胡敏读故事记单词托福词汇157

　　LESSON 157 THE NUCLEAR GENE¹: WHAT NOW?
The Oak Ridge² Laboratories were at one time the nucleus³ of the American nuclear program. Splitting the atom at that time was a novel idea: all you had to do was to get a mass of uranium nuclei⁴ together, and you got a reaction. How much of a reaction depended on the number of nuclei you put together. Numerous tests were carried out over the years just to see what would happen when and how, because everyone involved was just a novice⁶ at what they were doing. As it was wartime, the initial work was top secret, and everyone involved had to take an oath of secrecy⁷ and obedience⁸.
By now, the novelty has worn off, to say the least. Nowadays, it is well known that a great many noxious⁹ substances are released during nuclear reactions. More than that, any serious nuclear exchange could send most of mankind to oblivion, rendering¹⁰ all the achievements of human civilization over many thousands of years null and void. The very thought of such an eventuality is enough to make any sensitive human being feel quite numb⁵ and helpless.
A film was made some years ago about exactly what would happen. It turns out that Australia would probably be the last oasis¹¹ left capable of sustaining human life. There are plenty of nutrients¹³ in Australia’s rich soil, as well as plants of high nutritional¹⁴ value to provide sufficient nutriment for the animals needed to be reared to feed the last stragglers of the human race. Of course, those sheep and cows would need to be carefully nurtured¹⁶ before they could ever be turned into nutritious¹⁷ steaks. No problem, I think, people would have plenty of time on their hands.
WORDS:
novel adj. 新奇的，新颖的
novelty n. 新颖，新奇的事物
novice n.生手，新手
nowadays adv. 现今，时下
noxious adj. 有害的，有毒的
nuclear adj. 核子的，原子能的
nucleus n. 核心
null adj. 无效的，空的，无价值的
numb adj. 麻木的
numerous adj. 众多的，很多的
nurture¹⁵ n. 养育，培养
nutrient¹² n. 营养物
nutriment n. 营养品
nutritional adj. 营养的，滋养的
nutritious adj. 有营养成分的，营养的
oath n. 誓言，宣誓
obedience n. 服从，顺从

1 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

2 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

3 nucleus   

n.核，核心，原子核

参考例句：

• These young people formed the nucleus of the club.这些年轻人成了俱乐部的核心。
• These councils would form the nucleus of a future regime.这些委员会将成为一个未来政权的核心。

4 nuclei   

n.核

参考例句：

• To free electrons, something has to make them whirl fast enough to break away from their nuclei. 为了释放电子，必须使电子高速旋转而足以摆脱原子核的束缚。
• Energy is released by the fission of atomic nuclei. 能量是由原子核分裂释放出来的。

5 numb   

adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木

参考例句：

• His fingers were numb with cold.他的手冻得发麻。
• Numb with cold,we urged the weary horses forward.我们冻得发僵，催着疲惫的马继续往前走。

6 novice   

adj.新手的，生手的

参考例句：

• As a novice writer,this is something I'm interested in.作为初涉写作的人，我对此很感兴趣。
• She realized that she was a novice.她知道自己初出茅庐。

7 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

8 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

9 noxious   

adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• Heavy industry pollutes our rivers with noxious chemicals.重工业产生的有毒化学品会污染我们的河流。
• Many household products give off noxious fumes.很多家用产品散发有害气体。

10 rendering   

n.表现，描写

参考例句：

• She gave a splendid rendering of Beethoven's piano sonata.她精彩地演奏了贝多芬的钢琴奏鸣曲。
• His narrative is a super rendering of dialect speech and idiom.他的叙述是方言和土语最成功的运用。

11 oasis   

n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方

参考例句：

• They stopped for the night at an oasis.他们在沙漠中的绿洲停下来过夜。
• The town was an oasis of prosperity in a desert of poverty.该镇是贫穷荒漠中的一块繁荣的“绿洲”。

12 nutrient   

adj.营养的，滋养的；n.营养物，营养品

参考例句：

• Magnesium is the nutrient element in plant growth.镁是植物生长的营养要素。
• The roots transmit moisture and nutrient to the trunk and branches.根将水分和养料输送到干和枝。

13 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

15 nurture   

n.养育，照顾，教育；滋养，营养品；vt.养育，给与营养物，教养，扶持

参考例句：

• The tree grows well in his nurture.在他的培育下这棵树长得很好。
• The two sisters had received very different nurture.这俩个姊妹接受过极不同的教育。

16 nurtured   

养育( nurture的过去式和过去分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长

参考例句：

• She is looking fondly at the plants he had nurtured. 她深情地看着他培育的植物。
• Any latter-day Einstein would still be spotted and nurtured. 任何一个未来的爱因斯坦都会被发现并受到培养。

17 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。