Lesson 1
第一课
alert
a. 警觉的 vt. 向…报警；使意识到 n. 警戒；警报
Keeping alert in the fire is important for people's finding the way out.
发生火警时，保持机警对于人们逃生来讲很重要。
fatal
a. 致命的；重大的
"To be or not to be" was the fatal decision for Hamlet.
对于哈姆雷特来说，"是活下去，还是选择死亡"是一个重大的决定。
behalf
n. 利益，方面
Mother Teresa's efforts on behalf of Calcutta's poor eventually brought her the Nobel Peace Prize.
德兰修女为加尔各答穷人所做的一切努力最终为她赢得了诺贝尔和平奖。
decline
n./v. 下降；衰退；谢绝
Cinderella had to decline the prince's invitation and returned home before 12 o'clock at night.
灰姑娘不得不谢绝王子，在晚上12点之前赶回家。
collapse
vi./n. 倒塌；崩溃
Numerous houses collapsed in the Wenchuan Earthquake in 2008.
2008年，无数的房屋在汶川地震中倒塌。
negative
a. 否定的；消极的；负的 n. 底片；负数
I didn't do well in the interview with Uni-Liver and I am afraid of getting a negative response.
我到联合利华公司的面试不理想，现在真害怕收到否定的答复。
obligation
n. 义务，责任
Supporting elderly parents is every adult's obligation.
赡养上年纪的父母是每个成年人的义务。
hostile
a. 敌意的；敌方的
It was very strange how hostile she was to all the beautiful girls approaching her husband.
很奇怪，她对所有接近她丈夫的漂亮女孩都心存敌意。
inferior
a. 劣等的；下级的 n. 下级
No inferior products should be allowed to pass.
决不允许放过任何次品。
formal
a. 正式的；形式上的
Business letters are usually formal, but we write in an informal way to family members or friends.
商业信件通常都是讲究格式的，但我们给家人或朋友写信就比较随便了。
launch
vt. 发动；（into, in）使开始从事；使下水；发射 n. 发射，投产
Early Bird, the world's first commercial communications satellite, was launched from Cape Kennedy in Florida in 1965.
世界上第一个商用通信卫星—"晨鸟"卫星于1965年在（美国）佛罗里达州的肯尼迪角发射。
identical
a.（to, with）相同的
My opinions are not always identical with my parents'.
我的意见并不总是和父母的意见相同。
mechanism
n. 机械装置；机制；办法
The watch made in Switzerland works well. The mechanisms must be very special.
这块瑞士产的表走得很好，它的装置一定很特别。
internal
a. 内的；国内的；内心的
A theory has its internal logic.
每种理论都有其内在逻辑性。
elaborate
a. 精心计划的；复杂的 vi. 详述 vt. 详述；详细制订
Just tell me the plain facts. No need to elaborate.
告诉我简单的事实就行了，不要详细说明。
expense
n. 花费；(pl.)开支
House repairs, holidays and other expenses reduced her bank balance to almost nothing.
修房子、度假和其他开销使她在银行的存款所剩无几。
bulk
n. （巨大）物体；主体；（大）量 vi. 变得越来越大（或重要） vt. 使更大（或更厚）
The bulk of the chickens had to be killed because of the bird flu virus.
由于禽流感病毒，大部分的鸡都不得不被宰杀掉。
arbitrary
a. 任意的；专断的
The diet for people who are on a diet imposes overall calorie limits, but daily menus are arbitrary.
减肥食谱规定了总的热量限制，但每天的菜单可据喜好自定。
competition
n. 竞争，比赛
The competition between Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola has been on for a long time.
可口可乐与百事可乐的竞争由来已久。
chip
n. 碎片；(常pl.)炸土豆条；集成电路片；瑕疵；筹码 vt. 削下
Friends are chocolate chips in the cookie of life.
在生活中，朋友就像曲奇饼上的巧克力碎片。
stock
n. 库存；股票；世系；汤汁；(总称)家畜 v. 储备 a. 常备的
The New York stock exchange crashed in 1929.
纽约股票交易所于1929年大崩溃。
panic
n. 惊慌 v. （使）恐慌
SARS or atypical pneumonia once caused a great panic among people.
非典型性肺炎曾引起人们极大的恐慌。
peer
n. 同龄人；贵族 vt. 仔细看
To lessen peer (group) pressure, many schools require their students to wear uniforms.
为减少来自同龄群体的压力，许多学校要求学生们穿校服。
rarely
ad. 不常，难得
Rarely is progress made in giant leaps.
很少有一步登天的事情。
abandon
vt. 放弃；抛弃
The heartless man abandoned his disabled wife and ran away with all their money.
