基础题练习题12

14.He is pessimistic and inclined to ________ difficulties.

A. vary

B. magnify

C. confront

D. modify

正确答案：B

解析
vary v. 变化，改变；
magnify v. 扩大，放大；
confront v. 面对，遭遇；
modify v. 修正，修改；

译文：他比较悲观，老是爱夸大困难。

考察点：词义辨析

评分等级：★★★☆☆

---

pessimistic  悲观的;悲观主义的 

---

vary

 

to be different from each other in size, shape, etc.

The students' work varies considerably in quality.

学生作业的质量甚是参差不齐。

 

to change or be different according to the situation

The menu varies with the season.

菜单随季节而变动。

 

to make changes to sth to make it slightly different

The job enables me to vary the hours I work.

这项工作使我能够调整工作时间。

---

magnify

放大，夸大

同义词：exaggerate

The hotel was really filthy and I'm not exaggerating.

我不是夸张，这旅店真的很脏。

magnify 更偏向于强调放大，是个中性词

exaggerate 贬义色彩，通常用于夸大事实

---

confront v. 面对，遭遇；

to appear and need to be dealt with by sb

(of problems or a difficult situation 问题或困境) 使…无法回避；降临于 

the economic problems confronting the country

这个国家所面临的经济问题

The government found itself confronted by massive opposition.

政府发现自己遭到了强烈的反对。

 

处理，解决（问题或困境） 
to deal with a problem or difficult situation

同义词： face up to

She knew that she had to confront her fears.

她心里明白自己必须克服恐惧心理。

 

面对；对抗；与（某人）对峙 
to face sb so that they cannot avoid seeing and hearing you, especially in an unfriendly or dangerous situation

This was the first time he had confronted an armed robber.

这是他第一次面对一个武装劫匪。

 

~ sb with sb/sth

使面对，使面临，使对付（令人不快或难处的人、场合） 
to make sb face or deal with an unpleasant or difficult person or situation

He confronted her with a choice between her career or their relationship.

他要她在事业和他们两人关系之间作出抉择。

 

be confronted with sth

面对（某事物） 
to have sth in front of you that you have to deal with or react to

Most people when confronted with a horse will pat it.

大多数人遇见马时都会轻轻地拍拍它。

 

这个词有最基本的面对，也有无法避免的面对，强度不同，而且主动被动关系也不一样，有灾难降临的主动用法，有直面灾难的主动用法，有使人直面灾难的用法，有处理、解决的意思。

---

modify

调整；稍作修改；使更适合 
to change sth slightly, especially in order to make it more suitable for a particular purpose

同义词： adapt

The software we use has been modified for us.

我们使用的软件已按我们的需要作过修改。

 

缓和；使温和 
to make sth less extreme

同义词： adjust

to modify your behaviour/language/views 

使你的行为 / 语言 / 观点更容易让人接受

 

(grammar 语法) 修饰 
a word, such as an adjective or adverb, that modifies another word or group of words describes it or restricts its meaning in some way

In ‘walk slowly’, the adverb ‘slowly’ modifies the verb ‘walk’.

在walk slowly中，副词slowly修饰动词walk。