Everybody knows that the great reversed triangle of land, with its base in the north and its apex¹ in the south, which is called India, embraces fourteen hundred thousand square miles, upon which is spread unequally a population of one hundred and eighty millions of souls. The British Crown exercises a real and despotic dominion² over the larger portion of this vast country, and has a governor-general stationed at Calcutta, governors at Madras, Bombay, and in Bengal, and a lieutenant-governor at Agra.

But British India, properly so called, only embraces seven hundred thousand square miles, and a population of from one hundred to one hundred and ten millions of inhabitants. A considerable portion of India is still free from British authority; and there are certain ferocious³ rajahs in the interior who are absolutely independent. The celebrated⁴ East India Company was all-powerful from 1756, when the English first gained a foothold on the spot where now stands the city of Madras, down to the time of the great Sepoy insurrection. It gradually annexed⁵ province after province, purchasing them of the native chiefs, whom it seldom paid, and appointed the governor-general and his subordinates, civil and military. But the East India Company has now passed away, leaving the British possessions in India directly under the control of the Crown. The aspect of the country, as well as the manners and distinctions of race, is daily changing.

Formerly⁷ one was obliged to travel in India by the old cumbrous methods of going on foot or on horseback, in palanquins or unwieldy coaches; now, fast steamboats ply⁸ on the Indus and the Ganges, and a great railway, with branch lines joining the main line at many points on its route, traverses the peninsula from Bombay to Calcutta in three days. This railway does not run in a direct line across India. The distance between Bombay and Calcutta, as the bird flies, is only from one thousand to eleven hundred miles; but the deflections of the road increase this distance by more than a third.

点击收听单词发音  

1 apex
n.顶点，最高点
参考例句：
He reached the apex of power in the early 1930s.他在三十年代初达到了权力的顶峰。 His election to the presidency was the apex of his career.当选总统是他一生事业的顶峰。

2 dominion
n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图
参考例句：
Alexander held dominion over a vast area.亚历山大曾统治过辽阔的地域。 In the affluent society,the authorities are hardly forced to justify their dominion.在富裕社会里，当局几乎无需证明其统治之合理。

3 ferocious
adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的
参考例句：
The ferocious winds seemed about to tear the ship to pieces.狂风仿佛要把船撕成碎片似的。 The ferocious panther is chasing a rabbit.那只凶猛的豹子正追赶一只兔子。

4 celebrated
adj.有名的，声誉卓著的
参考例句：
He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。 The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 annexed
[法] 附加的，附属的
参考例句：
Germany annexed Austria in 1938. 1938年德国吞并了奥地利。 The outlying villages were formally annexed by the town last year. 那些偏远的村庄于去年正式被并入该镇。

6 pointed
adj.尖的，直截了当的
参考例句：
He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。 She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

7 formerly
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。

8 ply
v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲
参考例句：
Taxis licensed to ply for hire at the railway station.许可计程车在火车站候客。 Ferryboats ply across the English Channel.渡船定期往返于英吉利海峡。

9 ascends
v.上升，攀登( ascend的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
The azygos vein ascends in the right paravertebral gutter. 奇静脉在右侧脊柱旁沟内上升。 来自辞典例句 The mortality curve ascends gradually to a plateau at age 65. 死亡曲线逐渐上升，到65岁时成平稳状态。 来自辞典例句

10 eastwardly
向东，从东方
参考例句：

11 descending
n. 下行 adj. 下降的
参考例句：
The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。 The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置，然后再下山。

12 ashore
adv.在(向)岸上，上岸
参考例句：
The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。 He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

13 promptly
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。

14 astronomical
adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的
参考例句：
He was an expert on ancient Chinese astronomical literature.他是研究中国古代天文学文献的专家。 Houses in the village are selling for astronomical prices.乡村的房价正在飙升。

15 bazaars
（东方国家的）市场( bazaar的名词复数 )； 义卖； 义卖市场； （出售花哨商品等的）小商品市场
参考例句：
When the sky chooses, glory can rain into the Chandrapore bazaars. 如果天公有意，昌德拉卜的集市也会大放光彩。 He visited the shops and bazaars. 他视察起各色铺子和市场来。

16 mosques
清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？ The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

17 pagoda
n.宝塔（尤指印度和远东的多层宝塔），（印度教或佛教的）塔式庙宇
参考例句：
The ancient pagoda is undergoing repairs.那座古塔正在修缮中。 The pagoda is reflected upside down in the water.宝塔影子倒立在水里。

18 polygonal
adj.多角形的，多边形的
参考例句：
The grains take on simple polygonal. 颗粒呈简单的多角形。 来自辞典例句 Use the necessary instrument Polygonal Lasso Tool to outline the mask contour. 使用多边形套索工具将面膜部分选中。 来自互联网

19 deign
v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事)
参考例句：
He doesn't deign to talk to unimportant people like me. 他不肯屈尊和像我这样不重要的人说话。 I would not deign to comment on such behaviour. 这种行为不屑我置评。

20 concealed
a.隐藏的，隐蔽的
参考例句：
The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。 I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

