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IAM writing these notes on Tuesday, November twenty-eighth, very close to a grate fire in a pretty little
sitting-room1 in an English country house about twenty-five miles from London, and I am very
chilly2.
We reached this place by some
winding3 road, inscrutable in the night, and I wondered keenly what sort of an atmosphere it would have. The English
suburban4 or country home of the better class has always been a concrete thought to me—rather charming on the whole. A carriage brought us, with all the bags and trunks carefully looked after (in England you always keep your luggage with you), and we were met in the hall by the maid who took our coats and hats and brought us something to drink. There was a small fire glowing in the fireplace in the entrance hall, but it was so small—cheerful though it was—that I wondered why Barfleur had taken all the trouble to send a
wireless5 from the sea to have it there. It seems it is a custom, in so far as his house is concerned, not to have it. But having heard something of English fires and English ideas of warmth, I was not greatly surprised.
“I am going to be cold,” I said to myself, at once. “I know it. The atmosphere is going to be cold and raw and I am going to suffer greatly. It will be the devil and all to write.”
I fancy this is a very fair and pretty example of the average country home near London, and it certainly lacks none of the appointments which might be considered48
worthy6 of a comfortable home; but it is as cold as a
sepulcher7, and I can’t understand the evoluted system of procedure which has brought about any such uncomfortable state and maintains it as satisfactory. These Britons are actually warm when the temperature in the room is somewhere between forty-five and fifty and they go about opening doors and windows with the idea that the rooms need additional airing. They build you small, weak coal fires in large, handsome fireplaces, and then if the four or five coals
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收听单词发音
1
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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2
chilly
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adj.凉快的,寒冷的 |
参考例句: |
- I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
- I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后,寒气逼人。
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3
winding
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n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 |
参考例句: |
- A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
- The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
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4
suburban
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adj.城郊的,在郊区的 |
参考例句: |
- Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
- There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。
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5
wireless
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adj.无线的;n.无线电 |
参考例句: |
- There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
- Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。
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6
worthy
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adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 |
参考例句: |
- I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
- There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
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7
sepulcher
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n.坟墓 |
参考例句: |
- He said softly,as if his voice were coming from a sepulcher.他幽幽说道,象是从坟墓里传来的声音。
- Let us bend before the venerated sepulcher.让我们在他神圣的墓前鞠躬致敬。
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8
huddled
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挤在一起(huddle的过去式与过去分词形式) |
参考例句: |
- We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
- We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。
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9
casement
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n.竖铰链窗;窗扉 |
参考例句: |
- A casement is a window that opens by means of hinges at the side.竖铰链窗是一种用边上的铰链开启的窗户。
- With the casement half open,a cold breeze rushed inside.窗扉半开,凉风袭来。
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10
luncheon
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n.午宴,午餐,便宴 |
参考例句: |
- We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
- I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。
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11
chamber
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n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 |
参考例句: |
- For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
- The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
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12
unpack
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vt.打开包裹(或行李),卸货 |
参考例句: |
- I must unpack before dinner.我得在饭前把行李打开。
- She said she would unpack the items later.她说以后再把箱子里的东西拿出来。
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13
flickering
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adj.闪烁的,摇曳的,一闪一闪的 |
参考例句: |
- The crisp autumn wind is flickering away. 清爽的秋风正在吹拂。
- The lights keep flickering. 灯光忽明忽暗。
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14
hearth
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n.壁炉炉床,壁炉地面 |
参考例句: |
- She came and sat in a chair before the hearth.她走过来,在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。
- She comes to the hearth,and switches on the electric light there.她走到壁炉那里,打开电灯。
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15
demonstration
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n.表明,示范,论证,示威 |
参考例句: |
- His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
- He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。
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16
soothing
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adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的 |
