经典英语短文20篇，囊括3500个核心单词，提升词汇量必备！（音频跟读）
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英语口语·吉米老师说
英语单词总是背了忘，忘了背？背了很多遍，就是记不住？其实英语单词，不能靠死记硬背，而是要在句子中进行应用，才能记得牢！吉米老师分享20篇英语短文，轻松搞定高考3500词！都是带音频的。每天背一篇，不仅增加词汇量，还可以作为写作范文参考。11. A New Farming Way
新的耕种方式
Tuan was a farmer in Vietnam. For decades, he had been struggling to rid his family of hunger. However, it always confused him how to expand the output of his crops. This disturbing problem led to his regretting being a farmer. He would rather have chosen another job.
One day, when skimming through a newspaper, Tuan read a comment on Yuan Longpin. He underlined Yuan’s nationality and occupation, and then focused on his discovery and the statistics of his research. He found the knowledge Yuan circulated very practical. Therefore, he made a summary and began to build up a new farming method. He planted super grain of rich nutrition and equipped himself to keep his crops roots free from bacteria and pests. He also enriched minerals in the soil while reducing chemical fertilizers. Though it cost him more time and freedom, he was full of hope.
The next year, Tuan was sunburnt but satisfied with his production very much. Thanks to Yuan Longpin, he not only won the battle against hunger, but he could also export his crops abroad.
俊是一名越南的农民，几十年来，他都一直在努力使家人摆脱饥饿。然而，如何扩大他的农作物产量这一问题却一直在困扰着他。这个恼人的问题导致了他后悔当一名农民，而宁愿自己当初选择其它的工作。
一天，俊在浏览报纸的时候，读到一篇关于袁隆平的评论。他在袁的国籍和职业下面划了线，然后将焦点集中在他的发现和研究数据上。他发现袁传播的知识非常实用，因此，他做了摘要，并开始建立一种新的耕作方式。他种植营养丰富的超级谷物，添置设备以使作物的根部免受细菌害虫的伤害；他还增加土壤所含的矿物质，同时减少化学肥料的使用。尽管耗费了他更多的时间和自由，他却充满着希望。
第二年，俊被晒黑了，但是却对自己的生产非常满意。多亏了袁隆平，他不仅赢得了对抗饥饿的战斗，而且还将自己的作物出口到国外呢。
重点词汇解析：
1. Vietnam n. 越南
2. decade n. 十年，十年期；十
over the past decade 在过去的十年里
3. struggle
vi. 奋斗，努力；挣扎 vt. 使劲移动；尽力使得
n. 努力，奋斗；竞争
常用短语：
struggle to do sth. 努力; 斗争
struggle with 扭打 与…斗争
struggle for 为…奋斗；为…争斗
struggle against 与…作斗争，和…斗争
struggle on 挣扎下去
4. rid vt. 使摆脱；使去掉
get rid of 处理掉某物; 摆脱掉某物
5. hunger
n. 饿，饥饿；渴望
vi. 渴望；挨饿 vt. 使……挨饿
常用短语：
hunger for 渴望
hunger strike n. 绝食抗议
die of hunger 饿死；死于饥饿
suffer hunger 挨饿
hunger after 渴望
6. confuse vt. 使混乱;使困惑; vi. 使糊涂
常用短语：
confuse with 混淆
confuse black and white 混淆黑白，是非不分
confuse sb. 使困惑
7. expand vt. 扩张；使膨胀；详述 vi. 发展；张开，展开
常用短语：
expand into 扩大为
expand on 详述
expand all 全部展开；显示所有文件；扩展所有的
8. output n. 输出，输出量；产量；出产 vt. 输出
9. crop
n. 产量；农作物；庄稼；平头
vt. 种植；收割；修剪；剪短 vi. 收获
常用短语：
in crop (土地)种着庄稼
crop yield 粮食产量，作物产量；谷物收获量
crop up 突然出现
cream of the crop 精华；最优秀的人
a crop of 许多，一批，一堆
good crop 丰收
crop year [经]收成年度；农事年
例句：
Her husband was cropped from the photograph.
她丈夫被从照片上剪下去了。【 剪裁，裁切(照片)】
She had her long hair cut into a boyish crop.
她把长发剪成了男孩子般的短发。【短发】
She cropped her hair and dyed it blonde.
她把头发剪短并染成了金黄色。【 剪短(头发)】
10. disturb
vt. 打扰；妨碍；使不安；弄乱；使恼怒 vi. 打扰；妨碍
常用短语：
disturb sb. 打扰某人，使不安; 使烦恼
12. Chaplin - A Great Master of Humour
幽默大师卓别林
Chaplin was an extraordinary performer who starred in and directed many outstanding comedies. Few were bored watching his moustache, his gestures or his entertaining reactions when chased by detectives. Being drunk, sliding on a banana skin or whispering his own failures to nobody, he made us feel more content with our life without any verbal explanation. His particular sense of humor has astonished everybody throughout the world up to now.
