7
THE FIRST THING Father saw after Granddad shook him awake was a long, coiling dragon comingstraight for them as though on wings. Bold howls rose from beneath upraised torches. Fatherwondered how this
wriggling1 line of torches could have so deeply moved a man like Granddad,who could kill without batting an eye. He was weeping openly. ‘Douguan,’ he
mumbled2 betweensobs, ‘my son?.?.?. our fellow villagers are coming.?.?.?.’
Several hundred villagers – men and women, boys and girls – crowded round. Those notholding torches were armed with hoes, rakes, and clubs. Father’s best friends squeezed up to thefront, holding torches made of
sorghum3 stalks that were tipped with cotton wadding dipped inbean oil.
‘Commander Yu, you won the battle!’
‘Commander Yu, we have
slaughtered4 cattle, pigs, and sheep for a feast for you and yourmen.’
Granddad fell to his knees in front of the solemn, sacred torches, which lit up the meanderingriver and the vast,
mighty5 sorghum. ‘Fellow villagers,’ he said in a trembling voice, ‘I, YuZhan’ao, should be
condemned6 for all time for being duped by Pocky Leng’s treachery. Mymen?.?.?. all lost in the fight!’
The torches closed in around him, smoke rose in the air, flames
flickered7 uneasily, and dropsof burning oil sizzled as they fell to the ground like red thread. Red
cinders8 in a floral patterncovered the
dike9. A fox in the sorghum field howled. Fish, attracted by the light, schooled justbelow the surface. The people were speechless. Amid the crackling of flames, a thunderoussound came rolling towards them from some distant spot in the field.
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收听单词发音
1
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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2
mumbled
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含糊地说某事,叽咕,咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话,可我没太听清楚。
- George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。
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3
sorghum
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n.高粱属的植物,高粱糖浆,甜得发腻的东西 |
参考例句: |
- We can grow sorghum or maize on this plot.这块地可以种高粱或玉米。
- They made sorghum into pig feed.他们把高粱做成了猪饲料。
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4
slaughtered
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v.屠杀,杀戮,屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The invading army slaughtered a lot of people. 侵略军杀了许多人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Hundreds of innocent civilians were cruelly slaughtered. 数百名无辜平民遭残杀。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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5
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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6
condemned
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adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的
动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 |
参考例句: |
- He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
- The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。
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7
flickered
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(通常指灯光)闪烁,摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The lights flickered and went out. 灯光闪了闪就熄了。
- These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad. 这些灯象发狂的交通灯一样不停地闪动着。
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8
cinders
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n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 );炭渣;煤渣路;煤渣跑道 |
参考例句: |
- This material is variously termed ash, clinker, cinders or slag. 这种材料有不同的名称,如灰、炉渣、煤渣或矿渣。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Rake out the cinders before you start a new fire. 在重新点火前先把煤渣耙出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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9
dike
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n.堤,沟;v.开沟排水 |
参考例句: |
- They dug a dike along walls of the school.他们沿校墙挖沟。
- Fortunately,the flood did not break the dike.还好,这场大水没有把堤坝冲坏。
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10
bent
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n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 |
参考例句: |
- He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
- We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
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11
lighting
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n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光 |
参考例句: |
- The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
- The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
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12
blurry
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adj.模糊的;污脏的,污斑的 |
参考例句: |
- My blurry vision makes it hard to drive. 我的视力有点模糊,使得开起车来相当吃力。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The lines are pretty blurry at this point. 界线在这个时候是很模糊的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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13
eerie
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adj.怪诞的;奇异的;可怕的;胆怯的 |
参考例句: |
- It's eerie to walk through a dark wood at night.夜晚在漆黑的森林中行走很是恐怖。
- I walked down the eerie dark path.我走在那条漆黑恐怖的小路上。
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14
corpses
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n.死尸,尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The living soldiers put corpses together and burned them. 活着的战士把尸体放在一起烧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Overhead, grayish-white clouds covered the sky, piling up heavily like decaying corpses. 天上罩满了灰白的薄云,同腐烂的尸体似的沉沉的盖在那里。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说
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15
merged
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(使)混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 ); 相融; 融入; 渐渐消失在某物中 |
参考例句: |
- Turf wars are inevitable when two departments are merged. 两个部门合并时总免不了争争权限。
- The small shops were merged into a large market. 那些小商店合并成为一个大商场。
