The next afternoon three members of the Large Family sat in the Indian gentleman's library, doing their best to cheer him up. They had been allowed to come in to perform this office because he had
specially1 invited them. He had been living in a state of
suspense2 for some time, and today he was waiting for a certain event very anxiously. This event was the return of Mr. Carmichael from Moscow. His stay there had been prolonged from week to week. On his first arrival there, he had not been able satisfactorily to trace the family he had gone in search of. When he felt at last sure that he had found them and had gone to their house, he had been told that they were absent on a journey. His efforts to reach them had been unavailing, so he had
decided3 to remain in Moscow until their return. Mr. Carrisford sat in his reclining chair, and Janet sat on the floor beside him. He was very fond of Janet. Nora had found a footstool, and Donald was astride the tiger's head which
ornamented4 the rug made of the animal's skin. It must be owned that he was riding it rather violently.
"Don't chirrup so loud, Donald," Janet said. "When you come to cheer an ill person up you don't cheer him up at the top of your voice. Perhaps cheering up is too loud, Mr. Carrisford?" turning to the Indian gentleman.
But he only patted her shoulder.
"No, it isn't," he answered. "And it keeps me from thinking too much."
"I'm going to be quiet," Donald shouted. "We'll all be as quiet as mice."
"Mice don't make a noise like that," said Janet.
Donald made a
bridle5 of his handkerchief and bounced up and down on the tiger's head.
"A whole lot of mice might," he said cheerfully. "A thousand mice might."
"I don't believe fifty thousand mice would," said Janet,
severely6; "and we have to be as quiet as one mouse."
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收听单词发音
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1
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 |
参考例句： |
- They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
- The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。
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2
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 |
参考例句： |
- The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
- The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。
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3
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 |
参考例句： |
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
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4
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- The desk was ornamented with many carvings. 这桌子装饰有很多雕刻物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She ornamented her dress with lace. 她用花边装饰衣服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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5
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 |
参考例句： |
- He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
- I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。
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6
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 |
参考例句： |
- He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
- He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
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7
wreck
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| 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。
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8
ram
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| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 |
参考例句： |
- 512k RAM is recommended and 640k RAM is preferred.推荐配置为512K内存，640K内存则更佳。
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9
rosier
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| Rosieresite |
参考例句： |
- Rosier for an instant forgot the delicacy of his position. 罗齐尔一时间忘记了他的微妙处境。
- A meeting had immediately taken place between the Countess and Mr. Rosier. 伯爵夫人和罗齐尔先生已经搭讪上了。
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10
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 |
参考例句： |
- He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
- A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。
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11
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 |
参考例句： |
- It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
- Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
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12
unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 |
参考例句： |
- It is unbearable to be always on thorns.老是处于焦虑不安的情况中是受不了的。
- The more he thought of it the more unbearable it became.他越想越觉得无法忍受。
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13
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 |
参考例句： |
- The wind whistled through the twigs and fretted the occasional, dirty-looking crocuses. 寒风穿过枯枝，有时把发脏的藏红花吹刮跑了。 来自英汉文学
- The lady's fame for hitting the mark fretted him. 这位太太看问题深刻的名声在折磨着他。
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14
whatsoever
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| 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。
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15
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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16
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 |
参考例句： |
- The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
- I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
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attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 |
参考例句： |
- Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。
- What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理？
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18
drudge
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| n.劳碌的人；v.做苦工，操劳 |
参考例句： |
- I feel like a real drudge--I've done nothing but clean all day!我觉得自己像个做苦工的--整天都在做清洁工作！
- I'm a poor,miserable,forlorn drudge;I shall only drag you down with me.我是一个贫穷，倒运，走投无路的苦力，只会拖累你。
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19
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 |
参考例句： |
- They forgot all their fears and all their miseries in an instant. 他们马上忘记了一切恐惧和痛苦。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- I'm suffering the miseries of unemployment. 我正为失业而痛苦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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20
agile
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| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 |
参考例句： |
- She is such an agile dancer!她跳起舞来是那么灵巧！
- An acrobat has to be agile.杂技演员必须身手敏捷。
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21
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾
adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的
动词chatter的现在分词形式 |
参考例句： |
- The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
- I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。
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22
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 |
参考例句： |
- A hawk hovered over the hill. 一只鹰在小山的上空翱翔。
- A hawk hovered in the blue sky. 一只老鹰在蓝色的天空中翱翔。
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23
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 |
参考例句： |
- She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
- Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？
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24
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 |
参考例句： |
- Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
- This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。
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25
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 |
参考例句： |
- She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
- People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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26
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 |
参考例句： |
- He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
- "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”
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