Cooling the Earth 保护地球

每日一句(63-24/09/09)：保护森林与减排

2009-09-24T21:25:00.004+01:00

At the current rate of deforestation, around one-third of the forest in Amazonas will have been lost by 2050, releasing a colossal 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. (From The Economist, September 24, 2009: Last gasp for the forest)

以目前采伐森林的速度，到2050年大约1/3的亚马孙森林会消失，会有35亿吨之巨的二氧化碳释放到大气中。

1、will have been，将来完成时。
2、colossal: (adj.) extremely large.
*a colossal statue
*The singer earns a colossal amount of money.
*a colossal 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide
3、at the current rate of，注意介词at。
4、lose，（森林）消失。

每日一词学英语(149-24/09/09): puddle

2009-09-24T20:55:00.003+01:00

月球表面每吨土壤含水量达一升。不过，说起“月球上的水”，并不是说湖、海或水洼。Carle Pieters, of Brown University, who led the Chandrayaan-1 observation team, said: “When we say ‘water on the moon’, we are not talking about lakes, oceans or even puddles. 月球上的水特指月球表层几毫米内与岩石分子和粉尘相互作用的水分子和羟基。(From The Times, September 24, 2009: Moon 'has a litre of water for every tonne of soil')

puddle: (noun) a small amount of water or other liquid, especially rain, that has collected in one place on the ground. 水洼；小水坑；（尤指）雨水坑。

每日一句(62-23/09/09)：中国承诺减排

2009-09-23T21:14:00.003+01:00

China pledged yesterday to slow the growth of its emissions despite the rapid expansion of its economy. (From The Times, September 23, 2009: President Hu Jintao commits China to carbon-cutting deal)

虽然经济快速增长，中国还是承诺减小排放增长速度。

1、pledge，公开承诺。
2、emission是可数名词，[C] gas, etc. that is sent out into the air。
*The government has pledged to clean up industrial emissions.
3、slow the growth。
4、经济增长用expansion这个词，不用growth免得和前面重复。
5、slow(v.)和rapid(adj.)形成对比。

每日一词学英语(148-23/09/09): hung

2009-09-23T21:04:00.002+01:00

英国自由民主党党魁Nick Clegg高调宣布将成为下届首相。Although he said Labour was “lost”, Mr Clegg did not directly rule out putting Gordon Brown back in Downing Street in the event of a hung Parliament. (From Times Online, September 23, 2009: We have replaced Labour claims Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg) 他认为，工党虽然已经败了，不过布朗还不是就没有了重返唐宁街的可能。

hung: (adj.) [only before noun] (of a parliament or council) (BrE) in which no political party has more elected members than all the other parties added together.
任何政党都不占多数席位的。

hung parliament: 【英】没有多数党的议会。

每日一句(61-22/09/09)：可怕的癌症

2009-09-23T20:32:00.003+01:00

Cancer is deadly because it comes from within and evades the body’s natural defences. (From Economist, September 22, 2009: Identifying the enemy within)

癌症是致命的，因为它来自人体内部，并且躲过身体的自然防护。

1、come from within。
2、evade，躲过。
3、defence在这里是可数名词，并且是英式拼法，美式写作defense。

每日一词学英语(147-22/09/09): lymph

2009-09-23T20:20:00.002+01:00

Dendritic cells normally latch on to bacteria and viruses before migrating to the lymph nodes, where they present the alien material to the immune system’s “killer” T-cells that seek and destroy such invaders. (From Economist, September 22, 2009: Identifying the enemy within)

lymph发音是[limf]，中文根据拉丁文lympha译成“淋巴”，意思是：(noun) [U] a clear liquid containing white blood cells that helps to clean the tissues of the body and helps to prevent infections from spreading。

lymph node是“淋巴结”。

每日一句(60-21/09/09)：鱼类生存遭受威胁

2009-09-20T21:13:00.004+01:00

Yet despite considerable effort by many groups, unsustainable fishing continues apace on a global scale. (From BBC, 8 September 2009: Last chance to change our behaviour)

尽管很多团体尽了很大努力，全世界仍然快速进行着破坏性捕鱼。

1、apace: (adv.) (formal) at a fast speed; quickly.
*to continue / grow / proceed / develop apace
*The privatization of state companies continued apace
2、on a global scale，在全球范围。
3、unsustainable fishing，不可持续地捕鱼。
4、considerable effort。

每日一词学英语(146-21/09/09): bear the brunt of

2009-09-20T18:10:00.003+01:00

英国政府削减开支，教育机构首当其冲。“Federations between schools may be a good idea but must not be required as a way to make cuts,” she added - calling for the Government’s academies programme to bear the brunt of cuts. (From Times Online, September 20, 2009: Unions alarmed by Ed Balls schools cuts)

bear, take, etc. the brunt of sth: to receive the main force of sth unpleasant. 首当其冲。
*Schools will bear the brunt of cuts in government spending.

每日一句(59-20/09/09)：独生子女政策有所松动

2009-09-19T23:31:00.003+01:00

The rules allow couples who are both only-children to have two babies. (From The Sunday Times, September 20, 2009: Call for more babies as China turns to grey)

父母均为独生子女的可以生两个孩子。

1、only-children，独生子女。
2、生两个孩子，to have two babies。

每日一句(58-19/09/09)：吃得苦中苦

2009-09-19T21:55:00.004+01:00

The findings of a recent poll by the education charity the Sutton Trust showed that 43% of London pupils aged 11 to 16 had been tutored, up from 36% four years ago. (From The Sunday Times, September 20, 2009: Are parents pushing their children too hard?)

英国的孩子也有升学压力，尤其是上名校的压力。所以请家教的越来越多。

1、up from，由……增长。
2、finding: [usually pl.] information that is discovered as the result of research into sth. 所以上面那句用findings。
*The findings of the commission will be published today.
*These findings suggest that there is no direct link between unemployment and crime.
3、trust指托管组织。
4、aged 11，11岁大。
5、中文说“请家教”，英文是“be tutored”。

每日一词学英语(145-20/09/09): E coli

2009-09-19T21:40:00.003+01:00

E coli即Escherichia coli，又写作E. coli，(noun) [U] a type of bacteria that lives inside humans and some animals, some forms of which can cause food poisoning，大肠杆菌。

Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, said E coli 0157 was prevalent in cows, sheep and goats, with research showing about one in 10 cows carried the bug and 40% of herds. (From The Sunday Times, September 20, 2009: Parents warned of high E coli risk on farms)

每日一词学英语(144-19/09/09): quango

2009-09-19T21:25:00.002+01:00

In weird parallel, another quango set up to safeguard the public is also in the headlines—but this time the story is about overkill, not complacency. (From The Economist, September 17, 2009: A toxic mix)

quango: (noun) (pl. -os) (often disapproving) (in Britain) an organization dealing with public matters, started by the government, but working independently and with its own legal powers.
*The government appoints hundreds of people to voluntary bodies, quangos and committees of all kinds.

Etymology: The initial letters (the first two letters for the first word) of "quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization". 准自制非政府机构。

每日一句(57-18/09/09)：中年男人三大杀手

2009-09-18T23:57:00.003+01:00

Failing to give up smoking or to control blood pressure and cholesterol were reported to reduce life expectancy by 10 to 15 years. (From NHS, September 18 2009: Male habits knock decade off life)

如果不戒烟、不控制血压和胆固醇，寿命预期会减少10到15岁。

1、为什么用“were”不用“was”？
2、表示减少/增加，用介词by。
3、were reported to的叙述方式。

每日一词学英语(143-18/09/09): with flying colors

2009-09-18T23:36:00.002+01:00

第一次面试顺利通过，接下来会有第二次面试。You passed the first interview with flying colors and you just got a call to schedule a second interview. (From About: Second Interview Tips)

with flying colors: very well; with a very high mark/grade. 出色地，成功地。
*She passed the exam with flying colours.

这个词组的起源是：In the past, a ship returned to port after a victory in battle decorated with flags (= colors).

每日一句(56-17/09/09)：在飞机上呼吸新鲜空气

2009-09-17T22:18:00.005+01:00

Despite soothing reassurances from airlines that the air inside an aircraft’s cabin is as clean as it can be, hundreds of people cooped up in a small space for a long time increases the risk of catching an infection. (From The Economist, September 17, 2009: Breathing more easily)

尽管航空公司说舱内空气很干净，机舱空间有限，挤进去那么多人，还是会增加传染疾病的风险。

英国两家公司研制的新产品号称可以杀灭机舱内空气中的细菌、病毒及其它有害生物，也能去除化学污染物及异味。

1、soothing reassurance，安慰。
2、airline表示航空公司。
3、despite，同although。
4、aircraft泛指飞机等飞行器。
5、coop up，把……关起来。
6、increase后面加s，看样子是把前面的过去分词短语当主语了？
7、catch an infection。
8、as ... as it can be。

每日一词学英语(142-17/09/09): paediatric

2009-09-17T21:42:00.004+01:00

The Association of Paediatric Emergency Medicine (APEM), which represents A&E specialists, called on the Government to make it illegal for children under 16 to cycle without wearing head protection. (From Times Online, September 17, 2009: A&E doctors demand that child cyclists be forced to wear helmets)

第30课（28 May 2009）提过词根“pedia-”，是“儿童”的意思。pediatric是形容词，儿科的，paediatric是其英式拼法。

上面那句话中“A&E”是Accident & Emergency的缩写。代表事故和急救专家的英国儿科急救医学协会呼吁政府制定法律，要求16岁以下孩子骑车必须戴头盔。这样可以大幅降低儿童头部伤害事故。

中国何时能效仿？

每日一句(55-16/09/09)：做饭的意义

2009-09-16T23:08:00.004+01:00

The unrivalled success of the human species is down to our mastery of flame and our use of it to transform raw food into cooked. (From The Times, September 17, 2009: How cooking helped us to evolve)

人类之所以取得巨大成功，是因为会用火、会做饭。

1、unrivalled，无与伦比的，修饰success。
2、be down to sb/sth: to be caused by a particular person or thing。
*She claimed her problems were down to the media.
3、the human species是指代人类的又一种说法。
4、mastery of flame，掌握用火。
5、raw和cooked是反义词，表示“生的”和“熟的”。

每日一词学英语(141-16/09/09): Achilles’ heel

2009-09-16T21:50:00.002+01:00

希腊英雄Achilles小的时候，他妈妈把他浸没到Styx河里以求保护他不受伤害。他的脚后跟被他妈妈的手托着，因此没挨上河水。后来，Achilles被一箭射伤脚后跟而亡。

Achilles’ heel (alternative spelling of Achilles heel)是单数形式，复数是在heel后加s。noun [sing.] a weak point or fault in sb’s character, which can be attacked by other people。
*The desire for publicity became her Achilles heel.
*The enemy had an Achilles heel somewhere, if only he could find it.
*About 8 per cent of Caucasian men but fewer than 0.5 per cent of females are colour blind. The reason for this lies in a genetic Achilles’ heel particular to males. (From Times Online, September 16, 2009: X marks the spot: why men don't see red – or green) 白种男人有8%是色盲，而白种女人只有0.5%是色盲。这是因为人类尤其是男人在基因上的致命弱点。

每日一句(54-15/09/09)：瑞典甲壳虫——ABBA

2009-09-14T21:15:00.003+01:00

With no sign of Abbamania abating, Radio 2 threw a party in Hyde Park to celebrate the nation’s fascination with “the Swedish Fab Four”, as the host, Chris Evans, called them. (From The Times, September 15, 2009: Thank You for the Music at Hyde Park, London)

瑞典著名的ABBA乐队与Beatles一样蜚声全球，值得庆幸的是，他们的全体成员都还健在。BBC Radio 2在海德公园举办了聚会，庆祝ABBA在英国的风靡，因为歌迷的热情丝毫未减。

1、Abbamania，表示对ABBA的狂热，与“fascination”呼应。类似的词有：Beatlemania。
2、throw a party。
3、Fab Four是The Beatles的别称。
4、sign of ... abating，减弱的迹象。

每日一词学英语(140-15/09/09): sommelier

2009-09-14T20:27:00.002+01:00

The soaring popularity of the sommelier course is part of a much wider explosion of interest among the Japanese in “treasures of the soil”. (From The Times, September 14, 2009: Japan’s recession brings growing interest in fruit and vegetables)

今天这个词源于法语，意思是：斟酒侍者，A wine steward. The person at an expensive restaurant who keeps the wine cellar and advises guests on a choice of wines (Wiktionary)。
*The sommelier recommended the perfect wine, opened the bottle with panáche, and served it perfectly. 斟酒侍者给推荐了美酒，花哨地开了瓶子，漂亮地倒上酒。

每日一句(53-14/09/09)：雷曼兄弟倒闭一周年

2009-09-13T22:31:00.003+01:00

But by then it was too late: Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy on September 15th last year, becoming the best known casualty of the financial crisis. (From The Economist, September 3, 2009: Turf woes)

去年9月15日，华尔街著名投行雷曼兄弟倒闭。

1、file for，提起诉讼；file for bankruptcy，申请破产。
2、casualty，受害者，和victim同义。
3、by then，到那时候。

每日一词学英语(139-14/09/09): saloon

2009-09-13T22:11:00.003+01:00

英国的媒体坚持使用英式英语的拼写和用词，比如saloon或saloon car（美式英语是sedan）: a car with four doors and a boot/trunk (= space at the back for carrying things) which is separated from the part where the driver and passengers sit，小轿车；（三厢式）四门轿车。
*a five-seater family saloo

Second-hand car prices are soaring, with the average saloon worth £600 more than last year. (From Mirror, 13/09/2009: Price of used cars up 30%) 二手车价格飙升，四门轿车平均价格比去年上涨了600镑。

注意“沙龙”是“salon”，比今天这个词少个“o”。不过，“saloon”也有“沙龙”的意思。

每日一句(52-13/09/09)：办公室政治

2009-09-12T23:49:00.004+01:00

And if politics are being abused in your workplace, then it is better to be in a position to counter, deal with, or, at the very least, be aware of what’s going on. (From The Sunday Times, September 13, 2009: How to cope with office politics)

不要以为国外的人际关系比中国的简单，哪儿都一样。例如办公室政治，如果太过分的事让你碰上，最好是有能力采取反击措施，或者从容应对，最最起码也应该了解事情真相，不要死了都不知道怎么死的。

1、workplace是不是就是现在流行的“职场”？
2、in a position to，金山词霸解释为“能够”。
3、at the very least，最最起码。
4、be aware of，知道、清楚。
5、注意politics + are，不是is。
6、注意politics和abuse搭配的用法。
7、注意主句的时态，are being abused。

每日一词学英语(138-13/09/09): profiteer

2009-09-12T23:17:00.003+01:00

英国的房贷机构（银行、信用社等）可够黑的，存款利率这么低，房贷利率却一个劲儿地往上涨。专家警告说，如果房贷机构继续这么牟取暴利，等英国央行开始上调利率了，固定期的房贷利率得涨到10%以上。Experts warned that fixed-rate mortgages could soar to 10% when the Bank of England starts to raise rates again, if lenders continue to profiteer. (From The Sunday Times, September 13, 2009: Lenders ignore Bank rate freeze)

profiteer在这儿是动词，to make excessive profits on goods in short supply，牟取暴利：供应短缺时牟取暴利。由profit+eer而来，也可做名词：投机商。

每日一句(51-12/09/09)：美国纪念9.11事件八周年

2009-09-12T00:08:00.002+01:00

The solemn ceremony seemed even more forlorn than usual because of the grey skies and buffetting wind — a striking contrast to the dazzling blue sky on the day of the al-Qaeda attacks. (From The Times, September 12, 2009: Obama calls for unity as America remembers the 9/11 dead)

2001年的今天，纽约艳阳高照，碧空如洗，而今天则天空灰暗，强风不断，庄严的纪念仪式因而比平时显得更加孤独凄凉。

1、buffetting wind，猛刮的风。
2、dazzling blue sky，把阳光和蓝天都包括了。
3、注意两个sky第一个用复数，表示整个天空及天外天，第二个用单数，表示头上的那片天。
4、鲜明对比，a striking contrast。

每日一词学英语(137-12/09/09): bullion

2009-09-11T22:57:00.003+01:00

bullion: (noun) [U] gold or silver in large amounts or in the form of bars。大量的金（或银）；金（或银）条。
*gold bullion

周二金价每盎司突破1,000美元，是否会上探史上最高的1,030.8美元大关？Gold smashed through the $1,000 an ounce mark on Tuesday, prompting goldbugs to come out of the woodwork and start exclaiming that bullion will soon test the all-time high of $1,030.8. (From Times Online, September 9, 2009: Why it may not be time to invest in gold)

每日一句(50-11/09/09)：英国北海鳕鱼数目下降

2009-09-10T20:35:00.003+01:00

Cod are doomed to disappear from the North Sea because of climate change and not just as a result of over-fishing, researchers have discovered. (From The Times, September 10, 2009: North Sea cod 'doomed by climate change')

气候变化成为过度捕捞之外的重要原因，导致鳕鱼在北海注定遭遇灭亡之灾。

1、doom: (verb) [usually passive] to make sb/sth certain to fail, suffer, die, etc.。
*The plan was doomed to failure.
*The marriage was doomed from the start.
2、as a result of和because of同义。
3、cod这个词是可数名词，单复数相同。

每日一句(49-10/09/09)：通过机票涨价来减排

2009-09-10T19:25:00.003+01:00

Ticket prices should rise steadily over time to deter air travel and ensure that carbon dioxide emissions from aviation fall back to 2005 levels, the Committee on Climate Change says. (From The Times, September 9, 2009: Passengers face new tax to halt rise in air travel)

气候变化委员会说，要通过逐步上调机票价格来减少飞机班次，从而使飞机的二氧化碳排放量回落至2005年的水平。

1、deter: to make sb decide not to do sth or continue doing sth, especially by making them understand the difficulties and unpleasant results of their actions。阻止，威慑。
*I told him I wasn’t interested, but he wasn’t deterred.
*The high price of the service could deter people from seeking advice.
2、rise steadily over time，随时间稳步增长；fall back to，回落至。

每日一词学英语(136-11/09/09): tantalisingly

2009-09-10T18:55:00.003+01:00

这个词是英式独有的拼写，注意那个s。英、美式一般的写法是，tantalizingly。
动词tantalize的意思是make a person or an animal want sth that they cannot have or do，挑逗，将某种令人渴望的事物摆在（另一个人或动物）面前同时却又把它放在够不着的地方以达到刺激目的。
tantalizing：非常着急的。
tantalizingly：...得令人着急，...到令人着急的程度。

英国对抗猪流感的战斗一直在进行着。Prof Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer说，I think that we are tantalisingly close to being able to win the battle against this pandemic virus. (From Telegraph, 10 September 2009: Swine flu: Britain 'tantalisingly close to winning fight') 这场战斗即将取得胜利，不过还没完全取胜，正到了最后令人抓狂的阶段。要防止10月第二波病毒，采取即时、有效预防措施。

*The tantalizing aroma of fresh coffee wafted towards them.
*a tantalizing glimpse of the future
*The branch was tantalizingly out of reach. 怎么够也够不着那根树枝，真让人着急。

每日一词学英语(135-10/09/09): running

2009-09-10T18:43:00.003+01:00

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted today to hold interest rates at 0.5 per cent for the sixth month running. (From Times Online, September 10, 2009: Bank of England keeps rates on hold at 0.5%) 英国央行连续第六个月维持0.5%的历史最低利率不变。继续刺激经济，通胀时代尚未到来。

running: used after a number and a noun such as ‘year’ ‘day’ or ‘time’, to say that sth has happened in the same way several times, without a change。
*She’s won the championship three years running.
*It was the third day running that the train had been late.
*No party has won an election four times running.

