contract v.收缩

同 shrink, narrow, reduce

The cold weather made the cement in the sidewalk contract until it finally cracked.

寒冷的天气使人行道的水泥收缩，最后终于裂开。

deadlock n.停顿；僵持

同bottleneck, impasse

The peace talks reached a deadlock and nothing could be decided.

和平谈判陷入僵局，无法做出任何决定。

deride v.嘲弄

同laugh at, mock, sneer, taunt

You should not deride children for their failures; you should encourage them to try again.

你不该嘲弄孩子的失败，应该鼓励他们再作尝试。

discrete adj.个别的；分离的

同 separate, distinct, discontinuous

The different sections of the city are actually quite discrete and each has its own characteristics.

这座城市的不同地区实际上相当独立，各具特色。

elaborate adj.精巧的

同intricate, delicate, painstaking, complicated

The wedding dress' design was very elaborate and took many weeks to make.

这套婚纱的设计非常精细，用了好几个星期才制作完成。

enhance v.加强

同intensify, strengthen, heighten, advance, augment

This new fax machine will enhance interoffice communications.

这部新的传真机将会加强办公室间的联系。

ethnology n.民族学

同study of races

Dr. Henderson is a famous expert on Asian ethnology.

汉德森博士是著名的亚洲民族学专家。

facsimile n.摹写；复制

同likeness, duplicate, copy, replica

Gordon's painting was an almost perfect facsimile of the original.

戈登的绘画简直像是原作的翻版。

Exercise: Fill in the blanks.

1. Mr. Warren was arrested for _____ enemy soldiers.

2. In some cultures, criminals are _____ from the community and forced to live in the wilderness.

3. Because none of us could _____ of a better idea, we all agreed to Sally's plan.

4. A suggestion to bring in a mediator broke the _____ between the workers' union and company management.

5. Charlie bought a machine that is supposed to _____ the sound quality of his computer.

解答：1. abetting 2. banished 3. conceive 4. deadlock 5. enhance