Language Point 4

...if not the ultimate homework nightmare. (Para. 1)

ultimate: a. 1. greatest

He's done stupid things before, but to look for the escaping gas with a match really was the ultimate silliness.

他以前干过些傻事，但点着火柴去寻找什么地方煤气漏气实在是傻得不能再傻了。

2. the last or farthest distant; being at the end or happening in the end

After many defeats, the war ended for us in ultimate victory.

吃了许多败仗后，最终还是我们打赢了战争。

His ultimate purpose is to become a doctor.

他的最终目的是想成为一名医生。

nightmare: n. 1. a bad, frightening, or terrible experience or event

Driving on that ice was a nightmare.

在那冰上开车是一件可怕的事情。

The party was a nightmare. Children jumped on the furniture, broke a window, and got the floors all dirty. 那次聚会可怕极了。孩子们跳到家具上面，打破了一扇窗户，还把地板全弄脏了。

2. an unpleasant and terrible dream

The horrible film caused her to have nightmares.

那场恐怖电影使她晚上做恶梦。