AN unfathomable gulf¹ twenty-five miles long, and twenty miles broad was produced, but long before historic times, by the falling in of caverns² among the trachytic lavas³ of the center of the island. And these waters falling from the surrounding heights have taken possession of this vast basin. The gulf has become a lake, but it is also an abyss, and no lead-line has yet sounded its depths.

Such is the wondrous⁴ lake of Taupo, lying 1,250 feet above the level of the sea, and in view of an amphitheater of mountains 2,400 feet high. On the west are rocky peaks of great size; on the north lofty summits clothed with low trees; on the east a broad beach with a road track, and covered with pumice stones, which shimmer⁵ through the leafy screen of the bushes; on the southern side rise volcanic⁶ cones⁷ behind a forest flat. Such is the majestic⁸ frame that incloses this vast sheet of water whose roaring tempests rival the cyclones⁹ of Ocean.

The whole region boils like an immense cauldron hung over subterranean¹⁰ fires. The ground vibrates from the agitation¹¹ of the central furnace. Hot springs filter out everywhere. The crust of the earth cracks in great rifts¹² like a cake, too quickly baked.

About a quarter of a mile off, on a craggy spur of the mountain stood a “pah,” or Maori

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1 gulf
n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂
参考例句：
The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。 There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 caverns
大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Within were dark caverns; what was inside them, no one could see. 里面是一个黑洞，这里面有什么东西，谁也望不见。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26） UNDERGROUND Under water grottos, caverns Filled with apes That eat figs. 在水帘洞里，挤满了猿争吃无花果。

3 lavas
n.（火山喷发的）熔岩( lava的名词复数 )；（熔岩冷凝后的）火山岩
参考例句：
The lake was ponded by lavas a long time ago. 这条湖是很久以前熔岩堵塞河道形成的。 来自辞典例句 Such lavas also once came from the volcanoes in the Cascade Range in Washington. 在华盛顿州的喀斯喀特山脉的火山也喷出过这样的熔岩。 来自辞典例句

4 wondrous
adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地
参考例句：
The internal structure of the Department is wondrous to behold.看一下国务院的内部结构是很有意思的。 We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.我们乘车穿越这片有着湖泊及森林的广袤而神奇的土地。

5 shimmer
v./n.发微光，发闪光；微光
参考例句：
The room was dark,but there was a shimmer of moonlight at the window.屋子里很黑，但靠近窗户的地方有点微光。 Nor is there anything more virginal than the shimmer of young foliage.没有什么比新叶的微光更纯洁无瑕了。

6 volcanic
adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的
参考例句：
There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。 Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

7 cones
n.（人眼）圆锥细胞；圆锥体( cone的名词复数 )；球果；圆锥形东西；（盛冰淇淋的）锥形蛋卷筒
参考例句：
In the pines squirrels commonly chew off and drop entire cones. 松树上的松鼠通常咬掉和弄落整个球果。 来自辞典例句 Many children would rather eat ice cream from cones than from dishes. 许多小孩喜欢吃蛋卷冰淇淋胜过盘装冰淇淋。 来自辞典例句

8 majestic
adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的
参考例句：
In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。 He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

9 cyclones
n.气旋( cyclone的名词复数 )；旋风；飓风；暴风
参考例句：
The pricipal objective in designing cyclones is to create a vortex. 设计旋风除尘器的主要目的在于造成涡旋运动。 来自辞典例句 Middle-latitude cyclones originate at the popar front. 中纬度地区的气旋发源于极锋。 来自辞典例句

10 subterranean
adj.地下的，地表下的
参考例句：
London has 9 miles of such subterranean passages.伦敦像这样的地下通道有9英里长。 We wandered through subterranean passages.我们漫游地下通道。

11 agitation
n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动
参考例句：
Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。 These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。

12 rifts
n.裂缝( rift的名词复数 )；裂隙；分裂；不和
参考例句：
After that, through the rifts in the inky clouds sparkled redder and yet more luminous particles. 然后在几条墨蓝色云霞的隙缝里闪出几个更红更亮的小片。 来自汉英文学 - 现代散文 The Destinies mend rifts in time as man etches fate. 当人类想要再次亵渎命运的时候，命运及时修正了这些裂痕。 来自互联网

13 fortress
n.堡垒，防御工事
参考例句：
They made an attempt on a fortress.他们试图夺取这一要塞。 The soldier scaled the wall of the fortress by turret.士兵通过塔车攀登上了要塞的城墙。

14 liberated
a.无拘束的，放纵的
参考例句：
The city was liberated by the advancing army. 军队向前挺进，解放了那座城市。 The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. 热量引起化学反应，释放出氧气。

15 warriors
武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )
参考例句：
I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。 The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

16 warrior
n.勇士，武士，斗士
参考例句：
The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。 A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

17 grove
n.林子，小树林，园林
参考例句：
On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。 The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。

