1.amuse v. 消遣，娱乐，使 ... 发笑

The boys amuse themselves by drawing caricatures of their teacher.
男孩子们以画老师的漫画取乐。

2.scandalize vt. 令人愤慨，令人觉得可耻，令人丢脸

Scandalize the neighbours by sunbathing naked on the lawn
在草坪上作裸体日光浴教邻居触目惊心

3.queer n. 同性恋者 adj. 奇怪的，不舒服的，可疑的

There is something queer about him.
他有些古怪。

4.snowy adj. 多雪的，被雪所覆盖著的，下雪的

I like to go for a walk in the snowy streets.
我喜欢去雪中的街道上散步。

5.hedge n. 树篱，篱笆

They managed to wriggle (their way) through the thick hedge.
他们设法钻过了厚厚的树篱。

6.pause n. 暂停，中止，犹豫不决 vi. 停顿，中止

There was a pregnant pause before she answered my question.
她耐人寻味地停顿了一下才回答我的问题。

7.curly adj. 卷曲的

She has straight, not curly hair.
她的头发很直，不弯曲。

8.dismal adj. 阴沉的，凄凉的，暗的

We were all depressed by the dismal weather.
阴沉的天气让我们都感到压抑。

9.handful['hændful] n. 少数，一把，棘手之事

He dipped into the bag and brought out a handful of sample wheat.
他把手伸进袋里，取出一把小麦样品。

10.listless['listlis] adj. 无精打采的

She was very listless after her illness.
她病后懒洋洋的。

11.brighten['braitn] vt. 使变亮，使生辉 vi. 发光，发亮

Flowers brighten (up) a room.
房间里有了花显得满室生辉。

12.flourish vi. 繁荣，茂盛，活跃，手舞足蹈 vt. 挥舞 n. 挥舞，华丽词藻，茂盛，兴旺，炫耀

She rushed in flourishing a document.
她急匆匆地走了进来，手里挥舞着一份文件。

13.croakv. 嗄嗄叫，发牢骚，<俚>死 n. 嗄嗄声，哇哇声

A bullfrog was croaking in the distance.
一只牛蛙在远处呱呱地叫。

14.hoarsely adv. 嘶哑地

“Excuse me,” he said hoarsely.
“对不起。”他用嘶哑的嗓子说。

15.raven n. 大乌鸦