Vocabulary

• underestimate vt.

1) think or guess that sth. is smaller, less important etc. than it really is 低估 （某物的大小或重要性等）

e.g. To be successful in life, we must neither underestimate nor overestimate our own abilities.

想要获得成功，我们一定不能低估或者高估自己的能力。

2) think that someone has less power or ability than they really have 小看，轻视

e.g. Never underestimate your opponent.

千万不要轻视对手。

Antonym: overestimate

• unsettled a. an unsettled place, situation, or period of time is one in which people feel nervous because things are often changing 不稳定的；动荡的

e.g.

1. Conditions on the stock-market were unsettled.

证券市场的行情不稳定。

2. Our future plans are unsettled; everything is in a state of flux.

我们未来的计划未定，一切都变化莫测。

Antonym: settled

Word family: settle v.

• restricted a.

1) (~ to) only for the use of or only including particular people or purposes 限制使用的；限于某人（或某种目的）的

e.g. Eligibility for five weeks’ holiday is restricted to senior management. 只有高级管理人员才有资格享受五周假期。

2) limited in what it is possible to do （活动、能做到的事）有限的，受限制的

e.g. The accident left her with restricted movement in her right leg.

事故造成她右腿行动不便。

Phrases

• boom and bust: a situation in which a country’s economy regularly goes through periods of success followed by periods of failure 经济繁荣与萧条

e.g.

1. Like the US 2000-2001 boom and bust of tech stocks, the bursting of a major stock bubble can lead to a hard landing of the economy.

就像美国在2000-2001的科技股的繁荣与萧条一样，泡沫破灭可以使得经济硬着陆。

• prim and proper: very careful about your behaviour and appearance, and easily shocked by what other people do or say 循规蹈矩的，一本正经的

e.g.

1. Those young ladies are much too prim and proper to enjoy such a joke.

那几位年轻女士太拘谨正经，不会喜欢这种笑话。

2. Don’t invite her to the party. She’s so prim and proper.

别请她去舞会，她太古板了。