Unit 73

convulsion / conclusion / convolution

convulsion n. 骚乱，动乱 (a sudden change or disturbance that affects a country, organization, etc.) /kənˈvəlʃən/

• The convulsions of civil wars and armed uprisings in Syria and Yemen, among others, have greatly contributed to the contemporary refugee crisis.

conclusion n. 结论 (a final decision or judgment; an opinion or decision that is formed after a period of thought or research) /kənˈkluʒən/

• After much deliberation, the jury came to the conclusion that the defendant was not guilty.

convolution n. 回旋，卷绕 (a twist or curve) /ˌkɑnvəˈluʃən/

• Author Agatha Christie wrote mystery novels with complex plots that go through many convolutions before the perpetrator is revealed.

grate / grit / grip

grate v. 摩擦 (to rub or rasp noisily) /ɡrāt/

• The recipe instructed us to finely grate 3 cups of carrots to add to the muffin batter.

grit n. 沙粒 (small particles of sand or stone) /ɡrit/

• Ba Tu carefully washed the sandy grit from the oysters and placed them on the grill.

n. 勇气和毅力 (firmness of mind or spirit)

• Max displayed exemplary grit by soldiering on in his work, not stopping for a break unless it was absolutely necessary.

grip v. 吸引 (to get and hold the interest or attention of (someone)) /ɡrip/

• The God of Small Things is such a gripping book that readers are rarely able to put it down until they are finished.

keen / preen / spleen

keen adj. 对...感兴趣，喜欢 (very excited about and interested in something) /kin/

• Du was so keen to own the new mobile phone model that he lined up outside the store overnight in order to ensure that he would be able to buy one.

preen v. 打扮 (to dress or smooth oneself up) /prin/

• Ki preened in the mirror, carefully arranging her clothes and applying cosmetics to her face.

v. 洋洋自得 (to pride or congratulate oneself an an achievement)

• Actress Emma Stone preened in front of her adoring fans after winning an Oscar for her role in the film La La Land.

spleen n. 怒气 (feelings of anger) /splin/

• Lou was so angry at the other driver that he lost his temper and vented his spleen in the middle of the road.

n. 脾脏 (an organ located near the stomach that destroys worn-out red blood cells and produces white blood cells ) /ˈtʌɪmli/

• The spleen is located on the lateral side of the body near the pancreas.