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当前位置:首页 -> 12级英语阅读 - > 三万元遗产 The $30,000 Bequest(6)
三万元遗产 The $30,000 Bequest(6)
添加时间:2014-11-23 17:32:32 浏览次数: 作者:未知
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  • It were a weariness to follow in detail the leaps and bounds the Foster fictitious1 finances took from this time forth2. It was marvelous, it was dizzying, it was dazzling. Everything Aleck touched turned to fairy gold, and heaped itself glittering toward the firmament3. Millions upon millions poured in, and still the mighty4 stream flowed thundering along, still its vast volume increased. Five millions-- ten millions--twenty--thirty--was there never to be an end?

    Two years swept by in a splendid delirium5, the intoxicated6 Fosters scarcely noticing the flight of time. They were now worth three hundred million dollars; they were in every board of directors of every prodigious7 combine in the country; and still as time drifted along, the millions went on piling up, five at a time, ten at a time, as fast as they could tally8 them off, almost. The three hundred double itself--then doubled again--and yet again--and yet once more.

    Twenty-four hundred millions!

    The business was getting a little confused. It was necessary to take an account of stock, and straighten it out. The Fosters knew it, they felt it, they realized that it was imperative9; but they also knew that to do it properly and perfectly10 the task must be carried to a finish without a break when once it was begun. A ten-hours' job; and where could THEY find ten leisure hours in a bunch? Sally was selling pins and sugar and calico all day and every day; Aleck was cooking and washing dishes and sweeping11 and making beds all day and every day, with none to help, for the daughters were being saved up for high society. The Fosters knew there was one way to get the ten hours, and only one. Both were ashamed to name it; each waited for the other to do it. Finally Sally said:

    "Somebody's got to give in. It's up to me. Consider that I've named it--never mind pronouncing it out aloud."

    Aleck colored, but was grateful. Without further remark, they fell. Fell, and--broke the Sabbath. For that was their only free ten-hour stretch. It was but another step in the downward path. Others would follow. Vast wealth has temptations which fatally and surely undermine the moral structure of persons not habituated to its possession.

    They pulled down the shades and broke the Sabbath. With hard and patient labor12 they overhauled13 their holdings and listed them. And a long-drawn procession of formidable names it was! Starting with the Railway Systems, Steamer Lines, Standard Oil, Ocean Cables, Diluted14 Telegraph, and all the rest, and winding15 up with Klondike, De Beers, Tammany Graft16, and Shady Privileges in the Post-office Department.

    Twenty-four hundred millions, and all safely planted in Good Things, gilt-edged and interest-bearing. Income, $120,000,000 a year. Aleck fetched a long purr of soft delight, and said:

    "Is it enough?"

    "It is, Aleck."

    "What shall we do?"

    "Stand pat."

    "Retire from business?"

    "That's it."

    "I am agreed. The good work is finished; we will take a long rest and enjoy the money."

    "Good! Aleck!"

    "Yes, dear?"

    "How much of the income can we spend?"

    "The whole of it."

    It seemed to her husband that a ton of chains fell from his limbs. He did not say a word; he was happy beyond the power of speech.

    After that, they broke the Sabbaths right along as fast as they turned up. It is the first wrong step that counts. Every Sunday they put in the whole day, after morning service, on inventions-- inventions of ways to spend the money. They got to continuing this delicious dissipation until past midnight; and at every s'eance Aleck lavished17 millions upon great charities and religious enterprises, and Sally lavished like sums upon matters to which (at first) he gave definite names. Only at first. Later the names gradually lost sharpness of outline, and eventually faded into "sundries," thus becoming entirely--but safely--undescriptive. For Sally was crumbling18. The placing of these millions added seriously and most uncomfortably to the family expenses--in tallow candles. For a while Aleck was worried. Then, after a little, she ceased to worry, for the occasion of it was gone. She was pained, she was grieved, she was ashamed; but she said nothing, and so became an accessory. Sally was taking candles; he was robbing the store. It is ever thus. Vast wealth, to the person unaccustomed to it, is a bane; it eats into the flesh and bone of his morals. When the Fosters were poor, they could have been trusted with untold19 candles. But now they--but let us not dwell upon it. From candles to apples is but a step: Sally got to taking apples; then soap; then maple-sugar; then canned goods; then crockery. How easy it is to go from bad to worse, when once we have started upon a downward course!

    Meantime, other effects had been milestoning the course of the Fosters' splendid financial march. The fictitious brick dwelling20 had given place to an imaginary granite21 one with a checker-board mansard roof; in time this one disappeared and gave place to a still grander home--and so on and so on. Mansion22 after mansion, made of air, rose, higher, broader, finer, and each in its turn vanished away; until now in these latter great days, our dreamers were in fancy housed, in a distant region, in a sumptuous23 vast palace which looked out from a leafy summit upon a noble prospect24 of vale and river and receding25 hills steeped in tinted26 mists-- and all private, all the property of the dreamers; a palace swarming27 with liveried servants, and populous28 with guests of fame and power, hailing from all the world's capitals, foreign and domestic.

