The Battery and the Boiler
 小说分类
选择字号：【大】【中】【小】
关灯
护眼
Chapter Four.

关注小说网官方公众号（noveltingroom），原版名著免费领。


 Extraordinary Result of an Attempt at Amateur Cable-Laying.
 
Time continued to roll additional years off his reel, and rolled out Robin2 and Madge in length and breadth, though we cannot say much for thickness. Time also developed their minds, and Robin gradually began to understand a little more of the nature of that subtle fluid—if we may venture so to call it—under the influence of which he had been born.
 
“Come, Madge,” he said one day, throwing on his cap, “let us go and play at cables.”
 
Madge, ever ready to play at anything, put on her sun-bonnet and followed her ambitious leader.
 
“Is it to be land-telegraphs to-day, or submarine cables?” inquired Madge, with as much gravity and earnestness as if the world’s welfare depended on the decision.
 
“Cables, of course,” answered Robin, “why, Madge, I have done with land-telegraphs now. There’s nothing more to learn about them. Cousin Sam has put me up to everything, you know. Besides, there’s no mystery about land-lines. Why, you’ve only got to stick up a lot o’ posts with insulators3 screwed to ’em, fix wires to the insulators, clap on an electric battery and a telegraph instrument, and fire away.”
 
“Robin, what are insulators?” asked Madge, with a puzzled look.
 
“Madge,” replied Robin, with a self-satisfied expression on his pert face, “this is the three-hundred-thousandth time I have explained that to you.”
 
“Explain it the three-hundred-thousand-and-first time, then, dear Robin, and perhaps I’ll take it in.”
 
“Well,” began Robin, with a hypocritical sigh of despair, “you must know that everything in nature is more or less a conductor of electricity, but some things conduct it so well—such as copper4 and iron—that they are called conductors, and some things—such as glass and earthenware—conduct it so very badly that they scarcely conduct it at all, and are called non-conductors. D’ee see?”
 
“Oh yes, I see, Robin; so does a bat, but he doesn’t see well. However, go on.”
 
“Well, if I were to run my wire through the posts that support it, my electricity would escape down these posts into the earth, especially if the posts were wet with rain, for water is a good conductor, and Mister Electricity has an

