Unit 78

exempt / pre-empt / contempt / unkempt / tempt

exempt adj. 被免除的 (not required to do something that others are required to do) /ɪɡˈzɛm(p)t/

• Americans are never exempt from paying their taxes, even if they live outside of the United States.

pre-empt v. 阻止，先发制人 (to prevent (something) from happening) /priːˈɛmpt/

• Huan hid the cookies in an attempt to pre-empt her brother from eating them all.

contempt n. 蔑视 (the act of despising) /kənˈtɛm(p)t/

• Valerie's contempt for the film was made readily apparent when she walked out before it was finished.

unkempt adj. 不整洁的，邋遢的 (not neat or orderly) /ʌnˈkɛm(p)t/

• Justin wore his hair long and unkempt, rarely washing or brushing it.

tempt v. 引诱或怂恿(某人)干不正当的事 (to entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain) /tɛm(p)t/

• Peter tried to convince his brother to help him reach the candy jar by tempting him with the promise of sweets when the deed was accomplished.

yearn / year / yen

yearn v. 强烈渴望 (to feel a strong desire or wish for something or to do something) /jəːn/

• After Siyu graduated and found a full time job, he yearned for the lost freedom of his youth.

year n. 年 (a unit of time that is equal to 12 months or 365 or sometimes 366 days) /jɪə//jəː/

• There are usually 365 days in a year but every 4 years an additional day is added to the month of February, making it a "leap year."

yen n.（强烈的）渴望 (a strong desire or propensity) /jɛn/

• Whenever Claudia got sick she developed a terrible yen for her mother's chicken soup.

rational / rationale

rational adj. 合理的，理性的 (based on facts or reason and not on emotions or feelings) /ˈraʃ(ə)n(ə)l/

• Some people believe that ghosts exist, but many others think that there is a rational, real world explanation for alleged supernatural events.

rationale adj. 理由 (the reason or explanation for something) /ˌraʃəˈnɑːl/

• Mike's rationale for studying instead of going to the football game was based on a simple calculation proving that his pre-exam study time was limited.