单词英英学习

cluster

[klAstar]

n.

A cluster of things is a small group of them placed close together.

-+

She held a large cluster of grapes in her hand.

condensed

[kandenst]

adj.

When a liquid is condensed, it is made thicker.

-

?

One way to make a dessert thick and sweet is to use condensed milk.

cultivate

[kAltaveit]

v.

To cultivate plants is to care for them and help them grow.

-?

A research company is cultivating

new kinds of rice to aid poor countries.

d i v i n e [divain]

adj.

When something is divine, it is related to gods.

-*

Legends say that music was given to men as a divine gift from the gods.

odor

[oudar]

n.

An odor is a very distinct smell.

-?

He knew there was a leak when he noticed the strong odor of natural gas.

palate

[paelit]

n.

The palate is the top part of the mouth.

?

You can touch your

palate with your tongue.

subtle

[sAtl]

adj.

When something is subtle, it is not easy to see or notice.

-

?

The handsome man has a subtle smile.

texture

[tekstj9:r]

n.

The texture of something is the way its surface looks and feels.

The texture of a rock found in the water is typically very smooth.

The

History of Chocolate

Many people believe that chocolate originally came from Europe. However, chocolate,

called the “food of the gods,” was first made in the Americas. The first chocolate was

very different from

contemporary

chocolate.

Wild chocolate trees can grow easily in the humid

Amazon rainforest.

Clusters of

flowers growing on these trees turn to seeds. About 20 to 60 cacao beans can be found

in the seeds. Cacao beans are the ingredient needed to create sweet,

soothing,

and

delicious chocolate treats.

The Mayan and Aztec cultures both thought that chocolate trees were brought from

paradise

by gods. The Mayans and Aztecs used the beans from this

divine tree to create

a special

beverage with a very pleasant odor.

Surprisingly, the Aztecs believed that it

would be toxic to women and children.

In the 1500s, the Spanish explorer Cortes met the Aztecs. Cortes became quite

interested in the

plantations where the Aztecs cultivated

chocolate trees. When he

returned to Europe, he took cacao beans with him. He introduced the people of Spain to

the Aztecs’ chocolate beverage.

Over the next 100 years or so, kings, queens, and members of the upper class

enjoyed drinking chocolate. They enjoyed it even more once they learned to add sugar

to the beverage! Soon, chocolate had spread all across Europe. New machines allowed

chocolate makers to perfect their products and produce them at a very rapid rate.

Preparing the beans in special ways brought out the

aroma

of chocolate. The beans were

combined

with

condensed

milk to give the chocolate a smooth texture.

Today, contemporary chocolates with

subtle flavors fill the shelves of expensive

chocolate shops. The different types of chocolate

available today vary widely. True chocolate

lovers can tell which is best, though. They will

tell you that the flavor of high quality

chocolate stays on the

palate

long

after you finish it.

a d m i r a l [aedmaral]

n.

An admiral is someone who controls many military ships.

-

?

They won the sea battle because of the admiral’s great leadership.

a r c

la:rk] n.

An arc is a curved shape.

-?

A rainbow has the shape of an arc.

fiery

[faiari]

adj.

If something is fiery, it is burning strongly.

-?

The fiery blaze burned all night long.

kerosene [kerasi:n]

n.

Kerosene is a type of oil. It is used in some lamps and stoves.

-*

Many people in poor countries cook on kerosene stoves.

l o o p [lu:p]

n.

A loop is a line made into the shape of a circle.

-?

He made a loop with the rope and placed it over the post.

Monkey Island

In the middle of the ocean, there is a small island shaped like an

arc.

Here, monkeys

play on the beach and in the trees. But how did the monkeys get there?

Once, an English

admiral was exploring Africa when he found hundreds of monkeys.

The admiral’s character was mean. He thought, “I c

ould sell these monkeys and become

very rich! I’m going to take them to England.”

So the admiral set traps to catch the monkeys. He put stakes

in the ground, tied

string around them and made

loops

in the string. When the monkeys ran through the

fores

t, their feet got caught in the loops, and they couldn’t escape. Then the admiral put

the monkeys in cages on his ship and sailed away.

The cages were small and uncomfortable. There was no soft

hay for the monkeys to

sleep on. Instead, they slept on bra

nches with sharp thorns

that cut into the monkeys’

flesh.

For dinner, he gave them tiny pieces of sour grapefruit to eat. The monkeys grew

hungry and weak.

But one day, the admiral hired a new steward.

He was a kind man with a good

conscience.

He was

horrified

to see the thin monkeys in the cages. So one night he let

them out.

The monkeys ran and played all over the ship! They attacked the admiral and the

steward and ate their food. They completely wrecked the ship. One monkey ran into a