Lesson One Face to Face with Hurricane Camille
Ⅰ. Additional Background Information:
1. Author: Joseph P. blank: The writer published“Face to Face with Hurricane Camille”
in the Reader’s Digest, March 1970.
2. Hurricane:
A tropical storm in which winds attain speeds greater than 75 miles (121 kilometers) per hour.
The term is often restricted to those storms occurring over the North Atlantic Ocean. Incipient（起初的）hurricanes usually form over the tropical Atlantic Ocean and mature as they drift westward.
Hurricanes also occasionally form off the west coast of Mexico and move northeastward from that area. An average of 3.5 tropical storms per year eventually mature into hurricanes along the east coast of North America, usually over the Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico. A hurricane of this intensity tends to develop an eye, an area of relative calm ( and lowest atmospheric pressure ) at the center of circulation. The eye is often visible in satellite images as a small, circular, cloud-free spot. Surrounding the eye is the eyeball,an eara about 16 kilometers (9.9 miles) to 80 kilometers (50 miles) wide in which the strongest thunderstorms and winds circulate around the storm’s center. Maximum sustained winds in the strongest hurricane have been estimated at about 195 miles per hour (314 km/h).
Similar storms occurring over the West Pacific Ocean and China Seas are called typhoons and those over t he Indian Ocean are called tropical cyclones.（热带风暴）
3. Hurricane Camille
It was the strongest tropical cyclone during the 1969 Atlantic hurricane season. It landed near the mouth of the Mississippi River on the night of August 17, with a recorded sustained wind speed of at least 190 miles per hour (310 km/h). The storm formed on August 14 and rapidly deepened. It scraped the western edge of Cuba. Camille strengthened further over the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall wih pressure of 905 mbar (kPa), estimated sustained winds of 190 miles per hour (305 km/h), and a peak storm surge of 24 feet (7.3 m); by maximum sustained wind speeds, Camille was the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone recorded worldwide, and one of only four tropical cyclones worldwide ever to achieve wind speeds of 190 miles per hour (310 km/h). The hurricane flattened nearly everything along the coast of the U. S. state of the Mississippi, and caused additional flooding and deaths inland while crossing the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. In total, Camille killed 258 people.
4. Hurricane Betsy
Hurricane Betsy formed east of the Windward Islands, and moved north through the island chain as a tropical storm. It traveled north of Nassau, the capital city in the Bahamas, where it stalled for about three hours, allowing its winds to pound the city. On September 7, Betsy continued moving toward the southwest toward extreme southern Florida. It passed over Key Largo at the eastern end of the Florida Keys on September 8, and then continued west along the Keys. Hurricane-force winds were experienced in the Miami area for roughly twelve hours. At its landfall on Key Largo, Betsy had an exceptionally large eye (40 miles (65 km) in diameter). After crossing Florida Bay and entering the Gulf of Mexico, Betsy strengthened, with winds up to 155 miles per hour (250
km/h). It continued northwestward, moving into Barataria Bay on the evening of September 9. It made its second U.S. landfall at Grand Isle, Louisiana, just west of the mounth of the Mississippi River, where it destroyed almost every building, causing the deaths of 74 people.
5. Hurricane names
Students may wonder why a hurricane is given a woman’s name like Camille and Betsy. For several hundred years, hurricanes in the West Indines were often named after the particular saint’s day on which the hurricane occurred, For example, “Hurricane San Felipe” struck Puerto Rico on 13 September 1876. Another storm struck Puerto Rico on the same day in 1928, and this storm was named “Hurricane San Felipe the second.”Later, latitude-longitude positions were adopted for naming hurricanes, which was convenient and accurate for meteorologists to track them. However, once the public began receiving storm warnings and trying to keep track of a particular storm path, this became complicated and confusing. In 1953, the National Weather Service picked up the habit of naval meteorologists of naming the storms after women. In their opinion, the storms’temperament seemed female enough, shifting directions at a whim on a moment’s notice.Of course this was biased and unfair. In 1979, male names were inserted to alternate with the female names, to the delight of feminists. Currently, there are six lists of names in alphabetical order used for hurricanes. These lists rotate, one each year; the list of this year’s names will not be reused for six years. The names get recycled each time the list comes up, with one exception: Storms so devastating that reusing the name is inappropriate. In this case, the name is taken off the list and another name is added to replace it. For instance, there will not be another Hurricane Andrew, because Andrew has been replaced by Alex on the list.
6. Salvation Army
It is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church with its own distinctive governance and practice. It is an international movement that currently works in 121 countries. It has its International Headquarters (IHQ) in London. It was founded by William Booth, with the assistance of his wife Catherine Booth. The movement, begun in 1865, was originally known as the East London Revival Society, soon renamed the Christian Mission, and fianally in 1878 designated the Salvation Army. A military form of organization, with uniforms and other distinctive features, was adopted in the interest of a more effective “warfare against evil.”In 2006 the organization was operating in 111 countries in the world. Each country has its divisions and local corps, with a commander at the head of all. The army operates hospitals, community centers, alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs, emergency and disaster services, social work centers and recreation facilities. Support of the vast undertakings in all parts of the world depends upon voluntary contributions and profits from the sale of publications.
7. Red Cross
An internaional organization concerned with the alleviation of human suffering and the promotion of public health. Jean Henry Dunant (1828-1910), a Swiss citizen, urged the formation of voluntary aid societies for relief of war victims. In 1864, delegates from 16 nations met in Switzerland, and the Geneva Convention of 1864 for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick of Armies in the Field was signed. It provided for the neutrality of the personnel of the medical services of armed forces, the humane treatment of the wounded, the
neutrality of civilians who voluntarily assited them, and the use of an international emblem to mark medical personnel and supplies. In honor of Dunant’s nationality a red cross on a white background—the Swiss flag with colors reversed—was chosen as the symbol (which in Moslem areas is replaced by a red crescent and in Iran by a red lion and sun). The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is made up of three part:
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a private humanitarian institution founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland by Jean Henry Dunant. Its 25-member committee has a unique authority unnder international humanitarian law to protect the life and dignity of the victims of international and internal armed conflicts. The ICRC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on three occasions (in 1917, 1944 and 1963).
The International Federation of Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was founded in 1919 and today it coordinates activities between the 186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. On an international level, the Federation leads and organizes relief assistance missions responding to large-scale emergencies. The International Federation Secretariat is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
In 1963, the Federation (then known as the League of Red Cross Societies) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the ICRC.
