Unit 4 Cultural Encounters Words and Expressions综合教程二

Unit 4 Cultural Encounters

Words and Expressions

1.access n.entrance; way in; means of entering o r the right to use or look at something

e.g. The only means of access to the building is along a muddy track.

到达那幢楼的唯一途径是沿着那条泥泞的小路前行。

The system has been designed to give the user quick and easy access to the required information.

Derivation:

accessible a.

2. communicate vi. share or exchange feelings, opinions, or information, etc.

e.g. He is a shy boy who can’t communicate very well.

Derivation:

communication n.

e.g. The Internet is the best means of communication among several partners at different

locations.

communicative a.

3. remote a.distant in space or time

e.g. We can see remote stars through a telescope.

In the remote future, many new changes will take place.

The Beatles carried Liverpool’s fame to the remotest corners of the earth. Derivation:

remoteness n.

e.g. They found the remoteness of the country a great problem.

Comparison: distant, far, remote

distant very far away esp. in distance

e.g. She could hear the distant sound of fireworks exploding.

far describe something that is not near, or the part of something that is most distant from the centre or from you

e.g. The station isn’t far — we could easily walk it.

remote describe an area, house or village that is a long way from any towns or cities e.g. He lived in a remote mountain village.

This pilgrim came from a very distant place.

4. mockingly ad. in a way in which sb. or sth. is made fun of

e.g. Andrienne raised her eyebrows mockingly —“What’s wrong, my dear? Don’t you

understand?”

The boy who was once referred to mockingly as a country boy is now the CEO of a joint venture.

5. regardless of without taking account of or worrying about

e.g. I bought the book, regardless of the cost.

尽管价钱挺高，我还是买了这本书。

The law requires equal treatment for all, regardless of race, religion or sex.

6. facilitate vt.help; make easy or easier

e.g. The new underground railway will facilitate the journey to the airport.

An interface is a window environment designed to facilitate the interaction between the user and the system.

界面是一个窗口环境，其设计是用来促进用户和系统之间的交互作用。Derivation:

facilitation n.

facilitative a.

7. stepping stone any of a row of large stones with a level top, which one walks on to

cross a river or stream; figuratively, a way of improvement or gaining

success

e.g. For some people, gaining power is an essential stepping stone to a successful life.

Temporary jobs can be a stepping stone out of unemployment.

8. have misgivings not be sure

e.g. I have many misgivings about taking the job.

我对是否接受那项工作顾虑重重。

9. fundamental a.basic

e.g. A knowledge of economics is fundamental to any understanding of this problem.

经济学知识对于理解这个问题是至关重要的。

There is a fundamental difference in attitude between these two politicians.

这两位政治家的态度有着根本的区别。

Derivation:

fundamentally ad.

e.g. I disagreed fundamentally with what they stood for.

10. profound a. intense; deep; very strongly felt

e.g. The book contains profound insight into human behavior.

The development was to have a profound effect on all our lives.

Derivation:

profoundly ad.

e.g. I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to meet you.

11. at one’s peril (used when advising sb. not to do sth.) with the near certainty of

meeting great danger

e.g. You ignore this warning at your peril.

你若忽视这个警告，就得自担风险。

12. label

v.fix or tie on sth. a piece of paper or other material that gives information about it; use a word

or phrase to describe sb. or sth.

e.g.I’ve just spent a whole day labelling all the items.

The bottle is labeled poison.

瓶上标明有毒。

n.a piece of paper or other material, fixed to sth., which gives information about what it is, where it is to go, who owns it, etc.

e.g. The labels were attached to the luggage.

13. longing n.strong wish; a strong feeling of wanting sth.

e.g. She felt a great longing for the sights, sounds and smells of home.

Nothing could quench her longin g to return home again.

她重返家园的念头怎么也打消不掉。

14. despair https://www.360docs.net/doc/dd1407696.html,plete loss of hope or confidence; sth. that causes this feeling

e.g. His failure in TOEFL drove him to despair.

He is the despair of his teacher because he refuses to study.

Synonym:

desperation n.

15. hover vi.be in an uncertain state; stay around one place, esp. in a way that annoys

other people

e.g. A hawk hovered in the sky, waiting to swoop down on its prey.

I heard the noise of a helicopter hovering overhead.

