Murray Hill Place—the new Opus Dei World Headquarters and conference center—is located at 243 Lexington Avenue in New York City. With a price tag of just over $47 million, the 133,000-square-foot tower is clad in red brick and Indiana limestone¹. Designed by May & Pinska, the building contains over one hundred bedrooms, six dining rooms, libraries, living rooms, meeting rooms, and offices. The second, eighth, and sixteenth floors contain chapels², ornamented³ with mill-work and marble. The seventeenth floor is entirely⁴ residential⁵. Men enter the building through the main doors on Lexington Avenue. Women enter through a side street and are "acoustically⁶ and visually separated" from the men at all times within the building.

Earlier this evening, within the sanctuary⁷ of his penthouse apartment, Bishop⁸ Manuel Aringarosa had packed a small travel bag and dressed in a traditional black cassock. Normally, he would have wrapped a purple cincture around his waist, but tonight he would be traveling among the public, and he preferred not to draw attention to his high office. Only those with a keen eye would notice his 14-karat gold bishop's ring with purple amethyst⁹, large diamonds, and hand-tooled mitre-crozier appliqué. Throwing the travel bag over his shoulder, he said a silent prayer and left his apartment, descending¹⁰ to the lobby where his driver was waiting to take him to the airport.

Now, sitting aboard a commercial airliner

点击收听单词发音  

1 limestone
n.石灰石
参考例句：
Limestone is often used in building construction.石灰岩常用于建筑。 Cement is made from limestone.水泥是由石灰石制成的。

2 chapels
n.小教堂， （医院、监狱等的）附属礼拜堂( chapel的名词复数 )；（在小教堂和附属礼拜堂举行的）礼拜仪式
参考例句：
Both castles had their own chapels too, which was incredible to see. 两个城堡都有自己的礼拜堂，非常华美。 来自互联网 It has an ambulatory and seven chapels. 它有一条走廊和七个小教堂。 来自互联网

3 ornamented
adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The desk was ornamented with many carvings. 这桌子装饰有很多雕刻物。 来自《简明英汉词典》 She ornamented her dress with lace. 她用花边装饰衣服。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 entirely
ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地
参考例句：
The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。 His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

5 residential
adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的
参考例句：
The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。 The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

6 acoustically
听觉上，声学上
参考例句：
The hall is excellent acoustically. 这个大厅在传音方面极好。 Moos Acoustically speaking, what happens before and after mating is most interesting. 默丝从象的叫声判断，交配前后发生的事情最有意思。

7 sanctuary
n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区
参考例句：
There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。 Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

8 bishop
n.主教，（国际象棋）象
参考例句：
He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。 Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

9 amethyst
n.紫水晶
参考例句：
She pinned a large amethyst brooch to her lapel.她在翻领上别了一枚大大的紫水晶饰针。 The exquisite flowers come alive in shades of amethyst.那些漂亮的花儿在紫水晶的映衬下显得格外夺目。

10 descending
n. 下行 adj. 下降的
参考例句：
The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。 The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置，然后再下山。

11 airliner
n.客机，班机
参考例句：
The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。 The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。

12 sweeping
adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的
参考例句：
The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。 Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

13 initially
adv.最初，开始
参考例句：
The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。 Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

14 meditation
n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录
参考例句：
This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。 I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

15 metropolis
n.首府；大城市
参考例句：
Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。 He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。

16 cult
n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜
参考例句：
Her books aren't bestsellers,but they have a certain cult following.她的书算不上畅销书，但有一定的崇拜者。 The cult of sun worship is probably the most primitive one.太阳崇拜仪式或许是最为原始的一种。

17 cults
n.迷信( cult的名词复数 )；狂热的崇拜；（有极端宗教信仰的）异教团体
参考例句：
Religious cults and priesthoods are sectarian by nature. 宗教崇拜和僧侣界天然就有派性。 来自辞典例句 All these religions were flourishing side by side with many less prominent cults. 所有这些宗教和许多次要的教派一起，共同繁荣。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

18 escalating
v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大
参考例句：
The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

19 Christian
adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒
参考例句：
They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。 His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

20 doctrine
n.教义；主义；学说
参考例句：
He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。 The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

21 vows
誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿
参考例句：
Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。 The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。

22 asceticism
n.禁欲主义
参考例句：
I am not speaking here about asceticism or abstinence.我说的并不是苦行主义或禁欲主义。 Chaucer affirmed man's rights to pursue earthly happiness and epposed asceticism.乔叟强调人权，尤其是追求今生今世幸福快乐的权力，反对神权与禁欲主义。

23 cloistered
adj.隐居的，躲开尘世纷争的v.隐退，使与世隔绝( cloister的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
the cloistered world of the university 与世隔绝的大学 She cloistered herself in the office. 她呆在办公室里好像与世隔绝一样。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 lethal
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。

