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当前位置:首页 -> 12级英语阅读 - > 英语小说:麦琪的礼物
英语小说:麦琪的礼物
添加时间:2014-07-13 16:46:00 浏览次数: 作者:欧亨利
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  • One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation1 of parsimony2 that such close dealing3 implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.

    There was clearly nothing to do but flop4 down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigates5 the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs6, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.

    While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding7 from the first stage to the second, take a look at the home. A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout8 for the mendicancy9 squad10.

    In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax11 a ring. Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young."

    The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20, though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called "Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good.

    Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she had calculated. They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling--something just a little bit near to being worthy12 of the honor of being owned by Jim.

    There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room. Perhaps you have seen a pierglass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile13 person may, by observing his reflection in a rapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairly accurate conception of his looks. Della, being slender, had mastered the art.

    Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood before the glass. her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length.

    Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty14 pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate16 Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor17, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.

    So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling18 and shining like a cascade19 of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her.

    And then she did it up again nervously20 and quickly. Once she faltered21 for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.

    On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat. With a whirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street.

    Where she stopped the sign read: "Mne. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collected herself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly22, hardly looked the "Sofronie."

    "Will you buy my hair?" asked Della.

    "I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it."

    Down rippled23 the brown cascade.

    "Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand.

    "Give it to me quick," said Della.

    Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy24 wings. Forget the hashed metaphor25. She was ransacking26 the stores for Jim's present.

    She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. There was no other like it in any of the stores, and she had turned all of them inside out. It was a platinum27 fob chain simple and chaste28 in design, properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretricious29 ornamentation--as all good things should do. It was even worthy of The Watch. As soon as she saw it she knew that it must be Jim's. It was like him. Quietness and value--the description applied30 to both.

    Twenty-one dollars they took from her for it, and she hurried home with the 87 cents. With that chain on his watch Jim might be properly anxious about the time in any company. Grand as the watch was, he sometimes looked at it on the sly on account of the old leather strap31 that he used in place of a chain.

    When Della reached home her intoxication32 gave way a little to prudence33 and reason. She got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages34 made by generosity35 added to love. Which is always a tremendous task, dear friends--a mammoth36 task.

    Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny, close-lying curls that made her look wonderfully like a truant37 schoolboy. She looked at her reflection in the mirror long, carefully, and critically.

    "If Jim doesn't kill me," she said to herself, "before he takes a second look at me, he'll say I look like a Coney Island chorus girl. But what could I do--oh! what could I do with a dollar and eighty- seven cents?"

    At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops.

    Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table near the door that he always entered. Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. She had a habit for saying little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, and now she whispered: "Please God, make him think I am still pretty."

    The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two--and to be burdened with a family! He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves.

    Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent38 of quail39. His eyes were fixed40 upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval41, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly42 with that peculiar43 expression on his face.

    Della wriggled44 off the table and went for him.

    "Jim, darling," she cried, "don't look at me that way. I had my hair cut off and sold because I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present.

    It'll grow out again--you won't mind, will you? I just had to do it. My hair grows awfully45 fast. Say `Merry Christmas!' Jim, and let's be happy. You don't know what a nice-- what a beautiful, nice gift I've got for you."

    "You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim, laboriously46, as if he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after the hardest mental labor47.

    "Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you like me just as well, anyhow? I'm me without my hair, ain't I?"

    Jim looked about the room curiously48.

    "You say your hair is gone?" he said, with an air almost of idiocy49.

    "You needn't look for it," said Della. "It's sold, I tell you--sold and gone, too. It's Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it went for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness, "but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I put the chops on, Jim?"

    Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. He enfolded his Della. For ten seconds let us regard with discreet50 scrutiny51 some inconsequential object in the other direction. Eight dollars a week or a million a year--what is the difference? A mathematician52 or a wit would give you the wrong answer. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. This dark assertion will be illuminated53 later on.

    Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threw it upon the table.

    "Don't make any mistake, Dell," he said, "about me. I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less. But if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me going a while at first."

    White fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper. And then an ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas54! a quick feminine change to hysterical55 tears and wails56, necessitating57 the immediate58 employment of all the comforting powers of the lord of the flat.

    For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims--just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved59 and yearned60 over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned61 the coveted62 adornments were gone.

    But she hugged them to her bosom63, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hair grows so fast, Jim!"

    And them Della leaped up like a little singed64 cat and cried, "Oh, oh!"

    Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm. The dull precious metal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent65 spirit.

    "Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it."

    Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled.

    "Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on."

