贯通阅读文章中的英语六级词汇：园艺

　　Gardening 园艺

　　One of the quiet joys of life in the southern part of Ontario, Canada, is gardening(1.园艺,园艺学). Whether pursued as a hobby or solely to improve the esthetic(1.有关美的, 美学的) value of one's home, the pleasure derived(1.起源,由来)(1.【医】衍生的)(2.衍生,导出) is only exceed(1.超过; 超越)ed by the therapeutic(1.治疗(学)的;疗法的)(2.对身心健康有益的;有助于放松精神的) benefit. The exercise involved in working in a garden is helpful in keeping people in good physical condition.

　　It has become a ritual(1.(宗教等的)仪式)(2.例行公事, 老规矩) for homeowners to spend late winter weekends browsing(1.浏览) through seed(1.播种)(1.结籽)(4.起源;起因;萌芽;开端) catalogues(2.记载，登记(某人、某事等的详情))(1.目录, 一览表) while sitting on their couch(1.长沙发椅，睡椅)(2.(病人受检查时躺的)长榻). They make lists of items they wish to purchase and often make notation(1.记号, 标记法;(数学、科学和音乐中的)符号，谱号)s right on the catalogue as they make decisions about this year's garden.

　　If they order early, there is usually a discount coupon(1.配给券;(购物)票证;(购物)优惠券), allowing a percentage of the cost to be deduct(1.扣除, 减去)ed from the price. Often the coupon needs to be detached from the catalogue and mailed to the company along with the order. This is an extra bonus for the consumer. The investment cost required is nominal(2.(金额)很少的; 象征性的)(1.名义上的, 有名无实的) when the amount of pleasure generated is considered. The seed companies will usually warrant(1.授权证; 许可证)(2.(做某事的)正当理由，依据)(1.使有必要;使正当;使恰当)(2.保证, 担保) the plants, and often a refund(1.归还, 偿还额, 退款) is offered if the plants do not thrive(1.兴盛; 兴隆). The shipment(1.船运, 水运, 运输, 运送, 装运)(2.(从海路、陆路或空运的)一批货物; 运输的货物) from the seed company's warehouse(1.仓库, 货栈) is awaited with eager anticipation. Its appearance means that spring will soon arrive.

　　The glossy (1.光洁的;光滑的;光彩夺目的;有光泽的)pages of the catalogues provide a preview(1.预展, 试映, 预演)(1.预映, 预演, 预习) of the visual delight(1.快乐, 高兴)s that can be grown. Pictures show an array of flowers that dazzle(1.使目眩)(1.耀眼;令人赞叹的东西) the eye. There are monochromatic (1.单色的,单频的)displays as well as others that are a fusion(1.熔合，熔接，融合)(2.核聚变，热核反应)(3.联合, 合并) of the complete spectrum(1.光谱)(2.声谱;波谱;频谱)(3.范围, 系列) of the rainbow's colors. Also included in the publication are pictures and descriptions of vegetables, shrub(1.灌木)s, and trees.

　　Avid (1.渴望地,热心地)(1.渴望的,急切的,贪婪的)gardeners subscribe(1.订阅，订购(报刊等))(3. 认购(股份))(1.申请;预订;报名)(1.定期交纳(会员费);定期(向慈善机构)捐款;定期捐助) to magazines that specialize in articles and ads about this enjoyable pastime and people literally read each issue from cover to cover.

　　Descriptions of plants include implicit(1.不言明[含蓄]的)(2.无疑问的, 绝对的)(3.成为一部份的;内含的) instructions on whether to plant them in sun or shade. Specification (3.指明，明确说明，具体陈述，详述)as to the amount of irrigation(1.灌溉,冲洗) required is also stated. Elaborate(1.详细制定)(1.详尽说明)(1.复杂的; 精心制作的) irrigation systems are sometimes instal(2.安顿, 安置)(3.使…正式就职)led or a trench(1.深沟, 地沟) for improving the water flow is used. Controls are needed on irrigation systems because if the ground becomes too saturate(1.浸湿, 浸透)(2.使…大量吸收或充满某物)d the soil in the garden will be too muddy to allow anyone to work in it until it dries out. If there is too much water constantly, the garden will become a swamp (1.沼泽(地))(2.使困窘; 忙得不可开交)(1.淹没; 沉没)and impossible to cultivate(4.种植;栽培;培育)(1.耕;耕作)(3.建立(友谊);结交(朋友);获得(支持)). (Many people like to preserve the natural habitat of birds and wildlife in a marsh(1.沼泽, 湿地). These areas are usually protected by the government and although important to our environment, are not considered gardens.)

　　Geographic(1.地理学的;地理的) location is important for plants. Certain plants are only suitable for propagation(1.繁殖;增殖)(2.宣传;波及)(3.遗传) close to the equator(1.赤道). Others need to be several degrees of latitude(1.纬度)(3.自由, 自由范围) away from the equator. Longitude(1.经度,经线) is also a factor and most companies clearly state the conditions that will provide the optimum(1.最适宜的; 最有利的, 最佳的) chances for the plants survival. Canadians grow tulip(1.郁金香)s imported from Holland and they do well in the Southern Ontario climate.