16. head-on ad. & a.with the heads or front parts meeting, usu. violently

e.g. The motor cycle ran head-on into the lorry.

The government and the unions are set for a head-on confrontation.

17. not be given to not usually do sth.

e.g. It is the truth. We are not given to telling lies.

18. unsurmountable a.too large or too difficult to be dealt with

e.g.I don’t thin k there are any unsurmountable problems in this project.

The problems are not unsurmountable.

问题不是无法解决的。

Synonym:

insurmountable, insuperable

Antonym:

surmountable

19. negotiate vt.discuss sth. in order to reach an agreement, esp. in business or politics

e.g. Foreign Ministers are meeting at talks in Geneva to negotiate a treaty banning all

chemical weapons.

We’ve decided to negotiate with the employers about our wage claim.

我们决定就工资问题与雇主谈判。

Derivation:

negotiation n.

e.g. Pay rates are fixed by negotiations between the trade union and employers. negotiable a. (not used before a noun)

e.g. The contract is for a period of six months, and is not negotiable.

20. come up with produce; think of a plan, reply, etc.

e.g. No one have come up with a convincing explanation of why dinosaurs died out.

尚未有人能对恐龙的灭绝做出一个令人信服的解释。

He’s come up with a great idea.

他想出了一个绝好的办法。

21. compromise v. & n. settle an argument or difference of opinion by each side

agreeing to some of the demands of the other; an agreement

reached in this way that is acceptable to both sides

e.g. They refused to compromise their principles by doing a deal with the terrorists.

他们拒绝同恐怖分子做交易，以免原则受损。

Progress has been made towards a political compromise between the two nations.

两国之间的政治和解已经取得进展。

Collocation:

compromise on / with

e.g. Let’s compromise on a 10% reduction in price on this shipment.

让我们来个折衷办法，这批货减价10％吧。

Don’t try to threaten me. I won’t compromise with you.

不要威胁我，我不会向你妥协的。

22. adjustment n. changing slightly in order to make right or suitable for a particular

purpose or

situation

e.g. We have to make some major adjustments to our scheme.

Some adjustment of the lens may be necessary.

可能有必要调节一下镜头。

Collocation:

make adjustments

23. regarding prep.as regards; concerning; on the subject of; in connection with

e.g. If you have any questions regarding any of our services, please feel free to call me.

She said nothing regarding your request.

她对你的要求闭口不答。

Synonym:

concerning, considering, in terms of

24. range n.the measurable limits within which variable amounts or qualities are included

e.g. He said it was outside his range of responsibility.

The new technology has opened up a very wide range of possibilities. Comparison: scope, range

scope n.the limits within which sth. operates, exists, or is effective

e.g. There is not much scope for originality.

range n. the amount, number or type of something between an upper and a lower limit e.g. The price range is from $100 to $500.

The product is aimed at young people in the 18─25 age range.

25. inevitably ad.unavoidably; that which is certain to happen; that which cannot be

prevented

from happening

e.g. Those who are created by publicity will inevitably be destroyed by it.

Inevitably, a quarrel followed between the two sides.

双方随后不可避免地争吵起来。

Derivation:

inevitability n.

Synonym:

unavoidably

26. unaware a.not having knowledge or consciousness of sth.

e.g. He seemed to be unaware of the trouble he was causing.

He was completely unaware that he was being watched.

Derivation:

unawareness n.

Collocation:

be unaware of

Antonym:

aware

27. reveal vt.show or allow sth. previously hidden to be seen; to make known sth.

previously secret or unknown

e.g. The journalist did not want to reveal the identity of his informant.

那名记者不愿透露消息提供者的身份。

These few words fully revealed her noble quality.

这寥寥数语充分显示了她的高贵品质。

Synonym: uncover, unveil

Derivation: revelation n.

28. complacent a. pleased or satisfied with oneself or with a situation, often

unreasonably; not worrying, even though one perhaps should be e.g. He gave us a complacent smile.

Derivation:

complacency n.

29. cut down on reduce an amount done, eaten, etc.

e.g. He cut down on coffee and sugar and ate a more healthy diet.

Finally they have hired a new person. I hope this cut down on our work a little.

他们终于雇佣新人了。希望我们的工作能减少一些。