现代大学英语精读4lesson8-language-study

PartFourLanguageStudyENTER

WordStudy

PhrasesandExpressionsWordBuilding

GrammarLanguageStudyContentsWordStudyWordlist:alienantidotebacklashbingeboombustclamorcomplementconspicuously19.irreversible20.maximize21.merger22.prevail23.prone24.propel25.retard26.slump

constituent

daunting

downturn

dwarf

ensue

erode

glut

implode

ineptWordStudy1.aliena.comingfromadifferentcountry,raceorgroup;foreignExamples:It’sacountrythathashadanaliengovernmentandanalienlanguageimposedonitbyforce.Ifindtheidealofsendingyoungchildrenofftoboardingschooltotallyalien.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudyalienn.aforeigner,esp.someonewholivesinacountryofwhichtheyarenotlegalcitizenExample:Whenwarbrokeoutthegovernmentroundedupthousandsofaliensandputthemintemporarycamps.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudyalienatev.

a.

tostopsupporting

b.

tocausetofeelverydistantfromornotwelcometosomeoneleseExamples:Allthesechangestothenewspaperhavealienateditstraditionalreaders.Tenyearsinprisonhavealienatedhimfromhisfamily.n.alienationWordStudy2.antidoten.achemical,esp.adrug,whichlimitstheeffectsofapoison,orawayofpreventingoractingagainstsomethingbadExamples:Anemonewasatthetimebelievedtobeanantidote

forscorpionpoison.Regularexerciseisthebestantidote

totirednessanddepression.WordStudy3.backlashn.

astrongfeelingamongagroupofpeopleinreactiontoatendencyorrecenteventsinsocietyorpoliticsExamples:Thenewpresidentencouragedthebacklashagainst“morallaxity”.Theaccidenthasprovoked/producedabacklashamonglocalpeoplewhoclaimthattheroadisdangerous.WordStudy

4.bingen.anoccasionwhenanactivityisdoneinanextremeway,esp.eating,drinkingorspendingmoneyExamples:adrinking/eating/spendingbingeHerillnessinvolvedperiodsofbinge-eatingandthenmakingherselfsick.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudybingev.toeatinanuncontrolledway,sometimesasapartofanillnessExamples:Itendtobinge

onchocolatewhenIamwatchingTV!Shewentthroughperiodsofbinging(alsobinge-eating).WordStudyn.aperiodofsuddengrowth,esp.onethatresultsinalotofmoneybeingmadeExamples:Thisyearhasseenaboom

inbooksales.Theinsurancebusinesshasbeencharacterizedbyaviciouscycleofboomandbustascompaniesgoinandoutofbusinessesandpricesriseandfall.5.boomTobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudyboomv.

Example:Here,aselsewhere,theleisureindustryisbooming.WordStudy6.bustn.aplacewherepeopleareallowedtoleavetheirrubbish(alsoarubbishdump)Examples:I’mgoingtoclearouttheshedtomorrowandtakeeverythingIdon’t’wanttothe

bust.Hisroomisabust.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudybustv.

a.

tobreaksomething

b.

toarrestsomebody

Examples:Ohno!I’vebustedhisCDplayer.Harryandhisgirlfriendbusteduplastweek.Thepolicebustedhimbecausetheythinkhe’sinvolvedwithaterroristgroup.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudybustn.anoccasionwhenpolicearrestpeoplewhoarethoughttohavebrokenthelaw

Example:Intheirlatestdrugsbustpoliceenteredawarehousewherecocainedealersweremeeting.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudybusta.Whenacompanygoesbustitisforcedtoclosebecauseitisfinanciallyunsuccessful.

Example:Morethantwentycompaniesinthedistrictwent

bustduringthelastthreemonths.WordStudyn.

a.aloudcomplaintaboutsomethingordemandforsomething

b.loudnoise,esp.madebypeople’svoices

Examples:Afterthebombing,therewasapublicclamorforvengeance.Hepreferredsolitarywalksinthewildernesstotheclamorofthecity.7.clamor=clamourTobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudya.

clamorous

Examples:Thenewspaperdevotedsevenpagestoaclamorouscallforindependence.Theairwasfilledwithclamorous,excitedvoices.v.

clamorExample:Theresidentsareclamoringagainstthedumpingofchemicalwasteneartheirhouses.WordStudy8.complementv.tomatchtwodifferentthingstogetherwhosecombinedeffectisgreaterthanthatofeitherseparatelyExample:Strawberriesandcreamcomplementeachotherperfectly.a.complementaryExample:Myfamilyandmyjobbothplayanimportantpartinmylife,fulfillingseparatebutcomplementaryneeds.WordStudy9.conspicuouslyad.obviously;inawaythatiseasytonoticeExample:Thetemple’sgrandwhitearchesroseconspicuouslyoverthedirtydecayingcity.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudya.

conspicuous

Examples:InChina,whereblackhairisthenorm,herblondehairwasconspicuous.Hetriednottolookconspicuousandmovedslowlyalongthebackoftheroom.n.

