胡敏读故事记单词托福词汇036

Lesson 36 My Job at the Newspaper Company 我在一家报业公司的工作

Words:

circle n. 圆周，圆形物；（具有共同兴趣、利益的人们所组成的）圈子；集团；vt. 包围，环绕

circuit n. 电路

circuitous¹ adj. 迂回的，绕圈子的

circular adj. 循环的；圆的

circulate v. （使）循环；传阅，流传；发行，销售

circulation desk 图书借还台；发行处

circumference² n. 圆周；周长

circumlocution³ n. 迂回累赘的陈述，拐弯抹角地讲话；遁词

circumscribe⁴ vt. 划界限；限制

circumspect⁵ adj. 慎重的，仔细的

circumstance n. 环境，情况

circumvent⁶ v. 用计谋战胜，规避

citadel⁷ n. 堡垒，要塞

cite vt. 引用；举例

civil adj. 公民的；市民的；国内的

civilian⁸ adj. 市民的，平民的；民间的

civility n. 礼貌，客气，谦恭；（常用作civilities）礼仪；客套；寒暄

civilization n. 文明，文化

civil rights 公民权

Civil War 内战

I work as the editor of a small newspaper. Our offices and printing presses are located on the grounds of an old citadel that has been standing⁹ since the days of the Civil War. The rent here is relatively¹⁰ cheap. However, the facilities are rather old and we’re constantly making repairs to the electrical circuits in our building. According to our circulation desk, we circulate about 10,000 papers each day. If I were to draw a circle around our circulation area, the circumference would be about 15 miles.

Ours is a civilian company. However, due to our location, the military has the right to circumscribe the content of our newspaper. For that reason, I’m a bit circumspect about the articles that we publish. I try to print the news without being too critical of the government, the military or the people in power.

Today, I’m thinking about running a story about lawyers. Lawyers have been around since the start of civilization. They are credited for writing the first civil code and the bill of civil rights. However, they are disliked for their circuitous manner of speaking and their ability to circumvent the law by citing obscure legal doctrines¹¹. They always make circular arguments to avoid the issue. Some lawyers are kind and helpful. Others are known for their lack of civility. A lot depends on the circumstances and how much money you have.

Perhaps a story about lawyers might be too controversial. I’d better think of a more agreeable subject.

我在一家小报社当编辑。我们报社的办公室和印刷设备位于一座内战时修建的古老城堡里。这里的租金相对便宜，但设施陈旧，我们时常要维修楼里的电路。根据发行处的统计，我们每天发行的报纸1万份。如果围绕这发行范围画一个圈，周长将达15英里左右。

我们报社是一家民营企业。但由于位置特殊，军队有权限制报纸的内容。正因为这样，我对所发表的文章非常谨慎。我尽量印些不是特别批判政府、军队及当权者的新闻。

今天，我在考虑出一篇关于律师的文章。自人类文明起源时就有了律师。他们被誉为第一部民法典和公民权议案的撰写人。但因为他们说话爱绕圈子，又有本市引用晦涩难懂的法律条文来规避法律约束，所以很是不讨人喜欢。涉足政界的律师尤其擅长拐弯抹角地讲话。他们总是循环论证，避开主题。有些律师挺和善而且乐于助人的，其他律师则以没有礼貌著称。很多律师是为视具体情况及财富多寡而转移的伪君子。

也许关于律师的文章争议太大，我还是想个更愉快的话题吧！

1 circuitous   

adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的

参考例句：

• They took a circuitous route to avoid reporters.他们绕道避开了记者。
• The explanation was circuitous and puzzling.这个解释很迂曲，让人困惑不解。

2 circumference   

n.圆周，周长，圆周线

参考例句：

• It's a mile round the circumference of the field.运动场周长一英里。
• The diameter and the circumference of a circle correlate.圆的直径与圆周有相互关系。

3 circumlocution   

n. 绕圈子的话，迂回累赘的陈述

参考例句：

• He is a master at circumlocution.他讲话很会兜圈子。
• This sort of ritual circumlocution is common to many parts of mathematics.这种繁冗的遁辞常见于数学的许多部分分式中。

4 circumscribe   

v.在...周围划线，限制，约束

参考例句：

• Please circumscribe the words which are wrongly spelled.请将拼错的词圈出来。
• The principal has requested all teachers to circumscribe failures in red on the report cards.这项规定要求，所有老师均要在报告卡用红笔上标出错误所在。

5 circumspect   

adj.慎重的，谨慎的

参考例句：

• She is very circumspect when dealing with strangers.她与陌生人打交道时十分谨慎。
• He was very circumspect in his financial affairs.他对于自己的财务十分细心。

6 circumvent   

vt.环绕，包围；对…用计取胜，智胜

参考例句：

• Military planners tried to circumvent the treaty.军事策略家们企图绕开这一条约。
• Any action I took to circumvent his scheme was justified.我为斗赢他的如意算盘而采取的任何行动都是正当的。

7 citadel   

n.城堡；堡垒；避难所

参考例句：

• The citadel was solid.城堡是坚固的。
• This citadel is built on high ground for protecting the city.这座城堡建于高处是为保护城市。

8 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

10 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

11 doctrines   

n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明

参考例句：

• To modern eyes, such doctrines appear harsh, even cruel. 从现代的角度看，这样的教义显得苛刻，甚至残酷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》