Week 47
DAY231
L49-2: The ideal servant
I often visited The Gables when I was a boy.No matter how many guests were present, the great house was always immaculate. The parquet floors shone like mirrors; highly polished silver was displayed in gleaming glass cabinets; even my uncle's huge collection of books was kept miraculously free from dust. Aunt Harriet presided over an invisible army of servants that continuously scrubbed, cleaned, and polished. She always referred to them as 'the shifting population', for they came and went with such frequency that I never even got a chance to learn their names.
知识点：
单词：
immaculate /ɪˈmækjʊlɪt/ adj.
1.extremely clean and tidy 特别整洁的spotlessShe always looks immaculate. 她总是打扮的干净利落。2.containing no mistakes 无误的，无过失的eg. an immaculate performance 完美的演出
parquet /ˈpɑːkeɪ/ n.
a floor covering made of flat pieces of wood fixed together in pattern 拼花地板，镶木地板eg. parquet flooring 拼花地板eg. woodblock 木条地板
polish /ˈpɒlɪʃ/ n. v.
v. 1.make sth smooth and shiny by rubbing it with a piece of fabric, often with polish on it 擦亮，磨光2.make changes to sth in order to improve 修改，润色polish sth upeg. The statement was carefully polished and checked before release.这项声明是经仔细润色检查后才发表的。
gleam /ˈgliːm/ v.n.
v.1.to shine with a pale clear light 发微光，隐约闪光，闪烁eg. The moonlight gleamed on the water.月光照在水面上泛起粼粼波光。2.to look very clean or bright 显得光洁明亮gleam with stheg. The house was gleaning with fresh white paint.房子刚刷过白漆，显得光洁明亮。
if a person's eyes gleam with a particular emotion, or an emotion gleams in a person's eyes, the person shows that emotion （眼睛）表露出，流露出，（在眼中）闪现eg. His eyes gleamed with amusement.他眼睛里流露出愉悦的神情。
cabinet /ˈkæbɪnɪt/ n.
1.政府内阁，（总统）的顾问班子，顾问团eg. a cabinet meeting 内阁会议2.贮藏柜，陈列柜eg. kitchen cabinet 橱柜eg. a medicine cabinet 药柜
miraculous /mɪˈrækjʊləs/ adj.
like a miracle, completely unexpected and very lucky 奇迹般的，不可思议的，不平凡的eg. She made a miraculous recovery.她奇迹般地康复了。
名词是miracle
preside /prɪˈzaɪd/ v.
to lead or be in charge of a meeting ceremony, etc. 主持（会议，仪式），担任（会议）主席means：take chargeeg. the presiding officer/judge主持会议的官员，首席法官presidentpresidency n,主席的职位（或任期等），总统的职位（或任期等）
scrub /skrʌb/ v.n.
1.to clean sth by rubbing it hard, perhaps with a brush and usually with soap and water 擦洗，刷洗eg. I found him in the kitchen, scrubbing the floor.我见他在厨房擦地板呢。2.to cancel sth that you have arranged to do 取消（原有安排）
词组：
a army of
a party of
with such frequency that = so frequently/often that
eg. He is absent from work with high frequency.
get a chance to do有机会
精妙翻译：
Highly polished silver擦得发亮的银器
free from dust 一尘不染
They came and went with such frequency 他们来去匆匆
DAY232
L49-3: The ideal servant
Though my aunt pursued what was, in those days, an enlightened policy, in that she never allowed her domestic staff to work more than eight hours a day, she was extremely difficult to please. While she always criticized the fickleness of human nature, she carried on an unrelenting search for the ideal servant to the end of her days, even after she had been sadly disillusioned by Bessie.Bessie worked for Aunt Harriet for three years.
知识点：
单词
pursue / pəˈsjuː/ v.