注意，“数词+running”不用介词，“序词+running”前面加介词for。

每日一句(48)：FTSE破5000点大关

2009-09-09T22:48:00.002+01:00

London's leading stock market index closed above the 5,000 barrier for the first time in 11 months today buoyed by continuing hope that an economic recovery was underway. (From Times Online, September 9, 2009: London shares finish above 5,000 barrier)

伦敦股指近一年来首次突破5000点，看来英国的经济复苏指日可待。

1、buoy: to keep prices at a high or acceptable level。
*Trading on Wall Street was buoyed in part by rising bond prices.
2、be underway = be under way，adj. [not before noun]，从句的意思是经济正在恢复。
3、London's leading stock market index指下文的“The FTSE index of Britain's top 100 companies”，即FTSE100指数。
4、continuing + hope。

每日一词学英语(134): diminutive

2009-09-09T20:33:00.005+01:00

去年英格兰和威尔士起名叫Jack的男婴最多，其次是Oliver，Thomas第三。女婴最受欢迎的三个名字依次是：Olivia，Ruby，Emily。

Jack是John的昵称，父母觉得Jack听上去可靠，所以这个名字有持久的吸引力，能连续13年夺冠。Experts say that the enduring appeal of the name Jack, originally a diminutive of John, is because it sounds trustworthy. (From Times Online, September 9, 2009: Jack and Olivia most popular baby names)

diminutive: a short informal form of a word, especially a name.
*‘Nick’ is a common diminutive of ‘Nicholas’.

旁白：本博最新全球排名566.1302万(September 9, 2009)。

每日一句(47)：历史任人打扮？

2009-09-08T22:26:00.002+01:00

Every country highlights the good bits in its history and ignores the bad. (From The Economist, September 3, 2009: The unhistory man)

每个国家都强调自己历史上好的一面，对不好的一面采取回避态度。俄罗斯如何面对斯大林？

1、bit: [C] (especially BrE) a part of sth larger。
*The best bit of the holiday was seeing the Grand Canyon.
*The school play was a huge success—the audience roared with laughter at all the funny bits.
2、highlight和ignore是对待事物的两种态度。“报喜不报忧”是不是就可以说“highlight the good news but ignore the bad”？
3、the good /bad bits，好的/不好的一些事。

每日一词学英语(133): speak volumes

2009-09-08T21:16:00.005+01:00

给孩子起名字是件颇费思量的事，古今中外莫不如此。It speaks volumes, not only about your tastes but about your hopes for your child’s future. (From The Times, September 8, 2009: Baby names: Is he a Hugo or a Jack?)
起名字很有意义，不仅要对父母的胃口，还关乎他们对孩子前程所给予的期望。

speak volumes：很有意义。
本词解释取自金山词霸。

每日一句(46)：消灭二氧化碳的新方法

2009-09-07T21:15:00.002+01:00

That is to short-circuit the natural geological process of weathering and use the CO2 to convert volcanic rocks into limestone. (From Economist, September 7, 2009: Rock of ages)

人类活动源源不断产生出的二氧化碳，总得有个去处，不能光排到大气里。CarbFix是正在冰岛进行的一项试验性计划，旨在用二氧化碳把火山岩变为石灰岩。变废为宝，减少碳排放，一举两得。

1、short-circuit，缩短。
2、weathering，风化。风化的时间要远远长于人工方法所需要的时间。
3、convert sth into sth。
4、CO2前的定冠词不要忘了；limestone是不可数名词，前面无冠词。

每日一词学英语(132): plough into

2009-09-07T20:54:00.002+01:00

Man killed as bus ploughs into William Hill shop (From Telegraph, 7 September 2009)
一则新闻标题，公共汽车冲进博彩商店，致一人死亡。

plough into sb/sth: (especially of a vehicle or its driver) to crash violently into sth especially because you are driving too fast or not paying enough attention.
*A truck ploughed into the back of the bus.

每日一句(45)：李开复离开谷歌

2009-09-06T16:50:00.003+01:00

Google poached Mr Lee from Microsoft in 2005 in a move that provoked months of acrimony between the two technology companies. (From Times Online, September 4, 2009: Google China chief resigns to set up venture)

2005年谷歌从微软挖走李开复，如今李离开高级经理人的位子开创自己的事业。

1、poach，以秘密的或不正当的手段挖走，否则微软也不会生气了。
2、in a move，这一举动。
3、provoke与acrimony搭配。

每日一词学英语(131): arguably

2009-09-06T16:29:00.004+01:00

最近一段时间英国的媒体关于The Beatles的报导渐渐多起来了，The Times有Beatles专栏，BBC也放了不少专题片(比如昨晚在BBC2)，大概是为了纪念这个乐队解散40周年？

John Lennon did many brilliant things in his life, but arguably one of his most inspired acts was his deliberate destruction of the Beatles in 1969 — just 40 years ago this month. (From The Sunday Times, September 6, 2009: Exclusive: John Lennon, the lost interviews) 列侬一生有许多辉煌，按理说，1969年9月解散Beatles是其中一个神来之笔。

arguably: (adv.) used, often before a comparative or superlative adjective, when you are stating an opinion which you believe you could give reasons to support. （常用于形容词比较级或最高级前）可论证地，按理。
*He is arguably the best actor of his generation.

每日一句(44)：英国拟建更多垃圾焚烧炉

2009-09-05T19:04:00.004+01:00

Incinerators for household rubbish are likely to be built on sites across the country after health watchdogs rejected claims that they are 'cancer factories'. (From Mail Online, 5 September 2009: Rubbish incinerators set to be built in the UK after 'cancer factories' claim is rejected)

焚烧垃圾固然比填埋更能消灭垃圾，但焚烧过程中释放出的二恶英可以致癌，另外自然还有温室气体。不过Health Protection Agency（即health watchdogs）说，变垃圾为能源的焚烧炉并不会对人的健康造成多大危害，因此今后几年，英国会建更多的垃圾焚烧炉。

1、household rubbish，生活垃圾。
2、介词for表用途。
3、on sites across the country，介词的用法。
4、claim，主张。
5、reject和claim搭配，表示不同意这一主张。

旁白：无焚烧垃圾处理在实验室中完成起来没问题，不过距大规模商业运营还有距离。传统的垃圾焚烧炉终有一天会遭淘汰。

每日一词学英语(130): hold out

2009-09-05T18:39:00.004+01:00

Twitter歌剧上演。I wasn't holding out much hope for Twitterdammerung: the Twitter Opera. (From Telegraph, 5 September, 2009: First Twitter opera given premier) 作者并没抱多大希望。

hold out sth: to offer a chance, hope or possibility of sth.
*Doctors hold out little hope of her recovering.

hold out有多种意思，今天讲的是它与hope搭配，表示“给予(希望)”。

旁白：本博Alexa全球排名首次突破600万，最新排名566.3368万(September 5, 2009)。

每日一句(43)：Robbie Williams回来了

2009-09-04T23:31:00.003+01:00

The singer, who has just unveiled the first single from his latest album, Reality Killed the Video Star, said that his fear of live performance had stopped him embarking on a mammoth tour like his erstwhile Take That bandmates. (From Guardian, 4 September 2009: Let me entertain you – when I feel a little less scared, says Robbie Williams)

真难以想象Robbie Williams居然有现场演唱恐惧症，也许和年龄大了有关，不过和Take That的其他成员相比，单飞的他年龄算是偏小的。自06年出上一张专辑《Rudebox》以来，在他沉寂的三年里，Take That取得炫目成绩。如今他携新专辑《Reality Killed the Video Star》卷土重来，并期望与昔日组合伙伴再次合作。

1、unveil，使公之于众。
2、a mammoth tour，大型巡回演唱会。
3、erstwhile，往昔的。

每日一词学英语(129): hands-on

2009-09-04T22:36:00.004+01:00

要想当医生，不光要有理论知识，还得有实践经验。Professor Tony Weetman, chair of the Medical Schools Council, said that he welcomed the greater emphasis on hands-on experience for undergraduate students. 实际经验对医学院的学生很重要。 (From The Times, September 2, 2009: ‘Tomorrow’s doctors’ must learn hands-on skills, under new GMC rules) 标题中的GMC指General Medical Council。

hands-on: (adj.) [usually before noun] doing sth rather than just talking about it. 动手的，实际操作的。
*hands-on computer training
*to gain hands-on experience of industry
*a hands-on style of management