    The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely66 related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

    一元八角七。全都在这儿了,其中六角是一分一分的铜板。这些分分钱是杂货店老板、菜贩子和肉店老板那儿软硬兼施地一分两分地扣下来,直弄得自己羞愧难当,深感这种掂斤播两的交易实在丢人现眼。德拉反复数了三次,还是一元八角七,而第二天就是圣诞节了。

    除了扑倒在那破旧的小睡椅上哭嚎之外,显然别无他途。

    德拉这样作了,可精神上的感慨油然而生,生活就是哭泣、抽噎和微笑,尤以抽噎占统治地位。

    当这位家庭主妇逐渐平静下来之际,让我们看看这个家吧。一套带家具的公寓房子,每周房租八美元。尽管难以用笔墨形容,可它真真够得上乞丐帮这个词儿。

    楼下的门道里有个信箱,可从来没有装过信,还有一个电钮,也从没有人的手指按响过电铃。而且,那儿还有一张名片,上写着"詹姆斯·迪林厄姆·杨先生"。

    "迪林厄姆"这个名号是主人先前春风得意之际,一时兴起加上去的,那时候他每星期挣三十美元。现在,他的收入缩减到二十美元,"迪林厄姆"的字母也显得模糊不清,似乎它们正严肃地思忖着是否缩写成谦逊而又讲求实际的字母D。不过,每当詹姆斯·迪林厄姆·杨回家,走进楼上的房间时,詹姆斯·迪林厄姆·杨太太,就是刚介绍给诸位的德拉,总是把他称作"吉姆",而且热烈地拥抱他。那当然是再好不过的了。

    德拉哭完之后,往面颊上抹了抹粉,她站在窗前,痴痴地瞅着灰濛濛的后院里一只灰白色的猫正行走在灰白色的篱笆上。明天就是圣诞节,她只有一元八角七给吉姆买一份礼物。她花去好几个月的时间,用了最大的努力一分一分地攒积下来,才得了这样一个结果。一周二十美元实在经不起花,支出大于预算,总是如此。只有一元八角七给吉姆买礼物,她的吉姆啊。她花费了多少幸福的时日筹划着要送他一件可心的礼物,一件精致、珍奇、贵重的礼物——至少应有点儿配得上吉姆所有的东西才成啊。

    房间的两扇窗子之间有一面壁镜。也许你见过每周房租八美元的公寓壁镜吧。一个非常瘦小而灵巧的人,从观察自己在一连串的纵条影象中,可能会对自己的容貌得到一个大致精确的概念。德拉身材苗条,已精通了这门子艺术。

    突然,她从窗口旋风般地转过身来,站在壁镜前面。她两眼晶莹透亮,但二十秒钟之内她的面色失去了光彩。她急速地折散头发,使之完全泼散开来。

    现在,詹姆斯·迪林厄姆·杨夫妇俩各有一件特别引以自豪的东西。一件是吉姆的金表,是他祖父传给父亲,父亲又传给他的传家宝;另一件则是德拉的秀发。如果示巴女王也住在天井对面的公寓里,总有一天德拉会把头发披散下来,露出窗外晾干,使那女王的珍珠宝贝黔然失色;如果地下室堆满金银财宝、所罗门王又是守门人的话,每当吉姆路过那儿,准会摸出金表,好让那所罗门王忌妒得吹胡子瞪眼睛。

    此时此刻,德拉的秀发泼撒在她的周围,微波起伏,闪耀光芒,有如那褐色的瀑布。她的美发长及膝下,仿佛是她的一件长袍。接着,她又神经质地赶紧把头发梳好。踌躇了一分钟,一动不动地立在那儿,破旧的红地毯上溅落了一、两滴眼泪。

    她穿上那件褐色的旧外衣,戴上褐色的旧帽子,眼睛里残留着晶莹的泪花,裙子一摆,便飘出房门,下楼来到街上。

    她走到一块招牌前停下来,上写着:"索弗罗妮夫人——专营各式头发"。德拉奔上楼梯,气喘吁吁地定了定神。那位夫人身躯肥大,过于苍白,冷若冰霜,同"索弗罗妮"的雅号简直牛头不对马嘴。

    "你要买我的头发吗?"德拉问。

    "我买头发,"夫人说。"揭掉帽子,让我看看发样。"

