Salt
A new kind of morning, now.
The oilcloth Ma ripped from the window is never replaced, the
shack1 brighter with nothing between them and the sun. They eat breakfast as a family again, four together chewing, teasing, offering, squabbling, planning, dreaming. Illuminated—every gesture lit by the promise of morning. At last Ba and Sam
tug2 on their boots and heft their
prospecting3 tools, which are hidden in a
fiddle4 case. They head to the gold field at a
leisurely5 pace, the
deception6 of the miner’s hour done. Isn’t it easier, Ba says, with no more secrets?
—
Each Sunday right after Ba and Sam set out, Lucy leaves the house on a journey of her own. Unknown to all but Ma, she goes to Teacher Leigh’s for extra lessons.
Lessons in politeness. How to drink tea and pretend fullness. How to refuse food—cookies, cakes, crustless sandwiches. How not to stare at the salt that arrives in its silver box. All that heaped white gleaming. How not to want its clean burn on her tongue.
Lessons in answering questions.
What does your family eat?
Can you describe the medicines in your mother’s trunk?
How long has your family traveled?
What are your
hygiene7 practices? How often do you bathe?
At what age did you grow your first adult tooth?
Lucy doesn’t like answering half so much as she likes watching the teacher write her answers down. The fresh ink so crisp and fine. On an empty stomach, the
fumes8 make Lucy dizzy.
What does your father drink? How much?
Can you describe his attitude toward violence?
Would you call it
savage9?
What is your mother’s breeding?
点击
收听单词发音
1
shack
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adj.简陋的小屋,窝棚 |
参考例句: |
- He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.在走到他的茅棚以前,他不得不坐在地上歇了五次。
- The boys made a shack out of the old boards in the backyard.男孩们在后院用旧木板盖起一间小木屋。
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2
tug
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v.用力拖(或拉);苦干;n.拖;苦干;拖船 |
参考例句: |
- We need to tug the car round to the front.我们需要把那辆车拉到前面。
- The tug is towing three barges.那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。
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3
prospecting
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n.探矿 |
参考例句: |
- The prospecting team ploughed their way through the snow. 探险队排雪前进。
- The prospecting team has traversed the length and breadth of the land. 勘探队踏遍了祖国的山山水水。
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4
fiddle
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n.小提琴;vi.拉提琴;不停拨弄,乱动 |
参考例句: |
- She plays the fiddle well.她小提琴拉得好。
- Don't fiddle with the typewriter.不要摆弄那架打字机了。
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5
leisurely
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adj.悠闲的;从容的,慢慢的 |
参考例句: |
- We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着,看遍所有的橱窗。
- He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐,高兴的开车去工作。
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6
deception
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n.欺骗,欺诈;骗局,诡计 |
参考例句: |
- He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
- He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。
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7
hygiene
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n.健康法,卫生学 (a.hygienic) |
参考例句: |
- Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
- He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。
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8
fumes
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n.(强烈而刺激的)气味,气体 |
参考例句: |
- The health of our children is being endangered by exhaust fumes. 我们孩子们的健康正受到排放出的废气的损害。
- Exhaust fumes are bad for your health. 废气对健康有害。
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9
savage
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adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 |
参考例句: |
- The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
- He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。
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10
furrowed
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v.犁田,开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Overhead hung a summer sky furrowed with the rash of rockets. 头顶上的夏日夜空纵横着急疾而过的焰火。 来自辞典例句
- The car furrowed the loose sand as it crossed the desert. 车子横过沙漠,在松软的沙土上犁出了一道车辙。 来自辞典例句
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11
parlor
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n.店铺,营业室;会客室,客厅 |
参考例句: |
- She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
- Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店?