对比一下，hands-off: (adj.) [usually before noun] dealing with people or a situation by not becoming involved and by allowing people to do what they want to. 不插手的，不干涉的。
*a hands-off approach to staff management

每日一句(42)：过胖司机要减肥

2009-09-03T19:33:00.002+01:00

Obese bus drivers who exceed weight limits for seats are being offered help to lose weight by a transport company. (From BBC, 2 September 2009: Weight tips for obese bus drivers)

英国的公共汽车司机如果体重超过127公斤，运输公司就会帮助他们减肥。

1、obese是过胖，fat是胖。
2、weight limits和for seats搭配。注意limits用复数，与drivers对应。
3、主句时态，are being offered。
4、减肥是lose weight。
5、提供帮助，offer help。

每日一词学英语(128): glaring

2009-09-03T18:42:00.002+01:00

经济合作与发展组织(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD)说，G7的多数国家2009年的经济表现都会比6月预测的好，只有英国例外。The organisation, which exists to promote economic growth and development, said that several of the economies in the G7 group of developed nations would perform better during the whole of 2009 than it predicted in June — with Britain a glaring exception. (From Times Online, September 3, 2009: Britain to lag world in emerging from recession)

与其它6国形成鲜明对比，所以用glaring: (adj.) [usually before noun] (of sth bad) very easily seen. 同义词：blatant。
*a glaring error / omission / inconsistency / injustice
*the most glaring example of this problem

经合组织6月时预测英国经济今年萎缩4.3%，现在这个数字增长为4.7%，这在G7这些发达国家里绝无仅有。

每日一句(41)：果蔬与健康

2009-09-02T18:21:00.003+01:00

Most people who seek to lead a healthy lifestyle know that they should eat an array of fruits and vegetables every day. (From Economist, August 27, 2009: On the pill)

每天水果蔬菜，吃出健康生活。

1、seek to，“想……”。
2、an array of，一批，表示很多，用单数，后面的名词用复数。
3、lead a healthy lifestyle，过健康生活。

每日一词学英语(127): on top of

2009-09-02T17:52:00.004+01:00

许多国家在面包中加入叶酸，以增进人们(尤其是孕妇)对叶酸的摄入量。On top of this, pregnant women may be consuming a similar amount of folic acid from supplement pills. 除了从食物中，孕妇们往往还从补药中获取叶酸。(From Economist, August 27, 2009: On the pill)

on top of sth: in addition to sth.
*He gets commission on top of his salary.
*On top of everything else, my car’s been stolen.

每日一句(40)：金属也能自愈其伤

2009-09-01T22:11:00.002+01:00

The basic idea of the new technology is to infiltrate this coating with tiny, fluid-filled capsules. (From Economist, September 1 ,2009: Metal, heal thyself)

非生物没有自愈的本领，但新技术可以实现这一点。该技术的基本想法是，在金属表面涂层中渗入充满流体的微型胶囊。

1、infiltrate ... with。本句相当于...to infiltrate tiny, fluid-filled capsules into this coating。

每日一词学英语(126): own up

2009-09-01T21:14:00.002+01:00

鸠山将于18号正式当选日本首相，他在经济和军事方面的对美政策不是亲美，而是偏向反美，虽然他没有完全承认这一点。Rather than benign blandness, he took a sceptical view of Japan’s economic and military relations with the United States, which hinted at — without ever fully owning up to — something close to anti-Americanism. (From The Times, September 2, 2009: World agenda: Yukio Hatoyama can't afford to distance Japan from the US)

own up (to sth / to doing sth): to admit that you are responsible for sth bad or wrong。坦白，爽快承认。同义词：confess。
*I’m still waiting for someone to own up to the breakages.
*Why don’t you just own up and hope she forgives you?

每日一句(39)：英国监狱饮食好于医院

2009-08-31T21:02:00.002+01:00

Experts led by Professor John Edwards examined the quality of food served to inmates and to patients and concluded those in hospital are losing out on vital nutrients. (From Bournemouthecho, 31 August 2009: Prison food ‘better than hospitals’)

英国一名大学教授调查了监狱和医院的饮食情况，得出的结论是医院饮食不如监狱有营养。

1、inmates指监狱犯人，与patients医院病人相对。
2、lose out on，输掉。
3、food与served to搭配。

每日一词学英语(125): paddy

2009-08-31T20:31:00.002+01:00

Imagine a small group of farmers tending a rice paddy some 5,000 years ago in eastern Asia or sowing seeds in a freshly cleared forest in Europe a couple of thousand years before that. (From Economist, August 17, 2009: Nothing new under the sun) 想像一下先民在稻田里耕作或在林间空地播种的情景，那其实已经是影响气候变化的人类活动了，并不是到了工业革命或大规模农业生产时全球气候才开始变化。

paddy又作paddy field，(noun) (pl. -ies) a field in which rice is grown。rice paddy是稻田。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(38)：artificial tree & CO2

2009-08-30T22:20:00.005+01:00

Constructing a forest of 'artificial trees' is one of the most promising technologies to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, according to a report published by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the UK. (From Physicsworld, August 27, 2009: Engineers call for 'artificial trees' to reduce CO2)

英国打算种“人造树”(苍蝇拍状，见图)以减少大气中的二氧化碳。

1、种人造树，动词用construct。
2、减少二氧化碳，动词也可以用remove。
3、UK前不要忘了定冠词the。

每日一词学英语(124): breathalyser

2009-08-30T22:00:00.002+01:00

breathalyser是英式写法，也可以写成美式的breathalyzer，是由breath和analyser混合而成的。(noun) a device used by the police to measure the amount of alcohol in a driver’s breath。酒精测定计。

现在有一种新的酒精测定计，可以用来检测肺癌。A hand-held breathalyser which can detect lung cancer is being developed by scientists, in a breakthrough that could save thousands of lives. (From Telegraph, 30 August 2009: Breathalyser developed for lung cancer)

英语作文进阶之每日一句(37)：climate & salad

2009-08-29T22:43:00.004+01:00

The climate impact of the average bag of prepared salad is sky-high due to all of the fertilising, artificial heating, packaging, storage and transport it requires. (From BBC, 4 January 2009: Foraging for food)

成品沙拉对气候的影响极大，因为它在整个制作过程中需要施肥、人为加热、包装、储存、运输。食品约占英国碳排放量的五分之一。

1、sky-high，极高。
2、施肥、加热、包装用动名词，储存、运输用名词形式。有什么讲究吗？
3、prepared salad前没有冠词。

每日一词学英语(123): pepper with

2009-08-29T22:26:00.004+01:00

不从超市里买，而是改吃天然野生食品，有助于减少碳排放。与通常的观念不同，城里的绿地、灌木丛中有不少野生的可食用绿色植物。Contrary to popular opinion, urban 'wildernesses' such as scrubland, parks and hedgerows are peppered with edible greens. (From BBC, 4 January 2009: Foraging for food)

pepper sth with sth: [often passive] to include large numbers of sth in sth.
*He peppered his speech with jokes.

需要注意，只有确认采摘的植物可以食用再去吃，否则可能有害健康。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(36)：Japan & two-party system

2009-08-28T21:58:00.003+01:00

If the Japanese vote as expected he will already have achieved something that elsewhere would be routine but in Japan is remarkable: an opposition victory and, for the first time since the war, the beginnings of a two-party system. (From The Times, August 29, 2009: Election result could end 54-year run of Japan’s ruling party, the LDP)

如果在周日的选举中日本选民像民意调查结果那样进行选举的话，他（指反对党党魁鸠山）会取得一些成就，在别的地方常见，在日本却不同凡响：反对党获胜，二战后首开两党制。

1、will have achieved，将来完成时，表示到将来某个时间为止势必会完成或预计要完成的动作。现在完成时表示到现在为止完成的动作。
2、routine和remarkable反义，稀松平常和不同寻常。
3、would be routine，would时态表示虚拟假设；is remarkable，一般现在时陈述事实。
4、beginnings，用复数形式，[pl.] the first or early ideas, signs or stages of sth。注意和单数的beginning不一样。
*Did democracy have its beginnings in ancient Greece?
*He built up his multimillion-pound music business from small beginnings.

每日一词学英语(122): barring

2009-08-28T21:44:00.002+01:00

日本后天（周日，29号）举行大选，不出意外的话，执政的自民党会下台，这将成为1945年以来日本政坛的最大变动。Barring the unexpected, the party will be voted out of power tomorrow in the country’s biggest political upset since 1945. (From The Times, August 29, 2009: Election result could end 54-year run of Japan’s ruling party, the LDP)

这个词是介词，except for; unless there is/are。
*Barring accidents, we should arrive on time.

