2017.10.13

1.ascertain

V-T If you ascertain the truth about something, you find out what it is, especially by making a deliberate effort to do so. (尤指经过努力) 查明

•  Through doing this, the teacher will be able to ascertain the extent to which the child understands what he is reading.

通过这样做，老师将能确定这个孩子对他正在读的内容的理解程度。

•  Once they had ascertained that he was not a spy, they agreed to release him.

一查明他不是间谍，他们就同意了释放他。

2.assertive

①ADJ Someone who is assertive states their needs and opinions clearly, so that people take notice. 坚定自信的

•  Women have become more assertive in the past decade.

妇女在过去十年已变得更坚定自信。

②N-UNCOUNT 坚定自信

•  Chantelle's assertiveness stirred up his deep-seated sense of inadequacy.

仙黛尔的坚定自信激起了他根深蒂固的自卑感。

3.baffle

①V-T If something baffles you, you cannot understand it or explain it. 使困惑

•  An apple tree producing square fruit is baffling experts.

一棵结方形果实的苹果树正令专家们感到困惑。

②ADJ 令人困惑的

•  I was constantly ill, with a baffling array of symptoms.

我不断地生病，还伴有一大堆莫名其妙的症状。

4.barren

①ADJ A barren landscape is dry and bare, and has very few plants and no trees. 荒芜的

•  ...the Tibetan landscape of high barren mountains.

…西藏荒芜的高山景观。

②ADJ Barren land consists of soil that is so poor that plants cannot grow in it. 贫瘠的

•  He wants to use the water to irrigate barren desert land.

他想用该水来灌溉贫瘠的沙漠土地。

③ADJ If you describe something such as an activity or a period of your life as barren, you mean that you achieve no success during it or that it has no useful results. 无成就的; 不成功的

•  ...an empty exercise barren of utility.

…一项毫无效用的无聊训练。

④ADJ If you describe a room or a place as barren, you do not like it because it has almost no furniture or other objects in it. 空荡荡的

•  The room was austere, nearly barren of furniture or decoration.

这个房间很简朴，几乎没有什么家具或装饰。

5.bewilder

V-T If something bewilders you, it is so confusing or difficult that you cannot understand it. 使迷惑

•  The silence from Alex had hurt and bewildered her.

亚历克斯的沉默令她伤心和迷惑不解。

6.conform

①V-I If something conforms to something such as a law or someone's wishes, it is of the required type or quality. (与法律、愿望等) 相符合

•  The lamp has been designed to conform to new safety standards.

该灯设计得符合新的安全标准。

②V-I If you conform, you behave in the way that you are expected or supposed to behave. 守规矩

•  Many children who can't or don't conform are bullied.

许多不守规矩的孩子受欺负。

7.conscientious

①ADJ Someone who is conscientious is very careful to do their work properly. 认真的

•  We are generally very conscientious about our work.

我们一般对工作都是很认真的。

②ADV 认真地

•  He studied conscientiously and enthusiastically.

他认真积极地学习。

8.consolidate

①V-T If you consolidate something that you have, for example power or success, you strengthen it so that it becomes more effective or secure. 巩固

•  The question is: will the junta consolidate its power by force?

问题是，这个军政府会通过武力来巩固它的政权吗？

②V-T To consolidate a number of small groups or companies means to make them into one large organization. 合并

•  Judge Charles Schwartz is giving the state 60 days to disband and consolidate Louisiana's four higher education boards.

查尔斯·施瓦茨法官给该州60天解散且合并路易斯安那的4个高等教育委员会。

9.consultancy

①N-COUNT A consultancy is a company that gives expert advice on a particular subject. 咨询公司

•  A survey of 57 hospitals by Newchurch, a consultancy, reveals striking improvements.

纽彻奇咨询公司对57家医院的调查显示明显的改善。

②N-UNCOUNT Consultancy is expert advice on a particular subject which a person or group is paid to provide to a company or organization. 咨询

10.contrive

V-T If you contrive an event or situation, you succeed in making it happen, often by tricking someone. (常指用欺骗手段) 策划

•  The oil companies were accused of contriving a shortage of petrol to justify price increases.

一些石油公司为了找借口提高油价而策划谎报石油短缺，因而被起诉。