    This palace was far, far away toward the rising sun, immeasurably remote, astronomically29 remote, in Newport, Rhode Island, Holy Land of High Society, ineffable30 Domain31 of the American Aristocracy. As a rule they spent a part of every Sabbath--after morning service-- in this sumptuous home, the rest of it they spent in Europe, or in dawdling32 around in their private yacht. Six days of sordid33 and plodding34 fact life at home on the ragged35 edge of Lakeside and straitened means, the seventh in Fairlyand--such had been their program and their habit.

    In their sternly restricted fact life they remained as of old-- plodding, diligent36, careful, practical, economical. They stuck loyally to the little Presbyterian Church, and labored37 faithfully in its interests and stood by its high and tough doctrines38 with all their mental and spiritual energies. But in their dream life they obeyed the invitations of their fancies, whatever they might be, and howsoever the fancies might change. Aleck's fancies were not very capricious, and not frequent, but Sally's scattered39 a good deal. Aleck, in her dream life, went over to the Episcopal camp, on account of its large official titles; next she became High-church on account of the candles and shows; and next she naturally changed to Rome, where there were cardinals40 and more candles. But these excursions were a nothing to Sally's. His dream life was a glowing and continuous and persistent41 excitement, and he kept every part of it fresh and sparkling by frequent changes, the religious part along with the rest. He worked his religions hard, and changed them with his shirt.

    The liberal spendings of the Fosters upon their fancies began early in their prosperities, and grew in prodigality42 step by step with their advancing fortunes. In time they became truly enormous. Aleck built a university or two per Sunday; also a hospital or two; also a Rowton hotel or so; also a batch43 of churches; now and then a cathedral; and once, with untimely and ill-chosen playfulness, Sally said, "It was a cold day when she didn't ship a cargo44 of missionaries45 to persuade unreflecting Chinamen to trade off twenty-four carat Confucianism for counterfeit46 Christianity."

    This rude and unfeeling language hurt Aleck to the heart, and she went from the presence crying. That spectacle went to his own heart, and in his pain and shame he would have given worlds to have those unkind words back. She had uttered no syllable47 of reproach-- and that cut him. Not one suggestion that he look at his own record-- and she could have made, oh, so many, and such blistering48 ones! Her generous silence brought a swift revenge, for it turned his thoughts upon himself, it summoned before him a spectral49 procession, a moving vision of his life as he had been leading it these past few years of limitless prosperity, and as he sat there reviewing it his cheeks burned and his soul was steeped in humiliation50. Look at her life--how fair it was, and tending ever upward; and look at his own--how frivolous51, how charged with mean vanities, how selfish, how empty, how ignoble52! And its trend--never upward, but downward, ever downward!

    He instituted comparisons between her record and his own. He had found fault with her--so he mused--HE! And what could he say for himself? When she built her first church what was he doing? Gathering53 other blas'e multimillionaires into a Poker54 Club; defiling55 his own palace with it; losing hundreds of thousands to it at every sitting, and sillily vain of the admiring notoriety it made for him. When she was building her first university, what was he doing? Polluting himself with a gay and dissipated secret life in the company of other fast bloods, multimillionaires in money and paupers56 in character. When she was building her first foundling asylum57, what was he doing? Alas58! When she was projecting her noble Society for the Purifying of the Sex, what was he doing? Ah, what, indeed! When she and the W. C. T. U. and the Woman with the Hatchet59, moving with resistless march, were sweeping the fatal bottle from the land, what was he doing? Getting drunk three times a day. When she, builder of a hundred cathedrals, was being gratefully welcomed and blest in papal Rome and decorated with the Golden Rose which she had so honorably earned, what was he doing? Breaking the bank at Monte Carlo.

    He stopped. He could go no farther; he could not bear the rest. He rose up, with a great resolution upon his lips: this secret life should be revealing, and confessed; no longer would he live it clandestinely60, he would go and tell her All.

    And that is what he did. He told her All; and wept upon her bosom61; wept, and moaned, and begged for her forgiveness. It was a profound shock, and she staggered under the blow, but he was her own, the core of her heart, the blessing62 of her eyes, her all in all, she could deny him nothing, and she forgave him. She felt that he could never again be quite to her what he had been before; she knew that he could only repent63, and not reform; yet all morally defaced and decayed as he was, was he not her own, her very own, the idol64 of her deathless worship? She said she was his serf, his slave, and she opened her yearning65 heart and took him in.

    如果继续跟踪福斯特家的虚财飞速增长的细枝末节,就有点儿乏味了。这一进程确实不可思议,令人眼花缭乱,头晕目眩。随便什么东西,艾莱柯都能点石成金,金光闪闪的财富越堆越高,直逼天穹。千百万的金钱流了进来,强大的财源仍然汹涌澎湃,巨大的流量还在不断增涨。五百万——一千万——两千万——三千万——难道永无止境了吗?