英语作文进阶之每日一句(35)：children & the old

2009-08-27T22:36:00.002+01:00

A new cohort of children will certainly mitigate the growing imbalance between the young and the old. (From The Times, August 28, 2009: Born in the UK)

英国最新人口达到6,140万，比2001年多了200万，这得归因于近40年来最大的baby-boom。小孩子多了可以缓减人口老龄化带来的压力。

1、cohort: (technical) a group of people who share a common feature or aspect of behaviour.
*the 1999 birth cohort (= all those born in 1999)
a new cohort of children指这拨婴儿潮中新出生的孩子。
2、mitigate，减轻、减缓，反义词是alleviate。
3、the young and the old。
4、growing + imbalance。

每日一词学英语(121): edgy

2009-08-27T20:52:00.002+01:00

英国这家银行有本难念的经，去年不得已被部分国有化，现在又想结束对政府的依赖，进退两难。投资者不能不焦虑不安。Lloyds investors probably have most cause to be edgy. (From The Times, August 27, 2009: A £35bn dilemma for the Government)

edgy: (adj.) (informal) nervous, especially about what might happen.
*She’s been very edgy lately.
*After the recent unrest there is an edgy calm in the capital.
*I’m feeling a bit edgy about the exam tomorrow.

和on edge的异同：两个词意思一样，不过edgy也可以形容时间或事件，
*It was an edgy match with both players making mistakes.
on edge也可以形容人的神经（nerves）。
*His nerves had been on edge (= he had been nervous or bad-tempered) all day.

英语作文进阶之每日一句(34)：coats & cold

2009-08-26T22:32:00.003+01:00

Coats need to keep out the cold. Thus it seems sensible to buy something warm. (From The Times, August 26, 2009: How to buy a winter coat)

秋天刚到，报上已经开始谈怎么选购冬衣了。外套要御寒，所以得买暖和点的。

1、御寒，keep out the cold。
2、it seems sensible to，后接明智选择。
3、something是个大箩筐，这里指代coats。
4、这里，cold是名词，warm是形容词。

每日一词学英语(120): nimby

2009-08-26T22:10:00.003+01:00

We have to counteract the nimbys who say they want change, but not in their backyard. (From Telegraph, 26 August 2009: John Prescott attacks wind turbine 'nimbys')

今天这个词源于“not in my back yard”的第一个字母。(noun) (pl. -s or -ies) (humorous, disapproving) a person who claims to be in favour of a new development or project, but objects if it is too near their home and will disturb them in some way
*The nimbies were out in force against proposals for a high-speed rail link.

其实上面那句话中对这个词已经做了解释：nimbys are those who say they want change, but not in their backyard。

英国前副首相John Prescott强烈批评这些风力涡轮机的nimbys。这些人比较自私，是该批评。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(33)：aviation & global warming

2009-08-25T21:16:00.004+01:00

Aviation has long been blamed for its share of anthropogenic global warming. (From Economist, August 24, 2009: Computing climate change)

一直以来，人们都认为飞机排放的二氧化碳对全球气候变暖负有不可推卸的责任。But you, dear reader, are indulging right now in activity that is equally as polluting as air travel: using a computer。计算机及其周边设备同样有大量的碳排放。

1、anthropogenic (Wiktionary): of or related to the influence of human beings or their ancestors on natural objects.
*Wastewater is any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence.
2、blame sb/sth (for sth) | ~ sth on sb/sth: to think or say that sb/sth is responsible for sth bad.
*She doesn’t blame anyone for her father’s death.
*A dropped cigarette is being blamed for the fire.
*Police are blaming the accident on dangerous driving.
3、long是副词，长期地。
4、Aviation前面不加冠词。
5、anthropogenic + global warming的用法。
6、share的用法。[sing.] ~ (of sth): the part that sb has in a particular activity that involves several people。
*We all did our share.
*Everyone must accept their share of the blame.
注意share用单数。

每日一词学英语(119): contraption

2009-08-25T19:35:00.007+01:00

四百年前的今天，意大利科学家伽利略向威尼斯参议院展示了他发明的望远镜。伽利略并非第一个发明望远镜的人，但他让望远镜出名，并开创了现代天文学。

Four hundred years ago on Tuesday, an Italian professor of physics and mathematics called Galileo Galilei demonstrated a simple contraption to the Venetian Senate that would set in motion one of the most profound revolutions in human thought — a revolution that continues today. (From The New York Times, August 25, 2009: 400 Years of Modern Astronomy)

contraption: (noun) a machine or piece of equipment that looks strange.
*She showed us a strange contraption that looked like a satellite dish.
Etymology (from Wiktionary): originally a Western English dialectical word. Origin unclear. Perhaps from contrive + trap.

英语作文进阶之每日一句(32)：fossil fuels & climate change

2009-08-24T21:17:00.002+01:00

Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, are the primary source behind this increase. (From BBC: Climate change: The evidence)

过去100年全球平均表面温度上升了大约0.74度。这个数字看上去不大，可是对地球的影响却不小。气候变暖的原因极有可能是大气中二氧化碳含量上升造成的，而这又要归因于人类活动，例如燃烧化石燃料。

1、primary source，主要来源，还带有“首先”的意思。
2、source + behind，注意behind的用法。
3、本句主语是复数，表语是单数。

每日一词学英语(118): weather

2009-08-24T20:42:00.004+01:00

最新一项研究的数据表明，英国的经济衰退已经结束。(From Times Online, August 24, 2009: UK recession is 'over' as confidence grows)

主持这项研究的负责人Michael Izza说，定量宽松、央行降息及政府削减增值税等政策帮助企业平安度过金融风暴。Policies such as quantitative easing and interest rate cuts by the Bank of England and the drop in VAT had helped businesses to weather the financial storm, he said.

weather: (verb, VN) to come safely through a difficult period or experience
×The company just managed to weather the recession.
×She refuses to resign, intending to weather the storm (= wait until the situation improves again).

注：“VN”的意思是及物动词。本博客词汇释义如无说明，一般都取自《Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary》网络版。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(31)：radiator & clothes horse

2009-08-23T19:58:00.003+01:00

Drying clothes on radiators is not recommended: it stops the heating working so well and encourages condensation, which can lead to mould growth. Dry them on a clothes horse in the bathroom, with the window slightly open for ventilation. (From BBC, 30 April 2008: Drying clothes outside)

洗完的衣服不用烘干机，而是在晾衣绳上晾干，是节能环保的好办法。不过在暖气上凉衣服不好，不仅影响取暖，还容易导致霉菌生长。正确的方法是凉在室外或通风良好的卫生间。

1、encourage的用法，后接condensation。
2、clothes horse: (BrE) a wooden or plastic folding frame that you put clothes on to dry after you have washed them，晾衣架。

每日一词学英语(117): spurn

2009-08-23T18:01:00.005+01:00

英国人过去一直用烘干机烘干衣服，现在渐渐开始改为在室外凉衣服，超市里的晾衣绳和卡子因此热销。For the first time in 50 years, Brits are spurning tumble dryers in favour of old-fashioned line-drying: washing lines and wooden clothes pegs are flying off supermarket shelves. (From BBC, 30 April 2008: Drying clothes outside)

无疑，这是保护环境的好方法。看看以下事实：
Tumble dryers are the most energy intensive household applainces - nearly two thirds more than washing machines - and create 310kg of CO2 a year each on average. Drying clothes on a washing line creates no emissions and saves about £70 a year in fuel bills. Plus, drying your clothes in the fresh air doesn't risk shrinking them and shortening their lifespan. 滚筒烘干机是最耗能的家电，比洗衣机多消耗将近三分之二能量，平均每年产生310公斤二氧化碳。室外晾衣碳排放为零，每年节约大约70英镑电费，而且不会让衣服缩水，有助于延长衣服的使用寿命。

看来，英国的好天气虽然不多，烘干机无法完全退出市场，但在可能的条件下，还是多在室外凉衣服比较好。

spurn: verb [及物动词] to reject or refuse sb/sth, especially in a proud way
同义词：shun
*Eve spurned Mark’s invitation.
*a spurned lover
*The president spurned the tight security surrounding him and adopted a more intimate style of campaigning.

英语作文进阶之每日一句(30)：low-carbon & vehicles

2009-08-22T21:30:00.002+01:00

Instead, he said, the focus should be on developing low-carbon technology and expanding the manufacturing and infrastructure for hybrid and electric vehicles. (From guardian, 20 August 2009: Tony Blair: 'We can't ask people not to own cars')

英国前首相布莱尔在北京说，不能因为对抗气候变暖就不让公众买汽车，而是应该集中精力发展低碳技术，扩大生产混合动力及电力汽车及其设施建设。

1、instead作转折词。
2、介词for和infrastructure搭配。
3、low-carbon technology前没有冠词，表明它是不可数名词。类似的用法：recent advances in medical technology。
4、expand和infrastructure搭配。
5、hybrid and electric vehicles是有利于减少碳排放的环保交通工具，记住这个专有词汇。
6、强调应该做什么，用the focus should be on ...。

每日一词学英语(116): understudy

2009-08-22T18:47:00.004+01:00

Welsh soprano Natalya Romaniw made a dramatic journey to her unexpected debut at the Glyndebourne Festival when the show's star fell off the stage. 威尔士女高音歌手Natalya Romaniw意外地在英国著名的一年一度的Glyndebourne歌剧节上初次亮相，因为原定角色不小心摔伤。(From BBC, 22 August 2009: Dramatic dash to debut by soprano)

When she arrived on Friday night, she had only minutes to spare to replace the understudy to Martinez. 她周五晚上到的时候，只有几分钟的时间来替换Martinez的替角。Martinez就是原定角色，即上文的“the show's star”。“the understudy to Martinez”是原定角色的替角，Natalya Romaniw是来替换这个替角进行演出的，有点绕。

understudy: (noun) (pl. -ies) ~ (to sb) an actor who learns the part of another actor in a play so that they can play that part if necessary
*She worked as an understudy to Elaine Page.
同义词：standby
under+study，表示处在学习、待命状态，即正角的替角。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(29)：Amazon & Google

2009-08-21T22:50:00.002+01:00

Amazon, Microsoft and Yahoo! are lining up to fight Google over the search giant's plans to commercialise a huge digital library of books. (From Times Online, August 21, 2009: Tech groups join fight against Google books)

三家公司联手对抗Google的大型商用电子书库计划。IT巨头的竞争愈演愈烈。

1、line up是排成一排，这里形容立场一致、携手行动。
2、fight...over，over后接fight的内容。
3、Google和the search giant是一回事，英语中同一人或物出现在文中不同地方，除了用代词外，还喜欢用同位语指代，是极为常见的语言现象。中文里一般采用从一而终的称呼或用代词，所以英译中时要变多元为单一。

每日一词学英语(115): hols

2009-08-21T22:30:00.003+01:00

在报纸上看到一个标题：Do thin people have better hols? 什么是“hols”？点击进入正文就明白了。(From The Times, August 22, 2009: Do 'skinnies' have better holidays?)

