Lesson 2
第2课
critical
a. 关键性的；批评的
Life will have significant change at some critical moments, so we should grasp every chance well and take every critical decision seriously.
人生往往在关键时刻会有重大改变，所以我们要把握好每一个机遇并认真对待每一个重大决定。
contribute
vi. 捐款；（to）促成；投稿 vt. 捐献
Plenty of fresh air contributes to good health.
多呼吸新鲜空气对健康有益。
multiply
v.（使）增加，（使）繁殖；乘
Smoking multiplies the risk of heart attacks and other health problems.
吸烟大大增加了心脏病及其他危害健康的问题发生的危险。
incredible
a. 不可信的；难以置信的
F1 racers can run at incredible speeds.
一级方程式赛车能以惊人的速度行驶。
deposit
n. 订金；存款；沉积物 vt. 使沉淀；存放；储蓄
The interest of the current account is lower than that of the deposit account.
活期存款的利息比定期存款的低。
prospect
n. 前景；景象；可能成为主顾的人，有希望的候选人
What do you think about the prospect of cyber economy?
你对网络经济的前景有何看法？
conceal
vt. 隐藏
Concealing feelings and being meek were considered as the traditional virtues of Chinese women.
掩饰感情、逆来顺受曾被看做是中国妇女的传统美德。
persist
vi. （in）坚持不懈；持续
You can never keep a heart that persists in leaving.
你永远留不住执意要离开的心。
scarce
a. 缺乏的；罕见的
Fresh vegetables are no longer scarce in Beijing.
现在北京的新鲜蔬菜不再匮乏。
distress
n. 痛苦；贫困；危难 vt. 使痛苦
I was distressed about the lack of money at the end of every month.
我每个月末都为钱不够用而感到忧虑。
precise
a. 精确的；严谨的
A lawyer needs a precise mind.
律师要有严谨的头脑。
error
n. 错误
Irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.
无理性地推崇真理会比合理的错误更有害。
restrain
vt. 阻止；抑制
I can't restrain my anger when I hear of people being cruel to animals.
当听到有人残酷地对待动物的时候，我就抑制不住愤怒。
shield
n. 防护物，盾 vt. 保护
Wearing sunglasses can shield the eyes from sunlight.
配戴太阳镜能保护眼睛免受阳光直射。
clap
v./n. 拍手，鼓掌
When Richard Clayderman finished the performance, the whole audience was on their feet and clapped and clapped.
理查德·克莱德曼结束演出的时候，全场观众起立，掌声经久不息。
ideal
a. 理想的；空想的 n. 理想，理想的东西或人
Leonardo might be an ideal lover, but he is too handsome to set a girl's mind at rest.
里奥纳多也许可以作一个理想的情人，但是他太英俊了，让女孩放心不下。
landscape
n. 风景；风景画；全景 vt. 美化…的景观
The amazing landscape in Tibet attracts countless tourists every year.
西藏那令人惊叹的美景每年都吸引了无数的游客。
mercy
n. 仁慈；恩惠
I won't show mercy to the cockroaches, and I will beat them to death whenever I see them.
我对蟑螂从不仁慈，只要被我看见，我就会消灭它们。
partner
n. 配偶，搭档 vt. 做…的搭档
If only some handsome boy invited me to be his partner at the ball!
要是有个英俊的小伙子邀请我做他的舞会搭档就好了!
gap
n. 缺口；差距；不足
By generation gap we mean that young people and old people have misunderstandings of each other and that both generations have different or even clashing values.
我们所说的代沟是指年轻人和老年人相互之间的误解及两代人各自所持的不同的甚至是互相冲突的价值观。
candidate
n. 申请求职者；投考者；候选人
There were a large number of candidates for the job.
有许多求职者申请这份工作。
compromise
n. 妥协 v. 妥协；危及
A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit.
吃亏的和解好过胜利的诉讼。
distinction
n. 差别；区分；优秀；荣誉
The greatest distinction between humans and apes is the hollow space humans have under their chins.
人与类人猿之间身体上最大的差别是人的下巴下方有凹陷的空间。
contradiction
n. 矛盾；否认
Is it a contradiction to love animals and yet wear furs?
又爱护动物又穿皮毛服装是矛盾的吗？
variation
n. 变化；变体；变奏
Variations in the color of sea water from blue to green are caused by high or low concentrations of salt.
