The old universities of Oxford and Cambridge still have a lot of prestige. 古老的牛津大学和剑桥大学仍然享有很高的声望。
circuit n. [C]
1 a series of places that are regularly visited by sb. involved in a particular activity （与某种活动相关的人）定期前往的一系列场所
2 the complete path that an electric current flows around 电路；回路；线路 3 a journey all the way around the edge of sth. 环形路线
unprecedented a.
1 never having happened or existed before 前所未有的；史无前例的
The vice-president would take the unprecedented step of using federal money to raise the salaries of some teachers. 副总统将采取史无前例的措施，利用联邦基金来提高部分教师的工资。
2 the greatest in size, amount, degree, etc. that has ever been known （大小、数量、程度等）前所未知的，空前的
In the late 1950s, the slaughter of dolphins began on an unprecedented scale. 20世纪50年代后期，对海豚前所未有的大规模屠杀开始了。
nominate vt.
officially suggest that sb. should be given a job, or that sb. or sth. should receive a prize 提名；推荐
The private school's director nominated Mr. Williams as his official representative at the conference. 在这次会议上，该私立学校的校董提名威廉斯先生为他的官方代表。
appoint vt.
1 choose sb. to do a particular job or have a particular position 任命；委派；指派 He was hospitalized last week, the next day after he was appointed to the finance ministry. 他上周在被委派到财政部任职后的第二天就住院了。
2 (fml.) choose a time or place for sth. to happen 确定，指定，约定（时间或地点） His young instructor failed to turn up at the appointed time. 在约定的时间，他的年轻导师没能出现。
abortion n.
[C] a medical operation in which a developing baby is removed from a woman's body so that it is not born alive 人工流产；堕胎 expend vt.
(fml.) use time, energy, money, etc. to do sth. 花费；消耗；支出
We will have to expend all our energies on the development of our communities
rather than on political party quarrels. 我们必须把所有的精力放在社会发展上，而不是政党之争上。
threat n.
1 [C, U] a situation or activity that could cause harm or danger 危害；威胁 Even the most security-conscious computer user is under constant threat from
computer viruses. 即使是最具有安全意识的计算机用户也常常面临计算机病毒的威胁。
2 [C] an occasion when sb. says that they will cause you harm or problems, esp. if you do not do what they tell you to do 恐吓；威胁
Officials say they received a bomb threat at about 9:30 a.m. 官员们说上午9:30左右他们收到了炸弹恐吓。
inward a.
1 (only before noun) felt or experienced in your own mind but not obvious to other people 内心的；精神的
The story caters to everyone's inward yearning for success. 这个故事迎合了大家内心追求成功的渴望。
2 going toward the inside or center of sth. 向内的；向中心的
It is useful to consider the external and inward factors of landscaping for the new building. 考虑一下新建筑环境美化的内外部因素是有用的。
robust a.
1 firm and determined 坚定的；强硬的
I would prefer to take a robust attitude. 我宁愿采取坚定的态度。 2 (of a person) strong and healthy （人）强壮的，强健的
The healthy and robust young man has a glorious future before him. 这个年轻人身强力壮，前途辉煌。
maintain vt.
make sth. stay the same; keep 保持；维持
Only a few people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood. 如今只有少数人能将友谊维持到成年了。
slack vi.
try to avoid working 偷懒；逃避工作
He felt so tired after the long journey that he ignored his job and began to slack off when he was at work. 长途旅行后他感到非常疲倦，于是对工作漠不关心，开始
在工作中偷懒。 a.
1 loose and not pulled tight 松弛的；不紧的
After being washed too many times, the elastic band in her skirt became slack, and she had to replace it with a new one. 她裙子上的松紧带洗的次数太多了，都变松了，她不得不换了条新的。
2 not taking enough care to make sure sth. is done well 松懈的；懈怠的；疏忽的 Since he came into power one month ago, the new mayor has done a lot to change the slack image of his city's government. 自从一个月前上任以来，新市长做了许多工作来改变市政府的懒散形象。
transcend vt.