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12
monograph
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n.专题文章,专题著作 |
参考例句: |
- This monograph belongs to the category of serious popular books.这本专著是一本较高深的普及读物。
- It's a monograph you wrote six years ago.这是你六年前写的的专论。
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13
ledger
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n.总帐,分类帐;帐簿 |
参考例句: |
- The young man bowed his head and bent over his ledger again.那个年轻人点头应诺,然后又埋头写起分类帐。
- She is a real accountant who even keeps a detailed household ledger.她不愧是搞财务的,家庭分类账记得清楚详细。
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14
spine
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n.脊柱,脊椎;(动植物的)刺;书脊 |
参考例句: |
- He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
- His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。
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15
fleck
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n.斑点,微粒 vt.使有斑点,使成斑驳 |
参考例句: |
- The garlic moss has no the yellow fleck and other virus. 蒜苔无黄斑点及其它病毒。
- His coat is blue with a grey fleck.他的上衣是蓝色的,上面带有灰色的斑点。
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16
pebble
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n.卵石,小圆石 |
参考例句: |
- The bird mistook the pebble for egg and tried to hatch it.这只鸟错把卵石当蛋,想去孵它。
- The pebble made a ripple on the surface of the lake.石子在湖面上激起一个涟漪。
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17
scribbles
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n.潦草的书写( scribble的名词复数 );乱画;草草地写;匆匆记下v.潦草的书写( scribble的第三人称单数 );乱画;草草地写;匆匆记下 |
参考例句: |
- The scribbles on the wall must be the work of those children. 墙壁上的涂鸦准是那几个孩子画的。 来自辞典例句
- There are scribbles on the wall. 墙上有胡乱涂写的字迹。 来自辞典例句
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18
pouches
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n.(放在衣袋里或连在腰带上的)小袋( pouch的名词复数 );(袋鼠等的)育儿袋;邮袋;(某些动物贮存食物的)颊袋 |
参考例句: |
- Pouches are a peculiarity of marsupials. 腹袋是有袋动物的特色。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Under my eyes the pouches were heavy. 我眼睛下的眼袋很深。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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19
bounty
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n.慷慨的赠予物,奖金;慷慨,大方;施与 |
参考例句: |
- He is famous for his bounty to the poor.他因对穷人慷慨相助而出名。
- We received a bounty from the government.我们收到政府给予的一笔补助金。
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20
bin
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n.箱柜;vt.放入箱内;[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 |
参考例句: |
- He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
- He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。
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21
propped
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支撑,支持,维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He sat propped up in the bed by pillows. 他靠着枕头坐在床上。
- This fence should be propped up. 这栅栏该用东西支一支。
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22
cramped
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a.狭窄的 |
参考例句: |
- The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence. 房子十分狭小拥挤,但经纪人却把它说成是小巧别致的住宅。
- working in cramped conditions 在拥挤的环境里工作
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23
civilized
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a.有教养的,文雅的 |
参考例句: |
- Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
- rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为
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24
doting
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adj.溺爱的,宠爱的 |
参考例句: |
- His doting parents bought him his first racing bike at 13.宠爱他的父母在他13岁时就给他买了第一辆竞速自行车。
- The doting husband catered to his wife's every wish.这位宠爱妻子的丈夫总是高度满足太太的各项要求。
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25
fragrant
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adj.芬香的,馥郁的,愉快的 |
参考例句: |
- The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
- The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。
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26
cedar
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n.雪松,香柏(木) |
参考例句: |
- The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。
- She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。
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27
frivolous
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adj.轻薄的;轻率的 |
参考例句: |
- This is a frivolous way of attacking the problem.这是一种轻率敷衍的处理问题的方式。
- He spent a lot of his money on frivolous things.他在一些无聊的事上花了好多钱。
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28
drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 |
参考例句: |
- All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
- Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
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29
sonorous
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adj.响亮的,回响的;adv.圆润低沉地;感人地;n.感人,堂皇 |
参考例句: |
- The sonorous voice of the speaker echoed round the room.那位演讲人洪亮的声音在室内回荡。
- He has a deep sonorous voice.他的声音深沉而洪亮。
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30
panes
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窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The sun caught the panes and flashed back at him. 阳光照到窗玻璃上,又反射到他身上。
- The window-panes are dim with steam. 玻璃窗上蒙上了一层蒸汽。
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31
tingles
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n.刺痛感( tingle的名词复数 )v.有刺痛感( tingle的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Something has been pressing on my leg and it tingles. 腿压麻了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- His cheek tingles from the slap she has given to him. 他的面颊因挨了她一记耳光而感到刺痛。 来自互联网