Hols: (noun) [pl.] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) holidays
*the school / summer hols
*He's away on his hols at the moment.

报纸标题用这个词大概是为了节省空间吧？发手机短信、网上聊天可以好好用用了。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(28)：mast & wind

2009-08-20T21:32:00.002+01:00

A test mast will now be set up to find out whether there is enough wind at the site. (From BBC, 19 August 2009: Wind turbine milestone for Oxford)

英国牛津地区准备应用商业规模的风力涡轮机来发电，这无疑可以减少碳排放，对环境有利。

1、mast是支撑风力叶片的柱子，与文中“electricity pylon”对应，见今天的“每日一词”。
2、now和will搭配，这里的意思是立刻、马上。
3、at the site，该地，即where the test mast will be set up。
4、find out，与test呼应，通过试验找到答案。

每日一词学英语(114): pylon

2009-08-20T20:02:00.004+01:00

在英格兰和威尔士地区，牛津是第一个采用风力涡轮机发电的城市。Compared to ugly electricity pylons, wind turbines are a huge improvement for Oxford's environment. (From BBC, 19 August 2009: Wind turbine milestone for Oxford) 与傻大黑粗的高压铁塔相比，风力涡轮机可以大大改善牛津的环境状况。

Pylon: (noun) a tall metal structure that is used for carrying electricity wires high above the ground. (高压线的)桥[铁]塔

英语作文进阶之每日一句(27)：pocket watch & sea

2009-08-19T21:44:00.003+01:00

A silver pocket watch that spent 130 years at the bottom of the sea will be reunited with the nearest living relative of its owner after the diver who found it turned amateur detective. (From The Times, August 19, 2009: Silver pocket watch found off Welsh coast returned after 130 years)

潜水员发现了在海底沉寂130年的银质怀表，经过多番查找，终于找到怀表主人的最亲的在世亲属，将表交还给他。

1、注意中文叙述是按事件发生的先后次序，英文则不是，而是主句和从句嵌合。
2、“在海底待了130年”，时态用的是一般过去时，没用完成时。
3、在海底，at the bottom of the sea。
4、中文说“最亲的”，英文用“nearest”，是指在family tree上离得最近的，自然是“最亲的”。
5、中文说“（不小心）当了回业余侦探”，英文说“turn amateur detective”。

每日一词学英语(113): seafaring

2009-08-19T21:21:00.002+01:00

一块银质怀表在海底沉睡130年后被一名潜水员发现，并被交到了表主人的近亲手里。这名亲属很高兴多年后这块表回归家族，而且惊奇地发现祖上曾有过多彩的航海经历。“.... It has come as a complete surprise to me that my ancestors had such a colourful, seafaring past.” (From The Times, August 19, 2009: Silver pocket watch found off Welsh coast returned after 130 years)

Adj. [only before noun] connected with work or travel on the sea/ocean
*a seafaring nation （金山译为：以航海为业的民族）
这个词也可以作名词，意思是：航海事业，水手工作。
“-faring”对应的是“fare”: (intransitive) to go, travel，“seafaring”自然是“在海上工作、旅行”。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(26)：Bolt & fire

2009-08-18T21:40:00.003+01:00

The more we learn about Bolt, the clearer it becomes that he was not a brief Beijing firework, but a fire that will burn hotter and hotter. (From Times Online, August 18, 2009: When Usain Bolt is finished, all sprinters in history will be humbled)

Usain Bolt是2009世界田径锦标赛上耀眼的明星，他去年在北京奥运会上就有抢眼表现，但绝不是稍纵即逝的焰火，而是愈烧愈旺的火焰。

1、learn about，了解。
2、firework和fire是比喻，形容短暂和长久。注意brief的用法。
3、中文说“火越烧越旺”，英文是fire that will burn hotter and hotter，注意区别。

每日一词学英语(112): rub hands in glee

2009-08-18T21:16:00.005+01:00

在德国举行的世锦赛上，Usain Bolt以9.58秒的好成绩打破自己保持的男子百米跑世界纪录。据信，他出好成绩的势头远未结束，这可以让2012年伦敦奥组委兴奋不已，充满期待。

And the organisers of the London Olympics can rub their hands in gleeful expectation of 2012. (From Times Online, August 18, 2009: When Usain Bolt is finished, all sprinters in history will be humbled)

上面这句话中出现的实际上今天这个词组的变通用法。查Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary，在glee词条下找到例句：He rubbed his hands in glee as he thought of all the money he would make。该词典对glee的解释为：noun [U] a feeling of happiness, usually because sth good has happened to you, or sth bad has happened to sb else，同义词：delight。

98课（piggy bank，August 4, 2009）的例句中也用到这个词组，这里就不重复了。

可见今天这个词组是固定搭配用法，值得学习。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(25)：Tokyo & heat

2009-08-17T19:34:00.002+01:00

Summers in Tokyo are renowned for their diabolical heat. (From Economist, August 17, 2009: A hollow recovery)

东京的夏天以炎热著称。不过最新经济数据表明，日本今年第二季度（四到六月）经济增长了0.9%，这一消息可以给日本人带来一些舒适感。

1、注意本句用复数。
2、diabolical: (informal, especially BrE) extremely bad or annoying.
同义词：terrible
*The traffic was diabolical.
diabolocal heat，炎热的又一种表达法。
3、be renowned for sth，以……著称。

每日一词学英语(111): declassify

2009-08-17T18:59:00.003+01:00

最近的解密文件表明，公众受有关外星人的影视剧影响，对不明飞行物的目击事件持续增加。Sightings of unidentified flying objects increase when public interest is aroused by films and television programmes about aliens, newly declassified files indicate. (From The Times, August 17, 2009: UFO sightings increase 'after television shows about aliens')

To classify有一个意思是：to declare something a secret, especially a government secret。
*They decided to classify that information.
它的反义词是to declassify: to state officially that secret government information is no longer secret。
*declassified information / documents

英语作文进阶之每日一句(24)：reality & rhetoric

2009-08-16T20:09:00.003+01:00

The reality is struggling to keep pace with the rhetoric. (From The Sunday Times, August 16, 2009: Bonus party won't stop)

目前这场全球金融危机对银行家来说，本来难辞其咎，可他们却一如既往地拿着高额奖金，连美国总统奥巴马都看不过去了，希望削减银行家的奖金。这种希望能兑现吗？

1、rhetoric: (formal, often disapproving) speech or writing that is intended to influence people, but that is not completely honest or sincere，花言巧语。这里指削减银行家奖金这种口号。
*the rhetoric of political slogans
*empty rhetoric
*His speech was dismissed as mere rhetoric by the opposition.
2、keep pace with: 并驾齐驱，意思是“与……一致”。
3、reality和rhetoric相对，一个是做的，一个是说的。
4、to struggle to，力争。

每日一词学英语(110): incongruous

2009-08-16T19:21:00.004+01:00

为应对经济危机，27岁的英国人Nick Weston在树上搭建了一座屋子，并要在那里过半年的罗宾逊（Robinson Crusoe）式的生活。搭建屋子所用材料很多都是自给自足，开销很少。他的女友想尽一己之力，给屋子安了窗帘，有点不协调，但颜色很红。The slightly incongruous but pretty red curtains were added by his girlfriend, Clare: “She wanted to do her bit.” (From The Sunday Times, August 16, 2009: If you go down to the woods today...)

Adj. strange, and not suitable in a particular situation
同义词：inappropriate
*Such traditional methods seem incongruous in our technical age.
*The two of them made an incongruous couple.

