1. resurgence
noun
- the return and growth of an activity that had stopped 复苏，复兴
e.g. a resurgence of interest in the artist’s work
2. an impediment to progress
阻碍进步
noun
- something that delays or stops the progress of something 妨碍，阻碍
= obstacle
e.g. The level of inflation is a serious impediment to economic recovery.
- a physical problem that makes it difficult to speak normally 口吃，结巴
e.g. a speech impediment 语言障碍
3. belief began to erode
verb
- to gradually destroy the surface of something through the action of wind, rain, etc.; to be gradually destroyed in this way 侵蚀，风化
= wear away
e.g.The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea.
- to gradually destroy something or make it weaker over a period of time; to be destroyed or made weaker in this way 削弱，逐渐毁坏
e.g. Her confidence has been slowly eroded by repeated failures.
4. the ebb of the Christian tide
基督教潮的衰落
ebb
noun
- the period of time when the sea flows away from the land 退潮
e.g. the ebb tide
verb
- (of the tide in the sea)to move away from the land 落，退
= flow, go out
- to become gradually weaker or less 衰弱，衰退
= decrease
e.g. As night fell, our enthusiasm began to ebb away.
5. brutal
adj
- violent and cruel 残暴的，残忍的
e.g. a brutal and repressive regime
- direct and clear about something unpleasant; not thinking of people’s feelings 直截了当的，冷酷的
e.g. With brutal honesty she told him she did not love him.
the brutalities of war 战争的残酷
6. a moral decay and a lack of trust in society
道德衰退，缺乏社会信任
7. rattle
verb
- to make a series of short loud sounds when hitting against something hard; to make something do this 发出咔哒声
e.g. Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled.
- (of a vehicle)to make a series of short loud sounds as it moves somewhere 连续短促的高声
e.g. A convoy of trucks rattled by.
- to make somebody nervous or frightened 紧张，恐惧
e.g. He was clearly rattled by the question.
noun
- a series of short loud sounds made when hard objects hit against each other 撞击声，咔哒声
e.g. From the kitchen came a rattling of cups and saucers.
- a baby’s toy that makes a series of short loud sounds when it is shaken 拨浪鼓
8. yearn
verb
- to want something very much, especially when it is very difficult to get 渴望，渴求
e.g. The people yearned for peace.
She yearned to escape from her office job.
9. sage
noun
- a plant with flat, light green leaves that have a strong smell and are used in cooking as a herb 鼠尾草
e.g. duck with sage and onion stuffing
- a very wise person 哲人，圣人
e.g. The wise old sage nodded.
adj
- wise, especially because you have a lot of experience 睿智的，贤明的
e.g. She nodded sagely.
10. deride
verb
- to treat somebody/something as ridiculous and not worth considering seriously 嘲笑，愚弄，揶揄
= mock
e.g. His views were derided as old-fashioned.
11. abhor
verb
- to hate something, for example a way of behaving or thinking, especially for moral reasons 憎恨，憎恶
e.g. Most decent people abhor corruption in government.
12. delve
verb
- to search for something inside a bag, container, etc. 翻找
= dig
e.g.She delved in her handbag for a pen.
delve into: to try hard to find out more information about something 探索，探究
e.g. She had started to delve into her father's distant past.
13. truce
noun
-an agreement between enemies or opponents to stop fighting for an agreed period of time; the period of time that this lasts 停战协议，停战期
e.g. to call/break a truce
14. epitomise
verb
- to be a perfect example of something成为典范
e.g. The fighting qualities of the team are epitomized by the captain.
These movies seem to epitomize the 1950s.
15. protagonist
noun
- the main character in a play, film/movie or book 主人公，主角
=hero
- one of the main people in a real event, especially a competition, battle or struggle （比赛，斗争中的）主要任务，主要参与者
- an active supporter of a policy or movement, especially one that is trying to change something （政策、运动的）倡导者，拥护者
e.g. a leading protagonist of the conservation movement
