Words
1. condense
to change or make sth change from a gas to a liquid or solid state
Water vapor (水蒸气) in the air condenses into fog.
to reduce sth such as a speech or piece of writing
I condensed ten pages of comments into/to two.
2. compress
to press sth into a smaller space
jasper, a type of quartz formed from compressed volcanic ash
*Synonyms
condense: implies a reducing of sth homogeneous(同种的) to greater compactness(密度) without significant loss of content < condense an essay into a single a single paragraph>. ant amplify
compress: implies a pressing into a small compass(范围) and definite shape, usually against resistance < compressed the comforter(被子) to fit in the box>. ant stretch; spread
contract: applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles(微粒) or a reduction of area, volume, or length < caused his muscles to contract>. ant expand
3. debut
the occasion when sb performs or presents sth to the public for the first time
Now, though, the date of life's debut may be pushed back even further.
She made her professional stage debut in Swan Lake.
4. signature
something (as a tune, style, or logo) that serves to set apart or identify;also:a characteristic mark
A group of researchers have found what they think is the signature of living organisms in rocks.
5. intrigue
to interest sb a lot, esp. by being strange, unusual, or mysterious
With the veins and nodules of the jasper that intrigued his boss.
Throughout history, people have been intrigued by the question of whether there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.
intriguing
very interesting because of being unusual or mysterious
She has a really intriguing personality.
6. host
(v) This suggests that even very early in its existence, Earth was hosting several different kinds of living organism.
(n) The suggestion that hydrothermal vents have played host to life for so long is a strike in the theory's favour.
The Earth was already playing host to very diverse sorts of life.
7. swathe
a long strip or large area esp. of land
The rock in question is a 3-kilometre-long swathe on the eastern shores of the Hudson Bay called the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt.
Huge swathes of rainforest are being cleared for farming and mining.
(literary) a large part of sth that includes several different things
These people represent a broad/wide swathe of public opinion.
8. conclusive
proving that sth is true, or ending and any doubt 令人确信的，毫无疑问的
But that evidence was not quite conclusive.
They had conclusive evidence/proof of her guilt.
9. geological 地质的；地质学的 geographical地理的；地理学的 topographical 地形的
Similar-looking structures can also be formed by non-living, geological processes.
10. anchor
to make sth or sb stay in one position by fastening them firmly
Some of these filaments(纤维) form networks anchored to a lump of haematite(赤铁矿).
We anchored ourselves to the rocks with a rope.
to be strongly connected with a particular system, way of life 扎根于
John's outlook(观点) has always been anchored in the political mainstream.
to act as the anchorman or anchorwoman of a programme
She will anchor the new morning news show.
11. laden
heavily loaded with sth, or containing a lot of sth
Superheated mineral-laden water spurts up from beneath the seabed.
snow-laden branches
The table, as always, was laden with food.
having a lot of a particular quality, thing
a debt-laden company 负债累累
12. remnant
(usually plural) a small part of sth that remains after the rest of it has been used, destroyed, or eaten
Well-preserved fossil remnants of these microbes have been found at many sites.
The remnants of a meal stood on the table.
remnants of the city's former glory
Synonym: remains
the parts of sth which continue to exist when most of it has been used, destroyed, or taken away
The remains of lunch were still on the table.
extensive Roman remains 遗迹
遗体
Human remains were found in the woods.
13.gradient 坡度
The chemistry of the water could provide exactly the sort of energy gradient that a primitive living cell would have needed to go about his bio-chemical business.
14. strike
the discovery underground of a valuable substance
The suggestion that hydrothermal vents have played host to life for so long is a strike in the theory's favour.
The population and settlement of Colorado expanded after the gold strike of 1858.
15. scrutiny 仔细审查
The find will face fierce/careful/close scrutiny.
16. dissolve
溶解
The food chains of such ecosystems are based on reactions between the dissolved chemicals that well up from the crust.
Dissolve the tablet in water.
dissolve into/in laughter/tears 笑起来、流起泪来
Phrases
1. bear a (close/striking/uncanny resemblance to
Tina bears a striking resemblance to her mother.
The team contends that these bear more than a passing resemblance to the networks of bacteria.
bear little/no resemblance to
These prices bear no resemblance to (=are completely different from) the ones I saw printed in the newspaper.
2. the cradle of sth
(literary) the place where sth started
Such a find is doubly intriguing because hydrothermal vents are seen as a plausible candidate for the cradle of life.
Fossil records indicate that Africa was the cradle of early human evolution.
from (the) cradle to (the) grave
for all of a person's life
She lived in the same village from the cradle to the grave.
3. spurt from/out of
come out quickly and suddenly
Blood spurted from his nose.
4. well up from
(liquid)comes to the surface of sth and starts to flow out
I felt tears well up in my eyes.
(emotion)if a feeling wells up in you, you start to feel strongly
Anger welled up within him.
5. go about
do; approach; deal with
A primitive living cell would have needed to go about its bio-chemical business.
I want him back, but I just don't know how to go about it.
We were simply going about our business when we were pounced upon(被抓)by these police officers.
6. derive from
to come from sth
Most living organisms, including those that built the stromatolites, ultimately derive their energy from photosynthesis.
Medically, we will derive great benefit from this technique.
Many students derived enormous satisfaction/pleasure/enjoyment from the course.
7. penetrate into
to enter sth and pass or spread through it,esp when this is difficult
no sunlight penetrates so deep into the oceans
Explorers penetrated deep into unknown regions.
8. confine sth to sth 把...先限制于
A luck one-off confined to Earth alone.
We confined our study to ten cases.
confine yourself to (doing) sth
Owen did not confine himself to writing only one type of poem.