    那褐色的瀑布泼撒了下来。

    "二十美元,"夫人一边说,一边内行似地抓起头发。

    "快给我钱,"德拉说。

    呵,接着而至的两个小时犹如长了翅膀,愉快地飞掠而过。请不用理会这胡诌的比喻。她正在彻底搜寻各家店铺,为吉姆买礼物。

    她终于找到了,那准是专为吉姆特制的,决非为别人。她找遍了各家商店,哪儿也没有这样的东西,一条朴素的白金表链,镂刻着花纹。正如一切优质东西那样,它只以货色论长短,不以装璜来炫耀。而且它正配得上那只金表。她一见这条表链,就知道一定属于吉姆所有。它就像吉姆本人,文静而有价值——这一形容对两者都恰如其份。她花去二十一美元买下了,匆匆赶回家,只剩下八角七分钱。金表匹配这条链子,无论在任何场合,吉姆都可以毫无愧色地看时间了。

    尽管这只表华丽珍贵,因为用的是旧皮带取代表链,他有时只偷偷地瞥上一眼。

    德拉回家之后,她的狂喜有点儿变得审慎和理智了。她找出烫发铁钳,点燃煤气,着手修补因爱情加慷慨所造成的破坏,这永远是件极其艰巨的任务,亲爱的朋友们——简直是件了不起的任务呵。

    不出四十分钟,她的头上布满了紧贴头皮的一绺绺小卷发,使她活像个逃学的小男孩。她在镜子里老盯着自己瞧,小心地、苛刻地照来照去。

    "假如吉姆看我一眼不把我宰掉的话,"她自言自语,"他定会说我像个科尼岛上合唱队的卖唱姑娘。但是我能怎么办呢——唉,只有一元八角七,我能干什么呢?"

    七点钟,她煮好了咖啡,把煎锅置于热炉上,随时都可作肉排。

    吉姆一贯准时回家。德拉将表链对叠握在手心,坐在离他一贯进门最近的桌子角上。接着,她听见下面楼梯上响起了他的脚步声,她紧张得脸色失去了一会儿血色。她习惯于为了最简单的日常事物而默默祈祷,此刻,她悄声道:"求求上帝,让他觉得我还是漂亮的吧。"

    门开了,吉姆步入,随手关上了门。他显得瘦削而又非常严肃。可怜的人儿,他才二十二岁,就挑起了家庭重担!他需要买件新大衣,连手套也没有呀。

    吉姆站在屋里的门口边,纹丝不动地好像猎犬嗅到了鹌鹑的气味似的。他的两眼固定在德拉身上,其神情使她无法理解,令她毛骨悚然。既不是愤怒,也不是惊讶,又不是不满,更不是嫌恶,根本不是她所预料的任何一种神情。他仅仅是面带这种神情死死地盯着德拉。

    德拉一扭腰,从桌上跳了下来,向他走过去。

    "吉姆,亲爱的,"她喊道,"别那样盯着我。我把头发剪掉卖了,因为不送你一件礼物,我无法过圣诞节。头发会再长起来——你不会介意,是吗?我非这么做不可。我的头发长得快极了。说'恭贺圣诞'吧!吉姆,让我们快快乐乐的。你肯定猜不着我给你买了一件多么好的——多么美丽精致的礼物啊!"

    "你已经把头发剪掉了?"吉姆吃力地问道,似乎他绞尽脑汁也没弄明白这明摆着的事实。

    "剪掉卖了,"德拉说。"不管怎么说,你不也同样喜欢我吗?没了长发,我还是我嘛,对吗?"

    吉姆古怪地四下望望这房间。

    "你说你的头发没有了吗?"他差不多是白痴似地问道。

    "别找啦,"德拉说。"告诉你,我已经卖了——卖掉了,没有啦。这是圣诞前夜,好人儿。好好待我,这是为了你呀。也许我的头发数得清,"突然她特别温柔地接下去,"可谁也数不清我对你的恩爱啊。我做肉排了吗,吉姆?"

    吉姆好像从恍惚之中醒来,把德拉紧紧地搂在怀里。现在,别着急,先让我们花个十秒钟从另一角度审慎地思索一下某些无关紧要的事。房租每周八美元,或者一百万美元——那有什么差别呢?数学家或才子会给你错误的答案。麦琪带来了宝贵的礼物,但就是缺少了那件东西。这句晦涩的话,下文将有所交待。

    吉姆从大衣口袋里掏出一个小包,扔在桌上。

    "别对我产生误会,德尔,"他说道,"无论剪发、修面,还是洗头,我以为世上没有什么东西能减低一点点对我妻子的爱情。不过,你只消打开那包东西,就会明白刚才为什么使我楞头楞脑了。"

