Early the next day, as Julius was
clattering1 along the passage with his big riding-boots and spurs, he heard the sounds of practising in the school-room, and knowing that Miss Hanenwinkel did not give lessons at this hour, he pushed open the door to see what was going on. There sat Lili at the piano, and Wili stood by, looking as if he were impatiently counting every minute till he could have his turn.
"What are you two about?" he called out, "is this the beginning of some
mischievous2 prank3?"
"Be quiet, Jule, we haven't a minute to lose," said Lili seriously. Jule laughed aloud and went on his way. Going down stairs, he met Miss Hanenwinkel.
"What has got into the twins now?" he asked. "Have they taken the notion of being
virtuous4, into their small noddles?"
"That is more likely at seven than at seventeen;" was all the answer he got.
He went on down stairs still laughing, and just at the front door met his mother. She was starting at that early hour to try to see the doctor before he went from home, to ask him exactly the state of Dora's arm, and whether there was any danger for the child. Aunt Ninette's anxiety had infected her, and she could not rest until she knew the probabilities of the case.
"Do I hear some one playing on the piano, Jule?" she asked. "It is an unusual sound for this time of day."
"Mother dear, I do believe that the end of the world is coming," replied Julius;
"Lili is up there hurrying from one finger-exercise to another as if she could not get enough of that
exquisite5 amusement, and Wili is seated at her side in a similar condition of nervous industry, waiting for his turn at the piano."
"A strange state of things, to be sure, Jule," said his mother; "for it was only yesterday that Miss Hanenwinkel was complaining to me that Lili did not show the slightest interest in her music, and that she would not even play her piece, much less her exercises."
点击
收听单词发音
1
clattering
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发出咔哒声(clatter的现在分词形式) |
参考例句: |
- Typewriters keep clattering away. 打字机在不停地嗒嗒作响。
- The typewriter was clattering away. 打字机啪嗒啪嗒地响着。
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2
mischievous
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adj.调皮的,恶作剧的,有害的,伤人的 |
参考例句: |
- He is a mischievous but lovable boy.他是一个淘气但可爱的小孩。
- A mischievous cur must be tied short.恶狗必须拴得短。
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3
prank
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n.开玩笑,恶作剧;v.装饰;打扮;炫耀自己 |
参考例句: |
- It was thought that the fire alarm had been set off as a prank.人们认为火警报警器响是个恶作剧。
- The dean was ranking the boys for pulling the prank.系主任正在惩罚那些恶作剧的男学生。
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4
virtuous
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adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的 |
参考例句: |
- She was such a virtuous woman that everybody respected her.她是个有道德的女性,人人都尊敬她。
- My uncle is always proud of having a virtuous wife.叔叔一直为娶到一位贤德的妻子而骄傲。
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5
exquisite
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adj.精美的;敏锐的;剧烈的,感觉强烈的 |
参考例句: |
- I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
- I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。
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6
disquieted
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v.使不安,使忧虑,使烦恼( disquiet的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- People are disquieted [on tenterhooks]. 人心惶惶。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The bad news disquieted him. 恶讯使他焦急不安。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
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7
perfectly
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adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 |
参考例句: |
- The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
- Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
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8
tune
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n.调子;和谐,协调;v.调音,调节,调整 |
参考例句: |
- He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子,并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
- The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。
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9
entirely
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ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 |
参考例句: |
- The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
- His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
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10
acquiesced
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v.默认,默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up. 政府高级官员必然已经默许掩盖真相。
- After a lot of persuasion,he finally acquiesced. 经过多次劝说,他最终默许了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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11
demur
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v.表示异议,反对 |
参考例句: |
- Without demur, they joined the party in my rooms. 他们没有推辞就到我的屋里一起聚餐了。
- He accepted the criticism without demur. 他毫无异议地接受了批评。
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12
beset
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v.镶嵌;困扰,包围 |
参考例句: |
- She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
- The plan was beset with difficulties from the beginning.这项计划自开始就困难重重。
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13
prospect
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n.前景,前途;景色,视野 |
参考例句: |
- This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
- The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
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14
prospects
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n.希望,前途(恒为复数) |
参考例句: |
- There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
- They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
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15
spoke
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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。
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16
thoroughly
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adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 |
参考例句: |
- The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
- The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
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17
contented
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adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 |
参考例句: |
- He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
- The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
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18
curb
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n.场外证券市场,场外交易;vt.制止,抑制 |
参考例句: |
- I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
- You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。
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19
impatience
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n.不耐烦,急躁 |
参考例句: |
- He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢,他显得不耐烦。
- He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
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20
imposing
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adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 |
参考例句: |
- The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
- He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。
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21
sitting-room
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n.(BrE)客厅,起居室 |
参考例句: |
- The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
- Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。
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22
frankly
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adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 |
参考例句: |
- To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说,我一点也不赞成这个主意。
- Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说,我不反对改革。
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23
tugged
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v.用力拉,使劲拉,猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. 她拽了拽他的袖子引起他的注意。
- A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 他的嘴角带一丝苦笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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24
riddle
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n.谜,谜语,粗筛;vt.解谜,给…出谜,筛,检查,鉴定,非难,充满于;vi.出谜 |
参考例句: |
- The riddle couldn't be solved by the child.这个谜语孩子猜不出来。
- Her disappearance is a complete riddle.她的失踪完全是一个谜。
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25
melancholy
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n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 |
参考例句: |
- All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