(fml.) become free of negative attitudes, thoughts, or feelings that limit what you can achieve 超越，摆脱（消极的态度、思想或情绪）
She was able to transcend her own suffering and help others. 她能够战胜自身的痛苦并帮助他人。
handicap n. [C]
1 a disadvantage that prevents you from doing sth. well 障碍；不利条件 Smoking is a known handicap to sleep. 人们已知吸烟对睡眠不利。
2 (old-fashioned) a physical or mental injury or illness that is severe and permanent （身体或智力的）缺陷，残疾（该词现在被认为具冒犯义）
Often some physical or mental handicap prevents a child from learning. 身体或智力上的某种缺陷常常妨碍孩子学习。
feat n.
[C] sth. impressive that sb. does 技艺；业绩；功绩
This feat has never been approached by any player in baseball history. 在棒球历史上，这一业绩还没有任何选手达到过。 Phrases and expressions
remove sth. / sb. from sth.
take sth. or sb. away from a place 移开；拿开；去掉；从…机构开除
The new computerized system removed 700 people from their jobs. 新系统的计算机化使得700人失去了工作。
deviate from sth.
be different from sth.; do sth. differently from what is usual or expected 背离；偏离；违背
Those who deviate from one part of the plan are almost certain to deviate from the whole in the end. 偏离部分计划的人最终几乎一定会背离整体计划。
preclude sb. from doing sth.
prevent sb. from doing sth. 阻止某人做某事；妨碍某人做某事
Better options may come along later, and taking the first option will preclude them from being free for the later and better ones. 后面可能会出现更好的选择，选了第一个他们就无法自由选择后面更好的了。
write sb. / sth. off
decide that sb. or sth. is a failure or not worth paying any attention to 认定…失败（或没有价值、不可救药等）
Don't write John off too soon; he may surprise you! 不要过早放弃约翰，他也许会出乎你的意料！
fail in sth.
not be successful in achieving sth. 做…失败；未能做到…
I'm sorry to tell you that your friend failed in his attempt to get the position. 很抱歉地告诉你，你朋友争取得到这个职位的尝试失败了。
triumph over
defeat sb. or sth.; be successful 打败；战胜；成功
The Qin triumphed over six rival states and emerged as the only power posed to unify China. 秦国战胜了六国对手，成为统一中国的唯一强权。
in (the) pursuit of sth.
in the process of looking for or trying to find sth. 在追求…的过程中；在寻求…的过程中
Unfortunately, not every magazine is produced and edited in the pursuit of excellence. 遗憾的是，不是每本杂志的制作和编辑都力求卓越。
work one's way to / through / into
achieve sth. gradually by working （通过努力）逐步达到
He spent 16 years with one company and worked his way into a top management position. 他在一家公司干了16年，通过努力最后成为了公司高层。
act as
perform a particular role or function 充当；起作用
My dictionaries act as great helpers in my study. 我的字典是我学习中的好帮手。 fall down
fail because of a particular reason or in a particular way 不足；不够好
The local authority is falling down on the job of keeping the streets clean. 地方政府没能做好保持街道整洁的工作。 Proper names
Winston Churchill 温斯顿 ? 丘吉尔（1874-1965，英国保守党政治家，二战期间担任英国首相，1951-1955年再度出任英国首相）
Harrow 哈罗公学（Harrow School，位于伦敦西北角，英国历史悠久的著名公学之一）
Albert Einstein 阿尔伯特 ? 爱因斯坦（1879-1955，美国物理学家、数学家） Thomas Edison 托马斯 ? 爱迪生（1847-1931，美国发明家） Abraham Lincoln 亚伯拉罕 ? 林肯（1809-1865，美国第16任总统）
Sandra Day O'Connor 桑德拉 ? 戴 ? 奥康纳（1930-，美国首位联邦最高法院女法官）
Stanford Law School 斯坦福大学法学院 Supreme Court Justice （美国）最高法院大法官
Reading comprehensive——Understanding
1.He achieved fame for his wit, wisdom, civic duty, and abundant courage. 2.They were thought to be slow learners in childhood, but they overcame their childhood difficulties and made magnificent discoveries that benefit the entire world today.
3.His strong will.
4.It means to keep their focus on achieving a positive end result, instead of letting small problems get in the way of good results.
5.Because they have the will to overcome profound obstacles and to work diligently in the pursuit of their goals, and have the passion for success.
6.Because firms preferred to hire less qualified men rather than risk hiring a female lawyer, which was unprecedented.
7.We should never give up on our dream, and one day we can change the world and make it a better place.