儒琴英语词汇选自欧美报刊文章以及英语原文小说。坚持学习英语今日词汇，有助于阅读和理解当今欧美主流媒体的新闻时事报道和英语文学作品。
儒琴英语词汇（English Words and Phrases of the Day）
devolution
noun [ U ] /ˌdiː.vəˈluː.ʃən/
the moving of power or responsibility from a main organization to a lower level, or from a central government to a local government
（上级组织向下级组织或中央政府向地方政府的）放权，权力下放，责任移交
The majority of people in the province are in favour of devolution. 该省大部分人赞同权力下放。(Cambridge)
The US military has started preparations for implementing a set of secret contingency plans that can be set in motion if the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak starts endangering the integrity of the American government and the ability of local authorities to uphold order, Newsweek reported citing documents obtained and accounts of anonymous military sources. According to the media, in the worst-case scenario, the US military might actually start running the country in violation of the legal line of “devolution”. (Sputnik)
incapacitate
verb [ T often passive ]/ˌɪn.kəˈpæs.ə.teɪt/
to make someone unable to work or do things normally, or unable to do what they intended to do
使无能力（正常工作或做事）；使无法（做想做之事）
The accident left me incapacitated for seven months. 这起事故导致我7个月不能正常生活和工作。
Rubber bullets are designed to incapacitate people rather than kill them. 橡皮子弹旨在使人丧失行动能力而不是致人死亡。(Cambridge)
US Media: Military to Run Country if White House, Congress Are Incapacitated by COVID-19. So far, top US politicians and congresspeople have managed to avoid contracting the coronavirus with President Trump and Vice President recently announcing that they had tested negative for the infection. (Sputnik)
switch sth up
— phrasal verb with switch verb [ T, I usually + adv/prep ]
informal mainly US
to change something, usually in a way that improves it:
改变，改善，转变
You might want to switch up a recipe you’ve made several times by trying other flavours.
I love the way they switched it up by playing the song acoustically. (Cambridge)
Small businesses are switching up their models in a fight to survive during the coronavirus crisis — some in unexpected ways. Businesses including condom-makers, gin producers and food manufacturers are seeing consumers react in different ways as they self-isolate or reduce social contact.
haute couture
noun [ U ] /ˌoʊt kuːˈtʊr/
(the business of making) expensive clothes of original design and high quality 精品时装（业），高档时装（业） (Cambridge)
When Paris-based freelance haute couture seamstress Amandine Moreau stopped work due to restrictions in France, she needed another creative outlet. So, she started making facemasks for her local hospital from vacuum cleaner filter bags and covering them with scraps of fabric before sterilizing them. While some medical staff are using makeshift masks, sadly Moreau’s were rejected by her local hospital
uptick
noun /ˈʌptɪk/ us [ C or U ]
an increase in something:
增加，增长
uptick in sth We can see some uptick in activity in the marketplace.
In contrast to a steep rise of coronavirus infections, a more gradual uptick of cases will see the same number of people get infected, but without overburdening the health-care system at any one time. The idea of flattening the curve is to stagger the number of new cases over a longer period, so that people have better access to care.
masquerade
noun [ C or U ] /ˌmæs.kəˈreɪd/
behaviour that is intended to prevent the truth about something unpleasant or not wanted from becoming known
伪装；掩饰
They kept up the masquerade of being happily married for over 30 years. 30多年来他们一直假装婚姻很幸福。(Cambridge)
French medics are seeking the prosecution of top officials over their allegedly negligent response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the evidence is an interview with an ex-health minister, who called government action a masquerade. (RT)
scenario planning
noun [ U ]
the study of possible future events in society, an industry, the economy, etc., and how they might affect an organization, and the action of planning to prepare for them
情景规划：是理清扑朔迷离的未来的一种重要方法
Scenario planning helps if we’re trying to decide whether to invest in something.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board announced Sunday that the group has decided to step up scenario-planning for the 2020 Tokyo Games in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic.