01-Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Political Houdini, Can’t Escape Coronavirus Backlash

Question 1

brink

Answer 1

the point where a new or different situation is about to begin
（事情發生的）邊緣；始發點
Extreme stress had driven him to the brink of a nervous breakdown.
極大的壓力使他處於精神崩潰的邊緣。

Question 2

complacent

Answer 2

feeling so satisfied with your own abilities or situation that you feel you do not need to try any harder
自滿的，自鳴得意的

Question 3

credible

Answer 3

able to be believed or trusted

可信的；可靠的

Question 4

aspect (3)

Answer 4

1. one part of a situation, problem, subject, etc.
   方面；層面
   >Which aspects of the job do you most enjoy?
   你最喜歡這份工作的哪些方面？
2. the direction in which a building, window, room, or sloping field faces, or the view that can be seen because of this direction
   朝向；方位；朝著某個方向的一面

> The dining room has a southern aspect, which allows us to make the most of the sun.
餐室是向南的，這就使我們能夠最有效地利用陽光。

3. a measurement of the width compared to the height of the picture on a TV or computer screen
   （電視或其他螢幕的）寬高比，縱橫比，長寬比

> A widescreen picture has an aspect ratio of 16:9.
寬螢幕的長寬比為16:9。

Question 5

insignificant

Answer 5

small or not noticeable, and therefore not considered important
不重要的，無足輕重的
>Why bother arguing about such an insignificant amount of money?
為甚麼為那點小錢爭吵？

Question 6

impropriety

Answer 6

behaviour that is dishonest, socially unacceptable, or unsuitable for a particular situation
不誠實的做法，不恰當的行為

> financial/legal impropriety
不正當的經濟活動／違法行為
allegations of sexual impropriety
對不正當性行為的指控

Question 7

in the doldrums

Answer 7

unsuccessful or showing no activity or development
不順利的；停滯的，沒有進展的

> Her career was in the doldrums during those years.
那些年她的事業一直沒有什麼起色。

Question 8

raid (v.) (2)

Answer 8

1. (of the police) to enter a place suddenly in order to find someone or something
   （警方）突擊檢查，突然搜查

> Police officers from the organized crime division have raided businesses in central London.

2. to enter a place illegally and usually violently, and steal from it
   搶劫；洗劫；劫掠

> The post office was raided late at night.
昨晚深夜郵局遭到搶劫。

Question 9

recession

Answer 9

a period when the economy of a country is not successful and conditions for business are bad
（經濟）衰退期

> The country is sliding into the depths of (a) recession.
這個國家一步步滑入經濟衰退的谷底。

Question 10

consolidation

Answer 10

the process of becoming or being made stronger and more certain:
鞏固、強化；聯合、統一、合併

> The company is entering a period of consolidation.
Putin announced one of the most sweeping consolidations of presidential power since the fall of communism.

Question 11

direct (vt.) (2)

Answer 11

1. to control or be in charge of an activity, organization, etc.
   管理，領導，指揮

> She directs a large charity.
她主管一家大型慈善機構。

2. [ T + obj + to infinitive ] formal
   to order someone, especially officially
   （尤指正式地）命令

> The judge directed the defendant to remain silent.
法官命令被告保持安靜。

Question 12

deferential

Answer 12

polite and showing respect
尊重的，尊敬的，恭敬的

> She is always extremely deferential towards anyone in authority.
她對權威人士總是畢恭畢敬。

Question 13

direct (adj.) (2)

Answer 13

1. complete
   完全的，全部的

> a direct contrast
完全的對比
She’s very thoughtful - the direct opposite of her sister.
她想得很周到——和她姐姐截然相反。

2. Someone who is direct says what they think in a very honest way without worrying about other people’s opinions.
   直率的，坦率的，直接的

> I like her open and direct manner.
我喜歡她坦率直接的態度。

Question 14

sour (vi. or vt.) (2)

Answer 14

1. to become sour or to make something become sour
   （使）變酸；（使）酸腐

> Hot weather sours milk.
熱天會讓牛奶變酸。
Milk sours in hot weather.
牛奶在熱天會變酸。

2. to (cause to) become unpleasant or unfriendly
   （使）令人不快，（使）不友好

> Her whole attitude to life soured as a result of that experience.
那次經歷過後，她對生活的整個態度變得很消極。
This incident has soured relations between the two countries.
這一事件導致兩國關係惡化。

Question 15

hamper (vt.)