    白皙的手指灵巧地解开绳子,打开纸包。紧接着是欣喜若狂的尖叫,哎呀!突然变成了女性神经质的泪水和哭泣,急需男主人千方百计的慰藉。

    还是因为摆在桌上的梳子——全套梳子,包括两鬓用的,后面的,样样俱全。那是很久以前德拉在百老汇的一个橱窗里见过并羡慕得要死的东西。这些美妙的发梳,纯玳瑁做的,边上镶着珠宝——其色彩正好同她失去的美发相匹配。她明白,这套梳子实在太昂贵,对此,她仅仅是羡慕渴望,但从未想到过据为己有。现在,这一切居然属于她了,可惜那有资格佩戴这垂涎已久的装饰品的美丽长发已无影无踪了。

    不过,她依然把发梳搂在胸前,过了好一阵子才抬起泪水迷濛的双眼,微笑着说:"我的头发长得飞快,吉姆!"

    随后,德拉活像一只被烫伤的小猫跳了起来,叫道,"喔!喔!"

    吉姆还没有瞧见他的美丽的礼物哩。她急不可耐地把手掌摊开,伸到他面前,那没有知觉的贵重金属似乎闪现着她的欢快和热忱。

    "漂亮吗,吉姆?我搜遍了全城才找到了它。现在,你每天可以看一百次时间了。把表给我,我要看看它配在表上的样子。"

    吉姆非旦不按她的吩咐行事,反而倒在睡椅上,两手枕在头下,微微发笑。

    "德尔,"他说,"让我们把圣诞礼物放在一边,保存一会儿吧。它们实在太好了,目前尚不宜用。我卖掉金表,换钱为你买了发梳。现在,你作肉排吧。"

    正如诸位所知,麦琪是聪明人,聪明绝顶的人,他们把礼物带来送给出生在马槽里的耶稣。他们发明送圣诞礼物这玩艺儿。由于他们是聪明人,毫无疑问,他们的礼物也是聪明的礼物,如果碰上两样东西完全一样,可能还具有交换的权利。在这儿,我已经笨拙地给你们介绍了住公寓套间的两个傻孩子不足为奇的平淡故事,他们极不明智地为了对方而牺牲了他们家最最宝贵的东西。不过,让我们对现今的聪明人说最后一句话,在一切馈赠礼品的人当中,那两个人是最聪明的。在一切馈赠又接收礼品的人当中,像他们两个这样的人也是最聪明的。无论在任何地方,他们都是最聪明的人。

