1 undertake vt.-took, -taken, -taking
擔任（職務）；著手（工作）保證; 從事,
斷言(that)
（常與to+ inf連用）答應；同意
I undertook to teach the children English.我答應教孩子們英語。
undertake a post擔任一個職位
undertake experiment and calculations從事實驗和計算
The lawyer undertook the case without a fee.這律師免費承辦那個案件。
I can't undertake that you will make a profit.我不能擔保你會獲利。
He undertook to be here at five.他答應五點鐘到這里來。
Undertaker n.承擔人, 承辦人; 企業家
2 curious adj.好奇的；有求知欲的
It is good to be curious about the world around you.對你周圍的世界感到新奇是件好事。
be curious about sth.對(某事物)感到好奇
be curious to (do)很想(做); 渴望(做)
(be) curious to say說來稀奇
3 debate vt., vi.debated, debating討論，爭論
The government is debating the education laws.政府正在就教育法進行辯論。
考慮；思考
He was debating whether to go for a walk or to visit a friend.他在考慮去散步或者去訪友。
n.討論，辯論； 討論會，辯論會
a debate about the punishment for criminals關于如何懲治罪犯的爭論
Who open the debate?誰先發言？
beyond debate無疑義, 無可爭辯
debate upon討論(問題)
open the debate在辯論時首先發言
argue debate都含“辯論”的意思。
argue 著重“說理”、“論證”和“企圖說服”, 如:
I argued with her for a long time, but she refused to listen to reason.
我和她辯論了好久, 但她還是不聽。
debate 著重“雙方各述己見”, 內含“交鋒”的意思, 如:
We have been debating about the issue.我們一直在就這個問題進行辯論。
4 seek vt., vi.sought, seeking
（常與for, after連用）搜尋，尋找，尋覓
seek fame求名
seek help求助
We sought an answer to the question, but couldn't find one.
我們尋求這個問題的答案，可是沒能找到。
After seeking out the rude assistant she asked for the same dress.
"她認出那個粗魯無禮的售貨員之后,要他拿那同一件衣服看看。"
請 求，要求
I will seek my doctor's advice.我將請教醫生的意見。
嘗試；試圖；企圖
He sought to make peace.他企圖講和。
seek after [for]尋求, 探索; 追求; 尋找
seek out找出, 搜出; 挑出
seek through找遍
5 observe：可用作動詞（vi.＆vt.），主要義項有：觀察；監視；認識；注意到；遵守；慶祝；說；評論。作及物動詞時，主要搭配形式為：（1）+名詞；
Eg. An astronomer observes the stars. 天文學家觀察星辰。
（2）+從句；Eg. Please observe how I do this. 請注意看我是怎么做的。
（3）+不定式、分詞的復合賓語。
Eg. I observed him enter the bank.我看到他進入了那家銀行。
（被動式要用不定式：He was observed to enter the bank.）
I observed a stranger entering the house.我看到一個陌生人進入該屋。
注意：observe后跟不帶to的不定式作賓補，但把此結構變為被動語態時要跟帶to的不定式。
6 patient n.病人, 患者 adj.忍耐的, 耐心的
I know your leg hurts, just be patient until the doctor arrives.
我知道你的腿傷了，耐心點等醫生來。
The doctor visited his patients in hospital.醫生在醫院里看視他的病人。
be patient with sb.對某人有耐心
patient of容忍; 忍耐
7 work on對...起作用, 對...有影響;使人信服, 說服;從事于, 致力于
work at從事, 致力于, 鉆研
work off除去；解除to work off one's debt靠工作還清債務
work out作出, 設計出, 制作出;算出, 得出...答案to work out a sum算出總數
帶來好結果；有預期的結果Things will work themselves out.事情會有好結果的。
運動；鍛煉to work out daily with sparring partner每天和拳擊陪練員練習
8 engage vt., vi.雇；聘; (預)定(房間、座位等)
engage a new secretary聘請新秘書
This seat is engaged.此座已定出。
We engage him as technical adviser.我們聘請他擔任技術顧問。
[常用被動語態]從事, 著手, 忙于(in)
約束; 約定; 使訂婚, 與…訂婚(to)
be engaged in正做著, 正忙著
be engaged to同...訂婚
9 difference n.不同；差別；差異
Young people must be taught to learn the difference between good and evil.
