Presently we saw that the cavern¹ before us opened upon a hazy² void. In another moment we had emerged upon a sort of slanting³ gallery, that projected into a vast circular space, a huge cylindrical⁴ pit running vertically⁵ up and down. Round this pit the slanting gallery ran without any parapet or protection for a turn and a half, and then plunged⁶ high above into the rock again. Somehow it reminded me then one of those spiral turns of the railway through the Saint Gothard. It was all tremendously huge. I can scarcely hope to convey to you the Titanic⁷ proportion of all that place, the Titanic effect of it. Our eyes followed up the vast declivity⁸ of the pit wall, and overhead and far above we beheld⁹ a round opening set with faint stars, and half of the lip about it well nigh blinding with the white light of the sun. At that we cried aloud simultaneously¹⁰.

"Come on!" I said, leading the way.

"But there?" said Cavor, and very carefully stepped nearer the edge of the gallery. I followed his example, and craned forward and looked down, but I was dazzled by that gleam of light above, and I could see only a bottomless darkness with spectral¹¹ patches of crimson¹² and purple floating therein. Yet if I could not see, I could hear. Out of this darkness came a sound, a sound like the angry hum one can hear if one puts one's ear outside a hive of bees, a sound out of that enormous hollow, it may be, four miles beneath our feet...

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1 cavern
n.洞穴，大山洞
参考例句：
The cavern walls echoed his cries.大山洞的四壁回响着他的喊声。 It suddenly began to shower,and we took refuge in the cavern.天突然下起雨来，我们在一个山洞里避雨。

2 hazy
adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的
参考例句：
We couldn't see far because it was so hazy.雾气蒙蒙妨碍了我们的视线。 I have a hazy memory of those early years.对那些早先的岁月我有着朦胧的记忆。

3 slanting
倾斜的，歪斜的
参考例句：
The rain is driving [slanting] in from the south. 南边潲雨。 The line is slanting to the left. 这根线向左斜了。

4 cylindrical
adj.圆筒形的
参考例句：
huge cylindrical gas tanks 巨大的圆柱形贮气罐 Beer cans are cylindrical. 啤酒罐子是圆筒形的。

5 vertically
adv.垂直地
参考例句：
Line the pages for the graph both horizontally and vertically.在这几页上同时画上横线和竖线，以便制作图表。 The human brain is divided vertically down the middle into two hemispheres.人脑从中央垂直地分为两半球。

6 plunged
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降
参考例句：
The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。 She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

7 titanic
adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的
参考例句：
We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。 The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。

8 declivity
n.下坡，倾斜面
参考例句：
I looked frontage straightly,going declivity one by one.我两眼直视前方，一路下坡又下坡。 He had rolled down a declivity of twelve or fifteen feet.他是从十二尺或十五尺高的地方滚下来的。

9 beheld
v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟
参考例句：
His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

10 simultaneously
adv.同时发生地，同时进行地
参考例句：
The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。 The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

11 spectral
adj.幽灵的，鬼魂的
参考例句：
At times he seems rather ordinary.At other times ethereal,perhaps even spectral.有时他好像很正常，有时又难以捉摸，甚至像个幽灵。 She is compelling,spectral fascinating,an unforgettably unique performer.她极具吸引力，清幽如鬼魅，令人着迷，令人难忘，是个独具特色的演员。

12 crimson
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色
参考例句：
She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。 Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。

13 rim
n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界
参考例句：
The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。 She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

14 tightened
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧
参考例句：
The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。 His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

15 shaft
n.(工具的)柄，杆状物
参考例句：
He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭击中受伤。 This is the shaft of a steam engine.这是一个蒸汽机主轴。

16 sanguine
adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的
参考例句：
He has a sanguine attitude to life.他对于人生有乐观的看法。 He is not very sanguine about our chances of success.他对我们成功的机会不太乐观。

17 lateral
adj.侧面的，旁边的
参考例句：
An airfoil that controls lateral motion.能够控制横向飞行的机翼。 Mr.Dawson walked into the court from a lateral door.道森先生从一个侧面的门走进法庭。

18 ascended
v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 exterior
adj.外部的，外在的；表面的
参考例句：
The seed has a hard exterior covering.这种子外壳很硬。 We are painting the exterior wall of the house.我们正在给房子的外墙涂漆。

20 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。

21 alpine
adj.高山的；n.高山植物
参考例句：
Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。 Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。

22 surmounted
战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上
参考例句：
She was well aware of the difficulties that had to be surmounted. 她很清楚必须克服哪些困难。 I think most of these obstacles can be surmounted. 我认为这些障碍大多数都是可以克服的。