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies exist in nearly every country in the world.
Currently 186 National Societies are recognized by the ICRC and admitted as full members of the Federation. Each entity works in its home country according to the principles of international humanitarian law and the statutes of the international Movement.
Ⅱ. Detailed Analysis of the Text:
Para. 1
1. A Brief Introduction to the Text:
“ Face to Face with Hurricane Camille” is a piece of narration. Simply defined, narration is the telling of a story. A good story has a beginning, a middle and an end, even though it may start in the middle or at some other point in the action and move backward to the earlier happenings.
Narration is concerned with action, with life in motion, with a meaningful series of actions. It revolves around people, called characters, in some kind of struggle or conflict against other people, nature, society or themselves. In the story the leading character is called the hero or protagonist and the people or forces he fights against is called antagonist. The actions, incidents and events are generally presented in order of their occurrence, following the natural time sequence of the happenings (chronological order). As the conflict develops, suspense and tension increase until the highest point or theclimax of the conflict is reached. After the climax, the story quickly moves to
a conclusion, which is sometimes called a denouement.
Action (plot) usually dominates narration; however, some narratives focus on charaters, theme (the idea behind the story), or atmosphere (the mood or tone).
“Face toFace with Hurricane Camille”describes the heroic struggle of the Koshaks and their friends against the forces of a devastating hurricane. The story focuses mainly on action but the writer also clearly and sympathetically delineates the charaters in the charaters in the story. The hero or the protagonist in the story is John Koshak, Jr., and the antagonist is the hurricane.
The first six paragraphs are introductory paragraphs, giving the time, place and background oftheconflict—man versus hurricanes. Thses paragraphs also introduce the charaters in the story.
The writer builds up and sustains the suspense in the story and gives order and logical movement
to the sequence of happenings by describing in detail, and vividly, the incidents showing how the Koshaks and their friends struggled against each onslaught of the hurrcane. The writer describes these acions in order of their occurrence. This natural time sequence or chronological order holds the story together. The story reaches its climax in Parsgraphs 26-27 and from there on the story moves rapidly to its conclusion. In the last paragraph the writer states his theme or the purpose behind his story in the reflection of Grandmother Koshak: “We lost practically all our pessions, but the family came through it. When I think of that, I realize we lost nothing important.”
The text describes the heroic struggle of the Koshaks and their friends against the forces of a devastating hurricane. Unwilling to abandon their home, the Koshaks had made full preparations for the hurricane. However, they had underestimated the ferocity of Hurricane Camille, which smashed into the Mississippi Gulf Coast with winds in excess of 200 mph and tides over 20 feet. The overwhelming wind and rain whipped the house so that it was on the verge of disintegration. The Koshaks and their friends tried to quit the house, but unfortunately failed because of the doused car. They scrambled back, terrified and bewildered. Plunged in a desperate situation, they attempted to support each other with verbal comforts or prayers for the God. With the entire roof lifted off, the staircase breaking apart, and the walls toppling, the Koshaks found no room sanctuary and prepared a door for taking the nine children on if the floor split up. Luckily the main thrust of Camille had passed and the Koshaks and their friends survived. Organizations within the country had come to the aid of the devastated coast, and inhabitants there quickly recognized their lives. Though the hurricane had deprived the Koshaks of all their material possessions, the family came through it, which was the most significant thing for them.
2. “Face to Face with Hurricane Camille” (Title): confronted with Hurricane Camille（迎战卡米尔
飓风）
Note: All headings and titles are generally succinct and particular care is given to the choice of words. The aim is to present the article, story, etc. as vividly and as forcefully as possible to attract the attention of would-be readers.
ace to face: The phrase in this context means “confronting one another.” This phrase connotes a sense of urgency and danger. The confrontation is generally with something dangerous, difficult or hard to resolve.
E.g. face to face with the enemy/the tiger/the problem
hurricane:
同义词：cyclone旋风, typhoon台风，whirlwind旋风，tornado龙卷风，waterspout海上龙卷风，twister陆地龙卷风，breeze微风，gale大风，zephyr西风，monsoon季风，dry monsoon 冬季季风，wet monsoon夏季季风
3. John Koshak, Jr. (Para.1):（小约翰〃柯夏克）
Jr. is the abbreviation of junior. This term is generally used in the United States and is put after the name of a son to indicate he has the same first name as his father, as in Martin Luther King, Jr. The term Sr. (senior) is sometimes put after the name of the father. This is done only with men’s names. Sometimes people use Roman numeralsⅡfor the son with the same name, such as Barack Hussein Obama Ⅱ. If the name continues into the third generation, Roman numerals Ⅲ. etc. is used. This happens mainly, but not exclusively, among big, rich, upper class families.
E.g. John RockefellerⅠ, John RockefellerⅡ, and John Rockefeller Ⅲ.
Jr. 是junior的缩写形式，这种形式通常用于美国，并且总是放在小孩的姓名之后，以表示与其父亲的教名相同。Sr. (senior)有时也放在父亲姓名之后。如果姓名持续到第三代，就要使用罗马数字Ⅰ.Ⅱ. Ⅲ等。这主要出现在贵族、上层阶级家庭。如：John RockefellerⅠ, John RockefellerⅡ, and John Rockefeller Ⅲ.
4. Radios and televisions warnings…Gulf of Mexico (para 1):That Sunday, last August 17, when
Hurricane Camille moved quickly and violently northwestward across the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service of the United States broadcast warnings of potential
hurricanes.
1) Warnings had sounded: Radio and television had broadcast warnings about the hurricane.
2) August 17:Hurricane Camille devastated the area for two days August 17, 18
3) lashed: a specific verb, meaning to strike with great force; dash against 猛烈冲击；拍打
E.g. Waves lashed the smooth cliff. 波浪冲击着光滑的峭壁。
4) Gulf of Mexico: Most hurricanes in this area are formed over the Caribbean Sea and they move over the Gulf of Mexico to strike the Gulf States of the United States—Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama etc.