- He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过,他感到很郁闷。
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26
joyful
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adj.欢乐的,令人欢欣的 |
参考例句: |
- She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
- They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。
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27
diligently
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ad.industriously;carefully |
参考例句: |
- He applied himself diligently to learning French. 他孜孜不倦地学法语。
- He had studied diligently at college. 他在大学里勤奋学习。
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28
artistic
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adj.艺术(家)的,美术(家)的;善于艺术创作的 |
参考例句: |
- The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
- These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。
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29
twilight
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n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 |
参考例句: |
- Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
- Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。
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30
twigs
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细枝,嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。
- Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。
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31
interfere
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v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 |
参考例句: |
- If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话,可能弊多利少。
- When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件,棘手的事情就来了。
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32
constellation
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n.星座n.灿烂的一群 |
参考例句: |
- A constellation is a pattern of stars as seen from the earth. 一个星座只是从地球上看到的某些恒星的一种样子。
- The Big Dipper is not by itself a constellation. 北斗七星本身不是一个星座。
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33
riddles
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n.谜(语)( riddle的名词复数 );猜不透的难题,难解之谜 |
参考例句: |
- Few riddles collected from oral tradition, however, have all six parts. 但是据收集的情况看,口头流传的谜语很少具有这完整的六部分。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗
- But first, you'd better see if you can answer riddles. 但是你首先最好想想你会不会猜谜语。 来自辞典例句
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34
countless
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adj.无数的,多得不计其数的 |
参考例句: |
- In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
- I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。
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35
enjoyment
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n.乐趣;享有;享用 |
参考例句: |
- Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同,我们这次访问更加愉快了。
- After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话,这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。
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36
indefatigable
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adj.不知疲倦的,不屈不挠的 |
参考例句: |
- His indefatigable spirit helped him to cope with his illness.他不屈不挠的精神帮助他对抗病魔。
- He was indefatigable in his lectures on the aesthetics of love.在讲授关于爱情的美学时,他是不知疲倦的。
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37
fickle
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adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的,不坚定的 |
参考例句: |
- Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.物价的波动往往是由于群众需求的不稳定而引起的。
- The weather is so fickle in summer.夏日的天气如此多变。
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38
assented
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同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
- "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对,”汤姆表示赞同地说,“他们不杀女人——真伟大!
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39
casually
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adv.漠不关心地,无动于衷地,不负责任地 |
参考例句: |
- She remarked casually that she was changing her job.她当时漫不经心地说要换工作。
- I casually mentioned that I might be interested in working abroad.我不经意地提到我可能会对出国工作感兴趣。
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40
kindly
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adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 |
参考例句: |
- Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
- A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
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41
enchanted
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adj. 被施魔法的,陶醉的,入迷的
动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 |
参考例句: |
- She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
- He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。
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42
scourge
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n.灾难,祸害;v.蹂躏 |
参考例句: |
- Smallpox was once the scourge of the world.天花曾是世界的大患。
- The new boss was the scourge of the inefficient.新老板来了以后,不称职的人就遭殃了。
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43
attest
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vt.证明,证实;表明 |
参考例句: |
- I can attest to the absolute truth of his statement. 我可以证实他的话是千真万确的。
- These ruins sufficiently attest the former grandeur of the place. 这些遗迹充分证明此处昔日的宏伟。
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44
deferred
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adj.延期的,缓召的v.拖延,延缓,推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 );服从某人的意愿,遵从 |
参考例句: |
- The department deferred the decision for six months. 这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。
- a tax-deferred savings plan 延税储蓄计划
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45
alas
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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。
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46
declamation
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n. 雄辩,高调 |
参考例句: |
- Declamation is a traditional Chinese teaching method.诵读教学是我国传统的语文教学方法。
- Were you present at the declamation contest of Freshmen?大一的朗诵比赛你参加了没有?
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47
charade
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n.用动作等表演文字意义的字谜游戏 |
参考例句: |
- You must not refine too much upon this charade.你切不可过分推敲这个字谜。
- His poems,despite their dignity and felicity,have an air of charade.他的诗篇虽然庄严巧妙,却有猜迷之嫌。
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48
exultantly
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adv.狂欢地,欢欣鼓舞地 |
参考例句: |
- They listened exultantly to the sounds from outside. 她们欢欣鼓舞地倾听着外面的声音。 来自辞典例句
- He rose exultantly from their profane surprise. 他得意非凡地站起身来,也不管众人怎样惊奇诅咒。 来自辞典例句
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49
postponed
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vt.& vi.延期,缓办,(使)延迟vt.把…放在次要地位;[语]把…放在后面(或句尾)vi.(疟疾等)延缓发作(或复发) |
参考例句: |
- The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
- The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。
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50
follies
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罪恶,时事讽刺剧; 愚蠢,蠢笨,愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- He has given up youthful follies. 他不再做年轻人的荒唐事了。
- The writings of Swift mocked the follies of his age. 斯威夫特的作品嘲弄了他那个时代的愚人。
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51
decided
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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。
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52
predilection
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n.偏好 |
参考例句: |
- He has a predilection for rich food.他偏好油腻的食物。
- Charles has always had a predilection for red-haired women.查尔斯对红头发女人一直有偏爱。
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53
paternal
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adj.父亲的,像父亲的,父系的,父方的 |
参考例句: |
- I was brought up by my paternal aunt.我是姑姑扶养大的。
- My father wrote me a letter full of his paternal love for me.我父亲给我写了一封充满父爱的信。
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54
starry
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adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 |
参考例句: |
- He looked at the starry heavens.他瞧着布满星星的天空。
- I like the starry winter sky.我喜欢这满天星斗的冬夜。
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55
joyous
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adj.充满快乐的;令人高兴的 |
参考例句: |
- The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
- They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。
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56
amazement
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n.惊奇,惊讶 |
参考例句: |
- All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
- He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
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