“These are not delinquents or hoods,” one reporter wrote, “ but cleancut American boys who are being harassed by a monolithic school system.”
1. delinquent [dɪˋlɪŋkwənt] (n.) someone, especially a young person, who behaves in a way that is criminal or antisocial
Chester, were sent to the principal by their French teacher, an implacable foe of nonconformists, who went into a paroxysm of anger when she spied the boys in the hall.
1. implacable [ɪmˋplækəb!] (adj.) having or expressing very angry and determined feelings that will not change: cannot be pacified, inexorable 無法平息的；冷漠嚴峻的
What they had done, Mrs. Suarez told them, was inexcusable, and she ticked off a list of reasons that made their conduct dangerous and subject to school discipline.
1. inexcusable [͵ɪnɪkˋskjuzəb!] (adj.) inexcusable behaviour is so bad or rude that you cannot forgive the person who behaved like that
No,〝 my confidant whispered, “it's part of their scheme of planned obsolescence to sell you merchandise with a limited life span in order to keep you coming back for more.”
1. confidant [͵kɑnfɪˋdænt] (n.) someone you trust and can discuss your secrets and private feelings with
I guess we'll never be able to quell those persistent rumors about the invention of auto tires that will never wear out, stockings that cannot tear.
1. wear out ( phrasal vb ) to use something a lot so that it no longer works, or can no longer be used
According to its sponsors, the pill will nourish and safety.
1. nourish [ˋnʌriʃ] (v.) to give a person, animal,or plant the food and care they need to live, grow, and be healthy
My buddy Verne, a precocious automotive wizard, and I were inspired to do some inventing on our own.
1. precocious (adj.) a precocious child is more intelligent or behaves in a more developed way than you expect for their age
Now, equipped with a rigid head covering he can sally forth to face the elements.
1. rigid (adj.) not easily changed
As simply as the eye can discern, it is a hard plastic strip, about the size of a ruler, which fits comfortably into a woman's handbag or a man's suit jacket.
1. discern [dɪˋzɝn] (v.) [ formal ] to notice something, especially after thinking about it carefully or studying it
On numerous speaking engagements, he railed against drunkness and swore that any such culprit who was found behind the wheel of a car would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
1. engagement (n.) a formal agreement to get married
Since literature reflects life, we can expect to find similar instances in which a person's ethics are compromised, and he falls prey to the pernicious evil that he had publicly denounced.
1. instance (n.) an example of something happening
Throughout literature we find recurring tales of forthright people who are outspoken in condemning illegal practices only to be brought low themselves when they, or members of their families, commit such acts.
1. forthright (adj.) saying what you and think directly and honestly, without being afraid of other people's reactions
Far from being a clandestine activity, the cheating was open and obvious.
1. clandestine [klænˋdɛstɪn] (adj.) [ mainly literary ] secret and often illegal
Mr. Dorsey summoned a representative group of teachers and student leaders to his office in order to elicit their reactions to the suspension of the football captain.
1. summon [ˋsʌmən] (v.) [ formal ] to officially order someone to come to a place, especially a court of law
Under duress, the faculty reported the names of the culprits.
1. duress [ˋdjʊrɪs] (n.) [ formal ] force or threats that make someone do something they do not want to
Mr.Dorsey, our new principal, determined to do something about the flagrant cheating at out high school.
1. flagrant [ˋflegrənt] (adj.) done in an obvious way that shows you do not care if you break rules or offend people
In order to protect the environment and give workers fair pay, a campaign for “slow clothes” has started in Europe and America.
1. campaign (n.) a series of actions intended to produce political or social change
The principal of our rival school threw down the gauntlet, and we had no choice but to accept the challenge.
1. gauntlet [ˋgɔntlɪt](n.) a thick heavy glove that you wear to protect your hand and lower arm