5. It was certain…the Koshaks lived (para.1):The Koshaks will have to put up with many onslaughts of the fierce storm.
1) pummel v. to beat or hit with repeated blows, esp. with the fist（尤其指用拳头）连续地打
E.g. The thief was pushed and pummeled by an angry crowd.一群人推搡并痛打小偷。
同义词：beat, pound, thrash, flog, whip, maul
beat最为常用，指使用手脚或工具等重复敲击；pound打击的力度比beat更大; pummel暗示用拳头连续不停地殴打某人；thrash原指用连枷敲打谷物，现指连续敲打，连续重击；flog 暗示用皮带或鞭子抽打而予以惩罚；whip 往往与flog意思相同，尤其强调抽打的动作；maul暗示连续殴打的后果如伤痕或肌肉撕伤。
2) Gulfport:City coast of Harrison county, southeastern Mississippi, U.S. Gulfport is a port of entry on the S. Miss. and the Gulf of Mexico 海湾港
3) Miss.:abbreviation for Mississippi
4) the Koshaks: When an “s” is added to a surname and used with the definite article “the”, the term, then, stands for the whole family.
E.g.the Koshaks: the Koshak family, all the Koshaks in the family
the Browns: the Brown family the Lis: the Li family
6. …fled inland to safer ground (para.1): ran away to the interior of the country (away from the coast) where they would be safer.
safer ground:The hurricane loses force as it blows inland and people away from the coast are safe from tidal waves caused by the hurricane.
7. coastal communities (para.1):People living together in towns, cities, villages, along the coast
Note: the word communiy has different meanings.
E.g. the community of the town;a college community; the Asian Americane community; the
international community
8. reluctant adj.unwilling; opposed in mind; disinclined勉强的
E.g. She seemed reluctant to join in the discussion. 她似乎不愿意参加讨论。
同义词：disinclined, hesitant, loath, averse
reluctant暗示由于厌恶或犹豫而不愿做某事；disinclined指由于不喜欢或不赞成而对某事不感兴趣；hesitant暗示由于恐惧或犹豫而避免做某事；loath指极度厌恶或反感用作表语；averse用以形容持续的，但不偏激的厌恶。
反义词：inclined, disposed, eager
9. But, like thousands of others…clearly endangered (para.1):
aged 3 to 11:The youngest child was three years and the eldest 11 years old. The other five were older than 3 and younger than 11.
Para. 2
10. Trying to reason out the best course of action…
1) reason out:to find out an explanation or solution to a problem, by thinking of all the
possibilities寻找解决途径
E.g. Let’s reason this out instead of quarrelling.让我们不要争吵，商量出事情的解决方案。
2) course n. a regular-mode or manner of action or behavior; way of doing 行为，品行，做法
E.g. Now the best course of action is to increase tax on alcohol.现在最佳的对策就是提高
酒税。
11. …who had m oved into the ten-room house with the Koshaks…(Para. 2)
John Koshak’s randparents leftCalifornia and came to Gulfport to live with their son, John Koshak, Jr. In Westerncountrieschildren, when they grow up and start working, generally live away from their parents. In old Chinese traditions, it was common for anextended family to live together, but now the trend is also for children to live away from their parents in urban areas.
Las Vegas: Located in the southeast of Nevada, the city is famous for its gaming casinos and 24-hour entertainment. It is the largest city in the state, namned after the natural
meadows which served as camping sites on early trails to the West. U.S. Mormo
（摩门教徒）from Utah were the first settlers (1855), attracted by the artesian
（喷水）springs in the arid (干旱的)valley, hence the name Las Vegas (“the
meadows”). Its growth was stimulated by legalized gambling (1931) and by
construction in the 1930s of the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. LasVegas is
famous as a unique year-round desert resort (度假胜地). The city’s commercial
core is “The Strip”（沿闹街或高速公路的地区两侧有大量各种商业设施），an
array (列)of luxury hotels, casinos, and nightclubs featuring gambling and exotic
entertainment. Gambling had been legalized in Nevada in 1931, and from the
1940s Las Vegas began to earn a reputation as a popular tourist destination and
to attract notoriety（声名狼藉）as a “sin city.” The city is also the hub（中心）
of a commercial and mining area.
拉斯韦加斯，世界著名赌城。在美国内华达州东南部，为克拉克县县城所在
地。美国摩门教早年迁入这里。该地虽然常年干旱，但有天然喷泉，故取名
为拉斯韦加斯（泉水意思）。城里多豪华旅馆、夜总会、赌场及异域风情游乐
设施。自1931年实现读破合法化以来，该城吸引了大量游客，市区人口和经
济增长速度极快。
Para. 3
12. John, 37:elliptical, John who was 37 years old
13. whose business was right there in his home:
His business office, workshop, etc. were all in his home.
right there:exactly, precisely there (in his home)
14. all of Magna Products’…on the first floor…:
1) all of: every one, every bit of, every piece of. It is used with a plural verb.
2) Magna Products: the name of the firm (company) owned by John Koshak Jr.
马格纳公司，是由约翰〃柯夏克创办的一家公司名称，公司的主要业务是设计，开发教学用具和设备。
3) engineering drawings: diagrams and sketches for machines设计图纸
4) art work: designs, models, pictures for the various toys工艺模型
5) first floor: in U.S., the ground floor; in Europe and Great Britain, the above this
15. Hurricane Betsy:Betsy was a huge storm, which lashed Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana
in 1965 from Sept. 7-10, causing the death of 75 persons.飓风贝齐，卡米尔飓风前的一次，发生于1965年9月7至10日，造成75人死亡。
demolish v. to pull or tear down (a building etc.), smash to pieces 拆毁
E.g. Several houses were demolished to make way for the new road.
为了修建新路，一些房子被拆除了。
同义词：destroy, raze, annihilate
destroy一词最为常见，主要强调破坏的力度之大和彻底程度，一般不带感情或修辞色彩；demolish和raze通常用于巨大物体，如大型建筑物等，demolish常用引申义，指任何复合体的被毁，raze 几乎无一例外地用于指建筑物被毁，annihilate在这些词中所表示的损失最为强烈，字面意思是“化为乌有”，但实际上往往用于指对人货物的严重损伤，如：annihilate an enemy force（使敌军遭到重创），不仅没有还手之力，而且没有招架之力；annihilate one’s opponent in a debate（彻底驳倒对手）。
16. Koshak had moved his family to a motel…
motel: a blend or portmanteau word, formed by combing parts of [mo (torist)+(ho) tel]
17. we’re elevated 23 feet:Our house has been raised by 23 feet in comparison with the past.（现在我们这幢房子高了23尺。）这是一句美国英语，英国英语的说法是:
In British English one would probably say “We are 23 feet above sea level.”
elevate v. to raise, lift up举起，抬高
E.g. elevate the leg抬起腿
同义词：lift, raise, rear, hoist, boost
lift最为常用，指用体力或机械力把某物从地面举到一定的高度；raise往往可以与lift 互换，但着重垂直高举或将物件由较低处移至较高处的适宜位臵，以发挥应有的作用；
elevate提高（嗓子、思想）等；rear与raise用法相同，但多用于文学作品中；hoist 通过机械手段将沉重物体抬起；boost多用于口语中，指由后面的力量的推力抬起。
反义词: lower
18. we’re a good 250 yards from the sea: We’re at least 250 yards distant from the sea.
a good: a general intensive, meaning “at least,”“full”至少，最少
E.g. They waited a good eight hours. 他们等了至少8个小时。
The interview was scheduled for 30 minutes, but it lasted a good three hours.
