*grim
a. 1. (of a situation, etc.) unpleasant, difficult to accept and worrying 严酷的；无情的
2. (of a place) unattractive and depressing in appearance 阴森的，令人生畏的

prognosis
n. 1. (med.) a doctor's opinion of what course a disease will probably take ［医］预后（指根据症状对疾病结果的预测）
2. a prediction about the future 预测

dryly, drily
ad. 1. according to the rules and without personal warmness or feeling 干巴巴地；冷冰冰地
2. 干燥地

worsen
v. (cause to) become worse （使）变得更坏；（使）恶化

demonstrate
vt. 1. prove or make clear by reasoning or examples 论证，证明
2. show the way to do sth. or how sth. works 示范；操作；演示
3. show (one's particular skill, quality or feeling) 显示，表露
vi. take part in a march or meeting to show one's opposition to sth. or support for it 示威游行

acknowledge
vt. 1. (as, to be) recognize, accept or admit (as) 承认；接受
2. state that one has received sth. 告知（信件、礼物等的）收到
3. show one's appreciation for, as by giving or saying sth. 对…表示谢忱，答谢

theoretical
a. based on or concerning the ideas and abstract principles of a subject, rather than the practical aspects of it 理论（上）的；纯理论的

cosmology
n. the scientific study of the universe and its origin and development 宇宙学

*govern
vt. 1. (often pass.) determine the nature of ［常被动］决定；支配
2. rule (a country, a city, etc. and its people) 统治；治理
3. have control or influence over (sth.) 支配；影响

governor
n. a person who controls any of certain types of organization or place 统治者；管辖者；地方长官

expansion
n. 1. the process of becoming greater in size or amount 扩大，扩充；扩张
2. 扩充物；扩展部分

*immune
a. 1. (to) not affected by 不受影响的；可防止的
2. unable to be harmed (by a disease) because of special powers in oneself 免疫的；有免疫力的

depression
n. 1. a feeling of sadness and hopelessness 忧伤，消沉，沮丧
2. a period of reduced business activity and high unemployment 不景气；萧条（期）

disability
n. a physical injury or mental illness that severely affects one's life 伤残，残疾

sympathy
n. 1. the ability to share the feelings of another 同情心，恻隐心
2. a pity 同情

sympathize, -ise
v. show or feel sympathy （表示）同情

black hole
an area in outer space into which everything near it, including light itself, is pulled ［天］黑洞

nowadays
ad. at the present time, in contrast with the past 如今，现在

obsolete
a. no longer used; out of date 已废弃的；过时的

Phrases and Expressions

far and wide
everywhere; from or over a large area 到处；广泛地

dream of
wish, fantasize, imagine 梦想；向往

specialise in
concentrate one's studies, interests, etc. on (a particular field, etc.) 专门从事；专门研究

in use
being used 在使用着的

fall apart
break into pieces; break up 破碎；崩溃

in a sense
to a certain extent but not entirely 从某种意义上说

be responsible for
be the cause of 是…的原因；对…负责

hang around (with)
spend time in a place or with sb., often without any particular purpose （在某处）闲荡；（和某人）厮混

at once
at the same time 同时，一起

struggle away with
try very hard to do (sth., though it is very hard) 努力做（某事），艰难地做（某事）

have nothing to do with
have no relation to or connection with 与…无关

bother to do sth.
trouble oneself to do sth. 费心去做某事

knock off
cause sth. to fall from a place 敲掉；击倒

work out
find an answer to (sth.); solve (sth.) 想出；得出

have one's share of sth.
have part of sth.; have the amount that is fair for sb. 享有其中一份；享有自己应得的一份

fit (right) in
be (precisely) suitable (to) （正）相合

mind over matter
(sometimes humor) control of events or material objects by the power of the mind 精神战胜物质

turn out to be
happen to be in the end 最后是；结果是

Proper Names

Stephen William Hawking
斯蒂芬·威廉·霍金（1942—，英国物理学家）

John Gribbin
约翰·格里宾

Guinness Book of Records
《吉尼斯世界纪录大全》

The Sunday Times
《星期日泰晤士报》

Frank
弗兰克（男子名）

Isobel
伊泽贝尔（Elizabeth的异体）（女子名）

Galileo
伽利略（1564—1642，意大利数学家、天文学家和物理学家，现代力学和实验物理学的创始人）

St Albans School
圣奥尔本斯公学

Aldous Huxley
奥尔德斯·赫胥黎（1894—1963，美籍英国作家）

Bertrand Russell
伯特兰·罗素（1872—1970，英国哲学家、数学家、逻辑学家）

ALS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease [医]肌萎缩性（脊髓）侧索硬化

Newton
牛顿（1642—1727，英国物理学家）