    两年的时光在一场前为壮观的狂热运动中匆匆度过,陶醉于其中的福斯特夫妇几乎没有留意时光流逝。他们如今拥有三亿块钱;在全国各大财团的董事会里,他们都有一席之地;而且随着时间的推移,财富还在一百万一百万地往上摞,一次一百万,一次一千万,快得让他们刚刚能算清楚。那三亿翻了一番——又翻了一番——一番接着一番。

    已经有二十四亿了!

    慢慢地,他们的生意有点儿乱了。有必要把股票的账目清一清,理理头绪。这一点福斯特夫妇懂得,也感觉出来了。他们意识到这项工作是必不可少的;然而,他们也懂得,想圆满完成这项任务,就要善始善终,一旦开始就不能中途停顿。完成这项工作需要十个钟头;可是,他们哪有整整十个钟头的空闲时间呢?萨利一天到晚忙着卖别针,卖糖,卖印花布,每日不变;艾莱柯一天到晚忙着做饭、刷碗、打扫屋子、叠被铺床,天天如此,没人帮她干家务,因为两个女儿都养精蓄锐等着跻身上流社会呢。福斯特夫妇知道有办法能腾出十个钟头来,这办法只有一个。可是夫妇俩人羞于启齿;都想等着对方先开口。最后,萨利开口了:

    “总要有人让步,那我就让吧。既然我说了——声音大一点儿你也别在意。”

    艾莱柯红了脸,不过她很感激丈夫。他们没有再说下去,就自甘堕落了。这堕落就是不守安息日不干活的规矩。因为只有这样他们才有十个钟头的时间。这不过是在堕落的道路上迈出的又一步。其他的堕落行为会接踵而来。巨额财富的诱惑是致命的,足以攻破修炼不深者的道德防线。

    他们放下窗帘,不守安息日的规矩了。经过艰苦细致的工作,他们把持有的股票清点一遍,逐一造册。这一长串鼎鼎大名真吓人啊!从铁路系统公司、汽船公司、标准石油公司、越洋电缆公司、稀声电报公司,如此等等的其他公司,直到克朗代克金矿、德比尔斯钻石矿、塔马尼贪财公司和邮政部的暧昧特权公司。

    二十四亿块钱,全都稳稳当当地投在绩优股上,财源茂盛,稳赚不赔。每年的收入是一亿二千万。艾莱柯轻松愉快地吐了一口长气说:

    “够了吧?”

    “够了,艾莱柯。”

    “那咱们怎么办呢?”

    “就此打住。”

    “洗手不干了?”

    “说得对。”

    “我同意。这件美事做完,咱们该好好休息休息,花钱享受了。”

    “太好了,艾莱柯!”

    “怎么样,亲爱的?”

    “这些收入咱们能花多少?”

    “全都能花。”

    看起来,她丈夫好像是一块石头落了地。他一句话也没说,他已经乐得说不出话来了。

    一旦发现了这个诀窍,从此以后,他们就不再守安息日的老规矩了。每个周日的晨祷以后,他们整整一天都用来编排——编排花钱的门道。这种美妙的消费活动总是持续到午夜过后。每次花钱大赛时,艾莱柯都大大方方地拿出几百万,施舍给知名慈善机构和教会产业。萨利也出手阔绰,拿出同样数目的钱,花在一些项目上。一开始他还给这些项目分别冠以固定的名目。这只是刚开始的时候。后来这些名目逐渐失去了鲜明的特色,最终淡化成“杂项类”,全都变成不清不白的名目了——这样做倒是安全。因为萨利已经开始瞎折腾了。安排这些数以百万计的巨款增加了家庭开支——买蜡烛的费用,这是一个严肃而极为棘手的问题。艾莱柯为这件事发过愁,很快就不再发愁了,因为发愁的根源已经不复存在。她也曾痛苦过,伤心过,害臊过;不过她保持了沉默,成了一个同谋。萨利开始偷蜡烛了,从商店往回偷。事情从来都是如此。巨额财富对穷惯了的人是一剂毒药,会连皮带骨吞噬他的良心。福斯特夫妇过穷日子的时候,交给他们多少蜡烛都能信得过。可是,如今他们——我们先不涉及这个问题。从偷蜡烛到偷苹果只有一步之遥:萨利开始偷苹果;后来是肥皂;再往后是枫糖、罐头、陶器。只要我们一开始走下坡路,越变越坏可真容易呀!