25 disillusioned
a.不再抱幻想的，大失所望的，幻想破灭的
参考例句：
I soon became disillusioned with the job. 我不久便对这个工作不再抱幻想了。 Many people who are disillusioned in reality assimilate life to a dream. 许多对现实失望的人把人生比作一场梦。

26 savings
n.存款，储蓄
参考例句：
I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。 By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

27 embarrassment
n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫
参考例句：
She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。 Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

28 devout
adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness)
参考例句：
His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。 The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。

29 noted
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。 Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

30 spawn
n.卵，产物，后代，结果；vt.产卵，种菌丝于，产生，造成；vi.产卵，大量生产
参考例句：
The fish were madly pushing their way upstream to spawn.鱼群为产卵而疯狂地向上游挤进。 These fish will lay spawn in about one month from now.这些鱼大约一个月内会产卵。

31 awareness
n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智
参考例句：
There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。 Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

32 endorsement
n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注
参考例句：
We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。 His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

33 blessing
n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿
参考例句：
The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。 A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

34 infinitely
adv.无限地，无穷地
参考例句：
There is an infinitely bright future ahead of us.我们有无限光明的前途。 The universe is infinitely large.宇宙是无限大的。

35 foe
n.敌人，仇敌
参考例句：
He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。 A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

36 crooked
adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的
参考例句：
He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指，示意我们到他那儿去。 You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。

37 missionary
adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士
参考例句：
She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。 I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。

38 possessed
adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的
参考例句：
He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。 He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

39 dwarfed
vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
The old houses were dwarfed by the huge new tower blocks. 这些旧房子在新建的高楼大厦的映衬下显得十分矮小。 The elephant dwarfed the tortoise. 那只乌龟跟那头象相比就显得很小。 来自《简明英汉词典》

40 dabbed
（用某物）轻触( dab的过去式和过去分词 )； 轻而快地擦掉（或抹掉）； 快速擦拭； （用某物）轻而快地涂上（或点上）…
参考例句：
She dabbed her eyes and blew her nose. 她轻轻擦了几下眼睛，擤了擤鼻涕。 He dabbed at the spot on his tie with a napkin. 他用餐巾快速擦去领带上的污点。

41 purge
n.整肃，清除，泻药，净化；vt.净化，清除，摆脱；vi.清除，通便，腹泻，变得清洁
参考例句：
The new president carried out a purge of disloyal army officers.新总统对不忠诚的军官进行了清洗。 The mayoral candidate has promised to purge the police department.市长候选人答应清洗警察部门。

42 psalms
n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 )；圣诗；圣歌；(中的)
参考例句：
the Book of Psalms 《〈圣经〉诗篇》 A verse from Psalms knifed into Pug's mind: "put not your trust in princes." 《诗篇》里有一句话闪过帕格的脑海：“不要相信王侯。” 来自辞典例句

43 anticipation
n.预期，预料，期望
参考例句：
We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。 The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

44 electrified
v.使电气化( electrify的过去式和过去分词 )；使兴奋
参考例句：
The railway line was electrified in the 1950s. 这条铁路线在20世纪50年代就实现了电气化。 The national railway system has nearly all been electrified. 全国的铁路系统几乎全部实现了电气化。 来自《简明英汉词典》

45 cleansing
n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词
参考例句：
medicated cleansing pads for sensitive skin 敏感皮肤药物清洗棉 Soap is not the only cleansing agent. 肥皂并不是唯一的清洁剂。

46 erasing
v.擦掉( erase的现在分词 )；抹去；清除
参考例句：
He was like a sponge, erasing the past, soaking up the future. 他象一块海绵，挤出过去，吸进未来。 来自辞典例句 Suddenly, fear overtook longing, erasing memories. 突然，恐惧淹没了渴望，泯灭了回忆。 来自辞典例句

47 hatred
n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨
参考例句：
He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。 The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

48 rusty
adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的
参考例句：
The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。 I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

49 steadfast
adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的
参考例句：
Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。 He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

50 millennia
n.一千年，千禧年
参考例句：
For two millennia, exogamy was a major transgression for Jews. 两千年来，异族通婚一直是犹太人的一大禁忌。 In the course of millennia, the dinosaurs died out. 在几千年的时间里，恐龙逐渐死绝了。

51 hood
n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖
参考例句：
She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。 The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。

52 hooded
adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的
参考例句：
A hooded figure waited in the doorway. 一个戴兜帽的人在门口等候。 Black-eyed gipsy girls, hooded in showy handkerchiefs, sallied forth to tell fortunes. 黑眼睛的吉卜赛姑娘，用华丽的手巾包着头，突然地闯了进来替人算命。 来自辞典例句

53 accentuating
v.重读( accentuate的现在分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于
参考例句：
Elegant interior design accentuating the unique feeling of space. 优雅的室内设计突显了独特的空间感。 来自互联网 Accentuating the positive is an article of faith here. 强调积极面在这里已变成一种信仰。 来自互联网

54 tightening
上紧，固定，紧密
参考例句：
Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。 It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。