With an hour to go before trading closed, Krane bottomed at $18 a share, then began a rather feeble rally, if it could be called that. It nibbled¹ around $20 a share for half an hour before finding some traction² at that price.

         To add to the catastrophe³, investors⁴ for some reason chose to exact revenge on the rest of Carl's empire. His Trudeau Group owned 45 percent of Krane and smaller chunks⁵ of six other public companies-three chemical companies, an oil exploration firm, an auto⁶ parts maker⁷, and a chain of hotels. Shortly after lunch, the common shares of the other six began slipping as well. It made no sense whatsoever⁸, but then the market often cannot be explained. Misery⁹ is contagious¹⁰ on Wall Street. Panic is common and rarely understood.

         Mr. Trudeau did not see the chain reaction coming, nor did Felix Bard¹¹, his savvy¹² financial wizard. As the minutes dragged by, they watched in horror as a billion dollars in market value slipped away from the Trudeau Group.

         Blame was rampant¹³

点击收听单词发音  

1 nibbled
v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬
参考例句：
She nibbled daintily at her cake. 她优雅地一点一点地吃着自己的蛋糕。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Several companies have nibbled at our offer. 若干公司表示对我们的出价有兴趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 traction
n.牵引；附着摩擦力
参考例句：
I'll show you how the traction is applied.我会让你看如何做这种牵引。 She's injured her back and is in traction for a month.她背部受伤，正在作一个月的牵引治疗。

3 catastrophe
n.大灾难，大祸
参考例句：
I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。 This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

4 investors
n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )
参考例句：
a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子 a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

5 chunks
厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 )； （某物）相当大的数量或部分
参考例句：
a tin of pineapple chunks 一罐菠萝块 Those chunks of meat are rather large—could you chop them up a bIt'smaller? 这些肉块相当大，还能再切小一点吗？

6 auto
n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车
参考例句：
Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。 The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

7 maker
n.制造者，制造商
参考例句：
He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。 A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

8 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。

9 misery
n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦
参考例句：
Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。 He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

10 contagious
adj.传染性的，有感染力的
参考例句：
It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。 He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

11 bard
n.吟游诗人
参考例句：
I'll use my bard song to help you concentrate!我会用我的吟游诗人歌曲帮你集中精神！ I find him,the wandering grey bard.我发现了正在徘徊的衰老游唱诗人。

12 savvy
v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的
参考例句：
She was a pretty savvy woman.她是个见过世面的漂亮女人。 Where's your savvy?你的常识到哪里去了？

13 rampant
adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的
参考例句：
Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。 You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

14 analysts
分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )
参考例句：
City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。 I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

15 analyst
n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家
参考例句：
What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？ The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

16 babbling
n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密
参考例句：
I could hear the sound of a babbling brook. 我听得见小溪潺潺的流水声。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Infamy was babbling around her in the public market-place. 在公共市场上，她周围泛滥着对她丑行的种种议论。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

17 brazenly
adv.厚颜无耻地；厚脸皮地肆无忌惮地
参考例句：
How dare he distort the facts so brazenly! 他怎么敢如此肆无忌惮地歪曲事实！ 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 "I don't know," he answered, looking her brazenly over. “我也不知道，"他厚颜无耻地打量着她。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

18 premiums
n.费用( premium的名词复数 )；保险费；额外费用；（商品定价、贷款利息等以外的）加价
参考例句：
He paid premiums on his life insurance last year. 他去年付了人寿保险费。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 Moves are afoot to increase car insurance premiums. 现正在酝酿提高汽车的保险费。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 recording
n.录音，记录
参考例句：
How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？ I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

20 buzzer
n.蜂鸣器；汽笛
参考例句：
The buzzer went off at eight o'clock.蜂鸣器在8点钟时响了。 Press the buzzer when you want to talk.你想讲话的时候就按蜂鸣器。

21 wreck
n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难
参考例句：
Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。 No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。

22 collapse
vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷
参考例句：
The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。 The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

23 computed
adj.[医]计算的，使用计算机的v.计算，估算( compute的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He computed that the project would take seven years to complete. 他估计这项计划要花七年才能完成。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Resolving kernels and standard errors can also be computed for each block. 还可以计算每个块体的分辨核和标准误差。 来自辞典例句

24 corporate
adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的
参考例句：
This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。 His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

25 bland
adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的
参考例句：
He eats bland food because of his stomach trouble.他因胃病而吃清淡的食物。 This soup is too bland for me.这汤我喝起来偏淡。

26 ass
n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人
参考例句：
He is not an ass as they make him.他不象大家猜想的那样笨。 An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden.驴能负重但不能超过它能力所负担的。

27 minions
n.奴颜婢膝的仆从( minion的名词复数 )；走狗；宠儿；受人崇拜者
参考例句：
She delegated the job to one of her minions. 她把这份工作委派给她的一个手下。 来自辞典例句 I have been a slave to the vicious-those whom I served were his minions. 我当过那帮坏人的奴隶，我伺候的都是他的爪牙。 来自辞典例句

28 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。

29 miscarriage
n.失败，未达到预期的结果；流产
参考例句：
The miscarriage of our plans was a great blow.计划的失败给我们以巨大的打击。 Women who smoke are more to have a miscarriage.女性吸烟者更容易流产。

30 epitome
n.典型，梗概
参考例句：
He is the epitome of goodness.他是善良的典范。 This handbook is a neat epitome of everyday hygiene.这本手册概括了日常卫生的要点。

