◆ sugar-coated a. 經美化的；裹著糖衣的
◆ ecosystem n. 生態系統
◆ inhospitable a. 不宜人居的
◆ vista n.（大片區域內的）景色／景觀
◆ distract vt. 使分心，分散（注意力）
◆ hatchling n. 剛孵出的卵生動物（如雛鳥）
◆ precarious a.（局勢或狀態）危險的／不穩定的
◆ amplify vt. 增強（正式用法）
◆ somber a. 憂鬱的；暗淡的
◆ outlook n. 前景，遠景
◆ bleak a. 沒有希望的；令人沮喪的

1. hostile a.（環境）惡劣的
• No plants can possibly grow in such a hostile environment.
沒有植物能在如此惡劣的環境中生長。

2. conclusion n. 結論；結尾
• We’ve come to the conclusion that Nancy is not suitable for this job.
我們已經做出結論：南西並不適合這份工作。

3. mountainous a. 多山的
• The eastern part of Taiwan is mountainous and beautiful.
臺灣東部多山又美麗。

4. peril n. 危險
put... in peril　　使……陷入險境
• A bad investment put the future of the company in peril.
一項糟糕的投資使該公司的未來陷入危機。

5. lofty a. 高聳的
• The hotel welcomes its guests with a large hall with a lofty ceiling.
這家旅館以有著挑高天花板的大廳來迎接它的賓客。

6. prey n. 獵物（集合名詞，不可數）
• A huge eagle glided over the area, looking for prey.
一隻大老鷹滑翔飛過這個區域尋找獵物。

7. tumble n. & vi.（尤指從高處）跌落；倒下
　take a tumble　　摔倒
• That model wearing super high heels took a tumble on the runway.
那名穿著超高高跟鞋的模特兒在伸展臺上摔倒了。
• Tom tumbled down the stairs and got a few bruises.
湯姆從樓梯跌下，身上有幾處瘀青。

8. impact vt. & n. 衝擊，影響
　have an impact on...　　對……有影響
• Hurricane Katrina impacted the entire economy of the United States.
卡崔娜颶風衝擊了美國的整體經濟。
• The internet has had a profound impact on our everyday life.
網際網路對我們的日常生活有著深遠的影響。
　＊profound a. 深遠的，深刻的

9. scarcity n. 短缺，不足
• One-third of the world’s population is facing water scarcity.
全球有三分之一的人口正面臨缺水危機。

10. competition n. 競爭；比賽
• A knee injury forced the player to withdraw from the competition.
那位選手因膝蓋受傷而被迫退出比賽。

11. shifting a. 不斷變化／移動的
• The company struggled to keep up with the shifting needs of the consumers.
那家公司努力想跟上消費者不斷變化的需求。

12. triumph n.（尤指苦戰後的）勝利／成功
　in triumph　　滿懷勝利的喜悅
• After hitting a home run, Charlie ran back to home base in triumph.
擊出一支全壘打後，查理帶著勝利的喜悅跑回本壘。

1. over / during / throughout / in the course of...　　在……的期間／過程裡
• With this line graph, you can see how our sales figures changed over the course of the year.
根據這張折線圖，各位可以看到我們的銷售數字在這一年內的變化。
• In the course of the conversation, I discovered that Wayne is really quite clever.
在交談的過程中，我發現韋恩真的很聰明。

2. kick off... / kick... off　　開始……（活動、會議等）
kick off　　開始
• The performers kicked off the festivities with a dance.
表演者們以一段舞蹈來為慶祝活動揭開序幕。
• The game kicked off right after the parade of nations.
各國代表隊遊行之後，比賽便接著開打。

3. be swept away (by...)　　被（……）沖走／消滅／摧毀
• The houses were swept away by the landslide.
那些房屋被這場山崩摧毀殆盡。

4. put... at risk　　將……置於險境
• Some people have genes that may put them at risk for cancer.
有些人的基因可能會帶給他們罹患癌症的風險。

5. migrate to...　　遷徙至……
migrate vi. 遷徙，移棲
• Most birds migrate to warm regions during the winter.
大部分的鳥類會在冬季期間遷徙到氣候溫暖的地區。

6. end in...　　以……告終
• The team’s attempt to climb Mt. Everest ended in failure.
那支登山隊試圖攻下聖母峰之舉以失敗告終。

add insult to (one’s) injury　　
（對某人而言）雪上加霜，在（某人的）傷口上灑鹽
insult n. 侮辱；辱罵
• Paul added insult to Mary’s injury by breaking up with her after she got laid off.
保羅在瑪莉被解僱後又與她分手，簡直是在她的傷口上灑鹽。
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以下再介紹幾個表「（使）不好的事接連發生」的用法：
a. add fuel to the fire / flames　　
　火上加油，使（爭吵、對立等）更加惡化
• The joke Sally told didn’t solve our argument at all. Instead, it added fuel to the fire.
莎莉說的笑話一點都沒有解決我們的爭吵。相反地，那使情況更加惡化。
b. rub salt into one’s wound　　
　在某人的傷口上灑鹽，加劇某人的痛苦
• Susan is already sad about her mistake, so stop rubbing salt into her wound by blaming her.
蘇珊對於自己犯的錯已經很難過了，所以不要再責備她、在她的傷口上灑鹽了。
另外，以下諺語都有「禍不單行」的意思，可替換使用：
a. It never rains, but it pours.　　
　不雨則已，一雨傾盆。
= It never rains without pouring.
• First, Terry’s car was towed away. Then it began to rain heavily. And finally, he left his cellphone in the taxi. It never rains, but it pours.
最先是泰瑞的車被拖吊。然後開始下起大雨。最後他又把手機掉在計程車上。正可謂禍不單行啊。
b. Misfortunes never come singly.
　不幸的事往往接二連三；禍不單行。
misfortune n. 不幸，厄運
• Lucy’s house flooded after a pipe broke in the kitchen. However, misfortunes never come singly, and she slipped on the wet floor and broke her arm.
露西廚房裡的一條水管破掉後，家裡便淹水了。然而禍不單行的是，她在潮溼的地板上滑倒還摔斷了手臂。
c. Bad things come in threes.　　壞事成三。
• After his marriage proposal failed, Larry went broke and got kicked out of his apartment, which really proves that bad things come in threes.
繼求婚失敗後，賴瑞破產還被趕出公寓，這真是證明了禍不單行啊。