18 persistent
adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的
参考例句：
Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。 She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

19 graceful
adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的
参考例句：
His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了! The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。

20 metallic
adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的
参考例句：
A sharp metallic note coming from the outside frightened me.外面传来尖锐铿锵的声音吓了我一跳。 He picked up a metallic ring last night.昨夜他捡了一个金属戒指。

21 circuitous
adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的
参考例句：
They took a circuitous route to avoid reporters.他们绕道避开了记者。 The explanation was circuitous and puzzling.这个解释很迂曲，让人困惑不解。

22 ERECTED
adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立
参考例句：
A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。 A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。

23 adorned
[计]被修饰的
参考例句：
The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。 And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。

24 conquerors
征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The Danes had selfconfidence of conquerors, and their security precautions were casual. 这些丹麦人具有征服者的自信，而且他们的安全防卫也是漫不经心的。 The conquerors believed in crushing the defeated people into submission, knowing that they could not win their loyalty by the victory. 征服者们知道他们的胜利并不能赢得失败者的忠心，于是就认为只有通过武力才能将他们压服。

25 geographer
n.地理学者
参考例句：
His grandfather is a geographer.他的祖父是一位地理学家。 Li Siguang is a famous geographer.李四光是一位著名的地理学家。

26 sockets
n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴
参考例句：
All new PCs now have USB sockets. 新的个人计算机现在都有通用串行总线插孔。 Make sure the sockets in your house are fingerproof. 确保你房中的插座是防触电的。 来自超越目标英语 第4册

27 immediate
adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的
参考例句：
His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。 We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

28 vengeance
n.报复，报仇，复仇
参考例句：
He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。 For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。

29 tranquil
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的
参考例句：
The boy disturbed the tranquil surface of the pond with a stick. 那男孩用棍子打破了平静的池面。 The tranquil beauty of the village scenery is unique. 这乡村景色的宁静是绝无仅有的。

30 affected
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。

31 indifference
n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎
参考例句：
I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。 He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。

32 courageous
adj.勇敢的，有胆量的
参考例句：
We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。 He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

33 mangles
n.轧布机，轧板机，碾压机（mangle的复数形式）vt.乱砍（mangle的第三人称单数形式）
参考例句：
This mangles their bones and sends these defenseless creatures into convulsions, but rarely causes immediate death. 这些会弄断动物的骨头或神经，导致他们抽搐，但并不会导致他们立即死亡。 来自互联网

34 deluge
n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥
参考例句：
This little stream can become a deluge when it rains heavily.雨大的时候，这条小溪能变作洪流。 I got caught in the deluge on the way home.我在回家的路上遇到倾盆大雨。

35 disposition
n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署
参考例句：
He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。 He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

36 exasperation
n.愤慨
参考例句：
He snorted with exasperation.他愤怒地哼了一声。 She rolled her eyes in sheer exasperation.她气急败坏地转动着眼珠。

37 hideous
adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的
参考例句：
The whole experience had been like some hideous nightmare.整个经历就像一场可怕的噩梦。 They're not like dogs,they're hideous brutes.它们不像狗，是丑陋的畜牲。

38 fixedly
adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地
参考例句：
He stared fixedly at the woman in white. 他一直凝视着那穿白衣裳的女人。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The great majority were silent and still, looking fixedly at the ground. 绝大部分的人都不闹不动，呆呆地望着地面。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

39 horde
n.群众，一大群
参考例句：
A horde of children ran over the office building.一大群孩子在办公大楼里到处奔跑。 Two women were quarrelling on the street,surrounded by horde of people.有两个妇人在街上争吵，被一大群人围住了。

40 invaders
入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 )
参考例句：
They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。 The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。

41 saluted
v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂
参考例句：
The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。 He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》

42 savages
未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 )
参考例句：
There're some savages living in the forest. 森林里居住着一些野人。 That's an island inhabited by savages. 那是一个野蛮人居住的岛屿。

43 spurted
（液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的过去式和过去分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺
参考例句：
Water spurted out of the hole. 水从小孔中喷出来。 Their guns spurted fire. 他们的枪喷射出火焰。

44 relics
[pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸
参考例句：
The area is a treasure house of archaeological relics. 这个地区是古文物遗迹的宝库。 Xi'an is an ancient city full of treasures and saintly relics. 西安是一个有很多宝藏和神圣的遗物的古老城市。

45 perishable
adj.（尤指食物）易腐的，易坏的
参考例句：
Many fresh foods are highly perishable.许多新鲜食物都极易腐败。 Fruits are perishable in transit.水果在运送时容易腐烂。

46 varnished
浸渍过的，涂漆的
参考例句：
The doors are then stained and varnished. 这些门还要染色涂清漆。 He varnished the wooden table. 他给那张木桌涂了清漆。