Answer 15

to prevent someone doing something easily
阻礙，妨礙

> Fierce storms have been hampering rescue efforts and there is now little chance of finding more survivors.
猛烈的暴風雨妨礙了救援工作的進行，現在找到更多生還者的希望已經很渺茫了。

Question 16

repel (V.) 3

Answer 16

1. to force something or someone to move away or stop attacking you
   驅逐；逐回；擊退；抗禦

> This coat has a special surface that repels moisture.
這件外套面料特殊，可以防潮。
formal
The defenders repelled the attack without losing any men.
守軍擊退了敵人的進攻，自己沒有損失一個人。

2. to have a magnetic field that pushes away something with a similar magnetic field
   排斥；相斥

> Similar poles of magnets repel each other, and opposite poles attract.
磁鐵同極相斥，異極相吸。

3. People or things that repel you make you feel strongly that you do not want to be near, see, or think about them
   使厭惡；使極反感

> She was repelled by his ugliness.
她厭惡他那醜陋的相貌。
Her arrogance repels many people.
她的傲慢令很多人十分反感。

Question 17

allegation

Answer 17

a statement, made without giving proof, that someone has done something wrong or illegal
（未經證實的）指責，指控

> Several of her patients have made allegations of professional misconduct about/against her.
她治療的幾位病人指責她失職。

Question 18

ally (n.) 2

Answer 18

1. a country that has agreed officially to give help and support to another one, especially during a war
   （尤指戰時的）同盟國，盟友

> The US is one of Britain’s staunchest allies.
美國是英國最忠實的盟友之一。

2. someone who helps and supports someone else
   盟友；支持者

> He is generally considered to be the prime minister’s closest political ally.
人們普遍認為他是首相最親密的政治盟友。

Question 19

cabinet

Answer 19

a small group of the most important people in government, who advise the President or Prime Minister and make important decisions
內閣

>The Cabinet meet/meets every Thursday.
內閣成員每週四開會。
>The President is completing the selection of his new Cabinet.
首相已宣佈新內閣名單。
>a cabinet post
內閣大臣
>UK a cabinet reshuffle (= changes in the Cabinet).
內閣改組
>UK a cabinet minister
內閣部長

Question 20

hoard (v.)

Answer 20

to collect large amounts of something and keep it in a safe, often secret, place
貯藏，囤積

> During the siege people began hoarding food and supplies.
圍困期間，人們開始囤積食品和日用品。
There would be enough food on a daily basis if people were not hoarding it.
如果人們不大量囤積食物，按日常用量應當會有足夠的食品供應。

Question 21

warrant (v.t.)

Answer 21

to make a particular activity necessary
使有必要

> Obviously what she did was wrong, but I don’t think it warranted such a severe punishment.
顯然她做得不對，但我認為她不應該受到如此嚴厲的懲罰。
It’s a relatively simple task that really doesn’t warrant a great deal of time being spent on it.
這是一個相對來說比較簡單的任務，不必在上面花費大量的時間。

Question 22

wrangle (n.)

Answer 22

an argument, especially one that continues for a long time
（尤指長時間的）爭論，爭辯

> a lengthy wrangle about/over costs
關於費用的長時間爭論

Question 23

precedent (n.) 3

Answer 23

1. an action, situation, or decision that has already happened and can be used as a reason why a similar action or decision should be performed or made
   先例，前例

> There are several precedents for promoting people who don’t have formal qualifications.
提拔沒有正式學歷的人是有幾個先例的。

2. the way that something has been done in the past that therefore shows that it is the correct way
   慣例

> Would it be breaking with precedent for the bride to make a speech?
新娘發表講話是否有悖於慣例？

3. [law] a decision about a particular legal case that makes it likely that other similar cases will be decided in the same way
   （可援引的）先例，判例
   >The judgment on pension rights has established/set a precedent.
   對養老金領取權的裁決成了一個判例。

Question 24

shatter (v.) 2

Answer 24

1. to (cause something to) break suddenly into very small pieces
   （使）破碎；粉碎

> The glass shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.
玻璃碎成無數塊細小的碎片

2. to end or severely damage something
   終結；嚴重破壞

> The book shattered all her illusions about the Romans.
這本書讓她對羅馬人的幻想完全破滅。
Noisy motorbikes shattered the peace/calm/stillness.
吵鬧的機車聲打破了寧靜／平靜／靜謐。

Question 25

anoint (v.)

Answer 25

to choose someone to do a particular job, usually by a person in authority
（通常由權威人士）選定，指定

> [ + as + noun ] It remains to be seen whom the chairman will anoint as his successor.
董事長將指定何人作為其接班人，還需拭目以待。