"What is the matter?" asked Mr. Damon,
catching1 the glance between Tom and the
contractor2. "Is there anything wrong with South America—Peru? I know they have lots of revolutions in those countries, but I don't believe Peru is what they call a 'banana republic'; is it?"
"No," and Mr. Titus shook his head. "It isn't a question of revolutions."
"But it's something!" insisted Mr. Damon. "Bless my ink bottle! but it's something. As soon as I mention Peru, Tom, you and Mr. Titus eye each other as if I'd said something dreadful. Out with it! What is it?"
"It's just—just a coincidence," Tom said. "But go on, Mr. Damon. Finish what you have to say and then we'll explain."
"Well, I guess I've told you all you need to know for the present. I went into this
wholesale3 drug concern, hoping to make some money, but now, on account of the trouble down in Peru, we stand to lose considerable unless I can get back the cinchona
concession4."
"What does that mean?" Tom asked.
"Well, it means that our concern secured from the Peruvian government the right to take this quinine-producing bark from the trees in a certain tropical section. But there has been a change in the government in the district where our men were working, and now the privilege, or concession, has been
withdrawn5. I'm going down to see if I can't get it back. And I want you to go with me."
"And I came here for very nearly the same thing," went on Mr. Titus. "That is where the coincidence comes in. It is strange that we should both appeal to Mr. Swift at the same time."
"Well, Tom's a valuable helper!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I know him of old, for I've been on many a trip with him."
"This is the first time I have had the pleasure of meeting him," resumed the tunnel contractor, "but I have heard of him. I did not ask him to go to South America for us. I only wanted to get some superior explosive for my brother, who is in charge of driving the railroad tunnel through a spur of the Andes. I look after matters up North here, but I may have to go to Peru myself.
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收听单词发音
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1
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 |
参考例句： |
- There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
- Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。
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2
contractor
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| n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌 |
参考例句： |
- The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
- The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。
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3
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 |
参考例句： |
- The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。
- Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。
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4
concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) |
参考例句： |
- We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
- That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。
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5
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 |
参考例句： |
- Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
- All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。
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6
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 |
参考例句： |
- The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
- The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。
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7
projectile
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| n.投射物，发射体；adj.向前开进的；推进的；抛掷的 |
参考例句： |
- The vertical and horizontal motions of a projectile can be treated independently.抛射体的竖直方向和水平方向的运动能够分开来处理。
- Have you altered the plans of the projectile as the telegram suggests?你已经按照电报的要求修改炮弹图样了吗?
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8
ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 |
参考例句： |
- She worked in an ordnance factory during the war.战争期间她在一家兵工厂工作。
- Shoes and clothing for the army were scarce,ordnance supplies and drugs were scarcer.军队很缺鞋和衣服，武器供应和药品就更少了。
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9
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 |
参考例句： |
- The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
- The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
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10
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 |
参考例句： |
- I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
- The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。
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11
incense
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| 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。
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12
specialty
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| n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长 |
参考例句： |
- Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
- His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。
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13
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 |
参考例句： |
- If you continue to tell lies,you will forfeit the good opinion of everyone.你如果继续撒谎，就会失掉大家对你的好感。
- Please pay for the forfeit before you borrow book.在你借书之前请先付清罚款。
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14
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 |
参考例句： |
- I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
- He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
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15
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 |
参考例句： |
- There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
- Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。
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lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 |
参考例句： |
- The lava flowed down the sides of the volcano.熔岩沿火山坡面涌流而下。
- His anger spilled out like lava.他的愤怒像火山爆发似的迸发出来。
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 |
参考例句： |
- They squared a block of granite.他们把一块花岗岩加工成四方形。
- The granite overlies the older rocks.花岗岩躺在磨损的岩石上面。
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strata
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| n.地层（复数）；社会阶层 |
参考例句： |
- The older strata gradually disintegrate.较老的岩层渐渐风化。
- They represent all social strata.他们代表各个社会阶层。
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19
limestone
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| n.石灰石 |
参考例句： |
- Limestone is often used in building construction.石灰岩常用于建筑。
- Cement is made from limestone.水泥是由石灰石制成的。
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20
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 |
参考例句： |
- It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
- He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。
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21
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 |
参考例句： |
- The area is a treasure house of archaeological relics. 这个地区是古文物遗迹的宝库。
- Xi'an is an ancient city full of treasures and saintly relics. 西安是一个有很多宝藏和神圣的遗物的古老城市。
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22
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 |
参考例句： |
- Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
- When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。
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23
investor
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| n.投资者，投资人 |
参考例句： |
- My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
- The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。
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porous
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| adj.可渗透的，多孔的 |
参考例句： |
- He added sand to the soil to make it more porous.他往土里掺沙子以提高渗水性能。
- The shell has to be slightly porous to enable oxygen to pass in.外壳不得不有些细小的孔以便能使氧气通过。
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25
bidders
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| n.出价者，投标人( bidder的名词复数 ) |
参考例句： |
- Bidders should proceed only if they intend on using a PayPal account to complete payment. Bidders的唯一形式，应继续只当他们在使用贝宝帐户，以完成付款打算。 来自互联网
- The other bidders for the contract complained that it had not been a fair contest. 其他竞标人抱怨说该合同的竞标不公平。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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26
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） |
参考例句： |
- \"I wonder if I shall ever see them again, \"he mused. “我不知道是否还可以再见到他们，”他沉思自问。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- \"Where are we going from here?\" mused one of Rutherford's guests. 卢瑟福的一位客人忍不住说道：‘我们这是在干什么？” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
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27
obsidian
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| n.黑曜石 |
参考例句： |
- Obsidian is sacred to the Maoris.黑曜石是毛利人的神圣之物。
- Once you have enough obsidian,activate the idols.一旦你有足够的黑曜石，激活神像。
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28
brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 |
参考例句： |
- The pond was covered in a brittle layer of ice.池塘覆盖了一层易碎的冰。
- She gave a brittle laugh.她冷淡地笑了笑。
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29
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 |
参考例句： |
- He intended to slay his father's murderer.他意图杀死杀父仇人。
- She has ordered me to slay you.她命令我把你杀了。
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30
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 |
参考例句： |
- She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
- People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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31
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 |
参考例句： |
- The girl is not in the vein for singing today.那女孩今天没有心情唱歌。
- The doctor injects glucose into the patient's vein.医生把葡萄糖注射入病人的静脉。
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crumble
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| vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁 |
参考例句： |
- Opposition more or less crumbled away.反对势力差不多都瓦解了。
- Even if the seas go dry and rocks crumble,my will will remain firm.纵然海枯石烂，意志永不动摇。
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