19. The place has been here… ever bothered it: The house has been here since 1915, and no
hurricane has ever caused any damage to it.
Para. 4
20. we can batten down and ride it out:We can make the necessary preparations and survive
the hurricane without much damage. We can batten down to prpare for any difficulty.
Note:a metaphor, comparing the house in a hurricane to a ship fighting a storm at sea.(这里作者运用了暗喻(metaphor)的修辞手法，将在飓风包围中的房屋比作航行于波涛中的船只。) batten down原指水手收在暴风雨来临前用油布封住舱口，以防进水。ride out意为挡住（狂风等）袭击，不受多少损伤地坚持到最后脱险。
1) batten n. v. to fasten or supply with canvas over the hatches of a ship, especially in preparing
for a storm or as with battens用压条钉住（或固定）
E.g. There’s a storm coming, so let’s batten down the hatches.
暴风雨就要来了，让我们把舱口都封住。
2) ride it out:to stay afloat during a storm without too much damage; to survive or outlast (a storm)
Para. 5
21.The men methodically prepared for the hurricane:The men in the house made all the
necessary preparations to fight the hurricane and they went about their work in a systematic and orderly manner.
methodically adv. in a methodical manner, orderly, systematically 有秩序的；有条理的
E.g. The detective went through the papers methodically one bye one.
侦探有条不紊地逐一检查这些文件。
同义词：orderly, systematically
orderly指不乱的、有一定秩序和规则地；methodically指很有规律地，按部就班地；
systematically指由系统地。
反义词：disorderly, haphazardly, chaotically
22. Since water mains…and pails:They were afraid the water supply might be cut off so they
filled the bathtubs and pails with water.
1) main n.a principal pipe, conduit（管道）or line in a distributing system for water, gas,
electricity, and etc.（自来水，煤气，电等的）总管道，干线
E.g. a burst water main in the street街道上破裂的自来水管
2) bathtub n. a tub, now usually a bathroom fixture, in which to take a bath浴盆，浴缸
23. A power failure…for the lantern:
1) Power failure: a breakdown in the supply of electricity停电
2) check out: to examine (the batteries and fuel) and see if they were all right检查
Note the verbal phrase“check out” has different meanings.
E.g. Can I check out the book from the library?
All guests are required to check out before noon.
You should check out all the facts in your report.
24. John’s father moved…to the refrigerator:
1) generator n.a dynamo; a small machine for producing electricity发电机
2)wired several light bulbs: connected several light bulbs by wire to the generator. When the generator
produced electricity these bulbs would light up.接上几个灯泡
3) prepared a connection: Preparations were also made to connect, when necessary, the
refrigerator to the generator. (并准备将发动机接通电冰箱)
Para. 6
25. …gray clouds scudded in…on the rising wind.
1) scudded v. to turn or move swiftly, glide or skim along easily 疾行，飞驰
scudded in: driven inland by the wind
E.g. Birds scud across the lake surface. 鸟儿迅速地掠过湖面。
2) Gulf: the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the
southeast by Cuba
3) rising wind: wind that was getting stronger and stronger
26. A neighbor… with the Koshaks:
1) whose husband was in Vietnam: This was 1969. The husband of the neighbor was in the American army fighting in Vietnam.
2) sit out the storm:to stay until the end of the storm
sit out: stay until the end of 坐到结束
E.g. We forced ourselves to sit the play out.
27. Another neighbor came by on his way…of his dog? Another neighbor came by on his way
inland and asked if the Koshaks would mind taking care of his dog.
1) The dash in thise sentence indicates that some words have been left out and the structural
pattern has been changed from a statement to an indirect question. The sentence might read as follows: “Another neighbor came by on his way inland and asked if the Koshaks would mind taking care of his dog.”文中此句破折号后的部分既非直接引述邻居的原话，又没有按间接引述的语法要求转述邻居的问话，而保留直接问话的形式，其意在于既节省文字，又从中体现出邻居的那种行色匆匆，慌不择言的狼狈相，让人感觉到一种紧张迫切
的气氛，也烘托出这场即将来临的飓风的凶猛可怕。
2) come by: (AmE) to make a short visit to a place on one’s way; to pay a visit顺便拜访
E.g. I’ll come by the house and get my stuff later, OK? 我会顺便过来取材料，好吗？
Para. 7
28. Wind and rain now whipped the house:Strong wind and rain was lashing the house as if
with a whip.
The figure of speech, metaphor and personification, are employed here.作者使用了暗喻，将飓风的行为和力度比喻为长鞭(whip), 同时也运用了拟人(personification)的修辞手法，将自然界（这里指狂风暴雨）拟人化，以烘托飓风的威力。
mattress n. a casing of strong cloth or other fabric filled with cotton hair, foam rubber etc.
often quilted or turfed at intervals, and used on or as a bed床垫
E.g. an old, lumpy mattress 一张破旧不平的床垫
29. Stay away…storm-shattered panes:
1) stay away:to keep far away from; not to go near
2) pane n. a single division of window etc, consisting of a sheet of glass in a frame; such a sheet of glass or substitute 窗户；窗格玻璃
3) concerned about: anxious, uneasy, and worried about
4) glass flying from storm-shattered panes: small pieces of glass flying around in the air when the panes of a window are shattered by the storm
30. As the wind mounted to a roar… through the wall:
1) mounted to a roar: The sound of the wind gets louder as the force of the wind increases. The roaring sound indicates the wind has reached hurricane strength.作者这里使用roar表明风势已经达到了飓风得力度。
2) seemingly: apparently; as if
31. With mops… spreading water:The house was leaking very badly. The Koshaks had to use
all the utensils they could lay their hands on (the mops, towels, pots, buckets) to hold the leaking water.
