Chapter 19 Enter and Exit Mr. Robinson
The Countess of Horbury sat in her bedroom at 115 Grosvenor Square in front of her toilet table. Gold brushes and boxes, jars of face cream, boxes of powder, dainty luxury all around her. But in the midst of the luxury. Cicely Horbury sat with dry lips and a face on which the
rouge1 showed up in unbecoming patches on her cheeks.
She read the letter for the fourth time.
The Countess of Horbury,
Dear Madam: Re Madame Giselle, deceased.
I am the
holder2 of certain documents
formerly3 in the possession of the deceased lady. If you or Mr Raymond Barraclough are interested in the matter, I should be happy to call upon you with a view to discussing the affair.
Or perhaps you would prefer me to deal with your husband in the matter?
Yours truly,
John Robinson.
Stupid, to read the same thing over and over again. As though the words might alter their meaning.
She picked up the envelope - two envelopes - the first with Personal on it. The second with Private and Very
Confidential4.
Private and Very Confidential.
The beast - the beast.
And that lying old Frenchwoman who had sworn that "All arrangements were made" to protect clients in case of her own sudden
demise6.
Damn her.
Life was hell - hell!
"Oh, God, my nerves," thought Cicely. "It isn't fair. It isn't fair."
Her shaking hand went out to a gold-topped bottle.
"It will steady me. Pull me together."
She snuffed the stuff up her nose.
There. Now she could think!
What to do?
See the man, of course. Though where she could raise any money - perhaps a lucky flutter at that place in Carios Street -
But time enough to think of that later. See the man; find out what he knows.
She went over to the writing table, dashed off in her big unformed handwriting:
The Countess of Horbury presents her compliments to Mr John Robinson and will see him if he calls at eleven o'clock tomorrow morning.
"Will I do?" asked Norman.
He flushed a little under Poirot's startled gaze.
"Name of a name," said Hercule Poirot, "what kind of a comedy is it that you are playing?"
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收听单词发音
1
rouge
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n.胭脂,口红唇膏;v.(在…上)擦口红 |
参考例句: |
- Women put rouge on their cheeks to make their faces pretty.女人往面颊上涂胭脂,使脸更漂亮。
- She didn't need any powder or lip rouge to make her pretty.她天生漂亮,不需要任何脂粉唇膏打扮自己。
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2
holder
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n.持有者,占有者;(台,架等)支持物 |
参考例句: |
- The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
- That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。
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3
formerly
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adv.从前,以前 |
参考例句: |
- We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
- This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
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4
confidential
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adj.秘(机)密的,表示信任的,担任机密工作的 |
参考例句: |
- He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
- We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。
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5
confide
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v.向某人吐露秘密 |
参考例句: |
- I would never readily confide in anybody.我从不轻易向人吐露秘密。
- He is going to confide the secrets of his heart to us.他将向我们吐露他心里的秘密。
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6
demise
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n.死亡;v.让渡,遗赠,转让 |
参考例句: |
- He praised the union's aims but predicted its early demise.他赞扬协会的目标,但预期这一协会很快会消亡。
- The war brought about the industry's sudden demise.战争道致这个行业就这么突然垮了。
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7
gale
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n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) |
参考例句: |
- We got our roof blown off in the gale last night.昨夜的大风把我们的房顶给掀掉了。
- According to the weather forecast,there will be a gale tomorrow.据气象台预报,明天有大风。
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8
mumbled
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含糊地说某事,叽咕,咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话,可我没太听清楚。
- George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。
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9
villains
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n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 );罪犯;(小说、戏剧等中的)反面人物;淘气鬼 |
参考例句: |
- The impression of villains was inescapable. 留下恶棍的印象是不可避免的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Some villains robbed the widow of the savings. 有几个歹徒将寡妇的积蓄劫走了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
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10
amateurishly
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adv.外行地,生手地 |
参考例句: |
- He performed the piece amateurishly. 他演了一段,不是很专业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- A heavy black volume, amateurishly bound, with no name or title on the cover. 这是一本黑面厚书,自己装订的,封面上没有书名或作者名字。 来自英汉文学
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11
eyebrows
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眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
- His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
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12
mania
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n.疯狂;躁狂症,狂热,癖好 |
参考例句: |
- Football mania is sweeping the country.足球热正风靡全国。
- Collecting small items can easily become a mania.收藏零星物品往往容易变成一种癖好。
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13
theatricals
