现代大学英语精读lesson6.pptVIP

New words and phrases set sb against sb: to make sb start to fight or quarrel with another person, esp. a person with whom they had friendly relations before. Eg: There were outside forces who were trying to set one tribe against another. That was why there were endless civil wars in that country. I’m not going to set myself against my own classmates. Distinction among synonyms: 1. assure, ensure, insure, guarantee assure vt. “使……确信”，常用结构为assure sb. of sth.（深信不疑地对某人说或使人确信和放心），有时也作“保证给”，但不如ensure 常用。如： I assure you that there is no danger. I assure you of his ability to do the work. Distinction among synonyms: ensure vt. “保证”，后接名词或that 从句，指把某事确定下来或对某事作出许诺。如： I can’t ensure that he will be there in time. The medicine will ensure you a good night’s sleep. insure vt. “保险”，指保险公司为生命、财产等作保险。如： Insurance companies will insure ships and their cargoes against loss at sea. I insured my house against fire. Distinction among synonyms: guarantee vt. “保证”，通常指书面形式或负责地作出保证。如： The radio is guaranteed for half a year. Exercise 1) I tried to that everybody understood the instructions. 2) The doctor her that she would get well soon. 3) Have you taken the precaution of your house against fire? 4) They the computer for there years. Distinction among synonyms: Key 1) ensure 2) assured 3) insuring 4) guarantee 2. dumb, mute, silent, speechless dumb a. “哑的”，主要指由于语言器官有缺陷而不能说话，有时还可指大脑反应迟钝，该词还可像speechless一样，指一时说不出话来。如： Distinction among synonyms: I was struck dumb with horror. The child was dumb because of deformed vocal cords. mute a. “哑的”，指由于出生以后耳聋没有听过说话，而不能说话，还可指拒绝说话而沉默、不作声。如： The teacher tried to teach the mute children to speak in spite of their deafness. Distinction among synonyms: silent a. “沉默的，（保持）安静的”。如： He was prudently silent on that matter. speechless a. “不会说话的，说不出话的”，主要用在因强烈的情绪影响而一时说不出话来或无话可说。如： She was speechless with surprise. Distinction among synonyms: Exercise 1) A donkey is not but it is . 2) You’d better be