1.to do sth or try to achieve sth over a period of time 追求，致力于，执行to pursue a goal/an aim/an objective 追求目标，贯彻宗旨，实现目标eg. We intend to pursue this policy with determination.我们准备坚决贯彻这项政策。2.to continue to discuss, find out about or be involved in sth 继续探讨（或追究、从事）to pursue legal action进行诉讼eg. We have decided not to persue the matter.我们决定不再追究这件事。3.To follow or chase sb/sth, especially in order to catch them追踪，跟踪，追赶eg. She left the theatre, hotly persued by the press.她离开剧场，被记者穷追不舍。
Pursuer / Pursuer / n. 追赶着，追寻者，追铺者
Pursuit n. 追求，寻找，追赶
In pursuitIn hot pursuit 紧追不舍
enlighted adj.
(positive) open minded, modern 开明的，有见识的
fickle / ˈfɪkl / adj.
1.changing ofen and suddenly 易变的，无常的的eg. The wheather here is notoriously（/ nəʊˈtɔːrɪəsli / 臭名昭著的，声名远播的） fickle.这里的天气出了名的变化无常。eg. The fickle world of fashion 千变万化的时装界2.（of a person）often changing their mind in an unreasonable way so that you can not rely on them 反复无常的eg. a fickle friend 靠不住的朋友还有相近意思的variable 1.变化无常的 2.可调节，可变的
fickleness n.
eg. the fickleness of the English climate 英国气候的变幻不定还有相近意思的variabilityn.the fact of being likely to vary 可变性，易变性，只强调一种事实
unrelenting /ˌʌnrɪˈlɛntɪŋ / adj.
1.not stopping or becoming less severe 持续的，不缓和的，势头不减的理解为：continuing for a long timeeg. unrelenting criticism/pressure 持续不断的批评/压力2.if a person is unrelenting, they continue with sth without considering the freeling od other people 不留情的eg. he was unrelenting in his search for the truth about his father.他不顾一切地搜集有关他父亲的事实真相。
disillusion /ˌdɪsɪˈluːʒən / v.
to destroy sb’s belief in or good opinion of sb/sth 使醒悟，使不再抱幻想，使理想破灭理解为：disappointed, but more than disappointedeg. I hate to disillusion you, but not everyone is as honest as you.我实在不愿把实情告诉你，但并非人人都像你那样诚实。disillusioned adj. 大失所望的，不再抱有幻想的disillusionment n.醒悟，幻想破灭
词组：
difficult to please=hard to please=hard to satisfy
eg. My boss is hard to please. 我的老板很挑剔。The fickleness of human nature人的本性朝三暮四carry on an unrelenting search for 持之以恒地寻找to the end of her days 直到她死去
句式：
What was…，an enlightented policy 算得上开明的政策，in that…因为
长难句、语法：
While she always criticized the fickleness of human nature, she carried on an unrelenting search for the ideal servant to the end of her days, even after she had been sadly disillusioned by Bessie.
while 引导让步状语从句，carry on 即表示do ,perform执行，做的意思，even后的句子情感进一步提升
to the end of her days 译为“一直到她死去”，she had been sadly disillusioned by Bessie ，并没有把disillusion 直接译为 “使幻想破灭”，而是意译为“在贝西大大地伤他的心之后”
DAY233
L49-4: The ideal servant
During that time she so gained my aunt's confidence that she was put in charge of the domestic staff. Aunt Harriet could not find words to praise Bessie's industriousness and efficiency. In addition to all her other qualifications, Bessie was an expert cook. She acted the role of the perfect servant for three years before Aunt Harriet discovered her 'little weakness'. After being absent from the Gables for a week, my aunt unexpectedly returned one afternoon with a party of guests and instructed Bessie to prepare dinner.
知识点：
单词
Industriousness/ɪnˈdʌstrɪəs/ adj.
Working hard,busy 勤奋的，勤劳的，忙碌的近义词：Hard-workingeg. an industrious student 勤勉的学生
qualification /kwɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ n.