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n.(业余性的)戏剧演出,舞台表演艺术;职业演员;戏剧的( theatrical的名词复数 );剧场的;炫耀的;戏剧性的 |
参考例句: |
- His success in amateur theatricals led him on to think he could tread the boards for a living. 他业余演戏很成功,他因此觉得自己可以以演戏为生。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I'm to be in the Thanksgiving theatricals. 我要参加感恩节的演出。 来自辞典例句
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14
eloquent
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adj.雄辩的,口才流利的;明白显示出的 |
参考例句: |
- He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩,胜过最好的演说家。
- These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。
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15
shrug
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v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) |
参考例句: |
- With a shrug,he went out of the room.他耸一下肩,走出了房间。
- I admire the way she is able to shrug off unfair criticism.我很佩服她能对错误的批评意见不予理会。
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16
blackmailer
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敲诈者,勒索者 |
参考例句: |
- The blackmailer had a hold over him. 勒索他的人控制着他。
- The blackmailer will have to be bought off,or he'll ruin your good name. 得花些钱疏通那个敲诈者,否则他会毁坏你的声誉。
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17
blackmail
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n.讹诈,敲诈,勒索,胁迫,恫吓 |
参考例句: |
- She demanded $1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
- The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。
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18
comedian
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n.喜剧演员;滑稽演员 |
参考例句: |
- The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
- The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。
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19
farce
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n.闹剧,笑剧,滑稽戏;胡闹 |
参考例句: |
- They played a shameful role in this farce.他们在这场闹剧中扮演了可耻的角色。
- The audience roared at the farce.闹剧使观众哄堂大笑。
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20
devoutly
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adv.虔诚地,虔敬地,衷心地 |
参考例句: |
- She was a devoutly Catholic. 她是一个虔诚地天主教徒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- This was not a boast, but a hope, at once bold and devoutly humble. 这不是夸夸其谈,而是一个即大胆而又诚心、谦虚的希望。 来自辞典例句
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21
enraged
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使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 ); 歜; 激愤 |
参考例句: |
- I was enraged to find they had disobeyed my orders. 发现他们违抗了我的命令,我极为恼火。
- The judge was enraged and stroke the table for several times. 大法官被气得连连拍案。
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22
reassured
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adj.使消除疑虑的;使放心的v.再保证,恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) |
参考例句: |
- The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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23
marvel
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vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异;n.令人惊异的事 |
参考例句: |
- The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
- The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。
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24
rebelliously
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adv.造反地,难以控制地 |
参考例句: |
- He rejected her words rebelliously. 他极力反对她的观点。 来自互联网
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25
braced
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adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 );撑牢;使自己站稳;振作起来 |
参考例句: |
- They braced up the old house with balks of timber. 他们用梁木加固旧房子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The house has a wooden frame which is braced with brick. 这幢房子是木结构的砖瓦房。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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26
positively
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adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实 |
参考例句: |
- She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
- The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。
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27
insolently
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adv.自豪地,自傲地 |
参考例句: |
- No does not respect, speak insolently,satire, etc for TT management team member. 不得发表对TT管理层人员不尊重、出言不逊、讽刺等等的帖子。 来自互联网
- He had replied insolently to his superiors. 他傲慢地回答了他上司的问题。 来自互联网
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28
promising
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adj.有希望的,有前途的 |
参考例句: |
- The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
- We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
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29
touching
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adj.动人的,使人感伤的 |
参考例句: |
- It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
- His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
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30
exquisitely
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adv.精致地;强烈地;剧烈地;异常地 |
参考例句: |
- He found her exquisitely beautiful. 他觉得她异常美丽。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He wore an exquisitely tailored gray silk and accessories to match. 他穿的是做工非常考究的灰色绸缎衣服,还有各种配得很协调的装饰。 来自教父部分
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31
kindly
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adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 |
参考例句: |
- Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
- A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