In a small budget film, he played a badly-off and homeless person wearing worn-out shoes and messy clothes. On one occasion, he was trapped by a snowstorm in a vast mountainous area. Though he overcame many difficulties, he wasn’t fortunate enough. With all the porridge eaten up, he picked out a shoe and boiled it to eat. He cut off the leather bottom and chewed it like a pancake. According to an actress, his acting was so convincing and amusing that everybody couldn’t help bursting into laughter.
卓别林是一名非凡的演员，他主演并导演了多部杰出的喜剧。看见他可笑的小胡子、滑稽的手势动作，还有面对警探的追捕时有趣的反应，很少有人会觉得厌烦。喝醉酒啦，踩到香蕉皮滑倒啦，或者自言自语（低语）自己的糗事啦，他无需任何语言解释的表演总是使我们对自己的生活感到更加满意。他独特的幽默感直到现在依然使世界各地的人们都感到惊讶。
在一部小预算的电影里，他穿着磨破的鞋子和脏兮兮的衣服，扮演了一名贫穷又无家可归的人。在一幕场景中，他被一场暴风雪困在一片多山的区里。尽管他克服了许多困难，但是他还是运气不好的。粥都吃完了，他只好挑出一只鞋子煮来吃。他切下皮革的鞋底，像烙饼一样地咀嚼起来。据一名女演员所说，他的表演是如此地令人信服而又逗人发笑的，以致在场的所有人都忍不住大笑起来。
重点词汇解析：
1. extraordinary adj. 非凡的； 特别的； 非常奇特的
2. performer n. 演出者；执行者；演奏者
词语辨析：这组词都有“演员”的意思，区别是：
player 侧重指职业或业余舞台演员。
performer 使用广泛，不仅可指舞台或影视演员，而且可指舞蹈演员、乐器演奏等的演员，侧重在观众面前的实际表演。
actor 指在舞台剧、电影、电视剧或广播剧中以演出为职业的男演员，侧重扮演的角色。
3. star in 在…里演主角，由…出演主角
4. direct
adj. 直接的；直系的；亲身的；恰好的
vt. 管理；指挥；导演；指向 vi. 指导；指挥
adv. 直接地；正好；按直系关系
常用短语：
direct at 使(话语或眼神)针对，指向，冲…而来
The abuse was directed at the TV crews.
这些辱骂是冲着电视台的工作人员来的。
5. outstanding adj. 杰出的； 显著的； 凸出的； 未完成的
词语辨析：这组词都有“显著的，引人注意的”的意思，区别是：
striking 侧重能给观察者产生强烈而深刻印象。
remarkable 通常指因有与众不同的特点或优越性而引起人们注意或称道。
noticeable 指所描绘的事物引人注意。
outstanding 通常指与同行或同类的人相比显得优秀或杰出，或具有他人或别的事物所没有的特征。
例句：
We still have some outstanding issues to resolve before we'll have a treaty that is ready to sign.
我们在签署这份条约之前还有一些悬而未决的问题要解决。【尚未解决的】
6. bored
adj. 无聊的；无趣的；烦人的
v. 使厌烦（bore的过去式）；烦扰
bored with 对…厌倦
7. moustache n. 小胡子；髭；触须
8. gesture
n. 姿态；手势
vi. 作手势；用动作示意 vt. 用动作表示
make a gesture 做手势，表示
9. entertaining adj. 令人愉快的 v. 款待(entertain的ing形式)
相关词汇：
entertain vt. 娱乐；招待；怀抱；容纳 vi. 款待
I feel how foolish I am to entertain doubts.
我竟然心存怀疑，真是太愚蠢了。【考虑，心存，怀有（主意、建议等）】
10. react vi. 反应，作出反应；产生（化学）反应
常用短语：
react on 起作用于；对…有影响
react against 反抗；反对；起反作用
react to （作出）反应；回应
13.A Misunderstanding
一场误会
In general, spoken statements are the major way of communication, but body language and facial expressions also have such kinds of function. For example, yawning means being not interested and turning one’s back to someone or swinging your fist shows your anger. But what those gestures really mean is subjective in different cultures. Thus, misunderstandings happen now and then in today’s world of cultural crossroads.
