15篇貫通大學(xué)英語(yǔ)四級(jí)詞匯14
天空觀察Sky Watch
Today the wind and rain drove fiercely against my apartment window. It was the tail end of a typhoon. Every year, as the calendar indicates the approach of autumn, these destructive tropical storms account for both death and destruction along Asias coasts. On an average there may be fifteen such storms every year. Although many civilians adopt a casual attitude towards these events, awareness is advisable.
今天暴風(fēng)雨不在擊打著我的寓所窗戶，不過(guò)臺(tái)風(fēng)就要結(jié)束了。每年當(dāng)日歷提示秋天來(lái)臨時(shí)，這些破壞性極強(qiáng)的熱帶風(fēng)暴就會(huì)給亞洲沿海地區(qū)，帶來(lái)人員傷亡和財(cái)產(chǎn)損失。平均每年可能有15次這樣的暴風(fēng)雨。面對(duì)這些災(zāi)難，很多居民抱著漫不經(jīng)心的態(tài)度，但提高防范意識(shí)才是明智的。
As the water dripped from my balcony and accumulated into free-flowing rivers on the road beneath, I was reminded of the extreme weather that affected the residents of North America. Hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms, ice storms and electrical storms are all examples of extreme weather that may challenge an entire community. Each storm is unique in character, contributing its own particular fascination and fear.
雨水從陽(yáng)臺(tái)上滴落下來(lái)，在下面的道路上匯聚成肆意流淌的水流。這使我聯(lián)想到侵?jǐn)_北美居民的那些極端惡劣的氣候。颶風(fēng)、龍卷風(fēng)、雪暴、冰暴和雷暴，都是可能威脅到整個(gè)社會(huì)的極端的氣候現(xiàn)象。每次風(fēng)暴都有其獨(dú)特的特點(diǎn)，展現(xiàn)出特有的魔力和恐怖景象。
Every fall hurricanes slam the United States coast. They upset boats, fell mature trees, wash away sections of public beaches and often cause death. Fortunately with the advantage of modern prior warning systems authorities are able to keep the chaos to a minimum. Regardless, some sectors of the population still ignore the warnings. The burden of rescuing these irresponsible adults falls on the authorities. Mean while government budgets are strained. To assemble enough aid to assure assistance for all regions in a country stretches finances.
每年秋天，颶風(fēng)都要猛烈攻擊美國(guó)海岸。它們打翻船只，刮倒大樹(shù)，沖毀成片的公共海灘，還常常造成人員傷亡。所幸的是，由于有了先進(jìn)的預(yù)警系統(tǒng)，當(dāng)局能夠?qū)⑦@種混亂不堪的狀況降到最低限度。但不管怎樣，還是有一部分人忽視這些警告。營(yíng)救這些不負(fù)責(zé)任的成年人的重任就落在了當(dāng)局身上。這時(shí)，政府預(yù)算就顯得很勉強(qiáng)。要調(diào)集足夠的物資，保證為一個(gè)國(guó)家的所有地區(qū)提供幫助，使得財(cái)政吃緊。
Hurricanes seldom reach Ontario, Canada, but in 1954 Hurricane Hazel exposed the residents of Toronto to an awful night of flooding and terror. Responding to the disaster required the supreme effort of all the rescue departments.
颶風(fēng)很少影響到加拿大的安大略省。但在1954年，黑茲爾颶風(fēng)卻使多倫多的居民遭遇了一個(gè)充滿灌水和恐懼的可怕夜晚。為了應(yīng)付那次災(zāi)難，所有救援機(jī)構(gòu)都盡了最大的努力。
In Ontario where a brush winter extends from November until April, snowstorms are regular occurrence. People adjust their travel plans, sports activities and especially their mode of dress when the weather forecasters predict a severe snowstorm. Automobile drivers must be more cautious under these circumstances. Snow removal becomes a major expense for northern cities. Families adjust their weekend plans and stay together at home, sitting safely in front of a blazing fire, and viewing a video, the beauty of fluffy white snow can be appreciated when it blankets stately evergreens standing against a deep blue sky.
