Words & Expressions

1.invariably/ɪnˈveəriəbli$-ˈver-/, if something invariably happens or is invariably true, it always happens or is true

eg. It invariably rains when I go there.

      The trains here are invariably punctual. 

2.prelude/ˈpreljuːd/, a prelude to something:if an event is a prelude to a more important event, it happens just before it and makes people expect it. 

eg. Living together as a prelude to marriage is now considered acceptable in many countries.

3.catastrophe/kəˈtæstrəfi/, a terrible event in which there is a lot of destruction, suffering or death =disaster

environmental/nuclear/economic etc catastrophe

eg. The Black Sea is facing ecological catastrophe as a result of pollution.

prevent/avert a catastrophe

Sudan requires food immediately to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.

4.stray,n/adj. a stray animal, such as a dog or cat, is lost or has no home

eg.The family plans to provide a home for the strays.

5.devour /dɪˈvaʊr/ a. to eat something quickly because you are very hungry; b.to read something quickly and eagerly, or watch something with great interest

a.The boys devoured their pancakes.

b.He devoured science fiction books.

be devoured by something, to be filled with a strong feeling that seems to control you

eg. Cindy felt devoured by jealousy.

6.reduce somebody/something to something

a. reduce somebody to tears/silence etc, to make someone cry, be silent etc.

eg. She was reduced to tears in front of her students.

b. reduce somebody to doing something, to make someone do something they would rather not do, especially when it involves behaving or living in a way that is not as good as before

eg. Eventually Charlotte was reduced to begging on the streets.

c. reduce something to ashes/rubble/ruins, to destroy something, especially a building, completely 

eg. A massive earthquake reduced the city to rubble.

d.to change something into a shorter simple form

eg. Many jobs can be reduced to a few simple points.

7.chain reactions, a series of related events, each of which causes the next

eg. A sudden drop on Wall Street can set off a chain reaction in other financial markets.

8.ripple effect, a situation in which one action causes another, which then causes a third etc =SYN:domino effect

eg.The increase had a ripple effect through the whole financial market.

Sentences

A day may begin well enough, but suddenly everything seems to get out of control. What invariably happens is that a great number of things choose to go wrong at precisely the same moment.

Pronunciations

hurriedly: encourage/ɜ/央元音

road/rose: /r/的发音不是汉语的‘肉’（有点像‘弱’），发音的时候舌头是不触碰到牙齿/牙龈