08年7.2第42期托福英语学习：托福词汇42

　　Words:

　　comparable adj. 可比的，比得上的；类似的

　　comparative adj. 比较的

　　compassion n. 怜悯，同情

　　compatible adj. 可以并存的，相容的，协调的

　　compel vt. 强迫，使不得不

　　compelling adj. 紧迫的，使人非相信不可的

　　compensate vt. 补偿，赔偿

　　compensatory adj. 补偿性的

　　compete vi. 竞争，比得上

　　competence n. 能力，胜任

　　competent adj. 有能力的，能胜任的

　　competition n. 竞争，竞赛

　　competitiveness n. 竞争能力

　　compile vt. 汇集，编辑

　　complacence n. 自满，自以为是

　　complaint n. 抱怨，怨言

　　complement vt. 补充，使完善

　　complementary adj. 补充的，补足的

　　complex adj. 复杂的，费解的；结构复杂的；n. 综合体

　　complexity n. 复杂（性）

　　“I want to get married, but I’m having trouble funding a compatible man!” Mary said with a sigh. “He must possess a measure of competitiveness because I hate complacence. However, his desire for competition has to be complemented with a degree of compassion.”

　　“That type of man won’t be easy to find!” Jane replied. “I would prefer a man with a personality that is complementary to mine. He’d have to be a competent cook because I have absolutely no competence in that area. I’d also want him to be intelligent so that he can compensate for my inability to solve complex problems. ”

　　“You two girls are crying for the moon.” Ruth said. “What you really need in someone who will love you without complaint, like my last boyfriend. I never had to compel him to express his feelings to me. I think, in his mind, love was not a complexity. But how am I ever going to find someone who is comparable to my ex-boyfriend?”

　　“I suppose you can do a comparative study of every new guy you meet,” Mary replied with a laugh. “Or you can call up your ex-boyfriend and beg him to take you back. But why would he want you back after you made him compete with his best friend for your affection? It’s not like you can make things right with compensatory affection, can you? ”

　　“Look, girls, ” Jane said with a tone of dismay. “We’re not exactly princesses. We’re 30 years old and we’re still being too picky. Don’t you think we have enough compelling reasons to lower our standards? Why don’ t we just compile a list of all single men over 3 who wouldn’t mind going out with us? ”

　　“Good idea!” replied Mary and Ruth.

“我想结婚，但又找不到合适的男人！”玛丽叹了口气说道。“他必须拥有一定的竞争能力，因为我讨厌男人自以为是。但他的竞争欲还得有一定程度的同情心做补充。”

　　“那样的男人很难找！”简回答说，“我更喜欢一个跟我个性互补的男人。他必须是个称职的厨师，因为我绝对没有能力胜任做饭的工作。他还得是个聪明的男人，这样他就能弥补我解决复杂问题时的无能为力了。”

　　“你们俩是在缘木求鱼，简直是异想天开！”鲁丝说道，“你们真正需要的是一个无欲无悔爱你们的男人，就像我的前任男友。我从来不用强迫他向我倾诉感情。我想，在他心里，爱情不是件错综复杂的事。但我上哪去找能跟我前任男友相媲美的男人呢？”

　　“我想你可以对你遇上的每一位新男友做一番比较研究，”玛丽笑着回答，“或者你可以给你前任男友打电话，求他再续前缘。但你弄得他为了获得你的爱情而同他最好的朋友竞争，他又怎么会再续前缘呢？补偿性的爱情好像不管用，对吧？”

　　“我说，姑娘们，”简不无沮丧地说道，“我们又不是什么公主，我们已经30多了，还那么挑三拣四。难道我们没有足够令人信服的理由降低标准吗？我们干嘛不写一张清单，列出所以愿意同我们约会的30岁以上的单身汉呢？”

　　“好主意！”玛丽和鲁丝齐声答道。