The reasons why a girl of Roberta's type should be seeking employment with Griffiths and Company at this timeand in this capacity are of some point. For, somewhat after the fashion of Clyde in relation to his family and hislife, she too considered her life a great disappointment. She was the daughter of Titus Alden, a farmer--of nearBiltz, a small town in Mimico County, some fifty miles north. And from her youth up she had seen little butpoverty. Her father--the youngest of three sons of Ephraim Alden, a farmer in this region before him--was sounsuccessful that at forty-eight he was still living in a house which, though old and much in need of repair at thetime his father willed it to him, was now bordering upon a state of dilapidation¹. The house itself, while primarilya charming example of that excellent taste which produced those delightful² gabled homes which embellish³ theaverage New England town and street, had been by now so reduced for want of paint, shingles⁴, and certain flagswhich had once made a winding⁵ walk from a road gate to the front door, that it presented a decidedly melancholyaspect to the world, as though it might be coughing and saying: "Well, things are none too satisfactory with me."The interior of the house corresponded with the exterior⁷. The floor boards and stair boards were loose andcreaked most eerily⁸ at times. Some of the windows had shades--some did not. Furniture of both an earlier and alater date, but all in a somewhat decayed condition, intermingled and furnished it in some nondescript mannerwhich need hardly be described.

　　As for the parents of Roberta, they were excellent examples of that native type of Americanism which resistsfacts and reveres⁹ illusion. Titus Alden was one of that vast company of individuals who are born, pass through and die out of the world without ever quite getting any one thing straight. They appear, blunder, and end in a fog.

点击收听单词发音  

1 dilapidation
n.倒塌；毁坏
参考例句：
Yet all this was apart from any extraordinary dilapidation.特别破落的样子倒也找不出。 The farmhouse had fallen into a state of dilapidation.农舍落到了破败的境地。

2 delightful
adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的
参考例句：
We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。 Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。

3 embellish
v.装饰，布置；给…添加细节，润饰
参考例句：
I asked him not to embellish the truth with ideas of his own.我要他不对事实添油加醋。 Can you embellish your refusal just a little bit?你可以对你的婉拒之辞略加修饰吗？

4 shingles
n.带状疱疹；（布满海边的）小圆石( shingle的名词复数 )；屋顶板；木瓦（板）；墙面板
参考例句：
Shingles are often dipped in creosote. 屋顶板常浸涂木焦油。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 The roofs had shingles missing. 一些屋顶板不见了。 来自辞典例句

5 winding
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。

6 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 exterior
adj.外部的，外在的；表面的
参考例句：
The seed has a hard exterior covering.这种子外壳很硬。 We are painting the exterior wall of the house.我们正在给房子的外墙涂漆。

8 eerily
adv.引起神秘感或害怕地
参考例句：
It was nearly mid-night and eerily dark all around her. 夜深了，到处是一片黑黝黝的怪影。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译 The vast volcanic slope was eerily reminiscent of a lunar landscape. 开阔的火山坡让人心生怪异地联想起月球的地貌。 来自辞典例句

9 reveres
v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
Confucian philosophy reveres the teacher above all. 儒家哲学最讲究尊重师长。 来自互联网 Group's idea: Have in mind gratefully, the heart checks and reveres, sincerity serve, fulfil one's duty. 团队理念：胸怀感激、心存敬畏、诚信服务、尽职尽责。 来自互联网

10 solely
adv.仅仅，唯一地
参考例句：
Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。 The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

11 derived
vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取
参考例句：
Many English words are derived from Latin and Greek. 英语很多词源出于拉丁文和希腊文。 来自《简明英汉词典》 He derived his enthusiasm for literature from his father. 他对文学的爱好是受他父亲的影响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 laity
n.俗人；门外汉
参考例句：
The Church and the laity were increasingly active in charity work.教会与俗众越来越积极参与慈善工作。 Clergy and laity alike are divided in their views.神职人员和信众同样都观点各异。

13 sensuous
adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的
参考例句：
Don't get the idea that value of music is commensurate with its sensuous appeal.不要以为音乐的价值与其美的感染力相等。 The flowers that wreathed his parlor stifled him with their sensuous perfume.包围著客厅的花以其刺激人的香味使他窒息。

14 temperament
n.气质，性格，性情
参考例句：
The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。 Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。

15 smite
v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿
参考例句：
The wise know how to teach,the fool how to smite.智者知道如何教导，愚者知道怎样破坏。 God will smite our enemies.上帝将击溃我们的敌人。

