10
THE TWENTY-THIRD day of the twelfth month in the year 1923; the Kitchen God is sent to heavento make his report. A member of
Spotted1 Neck’s gang had kidnapped my grandma that morning.
The
ransom2 demand was received in the afternoon: the distillery was to pay one thousand silverdollars for the hostage’s safe return. If they failed to do so, they could
retrieve3 her body from theTemple of the Earth God at the eastern edge of Li Village.
By
rummaging4 through chests and cupboards, Granddad scraped together two thousand silverdollars, which he stuffed into a flour sack and told Uncle Arhat to deliver on one of the
mules6.
‘Didn’t they only ask for one thousand?’
‘Just do as I say.’
Uncle Arhat left on the
mule7.
Uncle Arhat returned with my grandma before nightfall, escorted by two mounted bandits withrifles
slung8 over their backs.
When they spotted Granddad they said, ‘
Proprietor9, our leader says you can sleep with the gateopen from now on!’
Granddad told Uncle Arhat to fetch a crock of the piss-enhanced wine for the bandits to takeback with them. ‘See what your leader thinks of this wine,’ he said. Then he escorted the banditsto the edge of the village.
When he returned home, he closed the gate, the front door, and the bedroom door behind him.
He and Grandma lay on the kang in each other’s arms. ‘Spotted Neck didn’t take advantage ofyou, did he?’
Grandma shook her head, but tears rolled down her cheeks.
‘What’s wrong? Did he
rape5 you?’
She buried her head in his chest. ‘He?.?.?. he felt my breast.?.?.?.’
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收听单词发音
1
spotted
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adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的 |
参考例句: |
- The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
- Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
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2
ransom
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n.赎金,赎身;v.赎回,解救 |
参考例句: |
- We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
- The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。
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3
retrieve
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vt.重新得到,收回;挽回,补救;检索 |
参考例句: |
- He was determined to retrieve his honor.他决心恢复名誉。
- The men were trying to retrieve weapons left when the army abandoned the island.士兵们正试图找回军队从该岛撤退时留下的武器。
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4
rummaging
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翻找,搜寻( rummage的现在分词 ); 海关检查 |
参考例句: |
- She was rummaging around in her bag for her keys. 她在自己的包里翻来翻去找钥匙。
- Who's been rummaging through my papers? 谁乱翻我的文件来着?
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5
rape
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n.抢夺,掠夺,强奸;vt.掠夺,抢夺,强奸 |
参考例句: |
- The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
- He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。
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6
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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7
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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8
slung
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抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 ); 吊挂; 遣送; 押往 |
参考例句: |
- He slung the bag over his shoulder. 他把包一甩,挎在肩上。
- He stood up and slung his gun over his shoulder. 他站起来把枪往肩上一背。
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9
proprietor
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n.所有人;业主;经营者 |
参考例句: |
- The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
- The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。
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10
cartridges
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子弹( cartridge的名词复数 ); (打印机的)墨盒; 录音带盒; (唱机的)唱头 |
参考例句: |
- computer consumables such as disks and printer cartridges 如磁盘、打印机墨盒之类的电脑耗材
- My new video game player came with three game cartridges included. 我的新电子游戏机附有三盘游戏带。
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11
suffocating
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a.使人窒息的 |
参考例句: |
- After a few weeks with her parents, she felt she was suffocating.和父母呆了几个星期后,她感到自己毫无自由。
- That's better. I was suffocating in that cell of a room.这样好些了,我刚才在那个小房间里快闷死了。
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12
bask
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vt.取暖,晒太阳,沐浴于 |
参考例句: |
- Turtles like to bask in the sun.海龟喜欢曝于阳光中。
- In winter afternoons,he likes to bask in the sun in his courtyard.冬日的午后,他喜欢坐在院子晒太阳。
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13
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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14
copper
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n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的 |
参考例句: |
- The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
- Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。
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15
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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16
spun
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v.纺,杜撰,急转身 |
参考例句: |
- His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
- Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。