Once, representing the Adults’ Education Association, I went to the airport to meet an official of high rank from Columbia and take him to his dormitory and then to the canteen. After the flight arrived, I saw a man looking around curiously. So I approached to greet him. He suddenly dashed to hug me and kissed me on both cheeks. As a young girl, I felt truly embarrassed and put up my hands to defend myself. His false smile told me that he had lost face.
Later, I received a cassette from him, in which he recorded his apology. On hearing that Columbians were more likely to kiss others, I soon felt at ease.
通常说来，口头表达是人们交流的主要方法，但是肢体语言和面部表情也有这种功能。例如，打哈欠意味着不感兴趣，背对别人或向其挥舞拳头表达的是愤怒。但是在不同的文化中那些手势表达的真正意思是很主观的。由此，误会就时不时地发生在今天这个文化交叉碰撞的世界里。
有一回，我代表成人教育协会到机场去接一位从哥伦比亚来的高级官员，我得带他到宿舍和食堂。当他的航班到达时，我看见一名男子好奇地东张西望，于是走上前去和他打招呼。他突然猛冲过来拥抱我，还亲了我的脸颊。还是个年轻姑娘的我感到真尴尬，不由自主举起手来保护自己。他的假笑告诉我他感到丢了面子。
后来，我收到他送来的一盒磁带，里面录了他的道歉。当听到这只是因为哥伦比亚人更倾向于见面时互相亲吻时，我很快就感到轻松安心了。
重点词汇解析：
1. in general 总之，通常；一般而言
2. spoken statement 口头表达
3. major
adj.主要的； 重要的； 大调的； 主修的（课程）
n.主修科目； 大调； 陆军少校； 成年
vi.主修，专攻； 专攻；
常用短语：
major in 主修
English major 英语专业
词语辨析：这组词都有“首要的，主要的”的意思，区别是：
principal 用于人时，指地位优于其他人；用于物时，指该物在大小、重要性等方面优于他物。
leading 侧重指具有影响力或凝聚力。从而有主导和引导的作用。
primary 通常不用于人。用于物时，指在重要性方面占第一位。
foremost 侧重指在行进或发展过程中居首位。
capital 着重指因重要性、意义、优越或重大而名列同类之首。
major 指同其他人或其它物、问题等相比较，显得更加重要和突出。
chief 拽人时，表同类中职位最高，权力最大；指物时，表同类中最重要，价值最高。
main 通常只用于物。指在一定范围内，某物的重要性、体积或力量等超过其它物。
4. facial
adj. 面部的，表面的；脸的，面部用的
n. 美容，美颜；脸部按摩
常用短语：
facial expression 面部表情
facial cream 面霜
facial cleanser 洗面奶；洁面乳
5. function
n. 功能；函数；职责；盛大的集会
vi. 运行；活动；行使职责
常用短语：
as a function of 根据
function as 担任，兼起作用
例句：
The private function hosted by one of his students.
这场私人宴会由他的一个学生做东举办。【宴会; 社交聚会】
6. yawn
n. 哈欠；裂口
vi. 打哈欠；裂开vt. 张开；打著哈欠说
例句：
The concert was a predictable yawn.
果不其然，那场音乐会很乏味。【乏味的事物;枯燥的事物】
The gulf between them yawned wider than ever.
他们之间的隔阂比以往任何时候都要深。【 （裂隙或缺口）裂开，豁开】
7. turn one’s back to 背对
turn one's back to sb 不理睬某人
turn one's back on 抛弃，背弃
8. fist
n. 拳，拳头；笔迹；掌握
vt. 紧握；握成拳；用拳打
常用短语：
hand over fist 平稳快捷地；不费力地；（尤指钱）大量地
clenched fist 紧握拳
make a fist 握拳；（把手指）捏成拳头
9. anger
n. 怒，愤怒；忿怒
vt. 使发怒，激怒；恼火 vi. 发怒；恼火
常用短语：
in anger 生气地，愤怒地
anger sb. 使气愤
词语辨析：这组词都有“愤怒、生气”的意思，区别是
resentment n.愤恨，怨恨，不满，是正式用语，尤指由于受侮辱或自尊心受到伤害后而产生的愤慨。
There was a feeling of resentment in the office after everyone's pay was lowered.大家的工资降低后，办公室里怨声载道。
fury n.暴怒，大怒，程度较anger要强。
anger n.气愤，生气，是一般用语。
After their argument, he expressed his anger by punching the other man in the face.争吵之后，他一拳打在那个人的脸上以发泄怒气。
indignation n.义愤，尤其指出于道义上的激愤。
10. subjective adj. 主观的；个人的；自觉的
objective adj. 客观的；目标的；宾格的 n. 目的；目标
14.A Unique Theme Park
独一无二的主题公园
As soon as our shuttle got close to the theme park by the freeway, everyone came to life and put on cloth sneakers in advance for an outing. Our translator paid for the admission, and we started enjoying the various attractions in the sunlight.