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32
authoritative
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adj.有权威的,可相信的;命令式的;官方的 |
参考例句: |
- David speaks in an authoritative tone.大卫以命令的口吻说话。
- Her smile was warm but authoritative.她的笑容很和蔼,同时又透着威严。
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33
reassuring
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a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的,使人放心的 |
参考例句: |
- He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。
- With a reassuring pat on her arm, he left. 他鼓励地拍了拍她的手臂就离开了。
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34
entreat
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v.恳求,恳请 |
参考例句: |
- Charles Darnay felt it hopeless entreat him further,and his pride was touched besides.查尔斯-达尔内感到再恳求他已是枉然,自尊心也受到了伤害。
- I entreat you to contribute generously to the building fund.我恳求您慷慨捐助建设基金。
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35
precisely
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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。
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36
gambling
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n.赌博;投机 |
参考例句: |
- They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
- The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。
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37
appalling
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adj.骇人听闻的,令人震惊的,可怕的 |
参考例句: |
- The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions.恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
- Nothing can extenuate such appalling behaviour.这种骇人听闻的行径罪无可恕。
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38
repayment
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n.偿还,偿还款;报酬 |
参考例句: |
- I am entitled to a repayment for the damaged goods.我有权利索取货物损坏赔偿金。
- The tax authorities have been harrying her for repayment.税务局一直在催她补交税款。
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39
motive
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n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 |
参考例句: |
- The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
- He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
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40
budge
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v.移动一点儿;改变立场 |
参考例句: |
- We tried to lift the rock but it wouldn't budge.我们试图把大石头抬起来,但它连动都没动一下。
- She wouldn't budge on the issue.她在这个问题上不肯让步。
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41
inspector
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n.检查员,监察员,视察员 |
参考例句: |
- The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
- The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。
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42
ebbed
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(指潮水)退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 ); 落; 减少; 衰落 |
参考例句: |
- But the pain had ebbed away and the trembling had stopped. 不过这次痛已减退,寒战也停止了。
- But gradually his interest in good causes ebbed away. 不过后来他对这类事业兴趣也逐渐淡薄了。
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43
fixed
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adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 |
参考例句: |
- Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
- Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
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44
imploringly
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adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 |
参考例句: |
- He moved his lips and looked at her imploringly. 他嘴唇动着,哀求地看着她。
- He broke in imploringly. 他用恳求的口吻插了话。
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45
soothingly
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adv.抚慰地,安慰地;镇痛地 |
参考例句: |
- The mother talked soothingly to her child. 母亲对自己的孩子安慰地说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He continued to talk quietly and soothingly to the girl until her frightened grip on his arm was relaxed. 他继续柔声安慰那姑娘,她那因恐惧而紧抓住他的手终于放松了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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46
secondly
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adv.第二,其次 |
参考例句: |
- Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二,动脑筋提出自己的见解。
- Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次,需要确定所作用的载荷。
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47
wasp
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n.黄蜂,蚂蜂 |
参考例句: |
- A wasp stung me on the arm.黄蜂蜇了我的手臂。
- Through the glass we can see the wasp.透过玻璃我们可以看到黄蜂。
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48
bland
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adj.淡而无味的,温和的,无刺激性的 |
参考例句: |
- He eats bland food because of his stomach trouble.他因胃病而吃清淡的食物。
- This soup is too bland for me.这汤我喝起来偏淡。
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49
mere
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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。
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50
discreet
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adj.(言行)谨慎的;慎重的;有判断力的 |
参考例句: |
- He is very discreet in giving his opinions.发表意见他十分慎重。
- It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office.你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。
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51
persuasive
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adj.有说服力的,能说得使人相信的 |
参考例句: |
- His arguments in favour of a new school are very persuasive.他赞成办一座新学校的理由很有说服力。
- The evidence was not really persuasive enough.证据并不是太有说服力。
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