-1-15篇文章贯通大学英语四级(CET4)词汇第1篇AQuestionofRightsUnfortunately,acrimewasabouttobecommittedbutatthatmomentLesleywasunawareoftheimpending(即将发生的,迫近的)event,whichwouldaffectherlifesodrastically(极端地,彻底地)forthenextyears.Forthemomentatleast,herholidayatthecottagehadbeenideal.Shehadspentmanyidlehoursrelaxingonthedeck,reading,eatingasandwichwhenshewashungryandintheeveningwatchingtheskyturnfrombrilliantorangetopeachandfinallytopalepurple,eventuallythelightbecomingdim.Itwasaboutthistimethatthemistwouldbegintorisefromthecoolwaterhidinginthedenseforestthathugged(环绕,拥抱)theshoreline(海岸线).Lateeveningdew(露水)glistened(闪耀,反光)oneverybushandsoontheloons'(潜鸟)callwouldresound(回响)acrossthewater.Shedecidedtotakeonlastdipinthelake.Asthecoolnightairtouchedherarms.Shegavealittleshiveranddecideditwastimetomoveinside.ThiswastobeherlasteveningaloneasJeff,herformermate,wouldbereturningZactoherearlyinthemorning.Asthecaseinmanymarriagesthesedays,problemshadarisenbetweenLesleyandJeff,buttheydidnotextendtoZac.Hewasagoodkid,justenteringkindergarten.Thecouplehadcometoamutualagreement,asdictatedbythelegalcustody(监管,保管)agreement.ItstatedthateachparentwouldshareZac'scareeverysecondweekendandthishadbeenherweekendtobealone.Jeffwasanarchitect,withahigh-profilereputation,whoworkedindowntownToronto,apartnerinaprivatecorporationwhichmostlydidconsultantworkfortheuniversity.Lesley’scompanyhadbeenhiredtoadvertisethenewsciencecomplexinordertoraisecorporate(公司的)moneyfortheproposedbuilding.Shelikedherworkandsheharboredasecretambitiontomanageherdivisionofthecompanysomeday.Afterawhirlwind(旋风般的)courtship(求爱,热恋)andafairytaleweddingthecouplehadsettleddowntoanurbanlifestyle.However,afterthreeyearsandonechildthedreamlikemarriagecamesmashingdown.Onedisadvantage(不利条件)ofbeingyoungandambitious(有抱负的)wasthatbothofthemneededtodevoteuntoldhourstotheirbusyschedules.Asaresultoftheselatehours,Lesleybecamesuspicious(猜疑的)ofJeff’safterhoursactivities.Sheaccusedhimofmakingherpartofalovetriangle.Thewholemiserablescenewastosettheproceedings(过程,诉讼,诉讼程序)foranugly(不愉快的)divorceinmotion.Daydreaming(幻想,白日梦)aboutthoseearlierdayswouldnothelptonight.Sowithashrugofhershouldersshetackledtheadvertisingassignmentsheneededtocomplete.TomorrowwouldbeabusydaywithZacarrivinghome.Thenextday,asthemorningworeon,Lesleybecamemoreandmoreagitated(烦躁),andhermoodbecameapprehensive(忧虑的,不安的),whenJeffdidnotappear.Whennoonhourarrivedandhestillhadnotappeared,shestartedmakingsomephonecalls.NoneoftheirmutualfriendshadeitherseenortalkedwithJeffthatday.Untiltoday,Jeffhadalwaysbeenverypunctualaboutreturningtheboyattheappointedtime.Lesleyfeltaknotforminginherstomachasacrazythoughtpersistedatthebackofhermind.Shewasabsolutelysuresomethingwaswrong.Jeffsatwithhisheadbowed.Hewasundecidedwhattodo.Thedomesticarrangementwithhisformerwifewasprovingtobeawkward.Hewasfrustratedatbeingabletoseehissononlyonweekendsandfelthewasalwaysmakingconcessionstoaccommodate(适应,迁就)Lesley’sworkschedule.Everymeetingwasturningintoacompetitionfortheboy’saffection.HisonedesirewastotakeZacawayforgood.Theenormousdecisiontoundertakethisplanappearedtobepresentingitself.TodayhewoulddepartforaconferenceinCalifornia.Thisappearedtobeamarvelousopportunitytotaketheboyandleavethecountryforgood.Hebetthathecouldpacksufficientbaggageintohisvehicleandthendisappearsacrosstheborder,gainingentrytheU.S.A.Hegavelittlethoughttowhatsoeverofthefactthisactcouldleadtohisconvictionifhewastrackeddownbythecops.Meanwhile,forLesleythenightmarecontinuedtounfold(展现,显露)astherealityofthesituationdeepened.After48hours,thespokesmanforthedistrictpolicedepartmentassuredhertheywouldinvestigateZac’sdisappearance.Herfaiththatjusticewouldberealizedwasfaint.Theshockofthepasttwodays’eventsmadeherrealizethatpossiblyhersonwouldbecomeonemorestatisticinthemissingchildrenfile.Thepolicecompletedapreliminarysurveyafteraskinghundredsofdetailed(详细的)questions.Hotlinesprovedfruitless(无结果的).Meanwhile,overthenextyeartherewerecountlessvisitsandinterviewsatthepolicestationandherhome.ThepoliceappearedtobemakingnoprogressintrackingZac’swhereabouts(行踪).Asthedayspassed,Lesley’sfrustration(挫败)mountedandshefeltasenseofalarm.Eventually,shedecidedtotaketheinitiativeincontinuingthesearchandshebegantousewell-establishedchildfindagencies.Attimes,boostedbyhopes,sheappearedtobeontherighttrailwithasenseofdisgust,butherhopesweredashedatthe-2-finalmoment.Theseobstacleshope.AfterZac’spicturewascirculatednationwide,telephonecallsfollowedfromstrangersreportingsightings(被看见的人或事物)ofaZaclookalike.Monthbymonthherplanevolvedintoacampaignequaltoafull-scalebattleplan.Shepaidanexceedinglyhighfeeforspecializedhelp,suchastheservicesofanattorney.LesleybecamedeterminedtotargeteverymajorcitywhereJeffnormallycontractedbusiness.Asthemonthssloppedby,Lesley’sexhaustionbecamenoticeableinhereyes.Hercheeksbecamehollowpits.MostdaysshefeltasthoughshedidnothaveanounceofenergyleftbecauseproofofZac’sexistenceseemedimpossibletofind.Anotheryearpassedandherhopesdimmed.Unexpectedly,lateinAugustapromisingleadbroughthertoLosAngeles.Theinteriorofthebarwasdark.Herqu