According to the travel brochure, this unique park is famous for its well preserved minority culture. We experienced many deeds of the early settlers, such as swinging across rivers, hunting creatures in the jungle, or taking part in swords fighting tournaments.
This park is also famous for its wooden souvenirs. Whichever we bought in the central shop was made of wood, and wherever we went we could see minority carpenters working. They made wooden tools, wooden cartoon figures, wooden athletic products and so on. They even built a huge wooden engine with a length of 20 metres, which was modeled after a real one.
This theme park is really a fantasy amusement park. No wonder it has become the brand of local tourism.
我们走高速公路的来往穿梭巴士一接近主题公园，大家都活跃了起来，并且提前穿上了布鞋，做好这趟外出旅游的准备。翻译付了入场费后，我们就开始在阳光下欣赏各种各样吸引人的东西。
根据旅行手册的介绍，这个独一无二的公园因其得到良好保护的少数名族文化而闻名。我们体验了许多早期定居者所做的事，如荡过河啦，在丛林中猎杀动物啦，或者参加剑术比赛啦等等。
这个公园还因为它的木制纪念品而闻名，我们在中心商场购买的任何一件物品，都是用木头制作的，无论我们走到哪里，都可以看见少数名族的木匠们在忙碌。他们制作的有木制工具、木制的卡通人物、木制的运动用的产品，等等等等。他们甚至还根据一台真实发动机仿造了一台长度有20米的木制发动机。
这个主题公园真是个充满幻想的娱乐公园，怪不得它成为当地旅游业的一个品牌。
重点词汇解析：
1. shuttle
n. 航天飞机；穿梭；梭子；穿梭班机、公共汽车等
vt. 使穿梭般来回移动；短程穿梭般运送
vi. 穿梭往返
2. get close to 靠近，接近
3. theme
n. 主题；主旋律；题目
adj. 以奇想主题布置的
词语辨析：这组词都有“乐曲、曲调”的意思，区别是：
song 多指配有歌词的歌曲。
theme 指主旋律。
melody 指悦耳的曲调旋律。
tune 指曲调，与配有歌词的歌曲相对。
4. freeway n. 高速公路
6. come to life 苏醒；表现生动；振作起来
7. cloth sneaker 布鞋
8. in advance 预先，提前
9. outing
n. 远足；短途旅游；体育比赛
adj. 远足适用的
v. 出来；暴露（out的ing形式）
常用短语：
spring outing 春游
go outing 去郊游；外出游玩
go for an outing 去郊游；去远足
10. translator n. 译者；翻译器
相关词汇：
translate vt.& vi. 翻译； 解释； 转化
常用短语：
translate into 翻译成 ；(使)转变为;(使)转化为
translates as (翻译过来) 意思是，(将…)理解为;(把…)解释为
15.A Strange Disease
奇怪的疾病
When the construction of the firework factory came to the stage of painting, a pump was put in. Then, all the painters in the neighbourhood were defeated by a severe disease whose characteristic was alike to that of a bad burn.An expert physician was instructed to attend to the victims and handle this case. He was enthusiastic, but he didn’t foresee that it was a hard challenge. After simple enquiry, he announced that the polluted paint was to blame. But without positive evidence, people suspected and rejected his view, saying the theory he put forward made no sense. Being much more strict with himself, he contributed himself to the case. Apart from making enquiries, he made detailed charts and analysed the data cautiously. Finally, he drew a scientific conclusion, linking the disease to the radium in the pump. Exposed to radium, a kind of radioactive material in the universe, people absorbed radiation and got sick immediately.Spinning the pump backward, he took away the radium. This simple movement cured all the victims.
