第一段

bilingualism

the?fact?of being?able?to use two?languages?equally?well?熟練運(yùn)用兩種語(yǔ)言的能力，雙語(yǔ)能力The?article?examined?the many?advantages?of?encouraging?bilingualism in?children.

這篇文章探討了鼓勵(lì)兒童使用雙語(yǔ)的諸多好處。

purported

that has been?stated?to be?true?or to have?happened,?although?this may not be the?case?聲稱的，謠傳的

A?recent?study?into the purported?health?benefits?of the?drink?was not?conclusive.

最近一項(xiàng)關(guān)于飲酒有益健康一說的研究沒有明確的結(jié)論。

第三段

sceptic

a?person?who?doubts?the?truth?or?value?of an?idea?or?belief?持懷疑態(tài)度的人

People say it can?cure?colds, but I'm a?bit?of a sceptic.

人們說它能治感冒，我有些懷疑。

第四段

symmetrical

involving?actions?or?parts?that are?similar?or?balanced?in some way?對(duì)應(yīng)的，均衡的Nothing in this?music?is?balanced?or symmetrical or in any way?predictable.

這首音樂缺乏平衡對(duì)稱，不蹈常規(guī)。

blunter

saying what you?think?without?trying?to be?polite?or?considering?other people's?feelings?直率的；生硬的；直截了當(dāng)?shù)?/span>

I'll be blunt - that last?piece?of?work?you did was?terrible.

我就直說了——你創(chuàng)作的最后一件作品糟糕透了。

第六段

conjure

to make something?appear?by?magic, or as if by?magic?變戲法；用魔法變出；像變魔術(shù)般變出In an?instant, the?magician?had conjured?(up)?a?dove?from his?hat.

魔術(shù)師眨眼間便從他的帽子里變出了一只鴿子。

第七段

asymmetrical

Something that is?asymmetrical?has two sides or halves that are different in shape, size, or style.?不對(duì)稱的

asymmetrical shapes 不對(duì)稱形狀

第八段

intrinsic

being an?extremely?important?and?basic?characteristic?of a?person?or thing?固有的，本質(zhì)的，根本的

works?of little intrinsic?value/interest?本身無(wú)甚價(jià)值／趣味的作品

plethora

a very?large?amount?of something,?especially?a?larger?amount?than you need,?want, or can?deal?with?過多，過剩

There's?a?plethora?of?books?about the?royal?family.

有關(guān)皇室的書非常多。

parkway

a?wide?road, usually?divided, with an?area?of?grass?and?trees?on both?sides?and in the?middle（兩旁及行車道間有草地和樹木的）林蔭大道

第九段

seeming?likely?to be?true, or?able?to be?believed?貌似真實(shí)（或可信）的a plausible?explanation/excuse?貌似有理的解釋／借口

causation

the?process?of?causing?something to?happen?or?exist?因果過程；因果關(guān)系

選項(xiàng)

ambivalent

having two?opposing?feelings?at the same?time, or being?uncertain?about how you?feel?（心情）矛盾的；模棱兩可的，含糊不定的

I?felt?very ambivalent?about?leaving?home.

要離開家了，我心里喜憂參半。