20 Things Happen
All sorts of things happened that week. At the next
rehearsal1 there was another flare-up between Alicia and Moira—a really bad one that ended in Alicia resigning from the show! Betty
promptly2 resigned, too, as co-producer.
It was a terrible blow to Sally and Darrell. “We can’t do without you, Alicia,”
wailed3 Darrell. “We’ll never, never get a
demon4 king like you—and all your wonderful
juggling5 and
conjuring6 and leaping about, too. You’ll ruin the whole thing if you resign.”
“If I resign! I have resigned!” said Alicia, looking calm and unruffled, but inwardly
seething7 with anger, disappointment and
misery8 at seeing Darrell so upset. “I’m sorry it affects you too—but I’m not working with Moira any more. And nothing in the world will make me go back into the pantomime now—no, not even if Moira herself resigned and came and apologized.”
Darrell knew that Moira would never do that. She was as unbending as Alicia was
obstinate9.
“Talk about the immovable meeting the
irresistible10!” she
groaned11. “Oh, Alicia—for my sake, withdraw your resignation. Why, it’s only three weeks now till the pantomime is presented. I can’t rewrite it, and cut out your parts—you come in so often.”
“Darrell, I’m honestly sorry,” said Alicia, looking
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收听单词发音
1
rehearsal
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n.排练,排演;练习 |
参考例句: |
- I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
- You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。
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2
promptly
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adv.及时地,敏捷地 |
参考例句: |
- He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
- She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
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3
wailed
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v.哭叫,哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- She wailed over her father's remains. 她对着父亲的遗体嚎啕大哭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The women of the town wailed over the war victims. 城里的妇女为战争的死难者们痛哭。 来自辞典例句
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4
demon
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n.魔鬼,恶魔 |
参考例句: |
- The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。
- He has been possessed by the demon of disease for years.他多年来病魔缠身。
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5
juggling
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n. 欺骗, 杂耍(=jugglery)
adj. 欺骗的, 欺诈的
动词juggle的现在分词 |
参考例句: |
- He was charged with some dishonest juggling with the accounts. 他被指控用欺骗手段窜改账目。
- The accountant went to prison for juggling his firm's accounts. 会计因涂改公司的帐目而入狱。
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6
conjuring
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n.魔术 |
参考例句: |
- Paul's very good at conjuring. 保罗很会变戏法。
- The entertainer didn't fool us with his conjuring. 那个艺人变的戏法没有骗到我们。
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7
seething
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沸腾的,火热的 |
参考例句: |
- The stadium was a seething cauldron of emotion. 体育场内群情沸腾。
- The meeting hall was seething at once. 会场上顿时沸腾起来了。
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8
misery
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n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 |
参考例句: |
- Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
- He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
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9
obstinate
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adj.顽固的,倔强的,不易屈服的,较难治愈的 |
参考例句: |
- She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了,不会让任何人帮她的。
- The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。
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10
irresistible
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adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的 |
参考例句: |
- The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前,势不可挡。
- She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。
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11
groaned
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v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 |
参考例句: |
- He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
- The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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12
harassed
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adj. 疲倦的,厌烦的
动词harass的过去式和过去分词 |
参考例句: |
- He has complained of being harassed by the police. 他投诉受到警方侵扰。
- harassed mothers with their children 带着孩子的疲惫不堪的母亲们
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13
knuckle
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n.指节;vi.开始努力工作;屈服,认输 |
参考例句: |
- They refused to knuckle under to any pressure.他们拒不屈从任何压力。
- You'll really have to knuckle down if you want to pass the examination.如果想通过考试,你确实应专心学习。
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14
defiant
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adj.无礼的,挑战的 |
参考例句: |
- With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时,仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
- He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。
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15
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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16
truthful
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adj.真实的,说实话的,诚实的 |
参考例句: |
- You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心,他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
- I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。
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17
astonishment
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n.惊奇,惊异 |
参考例句: |
- They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
- I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
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18
chuckled
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轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
- She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
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19
enthralling
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迷人的 |
参考例句: |
- There will be an enthralling race tomorrow. 明天会有场吸引人的比赛。
- There was something terribly enthralling in the exercise of influence. 在这样地施加影响时,令人感到销魂夺魄。
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20
apparently
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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。
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21
blandly
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adv.温和地,殷勤地 |
参考例句: |
- There is a class of men in Bristol monstrously prejudiced against Blandly. 布里斯托尔有那么一帮人为此恨透了布兰德利。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
- \"Maybe you could get something in the stage line?\" he blandly suggested. “也许你能在戏剧这一行里找些事做,\"他和蔼地提议道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
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22
recital
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n.朗诵,独奏会,独唱会 |
参考例句: |
- She is going to give a piano recital.她即将举行钢琴独奏会。
- I had their total attention during the thirty-five minutes that my recital took.在我叙述的35分钟内,他们完全被我吸引了。
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23
intrigued
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adj.好奇的,被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式);激起…的兴趣或好奇心;“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词 |
参考例句: |
- You've really intrigued me—tell me more! 你说的真有意思—再给我讲一些吧!