必須教導年青人學會區分善與惡。
There are many differences between living in a big city and living in the country.
生活在大城市與生活在鄉村有許多不同之處。
make a difference有很大差別, 有很大 不同;有很大的關系[影響]
make a great difference有很大差別, 有很大 不同;有很大的關系[影響]
make a great deal of difference有很大差別, 有很大 不同;有很大的關系[影響]
make a difference between區別對待
make some difference to對...有些關系
make no difference to對...沒有關系
make all the difference關系重大, 大不相同
10 rather adv.[常與would或had連用]寧愿, 寧可
稍微; 相當；
[可與or連用]更確切, 更恰當; 更接近
相反地, 倒不如說 ... 更... ；
[口] 當然, 確實如此
[與連詞 than 配合使用]與其...不如...; 寧可... 也不...
rather too稍微...一點（rather還可和比較級與too連用，但fairly不可）
Which would you rather have, tea or coffee?你喜歡喝茶; 還是咖啡?
He was rather tired.他有些疲倦了。
He went home very late last night, or rather, in the early hours this morning.
他是昨天深夜回家的, 或者更確切地說, 是今天凌晨。
Do you know her ? R-.你認識她嗎? 當然。
She was no better, but rather grew worse.她的病情不但沒好轉, 反而惡化了。
He resigned rather than take part in such a dishonest transaction .
他寧愿辭職也不愿意參加這樣一種欺騙的交易。
Unit two
1 face to face（常與with連用）面對面地
"They've often talked to each other on the telephone, but they've never met each other face to face.""他們常常互相通電話,但從來沒有見過面。"
in the face of不顧；面對，在…前面
in sb.'s face正對著某人; 當著某人的面
He succeeded in the face of great difficulties.盡管有巨大的困難，但他成功了。
We are powerless in the face of such forces.面對這樣的勢力，我們無能為力。
on the face of it從表面上來看
On the face of it, the document seemed genuine.從表面看，這文件像是真的
v朝, 臨, 面向;面對; 應付
face up to大膽面向：
be faced with…;面對
She must face upto the fact that she is no longer young.她必須正視她已不再年輕這一事實。
face a fact面對事實
The window faces the sea.窗戶對著海。
2 inform v.(～ of/about) 通知, 告訴, 獲悉, 告知
The headmistress informed us that the school would be closed for one day next week.
女校長告訴我們下星期學校將停一天課。
The sales manager asked his men to inform him of everything concerning the sales in time.
銷售部經理讓他手下的人把關于銷售量的情況及時報告他。
Inform vi.告發, 告密(against, on)
be well informed about sth.
精通某事; 對某事消息靈通
be informed of聽說; 接到...的通知
keep ... informed隨時向...報告情況
inform against sb.告發某人, 檢舉某人
3 relate vt., vi.講；敘述
I related my adventure to my family.我向家人講述了我的奇遇。
To him we related our troubles, asking his advice.我們向他講述了我們的困難,請他指導。
（常與to, with連用）把…聯系起來
I can't relate what he does with [to]what he says.我沒法把他做的和說的聯系起來。
They are related to each other.他們彼此之間有親戚關系。
vi.有關,涉及[(+to)]I don't know to what this relates.我不知道這與什么有關。
符合[(+with)]Your statement does not relate well with the facts.
