Mason, convinc'd that he has been set upon a Pilgrimage by Forces beyond his ability at present to reach,— a Station of the Cross being his preferr'd Trope,— finds much to Puzzle in Maskelyne's insistence² that they move to the other side of the Island, from enclosure to exposure, from Shelter to an unremitting and much-warn'd-against Wind. "The Attraction of Mountains," Maskelyne Jobates, whilst slowly 'round him The Moon becomes a Dormitory, "— according to Newton, these Peaks may hold enough Mass to deflect³ our Plumb-lines, thereby⁴ throwing off our Zenith Obs. We must therefore repeat these Obs at the other side of the Island, and take the Mean Values betwixt 'em."
"The Other Side,"— it does give Mason a Chill. If the Cape⁵ of Good Hope be a Parable⁶ about Slavery and Free Will he fancies he has almost tho' not quite grasp'd, then what of this Translocation? That Maskelyne's Obsessedness in the Article of Plumb-lines, may be a factor in the change, will not become apparent till too late. Days in a row now pass in which Maskelyne speaks of little but the faulty Suspension of the Sisson Instrument. "My career, my Life,— hanging from a damn'd Pin!" He takes to accosting⁸ strangers in The Moon and then in other taverns⁹, sub?jecting them to long wearying recitations describing the malfunction¹⁰ in numbing¹¹ detail, and what he has instructed be done to correct it, and how others have complied, or not,— a history without sentiment or sus?pense (save that in which the Plumb-line, as it proves faultily, hangs upon its Loop, and that upon its Pin).
"How did Waddington like it over there?" Mason inquires.

点击收听单词发音  

1 con
n.反对的观点，反对者，反对票，肺病；vt.精读，学习，默记；adv.反对地，从反面；adj.欺诈的
参考例句：
We must be fair and consider the reason pro and con.我们必须公平考虑赞成和反对的理由。 The motion is adopted non con.因无人投反对票，协议被通过。

2 insistence
n.坚持；强调；坚决主张
参考例句：
They were united in their insistence that she should go to college.他们一致坚持她应上大学。 His insistence upon strict obedience is correct.他坚持绝对服从是对的。

3 deflect
v.(使)偏斜，(使)偏离，(使)转向
参考例句：
Never let a little problem deflect you.决不要因一点小问题就半途而废。 They decided to deflect from the original plan.他们决定改变原计划。

4 thereby
adv.因此，从而
参考例句：
I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。 He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。

5 cape
n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风
参考例句：
I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。 She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

6 parable
n.寓言，比喻
参考例句：
This is an ancient parable.这是一个古老的寓言。 The minister preached a sermon on the parable of the lost sheep.牧师讲道时用了亡羊的比喻。

7 par
n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的
参考例句：
Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。 I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。

8 accosting
v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的现在分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭
参考例句：
The provider of our first breakfast was found by the King of Accosting. 首顿早餐的供货商，此地的发现得来于搭讪之王简称讪王千岁殿下的首次参上。 来自互联网

9 taverns
n.小旅馆，客栈，酒馆( tavern的名词复数 )
参考例句：
They ain't only two taverns. We can find out quick." 这儿只有两家客栈，会弄明白的。” 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险 Maybe ALL the Temperance Taverns have got a ha'nted room, hey, Huck?" 也许所有的禁酒客栈都有个闹鬼的房间，喂，哈克，你说是不是？” 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

10 malfunction
vi.发生功能故障，发生故障，显示机能失常
参考例句：
There must have been a computer malfunction.一定是出了电脑故障。 Results have been delayed owing to a malfunction in the computer.由于电脑发生故障，计算结果推迟了。

11 numbing
adj.使麻木的，使失去感觉的v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的现在分词 )
参考例句：
Watching television had a numbing effect on his mind. 看电视使他头脑麻木。 It was numbing work, requiring patience and dedication. 这是一种令人麻木的工作，需要有耐心和忘我精神。 来自辞典例句

12 ward
n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开
参考例句：
The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。 During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

13 chaos
n.混乱，无秩序
参考例句：
After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。 The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

14 luminously
发光的； 明亮的； 清楚的； 辉赫
参考例句：
an alarm clock with a luminous dial 夜光闹钟 luminous hands on a clock 钟的夜光指针

15 turquoise
n.绿宝石；adj.蓝绿色的
参考例句：
She wore a string of turquoise round her neck.她脖子上戴着一串绿宝石。 The women have elaborate necklaces of turquoise.那些女人戴着由绿松石制成的精美项链。

16 recess
n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）
参考例句：
The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。 Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

17 bustles
热闹( bustle的名词复数 )； （女裙后部的）衬垫； 撑架
参考例句：
She bustles about cooking breakfast in a most officious manner. 她为准备早餐忙得团团转。 Everyone bustles during rush hours. 上下班时间每个人都忙忙碌碌的。

18 sentries
哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 )
参考例句：
We posted sentries at the gates of the camp. 我们在军营的大门口布置哨兵。 We were guarded by sentries against surprise attack. 我们由哨兵守卫，以免遭受突袭。

