胡敏读故事记单词托福词汇051

Lesson 51 At the Convention 在会上

Words:

contrary adj. 相反的，对抗的

contrast vt. 对照之后的悬殊差别/对比，对照

contravene¹ v. 违反，抵触

contrite² adj. 悔悟的，悔罪的，痛悔的

contrive³ vt. 设计，发明；设法

controversial adj. 引起或可能引起争论的

controversy⁴ n. 争论，辩论

convention n. 会议，传统

conventional adj. 传统的，习俗的

converge⁵ vi. 聚合，集中于一点，会聚

conversant⁶ adj. 亲近的，熟悉的

conversation n. 会话，非正式会谈

converse⁷ vi. 谈话，交谈

conversion⁸ n. 转变；改变信仰

convert vt. 转换；转变信仰

converter n. 炼钢用的转炉；转换器

convex adj. 凸出的

convict vt. 证明。。。有罪，宣判。。。有罪

conviction n. 确信，深信，坚信

convincing adj. 令人信服的，有说服力的

“Tom, are you enjoying the automobile⁹ convention?” I asked. Tom did not answer. He was too busy conversing¹⁰ with the pretty salesgirl sitting next to him. “I hate to break up your conversation, Tom, but I really need your help. I’m not conversant with the theory behind this new fuel converter. What causes the conversion and why does it have a convex casing?”

“I’m not sure how it converts fuel to energy,” Tom replied with a contrite smile. “But their salesgirls are very convincing.” Tom returned his attention to the attractive young salesgirl.

Contrary to popular belief, attending an automobile convention is hard work. I say this with conviction. In contrast with Tom’s goals of socializing, I contrive to learn new and complex things. Some of the brightest inventors converge at these automobile conventions. I enjoy listening to them discuss the latest controversies¹¹. I love it when they argue about how to replace conventional technology. I’ve heard some convincing arguments in favor of converting to electric cars. However, it is still a controversial issue. One thing is for true. We will not be seeing any electric can in our lifetime.

“Hey, Tom,” I whispered, rather harshly. “Come on. You’re 75 years old and you can barely walk. She’s only 20. You conduct contravenes¹² the rules of etiquette¹³!”

“I don’t care!” He snapped back in a shaky voice. “Convict me if you want, but I’m only guilty of true love.” The salesgirl smiled politely.

“Oh, no, not again!” I said, shaking my head with a smile.

“汤姆，这次汽车会议感觉怎么样？”我问道。汤姆没有回答。他正忙着与坐在身边的那位漂亮的金发女推销员交谈。“我不愿打扰你们的谈话，汤姆，但我的确需要你的帮助。关于这个新型燃料转换器的工作原理我不太熟悉，是什么引起的转变？它为什么有个凸起的外壳呢？”

“我不太清楚它是如何把燃料转变成能的。”汤姆回答道，脸上露出歉疚的笑容。“但他们的女推销员是令人信服的。”说完，他的注意力又回到那个迷人的女推销员身上去了。

与普通人的想法相反，参加汽车会议对我来说是件艰苦的工作。这一点我确信不疑。汤姆来的目的是社交。相比之下，我想设法学些新鲜、复杂一点的东西。这些汽车会议云集了一些最优秀的发明家。我喜欢听他们讨论最近引起争议的问题。他们关于如何取代传统技术的争论的争论我更是津津有味。我还听见了赞成转变为电力汽车的很有说服力的论点。但是我电力汽车仍然是一个有争议的话题。有一件事是肯定的——我们在有生之年是看不到电力汽车了。

“嗨，汤姆，”我压低声音很严肃的说，“算了吧，你都75岁了，老的快走不动了。她才刚刚20岁。你的行为不合道德规范。”

“我不管！”他反驳道，声音有些颤抖。“如果想判我有罪，你只管判好了。但我只会因真爱而判有罪。”听了这话，女推销员彬彬有礼地报以微笑。

“噢，别再这样了！”我边说边笑着摇了摇头。

1 contravene   

v.违反，违背，反驳，反对

参考例句：

• The moves contravene the peace plan agreed by both sides.这些举措违反了双方同意的和平方案。
• He said the article did not contravene the industry's code of conduct.他说这一条款并未违反行业的行为准则。

2 contrite   

adj.悔悟了的，后悔的，痛悔的

参考例句：

• She was contrite the morning after her angry outburst.她发了一顿脾气之后一早上追悔莫及。
• She assumed a contrite expression.她装出一副后悔的表情。

3 contrive   

vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出

参考例句：

• Can you contrive to be here a little earlier?你能不能早一点来？
• How could you contrive to make such a mess of things?你怎么把事情弄得一团糟呢？

4 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

5 converge   

vi.会合；聚集，集中；(思想、观点等)趋近

参考例句：

• The results converge towards this truth.其结果趋近于这个真理。
• Parallel lines converge at infinity.平行线永不相交。

6 conversant   

adj.亲近的，有交情的，熟悉的

参考例句：

• Mr.Taylor is thoroughly conversant with modern music.泰勒先生对现代音乐很精通。
• We become the most conversant stranger in the world.我们变成了世界上最熟悉的陌生人。

7 converse   

vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反

参考例句：

• He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。
• I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。

8 conversion   

n.转化，转换，转变

参考例句：

• He underwent quite a conversion.他彻底变了。
• Waste conversion is a part of the production process.废物处理是生产过程的一个组成部分。

9 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

10 conversing   

v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I find that conversing with her is quite difficult. 和她交谈实在很困难。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were conversing in the parlor. 他们正在客厅谈话。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

11 controversies   

争论

参考例句：

• We offer no comment on these controversies here. 对于这些争议，我们在这里不作任何评论。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon. 围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。 来自辞典例句

12 contravenes   

v.取消，违反( contravene的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• This fence contravenes our common right to pasturage. 这道栅栏侵害了我们牧场的共有权。 来自辞典例句
• This evidence contravenes our theory. 这个证据跟我们的理论不相符。 来自辞典例句

13 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。