Lesson 2
Equal v. to be exactly the same in size, number, or amount as something else 等于
A highly-trained workforce equals high productivity. 高素质的员工等于生产力
Prices should become more stable when supply equals demand.当供求平衡时，价格将更稳定
其他词性 adj. the same in size, number, amount, value etc. as something else 平等的
Our constitution states that all men are equal. 宪法规定人人平等
Our education system should provide equal opportunities for all children.我们的教育系统应赋予所有孩子同等机会
I’m sure Diana’s quite equal to the task. 我确信戴安娜有能力做这项工作
n. 平等
it’s a relief to find a boss who treats employees as equals. 找到一个能平等对待员工的老板令人欣慰
词组拓展
On equal terms 平等相处，地位平等
Equal pay for equal work 同工同酬
The new law enables small business to compete on equal terms with large multinational corporations. 新法律使小企业与大的跨国公司在相同条款下竞争。
All other things equal 其他条件相同
I’d rather go by train, all other things being equal. 其他条件相同，我更愿意乘火车
Be without equal/ have no equal  better than the same type不能同日而语
Van Gogh’s paintings are without equal in the Western world. 梵高的画在西方世界无与伦比
相关表达  equally  adv. 平等地
There has never been a shortage of naïve optimists about China’s economy. Equally, though, there has never been a shortage of naïve pessimists either. 从不缺乏对中国经济的乐天派；同样也不缺乏悲观主义者
Unequal adj. 不平等的
China’s indeed getting more unequal as its economy develops, and public order is a genuine problem. 随着经济的发展，中国变得不平衡，公共秩序的确是个大问题
Cause  n. 原因
① a person, event, or thing that makes something happen 原因
breast cancer is the leading cause of the death for American women in their forties 乳腺癌是美国40岁左右妇女的主要死亡原因
② a fact that makes it right or reasonable for you to feel or behave in a particular way 理由
the present political climate gives little cause for optimism. 目前政治气候没有理由乐观
③ an organization, belief, or aim that a group of people support or fight for 事业
why not run the London Marathon? You can get fit and raise money for a worthy cause at the same time. 为何不参加伦敦的马拉松呢？你不仅可以健身，同时还可以为正义事业募捐。
实际应用  因果关系  cause and effect relationship
Figure n. 身材，人影，数字
① the shape of a woman’s body 身材  she has a good figure. 她的身材姣好
most women have to watch their figure. 很多女性注意身材
② an image 人影  I saw a figure approaching in the darkness. 我看见黑暗中一个人影向我走来
③ a number 数字
government figures underestimate the problem 政府数字低估了该问题
in the past 25 years, according to admittedly highly uncertain UN figures, the percentage of Chinese living in cities has roughly doubled, to more than 40%. 在过去25年， 根据联合国不完全统计，中国城市居民的生活条件翻了一倍，高达40%。
实际应用 花样滑冰 figure skating--- a kind in which you move in patterns on the ice.