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17
noose
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n.绳套,绞索(刑);v.用套索捉;使落入圈套;处以绞刑 |
参考例句: |
- They tied a noose round her neck.他们在她脖子上系了一个活扣。
- A hangman's noose had already been placed around his neck.一个绞刑的绳圈已经套在他的脖子上。
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18
spat
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n.口角,掌击;v.发出呼噜呼噜声 |
参考例句: |
- Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。
- There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。
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19
swarms
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蜂群,一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- They came to town in swarms. 他们蜂拥来到城里。
- On June the first there were swarms of children playing in the park. 6月1日那一天,这个公园里有一群群的孩子玩耍。
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20
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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21
swollen
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adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀 |
参考例句: |
- Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着,她的双腿已经肿了。
- A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她,她的手臂肿起来了。
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22
planks
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(厚)木板( plank的名词复数 ); 政纲条目,政策要点 |
参考例句: |
- The house was built solidly of rough wooden planks. 这房子是用粗木板牢固地建造的。
- We sawed the log into planks. 我们把木头锯成了木板。
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23
balked
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v.畏缩不前,犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 );(指马)不肯跑 |
参考例句: |
- He balked in his speech. 他忽然中断讲演。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- They balked the robber's plan. 他们使强盗的计划受到挫败。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
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24
trot
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n.疾走,慢跑;n.老太婆;现成译本;(复数)trots:腹泻(与the 连用);v.小跑,快步走,赶紧 |
参考例句: |
- They passed me at a trot.他们从我身边快步走过。
- The horse broke into a brisk trot.马突然快步小跑起来。
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25
sagging
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下垂[沉,陷],松垂,垂度 |
参考例句: |
- The morale of the enemy troops is continuously sagging. 敌军的士气不断低落。
- We are sagging south. 我们的船正离开航线向南漂流。
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26
reined
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勒缰绳使(马)停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 ); 驾驭; 严格控制; 加强管理 |
参考例句: |
- Then, all of a sudden, he reined up his tired horse. 这时,他突然把疲倦的马勒住了。
- The officer reined in his horse at a crossroads. 军官在十字路口勒住了马。
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27
westward
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n.西方,西部;adj.西方的,向西的;adv.向西 |
参考例句: |
- We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
- Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。
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28
nostrils
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鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Her nostrils flared with anger. 她气得两个鼻孔都鼓了起来。
- The horse dilated its nostrils. 马张大鼻孔。
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29
puffs
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n.吸( puff的名词复数 );(烟斗或香烟的)一吸;一缕(烟、蒸汽等);(呼吸或风的)呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧 |
参考例句: |
- We sat exchanging puffs from that wild pipe of his. 我们坐在那里,轮番抽着他那支野里野气的烟斗。 来自辞典例句
- Puffs of steam and smoke came from the engine. 一股股蒸汽和烟雾从那火车头里冒出来。 来自辞典例句
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30
putrid
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adj.腐臭的;有毒的;已腐烂的;卑劣的 |
参考例句: |
- To eat putrid food is liable to get sick.吃了腐败的食物容易生病。
- A putrid smell drove us from the room.一股腐臭的气味迫使我们离开这房间。
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31
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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32
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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33
stifling
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a.令人窒息的 |
参考例句: |
- The weather is stifling. It looks like rain. 今天太闷热,光景是要下雨。
- We were stifling in that hot room with all the windows closed. 我们在那间关着窗户的热屋子里,简直透不过气来。
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34
parched
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adj.焦干的;极渴的;v.(使)焦干 |
参考例句: |
- Hot winds parched the crops.热风使庄稼干透了。
- The land in this region is rather dry and parched.这片土地十分干燥。
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35
perspiration
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n.汗水;出汗 |
参考例句: |
- It is so hot that my clothes are wet with perspiration.天太热了,我的衣服被汗水湿透了。
- The perspiration was running down my back.汗从我背上淌下来。
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36
oozed
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v.(浓液等)慢慢地冒出,渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 );使(液体)缓缓流出;(浓液)渗出,慢慢流出 |
参考例句: |
- Blood oozed out of the wound. 血从伤口慢慢流出来。
- Mud oozed from underground. 泥浆从地下冒出来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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37
