accident n. 事故,意外
例:His left knee was hurt in a traffic accident. 他的左膝在一次交通事故中受伤了。by accident 偶然,意外的:We met by accident at the airport. 我们在机场不期而遇。拓展:accidental a. 事故的,意外的
听力扩展:
A: I’m so sorry I failed to take part in the match yesterday, but I wasn’t able to, I’m afraid.
B: Well, don’t you think it’s a bit late to be sorry now?
A: I know that, but there was very little I could do about it.
B: It’s all very well saying that there was very little you could do about it, but because of you we lost the game!
A: Yes, I heard, and I am sorry, but there was an accident on the way and I got stuck in the traffic.
B: But why the hell didn’t you phone us to let us know?
A:很抱歉我没有参加昨天的比赛,但是恐怕我当时没法参加。
B :哦,难道你不认为现在道歉有点晚了吗?
A:我知道,但是我当时真是无能为力。
B:说起来好听,你当时无能为力,但是就因为你我们输掉了比赛。
A:是的,我听说了,我很抱歉。但是当时在路上碰上了一桩交通事故,我陷入交通堵塞了。
B:但是你为什么不打电话告诉我们呢?
account v. 解释;n. 记述,描述
例:In English law a man is accounted innocent until he is proved guilty. 根据英国法律, 一个人未经证实有罪仍视为无罪。His illness accounts for his absence. 他因为生病,所以才缺席。搭配:account for 解释:The poor weather may account for the small crowd. 天气不好可能是人来的少的原因。take into account 考虑:We should take this factor into account. 我们应该考虑这个因素。拓展:on account of 由于,因为:She retired early on account of ill health. 她体弱多病,所以提前退休。accountant n. 会计师
听力扩展:
Husband: Hi, honey, here’s my last month’s salary.
Wife: OK, darling. How about this? From now on we’ll put all your salary into our savings account and set aside 20% of my salary as Daniel’s education fund.
Husband: That’s not a bad idea. But do you think the rest of your salary will be enough to cover our daily expenses?
Wife: I got a raise. Have you forgotten it? It should be OK.
Husband: Alright, dear. It’s up to you. I get a headache when it comes to figures.
Wife: That’s why you need a wife like me.
丈夫:亲爱的,这是我上个月的工资。
妻子:好,亲爱的。这样吧,从现在开始,我们把你的工资都存到存折里,另外拿出我工资的20%作为丹尼尔的教育资金。
丈夫:这个主意不错。但是你剩下的工资足够支付日常开支吗?
妻子:我加薪了,你忘了啊?应该差不多。
丈夫:好极了。你决定吧。提到数字我就头疼。
妻子:这就是为什么你需要一个像我这样的老婆了。
act v. ①扮演,表演 ②行动;n. ①行为 ②法令
例:Think well before you act. 三思而后行。Parliament has passed an act forbidding the killing of rare animals. 国会通过了一项法令, 禁止捕杀珍稀动物。搭配:act as 担任,充当:Lucy acts as a monitor in her class. 露茜在班里当班长。act for 代表:John will act for his boss to have the meeting. 约翰将代表他老板参加会议。in the act of 正做……的过程中:He made great efforts in the act of saving the victims. 在救援过程中,他帮了大忙。拓展:action n. 行为,行动;acting n. 演技
听力扩展:
W: Your child has above average ability in reading.
M: Really? I’ve seen her act like a professional on the soccer field, but I was worried about her performance in school.
W: Well, I was a little worried that she might be biting off more than she can chew. But she is doing OK.
M: Her mother and I don’t want her to bury her talents.
W: Your daughter is a can-do person but no person should overdo it.
M: I see your point, Ms. Johnson. I must say that your teaching is quite exceptional. With your perfect skill, you’ve brought the best out of our daughter.
女:你孩子的阅读能力超群。
男:真的吗?我曾看到她在足球场上表现得像个职业球员,可是我担心她在学校的表现。
女:是啊,我也曾担心她力不从心,可她确实做得不错。
男:她的妈咪和我都不想埋没了她的才能。
女:你的女儿是个能人,但别作过头。
男:我明白你的意思,约翰逊小姐。我得说你的教学能力很强。你用完美的技巧完全把我女儿的潜能发挥出来了。
【注】bite off more than one can chew 力不从心;overdo it 作过头;exceptional a. 杰出的
action n. ①行动 ②作用;v. 采取适当行动,采取措施
例: The action lasted three hours. 战斗持续了三个小时。Your request will be actioned. 你的要求会处理的。搭配:take action 采取行动:Firefighters took action immediately to stop the blaze spreading. 消防队员立即采取措施制止大火蔓延。in action 在活动中,在运转:Just press the button to see your favorite character in action. 只要按一下电钮,就可以欣赏你喜欢的角色的表演。into action 实行,实施:The new plan for traffic control is being put into action on an experimental basis. 新的交通管理方案正处于试运行阶段。
听力扩展:
A: There is a Beijing Opera show tonight. Let’s go and watch it together, all right?
B: I’m afraid that I don’t understand it.
A: It doesn’t matter. It’s an acrobatic fighting drama. Even if you don t understand the words, you can definitely understand it just by watching the action.
B: Are the actors famous?
A: I can’t recall their names, but according to the newspaper, they are all very famous.
B: Can you get the tickets?
A: No problem. I can definitely get them.
A:今天晚上有一场京剧,咱们一起去看吧!
B:我恐怕听不懂吧。
A:没关系,是武打戏。你听不懂,一定看得懂。
B:演员出名吗?
A:我说不出他们的名字。不过报纸上说,那些演员都挺有名的。
B:票买得到吗?
A:没问题,肯定买得到。
【注】acrobatic a. 杂技的
actually ad. 实际上,事实上
例:He seems to be doing nothing, but actually he is just biding his time. 他看上去无所事事, 其实却在等待良机。This tree looks high and strong but actually its trunk is hollow. 这棵树看起来又高又壮, 实际上树干是空的。拓展:actual a. 实际的
听力扩展:
A: Working for four hours at a stretch really makes me tired. Why can’t we have a break like many other companies? We need at least a tea break.
B: Our boss is dead nuts on work. Keeping on working and making money is what he has in his mind. Nothing else.
A: But we workers need a rest.
B:Actually in some other companies they also have the exercise to the radio broadcast. We need relaxation once in a while and only in this way can we work efficiently.
A: Yes, it is.
A:连续工作四小时确实令人疲惫不堪。为什么我们不能像其他公司那样中间休息一下呢?至少得有喝茶的时间吧。
B:我们的老板是一个工作狂,他满脑子想的都是工作和钱,别的什么都没有。
A:但是我们员工需要休息。
B:实际上其他公司都有广播操,我们有时需要放松一下,只有这样才能更加有效率地工作。
A:的确是。【注】at a stretch 连续的;dead nuts 工作狂