大學(xué)英語(yǔ)精讀第4冊(cè)

1、Unit One Text AThe Icy Defender1Pride comes before a fallpride comes / goes before a fall(saying) if you have too high an opinion of yourself or your abilities, sth will happen to make you look stupid It is said to emphasize that if you are too confident about your abilities, something bad will happ

2、en which shows that you are not as good as you think2L2 fierce resistancefierce (especially of actions or emotions) showing strong feelings or a lot of activity, often in a way that is violent: the scene of fierce fighting He launched a fierce attack on the Democrats.Competition from abroad became f

3、iercer in the 1990s. His wife is his fiercest critic. The bill was passed despite fierce opposition.極度忠誠(chéng)/仇恨 劇痛 強(qiáng)烈的自尊fierce loyalty/hatred fierce pain fierce pride狂風(fēng) 酷熱 拼命的努力fierce winds fierce heat fierce effort3L3 Russian soilsoil (literary) a country; an area of land:It was the first time I had se

4、t foot on African soil.on British/French/foreign etc soil formal in Britain, France etc The crime was committed on American soil.4L5 devastating enemydevastate 1 to make someone feel extremely shocked and sad; 2 to damage sth very badly or completely devastating adj. 1 causing a lot of damage and de

5、struction: a devastating explosion / fire / effect 2 extremely shocking to a person; 3 impressive and powerfuldevastated feeling extremely shocked and sad The city centre was _ by the bomb. (v2)He received _ injuries in the accident. (a1) Her smile was _ . (a3) It will be a _ blow to the local commu

6、nity if the factory closes. (a1) She was left feeling totally _ . (-ed)the _ news that her father was dead (a2)Rob was _ by the news of her death. (v1)his _ performance in the 100 metres (a3) devastateddevastatingdevastatingdevastatingdevastateddevastatingdevastateddevastating5L5 raw, bitter, bleak

7、raw very cold: 寒冷的a raw north wind She shivered in the raw morning air. It had been a wet raw winter.bitter (of weather conditions) extremely cold and unpleasant: 酷冷的bitter cold a bitter wind Its really bitter out today. bleak(of the weather) cold and unpleasant:陰冷 凄涼的 a bleak winters daya bleak Jan

8、uary afternoon6L6 might was unequaledmight noun U (formal or literary) great strength, energy or power:力量, 威力, 權(quán)力Americas military might I pushed the rock with all my might. unequalled (BrE) (AmE unequaled) adj. better than all others 無與倫比的The hotel has a range of facilities unequalled in the city.7

9、L9 mowed down resistancemow sb down to kill people, usually in large numbers, by shooting them or driving a vehicle into them, especially when several people are all killed at the same time: 摧毀The gunmen opened fire, mowing down at least seven people. The soldiers were mown down by machine gun fire.

10、 Three shoppers were mown down this afternoon when a drunken driver lost control of his car.8L11 came to the aid ofaid U (formal) help that is given to a person; help or advice that is given to someone who needs itU come/go to somebodys aid (=help someone) One of the station staff saw he was in diff

11、iculty and came to his aid (= helped him).I didnt speak any French, but a nice man came to my aid and told me where to go.9L13 an army of C+sing./pl. v. a large number of people or things, especially when they are organized in some way or involved in a particular activity:an army of advisers / volun

12、teers An army of ants marched across the path.The village hall is maintained by an army of volunteers . 10L16 confident of a quick victoryfeeling certain that sth will happen in the way that you want or expect: Be a bit more confident in yourself!They dont sound confident about the future of the ind

13、ustry.Im confident of his skills as a manager.The team feels confident of winning. The company is confident of success.The Prime Minister appeared relaxed and confident of winning an overall majority.I feel quite confident about the future.+ that Are you confident that enough people will attend the

14、event?It was a confident performance.#Im confident that you will get the job. She was quietly confident that everything would go as planned.11L16 the conquest of Russiaconquest sing., U the act of taking control of a country, city, etc. by force: the Norman Conquest (=the conquest of England by the

15、Normans) conquest of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empirethe Norman Conquest (= of England in 1066)12L22 advance marchadvance C the forward movement of a group of people, especially armed forces: We feared that an advance on the capital would soon follow. enemy advancesNothing could stop the adva

16、nce of the flood waters.Recent advances in medical science mean that this illness can now be cured.13L22 became bogged downbog sth/sb down (in sth) usu passive 1 to make sth sink into mud or wet ground; if sth gets bogged down, it becomes stuck in soft ground and is unable to move 陷入困境The car got bo

17、gged down in the mud. The tank became bogged down in mud.2 to prevent sb from making progress in an activity; if a process or plan becomes bogged down, it is delayed so that no progress is made 停頓Talks to settle the pay dispute have become bogged down. We mustnt get bogged down in details. Dont let

