大学英语六级考试阅读单词：19

　　[背景了解]
　　文章取自于2004年1月的阅读真题，是关于人性论的文章，选段有点长，希望耐心看下，自己先猜下划线部分单词的意思吧
　　[文章部分]
　　Another factor contributing to the tendency to deny the assumption of a fixed human nature was that the concept has so often been abused as a shield behind which the most inhuman acts are committed. In the name of human nature, for example, Aristotle and most thinkers up to the eighteenth century defended slavery. Or in order to prove the rationality and necessity of the capitalist form of society, scholars have tried to make a case for acquisitiveness, competitiveness, and selfishness as innate (天生的) human traits.
　　[单词学习]
　　tendency n.趋向, 倾向
　　shield n.防护物, 护罩, 盾, 盾状物 vt.(from) 保护, 防护 v.遮蔽
　　rationality n.合理性, 唯理性
　　acquisitive adj渴望得到的；贪得无厌的，一味追求的（尤指物质方面）
　　trait n.显著的特点, 特性
　　[课后作业]
　　今天的作业就是翻译下面几个句子,来试下吧
　　1.Prices continue to show an upward tendency.
　　2.The car polish is an effective shield against rust.
　　3.He is an acquisitive collector.
　　4.One of his less attractive traits is criticizing his wife in public.
　　答案：
　　1.物价呈现持续上涨的趋势。
　　2.这种汽车上光蜡很有防锈作用。
　　3.他是个贪得无厌的收藏家。
　　4.他有个不大讨人喜欢的特点，就是爱当众责备妻子。