III
In the big blue and gold drawing room at Gorston Hall, Alfred Lee and Lydia, his wife, sat
discussing their plans for Christmas. Alfred was a squarely built man of middle age with a gentle
face and mild brown eyes. His voice when he
spoke1 was quiet and precise with a very clear
enunciation2. His head was sunk into his shoulders and he gave a curious impression of
inertia3.
Lydia, his wife, was an energetic, lean greyhound of a woman. She was amazingly thin, but all her
movements had a swift, startled grace about them.
There was no beauty in her careless, haggard face, but it had distinction. Her voice was
charming.
Alfred said:
“Father insists! There’s nothing else to it.”
Lydia controlled a sudden impatient movement. She said:
“Must you always give in to him?”
“He’s a very old man, my dear—”
“Oh, I know—I know!”
“He expects to have his own way.”
Lydia said dryly:
“Naturally, since he has always had it! But some time or other, Alfred, you will have to make
a stand.”
“What do you mean, Lydia?”
He stared at her, so palpably upset and startled, that for a moment she bit her lip and seemed
doubtful whether to go on.
Alfred Lee repeated:
“What do you mean, Lydia?”
She
shrugged4 her thin,
graceful5 shoulders.
She said, trying to choose her words cautiously:
“Your father is—inclined to be—tyrannical—”
“He’s old.”
“And will grow older. And consequently more tyrannical. Where will it end? Already he
dictates6 our lives to us completely. We can’t make a plan of our own! If we do, it is always liable
to be upset.”
Alfred said:
“Father expects to come first. He is very good to us, remember.”
“Oh! good to us!”
“Very good to us.”
Alfred spoke with a trace of sternness.
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收听单词发音
1
spoke
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n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 |
参考例句: |
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
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2
enunciation
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n.清晰的发音;表明,宣言;口齿 |
参考例句: |
- He is always willing to enunciate his opinions on the subject of politics. 他总是愿意对政治问题发表意见。> enunciation / I9nQnsI5eIFn; I9nQnsI`eFEn/ n [C, U]。 来自辞典例句
- Be good at communicating,sense of responsibility,the work is careful,the enunciation is clear. 善于沟通,责任心强,工作细致,口齿清晰。 来自互联网
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3
inertia
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adj.惰性,惯性,懒惰,迟钝 |
参考例句: |
- We had a feeling of inertia in the afternoon.下午我们感觉很懒。
- Inertia carried the plane onto the ground.飞机靠惯性着陆。
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4
shrugged
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vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) |
参考例句: |
- Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
- She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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5
graceful
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adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 |
参考例句: |
- His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
- The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。
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6
dictates
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n.命令,规定,要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 );口授;支配;摆布 |
参考例句: |
- Convention dictates that a minister should resign in such a situation. 依照常规部长在这种情况下应该辞职。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He always follows the dictates of common sense. 他总是按常识行事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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7
grudges
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不满,怨恨,妒忌( grudge的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- He never grudges money. 他从不吝惜金钱。
- They bear grudges against each other. 他俩有过节儿。
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8
murmur
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n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言 |
参考例句: |
- They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
- There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。
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9
whim
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n.一时的兴致,突然的念头;奇想,幻想 |
参考例句: |
- I bought the encyclopedia on a whim.我凭一时的兴致买了这本百科全书。
- He had a sudden whim to go sailing today.今天他突然想要去航海。
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10
distresses
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n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 );痛苦;贫困;危险 |
参考例句: |
- It was from these distresses that the peasant wars of the fourteenth century sprang. 正是由于这些灾难才爆发了十四世纪的农民战争。 来自辞典例句
- In all dangers and distresses, I will remember that. 在一切危险和苦难中,我要记住这一件事。 来自互联网
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11
perfectly
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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。
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12
malicious
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adj.有恶意的,心怀恶意的 |
参考例句: |
- You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
- Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。
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13
bullies
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n.欺凌弱小者, 开球
vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负 |
参考例句: |
- Standing up to bullies takes plenty of backbone. 勇敢地对付暴徒需有大无畏精神。
- Bullies can make your life hell. 恃强欺弱者能让你的日子像活地狱。
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14
devoted
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adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 |
参考例句: |
- He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
- 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。
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15
annoyance
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n.恼怒,生气,烦恼 |
参考例句: |
- Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气?
