At some dramatic moment in the story, the terrible secret becomes known and a reputation is ruined.
在小說的某個戲劇性時刻，可怕的秘密泄漏出來，接著便是某人的聲譽掃地。
新概念英語第三冊
Lesson 24 A skeleton in the cupboard
?? 句中詞匯解析
從本句中提取的重要詞匯
adj. 戲劇的，戲劇性的;引人注目的;激動人心的;
?? drama戲劇+tic....的 →戲劇性的
"The mountains provided a dramatic backdrop for our picnic."
群山如畫，給我們的野餐平添景色。
近義：impressive, lurid, awesome, sensational, spectacular, stirring
反義：kindly, assenting, manageable, sociable, tractable, yielding
n. 瞬間，片刻;時刻;重要，緊要;[物]力矩;
?? mom(move)+ent(名詞后綴)→瞬間；片刻；重要
"The moment the clown appeared on stage, the audience folded up."
小丑一出現在舞臺上, 觀眾們個個笑得前俯后仰.
近義：instant, tick, time, while, bit, flash
反義：immortality, perdurability, perenniality, perpetuity, deathlessness, afterlife
adj. 可怕的;危害極大的;<非正>很糟的;劣質的;
adv. 口〉非常，很，極;
n. 可怕的人;
?? terr怕+ible...的 → 可怕的
"to make a terrible blunder"
犯大錯
近義：heinous, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, horrific
反義：innocuous, offenceless, safe, unoffending, benign, harmless
n. 秘密，機密;秘訣;奧秘;
adj. 秘密的，機密的;神秘的;隱秘的;
?? se分開，離開，區別開+cret區別→分開來放→秘密
"the all-powerful secret police"
權力無限的秘密警察
近義：arcanum, mystery, puzzle, puzzler, reservation, reserve
反義：indiscreetness, tactlessness, bluntness, crudeness
n. 名氣，名聲;好名聲;信譽，聲望;榮譽，名望;
?? re再+put認為，思考+ation名詞后綴 → 再讓人想起的東西 → 名聲
"Their reputation for fairness is a matter for pride."
他們公正的名聲令他們引以為豪.
近義：name, prestige, renown, repute, standing, status
反義：shame, unpopularity, belittling, dishonourableness, dishonouring, disgrace