重点词汇解析：
1. construction n.建筑物； 建造； 解释例句：He put the wrong construction on what he saw. 他误解了所见到的事情。【(对某人言行的)解释，理解，阐释】
2. firework n. 烟火，烟花； （热情，怒气等的）迸发
3. pumpvt. 打气；用抽水机抽… vi. 抽水n. 泵，抽水机；打气筒例句：One woman was rushed to the emergency room to have her stomach pumped.一名妇女被紧急送进急诊室去洗胃。【洗胃】He ran in every five minutes to pump me about the case.他每隔五分钟就跑来追问我这件事。【不停地追问】
4. painter n. 画家；油漆匠
5. neighbourhood n. 邻近；周围；邻居；附近一带in the neighbourhood of 大约；在...附近
6. defeat vt. 击败，战胜；挫败；使…失败n. 失败的事实；击败的行为例句：The proposal was defeated by just one vote. 该提案仅以一票之差被否决。【否决(提案或动议)】The book he most wanted to write was the one which nearly defeated him.他最想写的书恰恰是几乎难倒他的那一本。【(任务或问题)难住，难倒】He swore to defeat Odin's plan. 他发誓一定要挫败奥丁的计划。【挫败(行动或计划);使落空】
7. severe adj. 严峻的；严厉的；剧烈的；苛刻的The cushions add a touch of colour in a room that might otherwise look severe. 靠垫给房间添了一抹亮色，不然房间看上去可能太素净了。【 (外貌、外观)简朴的，朴素的,不加修饰的】
8. characteristic adj. 典型的；特有的；表示特性的n. 特征；特性；特色相关词汇：character n. 性格，品质；特性；角色vt. 印，刻；使具有特征chinese character 汉字in character 相称；适合
9. alike adj. 相似的；相同的adv. 以同样的方式；类似于
10. expert adj. 熟练的；内行的；老练的n. 专家；行家；能手vt. 当专家；在…中当行家常用短语：expert in 熟于；在…方面是行家expert at 擅长词语辨析：这组词都有“熟练的”的意思，区别是：expert 特指有某项专长，有某方面经验。skilled 通常指已掌握某行业的专业技能或手段，或已有从事某一专门工作的本领或技术。skillful 指在工作或操作中表现出灵巧、熟练。proficient 多指擅长于某事，侧重技艺或科学方面。
16.Sightseeing in the United Kingdom
观光联合王国
After the wedding, my cousin and his wife went to the United Kingdom for nationwide sightseeing. He faxed a letter to me in English yesterday. To my delight, he no longer made any tense error. And his description roughly clarified my questions about the UK--its currency, its administration, the institution which divides it into four provinces, and the historical conflicts and quarrels when Southern Ireland broke away from the UK.
Unwilling to leave out any attraction, my cousin arranged his enjoyable journey carefully. One attractive place he visited was a castle in the countryside of Scotland, which lies near a port. It used to be the headquarters of the Communism Union but broke down during the war. Finding nothing could take the place of this splendid architecture, people accomplished rebuilding it in 1952. It was to their credit that all furnished rooms are consistent with what they used to be. My cousin was thrilled by its collections consisting of statues plus royal uniforms folded in glass tanks. Though there was no possibility to buy some of these exhibits, it was convenient to take photos, which he sent me along with his fax.
我的表弟和他妻子在举办了婚礼后到联合王国做全国旅游观光去了。他昨天传真了一封英文信给我，让我高兴的是，他再也不犯时态错误了，而且他的描述也粗略地向我阐明了关于英国的一些问题——它的货币啦，行政管理啦，把它分成四个行政区的制度啦，还有在南爱尔兰脱离联合王国时发生的一些历史上的冲突和争拗。
因为不愿意漏掉任何一个景点，我表弟仔细地安排了他愉快的旅程。他参观的其中一个吸引人的地方是苏格兰乡村的一个城堡。城堡靠近一座港口，曾经是共产主义联盟会的总部，但是在战争中倒塌了。人们发现没有任何东西可以取代这座辉煌的建筑，于是在1952年完成了重建。值得赞扬的是，所有配备家具的房间都和它们过去一致的。由雕像加折叠在玻璃柜里的皇家制服组成的收藏品使我表弟震撼不已。尽管没有可能购买这些展览品，拍照却很方便，他在传真中一起发给了我。
重点词汇解析：
1. wedding
n. 婚礼，婚宴；结婚；结合
v. 与…结婚（wed的ing形式）
wedding and funeral 红白喜事
2. United Kingdom 联合王国（英国）
3. nationwide adj. 全国范围的；全国性的 adv. 在全国
4. sightseeing
n. 观光；游览
adj. 观光的；游览的
v. 观光（sightsee的ing形式）；游览
相关词汇：
sightseer n. 观光者；游客
5. fax vt. 传真 n. 传真
send a fax 发传真
6. delight n. 高兴 vi. 高兴 vt. 使高兴
常用短语：
delight in 因…感到快乐
with delight 欣然
take delight in 乐于
delight at 为…而高兴；为…而欣喜
to the delight of 令人高兴的是
7. tense error 时态错误
8. description n. 描述，描写；类型；说明书
常用短语：
beyond description 无法形容，难以形容
give a description of 描写，描述；对…进行描述
9. roughly adv. 粗糙地；概略地
10. clarified
adj. 澄清的；透明的
v. 阐明（clarify的过去分词形式）；澄清
相关词汇：
clarify
vt. 澄清；阐明
vi. 得到澄清；变得明晰；得到净化
clarification n. 澄清，说明；净化
17.An Air Crash
飞机失事
重点词汇解析：