1.资格，学历2.限定条件eg. The plan was approved without qualification.这项计划获得无条件批准。
instruct /ɪnˈstrʌkt/ v.
1.To tell sb to do sth, especially in a formal or official way 指示，命令，吩咐2.To teach sb sth, especially in a practical skill 教授，传授（技能等）Instruct in stheg. All our staff have been instructed in sign language.我们的员工都接受过手语训练。3.To give sb information告知，通知eg. We have been instructed that a decision will not be made before the end of the week.我们已获悉周末前不会作出决定。4.委托律师，托办等
词组：
to be put in charge of:
be given the responsibility of sth
be in charge of = take charge of : take the responsibility of sth
eg. I’ve been put in charge of this project.我被安排负责这个项目。
In addition to：Besides 除了
eg. In addition to his job in University, he is running his own company.eg. He has a flat in Beijing, in addition, he has a villa in Shanghai.
acted the role of: pretended to be
act the role of 原意：扮演……的角色eg. Do you know who was chosen to act the role of Juliet?eg. Whenever they are in public, he acted (the role of )a loving husband.
精妙翻译：
赢得了赏识 gain sb’s confidence
DAY234
L49-5: The ideal servant
知识点：
单词
course 菜肴 dish
eg. any of the separate parts of a meal 一道菜eg. a four-course dinner 有四道菜的正餐eg. The main course was roast duck.主菜是烤鸭。
trip v.
1.catch your foot on sth and fall or almost fall 绊，绊倒trip over/uptrip over/on stheg. Someone will trip over that cable.有人会让那条电缆绊倒的。2.to t catch sb’s foot and make them fall or almost fal 将……绊倒，使绊倒trip sb upeg. As I passed, he stuck out a leg and tried to trip me up.我经过时，他伸出腿来想把我绊倒。
narrowly 将将，just
narrowly missed 将将擦过eg. We narrowly missed the train: the train has just left.
considerable adj.
great in amount,size,importance etc. 相当多（或大，重要等）considerably adv.much，a lot非常，很，相当多的
mirth / mɜːθ/ n.
happiness, fun and laughter 欢乐，欢笑eg. The performance produced much mirth among the audience.这场演出使观众笑声不断。mirthless adj.showing no real enjoyment or amusement 不快乐的，忧郁的a mirthless laugh/smile 苦笑
horrify /ˈhɒrɪfaɪ / adj.
to make sb feel extremely shocked, disgusted or frighted 惊吓，使厌恶，恐吓eg. He was horrified when he discovered the conditions in which they lived.看到他们的生活状况时，他很震惊。horrifying adj. 令人震惊的（恐惧的，厌恶的）
reluctantl/ rɪˈlʌktənt/ adj.
hesitating before doing sth because you do not want to do it or because you are not sure that it is the right thing to do 不情愿的，勉强的reluctant to do stheg. We reluctantly agree to go with her.我们勉强答应跟她一起去。
精妙翻译
eg. Not only was the meal well below the usual standard, but Bessie seemed unable to walk steadily.不仅饭菜不如平时做的好，而且贝西走起路来似乎东倒西歪。
DAY235
L49-6: The ideal servant
The guests had, of course, realized this from the moment Bessie opened the door for them and, long before the final catastrophe, had had a difficult time trying to conceal their amusement. The poor girl was dismissed instantly. After her departure, Aunt Harriet discovered that there were piles of empty wine bottles of all shapes and sizes neatly stacked in what had once been Bessie's wardrobe. They had mysteriously found their way there from the wine cellar!
知识点：
单词：
dismiss v.
to officially remove sb from their job 解雇，免职，开除dismiss sb from stheg. She claims she was unfairly dismissed from the post.她声称自己被无理免职。
wardrobe /ˈwɔːdrəʊb / n.衣柜，衣橱
cellar/ˈsɛlə / n.
an underground room often used for storing things 地窖，地下室
词组：
Have a difficult time doing sth: had tried very hard to
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