`From ocean to ocean,' - so say the Americans; and these four words compose the general designation of the `great trunk line' which crosses the entire width of the United States. The Pacific railroad is, however, really divided into two distinct lines: the Central Pacific, between San Francisco and Ogden, and the Union Pacific, between Ogden and Omaha. Five main lines connect Omaha with New York.

New York and San Francisco are thus united by an uninterrupted metal ribbon, which measures no less than three thousand seven hundred and eighty-six miles. Between Omaha and the Pacific the railway crosses a territory which is still infested¹ by Indians and wild beasts, and a large tract² which the Mormons, after they were driven from Illinois in 1845, began to colonize³.

The journey from New York to San Francisco consumed, formerly⁴, under the most favourable⁵ conditions, at least six months. It is now accomplished⁶ in seven days.

It was in 1862 that, in spite of the Southern Members of Congress, who wished a more southerly route, it was decided⁷ to lay the road between the forty-first and forty-second parallels. Ped to have no outlet⁸. The locomotive, its great funnel⁹ emitting a weird¹⁰ light, with its sharp bell, and its cow-catcher extended like a spur, mingled¹¹ its shrieks¹²

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1 infested
adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于
参考例句：
The kitchen was infested with ants. 厨房里到处是蚂蚁。 The apartments were infested with rats and roaches. 公寓里面到处都是老鼠和蟑螂。

2 tract
n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林)
参考例句：
He owns a large tract of forest.他拥有一大片森林。 He wrote a tract on this subject.他曾对此写了一篇短文。

3 colonize
v.建立殖民地，拓殖；定居，居于
参考例句：
Around 700 Arabs began to colonize East Africa.公元700年阿拉伯人开始把东非变为殖民地。 Japan used to colonize many countries in Asia.日本曾经殖民过许多亚洲国家。

4 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。

5 favourable
adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的
参考例句：
The company will lend you money on very favourable terms.这家公司将以非常优惠的条件借钱给你。 We found that most people are favourable to the idea.我们发现大多数人同意这个意见。

6 accomplished
adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的
参考例句：
Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。 Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

7 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 outlet
n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄
参考例句：
The outlet of a water pipe was blocked.水管的出水口堵住了。 Running is a good outlet for his energy.跑步是他发泄过剩精力的好方法。

9 funnel
n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集
参考例句：
He poured the petrol into the car through a funnel.他用一个漏斗把汽油灌入汽车。 I like the ship with a yellow funnel.我喜欢那条有黄烟囱的船。

10 weird
adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的
参考例句：
From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。 His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

11 mingled
混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系]
参考例句：
The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。 The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。

12 shrieks
n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
shrieks of fiendish laughter 恶魔般的尖笑声 For years, from newspapers, broadcasts, the stages and at meetings, we had heard nothing but grandiloquent rhetoric delivered with shouts and shrieks that deafened the ears. 多少年来， 报纸上， 广播里， 舞台上， 会场上的声嘶力竭，装腔做态的高调搞得我们震耳欲聋。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 torrents
n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断
参考例句：
The torrents scoured out a channel down the hill side. 急流沿着山腰冲刷出一条水沟。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 Sudden rainstorms would bring the mountain torrents rushing down. 突然的暴雨会使山洪暴发。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

14 torrent
n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发
参考例句：
The torrent scoured a channel down the hillside. 急流沿着山坡冲出了一条沟。 Her pent-up anger was released in a torrent of words.她压抑的愤怒以滔滔不绝的话爆发了出来。

15 cascades
倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西
参考例句：
The river fell in a series of cascades down towards the lake. 河形成阶梯状瀑布泻入湖中。 Turning into the sun, he began the long, winding drive through the Cascades. 现在他朝着太阳驶去，开始了穿越喀斯喀特山脉的漫长而曲折的路程。 来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦

16 junction
n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站
参考例句：
There's a bridge at the junction of the two rivers.两河的汇合处有座桥。 You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路。

