现代大学英语精读2课文文本

Lesson One

Pre-class Work Read the text a third time. Learn the new words and expressions listed below.

Glossary

accomplishment n. the act of finishing sth. completely and successfully; achievement

acquire v. to gain; to get for oneself by one's own work

arrogantly adv. behaving in a proud and self-important way

aspirin n. 阿司匹林（解热镇痛药）

assume v. to take as a fact; to suppose

available adj. able to be used or easily found

bachelor n. ～'s degree: the first university degree

beanpole n. (infml) a very tall and thin person

bull n. a male cow

certify v. to state that sth. is true or correct, esp. after some kind of test

civilized adj. educated and refined; having an advanced culture

client n. a person who pays for help or advice from a person or organization

continuity n. the state of being continuous

cyanide n. 氰化物

democratic adj. based on the idea that everyone should have equal rights and should be involved in making important decisions 民主的

disaster n. a sudden event such as a flood, storm, or accident which causes great damage or suffering. Here: a complete failure

drugstore n. (AmE) a shop which sells medicine (and a variety of other things)

enroll v. to officially arrange to join a school or university

expertise n. skill in a particular field

expose v. to enable sb. to see or experience new things or learn about new beliefs, ideas, etc.

faculty n. (AmE) all the teachers of a university or college

fragment n. a small piece of sth.

generate v. to produce

grind v. to crush into small pieces or powder by pressing between hard surfaces

hip n. the fleshy part of either side of the human body above the legs

humanity n. the qualities of being human

implicitly adv. in an implied way 含蓄地

inevitable adj. certain to happen and impossible to avoid

literal adj. in the basic meaning of a word

maintain v. to continue to have as before

Neanderthal n. an early type of human being who lived in Europe during the Stone Age

nevertheless adv. in spite of that; yet

peculiar adj. belonging only to a particular person; special; odd

penetrating adj. showing the ability to understand things clearly and deeply

pest n. (infml) an annoying person

pharmacy n. a shop where medicines are prepared and sold. Here: the study of preparing drugs or medicines philosophy n. the study of the nature and meaning of existence, reality, etc. 哲学

pill n. a small solid piece of medicine that you swallow whole

preside v. to lead; to be in charge

professional adj. relating to the work that a person does for an occupation, esp. work that requires special training

pursuit n. the act of trying to achieve sth. in a determined way

push-button adj. using computers or electronic equipment rather than traditional methods

qualified adj. having suitable knowledge or experience for a particular job

rear v. to care for a person or an animal until they are fully grown

resources n. possessions in the form of wealth, property, skills, etc. that you have 资源