23 crest
n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖
参考例句：
The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。 He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。

24 shrub
n.灌木，灌木丛
参考例句：
There is a small evergreen shrub on the hillside.山腰上有一小块常绿灌木丛。 Moving a shrub is best done in early spring.移植灌木最好是在初春的时候。

25 spiky
adj.长而尖的，大钉似的
参考例句：
Your hairbrush is too spiky for me.你的发刷，我觉得太尖了。 The spiky handwriting on the airmail envelope from London was obviously hers.发自伦敦的航空信封上的尖长字迹分明是她的。

26 silhouette
n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓
参考例句：
I could see its black silhouette against the evening sky.我能看到夜幕下它黑色的轮廓。 I could see the silhouette of the woman in the pickup.我可以见到小卡车的女人黑色半身侧面影。

27 weird
adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的
参考例句：
From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。 His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

28 behold
v.看，注视，看到
参考例句：
The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。 The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

29 akin
adj.同族的，类似的
参考例句：
She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。 Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。

30 densely
ad.密集地；浓厚地
参考例句：
A grove of trees shadowed the house densely. 树丛把这幢房子遮蔽得很密实。 We passed through miles of densely wooded country. 我们穿过好几英里茂密的林地。

31 trampled
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。

32 lava
n.熔岩，火山岩
参考例句：
The lava flowed down the sides of the volcano.熔岩沿火山坡面涌流而下。 His anger spilled out like lava.他的愤怒像火山爆发似的迸发出来。

33 discomfort
n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便
参考例句：
One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。 She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

34 fissures
n.狭长裂缝或裂隙( fissure的名词复数 )；裂伤；分歧；分裂v.裂开( fissure的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
Rising molten rock flows out on the ocean floor and caps the fissures, trapping the water. 上升熔岩流到海底并堵住了裂隙，结果把海水封在里面。 来自辞典例句 The French have held two colloquia and an international symposium on rock fissures. 法国已经开了两次岩石裂缝方面的报告会和一个国际会议。 来自辞典例句

35 scattered
adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的
参考例句：
Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

36 chaff
v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳
参考例句：
I didn't mind their chaff.我不在乎他们的玩笑。 Old birds are not caught with chaff.谷糠难诱老雀。

37 fungus
n.真菌，真菌类植物
参考例句：
Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。 This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。

38 gauging
n.测量[试]，测定，计量v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的现在分词 )；估计；计量；划分
参考例句：
The method is especially attractive for gauging natural streams. 该方法对于测量天然的流注具有特殊的吸引力。 来自辞典例句 Incommunicative as he was, some time elapsed before I had an opportunity of gauging his mind. 由于他不爱说话，我过了一些时候才有机会探测他的心灵。 来自辞典例句

39 fixed
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。

40 speculative
adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的
参考例句：
Much of our information is speculative.我们的许多信息是带推测性的。 The report is highly speculative and should be ignored.那个报道推测的成分很大，不应理会。

41 prospect
n.前景，前途；景色，视野
参考例句：
This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。 The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

42 crater
n.火山口，弹坑
参考例句：
With a telescope you can see the huge crater of Ve-suvius.用望远镜你能看到巨大的维苏威火山口。 They came to the lip of a dead crater.他们来到了一个死火山口。

43 sere
adj.干枯的；n.演替系列
参考例句：
The desert was edged with sere vegetation.沙漠周围零星地长着一些干枯的植被。 A sere on uncovered rock is a lithosere.在光秃岩石上的演替系列是岩生演替系列。

44 basked
v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的过去式和过去分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽
参考例句：
She basked in the reflected glory of her daughter's success. 她尽情地享受她女儿的成功带给她的荣耀。 She basked in the reflected glory of her daughter's success. 她享受着女儿的成功所带给她的荣耀。 来自《简明英汉词典》

45 blot
vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍
参考例句：
That new factory is a blot on the landscape.那新建的工厂破坏了此地的景色。 The crime he committed is a blot on his record.他犯的罪是他的履历中的一个污点。

46 emergence
n.浮现，显现，出现，（植物）突出体
参考例句：
The last decade saw the emergence of a dynamic economy.最近10年见证了经济增长的姿态。 Language emerges and develops with the emergence and development of society.语言是随着社会的产生而产生，随着社会的发展而发展的。

47 halfway
adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途
参考例句：
We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。 In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

