(
课件网) Lesson 36 A chance in a million 百万分之一的机遇 Text We are less credulous than we used to be. credulous adj. 轻信的 (修饰人) credible: 可信的，可靠的 （修饰事物） --The story he told us is credible. incredulous incredible believable --He demanded for believable explanation. unbelievable In the nineteenth century, a novelist would bring his story to a conclusion by presenting his readers with a series of coincidences -- most of them wildly improbable. present sb. with sth. = present sth. to sb. 向某人提供了…… Readers happily accepted the fact that an obscure maidservant was really the hero's mother. obscure adj. 不起眼的 --The bus stopped at an obscure little town. A long-lost brother, who was presumed dead, was really alive all the time and wickedly plotting to bring about the hero's downfall. presume v. 假定(根据过去的经验和感觉作出决断) presume that 对比 assume : 武断的，把尚未证实的作为依据，与事实不相符合 --Let us assume that your words are fact suppose : 最普通的用词，猜想、陈述自己的看法 --I suppose that it was my fault. plot v. 密谋 --The criminals were plotting to rob the bank. 对比 conspire [k n’spa r]: 众多人合谋做重大的犯法勾当，犹指反叛，不用于修饰单个人 scheme [skim]: 某人暗中设计狡诈的手段来谋求自己的私利 --The man is scheme for power. bring about 产生，影响 --Modern science has brought about great changes in life. After they had gone on, Mrs Bussman commented on the workman's close resemblance to her husband and even suggested that he might be his brother. comment on sth. 就……作出评论，评价 resemblance n. 相似 such a resemblance 对比 likeness: 最普通的用语，比resemblance意味要强 --They have got close likeness. similarity:性质、特色、程度的相似 --The two events which happened at the same time have got similarity. Franz poured scorn on the idea, pointing out that his brother had been killed in action during the war. scorn n. 嘲弄，挖苦 pour scorn on 鄙视，讥讽 pour ridicule [‘r d ’kjul] on 对……嘲弄，挖苦，斥之以鼻 --He poured scorn on his wife’s suggestion. look down upon / think scorn of 藐视 contempt [k n’t mpt]: 蔑视，强烈谴责某人或某事低贱、卑鄙，语气强于scorn despite: 语气较弱，表示嘲弄 Though Mrs Bussman was fully acquainted with this story, she thought that there was a chance in a million that she might be right. acquaint v. 使了解 be acquainted with sth. 对……有所了解 acquaint sb. with sth. =acquaint sb. of sth. 告之某人某事 make a person acquainted with sb. 介绍某人同另一个人认识 Let me make ... acquainted with you (正式用法) acquaintance [ ’kwent ns] n. 熟人