1. previous adj. 以前的；早先的；过早的adv. 在先；在…以前词语辨析：这组词都有“在前的”的意思，其区别是：
previous 指时间上、顺序上较早的，或指正在谈论的某事的前一个。preceding 特指时间和地位上紧接在前。former 系latter的反义词，比prior更着重对比。foregoing 指前所述的，是following的反义词。prior 与previous同义，常可换用，但prior有时强调更大的重要性，对比意味强。
2. typist n. 打字员，打字者typer n. 打字机；印刷机；打字员
3. tolerate vt. 忍受；默许；宽恕常用短语：tolerate sth. 忍受 (坏的或痛苦的事物)相关词汇：tolerant adj. 宽容的；容忍的；有耐药力的tolerance n. 公差；宽容；容忍
toleration n. 宽容，忍受，默认；耐受性
4. postage n. 邮资，邮费
5. postcode n. （英）邮政编码；邮区号
6. typewriter n. 打字机
7. greedy adj. 贪婪的；贪吃的；渴望的greedy as a pig 贪婪如狼
8. motivation n. 动机；积极性；推动
9. take up 拿起；开始从事；占据(时间,地方) ;接受挑战
10. representative adj. 典型的，有代表性的；代议制的n. 代表；典型；众议员常用短语：representative of 表示；代表……的
18.An Amateur Journalist
业余记者
Jane is a housewife, but delighted to work as an amateur journalist. It is a dilemma for her to rush between family and work, and it is also unusual for the News Department to depend on an amateur to cover crimes. But Jane is really gifted. It is admirable that she is seldom accused of making mistakes. And, eager to become more professional, she concentrates on her job and updates herself now and then.
Once she is informed of a new case, her normal working process is as follows: first, she makes appointments with guilty people for interviews. So as to acquire accurate stories, she usually demands to record what they say. Meanwhile, a technically good colleague will assist her in taking photographs. Second, she assesses whether they are deliberately hiding the truth. If she is skeptical about their words, she will look into the case herself. Third, she writes thorough stories ahead of the deadline and submits it to the senior chief editor, who polishes and approves every section. Finally, her stories will be published in different editions of their magazine.
简是一名家庭主妇，但却非常乐意做一名业余记者。在家和工作之间奔波总是使她左右为难，而且对于新闻部来说，依靠一名业余人员来报道罪案也是不同寻常的，但是简真的很有天赋，让人钦佩的是她极少因为犯错而受到责备。因为渴望做得更加专业，她全神贯注于工作，且时不时地就提升自身的业务水平。
一旦接到新案子的通知，她通常的工作程序如下：首先，她和有罪的人约了作采访。为了获得准确的新闻，她通常要求做录音，同时，一位技术上好的同事会协助她拍照；接着，她对受采访的人是否有故意隐瞒真相作出评估。如果她怀疑他们的话，就会亲自调查案件；然后，她在截稿期限前写出详尽的报道，呈交给高级主编，由他对每个部分做润色和批准；最后，她的新闻就发表在杂志的各个版本中了。
重点词汇解析：
1. housewife n. 家庭主妇
2. delighted
adj. 高兴的；欣喜的
v. 使…兴高采烈；感到快乐（delight的过去分词）
常用短语：
delighted with 高兴；对…感到高兴
be delighted to do sth. 高兴做某事
3. amateur
n. 爱好者；业余爱好者；外行
adj. 业余的；外行的
4. journalist n. 新闻工作者；报人；记日志者
5. dilemma n. 困境；进退两难
常用短语：
in a dilemma 进退两难，左右为难
6. unusual adj. 不寻常的；与众不同的；不平常的
词语辨析：
striking 引人注意的，饶有兴趣的；（因相貌好）吸引人的，惹人注目的
remarkable 值得注意的，不寻常的；独特的
unusual 罕见的，异乎寻常的；独特的，与众不同的
prominent 凸出的,显著的，惹人注目的,杰出的，重要的
outstanding 杰出的，优秀的；地位显著的，为人瞩目的，（报酬、工作、问题等）未偿付的，未完成的，未解决的
extraordinary 不平常的，不普通的，非常的，格外的，；（安排、会议等）特别的，（官员）特命的，特派的
7. department n. 部；部门；系；科；局
词语辨析：这组词都有“商店”的意思，区别是：
shop 指规模较小，出售同一类商品的店铺。
store 在美国指出售同一类商品的小型商店。在英国用复数形式表示百货商店。
department 作商店解时，是美国英语，通常写为department store。
8. depend on 取决于；依赖；依靠
9. crime
n. 罪行，犯罪；罪恶；犯罪活动
vt. 控告……违反纪律
常用短语：
commit a crime 犯罪；犯下罪行
high crime 重罪
capital crime死罪
cyber crime 网络犯罪；计算机犯罪
minor crime 未成年人犯罪
词语辨析：这组词都有“犯法，犯罪，罪恶”的意思，区别是：
violation 指违背誓言、条约、规则以及良心等，也指侵犯权利。
sin 主要指违反道德原则或违反宗教戒律的过失或罪过行为。
crime 指严重的违法行为或罪行。
offence 使用广，可泛指对任何规则、道德标准、法律、纪律等的违反与触犯，其罪行可重可轻。
guilt 多用于指违反道德或社会标准的不法行为，含应予惩办之意。这种惩办是以证据为根据的。
10. gifted
adj. 有天赋的；有才华的
v. 给予（gift的过去分词）
常用短语：
gifted with 有……的天赋
19.First Aid
急救
A boy fell ill. His organs were damaged by the radiation of an infrared ray stove. But before the ambulance arrived, a number of other injuries happened to this unlucky boy over and over again. First, he was choked by some poisonous liquid from the kettle on the cupboard. Then his wrist skin was burnt by electric shock. Finally, his ankle was cut by a pan.
