1. grant [grɑːnt] vt. 同意，准予；授予；承认  n. 补助金，拨款

grant sb sth

The teacher has granted him permission to leave early.

老师已经准许他早退。

grant sth to sb

Single parents tend to grant more independence to their children than other parents do.

单亲父母往往比其他父母给予孩子们更多的自主性。

The school granted him a scholarship.

学校授予他奖学金。

He's very clever, I grant you, but he doesn't work hard enough.

他很聪明，这不假，但是他不够努力。

take it for granted (that) 认为…是理所当然

He just took it for granted that he would pass the exam.

他还想当然地认为自己能通过考试呢。

take sb/sth for granted 视某人/某事为理所当然

Her husband was always there and she just took him for granted.

她丈夫随时都在身边，她只是认为他理应如此。

We take having an endless supply of clean water for granted.

我们想当然地认为洁净水的供应无穷无尽而不予以珍惜。

She won a grant to develop her own business.

她赢得了一笔拨款用以扩展自己的企业。

2. contrive [kən'traɪv] vt. 策划，图谋；设法做到；设计，发明

They are contriving a robbery.

他们正在策划一场抢劫。

contrive to do sth

The chef contrives to keep the fresh taste of the vegetables.

厨师设法保持蔬菜的新鲜口感。

The author contrived a happy ending.

作家设计了一个幸福的结局。

They contrived a mask against poison gas.

他们设计了一种防毒面具。

3. reflect [rɪ'flekt] vt./vi. 反射；表明，反映；仔细考虑，反思

Wear something white ---- it reflects the heat.

穿件白色的衣服，它能反射热。

The sunlight reflected from the surface of the lake.

阳光由湖面反射过来。

His face was reflected in the mirror.

他的脸映照在镜子里。

His actions reflect his thoughts.

他的行为反映他的思想。

How much you're paid reflects how important you are to the company.

你报酬的高低反映你在公司里的重要性。

I have reflected upon his suggestion.

我已经认真思考了他的建议。

He had time to reflect on his successes and failures.

他有时间反思他的成功和失败。

4. reflection [rɪ'flekʃ(ə)n] n. 影像；反射；反映；认真思考，想法

He admired his reflection in the mirror.

他欣赏着自己在镜中的影像。

The moon looks bright because of the reflection of light.

月亮由于光的反射看上去很亮。

The increase in crime is a sad reflection on our society today.

犯罪的增加反映了当今社会不太好的一面。

on/upon reflection  经再三考虑，深思熟虑之后

Upon careful reflection, she decided to accept his invitation.

经过认真考虑，她决定接受他的邀请。

I would like to hear her reflections on this issue.

我想听她对此问题的看法。

a book of her reflections on childhood

一本关于她童年生活的回忆录

5. preclude [prɪ'kluːd] vt. 阻止，妨碍，使不可能

Lack of time precludes any further discussion.

由于时间不足，不可能进行深入的讨论。

My present finances preclude the possibility of buying a car.

按我目前的财务状况我是不可能买车的。

preclude sb/sth from doing something

These regulations may preclude newspapers from publishing details of politicians' private lives.

这些规定可能会使报纸无法公布政客私生活的细节。