    与此同时,福斯特夫妇气吞山河的金融进程中又有了其他里程碑式的标志。那栋虚构的砖楼换成了一幢花岗岩造的有棋盘格子复式屋顶的建筑;后来,这幢房子也不见了,让位于一幢更加气派的住宅——如此等等。一幢又一幢建在虚空中的豪宅拔地而起,一幢比一幢更高,更宽敞,更精美,然后又一幢跟着一幢地无影无踪了。一直到后来这些大喜的日子,咱们的梦乡客已经住进了一座宫殿式的豪宅,这是一座山顶建筑,四周树木葱茏,宫殿俯瞰着山谷、河流以及云雾缭绕的层峦叠蟑——这都是私产,都归两位幻想者所有。宫殿里仆从如云,个个穿着制服,来自世界各大都市的名流权贵济济一堂,外宾内宾齐备。

    这座宫殿在很远的地方,远在天边,迎着东升的太阳,它遥不可及,恍如隔世。它建在罗得岛的新港,那里是上流社会的圣地,美国显贵们的禁脔。按照惯例,每逢安息日晨祷过后,他们在这所豪宅里消磨一部分时光,其他时间花在欧洲,或者花在优哉游哉的私人游艇上。每星期在湖滨镇寒酸的角落里捱过卑微乏味的六天以后,第七天就可以云游仙界——这已经成了他们的固定节目和习惯。

    在处处受到制约的现实生活中,他们仍然像往日那样——艰难度日、克勤克俭、小心翼翼、脚踏实地。他们一直对长老会的小教堂忠心耿耿,发自内心地为教会做事,全心全意地恪守神圣而严格的教规。可是在他们的虚幻生活中,他们却追随着幻想的诱惑,却不计较这幻想的性质和变化。艾莱柯的幻想还不算特别反复无常,而萨利的幻想却已经乱了套。艾莱柯在她的虚幻生活中,先是信主教派,因为这个教派的头面人物都有来头;然后改信高教派,这是因为那里的蜡烛点得多,场面比较讲究;自然,后来她又皈依罗马天主教会,因为他们有红衣主教,蜡烛点得更多。可是艾莱柯的这些花样在萨利看来没有一点意思。他的幻想生活是一幅热情奔放、永无止境的激动人心场面,这个千变万化的过程,保证了每一个场景都新鲜活泼、光彩照人,连宗教活动也是如此。他勤奋地参与宗教活动,像换衬衫似的变换花样。

    从福斯特夫妇交了财运的最初阶段起,他们就出手大方,随着财富逐渐增加,他们也更加慷慨。不久,他们简直是挥金如土了。艾莱柯每个周日都要建一到两所大学;另加一到两所医院;还有罗顿的一家医院和一批小教堂。时不时地建一座大教堂。有一次,萨利不合时宜、不加考虑地开了一句玩笑,他说:“要不是天冷,她已经送走一船传教士,去点化冥顽不灵的中国人拿24K金的孔教换假冒的基督教了。”

    这句没良心的粗话伤透了艾莱柯的心,她哭着跑到一边去了。此情此景让萨利于心不忍,他非常痛苦,臊得直想把泼出去的水收回来。她一句责备的话都没说——这更让他心如刀绞。居然没人让他自我反省——她本来可以劈头盖脑羞辱萨利一顿1她那宽宏大量的沉默当即报复了萨利,让他反躬自问,唤醒了他自己一连串丑恶的回忆。过去几年不尽财源滚滚来的生活他是如何度过的,这些场景一一展现在他的眼前。他坐在那里一边反省,一边脸上发烧,羞愧难当。看看妻子的生活——多么美好,蓬勃向上;再看看他自己的生活——何等轻浮,充斥着庸俗的虚荣,何等自私,何等空虚,何等卑琐啊!再看看生活的取向——从来没有上进心,只有堕落,不断的堕落!

    他把妻子的生活历程和自己的生活历程做了一番比较,找出了自己和妻子的差距——于是他沉思起来——他呀!他还有什么可辩解的?她建造第一座教堂的时候,他干吗去了?纠集了一帮玩腻了的百万富翁凑了一个牌局;在自己的宅子里头瞎折腾;一局输个千儿八百的不算,还傻呵呵地为争一个冤大头的美名沾沾自喜呢。她造第一所大学的时候,他干吗去了?他正和一个“相公”鬼混,作践自己呢;他还跟那些放浪形骸、除了钱以外一无所有的百万富翁为伍,干那些声色犬马的葡且勾当。她造第一间育婴堂的时候,他干吗去了?唉!她筹备那个高尚的女性纯洁会的时候,他干吗去了?啊,真是的!她和基督教妇女戒酒会、女性缉酒队的同仁们并肩战斗,扫荡那些害人的瓶瓶罐罐的时候,他干吗去了?他正一日三醉呢。当她捐造了一百座大教堂后,在教皇治下的罗马受到热烈欢迎,教皇向她颁授她当之无愧的金玫瑰勋章的时候,他又干吗去了?在蒙特卡罗抢银行呢!