在安大略，嚴(yán)酷的冬天從十一月一直延續(xù)到四月，常常有暴風(fēng)雪。當(dāng)氣象預(yù)報(bào)員預(yù)報(bào)說(shuō)有惡劣的暴風(fēng)雪時(shí)，人們就得調(diào)整他們的旅游和體育運(yùn)動(dòng)計(jì)劃，特別是調(diào)整他們的衣著。汽車(chē)駕駛員在這樣的環(huán)境里必須更加小心。除雪成了北方城市的主要開(kāi)支之一。家庭調(diào)整了他們的周末休假計(jì)劃，一起呆在家里，安全地坐在熾熱的爐火前觀看錄像。當(dāng)挺拔的常青樹(shù)上掛滿蓬松的白雪時(shí)，人們就可以欣賞在深藍(lán)色天空襯托下的美麗雪景了。
In 1998, Ontario residents were crippled by a severe ice storm. Peoples lives came to a grinding halt when power lines crumpled under the weight of the ice. People lived without electricity for weeks. Remote parts of the province resumed normal living conditions after several months. Rocks, trees and lakes abound in the Canadian Shield area of Ontario. Electrical storms provide spectacular entertainment for summer evenings. Zigzag bolts of lightening flash across the sky the clap of thunder echoes across the water. Each storm provides a remarkable drama, one without parallel in nature.
1998年，安大略的居民又遭受了一場(chǎng)殘酷的冰暴的蹂躪。電力線路在冰凍的重壓下癱瘓了，人們的生命受到嚴(yán)重威脅。好幾個(gè)星期，人們的生活中沒(méi)有電。該省的偏遠(yuǎn)地區(qū)幾個(gè)月后生活才恢復(fù)正常。安大略的加拿大地盾區(qū)有大量的巖石、樹(shù)木和湖泊。夏天夜晚，雷暴會(huì)上演蔚為壯觀的好戲。鋸齒形的道道閃電相繼劃破長(zhǎng)空，聲聲雷鳴在水面上回響。每次暴風(fēng)雨都是一次大自然的絕無(wú)僅有的精彩演出。
When individuals encounter the impressive forces of nature we are reminded that we are indeed weak and insignificant!
當(dāng)遭遇到令人難忘的大自然的暴力時(shí)，人們就會(huì)想到人類(lèi)的確是柔弱無(wú)力而又微不足道的。
管道膠帶The Duet Tape
Among the contents of the toolboxes of most people in the western world you would expect to find a hammer and nails, a drill, screw drivers and some screws. But if you were to ask people from North America what the most useful item in their toolboxes was, the majority of people would undoubtedly tell you that it was duct tape. Indeed, it has become an indispensable addition to every persons perception of what constitutes necessity.
星火貫通CET-4四級(jí)詞匯?在西方，多數(shù)人的工具箱中，你可望找到一把錘子和一些釘子，一把鉆子，幾把螺絲刀和一些螺絲釘。不過(guò)，你要是問(wèn)北美人什么是他們工具欄里最有用的東西，多數(shù)人會(huì)肯定地告訴你那是管道膠帶。的確，在每個(gè)人認(rèn)為必備的東西中，管道膠帶已經(jīng)是必不可少的物品了。
Maybe you have never heard of duct tape. It is the brand name of a tape. Not only is it a tape, but also it is a special kind of tape.
也許你還沒(méi)有聽(tīng)說(shuō)過(guò)管道膠帶吧。它是一種帶子的商標(biāo)名稱。它不僅是帶子，而且是一種很特殊的帶子。
The name of the tape comes from the fact that it was designed as an insulating tape that can be used in duct work . Incredible though it seems, someone actually put a picture of a duck on the packaging of the tape from one manufacturer perhaps just as a joke or maybe because the design artist did not understand the origin of the name. Neither the word duck nor duct was on the label. Presumably, it was assumed that everyone could identify the product.
