The study of custom can be profitable only after certain preliminary propositions have been accepted,
只有在某些基本的主张被接受下来、同时有些主张被激烈反对时，
新概念英语第四册
Lesson 44 Patterns of culture
📚 句中词汇解析
从本句中提取的重要词汇
adj. 有利可图的，有益的;可赚钱的，合算的;
💡 pro前+fit做，制作+able能...的 → 能提前做好的 → 有利润的
"That business became profitable last year."
那项生意去年变得很赚钱.
近义：helpful, salutary, useful, valuable, beneficial, convenient
反义：infertile, profitless, sterile, unadvantageous, unaffordable, unbeneficial
adj. 初步的，初级的;预备的;开端的;序言的;
n. 准备工作;预赛;初步措施;（对学生等的）预考;
💡 pre预先+limin门槛，限制+ary形容词后缀→入门以前→初步的
"They are taking preliminary steps in preparation for a possible war."
他们正在为应付一场可能的战争做初步的准备.
近义：initiative, introductory, prefatorial, prefatory, prelusive, prep
反义：last, absolute, momentous, peremptory, plump, terminal
n. 学习，研究;课题;书房;结论;
vi. 考虑;沉思;默想;努力;
vt. 想出;详细地检查;背诵（台词等）;为…费心思;
"The figures for 2001 were used as a baseline for the study."
这项研究以2001年的数据为基础。
近义：investigate, assay, peruse, probe, research, resolve
n. 习惯，惯例;海关，关税;经常光顾;[总称]（经常性的）顾客;
adj. （衣服等）定做的，定制的;
"This custom has been carried down from the 18 th century."
这一习俗从18世纪一直传到现在.
近义：practice, prevalence, style, stylishness, tradition, usage
反义：naturalness, sincerity, spontaneousness, unaffectedness, made, precast
adj. 某一;必然的;已确定的;
pron. [动词用复数]某些;
"Federal courts have a certain cachet which state courts lack."
联邦法院有某种州法院所缺乏的特别的东西.
近义：some, inarguable, indisputable, indubitable, invariable, irrefragable
反义：neither, implausible, improbable, uncertain, unlikely, avoidable