On the sidewalk in front of the "Times" office, facing Printing-House Square, stood a boy of fifteen, with a pile of morning papers under his arm.
"'
Herald1,' 'Times,' 'Tribune,' 'World'!" he vociferated, with a quick glance at each passer-by.
There were plenty of newsboys near by, but this boy was
distinguished2 by his quick, alert movements, and his evident capacity for business. He could tell by a man's looks whether he wanted a paper, and oftentimes a shrewd observation enabled him to judge which of the great morning dailies would be likely to suit the taste of the individual he addressed.
"Here's the 'Tribune', sir," he said to a tall, thin man, with a carpet-bag and spectacles, who had the appearance of a country clergyman. "Here's the 'Tribune,'—best paper in the city."
"I'm glad you think so, my lad. You may give me one. It's a good sign when a young lad like you shows that he has already formed sound political opinions."
"That's so," said the newsboy.
"I suppose you've seen Horace Greeley?"
"In course, sir, I see him most every day. He's a brick!"
"A what?" inquired the clergyman, somewhat shocked.
"A brick!"
"My lad, you should not use such a term in speaking of one of the greatest thinkers of the times."
"That's what I mean, sir; only brick's the word we newsboys use."
"It's a low word, my lad; I hope you'll change it. Can you direct me to French's Hotel?"
"Yes, sir; there it is, just at the corner of Frankfort Street."
"Thank you. I live in the country, and am not very well acquainted with New York."
"I thought so."
"Indeed! What made you think so?" asked the clergyman, with a glance of
inquiry3,
unaware4 that his country air caused him to differ from the
denizens5 of the city.
"By your carpet-bag," said the boy, not caring to mention any other reason.
"What's your name, my lad?"
"Rough and Ready, sir."
"What name did you say?" asked the clergyman, thinking he had not heard aright.
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收听单词发音
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1
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 |
参考例句： |
- In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。
- Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。
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2
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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3
inquiry
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| 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。
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4
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 |
参考例句： |
- They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
- I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。
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5
denizens
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| n.居民，住户( denizen的名词复数 ) |
参考例句： |
- polar bears, denizens of the frozen north 北极熊，在冰天雪地的北方生活的动物
- At length these denizens of the swamps disappeared in their turn. 到了后来，连这些沼泽国的居民们也不见了。 来自辞典例句
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6
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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7
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 |
参考例句： |
- Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
- He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
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9
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 |
参考例句： |
- Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
- The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。
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10
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 |
参考例句： |
- A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
- Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
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11
aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) |
参考例句： |
- He felt aggrieved at not being chosen for the team. 他因没被选到队里感到愤愤不平。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She is the aggrieved person whose fiance&1& did not show up for their wedding. 她很委屈，她的未婚夫未出现在他们的婚礼上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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12
despondently
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| adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地 |
参考例句： |
- It had come to that, he reflected despondently. 事情已经到了这个地步了，他沉思着，感到心灰意懒。 来自辞典例句
- He shook his head despondently. 他沮丧地摇摇头。 来自辞典例句
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13
heralds
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| n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要） |
参考例句： |
- The song of birds heralds the approach of spring. 百鸟齐鸣报春到。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- The wind sweeping through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountain. 山雨欲来风满楼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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14
prospect
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| 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。
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15
miraculously
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| ad.奇迹般地 |
参考例句： |
- He had been miraculously saved from almost certain death. 他奇迹般地从死亡线上获救。
- A schoolboy miraculously survived a 25 000-volt electric shock. 一名男学生在遭受2.5 万伏的电击后奇迹般地活了下来。
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16
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 |
参考例句： |
- She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
- These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
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17
perverseness
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| n. 乖张, 倔强, 顽固 |
参考例句： |
- A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness spirit. 温良的舌是生命树，乖谬的嘴使人心碎。
- A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is spirit. 说安慰话的舌头是生命树；奸恶的舌头使人心碎。
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18
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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19
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
- He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。
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20
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 |
参考例句： |
- Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
- I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。
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21
taint
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| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 |
参考例句： |
- Everything possible should be done to free them from the economic taint.应尽可能把他们从经济的腐蚀中解脱出来。
- Moral taint has spread among young people.道德的败坏在年轻人之间蔓延。
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22
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 |
参考例句： |
- They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
- Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
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23
whacks
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| n.重击声( whack的名词复数 )；不正常；有毛病v.重击，使劲打( whack的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句： |
- Lizzie Borden took an axe, Hit her father forty whacks. 丽兹玻顿拿起斧头，砍了爸爸四十下。 来自互联网
- Grizzly bear paw whacks camera out of position and jettisons it downstream. 大灰熊的爪子把摄像机移出了固定的位置并且把它扔到了下游。 来自互联网
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24
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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25
needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 |
参考例句： |
- Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
- They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。
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26
earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 |
参考例句： |
- That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
- Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。
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27
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 |
参考例句： |
- It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。
- It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。
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28
speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 |
参考例句： |
- Your speculations were all quite close to the truth. 你的揣测都很接近于事实。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- This possibility gives rise to interesting speculations. 这种可能性引起了有趣的推测。 来自《用法词典》
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29
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 |
参考例句： |
- I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
- The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。
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30
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） |
参考例句： |
- The girl is of a confiding nature. 这女孩具有轻信别人的性格。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- Celia, though confiding her opinion only to Andrew, disagreed. 西莉亚却不这么看，尽管她只向安德鲁吐露过。 来自辞典例句
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prospects
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| 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。
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