17 plunges
n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降
参考例句：
Even before he plunges into his program, he has his audience in his pocket. 他的节目甚至还没有出场，就已控制住了观众。 来自《简明英汉词典》 'Monseigneur, he precipitated himself over the hill-side, head first, as a person plunges into the river.' “大人，他头冲下跳下山坡去了，像往河里跳一样。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

18 cedar
n.雪松，香柏(木)
参考例句：
The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。 She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。

19 descends
v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 )；下去；下降；下斜
参考例句：
This festival descends from a religious rite. 这个节日起源于宗教仪式。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The path descends steeply to the village. 小路陡直而下直到村子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 compartments
n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层
参考例句：
Your pencil box has several compartments. 你的铅笔盒有好几个格。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The first-class compartments are in front. 头等车室在前头。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 perpendicular
adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置
参考例句：
The two lines of bones are set perpendicular to one another.这两排骨头相互垂直。 The wall is out of the perpendicular.这墙有些倾斜。

22 aisle
n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道
参考例句：
The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。 The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

23 dealers
n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者
参考例句：
There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。 The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

24 edibles
可以吃的，可食用的( edible的名词复数 )； 食物
参考例句：
They freely offered for sale what edibles they had. 他们很自愿地把他们的一点点可吃的东西卖给我们。 Our edibles the wild vegetable. 我们只能吃野菜。

25 aisles
n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊
参考例句：
Aisles were added to the original Saxon building in the Norman period. 在诺曼时期，原来的萨克森风格的建筑物都增添了走廊。 They walked about the Abbey aisles, and presently sat down. 他们走到大教堂的走廊附近，并且很快就坐了下来。

26 overcast
adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天
参考例句：
The overcast and rainy weather found out his arthritis.阴雨天使他的关节炎发作了。 The sky is overcast with dark clouds.乌云满天。

27 mutual
adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的
参考例句：
We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。 Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

28 intimacy
n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行
参考例句：
His claims to an intimacy with the President are somewhat exaggerated.他声称自己与总统关系密切，这有点言过其实。 I wish there were a rule book for intimacy.我希望能有个关于亲密的规则。

29 provocation
n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因
参考例句：
He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。 They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

30 obstruct
v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物
参考例句：
He became still more dissatisfied with it and secretly did everything in his power to obstruct it.他对此更不满意，尽在暗里使绊子。 The fallen trees obstruct the road.倒下的树将路堵住了。

31 steward
n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员
参考例句：
He's the steward of the club.他是这家俱乐部的管理员。 He went around the world as a ship's steward.他当客船服务员，到过世界各地。

32 berths
n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位
参考例句：
Berths on steamships can be booked a long while in advance. 轮船上的床位可以提前多日预订。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 Have you got your berths on the ship yet? 你们在船上有舱位了吗？ 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

33 improvised
a.即席而作的,即兴的
参考例句：
He improvised a song about the football team's victory. 他即席创作了一首足球队胜利之歌。 We improvised a tent out of two blankets and some long poles. 我们用两条毛毯和几根长竿搭成一个临时帐蓬。

34 disposition
n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署
参考例句：
He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。 He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

35 eastwards
adj.向东方（的），朝东（的）；n.向东的方向
参考例句：
The current sets strongly eastwards.急流迅猛东去。 The Changjiang River rolls on eastwards.长江滚滚向东流。

36 eastward
adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部
参考例句：
The river here tends eastward.这条河从这里向东流。 The crowd is heading eastward,believing that they can find gold there.人群正在向东移去，他们认为在那里可以找到黄金。

37 quays
码头( quay的名词复数 )
参考例句：
She drove across the Tournelle bridge and across the busy quays to the Latin quarter. 她驾车开过图尔内勒桥，穿过繁忙的码头开到拉丁区。 When blasting is close to such installations as quays, the charge can be reduced. 在靠近如码头这类设施爆破时，装药量可以降低。

38 picturesque
adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的
参考例句：
You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。 That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。

39 precipices
n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Sheer above us rose the Spy-glass, here dotted with single pines, there black with precipices. 我们的头顶上方耸立着陡峭的望远镜山，上面长着几棵孤零零的松树，其他地方则是黑黝黝的悬崖绝壁。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛 Few people can climb up to the sheer precipices and overhanging rocks. 悬崖绝壁很少有人能登上去。 来自互联网