48 hoist
n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起
参考例句：
By using a hoist the movers were able to sling the piano to the third floor.搬运工人用吊车才把钢琴吊到3楼。 Hoist the Chinese flag on the flagpole,please!请在旗杆上升起中国国旗！

49 impatience
n.不耐烦，急躁
参考例句：
He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢，他显得不耐烦。 He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。

50 dwellers
n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 )
参考例句：
City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes. 城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。 来自《简明英汉词典》 They have transformed themselves into permanent city dwellers. 他们已成为永久的城市居民。 来自《简明英汉词典》

51 outskirts
n.郊外，郊区
参考例句：
Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。 They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

52 yokels
n.乡下佬，土包子( yokel的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The quaint field noises, the yokels'whistling, and the splash of water-fowl, each seemed to him enchanted. 那种新奇的，田野上的喧声，那种庄稼汉打着的唿哨，那种水禽的溅水声，他觉得每一样都是令人销魂的。 来自辞典例句 One of the local yokels helped me change the tire. 一个乡巴佬帮我换了车胎。 来自互联网

53 brutes
兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性
参考例句：
They're not like dogs; they're hideous brutes. 它们不像狗，是丑陋的畜牲。 Suddenly the foul musty odour of the brutes struck his nostrils. 突然，他的鼻尖闻到了老鼠的霉臭味。 来自英汉文学

54 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。

55 populous
adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的
参考例句：
London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。 China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

56 descends
v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 )；下去；下降；下斜
参考例句：
This festival descends from a religious rite. 这个节日起源于宗教仪式。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The path descends steeply to the village. 小路陡直而下直到村子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

57 cascading
流注( cascade的现在分词 )； 大量落下； 大量垂悬； 梯流
参考例句：
First of all, cascading menus are to be avoided at all costs. 首先，无论如何都要避免使用级联菜单。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓 Her sounds began cascading gently. 他的声音开始缓缓地低落下来。

58 tributaries
n. 支流
参考例句：
In such areas small tributaries or gullies will not show. 在这些地区，小的支流和冲沟显示不出来。 These tributaries are subsequent streams which erode strike valley. 这些支流系即为蚀出走向谷的次生河。

59 swirl
v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形
参考例句：
The car raced roughly along in a swirl of pink dust.汽车在一股粉红色尘土的漩涡中颠簸着快速前进。 You could lie up there,watching the flakes swirl past.你可以躺在那儿，看着雪花飘飘。

60 ebb
vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态
参考例句：
The flood and ebb tides alternates with each other.涨潮和落潮交替更迭。 They swam till the tide began to ebb.他们一直游到开始退潮。

61 mighty
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。

62 swarming
密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去
参考例句：
The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 The beach is swarming with bathers. 海滩满是海水浴的人。

63 thaw
v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和
参考例句：
The snow is beginning to thaw.雪已开始融化。 The spring thaw caused heavy flooding.春天解冻引起了洪水泛滥。

64 systematic
adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的
参考例句：
The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。 The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

65 spoke
n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

66 warfare
n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突
参考例句：
He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。 Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。

67 folly
n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话
参考例句：
Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。 Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。

68 toiled
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉
参考例句：
They toiled up the hill in the blazing sun. 他们冒着炎炎烈日艰难地一步一步爬上山冈。 He toiled all day long but earned very little. 他整天劳碌但挣得很少。

69 brewing
n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式
参考例句：
It was obvious that a big storm was brewing up. 很显然，一场暴风雨正在酝酿中。 She set about brewing some herb tea. 她动手泡一些药茶。

70 sane
adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的
参考例句：
He was sane at the time of the murder.在凶杀案发生时他的神志是清醒的。 He is a very sane person.他是一个很有头脑的人。

71 spikes
n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划
参考例句：
a row of iron spikes on a wall 墙头的一排尖铁 There is a row of spikes on top of the prison wall to prevent the prisoners escaping. 监狱墙头装有一排尖钉，以防犯人逃跑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

72 westward
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。

73 shrugged
vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。 She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

74 galled
v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱
参考例句：
Their unkind remarks galled her. 他们不友善的话语使她恼怒。 来自辞典例句 He was galled by her insulting language. 他被她侮辱性的语言激怒了。 来自辞典例句

75 solitary
adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士
参考例句：
I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。 The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

76 slab
n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上
参考例句：
This heavy slab of oak now stood between the bomb and Hitler.这时笨重的橡木厚板就横在炸弹和希特勒之间了。 The monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab.这座纪念碑由两根垂直的柱体构成，它们共同支撑着一块平板。

77 determined
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。 He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。