desperately
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adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地 |
参考例句: |
- He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
- He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
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38
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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39
steadfastly
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adv.踏实地,不变地;岿然;坚定不渝 |
参考例句: |
- So he sat, with a steadfastly vacant gaze, pausing in his work. 他就像这样坐着,停止了工作,直勾勾地瞪着眼。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
- Defarge and his wife looked steadfastly at one another. 德伐日和他的妻子彼此凝视了一会儿。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
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40
furrow
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n.沟;垄沟;轨迹;车辙;皱纹 |
参考例句: |
- The tractor has make deep furrow in the loose sand.拖拉机在松软的沙土上留下了深深的车辙。
- Mei did not weep.She only bit her lips,and the furrow in her brow deepened.梅埋下头,她咬了咬嘴唇皮,额上的皱纹显得更深了。
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41
fragrance
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n.芬芳,香味,香气 |
参考例句: |
- The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
- The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。
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42
wafted
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v.吹送,飘送,(使)浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The sound of their voices wafted across the lake. 他们的声音飘过湖面传到了另一边。
- A delicious smell of freshly baked bread wafted across the garden. 花园中飘过一股刚出炉面包的香味。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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43
mere
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adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 |
参考例句: |
- That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
- It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
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44
obsessed
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adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的 |
参考例句: |
- He's obsessed by computers. 他迷上了电脑。
- The fear of death obsessed him throughout his old life. 他晚年一直受着死亡恐惧的困扰。
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45
poked
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v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 );戳出;拨弄;与(某人)性交 |
参考例句: |
- She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. 她用胳膊肘顶他的肋部。
- His elbow poked out through his torn shirt sleeve. 他的胳膊从衬衫的破袖子中露了出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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46
ribs
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n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 );(船或屋顶等的)肋拱;肋骨状的东西;(织物的)凸条花纹 |
参考例句: |
- He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。
- Make a small incision below the ribs. 在肋骨下方切开一个小口。
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47
compliantly
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adv.顺从地,应允地 |
参考例句: |
- Also some faces be reluctant, still received the past partly compliantly finally, occasion is very awkward. 也有的面露难色,最后还是半推半就地接了过去,场面非常尴尬。 来自互联网
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48
blindfold
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vt.蒙住…的眼睛;adj.盲目的;adv.盲目地;n.蒙眼的绷带[布等]; 障眼物,蒙蔽人的事物 |
参考例句: |
- They put a blindfold on a horse.他们给马蒙上遮眼布。
- I can do it blindfold.我闭着眼睛都能做。
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49
trampled
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踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 ); 践踏; 无视; 侵犯 |
参考例句: |
- He gripped his brother's arm lest he be trampled by the mob. 他紧抓着他兄弟的胳膊,怕他让暴民踩着。
- People were trampled underfoot in the rush for the exit. 有人在拼命涌向出口时被踩在脚下。
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50
capes
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碎谷; 斗篷( cape的名词复数 ); 披肩; 海角; 岬 |
参考例句: |
- It was cool and they were putting on their capes. 夜里阴冷,他们都穿上了披风。
- The pastor smiled to give son's two Capes five cents money. 牧师微笑着给了儿子二角五分钱。
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51
cape
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n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 |
参考例句: |
- I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
- She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。
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52
stump
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n.残株,烟蒂,讲演台;v.砍断,蹒跚而走 |
参考例句: |
- He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
- He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。
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53
sneered
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讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
- It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。
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54
knack
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n.诀窍,做事情的灵巧的,便利的方法 |
参考例句: |
- He has a knack of teaching arithmetic.他教算术有诀窍。
- Making omelettes isn't difficult,but there's a knack to it.做煎蛋饼并不难,但有窍门。
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55
lashes
