The study of custom can be profitable only after certain preliminary propositions have been accepted,
只有在某些基本的主張被接受下來、同時有些主張被激烈反對時，
新概念英語第四冊
Lesson 44 Patterns of culture
?? 句中詞匯解析
從本句中提取的重要詞匯
adj. 有利可圖的，有益的;可賺錢的，合算的;
?? pro前+fit做，制作+able能...的 → 能提前做好的 → 有利潤的
"That business became profitable last year."
那項生意去年變得很賺錢.
近義：helpful, salutary, useful, valuable, beneficial, convenient
反義：infertile, profitless, sterile, unadvantageous, unaffordable, unbeneficial
adj. 初步的，初級的;預備的;開端的;序言的;
n. 準備工作;預賽;初步措施;（對學生等的）預考;
?? pre預先+limin門檻，限制+ary形容詞后綴→入門以前→初步的
"They are taking preliminary steps in preparation for a possible war."
他們正在為應付一場可能的戰爭做初步的準備.
近義：initiative, introductory, prefatorial, prefatory, prelusive, prep
反義：last, absolute, momentous, peremptory, plump, terminal
n. 學習，研究;課題;書房;結論;
vi. 考慮;沉思;默想;努力;
vt. 想出;詳細地檢查;背誦（臺詞等）;為…費心思;
"The figures for 2001 were used as a baseline for the study."
這項研究以2001年的數據為基礎。
近義：investigate, assay, peruse, probe, research, resolve
n. 習慣，慣例;海關，關稅;經常光顧;[總稱]（經常性的）顧客;
adj. （衣服等）定做的，定制的;
"This custom has been carried down from the 18 th century."
這一習俗從18世紀一直傳到現在.
近義：practice, prevalence, style, stylishness, tradition, usage
反義：naturalness, sincerity, spontaneousness, unaffectedness, made, precast
adj. 某一;必然的;已確定的;
pron. [動詞用復數]某些;
"Federal courts have a certain cachet which state courts lack."
聯邦法院有某種州法院所缺乏的特別的東西.
近義：some, inarguable, indisputable, indubitable, invariable, irrefragable
反義：neither, implausible, improbable, uncertain, unlikely, avoidable