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 tempt MpIwg     
vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣
参考例句：
  • Nothing could tempt him to such a course of action.什么都不能诱使他去那样做。
  • The fact that she had become wealthy did not tempt her to alter her frugal way of life.她有钱了，可这丝毫没能让她改变节俭的生活习惯。
2 robin Oj7zme     
n.知更鸟，红襟鸟
参考例句：
  • The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
  • We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。
3 insulators c88ab4337e644aa48cdb61df6ccc0271     
绝缘、隔热或隔音等的物质或装置( insulator的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • There is no sharp line separating conductors from insulators. 实际上并没有一个明显的界限将半导体和绝缘体分开。
  • To reduce heat losses the pipes are covered by thermal insulators. 为了减少热散失，管子外包保温层。
4 copper HZXyU     
n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的
参考例句：
  • The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
  • Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。
5 irresistible n4CxX     
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。
6 mole 26Nzn     
n.胎块；痣；克分子
参考例句：
  • She had a tiny mole on her cheek.她的面颊上有一颗小黑痣。
  • The young girl felt very self- conscious about the large mole on her chin.那位年轻姑娘对自己下巴上的一颗大痣感到很不自在。
7 zinc DfxwX     
n.锌；vt.在...上镀锌
参考例句：
  • Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
  • Zinc is used to protect other metals from corrosion.锌被用来保护其他金属不受腐蚀。
8 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的，使人感伤的
参考例句：
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
9 astounding QyKzns     
adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词)
参考例句：
  • There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。
  • The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 modesty REmxo     
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。
11 sequestered 0ceab16bc48aa9b4ed97d60eeed591f8     
adj.扣押的；隐退的；幽静的；偏僻的v.使隔绝，使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 )；扣押
参考例句：
  • The jury is expected to be sequestered for at least two months. 陪审团渴望被隔离至少两个月。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Everything he owned was sequestered. 他的一切都被扣押了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 plantation oOWxz     
n.种植园，大农场
参考例句：
  • His father-in-law is a plantation manager.他岳父是个种植园经营者。
  • The plantation owner has possessed himself of a vast piece of land.这个种植园主把大片土地占为己有。
13 brawled 23c5a5e84bd9a95ca89b437a22999cdc     
打架，争吵( brawl的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The river brawled over the rapids. 河水哗哗地流过湍滩。
  • Two gangs of youths brawled on the dance floor of the ferry. 两伙青年在渡轮的舞池里打起来了。
14 willow bMFz6     
n.柳树
参考例句：
  • The river was sparsely lined with willow trees.河边疏疏落落有几棵柳树。
  • The willow's shadow falls on the lake.垂柳的影子倒映在湖面上。
15 plunge 228zO     
v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲
参考例句：
  • Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
  • That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。
16 riotous ChGyr     
adj.骚乱的；狂欢的
参考例句：
  • Summer is in riotous profusion.盛夏的大地热闹纷繁。
  • We spent a riotous night at Christmas.我们度过了一个狂欢之夜。
17 upheaval Tp6y1     
n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱
参考例句：
  • It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
  • The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。
18 foam LjOxI     
v./n.泡沫，起泡沫
参考例句：
  • The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
  • The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。
20 spoke XryyC     
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。
21 cleansed 606e894a15aca2db0892db324d039b96     
弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The nurse cleansed the wound before stitching it. 护士先把伤口弄干净后才把它缝合。
  • The notorious Hell Row was burned down in a fire, and much dirt was cleansed away. 臭名远场的阎王路已在一场大火中化为乌有，许多焦土灰烬被清除一空。
22 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
23 plank p2CzA     
n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目
参考例句：
  • The plank was set against the wall.木板靠着墙壁。
  • They intend to win the next election on the plank of developing trade.他们想以发展贸易的纲领来赢得下次选举。
24 persevering AltztR     
a.坚忍不拔的
参考例句：
  • They will only triumph by persevering in their struggle against natural calamities. 他们只有坚持与自然灾害搏斗，才能取得胜利。
  • Success belongs to the persevering. 胜利属于不屈不挠的人。
25 shriek fEgya     
v./n.尖叫，叫喊
参考例句：
  • Suddenly he began to shriek loudly.突然他开始大声尖叫起来。
  • People sometimes shriek because of terror,anger,or pain.人们有时会因为恐惧，气愤或疼痛而尖叫。
26 hurled 16e3a6ba35b6465e1376a4335ae25cd2     
v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂
参考例句：
  • He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
  • The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
27 crevice pokzO     
n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口
参考例句：
  • I saw a plant growing out of a crevice in the wall.我看到墙缝里长出一棵草来。
  • He edged the tool into the crevice.他把刀具插进裂缝里。
28 projection 9Rzxu     
n.发射，计划，突出部分
参考例句：
  • Projection takes place with a minimum of awareness or conscious control.投射在最少的知觉或意识控制下发生。
  • The projection of increases in number of house-holds is correct.对户数增加的推算是正确的。
29 hissing hissing     
n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式
参考例句：
  • The steam escaped with a loud hissing noise. 蒸汽大声地嘶嘶冒了出来。
  • His ears were still hissing with the rustle of the leaves. 他耳朵里还听得萨萨萨的声音和屑索屑索的怪声。 来自汉英文学 - 春蚕
30 accomplished UzwztZ     
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。
31 drenched cu0zJp     
adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体）
参考例句：
  • We were caught in the storm and got drenched to the skin. 我们遇上了暴雨，淋得浑身透湿。
  • The rain drenched us. 雨把我们淋得湿透。 来自《简明英汉词典》
32 depressed xu8zp9     
adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的
参考例句：
  • When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
  • His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
33 mingled fdf34efd22095ed7e00f43ccc823abdf     
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。
34 reproof YBhz9     
n.斥责，责备
参考例句：
  • A smart reproof is better than smooth deceit.严厉的责难胜过温和的欺骗。
  • He is impatient of reproof.他不能忍受指责。
35 prohibition 7Rqxw     
n.禁止；禁令，禁律
参考例句：
  • The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
  • They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。
36 frustrated ksWz5t     
adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧
参考例句：
  • It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
  • The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

分享到：


返回目录
上一章: Chapter Three.
下一章: Chapter Five.

英语听力 |  手机版  |  网页版
©英文小说网 2005-2010