1.ascertain
V-T If you ascertain the truth about something, you find out what it is, especially by making a deliberate effort to do so. (尤指经过努力) 查明
• Through doing this, the teacher will be able to ascertain the extent to which the child understands what he is reading.
通过这样做，老师将能确定这个孩子对他正在读的内容的理解程度。
• Once they had ascertained that he was not a spy, they agreed to release him.
一查明他不是间谍，他们就同意了释放他。
2.assertive
①ADJ Someone who is assertive states their needs and opinions clearly, so that people take notice. 坚定自信的
• Women have become more assertive in the past decade.
妇女在过去十年已变得更坚定自信。
②N-UNCOUNT 坚定自信
• Chantelle's assertiveness stirred up his deep-seated sense of inadequacy.
仙黛尔的坚定自信激起了他根深蒂固的自卑感。
3.baffle
①V-T If something baffles you, you cannot understand it or explain it. 使困惑
• An apple tree producing square fruit is baffling experts.
一棵结方形果实的苹果树正令专家们感到困惑。
②ADJ 令人困惑的
• I was constantly ill, with a baffling array of symptoms.
我不断地生病，还伴有一大堆莫名其妙的症状。
4.barren
①ADJ A barren landscape is dry and bare, and has very few plants and no trees. 荒芜的
• ...the Tibetan landscape of high barren mountains.
…西藏荒芜的高山景观。
②ADJ Barren land consists of soil that is so poor that plants cannot grow in it. 贫瘠的
• He wants to use the water to irrigate barren desert land.
他想用该水来灌溉贫瘠的沙漠土地。
③ADJ If you describe something such as an activity or a period of your life as barren, you mean that you achieve no success during it or that it has no useful results. 无成就的; 不成功的
• ...an empty exercise barren of utility.
…一项毫无效用的无聊训练。
④ADJ If you describe a room or a place as barren, you do not like it because it has almost no furniture or other objects in it. 空荡荡的
• The room was austere, nearly barren of furniture or decoration.
这个房间很简朴，几乎没有什么家具或装饰。
5.bewilder
V-T If something bewilders you, it is so confusing or difficult that you cannot understand it. 使迷惑
• The silence from Alex had hurt and bewildered her.
亚历克斯的沉默令她伤心和迷惑不解。
6.conform
①V-I If something conforms to something such as a law or someone's wishes, it is of the required type or quality. (与法律、愿望等) 相符合
• The lamp has been designed to conform to new safety standards.
该灯设计得符合新的安全标准。
②V-I If you conform, you behave in the way that you are expected or supposed to behave. 守规矩
• Many children who can't or don't conform are bullied.
许多不守规矩的孩子受欺负。
7.conscientious
①ADJ Someone who is conscientious is very careful to do their work properly. 认真的
• We are generally very conscientious about our work.
我们一般对工作都是很认真的。
②ADV 认真地
• He studied conscientiously and enthusiastically.
他认真积极地学习。
8.consolidate
①V-T If you consolidate something that you have, for example power or success, you strengthen it so that it becomes more effective or secure. 巩固
• The question is: will the junta consolidate its power by force?
问题是，这个军政府会通过武力来巩固它的政权吗？
②V-T To consolidate a number of small groups or companies means to make them into one large organization. 合并
• Judge Charles Schwartz is giving the state 60 days to disband and consolidate Louisiana's four higher education boards.
查尔斯·施瓦茨法官给该州60天解散且合并路易斯安那的4个高等教育委员会。
9.consultancy
①N-COUNT A consultancy is a company that gives expert advice on a particular subject. 咨询公司
• A survey of 57 hospitals by Newchurch, a consultancy, reveals striking improvements.
纽彻奇咨询公司对57家医院的调查显示明显的改善。
②N-UNCOUNT Consultancy is expert advice on a particular subject which a person or group is paid to provide to a company or organization. 咨询
10.contrive
V-T If you contrive an event or situation, you succeed in making it happen, often by tricking someone. (常指用欺骗手段) 策划
• The oil companies were accused of contriving a shortage of petrol to justify price increases.
一些石油公司为了找借口提高油价而策划谎报石油短缺，因而被起诉。