這種帶子原是用于管道工程的一種絕緣密封帶子，并由此而得名。盡管看來(lái)不可思議，但確實(shí)有人將一幅鴨子的照片放在了一家生產(chǎn)這種帶子的產(chǎn)品包裝上。這也許只是一個(gè)玩笑，抑或是包裝設(shè)計(jì)師不懂這個(gè)名稱的由來(lái)。標(biāo)簽上既沒(méi)有鴨子也沒(méi)有管道字樣。大概每個(gè)人都是能認(rèn)得這種產(chǎn)品。
You can recognize the genuine tape because of its silver grey color. The color was likely chosen because it closely resembles the color of the pipes the color of the pipes it would be used on. That was the primary intended use of the tape. It was unlikely that the inventor realized how many other uses could be found for this product.
你可以認(rèn)出這種真正的帶子，它是銀灰色的。之所以選擇這種顏色，很可能是因?yàn)樗c管道的顏色相似。那才是為這種帶子設(shè)計(jì)的主要用途。發(fā)明人未必想到人們可能會(huì)為它找到許多其他用途。
Ingenious people have found many alternative uses for this tape. The binder on the tape is of good quality and it will stick to most surfaces. The tape is of great strength. It is impossible to tear the tape. It must be cut. The durable nature of the tape is one of its main assets.
聰明的人們發(fā)現(xiàn)了這種帶子的許多其他用途。這種帶子上的粘合劑質(zhì)量很好，能夠粘著在大多數(shù)物體的表面。帶子的強(qiáng)度很大，不可能被撕破，所以必須用刀切割。耐久性是這種帶子的最可貴之處。
It comes in a variety of widths and the length of the tape on the roll will vary as well. The number of centimeters wide and the number of meters long will determine the price of the roll.
它被制成多種寬度，一卷帶子的長(zhǎng)度也可以變化。一卷帶子有幾厘米寬和幾米長(zhǎng)決定了它的價(jià)格。
The duct tape is acquiring fame as the number of its uses for it exceeds the thoughts possible. The number of uses for this tape will amaze you. One internet Website started out trying to identify 101 uses for the duct tape and the list has well over 200 uses on it now. Maybe there are an infinite number of uses. Some of the items it lists involve an imagination but others are quite genuine. Not even a kindergarten student requires instruction on how to use it. One idea seems to generate another, inspired by the unique way someone else has decided to make use of the tape. However, some of the uses are not feasible to execute. For instance, the use of the tape as a bandage is not recommended. It could cause injury when it is removed. You must evaluate the list with a sense of humor as some of the uses could embarrass a person. The commercial value of the tape is undoubtedly tremendous with huge profits resulting from the sales. The product practically promotes itself without much need for publicity.
管道膠帶之所以有名，在于它的用途超出人們的想象，多得讓人吃驚。一個(gè)互聯(lián)網(wǎng)站最開(kāi)始為這種帶子列舉了101種用途，而現(xiàn)在這個(gè)清單上已經(jīng)超過(guò)200種了。可能有數(shù)不完的用途。在這個(gè)清單上有的用途可能只是一種想象，但其他一些用途確實(shí)是相當(dāng)實(shí)在的。甚至幼兒園的學(xué)童不用教就可以學(xué)會(huì)怎樣使用。別人以獨(dú)特的方式使用帶子的富有靈感的一個(gè)念頭似乎會(huì)引發(fā)另外的想法。不過(guò)， 有些用途是不可行的。例如，將這種帶子作為繃帶就不值得推薦。去掉它時(shí)會(huì)造成傷害。你必須帶著幽默感去評(píng)價(jià)這份清單，因?yàn)橛行┯猛緯?huì)給人帶來(lái)麻煩。這咱帶子的商業(yè)價(jià)值毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)是巨大的，能帶來(lái)豐厚的銷(xiāo)售利潤(rùn)。實(shí)際上，這種產(chǎn)品不需要廣泛宣傳，本身就可以促銷(xiāo)。
Sometimes you see people, usually male rather than female, wearing shirts that have a slogan written on them that says, I can fix anythingand then there is a picture of a duct tape below the saying. The implication presumably is that the duct tape replaces skill.