19 martial
adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的
参考例句：
The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。 The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

20 drawn
v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的
参考例句：
All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。 Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

21 acting
n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的
参考例句：
Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。 During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

22 superstitions
迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Old superstitions seem incredible to educated people. 旧的迷信对于受过教育的人来说是不可思议的。 Do away with all fetishes and superstitions. 破除一切盲目崇拜和迷信。

23 hatreds
n.仇恨，憎恶( hatred的名词复数 )；厌恶的事
参考例句：
He had more enimies and hatreds than anyone could easily guess from his thoughtful expression. 从他的思想表达方式难以被人猜透来看，他的敌人和仇家是不会多的。 来自辞典例句 All the old and recent hatreds come to his mind. 旧恨新仇一起涌上他的心头。 来自互联网

24 unnatural
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。

25 repel
v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥
参考例句：
A country must have the will to repel any invader.一个国家得有决心击退任何入侵者。 Particles with similar electric charges repel each other.电荷同性的分子互相排斥。

26 rotary
adj.(运动等)旋转的；轮转的；转动的
参考例句：
The central unit is a rotary drum.核心设备是一个旋转的滚筒。 A rotary table helps to optimize the beam incidence angle.一张旋转的桌子有助于将光线影响之方式角最佳化。

27 deity
n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物)
参考例句：
Many animals were seen as the manifestation of a deity.许多动物被看作神的化身。 The deity was hidden in the deepest recesses of the temple.神藏在庙宇壁龛的最深处。

28 infinitely
adv.无限地，无穷地
参考例句：
There is an infinitely bright future ahead of us.我们有无限光明的前途。 The universe is infinitely large.宇宙是无限大的。

29 vigilant
adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的
参考例句：
He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。 The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

30 folly
n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话
参考例句：
Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。 Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。

31 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。

32 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。

33 aberration
n.离开正路，脱离常规，色差
参考例句：
The removal of the chromatic aberration is then of primary importance.这时消除色差具有头等重要性。 Owing to a strange mental aberration he forgot his own name.由于一种莫名的精神错乱，他把自己的名字忘了。

34 enlist
vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍
参考例句：
They come here to enlist men for the army.他们来这儿是为了召兵。 The conference will make further efforts to enlist the support of the international community for their just struggle. 会议必将进一步动员国际社会，支持他们的正义斗争。

35 enlisted
adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）
参考例句：
enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵 He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

36 innuendo
n.暗指，讽刺
参考例句：
The report was based on rumours,speculation,and innuendo.这份报告建立在谣言、臆断和含沙射影的基础之上。 Mark told by innuendo that the opposing team would lose the game.马克暗讽地说敌队会在比赛中输掉。

37 precipice
n.悬崖，危急的处境
参考例句：
The hut hung half over the edge of the precipice.那间小屋有一半悬在峭壁边上。 A slight carelessness on this precipice could cost a man his life.在这悬崖上稍一疏忽就会使人丧生。

38 astronomer
n.天文学家
参考例句：
A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。 He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。

39 undone
a.未做完的，未完成的
参考例句：
He left nothing undone that needed attention.所有需要注意的事他都注意到了。

40 purgatory
n.炼狱；苦难；adj.净化的，清洗的
参考例句：
Every step of the last three miles was purgatory.最后3英里时每一步都像是受罪。 Marriage,with peace,is this world's paradise;with strife,this world's purgatory.和谐的婚姻是尘世的乐园，不和谐的婚姻则是人生的炼狱。

41 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。

42 ravening
a.贪婪而饥饿的
参考例句：
He says the media are ravening wolves. 他说媒体就如同饿狼一般。 If he could get a fare nothing else mattered-he was like a ravening beast. 他只管拉上买卖，不管别的，像一只饿疯的野兽。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

43 intercept
vt.拦截，截住，截击
参考例句：
His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。 Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。

44 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。

45 ridge
n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭
参考例句：
We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。 The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

46 doom
n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定
参考例句：
The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。 The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

47 maidens
处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球
参考例句：
stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事 Transplantation is not always successful in the matter of flowers or maidens. 花儿移栽往往并不成功，少女们换了环境也是如此。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

48 inveterate
adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的
参考例句：
Hitler was not only an avid reader but also an inveterate underliner.希特勒不仅酷爱读书，还有写写划划的习惯。 It is hard for an inveterate smoker to give up tobacco.要一位有多年烟瘾的烟民戒烟是困难的。

49 intriguer
密谋者
参考例句：

50 bazaar
n.集市，商店集中区
参考例句：
Chickens,goats and rabbits were offered for barter at the bazaar.在集市上，鸡、山羊和兔子被摆出来作物物交换之用。 We bargained for a beautiful rug in the bazaar.我们在集市通过讨价还价买到了一条很漂亮的地毯。

51 logic
n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性
参考例句：
What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑？ I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。

52 ransom
n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救
参考例句：
We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。 The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

53 levy
n.征收税或其他款项，征收额
参考例句：
They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。 A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。

54 simplicity
n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯
参考例句：
She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。 The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。