　　Because it is late spring before plants can survive outdoors in Southern Ontario, it is common for people to start their plants indoors. Seeds are planted in small containers and continue to grow indoors until the appropriate size is achieved. Sometimes ultraviolet (1.(光)紫外的，紫外线的，利用紫外线的)light is used to encourage plant growth. When the mercury rises and the danger of tfros is past, the plants are then transplanted to the garden or to a flowerbed.

　　Plants are nourish(1.抚养;滋养;养育)ed from the soil, but to provide optimum food, fertilizer (1.肥料, 化肥)can be applied to encourage vigorous(2.精力充沛的) growth. Sometimes fertilizer is dilute(1.稀释, 冲淡)(1.稀释的, 冲淡的)(1.削弱，使降低效果)d with water while other kinds are disperse(1.(使)分散，散开;疏散;驱散)(2.散布;散发;传播)d with a spreader that fling(1.(尤指生气地)扔，掷，抛，丢)s the fertilizer granule(1.小颗粒;小硬粒;颗粒状物;微粒;细粒)s in a small radius(1.半径(距离)) around the plants. The water soluble(1.可溶的, 易溶解的)(2.可以解决的, 可以解释的) fertilizer will then be absorbed into the soil the next time it rains. Just as people need mineral(1.矿物; 矿石; 矿物质)(1.矿物的,似矿物的)(2.汽水)s, such as calcium(1.〈化〉钙) and zinc(1.〈化〉锌), to be healthy, plants also need minerals but phosphorous(1.磷的) and nitrogen(1.〈化〉氮) are better food for them.

　　Some gardeners plan their garden with meticulous (1.极仔细的; 一丝不苟的)(2.小心翼翼的; 细心的 (~in sth/ doing sth|~about sth/ in doing sth))attention to detail. They choose colors that will complement(2.需要的或允许的数额, 足数, 足额)(4.补充物;补足物) each other and design their garden as if they were painting on a canvas(1.帆布)(2.油画(布)). Others are more spontaneous(1.自发的, 无意识的,非筹划安排) and simply visit a nursery and purchase plants that appeal to them. Often gardeners have a trademark plant that is their specialty(1.专业;专长)(2.特制品,特产,名产)(1.特色的). Perhaps they enjoy the velvet(1.丝绒, 天鹅绒) texture(2.口感)(1.手感, 质感, 质地) of the leaves, or maybe the flower's color attracts them.

　　The varieties of gardens are endless. Terrace gardening has become popular. With a herbal(1.药草的) garden, cooks enjoy being able to use fresh herbs from their garden to add zest to their favorite dishes. They simply visit their garden and clip a few pieces of the herb they wish to use.

　　Every garden is as individual (6.个人的;个体的)as its owner. Gardens come in all shapes and sizes. Some are in the shape of a rectangle(1.〈数〉长方形, 矩形), while others are circular or irregular(4.不规则变化的) in shape. Some gardeners like the appearance of an asymmeticral(1.【医】asymmetrical 不对称的,unsymmetrical 不对称的) shape while others work to achieve symmetry(1.对称(性); 匀称, 整齐)(2.相似;相仿;相等) in their gardens. For vegetable gardens, the most popular shape is rectangular and vegetables are usually planted in a linear(3.直线的;线状的) fashion. This method makes it easier to cultivate between the row(1.一排, 一行)s of plants. You could mistake some gardens for a meadow(1.草地, 牧场; (河边的)低洼地) when the gardener chooses to include only wildflowers as a choice of vegetation. Including a pond in a garden is popular too.

　　Entrepreneur(1.〈法〉 创业者，企业家(尤指涉及财务风险的))(2.主办人)s are always looking for innovations and gadget(1.小机械, 小器具,小装置)s that will attract the attention of devoted gardeners and induce them to spend their money. It has become a huge industry in the last few years, as the baby boomers reach retirement age and have more time to pursue hobbies such as gardening. There are new products patented every year to tempt(1.引诱或怂恿(某人)干不正当的事) the gardener.

　　It is possible to buy a kit that contains a complete set of tools needed by the home gardener. Unfortunately, often the quality is poor and the product is a fraud(1.欺诈, 欺骗行为)(2.骗子)(3.伪劣品;冒牌货). Instead of having something good to work with, the purchase turns out to be junk.