那个没良心的男人抛弃了残疾的妻子，还卷走了两人所有的钱。
complain
vi. 抱怨；投诉
Don't always complain; remember this: no pains, no gains.
[别总是抱怨个不停，记住：一分耕耘，一分收获。
acknowledge
vt. 承认；确认；报偿
Michael Jordan was acknowledged as the best basketball player in the NBA.
迈克尔·乔丹是公认的前NBA最佳篮球选手。
function
n. 功能；职能；重大聚会；函数 vi. 运行
An old machine won't function properly if you don't oil it regularly.
旧机器如果不经常上油是不能正常运转的。
circuit
n. 电路；环行
I run two circuits of the track every morning in order to pass the 800-meter running test.
为了800米考试过关，我每天早晨沿跑道跑两圈。
scandal
n. 丑事；流言飞语；反感
The former president of the Philippines took tax money for his own use. It was such a scandal.
菲律宾前总统贪污税款，可谓一大丑闻。
identify
vt. 认出；（with）把…等同于 vi. （with）认同
Do you identify beauty with wisdom?
你认为美貌与智慧能相等同吗？
conventional
a. 常规的；符合习俗的
It is said that Englishmen like to make a few conventional remarks about the weather when they start a conversation.
据说英国人在开始谈话时喜欢说几句关于天气的客套话。
destruction
n. 破坏，消灭
The fire caused great destruction to the Da Xing'an Ling Mountains.
大火对大兴安岭造成了极大的破坏。
emergency
n. 紧急情况，非常时刻
It's an emergency!
十万火急!
fantasy
n. 想象，幻想；想象的产物
Most of the fairy tales are fantasies.
大部分的神话故事都是幻想的产物。
option
n. 选择；选择权；（供）选择的事物（或人）
Sometimes, too many options are no better than no options.
有时候，选择太多跟没有选择一样糟糕。
notion
n. 概念；想法
The notion that the Earth is round has been widely accepted since Magellan accomplished the first voyage around the world.
自从麦哲伦首次完成环球旅行以来，关于地球是圆的概念已广泛为人们所接受。
jail/gaol
n. 监狱 vt. 拘留
Has it ever occurred to you that jails were first invented for debtors?
你有没有想过，监狱最初是为了关押欠债人而发明的？
bump
vi. （against, into）碰撞；颠簸着前进 n. 碰撞；（碰撞造成的）肿块；隆起物
"You can chase me, but don't kiss me" is a sign put on the rear of some cars in order to remind drivers to keep a distance from the car ahead and not to bump into its rear.
"你可以追我，但不要吻我"是贴在一些汽车后部的指示牌，为的是提醒司机们保持车距，以防车尾碰撞。
heave
vt. 举起；扔；发出（叹息、呻吟等）vi. （at, on）举起；起伏；呕吐 n. 举起
The sailors all heaved on the rope in the storm.
暴风雨中，水手们都用力拽住缆绳。
sympathize/-ise
vi. 同情；赞同
I sympathize with you; I've had a similar unhappy experience myself.
我很同情你，我自己也有过类似的不幸遭遇。
rare
a. 稀有的；珍奇的；稀薄的；煎得嫩的
The panda is a rare animal in the world.
熊猫是世界上一种稀有动物。
reflection
n. 映像；反射；反映；非议；深思
The dog barked at his reflection in the river.
那条狗对着小河中自己的倒影吠叫。
satisfactory
a. 令人满意的
The result of the experiment was satisfactory.
实验结果令人满意。
superficial
a. 肤浅的；表面的
I have only a superficial knowledge of this subject.
我对这个问题仅略知皮毛。
unusual
a. 不平常的；独特的
It is quite unusual for a freshman to be younger than eighteen or older than nineteen, but I was barely 16 when I entered college.
大一新生小于18岁或大于19岁是相当少的，但是我进大学时才16岁。
undertake
vt. 承担；同意，保证
Who should undertake the responsibility for white pollution? The producer or the consumer?
谁该为白色污染负责？是生产者还是消费者？
wage
n. (常pl.)工资 vt. 开始
People are beginning to wage war on pollution.
人们开始向污染宣战。
treaty
n. 条约，协定
violate
vt. 违反；亵渎；侵犯
"How could you read my letters? You violated my privacy!" Lucy yelled to her mother.
"你怎么能看我的信呢？你侵犯了我的隐私！"露西冲母亲大声嚷道。
accelerate
v. （使）加快
The policy of reform and opening-up initiated by Deng Xiaoping has accelerated China's economic growth.
邓小平提出的改革开放政策大大促进了中国的经济发展。
advocate
vt. 主张 n. 拥护者；律师
The doctor advocated that young people should do regular exercise for good health.
