inevitable

a. which can not be avoided; certain to happen

mode

n. a way of behaving, living, operating, etc.

spaceship

n. a vehicle used for traveling in outerspace; spacecraft

flexibility

n. flexible quality

flexible

a. easily adapted to fit various conditions

tabular

a. arranged in the form of a table

gimmick

n. an ingenious or novel mechanical device 别致的玩意儿；新奇的发明

robot

n. a machine that can move and do some of the work of a human being and is usu. controlled by a computer 机器人

sorrow

n. sadness, grief

prehistoric

a. of a time before events were written down

formula

n. a fixed way of doing sth.; method 公式，程式

decisive

a. showing or marked by determination and firmness

exterior

a. on the outside; outer

n. an outer part, surface or appearance

clash

n. a strong disagreement; conflict

lurk

vi. wait in hiding. esp. for an evil purpose; exist unseen

joint

a. done or shared by two or more people

headline

n. a line usu. printed in large type at the top of a newspaper article

hectic

a. very busy; rushed

badger

vt. bother by requesting sth. repeatedly

tragedy

n. a serious play that ends unhappily; a terrible event; disaster

historian

n. an expert in history; a person who writes about history

craft

n. a trade or art needing skill, esp. with one's hands 工艺

covertly

ad. secretly

poetry

n. (the art of writing) poems

endeavor

n. an earnest effort or attempt

sober

a. not drunk; serious, solemn

plodding

a. proceeding in a slow or dull way

phalanx

n. a closely massed body of persons, animals, or things; a number of persons united for a common purpose 方阵，密集的人群（兽群、东西）；为一个共同目标而团结起来的一群人

soulless

a. having or showing no attractive or tender human qualities

electromagnetism

n. magnetism produced by an electric current; the branch of physics that deals with electricity and magnetism 电磁（学）

slice

n. a thin flat piece cut from sth; portion

electronics

n. the study of electrons and their behavior and of electronic equipment such as computers

stolid

a. not easily excited; showing no emotion; seeming dull

awe

n. a feeling of wonder and fear mixed together with deep respect

underarm

a. (euph.) of or for the armpit （为）腋下的

deodorant

n. a man-made chemical substance that destroys or hides unpleasant smells, esp. those of the human body

deride

vt. laugh at or make fun of as of no value

fuzzy

a. not clear in shape or sound; confused

fuzzy-brained a.

egghead

n. (derog.) a clever, highly-educated person, esp. one who is impractical

minority

n. a group of people of a different race, religion or nationality from the rest of society

tuck

vt. put or store in a safe or secret place

site

n. a place where sth. of special interest existed or happened

Pacific

a. 太平洋的

atoll

n. ring-shaped island made of coral partly or completely enclosing an area of sea water环礁，环状珊瑚礁

humanist

n. a student of human nature or affairs; follower of humanism 人文主义者，人本主义者；人道主义者

humanistic

of humanism or humanists

glorification

n. the act of glorifying or the state of being glorified

chaotic

a. in a state of complete disorder and confusion

celebrate

vt. mark (an event) with public or private rejoicings; praise in writing, speech, etc.

tidal

a. of or having a tide

tide

n. the regular rise and fall of the sea caused by the pull of the moon and sun 潮汐

unperturbed

a. undisturbed; calm

mythology

n. a collection of myths; the study of myths 神话集；神话学

myth

n. an ancient story that expresses the beliefs and values of a people 神话故事

manfully

ad. bravely, courageously

geological

a. of or having to do with geology

geology

n. the study of the origin, structure and history of the earth 地质学

politician

n. a person who runs for or holds a position in government

preach

v. speak publicly on a religious or moral subject

gospel

n. a set of instructions or teachings; any of the four accounts of Christ's life in the Bible 《新约》四部福音之一

archaic

a. belonging to the past; no longer used

fruitful

a. producing good results; successful

interpreter

n. a person who interprets 翻译

interpret

vi. put (a language) into the words of another language usu. by speech; make clear or explain the meaning of

interpretation n.

evangelize

vt. preach the Gospel (to)对……宣讲福音

farthermost

a. most distant; farthest

knowledgeable

a. knowing a lot

Phrases & Expression

come out

be published

bit by bit

gradually; little by little

lean on

choose, esp. for support; depend on

feel for

sympathize with

in one's hands

under one's control; be taken care of

one the grounds that

for the reason that

think out

consider, examine carefully

back up

support, esp. in an argument

tuck away

store in a safe place

take thought

perform the actions connected with thinking; think

Proper Names

Ben Bova 本.博瓦

MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) 麻省理工学院

Abraham 亚伯拉罕

Paris 帕里斯

Troy 特洛伊

Hamlet 哈姆雷特

Claudius 克劳狄斯

Faust 浮士德

New Scientist 《新科学家》周刊

Robert Graves 罗伯特.格雷夫斯

James Clerk Maxwell 詹姆斯.克拉克.马克斯韦尔