    他们就是麦琪。

     12级    英语小说 


    点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

    1 imputation [ˌɪmpjʊ'teɪʃn] My2yX   第12级
    n.归罪,责难
    参考例句:
    • I could not rest under the imputation. 我受到诋毁,无法平静。
    • He resented the imputation that he had any responsibility for what she did. 把她所作的事情要他承担,这一责难,使他非常恼火。
    2 parsimony [ˈpɑ:sɪməni] 6Lzxo   第12级
    n.过度节俭,吝啬
    参考例句:
    • A classic example comes from comedian Jack Benny, famous for his parsimony. 有个经典例子出自以吝啬著称的喜剧演员杰克·班尼。
    • Due to official parsimony only one machine was built. 由于官方过于吝啬,仅制造了那一台机器。
    3 dealing [ˈdi:lɪŋ] NvjzWP   第10级
    n.经商方法,待人态度
    参考例句:
    • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing. 该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
    • His fair dealing earned our confidence. 他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
    4 flop [flɒp] sjsx2   第11级
    n.失败(者),扑通一声;vi.笨重地行动,沉重地落下
    参考例句:
    • The fish gave a flop and landed back in the water. 鱼扑通一声又跳回水里。
    • The marketing campaign was a flop. The product didn't sell. 市场宣传彻底失败,产品卖不出去。
    5 instigates [ˈɪnstɪˌgeɪts] 1a109119e90c70c298d17b70f6bf2615   第10级
    n.使(某事物)开始或发生,鼓动( instigate的名词复数 )v.使(某事物)开始或发生,鼓动( instigate的第三人称单数 )
    参考例句:
    • He always instigates the boy to do evil. 他总是鼓动那孩子做坏事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    • Instigates a collective leave-taking movement which affects the normal operation of the Company. 煽惑或鼓动集体休假而影响本公司正常运作者。 来自互联网
    6 sobs ['sɒbz] d4349f86cad43cb1a5579b1ef269d0cb   第7级
    啜泣(声),呜咽(声)( sob的名词复数 )
    参考例句:
    • She was struggling to suppress her sobs. 她拼命不让自己哭出来。
    • She burst into a convulsive sobs. 她突然抽泣起来。
    7 subsiding [səbˈsaidɪŋ] 0b57100fce0b10afc440ec1d6d2366a6   第9级
    v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的现在分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上
    参考例句:
    • The flooded river was subsiding rapidly. 泛滥的河水正在迅速退落。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • Gradually the tension was subsiding, gradually the governor was relenting. 风潮渐渐地平息了。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
    8 lookout [ˈlʊkaʊt] w0sxT   第8级
    n.注意,前途,瞭望台
    参考例句:
    • You can see everything around from the lookout. 从了望台上你可以看清周围的一切。
    • It's a bad lookout for the company if interest rates don't come down. 如果利率降不下来,公司的前景可就不妙了。
    9 mendicancy ['mendɪkənsɪ] de57a2a640ecaa5d4a1fb0a4d0ef228b   第12级
    n.乞丐,托钵,行乞修道士
    参考例句:
    • They were reduced to mendicancy. 他们沦落成了乞丐。 来自互联网
    10 squad [skwɒd] 4G1zq   第7级
    n.班,小队,小团体;vt.把…编成班或小组
    参考例句:
    • The squad leader ordered the men to mark time. 班长命令战士们原地踏步。
    • A squad is the smallest unit in an army. 班是军队的最小构成单位。
    11 coax [kəʊks] Fqmz5   第8级
    vt. 哄;哄诱;慢慢将…弄好 vi. 哄骗;劝诱
    参考例句:
    • I had to coax the information out of him. 我得用好话套出他掌握的情况。
    • He tried to coax the secret from me. 他试图哄骗我说出秘方。
    12 worthy [ˈwɜ:ði] vftwB   第7级
    adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的
    参考例句:
    • I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust. 我认为他不值得信赖。
    • There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned. 没有值得一提的事发生。
    13 agile [ˈædʒaɪl] Ix2za   第8级
    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。
    15 mighty [ˈmaɪti] YDWxl   第7级
    adj.强有力的;巨大的
    参考例句:
    • A mighty force was about to break loose. 一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
    • The mighty iceberg came into view. 巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
    16 depreciate [dɪˈpri:ʃieɪt] Pmpz0   第9级
    vi.降价,贬值,折旧;vt.使贬值;贬低;轻视
    参考例句:
    • The computer value will depreciate by $500 in the first year. 在头一年里这台电脑会贬值500美元。
    • If you neglect this property, it will depreciate. 如果你忽视这份资产,它无形中就贬值了。
    17 janitor [ˈdʒænɪtə(r)] iaFz7   第9级
    n.看门人,管门人
    参考例句:
    • The janitor wiped on the windows with his rags. 看门人用褴褛的衣服擦着窗户。
    • The janitor swept the floors and locked up the building every night. 那个看门人每天晚上负责打扫大楼的地板和锁门。
    18 rippling ['rɪplɪŋ] b84b2d05914b2749622963c1ef058ed5   第7级
    起涟漪的,潺潺流水般声音的
    参考例句:
    • I could see the dawn breeze rippling the shining water. 我能看见黎明的微风在波光粼粼的水面上吹出道道涟漪。
