UNIT TWELVE
Glories of the Storm

　 The rain now becomes a torrent¹, flung by a rising wind. Together they batter² the trees and level the grasses. Water streams off roofs. It pounds against the windows in such a steady wash that I am sightless. There is only water. How can so much fall so fast? How could the clouds have supported this vast weight? How can the earth endure beneath it?
　Pacing through the house from window to window, I am moved to open-mouthed wonder. Look how the lilac bends under the assault, how the day lilies are flattened³, how the hillside steps are new-made waterfall! Now hailstones thump⁴ upon the roof. They bounce white against the grass and splash into the puddles⁶. Think of the vegetable garden, the fruit trees, the crops in the fields; but, thankfully, the hailstones are not enough in numbers or size to do real damage. Not this time.
　For this storm is already beginning to pass. The tension is released from the atmosphere, the curtains of rain let in more light. The storm has spent most of its energy, and what is left will be expended⁸ on the countryside to the east.
　I am drawn⁹ outside while the rain still falls. All around, there is a cool and welcome feeling. I breathe deeply and watch the sun's rays streak¹⁰ through breaking clouds. One ray catches the drops that form on the edge of the roof, and I am treated to a row of tiny, quivering colors -- my private rainbow.
　I pick my way through the wet grass, my feet sinking into the saturated soil. The creek¹³ in the gully runs bank full of brown water.but the small lakes and puddles are already disappearing into the earth. Every leaf, brick, tile and blade of grass is fresh-washed and shining.
　 Like the land, I am renewed, my spirit cleansed¹⁵. I feel an infinite peace. For a time I have forgotten the worries and irritations¹⁶ I was nurturing¹⁷ before. They have been washed away by the glories of the storm.

torrent n. 1.奔流,激流,洪流 2.爆发,迸发

fling vt. 1.(用力地)扔,掷,丢 2.(oneself)使投身 n.一时的放纵
[联想词]    hurl¹⁸ vt. 1.猛投,力掷 2.大声叫骂

batter v. 连续猛击 n.面糊

creek n. 1.小湾,小港 2.小河,溪
[联想词]    inlet n.1.水湾,小湾 2.进口,入口

tile n.瓦,瓷砖 vt.铺瓦于,贴瓷砖于

cleanse¹⁴ vt.使清洁,使纯洁,清洗
clearance¹⁹ n. 1.清除,清理 2.清仓,出空 3.许可(证),批准

nurture²⁰ vt. 养育,培育,滋养 n.养育,培养
[联想词]               nourish vt 1.养育,喂养 2.怀有(希望等)
               foster vt. 1.收养,养育 2.培养,促进
               nurtition n.营养

endure vt. 忍受,容忍 vi. 1.忍受,忍耐 2.持久,持续
endurance n.忍耐力

lilac n.丁香,丁香花
[联想词]    lily n.百合,百合花

assault n.攻击,袭击 vt.攻击,袭击

hail n. 1.雹 2.一阵 vi.下雹 vt. 1.招呼,高呼 2.热情赞扬,为...喝彩
hailstone n.雹块

thump vt. 重击 vi.心怦怦直跳

puddle⁵ n. (雨)水坑,泥潭
[联想词]               paddle n. 1.桨,短桨 2.涉水 vi.划桨前进,荡桨 vt.1.用桨划(船) 2.用木板打               pedal n.踏板,踏脚 vt.脚蹬

splash v.溅,泼 n.1.溅泼声 2.溅出的水 3.斑点

expend⁷ vt.花费,消费,消耗
[联想词]               expenditure²¹ n. 1.经费,费用 2.花费,支出,消耗

streak n. 1.条纹,条痕 2.个性特征 3.一阵子 vi.飞跑,疾驶 vt.在...上加条纹

quiver n.颤抖,抖动,颤声 vi.颤抖,发抖,抖动
[联想词]    jerk vt.猛拉 vi.猝然一动 n.急摧,急拉

saturate¹¹ vt. 1.浸透,渗透 2.使充满 3.使饱享
[联想词]               immerse vt. 1.使浸没 2.使沉浸在,使专心于