*grim
a. 1. (of a situation, etc.) unpleasant, difficult to accept and worrying 嚴(yán)酷的；無情的
2. (of a place) unattractive and depressing in appearance 陰森的，令人生畏的

prognosis
n. 1. (med.) a doctor's opinion of what course a disease will probably take ［醫(yī)］預(yù)后（指根據(jù)癥狀對(duì)疾病結(jié)果的預(yù)測(cè)）
2. a prediction about the future 預(yù)測(cè)

dryly, drily
ad. 1. according to the rules and without personal warmness or feeling 干巴巴地；冷冰冰地
2. 干燥地

worsen
v. (cause to) become worse （使）變得更壞；（使）惡化

demonstrate
vt. 1. prove or make clear by reasoning or examples 論證，證明
2. show the way to do sth. or how sth. works 示范；操作；演示
3. show (one's particular skill, quality or feeling) 顯示，表露
vi. take part in a march or meeting to show one's opposition to sth. or support for it 示威游行

acknowledge
vt. 1. (as, to be) recognize, accept or admit (as) 承認(rèn)；接受
2. state that one has received sth. 告知（信件、禮物等的）收到
3. show one's appreciation for, as by giving or saying sth. 對(duì)…表示謝忱，答謝

theoretical
a. based on or concerning the ideas and abstract principles of a subject, rather than the practical aspects of it 理論（上）的；純理論的

cosmology
n. the scientific study of the universe and its origin and development 宇宙學(xué)

*govern
vt. 1. (often pass.) determine the nature of ［常被動(dòng)］決定；支配
2. rule (a country, a city, etc. and its people) 統(tǒng)治；治理
3. have control or influence over (sth.) 支配；影響

governor
n. a person who controls any of certain types of organization or place 統(tǒng)治者；管轄者；地方長(zhǎng)官

expansion
n. 1. the process of becoming greater in size or amount 擴(kuò)大，擴(kuò)充；擴(kuò)張
2. 擴(kuò)充物；擴(kuò)展部分

*immune
a. 1. (to) not affected by 不受影響的；可防止的
2. unable to be harmed (by a disease) because of special powers in oneself 免疫的；有免疫力的

depression
n. 1. a feeling of sadness and hopelessness 憂傷，消沉，沮喪
2. a period of reduced business activity and high unemployment 不景氣；蕭條（期）

disability
n. a physical injury or mental illness that severely affects one's life 傷殘，殘疾

sympathy
n. 1. the ability to share the feelings of another 同情心，惻隱心
2. a pity 同情

sympathize, -ise
v. show or feel sympathy （表示）同情

black hole
an area in outer space into which everything near it, including light itself, is pulled ［天］黑洞

nowadays
ad. at the present time, in contrast with the past 如今，現(xiàn)在

obsolete
a. no longer used; out of date 已廢棄的；過時(shí)的

Phrases and Expressions

far and wide
everywhere; from or over a large area 到處；廣泛地

dream of
wish, fantasize, imagine 夢(mèng)想；向往

specialise in
concentrate one's studies, interests, etc. on (a particular field, etc.) 專門從事；專門研究

in use
being used 在使用著的

fall apart
break into pieces; break up 破碎；崩潰

in a sense
to a certain extent but not entirely 從某種意義上說

be responsible for
be the cause of 是…的原因；對(duì)…負(fù)責(zé)

hang around (with)
spend time in a place or with sb., often without any particular purpose （在某處）閑蕩；（和某人）廝混

at once
at the same time 同時(shí)，一起

struggle away with
try very hard to do (sth., though it is very hard) 努力做（某事），艱難地做（某事）

have nothing to do with
have no relation to or connection with 與…無關(guān)

bother to do sth.
trouble oneself to do sth. 費(fèi)心去做某事

knock off
cause sth. to fall from a place 敲掉；擊倒

work out
find an answer to (sth.); solve (sth.) 想出；得出

have one's share of sth.
have part of sth.; have the amount that is fair for sb. 享有其中一份；享有自己應(yīng)得的一份

fit (right) in
be (precisely) suitable (to) （正）相合

mind over matter
(sometimes humor) control of events or material objects by the power of the mind 精神戰(zhàn)勝物質(zhì)

turn out to be
happen to be in the end 最后是；結(jié)果是

Proper Names

Stephen William Hawking
斯蒂芬·威廉·霍金（1942—，英國物理學(xué)家）

John Gribbin
約翰·格里賓

Guinness Book of Records
《吉尼斯世界紀(jì)錄大全》

The Sunday Times
《星期日泰晤士報(bào)》

Frank
弗蘭克（男子名）

Isobel
伊澤貝爾（Elizabeth的異體）（女子名）

Galileo
伽利略（1564—1642，意大利數(shù)學(xué)家、天文學(xué)家和物理學(xué)家，現(xiàn)代力學(xué)和實(shí)驗(yàn)物理學(xué)的創(chuàng)始人）

St Albans School
圣奧爾本斯公學(xué)

Aldous Huxley
奧爾德斯·赫胥黎（1894—1963，美籍英國作家）

Bertrand Russell
伯特蘭·羅素（1872—1970，英國哲學(xué)家、數(shù)學(xué)家、邏輯學(xué)家）

ALS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease [醫(yī)]肌萎縮性（脊髓）側(cè)索硬化

Newton
牛頓（1642—1727，英國物理學(xué)家）