读故事记单词——Adaptation is the key

　　I must admit, I didn’t like Tom in the beginning. He lived in the house that was adjacent to mine, and I knew he was addicted² to painkillers³. He had injured his back while building adobe⁴ houses in the countryside for the local government administration. The painkillers numbed⁵ his back pain and allowed him to continue performing his heavy construction work. However, it wasn’t long before he got caught for failing to adhere to the drug laws.

　　I still recall what the judge told him shortly before he adjourned⁷ the court. “You’ll either have toadapt to a life without drugs or adjust to living in the prison that adjoins this courthouse.”

　　I was admittedly upset when the judge asked me to help administer Tom’s probation⁸. I felt that the judge was making me an unwilling⁹ and unnecessary adjunct to the court system. But I had no choice. I thought to myself, “Adaptation is the key.” So I changed my attitude towards Tom and I soon learned that Tom was just as adaptable¹⁰.

　　Tom heeded¹¹ the judge’s warning. He quit his construction job and stopped using painkillers. He put all of his time and effort into inventing a new adhesive¹² for constructing brick houses. His dedication¹³ was admirable. He became quite adept¹⁴ at chemistry and before long, he discovered a key additive¹⁵ that made his glue superior to all other adhesives¹⁶.

　　Now, I greatly admire Tom and he has become a good friend. I guess adaptation really is the key!

　　adapt v. (使)适应，调整;改编

　　adaptable adj. 能适应的，适应性强的

　　adaptation n. 改编，改写;适应环境

　　addict¹ vt. 使沉溺，使上瘾

　　addictive¹⁷ adj. 加法的; n. 添加剂

　　adept adj. 熟练的，擅长的，拿手的，有一手的

　　adhere vi. 黏附，粘牢;追随，坚持，遵守

　　adhesive n. 粘着物; adj. 粘着的

　　adjacent adj. 接近的，毗连的，临近的

　　adjoin vt. 相邻，毗邻

　　adjourn⁶ v. 延期，休会

　　adjunct n. 附件，附属，附庸

　　adjust vt. 调整，使适应于

　　administer vt. 管理

　　administration n. 管理，经营;当局，政府

　　admirable adj. 值得称赞的，令人钦佩的

　　admire vt. 钦佩，崇拜;欣赏

　　admit vt. 准许进入;承认

　　admittedly adv. 公认地;诚然地，无可否认地

　　adobe n. 泥砖，土坯房

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