A: Why didn’t you play soccer with us?
B: I’ve never been much of an athlete .
athlete
n. 运动员，体育家
A: The atmosphere of a room really changes when she walks in.
B: Yes, she certainly has a powerful presence.
atmosphere
n. 1.大气，大气层；2.空气；3.气氛，环境
A: It’s hard to imagine that everything is make up of little tiny atoms.
B: And it’s even harder to imagine that every atom is made up of even smaller particles.
atom
n. 1.原子；2.微粒，微量
A: Atomic energy can help reduce our dependence on oil.
B: But it has dangerous side effects as well.
atomic
a. 1.(关于)原子的；2.原子能的，原子武器的
A: What should I do with my necklace when I’m not wearing it?
B: Why don’t you attach it to your backpack?
attach
vt. 1.系，贴，连接；2.使依恋，使喜爱；3.认为有（重要性，责任等）；4.使附属
A: It’s difficult to attain such a high level of skill.
B: But they say that, with practice, anything is possible.
attain
vt. 达到，获得
A: If you don’t change your attitude , I’m leaving.
B: Go ahead and leave if you want.
attitude
n. 1.态度，看法；2.姿态，姿势
A: My attorney says I should plead guilty.
B: But you didn’t do anything!
attorney
n. 律师，（业务或法律事务上的）代理人
A: I’ve always had an attraction to politics.
B: Maybe you should run for office.
attraction
n. 1.吸引，吸引里，诱惑力；2.具有吸引力的事物（或人）
A: I think you’re very attractive .
B: I think you’re quite ugly.
attractive
a. 吸引的，有吸引力的，引起注意的
A: I attribute his lack of personality to my failure as a parent.
B: Don’t be so hard on yourself.
attribute
vt. (to) 把…归因于，把（过错、责任等）归于
n. 属性，特性
A: Why are you so sad? I thought it was a great show.
B: But half the audience left at intermission!
audience
n. 听众，观众，读者
A: The audio system in my car is nothing to get excited about.
B: At least it puts out sound, which is more than I can say about my car’s system.
audio
a. 听觉的，声音的
A: How do you know the author ?
B: We went to high school together.
author
n. 著作家，作者
A: I hate it when the students challenge my authority .
B: Well, kids will be kids.
authority
n. 1.权力，管辖权；2.[pl.]官方，当局；3.当权者，行政管理机构；4.权威，专家
A: I want to buy an automatic can opener.
B: Why don’t you just open the cans yourself?
automatic
a. 1.自动的；2.不假思索的，无意识的；3.必然的，自然的
n. 自动手枪（或步枪等），有自动装置的汽车
A: That is a fine-looking automobile .
B: Thank you.
automobile
n. 汽车
A: I want to buy some auxiliary speakers to supplement my existing sound system.
B: Do what you want, but I think it’s a waste of money.
auxiliary
a. 1.辅助的，补助的；2.备用的，后备的
A: Do you have any rooms available ?
B: I’m sorry, we’re all booked of tonight.
available
a. 1.现成可使用的，在手边的，可利用的；2.可取得联系的，可得到的
A: I live on 15 Lawn Avenue.
B: Next to the Johnsons?
avenue
n. 林荫道，大街
A: I feel like you’ve been trying to avoid me.
B: That’s not true at all.
avoid
vt. 避免，预防，避开
A: Can I have a week to think about it?
B: Sure. I await your reply.
await
vt. 1.等候，期待，期望；2.将降临到…身上
A: It is my pleasure to award you with this trophy for academic excellence.
B: I’m honored to receive it.
award
vt. 1.授予，给予；2.判给，裁定
n. 奖，奖品，奖金
A: I wasn’t aware that you’ve been trying to reach me.
B: Well, I have been for the past fifteen days.
aware
a. 意识到的，知道的
A: How was the movie?
B: It was absolutely awful.
awful
a. 1.极坏的，令人不快的，可怕的；2.（感到）难过的，不舒服的；3.非常的，极大的
A: I really feel awkward when I play tennis.
B: Maybe you should get lessons?
awkward
a. 1.尴尬的，棘手的；2.难操纵的，使用不便的；3.笨拙的，不灵巧的
A: Are you going to cut the tree down with a chainsaw?
B: No, just my trusty ax .
ax(e)
n. 斧子