海水颜色从蓝到绿的变化是由盐分含量的高低引起的。
contrary
a. （to）相反的 n. (the ~)相反事物
Many things in our life are often contrary to our expectation.
我们生活中很多事情经常事与愿违。
controversy
n. 争论
Several near disasters give rise to much controversy on the safety of nuclear energy.
几次近乎大灾难的事故引起了许多关于原子能安全问题的争论。
feasible
a. 可行的
It is feasible to apply the computer to language teaching.
将计算机应用到语言教学是可行的。
economic
a. 经济的 n. (-s)经济学；经济状况
The economic situation is not good in many developing countries.
许多发展中国家的经济状况不佳。
gear
n. 齿轮，（排）挡；用具 vt. 使适应
Education should be geared to society's needs.
教育应适应社会的需要。
ensure
vt. 确保
If you want to ensure that you can get the diploma, you'd better not skip too many classes.
如果你想确保拿到文凭，最好别逃太多的课。
clash
vi. 冲突；不协调；砰地相撞 n. 冲突；不协调；刺耳的撞击声
I failed to watch the World Cup final because it clashed with my examination.
我没能看成世界杯（足球）总决赛，因为那天和我的考试日期冲突了。
honorable
a. 光荣的；可敬的
Will the honorable member please answer the question?
请尊敬的议员先生回答这个问题好吗？
court
n. 法庭，法院；球场；宫廷；院子
The prisoner was brought to court for trial.
囚犯被带上法庭受审。
manufacture
vt. 制造 n. 制造；(pl.)制造品
All those underground plants that manufacture piratic CDs must be closed down.
所有制造盗版光盘的地下工厂都必须查封。
highlight
vt. 突出 n. 最精彩的部分
Growing social problems were highlighted by these events.
这些事件越发突出了日益激化的社会问题。
imagination
n. 想象，想象力；空想；想象出来的事物
Someone believes that UFOs are just people's imagination.
有人认为不明飞行物只是人们的幻觉。
interior
n. 内部；(the ~)内地 a. 内部的；内地的
Nowadays interior design is a very promising industry.
室内设计是当今颇具前途的行业。
delicate
a. 易碎的；微妙的；娇弱的；精美的
The delicate orchid should be protected from cold, wind and frost.
娇弱的兰花应被妥善照顾以防严寒风霜的侵袭。
grip
n. 紧握；掌握 vt. 握紧；吸引住…的注意力
The brake doesn't grip properly.
刹车不灵。
permanent
a. 永久的，固定的
We all hope for permanent peace.
大家都希望永久的和平。
mobile
a. 运动的；机动的；多变的 n. 移动电话
Now more and more Chinese own mobile phones and they are not luxuries any more.
现在越来越多的中国人拥有手机，手机也不再是奢侈品了。
overcome
vt. 克服；压倒
The Chinese Women's Volleyball Team overcame a lot of difficulty to win the match.
中国女排克服重重困难，赢得了这场比赛的胜利。
shortage
n. 缺少
In the developed countries, there's a great shortage of labor/work force.
发达国家劳动力非常缺乏。
predict
vt. 预测
The witch said that her crystal ball could predict the future.
女巫说她的水晶球可以预测未来。
proposal
n. 提议；求婚
How could you make a proposal without a ring?
你怎么可以没带上戒指去求婚呢？
underline
vt. 在…下面划线；强调
In class, many English teachers like to ask students to underline important words in the text and explain them in detail. Do you think it a good way to learn English?
在课堂上，许多英语老师喜欢让学生在课文的重要词下划线并详细地解释它们。你觉得这是学英语的好方法吗？
accidental
a. 意外的
Their accidental meeting led to a renewal of their acquaintance.
偶然的相遇使他们再续前缘。
alternative
a. 供选择的；另类的 n. 抉择；选择的自由
I didn't have enough money to travel to Xinjiang, so I had no alternative but to stay at home this vacation.
因为不够钱去新疆旅游，所以这个假期我别无选择，只能待在家里。
recreation
n. 娱乐活动，消遣
Karaoke is many young people's favorite recreation.
唱卡拉OK是许多年轻人喜欢的娱乐活动。
career
n. 职业
Many university students plan their future career in the financial circle.
许多大学生都将自己的未来职业计划在金融界。
donation
n. 捐款，捐赠
Bill Gates made a donation of 100 million U.S. dollars to the Global AIDS and Health Fund.
比尔·盖茨给全球艾滋病健康基金会捐赠了1亿美元。
collision
n. 碰撞；冲突
In Britain, a collision with the Parliament could ruin the government's plans.
