1. gamut /ˈgæmət/ n. 整个范围；全部

   --entire range of anything from one extreme to another

After the test I thought at first I had done very well, then quite well, and finally, poorly. I ran the gamut from confidence to despair.

考试后起初我觉得自己考得很好，后来认为不错，最后是差劲。我经历了从自信到失望的整个过程。

2. iota /aɪ'əʊtə/ n. 极小量；微小；一点儿

   --(ninth and smallest letter of the Greek alphabet)very small quantity; infinitesimal amount; bit

If you make the same mistake again, despite all my warnings, I will not have one iota of sympathy for you.

如果你不顾我的警告再犯同样的错误，我一点也不会同情你了。

3. magnitude /ˈmæɡnitju:d/ n. 大小；重要性

   --size; greatness; largeness; importance

Shopping for clothes can be a small matter for some, but a problem of the greatest magnitude for others.

逛街买衣服对某些人而言是小事一桩，但对某些人来说却是最重要的问题。

4. pittance /ˈpɪtns/ n. 微薄的薪水；少量

   --small amount; meager wage or allowance

At those low wages, few will apply for the job. Who wants to work for a pittance?

很少人会去申请那个低薪的工作，谁想为一份微薄的薪水工作？

5. superabundance /ˌsu:pərəˈbʌndəns/ n. 极多；过多

   --great abundance; surplus; excess

Our committee does't need any more help. We have a superabundance of helpers.

我们委员会不需要任何更多的援助，我们有很多帮手。

6. inflate /ɪn'fleɪt/ vt. 使充气；使膨胀

   --swell with air or gas; expand; excess

Since the ball has lost air, we shall need a pump to inflate it.

这个球漏气了，我们需要一个气筒打气。

7. colossal /kəˈlɔsl/ adj. 巨大的

   --huge; enormous; gigantic; mammoth; vast

The game will be played in a colossal sports arena with a sitting capacity of more than 60,000.

这场球赛将在一个可容纳六万多人的巨型运动场里举行。

8. commodious /kəˈməʊdiəs/ adj. 宽敞的

   --spacious and comfortable; roomy; ample; not confining

Even during change of classes there is no crowding because the halls and stairways are commodious.

即使在换教室的时候也不拥挤，因为走廊和楼梯都很宽敞。

9. infinite /ˈinfinit/ adj. 无限的

   --without ends or limits; boundless; endless; inexhaustuble

In our science lesson tomorrow we shall consider whether space is bounded or infinite. 

明天的科学课上，我们将思考太空是有限的还是无限的问题。

10. infinitesimal /ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtesɪml/ adj. 微小的

   --so small as to be almost nothing; immeasurably small; very minute

If there is any salt in this soup, it must be infinitesinal. I can't taste it.

如果汤里有盐的话，也一定很少，我吃不出味道来。

11. inordinate /ɪnˈɔ:dɪnət/ adj. 过度的

   --much too great; not kept within reasonable bounds; excessive; immoderate

Frank kept my book for such an inordinate length of time that I shall never lend him anything again.

弗兰克借我的书借了那么久，我再也不借给他任何东西了。

12. picayune /ˌpɪkə'ju:n/ adj. 微小的

   --concerned with trifling matters; petty; small or little value

The trouble with your studying is that you spend too much time on picayune details and not enough on the really important matters.

你学习中存在的问题是在小细节上花的时间太多，而在真正重要的事情上所花的时间却不够多。

13. puny /'pju:nɪ/ adj. 微不足道的

   --slight or inferior in size, power or importance; weak; insignificant

The skycraper dwarfs the surrounding buildings. By comparison to it, they seem puny.

这座摩天大楼使周围的建筑物相形见绌，相比之下，它们显得微不足道。