1. blur (n.

) 記不清的東西；理解不清楚的東西
Meaning: something that you cannot remember or understand clearly
e.g.: It all happened so long ago that it's just a blur to me now.

2. petition (n.) 請願書

Meaning: a document signed by a large number of people demanding or
asking for some action from the government or another authority
e.g.: I signed a petition against the proposed closure of the local hospital
today.

3. pretext (n.) 藉口，托詞

Meaning: a pretended reason for doing something that is used to hide the
real reason
e.g.: The border dispute was used as a pretext for military intervention.

4. intrigue (v.) (尤指因奇怪、不尋常或神秘而）使很感興趣，迷住

Meaning: to interest someone a lot, especially by being strange, unusual,
or mysterious
e.g.: Throughout history, people have been intrigued by the question of
whether there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.

5. catastrophe (n.) 大災難；大災禍

Meaning: a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction
e.g.: They were warned of the ecological catastrophe to come.

6. unprecedented (adj.) 史無前例的，空前的；絕無僅有的

Meaning: never having happened or existed in the past
e.g.: This century has witnessed environmental destruction on an
unprecedented scale.
7. ruling (n.) 裁決；裁定；判定；決定
Meaning: a decision
e.g.: The court has made a final ruling on the case that the companies
acted illegally.

8. disdain (v.) 輕視，蔑視，鄙視

Meaning: to feel disdain for someone or something
e.g.: The older musicians disdain the new, rock-influenced music.

9. allay (v.) 減輕，緩解（擔憂、恐懼等）

Meaning: If you allay a strong emotion felt by someone, such as fear or
worry, you cause them to feel it less or to feel calm again.
e.g.: The government is trying to allay public fears about the spread of the
disease.

10. stalemate (n.) （爭論的）僵局，僵持局面

Meaning: a situation in which neither group involved in an argument can
win or get an advantage and no action can be taken
e.g.: Tomorrow's meeting between the two leaders is expected to break a
diplomatic stalemate that has lasted for ten years.

11. thwart (v.) 反對；阻撓；挫敗

Meaning: to stop something from happening or someone from doing
something
e.g.: Our holiday plans were thwarted by the airline pilots' strike.

12. mantle (n.) （尤指前任留給繼任者的）責任，衣缽

Meaning: the responsibilities of an important position or job, especially
as given from the person who had the job to the person who replaces
them
e.g.: He has been asked to take on the mantle of managing director in the
New York office.
13. surveillance (n.) （尤指員警或軍隊的）監視，盯梢
Meaning: the careful watching of a person or place, especially by the
police or army, because of a crime that has happened or is expected
e.g.: The police have kept the nightclub under surveillance because of
suspected illegal drug activity.

14. instill (v.) 逐漸灌輸

Meaning: to put a feeling, idea, or principle gradually into someone's
mind, so that it has a strong influence on the way that person thinks or
behaves
e.g.: It is part of a teacher's job to instill confidence in/into his or her
students.

15. rift (n.) （地面或岩石上的）裂縫，裂口

Meaning: a large crack in the ground or in rock
e.g.: The stream had cut a deep rift in the rock.

16. halt (v.) （使）停止，停下

Meaning: to (cause to) stop moving or doing something or happening
e.g.: "Halt!" called the guard. "You can't go any further without a permit."

17. cameo (n.) （著名演員在電影或劇碼中的）客串角色，小配角

Meaning: a small but noticeable part in a film or play, performed by a
famous actor
e.g.: He appears briefly towards the end of the film in a cameo role as a
priest.
18. livelihood (n.) 生活來源；飯碗，生計
Meaning: (the way someone earns) the money people need to pay for
food, a place to live, clothing, etc.
e.g.: Many ship workers could lose their livelihoods because of falling
orders for new ships.

19. trance (n.) 昏睡狀態；催眠狀態

Meaning: a temporary mental condition in which someone is not
completely conscious of and/or not in control of himself or herself
e.g.: When a hypnotist puts you in a trance, you no longer have conscious
control of yourself.

20. trauma (n.) 精神創傷，心理創傷

Meaning: (a) severe emotional shock and pain caused by an extremely
upsetting experience
e.g.: He had psychotherapy to help him deal with his childhood traumas.