32. At 8:30…the generator:
1) power failed:electricity was cut off
2) Pop: (slang) father; also a familiar term of address to any elderly man
3) turned on the generator:started their generator to produce their own electric power
Para. 8
33. overwhelming adj.having such a great effect on you that you feel confused and do not know
how to react 势不可挡
E.g.overwhelming joy 压倒一切的欢乐
34. The French doors… windows disintegrated:The French doors in an upstairs room were
burst open by the storm with the two adjoining doors (of the French doors) flew inwards,
which made an explosive noise. When other upstairs windows broke up into pieces, the group heard loud explosive noises like guns being fired.
1) French doors（美）=（英）French windows:two adjoining doors that have glass panes from top
to bottom and they open in the middle 落地窗
2) disintegrate v.to separate into parts or fragments; lose or cause to lose wholeness, disunite
分裂，分解，裂成碎片
E.g. The whole plane just disintegrated in mid-air. 整架飞机在空中就炸成了碎片。
3) blew in: burst open by the storm, the two adjoining doors (of the French doors) flew inwards
4) gun-like reports:loud explosive noises like guns being fired
5) windows disintegrated: windows broke up, windows broke into pieces
Para. 9
35. blast n.a gust of wind; strong rush of air 一股（气流），一阵（风）
E.g. A blast of wind blew the window and the door open. 一阵风把门和窗户都吹开了。
36. fling v. to throw, esp. with force or violence, hurl, cast 猛投，抛，掷
E.g. Spectators flung bottles and cans at the referee. 观众们将瓶子和铁罐丢向裁判。
同义词：throw, cast, toss, hurl, pitch
throw最为常见，指通过手臂快速推动某物；cast的意义通常比throw古老；toss指轻轻地或随意地丢掉；hurl和fling都意味着用劲投掷，但hurl暗示所投的物体移动速度快，而fling则指投掷的力度大，足可以打破地面；pitch暗示在明确的目标或方向下进行投掷。
37. shove v. to push or thrust, as along a surface挤，推，撞
E.g. to shove a boat into the river 把船推进水里
同义词：push, thrust, propel
push指用力推动所接触的人或物；shove指粗暴地推开挡路的人或物，使劲推动（重物）；
thrust指突然用力地推、使透过某物；propel指推进、推动。
反义词：pull, draw
38. The generator was doused, and the lights went out:Water got into the generator and put it
out. It stopped producing electricity, so the lights also went out.
douse v.to plunge or thrust suddenly into liquid; to put out (a light, fire, generator, etc.) quickly by
pouring water over it把…浸入液体里，使浸透
E.g. They failed to escape because the car was doused. 由于汽车浸在水里，他们没能逃走。
39. The water tasted salty:When Charlie licked some drops of water on his lips he found they
tasted salty like sea water. From this he concluded the sea level had risen so high that it had reached their house, which meant they were in real danger.
40. …and water was rising by the minute!:Water was rising every minute. Water was rising
minute by minute. 一分钟一分钟地
by the minute: every minute, minute by minute
E.g. I’m feeling better by the minute.我每分钟都感觉好多了。
Para. 10
41. “Everybody out the back door to the cars!”:an elliptical sentence showing the tension and
urgency of the moment. The full sentence might read: “Everybody go out through the back door and run to the cars.”
这是一个无动词祈使句。常常以介词替代谓语的动词，也可以看作是谓语动词省略的情况。此举可以看作是“Everybody goes out the back door and goes to the cars!”的省略式。这种无动词祈使句在文章中多有出现。下同：Everybody on the stairs! (= Everybody go and sit on the stairs!) Up stairs! (= Go up the stairs!) Into our bedroom! (= Go into our bedroom!) Into the television room! (= Go into the television room!) 在文章中服务于烘托飓风到来时的紧张气氛。
42. Count them! Nine!:elliptical “Count them！There are nine children!”
Para. 11
43. The children…in a fire brigade:The children were passed among adults like buckets of water in a
fire brigade when fighting a fire. simile, comparing the passing of children to the passing of buckets of water in a fire brigade when fighting a fire这里作者运用了明喻(simile) 的修辞手
法，将传递孩子们比喻为救火时传递水桶。
brigade n.a ny group of people organized to do a particular thing or activity under an authority（组织起来执行某种任务）队，旅
E.g. a fire brigade
44. the electrical system had been killed by water: The electrical systems in the car (e.g. the
battery for the starter) had been put out by water (just as the generator in the house was doused).作者这里使用了具体动词kill, 意为“使停止stop”，但比stop更能准确表达当时情况的危机程度
kill v. to cause (an engine, etc.) to stop (American English)
45. …the water was too deep to flee on foot: The deep water made it impossible for them to try
to escape by walking or running.
flee v. to run away or escape from danger, pursuit, and unpleasantness etc. 逃跑
E.g. He was to flee his native village to join the rebel army. 他被迫逃离家乡参加叛军。
Para. 12
46. scramble v.to climb, crawl or clamber with the hands and feet 爬行，攀登
E.g. The children scrambled up the hill. 孩子们爬上这座小山。
47. Everybody on the stairs: elliptical, “Everybody go and sit on the stairs.”
48. …which were protected by two interior walls:The stairs were protected by two walls
inside the house, walls not directly exposed to the wind and rain.
interior walls: walls inside the house, walls which are not directly exposed to the wind and rain
（内墙）
litter n. the young borne at one time by a dog, cat or other animal, which normally produces several young at birth （狗，猫等多产动物）一胎生下的幼崽
E.g. a litter of puppies 一窝狗崽
Para. 13
49. The wind sounded like the roar of a train passing a few yards away: The sound of the
hurricane was similar to the deep, loud noise of a passing train a few yards away.这里作者运用了明喻的修辞手法，将the sound of the wind 比作the roar of a passing train. simile, comparing the sound of the wind to the roar of a passing train
50. The house shuddered and shifted from its foundations:The house shook and was
loosened from its foundations.（房子摇晃个不停，在地基上移动起来。）
shudder v.to shake or tremble suddenly and violently as in horror or extreme disgust. Here the word is used to personify the house.（出于恐惧或极度厌恶地）震颤，颤栗
E.g. He shuddered when he saw the dead animal.（他看见这只死动物直发抖。）
同义词：shake, tremble, quake, quiver, shiver, wobble
shake是常用词，指上下来回短促而急速地摇动；tremble只有与恐惧、悲愤、兴奋等情绪或因寒冷、疲劳等引起无意识地颤抖；quake通常指强烈地颤动；quiver指轻微而急速地颤动、摇动；shiver指由于寒冷、恐惧或生病而发抖；wobble暗示引不稳定而遥遥欲坠。
51. Water inched its way up the steps:Water rose on the steps of the staircase inch by inch.
Para. 14
52. Charlie Hill had more or less taken responsibility…two children:Charlie had to some
extent taken upon himself the task of looking after the neighbor and her two children.
