Lesson Eleven

Pre-class Work

Read the text a third time. Learn the new words and expressions listed below.

Glossary

ambition
n. a strong desire for success, power, riches, etc.

band
n. a group of musicians who play popular music together

cashier
v. to work as a clerk whose job is to receive and pay out money in a shop, bank, hotel, etc.

clarity
n. clearness

conscience
n. 良心

contrast
n. a difference between people, ideas or things

dime
n. a silver coin of the U. S., worth ten cents

dismal
adj. lacking hope or comfort, showing or causing sadness

embrace
n. the act of holding sb. close to you as a sign of love

emerge
v. to come out or appear from somewhere

enhance
v. to increase good qualities in sb. or sth.

errand
n. a short trip to do sth. for sb.

expand
v. to become larger

fantasy
n. imagination

finery
n. beautiful or expensive clothes and jewelry worn for special occasions

freshman
n. a first-year student at a high school or university

frugally
adv. carefully in the way of using money, buying only what is necessary

giddy
adj. feeling a little sick and unable to balance because everything seems to be moving

grieve
v. to feel extremely sad, esp. when sb. you love has died

gypsy
n. 吉卜賽人

horn
n. a musical instrument 號(hào)；管

humble
adj. having a low social class or position, not proud

indulge
v. to let yourself do or have what you want even if it is bad for you 放縱，縱容

intolerable
adj. too difficult, unpleasant, annoying, etc. for you to bear

lavish
adj. A ～ meal is a meal that is large and generous and costs a lot of money.

license
n. an official paper showing that permission has been given to do sth. 許可證

lumpy
adj. 疙瘩不平的

marvel
v. to feel great surprise and admiration for

mattress
n. 床墊

miracle
n. 奇跡

miserly
adj. a ～ person is a person who hates to spend money

onrush
n. a strong fast movement forward

parlor
n. a sitting room where people may receive guests (old-fashioned)

quit
v. to leave a job

retire
v. to stop working at the end of one's working life

salon
n. beauty ～ : a place where you can get your hair cut

seek
v. to look for or ask for

second-rate
adj. not very good

sentimental
adj. too easily affected by tender feelings such as love, sadness, etc.

shabby
adj. looking old and in bad condition

skate
n. 冰鞋
v. to move on ice wearing ice-skates

smartv. to hurt with stinging pain

sorrow
n. unhappiness, sadness or grief

splendid
adj. excellent

spree
n. a short period of time doing sth. you enjoy

stomach
n. an organ in the body where food is digested 胃

suffer
v. to tolerate or stand

suitcase
n. a case with flat sides used for carrying clothes when travelling

threadbare
adj. worn out; in bad condition

top-heavy
adj. not properly balanced because of too much weight at the top

transform
v. to completely change the appearance, form or character of sth. esp. in a way that improves it