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16
scorched
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烧焦,烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 ); 使(植物)枯萎,把…晒枯; 高速行驶; 枯焦 |
参考例句: |
- I scorched my dress when I was ironing it. 我把自己的连衣裙熨焦了。
- The hot iron scorched the tablecloth. 热熨斗把桌布烫焦了。
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17
wail
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vt./vi.大声哀号,恸哭;呼啸,尖啸 |
参考例句: |
- Somewhere in the audience an old woman's voice began plaintive wail.观众席里,一位老太太伤心地哭起来。
- One of the small children began to wail with terror.小孩中的一个吓得大哭起来。
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18
fang
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n.尖牙,犬牙 |
参考例句: |
- Look how the bone sticks out of the flesh like a dog's fang.瞧瞧,这根骨头从肉里露出来,象一只犬牙似的。
- The green fairy's fang thrusting between his lips.绿妖精的尖牙从他的嘴唇里龇出来。
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19
bugler
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喇叭手; 号兵; 吹鼓手; 司号员 |
参考例句: |
- The general ordered the bugler to sound the retreat. 将军命令号手吹号收兵。
- There was nothing faded about the bugler under the cap. 帽子下面那个号手可一点也不是褪色的。
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20
groan
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vi./n.呻吟,抱怨;(发出)呻吟般的声音 |
参考例句: |
- The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
- The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。
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21
wrench
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v.猛拧;挣脱;使扭伤;n.扳手;痛苦,难受 |
参考例句: |
- He gave a wrench to his ankle when he jumped down.他跳下去的时候扭伤了足踝。
- It was a wrench to leave the old home.离开这个老家非常痛苦。
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22
thwarted
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阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 ); 使受挫折; 挫败; 横过 |
参考例句: |
- The guards thwarted his attempt to escape from prison. 警卫阻扰了他越狱的企图。
- Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the rain. 我们的野餐计划因雨受挫。
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23
avenge
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v.为...复仇,为...报仇 |
参考例句: |
- He swore to avenge himself on the mafia.他发誓说要向黑手党报仇。
- He will avenge the people on their oppressor.他将为人民向压迫者报仇。
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24
darted
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v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 |
参考例句: |
- The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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25
dense
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a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 |
参考例句: |
- The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
- The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。
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26
aggrieved
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adj.愤愤不平的,受委屈的;悲痛的;(在合法权利方面)受侵害的v.令委屈,令苦恼,侵害( aggrieve的过去式);令委屈,令苦恼,侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) |
参考例句: |
- He felt aggrieved at not being chosen for the team. 他因没被选到队里感到愤愤不平。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She is the aggrieved person whose fiance&1& did not show up for their wedding. 她很委屈,她的未婚夫未出现在他们的婚礼上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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27
hoarsely
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adv.嘶哑地 |
参考例句: |
- "Excuse me," he said hoarsely. “对不起。”他用嘶哑的嗓子说。
- Jerry hoarsely professed himself at Miss Pross's service. 杰瑞嘶声嘶气地表示愿为普洛丝小姐效劳。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
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28
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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29
jade
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n.玉石;碧玉;翡翠 |
参考例句: |
- The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
- He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。
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30
beaks
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n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 );鹰钩嘴;尖鼻子;掌权者 |
参考例句: |
- Baby cockatoos will have black eyes and soft, almost flexible beaks. 雏鸟凤头鹦鹉黑色的眼睛是柔和的,嘴几乎是灵活的。 来自互联网
- Squid beaks are often found in the stomachs of sperm whales. 经常能在抹香鲸的胃里发现鱿鱼的嘴。 来自互联网
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31
coffins
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n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 );使某人早亡[死,完蛋,垮台等]之物 |
参考例句: |
- The shop was close and hot, and the atmosphere seemed tainted with the smell of coffins. 店堂里相当闷热,空气仿佛被棺木的味儿污染了。 来自辞典例句
- Donate some coffins to the temple, equal to the number of deaths. 到寺庙里,捐赠棺材盒给这些死者吧。 来自电影对白
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32
draught
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n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 |
参考例句: |
- He emptied his glass at one draught.他将杯中物一饮而尽。
- It's a pity the room has no north window and you don't get a draught.可惜这房间没北窗,没有过堂风。
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33
interred
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v.埋,葬( inter的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Marie Curie's remains were exhumed and interred in the Pantheon. 玛丽·居里的遗体被移出葬在先贤祠中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The body was interred at the cemetery. 遗体埋葬在公墓里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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34
lethal
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adj.致死的;毁灭性的 |
参考例句: |
- A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
- She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。
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35
mound
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n.土墩,堤,小山;v.筑堤,用土堆防卫 |
参考例句: |
- The explorers climbed a mound to survey the land around them.勘探者爬上土丘去勘测周围的土地。
- The mound can be used as our screen.这个土丘可做我们的掩蔽物。
