【英语时差8,16】金盏花

生词：

Aztecs 阿兹特克人

sophisticate [səˈfɪstɪˌkeɪt] 老于世故的人

sacred [ˈseikrid] 宗教的; 神圣的

massacre¹ [ˈmæsəkə] 大屠杀；惨败

spill [spil] 溢出；泼出

Hindus 印度教徒

pungent² [ˈpʌndʒənt] 辛辣的；刺鼻的

aroma³ [əˈrəʊmə] 芳香

odor [ˈəudə] 气味

strip [strip] 剥去；脱去

 

Marigolds  At the time of the Spanish conquest of Mexico by Cortes in 1519, the Aztecs dominated Southern North America. They were sophisticated gardeners and knew how to cultivate some of the most colorful annuals we grow today. They considered the marigold to be sacred and used them to decorate their temples. It became their symbol of the Spanish massacre, the red and the yellow representing the blood spilled on the gold the Spaniards seized. The Portuguese⁴ explorers had first found marigolds in Brazil and also took the seeds to India where they soon became the sacred flowers of the Hindus. Seeds also were sent to Northern Africa and one variety grew so well there, it is now named the African Marigold. A dwarf⁵ variety found itself in Paris and became known as the French Marigold. The plants range in height from 6 to 36 inches and the flowers can be single or double and of various sizes. All of the warmest colors, yellows, oranges, and dark brownish reds are represented, as well as a more recently developed creamy white. They all need full sun and are easy to grow. The leaves are ferny and have a pungent aroma, some would describe as an odor, especially if the water in a vase of marigolds is not changed frequently. Strip the stems of their lower leaves before placing the flowers in water. Pinch the young plants to increase branching and dead head religiously for repeat blooms.

1 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

2 pungent   

adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的

参考例句：

• The article is written in a pungent style.文章写得泼辣。
• Its pungent smell can choke terrorists and force them out of their hideouts.它的刺激性气味会令恐怖分子窒息，迫使他们从藏身地点逃脱出来。

3 aroma   

n.香气，芬芳，芳香

参考例句：

• The whole house was filled with the aroma of coffee.满屋子都是咖啡的香味。
• The air was heavy with the aroma of the paddy fields.稻花飘香。

4 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

5 dwarf   

n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小

参考例句：

• The dwarf's long arms were not proportional to his height.那侏儒的长臂与他的身高不成比例。
• The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 矮子耸耸肩膀，摇摇头。