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1. — World Encyclopaedia
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Lecture delivered at the weekly evening meeting of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, November 20th, 1936
MOST of the lectures that are given in this place to this audience are delivered by men of very special knowledge. They come here to tell you something you did not know before. But tonight I doubt if I shall tell you anything that is not already quite familiar to you. I am here not to impart facts but to make certain suggestions. And there is no other audience in the world to which I would make these suggestions more willingly and more hopefully than I do to you.
My particular line of country has always been generalisation and synthesis. I dislike isolated1 events and disconnected details. I really hate statements, views, prejudices and beliefs that jump at you suddenly out of mid-air. I like my world as coherent and consistent as possible. So far at any rate my temperament2 is that of a scientific man. And that is why I have spent a few score thousand hours of my particular allotment of vitality3 in making outlines of history, short histories of the world, general accounts of the science of life, attempts to bring economic, financial and social life into one conspectus and even, still more desperate, struggles to estimate the possible consequences of this or that set of operating causes upon the future of mankind. All these attempts had profound and conspicuous4 faults and weaknesses; even my friends are apt to mention them with an apologetic smile; presumptuous5 and preposterous6 they were, I admit, but I look back upon them, completely unabashed. Somebody had to break the ice. Somebody had to try out such summaries on the general mind. My reply to the superior critic has always been — forgive me —“Damn you, do it better”.
The least satisfactory thing about these experiments of mine, so far as I am concerned, is that they did not at once provoke the learned and competent to produce superior substitutes. And in view of the number of able and distinguished
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1
isolated
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adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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2
temperament
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n.气质,性格,性情 | |
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vitality
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n.活力,生命力,效力 | |
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conspicuous
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adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
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presumptuous
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adj.胆大妄为的,放肆的,冒昧的,冒失的 | |
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preposterous
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adj.荒谬的,可笑的 | |
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distinguished
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adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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professing
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声称( profess的现在分词 ); 宣称; 公开表明; 信奉 | |
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politic
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adj.有智虑的;精明的;v.从政 | |
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remains
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n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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11
criticise
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v.批评,评论;非难 | |
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casually
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adv.漠不关心地,无动于衷地,不负责任地 | |
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gathering
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n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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solicitudes
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n.关心,挂念,渴望( solicitude的名词复数 ) | |
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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 | |
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credible
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adj.可信任的,可靠的 | |
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inquiry
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n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
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inertia
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adj.惰性,惯性,懒惰,迟钝 | |
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disastrously
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ad.灾难性地 | |
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disastrous
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adj.灾难性的,造成灾害的;极坏的,很糟的 | |
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tangle
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n.纠缠;缠结;混乱;v.(使)缠绕;变乱 | |
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contemplate
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vt.盘算,计议;周密考虑;注视,凝视 | |
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insufficient
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adj.(for,of)不足的,不够的 | |
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mingle
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vt.使混合,使相混;vi.混合起来;相交往 | |
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interfere
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v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 | |
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apprehension
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n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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sweeping
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adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的 | |
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tragic
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adj.悲剧的,悲剧性的,悲惨的 | |
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dismal
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adj.阴沉的,凄凉的,令人忧郁的,差劲的 | |
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poignantly
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fatuous
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adj.愚昧的;昏庸的 | |
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unprecedented
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adj.无前例的,新奇的 | |
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slump
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n.暴跌,意气消沉,(土地)下沉;vi.猛然掉落,坍塌,大幅度下跌 | |
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astounding
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adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊,使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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meekness
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n.温顺,柔和 | |
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galaxies
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星系( galaxy的名词复数 ); 银河系; 一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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adorned
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[计]被修饰的 | |
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trenchant
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adj.尖刻的,清晰的 | |
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entirely
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ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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fumed
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愤怒( fume的过去式和过去分词 ); 大怒; 发怒; 冒烟 | |
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promising
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adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
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adviser
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n.劝告者,顾问 | |
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eminent
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adj.显赫的,杰出的,有名的,优良的 | |
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unity
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n.团结,联合,统一;和睦,协调 | |
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mechanism
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n.机械装置;机构,结构 | |
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acquiescence
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n.默许;顺从 | |
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sane
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adj.心智健全的,神志清醒的,明智的,稳健的 | |
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haphazard
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adj.无计划的,随意的,杂乱无章的 | |
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negligent
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adj.疏忽的;玩忽的;粗心大意的 | |
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lapsed
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adj.流失的,堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 );陷入;倒退;丧失 | |
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extraordinarily
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adv.格外地;极端地 | |
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ordination
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n.授任圣职 | |
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noted
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adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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disorder
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n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
