THE HANNA PORTLAND Cement Company was founded in Reedsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1946, in time to catch the postwar explosion of new home construction. It immediately became the largest employer in the small town. The Hanna brothers ran it with iron fists, but they were fair to their workers, who were their neighbors as well. When business was good, the workers received generous wages. When things were slow, everybody tightened¹ their belts and got by. Layoffs² were rare and used only as a last resort. The workers were content and never unionized.

The Hannas plowed³ their profits back into the plant and equipment, and into the community. They built a civic⁴ center, a hospital, a theater, and the nicest high school football field in the area. Over the years, there was a temptation or two to sell out, to take serious cash and go play golf, but the Hanna brothers could never be sure that their factory would remain in Reedsburg. So they kept it.

After fifty years of sound management, the company employed four thousand of the eleven thousand residents of the town. Annual sales were $60 million, though profits had been elusive⁵. Stiff competition from abroad and a slowdown in new housing starts were putting pressure on the income statement. It was a very cyclical business, something the younger Hannas had tried unsuccessfully to remedy by diversifying⁶ into related products. The balance sheet currently had more debt than normal.

Marcus Hanna was the current CEO, though he never used that title. He was just the boss, the number-one honcho. His father was one of the founders⁷, and Marcus had spent his life at the plant. No less than eight other Hannas were in management, with several of the next generation out in the factory, sweeping⁸ floors and doing the same menial jobs their parents had been expected to do.

On the day the

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1 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。

2 layoffs
临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动
参考例句：
Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。 Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

3 plowed
v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过
参考例句：
They plowed nearly 100,000 acres of virgin moorland. 他们犁了将近10万英亩未开垦的高沼地。 来自辞典例句 He plowed the land and then sowed the seeds. 他先翻土，然后播种。 来自辞典例句

4 civic
adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的
参考例句：
I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。 The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

5 elusive
adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的
参考例句：
Try to catch the elusive charm of the original in translation.翻译时设法把握住原文中难以捉摸的风韵。 Interpol have searched all the corners of the earth for the elusive hijackers.国际刑警组织已在世界各地搜查在逃的飞机劫持者。

6 diversifying
v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的现在分词 )；进入新的商业领域
参考例句：
Some publishers are now diversifying into software. 有些出版社目前正兼营软件。 来自辞典例句 Silverlit is diversifying into new markets, such as Russia and Eastern Europe. Silverlit正在使他们的市场变得多样化，开发新的市场如俄罗斯和东欧国家。 来自互联网

7 founders
n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )
参考例句：
He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句 The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

8 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？

9 lawsuit
n.诉讼，控诉
参考例句：
They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。 He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

10 bullied
adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
My son is being bullied at school. 我儿子在学校里受欺负。 The boy bullied the small girl into giving him all her money. 那男孩威逼那个小女孩把所有的钱都给他。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 defective
adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的
参考例句：
The firm had received bad publicity over a defective product. 该公司因为一件次品而受到媒体攻击。 If the goods prove defective, the customer has the right to compensation. 如果货品证明有缺陷， 顾客有权索赔。

12 mortar
n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合
参考例句：
The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。 The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。

13 paraphrased
v.释义，意译( paraphrase的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Baxter paraphrased the contents of the press release. 巴克斯特解释了新闻稿的内容。 来自辞典例句 It is paraphrased from the original. 它是由原文改述的。 来自辞典例句

14 batch
n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量
参考例句：
The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。 I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

15 contractors
n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )
参考例句：
We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 purported
adj.传说的，谣传的v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
the scene of the purported crime 传闻中的罪案发生地点 The film purported to represent the lives of ordinary people. 这部影片声称旨在表现普通人的生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 coverage
n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖
参考例句：
There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。 This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

18 advertising
n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的
参考例句：
Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗? The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

19 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。

20 dime
n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角
参考例句：
A dime is a tenth of a dollar.一角银币是十分之一美元。 The liberty torch is on the back of the dime.自由火炬在一角硬币的反面。