31 foxholes
n.散兵坑( foxhole的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Man foxholes were hollowed out by the soldiers before fighting. 战斗打响之前，士兵们挖出许多个人掩体。 来自互联网 Digging foxholes can be effective providing your enemy does not have garrison clearing units. 在敌人没有清空建筑单位时，挖散兵坑也是有效的方式。 来自互联网

32 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。

33 scotch
n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的
参考例句：
Facts will eventually scotch these rumours.这种谣言在事实面前将不攻自破。 Italy was full of fine views and virtually empty of Scotch whiskey.意大利多的是美景，真正缺的是苏格兰威士忌。

34 jersey
n.运动衫
参考例句：
He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。 They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

35 retired
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
参考例句：
The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。 Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

36 counselor
n.顾问，法律顾问
参考例句：
The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。 Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

37 adviser
n.劝告者，顾问
参考例句：
They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。 Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

38 deferential
adj. 敬意的，恭敬的
参考例句：
They like five-star hotels and deferential treatment.他们喜欢五星级的宾馆和毕恭毕敬的接待。 I am deferential and respectful in the presence of artists.我一向恭敬、尊重艺术家。

39 pals
n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙
参考例句：
We've been pals for years. 我们是多年的哥们儿了。 CD 8 positive cells remarkably increased in PALS and RP(P CD8+细胞在再生脾PALS和RP内均明显增加(P 来自互联网

40 countless
adj.无数的，多得不计其数的
参考例句：
In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。 I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

41 consultant
n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生
参考例句：
He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。 Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

42 discreet
adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的
参考例句：
He is very discreet in giving his opinions.发表意见他十分慎重。 It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office.你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。

43 memo
n.照会，备忘录；便笺；通知书；规章
参考例句：
Do you want me to send the memo out?您要我把这份备忘录分发出去吗？ Can you type a memo for me?您能帮我打一份备忘录吗？

44 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。

45 memos
n.备忘录( memo的名词复数 )；（美）内部通知
参考例句：
Big shots get their dander up and memos start flying. 大人物们怒火中烧，备忘录四下乱飞。 来自辞典例句 There was a pile of mail, memos and telephone messages on his desk. 他的办公桌上堆满着信件、备忘录和电话通知。 来自辞典例句

46 scrawled
乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
I tried to read his directions, scrawled on a piece of paper. 我尽量弄明白他草草写在一片纸上的指示。 Tom scrawled on his slate, "Please take it -- I got more." 汤姆在他的写字板上写了几个字：“请你收下吧，我多得是哩。”

47 flipped
轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥
参考例句：
The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转，撞毁了。 The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。

48 certified
a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的
参考例句：
Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。 The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

49 prosecutor
n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人
参考例句：
The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。 The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

50 rotary
adj.(运动等)旋转的；轮转的；转动的
参考例句：
The central unit is a rotary drum.核心设备是一个旋转的滚筒。 A rotary table helps to optimize the beam incidence angle.一张旋转的桌子有助于将光线影响之方式角最佳化。

51 automobiles
n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )
参考例句：
When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

52 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。

53 arrears
n.到期未付之债，拖欠的款项；待做的工作
参考例句：
The payments on that car loan are in arrears by three months.购车贷款的偿付被拖欠了三个月。 They are urgent for payment of arrears of wages.他们催讨拖欠的工钱。

54 outfit
n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装
参考例句：
Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。 His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。

55 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。

56 mumbled
含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话，可我没太听清楚。 George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。

57 rumored
adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷
参考例句：
It is rumored that he cheats on his wife. 据传他对他老婆不忠。 来自《简明英汉词典》 It was rumored that the white officer had been a Swede. 传说那个白人军官是个瑞典人。 来自辞典例句

58 frustrated
adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧
参考例句：
It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。 The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

59 bankruptcy
n.破产；无偿付能力
参考例句：
You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。 His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

60 distraction
n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐
参考例句：
Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。 Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

61 versus
prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下
参考例句：
The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。 The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

62 hatchet
n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀
参考例句：
I shall have to take a hatchet to that stump.我得用一把短柄斧来劈这树桩。 Do not remove a fly from your friend's forehead with a hatchet.别用斧头拍打朋友额头上的苍蝇。

63 dismantled
拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消
参考例句：
The plant was dismantled of all its equipment and furniture. 这家工厂的设备和家具全被拆除了。 The Japanese empire was quickly dismantled. 日本帝国很快被打垮了。

64 conglomerates
n.（多种经营的）联合大企业( conglomerate的名词复数 )；砾岩；合成物；组合物
参考例句：
At the surface, radioactivity of the conglomerates is locally as high as 30 X background. 在地表，砾岩的局部地段的放射性高达30倍本底值。 来自辞典例句 The conglomerates failed to understand that books could not be sold like soap. 这些联合大企业不懂卖书不象卖肥皂那样。 来自辞典例句

65 celebrity
n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望
参考例句：
Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。 He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

66 permanently
adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地
参考例句：
The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。 The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

67 brass
n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器
参考例句：
Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。 Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。

68 briefcase
n.手提箱，公事皮包
参考例句：
He packed a briefcase with what might be required.他把所有可能需要的东西都装进公文包。 He requested the old man to look after the briefcase.他请求那位老人照看这个公事包。

69 dreaded
adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句：
The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。 He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》

70 stunning
adj.极好的；使人晕倒的
参考例句：
His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。 The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

71 gushed
v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话
参考例句：
Oil gushed from the well. 石油从井口喷了出来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 Clear water gushed into the irrigational channel. 清澈的水涌进了灌溉渠道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

72 flopping
n.贬调v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的现在分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅
参考例句：
The fish are still flopping about. 鱼还在扑腾。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 What do you mean by flopping yourself down and praying agin me?' 咚一声跪下地来咒我，你这是什么意思” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记