通过阅读学词汇CET-6(16)
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UNIT SIXTEEN
The Eco-War

  The military lexicon1 needs a new term:"eco-war". What better way to describe the acts of environmental slaughter2 committed last week in the Persian Gulf3, where the air is thick with the smoke from burning oil wells and a wide stripe of crude petroleum4 is fouling6 the water and devastating7 wildlife?
  
What is certain is that the oil spill has delivered a devastating blow to the ecology of the Persian Gulf. "Massive oil spills could turn this body of water into a virtual dead sea." says Brent Blackwelder, vice8 president of Friends of the Earth.
  
But last week's fires and oil spills could be just a prelude9 of future environmental disasters wrought10 by the war with Iraq. Among the areas of greatest concern:
  
THE GULF. Because it is virtually an enclosed basin, with an outlet11 to the sea only 55 km wide at the Strait of Hormuz, the gulf is especialy vulnerable to oil spills. In a body of water badly contaminated by tankers12 and garbage, a disastrous13 spill of the kind that Iraq caused last week could destroy nesting areas for endangered sea turles while poisoning fish which are vital to local fishermen.
  
BURNING OIL FIELDS. Saddam is assumed to have mined all or most of Kuwait's 360 operating oil wells. If he throws the switch, the resulting fires could send forth14 a vast cloud of dense15 black smoke that would foul5 the sir and darken skies as far east as Afghanistan and northern India. After 30 days, smoke could cover an area half the size of Europe. But because oil gushes17 naturally to the surface in most Kuwaiti wells, with no need of pumping, it will go on feeding a blaze until someone puts it out -- months or years later, depending on how long the war lasts.
  
The worst possibility is that the immense smoke could lower temperatures in the Indian subcontinent a few degrees, disrupting the monsoon18 rains that are essential to crops for the nations of that area.
  
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. Chemical weapons work fast,

then disappear. They were used during the Iran-Iraq war, sometimes with devastating consequences for combatants, but with almost none for the environment. Since the gulf war began, allied19 planes and missiles have pounded Iraqi chemical-weapons plants that manufacture mustard gas and nerve agents. Because the plants are surrounded by a 25 sq.km "exclusion20 zone", the likelihood of a deadly plume21 invading populated areas is small. Explosives would also tend to break the gases down into less deadly substances. Harmful chemicals that penetrated23 the soil would disappear without a trace within a few weeks at most.
  Biological agents could be a different problem. Iraq is believed to possess some of them. In open air, most of those die within hours. But if they penetrate22 the ground, they can survive in a dormant24 state for decades, waiting for new victims.

military a.军事的,军用的 n.[the ~]军队,武装力量
militant a.
激进的,好斗的 n.激进分子,斗士
[
联想词]               cannon25 n.大炮,火炮
               artillery26 n.
火炮,大炮
               armor n.
盔甲,装甲,保护物
               pistol n.
手枪
               trigger n.1.
扳机 2.引起反应的行动 vt.触发,引起
               ammunition27 n.
军火,弹药

lexicon n.1.词典,字典 2.特殊词汇,专门词汇
[
联想词]               appendix n.1.阑尾 2.附录

slaughter vt. n. 1.屠杀,杀戮 2.屠宰
[
联想词]               massacre28 vt.1. 大规模屠杀,残杀2.彻底击败 n.1.大屠杀 2.惨败               assassination29 n.刺杀,暗杀

foul a.1.难闻的 2.令人不愉快的,糟透了的 3.污浊的 vt.1.对…犯规 2.弄脏,污染 n.犯规

devastate30 vt.1.破坏,蹂躏,使荒芜 2.压倒,使垮掉
devastating a. 1.
毁灭性的,破坏力极强的 2.令人震惊的 3.强有力的

ecology n. 1.生态 2.生态学

prelude n.前奏,序幕,先声

strait n. 1.海峡 2.[-s]困境,危难
[
联想词]    cape31 n. 1.海角,山甲 2.斗篷,披肩
               isle32 n.
小岛