    • The pool rippling was caused by the waving of the reeds. 池塘里的潺潺声是芦苇摇动时引起的。
    19 cascade [kæˈskeɪd] Erazm   第8级
    n.小瀑布,喷流;层叠;vi.成瀑布落下
    参考例句:
    • She watched the magnificent waterfall cascade down the mountainside. 她看着壮观的瀑布从山坡上倾泻而下。
    • Her hair fell over her shoulders in a cascade of curls. 她的卷发像瀑布一样垂在肩上。
    20 nervously ['nɜ:vəslɪ] tn6zFp   第8级
    adv.神情激动地,不安地
    参考例句:
    • He bit his lip nervously, trying not to cry. 他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
    • He paced nervously up and down on the platform. 他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
    21 faltered [ˈfɔ:ltəd] d034d50ce5a8004ff403ab402f79ec8d   第8级
    (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。”
    22 chilly [ˈtʃɪli] pOfzl   第7级
    adj.凉快的,寒冷的
    参考例句:
    • I feel chilly without a coat. 我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
    • I grew chilly when the fire went out. 炉火熄灭后,寒气逼人。
    23 rippled [] 70d8043cc816594c4563aec11217f70d   第7级
    使泛起涟漪(ripple的过去式与过去分词形式)
    参考例句:
    • The lake rippled gently. 湖面轻轻地泛起涟漪。
    • The wind rippled the surface of the cornfield. 微风吹过麦田,泛起一片麦浪。
    24 rosy [ˈrəʊzi] kDAy9   第8级
    adj.美好的,乐观的,玫瑰色的
    参考例句:
    • She got a new job and her life looks rosy. 她找到一份新工作,生活看上去很美好。
    • She always takes a rosy view of life. 她总是对生活持乐观态度。
    25 metaphor [ˈmetəfə(r)] o78zD   第8级
    n.隐喻,暗喻
    参考例句:
    • Using metaphor, we say that computers have senses and a memory. 打个比方,我们可以说计算机有感觉和记忆力。
    • In poetry the rose is often a metaphor for love. 玫瑰在诗中通常作为爱的象征。
    26 ransacking [ˈrænˌsækɪŋ] ea7d01107f6b62522f7f7c994a6a5557   第11级
    v.彻底搜查( ransack的现在分词 );抢劫,掠夺
    参考例句:
    • She was ransacking the stores for Jim's present. 她正在彻底搜寻各家店铺,为吉姆买礼物。 来自英汉文学 - 欧亨利
    • Ransacking the drawers of the dresser he came upon a discarded, tiny, ragged handkerchief. 他打开橱柜抽屉搜寻,找到了一块弃置的小旧手帕。 来自辞典例句
    27 platinum [ˈplætɪnəm] CuOyC   第11级
    n.白金
    参考例句:
    • I'll give her a platinum ring. 我打算送给她一枚白金戒指。
    • Platinum exceeds gold in value. 白金的价值高于黄金。
    28 chaste [tʃeɪst] 8b6yt   第9级
    adj.贞洁的;有道德的;善良的;简朴的
    参考例句:
    • Comparatively speaking, I like chaste poetry better. 相比较而言,我更喜欢朴实无华的诗。
    • Tess was a chaste young girl. 苔丝是一个善良的少女。
    29 meretricious [ˌmerəˈtrɪʃəs] 3CixE   第11级
    adj.华而不实的,俗艳的
    参考例句:
    • A wooden building painted to look like marble is meretricious. 一座漆得像大理石般的木制建筑物外表是美丽的。
    • Her room was painted in meretricious technicolour. 她的房间刷着俗艳的颜色。
    30 applied [əˈplaɪd] Tz2zXA   第8级
    adj.应用的;v.应用,适用
    参考例句:
    • She plans to take a course in applied linguistics. 她打算学习应用语言学课程。
    • This cream is best applied to the face at night. 这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。
    31 strap [stræp] 5GhzK   第7级
    n.皮带,带子;vt.用带扣住,束牢;用绷带包扎;vi.精力旺盛地工作;受束缚
    参考例句:
    • She held onto a strap to steady herself. 她抓住拉手吊带以便站稳。
    • The nurse will strap up your wound. 护士会绑扎你的伤口。
    32 intoxication [inˌtɔksi'keiʃən] qq7zL8   第8级
    n.wild excitement;drunkenness;poisoning
    参考例句:
    • He began to drink, drank himself to intoxication, till he slept obliterated. 他一直喝,喝到他快要迷糊地睡着了。
    • Predator: Intoxication-Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies. Predator:Intoxication,持续性伤害的效果将会与队友相加。
    33 prudence ['pru:dns] 9isyI   第11级
    n.谨慎,精明,节俭
    参考例句:
    • A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems. 不够谨慎可能会导致财政上出现问题。
    • The happy impute all their success to prudence or merit. 幸运者都把他们的成功归因于谨慎或功德。
    34 ravages [ˈrævɪdʒɪz] 5d742bcf18f0fd7c4bc295e4f8d458d8   第8级
    劫掠后的残迹,破坏的结果,毁坏后的残迹
    参考例句:
    • the ravages of war 战争造成的灾难
    • It is hard for anyone to escape from the ravages of time. 任何人都很难逃避时间的摧残。
    35 generosity [ˌdʒenəˈrɒsəti] Jf8zS   第8级
    n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为
    参考例句:
    • We should match their generosity with our own. 我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
    • We adore them for their generosity. 我们钦佩他们的慷慨。
    36 mammoth [ˈmæməθ] u2wy8   第9级
    n.长毛象;adj.长毛象似的,巨大的
    参考例句:
    • You can only undertake mammoth changes if the finances are there. 资金到位的情况下方可进行重大变革。