21 brats
n.调皮捣蛋的孩子( brat的名词复数 )
参考例句：
I've been waiting to get my hands on you brats. 我等着干你们这些小毛头已经很久了。 来自电影对白 The charming family had turned into a parcel of brats. 那个可爱的家庭一下子变成了一窝臭小子。 来自互联网

22 obesity
n.肥胖，肥大
参考例句：
One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。 Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

23 intern
v.拘禁，软禁；n.实习生
参考例句：
I worked as an intern in that firm last summer.去年夏天我在那家商行实习。 The intern bandaged the cut as the nurse looked on.这位实习生在护士的照看下给病人包扎伤口。

24 buffalo
n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛
参考例句：
Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。 The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

25 supreme
adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的
参考例句：
It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。 He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

26 lucrative
adj.赚钱的，可获利的
参考例句：
He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。 It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

27 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。

28 carnival
n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演
参考例句：
I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。 Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

29 coaxed
v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱
参考例句：
She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. 她哄着那匹马让它再靠近了一点。 I coaxed my sister into taking me to the theatre. 我用好话哄姐姐带我去看戏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

30 leftovers
n.剩余物，残留物，剩菜
参考例句：
He can do miracles with a few kitchen leftovers.他能用厨房里几样剩饭做出一顿美餐。 She made supper from leftovers she had thrown together.她用吃剩的食物拼凑成一顿晚饭。

31 slit
n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂
参考例句：
The coat has been slit in two places.这件外衣有两处裂开了。 He began to slit open each envelope.他开始裁开每个信封。

32 pointed
adj.尖的，直截了当的
参考例句：
He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。 She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

33 aorta
n.主动脉
参考例句：
The abdominal aorta is normally smaller than the thoracic aorta.腹主动脉一般比胸主动脉小。 Put down that jelly doughnut and look carefully at this aorta.放下手头上的东西，认真观察这张大动脉图片。

34 aortic
adj.大动脉的
参考例句：
The arterial pulse pressure in aortic insufficiency is widened. 主动脉瓣闭锁不全时脉搏压变宽。 来自辞典例句 Valvular heart disease, usually aortic and mitral insufficiency, can complicate a variety of systemic diseases. 瓣膜性心脏病，以主动脉瓣及二尖瓣闭锁不全为最常见，可使各种全身性疾病变得复杂。 来自辞典例句

35 shuffling
adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式
参考例句：
Don't go shuffling along as if you were dead. 别像个死人似地拖着脚走。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹 Some one was shuffling by on the sidewalk. 外面的人行道上有人拖着脚走过。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

36 prospects
n.希望，前途(恒为复数)
参考例句：
There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。 They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

37 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。

38 gulping
v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住
参考例句：
She crawled onto the river bank and lay there gulping in air. 她爬上河岸，躺在那里喘着粗气。 来自《简明英汉词典》 And you'll even feel excited gulping down a glass. 你甚至可以感觉到激动下一杯。 来自互联网

39 sufficiently
adv.足够地，充分地
参考例句：
It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。 The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。

40 scenario
n.剧本，脚本；概要
参考例句：
But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。 This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

41 administrator
n.经营管理者，行政官员
参考例句：
The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。 He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

42 insufficient
adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的
参考例句：
There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。 In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。

43 jolted
（使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。 She was jolted out of her reverie as the door opened. 门一开就把她从幻想中惊醒。

44 statistically
ad.根据统计数据来看，从统计学的观点来看
参考例句：
The sample of building permits is larger and therefore, statistically satisfying. 建筑许可数的样本比较大，所以统计数据更令人满意。 The results of each test would have to be statistically independent. 每次试验的结果在统计上必须是独立的。

45 incensed
盛怒的
参考例句：
The decision incensed the workforce. 这个决定激怒了劳工大众。 They were incensed at the decision. 他们被这个决定激怒了。

46 whatsoever
adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么
参考例句：
There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。