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32
fixed
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adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 |
参考例句: |
- Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
- Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
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33
gambling
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n.赌博;投机 |
参考例句: |
- They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
- The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。
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34
chattering
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n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾
adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的
动词chatter的现在分词形式 |
参考例句: |
- The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
- I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。
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35
props
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小道具; 支柱( prop的名词复数 ); 支持者; 道具; (橄榄球中的)支柱前锋 |
参考例句: |
- Rescuers used props to stop the roof of the tunnel collapsing. 救援人员用支柱防止隧道顶塌陷。
- The government props up the prices of farm products to support farmers' incomes. 政府保持农产品价格不变以保障农民们的收入。
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36
mare
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n.母马,母驴 |
参考例句: |
- The mare has just thrown a foal in the stable.那匹母马刚刚在马厩里产下了一只小马驹。
- The mare foundered under the heavy load and collapsed in the road.那母马因负载过重而倒在路上。
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37
shacks
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n.窝棚,简陋的小屋( shack的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- They live in shacks which they made out of wood. 他们住在用木头搭成的简陋的小屋里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Most people in Port au-Prince live in tin shacks. 太子港的大多数居民居住在铁皮棚里。 来自互联网
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38
baker
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n.面包师 |
参考例句: |
- The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
- The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。
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39
tapestry
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n.挂毯,丰富多采的画面 |
参考例句: |
- How about this artistic tapestry and this cloisonne vase?这件艺术挂毯和这个景泰蓝花瓶怎么样?
- The wall of my living room was hung with a tapestry.我的起居室的墙上挂着一块壁毯。
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40
fleeting
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adj.短暂的,飞逝的 |
参考例句: |
- The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
- Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝,于是让自已尽情地享受。
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41
marrow
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n.骨髓;精华;活力 |
参考例句: |
- It was so cold that he felt frozen to the marrow. 天气太冷了,他感到寒冷刺骨。
- He was tired to the marrow of his bones.他真是累得筋疲力尽了。
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42
stewed
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adj.焦虑不安的,烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 );煨;思考;担忧 |
参考例句: |
- When all birds are shot, the bow will be set aside;when all hares are killed, the hounds will be stewed and eaten -- kick out sb. after his services are no longer needed. 鸟尽弓藏,兔死狗烹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- \"How can we cook in a pan that's stewed your stinking stockings? “染臭袜子的锅,还能煮鸡子吃!还要它?” 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说
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43
stew
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n.炖汤,焖,烦恼;v.炖汤,焖,忧虑 |
参考例句: |
- The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
- There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。
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44
velvet
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n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 |
参考例句: |
- This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
- The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。
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45
beckon
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v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意,召唤 |
参考例句: |
- She crooked her finger to beckon him.她勾勾手指向他示意。
- The wave for Hawaii beckon surfers from all around the world.夏威夷的海浪吸引着世界各地的冲浪者前来。
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46
forth
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adv.向前;向外,往外 |
参考例句: |
- The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
- He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
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47
fiber
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n.纤维,纤维质 |
参考例句: |
- The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。
- The material must be free of fiber clumps.这种材料必须无纤维块。
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48
wagon
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n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车 |
参考例句: |
- We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
- The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。
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49
foul
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adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规 |
参考例句: |
- Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
- What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气!
