读故事记单词——Love of numbers

　　As an academician, I think Mathematics is an intriguing¹ and absorbing science. However, many of my students consider it an abstract science and they hate it because the equations are too difficult to absorb and to remember. I think my students would laugh if they knew how I became so interested in Math.

　　When I was a freshman² in college, I also believed Math was a mere³ abstraction. Studying it was like falling into a spinning abyss of numbers and symbols. Just thinking about it seemed like an abuse of my brain. However, my entire tuition was financed by an academic scholarship, so I had to maintain high marks in all of my classes, including Math.

　　My most abstruse⁴ class was Advanced Calculus⁵ Mathematics. It was taught in a large lecture hall which abutted⁷ the North access gate of the University. Unlike the many absentees in my class who often abstained⁹ from attending the boring lectures, I dared not absolve¹⁰ myself from this responsibility. Any degree of absenteeism would probably cause me to fail Math and to lose my scholarship. I was so afraid of failing that I even pledged abstinence from my abundant supply of alcohol.

　　It wasn’t until the fourth week of Math class that I met the wonderful person who would accelerate my interest and understanding of this absurd subject. She was a foreign exchange student from Beijing. She was also a brilliant mathematician¹¹. She would come to class everyday in a colorful silk scarf that accentuated¹³ her lovely smile.

　　It was so nice to meet someone from my home country. She inspired me to love Math. Although we now live and teach in different countries, I still see her smiling face between every number I write!

　　absenteeism n. 旷课，旷工

　　absentee n.缺席者

　　absolve v.1,(宗教上的)宽恕2,赦免(罪行,过失等),解除(责任等)

　　absorb vt.1、吸收(液体,知识等)2、理解,掌握

　　absorbing adj.吸引人的，引人入胜的

　　abstain⁸ v.自制,自动放弃,戒绝,有意回避

　　abstinence n. 自制,节制(禁欲,戒酒)

　　abstract n.1、抽象的2、难解的,深奥的

　　abstraction n.抽象(概念)

　　abstruse adj.难懂的,深奥的

　　absurd adj.荒谬的,可笑的

　　abundant adj.丰富的,充裕的;大量的

　　abuse n.(权利等的)滥用;(物品的)不精心使用

　　abut⁶ vi.邻接,毗邻

　　abyss n.深渊,深坑

　　academic adj.学术的;学院的;理论的

　　academician n.学会会员;院士;学者

　　accelerate v.1、加快,加速2、促进,促使…早日发生

　　accentuate¹² v.突出,强调

　　access n.1、接触,接近(的机会)2、入口,通道

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