fashion

n. the popular way of dressing or behaving at a certain time

superorganism

n. a group of organisms (as of social insects) that function as a social unit

reductionist

a. having to do with a procedure or theory that reduces complex data or phenomena to simple terms

reduction n.

insect

n. a small animal with six les, a body divided into three main parts, and often wings 昆虫

exhibit

vt. show demonstrate

mystery

n. sth. that is not known or understood

unsolved

a. not solved or explained

introduction

n. a written or spoken explanation at the beginning of a book or speech

ambiguity

n. the possibility of two or more meanings; vagueness 模棱两可；意义不明确

ambiguous

a. having more than one possible meaning, permitting more than one possible interpretation or explanation

premedical

a. preparing for the study of medicine

outset

n. the beginning

engross

vt. take up all of; absorb

engrossing

a. (not of a person) very interesting

adversary

n. a person or group to whom one is opposed; opponent or enemy

adverse

a. hostile; unfavorable

Darwinian

a. of Charles Darwin or his theory of evolution

dispute

n. a quarrel, disagreement

feature

n. an important part or quality

reluctance

n. unwillingness

reluctant a.

doctrinal

a. of or having to do with doctrine

doctrine

n. a principle or set of principles (esp. of a religious or political kind) that is taught 主义；教条，学说

readily

ad. without difficulty, easily; without delay, quickly

perceive

vt. become aware of by seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling or touching; get an understanding of

awareness

n. the quality or state of being aware

ethologist

n. a person who studies ethology (the individual and comparative study of animal behavior, including that of man) （个体）生态学家；行为学家

consciousness

n. the condition being aware and able to understand what is happening; awareness

creature

n. a living person or animal

capitalize

vi. (on) profit by; use to one's own advantage included

hazard

vt. venture; risk

exception

n. the fact of being left out; (a cause of) not being included

chimpanzee

n. a small African ape with dark hair黑猩猩

whale

n. a large sea animal that resembles fish but breathes air 鲸

dolphin

n. a sea animal that has a snout like a beak 海豚

contingency

n. a chance happening; uncertain event

automatic

a. done or produced by the body without thought or control

automatically ad.

dislike

vt. consider unpleasant; not like

generous

a. willing to give or share; unselfish 慷慨的

generous-minded a.

sparse

a. thin; thinly scattered

resultant

a. happening as an effect; resulting

metaphor

n. a figure of speech in which two things are compared without using "like" or "as"

nonetheless

ad. in spite of that; nevertheless

sustain

vt. maintain or keep (sth.) going; confirm

genuine

a. real or true; not false

unsettled

a. not yet settled

debatable

a. lending itself to formal debate; having strong points on both sides

biosphere

n. the part of the world in which life can exist 生命层；生物圈

conjoin

vt. cause to join together or unite

coherence

n. natural or reasonable connection; consistency 连贯；一致性

coherent a.

resemble

vt. be like or similar to

embryo

n. the young of any creature in its first state before birth, or before coming out of an egg 胚胎

emergence

n. the act or fact or emerging

entity

n. sth. That has a real and separate existence; being; existence 实体；存在

totality

n. the state of being whole; completeness

feedback

n. a process in which the factors that produce a result are themselves modified, corrected, strengthened, etc. by that result 反馈

cybernetic

a. of, relating to, or involving cybernetics （控制论）

optimal

a. most favorable; best

optimum

n., a.

postulate

vt. assume without proof as a basis of reasoning; take for granted

notion

n. an idea, belief or opinion in one's mind; concept

fume

vi. give off vapor, gas or smoke; show anger or irritation

faction

n. a group or party within a large group 派别

evolve

v. develop gradually by a long continuous process 演化

decry

vt. express strong disapproval; cry out against

heresy

n. a belief different from the accepted belief of a church, school, profession or other group 异教；异端

sociobiologist

n. one who studies the biological basis for animal and human social behavior

antisociobiologist n.

behold

vt. have in sight; see

astonishment

n. great surprise; amazement

astonish vt.

imaginative

a. having or showing a strong imagination

govern

vt. direct or manage; rule; control

Phrases & Expressions

move ahead

go forward

plug away

work persistently

at close quarters

very near or near together

out of fashion

not popular or approved of

explain away

give a satisfactory reason for; remove objection to by means of a convincing argument

at the outset

at the beginning

on the part of

of or by (sb.)

have it (that)

maintain, assert (that)

think over

think carefully about; consider; study

capitalize on

profit by; make full use of (sth.)

in possession of

having; owing

stir up

excite; stimulate; provoke

catch on

become popular or fashionable

Proper Names

Lewis Thomas 刘易斯.托马斯

Darwin 达尔文

Walace 华莱士

Grasse 格拉斯

Lovelock 洛夫洛克

Margulis 马古利斯

Gaia 盖亚