THE Round Table soon heard of the challenge, and of course it was a good deal discussed, for such things interested the boys. The king thought I ought now to set forth¹ in quest of adventures, so that I might gain renown² and be the more worthy³ to meet Sir Sagramor when the several years should have rolled away. I excused myself for the present; I said it would take me three or four years yet to get things well fixed⁴ up and going smoothly⁵; then I should be ready; all the chances were that at the end of that time Sir Sagramor would still be out grailing, so no valuable time would be lost by the postponement⁶; I should then have been in office six or seven years, and I believed my system and machinery⁷ would be so well developed that I could take a holiday without its working any harm.

I was pretty well satisfied with what I had already accomplished⁸. In various quiet nooks and corners I had the beginnings of all sorts of industries under way -- nuclei⁹ of future vast factories, the iron and steel missionaries¹⁰ of my future civilization. In these were gathered together the brightest young minds I could find, and I kept agents out raking the country for more, all the time. I was training a crowd of ignorant folk into experts -- experts in every sort of handiwork and scientific calling. These nurseries of mine went smoothly and privately¹¹ along undisturbed in their obscure country retreats, for nobody was allowed to come into their precincts without a special permit -for I was afraid of the Church.

点击收听单词发音  

1 forth
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。

2 renown
n.声誉，名望
参考例句：
His renown has spread throughout the country.他的名声已传遍全国。 She used to be a singer of some renown.她曾是位小有名气的歌手。

3 worthy
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。

4 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。

5 smoothly
adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地
参考例句：
The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。 Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

6 postponement
n.推迟
参考例句：
He compounded with his creditors for a postponement of payment. 他与债权人达成协议延期付款。 Rain caused the postponement of several race-meetings. 几次赛马大会因雨延期。

7 machinery
n.(总称)机械，机器；机构
参考例句：
Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？ Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

8 accomplished
adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的
参考例句：
Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。 Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

9 nuclei
n.核
参考例句：
To free electrons, something has to make them whirl fast enough to break away from their nuclei. 为了释放电子，必须使电子高速旋转而足以摆脱原子核的束缚。 Energy is released by the fission of atomic nuclei. 能量是由原子核分裂释放出来的。

10 missionaries
n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Some missionaries came from England in the Qing Dynasty. 清朝时，从英国来了一些传教士。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The missionaries rebuked the natives for worshipping images. 传教士指责当地人崇拜偶像。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 privately
adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地
参考例句：
Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。 The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

12 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。

13 sect
n.派别，宗教，学派，派系
参考例句：
When he was sixteen he joined a religious sect.他16岁的时候加入了一个宗教教派。 Each religious sect in the town had its own church.该城每一个宗教教派都有自己的教堂。

14 affront
n./v.侮辱，触怒
参考例句：
Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。 This remark caused affront to many people.这句话得罪了不少人。

15 complexion
n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格
参考例句：
Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。 Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。

16 complexions
肤色( complexion的名词复数 )； 面色； 局面； 性质
参考例句：
Dry complexions are replenished, feel soft, firm and smooth to the touch. 缓解肌肤的干燥状况，同时带来柔嫩、紧致和光滑的出众效果。 Western people usually have fairer complexions than Eastern people. 由于人种不同，西方人的肤色比东方人要白很多。

17 stature
n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材
参考例句：
He is five feet five inches in stature.他身高5英尺5英寸。 The dress models are tall of stature.时装模特儿的身材都较高。

18 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。

19 mightiest
adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的
参考例句：
\"If thou fearest to leave me in our cottage, thou mightiest take me along with thee. “要是你害怕把我一个人留在咱们的小屋里，你可以带我一块儿去那儿嘛。 来自英汉文学 - 红字 Silent though is, after all, the mightiest agent in human affairs. 确实，沉默毕竟是人类事件中最强大的代理人。 来自互联网

20 paralysis
n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)
参考例句：
The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。 The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

21 formerly
adv.从前，以前
参考例句：
We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。 This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

22 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。

23 unlimited
adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的
参考例句：
They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。 There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

24 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。

25 serene
adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的
参考例句：
He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。 He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多，只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。

26 standing
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。

27 bowels
n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处
参考例句：
Salts is a medicine that causes movements of the bowels. 泻盐是一种促使肠子运动的药物。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The cabins are in the bowels of the ship. 舱房设在船腹内。 来自《简明英汉词典》

28 confidential
adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的
参考例句：
He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。 We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

29 trickling
n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动
参考例句：
Tears were trickling down her cheeks. 眼泪顺着她的面颊流了下来。 The engine was trickling oil. 发动机在滴油。 来自《简明英汉词典》

30 gnaw
v.不断地啃、咬；使苦恼，折磨
参考例句：
Dogs like to gnaw on a bone.狗爱啃骨头。 A rat can gnaw a hole through wood.老鼠能啃穿木头。

31 superstition
n.迷信，迷信行为
参考例句：
It's a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.认为黑猫不吉祥是一种很普遍的迷信。 Superstition results from ignorance.迷信产生于无知。

32 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。

33 naval
adj.海军的，军舰的，船的
参考例句：
He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。 The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

34 seaport
n.海港，港口，港市
参考例句：
Ostend is the most important seaport in Belgium.奥斯坦德是比利时最重要的海港。 A seaport where ships can take on supplies of coal.轮船能够补充煤炭的海港。

35 prospering
成功，兴旺( prosper的现在分词 )
参考例句：
Our country is thriving and prospering day by day. 祖国日益繁荣昌盛。 His business is prospering. 他生意兴隆。

36 journalism
n.新闻工作，报业
参考例句：
He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师，可还兼职做一些新闻工作。 He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。

37 concealed
a.隐藏的，隐蔽的
参考例句：
The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。 I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

38 steadily
adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地
参考例句：
The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。 Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

39 inquiry
n.打听，询问，调查，查问
参考例句：
Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。 The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

40 insulation
n.隔离；绝缘；隔热
参考例句：
Please examine the insulation of the electric wires in my house.请检查一下我屋子里电线的绝缘情况。 It is always difficult to assure good insulation between the electric leads.要保证两个电触头之间有良好的绝缘总是很困难的。

41 intentionally
ad.故意地，有意地
参考例句：
I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。 The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。

42 interfered
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉
参考例句：
Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》 I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

43 meddled
v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Someone has meddled with the photographs I laid out so carefully. 有人把我精心布置的照片弄乱了。 来自辞典例句 The gifts of charity meddled with a man's private affair. 慈善团体的帮助实际上是干涉私人的事务。 来自互联网

44 taxation
n.征税，税收，税金
参考例句：
He made a number of simplifications in the taxation system.他在税制上作了一些简化。 The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。

45 hearty
adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的
参考例句：
After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了，他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。 We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。