Unit 6 Thinking as a Hobby
norm: convention, standard, rule maroon: put a person ashore on a deserted island, strand 使孤立，被放逐incomprehensible: impossible to understand, unintelligible innocence: naivety
plonk: set down heavily and carelessly musing: meditate, think deeply depravity: corruption, wickedness exalt: elate, inspire
impediment: hindrance, obstacle reel: have a sensation of whirling stagger: totter, move unsteadily bulge: stick out, protrude
detest: dislike very much, loathe pious: devout, having a dutiful reverence for God
proposition: statement in which an opinion or judgement is expressed stamped: force sb. into a hasty action confer: give, grant, present portentous: pompously solemn, pretentious
deficiency: defect, imperfection, weakness
bolster: reinforce, strengthen
beam: smile joyfully
inscrutable: not to be discovered, incomprehensible
mingle: mix, associate
amiability: friendliness
concede: admit the truth of
sordid: dirty, ignoble
irreverent: deficient in respect 不敬的delinquent: guilty of minor crimes gregarious: fond of company
Unit 7 Once More to the Lake hover: remain in the air without moving in any direction
haunt: a place one visits often sprinkled: scattered, dotted
mirage: illusion, dream ingredient: factor
wince: draw back from something unpleasant
undulating: having a curving from or outline
jar: have a harsh or irritating effect apiece: each, for each
persist: last tenaciously
dislodge: force out of a position 驱逐pensively: meditatively, sadly
cultist: devotee
indelible: that cannot be erased or removed
haul: distance to be traveled petulant: unreasonably impatient or irritable
imperceptibly: in a manner that cannot be noticed or felt
desolated: devastate, destroy, ruin perpetuate: make everlasting
lull: a period of quiet or little activity rumble: a deep heavy continuous sound placidity: calm, tranquility reassure: take away fears, set one’s mind at rest
sedative: tranquilizer 镇静剂incessant: constant, ceaseless
soggy: too wet and soft
Unit 8 The Inner Ring
imploringly: in a manner showing earnest pleading
spontaneous: natural, activated without deliberation
devour: filled up with
seniority: length of service compromise: discredit, endanger sandwiched: placed between unscrupulous: not guided by conscience, unprincipled
perverse: willfully doing what is wrong or unreasonable
unawares: by surprise
consorting: have associations with
propitiate: gain the factor or support of prompt: induce, cause to do mainspring: chief motivating/moving force
makings: clear ability for becoming genial: having a cheerful and friendly character or manner
esoteric: concealed, confidential, secret prophecy: prediction
servitude: the condition of being forced to work for others and having no freedom
servility: the quality of being too ready to obey others, submissiveness
pell-mell: in a hurrying disorderly manner
hierarchy: system with grades of authority from the lowest to the highest probation: testing of a person’s abilities or behaviors to find out if he or she is suitable
reprimand: rebuke, reproach, scolding evasion: avoidance
pining: long for. yearn for
lure: entice, attract
court: try to win or gain
stale: become no longer fresh or interesting
wakeful: unable to sleep, sleepless triviality: petty, unimportant thing
Unit 9 An English Discovers India deter: prevent, discourage mediocrity: commonplaceness, low-quality
pervade: permeate. spread through stunt: hinder the normal development renounce: give up, abandon engender: produce, give rise to provoke: cause a sudden reaction repel: cause a feeling of disgust catastrophe: big disaster champion: fighter, advocate exaltation: elation, great delight contrive: devise, invent
prevailing: widespread, general sinister: evil
transcend: rise above, go beyond the limits
stun: shock, astonish
conviction: strong belief, freedom from doubt
miscellaneous: of different kinds supremacy: the position of being superior to all others
reprimand: rebuke, censure creditable: admirable, praiseworthy occasion: incidental cause, immediate cause
vehicle: medium, means 媒介物plausible: believable, seemingly reasonable
canny: clever and quick-witted, shrewd hideous: ugly
sterile: unproductive。