47 tattoo
n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于
参考例句：
I've decided to get my tattoo removed.我已经决定去掉我身上的纹身。 He had a tattoo on the back of his hand.他手背上刺有花纹。

48 rites
仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 )
参考例句：
to administer the last rites to sb 给某人举行临终圣事 He is interested in mystic rites and ceremonies. 他对神秘的仪式感兴趣。

49 intensified
v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。 The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

50 epithets
n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 )
参考例句：
He insulted me, using rude epithets. 他用粗话诅咒我。 来自《简明英汉词典》 He cursed me, using a lot of rude epithets. 他用上许多粗鲁的修饰词来诅咒我。 来自辞典例句

51 lavished
v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
I lavished all the warmth of my pent-up passion. 我把憋在心里那一股热烈的情感尽量地倾吐出来。 来自辞典例句 An enormous amount of attention has been lavished on these problems. 在这些问题上，我们已经花费了大量的注意力。 来自辞典例句

52 brutal
adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的
参考例句：
She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。 They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

53 fanatics
狂热者，入迷者( fanatic的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The heathen temple was torn down by a crowd of religions fanatics. 异教徒的神殿被一群宗教狂热分子拆除了。 Placing nukes in the hands of baby-faced fanatics? 把核弹交给一些宗教狂热者手里？

54 abruptly
adv.突然地，出其不意地
参考例句：
He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。 I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

55 mound
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。

56 buttress
n.支撑物；v.支持
参考例句：
I don't think they have any buttress behind them.我认为他们背后没有什么支持力量。 It was decided to buttress the crumbling walls.人们决定建造扶壁以支撑崩塌中的墙。

57 entrenchment
n.壕沟，防御设施
参考例句：
Right below the entrenchment, you will find another underground bunker. 在堑壕的下方，你能找到另一个地下碉堡。 来自互联网 There has been a shift in opinion on the issue after a decade of entrenchment. 在那议题上十年的固守之后，有了转变的看法。 来自互联网

58 frenzied
a.激怒的；疯狂的
参考例句：
Will this push him too far and lead to a frenzied attack? 这会不会逼他太甚，导致他进行疯狂的进攻？ Two teenagers carried out a frenzied attack on a local shopkeeper. 两名十几岁的少年对当地的一个店主进行了疯狂的袭击。

59 exhausted
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。

60 prostrate
v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的
参考例句：
She was prostrate on the floor.她俯卧在地板上。 The Yankees had the South prostrate and they intended to keep It'so.北方佬已经使南方屈服了,他们还打算继续下去。

61 bosom
n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的
参考例句：
She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。 A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

62 forsake
vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃
参考例句：
She pleaded with her husband not to forsake her.她恳求丈夫不要抛弃她。 You must forsake your bad habits.你必须革除你的坏习惯。

63 crevice
n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口
参考例句：
I saw a plant growing out of a crevice in the wall.我看到墙缝里长出一棵草来。 He edged the tool into the crevice.他把刀具插进裂缝里。

64 amulets
n.护身符( amulet的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Amulets,\"guards,\" as they are popularly called, intended to ward off evil spirits. 护身符――或者象他们普遍的叫法：“警卫”用来抵御妖魔鬼怪。 来自辞典例句 However, all oval amulets in a single game are the same. 当然，所有的魔法用品也有类似的情形。 来自互联网

65 elevation
n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高
参考例句：
The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。 His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。

66 dispersed
adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的
参考例句：
The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。 After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。

67 resolute
adj.坚决的，果敢的
参考例句：
He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。 The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

68 confluence
n.汇合，聚集
参考例句：
They built the city at the confluence of two rivers.他们建造了城市的汇合两条河流。 The whole DV movements actually was a confluence of several trends.整个当时的DV运动，实际上是几股潮流的同谋。

69 rivalry
n.竞争，竞赛，对抗
参考例句：
The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。 He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

70 umbrage
n.不快；树荫
参考例句：
Everything gives umbrage to a tyrantny.所有事情都使专制君主生气。 She took umbrage at my remarks about her hair.我对她头发的评论使她很不高兴。

71 interrogated
v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询
参考例句：
He was interrogated by the police for over 12 hours. 他被警察审问了12个多小时。 Two suspects are now being interrogated in connection with the killing. 与杀人案有关的两名嫌疑犯正在接受审讯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

72 deity
n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物)
参考例句：
Many animals were seen as the manifestation of a deity.许多动物被看作神的化身。 The deity was hidden in the deepest recesses of the temple.神藏在庙宇壁龛的最深处。

73 ransom
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。

74 interval
n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息
参考例句：
The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。 There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。

75 petrified
adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句：
I'm petrified of snakes. 我特别怕蛇。 The poor child was petrified with fear. 这可怜的孩子被吓呆了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

76 amazement
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。

77 tumult
n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹
参考例句：
The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。 His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。

78 taboo
n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止
参考例句：
The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。 Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里，婚前的性行为犯禁吗？