你的說法與事實不太符合。
相處[(+to)]She doesn't relate well to her peers.她和同輩處不來。
She doesn't relate well to her mother.她與她母親相處不很和睦。
4 addict t.使沉溺; 嗜好;...成癮, 熱中于
addict oneself to沉溺于, 醉心于
be addicted to嗜好, 熱中
5 tolerate vt.容忍; 忍受; 容許; 默許; 有耐藥性[力]
I can't tolerate your bad manners any longer.我再也不能容忍你無禮的行為。
He can't tolerate penicilin.他對盤尼西林無耐藥力。
6 concern vt.關于；對…有關系;影響；關系
This concerns us deeply.這事對我們關系極大。
擔心；擔憂；掛念We're rather concerned about father's health.我們相當擔心父親的健康。
（常與with, about, in連用）關心；關照to concern oneself with public work關心公眾事務
We're rather concerned about father's health.我們相當擔心父親的健康。
n.(利害)關系, 關心, 關注, 關注, 所關心的是
as concerns關于
as far as... be concerned關于； 至于； 就...而言
be concerned about關心
be concerned over sth.為某事憂慮
be concerned at sth.為某事憂慮
be concerned in sth.和某事有牽連
be concerned with牽涉到， 與...有關， 參與
feel concern about憂慮， 掛念
give oneself no concern (about)不關切， 對...冷淡
have a concern in和...有利害關系
have no concern with和...毫無關系
of much concern很重要， 很有關系
of no concern無關緊要， 沒有意義
with concern關切地
7 bore vt.令人厭煩
I'm bored with this job.我對這件工作厭煩了。
bear with容忍；忍耐
We have to bear with his bad temper because he is a bit frustrated these days.
我們不得不容忍他的壞脾氣因為這些日子他有點灰心喪氣。
8 go up 上升；上漲；爆炸；焚毀； 攀登
Eg. The temperature is going up.溫度上升。
go up in flames 燃燒起來；毀于大火
She went up the ladder.她登上扶梯
相關歸納：（1）go down 下降，下跌；沉沒
Eg. She went down by elevator.她乘電梯下去。
Prices are going down.物價正在下跌。
The ship went down into the sea. 那艘船沉到海中。
（2）go off 發射；爆炸；變壞；入寢；進展；聚會；熄滅；中斷。go off（with a）bang. 砰一聲爆炸了。
Eg. The gun went off by accident. 那支槍意外走火了。
This food has gone off.這食物壞掉了。
The child has gone off（to sleep）. 那個孩子睡著了。
The party went off well. 聚會進行得很順利。
The power has gone off. 電力中斷了。
（3）go on 繼續；發生Eg. What’s going on?發生什么事了？
(4) go by：(從...旁)走過, 依照, 順便走訪
9 for once：只有一次相關歸納：
（1）for this/that once只這/那一次，就這/那一回
Eg. I’ll forgive you for this once.我只原諒你這一次。
2）at once 馬上；立刻；同時
Eg. Tell her to come at once.叫她馬上來。
I can’t do two things at once.我不能同時做兩件事。
（3）all at once 突然，忽然；同時；一同
Eg. All at once the door opened.門突然開了。
They spoke all at once.他們同時說話。
10 switch n.[C]開關,電閘,電鍵You pressed the wrong switch.你按錯了開關。
變更,轉換,更改There's been a switch in our plans.我們的計劃改變了。
【口】調換,交換I asked him why he'd made the switch.我問他為什么要調換。
vt.打開(或關掉)...的開關[(+on/off)]He switched the light on.他打開電燈。
使轉換;為...轉接(電話)[(+to/over)]
Hang on, please. I'll switch you to the manager.請不要掛斷電話。我給你轉接到經理那兒去。
改變;轉移;調動They switched the talk to a more interesting subject.
他們把談話轉到比較有趣的題目上去了。
vi.改變;轉移[(+to)]He studied chemistry and then switched to biology.他原來學化學,后來改學生物。
【口】調換;交換I am on duty tomorrow. I've to switch with someone to go to your party.
我明天值班。我得和誰換一下班才能去參加你們的聚會。
switch from (to)變換, 轉移
switch off [on to]切斷[接上](電流); 不收聽[收聽](某一廣播); (使)興味索然[興致勃勃]
switch over (from one to another)(從某方面)轉變(到另一方面)
switch to轉(換)到
11 contact n.接觸,觸碰[U][(+with)]
交往;聯系,聯絡[U][(+with)]
He tried in vain to get into contact with the local branch.
