2016年2月22日 星期一

breakneck, homeless, unstoppable, monumental, momentous, headlong, eventful, event-making

Charles Darwin embarked on his journey on the HMS Beagle‪#‎onthisday‬ in 1831. The observations Darwin made on this momentous voyage would lead to his theory of evolution.

Angela Merkel Faces Monumental Test of Leadership After Greek Vote
By ALISON SMALE and ANDREW HIGGINS
The German chancellor must find a way to maintain European unity and the euro as a currency while also devising an acceptable resolution to Greece's financial crisis.


The Hero in History, a study in limitation and possibility (1943)

Hero in History

Sidney Hook's book The Hero in History was a noticeable event in the studies devoted to the role of the hero and Great Man in history and influence of the outstanding persons.
Hook opposed all forms of determinism and argued (as William James did) that humans play a creative role in constructing social world and transforming the natural environment. Neither humanity nor its universe is determined, or finished. For Hook this conviction was crucial. He argues that when a society is at the crossroads choosing the direction of further development then an individual can turn to play a dramatic role and even become an independent power on whom depends the choice of the historical pathway.[14]
In his book Hook gives a great number of examples of the influence of great people and these examples are mostly associated with some crucial moments in history (revolutions, crises). This makes some scholars criticize him because
he does not take into account that an individual's greatest influence can be revealed not so much in the period of old regime's collapse, but in the formation period of a new one (according to our model it is the fourth phase – see below). Besides, he does not make clear the situation when alternatives appear either as the result of a crisis or as the result of Great Man's plan or intention without manifested crisis.[15]
Hook introduced a division of historic personalities and especially leaders into eventful man and event-making man depending on their influence on the historical process.[16] For example, he considers Lenin as an event-making man as in certain important respects he had changed the development direction not only of Russia but of the whole world in the 20th century.
Hook attaches great importance to accidents and contingencies in history[17] thus opposing, amongst others, Herbert Fisher[18] who made attempts to present history as ‘waves’ of emergencies following after another

A Headlong Life

'Colonel Roosevelt'

By EDMUND MORRIS
Reviewed by GEOFFREY C. WARD
The third and concluding volume of Edmund Morris's monumental biography of Theodore Roosevelt covers the nine eventful years after he departed from office.





Archive: Electric cars are widely hailed as the answer to pollution on our roads. Once a niche product, over the last few years their production has expanded at breakneck speed. What determines whether or not an electric car is greener than the alternative?



TOKYO — The Toyota Motor Company booked its first annual net loss in six decades Friday and warned that it would plunge even deeper into the red this year, a stunning reversal for an automaker whose breakneck expansion and record profits seemed unstoppable just 12 months ago.

Cool | 13.07.2008 | 20:30

Young Homeless Create Sounds From The Streets

Over 36,000 young people live on the streets in Australia. Now a new music initiative in Sydney is giving some of them a reason to smile.

"Sounds of the Street" is a project funded by Mission Australia -- a not-for-profit organisation which helps people in need. It's aimed at helping homeless kids in Sydney, who are often dealing with drug and alcohol issues as well.
But while these young people might be doing it tough, this project has given them a chance to express themselves through music -- with inspiring results.
Report: Cinnamon Nippard




China's Rebuilding Effort Takes On Breakneck Pace
2008年07月02日14:45
Time is running short. It has been nearly two months since a massive earthquake in China's Sichuan province leveled towns and left millions homeless.

home (HOUSE/APARTMENT) Show phonetics
noun
1 [C or U] the house, apartment, etc. where you live, especially with your family:
The senator has two homes - an apartment in Washington and a house in Colorado.
He was living on the streets for three months, and his home was a cardboard box.
Phone me at home after four o'clock.
took home a couple of books to read.
He left home (= stopped living with his parents) when he was 23.
More and more couples are setting up home together without getting married.

2 [C] a house, apartment, etc. when it is considered as property which you can buy or sell:
luxury/starter homes

3 [C] the type of family you come from:
We had a happy home.
children from a broken home (= from a family in which the parents had separated)

4 [C] a place where people or animals live and are cared for by people who are not their relatives or owners:
a children's home/an old people's home/a dogs' home
He spent his early years in a home.

home Show phonetics
adjective
done at home, or intended to be used at home:
home cooking
home-brewed beer
a home computer

homeless Show phonetics
adjective
without a home:
Accommodation needs to be found for thousands of homeless families.

the homeless plural noun
people who do not have a home, usually because they are poor

homelessness Show phonetics
noun [U]
One common cause of homelessness is separation or divorce.

breakneck

(brāk'nĕk'pronunciation
adj.
  1. Dangerously fast: a breakneck pace.
  2. Likely to cause an accident: a breakneck curve.


Definition of monumental in English:

adjective


1Great in importance, extent, or size:it’s been a monumental effort


headlong
adv.
  1. With the head leading; headfirst: The runner slid headlong into third base.
  2. In an impetuous manner; rashly.
  3. At breakneck speed or with uncontrolled force.
adj. (hĕd'lông', -lŏng')
  1. Done with the head leading; headfirst: a headlong dive.
  2. Impetuous; rash. See synonyms at impetuous.
  3. Uncontrollably forceful or fast.
  4. Archaic. Steep; sheer.
[From Middle English (bi) hedlong, alteration of (bi) hedling : hed, head; see head + -ling, in a specified direction; see -ling2.]

e·vent·ful (-vntfl)
adj.
1. Full of events: an eventful week.
2. Important; momentous: an eventful decision.



momentous


Line breaks: mo¦men|tous
Pronunciation: /mə(ʊ)ˈmɛntəs/


Definition of momentous in English:

adjective

Of great importance or significance, especially in having a bearing on future events:a period of momentous changes in East-West relationsa momentous decision

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