vulnerable a.1.易受伤的,脆弱的 2.易受攻击的,难防御的
[
联想词]               susceptible33 a.1.易受影响的 2.过敏的 3.能接受的,容许的

contaminate vt.弄脏,污染

disastrous a. 1.灾难性的 2.极坏的,很糟的
[
联想词]               misfortune n. 1.不幸,厄运 2.灾难,灾祸

gush16 v. 1., 2.滔滔不绝地说 n.1.,涌流 2.迸发,发作

blaze vi.1.熊熊燃烧,着火 2.发光,放光 3.迸发,爆发
[
联想词]    glare vi.1.怒目而视 2.发射强光 n.炫耀,张扬

disrupt vt.使中断,扰乱

monsoon n.季风,季节风

mustard n.芥菜

likelihood n.可能,可能性

plume n.1.(升上空中的)一缕(,尘土等) 2.羽毛




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1 lexicon a1rxD     
n.字典,专门词汇
参考例句:
  • Chocolate equals sin in most people's lexicon.巧克力在大多数人的字典里等同于罪恶。
  • Silent earthquakes are only just beginning to enter the public lexicon.无声地震才刚开始要成为众所周知的语汇。
2 slaughter 8Tpz1     
n.屠杀,屠宰;vt.屠杀,宰杀
参考例句:
  • I couldn't stand to watch them slaughter the cattle.我不忍看他们宰牛。
  • Wholesale slaughter was carried out in the name of progress.大规模的屠杀在维护进步的名义下进行。
3 gulf 1e0xp     
n.海湾;深渊,鸿沟;分歧,隔阂
参考例句:
  • The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
  • There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。
4 petroleum WiUyi     
n.原油,石油
参考例句:
  • The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
  • The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。
5 foul Sfnzy     
adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规
参考例句:
  • Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
  • What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气!
6 fouling 51c8adea6ef6cc2e33d171f8ae739b2d     
n.(水管、枪筒等中的)污垢v.使污秽( foul的现在分词 );弄脏;击球出界;(通常用废物)弄脏
参考例句:
  • He was sent off for fouling the other team's goalkeeper. 他因对对方守门员犯规而被罚出场。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • A basketball player is allowed five personal fouls before fouling out. 篮球运动员侵人犯规五次即被罚下场。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
7 devastating muOzlG     
adj.毁灭性的,令人震惊的,强有力的
参考例句:
  • It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
  • Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。
8 vice NU0zQ     
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的
参考例句:
  • He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
  • They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
9 prelude 61Fz6     
n.序言,前兆,序曲
参考例句:
  • The prelude to the musical composition is very long.这首乐曲的序曲很长。
  • The German invasion of Poland was a prelude to World War II.德国入侵波兰是第二次世界大战的序幕。
10 wrought EoZyr     
v.引起;以…原料制作;运转;adj.制造的
参考例句:
  • Events in Paris wrought a change in British opinion towards France and Germany.巴黎发生的事件改变了英国对法国和德国的看法。
  • It's a walking stick with a gold head wrought in the form of a flower.那是一个金质花形包头的拐杖。
11 outlet ZJFxG     
n.出口/路;销路;批发商店;通风口;发泄
参考例句:
  • The outlet of a water pipe was blocked.水管的出水口堵住了。
  • Running is a good outlet for his energy.跑步是他发泄过剩精力的好方法。
12 tankers f6c16f554e37ea81859ae031ca991f5d     
运送大量液体或气体的轮船[卡车]( tanker的名词复数 ); 油轮; 罐车; 油槽车
参考例句:
  • They should stop offloading waste from oil tankers into the sea. 他们应当停止从油轮上往海里倾倒废弃物。
  • The harbour admits large tankers and freighters. 这个港口容得下巨型油船和货轮。
13 disastrous 2ujx0     
adj.灾难性的,造成灾害的;极坏的,很糟的
参考例句:
  • The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
  • Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨,血本无归。
14 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
15 dense aONzX     
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的
参考例句:
  • The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
  • The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。