他試圖與當地分部取得聯絡,但沒有成功。
be in contact with和...接觸， 有聯系［脫離接觸， 失去聯系］
be out of contact with和...接觸， 有聯系［脫離接觸， 失去聯系］
bring into contact with使接觸， 使與...聯系
come into (in) contact with接觸， 碰上
have contact with接觸到， 和...有聯系
lose contact with和...失去聯系， 離開
make contact with和...接觸［聯系］
12 adapt vt.使適應；使適合
He adapted himself to the cold weather.他適應了寒冷的天氣。
When he moved to Canada, the children adapted to the change very well.
他移居加拿大后孩子們很能適應變化。
改編；改裝
The movie was adapted from a novel.這部電影是由小說改編的。
adapt for使適合于; 為...改編[改寫]
adapt from根據...改寫[改編]
adapt oneself to使自己適應或習慣于某事
adapt sth. to使某事物適應或適合
adopt vt.收養；采取；采用
They adopted our methods.他們采用了我們的辦法。
adopt a child收為養子
13 focus one's attention on把注意力集中在...
give (one's)attention to注意; 關心
pay attention to注意, 重視, 傾聽
pay one's attentions to殷勤款待某人, 向(女人)獻殷勤
attract attention引起注意
catch sb.'s attention 引起某人的注意
with attention留心地, 注意地
devote one's attention to 專心于, 對...注意
14 beat vt., vi. beat, beaten 或 beat, beating
連打The rain was beating against/on the deck.雨打在甲板上。
The rain beat against the windows.雨水拍打在窗戶上。
規律性地拍擊to beat a drum擊鼓
The heart beats.心臟跳動。
攪拌to beat eggs打雞蛋
擊敗；勝過We played the top class at football but we couldn't beat them.
我們踢足球是一流水平, 但是我們不能戰勝他們。
Unit 3
1 design n.設計, 圖案, 花樣, 企圖, 圖謀, (小說等的)構思, 綱要
v.設計, 計劃, 謀劃, 構思
My brother designs to be an engineer.我弟弟立志要當工程師。
My parents designed me for the navy.我的父母打算要我去當海軍。
This room was originally designed to be my study.這間屋子原預定做我的書房。
This machine is of bad design.這部機器設計很差。
This dictionary is designed for college students.這本辭典是供大學生使用的。
The laws were designed to protect children.那些法律是為了保護兒童而制定的。
This book is designed as an introduction to literature.這本書是要用作文學入門讀物的。
She designs for a dressmaking company.她替一家服裝店設計圖樣。
by design故意地, 蓄意地
have designs on對...抱不良企圖; 圖謀加害于; 企圖盜竊(某物)
design sb. for打算讓某人從事(某種職業);
design sth. for預定某物作(某種用途)
design sb. to be打算讓某人從事(某種職業); 預定某物作(某種用途)
2 convenient adj.便利的， 方便的;合宜的
When would it be convenient for you to go?你什么時候去方便？
We must arrange a convenient time and place for the meeting.
