七千词汇网上进修（免费）-5

前5句

我的译文尽量照顾“信”、“达”。供参考。巧记方法若看不太明白，请阅读我以前的有关形象记忆的博文。---姚鸿恩

16. The development of mechanical timepieces spurred the search for more accurate sundials with which to regulate them.
机械时钟的发展刺激了（人们）搜寻更精确的日晷用以调整它们。

sundial，日晷。sun，太阳。dial，标度盘；（老式电话）拨号盘。阳光和标度盘，组成日晷。

17. Anthropology is a science in that anthropologists use a rigorous set of methods and techniques to document observations that can be checked by others.
人类学是这样一种科学：人类学家用一整套严格的方法和技术来记载所观察到东西，并能为他人所核查。

rigorous，严格的，严厉的。跟vigorous（健壮的）一起记。 严格才健壮。    

18. Fungi are important in the process of decay, which returns ingredients to the soil, enhances soil fertility, and decomposes animal debris.
真菌在腐烂过程中是重要的。腐烂过程将混合物组成部分重新送入泥土中，增加泥土的肥沃，分解动物残骸。

decay，腐烂，衰败。decomposes，腐烂，分解。debris，散落的碎片，残骸。这三个单词都是de打头。de是个重要的前缀，表示：去除，离开，相反，等。

19. When it is struck, a tuning fork produces an almost pure tone, retaining its pitch over a long period of time.
当受到敲击时，一把音叉产生几乎纯粹的音调，在一个相当长的时间里能保持其音高。

pitch，投掷，（涂）沥青，坡度，音高。 串联形象记忆：沥青的坡度等于投掷的音高。

20. Although pecans are most plentiful in the southeastern part of the United States, they are found as far north as Ohio and Illinois.
虽然美洲山核桃树盛产在美国南部，在北部，远至俄亥俄和伊利诺伊斯，也能发现它们。

pecan，美洲山核桃（树）。pe=皮衣。can，能。皮衣能放山核桃。

后5句

21. Eliminating problems by transferring the blame to others is often called scapegoating.

22. The chief foods eaten in any country depend largely on what grows best in its climate and soil.

23. Over a very large number of trials, the probability of an event’s occurring is equal to the probability that it will not occur.

24. Most substance contract when they freeze so that the density of a substance’s solid is higher than the density of its liquid.

25. The mechanism by which brain cells store memories is not clearly understood.