◆Unit 1

alter [ 'ɔ:ltə(r) ]

常考 v. 改变 ：to change or make different; modify

近义 change, modify, mutate, turn, vary

举例 a parasite can alter the behavior of a host organism 寄生虫可以改变宿主的行为

派生 unalterable[ ʌn'ɔ:ltərəbl ] adj.无法改变的

注意 表示“胆怯，说话犹豫”的falter只是比alter多了一个f。

alternate [ ɔ:l'tɜ:nət ]

常考 adj. 取代的；供替换的 ：serving or used in place of another ; substitute

举例 an alternate plan 供替换的计划

alternative [ ɔ:l'tɜ:nətɪv ]

常考1 n. 代替物，代替选择 ：if one thing is an alternative to another , the first can be found, used, or done instead of the seco nd

举例 mobile homes have been gaining favor as an alternative to increasingly expensive conventional housing

常考2 n. 另一选择（诸多可能性中的一种） ：either of these possibilities; choice

举例 the alternative of canceling noise out

常考3 adj. 非传统的，新颖的 ： different from the usual or conventional

举例 While many people utilize homeopathic remedies to treat health problems, other people do not countenance such alternative treatments, relying on conventional medical treatments instead.

常考4 adj. 其他的 ：an alternative plan or offer is different from the one that you already have , and can be done or used instead

举例 Under ethical guidelines recently adopted by the National Institutes of Health, human genes are to be manipulated only to correct diseases for which alternative treatments are unsatisfactory.

根据国家健康研究所最近通过的伦理学的指定方针，只有在其他治疗方案都不能令人满意的情况下，人类的基因才可以被用来操纵治疗疾病。

altruism [ 'æltrʊɪzəm ]

常考 n. 利他主义；不自私 ： unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others

近义 beneficence, benevolence, benignancy, benignity, charitableness, charity, goodwill, grace, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, philanthropy

举例 Altruism is crucial for social cohesion.

利他主义对社会的凝聚是至关重要的。

派生 altruist[ 'æltrʊɪst ] n. 利他主义者

altruistic [ ˌæltrʊ'ɪstɪk ]

常考 adj. 利他主义的，无私的 ：characterized by kindness and concern for others

近义 beneficent, benevolent, benign, benignant, good, goodhearted, kindhearted, kindly

举例 motives and ambitions that are not entirely altruistic 不完全无私的动机和抱负

amalgam [ ə'mælgəm ]

常考 n. 混合物 ：a combination of diverse elements; a mixture

近义 admixture, amalgamation, blend, commixture, fusion, merger, mix, mixture

举例 In other words, American literature is to our eyes a curious amalgam of familiar and strange.

派生 amalgate[ ə'mælgət ] v. 合并，混合

amalgation[ əˌmælgəʃn ] n. 合并，混合

amateur [ 'æmətə(r) ]

常考 n. 业余爱好者 ：a person who engages in an art, a science, a study, or an athletic activity as a pastime rather than as a profession

近义 dabbler, dilettante, nonprofessional, smatterer, uninitiate

举例 Jerry is an amateur who dances because he feels like it.

派生 amateurish[ 'æmətərɪʃ ] adj. 业余的

ambiguity [ ˌæmbɪ'gju:ətɪ ]

常考 n. 含糊，不明确 ：doubtfulness or uncertainty as regards interpretation

近义 double-entendre, equivocation, equivoque, tergiversation

举例 To remove any ambiguity we have to acquire more accurate information.

ambiguous [ æm'bɪgjʊəs ]

常考1 adj. 可作多种解释的；模棱两可的 ：capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways

近义 cloudy, equivocal, inexplicit, nebulous, obscure, uncertain, unclear, vague

举例 This agreement is very ambiguous and open to various interpretations.

常考2 adj. 不确定的 ：doubtful or uncertain

近义 borderline, chancy, clouded, doubtful, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, inconclusive, indecisive, indeterminate, problematic, problematical, questionable, uncertain, unclear, unsure

举例 The theatrical status of her frequently derided but constantly revived plays remained ambiguous.

派生 unambiguous[ ʌnæm'bɪgjʊəs ] adj. 不含糊的，明确的

ambivalence [ æm'bɪvələns ]

常考 n. 同时存在相反的感情或者态度（比如又爱又恨）；矛盾心理 ：the coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings, such as love and hate , toward a person, an object, or an idea

举例 Most of us feel a certain ambivalence towards GRE. BdamnLC++MlF1bEf4Wz45dJaMSlyu2PvbHRdh531R6foHPCdiDkPUl0iMvv8De2n