overpriced
too expensive; costing more than it is worth 价格太高的;过于昂贵的
putrid
(of organic matter) decaying or rotting and emitting a fetid smell(有机物)正在腐烂(或腐坏)的, 发出腐臭味的。
[+ smell]难闻的;令人作呕的
The putrid stench of garbage was almost unbearable.
垃圾的恶臭几乎让人无法忍受。
sack
(amount)一大袋;一满袋
usurious
(价格) 过高的;进行高利剥削的
values
价值观念;社会准则;标准
(values) a person’s principles or standards of behaviour; one’s judgement of what is important in life 价值观念, 标准
bounty
(literary) generous actions; sth provided in large quantities 慷慨之举;大量给予之物
the overflowing bounty of nature.大自然的无限恩施
line-caught
(of fish 鱼) caught with a hook, not in a net 被钓到的
We sell only line-caught wild fish. 我们只卖钓来的野生鱼。
riches
the exploitation of the earth’s riches 地球资源的利用
natural riches 自然界的财富
orchard
果园
baby sitter
代人临时照看小孩的人
a high-school girl who hires out as a baby sitter
收费代人临时照看小孩的女中学生
babysit
to take care of babies or children for a short time while their parents are out 代人临时照看小孩;当临时保姆
barter
以…作易货贸易,以(等价物品或劳务)作为交换
barter furs for guns 以毛皮交换枪枝
serenity
the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled平静, 宁静:
an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city.繁忙城市中的宁静绿洲。
sense of self
One’s self-concept (also called self-construction, self-identity, self-perspective or self-structure) is a collection of beliefs about oneself that includes elements such as academic performance, gender roles, sexuality, and racial identity. Generally, self-concept embodies the answer to “Who am I?”.
intrude
: to thrust oneself in : come or go in without invitation, permission, or welcome : enter by intrusion : encroach, trespass
< where none might intrude upon his grief — P.B.Kyne >
< manifest no wish to intrude on academic prerogatives — Saturday Review >
< abashed at intruding on all these busy people — Jule Mannix >
brutally
(savagely)[attack, torture, murder +]残酷地;残暴地
to be brutally murdered被残忍地谋杀
cast their eyes on
cast a glance (或 a look, an eye) at(或over, on) 向…瞧一瞧
untouched farmland
an untouched land 未开垦的土地
cruelties
[countable, usually plural] a cruel action 残暴的行为
intolerance
(active prejudice)[+of dissent]偏执;偏狭
vices
evil or immoral behaviour; an evil or immoral quality in sb’s character 恶行;不道德行为;堕落;邪恶
meanness
(selfishness)狭隘;自私
meanness of spirit 心灵的狭隘
meanness of character 性格的偏狭
<美>(spitefulness)残忍;阴险;恶意
There was pure meanness in his voice. 他的声音中透着十足的恶意。
住在溢价的公寓,走路去工作的路上还能遇见几包城市垃圾,给可恨的市政府和州政府交着高昂的税款,这样一比较,我确实得算作中产阶级。我不禁想,这样衡量有意义吗?我们是否只是在衡量容易衡量的东西?财富榜上数字自然好排高低。和生活质量更紧密相关的价值是不是被忽略了呢?
我家几个儿子住在农村,种着新鲜蔬菜,鱼儿排排钓,邻居家的花花草草都当做自家欣赏。我儿媳妇之前给别人家看过小孩,一来一回的,自家孙子请保姆也不用花钱。左邻右舍个个有才有活干。除去这些,又该怎么计算宁静感?计算自我意识呢?
我不想把小地方的生活描述的过于理想化。有些年代,外部世界残暴入侵小镇,要么汽油价涨了,要么开荒的又把脑筋动到原生牧地上。小地方残忍和压迫,大城市的一切邪恶和逼仄它都有。进一步来说,如果小地方有异类出现,没法把他们驱逐到别的小镇上去,心理上也就更难忽视他们,只能勉强当做同类看待。