tribe[traib]
a group of people, often of related families, who live together, sharing the same language, culture and history, especially those who do not live in towns or cities
n. 部落；族；宗族；一伙

attribute [ə'tribju:t, 'ætribju:t]
a quality or characteristic that someone or something has
n. 属性；特质
vt. 归属；把…归于；认为...是某人所有[(+to)]

例句
He attributed his good health to exercise.
他认为自己之所以身体好是因为运动。
Do you think it proper to attribute weakness to women?
你觉得把软弱当作女性的属性适当吗?
Kindness is one of her attributes.
仁慈是她的特性之一。

tributary['tribjutəri]
a river or stream that flows into a larger river or a lake
1: paying tribute to another to acknowledge submission, to obtain protection, or to purchase peace : subject
2: paid or owed as tribute <tributary gifts>
3: channeling material or supplies into something more inclusive : contributory
adj. 纳贡的；附属的；辅助的
n. 支流；进贡国；附属国

例句
This is a tributary of Zhujiang River.
这是珠江的一条支流。
There was one street apart from a tributary road near the end of the village.
除了村子尽头的岔道外,还有一条大路。

contribute[kən'tribju:t]
to give something, especially money, in order to provide or achieve something together with other people
to write articles for a newspaper, magazine or book
vt. 贡献，出力；投稿；捐献
vt. 贡献，出力；投稿；捐献

例句
He contributed half of his savings to the relief fund.
他将积蓄的一半捐献给救济基金会。
He didn't contribute one idea to the document.
他对这个文件没有提供一个主意。
He contributed generously to the Red Cross.
他对红十字会慷慨捐助。
The scientist often contributes to an academic journal.
这位科学家常常给那家学术期刊撰稿。

distribute：[dɪ'strɪbjut]
to give something out to several people, or to spread or supply something
vt. 分发；分配；散布；分开；把…分类

【词义辨析】
assign, distribute, divide, allocate
这些动词均含“分配，分发”之意。
assign: 指按照某种原则进行的硬性分配，也不一定是很公平的。
distribute: 通常指以整体或定量分为若干份来分配。
divide: 普通用词，侧重将某物分成若干份分配给他人，当某物一分为二时，含平均分配之意。
allocate: 主要指金钱、财产、权力或领土等的分配，着重分配的比例和专门用途。

昨日重现

TEM-4
Before moving to another city, Amy ____ of the house and the furniture.

A.disposed
B.discarded
C.discharged
D.distributed

本题正确答案：
A.disposed
本题解析：
【句意】在搬到另一个城市之前，艾米处理掉了房子和家具。
【难点】dispose of 意为“处理，整理”；discard意为“丢弃；抛弃”； discharge 意为“解雇，免…的职务；开除”； distribute意为“分开；分送；分配”。

1993年1月CET-6真题
The car accident was _____ to the driver's violation of the traffic regulations.

A.assigned
B.contributed
C.attributed
D.transferred

答案 C