A: I was offered a bribe to give my students better marks in their exams.

　　B: I hope that you did not accept it.

　　A: Tell me, why did you break into the bank?

　　B: I was bribed into it.

　　bribe vt. 向…行贿，买通

　　n. 贿赂，行贿物

　　A: Where are the letter you were meant to post?

　　B: Oh, they are in my briefcase, but I left it at the office.

　　briefcase n. 公文包，公事包

　　A: What was your childhood dream?

　　B: To become a member of the fire brigade.

　　brigade n. 1. 旅(陆军编制单位);2. 队，组

　　A: The brim of your hat is covering your eyes.

　　B: That is because I don’t want anyone to notice me.

　　brim n. 1. 帽檐;2. (容器的)边，边缘

　　vi. 注满，充溢

　　brim over (with) 充满，洋溢

　　A: I was on the brink of leaving my job, but decided to stay.

　　B: What changed your mind?

　　brink n. (悬崖，河流等的)边缘，边沿

　　on the brink of 濒临，处于…边缘

　　A: Slow down, stop walking so fast!

　　B: A brisk walk will be good for your health.

　　brisk a. 1. 轻快的，生气勃勃的;2. 兴隆的，繁忙活跃的;3. 寒冷而清新的

　　A: My paintbrush is too old to start the decorating.

　　B: I have one with better bristles if you want to borrow it.

　　bristle n. 短而硬的毛发，刷子毛

　　vi. 1. 被激怒，怒发冲冠;2. 毛发(因惊惧等)直立

　　bristle with 密集，充满，被布满

　　A: Don’t lean on the glass, it is very brittle.

　　B: Oops, sorry, it is too late.

　　brittle a. 1. 易碎的，易损坏的;2. 脆弱的，靠不住的;3. 冷淡的，不友好的;4. (声音)尖厉的

　　A: What place did you come in in the race?

　　B: Third. I won a bronze.

　　bronze n. 1. 青铜;2. 青铜色，古铜色;3. 青铜(艺术)制品，铜牌

　　A: This is a very complicated question, professor.

　　B: Brood on it for a while and maybe you will find the solution.

　　A: Are the hens sitting with their brood?

　　B: No, they seem to have neglected them.

　　brood vi. 1. (on, over, about)沉思，考虑;2. 孵蛋

　　n. 1. (雏鸡等)一窝;2. (一个家庭)全体孩子

　　A: If you walk up the east side of the mountain you will find a small brook where you can fill your bottles with water.

　　B: Great, I’m really thirsty, but is the water safe to drink?

　　brook n. 小溪

　　vt. [常用于否定句或疑问句]容忍，忍受

　　A: Where were you this afternoon?

　　B: In the bookshop, just browsing.

　　browse vi. 1. 随意翻阅，浏览;2. (牛，羊等)吃草

　　A: That is a nasty bruise.

　　B: Yeah, I fell down the stairs last week and hit my head.

　　A: He bruised me with his nasty comments.

　　B: Don’t listen to him then.

　　bruise n. 1. 青肿，挫伤;2. (水果等的)伤痕，擦痕

　　vt. 1. 打青，使受淤伤;2. 挫伤，伤害(感情等)

　　A: That was a brutal crime.

　　B: Yeah, there seems to be nothing but bad news these days.

　　brutal a. 1. 野兽般的，残忍的;2. 无情的，冷酷的，难以忍受的

(责任编辑：田学江)