40 abrupt
adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的
参考例句：
The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。 His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。

41 plunging
adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降
参考例句：
War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》

42 defiles
v.玷污( defile的第三人称单数 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进
参考例句：
That kind of love defiles its purity simply. 那恋爱本身就是亵渎了爱情的纯洁。 来自辞典例句 Marriage but defiles, outrages, and corrupts her fulfillment. 婚姻只是诋毁、侮辱、败坏这种实现。 来自互联网

43 northward
adv.向北；n.北方的地区
参考例句：
He pointed his boat northward.他将船驶向北方。 I would have a chance to head northward quickly.我就很快有机会去北方了。

44 varied
adj.多样的，多变化的
参考例句：
The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。 The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

45 lining
n.衬里，衬料
参考例句：
The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。 Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

46 creeks
n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪
参考例句：
The prospect lies between two creeks. 矿区位于两条溪流之间。 来自辞典例句 There was the excitement of fishing in country creeks with my grandpa on cloudy days. 有在阴雨天和姥爷一起到乡村河湾钓鱼的喜悦。 来自辞典例句

47 foaming
adj.布满泡沫的；发泡
参考例句：
He looked like a madman, foaming at the mouth. 他口吐白沫，看上去像个疯子。 来自《简明英汉词典》 He is foaming at the mouth about the committee's decision. 他正为委员会的决定大发其火。 来自《简明英汉词典》

48 herd
n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起
参考例句：
She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。 He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

49 buffalo
n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛
参考例句：
Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。 The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

50 buffaloes
n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓
参考例句：
Some medieval towns raced donkeys or buffaloes. 有些中世纪的城市用驴子或水牛竞赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Water buffaloes supply Egypt with more meat than any other domestic animal. 水牛提供给埃及的肉比任何其它动物都要多。 来自辞典例句

51 ruminating
v.沉思( ruminate的现在分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼
参考例句：
He sat there ruminating and picking at the tablecloth. 他坐在那儿沉思，轻轻地抚弄着桌布。 来自《简明英汉词典》 He is ruminating on what had happened the day before. 他在沉思前一天发生的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

52 encumbered
v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The police operation was encumbered by crowds of reporters. 警方的行动被成群的记者所妨碍。 The narrow quay was encumbered by hundreds of carts. 狭窄的码头被数百辆手推车堵得水泄不通。 来自辞典例句

53 tranquil
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的
参考例句：
The boy disturbed the tranquil surface of the pond with a stick. 那男孩用棍子打破了平静的池面。 The tranquil beauty of the village scenery is unique. 这乡村景色的宁静是绝无仅有的。

54 deafening
adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式
参考例句：
The noise of the siren was deafening her. 汽笛声震得她耳朵都快聋了。 The noise of the machine was deafening. 机器的轰鸣声震耳欲聋。

55 philosophically
adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地
参考例句：
He added philosophically that one should adapt oneself to the changed conditions. 他富于哲理地补充说，一个人应该适应变化了的情况。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Harry took his rejection philosophically. 哈里达观地看待自己被拒的事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

56 arsenal
n.兵工厂，军械库
参考例句：
Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。 We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。

57 impeding
a.(尤指坏事)即将发生的，临近的
参考例句：
Fallen rock is impeding the progress of rescue workers. 坠落的石头阻滞了救援人员的救援进程。 Is there sufficient room for the kiosk and kiosk traffic without impeding other user traffic? 该环境下是否有足够的空间来摆放信息亭？信息亭是否会妨碍交通或者行走？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

58 mishap
n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸
参考例句：
I'm afraid your son had a slight mishap in the playground.不好了，你儿子在操场上出了点小意外。 We reached home without mishap.我们平安地回到了家。

59 inevitably
adv.不可避免地；必然发生地
参考例句：
In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。 Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。

60 regain
vt.重新获得，收复，恢复
参考例句：
He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。 The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

61 penetrated
adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句：
The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。 They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。