参考例句: |
- Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
- His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。
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17
cynical
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adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的,不信世道向善的 |
参考例句: |
- The enormous difficulty makes him cynical about the feasibility of the idea.由于困难很大,他对这个主意是否可行持怀疑态度。
- He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。
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18
revival
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n.复兴,复苏,(精力、活力等的)重振 |
参考例句: |
- The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
- He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。
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19
acclimated
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v.使适应新环境,使服水土服水土,适应( acclimate的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The rice has been acclimated in this area. 水稻已能适应这一地区的环境。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- Have you become acclimated to Taiwan yet? 你已适应台湾的环境了吗? 来自辞典例句
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20
eldest
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adj.最年长的,最年老的 |
参考例句: |
- The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
- The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
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21
afterward
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adv.后来;以后 |
参考例句: |
- Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏,然后吃饭。
- Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来,这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。
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22
conversed
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v.交谈,谈话( converse的过去式 ) |
参考例句: |
- I conversed with her on a certain problem. 我与她讨论某一问题。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- She was cheerful and polite, and conversed with me pleasantly. 她十分高兴,也很客气,而且愉快地同我交谈。 来自辞典例句
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23
affected
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adj.不自然的,假装的 |
参考例句: |
- She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
- His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
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24
infinitely
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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。
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25
bulging
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膨胀; 凸出(部); 打气; 折皱 |
参考例句: |
- Her pockets were bulging with presents. 她的口袋里装满了礼物。
- Conscious of the bulging red folder, Nim told her,"Ask if it's important." 尼姆想到那个鼓鼓囊囊的红色文件夹便告诉她:“问问是不是重要的事。”
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26
apparently
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adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 |
参考例句: |
- An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
- He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
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27
inquiries
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n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 |
参考例句: |
- He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释,等候进一步调查。
- I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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28
genially
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adv.亲切地,和蔼地;快活地 |
参考例句: |
- The white church peeps out genially from behind the huts scattered on the river bank. 一座白色教堂从散布在岸上的那些小木房后面殷勤地探出头来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- "Well, It'seems strange to see you way up here,'said Mr. Kenny genially. “咳,真没想到会在这么远的地方见到你,"肯尼先生亲切地说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
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29
whatsoever
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adv.(用于否定句中以加强语气)任何;pron.无论什么 |
参考例句: |
- There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
- All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样,你就怎样对人。
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30
fixture
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n.固定设备;预定日期;比赛时间;定期存款 |
参考例句: |
- Lighting fixture must be installed at once.必须立即安装照明设备。
- The cordless kettle may now be a fixture in most kitchens.无绳电热水壶现在可能是多数厨房的固定设备。
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pony
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adj.小型的;n.小马 |
参考例句: |
- His father gave him a pony as a Christmas present.他父亲给了他一匹小马驹作为圣诞礼物。
- They made him pony up the money he owed.他们逼他还债。
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32
curry
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n.咖哩粉,咖哩饭菜;v.用咖哩粉调味,用马栉梳,制革 |
参考例句: |
- Rice makes an excellent complement to a curry dish.有咖喱的菜配米饭最棒。
- Add a teaspoonful of curry powder.加一茶匙咖喱粉。
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reliability
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n.可靠性,确实性 |
参考例句: |
- We mustn't presume too much upon the reliability of such sources.我们不应过分指望这类消息来源的可靠性。
- I can assure you of the reliability of the information.我向你保证这消息可靠。
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34
jack
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n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 |
参考例句: |
- I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
- He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。
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35
sobriquet
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n.绰号 |
参考例句: |
- In Paris he was rewarded with the sobriquet of an "ultra-liberal".在巴黎,他被冠以“超自由主义者”的绰号。
- Andrew Jackson was known by the sobriquet "Old Hickory." 安德鲁•杰克生以其绰号“老山胡桃”而知名。
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36
utterly
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adv.完全地,绝对地 |
参考例句: |
- Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民,把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