有時(shí)候你看到人們，通常是男性而非女性，穿的襯衫上寫(xiě)著：我能維修一切的字樣，下面有張管道膠帶的圖片。其含義當(dāng)然是這種管道膠帶能取代技能。
Another good marketing strategy that people enjoy is the use of a calendar. There is one page on the calendar for every day of the year and each page shows and describes a new use of the duct tape.
另一個(gè)人們慣用的有效營(yíng)銷(xiāo)策略是利用日歷。有種日歷上一年中的每一天都有單獨(dú)一頁(yè)，每頁(yè)上都展示和說(shuō)明管道膠帶的一種新用途。
One of the typical uses of the duct tape is to repair a leak in a faucet or water tap. If the hose of a vacuum cleaner has a hole in it, the duct tape will come to rescue. Almost every household in North America has at least one roll of duct tape. People keep it handy and use it to repair almost everything. No one would think it necessary to justify the purchase of extra rolls of tape, so the sales continue to increase.
管道膠帶的一個(gè)典型的用途是修理水龍頭。如果真空吸塵器上面的軟管有個(gè)洞，管道膠帶就派上用場(chǎng)了。幾乎北美的每個(gè)家庭都至少有一卷管道膠帶。人們身邊有了它，可以修理幾乎所有東西。人人都認(rèn)為購(gòu)買(mǎi)額外的帶子是必要的，所以銷(xiāo)量在繼續(xù)攀升。
Many people like to boast about how often they use the tape. They say that the usage of duct tape has allowed them to simplify their life and to decrease the cost of repairs.
許多人喜歡夸耀他們是如何經(jīng)常地使用這種帶子。他們說(shuō)使用管道膠帶簡(jiǎn)化了他們的生活，并且減少了修理費(fèi)用。
It can be used indoors in the interior of a house but there are abundant uses outside the house as well. If there is a chip out of a glass object, the duct tape can be used to protect the user from being injured.
它不僅可用于室內(nèi)，在室外也有廣泛的用途。比如玻璃制品破裂后產(chǎn)生碎片，管道膠帶可用于保護(hù)使用者不受傷害。
Repairing or reinforcing a joint on an aluminum ladder that a person is using would be a valuable use of the tape.
修理或加固一個(gè)人正在使用的鋁制梯子的接頭時(shí)，可以利用這種帶子。
The tape has proved to be bargain. Even if the manufacturers charged twice as much for the tape, it would still be a best seller in the western world. The retail price is very reasonable. In addition it is convenient to store, and despite the number of apparent uses, people are always finding more ways to utilize it. It has become a vital item for every household.
這種帶子的確是廉價(jià)品。即使廠家把售價(jià)提高一倍，它在西方仍然是暢銷(xiāo)貨。它的零售價(jià)非常合理。此外，它容易儲(chǔ)存，雖然有許多明顯的用途，人們?nèi)匀豢梢园l(fā)現(xiàn)更多新的使用方法。它已經(jīng)成為每個(gè)家庭必備的物品。
The glue on the tape is a wonderful adhesive agent and will bond well to anything from a piece of crystal to the handle of a broom. There have been reports of people using the tape to trap insects. Crickets, for example, were found stuck to the tape by one person. Maybe the glue was able to attract them or maybe they just were in the wrong place. Criminals have been known to use the tape on their victims. During a robbery, a robber used the duct tape on the witnesses to keep them from reporting the crime until he had escaped. It was apparent that the robber came armed with the duct tape, anticipating the need for its use.