    • Building the new railroad will be a mammoth job. 修建那条新铁路将是一项巨大工程。
    37 truant [ˈtru:ənt] zG4yW   第10级
    n.懒惰鬼,旷课者;adj.偷懒的,旷课的,游荡的;v.偷懒,旷课
    参考例句:
    • I found the truant throwing stones in the river. 我发现那个逃课的学生在往河里扔石子。
    • Children who play truant from school are unimaginative. 逃学的孩子们都缺乏想像力。
    38 scent [sent] WThzs   第7级
    n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;vt.嗅,发觉;vi.发出…的气味;有…的迹象;嗅着气味追赶
    参考例句:
    • The air was filled with the scent of lilac. 空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
    • The flowers give off a heady scent at night. 这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。
    39 quail [kweɪl] f0UzL   第10级
    n.鹌鹑;vi.畏惧,颤抖
    参考例句:
    • Cowards always quail before the enemy. 在敌人面前,胆小鬼们总是畏缩不前的。
    • Quail eggs are very high in cholesterol. 鹌鹑蛋胆固醇含量高。
    40 fixed [fɪkst] JsKzzj   第8级
    adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
    参考例句:
    • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet? 你们俩选定婚期了吗?
    • Once the aim is fixed, we should not change it arbitrarily. 目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
    41 disapproval [ˌdɪsəˈpru:vl] VuTx4   第8级
    n.反对,不赞成
    参考例句:
    • The teacher made an outward show of disapproval. 老师表面上表示不同意。
    • They shouted their disapproval. 他们喊叫表示反对。
    42 fixedly [ˈfɪksɪdlɪ] 71be829f2724164d2521d0b5bee4e2cc   第8级
    adv.固定地;不屈地,坚定不移地
    参考例句:
    • He stared fixedly at the woman in white. 他一直凝视着那穿白衣裳的女人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • The great majority were silent and still, looking fixedly at the ground. 绝大部分的人都不闹不动,呆呆地望着地面。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
    43 peculiar [pɪˈkju:liə(r)] cinyo   第7级
    adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
    参考例句:
    • He walks in a peculiar fashion. 他走路的样子很奇特。
    • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression. 他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
    44 wriggled [ˈrɪgəld] cd018a1c3280e9fe7b0169cdb5687c29   第10级
    v.扭动,蠕动,蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 );(使身体某一部位)扭动;耍滑不做,逃避(应做的事等)
    参考例句:
    • He wriggled uncomfortably on the chair. 他坐在椅子上不舒服地扭动着身体。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • A snake wriggled across the road. 一条蛇蜿蜒爬过道路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    45 awfully [ˈɔ:fli] MPkym   第8级
    adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地
    参考例句:
    • Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past. 过去农业遭到严重忽视。
    • I've been feeling awfully bad about it. 对这我一直感到很难受。
    46 laboriously [lə'bɔ:rɪəslɪ] xpjz8l   第9级
    adv.艰苦地;费力地;辛勤地;(文体等)佶屈聱牙地
    参考例句:
    • She is tracing laboriously now. 她正在费力地写。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • She is laboriously copying out an old manuscript. 她正在费劲地抄出一份旧的手稿。 来自辞典例句
    47 labor ['leɪbə(r)] P9Tzs   第7级
    n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦
    参考例句:
    • We are never late in satisfying him for his labor. 我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
    • He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor. 艰苦劳动两周后,他已经疲惫不堪了。
    48 curiously ['kjʊərɪəslɪ] 3v0zIc   第9级
    adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地
    参考例句:
    • He looked curiously at the people. 他好奇地看着那些人。
    • He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold. 他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。
    49 idiocy [ˈɪdiəsi] 4cmzf   第12级
    n.愚蠢
    参考例句:
    • Stealing a car and then driving it drunk was the ultimate idiocy. 偷了车然后醉酒开车真是愚蠢到极点。
    • In this war there is an idiocy without bounds. 这次战争疯癫得没底。
    50 discreet [dɪˈskri:t] xZezn   第8级
    adj.(言行)谨慎的;慎重的;有判断力的
    参考例句:
    • He is very discreet in giving his opinions. 发表意见他十分慎重。
    • It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office. 你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。
    51 scrutiny [ˈskru:təni] ZDgz6   第7级
    n.详细检查,仔细观察
    参考例句:
    • His work looks all right, but it will not bear scrutiny. 他的工作似乎很好,但是经不起仔细检查。
    • Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny. 很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。
