New words：

steep /stiːp/ adj.陡的；陡峭的；突然的；急剧的

详细词源拆解：

源自古英语 stēap
本义：高耸的、直立的
演变：最初形容高耸的悬崖、陡峭的山坡，后泛指角度很大、上升 / 下降很快
动词用法较少，主要作形容词

词汇家族：

steep（陡峭的）→ steeply（adv. 陡峭地）→ steepness（n. 陡峭）

必记高频搭配

a steep hill /mountain 陡峭的小山 / 山

It's not easy to climb a steep hill.

a steep slope /incline 陡峭的斜坡

They walked slowly up the steep slope.

a steep rise /drop 急剧的上升 / 下降

There was a steep rise in temperature yesterday.

slope [sloʊp] n.斜坡；坡度；坡地；山坡

关键使用提醒：

形容道路、山坡、楼梯时，steep 是高频词
描述价格、温度、数量变化时，用a steep rise/drop

New words：

recline /rɪˈklaɪn/ v. 斜倚；向后靠；躺（半躺姿势）

reclining /rɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/ adj. 可躺的，倾斜式的

详细词源拆解：

前缀 re-：向后，往回
词根 clin：弯曲，倾斜（同 decline, incline）

组合逻辑：

→ 向后弯 → 向后靠 → 躺；斜倚

必记高频搭配

recline on a sofa / chair 斜靠在沙发 / 椅子上

He likes to recline on the sofa after finishing his homework.

recline against the wall 斜靠在墙上

The tired boy reclined against the wall to have a rest.

recline comfortably 舒服地躺着

The old man often reclines comfortably in his armchair to read newspapers.

reclining chair 躺椅

He was comfortably seated in a soft reclining chair.

关键使用提醒：

recline比较正式。多出现于阅读，写作一般用 lie / lean 更自然。

New words：

inclination [ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n] n.倾向；倾斜度；趋向；意愿；偏好

必记高频搭配

have an inclination to 有做某事的倾向 / 意愿

She has a strong inclination to help poor children.

have no inclination to 无意做某事；不想做某事

I have no inclination to argue with others about small things.

show an inclination for sth 表现出对…… 的爱好 / 偏好

He shows an inclination for science when he was very young.

follow one’s own inclination 随心所欲；按自己的意愿行事

We should not always follow our own inclination in class.

关键使用提醒：

‌inclination 是可数名词，也可以作不可数名词使用‌，具体取决于语境。

可数用法
表示“一种倾向”或“某种意愿”时，常用可数形式，可加复数 ‌inclinations‌。
例：She has artistic ‌inclinations‌.（她有艺术方面的爱好。）‌
例：He showed no ‌inclination‌ to participate.（他没有参与的意愿。）‌

不可数用法
在泛指“倾向性”或“意愿”这一抽象概念时，有时作不可数名词。
例：The decision was based on inclination, not logic.（这个决定基于倾向，而非逻辑。）‌

New words：

incline [ˈɪnˌklaɪn]
v. 倾向于；有意于；赞同（最常用）
v. 倾斜；偏向
n. 斜坡；斜面

详细词源拆解：

前缀 in-：表示 toward 朝向、向里
词根 clin：源自拉丁语 clinare = bend 弯曲、倾斜

组合逻辑：

→ in- (朝向) + clin (倾斜)
→ 向某方向倾斜 → 倾向于；有… 的趋势
→ 物理上：倾斜；斜坡

必记高频搭配

incline to do sth 倾向于做某事

Many students incline to choose sports after class.

incline towards sth 偏向；赞同

Many young people incline towards online learning nowadays.

be inclined to do sth 往往会；易于做某事

People are inclined to forget small mistakes in daily life.

a steep incline 陡峭的斜坡

The boy walked slowly up the steep incline.

关键使用提醒：

1.考试最常考：be inclined to do sth = tend to do sth

2.名词 “斜坡” 在初中阅读偶尔出现，写作一般用 slope 更常见

3.不要和 decline 混淆：
incline = 倾向、偏向
decline = 下降、婉拒

steep [stip] n. 陡坡

New words：

decline [dɪˈklaɪn]
v.下降；减少；衰退；衰落
v.谢绝；拒绝（礼貌地）
n.下降；衰退；衰落

详细词源拆解：

前缀 de-：down 向下、往下
词根 clin：源自拉丁语 clinare = bend 弯曲、倾斜

组合逻辑：

→ de- (向下) + clin (倾斜)
→ 向下倾斜 → 下降；衰退；衰落
→ 引申义：弯身谢绝 → 谢绝；拒绝

词汇家族：

decline（下降；谢绝）→ incline（倾斜；倾向）→ recline（倚靠；躺下）

必记高频搭配

a decline in …在某方面下降

The report shows a decline in sales last quarter.

decline rapidly / sharply 快速 / 急剧下降

If we don’t take action, the number of tigers will decline rapidly.

in decline 在衰退中；在减少中

Many traditional skills are in decline as society develops.

decline an invitation 谢绝邀请（婉拒）

He had to decline the invitation because he had to prepare for exams.

decline to do sth 拒绝做某事（礼貌）

She declined to answer the personal question.

关键使用提醒

1.decline 有两个核心意思：下降 / 婉拒

2.表示 “拒绝” 时，比 refuse 更礼貌、正式，多用于邀请、建议、帮助。

3.固定搭配：in decline 在下降中