英语作文进阶之每日一句(23)：child & programme

2009-08-15T22:02:00.003+01:00

Child psychologists claimed that the programme, in which the youngsters were shown fighting and dissolving into tears, was tantamount to child abuse. (From The Times, August 15, 2009: New laws could mean children disappear from TV, say broadcasters)

参加电视选秀节目要承受巨大压力，对儿童而言，这种压力有时不免有点残忍。儿童心理学家说，在这类节目中小选手使出浑身解数、眼泪汪汪，这与虐待他们没什么两样。

1、to claim，声称，不仅仅是say，是to say that sth is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it。
2、to dissolve into tears: to suddenly start laughing, crying, etc.
*When the teacher looked up, the children dissolved into giggles.
*Every time she heard his name, she dissolved into tears.
*dissolve into laughter
3、tantamount to: (formal) having the same bad effect as sth else
*If he resigned it would be tantamount to admitting that he was guilty.
4、child psychologists和child abuse中child用单数。

每日一词学英语(109): vox pop

2009-08-15T20:32:00.004+01:00

在本年度的英国选秀节目《Britain’s Got Talent》上，10岁小女孩Holly因无法承受巨大压力而中断演唱，最后评委网开一面，给了她二度表演的机会。为此，英国打算出台新规，限制儿童在公众媒体上的曝光率，以免他们过早承受不必要的压力。只有新闻镜头里和接受采访的儿童可以不受此限。It is understood that only children in news footage and vox pops would be exempt under the proposed regulations. (From The Times, August 15, 2009: New laws could mean children disappear from TV, say broadcasters)

Vox pops是vox pop（vox populi的简写）的复数形式，noun [C, U] (BrE, informal) the opinion of members of the public, especially when it is broadcast or published，民众之声，公众舆论。
*The reporter got some vox pops in the city square to see what people thought of the country's new flag.

英语作文进阶之每日一句(22)：electrical & magnetic

2009-08-14T23:42:00.003+01:00

Born in 1777 in Rudkøbing, Denmark, Ørsted established in 1820 that an electrical current coursing through a wire creates a magnetic field that can deflect a compass needle. (From National Geographic News, August 14, 2009: Hans Christian Orsted: Who He Was, and Why You Owe Him)

奥斯特1777年的今天出生于丹麦，1820年发现通过线圈的电流产生磁场，可以使罗盘指针产生摆动。

1、主语同位语的用法，在英语里极为常见，在中文里不常见。
2、to establish意思是to discover or prove the facts of a situation，同义词：ascertain。
3、course作动词意思是(literary) (of liquid) to move or flow quickly，这里描述电流流过线圈。
4、注意不定冠词，四个a(n)不可少，后接的四个名词都是可数名词。

每日一词学英语(108): accolade

2009-08-14T23:11:00.003+01:00

今天Google用图标纪念汉斯·克里斯蒂安·奥斯特（Hans Christian Ørsted）232岁生日。So who was Ørsted, and what did he do to deserve the Internet's ultimate accolade? (From National Geographic News, August 14, 2009: Hans Christian Orsted: Who He Was, and Why You Owe Him)

他是谁？有何功勋得获因特网最高殊荣？他是丹麦物理学家、化学家，电流磁效应的发现者。

Noun (formal) praise or an award for an achievement that people admire。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(21)：recovery & preferable

2009-08-13T20:18:00.004+01:00

Worrying about how strong recovery will be is preferable to worrying about whether recovery will ever start. (From Economist, August 13, 2009: Sailing away)

最新数据表明，欧元区两个主要国家法国和德国经济开始复苏。人们更应该担心的是经济复苏的程度，而不是经济是否开始复苏。

1、A is preferable to B，A比B更好、更可取。
2、ever在这里的意思是'at any time'，跟whether/if搭配，注意这个用法。

每日一词学英语(107): haul

2009-08-13T20:02:00.004+01:00

国际奥委会决定在2012年伦敦奥运会上将女子拳击列为正式比赛项目，英国希望借此在奥运会上多得几枚奖牌。British Olympic Association chief Andy Hunt hopes the inclusion of women's boxing in the 2012 Games will help Team GB's medal haul in London. (From Teletext: Olympics: Women boxers win 2012 fight)

Haul作名词在这里的意思是：(especially in sport) a large number of points, goals, etc.
*His haul of 40 goals in a season is a record.
Medal haul指的是a large number of medals。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(20)：meteors & shower

2009-08-12T23:02:00.003+01:00

In clear skies around the shower's peak observers can see up to 80 meteors and shooting stars streaking overhead every hour. (From Times Online, August 12, 2009: Perseid 'tweeteors' knock Disney star Miley Cyrus off top slot)

英仙座流星雨是每年八月夜空的一大看点，如果天气晴朗，在流星雨高峰时段，观察者每小时可以看到多达80颗流星划过夜空。

1、skies这里用复数，表示深邃的天空。You can also use the plural form skies, especially when you are thinking about the great extent of the sky。
*cloudless skies
*a land of blue skies and sunshine
*The skies above London were ablaze with a spectacular firework display.
2、注意around的用法，和peak搭配。
3、streak overhead，划过夜空，比较形象。
4、meteors和shooting stars都是流星的意思，后者是(also falling star) (noun) a small meteor (= a piece of rock in outer space) that travels very fast and burns with a bright light as it enters the earth’s atmosphere。也就是说，shooting stars比meteors小，a shooting star is broken pieces of meteors that have become broken off in space。

每日一词学英语(106): gibbous

2009-08-12T22:28:00.004+01:00

每年八月，英仙座流星雨都会如期而至。昨晚，作为2009国际天文年的活动之一，英国的业余天文学家把观测活动搬到网上，并从当红明星Miley Cyrus那里抢得Twitter网头把交椅。(From Times Online, August 12, 2009: Perseid 'tweeteors' knock Disney star Miley Cyrus off top slot)

因为有月亮争辉，英国昨晚的观测效果并不是很好，不过，英格兰南部的观测者在后半夜还是一饱眼福了。Conditions over the UK last night were far from perfect — and a "gibbous" moon is providing competition — but skywatchers in southern England enjoyed quite a show if they stayed up late enough.

Adj. (technical) (of the moon) with the bright part bigger than a semicircle and smaller than a circle 形容大于半圆但不足满月的月亮（凸月）。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(19)：Schumacher & return

2009-08-11T23:10:00.002+01:00

Schumacher’s return was, arguably, the most awaited moment in the sporting year. (From Times Online, August 11, 2009: Michael Schumacher abandons plans for Formula One comeback)

曾七次获得世界冠军的F1车手舒马赫今天宣布，他不参加下星期的欧洲大奖赛，这让望眼欲穿盼他回归赛场的粉丝感到失望。

1、arguably是可论证地，adv. used, often before a comparative or superlative adjective, when you are stating an opinion which you believe you could give reasons to support。
*He is arguably the best actor of his generation.
2、awaited moment。
3、sporting year，与financial year组词结构类似。

每日一词学英语(105): pillage

2009-08-11T22:40:00.002+01:00

伴随着中国不断扩大的对外投资建设，在海外的中国移民人数也不断增加。相应地，中国移民和当地居民之间的冲突事件也在增加。今年5月在非洲的巴布亚新几内亚就发生了针对中国人的暴力事件，至少一人死亡，全国几个城镇的中国企业遭到洗劫。At least one person was killed and Chinese-owned businesses were pillaged in several cities (including the capital, Port Moresby) and towns throughout the country. (From the Economist, August 11, 2009: Overseas and under siege)

(verb) to steal things from a place or region, especially in a war, using violence. 同义词：plunder。
*(不及物动词)The rebels went looting and pillaging.
*(及物动词)The town had been pillaged and burned.
*(及物动词)Works of art were pillaged from churches and museums.

英语作文进阶之每日一句(18)：crops & calories

2009-08-10T20:33:00.003+01:00

In the event of an extreme event, cereal crops would be used to feed the nation and ensure that each person received sufficient daily calories. (From Times Online, August 10, 2009: Food crisis could force wartime rations and vegetarian diet on Britons)

居安思危，英国开始考虑如何应对将来可能发生的粮食短缺。

1、In the event of，如果……发生，是表达条件句式的一种方法。
2、注意虚拟语气时态：would be used、received。
3、feed和nation搭配；receive后接calory。

每日一词学英语(104): vandal

2009-08-10T20:13:00.002+01:00

Hazel Blears, the former Communities Secretary, has said that her car was attacked by vandals rather than political opponents carrying out a vendetta. (From Times Online, August 10, 2009: Blears blames vandals for attack on car in constituency)

前Communities Secretary说，她的车被砸，凶手不是有仇的政治对手，而是vandals，即people who deliberately destroy or damage public property，破坏他人财产者。这个词对应的动词是vandalize: [usually passive] to damage sth, especially public property, deliberately and for no good reason。

英语作文进阶之每日一句(17)：pact & hope

2009-08-09T21:11:00.003+01:00

The trade pact will be a test of whether that hope can be fulfilled. (From The Economist, August 6, 2009: Reunification by trade?)

台湾海峡两岸在经济上走得越来越近，统一大业何时能实现？

1、will be a test of，中文喜欢说will test，注意英文中名词化的用法。
2、hope和fulfil搭配。

每日一词学英语(103): in tatters

2009-08-09T20:22:00.003+01:00

The reputation of the Home Office was left in tatters as a national newspaper enlisted the help of a security researcher to make a clone of a genuine card and change the information on it. (From ITProPortal, 08 August, 2009: White Hat Hacker Cracks UK ID Card In 12 Minutes)

英国一家全国性报纸招了一名安全专家，复制了一张乱真的身份证并更改了其中的信息，Home Office因此名声扫地。

tatters以复数形式来用，意思是撕破了的布条或衣服。in tatters在这里是：ruined or badly damaged。同义词：in shreds
*Her reputation was in tatters.
*The government’s education policy lies in tatters.