18、yourself get bogged down in minor details.14L24 engaged (at ) inengage to attack or begin to fight someone: 交戰(zhàn)Enemy planes engaged the troops as they advanced into the mountains.I always + prep. to be doing or to become involved in an activity; to take part in somethingengage in/on/upon 使從事于, 參加, 進(jìn)行

19、Only 10% of American adults engage in regular exercise. The two parties engaged upon an escalating political struggle. Mr Armstrong was engaged in prayer. Despite her illness, she remains actively engaged in shaping policy. The two governments have agreed to engage in a comprehensive dialogue to res

20、olve the problem.15L27 crucial decisioncrucial extremely important, because it will affect other things: adj.至關(guān)緊要的a crucial factor / issue / decision topics of crucial importance for educationWinning this contract is crucial to the success of the company. The next few weeks are going to be crucial.

21、It is crucial that we get this right. Parents play a crucial role in preparing their child for school. He wasnt there at the crucial moment (= when he was needed most). 16L30 took the gamble of pressing on to Moscowgamble singular an action or plan that involves a risk but that you hope will succeed

22、 冒險(xiǎn) It was a big gamble for her to leave the band and go solo. The gamble on the harvest had paid off (=succeeded) . Ellen had to admit the gamble had paid off (=succeeded) . In a depressed market, we cannot afford to take a gamble on a new product.Her publishers knew they were taking a gamble when

23、they agreed to publish such an unusual novel.She knew she was taking a gamble but decided it was worth it. 17L35 a clear pathclear free from things that are blocking the way or covering the surface of sth; not covered or blocked by anything that stops you from doing or seeing what you wantThe road w

24、as clear and I ran over. All exits must be kept clear of baggage. You wont get a clear view of the stage from here. I always leave a clear desk at the end of the day.Most roads are now clear of snow.The roads were fairly clear this morning. From the top floor you get a clear view/look of the bay. To

25、 prevent fires, the sides of the roads are kept clear of underbrush.18L36 an empty victoryusually before noun (of sth that sb says or does) with no meaning; not meaning what is said; having no effect empty words an empty promise an empty gesture aimed at pleasing the crowdsHis repeated promises to p

26、ay them back were just empty words.19L37 fled their capitalflee (written) to leave a person or place very quickly, especially because you are afraid of possible danger: v a camp for refugees fleeing from the war He fled to London after an argument with his family. She burst into tears and fled. vn H

27、e was caught trying to flee the country. The driver had already fled the scene of the accident.20L39 bide his timebide your time to wait calmly for the right time or a good opportunity to do sth:等待時(shí)機(jī)She was biding her time until she could get her revenge. He decided to bide his time until he got an

28、opportunity to talk to her alone. They are stronger than us and can afford to bide their time.21L41 quarter his army(usu in passive) (fml) to provide sb with a place to eat and sleep: Three hundred soldiers were quartered in the town.Our troops were quartered in Boston until June. 22L49 took illHer

29、father is seriously ill in St Lukes hospital. She was taken ill suddenly. She was suddenly taken ill at school. We both started to feel ill shortly after the meal.Uncle Harry is terminally ill with cancer (= he will die from his illness). (written) He fell ill and died soon after.I was feeling ill t

30、hat day and decided to stay at home. All these diets are making you ill . 23L50 dragged on (L78)drag to move swh with difficulty, esp because you are ill, tired, or unhappy 緩慢而費(fèi)力地行動(dòng)I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom. Can you drag yourself away from (=stop watching) the TV for a minute

31、?drag on (disapproving) to go on for too long: The dispute has dragged on for months.The first half of the film was interesting but the second half dragged (on) (= seemed to go slowly because it was boring).拖延24L54 a stroke of luckstroke (of sth) a single successful action or event: 一次意外的不幸/好運(yùn); 一舉,一

32、次努力Your idea was a stroke of genius.天才/聰明之舉It was a bold stroke (果敢的措施) to reveal the identity of the murderer on the first page.She never does a stroke (of work) (= never does any work). (一次努力；一件工作)stroke of luck/fortune: something lucky that happens to you unexpectedly (一次運(yùn)氣) In a stroke of luck,

33、a suitable organ donor became available. It was a stroke of luck that I found you here.a stroke of misfortune 倒了一次霉25L69 three broad thruststhrust an attack or assault, especially by an armed force武裝攻擊/推進(jìn)：尤指武裝部隊(duì)所執(zhí)行的進(jìn)攻或襲擊侵略軍突然向北推進(jìn)。The invading army made a sudden thrust to the north.向敵人陣地縱深挺進(jìn)make a de

34、ep thrust into the enemy position大規(guī)?？找ua big thrust from the air26L71 caught off guardthrow/catch sb off guard to surprise someone by doing something which they are not expecting and are not ready for 乘人不備off (your) guard not careful or prepared for sth difficult or dangerous: 不提防；不警惕 The lawyers app

