1. inspiration n. 鼓舞；靈感
　inspire vt. 鼓舞，激勵
　inspire sb to V　　鼓舞／激勵某人（做）??
• The chief editor’s enthusiasm for her work has been an inspiration to us all.
總編輯對工作的熱情鼓舞了我們所有人。
• I couldn’t write anything because I was out of inspiration.
我寫不出任何東西，因為我沒有靈感。
• My father inspired me to follow my dreams and become an actor.
我爸鼓勵我追求當演員的夢想。

2. aspire vi. 渴望
　aspire to V　　渴望要……
• James aspires to become a professional interpreter.
詹姆斯渴望成為一位專業的翻譯。

3. concept n. 概念
• It is sad that people nowadays still buy into the concept that being thin is beautiful.
遺憾的是，如今仍有人相信「瘦即是美」的觀念。
＊buy into...　　相信／採納……（某觀點）

4. monetary a. 金錢（上）的
• People attach too much importance to monetary wealth.
人們太過重視金錢上的富足。

5. agenda n. 議題；議程（表）
• The citizens were paying serious attention to the agenda discussed in the Congress.
國民正認真關注國會所討論的議題。
• The next item on the agenda is annual performance review.
議程表上的下一個討論事項是年度表現檢討。

6. inward(s) adv. 向內地
　outward(s) adv. 向外地
• After her husband’s death, Meg began to turn inwards in her quest for spiritual peace.
丈夫過世後，梅格開始向內探索，尋求心靈的平靜。

7. abstract a. 抽象的
• There are many abstract paintings in this museum.
這間博物館裡收藏了許多抽象畫。

8. ample a. 充足的
• There is ample evidence that climate patterns are changing.
有充足的證據證明氣候型態正在改變。

9. pursuit n. 追求，追尋
　in pursuit of...　　追求／追趕……
• Time and health are precious, but many people sacrifice them in pursuit of wealth and power.
時間與健康很珍貴，但是很多人為了追求財富與權力而犧牲這兩樣東西。

10. venture n.（有風險的）事業
• This real estate venture is a profitable investment.
這項房地產買賣事業是一項有利可圖的投資。

1. take... on board　　採納／接受……（建議等）
• Sophie hoped that her boss could take her idea on board.
蘇菲希望老闆採納她的點子。

2. have... in common　　有……的共通點
• My girlfriend and I don’t have much in common, but we still get along really well.
我跟女友並沒有很多共通點，但我們仍相處融洽。

3. by way of...　　透過／經由……
= via prep.
• The team of explorers reached the cave by way of a long passage.
探險家團隊經由一條長長的通道抵達了那個洞穴。

4. from / at the outset　　從一開始
= from / at the beginning
outset n. 開始
• The machine was malfunctioning from the outset.
這臺機器從一開始就故障了。
＊malfunction vi. 故障

5. against all odds　　克服重重困難
• Against all odds, the once paralyzed man could walk again.
那名曾經癱瘓的男子克服了重重困難後又能走路了。

6. In contrast, S + V　　相較之下，……
= By contrast, S + V
• Nora is shy and conservative. In contrast, her sister Hannah is active and sociable.
諾拉害羞又保守。相較之下，她妹妹漢娜活潑又愛交際。

7. be rooted in...　　起源於／源自於……
• Ron’s fear of spiders is deeply rooted in his childhood.
榮恩對蜘蛛的恐懼深植於他的童年時期。

break down... / break... down　　
拆分／拆解……
• The teacher broke down the formula to make it easier for students to understand.
老師把這個公式拆解讓學生比較容易懂。
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以下介紹 break down 作及物片語動詞的其他意思和作不及物片語動詞的意思：
※ 作及物片語動詞：
a. break down 亦常與介詞 into 並用，形成下列用法：
　break down A into B　　將 A 分成 B
• You can easily understand this English sentence by breaking it down into two parts.
你把這個英文句子拆成兩個部分後就能輕易理解。
b. 表「分解……」。
• The acid in our stomachs helps break down the food we eat.
我們腹中的胃酸有助於分解我們吃下肚的食物。
c. 表「破壞／打破／砸破……」。
• The police had to break down the door in order to arrest the man.
警方為了逮捕那名男子必須破門而入。
d. 表「消除／驅除……」。
　break down the barrier　　消除隔閡，打破藩籬
• Attempts must be made to break down the barriers of fear and hostility, which divide the two communities.
我們必須設法打破由恐懼和敵意所造成並分化著這兩個社區的藩籬。
※ 作不及物片語動詞：
a. 表「（車輛）拋錨，（機器）故障」。
• Shelly’s car broke down on her way home.
雪莉的車子在回家途中拋錨。
• The elevator broke down, so we had to walk up to the 12th floor.
電梯壞了，所以我們必須用走的上去十二樓。
b. 表「（情緒）崩潰」。
• Eve was under a lot of pressure and almost broke down.
伊芙承受很大的壓力而幾乎崩潰。