1) more or less: rather; to some extent
E.g. We hope our explanations will prove more or less helpful.
2) to take responsibility for: to consider oneself answerable for
The pattern for the phrase is: to take the responsibility for (of doing) something
53. The mother was on the verge of panic.
1) on the verge of: on the edge of, on the brink of 接近于，濒临于
E.g. Scientists are on the verge of a major breakthrough.科学家们即将取得一项重大大突破。
2) collapse n. suddenly falls down because its structure is weak or because it has been too weak to
continue 倒坍；塌陷
E.g. The unexpected rainstorm caused the collapse of the roof.
3) clutch v. to grasp or hold eagerly or tightly
E.g. The falling man clutched the rope. 正在降落的人紧紧地抓住了绳子。
同义词：take, seize, grasp, grab, snatch
take是常用词，指用手拿、握、取；seize指突然用力地抓住、握住；grasp指紧紧地抓住，用于比喻意义时指掌握，领会；clutch指突然抓住，常伴有急切或害怕的心情；grab指抢夺、攫取；snatch强调突然快速地拿、取、夺、抢走。
Para. 15
54. …he told her, with outward calm: When he said this, he appeared calm but was really
worried in his mind.
With outward calm: to appear calm (but to be worried in one’s mind)
Para. 16
55. …his voice lacked its usual gruffness:The lack of gruffness shows the old man’s sincerity
and solemn feeling. In this critical situation the old couple tenderly express their mutual love.
这句话体现出老柯夏克真挚肃穆的情感。在生死关头，老柯夏克夫妇通过温情地向对方表达爱意来相互鼓励。
his voice was gentle and soft without the regular roughness（她的嗓音里没有了往日的粗哑）。
gruff adj. rough or surly in manner, speech, or appearance, rude, unfriendly, bad-tempered 粗暴的，粗鲁的
E.g. a gruff reply 不够友好的答复
同义词：blunt, bluff, brusque, curt
blunt指坦白直率，胸无城府；bluff指不拘礼仪的，唐突的态度，但通常处于热心和好心；brusque强调言词粗鲁无理；curt含有简短无理，言语生硬的意思；gruff强调说话的嗓音沙哑。
反义词：suave, tactful
Para. 17
56. John watched…crushing guilt:As John watched the water inch its way up the steps, he felt a
strong sense of guilt because he blamed himself for endangering the whole family by deciding not to flee inland.
这里lap（轻轻拍击）与crushing（覆没，压倒）在力度上形成了鲜明的对比，体现出约翰内心的自责与挣扎。
1) lap v. to move or strike gently with a light, splashing sound of waves, etc.（海浪）轻轻拍击
E.g. The sea lapped against the rocks.海水拍打着礁石。
2) crush v. to subdue, overwhelm, and suppress 破坏，镇压，压服
E.g. to crush all opposition镇压一切反对派
crushing adj. overwhelming
57. the ferocity of Camille: the destructive force and power of the hurricane
ferocity n.the quality or condition of being ferocious, fierceness, and savager
凶猛，凶恶，残忍，暴行
E.g. the ferocity of the wild animals野生动物的残暴
58. Get us through this mess, will You?Oh God, please help us to get through this storm safely.
The capital “Y” in You shows that the words were addressed to God. “will you” is a rough
form of request. Here it indicates a request made out of desperation. 此处大写的You指上帝。句中虽未提及上帝，但前面用了pray一词，既是“向上帝求告”之意。这是他们在绝望中的祈求，表明他们的处境已经到了非常危险的地步了。
mess n.. a state of trouble or difficulty. Here it refers to the hurricane.
Para. 18
59. A moment later…through the air:personification,the hurricane acting as a very strong
person lifting something heavy and throwing it through the air
Instantly, the hurricane, which acted as a strong man, lifted the complete roof off the house in
a big, hard, sweeping blow, and threw it swiftly and lightly 40 feet away through the air.
这里作者运用了拟人的修辞手法，将飓风掠过比喻成像人举起沉重的物体然后又抛到空中一样。
1) in one mighty swipe:in a big, hard, sweeping blow
swipe n. (colloq.) a hard blow 猛击，重击
E.g. He took a wild swipe at the policeman.他重重地给了警察一拳。
2) skim v. to throw so as to cause to bounce swiftly and lightly; it usually refers to asurface—to
skim off a layer, to skim a text (to read superficially); to cause to move along quickly, nearly touching a surface 使（从表面）轻轻掠过，轻擦而过
E.g. The swallows were skimming over the water.燕子掠过水面。
60. The bottom steps…broke apart:
1) break apart: break up into pieces; disintegrate 裂开，分裂
E.g. The grounds broke apart in earthquake. 地面在地震是裂开了。
2) break up: to break or make sth. break into many small pieces 分裂，解散
E.g. The ice will break up when the warm weather comes. 天气转暖，冰层就会破裂。
61. One wall began crumbling on the marooned group:
maroon v. to leave abandoned, isolated or helpless 处于孤立无援的境地
the marooned group: a group of people who were helpless and isolated by the storm, unable to escape
E.g. The travelers were marooned by the blizzard. (暴风雪使旅客们处于孤立无援的境地。)
Today there are still many African American families marooned in the decaying inner
cities in the U.S.
Para. 19
Para. 19 and 20:The two paragraphs are not part of the story about the Koshaks in the storm, but provide general andofficial information about Hurricane Camille to show how bad this storm was. Many towns were destroyed and many people were killed. Reading this part, the readers can’t help but become worried about the fate of the Koshaks. The writer inserts two paragraphs perhaps to prepare for the coming of the climax of the story.
62. …The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla.
1) The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is a component of the National Center for
Environmental
Prediction (NCEP) located at FloridaInternational University in Miami, Florida. It is afflicted to the National Weather Service of thr National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. Deparment of Commerce. The mission of NHC is to save lives, mitigate property loss, and improve economic efficiency by issuing watches, warnings, forcasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather.
2) Miami: Located in Southeast Florida, the city is one of the most famous and popular resorts in
the U.S., attracing 13 million visitors each other.
