词汇精选：disaster的用法和辨析
一、详细释义：
n.
灾难；不幸 [C]
例句：
We were all shocked by the disaster.
这场灾难使我们所有人大为震惊。
例句：
In closed agrarian societies, families need a lot of children as insurance against disaster.
在封闭的农业社会里，家庭需要较多的子女以防不幸。
彻底的失败 [C]
例句：
British policy in Cyprus was an utter disaster.
英国在塞浦路斯的政策遭到了彻底的失败。
例句：
Our plan ended in disaster.
我们的计划以彻底失败告终。
成事不足败事有余的人；祸患 [C]
例句：
That would have been a real disaster!
那才是真正的祸患！
（星的）凶向
二、词义辨析：
disaster,calamity,catastrophe,misfortune
这些名词均表示“灾难”或“不幸”之意。disaster普通用词，指大破坏、痛苦或伤亡。calamity多指个人的不幸，比disaster严重，强调灾难引起的悲痛以及对于损失的感觉。catastrophe语气最强，指可怕的灾难，强调最终的结局。misfortune普通用词，多批较为严重的不幸，强调不幸多由外界因素所致。
三、相关短语：
disaster area
灾区
四、参考例句：
He studies disaster trends.
他在研究灾害趋势。
Annual disaster drills are conducted.
每年都有灾难演习。
A great disaster is occurring.
灾祸临头。
A typical disaster story: disease, corruption, poverty.
一个典型的灾难性故事，疾病、腐败、贫穷。
We must act now to forestall disaster.
我们现在必须采取行动以防灾难。
It’s really a disaster to us.
对我们来说，这真是个灾难。
That would have been a real disaster!
那才是真正的祸患！
The disaster could not have been foreseen.
Knowledge of the disaster soon spread.
灾难的消息很快传开了。
Haughtiness invites disaster; humility receives benefit.
〔谚〕满招损，谦受益。