在英国，政府与议会的冲突可能使政府的计划破产。
segment
n. 部分，片段；瓣
Community college is the most rapidly growing segment of higher education in the United States.
社区大学是美国高等教育方面发展最迅速的部分。
subtract
v. 减（去）
If you subtract 3 from 5, you get 2.(3 subtracted from 5 is 2.)
5减3等于2。
embarrass
vt. 使尴尬
It embarrassed him (=He was embarrassed) when he found he didn't have enough money to invite his girl friend to dinner.
当他发现自己不够钱请女友吃晚饭时，觉得很尴尬。
contribution
n. 贡献；捐款；稿件
Mr. He Zhenliang has made an important contribution to the Olympic bid.
何振梁先生为申奥做出了重大贡献。
judg(e)ment
n. 看法；判断力；审判
You shall use your own judgment as to whether you should start work or study for a master's degree.
你应当运用自己的判断力，决定是开始工作还是攻读硕士学位。
infinite
a. 无限的
Indulging in computer games all day may do infinite harm to students.
终日沉溺于电脑游戏可能会对学生危害无穷。
resume
v. 重新开始，恢复 n. 摘要；简历
exclusive
a. 奢华的；独有的；排斥的；（of）不包括…的 n. 独家新闻
Some journalists are willing to get the exclusive at any cost.
有的记者愿意不惜一切代价获取独家新闻。
humble
a. 谦虚的；地位低下的；简陋的 vt. 使谦恭
Defeat and failure may make people humble.
挫折与失败会使人变得谦卑。
embrace
vt. 拥抱；包括；包围 n. 拥抱
In the past, Chinese lovers were too reserved to embrace or kiss each other in public. But it is not the case now.
过去中国的情侣太过含蓄而不会当众拥抱或亲吻，但是现在不同了。
concede
v. （不情愿地）承认；允许；让步，认输
Don't concede without a contest!
不要没经过比赛就认输!
fiction
n. 小说
Truth is often stranger than fiction.
真事常常比小说还离奇。
performance
n. 表演；履行；表现
Andy's performance in the exams was disappointing.
安迪的考试成绩令人失望。
emphasize/-ise
vt. 强调
Our reform and opening policy especially emphasizes the importance of the economic reform.
我们的改革开放政策特别强调了经济改革的重要性。
reflect
v. 反映；反射；深思
It's said that a person's handwriting can reflect his/her character.
据说，字迹可以反映出人的性格。
execute
vt. 处死；执行
The manager assistant came here to execute a few small commissions for the manager.
经理助理到这里来是代替经理办几件小事的。
pledge
n. 保证，誓言 vt. 保证，许诺
You must make a pledge to keep the secret.
你必须发誓保密。
sacrifice
n. 牺牲；献祭；祭品 vt. 牺牲；献祭
Success in your job is not worth the sacrifice of your health.
以牺牲健康来求得工作上的成功是不值得的。
unique
a. 唯一的，独特的；极不寻常的
Each person's fingerprints are unique.
每个人的指纹都是独一无二的。
accommodation
n. (常pl.)膳宿
The high cost of accommodations makes life difficult for many Chinese students in London.
住宿费昂贵使很多在伦敦的中国留学生感到生活困难。
alliance
n. 联盟
In the Second World War, the United States, Britain, France and some other countries made an alliance against German Fascists.
在第二次世界大战中，美、英、法等国结成联盟反对德国法西斯。
coarse
a. 粗糙的；粗劣的；粗俗的
On the stage, a stand-up comedian is performing a coarse imitation of President Bush.
在台上，一位滑稽说笑的喜剧演员正粗劣地模仿布什总统。
concern
n. 关切的事；关心；关系；公司 vt. 涉及，有关于；使担心
Thanks for the concern.
让您费心了，谢谢。
profit
n. 利润 vt. 有益于 vi. （by, from）得益
"What is your strategy?" "We get quick sales at small profits."
"你们的经营战略是什么？""薄利多销。"
crucial
a. 至关重要的
Choosing a right location is crucial to opening a store.
选准位置对开店是至关重要的。
dominant
a. 占优势的；居高临下的
P&G is in a dominant position in the market of their daily chemical products.
宝洁公司在日用化工产品市场上处优势地位。
recognition
n. 认出；确认；赏识
The spy escaped recognition in disguise.
间谍乔装打扮，没有人能把他认出来。