　　If you want to flatter(1.向…奉承; 阿谀) a gardener, and boost(3.促进, 激励) their ego(1.自我; 自尊; 自负) at the same time, summon (1.传唤; 召集)(4.鼓起(勇气)，振作(精神))(3.召唤)up the courage to simply ask if you can swap(1.交换(东西)) plants. Of course, it will give them a thrill if you also compliment(1.表扬; 恭维; 称赞; 钦佩)(1.赞美(话), 恭维(话))(3.问候;致意;祝贺) them on the hardiness (1.耐久力,顽强)of their plants as compared to yours. They might even try to console (1.安慰, 慰问)(1.(机器、电子设备等的)控制台，操纵台，仪表板)you on your lack of competence(1.能力, 技能) as a gardener because your plants are not as sturdy(1.强壮的,健壮的,坚固的, 结实的)(2.坚定的;坚决的;顽强的;不退让的) as their plants.

　　Irrespective(1.不顾的;不问...的;与...无关的) of the competence(1.能力, 技能) of the gardener, anyone who augments the number of plants grown is helping to conserve our planet by avert(2.转移)(1.防止, 避免)ing erosion(1.腐蚀, 侵蚀; 磨损). This pays great dividend(1.红利, 股息)(2.被除数)s for everyone as it also serves to protect the ozone(2.清新空气, 海边的清新空气) layer.

　　Some people erect barricade(1.路障, 障碍物)(1.设路障于; 以障碍物阻塞)s to keep small animals from attacking the plants. Squirrels(1. Sciuridae; squirrels松鼠科) love to dig up flower bulb(1.球茎)(2.电灯泡)s. They find them a tasty treat(1.款待, 招待;(东道主提供的)款待;请客;宴请).

　　It is common to see ceramic (1.陶器的, 与陶器有关的)(1.陶瓷制品;陶瓷器)fixture(1.(房屋等的)固定装置,如(浴盆、抽水马桶))(2.固定在某位置的人或物)(3.(定期定点举行的)体育活动，体育节)s or figurines in a garden. Even the untrained eye can tell that the imitations are a fake(2.赝品)(1.假的, 冒充的)(1.伪造, 篡改, 对…做手脚), yet properly placed, they add to the intrinsic (1.固有的, 内在的, 本质的,本身的)beauty. A rain gauge(1.计量, 度量), attached by a bracket to a fence, is a common sight and is used to enable the gardener to diagnose (1.诊断(疾病);判断(问题的原因))the moisture level of the soil around the plants and determine if they need more water. If nature does not provide enough rain, then the gardener will use a plastic or rubber (1.(合成)橡胶)hose (1.连裤袜, 长统袜, 短统袜)(2.(灭火、浇花等用的)橡皮管，塑料管，水龙带)to provide more irrigation. With a twist of a knob(2.(收音机等的)旋钮)(4.疙瘩;节), or by moving a lever(1.〈物〉杠杆)(1.(用杠杆)撬动), the thirst of the plants for moisture can be quenched(2.解(渴));止(渴))(1.(用水)扑灭(火焰等);熄灭)(3.终止(某事物)).

　　What greater pleasure, than to work in your garden and as you clip (7.剪短;剪下)the overgrown plants back to size or prune (1.修剪(树木等))branches of fruit trees, hear the buzz (1.嗡嗡声, 乱哄哄的说话声)of bees? You know that they are enjoying your garden as they extract (2.提取, 榨出, 提炼)(3.索取，设法得到(不愿提供的信息、钱财等))the pollen (1.花粉)from the blooms. You relish (1.滋味, 美味; 乐趣)(1.欣赏, 享受, 爱好)the feeling that you are one with nature. The hum (1.嗡嗡声)of insects as they share the garden is more pleasurable than music from a stereo (2.立体声)(1.立体声音响器材)or a symphony (1.交响乐, 交响曲)to a devoted gardener. In addition, the scent (1.气味, 香味)of the flowers is an integral (3.完整的;完备的)(2.作为组成部份的)part of the joy of spending time working in a garden.

　　The irony (1.反语,反话, 冷嘲)of the situation is that nature sometimes conspire(1.密谋, 搞阴谋)(2.(事件等)巧合, 共同导致)s against the gardener, and a hailstorm (1.雹暴)can riddle (1.谜(语))beautiful plants, shredding (1.椽底板条;击碎)their leaves in minutes. Hurricanes (1.飓风, (尤指西印度群岛的)旋风)can uproot even the largest trees although this is an event that seldom occurs in Southern Ontario. Tornadoes are more likely in this area. Parasite(1.寄生生物;寄生虫;寄生植物)s can attack plants and threaten their survival. Any number of things can become a plague(1.瘟疫)(2.灾害;折磨). It is often difficult to discern (1.看见)(3.觉察出;识别;了解)exactly what it is that is destroying the precious plants. Any number of complications (1.使更复杂化(或更困难)的事物)can shatter (1.砸碎, 粉碎)the gardener's dream of surpassing (1.无比的, 非凡的, 卓越的, 超群的)last year's accomplishment(1.完成，实现). An authentic (1.真的, 真正的)gardener will not brood about the disappointment for long. Even as the disaster is occurring, you might overhear (1.偶然听到)the gardener murmur (1.小声说)“There's always next year.”