- I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。
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37
refreshing
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adj.使精神振作的,使人清爽的,使人喜欢的 |
参考例句: |
- I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
- The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼,特别解乏提神。
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38
baron
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n.男爵;(商业界等)巨头,大王 |
参考例句: |
- Henry Ford was an automobile baron.亨利·福特是一位汽车业巨头。
- The baron lived in a strong castle.男爵住在一座坚固的城堡中。
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39
contemplating
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深思,细想,仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 ); 注视,凝视; 考虑接受(发生某事的可能性); 深思熟虑,沉思,苦思冥想 |
参考例句: |
- You're too young to be contemplating retirement. 你考虑退休还太年轻。
- She stood contemplating the painting. 她站在那儿凝视那幅图画。
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40
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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41
promptly
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adv.及时地,敏捷地 |
参考例句: |
- He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
- She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
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42
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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43
aspire
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vi.(to,after)渴望,追求,有志于 |
参考例句: |
- Living together with you is what I aspire toward in my life.和你一起生活是我一生最大的愿望。
- I aspire to be an innovator not a follower.我迫切希望能变成个开创者而不是跟随者。
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44
homeliness
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n.简朴,朴实;相貌平平 |
参考例句: |
- Fine clothes could not conceal the girl's homeliness. 华丽的衣服并不能掩盖这个女孩的寻常容貌。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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45
simplicity
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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。
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46
poetic
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adj.富有诗意的,有诗人气质的,善于抒情的 |
参考例句: |
- His poetic idiom is stamped with expressions describing group feeling and thought.他的诗中的措辞往往带有描写群体感情和思想的印记。
- His poetic novels have gone through three different historical stages.他的诗情小说创作经历了三个不同的历史阶段。
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47
longings
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渴望,盼望( longing的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Ah, those foolish days of noble longings and of noble strivings! 啊,那些充满高贵憧憬和高尚奋斗的傻乎乎的时光!
- I paint you and fashion you ever with my love longings. 我永远用爱恋的渴想来描画你。
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48
smacked
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拍,打,掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He smacked his lips but did not utter a word. 他吧嗒两下嘴,一声也不言语。
- She smacked a child's bottom. 她打孩子的屁股。
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49
mistily
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adv.有雾地,朦胧地,不清楚地 |
参考例句: |
- My wife is patting Run'er inside the house, murmuring lullaby mistily. 妻在屋里拍着闰儿,迷迷糊糊地哼着眠歌。 来自互联网
- Bits of tulle and fuzzy yarn hang mistily from the rafters. 房间的椽条上缠着薄纱和毛茸茸的纱线。 来自互联网
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50
haze
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n.霾,烟雾;懵懂,迷糊;vi.(over)变模糊 |
参考例句: |
- I couldn't see her through the haze of smoke.在烟雾弥漫中,我看不见她。
- He often lives in a haze of whisky.他常常是在威士忌的懵懂醉意中度过的。
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51
moss
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n.苔,藓,地衣 |
参考例句: |
- Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
- He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。
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52
quaint
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adj.古雅的,离奇有趣的,奇怪的 |
参考例句: |
- There were many small lanes in the quaint village.在这古香古色的村庄里,有很多小巷。
- They still keep some quaint old customs.他们仍然保留着一些稀奇古怪的旧风俗。
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53
laborers
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n.体力劳动者,工人( laborer的名词复数 );(熟练工人的)辅助工 |
参考例句: |
- Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言
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54
strap
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n.皮带,带子;v.用带扣住,束牢;用绷带包扎 |
参考例句: |
- She held onto a strap to steady herself.她抓住拉手吊带以便站稳。
- The nurse will strap up your wound.护士会绑扎你的伤口。
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strapped
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adj.用皮带捆住的,用皮带装饰的;身无分文的;缺钱;手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词);用皮带抽打;包扎;给…打绷带 |
参考例句: |
- Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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56
aprons
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围裙( apron的名词复数 ); 停机坪,台口(舞台幕前的部份) |
参考例句: |
- Many people like to wear aprons while they are cooking. 许多人做饭时喜欢系一条围裙。
- The chambermaid in our corridor wears blue checked gingham aprons. 给我们扫走廊的清洁女工围蓝格围裙。
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57
linen
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n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的 |
参考例句: |
- The worker is starching the linen.这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。
- Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool.精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。
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58
fragrances
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n.芳香,香味( fragrance的名词复数 );香水 |
参考例句: |
- The bath oil comes in various fragrances. 这种沐浴油有不同的香味。
- This toilet soap lathers so nicely and has several fragrances. 这种香皂起泡很多,并且有好几种香味。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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