canvassing for votes. 他花了整整一个月四处游说拉选票。 I'm canvassing for the Conservative Party. 我在为保守党拉选票。 来自辞典例句

13 dreary
adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的
参考例句：
They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。 She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

14 situated
adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的
参考例句：
The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。 She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

15 lengthy
adj.漫长的，冗长的
参考例句：
We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。 The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

16 enthusiasts
n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )
参考例句：
A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册

17 thereby
adv.因此，从而
参考例句：
I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。 He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。

18 psalms
n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 )；圣诗；圣歌；(中的)
参考例句：
the Book of Psalms 《〈圣经〉诗篇》 A verse from Psalms knifed into Pug's mind: "put not your trust in princes." 《诗篇》里有一句话闪过帕格的脑海：“不要相信王侯。” 来自辞典例句

19 adder
n.蝰蛇；小毒蛇
参考例句：
The adder is Britain's only venomous snake.蝰蛇是英国唯一的一种毒蛇。 An adder attacked my father.一条小毒蛇攻击了我父亲。

20 mighty
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。

21 dross
n.渣滓；无用之物
参考例句：
Caroline felt the value of the true ore,and knew the deception of the flashy dross.卡罗琳辨别出了真金的价值，知道那种炫耀的铁渣只有迷惑人的外表。 The best players go off to the big clubs,leaving us the dross.最好的队员都投奔大俱乐部去了，就只给我们剩下些不中用的人。

22 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。

23 wont
adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯
参考例句：
He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。 It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。

24 meditate
v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想
参考例句：
It is important to meditate on the meaning of life.思考人生的意义很重要。 I was meditating,and reached a higher state of consciousness.我在冥想，并进入了一个更高的意识境界。

25 inoculated
v.给…做预防注射( inoculate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
A pedigree pup should have been inoculated against serious diseases before it's sold. 纯种狗应该在出售前注射预防严重疾病的针。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Disease can be spread by dirty tools, insects, inoculated soil. 疾病也能由不干净的工具，昆虫，接种的土壤传播。 来自辞典例句

26 proselytizing
v.（使）改变宗教信仰[政治信仰、意见等]，使变节( proselytize的现在分词 )
参考例句：

27 vagaries
n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况
参考例句：
The vagaries of fortune are indeed curious.\" 命运的变化莫测真是不可思议。” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹 The vagaries of inclement weather conditions are avoided to a certain extent. 可以在一定程度上避免变化莫测的恶劣气候影响。 来自辞典例句

28 distrait
adj.心不在焉的
参考例句：
The distrait boy is always losing his books.这个心不在焉的男孩老是丢书。 The distrait actress fluffed her lines.那位心不在焉的女演员忘了台词。

29 compulsory
n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的
参考例句：
Is English a compulsory subject?英语是必修课吗？ Compulsory schooling ends at sixteen.义务教育至16岁为止。

30 laborers
n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工
参考例句：
Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

31 hymns
n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 )
参考例句：
At first, they played the hymns and marches familiar to them. 起初他们只吹奏自己熟悉的赞美诗和进行曲。 来自英汉非文学 - 百科语料821 I like singing hymns. 我喜欢唱圣歌。 来自辞典例句

32 afterward
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。

33 legitimate
adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法
参考例句：
Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。 That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

34 surmised
v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想
参考例句：
From the looks on their faces, I surmised that they had had an argument. 看他们的脸色，我猜想他们之间发生了争执。 From his letter I surmised that he was unhappy. 我从他的信中推测他并不快乐。 来自《简明英汉词典》

35 apparently
adv.显然地；表面上，似乎
参考例句：
An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。 He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

36 purely
adv.纯粹地，完全地
参考例句：
I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。 This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

37 miserable
adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的
参考例句：
It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。 Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

38 merged
（使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中
参考例句：
Turf wars are inevitable when two departments are merged. 两个部门合并时总免不了争争权限。 The small shops were merged into a large market. 那些小商店合并成为一个大商场。

39 capabilities
n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力
参考例句：
He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句 Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

40 judgment
n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见
参考例句：
The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。 He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

41 formulate
v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述
参考例句：
He took care to formulate his reply very clearly.他字斟句酌，清楚地做了回答。 I was impressed by the way he could formulate his ideas.他陈述观点的方式让我印象深刻。

42 lure
n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引
参考例句：
Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。 He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。

43 wavy
adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的
参考例句：
She drew a wavy line under the word.她在这个词的下面画了一条波纹线。 His wavy hair was too long and flopped just beneath his brow.他的波浪式头发太长了，正好垂在他的眉毛下。

44 glossy
adj.平滑的；有光泽的
参考例句：
I like these glossy spots.我喜欢这些闪闪发光的花点。 She had glossy black hair.她长着乌黑发亮的头发。

45 melancholy
n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的
参考例句：
All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。 He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过，他感到很郁闷。

46 rebellious
adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的
参考例句：
They will be in danger if they are rebellious.如果他们造反，他们就要发生危险。 Her reply was mild enough,but her thoughts were rebellious.她的回答虽然很温和，但她的心里十分反感。

47 lethargic
adj.昏睡的，懒洋洋的
参考例句：
He felt too miserable and lethargic to get dressed.他心情低落无精打采，完全没有心思穿衣整装。 The hot weather made me feel lethargic.炎热的天气使我昏昏欲睡。

48 inviting
adj.诱人的，引人注目的
参考例句：
An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。 The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

49 disinterested
adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的
参考例句：
He is impartial and disinterested.他公正无私。 He's always on the make,I have never known him do a disinterested action.他这个人一贯都是唯利是图，我从来不知道他有什么无私的行动。

50 swell
vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强
参考例句：
The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。 His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。