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50
inhaled
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v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. 她合上双眼,深深吸了一口气。
- Janet inhaled sharply when she saw him. 珍妮特看到他时猛地吸了口气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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51
beads
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n.(空心)小珠子( bead的名词复数 );水珠;珠子项链 |
参考例句: |
- a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链
- Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。
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52
goodwill
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n.善意,亲善,信誉,声誉 |
参考例句: |
- His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
- We paid £10,000 for the shop,and £2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店,两千英镑买下了它的信誉。
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53
coaxes
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v.哄,用好话劝说( coax的第三人称单数 );巧言骗取;哄劝,劝诱 |
参考例句: |
- One coaxes, the other coerces. 一个唱红脸,一个唱白脸。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Now the analyzer coaxes the virus into revealing itself. 现在的分析者们会诱使病毒显形。 来自互联网
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54
rigid
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adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的 |
参考例句: |
- She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
- The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严,几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。
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55
crunching
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v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 );嘎吱作响;(快速大量地)处理信息;数字捣弄 |
参考例句: |
- The horses were crunching their straw at their manger. 这些马在嘎吱嘎吱地吃槽里的草。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The dog was crunching a bone. 狗正嘎吱嘎吱地嚼骨头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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56
crunch
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n.关键时刻;艰难局面;v.发出碎裂声 |
参考例句: |
- If it comes to the crunch they'll support us.关键时刻他们是会支持我们的。
- People who crunch nuts at the movies can be very annoying.看电影时嘎吱作声地嚼干果的人会使人十分讨厌。
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57
sifted
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v.筛( sift的过去式和过去分词 );筛滤;细查;详审 |
参考例句: |
- She sifted through her papers to find the lost letter. 她仔细在文件中寻找那封丢失的信。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She sifted thistles through her thistle-sifter. 她用蓟筛筛蓟。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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58
wriggling
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v.扭动,蠕动,蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 );(使身体某一部位)扭动;耍滑不做,逃避(应做的事等);蠕蠕 |
参考例句: |
- The baby was wriggling around on my lap. 婴儿在我大腿上扭来扭去。
- Something that looks like a gray snake is wriggling out. 有一种看来象是灰蛇的东西蠕动着出来了。 来自辞典例句
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59
deft
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adj.灵巧的,熟练的(a deft hand 能手) |
参考例句: |
- The pianist has deft fingers.钢琴家有灵巧的双手。
- This bird,sharp of eye and deft of beak,can accurately peck the flying insects in the air.这只鸟眼疾嘴快,能准确地把空中的飞虫啄住。
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60
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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trickle
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vi.淌,滴,流出,慢慢移动,逐渐消散 |
参考例句: |
- The stream has thinned down to a mere trickle.这条小河变成细流了。
- The flood of cars has now slowed to a trickle.汹涌的车流现在已经变得稀稀拉拉。
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62
crouches
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n.蹲着的姿势( crouch的名词复数 )v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- He crouches before rabbit hutch, shed sad tear for the first time. 他蹲在兔窝前,第一次流下了伤心的眼泪。 来自互联网
- A Malaysian flower mantis, which crouches among flowers awaiting unsuspecting prey. 一只马来西亚花螳螂,蜷缩在鲜花中等待不期而遇的猎物。 来自互联网
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63
rustling
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n. 瑟瑟声,沙沙声
adj. 发沙沙声的 |
参考例句: |
- the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
- the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声
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64
streaked
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adj.有条斑纹的,不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 );使布满条纹 |
参考例句: |
- The children streaked off as fast as they could. 孩子们拔脚飞跑 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- His face was pale and streaked with dirt. 他脸色苍白,脸上有一道道的污痕。 来自辞典例句
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65
conjures
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用魔术变出( conjure的第三人称单数 ); 祈求,恳求; 变戏法; (变魔术般地) 使…出现 |
参考例句: |
- The word 'birthday' conjures up images of presents and parties. “生日”这个词使人想起礼物和聚会的情景。
- The name Sahara conjures up images of a desert of aridity. "撒哈拉"这个名字使人想起干旱的沙漠情景。
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66
jolted
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(使)摇动, (使)震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
- She was jolted out of her reverie as the door opened. 门一开就把她从幻想中惊醒。
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67
gulp
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vt.吞咽,大口地吸(气);vi.哽住;n.吞咽 |
参考例句: |
- She took down the tablets in one gulp.她把那些药片一口吞了下去。
- Don't gulp your food,chew it before you swallow it.吃东西不要狼吞虎咽,要嚼碎了再咽下去。
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