    他停了下来。他实在想不下去了。其他的丑行劣迹更是让人不寒而栗。他站起身来,鼓足勇气想说实话:要让这段见不得人的生活曝光,坦白承认;他再也不能过这种人不人、鬼不鬼的日子了;他要去对她讲清楚。

    他说到做到。他对她讲清楚了一切;在她的怀里哭了起来;一哭三叹,乞求她的宽恕。艾莱柯极为震惊,在这场打击下几乎精神崩溃,不过他毕竟是她的亲人,她的主心骨,她心目中的守护神,是她一切的一切。无论什么样的要求,她都不能拒绝,于是他得到了她的宽恕。她觉得从今以后他再也不是从前的他了。她明白,他只能知错,但不会必改;然而,就算他如此道德败坏、腐朽堕落,难道他就不是她的亲人、她的心上人、她生死不渝崇拜的偶像了吗?她说,她嫁鸡随鸡,嫁狗随狗,然后她就敞开自己那扇思念的心扉,放他进去了。

     12级    英语小说 


    点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

    1 fictitious [fɪkˈtɪʃəs] 4kzxA   第9级
    adj.虚构的,假设的;空头的
    参考例句:
    • She invented a fictitious boyfriend to put him off. 她虚构出一个男朋友来拒绝他。
    • The story my mother told me when I was young is fictitious. 小时候妈妈对我讲的那个故事是虚构的。
    2 forth [fɔ:θ] Hzdz2   第7级
    adv.向前;向外,往外
    参考例句:
    • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth. 风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
    • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession. 他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
    3 firmament [ˈfɜ:məmənt] h71yN   第12级
    n.苍穹;最高层
    参考例句:
    • There are no stars in the firmament. 天空没有一颗星星。
    • He was rich, and a rising star in the political firmament. 他十分富有,并且是政治高层一颗冉冉升起的新星。
    4 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。
    5 delirium [dɪˈlɪriəm] 99jyh   第10级
    n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋
    参考例句:
    • In her delirium, she had fallen to the floor several times. 她在神志不清的状态下几次摔倒在地上。
    • For the next nine months, Job was in constant delirium. 接下来的九个月,约伯处于持续精神错乱的状态。
    6 intoxicated [ɪnˈtɒksɪkeɪtɪd] 350bfb35af86e3867ed55bb2af85135f   第8级
    喝醉的,极其兴奋的
    参考例句:
    • She was intoxicated with success. 她为成功所陶醉。
    • They became deeply intoxicated and totally disoriented. 他们酩酊大醉,东南西北全然不辨。
    7 prodigious [prəˈdɪdʒəs] C1ZzO   第9级
    adj.惊人的,奇妙的;异常的;巨大的;庞大的
    参考例句:
    • This business generates cash in prodigious amounts. 这种业务收益丰厚。
    • He impressed all who met him with his prodigious memory. 他惊人的记忆力让所有见过他的人都印象深刻。
    8 tally [ˈtæli] Gg1yq   第9级
    n.计数器,记分,一致,测量;vt.计算,记录,使一致;vi.计算,记分,一致
    参考例句:
    • Don't forget to keep a careful tally of what you spend. 别忘了仔细记下你的开支账目。
    • The facts mentioned in the report tally to every detail. 报告中所提到的事实都丝毫不差。
    9 imperative [ɪmˈperətɪv] BcdzC   第7级
    n.命令,需要;规则;祈使语气;adj.强制的;紧急的
    参考例句:
    • He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice. 他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
    • The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act. 过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。
    10 perfectly [ˈpɜ:fɪktli] 8Mzxb   第8级
    adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
    参考例句:
    • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said. 证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
    • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board. 我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
    11 sweeping [ˈswi:pɪŋ] ihCzZ4   第8级
    adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的
    参考例句:
    • The citizens voted for sweeping reforms. 公民投票支持全面的改革。
    • Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches? 你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗?
    12 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。
    13 overhauled [ˌəʊvəˈhɔ:ld] 6bcaf11e3103ba66ebde6d8eda09e974   第9级
    v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 );大修;赶上;超越
    参考例句:
    • Within a year the party had drastically overhauled its structure. 一年内这个政党已大刀阔斧地整顿了结构。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • A mechanic overhauled the car's motor with some new parts. 一个修理工对那辆汽车的发动机进行了彻底的检修,换了一些新部件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    14 diluted [daɪ'lju:tɪd] 016e8d268a5a89762de116a404413fef   第7级
    无力的,冲淡的
    参考例句:
    • The paint can be diluted with water to make a lighter shade. 这颜料可用水稀释以使色度淡一些。
    • This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields. 这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。
    15 winding [ˈwaɪndɪŋ] Ue7z09   第8级
    n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈
    参考例句:
    • A winding lane led down towards the river. 一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
