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【Lesson 18 關於說話的字】

英文中有許多表示「聒噪話多」的字,自然也有不少「安靜寡言」的字。

● reticent (adj.) 沈默不語的
Tight-lipped, not offering one’s thoughts freely.

例:The suspect was reticent, wary that he might reveal something that could be used against him in court. 嫌犯沉默不語,唯恐在法庭上說出對自己不利的話。

源自拉丁文,意為「保持沉默」(to be silent)。是SAT和GRE考試常見字彙。

● garrulous (adj.) 多話的,喋喋不休的
Speaking more than necessary, chatty.

例:While many faulted Nate for being garrulous, it was just his way of building rapport. 雖然很多人嫌奈特太多話,但這只是他建立友好關係的方式。

這個字源自意為「喉嚨」的拉丁文,你可以透過gargle(漱口)一字記住這個字,因為漱口和說話都要用到喉嚨。garrulous的同義字為loquacious。

● verbose (adj.) (文章)冗長的,累贅的
Using more words than necessary.

例:Patrick tended to be verbose; he believed that the more he talked, the more his personality would shine through. 派翠克習慣長篇大論,因為他覺得說得越多,越能展現他的個性。

這個字來自拉丁文,意為「滿滿是字的」。相較於garrulous只形容話多,verbose則可以用在寫作上。用在這個意思時,值得一記的反義字包括succinct(言簡意賅的)和concise(簡明扼要的)。

更多單字:
taciturn (adj.) 不愛說話的,寡言的
mince (v.) 斟酌說話
hedge (v.) 拐彎抹角
口頭上迴避或不作出正面答覆。
loquacious (adj.) 健談的
palaver (n.) 廢話,空話

根據定義寫出單字:
1. using more words than are necessary = _______________
2. idle chatter = _______________
3. to not speak directly for fear of offending = _______________
4. to not commit oneself fully verbally = _______________
5. quiet and reserved = _______________

【Lesson 51 人生就像一盒巧克力】

人生難免有苦有甜,接下來要介紹的字說明了人生的起起伏伏。

● travail (n.) 艱辛,煎熬
Pain and difficulty related to work.

例:Sandy did not anticipate the travail that came from being in the constant limelight, wishing that fans would leave her alone. 珊蒂沒料到成為目光焦點會如此痛苦,她希望粉絲別來打擾她。

這個字源自拉丁文,意為「有三個樁的拷問刑具」。說到travel,很多人馬上會想到沙灘或吊床,但travel其實就是衍生自travail這個字,因為從前的旅行舟車勞頓,路途危險,過程艱辛困難。

● arduous (adj.) 艱難的,費力的
Involving intense effort and difficulty.

例:Though the map showed the top of the peak as only a mile away, it did not indicate just how arduous the ascent would be. 雖然在地圖上看得到抵達山頂只有一英里遠,卻看不出上山路途的險峻難行。

這個字源自拉丁文,意思是「陡峭的」(steep)。arduous不只能用在登山上,也可引申用在任何情況。

● halcyon (adj.) 平靜、幸福的
Calm, happy.

例:For many, the 1920s were halcyon days, at least compared to the travails brought on by the Great Depression. 對很多人來說1920年代是很美好的時光,至少跟經濟大蕭條帶來的艱苦處境相比。

來自希臘神話中的一種大鳥alkyon,或稱halkyon,只要拍拍翅膀,就能使海面風平浪靜。這個字常和days連用:halcyon days(美好時光),最初是用來表示冬季時,希臘外海最平靜的14天。
‧(w) halcyon days(昔日的)美好時光

更多單字:
tumultuous (adj.) 喧嘩的,混亂的
turbulent (adj.) 動盪不安的
tribulation (n.) 苦難,艱難
vicissitude (n.) 人生浮沈,波折

以下單字,意思相近者請標S,相關者標R,無關者標NR:
1. turbulent and tumultuous ______
2. arduous and halcyon ______
3. travail and vicissitude ______

請填入單字使句意完整:
4. She had experienced triumphs and defeats, she had seen halcyon days and turbulent days, in a decade of _______________.
5. One bad thing after another befell Peter, and he lamented this constant barrage of _______________.

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