医生主张，年轻人要想身体好，就要不时地做做运动。
economical
a. 节约的，经济的
Some villages are equipped with a modern and economical heating system.
一些村庄里安装了现代化的经济型供暖系统。
capable
a. 有能力的
Not everyone is capable of judging art.
并不是每个人都有鉴赏艺术的能力。
budget
n. 预算 vi. （for）做安排 vt. 规划，安排 a. 低廉的
A shrewd housewife should be good at planning the family budget.
精明的主妇应擅长计划家庭预算。
guarantee
vt. 保证 n. 保证，保证书
Every new television should have a guarantee with it.
每台新电视机都应该有保修单。
hono(u)r
n. 名誉；尊敬；荣幸；(pl.)优异成绩 vt. 给…以荣誉；尊敬
It's a great honor to meet you.
见到你真是很荣幸。
convince
vt. 使确信，使信服
Evidences are indispensable when you want to convince the judge of your innocence.
要使法官相信你的清白，证据是必不可少的。
comprehensive
a. 综合的
Although the professor gave a very comprehensive explanation on how the black holes came into being, I still got confused.
虽然教授对黑洞的形成做了很详尽的解释，但我还是弄不清它是怎么一回事。
deserve
vt. 应受，值得
If you do wrong, you deserve punishment/you deserve to be punished.
你如果做了错事，就应当受罚。
evaluate
vt. 评价
How do your friends evaluate you and how would you evaluate yourself?
你的朋友如何评价你，你又将怎样评价自己呢？
fantastic
a. 极好的；难以相信的；异想天开的；奇异的
Every one of us has fantastic dreams, but not everyone can turn them into reality.
我们每个人都会做奇异的梦，但不是每个人都能将梦想变为现实。
notify
vt. 通知
When your bike is stolen, do you notify the police or just accept the bad luck?
如果自行车被偷，你是通知警察，还是自认倒霉？
durable
a. 耐用的，持久的
The parts of the machine that experience a lot of friction have to be made from durable materials.
机器里要承受很多磨损的部分得由耐用材料制成。
moderate
a. 中等的；温和的；有节制的 n. 持温和观点者 v. （使）和缓
Parents should moderate their language when children are present.
孩子们在场时，父母们讲话应有节制。
frontier
n. 边境；(the ~)边远地区；(常pl.)前沿
The frontiers of medical knowledge are being pushed farther outwards as time goes on.
医学知识的新领域正随着时间的推移而向前推进。
illegal
a. 不合法的
Many European nations consider euthanasia illegal.
许多欧洲国家都认定安乐死是不合法的。
combat
n. 战斗，斗争 vt. 与…斗争
The two men were locked in mortal combat.
那两人在进行生死决斗。
invisible
a. 看不见的
Firewalls are invisible protection to your computer.
防火墙为电脑提供隐形的保护。
mess
n. 凌乱状态；困境 vt. 弄糟
"I am afraid I might mess up.""Hey, you can do this. Cheer up!"
"我怕会搞砸。""嗨，你能行，打起精神来！"
prevail
vi. 流行；（over）占优势；（on, upon）说服
It seems that the jeans will prevail forever.
牛仔裤似乎永远流行。
personality
n. 个性；人物
No personality, no charm.
没有个性就没有魅力可言。
peculiar
a. 奇怪的；特有的 n. 特有财产，特权
The fish has a peculiar taste. You really think it is all right?
这鱼有股怪味，你真的认为它能吃吗？
abundant
a. 大量的；（in）富裕的
We have abundant proof of his innocence.
我们有充分的证据证明他是无辜的。
odd
a. 奇特的，古怪的；临时的；单的；奇数的；剩余的 n. (pl.)可能性
Scientists are trying to crack the odd signs in the great pyramid.
科学家们正尝试破译大金字塔内的奇特符号。
reckon
vt. 认为；（on）指望；测算
What do you reckon our chances are of arriving on time?
你认为我们有没有可能按时到达？
parade
n. 游行，检阅 v. （使）列队行进
Some of the audience began to scream when the Italian football team paraded the football field.
当意大利足球队列队出场时，一些观众尖叫起来。
scale
n. 规模；等级；(pl.)天平；比例（尺）；刻度；鳞 vt. 攀登
Many companies are now expanding to benefit from economies of scale.
目前许多公司正在扩大以便从规模经济中获益。
wealthy
a. 富裕的
Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. (Benjamin Franklin)
早睡早起会使人健康、富有和聪明。（本杰明·富兰克林）
boring
a. 乏味的
I had expected books on philosophy to be boring, but this one, Sophie's World, is fascinating.
我原以为哲学书枯燥乏味，但是这本《苏菲的世界》却妙趣横生。