ability n.   ①能力 ②才能（常用复数）
[特征]
ability是able的名词形式，可以和able一起记忆。
- He is a man of ability. 他是个能干的人。
- He has the ability to read. 他有阅读的能力。
- He has great abilities as a writer. 他是个有本领的作家。
[考点]
ability后面可以接动词不定式、介词in或for，但不能接of doing形式。
-（×）You should improve the ability of drawing.
-（√）You should improve the ability to draw.
-（√）You should improve the ability in/for drawing.你应该提高你的绘画能力。
[备考必备] 重要词组
have the ability to do sth. 有能力做某事   to the best of one's ability 尽力
- I will help you to the best of my ability. 我会尽我所能帮助你的。
[贴心叮咛]
上面[特征]中三个句子是最基础的，ability的基本用法都在这三个句子中。

abroad n.   ①在国外，到国外 ②到处
[特征]
- One of my brothers lived abroad. 我有个哥哥住在国外。
- The manager went abroad for business. 经理出差去国外了。
- The poor granny has never been abroad. 这个贫穷的老奶奶从未出过国。
- The news spread abroad. 消息传得很广。
[贴心叮咛]
这个单词很简单，虽然历届高考也经常考到，但考点不是很多，只要记住上面几个基本用法即可。

absence n.   ①不在，缺席 ②缺乏
[特征]
- Nobody noticed his absence from school. 没人注意到他没来上学。
[备考必备] 重要词组
in/during one's absence 在某人不在时
- Please take care of my house during my absence. 我不在时，请照看我的房子。
absence of mind 心不在焉
- His absence of mind led to a lot of mistakes. 他由于心不在焉造成了很多错误。
[练习与解答]
- The evvironmentalists and wild goats'      on the vast grasslands was a good indication of the better environment. [2004 上海] 
A. escape   B. absence  C. attendance  D. appearance
答案：D （环境保护者和野山羊在大草原上的出现时环境改善的一个很好的迹象。escape是“逃跑”；absence是“缺席”；attendance是“参加”；appearance是“出现”。） 

absent adj.   ①缺席的，不在场的 ②缺乏的
[备考必备] 重要词组
be absent from 缺席
- The manager was absent from the meeting. 经理缺席会议。
[贴心叮咛]
absent考的频率很高，对这个词的考查基本都集中在词组be absent from上。