) 記不清的東西;理解不清楚的東西 Meaning: something that you cannot remember or understand clearly e.g.: It all happened so long ago that it's just a blur to me now.
2. petition (n.) 請願書
Meaning: a document signed by a large number of people demanding or asking for some action from the government or another authority e.g.: I signed a petition against the proposed closure of the local hospital today.
3. pretext (n.) 藉口,托詞
Meaning: a pretended reason for doing something that is used to hide the real reason e.g.: The border dispute was used as a pretext for military intervention.
4. intrigue (v.) (尤指因奇怪、不尋常或神秘而)使很感興趣,迷住
Meaning: to interest someone a lot, especially by being strange, unusual, or mysterious e.g.: Throughout history, people have been intrigued by the question of whether there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.
5. catastrophe (n.) 大災難;大災禍
Meaning: a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction e.g.: They were warned of the ecological catastrophe to come.
6. unprecedented (adj.) 史無前例的,空前的;絕無僅有的
Meaning: never having happened or existed in the past e.g.: This century has witnessed environmental destruction on an unprecedented scale. 7. ruling (n.) 裁決;裁定;判定;決定 Meaning: a decision e.g.: The court has made a final ruling on the case that the companies acted illegally.
8. disdain (v.) 輕視,蔑視,鄙視
Meaning: to feel disdain for someone or something e.g.: The older musicians disdain the new, rock-influenced music.
9. allay (v.) 減輕,緩解(擔憂、恐懼等)
Meaning: If you allay a strong emotion felt by someone, such as fear or worry, you cause them to feel it less or to feel calm again. e.g.: The government is trying to allay public fears about the spread of the disease.
10. stalemate (n.) (爭論的)僵局,僵持局面
Meaning: a situation in which neither group involved in an argument can win or get an advantage and no action can be taken e.g.: Tomorrow's meeting between the two leaders is expected to break a diplomatic stalemate that has lasted for ten years.
11. thwart (v.) 反對;阻撓;挫敗
Meaning: to stop something from happening or someone from doing something e.g.: Our holiday plans were thwarted by the airline pilots' strike.
12. mantle (n.) (尤指前任留給繼任者的)責任,衣缽
Meaning: the responsibilities of an important position or job, especially as given from the person who had the job to the person who replaces them e.g.: He has been asked to take on the mantle of managing director in the New York office. 13. surveillance (n.) (尤指員警或軍隊的)監視,盯梢 Meaning: the careful watching of a person or place, especially by the police or army, because of a crime that has happened or is expected e.g.: The police have kept the nightclub under surveillance because of suspected illegal drug activity.
14. instill (v.) 逐漸灌輸
Meaning: to put a feeling, idea, or principle gradually into someone's mind, so that it has a strong influence on the way that person thinks or behaves e.g.: It is part of a teacher's job to instill confidence in/into his or her students.
15. rift (n.) (地面或岩石上的)裂縫,裂口
Meaning: a large crack in the ground or in rock e.g.: The stream had cut a deep rift in the rock.
16. halt (v.) (使)停止,停下
Meaning: to (cause to) stop moving or doing something or happening e.g.: "Halt!" called the guard. "You can't go any further without a permit."
17. cameo (n.) (著名演員在電影或劇碼中的)客串角色,小配角
Meaning: a small but noticeable part in a film or play, performed by a famous actor e.g.: He appears briefly towards the end of the film in a cameo role as a priest. 18. livelihood (n.) 生活來源;飯碗,生計 Meaning: (the way someone earns) the money people need to pay for food, a place to live, clothing, etc. e.g.: Many ship workers could lose their livelihoods because of falling orders for new ships.
19. trance (n.) 昏睡狀態;催眠狀態
Meaning: a temporary mental condition in which someone is not completely conscious of and/or not in control of himself or herself e.g.: When a hypnotist puts you in a trance, you no longer have conscious control of yourself.
20. trauma (n.) 精神創傷,心理創傷
Meaning: (a) severe emotional shock and pain caused by an extremely upsetting experience e.g.: He had psychotherapy to help him deal with his childhood traumas.