3) Fla.: Fla. is abbreviated form of Florida, a southern state of the United States
63. graded Hurricane Camille:classified the hurricane according to its destructive force and
power
grade v. to separate things, or arrange them in order according to their quality or rank 分等；分级
E.g. These apples have been graded according to size and quality.
64. in its concentrated…20 mph.:The hurricane was concentrated within a breath of about 70
miles and in this area the hurricane threw or hurled out winds that reached nearly 200 mph.
breadth n. the distance from one side of sth. to the other 宽度
E.g. What’s the breadth of this river? 这条河的宽度是多少？
1）mph: miles per hour（英里/时）
2）mpg: miles per gallon （英里/加仑）
3）rpm: revolutions per minute （每分钟转数）
4) gpm: gallons per minute （每分钟加仑数）
5) fps: feet per second （英尺秒）
65. devastated everything in its swath: destroyed everything in its path 飓风所过之处，一切尽
毁。
1) devastate v. to lay waste; make desolate; ravage; destroy 毁坏，摧毁，使荒芜
E.g. The bomb devastated the city center. 炸弹摧毁了市中心。
同义词：ravage, plunder, sack, pillage, despoil
ravage指军队等连续劫掠或长期蹂躏；devastate强调遭到蹂躏个完全被毁灭；plunder指军队掠夺战利品；sack和pillage具体都指军队的抢夺劫掠，sack暗示抢夺当地所有值钱的物品；despoil是sack的通用语，但通常用来形容建筑物、机构等。
2) swath n.the space or width covered with one cut of a scythe or other mowing device; a long
strip or track of any kind 刈幅（挥动镰刀所及的）面积
E.g. The storm cut a wide swath through the town. 暴风雨席卷全城，造成很大的破坏。
66. It seized…miles away: personification, the hurricane acting as a very strong person lifting
something very heavy and dumping it 3? miles away
这里作者运用了拟人的修辞手法，把飓风威力比作一个壮实的汉子轻而易举地抓起一件笨重的物体一样。
1）600,000-gallon Gulfport oil tank: an oil tank that can store 600, 000 gallons of oil
格尔夫波特港的一个60万加仑的储油罐。
2）dump v.to throw down (the contents of, etc.); empty out or unload in a heap or mass
倾倒，卸下，丢下
E.g. There are special places where you can dump things you don’t want.
你可以把不需要的东西倒在指定的地方。
67. It tore…and beached them:Three large cargo ships were torn free from the cables and
anchors that held them and were grounded on the beach
1) moorings n. (pl.) the cables, ropes, chains, buoys, anchors etc. used to moor/hold（停泊）a ship or boat in place 系船设施
E.g. Several ships had broken their moorings during the storm.
风暴毁坏了几艘船的系船设备。
2) beach v. to ground (a boat) on a beach, drive (a boat) ashore 使（船）靠岸
E.g. to beach a boat 将船靠岸
.
68. Telephone poles…snapped them: Telephone poles and pine trees of 20 inches in diameter
were split by the winds with a sudden sharp noise which was similar to that of firing guns.
simile, the sound of the snapping poles compared to the firing of guns这里作者运用了明喻（s imile）和拟声词（onomatopoeia）的修辞手法，将电话线杆和松树断裂使发出的声音比喻成机关枪。simile and onomatopoeia are employed in this sentence.
1) 20-inch-thick pines: 20-inch-thick pine trees; pine trees 20 inches in diameter
2) snap v. to break or part suddenly, esp. with a sharp, cracking sound 突然（或啪地一声）折断
E.g. He snapped down the lid of the box.他啪哒一声关上箱盖。
Para. 20
69. Several vacationers at…vantage point:The people who were spending their
vacation/holidays held a party to enjoy the unusual and impressive spectacle of the hurricane in the fancy Richelieu Apartments from where they believed they would be safe and be able to observe the process of the natural phenomenon closely with a clear and broad view.
这里作者运用了移就(transferred epithet) 修辞手法，spectacular一词实际上是修饰storm 而不是vantage point,一词突显飓风的威力。
1) a hurricane party:a party held especially for watching the hurricane
2) spectacular adj.impressive to see and strikingly unusual; transferred epithet, the figure of
speech, is used here to modify the “storm” and not “vantage point”.
3) vantage point:a position that allows a clear and broad view
70. Richelieu Apartments…a gigantic fist: Richelieu Apartments were destroyed completely by
the hurricane as if by a powerful fist.
这里作者运用了明喻和拟人的修辞手法，将飓风比作硕大的拳头，以此突显飓风的力量。
1) smash v. to break into pieces 破碎，粉碎
E.g. Although the bed was smashed to pieces, the man was miraculously unhurt.
虽然床摔碎了，人却奇迹般地没有受伤。
同义词：break, crash, crush, shatter, crack, split, fracture, splinter
break最为常用，指物体部分或整个破裂、折断或毁坏；smash和crash均暗示突然性、强烈性；和噪音；crush指外部巨大的压力造成物体压碎或变形；shatter则指物体突然破碎；crack指裂开、破裂；split指沿着缝隙破裂；fracture指折断、断裂，也指（外科）
挫伤、骨折; splinter指木头被锯成木条。
2) perish v. to be utterly destroyed or ruined, end, specifically to die a violent or ultimately death
毁灭，灭亡
E.g. Must a Christ perish in torment in every age to save those who have no imagination?
基督必须每年为拯救那些缺乏想象力的人们而受一次死亡的折磨吗？
同义词：die, decease, expire, pass away
die最为常用，以为死亡，去世；decease, expire和pass away 均为委婉语；decease是法律用语；expire字面上意为短期、停止呼吸；而pass away则暗示走到生命的尽头；perish 按时通过残酷的方式或在艰难的环境下死亡。
Para. 21
71. “up the stairs—into our bedroom!”:elliptical. “Everybody hurry up the stairs and go into
our bedroom.”
1) huddle v.to crowd close together; nestle（紧挨着）together in a heap, as animals huddle together from fear or for warmth（如风暴中的牛群）挤成一团，拥挤，互相紧贴
E.g. The boys huddled together in the cave to keep warm.