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remarkable
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adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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pedantically
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concussions
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n.震荡( concussion的名词复数 );脑震荡;冲击;震动 | |
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vibration
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n.颤动,振动;摆动 | |
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cramp
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n.痉挛;[pl.](腹)绞痛;vt.限制,束缚 | |
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memorable
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adj.值得回忆的,难忘的,特别的,显著的 | |
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awakening
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n.觉醒,醒悟 adj.觉醒中的;唤醒的 | |
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mere
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adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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implementing
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v.实现( implement的现在分词 );执行;贯彻;使生效 | |
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motives
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n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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disposition
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n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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participation
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n.参与,参加,分享 | |
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withholding
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扣缴税款 | |
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supersession
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取代,废弃; 代谢 | |
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elite
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n.精英阶层;实力集团;adj.杰出的,卓越的 | |
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projection
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n.发射,计划,突出部分 | |
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oligarchy
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n.寡头政治 | |
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scrutiny
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n.详细检查,仔细观察 | |
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intervention
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n.介入,干涉,干预 | |
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authoritative
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adj.有权威的,可相信的;命令式的;官方的 | |
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acquit
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vt.宣判无罪;(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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retirement
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n.退休,退职 | |
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solidarity
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n.团结;休戚相关 | |
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distraction
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n.精神涣散,精神不集中,消遣,娱乐 | |
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traction
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n.牵引;附着摩擦力 | |
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gist
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n.要旨;梗概 | |
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distinctive
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adj.特别的,有特色的,与众不同的 | |
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acquiescent
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adj.默许的,默认的 | |
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animate
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v.赋于生命,鼓励;adj.有生命的,有生气的 | |
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encyclopaedia
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n.百科全书 | |
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scattered
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adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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sketch
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n.草图;梗概;素描;v.素描;概述 | |
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sketching
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n.草图 | |
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organisation
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n.组织,安排,团体,有机休 | |
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temerity
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n.鲁莽,冒失 | |
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impiety
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n.不敬;不孝 | |
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indictment
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n.起诉;诉状 | |
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inadequacy
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n.无法胜任,信心不足 | |
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negligence
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n.疏忽,玩忽,粗心大意 | |
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inadequate
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adj.(for,to)不充足的,不适当的 | |
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informative
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adj.提供资料的,增进知识的 | |
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modernise
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vt.使现代化 | |
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toil
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vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事 | |
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detailed
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adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的 | |
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encyclopaedias
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n.百科全书,大全( encyclopaedia的名词复数 ) | |
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undesirable
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adj.不受欢迎的,不良的,不合意的,讨厌的;n.不受欢迎的人,不良分子 | |
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uneven
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adj.不平坦的,不规则的,不均匀的 | |
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scribble
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v.潦草地书写,乱写,滥写;n.潦草的写法,潦草写成的东西,杂文 | |
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tainted
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adj.腐坏的;污染的;沾污的;感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 );使污染;败坏;被污染,腐坏,败坏 | |
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quotations
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n.引用( quotation的名词复数 );[商业]行情(报告);(货物或股票的)市价;时价 | |
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collated
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v.校对( collate的过去式和过去分词 );整理;核对;整理(文件或书等) | |
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replacement
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n.取代,替换,交换;替代品,代用品 | |
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deign
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v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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proprietors
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n.所有人,业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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perfectly
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adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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briefly
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adv.简单地,简短地 | |
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obstruction
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n.阻塞,堵塞;障碍物 | |
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obstructions
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n.障碍物( obstruction的名词复数 );阻碍物;阻碍;阻挠 | |
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economists
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n.经济学家,经济专家( economist的名词复数 ) | |
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defensive
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adj.防御的;防卫的;防守的 | |
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minor
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adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修 | |
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strenuous
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adj.奋发的,使劲的;紧张的;热烈的,狂热的 | |
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terminology
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n.术语;专有名词 | |
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obsessions
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n.使人痴迷的人(或物)( obsession的名词复数 );着魔;困扰 | |
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juxtaposition
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n.毗邻,并置,并列 | |
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apparently
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adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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deliberately
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adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地 | |
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flux
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n.流动;不断的改变 | |
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relegate
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v.使降级,流放,移交,委任 | |
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stereotype
