Highlights from Day4

INFORMED OPTIMIST

1.informed：见多识广的，having a lot of knowledge or information about a particular subject or situation.

例句：I became reasonably well-informed about the subject.

Every day, we all encounter things we love and things that need to change. The former give us joy. The latter fuel our desire to make the world different—ideally better than the way we found it. But trying to change deep-seated beliefs and behaviors is daunting. We accept the status quo because effecting real change seems impossible. Still, we dare to ask: Can one individual make a difference? And, in our bravest moments: Could that one individual be me?

2.fuel：本意为加油，引申为助力，点燃，刺激。可以与charge，power，boost等做同义替换。

比如燃油发电厂就可以说：oil-fuelled power station

3.deep-seated/deep-rooted：根深蒂固的，坚定的，very fixed and strong，difficult to change or to destroy.

例句：The country's political divisions are deep-seated.

4.daunting：令人望而却步/气馁的，动词原形daunt的含义为：使气馁/失去信心。

例句：Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。

5.status quo：现状，the state of a situation as it is.可以与maintain/preserve/defend等连用。

例句：Will the West use its influence to maintain the status quo and not disrupt the flow of oil?

6.make a difference：有作用/影响，to have an important effect or influence on something or someone.

例句：Having a good teacher has made all the difference for Alex (=had an important influence) .

Adam’s answer is a resounding yes. This book proves that any one of us can champion ideas that improve the world around us.

7.resounding：洪亮的，回响的，可以与loud做同义替换，a resounding noise is so loud that it seems to continue for a few seconds.

8.champion：维护，捍卫，to publicly fight for and defend an aim or principle, such as the rights of a group of people.

例句：She championed the cause of religious freedom.