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n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 );鞭子;突然猛烈的一击;急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 );煽动;紧系;怒斥 |
参考例句: |
- Mother always lashes out food for the children's party. 孩子们聚会时,母亲总是给他们许多吃的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Never walk behind a horse in case it lashes out. 绝对不要跟在马后面,以防它突然猛踢。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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56
muzzle
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n.鼻口部;口套;枪(炮)口;vt.使缄默 |
参考例句: |
- He placed the muzzle of the pistol between his teeth.他把手枪的枪口放在牙齿中间。
- The President wanted to muzzle the press.总统企图遏制新闻自由。
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57
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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58
flailed
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v.鞭打( flail的过去式和过去分词 );用连枷脱粒;(臂或腿)无法控制地乱动;扫雷坦克 |
参考例句: |
- The boys flailed around on the floor. 男孩子们在地板上任意地动来动去。
- The prisoner's limbs flailed violently because of the pain. 那囚犯因为疼痛,四肢剧烈地抖动着。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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59
clump
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n.树丛,草丛;vi.用沉重的脚步行走 |
参考例句: |
- A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
- It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。
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60
trotted
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小跑,急走( trot的过去分词 ); 匆匆忙忙地走 |
参考例句: |
- She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
- Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。
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61
murky
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adj.黑暗的,朦胧的;adv.阴暗地,混浊地;n.阴暗;昏暗 |
参考例句: |
- She threw it into the river's murky depths.她把它扔进了混浊的河水深处。
- She had a decidedly murky past.她的历史背景令人捉摸不透。
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62
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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ashen
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adj.灰的 |
参考例句: |
- His face was ashen and wet with sweat.他面如土色,汗如雨下。
- Her ashen face showed how much the news had shocked her.她灰白的脸显示出那消息使她多么震惊。
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64
twitched
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vt.& vi.(使)抽动,(使)颤动(twitch的过去式与过去分词形式) |
参考例句: |
- Her lips twitched with amusement. 她忍俊不禁地颤动着嘴唇。
- The child's mouth twitched as if she were about to cry. 这小孩的嘴抽动着,像是要哭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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65
flexed
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adj.[医]曲折的,屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 );弯曲;(为准备大干而)显示实力;摩拳擦掌 |
参考例句: |
- He stretched and flexed his knees to relax himself. 他伸屈膝关节使自己放松一下。 来自辞典例句
- He flexed his long stringy muscles manfully. 他孔武有力地弯起膀子,显露出细长条的肌肉。 来自辞典例句
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touchingly
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adv.令人同情地,感人地,动人地 |
参考例句: |
- Aunt Polly knelt down and prayed for Tom so touchingly. 波莉姨妈跪下来,为汤姆祈祷,很令人感动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Rather touchingly, he suggested the names of some professors who had known him at Duke University. 他还相当令人感动地提出了公爵大学里对他有了解的几个教授的名字。 来自辞典例句
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67
cadence
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n.(说话声调的)抑扬顿挫 |
参考例句: |
- He delivered his words in slow,measured cadences.他讲话缓慢而抑扬顿挫、把握有度。
- He liked the relaxed cadence of his retired life.他喜欢退休生活的悠闲的节奏。
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standing
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n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 |
参考例句: |
- After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
- They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
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69
admiration
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n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 |
参考例句: |
- He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
- We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
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fins
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[医]散热片;鱼鳍;飞边;鸭掌 |
参考例句: |
- The level of TNF-α positively correlated with BMI,FPG,HbA1C,TG,FINS and IRI,but not with SBP and DBP. TNF-α水平与BMI、FPG、HbA1C、TG、FINS和IRI呈显著正相关,与SBP、DBP无相关。 来自互联网
- Fins are a feature specific to fish. 鱼鳍是鱼类特有的特征。 来自辞典例句
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71
longevity
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n.长命;长寿 |
参考例句: |
- Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
- Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。
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72
smelting
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n.熔炼v.熔炼,提炼(矿石)( smelt的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- a method of smelting iron 一种炼铁方法
- Fire provided a means of smelting ores. 火提供了熔炼矿石的手段。 来自辞典例句
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73
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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