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n.固定的形象,陈规,老套,旧框框 | |
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picturesque
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adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的 | |
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picturesquely
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intelligible
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adj.可理解的,明白易懂的,清楚的 | |
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amendments
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(法律、文件的)改动( amendment的名词复数 ); 修正案; 修改; (美国宪法的)修正案 | |
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controversy
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n.争论,辩论,争吵 | |
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swarms
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蜂群,一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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wholesome
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adj.适合;卫生的;有益健康的;显示身心健康的 | |
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amateurish
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n.业余爱好的,不熟练的 | |
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corruption
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n.腐败,堕落,贪污 | |
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redeemed
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adj. 可赎回的,可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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futility
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n.无用 | |
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valiant
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adj.勇敢的,英勇的;n.勇士,勇敢的人 | |
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memorandum
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n.备忘录,便笺 | |
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colossal
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adj.异常的,庞大的 | |
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implore
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vt.乞求,恳求,哀求 | |
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absurdity
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n.荒谬,愚蠢;谬论 | |
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141
belittle
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v.轻视,小看,贬低 | |
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142
supplementary
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adj.补充的,附加的 | |
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143
speculation
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n.思索,沉思;猜测;投机 | |
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144
promotion
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n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传 | |
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145
countenance
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n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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146
diffusion
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n.流布;普及;散漫 | |
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147
renderings
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n.(戏剧或乐曲的)演奏( rendering的名词复数 );扮演;表演;翻译作品 | |
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148
bibliography
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n.参考书目;(有关某一专题的)书目 | |
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149
evoke
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vt.唤起,引起,使人想起 | |
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150
perennial
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adj.终年的;长久的 | |
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151
premises
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n.建筑物,房屋 | |
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152
paraphrase
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vt.将…释义,改写;n.释义,意义 | |
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153
exponents
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n.倡导者( exponent的名词复数 );说明者;指数;能手 | |
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154
condensation
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n.压缩,浓缩;凝结的水珠 | |
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155
essentially
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adv.本质上,实质上,基本上 | |
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156
levy
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n.征收税或其他款项,征收额 | |
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157
preoccupied
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adj.全神贯注的,入神的;被抢先占有的;心事重重的v.占据(某人)思想,使对…全神贯注,使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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158
opposition
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n.反对,敌对 | |
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159
persistence
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n.坚持,持续,存留 | |
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160
adversaries
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n.对手,敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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161
anticipatory
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adj.预想的,预期的 | |
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162
cults
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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 | |
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163
stimulus
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n.刺激,刺激物,促进因素,引起兴奋的事物 | |
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164
proprietorship
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n.所有(权);所有权 | |
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165
averting
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防止,避免( avert的现在分词 ); 转移 | |
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166
patriotic
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adj.爱国的,有爱国心的 | |
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167
bias
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n.偏见,偏心,偏袒;vt.使有偏见 | |
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168
polyglot
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adj.通晓数种语言的;n.通晓多种语言的人 | |
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169
subtlety
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n.微妙,敏锐,精巧;微妙之处,细微的区别 | |
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170
contemplating
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深思,细想,仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 ); 注视,凝视; 考虑接受(发生某事的可能性); 深思熟虑,沉思,苦思冥想 | |
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171
immediate
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adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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172
antagonistic
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adj.敌对的 | |
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173
aloofness
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超然态度 | |
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174
savagely
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adv. 野蛮地,残酷地 | |
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175
favourable
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adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
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176
concessions
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n.(尤指由政府或雇主给予的)特许权( concession的名词复数 );承认;减价;(在某地的)特许经营权 | |
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177
bide
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v.忍耐;等候;住 | |
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178
rehabilitation
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n.康复,悔过自新,修复,复兴,复职,复位 | |
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179
adaptable
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adj.能适应的,适应性强的,可改编的 | |
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180
possessed
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adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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181
sketched
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v.草拟(sketch的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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182
drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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183
conspiracy
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n.阴谋,密谋,共谋 | |
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184
impulsiveness
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n.冲动 | |
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185
imperialism
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n.帝国主义,帝国主义政策 | |
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186
distresses
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n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 );痛苦;贫困;危险 | |
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187
interpretation
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n.解释,说明,描述;艺术处理 | |
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188
alleviation
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n. 减轻,缓和,解痛物 | |
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189
perilously
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adv.充满危险地,危机四伏地 | |
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190
poised
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a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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191
catastrophe
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n.大灾难,大祸 | |
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上一章:
Preface
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