conspicuousnessAntonyminconspicuousWordStudy10.constituentn.avoterinaparticularareaofthecountryExample:Asasenatorhewasexcellent—alwaystalkingtohisconstituentsandhearingtheirproblems.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudyconstituencyn.

anyoftheofficialareasofacountrythatelectsomeonetorepresentvotersnationallyExample:TheMP’sconstituencycoversthecity’spoorestareas.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudyconstitutev.

toformormake

a./n.

constituentExamples:Womenconstituteabout10%oftheParliament.Whatarethebasicconstituentsofthemixture?Let’sconsiderseparatelytheconstituentpartsofthissentence.WordStudy11.daunting

a.intimidating;dishearteningExample:Inspiteofunificationthecountrywasstillfacedwiththedauntingprospectofovercomingfourdecadesofdivision.Antonym:dauntlessTobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudydauntv.

tomakesomeonefeelslightlyfrightenedorworriedabouttheirabilitytoachievesomething;todiscourageExample:Shewasnotatalldauntedbythesizeoftheproblem.WordStudy12.downturn=downswingn.areductionintheamountorsuccessofsomething,suchasacountry’seconomicactivityExamples:thecontinuingeconomicdownturnThereisevidenceofadownturn

inthebuildingtrade.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudyupturnn.(esp.ineconomics)animprovementoradvantageouschangetoahigherlevelorvalueExample:Investorsshouldnotexpectasharpupturn

intheeconomy.WordStudy13.dwarfv.tocausetoappearsmallbycomparisonExamples:Thenewskyscraperwilldwarfallthosenearit.Thisnewfinancialcrisismaywelldwarfmostthathavegonebefore.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudydwarfn.apersonwhoismuchsmallerthantheusualsizeExample:Theyhavecampaignedformanyyearsagainstthediscriminationexperiencedbydwarfs/dwarves.a.

dwarfWordStudy14.ensue

v.tohappenaftersomethingelse,esp.asaresultofit Examples:Thepoliceofficersaidthathehadplacedthemanunderarrestandthatascufflehadensued.Boredomoftenensuesfrominactivity.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudya.ensuingExamples:Helosthisjobandintheensuingmonthsbecamemoreandmoredepressed.Anargumentbrokeoutandintheensuingfight,agunwentoff.WordStudy

v.toruborberubbedawaygradually

Examples:Windandrainhaveerodedthestatuesintotheshapelesslumpsofstone.Thecliffsareerodingby/atseveralfeetayear.Hisbehavioroverthelastfewmonthshaserodedmyconfidenceinhisjudgment.a.erosion15.erodeWordStudy16.glut

n.asupplyofsomethingthatismuchgreaterthancanbesoldorisneededorwantedExamples:Thefallindemandforcoffeecouldcauseagluton/inthemarket,forcingsomeproducerstocutprices.Thereisaglutoflarge,expensivehouseslyingemptyandunsold.WordStudy17.implode

v.tofallinwardswithforceExamples:Thevacuuminsidethetubecausedittoimplodewhentheexternalairpressurewasincreased.Theireconomyisindangerofimplodingbecauseofmassiveforeigndebts.n.

implosionexplodeCompareWordStudy18.inept

a.notskilledoreffectiveExamples:Someonehadmadeanineptattempttoirontheskirts.Hewasalwaysratherinept

atsport.Hewascriticizedforhisinepthandlingofthesituation.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudyn.ineptitudeExamples:political/social/economicineptitudeThenewspapereditorialcorrectlypointedoutthegovernment’sineptitude

indealingwiththeozonecrisis.WordStudy19.irreversible

a.notpossibletochange Examples:Helistedsomeoftheirreversibleeffectsofageing.Technologyhashadanirreversibleimpactonsociety.ad.

irreversiblyWordStudy20.maximize

v.tomakesomethingasgreatinamount,sizeorimportanceaspossibleExample:Tomaximizeourwalkingtime,weshouldbereadytostartatdawn.n.

maximizationExample:Thecompanyisstrivingforthemaximizationofprofits.minimizeminimizationminimumminimalTobecontinuedonthenextpage.CompareWordStudyn.maximumtothemaximum:tothegreatestpossibledegreea.maximal

Example:Evenwhenthebrainhasattaineditsmaximalsizeandstructure,signalsfromthebodyandtheenvironmentarestillconstantlychangingit.WordStudy21.merger

n.

theunionoftwoormorecommercialinterestorcorporationsExamples:Theirmergerofthetwocompanieswouldcreatetheworld’sbiggestaccountingfirm.TheGermantyrecompanyisholdingmergertalkswithitsIndianrival.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudyv.

mergeExamples:Thecountry’stwobiggestbanksareplanningtomergeinordertofightoffcompetitionfromabroad.Afterawhilethenarrowtrackmerges

withawiderpath.WordStudy22.prevail

v.

toexistandbeacceptedamongalargenumberofpeople,ortogetapositionofcontrolandinfluenceExamples:Thisisastrangecustomthatstillprevails.Didgreedprevail

overgenerosity?Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudya.

prevailing/prevalentn.

prevalenceExamples:Theprevailingmoodisoneofoptimism.Undertheprevailinglaw,thegovernmentcannotannulsuchmarriages.Thesediseasesaremoreprevalentamongyoungchildren.Theprevalenceofdrugsintheinnercitiesisalarming.WordStudy23.prone

a.

a.

tendingtosufferfromanillnessorshowaparticularnegativecharacteristic

b.lyingonthefrontwiththefacedownExamples:You’remoreprone

toillnesseswhenyou’retiredandyourbodyisrun-down.YouhavetobearinmindthatAngelaisratherprone

toexaggeration.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudyThephotographshowedamanlyingproneonthepavement,apuddleofbloodabouthishead.a.

