Paragraph1
peer v.
look verycarefully or hard, especially as if not able to see clearly
e.g. She sat next to me, peering through thewindscreen.
Comparison: peer & peep
peep:look at sth. quickly and secretly, esp. through a hole or other small opening
e.g. His door was ajar and she couldn’t resistpeeping in.
Paragraphs2-12
make sb’s acquaintance
meet sb.for the first time
e.g. That evening he made the acquaintance of ayoung actress.
laxatives and teethingmixtures
Laxatives (or purgatives)are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements, most often takento treat constipation.
Teething mixture is a preparation which consists of asyrup designed to cure the teething pain.
imperceptible a.
thatcannot be noticed or felt because so small, slight or gradual
e.g. an imperceptible change in temperature
Martha’s hesitation was almostimperceptible
Derivations:
perceive (v.), perception (n.), perceptible (a.),imperceptible (a.), imperceptibly (ad.)
autopsy n.
theexamination of a dead body to determine the cause of death
e.g. Since the family opposed anautopsy, the death was officially listed as drowning.
Theycarried out/performed anautopsy.
Synonym:
post-mortem
apprehensively ad.
full ofanxiety about the future
e.g. They looked at each other apprehensively.
Derivations:
apprehensive(a.), apprehension (n.)
Practice：（制作的时候先出现中文，每句中文下面设置按钮，点击以后出现对应的英文翻译）
每次儿子骑摩托车出门，她都会担心儿子的安全问题。
She wasapprehensive about/for her son’s safety every time he went out on hismotorcycle.
学生们正在焦急地等待着他们的期末考试成绩。
Studentsare waiting with apprehension for their final examination results.
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love potion
a magical potion, drug or charm that supposedly has the power to make aperson fall in love with another or excite sexual passion especially toward aparticular person, notably the one who gives it to the imbiber
oblige v.
1. dosb. a favor; fulfill the wishes of
e.g. She asked him to lend her his car, and hewillingly obliged (her).
I should/would be obliged if you could speaklouder.
2. makeit necessary for sb. to do sth.
e.g. The heavy snow obliged me to abandon the carand continued on foot.
Eric felt obliged to resign after such anunpleasant quarrel with the vice president
detachment n.
the stateof not reacting or being involved in sth. in an emotional way
e.g. She studied the blood with detachment.
Derivations:
detach (v.), detached (a.)
substitute v.
put sth.or sb. in place of another
Collocations:
substituteA for B = replace B with A
e.g. They were expected to substitute violence fordialogue.
The doctor advised him tosubstitute low-fat cheese for butter.
substitutefor: replace
e.g. As the pianist suddenly fell ill the daybefore the concert, we had to find someone to substitute for him.
substitute n.
sb. orsth. that takes the place of another
e.g. If dairy milk disagrees with your stomach,soya milk could be a good substitute.
giddy a.
not serious; too interested in amusement
e.g. Isabel’s giddy young sister-in-law
rapture: n.
great joyand delight
e.g. They stared with rapture at the new opera house.
Smith was in /went into raptures at/a bout the news.
Derivations:
rapturous(a.), rapturously (ad.)
draught n.
a currentof air blowing through a room
e.g. Heavy curtains at the windows cut outdraughts.
overwhelm v.
1. givesb. a particular feeling very strongly
e.g. The family of the victim was overwhelmedby/with grief.
The need to talk to someone, anyone,overwhelmed me.
2. makepowerless by using force
e.g. Government troops overwhelmed the rebels.
Theattacker overwhelmed the young man by squeezing his throat.
Derivation:
overwhelming(a.): very large or very great
e.g. The overwhelming majority of small businessesgo broke within the first twelve months.
fervently ad.
with deepsincere feelings
e.g. It is a cause for which we have campaignedfervently these past four years.
We fervently believe in the peacefulreunification of the motherland.
Derivation:
fervent (a.), fervency (n.)
e.g. A fervent desire to win
There is a growing sense of nationalfervency in the state.
phial n.
a small bottle,especially for liquid medicines
e.g. a phial of blood
1. I think nothing I sell has effects which could be precisely described asordinary. (Paragraph 5)
Paraphrase:
I think everything I sell could be well deemed as extraordinary.
2. It is only when one is in a position tooblige that one can afford to be so confidential. (Paragraph 17)
Paraphrase:
Just because I have decided to do you a favour / sell youthe love potions, I feel safe telling you so much about my other medicines.
3. Their effects are permanent, and extend far beyond the mere casualimpulse. (Paragraph 19)
Paraphrase:
They havemuch more everlasting effects than only the momentary impulse.
4. “For indifference,”said the old man, “they substitute devotion. For scorn, adoration.” (Paragraph 23)
Paraphrase:
“They, the love potions,” said the old man, “will helpchange the girl’s attitude towards you. She will no longer hold you incontempt. Instead, She will begin to give you her deep-felt love and care.”
5. She will never give you the least, the very least, grounds for uneasiness. (Paragraph 37)
Paraphrase:
You willnever find any reason on her part to feel uneasy or worried.
