The Secret River


(a)Vocabulary~
1.graveyard--a tract of land used for burials,坟场(常在教堂附近)
E.g.He takes a macabre interest in graveyards.


2.dumb-- slow to learn or understand愚蠢的
E.g.It was dumb of you to say that.


3.raft-- a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers木筏，木排
E.g.The raft came close to the rocks and then sheered away.


4.sore-- an open skin infection（发炎）疼痛的；酸痛的
E.g.Mary has a bad cold and sore throat.


5.reliability--the trait of being dependable or reliable可靠，可信赖
E.g.His failure to appear raises serious doubts as to his reliability.


6.satisfaction--the contentment you feel when you have done something right满意, 满足, 实现, 欣慰, 令人满意（或欣慰）的事
E.g.She laughed her satisfaction.


7.influence--a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc影响; 感化力
E.g.Her influence made me a better person.


8.dine--have supper; eat dinner吃饭, 进餐
E.g.Don't talk about business while we are dining.


9.executive--a person responsible for the administration of a business公司或机构的）经理，主管领导，管理人员
E.g.A good executive usually gets on well with people.


10.strictly-- restricted to something严格地
E.g.His doctor is dieting him strictly.


Review: This is one of my favorite children's books in English. It is lyrical, fun to read out loud, and yet it deals with important issues; poverty, hard times, the cycle of life, and even the business cycle. Unlike most children's books dealing with these issues, it doesn't soft pedal the hard facts. Life comes from life. If you want to eat, you have to be willing to take the life of another being, and nothing is for free, but people can still help each other, by trading one person's work for another's work product. Especially at Christmas time, when there are so many books that suggest we can get something for nothing, The Secret River would make a great gift for the child in your life.