英语作文进阶之每日一句(16)：Beatles & Abbey Road

2009-08-08T23:41:00.002+01:00

Hundreds of Beatles fans gathered at the zebra crossing on London's Abbey Road yesterday to mark 40 years since the launch of the eponymous album. (From The Observer, Sunday 9 August 2009: Beatles fans mark 40 years of Abbey Road)

四十年前，Beatles走过伦敦Abbey Road斑马线拍照，作为即将发行的同名专辑的封面。今天（8月8日），数百歌迷重走这条斑马线，拍照留念。

1、eponumous album，同名专辑。
2、注意介词at和on的用法。
3、launch与album搭配。
4、zebra crossing，斑马线，多用于英国，美国用pedestrian crossing。有手动按钮来控制红绿灯的斑马线叫pelican crossing（用于英国）。

每日一词学英语(102): bungle

2009-08-08T23:27:00.001+01:00

英国气象部门四月时预报今年夏天是“BBQ summer”，实际上却阴雨连绵。尽管预报失误，气象部门的员工还是得到了人均650英镑的“预报准确”奖金，媒体讽刺说这是“下雨”奖金。（From The Sunday Times, August 9, 2009: It’s raining bonuses at the Met Office）

More than 1,700 staff are getting a “forecast accuracy” bonus of about £650 each — after a series of bungled predictions. bungled prediction和forecast accuracy意思相反。

bungle: to do sth badly or without skill; to fail at sth. 同义词：botch
*They bungled the job.
*a bungled robbery / raid / attempt

每日一词列表（1-100）

2009-08-07T23:04:00.003+01:00

从excel文件拷过来的，不太齐整的地方请见谅。

al fresco (63) 63 June 30, 2009
alopecia (75) 75 July 12, 2009
aplomb (47) 47 June 14, 2009
arcane (82) 82 July 19, 2009
assay (90) 90 July 27, 2009
a volley of (34) 34 June 1, 2009
balk (88) 88 July 25, 2009
battering (39) 39 June 6, 2009
bristle (85) 85 July 22, 2009
bumper-to-bumper (73) 73 July 10, 2009
bums on seats (95) 95 August 1, 2009
caesarean section (19) 19 May 17, 2009
can't half (46) 46 June 13, 2009
Cassandra (13) 13 May 11, 2009
catapult (32) 32 May 30, 2009
clubbing (55) 55 June 22, 2009
cocktail (17) 17 May 15, 2009
complication (48) 48 June 15, 2009
damper (92) 92 July 29, 2009
descale (72) 72 July 9, 2009
dispense with (93) 93 July 30, 2009
ditch (9) 9 May 7, 2009
doe-eyed (74) 74 July 11, 2009
draconian (56) 56 June 23, 2009
drum up (18) 18 May 16, 2009
equestrian (7) 7 May 5, 2009
ethos (51) 51 June 18, 2009
expletive (76) 76 July 13, 2009
fag-end (49) 49 June 16, 2009
foray (71) 71 July 8, 2009
graft (54) 54 June 21, 2009
grotesque (45) 45 June 12, 2009
hear the cogs turning (5) 5 May 3, 2009
hone (26) 26 May 24, 2009
hubristic (57) 57 June 24, 2009
imponderable (81) 81 July 18, 2009
incumbent (89) 89 July 26, 2009
in place (1) 1 April 30, 2009
jacquard (70) 70 July 7, 2009
junket (53) 53 June 20, 2009
lead the charge (2) 2 April 30, 2009
lick (25) 25 May 23, 2009
like-for-like (42) 42 June 9, 2009
loophole (27) 27 May 25, 2009
make a hash of (84) 84 July 21, 2009
nemesis (79) 79 July 16, 2009
no-brainer (62) 62 June 29, 2009
once bitten, twice shy (15) 15 May 13, 2009
ornithology (30) 30 May 28, 2009
out of the blue (22) 22 May 20, 2009
outstrip (100) 100 August 6, 2009
pent-up (99) 99 August 5, 2009
penultimate (10) 10 May 8, 2009
phalanx (37) 37 June 4, 2009
phase out (20) 20 May 18, 2009
phlebotomist (14) 14 May 12, 2009
piggy bank (98) 98 August 4, 2009
premises (4) 4 May 2, 2009
prenup (68) 68 July 5, 2009
proceeds (52) 52 June 19, 2009
promiscuous (61) 61 June 28, 2009
prosthetic (33) 33 May 31, 2009
pundit (50) 50 June 17, 2009
put a shine on (3) 3 May 1, 2009
put the kibosh on (65) 65 July 2, 2009
rain check (31) 31 May 29, 2009
resounding (97) 97 August 3, 2009
RIP (59) 59 June 26, 2009
rout (41) 41 June 8, 2009
row (28) 28 May 26, 2009
sanguine (11) 11 May 9, 2009
scupper (23) 23 May 21, 2009
shambles (96) 96 August 2, 2009
sideline (35) 35 June 2, 2009
sidestep (83) 83 July 20, 2009
slick (38) 38 June 5, 2009
spate (44) 44 June 11, 2009
spelling bee (60) 60 June 27, 2009
squeamish (77) 77 July 14, 2009
staging post (80) 80 July 17, 2009
stall (40) 40 June 7, 2009
succumb (24) 24 May 22, 2009
sweltering (64) 64 July 1, 2009
swine (6) 6 May 4, 2009
take with a pinch of salt (16) 16 May 14, 2009
to boot (66) 66 July 3, 2009
toe the line (29) 29 May 27, 2009
toothless (94) 94 July 31, 2009
triplicate (69) 69 July 6, 2009
unfazed (86) 86 July 23, 2009
upshot (87) 87 July 24, 2009
veritable (58) 58 June 25, 2009
vet (36) 36 June 3, 2009
vicissitude (67) 67 July 4, 2009
watchdog (12) 12 May 10, 2009
Web 2.0 (43) 43 June 10, 2009
what’s the catch (8) 8 May 6, 2009
whittle down (91) 91 July 28, 2009
Zeitgeist (21) 21 May 19, 2009
Zimmer frame (78) 78 July 15, 2009

英语作文进阶之每日一句(15)：stick & mates

2009-08-07T22:52:00.003+01:00

I’ve been getting lots of stick from mates. (From The Times, August 7, 2009: Swine flu advert actor David McCusker catches... swine flu)

广告演员David McCusker拍片教大家预防猪流感，自己却不幸染病，不仅受朋友取笑，也被同伴批评。

1、stick是不可数名词，(BrE, informal) criticism or severe words
*The referee got a lot of stick from the home fans.
2、注意时态。

每日一词学英语(101): ribbing

2009-08-07T22:20:00.006+01:00

英国卫生部门对公众提出预防猪流感的口号：Catch it, Bin it, Kill it，即：打喷嚏或咳嗽要用手或纸巾接住，用过的纸巾要及时仍进垃圾桶，勤用洗手液洗手。30岁的David McCusker在宣传广告中教给大家正确做法。

He said that he has received endless ribbing from unsympathetic friends. 最近他被朋友取笑。为什么呢？

“I was supposed to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’, but instead I’ve been shivering, shaking and spreading it,” he said. 原来，两周前他因患上猪流感而被隔离。(From The Times, August 7, 2009: Swine flu advert actor David McCusker catches... swine flu)

动词rib: (old-fashioned, informal) to laugh at sb and make jokes about them, but in a friendly way. 同义词：tease（有时是恶意取笑）
*He used to rib her mercilessly about her accent.

ribbing是名词，同样是old-fashioned, informal，不过今天的报纸上还在用。看来，不能因为词典上的说法而轻易把一些词打入冷宫。

每日一词学英语(100beta): 选词标准

2009-08-07T21:30:00.002+01:00

以前觉得选词是无意识的，其实仔细想想，还真是有一些规则，是无意间形成的，也有个人喜好的原因。

1、尽量选当天（有时是昨天，偶尔是前两天，均指媒体所标明的发表日期）网络媒体上出现的词，保持“每日一词”与日俱进。从这个意义上，一般不会选几年前、几十年前出版的小说或教材中的词。
2、选我以前不熟悉或某个义项（可能这个词本身很简单，但我要讲的义项不简单）不熟悉的词。因为我不充当老师的角色，我已经掌握的词，不论它多好、多有意义，均不会选。
3、不光考虑意思，也考虑用法。所以如果是某个专业名词，可能比较难，但使用范围有限（不能用来造句，不能用在你的非专业写作中），一查词典知道意思后再无新鲜之处，一般也不选。
4、不选冷僻词，这个标准有点主观。我不选冷僻词，可有时读者还觉得我选的有些词冷僻呢，比如第79课的“nemesis”，有读者反馈说“好偏啊”。
5、除了当日媒体，也会选日常生活中碰到的词。但选词来源讲究权威性，首先一定是native speaker说的，其次要正式媒体文字，比如报纸某篇文章中读者comment中出现的新词一般不选，私人博客内容一般不选，专栏作家的博客除外。
6、扫描的媒体来源包括：google news（会涵盖很多媒体，而且内容新鲜），经济学人（以前听说这上边的文章有利于提高写作水平），英国几大报纸，BBC等。这些媒体中除了新闻及分析评论外，会有一些科技、IT、法律、医学方面的词，但不会太深太专。
7、可能还有别的主观原因，想起来再补充。