-prone:combiningformaccident-prone,injury-proneWordStudy24.propel

v.

tocausesomethingtomoveforwardsExamples:arocketpropelledbygrenadeMr.Henrysaidthatthecountrywasbeingpropelledtowardscivilwar.

Apropellingpencilormechanicalpencilisapencilinwhichtheleadcanbepushedforwardbyturningorpressingapartofthepencil.WordStudy25.retard

v.

tomake(something)slowerExamples:Icyroadsretardedtheirprogressthroughthemountains.Ariseininterestrateswouldseverelyretardeconomicgrowth.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudya.

retardedn.

retardationExamples:Theprogramofferslong-termcarefortheelderlyandintermediatecareforthementallyretarded.Thedrugstakenbythewomenwhiletheywerepregnantcausedgrowthretardationintheirchildren.WordStudy26.slump

n.

recession

Examples:Therehasbeenaslump

indemandforbeefeversincetherecenthealthscare.Thehotelindustry,likemostindustries,iscurrentlyinaslump.Thereisfearthatweareenteringanothereconomicslumpasbadasthe1930’s.Tobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordStudyslumpv.(ofprices,valuesorsales)tofallsuddenlyExamples:Thevalueofpropertyhasslumped.Carsaleshaveslumpeddramaticallyoverthepastyear.Theendofwordstudy.List:asuccessionofbehard-pressedtododepartfrominsomerespectsabreastofPhrasesandExpressions

anumberofthingsorpeoplefollowingeachotherintimeororder;aseries

Examples:Lastweekwehadasuccession

ofvisitors.A

succession

ofaccidentsspoiledourautomobiletrip.A

succession

ofcarspassedusoneafteranother.Thepoormanhadasuccessionofmisfortunes.1.asuccessionofPhrasesandExpressionsTobecontinuedonthenextpage.

Victoryfollowedvictoryin

rapid

succession.Hehasbeenawardedfirstprizeforhisrosesthreeyearsin

succession.Hiswordscameoutin

quick

succession.insuccession(to)继承（王位等）Whoisthefirstin

succession

tothethrone?Theeldestsonisthefirstin

succession

tohisfather’sproperty.

insuccession一个接一个，一连

PhrasesandExpressionsExamples:Thelatesteducationreformshaveputextrapressureinteacherswhoarealreadyhard-pressed.Becauseofshortages,theemergencyserviceswere

hard-pressed

todealwiththeaccident.2.behard-pressedtodo

tohavealotofdifficultiesdoingsomethingPhrasesandExpressionsExamples:Wecannotdepart

fromourregularpracticeinsuchcases.I’dliketodepart

fromthemainsubjectofmyspeechforafewmoments.Thechairmandeparted

fromthenormalprocedurebyallowingreporterstobepresentduringCouncilbusiness.

departurefromThenewsystemisadeparture

fromourusualwayofkeepingrecords.3.departfrom

背离，离开；不按······行事PhrasesandExpressions

在一些方面Examples:Inmany

respects,Johnisthebestboywehavehadintheschool.Thisproposaldiffersfromthelastonein

some

respects.Thehouseisinafairlygoodconditionand,in

this

respect,contrastswiththerestofthestreetwhichisinastateofdisrepair.Theplanisfaultyin

every

respect.4.insomerespectsPhrasesandExpressionsbeinginformedaboutthemostrecentfactsaboutasubjectorsituation

Examples:She’salwaysabreast

ofthecurrentpoliticalsituation.Itrytokeep

abreast

ofwhat’shappeninginpsychology.5.abreastofPhrasesandExpressionsTheendofPhrasesandExpressions.WordBuildingList:

Prefix–multiPrefix–sub

WordBuildingmultilateralprefixmulti-:prefix,fromLatin,meaning“many,much,multiple,manytimes,morethanone,composedofmanylikeparts,inmanyrespects”multicolored,multivitamin,multilateral,multinationalTobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordBuildingmultilateralprefixmono-:prefix,fromGreek,meaning“one,single,lone”monarch,monastery,monochrome,monogamy,monogram,monograph,monolingual,monotonous,monosyllablebi-:prefix,fromLatin,meaning“twice,two”biennial,bisect,bicentennial,biped,bigamy,binoculars,bilateral,biweeklyTobecontinuedonthenextpage.WordBuildingmultilateralprefixInsomewordsreferringtotimeperiods,theprefixbi-hastwomeanings:“twicea+-”and“everytwo+-s”.Thus,biannualmeansboth“twiceayear”and“everytwoyears”.tri-:prefix,fromLatin,meaning“three”triatomic,trilateralquadri-:pref