男孩们在山洞里挤成一团，使身体暖和些。
2) slashing adj.severe, merciless, violent 严厉的, 猛烈的
E.g. a slashing hailstorm 猛烈的冰雹
3) implore v.to ask or beg earnestly for; beseech恳求，哀求，乞求
E.g. She implored the soldiers to save her child. 她恳求战士们救救她的孩子。
同义词：beg, solicit, entreat, beseech, importune
beg只要求某事时谦逊有礼，现多用于礼貌用语中；solicit强调要求某事时毕恭毕敬；
entreat主要是说服性的请求，指有计划地去征服对方；beseech强调热切并通常暗示焦虑；
implore更加强调迫切恳求的意思和渴望；importune强调坚持，有时令人讨厌的恳求。
72. She carried…trailed away: Grandmother Koshak sang a few words alone and then her voice
gradually grew dimmer and stopped.
老祖母试图用歌声来鼓励大家的士气，但无人响应，孩子们此时已经被狂暴的飓风吓呆了，不知所措。这一细节衬托出飓风肆虐的情形。
1) bar n.a measure in music; the notes between two vertical lines on a music sheet 小节线（五线谱上的纵线把五线谱分成小节）
E.g. She hummed a few bars of the song. 她哼唱了这首歌的几节。
2) trail away: to grow gradually weaker, dimmer, less direct, etc.减弱，渐小，渐暗
E.g. The distance cry trailed off. 远方传来的喊声逐渐地消失了。
Para. 22
73. debris n. broken, scattered remains; rubbish, esp. that caused by destruction, ruins碎片，瓦砾
E.g. The beach is littered with debris. 海滩上到处都是碎片。
74. With two walls in television room…, “Into the television room!”:
Because the two walls of the bedroom where they were seeking shelter were breaking up, John ordered everyone to go into the television room.
1) with: as the result of, because of，介词with用于表示原因，意思是“由于，因为”，如：
E.g. With the staff greatly reduced,they had to stop work.
（由于大量裁员，他们不得不停止工作。）
With the flood water rising rapidly, the residents on the banks of the river were evacuated.
He was faint with hunger.（他我晕了。）
2) sanctuary n. a place of refuge or protection 庇护所，避难所
bedroom sanctuary: the bedroom which was a place of refuge and protection
同义词：shelter, refuge, retreat, asylum
3) into the television room: elliptical, “Everyone go into the television room. ”
Para. 23
75. Janis understood:Janis understood why her husband put his arm around her. At this critical
moment when all their lives were in danger, John put his arm around her to encourage and comfort her.
76. … “Dear Lord…what I have to.”: Janis prayed to God to give her courage to face what she
had to face. She, her husband and her children might die in the storm.
77. We won’t let it win:We won’t let the hurricane defeat us, kill us. These were words of
sell-encouragement.
Para. 24
78. Pop Koshak raged silently: Grandfather Koshak was furiously angry but he kept silent. He
didn’t shout and curse the hurricane.
rage v. to show violent anger in action or speech 发怒
E.g. The raging sea was lulled. 翻腾得海平静了。
同义词：anger, indignation, fury, ire, wrath
anger常用词，指由于极度不愉快而引起的情绪激动，但强烈程度不定；indignation是正式用语，指由于非正式、受辱等引起的义愤或愤慨；rage指大怒，强调愤怒强烈到无法控制；fury语气比rage强，指暴怒，甚至接近于疯狂，ire主要是文学用语，指言行所转达的愤怒之情；wrath是正式用语，指强烈的义愤，带有要给予惩罚或报复的意思。
反义词：pleasure, forbearance
79. Without reason…into the TV room:He did not drag the two pieces of furniture into the TV
room for a special purpose. He did it mechanically and perhaps he felt he shouldn’t stand there doing nothing. The mattress, however, came in handy later on.
1) cedar chest: a box made of cedar wood
2) a double mattress: a bed mattress for a double bed, a bed designed or made for two people
3) TV room: room where TV set is kept
4) waver v. to swing or sway to and fro: flutter摇摆，摇晃，摇曳
E.g. His voice wavered. 他发出颤抖的声音。
80. …but it toppled on him…: The wall disintegrated and bricks and plasters fell on him.
topple v. to fall up forward, fall over from top heaviness etc. 向前倒
E.g. A stack of plates swayed, and began to topple over.一叠盘子摇摇如坠，然后到在地上。
Para. 25
81. “Make it a lean-to against the wind…”: put up the mattress as a protection against the
wind
1) lean-to n. a shed or other small outbuilding with a sloping roof, the upper end of which rests against the wall of another building. The mattress was set up slanting, the bottom resting perhaps on the door-sill and the top part slanting inwards so that the adults could prop it up with heads and shoulders, while the kids could sit under it. 单坡屋顶，单坡屋顶的棚
2) prop v.to support, hold up, or hold in place with, or as with a prop支撑
E.g. The mailman propped his bicycle up against the wall and put the mail into the mailbox.
邮递员把自行车靠在墙上, 然后把邮件放到信箱里。
Para. 26
82. sprawl v. to lie or sit with your arms or legs stretched out in a lazy or careless way
摊手摊脚地坐，平躺，倒卧
E.g. sprawling on the sofa平躺在沙发上
83.The floor tilted.The floor sloped (slanted, inclined).
tilt v. to slope; incline; slant; tip倾斜，倾侧，翘起
E.g. I titled the cup to drink out of it. 我斜起杯子来喝水。
84. Spooky flew off…also disappeared. The cat on the top of the bookcase was also carried away
by the wind.
a sliding bookcase:The a bookcase was sliding because the floor tilted.
85. The dog cowered…
1) cower v.to crouch or huddle up, as from fear or cold（因害怕或寒冷而）蜷缩，退缩
E.g. The dog cowered when it master beat it. 当它主人揍它时，狗抖缩了。
2) s lant v. to incline or turn from a direct line or course, esp. one that is perpendicular (垂直的) or
level; slope（使）倾斜，（使）变歪
E.g. The sun’s rays slanted through the trees. 阳光斜入树林。
3)hinge v. to equip with or attach by a hinge 靠铰链转动（或附着）
E.g. The cupboard door is hinged on the right, so it opens on the left.
（柜橱的门右边装了铰链，所以从左边开。）
86. “If the floor goes…on this.”:If the floor disintegrates, let’s put the children on this wooden
door. (The wooden door will help to keep the children afloat in the water.)
Para. 27
87. 1)diminish v. to make smaller, educe in size, degree, importance, etc. 缩减
E.g. The dimensions of the difficulty for the hydraulic project have only recently been
recognized.
人们只是到最近才认识这一项水利工程的难度。
同义词：decrease, dwindle, lessen, decline, reduce