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时间:2012-07-25 04:49:29
(单词翻译:单击)
Beginning with Yu the great, the Xia Dynasty had lasted about four hundred years before Jie became the
supreme1 ruler.
And that was in the 18th century BC. Jie was extremely
tyrannical(残暴的) and
dissolute(放荡的) . This aroused great
resentment2(愤恨) among the people. Tang, the Chief of the tribe Shang took advantage of this situation to
overthrow3 the Xia Dynasty and established the Shang Dynasty in the early 17th century BC. Among the preparations for the overthrow had been the winning over of popular support.
One day, Tang was having a walk in the open country. He saw a man
catching4 birds with a big net spread in a box-like and
mumbling5(喃喃地说) : "Come on, birds! Come into my net. All of you, whether you are flying high or low, east or west. Come into my net!"
Tang walked over and said to the man, "This method is ruthless! You'll spare no birds this way!" With these words, he cut the net down on three sides. Then he murmured in a light voice as if praying: "Oh, birds! Fly to the left or right as you like. And if you're really tired of your life, come into this net!"
When chiefs of other tribes heard about this, they were all moved. They said, "Tang is a good king indeed. He is so kind even to birds and beasts. He must be more merciful to human beings." And very soon, about forty tribes pledged allegiance to Tang.
From that story came the idiom "Open the net on three sides". Later, people changed it into "Give the wrong-doer a way out.", indicating to be
lenient6(仁慈的) to the wrong-doers.
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1
supreme
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adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 |
参考例句: |
- It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
- He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
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2
resentment
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n.怨愤,忿恨 |
参考例句: |
- All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
- She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。
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3
overthrow
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v.推翻,打倒,颠覆;n.推翻,瓦解,颠覆 |
参考例句: |
- After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后,这个国家处于混乱中。
- The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。
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4
catching
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adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住 |
参考例句: |
- There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
- Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。
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5
mumbling
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含糊地说某事,叽咕,咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- I could hear him mumbling to himself. 我听到他在喃喃自语。
- He was still mumbling something about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg. 宴会结束时,他仍在咕哝着医院里的事。说着说着,他在一块冰上滑倒,跌断了左腿。
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6
lenient
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adj.宽大的,仁慈的 |
参考例句: |
- The judge was lenient with him.法官对他很宽大。
- It's a question of finding the means between too lenient treatment and too severe punishment.问题是要找出处理过宽和处罚过严的折中办法。
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