electromagnetism

n. magnetism produced by an electric current; the branch of physics that deals with electricity and magnetism 电磁（学）

slice

n. a thin flat piece cut from sth; portion

electronics

n. the study of electrons and their behavior and of electronic equipment such as computers

stolid

a. not easily excited; showing no emotion; seeming dull

awe

n. a feeling of wonder and fear mixed together with deep respect

underarm

a. (euph.) of or for the armpit （为）腋下的

deodorant

n. a man-made chemical substance that destroys or hides unpleasant smells, esp. those of the human body

deride

vt. laugh at or make fun of as of no value

fuzzy

a. not clear in shape or sound; confused

fuzzy-brained

a.

egghead

n. (derog.) a clever, highly-educated person, esp. one who is impractical

minority

n. a group of people of a different race, religion or nationality from the rest of society

tuck

vt. put or store in a safe or secret place

site

n. a place where sth. of special interest existed or happened

pacific

a. 太平洋的

atoll

n. ring-shaped island made of coral partly or completely enclosing an area of sea water环礁，环状珊瑚礁

humanist

n. a student of human nature or affairs; follower of humanism 人文主义者，人本主义者；人道主义者

humanistic

of humanism or humanists

glorification

n. the act of glorifying or the state of being glorified

chaotic

a. in a state of complete disorder and confusion

celebrate

vt. mark (an event) with public or private rejoicings; praise in writing, speech, etc.

tidal

a. of or having a tide

tide

n. the regular rise and fall of the sea caused by the pull of the moon and sun 潮汐

unperturbed

a. undisturbed; calm

mythology

n. a collection of myths; the study of myths 神话集；神话学

myth

n. an ancient story that expresses the beliefs and values of a people 神话故事

manfully

ad. bravely, courageously

geological

a. of or having to do with geology

geology

n. the study of the origin, structure and history of the earth 地质学

politician

n. a person who runs for or holds a position in government

preach

v. speak publicly on a religious or moral subject

gospel

n. a set of instructions or teachings; any of the four accounts of christ's life in the bible 《新约》四部福音之一

archaic

a. belonging to the past; no longer used

fruitful

a. producing good results; successful

interpreter

n. a person who interprets 翻译

interpret

vi. put (a language) into the words of another language usu. by speech; make clear or explain the meaning of

interpretation

n.

evangelize

vt. preach the gospel (to)对……宣讲福音

farthermost

a. most distant; farthest

knowledgeable

a. knowing a lot

phrases & expression

come out

be published

bit by bit

gradually; little by little

lean on

choose, esp. for support; depend on

feel for

sympathize with

in one's hands

under one's control; be taken care of

one the grounds that

for the reason that

think out

consider, examine carefully

back up

support, esp. in an argument

tuck away

store in a safe place

take thought

perform the actions connected with thinking; think

proper names

ben bova

本.博瓦

mit (massachusetts institute of technology)

麻省理工学院

abraham

亚伯拉罕

paris

帕里斯

troy

特洛伊

hamlet

哈姆雷特

claudius

克劳狄斯

faust

浮士德

new scientist

《新科学家》周刊

robert graves

罗伯特.格雷夫斯

james clerk maxwell

詹姆斯.克拉克.马克斯韦尔

unit nine

text

"every cloud has a silver lining," says the optimist. it follows naturally, then, that the pessimist must favor "looking for the rusty lining". just as the optimist can always find reasons for hoping that bad situations can improve, so the best pessimist can always find that in every situation here is something you can worry about. in the essay, the author, a self-proclaimed pessimist, claims to be worried about being swallowed by things from outer space and about much else besides. he certainly seems to be what is known as "a born worrier", though how serious he is about it all you can judge for yourself.

look for the rusty lining

ralph schoenstein

my grandfather's hobby was worrying, and although hobbies are not usually thought of as being inheritable, i am a talented worrier, too. my grandfather's glum genes, which skipped my merry father, have reflowered in me as a major, all-purpose anxiety. a few weeks ago, for example, i learned that collapsing stars called black holes may soon such up all the matter in the universe. because i read this in vogue, i hoped at first that the black holes were some kind of fad -- a celestial pop event like kohoutek or ufos -- but then i saw that