A Modest Proposal
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Chapter 1

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It is a melancholy1 object to those, who walk through this great town, or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads and cabbin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning2 every passenger for an alms. These mothers instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood3, are forced to employ all their time in stroling to beg sustenance4 for their helpless infants who, as they grow up, either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country, to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes.

I think it is agreed by all parties, that this prodigious5 number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the kingdom, a very great additional grievance6; and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these children sound and useful members of the common-wealth, would deserve so well of the publick, as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation.

But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the children of professed8 beggars: it is of a much greater extent, and shall take in the whole number of infants at a certain age, who are born of parents in effect as little able to support them, as those who demand our charity in the streets.

As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years, upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of our projectors9, I have always found them grossly mistaken in their computation. It is true, a child just dropt from its dam, may be supported by her milk, for a solar year, with little other
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1 melancholy t7rz8     
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。
2 importuning 81ae86d68ef520ad22e1095b94af38c9     
v.纠缠，向（某人）不断要求( importune的现在分词 )；（妓女）拉（客）
参考例句：
  • One can no longer walk the streets without seeing beggars importuning passers by. 走在街上总能看到乞丐纠缠行人乞讨。 来自辞典例句
  • Their mail was being packed with importuning or threatening letters. 他们的信箱里充满了提出强硬要求和恫吓的信。 来自辞典例句
3 livelihood sppzWF     
n.生计，谋生之道
参考例句：
  • Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
  • My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。
4 sustenance mriw0     
n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计
参考例句：
  • We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
  • The urban homeless are often in desperate need of sustenance.城市里无家可归的人极其需要食物来维持生命。
5 prodigious C1ZzO     
adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的
参考例句：
  • This business generates cash in prodigious amounts.这种业务收益丰厚。
  • He impressed all who met him with his prodigious memory.他惊人的记忆力让所有见过他的人都印象深刻。
6 grievance J6ayX     
n.怨愤，气恼，委屈
参考例句：
  • He will not easily forget his grievance.他不会轻易忘掉他的委屈。
  • He had been nursing a grievance against his boss for months.几个月来他对老板一直心怀不满。
7 fore ri8xw     
adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部
参考例句：
  • Your seat is in the fore part of the aircraft.你的座位在飞机的前部。
  • I have the gift of fore knowledge.我能够未卜先知。
8 professed 7151fdd4a4d35a0f09eaf7f0f3faf295     
公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的
参考例句：
  • These, at least, were their professed reasons for pulling out of the deal. 至少这些是他们自称退出这宗交易的理由。
  • Her manner professed a gaiety that she did not feel. 她的神态显出一种她并未实际感受到的快乐。
9 projectors c83fdd343934671c4604431c99b02a44     
电影放映机，幻灯机( projector的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Energy projectors fired and peeled off the ships' armor in a flash. 能量投射器开火然后在一阵闪光后剥离了飞船的装甲。
  • All classrooms equipped with computers, projectors, video and audio booth, broadcasting equipment. 全部教室配备电脑、投影仪、视频展台和音响、广播设备。
10 nourishment Ovvyi     
n.食物，营养品；营养情况
参考例句：
  • Lack of proper nourishment reduces their power to resist disease.营养不良降低了他们抵抗疾病的能力。
  • He ventured that plants draw part of their nourishment from the air.他大胆提出植物从空气中吸收部分养分的观点。
11 scraps 737e4017931b7285cdd1fa3eb9dd77a3     
油渣
参考例句：
  • Don't litter up the floor with scraps of paper. 不要在地板上乱扔纸屑。
  • A patchwork quilt is a good way of using up scraps of material. 做杂拼花布棉被是利用零碎布料的好办法。
12 lawful ipKzCt     
adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的
参考例句：
  • It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
  • We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。
13 abortions 4b6623953f87087bb025549b49471574     
n.小产( abortion的名词复数 )；小产胎儿；（计划）等中止或夭折；败育
参考例句：
  • The Venerable Master: By not having abortions, by not killing living beings. 上人：不堕胎、不杀生。 来自互联网
  • Conclusion Chromosome abnormality is one of the causes of spontaneous abortions. 结论：染色体异常是导致反复自然流产的原因之一。 来自互联网
14 horrid arozZj     
adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的
参考例句：
  • I'm not going to the horrid dinner party.我不打算去参加这次讨厌的宴会。
  • The medicine is horrid and she couldn't get it down.这种药很难吃，她咽不下去。
15 bastard MuSzK     
n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子
参考例句：
  • He was never concerned about being born a bastard.他从不介意自己是私生子。
  • There was supposed to be no way to get at the bastard.据说没有办法买通那个混蛋。
16 alas Rx8z1     
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
参考例句：
  • Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
  • Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
17 savage ECxzR     
adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人
参考例句：
  • The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
  • He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。
18 inhuman F7NxW     
adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的
参考例句：
  • We must unite the workers in fighting against inhuman conditions.我们必须使工人们团结起来反对那些难以忍受的工作条件。
  • It was inhuman to refuse him permission to see his wife.不容许他去看自己的妻子是太不近人情了。
19 apprehend zvqzq     
vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑
参考例句：
  • I apprehend no worsening of the situation.我不担心局势会恶化。
  • Police have not apprehended her killer.警察还未抓获谋杀她的凶手。
20 distresses d55b1003849676d6eb49b5302f6714e5     
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
21 annually VzYzNO     
adv.一年一次，每年
参考例句：
  • Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
  • They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。
22 utterly ZfpzM1     
adv.完全地，绝对地
参考例句：
  • Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
  • I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。
23 rudiments GjBzbg     
n.基础知识，入门
参考例句：
  • He has just learned the rudiments of Chinese. 他学汉语刚刚入门。
  • You do not seem to know the first rudiments of agriculture. 你似乎连农业上的一点最起码的常识也没有。
24 renowned okSzVe     
adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的
参考例句：
  • He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
  • She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。
25 proficiency m1LzU     
n.精通，熟练，精练
参考例句：
  • He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺，技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
  • How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何？
26 humbly humbly     
adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地
参考例句：
  • We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
  • "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的，先生，”约翰恭顺地说道。
27 wholesome Uowyz     
adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的
参考例句：
  • In actual fact the things I like doing are mostly wholesome.实际上我喜欢做的事大都是有助于增进身体健康的。
  • It is not wholesome to eat without washing your hands.不洗手吃饭是不卫生的。
28 stewed 285d9b8cfd4898474f7be6858f46f526     
adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧
参考例句：
  • When all birds are shot, the bow will be set aside;when all hares are killed, the hounds will be stewed and eaten -- kick out sb. after his services are no longer needed. 鸟尽弓藏，兔死狗烹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • \"How can we cook in a pan that's stewed your stinking stockings? “染臭袜子的锅，还能煮鸡子吃！还要它？” 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说
29 computed 5a317d3dd3f7a2f675975a6d0c11c629     
adj.[医]计算的，使用计算机的v.计算，估算( compute的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He computed that the project would take seven years to complete. 他估计这项计划要花七年才能完成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Resolving kernels and standard errors can also be computed for each block. 还可以计算每个块体的分辨核和标准误差。 来自辞典例句
30 savages 2ea43ddb53dad99ea1c80de05d21d1e5     
未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • There're some savages living in the forest. 森林里居住着一些野人。
  • That's an island inhabited by savages. 那是一个野蛮人居住的岛屿。
31 plentifully f6b211d13287486e1bf5cd496d4f9f39     
adv. 许多地，丰饶地
参考例句：
  • The visitors were plentifully supplied with food and drink. 给来宾准备了丰富的食物和饮料。
  • The oil flowed plentifully at first, but soon ran out. 起初石油大量涌出，但很快就枯竭了。
32 plentiful r2izH     
adj.富裕的，丰富的
参考例句：
  • Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
  • Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。
33 hind Cyoya     
adj.后面的，后部的
参考例句：
  • The animal is able to stand up on its hind limbs.这种动物能够用后肢站立。
  • Don't hind her in her studies.不要在学业上扯她后腿。
34 devoured af343afccf250213c6b0cadbf3a346a9     
吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光
参考例句：
  • She devoured everything she could lay her hands on: books, magazines and newspapers. 无论是书、杂志，还是报纸，只要能弄得到，她都看得津津有味。
  • The lions devoured a zebra in a short time. 狮子一会儿就吃掉了一匹斑马。
35 eminent dpRxn     
adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的
参考例句：
  • We are expecting the arrival of an eminent scientist.我们正期待一位著名科学家的来访。
  • He is an eminent citizen of China.他是一个杰出的中国公民。
36 glutted 2e5d1cc646141e5610898efeb7912309     
v.吃得过多( glut的过去式和过去分词 )；（对胃口、欲望等）纵情满足；使厌腻；塞满
参考例句：
  • The market was glutted with shoddy goods. 次货充斥市场。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The tour of Guilin glutted my eyes. 桂林一游使我大饱眼福。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
37 collateral wqhzH     
adj.平行的；旁系的；n.担保品
参考例句：
  • Many people use personal assets as collateral for small business loans.很多人把个人财产用作小额商业贷款的抵押品。
  • Most people here cannot borrow from banks because they lack collateral.由于拿不出东西作为抵押，这里大部分人无法从银行贷款。
38 lessening 7da1cd48564f42a12c5309c3711a7945     
减轻，减少，变小
参考例句：
  • So however much he earned, she spent it, her demands growing and lessening with his income. 祥子挣多少，她花多少，她的要求随着他的钱涨落。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
  • The talks have resulted in a lessening of suspicion. 谈话消减了彼此的怀疑。
39 squire 0htzjV     
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅
参考例句：
  • I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
  • The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。
40 tenants 05662236fc7e630999509804dd634b69     
n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者
参考例句：
  • A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。
  • Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
41 thrifty NIgzT     
adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的
参考例句：
  • Except for smoking and drinking,he is a thrifty man.除了抽烟、喝酒，他是个生活节俭的人。
  • She was a thrifty woman and managed to put aside some money every month.她是个很会持家的妇女，每月都设法存些钱。
42 flea dgSz3     
n.跳蚤
参考例句：
  • I'll put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more.如果他再来打扰的话，我就要对他不客气了。
  • Hunter has an interest in prowling around a flea market.亨特对逛跳蚤市场很感兴趣。
43 shambles LElzo     
n.混乱之处；废墟
参考例句：
  • My room is a shambles.我房间里乱七八糟。
  • The fighting reduced the city to a shambles.这场战斗使这座城市成了一片废墟。
44 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料
参考例句：
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

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