艾易艾斯(aeas)阅读技巧（十六）容易混淆的单词 — 续

1.sale / sell

这是日常生活中十分常见的一组单词

两者都表达销售的意思，不同之处在于词性。

Sale. n. 销售

Efforts were made to limit the sale of alcohol.

做出努力来限制酒的销售。

Sell. vt. 售卖

The directors sold the business for $14.8 million.

董事们把这个公司以1480万美元卖掉了。

2. straight / strait

straight. adj. 连续的，笔直的

His teeth were perfectly straight.

他的牙齿非常整齐。

strait. n. 困局

The company’s closure has left many small businessmen in desperate financial straits.

该公司的关闭使得许多小商人陷入经济困境

3. statue / statute

statue.n. 雕像

…a bronze statue of an Arabian horse.

…一座阿拉伯马青铜雕像。

statute. n. 法令，法规

The new statute covers the care for, raising, and protection of children.

这项新法令涵盖了儿童的照料、养育和保护。

4. taught / taut

两者读音一致，但词性与意思皆不同。

taught. vt. teach 的过去式. 教育

George had taught him how to ride a horse.

乔治曾教过他骑马。

taut. adj. 拉紧的

The clothes line is pulled taut and secured.

晾衣绳被拉紧系牢了。

5. tortuous / torturous

tortuous. adj. 弯弯曲曲的

The only road access is a tortuous mountain route.

惟一的通路是一条弯弯曲曲的山路。

torturous. adj. 折磨人的

This is a torturous, agonizing way to kill someone.

这是个折磨人、让人痛苦难当的杀人方法。