Fortunately, the boy’s nurse gave him proper temporary treatments according to his complex symptoms. She mildly squeezed the poisonous liquid out of his throat and put bandages firmly in place to apply pressure to the ankle wound to stop bleeding. As for the burn, she used scissors to remove his sleeve, poured a basin of cold water over the burn to cool it and put her hands on a damp blouse to cover his swollen tissue tightly. She also inspired his bravery to fight against the unbearable pain. Her first aid made a vital difference in saving his life. A ceremony was held to honour the nurse who overcame a variety of barriers to save the boy.
有个孩子病倒了，他的体内器官被一台红外线烤炉的放射线灼伤了。但是在救护车到来前，这个不幸的孩子身上还一而再、再而三地发生了许多别的伤害。开始是被橱柜上水壶里的有毒液体噎住，然后是手腕的皮肤被电击烧伤，最后，一只平底锅还割伤了他的脚踝。
幸运的是，男孩的保姆根据他的复杂症状给予了适当的临时治疗。她轻轻地从他喉咙里把有毒液体挤了出来；并在脚踝合适的位置紧紧扎上绷带，施加压力使伤口的流血止住；对于烧伤，她用剪刀剪去他的袖子，倒了一盆凉水给烧伤位置降温，并找来一件湿的女式衬衫紧紧盖住他肿胀的皮肤组织。此外，她还激发起他的勇敢和难以忍受的疼痛做斗争。她的急救在挽救他性命中起了至关重要的作用。人们举办了一场典礼来表彰这位克服各种障碍挽救了男孩的小保姆。
重点词汇解析：
1. fell ill 生病
2. organ n. 器官；机构；风琴；管风琴；嗓音
常用短语：
administrative organ 行政机关；管理机构
organ transplant 器官移植
artificial organ 人工器官；人造脏器
3. radiation n. 辐射；放射物
4. ray n. 射线；光线 vt. 放射；显出 vi. 放射光线；浮现
常用短语：
a ray of hope 一线希望
ray of light 光线；光芒四射
5. stove n. 火炉；窑；温室 vt. 用火炉烤
词语辨析：
stove 通常指以柴、煤、气、电等作燃料，用于室内取暖或烧饭的火炉。
oven 主要指烘烤食物用的炉子、烘箱。
6. ambulance n. 救护车； 野战医院
7. a number of 若干，一些；许多
词语辨析：
a number of 许多,谓语动词用复数。
the number of …的数目,谓语动词用单数。The number of students is increasing.
8. injury n. 伤害，损害
相关词汇：
injure vt. 伤害，损害
9. over and over again 一再地；反复不断地
10. choke
vt. 呛；使窒息；阻塞；抑制；扑灭
vi. 窒息；阻塞；说不出话来
n. 窒息；噎
常用短语：
choke point 瓶颈；阻碍
choke off 使闷死；劝阻，阻止
choke up闷住；噎住；阻塞
choke down 强咽下去；抑制
20.Abstract Art
抽象艺术
Abstract art used to be controversial. On one hand, the artists stopped painting delicate figures but attempted to adopt special techniques to give people different visual impacts. On the other hand, their works, including sculptures carved out of marble or fragile clay, were all with a specific aim of showing feelings. Some conventional scholars who were allergic to abstract art said it was evidently ridiculous and neither art nor geometry. Their Traditional Art Committee predicted its soon disappearing.
