高级听力 第一节课 06.10.

18/19 1/2
Advanced Listening Lesson 1

List of vocabulary from Chapter 18 – Flooding in the American

Midwest.
(n.) = noun
(adj.) = adjective
(v.) = verb

plague (n./v.) = an epidemic disease, a widespread disease, a large attack by

animals. E.g. “the crops were destroyed by a plague of insects.”
In this lesson, the phrase “flood-plagued” is used to describe
areas of land that are suffering from many floods.
sweep (v.) = to wipe or brush, 扫, 扫除 (past tense = swept E.g. “his car was
swept off a bridge”)
rupture (v.) = to break, burst. Partially-ruptured = partly broken
leak (v./n.) = to let some liquid/gas seep through a container, 泄漏
cut off (v.) = to separate, isolate,
governor (n.) = leader of an American state, 州长
buoy (n./v.) = a floating object used at sea to mark out certain locations. As a
verb, buoy = raise up, make something float
buoy somebody’s = this is a common phrase which means to cheer people up, raise
spirits their spirits, make them feel better.
spirits (n.) = mood, 情绪. in high spirits = happy
in low spirits = sad
E.g. “I am feeling high-spirited today because it’s my
birthday.”
“The boy was in low spirits because his bicycle had been
stolen”
weary (adj.) = tired
covet (v.) =
burgeon (v.) = expand, grow rapidly. E.g. “the burgeoning river threatened the
town”
“My daughter has a burgeoning talent for the piano.”
pin one’s hopes = To hope that something can help you deal with a problem. E.g.
on something “I’m pinning my hopes on getting a good job after graduation
so that I can pay off all my debts.”
public works = works such as schools, roads, docks, bridges built for public
use and usually financed by the government
tough it out = endure a difficult situation. stay and deal with a problem,
instead of running away or giving up. E.g. “I find the piano
really difficult. I want to give it up but my parents say I should
tough it out.”
 高级听力 第一节课 06.10.18/19 2/2
Advanced Listening Lesson 1

evacuate (v.) = to move people or animals from a dangerous place to one of

safety. evacuation (n.) the act of evacuating people or animals.
E.g. “government attempts at evacuation failed and many
people died as the fire spread throughout the city.”
displace (v.) = move things from one place to another
sustain (v.) = 1) to give support or relief to something, or to supply with
food, energy, encouragement etc. E.g. “Jack was tired,
but he kept running, sustained by the encouraging
cheers of the spectators”
2) to receive or suffer from something bad. E.g. “the army
sustained heavy losses.” “Mary fell off her bike today.
Luckily, she fell into a hedge and only sustained a small
cut on her arm.”
closure (n.) = the act of closing something, often a building or organisation.
E.g. “the restaurant’s hygiene record is very poor. Many people
who eat there become ill. As a result, it’s facing closure and the
owners may have to pay a fine.”
“Beijing has witnessed the closure of many traditional tea
shops which cannot afford to pay the rising rent charges that
have resulted from recent economic development.”