    • The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation. 迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
    16 graft [grɑ:ft] XQBzg   第8级
    n.移植,嫁接,艰苦工作,贪污;v.移植,嫁接
    参考例句:
    • I am having a skin graft on my arm soon. 我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
    • The minister became rich through graft. 这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。
    17 lavished [ˈlæviʃt] 7f4bc01b9202629a8b4f2f96ba3c61a8   第7级
    v.过分给予,滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • I lavished all the warmth of my pent-up passion. 我把憋在心里那一股热烈的情感尽量地倾吐出来。 来自辞典例句
    • An enormous amount of attention has been lavished on these problems. 在这些问题上,我们已经花费了大量的注意力。 来自辞典例句
    18 crumbling ['krʌmbliŋ] Pyaxy   第8级
    adj.摇摇欲坠的
    参考例句:
    • an old house with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof 一所灰泥剥落、屋顶漏水的老房子
    • The boat was tied up alongside a crumbling limestone jetty. 这条船停泊在一个摇摇欲坠的石灰岩码头边。
    19 untold [ˌʌnˈtəʊld] ljhw1   第9级
    adj.数不清的,无数的
    参考例句:
    • She has done untold damage to our chances. 她给我们的机遇造成了不可估量的损害。
    • They suffered untold terrors in the dark and huddled together for comfort. 他们遭受着黑暗中的难以言传的种种恐怖,因而只好挤在一堆互相壮胆。
    20 dwelling [ˈdwelɪŋ] auzzQk   第7级
    n.住宅,住所,寓所
    参考例句:
    • Those two men are dwelling with us. 那两个人跟我们住在一起。
    • He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street. 他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。
    21 granite [ˈgrænɪt] Kyqyu   第9级
    adj.花岗岩,花岗石
    参考例句:
    • They squared a block of granite. 他们把一块花岗岩加工成四方形。
    • The granite overlies the older rocks. 花岗岩躺在磨损的岩石上面。
    22 mansion [ˈmænʃn] 8BYxn   第7级
    n.大厦,大楼;宅第
    参考例句:
    • The old mansion was built in 1850. 这座古宅建于1850年。
    • The mansion has extensive grounds. 这大厦四周的庭园广阔。
    23 sumptuous [ˈsʌmptʃuəs] Rqqyl   第9级
    adj.豪华的,奢侈的,华丽的
    参考例句:
    • The guests turned up dressed in sumptuous evening gowns. 客人们身着华丽的夜礼服出现了。
    • We were ushered into a sumptuous dining hall. 我们被领进一个豪华的餐厅。
    24 prospect [ˈprɒspekt] P01zn   第7级
    n.前景,前途;景色,视野
    参考例句:
    • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect. 事态呈现出可喜的前景。
    • The prospect became more evident. 前景变得更加明朗了。
    25 receding [riˈsi:dɪŋ] c22972dfbef8589fece6affb72f431d1   第7级
    v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 );向后倾斜;自原处后退或避开别人的注视;尤指问题
    参考例句:
    • Desperately he struck out after the receding lights of the yacht. 游艇的灯光渐去渐远,他拼命划水追赶。 来自辞典例句
    • Sounds produced by vehicles receding from us seem lower-pitched than usual. 渐渐远离我们的运载工具发出的声似乎比平常的音调低。 来自辞典例句
    26 tinted [tɪntid] tinted   第9级
    adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词
    参考例句:
    • a pair of glasses with tinted lenses 一副有色镜片眼镜
    • a rose-tinted vision of the world 对世界的理想化看法
    27 swarming ['swɔ:mɪŋ] db600a2d08b872102efc8fbe05f047f9   第7级
    密集( swarm的现在分词 ); 云集; 成群地移动; 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去
    参考例句:
    • The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。
    • The beach is swarming with bathers. 海滩满是海水浴的人。
    28 populous [ˈpɒpjələs] 4ORxV   第9级
    adj.人口稠密的,人口众多的
    参考例句:
    • London is the most populous area of Britain. 伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
    • China is the most populous developing country in the world. 中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。
    29 astronomically [ˌæstrə'nɒmɪklɪ] 44a6672c53e167d95b44195b013dda65   第8级
    天文学上
    参考例句:
    • The bill was astronomically high. 账单上的金额高得没谱儿。
    • They have only been read as the multitude read the stars, at most astrologically, not astronomically. 它们之被群众阅读,有如群众之阅览繁星,至多是从星象学而不是从天文学的角度阅览的。
    30 ineffable [ɪnˈefəbl] v7Mxp   第11级
    adj.无法表达的,不可言喻的
    参考例句:
    • The beauty of a sunset is ineffable. 日落的美是难以形容的。
    • She sighed a sigh of ineffable satisfaction, as if her cup of happiness were now full. 她发出了一声说不出多么满意的叹息,仿佛她的幸福之杯已经斟满了。
    31 domain [dəˈmeɪn] ys8xC   第7级
    n.(活动等)领域,范围;领地,势力范围
    参考例句:
    • This information should be in the public domain. 这一消息应该为公众所知。
    • This question comes into the domain of philosophy. 这一问题属于哲学范畴。
    32 dawdling ['dɔ:dlɪŋ] 9685b05ad25caee5c16a092f6e575992   第10级
