1. many people consider the number thirteen to be unlucky: 许多人认为13不吉利，“consider” 的宾语补足语和主语补足语可以有多种形式， 如：
Liu Bin is considered as the most skillful technician in this factory. 人们认为刘斌是这个厂技术最好的。
They consider Professor Hart an authority. 他们巴哈特先生视为权威。
All the tourists are considered in the hotel. 所有游客被认为是在旅馆里的。
In China people consider the number four to be unlucky.
It is surprising that the number thirteen is considered unlucky in the United States.
2. on which many things can go wrong: 在这一天，许多事情会出错。
“go wrong” 中的 “” 是系词。英语的系词可以分成动态和静态两种。 “be” 表示性质上的肯定或事物处于稳定或静止状态；动态系词则表示状态或性质的变化，体现了一个过程，如：become, turn, grow, run 等，其具体使用方法见本科 “结构练习”。
3. origin ['ɔridʒin]n.
1) n. starting point 起源; 开端
Who can tell me the origin of this quarrel / rumor? 谁能告诉我这场争论/谣言的起因是什么？
No one knows the origin of this custom. 没人知道这个习俗的起源。
2) n. 出身; 血统
He was too proud to speak with anyone of humble origin. 他太骄傲，不愿意和任何出身低微的人谈话。
By origin, he is a Hungarian.
4. superstitious fears about this date have grown and spread over the years, thanks, in part, to unfortunate events: 从某种程度上讲，历史上的一些不幸事件导致了这类迷信的加深和广泛传播。
“thanks to”: 由于, 得益于, 起因于
Thanks to his laziness, the work was delayed a great deal. 由于他的懒惰，这项工作被推迟了。
Thanks to a good teacher, Helen was able to write and speak even though she was blind. 多亏了一位好老师，双目失聪的海伦 既能写又会说。
“in part”: 部分地; 相当于副词 “partly”
He is part right in what he says.
Some mental problems are in part caused by failure to communicate. 有些精神疾病部分是由于交流障碍造成的。
This student failed the exam in part because of his carelessness.
5. launch [lɔ:ntʃ]vi.&vt.&n.
1) vt.&vi. 使船下水; 船出海
People crowded to the beach to see a new passenger liner launched. 人们拥到海边去观看一艘新游轮下海了。
The large ship launched on a Friday the 13th but never came back.
The Titanic launched in the direction of the Mediterranean. 泰坦尼克号出海了，驶向地中海。
2) vt. 发射
They have successfully launched a man-made satellite. 他们成功地发射了一颗人造卫星。
3) 发起 (运动，争论，战争…)
Students launched a movement to catch those who cheat on tests. 学生发起了一场运动，捉拿考试作弊者。
The workers launched a strike for bread and rights. 工人们为面包和权力罢工。
6. disappeared at sea: 消失在海上。“disappear” [.disə'piə]vi.&vt.
1) vi. 消失，失踪
The burglar disappeared into the night. 盗贼消失在夜色里。
Many worthy books disappeared from the shelf. 许多有价值的书从架子上消失了。
2) vi. 灭绝
It is in the Ice Age that the species disappeared from the earth. 在冰期时代，许多物种从地球上灭绝了。
Maybe the human being will disappear in hundreds of years. Who knows!
“at sea” 在海上,泛指 “在海上”, “在空中”, “在陆地” 的表达: “at sea” / “in air” / “on land”
7. In 1945, people watched in disbelief on a Friday the 13th when the first atom bomb was tested: 1945年，黑色星期五这一天，人们难以置信地目睹了第一颗原子弹的试验成功。
“watch” [wɔtʃ]vi.&vy.&n.
1) vi. 观看; 瞧
The coach sat there watching, but said nothing.
If you watch carefully, you will see how the trick is done. 只要你认真看，你就会发现这个魔术师怎么回事。
2) vt. 观看; 瞧 (注意宾语补足语表现)
They were watching the football game.
He stood there watching his children eating and drinking. 他站在那儿，看着自己的孩子又吃又喝。
I watched him put on his coat and leave. 我看到他穿上大衣离开。
The secretary watched her old typewriter taken away from her office. 秘书目睹着她的老 打字机被从办公室搬走。
Watch closely what the teacher is doing. 仔细看老师正在怎么做。
She watched the plane fly out of sight, waving. 她看着飞机驶出视线，仍然挥着手。
3) vt. 照看
Watch my baby while I am cooking. 我做饭的时候你要照看我的婴儿。
I must find someone to watch my things while I am away.
4) vt.&vi.当心; 注意; 提防
Please watch that the milk does not boil over. 当心！牛奶不要煮出来了。
Watch your money or it will be gone before payday. 你要当心花钱，别在下个发工资日之前就把他们花完了。
Watch when you cross the street. 过马路要当心。
Watch him! He is dangerous. 提防他！他是个危险人物。
5)vt. 监视
Watch the prisoner and make sure that he doesn’t escape. 你要监视这个狱卒，确保他不能逃跑。
You are watching me! Why?
6) n.手表; 监视
I didn’t have a watch with me but my cell phone can tell me the time. 我没带表；但我的手机可以告诉我时间。
The police put a watch on the suspect’s house. 警方派人监视那个可疑人的住宅。
“in disbelief” [.disbi'li:f]prep. 不相信地
She gazed at me in disbelief when I told her the news. 我告诉她这消息时，她以怀疑的目光注视着我。
In disbelief, the director came to the spot in person. 由于不信任，领导亲临现场。
A conversation in disbelief is waste of time. 缺乏信任的谈话时浪费时间。
英语中有很多副词功能是通过 “介词in + 名词” 表现的；这种用法很广泛，避免有些名次没有相应的副词形式所带来的缺憾，或为了句式变换，如：
He happily accepted this invitation. → He accepted this invitation in happiness.
8. earthquake ['ə:θkweik]n.地震
The daily flight to the city has been suspended because of the earthquake. 因为地震，每天飞往这个城市的航班暂停了。
The newspaper articles gave lengthy descriptions of the earthquake. 报纸文章大量描述了地震的情况。
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