08年7.17第57期托福英语学习：托福词汇57

　　Lesson 57 The Curious Custodian 好奇的看守人

　　Words:

　　curator n. (博物馆等)馆长

　　curiosity n 好奇心

　　curious adj. (令人)好奇的

　　currency n. 通货，货币

　　current n. （液体，气体的）流，趋势；adj. 现今的

　　curriculum n. 学校的全部课程

　　cursory adj. 仓促的，粗略的，草率的

　　curt adj. （言辞，行为）简略的，唐突草率的

　　curtail v. 缩短，删减

　　cushion n. 垫层

　　custodian n. 看守人，保管人

　　cynical adj. 愤世嫉俗的；挑剔挖苦的

　　dab vt. 轻拍

　　dagger n. 短剑

　　dally v. 闲荡，嬉戏；蹉跎，磨蹭

　　damp adj. 潮湿的，有时期的

　　dampen vt. 使潮湿

　　dangle vt. 悬摆

　　daring adj. 大胆的，勇敢的

　　dart vi. 飞奔，飞快的动作

　　daunting adj. 使人畏缩的

　　dauntless adj. 勇敢的，无谓的

　　It was midnight in the old Public Records Depository. “Curiosity kills the cat,” muttered the custodian as he nervously descended the stairs. The curious custodian felt drawn to the dark basement. Moisture from an underground river had dampened the walls. “There’s a secret down here, and it’s got to be worth some currency,” he said to himself. “I’ll just make a cursory search.”

　　“What is that?” he screamed as his flashlight lit the darkest and dampest corner of the basement. It appeared to be an ancient dagger, angling in the air. The situation was rather daunting. “What should I do?” he asked himself as he dabbed the sweat from his brow. He was not a daring man. He grabbed a small seat cushion from an old chair and threw it at the dagger. It triggered a howling sound and a concurrent gust of wind, both of which sent him scurrying up the stairs.

　　The following night, he returned to the basement with the curator of a local museum. The curator was a dauntless man.

　　“Don’t dally, go get it,” said the custodian.

　　“Don’t be curt.” replied the curator. “The study of ancient daggers was not part of my college curriculum. You’ve just lucky that the museum has a current need for artifacts. I know you’re only interested in the reward money.”

　　“That’s a cynical remark,” the custodian snapped back.

　　The curator entered the darkest part of the basement to search for the dagger. The custodian could see him darting back and forth in the darkness. He finally emerged.

　　“There’s nothing here,” the curator said, staggering out of the darkness. “Perhaps you should curtail your alcohol consumption.”

　　“Okay, I will,” the custodian replied, as his jaw began to drop, “but what’s that stuck in your back?”