我們必須安排一個合適的時間和地點開會。
注意：convenient主語不能是人。例如：如果你方便的話，英語應表達為：if it is convenient to/for you,而不應表達為：if you are convenient。
3 taste：taste可用作動詞（vi.＆vt.）和名詞。主要義項有：嘗（味），嘗起來，有……味道，品嘗；體驗，領略；味覺；風味；愛好；審美力，鑒賞力。
Eg. Can you taste anything strange in this soup?你嘗得出這湯里有什么怪味嗎？
The young man has only begun to taste life.那個年輕人才開始體驗人生。
This food tastes nice. 這食物味道很好。
This food has little taste. 這食物沒有什么味道。
She has developed a taste for Chinese art. 她愛上了中國藝術。
She has excellent taste in jewelry. 她對珠寶有很好的鑒賞力。
注意：taste作連系動詞時，不能用于被動語態。
4 set aside：留出, 不顧, 取消, 駁回
相關歸納：（1）set about著手，開始；散布
Eg. We set about cleaning the house.我們著手打掃房子。
Who has set this rumor about?誰散布的這種謠言？
（2）set back 撥慢；阻礙
Eg. He set back his watch three minutes.他將表撥慢了三分鐘。
Their plans were set back by the storm.他們的計劃被暴風雨所延誤。
（3）set off 使爆發；燃放（焰火等）；發射
Eg. set off fireworks 燃放焰火
The joke set us off laughing.那個笑話引得我們大笑。
（4）set out 陳述；陳列；踏上旅途；出發；開始，著手
Eg. set out one’s arguments陳述自己的論點
set out goods on a stall將貨品擺在攤子上
We set out for home.我們踏上歸途。
He set out to paint the house.他著手粉刷房子。
（5）set up 豎立；設立；開辦；使康復
Eg. set up a pole 豎立木柱
set up a sign 豎起招牌
set up a tent 搭帳篷
set up a school 創校
A few weeks’ stay in the countryside will set her up.在鄉下住幾個星期將使她康復。
注意：set about和set out都有“開始，著手”之意，但前者接名詞或動名詞，而后者常接不定式。
5 A is to B what C is to D：這是一個比喻句，通常用于“A對B而言正如C對D一樣”這個句型。
Eg. We are to them what fish is to water.我們和他們的關系就像魚兒和水一樣。
Smell is to the nose what taste is to the tongue.嗅覺與鼻子的關系如同味覺和舌頭的關系。
6 impress：可用作動詞（vt.）和名詞。主要義項有：使銘記，給……以印象；蓋印,壓印；印記；銘刻；印象,痕跡,特征。
注意：用作動詞時，和介詞的主要搭配形式為：impress sth. on sb.； impress sb.with sth.
Eg. The accident impressed on me the necessity of observing regulations.
那次事故使我深感遵守規則的必要性。
He impressed me with the need to work hard.他使我深知努力工作的必要性。
Time has left its impress upon him.時代給他留下了痕跡。
（常與with連用）使（人）印象深刻；使銘記
His words are strongly impressed on my memory.他的話使我深深銘記心頭。
（常與on連用）使印象深刻
I impressed on him the importance of his work.我使他注意他的工作的重要性。
（常與on連用）蓋（印）；蓋（印）于
impress a mark on [upon] a surface=impress a surface with a mark在表面上打記號
be impressed by [at, with]被深深打動[感動]
impress sth. in [on] one's memory使...銘記在心
be favourably [unfavourably] impressed得到好[不好]的印象
7 choice n.挑選；選擇；抉擇
She had to make a choice between the two dresses.她得在兩件衣服中選擇一件。
She is the people's choice for Prime Minister.她是人民選出來的首相。
選舉權；選舉能力
入選者；被選中的人或物
Which is your choice?你選哪一個?
a great\ large choice of大量可供選擇的 (物品等)
a poor choice無從選擇; 備貨少
at one's own choice隨意挑選, 自由選擇
have no choice but[后跟動詞不定式]非...不可, 除...之外別無他法
without choice無選擇地, 不分好歹地
8 despite, in spite of, though
三者都有“盡管”之意，但詞性不同。前兩者為介詞，后跟名詞，通常情況下可換用。而though 是連詞，后跟句子。
Exercises:
（1）He’s very active ______ his age.
（2）______ all their hard work, the project ended in failure.
（3）______ it was very late, the child would not go to bed.
4）Young ______ he was he knew a lot.
答案：（1）despite/in spite of （2）In spite of/Despite （3）Though （4）though
9 be out of use不通用; 不時行; 作廢
bring sth. into use開始使用(某物)
come into use開始被使用
in use正在用; 通用
make use of利用; 使用
no earthly use[口]完全沒有用
of no use沒有用, 無益
of use有用
put to use利用, 使用
use up用完, 耗盡;[口]使精疲力盡