Lesson fourteen
Pre-class Work
Read the text a third time. Learn the new words and expressions listed below.
Glossary
acre
n. a measure of land 英亩 (equal to 6 市亩 a in China)
afresh
adv. (fml) once more; from the beginning
Alabama
n. 亚拉巴马州（U.S.）
assault
n. an attempt to achieve sth. difficult
assignment
n. a piece of work given to sb.
balloon
v. to get larger in amount; to increase in number
blueprint
n. a plan for achieving sth. 蓝图
capital
n. money to start a business
charity
n. an organization that gives help to the poor
commute
v. to travel regularly a long distance to work
contractor
n. a person or company that makes an agreement to do work 承包商
corporation
n. a company
dilapidated
adj. old and in very bad condition
distribute
v. to give to a group of people or organization, esp. in a planned way 分配；分发
donation
n. sth. esp. money given to an organization without asking for anything in return 捐款
dubious
adj. not sure whether sth. is true or good
dwelling
n. (fml) a house where people live
dynamic
adj. full of energy and new ideas, and determined to succeed
equity
n. 产权 sweat ～: unpaid labor that is invested to start or expand a business
erect
v. to build
foundation
n. 基础
generous
adj. showing readiness to give money, help, kindness, etc.
Georgia
n. 佐治亚州（U.S.）
habitat
n. the natural home of a plant or animal. Here: the name given to the housing project
handle
v. to deal with a difficult situation
install
v. 安装
jolt
v. to shock suddenly
knack
n. (infml) a special skill or ability
livestock
n. animals kept on a farm
luxurious
adj. very expensive, beautiful and comfortable
Manhattan
曼哈顿 (U.S.)
millionaire
n. a person who has at least 1,000,000 pounds or dollars; a very wealthy person
minimal
adj. very small in degree or amount
mission
n. sth. you feel you must do because it is your duty
Mississippi
n. 密西西比州（U.S.）
mortgage
n. an agreement to borrow money from a bank in order to buy a house, with the house belonging to the lender until the money is repaid 抵押贷款
needy
adj. having very little food or money
passer-by
n. a person who happens to pass by a place
peek
v. to look at sth. quickly, esp. sth. you are not supposed to see
plea
n. an eager or serious request
plumbing
n. all the pipes that carry water through in a building
plus
prep. with the addition of; and also
profit
n. money gained by selling things or doing business
ranch
n. (AmE) a very large farm where sheep, cattle or horses are raised
recruit
v. to find new people to work in a company, join an organization or do a job, etc.
rent
v. to pay money regularly for the use of a house or room that belongs to sb. else
reservoir
n. an artificial lake where water is stored before it is supplied to people's houses. Here: a large amount of sth, that has not been used