35、arently innocent question was designed to catch the witness off (his) guard.Senator OHare was caught off guard by the question. 他們被敵人偷襲。They were caught off guard by the enemy.罪犯在酒店里喝酒，警察乘其不備把他逮住了。The police, catching the criminal off his guard, arrested him as he was drinking in a public house.27L7

36、3 rendered uselessrender (CAUSE) T FORMAL to cause someone or something to be in a particular state: 致使+ adjective His rudeness rendered me speechless.New technology has rendered my old computer obsolete.Hundreds of people were rendered homeless by the earthquake.28L76 closed in on Leningradclose in

37、 (on sb/sth) to move nearer to sb/sth, especially in order to attack them:close in on/around/upon etc 包圍, 封閉The lions closed in on their prey The snake closed in for the kill. close in on/around/upon etc enemy soldiers closing in on them from all sidesThe snake closed in for the kill. 29L80 starve t

38、o deathbleed/burn/starve etc to death a homeless man who froze to death beat/stab/shoot etc somebody to death The 76-year-old pensioner was beaten to death.put/sentence/condemn sb to death =kill sb or decide they should be killed as an official punishmentLegend has it that Sarah was put to death for

39、 practising witchcraft.to death informal used to emphasize that a feeling or emotion is very strong adv. 極度be bored/scared/frightened etc to death She was scared to death of what might happen next. Im absolutely sick to death of it (=very angry, bored, or unhappy about something) . bore/scare/love e

40、tc somebody to death He drove at a speed which frightened Leonora to death. She used to worry me to death.30L82 the capture of Moscowcapture n. 捕獲, 戰(zhàn)利品，奪取capture U 1 when you catch someone in order to make them a prisoner The two soldiers somehow managed to avoid capture.2 when soldiers get control

41、of a place that previously belonged to an enemy the capture of Jerusalem in 1099They witnessed the capture of the city by rebel troops.3 when you get control of something that previously belonged to one of your competitors4 when you put information into a form a computer can use 31L86 severe winter

42、settled over the soviet Unionsettle I always + adv/prep written if a quality or feeling settles over a place or person, it begins and has a strong effect settle over/on An uneasy silence settled over the room. Depression settled over her like a heavy black cloud.32L90 lay buriedlie I + adverb or pre

43、position; L If something lies in a particular place, position or direction, it is in that place, position or direction; to be in a particular state or condition lie empty/open/hidden etc Theres an old pair of shoes of yours lying at/in the bottom of the wardrobe.Id rather use my money than leave it

44、lying in the bank.The river lies 30km to the south.Cambridge United are lying third in the league.There are several houses lying empty in the town.The ship lies off (positioned near) the coast of Spain.The book lay open on the table. The town now lay in ruins.v-adj Snow was lying thick on the ground

45、. These machines have lain idle since the factory closed.33L91 brought the German offensive to a halt= stop the German offensiveoffensive 1 a military operation in which large numbers of soldiers, etc. attack another country: n. 進(jìn)攻, 攻勢(shì)an air / a bombing offensive The final offensive was launched on

46、January 10.2 a series of actions aimed at achieving sth in a way that attracts a lot of attention: The government has launched a new offensive against crime. a sales offensive The public seems unconvinced by their latest charm offensive (= their attempt to make people like them). 34bring sth to a ha

47、lthalt sing. an act of stopping the movement or progress of sb/sth, stop, pause:Work came to a halt when the machine broke down. The thought brought her to an abrupt halt. The car skidded to a halt. Strikes have led to a halt in production. They decided it was time to call a halt to the project (= s

48、top it officially).bring to cause someone or something to reach a particular state or conditionbring something to an end/a close/a halt/a conclusionThe trial was swiftly brought to an end. 35L102 turned the tide against Hitlertide C,usu singular the way in which events or peoples opinions are develo

49、pingtide of(公眾情緒，輿論等)潮流；走勢(shì)With the tide of public opinion against him, the president may lose. It was their first major victory. The tide had turned (=changed).The tide of battle turned against the Mexican army.turn the tide the tide turned | turn the tide used to say that there is a change in sbs l

50、uck or in how successful they are being:改變形勢(shì), 改變局面使事態(tài)急轉(zhuǎn)直下The tide turned for Hingis at the start of the second set. This contract is probably our last chance to turn the tide.36L114 be reckoned with reckon with sb/sth 1 sb/sth to be reckoned withto consider or treat sb/sth as a serious opponent, competitor, problem, danger etc: 須認(rèn)真對(duì)付，不可輕視Barcelona will be a force to be reckoned with this season. The principal was certainly a woman to be reckoned with.2 not reckon with sb/sth to not consider a possible problem when you are making plans 沒有考慮到/料到 I had not reckoned with the excite