16 gush TeOzO     
v.喷,涌;滔滔不绝(说话);n.喷,涌流;迸发
参考例句:
  • There was a gush of blood from the wound.血从伤口流出。
  • There was a gush of blood as the arrow was pulled out from the arm.当从手臂上拔出箭来时,一股鲜血涌了出来。
17 gushes 8d328d29a7f54e483bb2e76c1a5a6181     
n.涌出,迸发( gush的名词复数 )v.喷,涌( gush的第三人称单数 );滔滔不绝地说话
参考例句:
  • The stream gushes forth from the rock. 一股小溪从岩石中涌出来。 来自辞典例句
  • Fuel gushes into the combustion chamber. 燃料喷进燃烧室。 来自辞典例句
18 monsoon 261zf     
n.季雨,季风,大雨
参考例句:
  • The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
  • The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。
19 allied iLtys     
adj.协约国的;同盟国的
参考例句:
  • Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
  • Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。
20 exclusion 1hCzz     
n.拒绝,排除,排斥,远足,远途旅行
参考例句:
  • Don't revise a few topics to the exclusion of all others.不要修改少数论题以致排除所有其他的。
  • He plays golf to the exclusion of all other sports.他专打高尔夫球,其他运动一概不参加。
21 plume H2SzM     
n.羽毛;v.整理羽毛,骚首弄姿,用羽毛装饰
参考例句:
  • Her hat was adorned with a plume.她帽子上饰着羽毛。
  • He does not plume himself on these achievements.他并不因这些成就而自夸。
22 penetrate juSyv     
v.透(渗)入;刺入,刺穿;洞察,了解
参考例句:
  • Western ideas penetrate slowly through the East.西方观念逐渐传入东方。
  • The sunshine could not penetrate where the trees were thickest.阳光不能透入树木最浓密的地方。
23 penetrated 61c8e5905df30b8828694a7dc4c3a3e0     
adj. 击穿的,鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。
  • They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。
24 dormant d8uyk     
adj.暂停活动的;休眠的;潜伏的
参考例句:
  • Many animals are in a dormant state during winter.在冬天许多动物都处于睡眠状态。
  • This dormant volcano suddenly fired up.这座休眠火山突然爆发了。
25 cannon 3T8yc     
n.大炮,火炮;飞机上的机关炮
参考例句:
  • The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
  • The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。
26 artillery 5vmzA     
n.(军)火炮,大炮;炮兵(部队)
参考例句:
  • This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
  • The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。
27 ammunition GwVzz     
n.军火,弹药
参考例句:
  • A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
  • They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。
28 massacre i71zk     
n.残杀,大屠杀;v.残杀,集体屠杀
参考例句:
  • There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中,这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
  • If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀,大屠杀就有可能再次发生!
29 assassination BObyy     
n.暗杀;暗杀事件
参考例句:
  • The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
  • Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年,林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。
30 devastate PZRzy     
v.使荒芜,破坏,压倒
参考例句:
  • A few days before,a fire had devastated large parts of Windsor Castle.几天前,温莎城堡的大部分被一场大火烧毁。
  • Earthquakes can also cause tsunamis,which devastate coastal regions.地震还引发海啸,它直接破坏海岸地区。
31 cape ITEy6     
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风
参考例句:
  • I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
  • She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。
32 isle fatze     
n.小岛,岛
参考例句:
  • He is from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea.他来自爱尔兰海的马恩岛。
  • The boat left for the paradise isle of Bali.小船驶向天堂一般的巴厘岛。
33 susceptible 4rrw7     
adj.过敏的,敏感的;易动感情的,易受感动的
参考例句:
  • Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
  • We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。
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