Module 6 Unexplained Mysteries of the Natural World
Section 3 Words and Expressions
attack
v.
1 [I or T] to try to hurt or defeat using violence:
He was attacked and riously injured by a gang of youths.风的歌声
Army forces have been attacking the town since dawn.
Most wild animals won’t attack unless they are provoked.秋天的说说
2 [T] to criticize sb. strongly:
She wrote an article attacking the judges and their conduct of the trial.
The report attacks the idea of exams for 7- and 8-year-olds.
3 [T] If sth., such as a dia or a chemical, attacks sth., it damages it:
AIDS attacks the body’s immune system.
My ro bushes are being attacked by greenfly.
n.
1 [C or U] a violent act intended to hurt or damage sb. or sth.:
a racist attack
Enemy forces have made an attack on the city.
The bomb blasts suggest that the terrorists are (going) on the attack (= trying to defeat or hurt other people) again.
The town was once again under attack (= being attacked).
2 [C or U] when you say sth. to strongly criticize sb. or sth.:
a scathing attack on the president
The government has come under attack from all sides for cutting education spending.
3 [C] a sudden and short period of illness:
an attack of asthma/flu/malaria
FIGURATIVE an attack of the giggles
exist
v.
1. have an existence, be extant:
Does life exist on other planets?
The problem only exists in your head, Jane.
Few of the monkeys still exist in the wild.
On his retirement the post will cea to exist.
The charity exists to support victims of crime.
2. support onelf:
He could barely exist on such a low wage.
We existed on a diet of rice.
They can’t exist on the money he’s earning.
mysterious
adj.
1. having an import not apparent to the ns nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding: mysterious symbols
2. of an obscure nature:
The new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms.
He died in mysterious circumstances, and there is still a possibility that it was murder.
claim
v.
1 to say that sth. is true or is a fact, although you cannot prove it and other people might not believe it:
[+ (that)] The company claims (that) it is not responsible for the pollution in the river.
[+ to infinitive] He claims to have met the President, but I don't believe him.
All parties have claimed success in yesterday's elections.
An unknown terrorist group has claimed responsibility for this morning's bomb attack.
2 If an organization or group claims a particular number of members, that number of people are believed to belong to it.
dive
v.
1 to jump into water, especially with your head and arms going in first, or to move down under the water:
Look at tho children diving for oysters over there!
They ran to the pool, dived in, and swam to the other side.表示笑的四字成语
Mark dived off the bridge into the river.
The submarine dived just in time to avoid the enemy attack.
See also nodive.
2 to swim under water, usually with breathing equipment
3 to go down very quickly:
The plane dived towards the ground and exploded in a ball of flame.
The goalkeeper dived for the ball (= tried to catch the ball by jumping towards it and falling on the ground.)
cover
v.
to put or spread sth. over sth., or to lie on the surface of sth.:
The light was so bright that I had to cover my eyes.
Snow covered the hillsides.
She covered him (up) with a blanket.
Cover the meat with a layer of chee.
The bandages were covered with/in blood.
How much of the Earth’s surface is covered by/with water?
This paint covers well.
小投资项目
The President covered the fact that he bugged the offices in the White Hou.
Is this enough to cover the check?
adapt
v. to change sth. to suit different conditions or us:
Many software companies have adapted popular programs to the new operating system.
The recipe here is a pork roast adapted from Caroline O’Neill’s book ‘Louisiana Kitchen’.
[+ to infinitive] We had to adapt our plans to fit Jack’s timetable.
The play had been adapted for (= changed to make it suitable for) children.
Davies is busy adapting Brinkworth’s latest novel for television.
disappear嫦娥奔月的神话故事
vi. If people or things disappear, they go somewhere where they cannot be en or found:
The arch was called off for the sailors who disappeared in the storm.
This is a way of life that is fast disappearing.
I can’t find my keys anywhere – they’ve completely disappeared.义务劳动心得体会
The sun disappeared behind a cloud.
We looked for her but she had disappeared into the crowd.
The film is about a girl who mysteriously disappeared while on a picnic at Hanging Rock.
I don’t know how it’s possible for a person to disappear without trace.
三国志13好玩吗He disappeared without a trace.
extinct
adj. not now existing:
There is concern that the giant panda will soon become extinct.
Many tribes became extinct when they came into contact with Western illness.
A lot of trades have become extinct becau of the development of technology.
Threw his extinct cigarette into the stream.
evolve
v. to develop gradually, or to cau sth. or sb. to develop gradually:
Humans evolved from apes.
The company has evolved over the years into a multi-million dollar organization.
Bacteria are evolving resistance to antibiotics.
Modern man evolved a long time ago.
fierce
adj.
1 physically violent and frightening:
a fierce attack/battle
Two men were shot during fierce fighting last weekend.
2 strong and powerful:
Fierce winds/as prevented the race from taking place.
Fire fighters had to retreat from the fierce heat.
3 showing strong feeling or energetic activity:中间调
The expansion plans will face fierce opposition/resistance from environmentalists.
There is fierce competition to join the Special Branch.
