The first of September came, and with it came the opening of the fall schools. On the first day, when Andy, at work in the yard, saw the boys and the girls go by with their books, he felt a
longing1 to go, too. He knew very well that his education had been very much neglected, and that he knew less of books than a boy of his age ought to do.
"I wish I could go to school this term," he said to himself; "but it's no use wishin'. Mother needs my wages, and I must keep on workin'."
The same thought had come to the Misses Grant. Andy had been in their employ now for six weeks, and by his unfailing good humor and readiness to oblige, had won their favor. They felt interested in his progress, and, at the same moment that the thought referred to passed though Andy's mind, Miss Priscilla said to her sister:
"The fall school begins to-day. There's Godfrey Preston just passed with some books under his arm."
"Just so."
"I suppose Andrew would like to be going to school with other boys of his age."
"Just so."
"Don't you think we could spare him to go half the day?"
"There isn't so much work to do now as there was in the summer, and he could do his chores early in the morning. He could go to school in the forenoon and work in the afternoon."
"Just so, Priscilla. Shall we give him less wages?"
"No, I think not. He needs the money to give his mother."
"Call him in and tell him," suggested Sophia.
"It will do at dinner time."
"Just so."
When the dinner was over, and Andy rose from the table, Miss Priscilla introduced the subject.
"Are you a good scholar, Andrew?"
"Did you ever study much?"
"No, ma'am, I've had to work ever since I was so high," indicating a point about two feet from the ground.
"Dear me," said Sophia, "you must have been very small."
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收听单词发音
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1
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 |
参考例句： |
- Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
- His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。
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2
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 |
参考例句： |
- Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老，动作仍很敏捷。
- He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。
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3
mighty
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| 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。
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4
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 |
参考例句： |
- Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
- A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。
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5
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 |
参考例句： |
- He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩，胜过最好的演说家。
- The orator gestured vigorously while speaking.这位演讲者讲话时用力地做手势。
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6
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 |
参考例句： |
- He made an allusion to a secret plan in his speech.在讲话中他暗示有一项秘密计划。
- She made no allusion to the incident.她没有提及那个事件。
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7
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 |
参考例句： |
- He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
- He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。
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8
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 |
参考例句： |
- I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
- He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
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9
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 |
参考例句： |
- She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
- During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。
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10
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 |
参考例句： |
- He saw her as his main adversary within the company.他将她视为公司中主要的对手。
- They will do anything to undermine their adversary's reputation.他们会不择手段地去损害对手的名誉。
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 |
参考例句： |
- He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
- You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻，但很多人喜欢这种音乐。
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toady
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| v.奉承；n.谄媚者，马屁精 |
参考例句： |
- He flung it in my teeth that I was a toady.他责备我是个马屁精。
- Arrogance has no defense against a toady.傲慢防不了谄媚者。
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 |
参考例句： |
- She carries herself haughtily. 她举止傲慢。
- Haughtily, he stalked out onto the second floor where I was standing. 他傲然跨出电梯，走到二楼，我刚好站在那儿。
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 |
参考例句： |
- A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
- The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 |
参考例句： |
- He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
- The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。
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aspired
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- She aspired to a scientific career. 她有志于科学事业。
- Britain,France,the United States and Japan all aspired to hegemony after the end of World War I. 第一次世界大战后，英、法、美、日都想争夺霸权。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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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 |
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。
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 |
参考例句： |
- He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
- He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。
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consequential
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| adj.作为结果的，间接的；重要的 |
参考例句： |
- She was injured and suffered a consequential loss of earnings.她受了伤因而收入受损。
- This new transformation is at least as consequential as that one was.这一新的转变至少和那次一样重要。
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 |
参考例句： |
- He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
- We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） |
参考例句： |
- The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
- Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。
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sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 |
参考例句： |
- 'What a surprise!' Caroline murmured sarcastically.“太神奇了!”卡罗琳轻声挖苦道。
- Pierce mocked her and bowed sarcastically. 皮尔斯嘲笑她，讽刺地鞠了一躬。
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 |
参考例句： |
- Would you condescend to accompany me?你肯屈尊陪我吗？
- He did not condescend to answer.He turned his back on me.他不愿屈尊回答我的问题。他不理睬我。
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25
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) |
参考例句： |
- His politeness smacks of condescension. 他的客气带有屈尊俯就的意味。
- Despite its condescension toward the Bennet family, the letter begins to allay Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy. 尽管这封信对班纳特家的态度很高傲，但它开始消除伊丽莎白对达西的偏见。
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 |
参考例句： |
- We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
- He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。
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monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 |
参考例句： |
- The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
- The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。
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