21 remains
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。 The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

22 Buddhist
adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒
参考例句：
The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。 In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

23 transacted
v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判
参考例句：
We transacted business with the firm. 我们和这家公司交易。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Major Pendennis transacted his benevolence by deputy and by post. 潘登尼斯少校依靠代理人和邮局，实施着他的仁爱之心。 来自辞典例句

24 palatable
adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的
参考例句：
The truth is not always very palatable.事实真相并非尽如人意。 This wine is palatable and not very expensive.这种酒味道不错，价钱也不算贵。

25 rogue
n.流氓；v.游手好闲
参考例句：
The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。 They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

26 nervously
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。

27 determined
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。 He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

28 repose
v.(使)休息；n.安息
参考例句：
Don't disturb her repose.不要打扰她休息。 Her mouth seemed always to be smiling,even in repose.她的嘴角似乎总是挂着微笑，即使在睡眠时也是这样。

29 quota
n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额
参考例句：
A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。 He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。

30 leisurely
adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的
参考例句：
We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着，看遍所有的橱窗。 He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐，高兴的开车去工作。

31 promenade
n./v.散步
参考例句：
People came out in smarter clothes to promenade along the front.人们穿上更加时髦漂亮的衣服，沿着海滨散步。 We took a promenade along the canal after Sunday dinner.星期天晚饭后我们沿着运河散步。

32 bonnets
n.童帽( bonnet的名词复数 )；（烟囱等的）覆盖物；（苏格兰男子的）无边呢帽；（女子戴的）任何一种帽子
参考例句：
All the best bonnets of the city were there. 城里戴最漂亮的无边女帽的妇女全都到场了。 来自辞典例句 I am tempting you with bonnets and bangles and leading you into a pit. 我是在用帽子和镯子引诱你，引你上钩。 来自飘（部分）

33 sect
n.派别，宗教，学派，派系
参考例句：
When he was sixteen he joined a religious sect.他16岁的时候加入了一个宗教教派。 Each religious sect in the town had its own church.该城每一个宗教教派都有自己的教堂。

34 thrifty
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。

35 civilized
a.有教养的，文雅的
参考例句：
Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。 rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

36 austere
adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的
参考例句：
His way of life is rather austere.他的生活方式相当简朴。 The room was furnished in austere style.这间屋子的陈设都很简单朴素。

37 carnival
n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演
参考例句：
I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。 Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

38 modesty
n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素
参考例句：
Industry and modesty are the chief factors of his success.勤奋和谦虚是他成功的主要因素。 As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。

39 tambourines
n.铃鼓，手鼓( tambourine的名词复数 )；（鸣声似铃鼓的）白胸森鸠
参考例句：
The gaiety of tambourines ceases, The noise of revelers stops, The gaiety of the harp ceases. 赛24:8击鼓之乐止息、宴乐人的声音完毕、弹琴之乐也止息了。 来自互联网 The singers went on, the musicians after them, In the midst of the maidens beating tambourines. 诗68:25歌唱的行在前、乐的随在后、在击鼓的童女中间。 来自互联网

40 gaping
adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大
参考例句：
Ahead of them was a gaping abyss. 他们前面是一个巨大的深渊。 The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

41 countenance
n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同
参考例句：
At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。 I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

42 espy
v.（从远处等）突然看到
参考例句：
Where love fails,we espy all faults.一旦失恋，缺点易见。 Here,from a window,did Guinevere espy a knight standing in a woodman's cart.吉尼维尔是从这里透过窗户看到了站在樵夫车上的骑士。

43 irresistible
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。

44 Christians
n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。 His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

45 severely
adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地
参考例句：
He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。 He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

46 admiration
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。

47 sprawling
adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）
参考例句：
He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。 a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇

48 behold
v.看，注视，看到
参考例句：
The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。 The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

49 enraged
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。

50 savage
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。

51 exclamations
n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词
参考例句：
The visitors broke into exclamations of wonder when they saw the magnificent Great Wall. 看到雄伟的长城，游客们惊叹不已。 来自《简明英汉词典》 After the will has been read out, angry exclamations aroused. 遗嘱宣读完之后，激起一片愤怒的喊声。 来自辞典例句

52 agile
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。

53 adversaries
n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )
参考例句：
That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句 Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

54 mingling
adj.混合的
参考例句：
There was a spring of bitterness mingling with that fountain of sweets. 在这个甜蜜的源泉中间，已经掺和进苦涩的山水了。 The mingling of inconsequence belongs to us all. 这场矛盾混和物是我们大家所共有的。

55 crestfallen
adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的
参考例句：
He gathered himself up and sneaked off,crushed and crestfallen.他爬起来，偷偷地溜了，一副垂头丧气、被斗败的样子。 The youth looked exceedingly crestfallen.那青年看上去垂头丧气极了。

56 screech
n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音
参考例句：
He heard a screech of brakes and then fell down. 他听到汽车刹车发出的尖锐的声音,然后就摔倒了。 The screech of jet planes violated the peace of the afternoon. 喷射机的尖啸声侵犯了下午的平静。