- I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。
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16
constituents
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n.选民( constituent的名词复数 );成分;构成部分;要素 |
参考例句: |
- She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
- Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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17
rosy
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adj.美好的,乐观的,玫瑰色的 |
参考例句: |
- She got a new job and her life looks rosy.她找到一份新工作,生活看上去很美好。
- She always takes a rosy view of life.她总是对生活持乐观态度。
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18
standing
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n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 |
参考例句: |
- After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
- They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
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19
deferentially
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adv.表示敬意地,谦恭地 |
参考例句: |
- "Now, let me see,'said Hurstwood, looking over Carrie's shoulder very deferentially. “来,让我瞧瞧你的牌。”赫斯渥说着,彬彬有礼地从嘉莉背后看过去。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
- He always acts so deferentially around his supervisor. 他总是毕恭毕敬地围着他的上司转。 来自互联网
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20
deferential
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adj. 敬意的,恭敬的 |
参考例句: |
- They like five-star hotels and deferential treatment.他们喜欢五星级的宾馆和毕恭毕敬的接待。
- I am deferential and respectful in the presence of artists.我一向恭敬、尊重艺术家。
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21
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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22
smoothly
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adv.平滑地,顺利地,流利地,流畅地 |
参考例句: |
- The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作,所以工作进展顺利。
- Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。
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23
vehemently
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adv. 热烈地 |
参考例句: |
- He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈,以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
- Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。
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24
expressive
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adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 |
参考例句: |
- Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
- He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的,富于表情的,生动活泼的脸。
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25
gathering
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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。
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26
adventurous
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adj.爱冒险的;惊心动魄的,惊险的,刺激的 |
参考例句: |
- I was filled with envy at their adventurous lifestyle.我很羨慕他们敢于冒险的生活方式。
- He was predestined to lead an adventurous life.他注定要过冒险的生活。
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27
unnatural
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adj.不自然的;反常的 |
参考例句: |
- Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗?
- She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。
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28
loyalty
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n.忠诚,忠心 |
参考例句: |
- She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
- His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。
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29
virtue
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n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 |
参考例句: |
- He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
- You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。
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30
remorseful
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adj.悔恨的 |
参考例句: |
- He represented to the court that the accused was very remorseful.他代被告向法庭陈情说被告十分懊悔。
- The minister well knew--subtle,but remorseful hypocrite that he was!牧师深知这一切——他是一个多么难以捉摸又懊悔不迭的伪君子啊!
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31
caress
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vt./n.爱抚,抚摸 |
参考例句: |
- She gave the child a loving caress.她疼爱地抚摸着孩子。
- She feasted on the caress of the hot spring.她尽情享受着温泉的抚爱。
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32
agile
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adj.敏捷的,灵活的 |
参考例句: |
- She is such an agile dancer!她跳起舞来是那么灵巧!
- An acrobat has to be agile.杂技演员必须身手敏捷。
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33
clump
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n.树丛,草丛;vi.用沉重的脚步行走 |
参考例句: |
- A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
- It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。
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34
primitive
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adj.原始的;简单的;n.原(始)人,原始事物 |
参考例句: |
- It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
- His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。
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35
clumps
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n.(树、灌木、植物等的)丛、簇( clump的名词复数 );(土、泥等)团;块;笨重的脚步声v.(树、灌木、植物等的)丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 );(土、泥等)团;块;笨重的脚步声 |
参考例句: |
- These plants quickly form dense clumps. 这些植物很快形成了浓密的树丛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The bulbs were over. All that remained of them were clumps of brown leaves. 这些鳞茎死了,剩下的只是一丛丛的黃叶子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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36
icebergs
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n.冰山,流冰( iceberg的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The drift of the icebergs in the sea endangers the ships. 海上冰山的漂流危及船只的安全。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The icebergs towered above them. 冰山高耸于他们上方。 来自辞典例句
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37
penguins
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n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Why can penguins live in cold environment? 为什么企鹅能生活在寒冷的环境中? 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Whales, seals, penguins, and turtles have flippers. 鲸、海豹,企鹅和海龟均有鳍形肢。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
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38
stunted
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adj.矮小的;发育迟缓的 |
参考例句: |
- the stunted lives of children deprived of education 未受教育的孩子所过的局限生活
- But the landed oligarchy had stunted the country's democratic development for generations. 但是好几代以来土地寡头的统治阻碍了这个国家民主的发展。
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39
pebbles
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[复数]鹅卵石; 沙砾; 卵石,小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The pebbles of the drive crunched under his feet. 汽车道上的小石子在他脚底下喀嚓作响。
- Line the pots with pebbles to ensure good drainage. 在罐子里铺一层鹅卵石,以确保排水良好。
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40
arid
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adj.干旱的;(土地)贫瘠的 |
参考例句: |
- These trees will shield off arid winds and protect the fields.这些树能挡住旱风,保护农田。
- There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
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41
specially
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adv.特定地;特殊地;明确地 |
参考例句: |
- They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
- The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。
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42
softened
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(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰 |
参考例句: |
- His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
- The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。
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43
shingle
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n.木瓦板;小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌);v.用木瓦板盖(屋顶);把(女子头发)剪短 |
参考例句: |
- He scraped away the dirt,and exposed a pine shingle.他刨去泥土,下面露出一块松木瓦块。
- He hung out his grandfather's shingle.他挂出了祖父的行医招牌。
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44
sentimental
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adj.多愁善感的,感伤的 |
参考例句: |
- She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人,她相信姻缘命中注定。
- We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。
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