"Bless my dark-lantern! Where are you, Tom?" called Mr. Damon as he entered the dim shed where the somewhat frail-appearing aeroplane
loomed1 up in the semi-darkness, for it was afternoon, and rather cloudy. "Where are you?"
"Here!" called the young inventor. "I'm glad to see you! Come in!"
"Ah! there it is, eh?" exclaimed the odd man, as he looked at the aeroplane, for there had been much work done on it since he had last seen it. "Bless my parachute, Tom! But it looks as though you could blow it over."
"It's stronger than it seems," replied the lad. "But, Mr. Damon, I've got something very important to talk to you about."
Thereupon Tom told all about Mr. Sharp's visit, of Andy's entry in the big race, and of the suspicions of himself and the balloonist.
"And what is it you wish me to do?" asked Mr. Damon.
"Work up some clues against Andy Foger."
"Good! I'll do it! I'd like to get ahead of that
bully2 and his father, who once tried to
wreck3 the bank I'm interested in. I'll help you, Tom! I'll play detective! Let me see—what disguise shall I assume? I think I'll take the part of a tramp. Bless my ham sandwich! That will be the very thing. I'll get some
ragged4 clothes, let my beard grow again—you see I shaved it off since my last visit—and I'll go around to the Foger place and ask for work. Then I can get inside the shed and look around. How's that for a plan?"
"It might be all right," agreed Tom, "only I don't believe you're cut out for the part of a tramp, Mr. Damon."
"Bless my fingernails! Why not?"
"Oh, well, it isn't very pleasant to go around in ragged clothes."
"Don't mind about me. I'll do it." And the odd gentleman seemed quite delighted at the idea. He and Tom talked it over at some length, and then
adjourned5 to the house, where Mr. Swift, who had seemed to improve in the last few days, was told of the plan.
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收听单词发音
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1
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 |
参考例句： |
- A dark shape loomed up ahead of us. 一个黑糊糊的影子隐隐出现在我们的前面。
- The prospect of war loomed large in everyone's mind. 战事将起的庞大阴影占据每个人的心。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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2
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 |
参考例句： |
- A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
- The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。
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3
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 |
参考例句： |
- Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
- No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。
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4
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 |
参考例句： |
- A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
- Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
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5
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
- The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后，审讯就宣告暂停。
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 |
参考例句： |
- He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
- He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。
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7
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 |
参考例句： |
- The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
- A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
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8
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 |
参考例句： |
- This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
- The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 |
参考例句： |
- A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
- The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
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10
shuffle
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| n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走 |
参考例句： |
- I wish you'd remember to shuffle before you deal.我希望在你发牌前记得洗牌。
- Don't shuffle your feet along.别拖着脚步走。
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victuals
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| n.食物；食品 |
参考例句： |
- A plateful of coarse broken victuals was set before him.一盘粗劣的剩余饭食放到了他的面前。
- There are no more victuals for the pig.猪没有吃的啦。
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 |
参考例句： |
- A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
- He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。
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eradicate
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| v.根除，消灭，杜绝 |
参考例句： |
- These insects are very difficult to eradicate.这些昆虫很难根除。
- They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他们已经在努力消灭疟疾、破伤风等疾病。
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14
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 |
参考例句： |
- He shook his head with a soft chuckle.他轻轻地笑着摇了摇头。
- I couldn't suppress a soft chuckle at the thought of it.想到这个，我忍不住轻轻地笑起来。
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15
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参考例句： |
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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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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 |
参考例句： |
- The children were a great consolation to me at that time.那时孩子们成了我的莫大安慰。
- This news was of little consolation to us.这个消息对我们来说没有什么安慰。
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18
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 |
参考例句： |
- His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
- She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
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20
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 |
参考例句： |
- She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief. 她在她口袋里胡乱摸找手帕。
- He fumbled about in his pockets for the ticket. 他（瞎）摸着衣兜找票。
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 |
参考例句： |
- She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
- This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 |
参考例句： |
- He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。
- He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动，嗓子都喊哑了。
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23
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 |
参考例句： |
- He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭击中受伤。
- This is the shaft of a steam engine.这是一个蒸汽机主轴。
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24
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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illuminate
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| vt.照亮，照明；用灯光装饰；说明，阐释 |
参考例句： |
- Dreams kindle a flame to illuminate our dark roads.梦想点燃火炬照亮我们黑暗的道路。
- They use games and drawings to illuminate their subject.他们用游戏和图画来阐明他们的主题。
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