    adj.闲逛的,懒散的v.混(时间)( dawdle的现在分词 )
    参考例句:
    • Stop dawdling! We're going to be late! 别磨蹭了,咱们快迟到了!
    • It was all because of your dawdling that we were late. 都是你老磨蹭,害得我们迟到了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    33 sordid [ˈsɔ:dɪd] PrLy9   第10级
    adj.肮脏的,不干净的,卑鄙的,暗淡的
    参考例句:
    • He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively. 他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。
    • They lived in a sordid apartment. 他们住在肮脏的公寓房子里。
    34 plodding ['plɔdiŋ] 5lMz16   第11级
    a.proceeding in a slow or dull way
    参考例句:
    • They're still plodding along with their investigation. 他们仍然在不厌其烦地进行调查。
    • He is plodding on with negotiations. 他正缓慢艰难地进行着谈判。
    35 ragged [ˈrægɪd] KC0y8   第7级
    adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的
    参考例句:
    • A ragged shout went up from the small crowd. 这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
    • Ragged clothing infers poverty. 破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
    36 diligent [ˈdɪlɪdʒənt] al6ze   第7级
    adj.勤勉的,勤奋的
    参考例句:
    • He is the more diligent of the two boys. 他是这两个男孩中较用功的一个。
    • She is diligent and keeps herself busy all the time. 她真勤快,一会儿也不闲着。
    37 labored ['leɪbəd] zpGz8M   第7级
    adj.吃力的,谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转
    参考例句:
    • I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing. 我离那头麋鹿非常近,能听见它吃力的呼吸声。 来自辞典例句
    • They have labored to complete the job. 他们努力完成这一工作。 来自辞典例句
    38 doctrines ['dɒktrɪnz] 640cf8a59933d263237ff3d9e5a0f12e   第7级
    n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 );教义;学说;(政府政策的)正式声明
    参考例句:
    • To modern eyes, such doctrines appear harsh, even cruel. 从现代的角度看,这样的教义显得苛刻,甚至残酷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    39 scattered ['skætəd] 7jgzKF   第7级
    adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的
    参考例句:
    • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来,塞进文件夹里。
    40 cardinals [ˈkɑ:dinlz] 8aa3d7ed97d6793c87fe821585838a4a   第7级
    红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 ); 红衣凤头鸟(见于北美,雄鸟为鲜红色); 基数
    参考例句:
    • cardinals in scarlet robes 身披红袍的枢机主教
    • A conclave of cardinals was held to elect the new Pope. 红衣主教团举行了秘密会议来选举新教皇。
    41 persistent [pəˈsɪstənt] BSUzg   第7级
    adj.坚持不懈的,执意的;持续的
    参考例句:
    • Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days. 艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
    • She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions. 他不时地向她大献殷勤,使她很难为情。
    42 prodigality [ˌprɒdɪ'ɡælətɪ] f35869744d1ab165685c3bd77da499e1   第9级
    n.浪费,挥霍
    参考例句:
    • Laughter is easier minute by minute, spilled with prodigality. 笑声每时每刻都变得越来越容易,毫无节制地倾泻出来。 来自辞典例句
    • Laughter is easier minute by minute, spilled with prodigality, tipped out at a cheerful word. 笑声每时每刻都变得越来越容易,毫无节制地倾泻出来,只要一句笑话就会引起哄然大笑。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比
    43 batch [bætʃ] HQgyz   第7级
    n.一批(组,群);一批生产量
    参考例句:
    • The first batch of cakes was burnt. 第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
    • I have a batch of letters to answer. 我有一批信要回复。
    44 cargo [ˈkɑ:gəʊ] 6TcyG   第7级
    n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物
    参考例句:
    • The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton. 这条船大约有200吨的货物。
    • A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship. 许多人从船上卸下货物。
    45 missionaries [ˈmiʃənəriz] 478afcff2b692239c9647b106f4631ba   第7级
    n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 )
    参考例句:
    • Some missionaries came from England in the Qing Dynasty. 清朝时,从英国来了一些传教士。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • The missionaries rebuked the natives for worshipping images. 传教士指责当地人崇拜偶像。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    46 counterfeit [ˈkaʊntəfɪt] 1oEz8   第9级
    vt.伪造,仿造;adj.伪造的,假冒的
    参考例句:
    • It is a crime to counterfeit money. 伪造货币是犯罪行为。
    • The painting looked old but was a recent counterfeit. 这幅画看上去年代久远,实际是最近的一幅赝品。
    47 syllable [ˈsɪləbl] QHezJ   第8级
    n.音节;vt.分音节
    参考例句:
    • You put too much emphasis on the last syllable. 你把最后一个音节读得太重。
    • The stress on the last syllable is light. 最后一个音节是轻音节。