- He was intrigued by her story. 他被她的故事迷住了。
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24
neatly
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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。
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25
downwards
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adj./adv.向下的(地),下行的(地) |
参考例句: |
- He lay face downwards on his bed.他脸向下伏在床上。
- As the river flows downwards,it widens.这条河愈到下游愈宽。
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26
considerably
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adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 |
参考例句: |
- The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
- The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
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27
slanting
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倾斜的,歪斜的 |
参考例句: |
- The rain is driving [slanting] in from the south. 南边潲雨。
- The line is slanting to the left. 这根线向左斜了。
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28
casually
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adv.漠不关心地,无动于衷地,不负责任地 |
参考例句: |
- She remarked casually that she was changing her job.她当时漫不经心地说要换工作。
- I casually mentioned that I might be interested in working abroad.我不经意地提到我可能会对出国工作感兴趣。
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29
anonymous
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adj.无名的;匿名的;无特色的 |
参考例句: |
- Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
- The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。
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30
loathsome
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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。
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31
petrified
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adj.惊呆的;目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆,使惊呆;变僵硬;使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) |
参考例句: |
- I'm petrified of snakes. 我特别怕蛇。
- The poor child was petrified with fear. 这可怜的孩子被吓呆了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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32
loathing
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n.厌恶,憎恨v.憎恨,厌恶( loathe的现在分词);极不喜欢 |
参考例句: |
- She looked at her attacker with fear and loathing . 她盯着襲擊她的歹徒,既害怕又憎恨。
- They looked upon the creature with a loathing undisguised. 他们流露出明显的厌恶看那动物。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
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33
hatred
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n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨 |
参考例句: |
- He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
- The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。
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34
gasped
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v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要 |
参考例句: |
- She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
- People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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35
sob
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n.空间轨道的轰炸机;呜咽,哭泣 |
参考例句: |
- The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
- The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答,也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。
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36
defiance
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n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 |
参考例句: |
- He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
- He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。
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37
brazen
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adj.厚脸皮的,无耻的,坚硬的 |
参考例句: |
- The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
- Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败,而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。
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38
deflated
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adj. 灰心丧气的 |
参考例句: |
- I was quite deflated by her lack of interest in my suggestions.他对我的建议兴趣不大,令我感到十分气馁。
- He was deflated by the news.这消息令他泄气。
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39
pricked
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刺,扎,戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 ); 刺伤; 刺痛; 使剧痛 |
参考例句: |
- The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry. 厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
- He was pricked by his conscience. 他受到良心的谴责。
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40
distressed
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痛苦的 |
参考例句: |
- He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑,无法回答他们的问题。
- The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。
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41
awfully
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adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地 |
参考例句: |
- Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
- I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。
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42
miserable
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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。
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43
descended
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a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 |
参考例句: |
- A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
- The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
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44
unpack
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vt.打开包裹(或行李),卸货 |
参考例句: |
- I must unpack before dinner.我得在饭前把行李打开。
- She said she would unpack the items later.她说以后再把箱子里的东西拿出来。
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45
subdued
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adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的
动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 |
参考例句: |
- He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
- I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候,我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。
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46
admiration
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n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 |
参考例句: |
- He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
- We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
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47
goodwill
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n.善意,亲善,信誉,声誉 |
参考例句: |
- His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
- We paid £10,000 for the shop,and £2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店,两千英镑买下了它的信誉。
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48
nervously
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adv.神情激动地,不安地 |
参考例句: |
- He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
- He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
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49
unpacking
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n.取出货物,拆包[箱]v.从(包裹等)中取出(所装的东西),打开行李取出( unpack的现在分词 );拆包;解除…的负担;吐露(心事等) |
参考例句: |
- Joe sat on the bed while Martin was unpacking. 马丁打开箱子取东西的时候,乔坐在床上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- They are unpacking a trunk. 他们正在打开衣箱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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50
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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51
squeal
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v.发出长而尖的声音;n.长而尖的声音 |
参考例句: |
- The children gave a squeal of fright.孩子们发出惊吓的尖叫声。
- There was a squeal of brakes as the car suddenly stopped.小汽车突然停下来时,车闸发出尖叫声。
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52
thumped
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v.重击, (指心脏)急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Dave thumped the table in frustration . 戴夫懊恼得捶打桌子。
- He thumped the table angrily. 他愤怒地用拳捶击桌子。
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53
triumphant
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adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 |
参考例句: |
- The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
- There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。
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54
galloped
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(使马)飞奔,奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 ); 快速做[说]某事 |
参考例句: |
- Jo galloped across the field towards him. 乔骑马穿过田野向他奔去。
- The children galloped home as soon as the class was over. 孩子们一下课便飞奔回家了。
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55
malice
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n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋 |
参考例句: |
- I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
- There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。
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56
instinctive
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adj.(出于)本能的;直觉的;(出于)天性的 |
参考例句: |
- He tried to conceal his instinctive revulsion at the idea.他试图饰盖自己对这一想法本能的厌恶。
- Animals have an instinctive fear of fire.动物本能地怕火。
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