這種帶子的粘膠是一種極好的粘合劑，它能牢固地粘接到任何東西上，不論是一塊水晶還是一個(gè)掃帚把。據(jù)報(bào)道，有人用這種帶子誘捕昆蟲(chóng)。例如有人曾用帶子粘住蟋蟀。也許是這種粘膠對(duì)昆蟲(chóng)有吸引力，也可能只是認(rèn)錯(cuò)了地方。罪犯?jìng)円仓缹⑦@種帶子用于受害者。在一次搶劫中， 一個(gè)劫犯用管道膠帶將目擊者粘住，使他們不能去報(bào)案，直到罪犯逃之夭夭。顯然，那個(gè)劫犯是帶著管道膠帶來(lái)的，事先考慮到它的用途。
One evening a sea breeze was causing a window on a campus dormitory to crash repeatedly as the clasp on it had been broken. The Duct tape put a swift end to the nuisance of the constant banging. Although it was obvious it was not a permanent solution of the problem, nevertheless, the temporary use of the duct tape was appreciated until the window could be replaced or someone could install a better latch.
一天晚上，一陣海風(fēng)使校園宿舍的一扇窗子碰來(lái)碰去，響個(gè)不停，因?yàn)樯厦娴你^子壞了。管道膠帶很快就止住宅樓了那討厭的持續(xù)不斷的碰撞聲。盡管那顯然不是解決問(wèn)題的長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)之計(jì)，但在換掉那扇窗子或有人為它安裝一個(gè)好插銷(xiāo)之前，仍不失為一種值得贊許的臨時(shí)辦法。
You can even accomplish repairs on vehicles, which sometimes means the difference between being stopped in traffic or being able to continue your journey. Many motorists have had to resort to the use of the duct tape in an emergency situation. Drivers often keep a roll of duct tape in the trunk of their car for that reason. It is a tremendous relief when you are able to wrap a piece of duct tape around a leaking hose that you discover at a time when it is not convenient to replace it. Thanks to the duct tape, the driver can become mobile again. The fear of being stranded on a lonely stretch of highway is lessened when you carry a duct tape.
你甚至可以成功地修理交通工具，有時(shí)候這就決定了你是停止前進(jìn)還是繼續(xù)你的行程。許多機(jī)動(dòng)車(chē)駕駛員在緊急情況下不得不求助于管道膠帶。為此，駕駛員們常常在他們的車(chē)廂里放上一卷管道膠帶。當(dāng)你發(fā)現(xiàn)管子漏了，又不便于更換，而你卻能夠用一段管道膠帶包纏好時(shí)，該是多么的愜意啊。用了管道膠帶，駕駛員又可以上路了。只要你備有管道膠帶，對(duì)在公路的偏僻路段上束手無(wú)策的擔(dān)心就會(huì)少多了。
Other forms of transportation make good use of the tape as well. Usage for it can be found on boats, and also on airplanes. For instance, a sky driver once reported that jumping out of a small airplane did not scare her as much as riding in a small plane that appeared to have lots of duct tape.
在其他的交通方式上管道膠帶也有它的用途。在船上有它的用途，在飛機(jī)上也有。比如，一個(gè)跳傘運(yùn)動(dòng)員曾說(shuō)，如果所乘的小飛機(jī)上同時(shí)還載有很多管道膠帶的話，從小飛機(jī)上跳出來(lái)比乘坐小飛機(jī)還安全。
Sports and recreational activities make good use of this tape as well. If youre audio cassette player will not stay closed, use a piece of duct tape to position the tape holder. It might look odd but it will serve the purpose. If a hockey stick needs to be taped, use duct tape!
運(yùn)動(dòng)和娛樂(lè)活動(dòng)也是這種帶子的用武之地。如果你的盒式磁帶放音機(jī)不緊，就用一節(jié)管道膠帶固定磁帶卡吧?？雌饋?lái)有點(diǎn)怪怪的，卻很管用。如果曲棍球棍需要用帶子包纏，那就用管道膠帶吧!運(yùn)動(dòng)員們，不管是職業(yè)的還是業(yè)余的，都喜歡用它。