    48 blistering ['blɪstərɪŋ] b3483dbc53494c3a4bbc7266d4b3c723   第9级
    adj.酷热的;猛烈的;使起疱的;可恶的v.起水疱;起气泡;使受暴晒n.[涂料] 起泡
    参考例句:
    • The runners set off at a blistering pace. 赛跑运动员如脱缰野马般起跑了。
    • This failure is known as preferential wetting and is responsible for blistering. 这种故障称为优先吸湿,是产生气泡的原因。 来自辞典例句
    49 spectral [ˈspektrəl] fvbwg   第12级
    adj.幽灵的,鬼魂的
    参考例句:
    • At times he seems rather ordinary. At other times ethereal, perhaps even spectral. 有时他好像很正常,有时又难以捉摸,甚至像个幽灵。
    • She is compelling, spectral fascinating, an unforgettably unique performer. 她极具吸引力,清幽如鬼魅,令人着迷,令人难忘,是个独具特色的演员。
    50 humiliation [hju:ˌmɪlɪ'eɪʃn] Jd3zW   第7级
    n.羞辱
    参考例句:
    • He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
    • He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。
    51 frivolous [ˈfrɪvələs] YfWzi   第9级
    adj.轻薄的;轻率的;无聊的
    参考例句:
    • This is a frivolous way of attacking the problem. 这是一种轻率敷衍的处理问题的方式。
    • He spent a lot of his money on frivolous things. 他在一些无聊的事上花了好多钱。
    52 ignoble [ɪgˈnəʊbl] HcUzb   第9级
    adj.不光彩的,卑鄙的;可耻的
    参考例句:
    • There's something cowardly and ignoble about such an attitude. 这种态度有点怯懦可鄙。
    • Some very great men have come from ignoble families. 有些伟人出身低微。
    53 gathering [ˈgæðərɪŋ] ChmxZ   第8级
    n.集会,聚会,聚集
    参考例句:
    • He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering. 他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
    • He is on the wing gathering material for his novels. 他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
    54 poker [ˈpəʊkə(r)] ilozCG   第10级
    n.扑克;vt.烙制
    参考例句:
    • He was cleared out in the poker game. 他打扑克牌,把钱都输光了。
    • I'm old enough to play poker and do something with it. 我打扑克是老手了,可以玩些花样。
    55 defiling [dɪˈfaɪlɪŋ] b6cd249ea6b79ad79ad6e9c1c48a77d3   第9级
    v.玷污( defile的现在分词 );污染;弄脏;纵列行进
    参考例句:
    • Why, to put such a phantasmagoria on the table would be defiling the whole flat. 是啊,在桌上摆这么一个妖形怪状的东西,就把整个住宅都弄得乌烟瘴气了!” 来自互联网
    56 paupers [ˈpɔ:pəz] 4c4c583df03d9b7a0e9ba5a2f5e9864f   第9级
    n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 );贫民;贫穷
    参考例句:
    • The garment is expensive, paupers like you could never afford it! 这件衣服很贵,你这穷鬼根本买不起! 来自互联网
    • Child-friendliest among the paupers were Burkina Faso and Malawi. 布基纳法索,马拉维,这俩贫穷国家儿童友善工作做得不错。 来自互联网
    57 asylum [əˈsaɪləm] DobyD   第8级
    n.避难所,庇护所,避难
    参考例句:
    • The people ask for political asylum. 人们请求政治避难。
    • Having sought asylum in the West for many years, they were eventually granted it. 他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。
    58 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。
    59 hatchet [ˈhætʃɪt] Dd0zr   第10级
    n.短柄小斧;v.扼杀
    参考例句:
    • I shall have to take a hatchet to that stump. 我得用一把短柄斧来劈这树桩。
    • Do not remove a fly from your friend's forehead with a hatchet. 别用斧头拍打朋友额头上的苍蝇。
    60 clandestinely [klæn'destɪnlɪ] 9e8402766bdca8ca5456d40c568e6e85   第9级
    adv.秘密地,暗中地
    参考例句:
    • You should do your competing clandestinely, by disguising your export volumes and prices somehow. 你应该设法隐瞒出口数量和价格,暗中进行竞争。 来自辞典例句
    • Darlington. Stevens's angst is clandestinely disclosed while he makes contact with other people. 就在史帝文斯与他人接触的当下,透露出一种不可言喻的焦虑气氛。 来自互联网
    61 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。
    62 blessing [ˈblesɪŋ] UxDztJ   第7级
    n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿
    参考例句:
    • The blessing was said in Hebrew. 祷告用了希伯来语。
    • A double blessing has descended upon the house. 双喜临门。
    63 repent [rɪˈpent] 1CIyT   第8级
    vi. 后悔;忏悔 vt. 后悔;对…感到后悔 adj. [植] 匍匐生根的;[动] 爬行的
    参考例句:
    • He has nothing to repent of. 他没有什么要懊悔的。
    • Remission of sins is promised to those who repent. 悔罪者可得到赦免。
    64 idol [ˈaɪdl] Z4zyo   第8级
    n.偶像,红人,宠儿
    参考例句:
    • As an only child he was the idol of his parents. 作为独子,他是父母的宠儿。
    • Blind worship of this idol must be ended. 对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。
    65 yearning ['jə:niŋ] hezzPJ   第9级
    a.渴望的;向往的;怀念的
    参考例句:
    • a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
    • He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。

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