    52 mathematician [ˌmæθəməˈtɪʃn] aoPz2p   第8级
    n.数学家
    参考例句:
    • The man with his back to the camera is a mathematician. 背对着照相机的人是位数学家。
    • The mathematician analyzed his figures again. 这位数学家再次分析研究了他的这些数字。
    53 illuminated [i'lju:mineitid] 98b351e9bc282af85e83e767e5ec76b8   第7级
    adj.被照明的;受启迪的
    参考例句:
    • Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
    • the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市
    54 alas [əˈlæs] Rx8z1   第10级
    int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
    参考例句:
    • Alas! The window is broken! 哎呀! 窗子破了!
    • Alas, the truth is less romantic. 然而,真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
    55 hysterical [hɪˈsterɪkl] 7qUzmE   第9级
    adj.情绪异常激动的,歇斯底里般的
    参考例句:
    • He is hysterical at the sight of the photo. 他一看到那张照片就异常激动。
    • His hysterical laughter made everybody stunned. 他那歇斯底里的笑声使所有的人不知所措。
    56 wails [weilz] 6fc385b881232f68e3c2bd9685a7fcc7   第9级
    痛哭,哭声( wail的名词复数 )
    参考例句:
    • The child burst into loud wails. 那个孩子突然大哭起来。
    • Through this glaciated silence the white wails of the apartment fixed arbitrary planes. 在这冰封似的沉寂中,公寓的白色墙壁构成了一个个任意的平面。 来自英汉非文学 - 科幻
    57 necessitating [nɪ'sesɪteɪtɪŋ] 53a4b31e750840357e61880f4cd47201   第7级
    使…成为必要,需要( necessitate的现在分词 )
    参考例句:
    • Multiple network transmissions overlapping in the physical channel, resulting in garbled data and necessitating retransmission. 多个网络传输重迭发生在同一物理信道上,它导致数据被破坏,因而必须重传。
    • The health status of 435 consecutive patients with sleep disturbances necessitating polysomnography was investigated. 435个患有睡眠紊乱的病人进行多导睡眠描记法对其健康状况进行调查。
    58 immediate [ɪˈmi:diət] aapxh   第7级
    adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的
    参考例句:
    • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call. 他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
    • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting. 我们主张立即召开这个会议。
    59 craved [kreivd] e690825cc0ddd1a25d222b7a89ee7595   第8级
    渴望,热望( crave的过去式 ); 恳求,请求
    参考例句:
    • She has always craved excitement. 她总渴望刺激。
    • A spicy, sharp-tasting radish was exactly what her stomach craved. 她正馋着想吃一个香甜可口的红萝卜呢。
    60 yearned [jə:nd] df1a28ecd1f3c590db24d0d80c264305   第9级
    渴望,切盼,向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • The people yearned for peace. 人民渴望和平。
    • She yearned to go back to the south. 她渴望回到南方去。
    61 adorned [əˈdɔ:nd] 1e50de930eb057fcf0ac85ca485114c8   第8级
    [计]被修饰的
    参考例句:
    • The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
    • And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。
    62 coveted [ˈkʌvɪtid] 3debb66491eb049112465dc3389cfdca   第9级
    adj.令人垂涎的;垂涎的,梦寐以求的v.贪求,觊觎(covet的过去分词);垂涎;贪图
    参考例句:
    • He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
    • Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    63 bosom [ˈbʊzəm] Lt9zW   第7级
    n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
    参考例句:
    • She drew a little book from her bosom. 她从怀里取出一本小册子。
    • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom. 他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
    64 singed [sɪndʒd] dad6a30cdea7e50732a0ebeba3c4caff   第10级
    v.浅表烧焦( singe的过去式和过去分词 );(毛发)燎,烧焦尖端[边儿]
    参考例句:
    • He singed his hair as he tried to light his cigarette. 他点烟时把头发给燎了。
    • The cook singed the chicken to remove the fine hairs. 厨师把鸡燎一下,以便去掉细毛。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    65 ardent [ˈɑ:dnt] yvjzd   第8级
    adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的
    参考例句:
    • He's an ardent supporter of the local football team. 他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
    • Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career. 他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。
    66 lamely [ˈleɪmli] 950fece53b59623523b03811fa0c3117   第7级
    一瘸一拐地,不完全地
    参考例句:
    • I replied lamely that I hope to justify his confidence. 我漫不经心地回答说,我希望我能不辜负他对我的信任。
    • The wolf leaped lamely back, losing its footing and falling in its weakness. 那只狼一跛一跛地跳回去,它因为身体虚弱,一失足摔了一跤。

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