But nowadays, abstract art has become part of the permanent possessions of contemporary civilization. Galleries along the Madison Avenue give scores of superb exhibitions on typical abstract works, appealing to many who have a preference for abstract art. The Shadow of Egypt, a café in this district, has become the home to those aggressive abstract artists. Consequently, it is not a coincidence for you to meet one of these artists of great reputation in the flesh. They are asked for signatures and given bunches of fragrant flowers plus they are given a great deal of praise by their faithful fans.
抽象艺术曾经颇受争议，一方面，抽象艺术家们不再画精致的画像，而是试图采用特别的技巧给人们以不同的视觉冲击；另一方面，他们的作品，包括用大理石和易碎的粘土雕刻出来的雕像，都以表达感情为其明确的目的。有些对抽象艺术反感的传统学者说抽象艺术是极其明显地荒谬可笑，说它既不是艺术，又不是几何学，他们的传统艺术委员会还预言了它的迅速消失。
但是到了今天，抽象艺术已经成为当代文明永久财产的一部分，麦蒂逊大道的画廊为典型的抽象艺术作品举办了许多出色的展览，吸引了许多对抽象艺术有偏爱的人。这区有家叫埃及之影的咖啡馆已经成为那些有进取精神的抽象艺术家们活动的根据地，所以，亲眼见到一位名声极大的艺术家本人并不是什么巧合的事，他们被忠实的崇拜者索取签名，并被给予成束的芬芳花朵和大量的赞扬。
重点词汇解析：
1. abstract
n. 摘要；抽象；抽象的概念
adj. 抽象的；深奥的
vt. 摘要；提取；使……抽象化；转移(注意力、兴趣等)；使心不在焉
vi. 做摘要；写梗概
常用短语：
in the abstract 抽象地；理论上；概括地
abstract away from 对…不予考虑
2. controversial adj. 有争议的；有争论的
相关词汇：
controversy n. 争论；论战；辩论
controvert vt. 驳斥；就…展开争论 vi. 争论；辩论
3. delicate adj. 微妙的；精美的；易碎的
特殊用法：
delicate balance 微妙的平衡
I have many delicate problems to deal with.
我有许多棘手的问题需要处理。【棘手的; 需要小心处理的】
Young haricot beans have a tender texture and a delicate, subtle flavour.
嫩扁豆肉质细嫩，味道清淡可口。【柔和的 (颜色); 清淡可口的 (味道)】
4. figure
n. 数字；人物；图形；价格；（人的）体形；画像
vi. 计算；出现；扮演角色
vt. 计算；认为；描绘；象征
常用短语：
figure out 解决；算出；想出；理解；断定
figure in 算进；包括进
figure on 指望；打算；料想；把…估计在内
figure it out 弄明白；搞定它
figure for 谋取；企图获得
figure as 扮演…角色
特殊用法：
Ernie saw the dim figure of Rose in the chair.
厄尼看到了罗斯坐在椅子里的模糊身影。【身影】
Take pride in your health and your figure.
为你的健康和身材感到骄傲。【身材】
Daniel Boone, the great hero figure of the frontier.
丹尼尔·布恩是伟大的前线英雄的代表。【代表】
When I finished, he said, "Yeah. That figures."
我做完时，他说：“嗯，正如所料。”【意料之中】
5. attempt n. 企图，试图；攻击 vt. 企图，试图；尝试
常用短语：
attempt to do sth. 试图 (尤指做困难的事)
attempt at 企图，努力；尝试
attempt the impossible 想做做不到的事；缘木求鱼
make an attempt 试图
attempt on someone's life (杀人) 企图
6. adopt vt. 采取；接受；收养 vi. 采取；过继
特殊用法：
I tried to adopt a curled-up position to avoid damaging my limbs. 我努力保持蜷曲的姿势以免四肢受伤。【采用，保持（姿势）】
The girl was uncertain what to do, or what tone of voice to adopt. 女孩不知道该做什么，也不知道该用什么口气说。【采用（语气、口音等）】
their adopted home in England
他们移居英国的家【移居（某国）;选择（某国）定居】
7. technique n. 技巧，技术；手法
词语辨析：这组词都有“技术”的意思，区别是：
technique 多指具体的某种技术和技巧。
technology 含义比technique广泛，泛指生产工艺、科学技术。
8. visual adj. 视觉的，视力的；栩栩如生的
9. on the other hand 另一方面
10. sculpture
n. 雕塑；雕刻；刻蚀
vt. 雕塑；雕刻；刻蚀 vi. 从事雕刻
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