16 irresistibly
adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地
参考例句：
Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside. 她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。 来自《简明英汉词典》 He was irresistibly attracted by her charm. 他不能自已地被她的魅力所吸引。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 infancy
n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期
参考例句：
He came to England in his infancy.他幼年时期来到英国。 Their research is only in its infancy.他们的研究处于初级阶段。

18 innate
adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的
参考例句：
You obviously have an innate talent for music.你显然有天生的音乐才能。 Correct ideas are not innate in the mind.人的正确思想不是自己头脑中固有的。

19 orchard
n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场
参考例句：
My orchard is bearing well this year.今年我的果园果实累累。 Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。

20 aged
adj.年老的，陈年的
参考例句：
He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。 He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

21 petals
n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 )
参考例句：
white petals tinged with blue 略带蓝色的白花瓣 The petals of many flowers expand in the sunshine. 许多花瓣在阳光下开放。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

22 mere
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。 It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

23 repulsed
v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝
参考例句：
I was repulsed by the horrible smell. 这种可怕的气味让我恶心。 At the first brush,the enemy was repulsed. 敌人在第一次交火时就被击退了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 refinement
n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼
参考例句：
Sally is a woman of great refinement and beauty. 莎莉是个温文尔雅又很漂亮的女士。 Good manners and correct speech are marks of refinement.彬彬有礼和谈吐得体是文雅的标志。

25 recede
vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进
参考例句：
The colleges would recede in importance.大学的重要性会降低。 He saw that the dirty water had begun to recede.他发现那污浊的水开始往下退了。

26 alienating
v.使疏远( alienate的现在分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）
参考例句：
The phenomena of alienation are widespread. Sports are also alienating. 异化现象普遍存在，体育运动也不例外。 来自互联网 How can you appeal to them without alienating the mainstream crowd? 你是怎么在不疏忽主流玩家的情况下吸引住他们呢？ 来自互联网

27 labor
n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦
参考例句：
We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。 He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

28 previously
adv.以前，先前（地）
参考例句：
The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。 Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

29 stenography
n.速记，速记法
参考例句：
Stenography is no longer a marketable skill.速记法已没有多大市场了。 This job necessitated a knowledge of stenography and typewriting,which she soon acquired.这工作需要会速记和打字，她不久便学会了。

30 alleviate
v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)
参考例句：
The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。 Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。

31 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。

32 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。

33 proficient
adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家
参考例句：
She is proficient at swimming.她精通游泳。 I think I'm quite proficient in both written and spoken English.我认为我在英语读写方面相当熟练。

34 genial
adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的
参考例句：
Orlando is a genial man.奥兰多是一位和蔼可亲的人。 He was a warm-hearted friend and genial host.他是个热心的朋友，也是友善待客的主人。

35 intimacy
n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行
参考例句：
His claims to an intimacy with the President are somewhat exaggerated.他声称自己与总统关系密切，这有点言过其实。 I wish there were a rule book for intimacy.我希望能有个关于亲密的规则。

36 diversified
adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域
参考例句：
The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

37 embark
vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机
参考例句：
He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。 Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。

38 meager
adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的
参考例句：
He could not support his family on his meager salary.他靠微薄的工资无法养家。 The two men and the woman grouped about the fire and began their meager meal.两个男人同一个女人围着火，开始吃起少得可怜的午饭。

39 savings
n.存款，储蓄
参考例句：
I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。 By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

40 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。

41 creed
n.信条；信念，纲领
参考例句：
They offended against every article of his creed.他们触犯了他的每一条戒律。 Our creed has always been that business is business.我们的信条一直是公私分明。

42 strictly
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。

43 lighting
n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光
参考例句：
The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。 The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

44 wraiths
n.幽灵( wraith的名词复数 )；（传说中人在将死或死后不久的）显形阴魂
参考例句：
And spat out army of soulless wraiths. 一群失魄的魂灵轰然涌出。 来自互联网 There are five or six others of all ages and sexes, like wraiths following her around. 还有另外五、六个不同年龄和性别的人象幽灵似的围着她转。 来自互联网

45 ogling
v.（向…）抛媚眼，送秋波( ogle的现在分词 )
参考例句：
He was not in the habit of ogling women. 他没有盯着女人看个没完的习惯。 Uncle Geooge got a black eye for ogling a lady in the pub. 乔治叔叔在酒店里对一女士抛媚眼而被打黑了一只眼睛。

46 giggling
v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 )
参考例句：
We just sat there giggling like naughty schoolchildren. 我们只是坐在那儿像调皮的小学生一样的咯咯地傻笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》 I can't stand her giggling, she's so silly. 她吃吃地笑，叫我真受不了，那样子傻透了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

47 throng
n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集
参考例句：
A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。 The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。

48 depot
n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站
参考例句：
The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。 They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。