THE LOONS 课文讲解/Detailed Study
Detailed Study of the Text
1. pebble: small stone made smooth and round by the action of water, eg in a stream or on the seashore
2. scrub: underdeveloped trees or shrubs
oak 橡树，栎树
scrub oak: short, stunted (short, not-fully-grown) oak tree
cf:
bush: (large) low growing plant with several or many woody stems coming out from the root (tree: with a single trunk)
shrub: (small) plant with woody stem, lower than a tree, & usu. with several separate stems from the root
3. chokecherry: North American wild cherry tree
4. thicket: a thick growth of shrubs, underbrush or small trees
5. clearing: open space from which trees have been cleared in a forest
6. shack: a small roughly built house, hut,
7. dwelling n (fml) place of residence; house, flat, etc
my humble dwelling
dwelling-house(esp. law): house used as a residence, not as a place of work
. 8. cabin: small hut or shelter, usu made of wood
cabin class: second highest standard of accommodation on a ship二等舱
9. poplar: 杨树
10. chink: close the narrow openings with, plaster
11. Batoche：巴托什, a village at the centre of Saskatchewan Province, Canada.
The battle ground where the Canadian militia beat the rebellious army in 1885. It’s been established as the National Park of History now.(简明)
12. Métis: [mei’ti:s] half-breed, one of mixed blood, esp. (often cap.) half breed 混血儿，尤指法国人与印第安人的混血后裔，动物
13. chaos: complete disorder or confusion
The burglars left the house in (a state of) chaos.
The wintry weather has caused chaos on the roads.
chaotic: in a state of chaos; completely disorganizedvaguely
With no one to keep order the situation in the classroom was chaotic.
14. lean-to: small building or shed with its roof resting against the side of a larger building, wall or fence
They keep hens in a lean-to at the end of the garden.
a lean-to greenhouse
15. warp: cause sth to become bent or twisted from the usual or natural shape, esp because of uneven shrinkage or expansion The damp wood began to warp.
The hot sun had warped the cover of the book.
16. lumber: (esp Brit) unwanted pieces of furniture, etc that are stored away or take up space
(esp US) = timber
17. coop: cage for small creature
18. tangle: (cause sth to) become twisted into a confused mass
Her hair got all tangled up in the barbed wire fence.
19. strand: a single piece or thread
Many strands are twisted together to form a rope.
20. barb: the sharp point of a fish hook, arrow, etc, with a curved shape which prevents it from being easily pulled out
21. rust: the reddish brown surface that forms on iron when attacked by water and air
rusty: covered with rust
22. Patois    a dialect other than the standard illiterate or provincial speech, jargon 洋泾浜英语
23. broken: (of a foreign language) spoken imperfectly; not fluent
speak in broken English
(of land) having an uneven surface; rough
an area of broken, rocky ground
(of a person) weakened and exhausted by illness or misfortune
He was broken-hearted when his wife died.
broken home: family in which the parents have divorced or separated
He comes from a broken home.
obscenity: offensive, repulsive remarks, cursing, vulgarity
laws against obscenity on the television
four letter words: fuck, shit, bull shit
24. belong: to be suitable or advantageous, be in the right place
I don't belong in a place like this.
He doesn't belong in the beginner's class.
I refuse to go abroad: I belong here.
25. Cree: one of the Indian tribes in Canada
26. reservation: a piece of land set apart for N. American Indians
cf: resort: (a) popular holiday centre
seaside, skiing, health, etc resorts
Beidaihe is a leading north coast resort.
(b) (US) hotel or guest-house for holiday-makers
27. neither fish, flesh nor good red herring / neither flesh, fowl, nor good salt herring : difficult to identify or classify; vague; ambiguous 难以辨别或分类的，非驴非马的，不伦不类的
fowl: a. domestic cock or hen
We keep a few fowls and some goats.
b. flesh of certain types of birds, eaten for food
We had fish for the first course, followed by roast fowl and fresh vegetables.
c. any bird: the fowls of the air
waterfowl barnyard fowl wildfowl
herring: Atlantic fish, usu swimming in very large shoals( 鱼）, used for food 鲱鱼
28. odd: not regular, occasional, casual, occasional, random
Life would be very dull without the odd adventure now and then.
29. section hands / gang: a group of workmen keeping one section of a railway line repaired
30. relief: aid in the form of goods, coupon or money given, as by a government agency, to persons unable to support themselves
on relief: receiving government aid because of poverty, unemployment, etc.
a relief teacher
31. …with a face that seemed totally unfamiliar with laughter, would knock at the doors of the town’s brick houses… This suggests that the Tonnerres had lived a very miserable life. They had never experienced happiness in their whole life. The “brick houses” indicates the wealthy people’s home.
32. lard: pig fat made pure by melting, used in cookery
33. pail: a usu. round open vessel of metal or wood, with handles, used for carrying liquids, bucket (just like the ones we use now)
34. bruise: injury caused by a blow to the body or to a fruit, discolouring the skin but not breaking it He was covered in bruises after falling off his bicycle.
35. brawl: noisy quarrel or fight
a drunken brawl in a bar
36. howl: long loud wailing cry of a dog, wolf, etc , loud cry of a person expressing pain, scorn, amusement, etc  let out a howl of laughter, agony, rage
howl: v.
wolves howling in the forest
to howl in agony
syn: bawl, moan, scream, wail, sob,
37. Mountie: member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police加拿大皇家骑警mount: ~ sb (on sth) get onto or put (sb) onto a horse, etc for riding; provide (sb) with a horse for riding
He quickly mounted (his horse) and rode away.
He mounted the boy on the horse.
The policemen were mounted on (ie rode) black horses.
a mounted policemen, ie on horses
38. cell: a small room in a prison
39. sporadic: happening or seen only occasionally or in a few places; occurring irregularly
sporadic showers
sporadic raids, gunfire, fighting
syn: irregular infrequent, intermittent occasional
40. negligible: too slight or unimportant to be worth any attention, of little importance or size; not worth considering a negligible amount, error, effect
This year’s deficit in foreign trade is negligible.
'negligent: not taking or showing enough care
He has been negligent in not locking the doors as he was told to.
41. She existed for me only as a vaguely embarrassing presence
As far as I am concerned, her presence would only make other people feel ill at ease / uncomfortable.
42. hoarse: sounding or growling rough and harsh
He shouted himself hoarse.
43. limp: walk unevenly, as when one foot or leg is hurt or stiff
That dog must be hurt; he's limping.
The injured footballer limped slowly off the field.
Cf: shuffle: walk without lifting the feet completely clear of the ground
The prisoners shuffled along the corridor and into their cells.
totter and sway, lurch out, droopy hobble(n), stagger, stumble, floppy (These are words used in Argentia Bay to describe Roosevelt)
44. grimy: dirty, messy, filthy
grime: dirt, esp in a layer on a surface
45. peculiar: odd or strange, eccentric, strange in a troubling or displeasing way

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