55 flinching
v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 )
参考例句：
He listened to the jeers of the crowd without flinching. 他毫不畏惧地听着群众的嘲笑。 来自辞典例句 Without flinching he dashed into the burning house to save the children. 他毫不畏缩地冲进在燃烧的房屋中去救小孩。 来自辞典例句

56 sanity
n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确
参考例句：
I doubt the sanity of such a plan.我怀疑这个计划是否明智。 She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。

57 bestow
v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费
参考例句：
He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.他希望将那些伟大的荣誉授予这位英雄。 What great inspiration wiII you bestow on me?你有什么伟大的灵感能馈赠给我？

58 transformation
n.变化；改造；转变
参考例句：
Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。 He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

59 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。

60 colonnades
n.石柱廊( colonnade的名词复数 )
参考例句：

61 horrid
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。

62 eruption
n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作
参考例句：
The temple was destroyed in the violent eruption of 1470 BC.庙宇在公元前1470年猛烈的火山爆发中摧毁了。 The eruption of a volcano is spontaneous.火山的爆发是自发的。

63 alas
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。

64 exterior
adj.外部的，外在的；表面的
参考例句：
The seed has a hard exterior covering.这种子外壳很硬。 We are painting the exterior wall of the house.我们正在给房子的外墙涂漆。

65 immersion
n.沉浸；专心
参考例句：
The dirt on the bottom of the bath didn't encourage total immersion.浴缸底有污垢，不宜全身浸泡于其中。 The wood had become swollen from prolonged immersion.因长时间浸泡，木头发胀了。

66 daydreams
n.白日梦( daydream的名词复数 )v.想入非非，空想( daydream的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
Often they gave themselves up to daydreams of escape. 他们常沉溺进这种逃避现实的白日梦。 来自英汉文学 I would become disgusted with my futile daydreams. 我就讨厌自己那种虚无的梦想。 来自辞典例句

67 inconvenient
adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的
参考例句：
You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。 Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗？

68 mishaps
n.轻微的事故，小的意外( mishap的名词复数 )
参考例句：
a series of mishaps 一连串的倒霉事 In spite of one or two minor mishaps everything was going swimmingly. 尽管遇到了一两件小小的不幸，一切都进行得很顺利。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

69 vertical
adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置
参考例句：
The northern side of the mountain is almost vertical.这座山的北坡几乎是垂直的。 Vertical air motions are not measured by this system.垂直气流的运动不用这种系统来测量。

70 suffocating
a.使人窒息的
参考例句：
After a few weeks with her parents, she felt she was suffocating.和父母呆了几个星期后，她感到自己毫无自由。 That's better. I was suffocating in that cell of a room.这样好些了，我刚才在那个小房间里快闷死了。

71 incense
v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气
参考例句：
This proposal will incense conservation campaigners.这项提议会激怒环保人士。 In summer,they usually burn some coil incense to keep away the mosquitoes.夏天他们通常点香驱蚊。

72 redress
n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除
参考例句：
He did all that he possibly could to redress the wrongs.他尽了一切努力革除弊端。 Any man deserves redress if he has been injured unfairly.任何人若蒙受不公平的损害都应获得赔偿。

73 miasma
n.毒气；不良气氛
参考例句：
A miasma rose from the marsh.沼泽地里冒出了瘴气。 The novel spun a miasma of death and decay.小说笼罩着死亡和腐朽的气氛。

74 debris
n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片
参考例句：
After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。 Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

75 accosts
v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的第三人称单数 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭
参考例句：
Don't have a chat with unknown men, and do not any accosts. 不要和陌生男人聊天和接受他们的搭讪。 来自互联网 Wyatt accosts Self about his investigation on General Krantz. Self refuses to tell Wyatt anything. 怀亚特跟赛尔夫谈了谈有关他查问“将军”一事，赛尔夫拒绝回答。 来自互联网

76 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。

77 detriment
n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源
参考例句：
Smoking is a detriment to one's health.吸烟危害健康。 His lack of education is a serious detriment to his career.他的未受教育对他的事业是一种严重的妨碍。

78 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。

79 yew
n.紫杉属树木
参考例句：
The leaves of yew trees are poisonous to cattle.紫杉树叶会令牛中毒。 All parts of the yew tree are poisonous,including the berries.紫杉的各个部分都有毒，包括浆果。

80 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。

81 sage
n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的
参考例句：
I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。 The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。

82 squander
v.浪费，挥霍
参考例句：
Don't squander your time in reading those dime novels.不要把你的时间浪费在读那些胡编乱造的廉价小说上。 Every chance is precious，so don't squander any chance away!每次机会都很宝贵，所以不要将任何一个白白放走。

83 tilting
倾斜，倾卸
参考例句：
For some reason he thinks everyone is out to get him, but he's really just tilting at windmills. 不知为什么他觉得每个人都想害他，但其实他不过是在庸人自扰。 So let us stop bickering within our ranks.Stop tilting at windmills. 所以，让我们结束内部间的争吵吧！再也不要去做同风车作战的蠢事了。