1. 这是个什么词？
词：vocal
英英释义：expressing opinions or feelings freely or loudly
例句：The famed Chinese writer Zheng Yuanjie is a vocal supporter and practitioner of quality-oriented education.
2. 为什么选这个词？
“vocal”是形容词，本意是“发声的”，可以引申为“直言不讳的、对......敢于直言的、强烈的”，我们今天来学这个词的引申义。它的意思准确，在《经济学人》中出现的频率比较高，在口语和写作中都可以使用它。下面来看几个例子。
著名作家郑渊洁一直是素质教育坚定的推行者和实践者，就可以说：
The famed Chinese writer Zheng Yuanjie is a vocal supporter and practitioner of quality-oriented education.
团队领导直言不讳地表达了他对市场活动结果的不满，就可以说：
The team leader has been very vocal in his displeasure/discontent over the marketing result.
去年意大利潮牌 D&G 惹火烧身，微博上一些意见领袖对 D&G 充满种族歧视的广告表达了强烈的谴责，可以说：
Some KOLs (key opinion leaders) were vocal in condemning the Italian fashion brand D&G's racially discriminatory commercial last year.
《经济学人》在两篇讨论欧洲央行人选的文章中都用到了 vocal：
Mr Liikanen was a vocal advocate of unconventional tools. Mr Weidmann is the most contentious candidate. His vocal opposition to ECB asset-purchase programmes was reportedly derided by Mr Draghi as “Nein zu allem”(“No to everything”).
下面的几句话出现在《经济学人》一篇报道台湾同性恋合法化的文章中：
In Hong Kong Mr Yau says Taiwan’s experience underscores the importance of winning hearts and minds. Equal-rights proponents are adamant that the basic rights of minorities should not be subject to a vote by the majority. But, says Mr Yau, there is a need to engage with the most vocal critics. It helps that homosexuality is no longer a taboo among the young. Public opinion is moving in favour of same-sex marriage.
注意第二句中的 adamant 和第三句中的 vocal 是同义词，都表示对某种观点的坚持。
3. 怎样学会使用这个词？
1）翻译下面的句子：
他强烈支持这个方案。
He is a vocal supporter to this disposal.
造句
最初，人们对贝聿铭计划在18世纪的卢浮宫建造一个高70英尺的玻璃金字塔表达不满。
At first, people were vocal in I. M. Pei's plan for a 70--foot glass pyramid in the 18--century courtyard of the Louvre.
（参考翻译：He is a vocal supporter/advocate of this proposal.)
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