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36
brilliance
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n.光辉,辉煌,壮丽,(卓越的)才华,才智 |
参考例句: |
- I was totally amazed by the brilliance of her paintings.她的绘画才能令我惊歎不已。
- The gorgeous costume added to the brilliance of the dance.华丽的服装使舞蹈更加光彩夺目。
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37
milky
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adj.牛奶的,多奶的;乳白色的 |
参考例句: |
- Alexander always has milky coffee at lunchtime.亚历山大总是在午餐时喝掺奶的咖啡。
- I like a hot milky drink at bedtime.我喜欢睡前喝杯热奶饮料。
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38
acrid
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adj.辛辣的,尖刻的,刻薄的 |
参考例句: |
- There is an acrid tone to your remarks.你说这些话的口气带有讥刺意味。
- The room was filled with acrid smoke.房里充满刺鼻的烟。
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39
stink
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vi.发出恶臭;糟透,招人厌恶;n.恶臭 |
参考例句: |
- The stink of the rotten fish turned my stomach.腐烂的鱼臭味使我恶心。
- The room has awful stink.那个房间散发着难闻的臭气。
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40
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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41
eastward
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adv.向东;adj.向东的;n.东方,东部 |
参考例句: |
- The river here tends eastward.这条河从这里向东流。
- The crowd is heading eastward,believing that they can find gold there.人群正在向东移去,他们认为在那里可以找到黄金。
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42
exhausted
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adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 |
参考例句: |
- It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
- Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
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43
hitch
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v.免费搭(车旅行);系住;急提;n.故障;急拉 |
参考例句: |
- They had an eighty-mile journey and decided to hitch hike.他们要走80英里的路程,最后决定搭便车。
- All the candidates are able to answer the questions without any hitch.所有报考者都能对答如流。
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44
bumper
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n.(汽车上的)保险杠;adj.特大的,丰盛的 |
参考例句: |
- The painting represents the scene of a bumper harvest.这幅画描绘了丰收的景象。
- This year we have a bumper harvest in grain.今年我们谷物丰收。
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45
taut
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adj.拉紧的,绷紧的,紧张的 |
参考例句: |
- The bowstring is stretched taut.弓弦绷得很紧。
- Scarlett's taut nerves almost cracked as a sudden noise sounded in the underbrush near them. 思嘉紧张的神经几乎一下绷裂了,因为她听见附近灌木丛中突然冒出的一个声音。
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46
groaned
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v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 |
参考例句: |
- He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
- The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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47
beetle
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n.甲虫,近视眼的人 |
参考例句: |
- A firefly is a type of beetle.萤火虫是一种甲虫。
- He saw a shiny green beetle on a leaf.我看见树叶上有一只闪闪发光的绿色甲虫。
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48
veering
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n.改变的;犹豫的;顺时针方向转向;特指使船尾转向上风来改变航向v.(尤指交通工具)改变方向或路线( veer的现在分词 );(指谈话内容、人的行为或观点)突然改变;(指风) (在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向)逐渐转向;风向顺时针转 |
参考例句: |
- Anyone veering too close to the convoys risks being shot. 任何人改变方向,过于接近车队就有遭枪击的风险。 来自互联网
- The little boat kept veering from its course in such a turbulent river. 小船在这湍急的河中总是改变方向。 来自互联网
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49
steering
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n.操舵装置 |
参考例句: |
- He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
- Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵,口吻也马上变得温和了。
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50
wrestled
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v.(与某人)搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 );扭成一团;扭打;(与…)摔跤 |
参考例句: |
- As a boy he had boxed and wrestled. 他小的时候又是打拳又是摔跤。
- Armed guards wrestled with the intruder. 武装警卫和闯入者扭打起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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51
shrill
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adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 |
参考例句: |
- Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
- The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。
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52
rumbling
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n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声
adj. 隆隆响的
动词rumble的现在分词 |
参考例句: |
- The earthquake began with a deep [low] rumbling sound. 地震开始时发出低沉的隆隆声。
- The crane made rumbling sound. 吊车发出隆隆的响声。
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53
belly
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n.肚子,腹部;(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分,膛 |
参考例句: |
- The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
- His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。
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54
mules
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骡( mule的名词复数 ); 拖鞋; 顽固的人; 越境运毒者 |
参考例句: |
- The cart was pulled by two mules. 两匹骡子拉这辆大车。
- She wore tight trousers and high-heeled mules. 她穿紧身裤和拖鞋式高跟鞋。
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55
drenched
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adj.湿透的;充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 );在某人(某物)上大量使用(某液体) |
参考例句: |
- We were caught in the storm and got drenched to the skin. 我们遇上了暴雨,淋得浑身透湿。
- The rain drenched us. 雨把我们淋得湿透。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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56
smeared
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弄脏; 玷污; 涂抹; 擦上 |
参考例句: |
- The children had smeared mud on the walls. 那几个孩子往墙上抹了泥巴。
- A few words were smeared. 有写字被涂模糊了。
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