When Ben got out into the street, he set himself to consider where he could apply for employment. As far as he knew, he had inquired at every store in Milltown if a boy was wanted, only to be answered in the negative, sometimes
kindly1, other times roughly. At the factory, too, he had
ascertained2 that there was no
immediate3 prospect4 of his being taken on again.
"It's a hard case," thought Ben, "when a fellow wants to work, and needs the money, and can find no opening anywhere."
It was a hard case; but Ben was by no means the only one so
situated5. It may be said of him, at all events, that he deserved to succeed, for he left no stone unturned to
procure6 employment.
"Perhaps," he thought, "I can get a small job to do somewhere. It would be better to earn a trifle than to be idle."
As this thought passed through Ben's mind, he glanced into Deacon Sawyer's yard. The deacon was a near neighbor of his mother, and was reputed rich, though he lived in an old-fashioned house, furnished in the plain manner of forty years back. It was said that probably not fifty dollars' worth of furniture had come into the house since the deacon's marriage, two-and-forty years previous. Perhaps his tastes were plain; but the uncharitable said that he was too fond of his money to part with it.
A couple of loads of wood were just being deposited in the deacon's yard. They were brought by a
tenant7 of his, who paid a part of his rent in that way.
When Ben saw the wood, a bright thought came to him.
"Perhaps I can get a chance to saw and split that wood," he said to himself. "The deacon doesn't keep a man, and he is too old to do it himself."
As Ben did not mean to let any chance slip, he instantly entered the yard by the gate, and, walking up to the front door, rang the bell. The bell had only been in place for a year. The deacon had been
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收听单词发音
1
kindly
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adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 |
参考例句: |
- Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
- A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
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2
ascertained
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v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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3
immediate
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adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 |
参考例句: |
- His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
- We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
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4
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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5
situated
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adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 |
参考例句: |
- The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
- She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
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6
procure
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vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条 |
参考例句: |
- Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗?
- I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。
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7
tenant
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n.承租人;房客;佃户;v.租借,租用 |
参考例句: |
- The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent.那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
- The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building.租户负责对房屋的所有修理。
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8
contented
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adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 |
参考例句: |
- He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
- The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
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9
spoke
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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。
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10
subscribed
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v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 );签署,题词;订阅;同意 |
参考例句: |
- It is not a theory that is commonly subscribed to. 一般人并不赞成这个理论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I subscribed my name to the document. 我在文件上签了字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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11
subscribe
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vi.(to)订阅,订购;同意;vt.捐助,赞助 |
参考例句: |
- I heartily subscribe to that sentiment.我十分赞同那个观点。
- The magazine is trying to get more readers to subscribe.该杂志正大力发展新订户。
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12
extravagant
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adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的 |
参考例句: |
- They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
- He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。
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13
impaired
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adj.受损的;出毛病的;有(身体或智力)缺陷的v.损害,削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Much reading has impaired his vision. 大量读书损害了他的视力。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- His hearing is somewhat impaired. 他的听觉已受到一定程度的损害。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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14
chuckling
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轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- I could hear him chuckling to himself as he read his book. 他看书时,我能听见他的轻声发笑。
- He couldn't help chuckling aloud. 他忍不住的笑了出来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
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15
glimmering
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n.微光,隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光,发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- I got some glimmering of what he was driving at. 他这么说是什么意思,我有点明白了。 来自辞典例句
- Now that darkness was falling, only their silhouettes were outlined against the faintly glimmering sky. 这时节两山只剩余一抹深黑,赖天空微明为画出一个轮廓。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
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16
peremptorily
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adv.紧急地,不容分说地,专横地 |
参考例句: |
- She peremptorily rejected the request. 她断然拒绝了请求。
- Their propaganda was peremptorily switched to an anti-Western line. 他们的宣传断然地转而持反对西方的路线。 来自辞典例句
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17
judiciously
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adv.明断地,明智而审慎地 |
参考例句: |
- Let's use these intelligence tests judiciously. 让我们好好利用这些智力测试题吧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- His ideas were quaint and fantastic. She brought him judiciously to earth. 他的看法荒廖古怪,她颇有见识地劝他面对现实。 来自辞典例句
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18
niggardly
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adj.吝啬的,很少的 |
参考例句: |
- Forced by hunger,he worked for the most niggardly pay.为饥饿所迫,他为极少的工资而工作。
- He is niggardly with his money.他对钱很吝啬。
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19
industrious
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adj.勤劳的,刻苦的,奋发的 |
参考例句: |
- If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。
- She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。
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20
astonishment
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n.惊奇,惊异 |
参考例句: |
- They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
- I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
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