It was five minutes of nine when Allen Barclay, accompanied by Walter, approached the schoolhouse. It was a plain wooden building of two stories, painted white. Beside it was a good-sized playground, on which from a dozen to twenty boys were engaged in a game of ball. As Walter saw the ball flying across the field,
impelled1 by a hard knock from the bat, he felt a strong impulse to join in the game. When a student at the Essex Institute he had played ball a good deal, and was considered quite a superior player. But since his departure he had not joined in a game. Now as he witnessed the game of the Portville boys, he wished himself again a scholar, and a sharer in their fun.
“Do you ever play ball, Mr. Barclay?” he asked.
“No; the physician has forbidden all violent exercise as likely injurious to my health. It increases my cough. For that matter, however, I don’t think I should play if I were able. I tried it sometimes as a boy, but I never succeeded very well. Do you play?”
“I used to play
considerably2, but for several months I have not touched a bat.”
“There’s the master,” called out one of the players.
“Give me another ball,” said the boy at the bat. “The bell won’t ring just yet.”
So the game continued.
Among those who were watching the game, Walter noticed John Wall. John was more carefully dressed than any of the other boys, many of whom had taken off their coats, and were playing in their shirt sleeves.
“That is John Wall, isn’t it?” asked Walter. “Does he play ball?”
“Not often. He isn’t much of a player. Besides, he doesn’t like to run the risk of soiling his clothes. He is something of a dandy.”
“So I should think. He wore kid gloves the other day in the rain.”
“He is partial to kid gloves. He thinks they distinguish him as the son of a gentleman from his more
plebeian3 companions. But come in, Mr. Howard.”
Walter followed the teacher into the schoolroom. It was about forty feet by fifty in size, and well supplied with desks. The girls sat upon one side, the boys on the other. Some were already in their seats, while others were grouped near the teacher’s desk. They separated on the entrance of Allen Barclay, and repaired to their seats, not without curious glances at Walter.
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收听单词发音
1
impelled
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v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
- I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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2
considerably
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adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 |
参考例句: |
- The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
- The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
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3
plebeian
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adj.粗俗的;平民的;n.平民;庶民 |
参考例句: |
- He is a philosophy professor with a cockney accent and an alarmingly plebeian manner.他是个有一口伦敦土腔、举止粗俗不堪的哲学教授。
- He spent all day playing rackets on the beach,a plebeian sport if there ever was one.他一整天都在海滩玩壁球,再没有比这更不入流的运动了。
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4
drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 |
参考例句: |
- All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
- Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
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5
sonorous
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adj.响亮的,回响的;adv.圆润低沉地;感人地;n.感人,堂皇 |
参考例句: |
- The sonorous voice of the speaker echoed round the room.那位演讲人洪亮的声音在室内回荡。
- He has a deep sonorous voice.他的声音深沉而洪亮。
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6
attentively
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adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神 |
参考例句: |
- She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时,她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着,把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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7
remarkably
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ad.不同寻常地,相当地 |
参考例句: |
- I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
- He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
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8
deficient
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adj.不足的,不充份的,有缺陷的 |
参考例句: |
- The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
- I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。
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9
enlisted
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adj.应募入伍的v.(使)入伍, (使)参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 );获得(帮助或支持) |
参考例句: |
- enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵
- He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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10
acquit
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vt.宣判无罪;(oneself)使(自己)表现出 |
参考例句: |
- That fact decided the judge to acquit him.那个事实使法官判他无罪。
- They always acquit themselves of their duty very well.他们总是很好地履行自己的职责。
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11
pompously
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adv.傲慢地,盛大壮观地;大模大样 |
参考例句: |
- He pompously described his achievements. 他很夸耀地描述了自己所取得的成绩。 来自互联网
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12
condescended
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屈尊,俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 ); 故意表示和蔼可亲 |
参考例句: |
- We had to wait almost an hour before he condescended to see us. 我们等了几乎一小时他才屈尊大驾来见我们。
- The king condescended to take advice from his servants. 国王屈驾向仆人征求意见。
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13
rumors
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n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷 |
参考例句: |
- Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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14
actively
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adv.积极地,勤奋地 |
参考例句: |
- During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
- We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。
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15
specifying
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v.指定( specify的现在分词 );详述;提出…的条件;使具有特性 |
参考例句: |
- When we describe what the action will affect, we are specifying the noun of the sentence. 当描述动作会影响到什么时,我们指定组成句子的名词。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
- Procurement section only lists opportunistic infection drugs without specifying which drugs. 采购部分只说明有治疗机会性感染的药物,但并没有说明是什么药物。 来自互联网
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16
literally
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adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 |
参考例句: |
- He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
- Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候,她不走到真正要昏厥了,决不肯坐下来。
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17
thoroughly
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adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 |
参考例句: |
- The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
- The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
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18
acquitted
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宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 ); 使(自己)作出某种表现 |
参考例句: |
- The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
- Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。
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19
mortified
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v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 );伤害(人的感情);克制;抑制(肉体、情感等) |
参考例句: |
- She was mortified to realize he had heard every word she said. 她意识到自己的每句话都被他听到了,直羞得无地自容。
- The knowledge of future evils mortified the present felicities. 对未来苦难的了解压抑了目前的喜悦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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20
promptly
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adv.及时地,敏捷地 |
参考例句: |
- He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
- She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
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