时间总是一点一滴、毫不留情地剥夺我们的生命，悄无声息又转瞬即逝。我们所能做的，也许只是抓住它的尾巴——
今天分享一则名为美国红十字诞生的英文短文，重点词黑体标出：
1
assist
|əˈsɪst|
~ (sb) (in/with sth) | ~ (sb) (in doing sth) to help sb to do sth 帮助；协助；援助
[动词 + 名词短语]
We'll do all we can to assist you.
我们要尽量帮助你。
Anyone willing to assist can contact this number.
凡愿协助者可拨此号码联系。
[动词 + 名词短语] to help sth to happen more easily 促进
activities that will assist the decision-making process
促进决策进程的活动
assistant
|əˈsɪstənt|
n
a person who helps or supports sb, usually in their job 助理；助手
a sales assistant in a department store
一名百货公司售货员
(British English) a student at university or college who spends time in a foreign country teaching his or her own language in a school 助教（在国外留学的大学生，教授本国语）
adj
[只用于名词前] (abbr. Asst) (often in titles 常用于头衔) having a rank below a senior person and helping them in their work 助理的；副的
Assistant Chief Constable Owen
助理警察局长欧文
2
positive
|ˈpɒzətɪv; 美 ˈpɑ:z-|
adj 反义：negative
~ (about sth) thinking about what is good in a situation; feeling confident and sure that sth good will happen 积极乐观的；自信的
a positive attitude/outlook
乐观的态度 / 前景
The report ended on a positive note.
报告的结尾显得很乐观。
directed at dealing with sth or producing a successful result 积极的；建设性的；朝着成功的
We must take positive steps to deal with the problem.
我们必须采取积极步骤处理这个问题。
expressing agreement or support 表示赞同的；拥护的
We've had a very positive response to the idea.
我们对这个想法反应很好。
good or useful 良好的；有助益的；正面的
to make a positive contribution to a discussion
在讨论中献计献策
Overseas investment has had a positive effect on exports.
海外投资对出口有积极影响。
[名词前不可用] ~ (about sth) | ~ (that…) (of a person 人) completely sure that sth is correct or true 有绝对把握；确信；肯定
I can't be positive about what time it happened.
我说不准这事是什么时间发生的。
She was positive that he had been there.
她确信他曾在场。
‘Are you sure? ’ ‘Positive. ’
“你敢肯定吗？”“绝对肯定。”
[只用于名词前](informal) complete and definite 完全的；绝对的 同absolute
He has a positive genius for upsetting people.
他气人的本事可大呢。
It was a positive miracle that we survived.
我们能够生还，完全是个奇迹。
giving clear and definite proof or information 证据确凿的；明确的 同conclusive [决定性的]
We have no positive evidence that she was involved.
我们没有确凿证据证明她参与其事。
showing clear evidence that a particular substance or medical condition is present 阳性的；证明…存在的
to be HIV positive
艾滋病病毒化验呈阳性
(technical 术语) containing or producing the type of electricity that is carried by a proton 正电的；正极的
a positive charge
正电荷
the positive terminal of a battery
电池的正极
n
[可数名词, 不可数名词] a good or useful quality or aspect 优势；优点
Take your weaknesses and translate them into positives.
把你自己的弱点变成优点。
[可数名词](technical 术语) a developed film showing light and dark areas and colours as they actually were, especially one printed from a negative 正片
[可数名词] the result of a test or an experiment that shows that a substance or condition is present 阳性结果（或反应）
乐观：optimistic;optimism
悲观：pessimistic; pessimism
3
examine
|ɪgˈzæmɪn|
to consider or study an idea, a subject, etc. very carefully 审查；调查；考查；考察
These ideas will be examined in more detail in Chapter 10.
这些观点将在第10章作更为详细的探讨。
[动词 + 名词短语] ~ sth/sb (for sth) to look at sth/sb closely to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem （仔细地）检查，检验
The goods were examined for damage on arrival.
货物到达时检查是否有破损。
[动词 + 名词短语] ~ sb (in/on sth) (formal) to give sb a test to see how much they know about a subject or what they can do 考，测验（某人）
The students will be examined in all subjects at the end of term.
期末时学生须参加所有学科的考试。
You are only being examined on this semester's work.
只考你在本学期学的课程。
[动词 + 名词短语](law 律) to ask sb questions formally, especially in court （尤指在法庭上）审问，查问
